C&C - The Boondocks - "The Story Of Thugnificent" [11/5]

[Neo Ultra Mike]

New Boondocks is on the Adult Swim Fix now (and Monday at 11:30PM and repeats Saturday at 11:30PM). Fifth of Season five and with a similar title (though different plot) then season one's "The Story Of Gangstalicious" here's "the Story Of Thugnificent".

SYNOPSIS:
"A superstar rap group moves in across the street and records a diss record against Granddad after a neighborly disagreement escalates into full blown rap beef. "

REVIEW:
I think this was the biggest smosghisboard of Boondocks guest stars yet: Snoop Dog, Busta Rhymes, Fatman Scoop, Sway, Xzibit, Derayl Davis and even Nate Dogg. Yeah some of these guys have guest voiced before but bringing them together for one episode was good. I'm glad to see that despite the similar title this played out very different then "The Story of Gangstalicious" by having it be about the rapper moving into the neighborhood and interacting with everyone. Specifically Grandad. There were a couple of slow parts (mainly Thugnificent's entrance into Woodcrest) but a lot of good scenes; Thugnificent talking about his old neighborhood (I espically liked him wondering why someone would drop a ****** on someone and the electric fence around the area), Riley trying to sneak over to Thugnificent's place, Grandad imagining how a meeting with Thugnificient would go, the complaint against the rappers moving in, Grandad trying to get screentime on the news, the Grandad bashing video (I espically liked Nate Dogg's hook. Seriously there should be a full version of this song. I'd download it), Huey and Riley going to the party and Huey being creditied as being good with reading, Grandad calling Xzibiit to make his own lame diss video (well at least it got on Youtube. Who wants to bet on how long it got taken off once on there, heh heh), Tom bailing on the complaint once he visited Thugnificient, the press confrence and complaint meeting (if only for Huey's suggestions being taken by Thugnificent and Riley signing Grandad's name) and the ending. I suppose it dosen't really resolve if Thugnficient is staying or not (though I'm sure he isn't) but I guess that wasn't the point. Since obviously the point is these diss combats still go on no matter how much (or how little) it seems people try to talk through the problems. Over solid ep. Boondocks season two (besides a couple of weak eps) is doing well this season and I hope it continues doing well.

Enjoy Everyone!

[v1cious]

i didn't like the ending, but the episode was alright. the loose MTV/BET adversting makes me worry that Aaron Mcgruder has sold out, but i can tolerate it as long as the show stays good.

[livingfruitvirus]

i didn't like the ending, but the episode was alright. the loose MTV/BET adversting makes me worry that Aaron Mcgruder has sold out, but i can tolerate it as long as the show stays good.

How does mentioning other networks equate to advertising?

[J'onn J'onzz]

As usual, a great episode. I loved this. YOU'RE JUST MAD CAUSE YOUR ASS IS OLD was hilarious. The whole episode was, really. Why can't AS air more stuff like this instead of stuff like Lucy and Tim and Eric? :sad:

[Beat]

Because this costs more.

[v1cious]

How does mentioning other networks equate to advertising?

the fact that Mcgruder has slammed BET numerous times in the press, but they allow him to use their official logos, which begs the question why the characters would be watching the channel, when they literally had Martin Luther King saying in an earlier episode that it was the worse thing he's ever seen. either it was an veiled endorsement, or Sony paid them a crapload of money. but like i said, the show's been great thus far so it's not a big deal to me.

[R. Escobar]

the fact that Mcgruder has slammed BET numerous times in the press, but they allow him to use their official logos, which begs the question why the characters would be watching the channel, when they literally had Martin Luther King saying in an earlier episode that it was the worse thing he's ever seen. either it was an veiled endorsement, or Sony paid them a crapload of money. but like i said, the show's been great thus far so it's not a big deal to me.

I'd understand Riley and Granddad watching, not Huey, and it was just Riley and Granddad watching

Not to mention he made the VJ's on both stations look like babbling idiots...

and on that note LMAO @ "my main man nate doggity dog" :D

[RskimB]

I liked this episode but if I dont get a Huey-centric episode soon i'm gonna be pissed.

[David Lucas]

While I think rap-inspired "beefs" are nothing short of retarded, I will say that some of the songs that Eminem and D12 put out on DJ GL's CDs were some of the best rap I ever heard them pull off.

For some reason, Thug's diss song sounds an AWFUL lot like some of Em's. Not that I'm saying they ripped him off, I'm saying it's just as hilarious and hard hitting as something like "Nail In The Coffin".

I really think all rap today has turned completely to garbage, but whenever I hear a song that makes me laugh, I usually don't care. This was catchy as hell, too.

[Kitschensyngk]

"Terra Belle leads the nation in homicides, infant mortality, AIDS and everything else that's bad."

The ghetto comes to predominantly white suburbia. Only on The Boondocks.

Was I the only one who found that portrait of Thugnificent with Tupac and Martin Luther King disturbing?

"Did you just congratulate me for reading?"

"Eff Granddad" > Tom's breakup song x 100000.

The song alone makes this episode another jewel in the season two crown. "This old man, he played foo'..."

[btv]

So far the episode looks really, really good. And it's funny and like always, very entertaining.

At the halfway point, I'm giving this an A.

EDIT: Alright, saw all of it. The ending was a bit disappointing, but I still thought the episode deserved an A. They need more Huey in these episodes, he really balances everything out.

[shany94a]

Didn't enjoy this one as much as last week, but didn't really expect to because "Stinkmeaner Strikes Back" was so over-the-top hilarious. Wish Ruckus had more to say this time out, but he can't save/wreck the day every week.

[Blackstar]

This one was just all right. Not as good as last week's ep, but still amusing in parts. The ending was weak, as it came to no real conclusion. They never said whether or not Thugnificent would be staying in Woodcrest, although I'm thinking not, as he caused too much of a stir to be around full time. And Huey needs to be the centerpiece of the show again, IMHO. Not bad, just not one of the best.

My rating: 2.5 out of 5 (I took off half a point for the weak ending).

[Naruguy94]

I used to like this show because it had a good message but now it seems like the more episodes they show the further the show gets from the comic strip and the less we see of Huey. When they made the show I knew it would be kind of different from the comic strip but it's like the writer is trying to make a whole a completely different message from the strip.

[Silverstar]

I used to like this show because it had a good message but now it seems like the more episodes they show the further the show gets from the comic strip and the less we see of Huey. When they made the show I knew it would be kind of different from the comic strip but it's like the writer is trying to make a whole a completely different message from the strip.

I both agree and disagree with your points. One the one hand, I agree that Huey needs to do more this season; he is the main character and perhaps the wisest person on the show, but he should be portrayed as more than just the voice of reason. But on the other hand, I don't mind how they're amping up the humor this time around; one of the problems I had with The Boondocks' first season was that some of the episodes were too preachy; some of the messages, while valid, got a little heavy-handed (IMO). My only beefs with Boondocks' second season so far is that some of the episodes (specifically "Tom, Sarah and Usher" and "The Story of Thugnificent") didn't end on a cohesive resolution, the constant Tom-bashing gets a little tired, and I was hoping that we'd get to see more of Sarah this season, as she's always been one of my favorite characters (although the season's not over yet, so there could be more appearances coming).

As for the strip, comic strips and TV shows are separate entities; there are different requirements for each, and as such, anyone coming into the show expecting it to be an exact replica of the strip will be disappointed. Anyway, MacGruder ended the strip, and according to recent interviews, he's happier working on the show, so I wouldn't expect the show to start mimicking the strip anytime soon.

[Inkan1969]

Huey was smart enough to know that Thugnificent was nothing but a poser full of BS. You could tell from the righteous rage on Huey's face when he saw the mural that equated Thug with MLK and Malcom X. So I thought Huey was being too lenient to Thug at the end. Grandpa didn't have to apologize for anything.

[lillibet23]

Huey was smart enough to know that Thugnificent was nothing but a poser full of BS. You could tell from the righteous rage on Huey's face when he saw the mural that equated Thug with MLK and Malcom X. So I thought Huey was being too lenient to Thug at the end. Grandpa didn't have to apologize for anything.

I'm pretty sure there have been episodes of South Park where the slightly more sensible characters (Stan and Kyle) make a stand against the episode and refuse to be drawn into the story line.

Huey's role in this was similar. He is always there to point out what other people with in each story don't see as being glaringly obvious. In this ep. it was already glaringly obvious, his comment was not needed! Just a couple of looks of disproval were enough!

I do agree though that it would be nice to see him a little more...

[R. Escobar]

The next episode is supposed to be a Huey centric plot

He boycotts BET :D

[The Myst]

This season has really been a let-down so far. The premiere and the Stinkmeaner episodes were two of the best in the series but those are the only two thus far. This episode was passable but nothing more. My cable started cutting out a few minutes from the end and I wasn't even pissed off about it. I was just apathetic because I actually wanted the episode to end at that point.

[lillibet23]

This season has really been a let-down so far. The premiere and the Stinkmeaner episodes were two of the best in the series but those are the only two thus far. This episode was passable but nothing more. My cable started cutting out a few minutes from the end and I wasn't even pissed off about it. I was just apathetic because I actually wanted the episode to end at that point.

That actually makes me sad....:( I didn't think it was THAT bad at all!

[tb4000]

I'm not sure what people want. At first they were griping the show was too preachy and black-centric. Now it's straying too far into actual cartoonish AS type plots, which is what they claimed to like. Make up your mind.

[Golgo13]

This episode just SCREAMS of sitcom.

[Golgo13]

I'm not sure what people want. At first they were griping the show was too preachy and black-centric. Now it's straying too far into actual cartoonish AS type plots, which is what they claimed to like. Make up your mind.

I just wish the show would make up it's mind. While it does get a bit preachy in some parts, it's intriguing to see some storytelling with a lot more thought behind it. But then with episodes like Thugnificent, it turns into a sitcom.

Is the creator planning on dumbing it down for Fox?

[Dudley]

I'm not sure what people want. At first they were griping the show was too preachy and black-centric. Now it's straying too far into actual cartoonish AS type plots, which is what they claimed to like. Make up your mind.

Why should it? I like it's well rounded-ness.

[lillibet23]

I figured the point was it was "black centric" and preachy, in the same way RC is Nerd centric....

I agree, shows have to change or grow in order to stay interesting. It doesn't necessarily mean pandering to a network...I think the liberal use of certain words means it'll never be fox. It doesn't even get shown on Uk AS...I can only watch it online. Although that might be to do with demographic not language or content....

[Freedom Fighter]

At first, I thought this was eerily similar to Season 1's "The Story of Gangstalicious." And it was, in terms of packaging and theme - following a gangsta rapper and his lifestyle. Only this time, bringing it right into the Freeman's backyard... and pissing Grandpa the heck off in the process.

I understand the morale in the end ("It's all satirical, stop taking rap videos so literally."), but wasn't entertained by the path taken to get there. Kinda plodded its way through, save for Huey being praised for reading and the diss song.

"The Story of Thugnificent": 3/5.