The Old Switcharooms (Dexter's Laboratory)

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"The Old Switcharooms"
Putting your kids in different rooms as punishment is never a good idea.
Series: Dexter's Laboratory Part of Season: 2 Episode Number: 86 (29b) Air Date: March 4, 1998 Writer: Michael Ryan Director: John McIntyre Previous episode: Paper Rout Bout Next episode: Trick or Treehouse

The Old Switcharooms is the second middle half of the 29th episode of Season 2 of Dexter's Laboratory, which first aired on March 4, 1998.

Plot

When Dad makes Dexter and Dee Dee switch rooms, Dexter becomes paranoid that Dee Dee is destroying his lab. Dee Dee, on the other hand, is seen sleeping on his bed.

Why It Does Not Switch Rooms

1. After Dexter and Dee Dee accidentally destroy Dad’s trophy during a fight, they are both punished by Dad to go to their separate rooms, with Dexter going to Dee Dee’s and Dee Dee going to Dexter’s, which is a questionable punishment.
2. Dee Dee is unlikable here because she causes the fight between herself and Dexter that destroys Dad’s trophy by stealing Dexter’s Major Glory action figure. She even displays sheer hypocrisy when she sees her room vandalized by Dexter even though Dee has destroyed Dexter’s lab numerous times before and after this episode.
   • Dexter is also paranoid and believes that Dee Dee destroys his lab during their punishment due to how she destroyed it numerous times before, but he becomes worse when he intentionally destroys her room just to make a disguise.
   • He is also mean-spirited to Dee Dee by calling her a clumsy fool once she accidentally drops Dad's trophy by pointing to him that he is naked, proving that he did not learn his lesson for insulting his sister.
3. Dad himself is no better because of the punishment he gave Dexter and Dee Dee, which caused Dexter’s actions in this episode, and then after he and Dee Dee saw the mess Dexter made to her room, he gave him an even more harsh punishment by sending him to the dog house.
4. To make matters worse, the episode heavily implies that dad’s doghouse punishment was premeditated in case one of the kids escaped from their punishment as he threatened a punishment that was even harsher on Dexter but was not specific on how harsh it would be.
5. The way Dee Dee’s room is portrayed in the episode is dark and intimidating, which contradicts other episodes showing it to be joyful and saccharine. This change in tone towards Dee Dee’s room is just creepy and only exists just to make Dexter more anxious about his lab.
6. Plot Hole: When being sent to Dexter’s room, Dee Dee rejoices at being sent there by saying “whee” and dances into the room, setting off Dexter’s paranoia. however, she is seen sleeping on Dexter’s bed when he goes to spy on her. Why did Dee Dee say, “whee” when all she planned to do in Dexter’s room is take a nap there rather than destroy his lab?
   • Another plot hole this episode has relates to how Dexter accesses his lab and his dog. It has been established that Dexter’s lab is hidden behind the book case yet the dog somehow gained access to it. How was the dog able to break into the lab if he can’t touch books?
7. Bad Twist Ending: Dexter sleeps in the dog house, and while he does say that he doesn’t have to worry about the dog destroying his lab. However, it is revealed that the dog actually destroyed the lab and caused the acid to overflow.

Redeeming Qualities

1. Mom is the only likable character in this episode.
2. Despite his stupidity, Dad is seen to be good at playing bowling.
3. The opening scene is good, but it becomes terrible when Dexter and Dee Dee destroy Dad's trophy.
4. Even though Dexter was unlikable in this episode, his paranoia wasn't entirely unjustified considering Dee-Dee's habit of wrecking his laboratory.

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