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Episode 16
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The Ghostbusters are on vacation and heading to Louisiana in
ecto-1. They choose to visit a backwater
town where the locals are being hypnotized into dancing by ghosts from 1942
playing jazz. The event is forcing unstable
time shifts. The Ghostbusters lack their
equipment since they left it back in New York City. Can they find a way to silence an old jazz
band with musical powers?
A positive for this episode is that Slimer is practically
non-existent in it. The negative would
be that the writer’s failed to capitalize on that. It’s another low animation budget episode that
hardly entertains and makes you hate the tune of ‘When the Saints come marching in’.
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| Homeless people avoid this place |
As the Ghostbusters drive to their destination Peter
mentions how badly he wants to go to Mardi gras but that’s not surprising. Ecto-1 spins out of control but gets
straightened out by Winston’s incredible driving as they continue forward. Ray reads the brochure of the hotel they’ll
be staying at and as they arrive the place is literally in shambles. It looks like crap. Peter snatches the pamphlet out of Ray’s
hands, “This brochure was printed in
1925 Ray.” How do you not notice
that? How do you even have a brochure
from that long ago? Ray’s often
cluelessness amazes me. A blond woman
approaches them and speaks with an awful accent. Peter suddenly decides that this terrible
hotel will suit them just fine. Is it
because you’re attracted to the woman Peter?
Why do the other guys agree to stay there? I’d hop in ecto-1 and move on. Upon entering their room Winston says, “I know some roaches in New York that wouldn’t
stay here.” I think that might be
the funniest line of this episode! The
room is dreadful but they decide to stay anyway.
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| Does this guy look familiar? |
Malachi and his ghostly jazz band begin playing at
midnight. They draw in people from the
town including Ray to come dance at their gazebo. The guys watch Ray sleep walk outside while
Egon yammers off some very wacky scientific jargon. He does that quite often in this episode and
I felt it was overdone. He also claims
Ray is possessed. How could he know
that? There were no supernatural visuals
to give it away. It really looked like
Ray was sleepwalking. The guys follow Ray
out to the street to see what’s going on when Peter says, “So why did Ray get invited to this party and we didn’t?” The delivery of the line is funnier than the
actual line, thanks Lorenzo Music. Egon
notices that the ghosts are shifting time with their supernatural music. I don’t know how that works and it’s kind of
lame. The people begin to change cloths
to different eras. The blond woman
throws some pixie dust onto the jazz ghosts and they disappear. Better than a proton pack!
The woman explains that Malachi was a fantastic jazz player
from long ago and has come back to play his music while turning back the
clock. He is apparently stuck in 1942
and wants to play ‘When the Saints come
marching in’ for all eternity. He
must be stopped I’m sick of hearing that song loop! They find out that the woman is into voodoo
and that’s how she was able to stop the ghosts earlier. I’d say it’s very convenient that the guys
strolled into town precisely when these jazz ghosts started becoming so
powerful. I’d prefer it actually been a
call and Peter wanting to stop off at Mardi gras on the way but oh well. They decide to call up Janine and have her
ship their proton packs to them. If they
were driving ecto-1 down here anyway why not bring the packs? I’m sure there would be room.
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| Malachi & his band |
Later the guys are walking along and Winston says, “So this time warp stuff is a problem huh?” I wonder if it is, come on Winston can’t be
that stupid. Ray adds an interesting
notion, “Time is what keeps everything
from happening at once.” There is
something about that line that is neat.
They approach Malachi and their cloths start to change while they jump
around in time. I haven’t the foggiest of
how all this happens. Eventually they
randomly arrive back in the present, lucky for them. Ray and Winston decide to head to New Orleans
as their equipment should be there by now.
Egon busts out his spare PKE meter which he always has! You can count on him to be somewhat prepared
at all times. He figures out that to
beat the musician ghosts they’ll need to counter with some of their own
music. They could also use the proton
packs that should be arriving shortly, either way Egon.
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| He likes his work |
They run into a snag when Ray and Winston inform the others
that there equipment was shipped to Hawaii.
Janine I love your sense of humor but was that really necessary? I doubt it was her but you never know. The Ghostbusters are at a loss of what to do. They decide to go to the convention that they
originally planned on when they arrived to get parts to build a proton pack and
trap. At least from what I piece
together that’s the plan, it’s not entirely as easy to follow as most
episodes. It’s cool to see Ray working
on the equipment back at their hotel.
Peter always has something to say too, “Come on Ray there are guys at NASA that can do this on their lunch
break.” Really guys at NASA can make
ghost busting equipment? I know it’s a joke
to make fun of how long it’s taking to make the proton pack but NASA?!
Later on Ray sports his new proton pack and fires upon the
ghosts but the pack overcharges quickly and explodes. It would have been neat to have the theme
music briefly for that moment but we are denied. The part when Egon suggests for Ray to remove
the pack is so calm and collective that it’s a strange experience to
watch. The pack is going to explode you
guys should be in a panic or at least excitable mode! After it goes boom Peter says, “Nice work Ray remind me to let you fix my
stereo.”
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| Can words describe this? |
Egon has the last chance at stopping Malachi. He uses a portable handheld computer device
to program instruments to counter the music the jazz ghosts are sending
off. It’s silly but it’s the only option
they can try. Egon suggests all they
need to do is provide air for the instruments not actually play them. The woman gets in one shot, “Mr. Venkman seems to have plenty of that.” She is referring to the air, ha-ha! Before they head out Egon slams all jazz
music fans by claiming rock and roll can defeat it. The ridiculous factor lifts off and the
Ghostbusters become the music busters as they change cloths and send off riffs
against the jazz ghosts. It’s not a
total loss as you get to see some wacky outfits the guys wear. They vanquish the spirits with a final send
off and restore time to its proper place.
In the end Peter rushes onto a bus to New Orleans to catch Mardi gras
which is over he just doesn’t realize.
The others get a free trip to Hawaii to compensate for the mix up with
their gear.
One aspect I like about this episode is the Ghostbusters are
away from the regular environment of New York City and never appear in their
standard jumpsuits. It’s neat to see how
they must conform to circumstance to save the day. It’s also great that Slimer is only in one
scene.
Rating: 6.5 of 10
Links
Next Up: Sea Fright – Episode 17
Previous: Station Identification – Episode 15
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