The Legend of Zelda

Well, I just spent my day watching 13 episodes of The Legend of Zelda cartoon that came out with the Super Mario Brothers show way back when I was a kid. I believe there were only 13 episodes in total, but after having seen the last one, there is certainly no conclusion. It appears as though the cartoon was left open-ended at that time so that another season could be made, but the perhaps the cartoon was cancelled.

Considering my childhood involved the trusty 8-bit Nintendo Entertainment System as a source of fun, I naturally loved quality programming such as Captain N: the game Master as well as The Legend of Zelda. Then again, I also watched the Flintstones, Scooby Doo, Rocket Robin Hood, and Hercules, so maybe I wasn't being terribly objective.

It looks to me as though this show was made after the first two Zelda games were released for the NES, and possibly even after The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (read: Best Zelda game created to date). The classic enemies from old zelda games were there including stalfos, moblins, durago (sp?), and a bunch of other enemies whose names I can't remember. However, there were a couple which I for some reason or other recognize only from Zelda 3, such as the crablike thing with the armor on. Maybe I'm mistaken? It certainly reminded me of the boss of the first dark palace in Zelda 3 in which you use either the hammer or bombs to break his armor. Anyways, regarding the show itself, I have to say I have a few comments (Spoilers coming).

1) First things first: Is Link ever going to get a kiss from Zelda? I mean heck, she obviously loves him. Playing hard to get is one thing. Playing all but impossible to get is another. In episode 12, where Link got hit by a spell that teleported his body into Ganon's jar and left his spirit floating around, it was revealed that everyone could hear Link's spirit speak, but only those who loved him could see him.

2) Regarding the way she bosses him around and actually gets him to do what she says most of the time... seems strangely familiar... in fact, I swear I know guys who are that whipped... (you know who you are!) What can I say? I went to the bookstore today and I saw a book entitled "Why Men Love Bitches". It naturally caught my attention, so I went over and checked it out. It targeted nice girls who couldn't understand why so many men ignored them and eagerly persued the aforementioned girls instead. Well, when I found that out, I simply could not let that go. I'm rather upset that some author can go out there and try to brainwash the girls I would like most and turn them into the girls I would like least! It's not like we have a shortage of the latter!! That said, for those who are in the former group who are not receiving the attention they feel they deserve, please kindly do not purchase or read this book, and consider talking to me first. ;)

3) Okay, I guess I understand why Zelda won't kiss Link. He says "Excuuuuuse me, Princess" way too often. I guess I wouldn't be inclined to kiss someone who said the same annoying thing every 5-10 minutes. It also doesn't help that he says this in the intro just after he uses the zap from what is possibly the Master Sword to help him and Zelda escape from Moblins and company.

4) I think they made Zelda far too capable in the cartoon. Most of the time, she doesn't even need Link. They do address this in episode 12. I'm not saying that Zelda shouldn't be so capable, but in the game, she is clearly a damsel in distress who wears royal robes, and has not been trained to wield weapons... and considering the administrative duties of royalty, when would she ever have time for this kind of training anyways? In the show, she wears a dress maybe once, but is usually outfitted in clothing more suitable for fighters, plus she is proficient with boomerangs and bows, not to mention can actually use the Master Sword if the need arises... which, by the way, is only supposed to be wieldable by the Hero, who we discover in Zelda 3 to be Link. Then again, he has a sword that can zap in Zelda 1, but I have no idea where he got it, or why he doesn't have it in Zelda 3.

5) Why are Ganon's minions so stupid?! Heck, why is Ganon so stupid?! I guess Ganon obviously does not believe in hiring professionals and he probably can't enslave professionals who are better than him. But still, Ganon is clearly a black mage who wishes he played blue instead. After all, if I learned anything from Magic: The Gathering, blue is the real evil color. Black only wishes it was as good as blue most of the time. What really bugs me is that the whole premise of the show ("Whoever gets both triforces will rule this land forever") is bologna. Ganon does succeed in procuring Zelda's Triforce of Wisdom in one episode, but doesn't use it to do anything, only to have Link get it back before the end of the episode. Also, how did Ganon manage to steal the Triforce of Power? Who did he steal it from? Obviously, if guy like Ganon can steal one of the Triforces, the control over Hyrule is far from permanent at any time.

All in all, the show is very repetitive, much like the Dungeons and Dragons cartoon was. The good guys never win, the bad guys never win, anything that really happens in the show is temporary and the state of things at the beginning of the episode is pretty much the same at the end of the episode. Wow. And all these years, I though I was missing out because I didn't catch all the episodes. At least they kept it entertaining. I guess it was a good thing that the show didn't get a second season. Too bad the same cannot be said of Power Rangers...