Bubblevicious (The Powerpuff Girls, 1998)

"Bubblevicious"
"It's not fair! I'm just as tough and strong and mean as Buttercup and Blossom, but they just don't believe me. They all treat me like a baby. I'll show them. I'll prove that I can be....hardcore!'" — Bubbles
Series: The Powerpuff Girls Part of Season: 1 Episode Number: 17 (9a) Air Date: January 20, 1999 Director: Genndy Tartakovsky Craig McCracken Previous episode: Ice Sore Next episode: The Bare Facts

Bubblevicious is the 17th episode of the first season of The Powerpuff Girls (1998). It was produced in 1998 before premiering on January 20, 1999.

Synopsis

Sick and tired of her family treating her like a baby, Bubbles tries to become tougher and discovers a more "hardcore" side of herself in the process. However, she goes too far and turns against her sisters.

Adorably Vicious Qualities

1. This episode handled the premise of I Was a Teenage Werewolf well for a show directed at more general audiences.
2. Like A Very Special Blossom and Moral Decay, which came out later in the series, this episode portrays one of the girls as rather antagonistic against the others, but "Bubblevicious" handles this a lot better.
   • Unlike those previously mentioned episodes, Bubbles' antagonistic behavior is justifiable considering she was underestimated by her sisters and the Professor.
3. Bubbles is a very likable protagonist, even when she's "hardcore".
4. This is the first time Bubbles has played a big role in this episode.
5. The scene where Bubbles beats up hardcore monsters in the virtual room is decent and shows how much potential to make her strong.
6. The toy robot seen in the opening where Bubbles refuses to fight it is hilarious.
7. Bubbles has some memorable lines in this episode.
   • For example, she says "mercy is for the weak!" after hurting the Talking Dog, which is in fact a reference to The Karate Kid.
8. Satisfying Ending: After Bubbles reverts back to her normal, cheerful self, Mojo Jojo suddenly zaps Bubbles and causes the latter to beat him up.
9. Good Morals:
   • It is important to be tough, but do not get too tough or you will hurt others.

• Never change who you are even if you are poked fun at. Just be yourself.
• Even the nicest people have their limits, so do not try to push them too far.

Vicious Qualities

1. Bubbles hurting Blossom and several other citizens, while justifiable, is rather mean-spirited, especially since what they did to anger her was fairly minor.
   • She also hurts the Talking Dog, which is ironic considering Bubbles' love for animals is one of her most prominent traits.

Trivia

• This is the first episode to feature one of the girls' criminal role; in this case, Bubbles.
• This is Tara Strong's favorite episode of the show.
• The premise is similar to the film I Was a Teenage Werewolf.
• Bubblevision derives from this episode's title, but with a different premise.
• Not counting the theme song, blood is seen for the second time in this show, which would be succeeded with The Bare Facts. The first one was Buttercrush.

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