Jailbusters
Original
Air date November
4, 1989
Writers:
Len Janson and Chuck Menville
Director:
Martin Gates
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
4 of 5)
Summary: Louis
and Janine are both overworked and underappreciated. Each of the four Ghostbusters has a special
invite tonight but all four invites were a trap.
The Ghostbusters were kidnapped and taken to the ghost world to be
placed on trial for their crimes against ghosts. Back at the station Louis figures out what had
happened to the Ghostbusters by studying the invitations with Slimer. Janine takes the lead and they head out to
rescue the Ghostbusters.
 |
| The prosecutor of the Ghostbusters. |
The
Ghostbusters are put on a show trial for crimes against ghosts. The trail is a shame the ghosts don’t take
seriously with the judge forgetting what he is doing and the jury sleeping. The Ghostbusters are found guilty and imprisoned. They can’t escape and the food is
horrible. They do get a visit from a
disguised Janine and Louis who have gotten to the ghost world courtesy of
Slimer.
 |
| Jury of Peers? |
As the guys are about to be taken to be
devoured by a monster called “the Armpit” Janine and Louis break in and rescue
the Ghostbusters and they all escape from the ghost world. Raises come Louis and Janine’s way.
 |
| Janine and Louis to the rescue. |
My Take: I generally enjoyed this episode but at the same time I was somewhat disappointed
with it. It presented a very interesting
concept but it was poorly executed. I
always like it when the ghosts finally responding to the threat of the Ghostbusters, and the
idea of them putting the Ghostbusters on trial for crimes
against ghosts is a fascinating one. The
Ghostbusters do play judge, jury, and post-lifetime jailer for all the spirits; so for the ghosts to want to turn this around on them is great concept. Unfortunately it is so poorly executed that
it doesn’t work. The ghosts themselves
don’t take the issue seriously. The jury
often falls asleep and the judge forgets what he is doing.
This
episode would have been so much better if they had only took the main issue
seriously with the ghosts accusing them of doing an actual wrong and the Ghostbusters
having to defend themselves. I already thought of three main arguments the Ghostbusters could use as a defense.
The first is the spirit world and the mortal world should, if not remain separate, have crossovers limited. If a
bunch of mortals invaded the ghost world, the ghosts that lived their would probably do something
about it. The second is the Ghostbusters
don’t harass innocent ghosts they only respond when ghosts are harming
someone. The third is they often have
provided shelter to certain ghosts (Slimer, Buster, Spookums) and they have
often helped other ghosts pass over or complete their mission (Simon Quegg or
Uncle Horace).
Now for
my stray observations:
·
The Ghostbusters are all wearing tuxes
underneath their jumpsuits?!? This would
be like going out playing a game of basketball in your clothes you have for an
interview underneath your shorts and tank top then proceed to go straight to
your interview. I know the Ghostbusters
know how to shower.
·
Nice hat Ray! I don’t know too many people
walking around in fedoras, even in 1989.
·
Ahh… not signing you employees’ paychecks and
paying them when you say you would is a crime.
You’re lucky Louis doesn’t call the Department of Labor on you.
·
Good to see Janine take the lead and organize
the rescue mission, in earlier episodes this season I thought she should have grabbed a pack
earlier.
·
Slimer showing them how to get into the ghost
world was rather easy.
·
Weren’t the ghosts even sort of suspicious about
these two random humans hanging out in the ghost world?
A good episode that could have
been better.
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