The Tale of the Super Specs

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Midnight Society

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Air Date: Saturday, September 26, 1992
Storyteller: Gary (Ross Hull)

Frame: Gary and Kristen (Rachel Blanchard) open the episode in Gary's Dad's joke shop, where Gary shows his appreciation for gags and practical jokes. Kristen informs him that some of the rest of the group have been yawning a bit at his stories lately, and Gary takes it as a hint to step it up. As the Midnight Society gathers around the campfire, there is whispering from unseen people, suggesting that perhaps Gary has more to add to the story after it's finished, once again showing off his love for practical jokes, as he does indeed step it up. 

Story: Weeds (Eugene Byrd, whom one may know better as Wink from '8 Mile' nowadays) and his girlfriend, Marybeth (Graidhne Lelieveld-Amiro), check out a joke shop to stock up for April Fool's Day. The shopkeeper, another eventual beloved character named Sardo (Richard M Dumont), sells Weeds some magic powder and X-ray specs. However, while having fun, Marybeth puts on the X-ray specs and sees strange, dark figures, which may be connected to the magic powder and Weeds' "spell-casting" abilities, of which he's unaware, as he takes it all in good, clean fun.

Review: The episode is somewhat tacky, considering the dark figures Marybeth sees upon wearing the X-ray specs are merely people wearing black clothing, rather than utilizing special effects. However, while that is laughable, this is also one of the best endings to an episode, as it concludes on a very dark note that likely disturbed some of the kids watching it at the time. So, while it's far from a favourite episode as a whole, it's easily one of my favourite endings to one of their stories, and it's all topped off with Gary's practical joke, which, honestly, I thought was clever, at least for a kids' show.

Final Rating: Scared

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