A Nostalgic look back at Courage the Cowardly Dog’s Most Memorable Episode
For many children born in the 90’s, Courage the Cowardly Dog was one of their first experiences with dark/horror comedies. Its unique balance of the two genres allowed for something memorable. While countless episodes from the four seasons it ran remain stapled to the minds of the now disturbed young adults, there is one that is often universally regarded for being the most memorable. It’s been the debate of many fans as to whether it is indeed the scariest episode, but regardless, King Ramses’ Curse is often synonymous with the very essence of this show. Why is that?
This episode wasn’t the scariest episode (for me at least), but it did something that Courage was so good at doing. Blending animation techniques. While more modern animations like Adventure Time and The Amazing World of Gumball use this as an entire episode’s gimmick, Courage used it to scare children. Moments like the Claymation violin player in Courage in the Big Stinkin’ City were shocking. Animation that contrasts with its scenery can create an off putting feeling. The CGI used for King Ramses is outdated by today’s standards, but is horrifying in context of a young child. This stylized choice also helps reinforce the shift from a more light-hearted comedic element to horror. Slap a reverb on King Ramses’ voice and you’ve got a recipe for child horror. The episode also ends on a darker note because Eustace is inevitably forsaken for his bad choices. While every episode resets, the show was never afraid to give Eustace a bad ending.
The fear is what people remember when they make lists about the scariest episodes. In truth, this episode is far more comedic in nature than people give it credit for. Moments like when Courage tries to warn Muriel about the slab involves him turning into the sinking Titanic. Additionally, the second plague is music, a song made specifically for this scene. Having lines like “The man in gauze” and “King Ramses.” It’s a small detail that would be overlooked by a child but can be appreciated as an adult for all the thought that went into the episode.
There’s an endearing quality to Courage and his willingness to fight for his loved ones. He is an everyman (dog) and is constantly overcoming obstacles to protect his family. It’s a quality that makes him more relatable than his human counterparts. In a lot of ways, Courage represents the viewers. We are all Courage, navigating through a world we don’t fully understand. A world that tries to hurt us and those we love. Our attitude and mentality when facing adversity makes a world of difference and can change the people trying to hurt us. Maybe they’re misunderstood people (or shadows), or maybe they’re Egyptian curses.
In truth, King Ramses’ Curse isn’t the best Courage episode or it’s scariest. The show had four seasons of horror and heartwarming moments alike. This episode merely captured lighting in a bottle and represented the true potential of what this show was and is to people. It is like a band’s most popular song: great to hear, universally recognized, yet overrated in the grand scheme of things. It’s a great episode to bring up, but true fans of the show have so much more to talk about.
The show holds up and remains an entertaining piece of media, even as its fans enter new age brackets. There’s a reason this show has become a staple for Cartoon Network’s Boomerang channel and streaming service. This episode is so highly regarded, that the 2014 new short The Fog of Courage, takes a lot of elements from this episode. Remembering Courage through King Ramses is a great thing and it can remind parents to introduce their kids to this show. It’ll be an experience that will follow them for a lifetime. In the end, the more positive childhood memories, the more things people will have to look back on when days are dark and the world is scary. There will always come a day where people need a little more courage.
