NEW ADVENTURES - 1990

The Bride of Slushhead

The Bride of Slushhead title card
E48

Official Synopsis

Slush Head in a tuxedo holds a bouquet facing his bride while He-Man and guests watch.

Hydron's starship veers off course to the Quagmi Swamp, and the crew find they need parts from Gorn City but have no astrosubs to fetch them. Slush Head, attacking in a fighter, is stopped when someone from the Primus party saves Felka's life, and he calls on the code of the swamp to protect them and offers a bargain: Quakke will take Hydron for the parts if Sagitar agrees to be best man at his wedding. Skeletor sees the wedding as a chance to destroy the Galactic Guardians and lays a plan. Tempers flare, the ceremony almost collapses, and the couple are married. The finish is a call of thanks.

heman.org Episode Review

Can a villain be more honourable than the plan he is serving? "The Bride of Slush Head" lets a minor Mutant out of the doghouse and asks that question about him, and the answer is a surprisingly warm yes. It starts in the shape of an ordinary mishap. A new guidance system fails, the ship drifts from its course toward Gorn City, someone blames a loose part, and the crew bicker about whose adventure this is until the manual override stops responding and the estimate puts them in the Quagmi Swamp.

The repairs make a pleasant comic ladder: the damage is easy to fix, but the parts are only available in Gorn City, and the guidance system is tied into the astrosubs, so the crew will have to walk. Then Mutant fighters arrive, and Slush Head, leading the attack, snaps at Staghorn that he is in charge of this mission.

Put in plain words, the story is about a code that outranks an order. Slush Head learns that one of the Primus party has saved Felka's life, and the code of the swamp, he says, demands that he honour him: they will be under his protection, Quakke will escort Hydron to Gorn City for the parts, and after the wedding they are free to leave on his word. Staghorn objects, a voice on the Mutant side suspects a trap, and a Primus voice admits not trusting Slush Head either, but they decide they cannot afford to argue, since they need those parts. A deal struck on honour on one side and need on the other is a good engine for a half hour comedy.

Skeletor, naturally, sees a gift. With Flogg beside him he admits that Slush Head blew it, but a wedding means the Galactic Guardians will accept an invitation, and when the wedding bells ring it will be the end of them. His plan, which depends on everyone turning in their weapons, is the standard sort, but it is staged with a nice tension: someone is told to do as he is told or be on the next fighter back, and the Primans spend the reception trying to keep the peace with a Mutant who is itching for a fight. Sagitar and Staghorn trade insults, a Primus voice asks for peace for this one day, and Gepple, panicking that they are surrounded, ends up shouting that this is a cartoon, followed at once by a sheepish sorry. It is a good joke, and the wedding rolls on regardless.

The heart of the episode is the near collapse of the wedding. The wedding is called off, and the dialogue around it is a tangle of accusations; what is clear is that Felka accuses Slush Head of being on someone else's side, that he answers that no one talks to Felka like that and demands an apology, and that someone says sorry to her before the ceremony goes forward. The final call, in which he says that next time they meet it will be as enemies, but thanks the Primans for saving Felka, brings the spine home. Enemies they remain, and the thanks are still sincere.

The weakness is clutter. Skeletor's scheme, the quarrel, the apologies and the ceremony arrive close together, and the scheme gives way to the couple's story before it can land, with only a short scuffle between He-Man and Skeletor after the vows. The likely reason is that the script wants to end on the couple, not the trap, which suits the title but leaves Skeletor's plan with little to do.

Verdict: a charming, slightly lopsided comedy that gives a minor Mutant a real moment. The code of the swamp wins, and the wedding is better for it.

Notes of Interest

  1. Behind the scenes: Gepple breaks the fourth wall by shouting that this is a cartoon, according to the He-Man wiki.
  2. Continuity: The He-Man wiki lists Felka and Mr. Shelpy as first and only Jetlag Productions appearances.
  3. Continuity: Prince Adam does not appear in this episode, per the He-Man wiki.
  4. Continuity: The He-Man wiki flags a continuity error: Quakke is at the wedding even though he is supposed to be escorting Captain Hydron to Gorn City.
  5. Voice cast: Campbell Lane voices both Skeletor and Sagitar in this episode, according to the He-Man wiki cast list.
  6. Voice cast: Ted Cole voices both the groom Slush Head and his enemy Staghorn, per the wiki cast list.
  7. Behind the scenes: In the closing moral, Alcon tells Gepple to check the peephole before opening the door, according to the He-Man wiki.

Cast Appearances

Full roster →
He-Man
Good

He-Man
Skeletor
Evil

Skeletor
Flogg
Evil

Flogg
Slushhead
Evil

Slushhead
Staghorn
Evil

Staghorn

Episode screenshots

He-Man, Captain Hydron, Gepple and the red-capped man crowd together in a cockpit.
He-Man, Captain Hydron, Gepple and the red-capped man crowd together in a cockpit.
The red-caped man stands with arms crossed beside Gepple on a ship deck under a starry sky.
The red-caped man stands with arms crossed beside Gepple on a ship deck under a starry sky.
Gepple sits at a console and the red-caped man points beyond an eye-patched armored man in the foreground.
Gepple sits at a console and the red-caped man points beyond an eye-patched armored man in the foreground.
He-Man and Captain Hydron look off to the side from their cockpit seats.
He-Man and Captain Hydron look off to the side from their cockpit seats.
A bald man in a red suit glances to the side in a cockpit.
The red-caped man and Gepple look ahead, the red-caped man with his hands clasped.
Blue rocks and dripping green moss loom over a dark swamp.
Two crocodile-like creatures roar on a rock at night.
A red-suited man seen from behind stands before a wrecked ship, overlaid by a second image of him.
The red-caped man walks toward Gepple across a white ramp.
The red-caped man rubs his chin while Gepple stands beside him on a white ramp.
The red-caped man raises a finger and smiles down.
He-Man and a masked pilot in a teal suit stand at the foot of a white ramp.
He-Man and Captain Hydron, gun in hand, walk across a white ramp.
Pink beams streak toward two small ships in space.
Slush Head grips the controls in a purple cockpit.
Slush Head grips the controls in a purple cockpit.
He-Man faces a masked pilot in teal with a yellow backpack on a dark plain.
He-Man lowers his sword while Captain Hydron raises a gun with a hand at his mask.
He-Man and his companions look up under a glittering white overlay, one holding a rifle.
A dark mountain landscape lies under a starry sky.
He-Man and a red-suited man with a gun advance along a rocky shore.
A green-skinned woman in a pink dress raises both arms while standing in shallow water.
A man in a red helmet with a blue visor holds a rifle.
A red-clad shoulder braces a rifle against green foliage.
A grey-masked mutant with spindly arms grimaces in a purple cockpit.
Slush Head glares sideways in his clear helmet inside a cockpit.
Slush Head glares sideways in his clear helmet inside a cockpit.
A white hull shows red and blue box shapes.
Captain Hydron looks ahead in his teal suit and red mask.
A gold-armored mutant holds a grey mechanical weapon.
Slush Head stands beside a grey spidery mutant next to a wreck on dark ground.
A line of heroes stands beside a white ship with a green-skinned woman among them.
Slush Head holds the green-skinned woman in his arms between a spidery mutant and a gold-armored mutant.
Slush Head embraces the red-haired woman in the pink dress.
He-Man, Captain Hydron and a red-suited man with a rifle watch from the edge of the swamp.
Slush Head smiles with red lips inside his helmet and glances sideways.
Slush Head raises his mechanical claws toward He-Man and his group.
A spidery grey-masked mutant and a gold-armored mutant stand tense side by side.
Slush Head frowns angrily with a hose looped over his shoulder.
Slush Head stands with the woman in pink while the group gathers around.
Captain Hydron and a red-vested man with a blue visor look to the side.
He-Man and Captain Hydron watch Slush Head, who stands with his back to the viewer.
Pale beams of light shine into a cave over a glowing green creature.
Flogg sits in a purple cockpit chair, resting an arm on it.
Flogg sits in a purple cockpit chair, resting an arm on it.
Flogg and Skeletor stand together in the cockpit, Skeletor holding a skull-topped staff.
Flogg and Skeletor stand together in the cockpit, Skeletor holding a skull-topped staff.
Flogg and Skeletor talk in the cockpit, seen from a distance.
Flogg and Skeletor talk in the cockpit, seen from a distance.
Stone slabs sit in a garden courtyard with small figures among the flowers.
A woman in a pink gown and white hat sits on a bench beside a tuxedoed man.
A pink-skinned creature in a blue tuxedo waves clawed hands over a bouquet beside Slush Head.
A pink fish-faced creature in a blue tuxedo opens his mouth with both hands out.
A pink creature in a blue tuxedo leans toward Slush Head and a woman in a white hat.
Two green-skinned guests in brown suits and hats stand beneath drooping willow branches.
He-Man and an eye-patched armored man stand near a tiered cake and a golden egg-like ornament.
Skeletor in a tuxedo stands next to a goblin-faced guest in a brown suit.
Skeletor in a tuxedo stands next to a goblin-faced guest in a brown suit.
Skeletor in a tuxedo with a pink bow tie stands beside He-Man under the willows.
Skeletor grins in his tuxedo with a pink bow tie.
A red-vested man with a blue visor clenches his fists among lizard guests in formal wear.
He-Man and an eye-patched armored man stand before a willow-covered cliff.
He-Man and a red-vested man face wedding guests in formal wear near a glittering golden cluster.
Gepple and the red-caped man stand among lizard-like wedding guests.
Skeletor in a tuxedo stands in front of Staghorn, whose metal antlers rise behind him.
Skeletor grips the front of Staghorn's tuxedo while Staghorn grimaces.
Skeletor and Staghorn stand in a tight hold, Staghorn with his eyes screwed shut.
Skeletor grins widely in his tuxedo.
Flogg in a tuxedo and red bow tie gestures with open hands in alarm.
The green-skinned woman in a pink dress and white hat stands behind a table of plates and glasses.
Skeletor in a black coat touches the green-skinned woman's face across the table.
The woman in pink grips Skeletor's lapel while Slush Head sits on the floor behind her.
The woman in pink faces Skeletor in a cave room while Slush Head sits on the floor.
The woman covers her face with white gloves under her wide hat.
Slush Head in a tuxedo extends one hand with his eyes shut.
Slush Head, the woman in pink and Skeletor stand facing one another in a cave room.
Skeletor smirks in his tuxedo with his head tilted.
Four lizard-like guests in dresses and a brown cloak stand shoulder to shoulder.
A white-gloved hand sets a grey mechanical device on a golden tray under frosting.
A pink gown hem and a yellow foot show at ground level beside dark coat tails.
Wedding guests mingle in a clearing while a woman with pink hair walks away.
Slush Head and his bride hold a knife over a green tiered cake as guests look on.
Slush Head and his bride stand on top of a green tiered cake.
A pink creature in a blue tuxedo holds a green lizard guest while another lizard stands aside.
He-Man stands with his back turned near a golden egg ornament while a green shape looms right.
He-Man holds a hand to his chest, startled, as wisps of smoke rise around him.
Slush Head and his bride stand side by side, each holding a blaster.
Staghorn scowls in a tuxedo with one eye squeezed shut and his antler frame behind his head.
Staghorn scowls in a tuxedo with one eye squeezed shut and his antler frame behind his head.
Blue hills and a dark swamp stretch under the night sky with a tan shape at the bottom.
A cloud of grey smoke and rock debris bursts from an explosion.
Staghorn holds a rifle in his tuxedo with the antler frame behind his head.
Staghorn holds a rifle in his tuxedo with the antler frame behind his head.
A red-clad man wrestles with a pink-skinned creature in a blue tuxedo.
A red-vested man with a blue visor grapples with the pink-skinned creature in a blue tuxedo.
A tuxedoed figure with a metal head frame tumbles through the air above misty ground.
He-Man holds out one hand with a calm face while a pink streak crosses the sky.
He-Man faces Skeletor in a black coat, seen from behind, in front of a full moon.
He-Man grips a wooden staff in both fists.
Skeletor in a tuxedo thrusts a wooden staff toward the viewer.
He-Man stands on a mound of vines and reaches toward Skeletor in a tuxedo.
Skeletor clenches a fist and glares in his tuxedo.
A lizard guest in a blue suit kneels at a table beside a dark figure and an ornament.
A red-haired woman in a pink gown pushes cream into the face of a tuxedoed man.
Scattered guests and wrecked food litter the rocky ground.
Gepple and the red-caped man smile among the wedding guests.
He-Man walks along a swamp path under willow trees.
Gepple smiles gently against a dark sky.
He-Man, Gepple, the red-caped man, a bald man in red and a man in teal crowd the cockpit.
He-Man and Captain Hydron watch ahead from the cockpit.
Slush Head stares ahead in his purple cockpit beside a green-skinned woman in a gold hat.
A viewscreen shows Slush Head and his green-skinned bride in a purple cockpit.
The red-caped man and Gepple talk in a room with a large curved window.
A bright white disc fills a round window beside a gold-armored mutant's face.

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