EGON AND HIS MOM SAVE THE DAY

Ghostworld

Original Air date September 15, 1990

     

Writers: Len Janson and Chuck Menville

Director: Raymond Jafelice

Main Cast:

• Dave Coulier as Peter Venkman
• Frank Welker as Raymond Stantz
• Maurice LaMarche as Egon Spengler
• Buster Jones as Winston Zeddemore
• Kath Soucie as Janine Melnitz
• Frank Welker as Slimer
• Rodger Bumpass as Louis Tully

(Rating 5 of 5)

Summary: Janine and Slimer receive and invitation on behalf of the entire Ghostbusters to attend a new amusement park called Ghostworld.  Ghostworld however is just a plot by an evil ghost named Karro Sans a demonic gatekeeper.   Calling himself Carlo Sands, he plans to take control of New York City by possessing the most important people starting with Ghostbusters.

                Only Janine, Slimer, and Ray except his initial invitation so they get taken over first.   Possessed Ray goes on the job with Peter and Winston and deliberately messes it up.  He then lures them to Ghostworld with the promise of a TV special.  They go down next.

                Egon sees a TV special and knows its bull and despite being sick decides to investigate.  Egon’s mother who has been taking care of her sick son goes with him.  They encounter Janine who doesn’t recognize Egon’s mother.  Egon traps the ghost who was controlling Janine.  Egon then distracts the main ghost in a battle of wits, while Mrs. Spengler and Janine save the three guys and Slimer.  The whole team then takes down the main bad guy.

Okay, all together now!

My Take:  Well its nice see Egon’s mom again, even if I didn’t like her first appearance.  The characterization throughout the episode was great and made it very enjoyable.

                Now for my stray observations:

•  I can’t blame guys who hunt ghosts for a living not wanting to go to a ghost theme park.
•   We can see Egon’s mom’s forceful personality in this episode.
•  This episode reminded me a little of the Sandman episode.  With the Ghostbuster picked off one by one with the final Ghostbuster remaining and unexpected hero.
• How the Hell does a ghost like Slimer get possessed?  And do you fix it? The rest they fixed with a trap they didn’t show how they fixed Slimer. 
•       So Janine is expected to know Egon’s mom on site, they are getting close after the misadventure at the start of the season.
• Despite what Egon says, I think the big bad’s plan was pretty good.

A great episode once again dispelling the theory that the later seasons were lame.