Anyone who bought the Season One DVD is hopefully aware of what a brilliantly conceived and executed series Gargoyles is. The first season of this show introduced us to a world that, while farfetched, was also down to Earth in its setting, storytelling and central themes; a world with a diverse and interesting cast of characters; a world that keeps you guessing just where things are going to lead next.
Back when I was a snot-nosed freshman in the summer of 1995 (soon to become a not-as-snot-nosed sophomore) the first 13 episodes of this show had me wondering just how it could possibly get better. Imagine my shock when, on Labor Day 1995, that question was answered. Well, to be honest, I was hiking that weekend, and so missed the kickoff of the second season. I actually wasn't very connected to the internet or any sort of fan base at that point in my tender youth, so I had very little warning that the second season was even coming. The day after Labor Day, back in school, or rather home from school and flipping through the channels, I accidentally stumbled across the second episode of the new season, "Metamorphosis," right as it was starting. For those who don't know, the episode continues certain events of the first season episode "Her Brother's Keeper." To this day, this episode is still memorable to me for several reasons, in that it displays many of the earmarks of the Gargoyles series (and one of the things that makes the show so interesting). First, is the idea that the story is ongoing. These characters develop over time. Events in one episode carry over to the next, and sometimes, the repurcussions of what take place in one episode can resound throughout the entire series. Like real life, the characters live, learn, and carry the knowledge they've gained with them. Which brings me to my second point. Like real life, things don't always end well or are not resolved in 30 minutes. Ten years ago (this September 5th), I was absolutely shocked by the ending to "Metamorphosis." It took me several minutes to realize what I'd just seen. I won't give away any intricate details (not that I could to a Gargoyles fan), all I'll say is the good guys don't win. In a sense, even the "bad guy" still suffers a loss. And I use the term in quotations because I'm coming to the third reason this series was so amazing. This was touched upon in Season One, but becomes fleshed out more in the second season: there is no black-and-white good or evil in Gargoyles. All the characters, like people in real life, are defined by shades of gray. Characters like Xanatos, Demona, and MacBeth might seem like enemies of the gargoyles, but they're hardly what you would call "cliched" villains. They're still capable of experiencing things like love, sorrow, fear, regret, the things that make us "human" (and as you'll see, some of them grow to become allies of the gargoyles).
Of course, it helps that the show was backed by an incredible production staff. The way the creative team (guided by co-creator/co-producer Greg Weisman) managed to expand upon events of the first season episodes, and actually keep things interesting. The fact that they had equally amazing voice talent also helps. Actors such as Keith David, Jonathon Frakes, Marina Sirtis, Jeff Bennett, Salli Richardson, and others far too numerous to mention here, managed to breathe life into these characters in such a way that really opened my eyes to the power of animation.
There's really not too much more to say. Except for the following. Fans of Gargoyles, you know what to do. Those of you who weren't really diehard fans of the show, but bought the Season One DVD (either out of curiosity or a desire to reminisce) and want to see how it can get better, look no further. And to anyone in general who wants to know why this show has retained such an enormous fanbase almost ten years after it was cancelled, here's your chance to see why this show rules (and be sure to buy the Season One DVD as well, just so you're not entirely in the dark).
PS: On a personal note, it looks like this DVD, as well as the first one, is unrated. In which case, it'll be damn good to hear Goliath use the word "terrorist" again. ( ;