Phineas and Ferb - TV Show Review

Characters:
Phineas Flynn
Ferb Fletcher
Candice Flynn
Perry The Platypus
Isabella Garcia-Shapero
Baljeet
Buford Von Stomm
Dr Heinz Doofenshmirtz

I'm expanding my horizons and doing a television show review today, starting with a kids' show. No. Don't you ever call it that. Phineas and Ferb will never just be 'a kids' show'. 

Phineas and Ferb is a Disney-produced television series that aired between, and inclusive of, 2007 and 2015. Set entirely in Summer (and Winter) vacations, it focuses on two step-brothers, named in the title, and their insane yet amazing creations to make the most of everyday. Their sister Candice, meanwhile, tries to rat them out to their mom, and hilariously, against all odds, fails each time. 

On the other side of all of this, is the greatest secondary story in the history of secondary stories. It follows the continuous attempts of Phineas and Ferb's pet platypus, Perry (who is a secret agent), to spoil the plans of his dimwitted arch-nemesis Dr Heinz Doofenshmirtz. 

Now look, that sounds ridiculous. That's the point. This show has a formula that's supposed to make it stale and crumble in on itself, but it never did that. In the first episode, they built a roller coaster for goodness' sake. But that wouldn't overshadow anything. There was always a way for it to be just as good, or even better, with every new episode. Every episode was a musical. And it had an almost identical mix of things in every episode:

1. "Ferb, I know what we're gonna do today!"
2. "Whatyadoin?"
3. "Hey, where's Perry?"
4. Phineas and Ferb construct what they need to.
5. Candice tries to bust them.
6. Perry goes to Doofenshmirtz's headquarters, gets trapped. 
7. Perry escapes, foils his plan. 
8. Doofenshirtz's creation miraculously gets rid of Phineas and Ferb's. 
9. Candice fails. 
10. Ferb delivers his one-liner.
11. Some sort of song in there somewhere.
12. The end. 

Why is it that this show was so great then?

The answer is pretty simple. Heart. This show had so much of it. 

In a time where the quality of cartoons is steadily, and sadly, declining, this show was different. It was what a cartoon show is meant to be: fun. But it was also so much more than that. It had emotion. It explored every character, even minor ones, in depth, and it pushed the boundaries of imagination. That was the most important element of it. It brought out the child in you. 

Since this is a Disney product, there were some great crossover episodes, including a Marvel episode and a Star Wars one. This show was so diverse with each new episode, that is just made itself better each time. 

But even looking past all that, the show had an incredible message embedded within it. It told people to make the most of everyday, or, if you will, carpe diem. And to be honest, this cannot be looked over. Everyone may not be able to travel the world from sunrise to sunset, or make Winter in Summer, but they can seize the day. This show emphasised that. And I love that it does that. 

Cartoons, they can be fun. Or I should say, they're meant to be. But there are some that are more than that. They're deeper, and have a greater meaning. Those cartoons are the best kind. Popeye is an example, but that's basically saying "Eat your vegetables". This show's message was unique and awesome. And that made it so much fun too. Spongebob Squarepants made my childhood, but not because it taught me some great stuff. This show did that. 

I can't even point out any negatives with this show, because there really weren't any. 

On a scale where M is the lowest, and R is the highest rating possible, with the highlighted letter being the rating:

Phineas and Ferb: MIHIR

Without a doubt.