Episode 1: “The Quest”
Original Airdate: February 25th 1991
The introduction of the PIRATES OF DARK WATER, with its
musical opening and flashes of scenes from upcoming episodes, stays standard
throughout the run of the show. If, as a first time viewer, you aren’t drawn
right in by that and the voice-over by Hector Elizondo that gives you
everything you need to know going in, then this type of story isn’t for you in
the first place. You should return to watching Rubik: The Amazing Cube or
Caillou.
“The Quest” begins with a lone figure in a small craft
struggling against raging seas. It approaches the island nation of Octopon,
once a jewel of the world of Mer, now just a ruin. At a lighthouse on the
shore, a young, blond haired, blue eyed, brown skinned man exclaims he has
spotted “something” on the stormy seas. Ren, our erstwhile hero-to-be (voiced
by George Newburn) is begged to come out of the lighthouse by a female
companion just as an errant wave crashes through the windows, dousing the
light. Reigniting the light, Ren sees that the small boat has been smashed upon
the rocks, though there is a survivor. Leaping into action, we are treated to a
sequence of Ren doing acrobatics, jumps and dives, to the chagrin of his
companion. The animation here is not what any viewer used to Hanna-Barbera of
the last twenty years has seen. There is an obvious anime influence but it’s
cluttered with American style, particularly in the beautiful watercolor
backgrounds. Already hooked as I was by the intro, this stirred more interest.
Ren rescues the old man, who struggles as he’s dragged onto shore. He calls Ren
“Bloth” and says he won’t be taken again.
Cutting to a view through a telescope, we are then
introduced, via the rich, basso voice of Brock Peters, to Bloth. Aboard a
monstrously huge ship not far off shore, we are speedily informed that the
fearsome, blue-lipped, scarred, beastly Bloth is captain of the Maelstrom, the
vessel that sits calmly in the raging waters. Bloth is great for exposition, as
he informs us that the old man Ren has rescued was his prisoner for 17 years
and that he wants him back. He’s also a stone cold killer, as he drops his jail
master down a deep hole, oddly enough in the middle of the main deck of the
Maelstrom. Approaching a red, winged creature that squawks, he offers a deal
for food as the story cuts to a scene break.
On shore, the old man wakes to ask Ren if he’s reached
Octopon. With a positive answer and refusing an offer to be brought inside, the
old man forcibly takes Ren’s hand and they both start to glow. Asking Ren to
look upon the ruins of the city nearby and tell him what he sees, Ren (and the
viewer) watch as Octopon briefly transforms to what it likely once was. The old
man explains that he has a destiny and that he’s the only one that can return
Octopon to its former glory. Telling him to go to someone called Alamar to
deliver the message that Primus has escaped the Pirate King Bloth, the old man
calls Ren “my son” and dies. A swell of water washes over them both,
dramatically taking the body of Primus out of Ren’s arms and out to sea. Five
minutes in and we have more information than most cartoons would have given the
average viewer, some of which is ham-fisted, some of which is obvious (Primus
and Ren have such similar features, even a two year old could get the reference
before it’s told), but it’s all just part of the set up. Trite it may be, it
was enough to want more. You’d better believe this isn’t your typical H-B fare.
Let’s continue.
At the lighthouse, Ren remunerates with his companion, who
reveals she’s been his guardian for the past 17 years (that magical number
again, enforcing the fact that Ren is at least 17, girls). Giving Ren a broken
sword she had hidden in a wall, she claims Primus was indeed Ren’s father and
that he fulfilled prophecy by returning to Octopon. Telling Ren that Alamar is
at the Abbey of Galdabar, he unquestioningly tucks his broken weapon into his boot
just as the red, winged critter smashes through a window, grabs Ren and flies
off with him into the storm. Struggling with the creature, Ren is dropped
unceremoniously unto a dinner table adeck of the Maelstrom. Bloth is upset as
the critter was supposed to grab Primus, not Ren. The creature, Niddler, can
talk and doesn’t care who he was supposed to kidnap, just that he wants his
promised food. Reneging, Bloth tries to kill Niddler, then orders the crew to
as he escapes.
Ren isn’t a complete dullard and has put the pieces together
quickly. He’s figured out that Bloth had imprisoned Primus and puts up a bit of
bravado and gives Bloth lip. Bloth blindly tells Ren he’s searching for the
lost Thirteen Treasure of Rule, which Primus had hid away many years past.
Naively telling Bloth he’s Primus’ son, Bloth delightfully exclaims he thought
he’d eliminated all heirs. Grabbing Ren with one hand, we’re treated to an idea
of the size difference between Bloth and Ren. Bloth’s deep, melodious voice is
a far cry from his fearsome, brutal visage. It’s not a wonder why he’s leader
of such a ship as the Maelstrom. He tosses Ren into the “pit” we saw earlier on
the deck, which introduces the Constrictus. Water fills the bottom of this
hold, and the many-limbed worm-like creature attempts to eat Ren as he avoids
it. Escaping the Constrictus Pit, Ren engages in combat with the crew until a
stubby, peg-legged pirate wielding a meat cleaver pushes his way through for
some one-on-one. Soundly defeating him with derring-do and Errol Flynn styled
antics, Ren reaches the crow’s nest. This whole action sequence is chock full
of old swashbuckling movie mores; it’s definitely beginning to put a capital
‘H’ on High Adventure. Bloth fires acid-spewing squid from a catapult onto the
mast, knocking it out from under Ren (losing a main mast apparently won’t
bother the Maelstrom much). Before falling, Niddler returns and cuts a deal
with Ren to help him escape. Bloth orders the release of the Dagroths, flying
lizards that employ riders, to pursue the monkeybird, as he calls Niddler.
Ren had talked Niddler into flying him to the Abbey of
Galdabar at the close of last scene, which they arrive at, unknowingly spotted
by a dagroth rider. The Abbey, a rocky formation on a volcanic island, looks just
as you’d expect an alien abbey to: desolate, isolated, barren. Inside, a voice
calls out and Ren answers that the son of Primus seeks Alamar. A robed monk
bearing a staff approaches from the dark and Ren mistakes him for Alamar. The
monk angrily answers that Alamar is at the abbey, dragging Ren to a far wall
and opening a secret panel in it. Inside is a glowing amulet, which he hands to
Ren saying, “In darkness and in light, this will be your guide”. Ren puts the
amulet on as the wall opens, revealing a stairwell leading down. Niddler and
Ren are sent to Alamar as the monk remains behind to close the secret door.
The stairwell leads to a cavernous area with pools of
bubbling liquid. Ren and Niddler question why anyone would want to live in this
area, then call for Alamar. A huge shadow from the background appears, with an
outline befitting a dinosaur, responding to the calls. A nervous Ren yells for
Alamar to call off his beast, which has the “dinosaur” reach down, pick Ren up
and tell him that he, the “dinosaur”, is Alamar. A little heavy-handed, the
viewer and Ren learn that Mer isn’t going to be what anyone expects, and that
preconceptions are not wise. As Ren apologizes for his ignorance, he asks about
the 13 Treasures of Rule and the quest he’s been set upon. Breathing fire onto
the wall, glowing words appear, revealing a prophetic phrase. “Thirteen
treasures of ancient time, thirteen lessons of rule in rhyme. To find the
jewels in secret places, follow where the compass faces. If returned from the shore
beyond, a new day dawns for Octopon! But if they fall into evil hands darkness
descends on all the lands. For these riches two shall vie, in the realm of Dark
Water where treasures lie!” As Ren reads, he holds up the amulet, therefore
conveying that it is the compass mentioned, rather deftly done, in all honesty.
When Niddler remarks on the meaning of the last part, Alamar fiercely sends
them away, explaining another searches for the treasures (as if that wasn’t
already evident).
Bloth has chased Ren to the abbey and already interrogated
the monk. His men destroy the secret door with fireballs from slings and enter
Alamar’s sanctum. Sending Ren and Niddler off, Alamar tries to delay Bloth’s
men with his size and fire breath. Quickly overcome, Ren returns to help the
giant abbot, who perishes anyway. Bloth spots the compass on Ren and more
fighting ensues, with even Niddler attacking a bowman. In the fracas, Bloth
grabs Niddler and Ren uses the dropped bow to pin Bloth, allowing him to
escape. Ren and Niddler get away…
Disguised and in a new location (likely Jandatown, a port
revisited often later in the show), our intrepid pair decide it’s time to find
a boat – Niddler refuses to keep flying Ren wherever the compass points.
Devising a plan, they go to an inn and shed their disguises. Discussing their
options, they’re interrupted by a serving girl (Jodi Benson, who’s character
we’ll be properly introduced to later), complaining that they need to order if
they intend to stay. Ren spots a man nearby and puts his plan into action. He
and Niddler start loudly arguing over a map and directions, then hush up at the
mention of treasure and the approach of the sailor. Sitting down, our
“experienced seaman” (Hector Elizondo, with a rich accent to match the wild character
design given to him) has food brought to the table, disparages Niddler as a
“mutant beast”, dismisses the serving girl rudely and works out a deal with
Ren, claiming to have the finest ship in all the harbor. A quick, well written
and dialogued introduction to Ioz, who is handily the most complex, amusing and
intriguing character on the show.
Dockside, the group is loading supplies onto a smallish ship
that Ioz hurriedly dubs, “the Wraith”. Expressing concern that they need to
sail with the tide, some men begin charging the dock, brandishing weapons and
calling them thieves. Once away from dock, Ioz happily mentions to Ren that
they did, in fact, steal the Wraith. The show isn’t called PIRATES of Dark
Water for nothing!
Cue five days later, with an unhappy Ioz discovering that
the treasure map Ren tempted him with is a fake. Alarmingly, the compass lights
up brightly and Ren reveals that he’s on the hunt for the 13 Treasures of Rule.
Ioz is appalled; after all, they’re just a myth. The compass continues to
shine, pointing to an area called the “Dragon’s Maw” by Ioz. It looks like an
elevated river peppered with stalagmite formations throughout. Both sides of
the “river” fall to the sea below. Striking to look at, preposterous to
believe, it’s dangerous because Ioz says so, and you want to believe him. Just
as he takes the wheel from Ren, fireballs reign down onto the deck, fired from
behind by the Maelstrom. Let’s not question the sailing ability of our
characters just yet, maybe the Maelstrom is just difficult to see from up close
in daylight. Guess what? Ioz knows Bloth too, having crewed with him once, with
it apparently ending poorly.
With Ioz and Ren arguing which way to go and Niddler dousing
fires, the serving girl pops up from below decks as smoke chases her out. In
easily the clumsiest scene in the episode, Tula introduces herself IN THE MIDST
OF FIREBALLS HITTING DECK, hand out for a shake and all. Ioz whines as she
gives her reasons for stowing away and we, you and I, question the intelligence
of our characters. She’s been hiding for FIVE DAYS. There are three people
aboard, one that eats constantly. He wouldn’t notice the stores shrinking? Ioz
wants to throw Tula overboard and most viewers would tend to agree with him, on
principle alone, but Ren nixes that (he’s 17ish, she’s a girl… makes sense) and
the Maelstrom chases the Wraith through the Dragon’s Maw, once again showing
off the animators that worked the show. You also get a good look at the size of
the Wraith in comparison to the Maelstrom, which never really seems exact as
the series progresses, but I’d imagine there were difficulties, considering you
need to show the Wraith more. Showing
off her sailing prowess, Tula gets a brief spotlight so Ren can gape and show
up Ioz for not throwing her overboard. Here, the compass points directly to the
First Treasure of Rule, housed at the apex of a rocky point in the sea below
the Dragon’s Maw. Bloth is pleased, who needs prophecy and a compass when you
can just follow the stupid hero? Niddler is sent to retrieve the treasure as
Bloth’s catapults continue to fire burning pitch at the Wraith. Ever the evil
pirate, Bloth has a shot fired at Niddler as he gets to the treasure, which
connects, destroying the top of the rocky mount and, apparently, killing
Niddler. Entreating to Ren, Bloth offers to find the remaining 12 treasures
together. Flat out refusing, Ren spins the wheel of the Wraith, sending it off
the raised river portion of the Dragon’s Maw, down the waterfall. Just before
hitting bottom, the sail of the ship catches air, allowing it to glide to
calmer sea, skipping like a stone. Safely away, Ioz and Tula are amazed they
survived, while Ren laments the loss of Niddler. In fine dramatic fashion,
Niddler arrives alive, treasure safely in his mouth. Bloth calls to Konk, the
short, peg-legged pirate seen earlier, ordering him to the scout ships. Five
smaller craft are ejected from the Maelstrom, gliding down off the Dragon’s
Maw, which obviously isn’t that odd a feat for the pirates. Ren offers to drop
the others off at any port, not wishing to endanger them further. They all
choose to stay as the episode closes, Wraith sailing into the sunset, scout
ships of the Maelstrom in pursuit. Cue music, end credits.
Noy Jitat! Being
the premiere, we hadn’t quite reached into the depths of language for Mer yet.
It comes soon.
Mutant Scum –
Creatures new and strange appear almost immediately. Right at the opener, we
catch a dagroth flying about right before it’s devoured by a leviathan,
creatures we’ll see often later in the series. Urchins of some sort are flung
at Niddler as he escapes Bloth. Acid squid are used to destroy a mast. Niddler,
the monkeybird. The crazy faces and pirates of the Maelstrom. Bloth’s
Constrictus, the fearsome pet in the belly of his ship. Not to mention Alamar,
whatever he was supposed to be, this show is liberal in its depiction of
creatures as equal as the men partnered with them. In most cases, as becomes
prevalent later.
When do we get to
eat? Ah, Niddler. As the show progresses, Niddler is a little of
everything. Treacherous, cowardly, brave, awed and always, always hungry. I’d
wished he was less cowardly than he is in some episodes, as later, we see not
all monkeybirds are created equal, but that’s what you get sometimes. The
monkeybirds are way too cool a race to discount, though.
It’s all in the art –
Just a quick look at the names attached to the show and I wonder if I just
wasn’t predisposed to like the show. Gil Kane. Alfredo Alcala. Iwao Takamoto. Creators
I grew up with an enjoyed. They all did some spectacular work on the show,
backgrounds to design to layout and storyboards. I credit the animators for
keeping what can be seen as their touches in there.
As an opener, you couldn’t get much better, particularly for
what was aiming at the Saturday morning crowd. I don’t recall exactly
when/where/how I caught wind of the show, I think I saw the name and taped it
with my trusty VCR to watch when I was home from work. I believe the local
station aired it at 6 or 7 Sunday morning, which would place me working then.
All I know is that I didn’t see it when it was originally aired Roddy McDowell
as the voice of Niddler. I wasn’t even aware of that fact until much, much
later. The design of the show, overall creation giving credit to the H-B
mainstay, Iwao Takamoto and character design to Tim Burgard, was unique and
wonderful. Everyone is exotic, or creepy, or alien. Clothing is drawn as
clothing, boots as boots, hair as hair. The backgrounds have this vaguely
Barsoom feel to them, and the sea-based adventures give off a Sinbad flair that
hearkens to the best adventure tales. The characters were rich, flawed and
voiced with care. Much credit to Kris Zimmerman for the casting of the show,
who went on to many a Cartoon Network program after the absorption of H-B. I
always wanted to tell Brock Peters or Hector Elizondo how awed I was at the
work they did on this show, which I felt got the short end of the stick for
being an H-B production. They use their distinct voices on all levels, adding
much to the show and the characters they made come alive. George Newburn gets
it as Ren but he’s not quite at the level he’ll be when he portrays Superman
for the Justice League. Jodi Benson as Tula… well, it’s hard to imagine anyone
else in that role, really. She made a name for herself as Ariel in Disney’s
LITTLE MERMAID, so she was a coup for female voice talent here. Tula is really
just a slapped on character in the first episode, it’s a shame her intro wasn’t
until the second episode, in order to draw her in a bit better. Frank Welker as
Niddler is just what you’d expect from this veteran of cartoons. Having him
aboard never hurts. Would it have been nice to retain Roddy McDowell? Maybe. As
I wasn’t introduced to the show that way, I think I’d prefer Welker.
Thinking back, I can easily see why I watched this show with
no hesitation. I have a hard time not watching more than one episode in a
sitting. I think you would, too. As a rating, if pressed, I’d say that I’d give
“The Quest” four minga melons out of five. If you don’t know what a minga melon
is, keep watching.
