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Air Date: Saturday, February 5, 1994  Intro: While the Midnight Society gathers, peacefully, Tucker (Daniel DeSanto) races into the scene. When Sam (JoAnna Garcia Swisher) grabs hold of him, asking him what the rush is, he mentions excitedly that Betty Ann (Raine Pare-Coull) was up for storytelling; the excitement coming from Gary (Ross Hull) telling him how weird and spooky her stories were. With the pressure on, Betty Ann brings out a doll, much to Tucker's disappointment, so he rudely sets up for a nap during her story. However, Betty Ann's intro just so happens to hold Tucker's attention.
Story: Review: Closing/Moral: Betty Ann finishes her story on a bit of a question, which prompts Tucker to speak up about it, and Betty Ann teases him about staying awake during her "doll story." I think this plays a lot with the concept of listening to kids about things, and not just brushing them off as being "silly," or worse. Air Date: Saturday, January 29, 1994  Intro: The Midnight Society gathers, impatiently awaiting Tucker's (Daniel DeSanto) arrival, as he's supposed to be up for storytelling that night. Gary (Ross Hull) reassures the rest of them that he'll be along soon. Suddenly, a portable phone rings that Gary answers, with Tucker on the other end. Gary hooks the portable phone up to a speaker (in a scene that screams early 90s, these days) so that everyone can hear, and Tucker proceeds to tell his story through the phone, if only for atmosphere, as his story has everything to do with proper phone usage.
Story: Two boys, Jake (Marcus Turner) and Chris (Ryan Kent) are hanging out one night, and decide to make some prank phone calls. Catching them, Jake's sister, Annie (Marlowe Dawn) tells them an urban legend about the "Phone Police," who, one day, hauled away a kid like them for messing around with the phone. When Jake finds the apparent, odd, six-digit number of said kid, he brings it to the attention of the "Phone Company." They then accuse him of prank calling people, take him away, and the urban legend becomes all too real. Review: To no one's surprise, this was certainly better for its time. Back in '94, the whole world of phones was very different than it is today. Half the fun of a prank call was that the other side had little to no way of knowing who you were. Nowadays, something like prank calling would probably be pretty hard to get away with secretively. But while the whole concept of this episode is dated, there is a little something about it that disturbed me at the time; the concept of getting hauled away by anyone, and separated from my loved ones. So, at least for me, this one's effective in its way. But I will say, the ending is a total cop-out. Closing/Moral: As Tucker finishes his story, he sneaks up behind Frank (Jason Alisharan) and startles him. Then there's one final lame joke done with the phone, where Tucker makes it ring, the gang simultaneously yells "I'll get it!," run to the phone, and have a laugh about it while the phone keeps ringing. Morally, "Weird" Al said it best: "Don't go makin' phoney calls!" 3/5 Air Date: Saturday, January 15, 1994  Intro: As the Midnight Society gathers around the campfire, Tucker (Daniel DeSanto) is caught messing with the "midnight dust." Meanwhile, Frank (Jason Alisharan) walks in, aching, due to helping his brother move all day. The group discuss how much moving sucks, but Kiki (Jodie Resther) ends up using the concept of moving into a new place to introduce her story. As she does so, she reaches into an empty bag, as Tucker stole the "midnight dust" as a gag. This is quickly corrected, however, and Kiki carries on with her story.
Story: Stacy Cooper (Lea-Helen Weir) and her mom Bonnie (Denise McLeod) move into a new apartment complex, complete with a strict landlord (Paul Mackan), and a lonely old woman who resides across the hall named Madeline Koegel (Beth Amos). One day, Stacy and Madeline meet, and agree to visit one another as friends. But when Stacy's new friend, Angela (Marie-Chantal Savard) gets them tickets to a Battle of the Bands, one missed visit makes for one upset old lady neighbour. Review: I have to say, I can give this one a bit of credit for being genuinely creepy at times, but it does take a little bit for things to pick up. By the way, when I say genuinely creepy, I do mean for younger audiences at the time. At this point, a lot of it is pretty ironically funny. Beth Amos puts on a great performance here, playing both sides of the coin between sweet, friendly lady and crazy, lonesome crone. I'd say, despite a few accidental laughs, this is one of the better ones, complete with an interesting ending. Perhaps a bit slow at first, but once it gets going, it gets kinda spooky. I think this was well-executed. Closing/Moral: Kiki ends her story, and Tucker compliments her on a good one. Gary is subjected to a couple more Tucker gags, though, including having the water bucket hidden on him. So, morally, one can simply takeaway the standard "don't break your promises" lesson from this, but I'm also gonna have to tack on "only you can prevent forest fires." 4/5 Air Date: Saturday, January 22, 1994  Intro: As a calm thunderstorm rolls through, the Midnight Society gathers, along with a new stranger with a bag over her head. Said stranger is revealed to be Betty Ann's (Raine Pare-Coull) friend, Sam (JoAnna Garcia Swisher), brought in for initiation. As Frank (Jason Alisharan) unsuccessfully hits on her, Gary (Ross Hull) asks her if she's aware of the rules. She goes over them, and eventually takes the seat in the storytelling chair to tell her tale, using the forestry setting, and thunderstorm to her advantage.
Story: An overachiever named Sarah (Kendall Saunders) heads to an all-girl's summer camp where she meets Kelly (Jewel Staite), who's, for all intents and purposes, a "mean girl." Kelly attempts to scare Sarah with a folk legend about the nearby woods, and three sisters who got lost, and whose whistles reside in their cabin, behind glass. One day, the girls go out on a hike together and end up lost, themselves, as Kelly gets captured by three old hags (Sheena Larkin, Victoria Barkoff, and Babs Gadbois), and needs Sarah to save her. Review: Much like 'Frozen Ghost,' this is a fun one to look back on, knowing who Jewel Staite eventually became. Her character isn't exactly likeable, but it's always interesting to see a celebrity's humble beginnings. This one has also gone down through the years as, seemingly, one of the more famous episodes, often toted as genuinely creepy, as there's literally a character in here named "The Watcher," (Tom Rack) whose name says it all. I can understand the genuine creeps people can get from this. I also have to give full credit to the set designers of this one for at least a couple of really creepy-looking skulls! Closing/Moral: As one would expect, after Sam ends her story, she's unanimously voted into the group. Morally, I suppose it could be said there's a bit of a "stranger danger" element to this, but I mostly get the idea of simply not wandering into the woods (or anywhere else) alone, because you never know what you might run into. 4/5 Air Date: Saturday, January 8, 1994  Intro: The beginning of a new season sees Kristen and David sadly leaving the Midnight Society, due to their parents moving away. As a result, Gary (Ross Hull) brings in none other than his little brother, Tucker (Daniel DeSanto), to fill one of their places. While the rest of the group complains about him being a little kid, Tucker insists that they give him a chance. Gary further reveals that if Tucker wasn't allowed to come along, he wouldn't be able to come anymore. Reluctantly, the group agrees to give him the chance.
Story: Taking place in Sleepy Hollow, where a new kid named Ian Matthews (Tighe Swanson) has just moved, and is trying to fit in and make friends. He befriends a girl named Katie (Rachel Wilson), much to the dismay of her ex, Brad (Patrick Gardner), who can't let her go. Jealous, Brad attempts a prank on Ian, using the Legend of Sleepy Hollow, and its association with Halloween night to his advantage. However, it turns out, some ghost stories just might end up being more real than we all think. Review: This one's okay for a fun Halloween treat, as it's one of only a few actual Halloween episodes of this spooky series. However, I have to say, this is another one in which I don't particularly care about the outcome of it all. Our "hero," Ian, is almost immediately unlikable, Katie's just kinda there to be fought over, and Brad's a typical bully. That said, I appreciate the idea of this story, and its connection to the Sleepy Hollow legend, along with the ghost of Ichabod Crane (Arthur Holden). It's another one where all the right pieces were there, but the execution could have been better. Closing/Moral: Upon finishing his tale, Tucker is welcomed into the Midnight Society with his first of many. While it's mostly just a ghost story nodding to another ghost story, I'd say that the morals lie within the campfire intro and epilogue. It's mostly about giving someone a chance instead of underestimating them. 3/5 Air Date: Saturday, September 25, 1993  Intro: Things open up with David (Nathaniel Moreau) poking at the campfire, looking depressed. As it turns out, he's being made to move and start up at a new school. Frank (Jason Alisharan) and Kiki (Jodie Resther) are absolute jerk-wads about it, and verbally bully him about being a baby about it. David manages to stand up for himself by reminding them of how hard it can be when you don't know anyone, and have to start over again. However, the good news is that his situation inspires his story - sadly, his last.
Story: Siblings Augie (Illya Woloshyn) and Jasmine (Heather Brown) are sent to a boarding school while their parents go away on business. Within the school, the staff all act very strange, hating any high-frequency noises, and feeding the kids something called "spunge," which everyone but them happily gobble down. On their first night, their peers get out of their beds, seemingly brainwashed by something. But as Augie and "Jazz" follow them, they find out there's more unusual stuff to this school than they could have possibly imagined. Review: I tend to like David's stories, and he's also my favourite member of the Midnight Society based on relatability. That said, I might consider this his weakest one, and it's a shame it's his last. The creep factor is definitely there, but these siblings aren't the most likeable characters, things move a bit slow, there's an irritating tone repeated throughout the episode (although, it's supposed to be), and the dialogue includes great exchanges like "It was just a nightmare." / "In the day?" David (and Kristen, just as a reminder) will be missed, but I might recommend most, if not any of David's stories over this one. Closing/Moral: David ends his story, and Gary (Ross Hull) declares their meeting over, along with the joke that they'd all better get straight home because it was a school night. This one lacks in moral, and acts as more of a monster movie. But I will say based on the way this starts, there's a bit of "don't judge people if you don't know what they're going through." 3/5  Intro: In one of the more fun openings to the show, we get the Midnight Society playing a bit of Hide 'n Seek in the dark. As everyone rushes to "home," David (Nathaniel Moreau) loses out, and speaks up about skipping to the story. Kristen (Rachel Blanchard) agrees in her way, asking why they're playing a "stupid kid's game." Said "kid's game," however, happened to be the inspiration for Kiki's (Jodie Resther) story that night. She then sets the mood by talking about the game, how those moments alone can be spooky, and begins her story.
Story: Jack (Adam Bonneau) and his brother, Kenny (Michael Alexander Jackson) are new to town, and haven't socialized much yet. They are one day met by a group of kids, led by a boy named Marshall (Jonathan Cameron), who invites them to play Hide 'n Seek in the local cemetery that night. They meet them, and are told the story of "Old Man Corcoran," a spooky groundskeeper who allegedly did violent things. But while trying to prove themselves to this new group of kids, they discover Corcoran isn't the creepiest thing about this graveyard. Review: On the whole, I really enjoy this one, but it's far from perfect. I enjoy the story, it's another great one for the Halloween season, and the fake-out at the end, although it's fairly easy to see coming, is still a cool twist. I can really appreciate something that misdirects you, but only sort of. I mean, Corcoran (David Francis), himself, is still a creepy character. On the other hand, Jack is a bit of a cocky jerk, and one of the kids, Cissy Vernon (Tamar Kozlov) is almost too easy to hate. If these character could just be cooled down, this would have the potential to be awesome, but they take you out of it just that little bit. Closing/Moral: Kiki ends and asks if anyone still thinks Hide 'n Seek is still just a kid's game. The rest of them start calling "not it," until Frank (Jason Alisharan) is left. I guess there's a bit of a lesson about not messing with strangers just to prove something, and being careful of the company you keep. But this is another one that could just be seen as a fun ghost story. 4/5 Air Date: Saturday, August 21, 1993  Intro: This one takes place on the (loose) anniversary of Frank's (Jason Alisharan) first story, 'Phantom Cab,' which everyone seems to remember fondly, complete with Kristen (Rachel Blanchard) and Kiki (Jodie Resther) paraphrasing Dr. Vink's (Aron Tager) catchphrase; "Dr. Vink, with a v-v-v-v!" On the anniversary of one of them joining the group, they have to have a story ready, as it becomes a tradition to do so. Frank enthusiastically tells them he's got the perfect one for the perfect night; the night of a full moon!
Story: Jed Harris (Dominic Zamprogna) and Hughie Downs (Jesse Lavendel) are a couple of aspiring young pet detectives who specialize in missing pets. Jed wants a pet dog, and is using their small business to save for one. While working a case on a missing cat, Jed is led via trail of kitty collars to his neighbour's house (Peter Colvey), where the suspicious activity starts. Soon enough, Jed comes to the realization he's living next door to a werewolf, and this werewolf also seems to become his Mom's (Ellen David) new boyfriend. Review: This is another one of my favourites, altogether. Not only is it spooky in the classic monster movie way, but it gives nods to so many different things including 'Fright Night,' 'Rear Window,' and just to make it fun for the kids watching, a sprinkle of 'Monster Squad' as far as the humour goes here. Further to that, there's that slow realization after the episode that a whole bunch of neighbourhood cats were turned into meat. For as much as I'm a cat-lover and loathe the idea, I can't deny that it "goes there," either, and that adds a certain level of psychological horror to things. Closing/Moral: Frank ends his story, the Midnight Society applauds, and Gary (Ross Hull) brings up Frank's anniversary surprise, as he produces a skewer, suggesting they'll be having "roast Frank," which, to the relief of Frank, ends up being hotdogs. Morally, it's about not judging a book by its cover, not being nosey, and it even teaches acceptance to a degree. 4/5 Air Date: Saturday, September 11, 1993  Intro: Gary (Ross Hull) walks around the campfire, saying how pleased he is to see that the rest of them are on time for his story. Frank (Jason Alisharan) accuses him of sounding like his homeroom teacher, Mr. Drego, whom both Betty Ann (Raine Pare-Coull) and Gary defend. Gary goes on to mention that Drego comes into his Dad's magic shop all the time, and is a "prestidigitator," a.k.a. a magician. This segues into Gary's story, which he cleverly introduces by using a stick as a magic wand to get the campfire roaring as opposed to the usual "midnight dust."
Story: Todd Marker (Noah Plener) and his Mother (Sally Singal) struggle to make ends meet after the passing of his father, so he applies for a "Magician's Assistant" job for the Great Shandu (James Bradford). As he's shown the ropes and taught the rules of being a magician, Todd also finds himself too curious for his own good upon the realization that slight of hand is one thing, but Shandu's wand has some real magic to it. But in trying to sneak it away to help his Mom, he find using another magician's wand has some real consequences to it. Review: In yet another completely middle-ground episode, this plays out a bit more as fantasy comedy to me than any level of horror. That said, to be perfectly fair, this one also provides us with another one of the creepiest faces in 'AYAOTD' history; almost a pre-curser to he much creepier "Creature of Darkness" in Season 3's 'Tale of the Quicksilver.' Otherwise, I'd argue that altogether, it's one of the series' lighter episodes, and much lighter than Gary's usual storytelling with his twist endings. While it may not be a personal favourite on the whole, I still can't deny that it's memorable, if only for that one nasty character. Closing/Moral: Gary wraps things up, dowses the fire, and the gang start heading home. A curious Frank, however, stays behind and tries seeing if Gary's "wand" will work for him, of course, to no avail. I think for the most part, this is mostly about not taking what doesn't belong to you for your own purposes, or else, there could be some kind of consequence. 3/5 Air Date: Saturday, August 28, 1993  Intro: Gathered around the campfire, and roasting marshmallows, the majority of the Midnight Society is shown waiting around for Kristen (Rachel Blanchard) and David (Nathaniel Moreau), who recently got his bike stolen. Upon their arrival, the gang start talking about the incident in an almost "after-school-special" tone, and one has to bear in mind this was meant for kids. However, the incident also inspired David's story for that night; a tale about a boy who loved his bicycle so much, he took it everywhere he went... including his grave.
Story: Mike (Matthew Edison) and Ricky (Benjamin Shirinian) were once best friends, until one day, Ricky was tragically lost in an accident while they were racing their bikes. Mike often has nightmares about the accident, but has support from his family and friends, namely his younger brother, Ben (Jamieson Boulanger). One day, however, Mike starts seeing visions of Ricky's ghost, along with his titular "shiny red bicycle." While his friends and family are more concerned with his delusions, the real question is, why is this haunting happening now? Review: This is a pretty great all-encompassing episode for the series. There's definitely the creepy factor we all want, but for once, we have a sibling duo who don't bicker all the time and are more the best friend types. As a result, I give a damn about what's going on with them. I can also relate to losing a best friend at an early age, and the difficulty in moving on. I'd say what makes this particular episode so good lies in the fact that they put some real heart into this one. I joke about the "after-school-special" quality of the opening, but as far as depth of story goes, this is definitely one of the best. Closing/Moral: David wraps things up with a solid ending, and the meeting comes to a close as Gary (Ross Hull) puts out the campfire. In depth, I think a big part of this episode is all about exposing some of the younger viewers to the concept of death of a loved one, thus making it one of the deeper episodes yet... Also, just don't go around stealing bikes. 5/5 Air Date: Saturday, July 31, 1993  Intro: The Midnight Society approaches the storytelling circle in a big group, discussing that night's rare February 29th full moon, and superstitions attached to such a rarity (and it sure as hell did not happen in the 90s, but for the fun of the episode, we'll let that slide). At the clearing, they find a mysterious stranger standing there, wearing a creepy skeleton mask, eventually revealed to be Betty Ann (Raine Pare-Coull). She claims she's wearing the mask for protection from evil spirits due to the rare moon and cultural superstitions, and that segues into her story.
Story: Dysfunctional siblings, Claire (Tamar Lee) and Andrew (Ryan Gifford) are on their way home from the local carnival, along with their babysitter, Louise Lam (Vivian Liu) on a February 29th full-moon-night, and are redirected by a fake sign. Said sign leads them to a small tavern, where they meet the creepy Master Raymond (Robert Higden). He leads them down a path which ultimately leads them to a house full of creepy secrets where Claire and Andrew will have to set their differences aside in order to rescue their babysitter, who wandered in. Review: It's another one that conceptually does pretty well as far as the spooky factor goes. It ends up being a fun "haunted house" episode. Then you have the idea of Master Raymond being a literal soul-collecting villain, these souls being trapped, helplessly, within the walls of this house (in 'Potter'-like paintings for the most part), and even acidic food, but not in a good spaghetti & meatballs way; more in an Alien Xenomorph blood way. By all accounts, this is one of the creepiest concepts the show has had so far, but there's one huge problem with it - the "solve" for their problem is too simple and convenient, and takes me out of it! Closing/Moral: Betty Ann ends her story with a bit of a cliffhanger, as there will be further February 29th full moons, and Master Raymond wasn't quite done. After the story it becomes a game of "you leave first," with everyone creeped out. Morally, it's pretty much just about setting aside differences to work as a team, and maybe a touch about facing one's fears. 3/5 Air Date: Saturday, July 24, 1993  Intro: Gary (Ross Hull) heads to the Midnight Society campfire, lighting up the storytelling circle, but with no one else around. He steps on a random balloon, popping it, and soon enough, the rest of the gang pops out, yelling "surprise" for Gary's birthday. Gary's pleased as punch that everyone remembered, and Kiki (Jodie Resther) reveals that David (Nathaniel Moreau) even has a special story, just for him. As David sits in the storytelling chair, he also reveals that he borrowed one of Gary's characters for it.
Story: Keith (Chuck Campbell) and Mariah (Cara Pifko) are friends who are generally sweet to each other, but Keith is blinded by the beauty of the popular Shelly Bergman (Eleanor Noble), whose otherwise on and off with her boyfriend, Gary (Sean Hayes). Needing a confidence boost, Keith buys into an ad in a flyer, leading him to Sardo's (Richard M Dumont) magic shop, where he's given a potion that comes with a cryptic warning: "Before bringing out the best, one must fight the dark dragon from within." Review: I'll give the episode plenty of credit for things like makeup effects improving (as seen above), and a fair amount of relatability when it comes to being love-stricken by the "wrong" person, perhaps while someone wonderful is standing right in front of you. It's all a good lesson to get across; don't have the blinders on. It's also a decent nod to the 'Jekyll & Hyde' story. The episodes problem, however, is that it goes into a combination of melodrama and goofiness, and it ends up being hard to take seriously - even for an episode of a show where the charm is in its cheesiness. This one's good, but not great. Closing/Moral: David ends the story, the gang wish Gary a collective "happy birthday," and things fade to black. I guess if it all boils down to any sort of moral, things here are all about being yourself, but also, as mentioned before, not having those "blinders" on because sometimes what you want in a relationship is right in front of you, but you miss it. 3/5 Air Date: Saturday, July 17, 1993  Intro: As the Midnight Society grows impatient, awaiting the arrival of another late member, Kiki (Jodie Resther) finally arrives with her voice taken out by laryngitis. Taking a seat at the storytelling chair, she opens up a box to unveil an old typewriter, and hands some notes to Gary (Ross Hull). She then goes on in a sickly, raspy voice that she used said typewriter to write her story to have someone else read it aloud because her throat is killing her. She submits her story for approval, and Gary continues to read.
Story: A young man named Sean Hackett (Michael Hong) has a passion for creative writing along with a crush on classmate, Jennifer Johnson (Nicole Lyn). As a result, a lot of his stories are also about her. One day, he and his friend Billy (Joel Gordon) find a hidden room in Sean's new house and find an old typewriter. They soon find that if Sean writes a story about someone while they're sleeping, that person dreams of Sean's story. However they also find that if they're read aloud, they come true, and Sean's stories often come with dark endings. Review: This is one of those situations where I absolutely love the ideas behind the story, and conceptually, as a lover of the mystery world of dreams, this is a personal favourite. Certain things about it could have been executed better, but someone needs to take this idea and turn it into a horror movie. If I have any complaints about it, aside from some of the execution of the concept, it's nitpicky at best. The acting can be a bit stiff here, namely from Sean, but I can't very well criticize the acting in a series made to be children's horror. It also has one of my favourite endings! Closing/Moral: Gary ends the story, and the gang suddenly find that Kiki snuck away while everyone was paying attention to Gary. However she left the typewriter behind with a note that Frank (Jason Alisharan) reads aloud, suggesting a headless man chasing down the Midnight Society one by one. I love it! But I have no idea what the moral of the story is... 4/5 Air Date: Saturday, August 7, 1993  Intro: As the Midnight Society gathers around the campfire, all of them are stricken by the extreme heat of the night - all except Kristen (Rachel Blanchard), perfectly comfortable in her jacket, and not breaking a single sweat. David (Nathaniel Moreau) even makes a crack about renaming their club the "Heatwave Society," suggesting they use his Uncle's pool as opposed to a roaring campfire. As the rest of the gang questions Kristen's comfort, she tells the rest of them that her story will be a surefire way to beat the heat.
Story: A spoiled rich kid named Charles (Andrew Henry) and his babysitter, Daphne (Melissa Joan Hart) are dropped off at Charles' Aunts' house (Sandra Scott and Sara Lee Stadelman) for the weekend. Soon enough, Charles realizes that the place is haunted by a kid whose catch phrase is "I'm cold," and if you remember this episode, that line is probably what you remember most. Of course, Daphne is skeptical, but the aunts don't seem to throw aside Charles' stories of a frozen ghost "chillin" outside his bedroom window, either. Review: To my memory, this was actually the first episode of this series I ever saw, and it was at someone else's house. I remember loving the idea of this toe-dip horror show made for kids, and immediately embraced it as one of my regular programs with absolutely no regrets. That said, looking at this episode now, there's a tinge of cringe to it somewhere between Charles and the Frozen ghost both being some form of irritating. That said, the aunts are by far the best part of it, reminiscent to the elderly pairs of ladies in movies like 'Coraline' or 'Kiki's Delivery Service,' and it's a neat time capsule to see MJH in her pre-'Sabrina' years. Closing/Moral: As Kristen wraps up her final story, the rest of the gang comment on it, seemingly enjoying it, and she boasts that she told the rest of them she'd "give them the shivers." For the most part, this one seems to be about helping others in need, and there's even a touch of reminiscence of 'The Sixth Sense' because of it - although this came first. 3/5  Intro: The Midnight Society opens things up by taking turns at guessing what Kriten's (Rachel Blanchard) gimmick will be for her story that night. She brought her dog in for 'Hungry Hounds', and dressed as a ghost for 'Prom Queen'; her gimmicks are what make her stories extra fun (to the group, at least). This time around, she enters the scene in hippie garb, along with paraphernalia from the 60s she found in her parents attic (which would be like finding 90s garb today... ouch). Anyway, she soon begins what I consider one of her better stories.
Story: A French transfer student named Julie Dufaux (Karen Elkin) comes to a new school, and has a hard time adjusting, especially when it comes to a couple of bullies and Assistant Principal, Mr. Shaffner (John Koensgen). However, she befriends a guy named Chris (Cory King) who shows her the ropes. Eventually, Julie learns that her locker is actually some kind of time machine she can access using a beaded necklace she discovers one day; a time machine she may be able to use to save the past life of a hippie named Candy (Jennifer Irwin). Review: For me, this is one of those situations in which I really like the ideas behind the story. They just weren't necessarily executed in the best way. That said, it's a decent one for a few unintentional laughs here and there, especially when they get to the 60s and all of the students are definitely stoners. That wasn't something one could really do on early 90s children's programming, but speaking as a self-proclaimed stoner of sorts, all the signs are there. It's not what I'd call a scary episode, but I have to admit that it is actually kinda fun. It's definitely one to go back and watch after a toke as an adult nowadays. Closing/Moral: As Kristen closes her story, the rest of the gang comments with their approval, using 60s slang like "far out," "solid," "psychadelic," and... "neato?" and the night comes to a close. Generally, the moral here is that if you don't learn from the past then you're doomed to repeat it, even though the time travel story sorta flips it on its head. 3/5 Air Date: Saturday, June 26, 1993  Intro: As the Midnight Society gathers, Kiki (Jodie Resther) and David (Nathaniel Moreau) run in, excited about having passes for that night's "Fright Night" at their local theatre, showing three monster movies in a row. Frank (Jason Alisharan) then brings up his experience there, and the reasons why he won't ever go back. I actually appreciate the way he lays it out, and it all segues into his story quite nicely. And just for everyone's information, this episode was something that genuinely creeped me out a bit back in the day, so, bonus points!
Story: An old-fashioned movie theatre called "The Rialto" is about ready to sell its last movie ticket, not being able to keep up with the times. Here, Pete (Eddie Robinson) works with his friend, Katie (Melanie Wiesenthal), and Pete does his best to save the theatre from closing. When their luck runs out, Dr. Vink (Aron Tager) returns to Frank's storytelling, offering to save the theatre in exchange for allowing him to show his movies once a week. Ultimately, it works, but the catch is, these movies have the ability to take on a life of their own. Review: This is definitely one of my all-time favourite episodes of the series. Its creepiness not withstanding, it also introduced me to the likes of the Nosferatu-style vampire (Christopher Heyerdahl), takes place at a movie theatre, features a character who likes movies as much as I do, and it's all topped off with the return of Dr. Vink, who was always a bit of a favourite of mine. But this is well-separated from 'Phantom Cab.' It's much better, and has a fun twist ending. As it usually goes with this show, things get a bit nonsensical, but this will forever be a favourite episode of mine. Closing/Moral: Frank's story is successful enough for David and Kiki to pass on their Fright Night tickets to Frank. Gary (Ross Hull) says he thought he wasn't going, but Frank, having acquired two free tickets shrugs it off reminding us that at the end of the day, it's "just a movie," which I also take as the overall moral here; don't let it get the best of you. 5/5  Intro: As Frank (Jason Alisharan) and some of the others build the campfire, Frank asks the rest of them if they ever felt like they were being watched. This is when they're blinded by a few flashlights, which Betty Ann (Raine Pare-Coull) uses to creepily bring her story in, with the help of David (Nathaniel Moreau) and Kristen (Rachel Blanchard). She begins everything with a short speech about how we never really know who someone is, inside out; to me, a more kid-friendly way to say we all have skeletons in our closet.
Story: Billy (Aaron Ashmore) and his adopted sister Karin (Trish Lindstrom) live in an apartment building consisting of 13 floors. The tenants of the 13th floor seemingly vanished one day, leaving it abandoned, and it becomes a sort of play area for Billy and Karin. One day, things seemingly get taken over by what claims to be a new toy factory, inviting Kristin up to test out some new products. She goes, along with Billy, and experiments with various things, but what she doesn't realize is that the "toy company" has other plans for her. Review: When I was younger, considering the twist this takes, I may have taken it to heart a little bit more, as it has a lot to do what I strongly feared in my pubescent years. Nowadays though, I find it's easily one of the corniest episodes, but not without a bit of comedic charm here and there (although much of that laughter is ironic). Nowadays, it's a bit of a time capsule, reflecting what was popular at the time. But it hasn't aged all that well, either, and its hard to find the "toy company" a threat when their environment looks like it was done over in time for Easter. It was definitely something I got more out of when I was a preteen. Closing/Moral: Betty Ann ends her story, concluding (as she did before) that if you think you know someone well, to take a long hard look, and guess again. The episodes moral takes all that into consideration, but I'd also say there's something about not underestimating oneself, because that was also a big part of Karin's role. 3/5 |
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