TUGS: Jinxed

Another day, another review. It may have been a week since Friday the 13th, but that doesn't mean we've avoided being Jinxed!

THE OPINIONS, THOUGHTS AND MUSINGS IN THIS BLOG POST ARE SOLELY THOSE OF ZACK WANZER, AND NO ONE ELSE'S

Jinxed

Written and Directed by David Mitton

One night, Ten Cents and Sunshine encounter a tugboat named Boomer drifting at sea. Boomer tells them that he's jinxed - he used to be named Captain Harry before being renamed Boomer. Worth noting there that if you rename a boat, it's bound to bring bad luck... or so the superstition says. Ten Cents dismisses the jinx and as he's about to pull Boomer to Bigg City, the tow rope falls into the water after he whistles, much to his and Sunshine's surprise. Eventually, they bring him to Captain Star, who tells them to bring coal for Boomer. Just as Boomer starts working, his engine blows and as soon as the Star Switchers pull him clear, Boomer stops smoking... and Captain Star's megaphone drops, forcing him to tell his switchers to bring Boomer to Lucky's Yard.

All of a sudden, Boomer starts sinking... but he stops as he lands on a sunken garbage barge. After Ten Cents brings in Mighty Mo, the crane seizes up as soon as Boomer is clear from the water. "Another jinx," moans Sunshine. Because they can't use the barge to carry Boomer in, Ten Cents and Sunshine have to use the cranes to keep Boomer from going back in the water. They manage to make it safely... somehow... until the lights go out, resulting in chaos, but amazingly, no one is damaged.

Eventually, Boomer is repaired and works with the Z-Stacks for a munitions contract. Just after Ten Cents blows his whistle to Boomer for good luck... BOOOOOM!!! Yep, the explosives went off. Captain Zero is furious and sends Boomer away in disgrace, so Captain Star decides to use the unlucky tug for simple jobs where nothing can go wrong... easier said than done. Sunshine concludes that Ten Cents is the cause of these problems - specifically, his whistle. Coincidence? Nope, cause when Ten Cents blows his whistle around Boomer, a buoy sinks. Later, Captain Star sends Boomer to take a schooner out to sea, hoping nothing bad will happen. Luckily, Ten Cents does not sound his whistle this time, but most unusually, the schooner had been burnt, Boomer claiming he was struck by lightning.

Soon enough, Captain Star is fed up with Boomer's constant mishaps, and has him sent to Lucky's Yard, never to be used as a tug again, no matter what. Some weeks later, Ten Cents and Sunshine fear the worst, but to their amazement, Boomer has become a houseboat! He's escorted to Dun Tuggin', and apologizes for giving them trouble. Unfortunately, Ten Cents whistles goodbye, causing a tree to fall down... but luckily, no one is hit! Seems that the jinx had left Boomer for good, and he's now content with his new life.

Throughout the episode, you feel really sorry for Boomer whenever mishaps take place - many of them were out of his control, mostly, it was Ten Cents' fault. Granted, he meant no harm, but even so, he could've been a bit more cautious. I mean, he did try to tow Boomer towards Bigg City Port, and that's what very much sparked the alleged jinx. Maybe there are some things best left unexplained?

Rating: 9.5 out of 10

TUGS Episode Scorecard

1. Sunshine: 9
2. Pirate: 10
3. Trapped: 10
4. Jinxed: 9.5
5. Quarantine: 9
6. High Winds: 9.5
7. Ghosts: 9
10. High Tide: 9.5
11. Munitions: 10
12. Regatta: 9.5