WesternAnimation Still a fan 20 years later
This was one of the most memorable shows I watched and definitely one of my favorites since childhood. I watched the cartoon series during the 90s back when I was in elementary school. As a child, it was never a dull moment seeing the gargoyles in their adventures. Back then, the censors weren't as harsh as it is today. So there is a good amount of action and maturity in the plot of every episode.
And now 20 years later, I find myself watching it again after buying the dvd set. As a adult I can fully appreciate the intricate storylines and research/references to all the folklore and history done for this show. This is definitely a cartoon worth watching at any age.
WesternAnimation On Gargoyles Seasons 1 and 2
I grew up watching Gargoyles back in animations Renaissance Age and I loved it then. Revisiting it now as a matured person I understand how exemplary the show truly is.
Gargoyles is a show that plays by its own rules. The main characters are believable and dynamic. They grow and change visibly over the course of the series, and not always for the better. The villains are ALL unique and deep. David Xanatos might be one of the most charming villains of all time because while he is certainly despicable and evil his character develops and we see a whole new side of him that is hard not to admire. Story arcs are well played and at any part of the season there are a number of plot threads and dynamics going on at once. It is a deep show that can be appreciated by young and old viewers alike.
Generally the animation is great, if spotty. The creative team outsourced the animation to the likes of AKOM and others. So you'll have one episode with great, fluid animation and the next will look dreadful. Regardless of the animation though the writing is excellent. The drama is palpable and the actions scenes feel natural and well executed. This series has something for everyone. Romance, angst, sci-fi, mythology, and literary references galore. In no other series will you see a version of Shakespeare's Macbeth riding a hovercraft while shooting lasers.
I'll say that if you are a fan of animation in any capacity you owe it to yourself to watch this series. The dynamic and charming characters, the wide universe the story is set in, and the exciting stories make this one of the keystone examples of fine Western Animation.
WesternAnimation When fandoms lie (ft. alternate review titles)
Lie 1: Xanatos is the ultimate master planner villain. Title 1: When The Chessmaster is barely a chessmaster
We have Xanatos Gambit and Xanatos Speed Chess - yet in the actual series, sure, we get occasional individual episodes where Xanatos lampshades how his plan didn't totally fall through... and that's about it. Not only do these explanations come off as incredibly weak excuses, but they are also tremendously overused. The biggest problem, though, is the episodic nature of these schemes - even if there is ultimately some link to future (or past) events in the series, there is clearly no grand plan at work here.
Lie 2: Gargoyles was cut down in its prime. Title 2: How to destroy a decent show in under half a season
For what it is, Gargoyles is pretty well done - up to (and including) a certain point: the Avalon multi-parter. The World Tour arc after that is a disaster. Most of the main cast is away for most of the episodes. Many new characters are introduced almost every episode - often without the slightest attempt to give them personalities beyond overplayed stereotypes. Overall this arc gives off the impression that this isn't a show about gargoyles anymore, but someone's personal fairy-tale sandbox of myths and legends (well, that and global activism).
Lie 3: The Goliath Chronicles is so bad, pretend it doesn't exist. Title 3: When the spinoff is closer to the original than the original
The Goliath Chronicles actually represents a restoration of the show's writing level to one very much reminiscent of the first season in particular. In some ways it surpasses even the non-World Tour second season - the finale's relative closure being a shining example. Most importantly, though, it leads off directly and naturally from how the previous season ended... but even if it didn't, with the number of people who've seen gargoyles by that point, how could they plausibly keep their secret!?
Lie 4: Gargoyles is a great show. Title 4: When the most influential character is barely a character
Late in the show, a new character essentially becomes the focus: the baby. First of all, this character's very existence and certainly prominence in the story comes off as an Ass Pull on top of an Ass Pull. But here's the real issue: no matter how many times the gargoyles befriended, helped, or even outright saved someone - no, it's the baby that does it. Character after character only truly accepts the gargoyles as friends through the baby's "influence". This point is really driven home in the third-season episode where Goliath experiences an alternate reality in which he's human, and when the facade is revealed he is told and realizes himself how much his actions as a gargoyle have changed others... except that if the baby didn't exist, almost none of his efforts would have mattered. It really feels like someone on the writing team was pushing through a message!
"Bonus" lie: Gargoyles is a unique show. "Bonus" title: It's the proto-TMNT 2003!