The premise is one that left me rather mixed and could have gone either way. In hindsight it does sound like classic Brain in an interesting situation, superhero alter egos are always interesting. Then the plot synopsis was read and reading what Elmyra's role in the story was, hopes did diminish as her story did sound really infantile and very different from what is quite an intriguing and mature premise on Brain's side. Some of 'Pinky, Elmyra and the Brain's' ideas did have promise, though none were that unique, but the show did vary on that front.
'Pinky, Elmyra and the Brain' was a show that started very badly, and was a very mixed bag and never really above average level from then on ("My Fair Brainy" was the episode where the show did start to pick up and that didn't live up to full potential. It also ends very badly with "The Mask of Braino" and while Brain is nicely used any worries about how Elmyra would be written were not only exactly what it sounded like it was actually worse. Am not saying that with pleasure.
"Mask of Braino" has a few good things. Brain is very entertaining and wonderfully deadpan, the show on the most part was a disaster when it came to character writing and interaction but somehow managed to get Brain spot on. It was a genius move having Maurice LaMarche back and he voices Brain perfectly. The voice acting has always been pretty good actually on reflection considering what the voice actors were given.
Some of the animation is pretty decent, with some nice colour.
However, that is pretty much it. While the animation was never terrible on 'Pinky, Elmyra and the Brain', it did always lack the polish and vibrancy as well as the imagination seen in the visuals of 'Animaniacs', 'Pinky and the Brain' and 'Tiny Toon Adventures', which is generally the case here. There is nothing dynamic or infectious about the music and the theme song has always grated.
Elmyra is absolutely intolerable here, one of her worst appearances and that is saying something. Considering that she made for one of the most annoying characters in animated history in 'Pinky, Elmyra and the Brain' (she was take and leave in 'Tiny Toon Adventures'. Any episode that has Elmyra in a big role is already dreaded, and everything that was annoying about her on this show (all negative characteristics taken to extremes and with no real redeeming merits to her). All the other characters are under-utilised and bland.
The writing in "Mask of Braino" is overly simple and childish, nothing funny, sophisticated or witty about it. Elmyra's dialogue is an absolute embarrassment and much of me feels bad for Cree Summer for having to deliver it. The story is not just simplistic, completely unimaginative and predictable, it is also ridiculous, the vast difference between Brain and Elmyra's writing makes it feel like two episodes in one and the climactic moments are anti-climactic and tired. The chemistry between Brain and Elmyra is barely there and is disconnected whenever there is signs of any. Elmyra's alter ego is juvenile beyond belief, and that the show ends on one of its most childish moments is enough to make one cringe in the seat.
Very weak ending all in all to a show that was slightly better on rewatch but never really got off the ground. 3/10.
'Pinky, Elmyra and the Brain' was a show that started very badly, and was a very mixed bag and never really above average level from then on ("My Fair Brainy" was the episode where the show did start to pick up and that didn't live up to full potential. It also ends very badly with "The Mask of Braino" and while Brain is nicely used any worries about how Elmyra would be written were not only exactly what it sounded like it was actually worse. Am not saying that with pleasure.
"Mask of Braino" has a few good things. Brain is very entertaining and wonderfully deadpan, the show on the most part was a disaster when it came to character writing and interaction but somehow managed to get Brain spot on. It was a genius move having Maurice LaMarche back and he voices Brain perfectly. The voice acting has always been pretty good actually on reflection considering what the voice actors were given.
Some of the animation is pretty decent, with some nice colour.
However, that is pretty much it. While the animation was never terrible on 'Pinky, Elmyra and the Brain', it did always lack the polish and vibrancy as well as the imagination seen in the visuals of 'Animaniacs', 'Pinky and the Brain' and 'Tiny Toon Adventures', which is generally the case here. There is nothing dynamic or infectious about the music and the theme song has always grated.
Elmyra is absolutely intolerable here, one of her worst appearances and that is saying something. Considering that she made for one of the most annoying characters in animated history in 'Pinky, Elmyra and the Brain' (she was take and leave in 'Tiny Toon Adventures'. Any episode that has Elmyra in a big role is already dreaded, and everything that was annoying about her on this show (all negative characteristics taken to extremes and with no real redeeming merits to her). All the other characters are under-utilised and bland.
The writing in "Mask of Braino" is overly simple and childish, nothing funny, sophisticated or witty about it. Elmyra's dialogue is an absolute embarrassment and much of me feels bad for Cree Summer for having to deliver it. The story is not just simplistic, completely unimaginative and predictable, it is also ridiculous, the vast difference between Brain and Elmyra's writing makes it feel like two episodes in one and the climactic moments are anti-climactic and tired. The chemistry between Brain and Elmyra is barely there and is disconnected whenever there is signs of any. Elmyra's alter ego is juvenile beyond belief, and that the show ends on one of its most childish moments is enough to make one cringe in the seat.
Very weak ending all in all to a show that was slightly better on rewatch but never really got off the ground. 3/10.