MSB S3E03: Spins a Web

Now I'm going to review an episode about scary arachnids. Take chances, make mistakes, spin a web! We're going to catch a giant mantis! Blog, do your stuff!

29. Spins a Web.
Topic: Spiders.
Written by: Robert Schechter.
Guest star: Ed Asner as General Araneus.
Aired: 20 October 1996.

The class has gone to a drive-in movie to watch the black and white B-film Stand by Your Mantis from 1953 featuring General Araneus, who is attempting to destroy a giant praying mantis. Carlos and Phoebe are not enjoying it. Carlos hates insects--and spiders, and Phoebe is upset and declares that if she were in that movie, then she would trap the mantis, take it somewhere else, and free it. Naturally, this gives Ms. Frizzle an idea. So she drives the bus into the movie. General Araneus takes over the bus, kidnaps Liz, and pushes a button that makes the class go back out of the movie and shrink. He wants to use Liz as bait for the praying mantis. Outside the movie, the class encounter spiders a lot, and when Liz pushes a button that pulls them back in the movie, they apply what they have learned about spiders to stop the General from using Liz as praying mantis bait.

Now this isn't such a weird field trip. Going to a drive-in movie to watch a movie called Stand By Your Mantis, released in 1953, 43 years before this episode aired. A parody of The Deadly Mantis released in 1957.

"And the critics probably said 'Get the exterminator!'"

Funny Tim should say that since many people disliked the real science fiction film. 

I take it Arnold likes the film, especially since it's not so surreal, especially since it doesn't require going weird.

Phoebe sure doesn't like this movie, and she's taking it seriously.

Here's proof Carlos hates spiders. Yeah pretty much anyone would hate spiders.

And Phoebe's explaining the difference between spiders. They're arachnids as they have 8 legs while insects have 6.

Funny Liz should try to eat that spider. She sure is a spider eater

Phoebe really wants to show that orb spider to Carlos to inform him there's nothing to worry about.

Funny Ralphie should mention that Carlos isn't afraid of anything, yet realises only a spider is coming!

Oh, the silhouette is just Ms. Frizzle bringing drinks and popcorn. Would've made sense if she'd brought spiders as in ice cream in fizzy drinks.

"This is General Araneus! Let's get this son of a bug!"

This is the closest we'll ever get to swearing in this series. And one interesting thing about General Araneus is he's voiced by Ed Asner. 

That bug spray was ineffective! The mantis is too strong.

"Surely there's a better way to catch a better way to catch a praying mantis than that!"

"There is no better way! And don't call me Shirley!"

This was a funny Airplane! reference here. 

Now this is what I call a drive-in movie. Only The Magic School Bus is still in colour.

Did Liz really think that fake praying mantis would taste good?

This is more than just a praying mantis! It's a carnivorous praying mantis!

Ride on The Magic School Snail!

Ride on The Magic School Guitar!

Ride on The Magic School Pizza!

Now the kids are exiting the movie!

Oh no! Liz is trapped in the movie along with the main character!

Not only that, Keesha and Phoebe are trapped in a spider web! Made by the same spider that scared Carlos at the beginning!

"Bet that fly wishes he'd stayed home today!"

"Arnold!"

Arnold made a funny pun! Saying the fly wishes he'd stayed home. 

Good work, Tim! Cut the spider web to free Keesha and Phoebe.

Oh no! General Araneus is going to do something to Liz!

That giant centipede didn't stand a chance! The trap door spider was hiding!

"I get it! The trap door spider hides inside here until something juicy comes along, then she opens the door and...gotcha!"

"Carlos!"

This sure is a trick anyone would do! Carlos playing this sneaky trick on Dorothy Ann! 

Ms. Frizzle sure doesn't look concerned by being trapped by a Deinopis spider.

Phoebe's trap backfired. Now she's trapped in her own web!

This little boy didn't mind that the giant mantis burst his ball. Now he's spinning it like a pizza chef spinning pizza dough on his finger.

That's a useful, yet failed plan they come up with. Using The Magic School Spider to trap the general.

"Never order mushrooms and anchovies on the same pizza."

"Carlos!"

I honestly don't get the joke. Unless Carlos doesn't like mushroom and anchovy pizza. I don't see Ralphie eating any of the pizza, obviously because he doesn't like anchovies. 

I'll admit. This was a good pun General Araneus made. Get stuck on the spider web and jump out of his boots.

Now Liz is really done for! The General  wants Liz to be eaten!

But his plan was foiled! Wanda and Dorothy Ann saved Liz!

Now the general is trapped!

Another moment of Phoebe being the tree hugger people say she is. Although mantises are really only harmful to the insects they eat.

I guess it's all thanks to Phoebe that Carlos respects spiders.

 The end!

Or is it?

Here's the real praying mantis. But the set is in colour.

Funny the general is still in black and white, even if the Producer segment is in colour. And a good callback he mentioned to Inside Ralphie. 

This episode is home to some references. The movie "Stand By Your Mantis" is based on a science fiction film The Deadly Mantis. General Araneus, after magically hearing Phoebe say "surely" told one of his men "Don't call me Shirley!" is a reference to Airplane!. Also, Ralphie made a reference to Godzilla when a giant centipede appeared.

Some of you might know Ed Asner for starring in lots of media throughout his acting career, specifically one of his more recent roles being Carl Fredricksen in Up. 

What General Araneus told the producer is true. There are many spiders that exist. White-tail spiders, mouse spiders, black widow spiders, red back spiders, Daddy long legs, huntsmen, tarantulas, funnel web spiders and the ever so dangerous Brazilian wandering spiders. Trust me just about every spider is dangerous. Also, one good thing about spiders is that they eat animals that may become a pest.

While I may not have liked what General Araneus was trying to do with Liz, this was still an interesting way to learn about those scary arachnids. But strangely there were only 3 spiders, the trap door spider, the orb spider and the Deinopis spider. It was interesting to see that Carlos had arachnophobia until Phoebe showed him the delights of a spider. And it was funny when Arnold said the fly wished he'd "stayed home today", and when Carlos scared Dorothy Ann by grabbing her leg.

My rating: 9.5/10.

Season 3 scorecard:

1. In a Beehive: 9.5/10.

2. In the Arctic: 10/10.

3. Spins a Web: 9.5/10.

Season 3 so far: 9.6/10.