MSB S5E01: Frizzle of the Future

WHY AND HOW DID MY MAGIC SCHOOL BUS BLOG POSTS GET SO MANY VIEWS?!?

This was something I wasn't sure about doing, even after I'd finished reviewing the original Magic School Bus TV show, but at last, I've finally decided to do it. This time, I'm going to start reviewing every episode of The Magic School Bus Rides Again. 

"Please, let these be normal reviews!"

"With ArthurEngine?"

"No way!"

"Aw!"

Yes, Arnold. That's how I felt about this series when I found out about it.

In 2014, 17 years after the original Magic School Bus show ended, news arose that Scholastic and Netflix would be bringing back The Magic School Bus for a new series. The working title was The Magic School Bus 360, but the final title ended up being The Magic School Bus Rides Again. 

Originally, The Magic School Bus Rides Again was going to be animated in CGi, but due to cost, they decided to use the more modern Flash animation to animate it, because it's far cheaper than cel animation that the old series used.

This series was originally going to have a new class with different kids, but for unknown reasons, they decided on using the original class. Hmm.... maybe they wanted to expose this generation of kids to the original class?

Apart from being like Arnold, when I found out about this new series, I thought it was a good idea, especially considering how much science has evolved since the old series ended.

Now, enough with that! It is now time for me to go back to Walkerville and take chances, make mistakes, get messy! Step in, step in, step inside, it's a wilder ride! Seatbelts everyone! I'm ready to invade the ecosystems in the first episode of The Magic School Bus Rides Again! Blog, do your stuff!

53. Frizzle of the Future.
Topic: Ecosystems.
Written by: John May and Suzanne Bolch.

Guest star: Will Arnett as Galapagos Gil and Galapagos Gil II.
Released: 29 September 2017.

The class welcome Jyoti, the new student in Valerie Frizzle's science class. But then an unexpected visitor stirs up concern, and especially Arnold is worried especially when he isn't used to changes. When they find out Valerie is gone, looks like Arnold is the odd-one-out. They visit the Galapagos Islands, and Arnold gets the bad idea- he leaves Fiona's special Magical Crazy-Growing Must-Stay-in-a-Pot Crescit Leiunium Frizzlaeia Vine in the island, which causes a huge prickly problem. When they go back in time to stop it, Arnold learns that his new teacher might not be a bad invader to his class's ecosystem.

Here we are. The first scene of the series shows that the main character of the series is solar powered. This does raise a headscratcher. 

And here, we welcome the new student for the class, Jyoti. One big change of the school year. 

Ralphie likes to annoy the skeleton, but he never gets rattled, as Ralphie stated. 

"Here. You can have Phoebe's old seat. She went back to her old school."

So they got rid of Phoebe? This never happened at her old school! And this raises a headscratcher I've had with this new series ever since I watched this episode. 

And here, we're introduced to the class's new teacher, who claims she's Ms. Frizzle.

"D.A. According to your research, you must realise..."
"It's a whole different Frizzle!"

I wonder how Dorothy Ann knew what Ms. Frizzle was about to say? 

This here, is Ms. Valerie Felicity Frizzle, or as she's now known as, Professor Frizzle PhD.  And the new teacher is Ms. Frizzle's sister, Ms. Frizzle. Ms. Fiona Felicity Frizzle.

So this plant Ms. Frizzle has goes into the bag? This is not a good sign. You know where this is going. 

"Bus! Do your stuff!"

So as it turns out, The Magic School Bus just blinks now. He's missing something that Ms. Frizzle needs to start him up. 

Here's a little something that works in this series. Professor Frizzle passes her keys to her sister. 

So the class is at the Galapagos Islands, off the coast of South America. 

And this here, in charge of the inspection, is Galapagos Gil. 

"Whoa! Talk about a turtle surprise!"
"Carlos!"

Well, Carlos hasn't lost his sense of humour.

Ms. Frizzle loves this thing she's using to transform kids into animals, what she's doing to Carlos and Wanda. 

Arnold made a funny reference to the theme song. "Get Eaten or Get baked into a pie". But in front of this ant? Not a good sign. 

This is why countries have inspections when internationals come to a certain place of the world. They need to inspect for invasive species that could upset the environmental balance. 

And according to Dorothy Ann's reesearch, those gypsy moths could ruin the Galapagos Islands if they're not quarantined. 

This is why Arnold shouldn't have brought the plant. It fell to the ground. 

Meet Ms. Frizzle's new companions. Magic Scooter Bike and her Golden Lion Tamarin, Goldie. Another headscratcher here. 

Here's a little nod to the old series. Wanda Junior, Keesha Junior, Tim Junior, and Dorothy Ann Junior look the way their parents did in the old series. This is 2047. 

Here's why Arnold shouldn't have brought the plant on the field trip. It invaded the Galapagos Islands, and rabbits are eating it. 

This here is Galapagos Gil II, Galapagos Gil's son. 

Arnold's now talking to Professor Frizzle. He admitted the plant was his fault. This is the one way to stop an invasive species. Don't let it invade to begin with. 

 And this is another reason. The plant is alive and attacking Arnold.

Look at Jyoti go! She's a ninja warrior! She's doing her best to fight the plant. 

Now that that problem is solved, let's go back to school. 

I guess Jyoti's more than just a ninja warrior. She's also ann engineered guru. Brains mixed with brawn. 

So long, Ms. Frizzle. Enjoy your exploration of the universe with your scooter bike and your monkey. 

"Why didn't you just stay home from school today?"

What makes this funny is because it's Arnold's catchphrase. Whatsmore, this is the wrap up segment.

This episode's aim is to teach kids about ecosystems. Letting an non native species into an ecosystem that can't handle them can upset the system. That's why you must never release your pets into the wild, and why you must get yourself checked over when visiting another country.

Let's go over the noticeable things.

Dorothy Ann now pronounces research "Ree-search" instead of "Riss-erch".

Fiona, the new Ms. Frizzle, is voiced by the one and only Kate McKinnon. Who some of you may know for The Big Gay Sketch Show and Saturday Night Live. 

Lily Tomlin, who voiced Valerie Frizzle in the original Magic School Bus show, is reprising her role as her character. And it works in so many ways.

Galapagos Gil is voiced by none other than Will Arnett.

There's also the ceremonial moment where Valerie Frizzle passes her keys to the new Ms. Frizzle. And why Lily Tomlin reprising her role helps.

1. It appeals to the older fans who grew up watching the original series.
2. It represents the old generation passing the torch over to the new generation.

Now, onto my headscratchers:

3. Valerie Frizzle has Goldie, her Golden Lion Tamarin, as her new assistant. Now that I think of it, maybe Goldie could've been given to Fiona, and Liz could've gone with Valerie.

2. Why would Fiona have that invasive plant in the first place? What's going to happen when nobody's looking?

1. The big one. Phoebe isn't present in the class because she went back to her old school. There's something I don't understand about this.

In Going Batty, Phoebe's dad said he's glad he and his wife transferred Phoebe to Walker Elementary.

Why didn't Tim get transferred to art school? He spends most of his time drawing.

Why didn't Keesha move to dancing school or director's school? She takes dance classes, and she's good for her age at directing movies.

Why didn't Arnold get homeschooled? He always says that he "should've stayed home today".

They could've done either of these, or just make an entirely new class for this generation of kids to relate to. But oh well.

Let's not forget the wrap up segments. It's no longer the Producer Segment. It's just Valerie Frizzle answering these questions. I guess this is another reason they got Lily Tomlin to reprise her role as her character.

Some of you may have noticed that I'm referring to this season as "Season 5" instead of  "Rides Again Season 1". I'm calling this series "The Magic School Bus Season 5 onward". Why am I calling this "Season 5 onward" instead of a reboot? While yes, this series came out 20 years after the original show ended, but my reason is because in spite of that, it's supposed to be a continuation to the original show. A bit like Samurai Jack Season 5.

All I can say is, this episode was simply a good enough way to start the series. It introduced Jyoti and showed off what she can do, it gave great lessons about ecosystems, and it showed Ms. Frizzle passing the keys to her sister, Ms. Frizzle, representing the old generation passing the torch over to the new generation. If it weren't for Arnold getting lessons from Valerie, that plant would've destroyed Galapagos Islands. Though if they'd explained why Phoebe went back to her old school, it would've been better.

My rating: 8/10.

Season 5 scorecard:
1. Frizzle of the Future: 8/10.

Season 5 so far: 8/10.