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Top 50 Duos: Counting the Seconds
- Thread starter Johnny Unusual
- Start date
Johnny Unusual
(He/Him)
16
Goku & Vegeta
81 Points, 3 Lists, Highest Vote: #3 Caithness
Goku & Vegeta
81 Points, 3 Lists, Highest Vote: #3 Caithness
Source: Dragonball
Duo-Type: A tall and a… wait, when you get so big?
Son Goku found as a child raised as a martial artist but the elderly hermit Son Gohan as his grandson. Initially extremely aggressive, Goku would eventually become calmer due to a blow to the head as a child. Unnaturally strong, Goku took to martial arts well and continued to train on his own after his grandfather died. Eventually, Goku was found by genius teen Bulma, who taught Goku if all the Dragonballs were found, including one in Goku’s possession, a wish could be granted. Goku cared little for a wish but the idea of travelling and finding new challenges to be a better martial artist spurred him on. His travels eventually lead him to a terrifying amount of strength and true friends. Despite Goku’s love of battle, he is usually a fun-loving guy, friendly, slow to anger and kind to others. However, he’s more likely to get angry when his friends are being hurt. Goku loves eating and finding battles with opponents stronger than him to test his limits. He eventually had a family and became a farmer, though he shows little interest in it and would rather be training. He’s also a good sport and though will fight his hardest against strong opponents, is very friendly with them post-battle, win or lose (assuming the enemy doesn’t threaten his friends). In his early 20s, Goku would learn he’s actually an alien, a Saiyin, just like…
Vegeta is the prince of the warrior race the Saiyins, known for their incredible power and attacking planets on behalf of their even more powerful boss Frieza. Vegeta always hoped he could defeat Frieza one day and upon learning of the Dragonballs and their wish-granting abilities, he decided to attack the Earth to get them. Vegeta is one of the strongest members of his race and takes the greatest joy in crushing his opponents. He is confident in his own power and is afraid only of a select few forces in the universe, most notably Frieza. Eventually he got to the point where his exponential power growth has made him make unwise decisions, sometimes underestimating his opponents or overestimating his own power.
Goku initially crossed path with Vegeta as he was planning to acquire the Dragonballs and kill anyone in his way. Despite Goku’s intense year of training, the battle was close and Goku was only able to defeat Vegeta by the skin of his teeth and with the help of his friends. Goku insisted Vegeta not be killed out of respect for his power. The two met again during a three way scramble for the Dragonballs on planet Namek between Vegeta, Goku’s friends and Frieza, an experienced which humbled Vegeta when Goku reached an echelon of power beyond him. Since then, Vegeta remained on Earth, training relentlessly to reach Goku’s strength.
In a surprise to everyone, as years passed, Vegeta ended up marrying Bulma and having a son but his goal remained the same; outdo Goku. Even after Goku’s seemingly permanent death Vegeta trained and eventually even sold his soul for more power before realizing for the first time his son mattered more than his vengeance. The two remained rivals but rivals with deep respect for the other’s strength (even if Vegeta has no respect for any other facet of Goku). They even became training partners over time, having to balance family life with the pursuit of strength.
The recurring formula of Dragonball is a lot (though certainly not all) of Goku’s enemies become his friends. Vegeta was a bit different; even after their initial battle, Vegeta remained a serious villain, then antihero well into the next arc and even in the subsequent saga, he didn’t fall into the mold of hero, with a lot of his worst aspects still at the forefront. Really, it isn’t until the very interesting (albeit quite flawed) Buu saga do the two really become a team. Dragonball Super isn’t perfect but strangely shifting to a sitcom hangout show actually did really good by a lot of its characters and really cementing the buddy comedy status between them.
Iconic Moment:
I guess the final big fight of the series where the two have to tag team the most dangerous threat in the universe. Yeah, when they merge into one being is cool but I really like Vegeta really having to admit how hard it is to hold out for one minute before Goku can finish his ultimate attack.
Johnny Unusual
(He/Him)
Violentvixen
(She/Her)
I've like all of these but for some reason this one really got me laughing. Well done.
I did not have these guys on my list, but I had a different Dragonball pairing instead. I think I also like Vegeta more as a solo character.
Johnny Unusual
(He/Him)
Source: Tom & Jerry
Duo-Type: The original cat and mouse team
Tom Cat is a grey and white housecat. He first appeared in the cartoon Puss Gets the Boot under the name Jasper before taking on the name Tom in the cartoon The Midnight Snack the following year. Initially being shown as quadrupedal, Tom would usually be seen as bipedal not long after. Tom rarely speaks, though he has been known to give an iconic yell, which has since been used by other cartoon characters and referenced in other media.
Tom usually is shown living in a suburban home, though the humans and owners in his life are rarely fully seen. Often he finds that he’s not alone in his home. Tom was originally owned by the character Mammy Two-Shoes, who stopped appearing in the cartoons after 1953 due to being an offensive stereotype.
Jerry is a small brown mouse who is usually seen living in a house. Jerry is sweet and friendly but has a mischievous side, often toying with his antagonists and occasionally starting the fight. Jerry originally appeared under the name Jinx in the cartoon Puss Gets the Boot before being renamed for The Midnight Snack. Jerry is very clever and despite his small size can outwit larger opponents with his wits. Jerry is also seen with his adopted ward, named Nibbles or Tuffy depending on the cartoon.
Tom and Jerry are a cat and a mouse, usually living in the same house. Tom usually tries to catch or even kill Jerry to do his job of keeping the house mouse-free while Jerry tends to defeat Tom with cunning, luck and even more violence. Despite this, later cartoons, often showing them as having a grudging respect and even friendship and the two are known to team up on occasion, such as saving a baby from dangers in cartoons like Busy Buddies and Tot Watchers. And despite the pain they inflict, they have been shown saving each other’s lives, though The Two Mouseketeers is a surprising exception where Tom is killed at the end of the cartoon (though not nearly as dark as Blue Cat Blues, the one that ends with both of them planning to commit suicide together after their girlfriends leave them).
Tom and Jerry rarely speak in the cartoons, though there are exceptions, such as in the 1992 Tom & Jerry movie, a bad film despite having Richard Kind in it. Such things are possible. Even at his most violent, Tom actually rarely tries to eat Jerry and is usually shown trying to be rid of him out of duty or retaliation. Though Jerry wins most of the confrontations, there are a few cartoons where Tom wins, often because Jerry was just a little too mean. The two often can be sadistic but from time-to-time when things get a little too real, one might develop a conscience. Sometimes the two will team up against a third party who had bullied them both and sometimes they make deals to help each other but in most cartoons the deal goes south by the end. They also appeared in a few live action films, most famously in Anchors Away.
Tom and Jerry are the most famous cartoon cat and mouse team and probably the most violent. When parodies of cartoon violence emerge, it is usually a direct reference to these cartoons. Even more then the anarchic Looney Tunes, Tom and Jerry go hard, which always makes the “and they are also friends” approach so delightfully weird. Tom and Jerry went through many iterations on film and television but invariably the core tone remains the same with the two trying to best and even destroy each other for laughs.
Iconic Moment:
The designers of the Atari Jaguar named the GPU and audio chip after Tom and Jerry respectively. I've always found that weird and unfitting, though given what I've heard from homebrew developers about how they fight over RAM access, perhaps there is a certain logic to it.
(The cartoon varmints are a much better duo is what I'm saying.)
(The cartoon varmints are a much better duo is what I'm saying.)
Johnny Unusual
(He/Him)
Source: Sesame Street
Duo-Type: Rubber duckie and pigeon
Bert is an introvert who lives on Sesame Street. His hobbies are collecting paper clips and bottle caps and reading his favourite book “Boring Stories”. Bert is serious, studious, detail-oriented and loves things most people would consider “dull”. His favourite food is oatmeal and his favourite animal is pigeons, to the point that he created his own dance “Doin’ the Pigeon”. He’s the President of the National Association for W Lovers and is known for his strange bleating laugh when something tickles him just right. He prefers peace and quiet, though it often hard to achieve when your roommate is…
Ernie is a mischief-loving extrovert who lives on Sesame Street. Despite making trouble, Ernie rarely engages in any harmful play, usually just gentle-hearted japes, though sometimes the recipients aren’t happy about it. He loves also to make up games and loves when his friends can join in. Ernie is known for his love of his rubber duckie, his prized toy that he has even sung songs about. Despite playing silly tricks from time to time, Ernie is often sweet and naïve, this sometimes coming even more frustration and confusion than his pranks. His is known for his raspy chuckle. He often enjoys playing hide and seek with Ernie and sometimes works as a double act with Sherlock Hemlock and Lefty the Salesman. And, of course…
Ya… ya lost me, Bert.
Bert and Ernie are two roommates who live together on Sesame Street. Bert, straight-laced to a sometimes ridiculous degree, is often frustrated by Ernie’s strange whims and silliness but even though he sighs and loses a bit of patience, he usually has time for him. Ernie loves hanging out with Bert, though sometimes annoys him when Bert would rather be left alone. Often, Ernie eventually convinces Bert to do something fun but by the end of it, Ernie may have moved onto something else just as Bert is genuinely interested. Often Ernie has trouble sleeping, causing him to wake up Bert to talk, though Bery would rather sleep.
The two characters were originally created to show how two people who are very different can live together. The ages of the two characters are intentionally vague; the two live by themselves and seem to have complete autonomy to live how they please and yet their interests are largely those of children. Some people behind Sesame Street suggested they treat them as 6 or 7 but they seem to be beyond the concept of age, a strange zone where they are simultaneously children and adults (the only overt reference to a specific age range is Bert’s twin brother Bart who only appeared once and was a travelling salesman. A lot of fans have also identified them as gay or at least coded as a gay couple due to their comfort and familiarity with each other along with their co-habitation. Sesame Street has mostly denied this but seemed to have softened a bit, at least in terms of treating it as possible. Frank Oz initially strongly denied it but in recent years, though admitting if it had been intended by him and Jim Henson, it probably would have been inauthentic but not finds himself moved by this view and how many people are affected by it.
Ernie and Bert give me the warm fuzzies. Like an old-fashioned comedy team there’s a straight man and a funny man but it’s all very sweet and gentle. And as planned, the characters really care for each other despite sometimes driving each other up the wall. One of my memories is from the Sesame Street Christmas Special where they do “Gift of the Magi” where they exchange their favourite things to get gifts for each other (focused on those things) and it cemented in my mind that these are two who, despite being so different, really do care for each other.
Iconic Moment:
Violentvixen
(She/Her)
A friend just posted this last week, made me laugh.
Johnny Unusual
(He/Him)
13
Sherlock Holmes & Dr. John Watson
92 Points, 4 Lists, Highest Vote: #8 Johnny Unusual
Sherlock Holmes & Dr. John Watson
92 Points, 4 Lists, Highest Vote: #8 Johnny Unusual
Source: Sherlock Holmes
Duo-Type: Genius and his fanfic writer
Sherlock Holmes is a brilliant consulting detective of the 19th century living as 221b Baker Street. Hired by various clients, including law enforcement (all the way up to Scotland Yard), Holmes solves cases with observation, deduction, logical reasoning and forensic science and often can figure out key details of a person and their intent within seconds of meeting them, usually by noting clues on their person. Despite characters being amazed by Holmes intelligence and the fact that Holmes himself is rarely modest, he is quick to admit his brother is even more brilliant but rarely has any interest in doing the hard work that comes with being a detective, preferring to spend time in the Diogenes Club. Holmes is a cold and calculating man who seems only interested in solving seemingly impossible cases. Holmes has also been bested by Irene Adler, who he only met once but left an impression, as he would only refer to her as “the woman” (in part because outside of seeming to like his landlord Mrs. Hudson, Holmes is indifferent to women and romance). Holmes is also known for habitually using morphine and cocaine, though later in life has managed to stop using. This was thanks in part to…
Dr. John Watson is a medical doctor and a veteran of the Second Anglo-Afghan War. Having taken a bullet Battle of Maiwand, Watson’s health was damaged, making him unfit for war and was sent back to England with a daily pension of 11 shillings and 6 pence for 9 months. Later, Watson would fall in love with and become engaged to Mary Morain, though she would die a few years later, the cause never being stated. Initially described as rail-thin, Watson has since then been described as more muscular, having been a former athlete and rugby player.
When Watson returned to London, a friend suggested Sherlock Holmes as a potential housemate. Watson initially found him to a quiet roommate but eventually noticed the strange and eccentric clients that allowed Watson to learn Holmes’ unusual line of work. After joining him on a case, Watson was stunned by Holmes incredible skills and was upset on his behalf when Holmes did not receive the credit. Though Holmes was insistent he wasn’t interested in kudos, Watson decided to let society know by becoming Holmes’ biographer. Raising Holmes’ status eventually gained him even more clients.
The two became very close friends and though Holmes was often quiet, seemed to have a deep well of trust in Watson. That said, he often was dismissive of Watson’s writing as overly emotional, in contrast to his desire to approach cases as unemotionally and dispassionately as possible and is a bit bothered by the reputation it has given him. In fact, he would often Watson would also write about his failures, though Watson is quick to point out where Holmes’ fails, no one else seems to succeed either. Watson is often seen as Holmes’ sidekick but he sometimes dotes over him, eventually helping him tamp down his more self-destructive addictions (though Watson points out they aren’t gone, only “sleeping”). The two remained friends for nearly three decades and their last conversation Watson returns to service during the first World War and Sherlock strongly suspects this will be their last time meeting…
A lot of people remember the iconic Holmes/Watson dynamic is a brilliant man and his easily amazed friend. I think a lot of the original stories paint their relationship with more nuance, with Holmes being a bit more self-effacing (though less out of modesty and more as a reaction to his fame) and Holmes trying to record his experiences with his friend. I think in most versions, Watson is the sidekick but he isn’t a just s sweet bumbling fool (though a lot of the 40s films did that) but a friend trying to bring out the best in a man he thinks is amazing.
Iconic Moment:
Johnny Unusual
(He/Him)
Source: Sonic the Hedgehog
Duo-Type: Balls
Sonic the Hedgehog is a hedgehog capable of super speed. In his official profile, he’s described as a drifter who loves freedom and hates oppression. This brings him into conflict with Dr. Robotnik (AKA Dr. Eggman), who uses robots to enslave the animals of South Island to collect the Chaos Emeralds, objects of incredible power. Sonic can fight by transforming into a ball and combining it with his super speed to destroy bricks and enemies. Sonic is usually portrayed as clever and smart mouthed but also has a habit of leaping before he looks. Though Sonic’s backstory changes through his appearances in various media is general attitude, approach to fighting his enemies and his desire to defeat evil and protect the weak remain consistent.
Miles Prower, better known as Tails, is a young two-tailed fox capable to super speed though not nearly to the extent of Sonic and often can fly through the air by using his two tails. He is humble, gentle and kind. Though initially fearful, Tails is capable of overcoming most of his fears, though still suffers from keraunophobia. Tails is a mechanical wiz and when he reaches his potential could be a better technical mind than the evil Dr. Eggman. Tails is also a skilled pilot, often seen in his biplane Tornado.
Sonic first encountered Tails in Sonic the Hedgehog 2. The character’s role is as the second player for two player games. In his backstory, Tails initially encountered Sonic and was so impressed with his super speed. He admired him and followed him around from afar, eventually reaching out to him and starting a lifelong friendship. Though Sonic remained a role model for Tails, the two fought as brothers in arms against many of Eggman’s evil plots as they travelled the world.
They have what has been referred to as an unbreakable bond and the two manage to makes up for each others weaknesses; Sonic provides the force while Tails provides the wisdom and intelligence. Tails sometimes has to come out of his shell and become assertive but Sonic will always come when he calls and when one needs help, the other is always there. That said, sometimes Tails can be frustrated with Sonic’s impetuousness
I was never a big Sonic guy but I did watch the Saturday morning Sonic cartoon back in the day (which was miles better than the weekday cartoon). I did enjoy playing the second game on occasion as well… I really don’t have much to add really.
Iconic Moment:
Which is the Sonic game where Tails pulls him out of a forest fire with his biplane? I remember that looking really cool.
Johnny Unusual
(He/Him)
11
Finn & Jake
94 Points, 3 Lists, Highest Vote: #1 Johnny Unusual
Finn & Jake
94 Points, 3 Lists, Highest Vote: #1 Johnny Unusual
Source: Adventure Time
Duo-Type: Grabbed Friends
Finn the Human is the last known human boy living on the Land of Ooo. Finn lives in a treehouse and considers himself a brave adventurer, an idea most agree with. He is often called upon to help those in need which he happily does for the sake of both doing good and for having an adventure. Finn primary weapon is the sword (of which he has had many, most of them enchanted) though he is also skilled in hand-to-hand combat. He loves to roughhouse, thinks little of getting hurt and being in his early teens at the start of the series, is often naïve, impulsive and headstrong. He has a thoughtful side as well and though often he seems brains over brawn, often he is clever and even philosophical and spiritual. Unlike his brother from another mother…
Jake the Dog is a shapeshifting canine and adventurer in the Land of Ooo. Raised by his father and mother, themselves tough adventurers, from an early age Jake had strange powers that he would only understand the origins of much later in life. Capable of shifting his body in a near unlimited amount of way (including growing huge, shrinking and seemingly able to turn into anything without transforming his colours), Jake is a force to be reckoned with in battle. But most of the time, despite his love of adventure and fighting, Jake is actually really chill. He’s spiritual and introspective and sometimes is more focused on having a good time. This can even be to a fault, sometimes giving the high stakes the proper attention it deserves and getting distracted. Jake is in a long-term relationship with Lady Rainicorn, eventually leading the two to become parents (though the quick rate at which the children grew up allowed Jake to quickly return to his earthy, freewheeling lifestyle.
Finn and Jake were raised as brothers and grew to live on their own as adventurers. The two live in a treehouse with the talking video game system BMO and after often sought to help save the innocent. Strong and heroic, Finn and Jake are unified in their love of justice and action. That said, the two can be at odds, such as Jake not taking a situation seriously or Finn being reckless and naïve. That said, the two are united by a deep bond of friendship and brotherhood. Though Jake can be flakey, he often is a good mentor to Finn, providing usually decent advice about how to live and be a good person. And though Finn has no powers, he is shown being as skilled an adventurer as Jake.
Over the course of the series, Finn matures, though the two go through many hardships and learn about the scarier and sadder side of adventuring and life. They learn some unsettling truths about their origins and the series is also not afraid to paint them in less-than-savoury lights from time to time (especially in later seasons where it is more of an ensemble show). But the part that makes them brave is how facing seemingly impossible and mind-bending threats and challenges allows them to grow as people.
When Adventure Time came out, it felt like a big sea change in animation for TV. Yes, it is representative of what is sometimes derisively referred to as the SoCal style but more than that, it was weird and funny. It would have been easy to peg it as “lol random” but it had a strange internal logic to its humour and whimsy, one that got strangely challenging for a “kids show”, both in themes and narrative. The main characters make an excellent core and though they are emotional anchor, the show was never afraid to take them to places that were genuinely unsettling or even much more moving than you might expect. I was surprised these two made it to my number one but I can’t help but think about the journey of the show and even though as the show went on it tended to drift away from the title characters to explore the show’s larger world, Adventure Time became a show that really is about the adventure that is life; an adventure that is not just fun and funny but can be disturbing or frightening and can make you realize you might be the villain of the piece. Finn and Jake take on many roles over the course of the show and through both the joy and pain grow with the show, experiencing deep existential journeys but also using each other as anchors and guides through the most difficult parts of life.
Iconic Moment:
The three-parter The Lich, Finn the Human and Jake the Dog features Finn and Jake in their most perilous position yet, with their most terrifying and seemingly inevitable adversary The Lich about to destroy all realities. In a last-minute ditch effort, tries to use a wish granted by the cosmic entity Prismo to save the world but ends up creating an alternate reality that seems doomed. One thing I like is it really allows the characters strengths and weaknesses to be wrapped up in each other. Jake is sort of checked out, having too much faith Finn will win, allowing the situation to get ridiculously grim (a lot of the humour comes from the dark story being interrupted by Jake just hanging out with Prismo). But Jake’s abilities to make friends also proves invaluable. It’s a great story and even when the duo is split up for most of it, they are still a Hell of a twosome.
Johnny Unusual
(He/Him)
Source: Muppets
Duo-Type: Dispairaging
Statler is a tall, lanky theatre-goer with a cleft chin. He has a grandson. He once dated Lionel Barrymore. He has been married multiple times and if the comic strip is considered canonical, he has a living wife that he has bad dreams about waking up next to. He is often seated to the right (from our perspective) of…
Waldorf is a stout theatre-goer with a round head. He has been married multiple times and he has a wife named Astoria who looks… strangely familiar (he has a type).
Statler and Waldorf are two elderly men who constantly attend the Muppet Show (as well as many subsequent Muppet venues), sitting up in the balcony. Their favourite pastime is to comment on the strange and misguided skits, songs and performances on display and will constantly heckle the regular performers (and on occasion the guests). Their favourite target is flopsweat and insecure comedian Fozzie Bear, constantly mocking his terrible punchlines and only giving him backhanded compliments. They only time they laughed at the joke was when Fozzie bet them if he didn’t make them laugh, he would stop coming out. Despite the joke being bad, the two still laughed for reasons unknown, with the possibilities they posit are either getting soft or getting senile.
Why the duo is constantly attending the Muppet Show are a mystery even to them, as they start each episode (in later season) that they don’t know why they come and that it’s “like a kind of torture”. But they always take great delight on heckling the show and often each other (though sometimes it leads to thrown punches, usually from Waldorf). They have also performed themselves on occasion, usually doing fairly well by the standards of the show. On occasion, the performers do strike back or threaten the old, such as the more violent performers like Animal and Miss Piggy and even Kermit the Frog has lost patience with them but every week they return.
The Muppet Show is an all-time classic and one of the keys to its success, ironically, was it managed to successfully play itself as an underdog shows. Despite being a hit, there was a cozy yet dingy quality to the show and a sense that the performers were going to do what speaks to them even if it’s hokey or weird. And to set that stage, the shows biggest fans are also the biggest detractors. They are gleefully sharped-tongued and sometimes a bit bullying. So why do we love them so much. I think part of it is though they will never admit it, they love the Muppet Show. Oh, they aren’t disingenuous when they mock it; they probably largely feel that way. It’s sort of like when I am bemused by a bad piece of media; it's still fascinating ESPECIALLY when it is sincere in its creation (like Plan 9, rather than the cynical and charmless Sharknado). They already love to complain everyway, so it is clear this is the highlight of their week. Also, my head canon are the two are former performers (aided by a very obscure easter egg in one of the children’s books where there is an old poster for the two) who delight in taking the piss out of the younger generations but also get a vicarious thrill in watching young performers trying to put on a show. They can love it and still think it’s bad art. But it’s their beloved bad art.
Iconic Moment:
Statler and Waldorf would only occasionally talk to the guests and usually positively and wondering why they are on the terrible show. But when comedy legend and noted large penis-haver Milton Berle showed up, they were shockingly and hilariously knives out on the guy.
Johnny Unusual
(He/Him)
9
Pinky & The Brain
100 Points, 4 Lists, Highest Vote: #3 Johnny Unusual
Pinky & The Brain
100 Points, 4 Lists, Highest Vote: #3 Johnny Unusual
Source: Animaniacs
Duo-Type: Genius/Insane
Pinky is a lab mouse who has been genetically altered to be more intelligent than the average mouse. The result was… mixed. Though sentient and able to do what the average mouse can’t, Pinky is considered “insane” due to his strange personality and tendency to make up nonsense words like “narf”. Pinky is friendly, kind, hyperactive and easily distracted. Though he lacks social skills, his personality often makes him quicker to be ingratiated with new people. It has also been shown that not only does he not seem to mind certain kinds of pain (especially blunt force, like a blow to the head or running into glass), he finds it fun. Such a tender-hearted and naïve soul’s friend could only be someone like….
The Brain is a mouse who had been genetically altered to become more intelligent than the average mouse. Prior to these, the Brain had experienced the loss of his parents (who he lived with in a can of “World’s Finest Peaches”) and cruel experiments on learned helplessness caused him to want to never feel out of control again and gain what he lost… the world! After the experiments, the Brain became super-intelligent and dedicated himself to world domination. Seeing the human race as poor keepers of the Earth (and often being proven right), the Brain is constantly concocting plans to conquer the Earth and become its undisputed master. Brilliant but cynical, the Brain is arrogant but in fact sometimes struggles or even fails by OVERestimating the common man. For example, plans that involve becoming popular usually need help from his sidekick…
Pinky and the Brain are two laboratory mice plotting to take over the world. The Brain is the mastermind while Pinky is his right-hand man, constantly assisting him in his plots. The two seem to constantly get close to victory but usually something goes wrong to ruin it. Though Pinky is often given the blame, more often than not it’s an unexpected oversight on the Brain’s part or sometimes a miscommunication between the two. The Brain is angry but usually undeterred and each failure is a promise to Pinky to try again tomorrow night. The two live inside Acme Labs and it seems the workers are ignorant to the duo’s intelligence and nocturnal activities.
Often, the two’s very different points of view often lead to Brain annoyed and Pinky largely oblivious. The difference is often accentuated in the recurring gag “Are You Pondering What I’m Pondering?”, a question posed by Brain to which he usually gets a non-sequitur response. But Pinky is ever loyal to his friend and despite the nature of his desire is steadfast in his faith that the Brain would make the world a better place due to his intelligence. Sometimes, the duo even faces dangerous foes, including Snowball, a super-intelligent hamster who considers himself the Brain’s rival. For the time the duo also lived with Elmyra from Tiny Toons (something the show’s staff was not into).
Pinky and the Brain debuted on Animaniacs and were such a smash got their own program not long after. Why does a character with such a villainous pursuit charm us so? Because we know they are going to fail. It’s very much a Wile E. Coyote thing; we don’t want them to get what they want in theory but we are also strangely feeling for these guys. It makes for a great antihero and the duo works because despite the Brain often berating and bopping Pinky on the head, the show’s longer run times actually allowed for stories that showed that Pinky cares deeply for Brain and while Brain is poor at showing it, he sometimes is forced to see how much he cares for Pinky. You kind of want them to win, you kind of want the Coyote to get the Roadrunner, you kind of want that rabbit to get those Trix (seriously, why keep them from him). It probably won’t make them as happy as they think (have you TASTED Trix?) but with so much effort and passion and pain… it’s got to count for something, right? But unlike the other examples, Pinky and the Brain still has friends (and maybe more), which is more than the Coyote gets.
Iconic Moment:
You know, while Animaniacs was a return to old-fashioned wacky cartoons (yes, the road was paved with Tiny Toon Adventures but often the Adventure part got in the way), the series did try for pathos with the Rita and Runt cartoons… that I found interminable. But strangely Pinky and the Brain was much more successful, taking the irreverent couple and building a foundation with the Pinky and the Brain Christmas Special. The writers and stars talk about how Pinky and the Brain is really a love story but this is the episode that cemented it. In it, The Brain tries to take over the world on Christmas… and does. But when the Brain reads Pinky’s letter to Santa… well, it’s a great moment and one that I think really pushed the direction of these characters into an unexpectedly emotional place.
Fun fact, apparently when Maurice LaMarche first did the script read, his voice cracked in an affecting manner. After that, voice directing/casting legend Andrea Romano insisted these readthroughs are recorded to capture unexpected/unrepeatable moments.
A lot of my list still hadn't made it, but it's picking up now - I had both Statler & Waldorf and Pinky & The Brain around the middle. (Finn and Jake were on my long list but didn't make it just on account of I haven't managed to sit down and watch much of them aside form the odd single episode here or there.)
I'd never seen that original Statler & Waldorf sketch before, and... I sure am glad they evolved from what seems like an original premise of "we're just really really old and that's kind of funny and sad". Heckling is their true calling, and in many later appearances they prove downright spry for their ages, rather than about to crumble to dust like that first appearance.
I'd never seen that original Statler & Waldorf sketch before, and... I sure am glad they evolved from what seems like an original premise of "we're just really really old and that's kind of funny and sad". Heckling is their true calling, and in many later appearances they prove downright spry for their ages, rather than about to crumble to dust like that first appearance.
Johnny Unusual
(He/Him)
Source: Steven Universe
Duo-Type: Never Alone
Ruby is a gem and a warrior in the Gem Empire, a vast alien empire of mineral-based lifeforms focused on expansion. A bit headstrong and passionate, Ruby is one of many nearly identical “rubies”. They are often used as soldiers and body guards by the Gem Homeworld as they use other planets as resources to make more gems. Rubies often combine to make a larger combatant and Ruby’s body is capable of generating incredible amounts of heat. She was a gung-ho soldier but thing changed when she was sent to guard…
Sapphire is a gem and an aristocrat of the Gem Homeworld. Sapphire is one of many sapphires capable of seeing possible futures with eerie accuracy, though it is possible for her to make errors based on a lack of information or an oversight of the facts. Still, her ability is powerful and valued. She is also capable of generating extreme cold from her body. Her disposition herself likewise comes across as aloof and stoic, with little interest in lesser ranking gems. At least until…
(spoilers for Steven Universe, mainly the season 1 finale. If you plan to watch and be surprised, stop here.)
Garnet is a Crystal Gem, a faction that originally rebelled against Gems harvesting resources on Earth to protect its peoples. Garnet was formed by the merging of two gems, Ruby and Sapphire when the two accidentally fused when Ruby tried to save Sapphire. Fusion between different kinds of gems is against the rules of the Gem Homeworld so soon the duo fled and joined the Crystal Gems in their fight for freedom. Since fusing, Ruby and Sapphire have only unfused on a few occasions and prefer most of their time as Garnet. The Gem Homeworld was repelled and thousands of years later, Rose Quartz, leader of the Crystal Gems, allowed herself to be reborn as her own son, Steven (whom she had with would-be rock star Greg Universe) and Garnet became the team’s de facto leader.
Garnet is exponentially more powerful than not only Ruby and Sapphire’s individual powers (literally more than the sum of her parts) but is the most powerful Crystal Gem other than its leader Rose Quartz. Ruby and Sapphire’s personalities also combine, with Garnet being equal parts stoic and patient, yet headstrong and warm. Though she’s often a gem of few words, can be quite blunt and at first glance seems hard to approach (especially with humans), Garnet is caring, has a sense of humour (which is surprisingly corny at times). In the few times Ruby and Sapphire strongly disagree, they defuse, though later in life they also start defusing to grow as individuals for certain projects and reforming afterward. Garnet’s weapon of choice are massive gauntlets which augment her already incredible strength and Ruby and Sapphire’s combined elemental powers allow her for a number of devastating attacks when needed. Despite her skill at fighting, Garnet’s philosophy is about the power of love and she is very knowledgeable about fusion which she feels is more than simply power augmentation but about the coming of two souls, whether it be romantically, as friends or as family.
Initially, Garnet is the team badass and I loved her for that. She’s tough and cool but the show also knew how to leverage that attitude comedically, especially next to sweet dorky Steven. But when we learn her secret and see her vulnerabilities, she somehow becomes cooler and deeper. Over time, we do get to see more well-rounded and even playful sides to her, especially with Steven (whom she often gives more leeway to than the other Crystal Gems, being the baby of the group). While she does change as a person, I never felt like a lot of these new facets are “she’s softened” so much as getting to know her allows us to see these other sides. The big reveal adds so much when you realize she’s the living embodiment of a lesbian romance and how much love plays an importance in her life.
Iconic Moment:
Surprising no one…
G&S were on my list. That song is an all-time banger, and the first time I watched that episode I immediately rewatched it, and have watched it several times since, and it never fails to be emotional and uplifting, no matter how many times I see it.
Johnny Unusual
(He/Him)
Source: Radio, Stage and Screen
Duo-Type: Monster Meeters
Bud Abbott was born in Ashbury, New Jersey in 1897, like his father, Bud began working in burlesque box offices, where he met his wife, burlesque dancer and comedian Jenny Mae Pratt. Bud continued to work behind the scenes and produced a cut rate vaudeville show called Broadway Flashes. When Bud Abbott had no more money to pay the straight man in the show, he took on the role. Abbott decided to continue the role of straight man, working with veterans like Harry Steppe. Things changed one night thanks one night where fate paired him with…
Lou Costello was born in Paterson, New Jersey in 1906. Lou was an excellent athlete in school but in 1927, his love of Charlie Chaplin motivated him to travel to Hollywood. Initially, the only work he could find was manual labour at MGM and Hal Roach Studios but his athleticism did get him into pictures as a stuntman (you can even see him in a Laurel and Hardy short!) in that same year. The next year, talkies were on the rise and Costello decided to get theatrical experience. He began working with a German-accented character in the burlesque circuit. And one night, his straight man didn’t arrive…
One night Costello’s straight man fell ill and Abbott filled in for him. The performers who saw the show encouraged them to be a permanent pairing and soon they came together with Abbott playing a devious straight man and Abbott and his comic foil. Costello reworked many of his sketches and soon the two were both succeeding on the burlesque scene, then stage and on the radio. The one big initial challenge was that the two had similar voices, so Costello’s character spoke with a more childlike cadence (and was more likely to yell in exaggeration than the cool Abbott). In 1940, they received their own program The Abbott and Costello Show which lasted for much of the decade (they eventually transitioned to another network where they had a Saturday morning kid’s program).
Though their first film, 1940’s One Night in the Tropics, featured them in supporting roles but they stole the show and immediately got a two-picture deal starting with Buck Privates. Soon, the two were huge stars but Costello ended up suffering a series of tragedies; in 1943, his career was put on hold by a prolonged illness, then Lou Costello Jr. son died in an accident. Abbott claims Costello became less fun-loving and quicker to anger. A rift started to emerge and following an incident Abbott hired a maid Costello fired and the two were no longer on speaking terms outside of the act and performing. But eventually Abbott made amends by creating a charitable foundation in Costello’s son’s name for underprivileged youth (Costello’s pet charity), things were righted. In 1948, they made their biggest hit (commercially and critically) Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein, which revitalized their career. But despite that only a few years later their revitalized careers stalled due to overexposure and competition from Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis. In 1957, the duo split up permanently (Errol Flynn claims credit, describing a lewd prank he pulled that they blamed each other for). The two performed separately and in 1959, Lou Costello died of a heart attack after completing his solo film The Thirty Foot Bride of Candy Rock. Abbott also went solo and in 1960 was doing old routines to good reviews but he himself stopped, claiming “no one could compete with Lou…” The last Abbott and Costello project was a 1960s cartoon where Abbott voiced himself while Sam Irwin voiced Lou.
I think a lot of people assume the straight man/funny man dynamic is the funny man drives the straight man up the wall but this is a case there it could easily be the other way; Abbott played it straight, Costello played it silly but while sometimes Costello drove Abbott crazy, other times the humour would be from the savvier Abbott just running rings about Abbott, intentionally or otherwise. They would also often deal with the humour of confusion and linguistics, where the audience can see where the confusion lies but the weird elements of English (or in one case math) cause the duo to get completely mixed up. Also check out Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein, a film that’s delightfully odd and a genuine horror comedy; the horror is (and the monsters are) actually played straight mixing thrills with silly set pieces.
Iconic Moment:
Easily the MOST famous comedy routine of all time and despite everything, it holds up.
What’s more, it’s rare for a comedy routine to be parodied so often.
Johnny Unusual
(He/Him)
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I never really considered Tom & Jerry. I guess I generally think of them more as opposing forces i.e. Tom versus Jerry, even though they are usually billed as a pair.
I also never considered Palom & Porom. Maybe because I find it hard to tell them apart - which is no big deal in the vanilla game but is pretty annoying in the Free Enterprise randomizer.
I had Bert & Ernie and Holmes & Watson on my long list of candidates but they didn't survive all of the cuts I had to make. I had a different Muppet duo - Statler & Waldorf were my #19 pick. Holmes & Watson is one of many cases where I was struggling with whether or not half of the duo was just a sidekick and therefore the two weren't a "true duo". That question and the plethora of other candidates I had made them a difficult but necessary cut for me.
I also had Pinky & The Brain as my #5 and Abbott & Costello as my #22.
I also never considered Palom & Porom. Maybe because I find it hard to tell them apart - which is no big deal in the vanilla game but is pretty annoying in the Free Enterprise randomizer.
I had Bert & Ernie and Holmes & Watson on my long list of candidates but they didn't survive all of the cuts I had to make. I had a different Muppet duo - Statler & Waldorf were my #19 pick. Holmes & Watson is one of many cases where I was struggling with whether or not half of the duo was just a sidekick and therefore the two weren't a "true duo". That question and the plethora of other candidates I had made them a difficult but necessary cut for me.
I also had Pinky & The Brain as my #5 and Abbott & Costello as my #22.
Knuckles?
Oh... Not who I was expecting.