Top Secret Mission
"MAD agents going to 19th century London attempting to steal crown jewels. Stop them."
Synopsis
Dr. Claw sends his latest MAD agent, the frumpy Thelma Bodkin, back in time to the 1800s to steal the Crown Jewels of England. While there, she is also to knock off Inspector Gadget's ancestors--a lovable pair of chimney sweeps named Chimney and Char Gadget--the logic being that if they are killed, Gadget will never have been born. Metro City Police get word of the imminent (?!) theft of the jewels, and Quimby orders his top man back to the past (via time machine) to prevent it. Gadget, Penny and Brain soon arrive safely along a waterfront in 19th century England, but the easily-distracted inspector immediately forgets his assignment after bumping into his great grandparents and instead visits with them. Bodkin, having already arrived, enlists the aid of a pair of two-bit hoods (very reminiscent of Cruella DeVille's henchmen in 101 Dalmatians) to finish off Inspector Gadget and his relatives while she heads off to steal the jewels. At the palace, Penny is recognized by Bodkin and locked in the dungeon, but managing to break free, she runs out and buys a cheap imitation of the jeweled crown to leave in the real one's place. Meanwhile, on the rooftops of London, Char, Chimney, and Gadget are attacked by Bodkin's thugs. Eventually Gadget's clumsiness (with Brain's help) thwart their efforts, and none too soon, either--Inspector Gadget, his niece and his dog have to rush back to the time machine before it automatically returns to the present, with or without them. They board the machine with nanoseconds to spare. Bodkin arrives back safely, too, with crown jewels that Claw instantly recognizes as phonies.
Quotable Quote
"Look out! 'E's dotty in the 'ead, Chimney!" --Char Gadget to husband Chimney after Inspector Gadget greets the as-yet childless couple as his great grandparents.
Notes
A fast-paced, surprisingly busy outing for Inspector Gadget with a lot of fun elements thrown in. The scene in Char & Chimney's flat where Gadget looks for electrical outlets to plug in his appliances is especially amusing.
Be On The Look-Out For...
...alcohol. After Gadget convinces Char & Chimney he's related to them, Chimney invites Gadget to a local pub for "a pint of beer." We even see the three Gadgets raising their steins in a toast, but then the scene cuts to another shot. Not only is it rare for an afterschool cartoon to make mention of alcohol, it's almost unheard of for the main character to actually drink, even if it's off-screen. Not that there's anything wrong with that.
...Social Services. Gadget brings his young niece to a seedy part of 19th century London and immediately abandons her on the docks so he can hit the bars? Wowsers!
MAD Agent Count
Three: Thelma Bodkin and two English thugs.
Unanswered, Nit-Picky Questions
Thelma Bodkin is mistaken for the queen by palace guards. If in fact she is supposed to be a dead-ringer for the queen of England, why isn't this made clear to viewers before this scene plays out? Was a line or two cut from the original script that explains this? Perhaps we'll never know...
Ridiculous Safety Tip
It's dangerous to plug too many appliances in one extension cord.
"Gadget's Clean Sweep"