[6.9/10] This is another Teen Titans episode where the moral is very simplistic and the plotting isn’t great. “Cyborg learns to appreciate his humanity” has oodles of potential, but the realization of it is extraordinarily basic and undercooked. Likewise, “The Sum of His Parts” barely has enough incident to last twenty minutes. The basic conflicts are set up early, and the show does little but stall for time between then and the climax. There’s contrivances galore, like the convenience of Cyborg just so happening to fall into a pit where other cybernetic entities live and want to “reclaim him.”
But this one gets by on atmosphere and charm. The Titans chasing Mumbo around is little more than something to keep them occupied while Cyborg’s off having his own story. Nevertheless, watching the small-time villain come up with silly, old-timey magic act bits to distract the team while he goes on a crime spree is a lot of fun. There’s not much to it, but pure entertainment works on its own terms.
In the same way, there’s a nicely creepy vibe to Fixit’s lair. The dark lighting and collection of zombie-like robots makes for a spooky mood that masks the fact this is where the story goes to die. The design work on Fixit’s interior, Cyborg’s new all-mechanical body, and the surrounding acolytes lends the episode a mild horror sensibility that grabs your attention. Extra plaudits go to Tom Kenny, who pulls off his outsized panache as Mumbo, contrasted with his unnerving monotone chill as Fixit.
The ending is a little pat though. Fixit sees the world through Cyborg’s eyes, and it dissuades him from transforming his unsuspecting victim. Cyborg learns to appreciate his humanity a little more...which didn’t seem to be a problem before this encounter, but whatever. You could do a lot more with this story, but Teen Titans does just enough to claim competency.
Overall, the storytelling and moralizing here is still substandard, but the animation and atmosphere stepped up to compensate in this one.
Review by Andrew BloomVIP 9BlockedParentSpoilers2021-06-20T18:01:21Z
[6.9/10] This is another Teen Titans episode where the moral is very simplistic and the plotting isn’t great. “Cyborg learns to appreciate his humanity” has oodles of potential, but the realization of it is extraordinarily basic and undercooked. Likewise, “The Sum of His Parts” barely has enough incident to last twenty minutes. The basic conflicts are set up early, and the show does little but stall for time between then and the climax. There’s contrivances galore, like the convenience of Cyborg just so happening to fall into a pit where other cybernetic entities live and want to “reclaim him.”
But this one gets by on atmosphere and charm. The Titans chasing Mumbo around is little more than something to keep them occupied while Cyborg’s off having his own story. Nevertheless, watching the small-time villain come up with silly, old-timey magic act bits to distract the team while he goes on a crime spree is a lot of fun. There’s not much to it, but pure entertainment works on its own terms.
In the same way, there’s a nicely creepy vibe to Fixit’s lair. The dark lighting and collection of zombie-like robots makes for a spooky mood that masks the fact this is where the story goes to die. The design work on Fixit’s interior, Cyborg’s new all-mechanical body, and the surrounding acolytes lends the episode a mild horror sensibility that grabs your attention. Extra plaudits go to Tom Kenny, who pulls off his outsized panache as Mumbo, contrasted with his unnerving monotone chill as Fixit.
The ending is a little pat though. Fixit sees the world through Cyborg’s eyes, and it dissuades him from transforming his unsuspecting victim. Cyborg learns to appreciate his humanity a little more...which didn’t seem to be a problem before this encounter, but whatever. You could do a lot more with this story, but Teen Titans does just enough to claim competency.
Overall, the storytelling and moralizing here is still substandard, but the animation and atmosphere stepped up to compensate in this one.