You think characters in a show teaching about math are immune to this trope? You wish!
- "Codename: Icky": When the kids are looking to protect a giant energy-eating slug called Icky, they find out Hacker can listen to their submarine communications. When they create a code initially, Hacker busts it by revealing he had a copy of Digit's book. The kids decide to create a new code after sending Hacker on a Snipe Hunt.
You'd Expect: Hacker when hearing the code would realize the kids obviously changed it.
You'd Also Expect: Cyber the mermaid guardian would call on the aquarium residents to bury the Hacker submarine in sand and ground it, as she does at the end of the episode.
Instead: Hacker blindly follows the old code, and ends up finding Icky by dumb luck. But only after going on a Wild Goose Chase around the aquarium.
The Result: This buys enough time for Icky to learn the code, where he reveals to the kids he just wants to go back to the aquarium after Hacker kidnaps him and makes him drain Motherboard. Jackie then suggests he latch onto the Grim Reaper instead, calling it "Food" in the code - In "The Creech Who Would Be Crowned", Matt has been picking on Inez about her vocabulary for the majority of the opening action, eventually citing "I was just teasing" as the reason.
You'd Think: Jackie would notice that Inez is getting really upset and tell Matt to knock it off.
Instead: Jackie tells Inez "No offense, Inez but sometimes your vocabulary is bigger than you are."
Result: The camel's back breaks so to speak and Inez storms off after snapping "Well, here's a little word for both of you: BYE!" and spends the majority of the rest of the episode ignoring Matt and Jackie and actually has to think about saving their lives. - In "True Colors", Hacker is running against MotherBoard for potentate of Cyberspace, which is perfectly legal according the Cyber constitution. With the Cyber squad acting as her campaign managers, they appear on a talk show to defend Motherboard and explain why she should be re-elected.
You'd Expect: The kids to take time and prepare a valid case before appearing on the show, finding valid evidence that Hacker hasn't really turned over a new leaf and listing what specific strengths Motherboard has.
Instead: With no preparation whatsoever, they do a horrendous job at presenting their case. All Jackie and Inez can think of as to why Motherboard should be reelected is that she is a kindhearted and intelligent leader in general, with no specifics mentioned as to how she is. Afterwards, Matt starts roasting Hacker as a liar, claiming that with all the schemes he has done before, there is no way he could actually have changed or done the good deeds he's claimed to (without providing verifiable evidence that he has not).
As a Result: The kids not only fail to persuade the audience, but also make Motherboard out to be a corrupt politician who verbally attacks her opponents. - In "The Borg of the Ring", Hacker obtains a magic ring that can make whatever he says is his hearts desire come true.
You'd Expect: Hacker to realize that Motherboard will no doubt send the Cybersquad to get the ring from him and use it to take over Cyberspace and get rid of Motherboard right away, so they can't stop him.
Instead: He wastes time wishing for things like hair, a brand new TV, and making Buzz and Delete mute. And so by the time he actually does try to use the ring to attack Motherboard, the Cybersquad reaches him and tricks him into taking the ring off his head so they can get it back. - In "The Snelfu Snafu: Part 2", Hacker has just succeeded in tricking the kids into buying the encryptor chip, which he reprogrammed to drain Motherboard from inside, allowing him to finally take over Cyberspace. Wicked, who is now his partner since she helped him with his plan, is eager to start spending the money which she and Hacker got from the kids in the auction (which they spent weeks earning for nothing).
You'd Expect: Hacker to tell Wicked to only spend a certain amount, and leave the rest for him.
Or: First go to the black hole, pay the amount needed to throw Motherboard in, and give the rest to her.
Instead: Too distracted by making plans as the new ruler of Cyberspace, he unwisely tells Wicked to buy anything she wants, and just leave him alone. Wicked immediately goes on a shopping spree, ordering a variety of expensive and pointless items, just handing the delivery people handfuls money and never asking for change. So by the time Hacker gets the black hole, he finds Wicked has spent nearly everything he made in the auction, and cannot pay for the disposal. - In "On the Line", Motherboard tasks Digit to take the Network Interface Card to the Forever-Gone Machine in order to get rid of it for good to prevent Hacker from ever using his Transformatron again.
You'd Expect: Motherboard to also send the kids alongside Digit to take the NIC to the Forever-Gone Machine considering how important it is and knowing Hacker would still try to take it back.
Instead: Motherboard, for some stupid reason, decided to send Digit alone to go take the NIC to get destroyed. You know, the cybird that is well known for his clumsy nature. Especially since Digit, alone, gets captured more times by Hacker than anyone else and clearly cannot handle him alone.
As a Result: As expected, Digit drops the NIC and Hacker, using his pet vulture, manages to get back the NIC and activates his Transformatron once again. He was even able to successfully shut down Motherboard for awhile. For being the ruler of Cyberspace, Motherboard didn't think this through.
