Throwback Thursday Megas XLR

Throwback Thursday Megas XLR

Robert Knuckles

“Chicks Dig Giant Robots”

            “You Dig Giant Robots, We Dig Giant Robots, Chicks Dig Giant Robots!!!!!” This was the theme of one of my favorite shows Megas XLR. I’m doing a different route this time with my throwback Thursdays. Today I want to talk about one of my favorite TV shows.

            Megas XLR is an action comedy show that use to air on Cartoon Network during its golden years. It first aired on Cartoon Network in 2002 as a pilot short on the Weekend Summerfest. It was a contest to see which pilot would be the next new show on Cartoon Network. It was very popular with the viewers. Its Original debut was supposed to be December 2003 but was delayed. It finally had its debut episode on Toonami on May 1, 2004.

            Megas XLR focuses on a skilled video game player Coop who lives in New Jersey. Coop is a grown man but acts like a kid. He is also joined by his best friend Jamie who is also a slacker but unlike Coop he can be a bit selfish and is slightly a little smarter.  Coop stumbles upon a robot from the future named Megas in the Junkyard. Coop manages to make a few modifications to Mega changing its paint job and having a car as its head.

            While on a test drive Coop and Jamie are later confronted by a woman named Kiva. Kiva is from the future where during that time Earth is losing a war against the alien race known as the Glorft. They managed to steal their robot which was Megas at the time. As a last minute defense Kiva attempts to use a time drive to go back two years into the past with Megas to prevent this war. But when the Glorft attacks they managed to damage the time drive and Kiva and the Glorft are sent way back into the time around our time. Now it’s up to Coop to stop defeat the Glorft and save mankind.

            Megas XLR is a very fun show especially for gamers. Coop manages to put his video game skills to pilot Megas and some driving skills as well. Viewers will also see 8 Bit video games which will remind gamers of the Nintendo and Sega days.

            One of the funny things about this show is that every problem that occurred in this is mainly Coops fault. One of the best episodes probably had to be “All I Wanted Was a Slushie”. While performing a systems check Coop accidentally hits an invisible barrier which causes the alien robot R.E.G.I.S mark five to break free. Every time viewers see R.E.G.I.S they starting hearing the Opera singing and every time Coop is about to drink a slushie R.E.G.I.S always prevents him from drinking it. You really need to watch that episode.

            There are so many funny moments from this show. The credits are also funny as well. Megas XLR make fun of other popular series such as the Science Ninja Team Gatchaman when they introduce the S Force who looks similar to the Ninja Team. They also made fun of Godzilla when they had the Mecha Megas.

            The interesting part about this show is that some viewers can relate to Coop. I mean I would love to save the world using my video game skills. Coop may be a lazy guy but his pilot skills are amazing.

            The show was met with positive reviewers and it was ranked at Number 4 on ToonZones Toons of the 2000s: Top 5 Cartoon Network Originals.

            Sad part is that Megas XLR didn’t last very long. Despite it having a large fan base it only had two seasons due to low a rating which is a surprise with the great reviews it received. There was an online petition to try to revive the show but sadly there was no luck. The best is to find episodes online. There are also episodes found on YouTube. Gamers should definitely watch a couple episodes of this show and you’ll enjoy it.