Episode 3, Season 1 "Dan Vs. The Ninja" - INDY'S REVIEW

E3, S1 "DAN VS. THE NINJA"

This episode is very silly, as you would expect! I would consider this episode a Dan vs. Classic. It encapsulates the vibe, humor, and the dynamic of the show perfectly. I enjoyed this episodes sweet ending and the continuity it brings to the rest of the show.

PART 1: SUMMARY

In this episode, Dan is walking home with lactose free milk and cookies, when he is suddenly the target of a cookie-stealing ninja. The ninja steals his cookies, leaving him needing revenge!

The following morning, Dan is at Chris' house requesting for help once again. Chris refuses to believe him, until Dan reveals a shuriken that he took from the encounter the previous night. Upon inspection, Elise realizes the shuriken belongs to the Koshugi clan. She leaves the house in a panic to grab her weapons, and when she returns, she asks Dan where he last saw the ninja.
Silliness ensues: Elise explains the story of the Koshugi clan, and how they became professional cookie thieves. Chris dresses like Dan to try to lure the ninja out of hiding, and he gets shot by a poisoned dart, which causes him to hallucinate. And Elise successfully tracks down the ninja, and they battle on the side of the road, but the ninja escapes unharmed.
Elise and Dan drag Chris home and notice a scroll attached to the door. The scroll is from the ninja, who is requesting a duel to settle their differences. Elise leaves for the battle and Dan secretly follows.
Once they have the ninja cornered, he reveals his identity. His name is Dave. He asks for some sort of deal since he doesn't want to die. They decide to spare him, and Dave bakes them cookies to make up for what happened.
Dave opens up a cookie shop called Dave's cookies, which is seen multiple times after throughout the show.

PART 2: THOUGHTS

I really enjoyed this episode. I was surprised that they managed to talk about ninjas in a inoffensive way. You can tell they took time to learn about ninjas before writing this episode, and it really works.
I'm also glad they managed to steer away from the Dan's car gets destroyed plot. This episode instantly piqued my interest because of this.

PART 3: DEVELOPMENT

Elise's personality is even more explored through this episode. While there is still a shadow of mystery surrounding her work or patchwork of knowledge, it starts to feel more natural for her- of course she knows how to fight a ninja. She knows everything!
Elise and Dan's relationship still feels pretty rough, but they make a funny duo. You would never expect them to be able to get along, but they do in this episode. It's pretty sweet.

PART 4: HUMOR

I especially enjoyed when Dan is commenting on Chris' Dan costume. He says its inaccurate, because he is much more handsome and "debonair." Elise looks at him and says "Yes, Dan, that's a very debonair stain on your shirt." Also, Dan tricking Chris into eating his own hand while he's hallucinating is gold. Why did he do that? What did he get out of it? We may never know. It is hilarious nonetheless.

PART 5: OVERALL RATING

8/10!