The Nutcracker (Courage the Cowardly Dog)

"The Nutcracker"
Let Courage dance, with elegance
Series: Courage the Cowardly Dog Part of Season: 4 Episode Number: 80 (Overall) 2 (Season) 1b (Season Segment) Air Date: September 6, 2002 Writer: Billy Aronson Director: John R. DIlworth Previous episode: A Beaver's Tale Next episode: Rumpledkiltskin

"The Nutcracker" is the second episode or the second half of the first episode of season 4, as well as the 80th episode overall of Courage the Cowardly Dog

Plot

In La Salle's dump, Courage has to find Muriel and Eustace after the dancing rats kidnap them, by not just using the Nutcracker, but also dancing.

Why It's Elegant and Deserves a Nutcracker

1. Great concept of Courage finding an antique, called the Nutcracker, to use for tools that can save Muriel and Eustace and defeat the dancing at rats.
2. The characters (excluding Parachute Lady and Di Lung) are likable, as usual, especially Eustace.
3. The Nutcracker (the song) is an excellent addition to complement this episode, this even includes the dance scenes and the climax.
4. Additionally, the Nutcracker toy is an interesting object to use on anything such as using it as scissors or binoculars to rescue both Muriel and Eustace.
5. This episode has some hilarious moments:
   • When Eustace plays an old saxophone with an object stuck inside, he let the object launch and it hits it in the head.
   • Eustace uses a toothbrush to brush the teeth of the moose, and he says "Oh!" afterwards.
   • Courage plays the Nutcracker, only to get pinched on the nose (by accident) using its teeth.
   • Courage jumps on Di Lung's stomach, causing the latter to say "Watch where you're going, ya fool!".
   • The Parachute Lady, despite not serving any purpose in this episode, appears to freak Courage out after he opens the drawer.
   • At the end of the episode, Eustace steals the Nutcracker and uses a walnut to break its teeth, but it is backfired when Muriel tells him that it is an antique and it cannot use on anything; this leads to Courage laughing with his broken teeth once he sees the Nutcracker's broken teeth.
6. The entire climax scene is an amazing rendition: Courage uses the Nutcracker to enter inside the makeshift dining room to defeat the dancing rats, destroys the rope that Muriel and Eustace tie, and destroys piles of garbage by using it; thus causing the La Salle dumpster to destroy in ruins.
7. Good Ending: As Eustace gets backfired by Muriel after noticing that the Nutcracker is an antique, he throws it and Courage laughs with his ugly teeth after seeing that it has broken teeth.

Bad Qualities

1. Di Lung and the Parachute Lady serve no purpose in this episode and they appear as fillers.
2. Eustace destroying the Nutcracker's teeth using the walnut and scaring Courage with the moose taxidermy are both mean-spirited.
3. The entire La Salle dumpster can be a bit gross.

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