Episode #43: Love is a Many Splintered Thing
Rating: ***½
AD: 12/18/89
D: John Kimball, Bob Zamboni
SEd: Bryce Malek
W: Len Uhley
RSC: (none)
Voices: Corey Burton -- pilot voice
Jim Cummings -- Monterey Jack
Danny Gans -- Muscles, Woody Allen woodchuck
Tress MacNeille -- airport announcer voice
Sindy McKay -- Desiree D'Allure
Rob Paulsen -- Erol
Notes:
Monty leaves RR for first and only time.
Desiree almost too good a character to use up on only one appearance
-- besides perfume, she seems to exert an almost hypnotic influence over
Monty that may even overcome his cheese urge.
Erol's gang: "Muscles" (muskrat?) Sylvester Stallone as Rocky, "Woodychuck"
Woody Allen.
What "chapel" do mice go to to get married?!
Uhley style comparatively restrained here compared to some of his "DuckTales"
and "Gummis" stuff.
Chip's hardheadedness again highlighted -- this time it's warranted.
Note the "amazing appearing/disappearing gag" on Zipper's face in the
sawmill scene!
[Monty's line about being sidetracked from his wedding by cheese, "...when
I was seduced by me first love...." is probably the best allusion from
the series.
Here, Monterey's favorite cheese is Jack cheese. Seems odd as he would
later say the best (not necessarily his favorite, though) was Brie ‘86
in "Cheese and Q's". And he mentioned in "To the Rescue" that "...they're
all my favorite!", but he may have settled on one since then.
Two great examples of character here. The first is Chip. His expression
upon seeing Desiree for the first time is that of "Wow!", but as soon as
she starts to tell her (fake) story, his mind quickly takes over, not believing
her for a minute. And, he's the only one to have this insight. The second
one is Monterey's. The look on his face as he watches Desiree's plane take
off makes it clear that even with all the pain she caused him, he's still
not over her.
It's been discussed by various Rangerphiles what would have happened
if the two had gotten married, with the general consensus being
that they may have been a Robin Hood styled couple. Desiree would be in
it for the theft (and a small cut), while Monterey would prevent her from
going too far against the law.
Regardless, the unresolved relationship between Desiree and Monterey
still has an incredible amount of potential, and it seems a shame that
she was restricted to one episode. -- MP]