wherevenusholdssomeofficespace

[wherevenusholdssomeofficespace]

Is Linda a bad Mom?

Is this a “yes” or “no” question? Is it more complicated? Ultimately, that’s up to you!

Is she the best cartoon Mom? No, she has obvious flaws but in my opinion she’s not all bad! Especially compared to Doofenshmirtz’s Mom!!!

But I understand why some people don’t like her and viewer perspective plays a key role. A younger audience is more likely to see Linda as a bad mom, while an older audience is more likely to see the bigger picture (and it can depend on the amount of times you’ve watched the show)

Angry that Linda doesn’t see what the boys do? Yes, it can be very annoying but it’s not really her fault because the show intentionally keeps Linda unaware if we apply real world logic, so the real blame is the “mysterious force” and the script

Also Linda’s in her 40s to 50s so it makes sense she’s struggling to believe or keep up with her hyper 15 year old daughter (16 in the revival) but she still continuously answers her phone to come home and lets Candace drag her to the backyard

Think that Linda calls Candace “crazy” or is a “dismissive” or “neglectful” Mom? Yes, there are instances that support this but think about real world logic again because we the viewers see everything but Linda doesn’t. Also think how when Candace screams at Linda that the boys have build some crazy thing EVERY single day and Linda repeatedly doesn’t see anything then those words lose all meaning

How you’d feel if you had someone who kept interrupting you every time you were shopping, cooking, watching a movie, hanging with friends, at the dentist, sleeping, etc to try to show you something you never actually see? Linda has dealt with that for months if not YEARS

You can roll your eyes at me, but admit there’s truth in the points I’ve made! If you can’t see it then you’re in denial just like how Linda’s in denial that her kids have more than “overactive imaginations”

Anyway, I’m going to go over some episodes in non-chronological order that indicate Linda is a good parent (not perfect but not bad)

Don’t like long posts? Then this isn’t for you😅

(By the way, these aren't in I’m not counting what Linda does in “Phineas and Ferb get Busted” because that was a dream within a dream within a dream)

• In the episode “Mom’s Birthday” Linda is shown to love and appreciate everything that her kids do for her! And even though she's unaware that Candace’s efforts were unintentionally overshadowed by what Phineas and Ferb did, Linda does mention more than once that she doesn’t want the boys to overdo it:

“Oh, wow. You boys really outdid yourselves.”

“Oh, those boys are too much!”

“Oh, I hope the boys don’t go overboard with my present.”

And she asks where Candace is because she wants to spend time with her too: “Candace? Candace? Where’d she go?” Then later she asks Candace to sit next to her: “Candace, honey, come join us. The boys have put together a little video.”

Then Phineas and Ferb’s video reveals the song Candace wrote:

Phineas: “But a true testament to what a great Mom you are, is that your daughter would take the time to write this song.”

*The video reveals Candace practicing her “I Love You Mom” song in the music room*

Linda shreds a tear and goes over to hug Candace then says, “What a beautiful song, honey!”

And tells Lawrence on a video call: “The boys threw me the greatest party. And Candace wrote me this really amazing song.” Which brings a smile to Candace’s face!

(-> Here’s Candace’s full song on YouTube <-)

• Speaking of birthdays, in “Candace Loses Her Head” Linda makes Candace a birthday breakfast: “Happy birthday, Candace! I made you a special breakfast!” *holds a plate with a stack of pancakes with whipped cream, syrup, and a birthday candle on top*

Then the boys make them go to Mt. Rushmore and Linda offers to buy Candace anything she wants in the gift shop (at least she’s trying)

Linda: “Okay, Candace. It’s your birthday, you can pick out anything you want. Ooh, what about the Mt. Rushmore bobble head?”

Candace: “Mom, that's lame.”

But during the end credits Jeremy gifts Candace the same Mt. Rushmore bobble heads because he saw her looking at them and she immediately loves it and calls today the best birthday ever

Also before Linda can see the statue of Candace’s face it explodes with lava but Linda mistakenly believes Candace was talking about the president monument and says: “You're right! It's beautiful! *hugs her* Happy birthday, honey. *kisses Candace on the cheek* Now let's go find your father.”

• Another birthday episode is “Phineas’ Birthday Clip-O-Rama!” where Linda is shown frosting the cake for her son’s birthday party: “Where are you, Candace? You promised you’d help frost the cake after you got Phineas’s present.” And later serving it to the party guests: “All right, everybody. *standing next to a cake with a Phineas ornament on top* Who wants cake?”

• In “Out of Toon” Candace tries to call Linda and her voicemail says: “Hi, this is Mom. Leave your psychotic rant about the boys when you hear the beep.”

And before you go Ah ha! Proof Linda’s a bad Mom! listen to the voicemail Candace leaves: “Uhh! Mom, come home quick! There’s a giant mob, I’m a super fiend, I’m roasting them with laser vision! Hey, what do you mean, psychotic rant?”

Candace is talking about how Phineas and Ferb made her the super villain in their cartoon show (ironic) but her wording definitely doesn’t help her case of it not being a “psychotic rant” and at the end of the episode this exchange happens:

Linda: “Well, I’m here. Now, where’s this giant animation studio?”

Candace: “It got up and it danced away.”

Linda: “It what?”

Candace: “It got up and it danced away.”

Linda: “It got up and danced away…?”

Candace: “See? It even sounds crazy when you say it. I'll be in my room.”

• Another time Candace says something unbelievable to her Mom (that I want to bring up because it’s funny) is in “Split Personality” when Candace tells her the boys “made” her:

Busting Candace: “Mom, Phineas and Ferb made me!”

Linda: “Um, I’ve got some stretch marks that would say otherwise.”

Busting Candace: “No, I mean, they split me in half! Well, not like I’m cut in half, but they’ve made another me.”

• In “Tour de Ferb” Linda just got out of the shower and Candace picks up her up against her will and puts her Mom in her bicycle basket while Linda’s only wearing towels and a robe but instead of getting super mad about this (wouldn’t you?) Linda is glad that she picked that day to wear her bike helmet into the shower

Candace: *picks Linda up* “I know where the last obstacle is. Hee-hee-hee-hee.”

Linda: “Whoa! Whoa! *gets placed in the bicycle basket* Candace, I'm not even dressed!

Candace: “Sorry Mom, it’s an emergency!”

Linda: “Luckily, I picked today to wear my bike helmet into the shower.”

• In “Lawn Gnome Beach Party of Terror” Linda gets worried when Candace hasn’t called her like usual and leaves the spa to go see what’s wrong: “Something is very wrong. Not a single call from Candace. *checks her phone* Not even a text message. Oga hose me down. I'm going home.”

Then she calls Candace while driving home:

Linda: “Uh, Candace? Is everything okay?”

Candace: “Ohh, everything is just wonderful...”

Linda: “And...Phineas and Ferb? What are they doing?”

Candace: “Ohh, such wonderful things...”

Linda: “Candace, honey, I’m coming home.”

Candace: *breaks out of trance* “Wait, WHAT?”

Linda: “I’m right around the corner; I’ll be there in two minutes.”

Candace: “Wait! No Mom, you can’t!”

This is the first time we see Candace have fun with her brothers instead of trying to bust them, but her unusual behavior worries Linda enough that she leaves in the middle of her spa day to go home to see what’s going on to cause this change in routine. Sure, she “ruins” Candace’s time with Jeremy but it's mostly out of concern

• Something similar happens in “Tree to get ready” where Phineas and Ferb and Candace and Stacy are having a treehouse robot fight but Linda wonders why Candace hasn’t called:

Linda: “Hmm. That’s funny. I haven’t gotten the usual call from Candace.*gets phone out and calls her* Candace, honey, I’m at the car-wash, and I’m be heading home very soon. Bye bye.”

Candace: “Oh, no!”

Again Linda unintentionally “ruins” the fun but it works out in this episode since they all race back home and the treehouse robots break into normal treehouses before Linda gets there:

Linda: “Looks like you’re having fun.”

Phineas: “Well, Mom, you know what they say-” *Candace and Stacy throw a water balloon at him*

Ferb: “Fun never falls too far from the tree house.” *Also gets hit by a water balloon*

• In “It’s a Mud, Mud, Mud, Mud World” Linda goes to her cooking class and her cooking instructor breaks her phone after Lawrence called her about the boys having a monster truck in the backyard:

Chef Guilbaud: “Ahem. Madam Flynn, I have told you a hundred times, *uses meat tenderizer to break phone* No phone calls in class!”

Funny enough, his phone rings but it’s actually Candace asking to speak with Linda, implying this happened often enough that she has her Mom’s cooking instructor's contact information but Linda still picks up the phone despite being glared at and threatened

Candace: “Mom, I think the boys are building a monster truck.”

Linda: “Um, honey, I gotta go. No- B-Big chef. Big meat tenderizer in front of Mommy! Bye bye.”

• In “Ask a Foolish Question” she makes Phineas and Ferb homemade granola bars:

Linda: “Hey boys, want some fat-free whole-grain granola bars? They're still warm from the oven.”

Phineas: “Whole-grain and fat-free? *They each take a granola bar* You know us so well.”

Linda: “Yes, yes I do.”

Then the boys end up building a super computer just to ask it what’s the nicest thing they can do for Mom that day:

Phineas: “You know, Mom's always doing nice things for us. I think it's time that we did something nice for Mom!”

Then Linda goes out to use a coupon for a free hair styling from a new salon but she comes home with bags under her eyes and ugly yellow hair 

Candace: “Mom! Mom! Mom! Mo…*Stops when she sees Linda’s hair* Uhhhh....”

Linda: “I’m having a bad day.”

Candace: “Uh, never mind. Come on, come on, come on! *Pushes Linda into the backyard with eyes closed* It’s over here! It’s over here! See?”

And when Linda doesn’t see the giant super computer she complains that it’s too much that day: “You know, Candace, most days, this is just a little disturbing. But today, with the free coupon and this whole awful thing with my hair…”

But if you remember Phineas and Ferb had followed the super computer’s instructions and unknowingly fixed her hair:

Phineas: “We did something nice for Mom! We fixed her bad hairdo. Apparently.”

• In “Journey to the Center of Candace” (and in most other episodes) Linda takes an interest in what her kids plan to do that day

Linda: “What a beautiful summer day. Do you boys have anything exciting planned?”

Phineas: “We’re either gonna make this nuclear-powered submarine or this incredible shrinking ray. But for some reason, Ferb and I can't seem to make up our minds.”

Linda: “Well, I’ve made up my mind. *hugs Phineas and then hugs Ferb* You two have the most wonderful imaginations.”

But she’s in denial that her sons aren’t playing pretend so there’s a clear disconnect (too bad she’s unaware she’s a cartoon character)

Candace: “It’s real, you know.”

Linda: “What’s real, dear?”

Candace: “The submarine? The shrinking ray? They’re really gonna build that stuff.”

Phineas: “Well, actually we haven’t decided yet- *Candace uses her spoon to push Phineas away by his nose*

Candace: “Anyway, when I try to bust them, everything will just magically disappear. Always happens. you’ll see. Well, you won’t see. I'll see, trust me.”

Linda: “As usual, the imagination in this room is astounding!”

Hey, at least we know where Phineas gets his “oblivious genes” from

Also it’s hinted that her kids enjoy Linda’s cooking:

Phineas: “Ah tacos. You know who makes the best tacos? Mom!”

• In “Bee Day” Linda mentions how she and Candace played in an inflatable wading pool when she was little after seeing one: “Oh, look at that, an inflatable wading pool. Oh, it’s just like the one I used to play in with Candace when she was little. Remember, hon?”

This gives Phineas and Ferb the idea for what they’ll do that day. Then when Candace takes a teen identity magazine test and it tells her that she’s emo Linda is supportive: 

Linda: “Hi, honey. Love the new look.”

Candace: “You obviously don’t know me. Nobody does. And if somebody did, I’d just deny it.”

Linda: “Sweetie, I went through a similar phase when I was your age. Try writing some poems.”

Candace: “Whatever. I don’t care, No one gets me... Except my hair.”

Linda: “That's my girl.”

Candace is later seen writing poems under the tree, which means she followed Linda's suggestion. Bees deflate the giant inflatable wading pool before Linda comes outside to offer everyone iced tea, but she joins some kids in Candace’s old Ducky Momo one:

Linda: “Hey, kids! *Comes out with a tray with a pitcher and glasses of iced tea* Anyone up for some iced tea?”

Phineas: “Sure! Thanks, Mom!”

Linda: “Oh, look! You kids found Candace’s old wading pool! How sweet!”

Phineas: “We’re gonna have a pool party! Go ahead, wade away!”

Linda: *Dipping feet into the pool with Isabella, Holly, and Gretchen* “Aw, it’s just like old times.”

• In “Rollercoaster: The Musical!” Linda does call her “crazy” but Candace is getting in the way of her going grocery shopping for the who knows what time and she does suggest that Candace yell at the cheese in the grocery store until she feels better (which is funny since Candace is allergic to dairy and shows that Linda does care)

Candace: *Pulls Linda to where the poster used to be* “Here, look, look, look, look, look, see? I told you I'm not crazy! I told you!”

Linda: “And you’re not crazy because...?”

*Candace screams when she opens her eyes to see the poster’s gone*

Linda: “I see your point, Candace. No crazy person would scream at a post like that. I’ll be in the dairy section if you want to come yell at some cheese. *goes off-screen then comes back* Would you like that, honey? Would you like to yell at some cheese?”

Candace: “A little.” *takes Linda’s offered hand*

Linda: “Well, c’mon, then.”

• In “What A Croc!” Linda is shown trusting Candace to be in charge while she’s not home more than she trusts her husband after seeing him watching “Horse in a Bookcase” with the boys

Linda: “Alright, Candace, I’m headed out to the zoo to do my volunteer work.”

Candace: “Which means I’m in charge.”

Linda: “Well, not really, ‘cause Dad’s here. Right, honey?”

*Cuts to Lawrence, Phineas, and Ferb in the living room watching Horse in a Bookcase*

Lawrence: “That’s right, dear.”

Linda: *Looks at Candace* “You’re in charge.”

Candace: *Smiles and opens the door for Linda* “Bye, Mom! Have fun at the zoo!”

• In “Backyard Aquarium” it’s shown that Linda’s favorite author wrote the book series “You & Your High-Strung Teen” which implies that Linda reads a lot of books to try to understand her daughter (with varying degrees of success)

Linda: “I’ve gotta tell you, I read your first book and I love it.”

Bridgette Oshinomi: “Do you have a high-strung teen at home?”

Linda: “Uh, you could say that. *her phone beeps* Oh, this must be her.”

Bridgette Oshinomi: “She sent you a picture? Lemme see.”

Linda: “Well...okay.”

Bridgette Oshinomi: “How bad can it be? After all, I've been through with my own- *sees picture of Candace’s up close face while screaming* Oh. I think that maybe you need the rest of the set. *gives her two books* Uh, and why don't you take a whack at that first book again?”

Funny enough, this Bridgette Oshinomi character is also a news reporter who reported about Phineas and Ferb’s Perry the Inaction Figure in “Toy to the World”

• In “Phineas and Ferb Interrupted” Linda wants to spend the whole day with Candace:

Linda: “Hey hon, I was just reading this article about mothers and daughters, and really listening to your teen. And I realized I’ve hardly seen you all summer, so for the whole day today, it’s you and me. Whatever you want to do, I’m all yours. Anything at all.”

Although they end up sitting there watching the boys do nothing exciting after they got hit by Doof’s Dull-and-Boring Inator:

Candace: “Phineas, come on! What is wrong with you guys?”

Linda: “Candace?”

Candace: “Mom...”

Linda: “How about if I go get some lunch and bring it back for us?”

Candace: “No, no, no, stay, stay! I'm really enjoying this quality time with you.” *kisses her on the cheek*

Linda: “Me too, sweetie!”

• In “Hip Hip Parade” Linda and Candace have a girl’s day out but Linda understandably wants Candace not to try to bust or obsess over her brothers:

Linda: “Candace, you have to promise me that you won’t obsess about Phineas and Ferb.”

Candace: “Yeah, sure Mom, I promise.”

Linda: “Don’t just promise this time. Raise your right hand. Do you, Candace Gertrude Flynn, solemnly swear not to obsess about your brothers, or you’ll suffer the Pharaoh’s Curse?”

Candace: “The Pharaoh’s Curse?”

Linda: “Yes or no?”

Candace: “Okay, yes.”

Linda: “Okay, now we can have fun.”

And Linda says how she enjoys spending time with Candace!

Linda: “See Candace? Isn’t this nice to just get away and enjoy a day together?”

Candace: “You’re right Mom, this is the best. I’m not even going to think about– Mm, you know. I’m not even going to say their names.”

Linda: “That’s the spirit.”

But Candace is Candace and she can’t resist her busting instincts:

Linda: “Candace, I’m having a great time with you today. See how relaxing it is when you’re not obsessing about your brothers?”

Candace: “I can’t take it anymore! Mom, I really tried my best to give you a day, but it’s… the boys. The boys! They’re in the parade! With giant floats! So come on, you gotta bust them.”

• The whole “Ladies and Gentlemen, Meet Max Modem!” episode where Candace learns her Mom was Lindana:

Candace: “Mom, Mom, Mom, Mom! You never told me you were a pop star!”

Linda: “Oh yeah! Well, that was long before you were born. It was fun, but I was happy to give it up to raise a family.”

Then Candace comes with Linda to a revival concert (-> Here’s a video of that on YouTube <-) and she wants her daughter to sing with her onstage:

Linda: “I wouldn’t be here without you, honey. You backed me up all the way. So it’s only right that you should back me up onstage.”

Candace: “Me? Sing?”

Linda: “Just relax. You'll do fine.” *Candace grins and gives her a thumbs up*

Candace then had the time of her life! She and Linda even dance together during “Alien Heart”

(There are more but this I’ll end it here)

[wherevenusholdssomeofficespace]

Perry as the "Ring Platypus" in Candace and Jeremy's wedding.

[wherevenusholdssomeofficespace]

Submarine Sandwich Submarine and License to Bust

Once again, the kids adventures in stupid decisions that almost get them killed. Little funny that this happens right after the last one but ah well.

Also Candace gets praise for insane things she doesn't do, and praise for the absolute insane things she CAN do.

Submarine Sandwich Submarine: I like the IDEA of Isabella being the safety specialist. Baljeet is more of the theory, Buford the humanities (and brute strength), Phineas the idea man and the Ferb the one with mechanical skill, with a ton of overlap obviously. This isn't to say Isabella doesn't have a role prior, she's got a lot of specialized skills because Fireside girl. But so does Ferb and to a lesser extent Buford. And she's also on the more aggressive side (like Buford).

Isabella IS a natural leader, even if she isn't the backyard gang's leader, so being an authority of some type makes sense. Doing things the right way is also kind of a fireside thing. So being in charge of safety makes sense. Especially with the lack of self preservation instincts the boys (sans Baljeet... usually) tend to have. I've mentioned before how the degree to which Phineas and Ferb are safety minded varies, but Buford throwing himself in front of random lasers and Phineas and Ferb trapping themselves in a deadly escape room casually I think speaks for itself. They can be reckless idiots. And to me her safety thing could easily be an extension of the fact she's usually pretty calm in crises and seems to have the most amount of survivalist knowledge out of the gang, so it's not necessarily completely new.

BUT UNFORTUNATELY, since this is more of a "for the episode plot" character trait, rather than a consistent character trait, it kinda feels like they were trying to develop Isabella's character but it just kind of fell flat. Isabella DOES have a fun character: the core of her character is the dichotomous blend of genuinely cutesy girly girl with a love of unicorns, cuteness and a huge crush and an aggressive streak backed up by being capable badass who's a natural leader, athletic and has no issue acting as "one of the boys". I don't think there was anything wrong with trying to give Isabella something new, but when it's just kind of tossed in there like it's something Isabella has ALWAYS been, and then we don't see it after it kind of feels like they were trying to expand Isabella's character beyond "girl". But she's always been more than that, it's not like her love of cute things eroded her character, and she has plenty of other pre-existing traits that could stand to be expanded on (such as her relationship with her family including Pinky, her relationships with Ferb and Baljeet, her temper and competitive streak, and maybe some of her hobbies/interests). That being said it's not like it's a horrible misreading of her character or anything just something I personally do not find particularly compelling.

Candace sneaking aboard only for her brothers and their friends to to welcome her with open arms is their usual dynamic. It's peak as usual... even if it feels a bit early seasonish and that Candace should be generally past this at this point. But the irony was fun then, and i still is now. They do not care in the slightest.

I think this episode was trying to just establish the status quo, since the previous episode was more of a special, but it did mean that it wasn't particularly focused.

And not to be SUPER NITPICKY (I'm being super nitpicky), but I was not a huge fan of Candace declaring herself the driver bc she's almost got her license, only for Isabella to take over a few minutes later. I think it kind of lessened the impact of both of those moments. I liked the episode to be clear but it was just. Okay. Which is fair, not every Phineas and Ferb episode is going to be an all time favorite of mine. I'm not overly upset about this or anything it's just new.

Also kinda funny Baljeet was the one playing violin. It's not out of character or anything just interesting that Baljeet was the dedicated musician this episode considering random musical instruments is usually more Buford or Ferb's thing. 5 years of violin lessons when this is a show where people usually just can play whatever musical instrument is needed puts a weird amount of weight on it ig.

I do feel bad for Candace and her not even being able to get a win on her own merit. Even when Candace wins, she's losing.

I think that aside from mentioning Candace has aged a year this is the first time that we've gotten a repeat event in the sandcastle building contest. Which is certainly a random one I didn't see coming. But it is funny how last sandcastle building contest episode implied that they were on the Atlantic (Atlantis), but this one implies Pacific (Mariana trench). Classic geographic ambiguity.

But it does make me sad that we don't have a defined first day of the new summer episode to refer back to (The first episode being the last day of school). Or a Candace 16 birthday. Obviously they can't repeat everything or else we'd never get anything new. That's where fanfic can come in I suppose.

Also, I feel like Doof's building looks smaller than usual inside. not that it's ever been particularly consistent (and it gets blown up all the time anyway), but whatever.

In the end Phineas and Ferb is a comedy, and as long as it had some jokes I liked it's a win. I just care too much about stuff that doesn't matter:

"And this is what the sandwich would look like in a storm!"

"Nowhere to be until a week from Tuesday."

"And he missed his window."

"Wait, has that time clock always been there?"

"In hindsight, perhaps we should not have built the sub out of food!"

"Is the Mariana Trench supposed to have two gross bloodshot eyes?"

And the kids continue to be cuties:

The kids really do support Candace no matter what.

License to Bust: The dichotomy between Candace singing about correct driving technique and then doing the most illegal stuff known to man is something. BUT Also who knows if Danville is different. Whatever. I will say I did in fact like it a lot better on rewatch. Sure, she drove like a maniac, but she got where she needed to go. The more I watch to the more I feel "You go girl" about it.

In fairness, this kind of driving nonsense was the EXACT kind of thing I wanted from her this season. I just didn't want it in her driving test. But she passed so all's well that ends well. So long as Candace doesn't crash due to recklessness at some point it should be good.

Something I don't think was super well conveyed is how Doof messing with traffic was affecting Candace's test, since the test was mostly going by in song format. I didn't even really connect that that was supposed to be happening until the Driving Instructor said something. I did figure that Doof's scheme was supposed to be affecting Candace but I didn't really SEE that and honestly thought it was a missed opportunity until he said something.

Though, I suppose Candace being so capable (in her own dangerous way…) that she was unfazed by the traffic is cool. Also the song is fun.

It's been a while since we've gotten a reminder that Candace is not the ONLY busting crazed older sibling in this universe and it's actually a surprisingly common phenomenon to the point where there are support groups and TV shows about it. Candace's brothers are just on another level. Though casually juggling chainsaws might be up there.

The gecko gear was honestly fun, the kids were cute bouncing around. It was just classic them being them. Once again their collective unwavering support for Candace gets me.

I have less to say on this episode, but I really did love it. My girl got her license. She's growing up! She got recognized for her actual positive qualities! Anytime Candace gets a deserved win is a win to me.

"Buckle up dude, it's about to get real!"

[wherevenusholdssomeofficespace]

[wherevenusholdssomeofficespace]

Summer Block Buster:

I already posted about my opinions on the first half, so now lets talk about my feelings on the second half. It's the show at its best, the dynamics between the kids, and their individual personalities on full display. It's kind of the same as previous big threats. Phineas really is a natural leader, and a natural planner. That's why all the kids follow him and his big ideas. He's a charismatic idea man. Baljeet continues to be the brains of their already brainy operations, more specifically being the math guy, who puts the threats into tangible numbers, and also provides the more pessimistic viewpoint. (And also takes the time to complain about his science project. He's also come a long way from his Portal to Mars, able to independently build devices rather than just understand the theory.) Isabella and Buford's dynamic is also a treat. Both of them are more doers than planners, and while none of the kids are actually that tolerant of Buford's "bullying", Isabella's definitely throws it back at him the best. It reminded me of their dynamic in CATU. If I were to describe their relationship I'd KINDA describe Isabella as being kind of like a big sister to him. (KINDA not literally). They can be rivalrous, and he annoys her but she also provides him with positive reinforcement. That's HER dumb muscle head.

But more specifically, Isabella mentioning Linda as her future mother-in-law before launching Buford, and Buford failing to remember the word for couch while Isabella deciphered his words was hilarious. Juicy characterization. They know each other so well. They work well as a team. Buford calling the couch a "thingy" and Isabella reiterates "Couch", after Baljeet smugly declares he can fix the inator is just… perfect. I wouldn't say I missed these kids per se. But damn is it good to hear them being them again. The symbolism of Candace getting the big slow one kind of goes without saying. But to say it anyway, Candace is the person who tries to stay grounded, whose issues tend to be more usual teenage girl shenanigans. But also the one who is, in fact, physically able to push through things with sheer force of will. She will do the impossible on the chance that she can get her mom to see the impossible. Swim for miles, physically bike around town dragging her mom, and run fast enough to chase a car driving in the suburbs. And even as she's plodding along, uselessly following her brothers, it's her, and her singleminded focus on her mom and brothers, that let's her help them, ordering her brothers to the next problem as they fly around solving things. As we saw in the LDOS, her brothers really do listen to her, in their own oblivious way, as she acts as the secret center of their lives. She may be slower, heavier, the one who accidentally made things worse, but she's irreplaceably valuable to them. But in the end, Phineas and Ferb despite being clever enough to solve most of the problems that came up, were not the ones who were able to reach their mom. Were not the ones able to get her to stop storming. Perry saves the day behind the scenes plugging the machine back in… despite being the one to make this mess to begin with. He gets his own little moment to actually help. We've seen him go out of his way to help Lawrence before, so helping with Linda is in no way a surprise but it's still nice to see him care for her too. He's visually really mad about it too.

Despite everything, I think this also shows that Linda DOES listen to Candace. At the very least, Candace knows her mom well enough to know to get her to listen.. She knows what her mom values, she knows what makes her cry. Candace IS a Mama's girl, and I'd argue Candace is the person that knows Linda best. And while the show formula doesn't really get us a chance to see the reverse well, Candace's voice, her reminding her mom that she wants to be home with her family, DOES reach her. If there is one thing Candace is good at, it's reaching her mom. This isn't the first time we've seen that Candace knows her mom particularly well (Mom's birthday), but it is always good to see Candace and Linda's closeness portrayed. Their relationship IS complicated. But part of what makes it so complicated is that the two really are close, they both love each other a lot. But they're living in two different realities that the Mysterious Force refuses to let truly intersect. But when push comes to shove, their connection still won. I also appreciate the backyard gang… not really knowing what Candace is doing with the pictures and shrugging. She's kind of an enigma to them. They don't… really get her. But they DO respect and adore them in their own sort of ways.

"I don't know what you did there Candace, but it's working!"

Assorted thoughts on the whole episode:

I think it goes without saying that the middle school thing is weird. I've already made posts about the kids ages, everything has pointed to them being 9-10 in elementary school. So them being in middle school just simply can't be correct. At absolute oldest I they could be 5th graders so it's not… atrocious. It's just. We've seen them in elementary school during this school year before, even if Doof 101 (thus by extension AYA) is decanonized. It doesn't really matter though but still the lack of attention to detail worries me. Phineas should be turning 11 this summer, and Ferb is younger than him though.

Why are the fireside girls in uniform in school? Please can they have other clothes? Isabella does! PLEASE.

The mom, physically becoming a threat is also good. She represents the metaphorical threat of the A-plot, so her physically manifesting as a threat to their life is fun.

In fairness, MML got cut off before we could start the spring season, so whatever is going on with Doof and Perry and OWCA we have a roughly, 3 month gap of their activities. So fair enough on the evil again thing. Besides we already knew Doof had some relapses due to holiday episodes so this is actually already established canon. Guess Perry's been on Venomous Robot duty since he got back from space. Though I wonder if they will ever explain what happened to that OWCA situation with Vanessa.

Candace never actually said anything about stopping trying to bust her brothers, so this is totally in character. Even in CATU when she did some self reflecting, she just made the decision to not bust them that one time, but she's been able to put it aside for certain situations as early as S1. Her motivations and self-awareness may change but she's nothing if not determined. Closest was new years episode where she admitted she probably wouldn't keep her resolution.

Linda continues to be a master at pies.

Hearing the "Gotta get gone" instrumental was fun! Always fun hearing reference to the more obscure bits of the PnF extended universe.

Animation is… inconsistent. Sometimes it looks just like the old days, sometimes it looks really good. And sometimes it just looks. Off. This ALSO applies to character designs and backgrounds. It is what it is ig.

Ferb looked really upset. Which is unusual for him and is always a treat to see him more expressive. Though it'd be a shame not to show of Candace and Phineas's great expressions too.

10. The running gag of Doof depending on Francis to come up with the escalation of his plan is good. Doof's not actually that good at being bad… Francis has more of a talent with it than he'd ever care to admit. 11. Candace describing Linda's face as tired disappointment says it all. She KNOWS her mom is tired of this. Of course she is. But she still desperately wants to prove this to her mom. She wants her mom's approval. I think it's easy to say that Linda should just show Candace more attention, but Linda DOES show Candace attention. There are several episodes dedicated to them spending one on one time. It's just Candace is fixated on THIS, which is the one thing Linda can't see thus every failure just strains their bond more, raising the stakes on a successful bust more, making it even more difficult for Candace to not want to try. It's a tragic cycle really. 12. Foreshadowing Windcon before we see it with that billboard.

Lastly, I just think Isabella and Baljeet look cute here:

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now that Candace has a license LET HER DRIVE THE NEDLINGTON NYMPH OMG

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I wrote a thing. I will probably write other things.

Conversations (NOT) to have In a Nedlington Nymph 10 lightyears from Earth

Carl and Monogram knows Stacy knows. Vanessa knows Perry's secret and being a former OWCA intern. Stacy and Vanessa are now friends. Vanessa and Monty dating again. Candace was present during the robot agent fight of Where's Perry. Candace is friends with Robot Candace whose scrap metal was presumably picked up by OWCA. Candace accepted Perry as a secret agent in AT2D with ease. She casually accepts the Talking Zebra's presence. Candace saw Perry fighting Doof at the same time she saw the Zebra. Candace is on better terms with Perry than she used to be. Candace knowing Doof is Vanessa's dad. Candace as an unofficial agent of the alliance and a trusted ally of Meap who works as space law enforcement. Candace took down Super Super Big Doctor, and Mitch several times, and was Queen of Mars. Candace is a future lawyer. And OWCA is… well… OWCA….

Candace at the very least doesn't know that Stacy is now affiliated with OWCA.

Stacy, Vanessa, Monty, Carl all associated with OWCA (whose jurisdiction extends only to the US and is otherwise morally grey) and Perry's secret.

Candace associated with intergalactic law enforcement, lawyers and busting.

You know, it sure would be a shame if these came in conflict with each other.

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cosmic horror sci fi musical comedy

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Carl and Monogram knows Stacy knows. Vanessa knows Perry's secret and being a former OWCA intern. Stacy and Vanessa are now friends. Vanessa and Monty dating again. Candace was present during the robot agent fight of Where's Perry. Candace is friends with Robot Candace whose scrap metal was presumably picked up by OWCA. Candace accepted Perry as a secret agent in AT2D with ease. She casually accepts the Talking Zebra's presence. Candace saw Perry fighting Doof at the same time she saw the Zebra. Candace is on better terms with Perry than she used to be. Candace knowing Doof is Vanessa's dad. Candace as an unofficial agent of the alliance and a trusted ally of Meap who works as space law enforcement. Candace took down Super Super Big Doctor, and Mitch several times, and was Queen of Mars. Candace is a future lawyer. And OWCA is… well… OWCA….

Candace at the very least doesn't know that Stacy is now affiliated with OWCA.

Stacy, Vanessa, Monty, Carl all associated with OWCA (whose jurisdiction extends only to the US and is otherwise morally grey) and Perry's secret.

Candace associated with intergalactic law enforcement, lawyers and busting.

You know, it sure would be a shame if these came in conflict with each other.

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Rapid fire season 5 thoughts:

Cloudy with a chance of Mom was good, like Summer Block Buster was a bit weirdly paced, but the payoff was good. Love seeing Buford Isabella friendship and once again showing that Candace is extremely physically capable out of sheer stubbornness when it comes to things she is obsessive over. OF COURSE she could move the big slow heavy thing at a pace that kept up with her brothers decently well all things considered. (Candace once again proving that through Dry another day as well).

I was so stressed through license to bust bc that girl was NOT obeying the law and I needed that girl to pass. But the end of the where the driving tester let her pass because he related/valued confidence and focus makes it an episode i'll probably enjoy on rewatch.

I watched this season with some of my siblings, and I'd seen the storyboards for Candace Suit so I warned them this was going to be horrifying. And it was. I loved and Hated this episode in equal measure. It was definitely the one that got us laughing so hard we had to pause the episode the most. Screenshots of this episode are now a phone wallpaper.

Agent Teen for Teen was good. As was Stacy petsitting Perry. Everything I could have wanted… which is good but since the fandom was hanging on that plot thread for the past 10 years… it also means that there wasn't really anything this episode could do to make it something i haven't seen before by the fandom. The Stacy knows reveal to Carl and Monogram WAS unexpected though.

Tropey McTropeface

Seeing Candace happily wash Perry was super cute… but also why did she get that chore?? Like Phineas and Ferb wouldn't have jumped at the opportunity. Anyway, Candace growth.

Happy to see the talking Zebra. (Still HC that Candace subconsciously knows Perry's secret with all the plot development)

The therapist episode was NOT what I was expecting. That poor man. Though Linda being so distracted was… odd. She's never paying attention to what Candace wants her to sure but it seemed a bit dialed up in this episode.

the fact the couch from Cloudy with a chance of mom came back.

Bread Bowl Hottub is the new Canoe isn't it. (I loved the Canoe)

Baljeet getting to be violent is always great. Baljeet growing from generic nerd to nerd with aggressive tendencies is fantastic.

Say what you will about Meap Me in St. Louis but I appreciated finally meeting Meap's Significant Other and Candace's strong sense of justice being recognized for what it is and her getting to become an (honorary) officer. The main plot of Meap going to Candace for assistance/Candace having a notable position of authority in space is something I've headcanoned and a natural followup to the first Meap episode.

Complaints (non-comphrehensive):

Need more Jeremy. He's the other half of Candace's obsessiveness so I need more peak couple (could also use more Phinebella but whatever, Isabella calling Linda her future mother in law got me though).

Need more Baljeet. I know he can be weirder.

I have mixed feelings on Lord of the Fireside, fun but I want more of the girls ACTUAL personalities. I called immediately that they were out of character for some reason.

I mean, I don't think the show needed to be too samey… but I kinda wish there were a few more callback episodes…. like things that happened. I know it sounds boring but it can be someone's birthday again with a totally different plot. The midsummer festival again, or the summer solstice again. We can do different plots with the same dates. Make it actually FEEL like a new summer.

They need more space. Like going to space. Also more travel. The only example this episode was the cruise… but it might as well have still been in Danville for all the Danville characters present (it was nice to see pnf playing with OTHER kids though). What about the cabin in the woods? Or England? Or the Moon?

Phineas and Ferb is a show built on running gags and callbacks so the presence of them doesn't bother me… but it is kind of disappointing that the call backs are mostly of things that are memes.

I need more Candace and the Backyard gang.

Actually I need more of the Flynn-Fletcher's too.

Chip to the vet could have used more overlap in storylines… which is weird to say about a season that otherwise has had a lot of overlap in storylines… but PnF were right there. Are you telling me they didn't try sending Perry through the pet wash???

Carl was promoted to paid intern in the where's perry specials. Still literally unpaid of course, but still.

Could use more MML callbacks.

Sleepover episode such a disappointment tbh. The casual drop of Vanessa's awareness Perry, but Perry not even being at the house. Also they could have at least namedropped Jenny. Like. I want the kids to have fun together. I know Candace is suffering but she deserves to be happy sometimes. :(

St. Louis is not pronounced like that. Also, you can go into the Arch. There are windows at the top because there is a visitors deck. The visitors center is literally underground, under the arch. Lifting the treasure would also lift the visitors center. IN fairness... the portrayal of the Mt. Rushmore is also inaccurate. But like. St. Louis arch is a building you enter. It's kinda laughably bad. Though, the actual best part of St. Louis is the City museum imo. Phineas and Ferb would love that place.

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there's a lot of stuff to be said about candace getting the slow and heavy vehicle that takes a lot of effort from her to make it move but all i can think about at the moment is her saying 'if there's one thing i know how to do is get to mom. get through to mom.' as she pushes her way through the storm with everything working against her

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While Linda is usually distinct from Danville weirdness, it's not like Linda has never been hit by an inator in fact… it's not like Linda's never been the victim of world ending shenanigans. But for HER to be the one the siblings have to rescue is a direction they've never gone before. (Or rather her specifically, see Phineas and Ferb effect, NOTLP). It IS unusual to see Phineas and Ferb seem genuinely upset; usually that's reserved for things like… Klimpaloon. Or Isabella. While the kids often talk a lot about how much they love their mom, focusing several of their inventions on her specifically, but the combination of "rescue mission" and "Big Idea for Mom" is a new combo.

What I'm hoping for from this is a bit more insight on what the kids love about her. While we definitely see a lot of the things that Linda does for the kids, and we see the kids talk about how much they appreciate her, I'd love to get some more specific insights, particularly on Linda's relationship with the boys as we don't see them hang out as much as Linda and Candace do. I'm not asking for a lot here, maybe just a CATU-mug-like scene where we get a few flashbacks of some interaction. Candace wrote a whole song about why she loves her mom, so I just want more of that.

Especially since the first episode segment highlighted how Linda feels about her kids growing up and lamenting not spending enough time with them. I'd love to see the kids perspective as well. I mean she's their mom. I want to see them think of her hugs and her jokes and all the little mom things she does for them.

Though PnF isn't the type of show to dive too hard into this kind of stuff, and Candace needs to continue busting for the story to work, but she IS the kind of person who would feel guilty for something like this happening even though it isn't even remotely her fault (she knew her mom wasn't destined to see the stuff but she kept pushing it).

Despite her otherwise being a sometimes impulsive and irresponsible teenager, Candace is nearing adulthood and thus Candace and her mom tend to be on more even footing. As much as Linda and Candace are often at odds, Linda does generally trust Candace to be responsible enough to watch her brothers for extended periods of time, and the two do seem to like to spend time clothes shopping and going to the salon and doing similar activities together. But also Linda is pretty much Candace's role model, or at least one of the people whose opinion matters most to her. And Candace has repeatedly been shown to have no issues confiding in her mom about things like boys.

In short: Candace is an anxious wreck of a girl on the precipice of adulthood dealing with near supernatural shenanigans whose mother ("normal" adult woman) is her emotional anchor. Her mother disappearing right in front of her is not good for her emotional state either way.

"When I'm bouncing off the walls you're the one who stays calm"

Conversely Phineas and Ferb also are just kids whose relationship with their mom is a little more one sided... she sees them as children... good responsible kids, but children nevertheless. Conversely while Linda is Candace's role model, the boys role models include people like Santa. This isn't to say that they DON'T adore and depend on their mom (they just assume she'll be able to solve the Gordian Knot) their relationship is just a bit less complex than Linda and Candace's (not a low bar mind you). The boys are ultimately just kids who we know feel deeply and can (though not always it depends on the tone of a given episode) react dramatically when the people they care about (Perry in AT2D for example, Phineas with Isabella in NOTLP) are in trouble. Of course seeing their mom disappear isn't great for them either, they've just got a bit more optimism and technical know how to fall back on then Candace. It's always fun to see the lengths these boys will go to for the people they love, especially since they have the means of going pretty damn far.

Linda is a central character of the show, but for the premise of the show to work she has to remain outside of the shenanigans, so can't meaningfully engage with the kids (especially the boys) a lot of the time. While Linda still won't be an active participant in this storyline... probably... she's already expressed her stance on the subject (she wants to spend time with her kids) so her character is still being highlighted. I think Linda is one of the most underappreciated characters in the show so I'm happy to see anything with more Linda focus. The A-plot literally revolves around her just as much as it does Candace. Without her there's no show, so it's good to see that acknowledged on some level.

Though, I have a feeling it's just going to be standard rescue mission stuff, I feel it's pretty likely we'll get to end on the entire family spending some time together which is always a treat. (Well, taking the picture obviously but still). I'm hoping the rest of the episode lives up to the lofty expectations that cliffhanger set.

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as fun as it is to freak tf out about it (and it is very fun I’m having a blast) I don’t actually think she’s dead or anything. they wouldn’t do that it’s fucking Phineas and Ferb. they’re not just gonna kill off mom episode one and then legitimately never bring her back that would be stupid. but I think there are several reasons why it feels like such a Big Deal despite all the other quote unquote Deaths that have happened in the past

1. it’s the middle of an episode, rather than an end gag + cut to credits, implying it’s not something that will just get reset at the beginning of the next one

2. it left us on a cliffhanger that shakes up the status quo after we’ve been obsessively waiting for new content

3. the kids were actually, genuinely upset about it which isn’t rare, per se, but still a bit surprising whenever it happens

4. the beginning was very positive and even a little sentimental, so the drastic tone shift caught Everyone off guard

she’ll be fine. it’s Phineas and Ferb.

that said. I do hope they don’t just take it in stride I want drama

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I think the big thing that's kinda irking me about the episode is how weirdly paced it feels... which can probably boil down to how its less than 9 min. Which was the same issue Hamster and Gretel's first episode had. Like Hamster and Gretel got better eventually, and this is at least a two part story, so it's maybe more accurately part 1 of this episode. But it's still allegedly an episode on its own. And it's just?? After how universally disliked Hamster and Gretel's first episode is I can't quite figure out why they would do it again?

I mean I'm sure the next episode will make use of the extra time but it doesn't make this episode feel any less weirdly abbreviated.

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If I had a nickel for every time for every time one of my childhood defining animated shows aired an episode featuring both a story defining time-skip for the first time ever and a major character "death" in Spring 2025 and some people started acting like the character might actually be killed off I'd have 2 nickels or whatever.

True Colors also was kinda like this but even Disney was like this is too much and remedied it with immediate reassurance she was alive.

yeah it's horrifying in universe or whatever and we as a fandom can and should milk all the angst we want out of that

but from an out of universe perspective it's more or less business as usual.

I think some people are really blowing the whole thing out of proportion. Like. It's definitely surprising. But like?

The island of lost Dakotas??

The Hamster and Gretel blood gag?

"Our heroes were ripped to shreds and left to die"

This is only the first segment. It's not like the stakes are any more dire than the last day of summer. Or save summer. Or NOTLP.

Or y'know....

Don't get me wrong I think this is funny, and a great way to start the show off; by subverting the formula in a fresh way, reminding us just how much the Flynn-Fletcher's adore each other, and giving us a more high-stakes first episode to show off.

I think the reason its sticking more is because cliffhanger. But stuff like this has literally happened before. It'll be fine.

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I think some people are really blowing the whole thing out of proportion. Like. It's definitely surprising. But like?

The island of lost Dakotas??

The Hamster and Gretel blood gag?

"Our heroes were ripped to shreds and left to die"

This is only the first segment. It's not like the stakes are any more dire than the last day of summer. Or save summer. Or NOTLP.

Or y'know....

Don't get me wrong I think this is funny, and a great way to start the show off; by subverting the formula in a fresh way, reminding us just how much the Flynn-Fletcher's adore each other, and giving us a more high-stakes first episode to show off.

I think the reason its sticking more is because cliffhanger. But stuff like this has literally happened before. It'll be fine.

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The episode was okay. It felt like Phineas and Ferb.

But Why are Phineas and Ferb are in middle school now why???? They can't be? They are visibly younger than the cast of MML right?

Like I know the timeline is fucked up. But why did you change their ages??? That feels like a pretty big oversight?

...unless something happened to the elementary school and the elementary schoolers are temporarily in the middle school. This is my headcanon until proven otherwise.