The Clutching Foot (Courage the Cowardly Dog)

"The Clutching Foot"
Before "Thick as an Ed" and Teen Titans Go!, there's this.
Series: Courage the Cowardly Dog Part of Season: 1 Episode Number: 7b Air Date: January 21, 2000 Writer: David Steven Cohen Director: John R. Dilworth Previous episode: King Ramses' Curse Next episode: The Hunchback of Nowhere

The Clutching Foot is the the second part of the 7th episode of the first season of Courage the Cowardly Dog. It first aired on Cartoon Network in the US on January 21, 2000.

Why This Episode Gets It (In the Worst Way)

1. Elephant in the room: in the similar vein of "Thick as an Ed", this episode is the grossest episode in the whole series as it involves Eustice having a foot fungus that eventually turns into a 1930's mobster-styled foot monster named Big Toe.
   • In fact, the premise feels like a foot fetish story than a Courage episode.
   • Courage’s gross-out reaction to Eustice's foot really sums up what we think of it.
2. It’s also an undeserved Muriel torture episode as Big Toe threatens to crush her underneath him, causing her to cry out in pain.
3. Grotesque title card which shows Eustice's infected foot as Courage flees from it, screaming in terror.
4. Big Toe is an incredibly cruel and unlikable villain. Not to mention he has an extremely gross and ugly monster design.
   • He also blackmailed Courage into doing crimes, which are robbing a bank and then robbing a train (both of which failed, of course).
5. Plot holes:
   • How would the remedies Muriel uses (which are a cactus, lobsters, and acid) do any good to a foot fungus when in reality, they only do worse than good?
   • Why doesn't Big Toe want to steal from Boca Ranton, despite it being the wealthiest city in the state?
6. To make matters worse, when Muriel suggested that Eustice go see a doctor, he straight-up refuses.
7. An infamous scene where Courage licks Big Toe is incredibly disgusting and unwatchable. At least it cured Eustice in the end.
   • Heck, even Courage himself thinks this is such a nasty idea by saying this line, "I just know this is going to leave a bad taste in my mouth."
8. Terrible ending: After Courage cures Eustice of his foot fungus problem, he goes to brush/floss his teeth, only for his tongue to get infected by the fungus and telling him what to do (probably blackmailing him to do another crime).

Redeeming Qualities

1. Courage and Muriel are very likable as always.
2. Courage did found a way to cure the foot fungus off of Eustice, despite how gross it is.

Trivia

• The episode's title name is a reference of the 1934 novel, The Clutching Hand by Arthur B. Reeve.

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