This episode jumps right into the danger.

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This is apparently a “Yama.” These creatures will never been seen or mentioned again after this episode.

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I wonder if this village has a name? It appears to be built in an oasis, or at least that’s my story and I’m sticking to it because:

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Otherwise I have no idea why the Sultan would be interested in having it charted.

Also I wasn’t aware there was a river near enough to Agrabah for the Sultan to want a map of it. I know it’s near an ocean because 1) they sell fresh fish, and 2) the cast visits the beach in several episodes.

So where is this place? Does it have a name? It appears that they’ve got some crops growing; what sort of produce do they provide?

And now for some less serious observations: 

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WHO IS DRIVING MONKEY IS DRIVING HOW CAN THIS BEEEE

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Your drawing skills are darling, Aladdin, but I don’t think that’s how you’re supposed to chart the river.

Also it’s cute when we have episodes where Aladdin is trying to be the grownup in the group. Because a lot of times he really isn’t.

Production Code Episode 43: In the Heat of the Fright

Mirage’s first episode and by this counting one of the first more serious villains to appear that wasn’t simply a one-off character. This one’ll be coming at you slowly, because I’m about two scenes into it and I’ve already found I have a million questions and thoughts.

Remember as always that I accept requests. Just know that if it’s a later episode for a recurring character I will have to cover their intro episodes first.

I’m not sure if you’ve answered this before but do you support the theory that Mozenrath and Aladdin are brothers? How do you think they’re related exactly (if so)?

Okay so I had to address this in roleplaying Mozenrath because after a few years on a single, consistent storyline, you kind of have to start making some assumptions about upbringing, family, etc.

I will say this much: The writers did say they intended to reveal that in the third movie, but they were told to distance the film as much from the series as possible (which was a poor choice) and they also couldn’t get Jonathan Brandis. As for in-continuity stuff: Cassim does not mention having another son. He talks about leaving behind one wife and one child. This could be interpreted any number of ways but in the end I went ahead and picked one myself. I play him in game as being Aladdin’s brother, but he doesn’t know yet and neither does anyone else, and for now that’s the most I’ll say on that.

Don’t forget, Mozenrath teamed up with the Muktar and Amin Dimoola!

I always forget about “The Hunted” because he only shows up at the very end.

And Amin Damoola – I try to forget that episode almost entirely. Even though it’s probably sporting some of the best and most consistent Mozenrath has in the entire series. Very careful with proportions, strong attention to detail, vast range of expressions.

…I’ve capped a lot of his episodes for icons.

Maybe it’s because I watched BTAA series so much, but I always wanted to know how the villains would interact with each other: who would hate who, who would like who, etc, etc…

And regrettably we only get a glimpse of that once or twice. The Flawed Couple is one of my favorite episodes ever despite Mechanicles and Abis Mal being my least favorite villains.

We started to see a trend where recurring villains tended to be all comedy or all seriousness, and there were fewer of the latter. It would have been interesting to see how they mixed. (I think it’s the artist Dendraica on DA who did a little comic of Mozenrath and Mechanicles bickering that I absolutely adored. I want more of that!)

Just a note about asks:

I’ve been getting a lot of messages but not asks, and I worry some of you were wanting these to be posted publicly (and I have no idea how to publish messages publicly). If any of you are doing this because you can’t find the ask button with my layout (and for that I’m sorry), because it’s hidden: if you click the little box in the top left corner it’ll give you a dropdown menu with links to the ask box and the Episode Master list, and others as they come long!

I’ll eventually find a better layout; I promise!

Speaking of fanfic

If any of you find yourselves looking through the Aladdin section on ff.net the unfinished ruin that is “The Poles Reversed” is an AU I’ve been working off and on since 2005. I keep updating it because people keep asking me to, and it’s not my best work but probably also the least terrible of what’s up there. But there you go. That’s the only plug I’ll drop, because most of my work on there is bad or outdated or both.

The biggest thingsI found problematic are usually directed towards the genies (Why are they easily bottled, whats up with being imprisoned, the skin thing, all the stuff you brought up) That and what happened to Eden after the second episode. One of my few unanswered nerdy questions from my childhood! D:< (BTW "Tainted: All of Me" on fan-fiction net , This is a great "Third Episode" for Eden and Dhandi, and goes into the Mozenrath Dhandi relationship you talked about. Good read)

At some point, once I’ve treaded most of the important episodes in this regard I’d love to cobble together an “accepted head canon” info post that just discusses how genies work in this world that’s consistent with all the information we’re and have gathered. It could be a fun project!