The episode was written by Bob & Eve Forward.
This episode originally aired on Friday, October 20, 1989.
This episode marks the halfway point of the series.
During a repeat on the weekday morning syndicated "Captain N & The Video Game Masters", this episode mistakenly aired with the title, "Underworld Connections". I'm not sure how that happened. Perhaps the tapes that were provided to syndication did not have the titles hard-matted onto the video?
Interesting Notes (2:18 PM - 3:48 PM)
Link mentions Christmas.
Link sleeps with his sword (in its sheeth) behind his pillow.
The Triforce is naturally heavy. Zelda usually makes it float.
Spryte does not appear in this episode.
Great Lines (2:55 PM - 3:48 PM)
Zelda: "Care to lose a few fingers, porky?!"
Dumb Lines (3:49 PM)
None.
Rant (2:04 PM - 3:53 PM)
Well, this episode marks the halfway point of the series. It's also the Zelda debut of writer Eve Forward. Let's get right into it.
Some fans think that Link is whistling the overworld theme from "Super Mario Bros." while practicing his swordfighting. However, this is impossible, because Link grunts during the whistling. I'm not sure why this whistling was put in there.
Why does Link wipe his mouth with the back of his hand after knocking each boomerang away?
Link mentions Christmas. This is odd, considering that this is the Kingdom of Hyrule in a world filled with magic. No indication is given of what "Christmas" is.
It's cute that Spryte comments on Zelda being vain while admiring her own reflection in the mirror. :P
How was the mirror activated to create the doppelganger of Zelda? It looks like a beam from the sky came and hit the mirror. Perhaps starlight? We aren't given an explanation.
Why does the doppelganger wear dark clothing? Because she's "evil"? Wouldn't it be easier to fool Link if the doppelganger wore the exact same clothes as Zelda?
The mirror is a portable underworld exit and entrance. It's unclear if the doppelganger was created by bringing Zelda's reflection to life, by copying Zelda's reflection, or by Gannon in the underworld and then sent through the mirror.
It's unclear how many Moblins were there. 5 appeared in the mirror with the doppelganger. 1 stood with the doppelganger while 3 tied Zelda up. 2 took Zelda through the mirror. Link defeated 5. I'd guess that at least 7 were present at some point.
Link is obviously supposed to say "that's what heroes are for", but it sounds like he says either "that's what heroes are from" or "that's where heroes are from".
Those fans that were waiting in anticipation for it (all 2 of you) finally get to see "Zelda" kiss Link - except it's not Zelda. It's quite passionate, too. :P
Animation error: Link's mouth keeps moving between his sentences.
Why is the doppelganger's kiss cold? Because she's "evil"? Because she's the opposite of Zelda's warmth?
Zelda's doppelganger doesn't use proper English. She says "you, me, and the Triforce" are going to attack Gannon. It's supposed to be "you, I, and the Triforce".
Zelda's doppelganger doesn't have a reflection. Is this just some weird side effect of Gannon's creation, or is it really Zelda's reflection brought to life?
What kind of "fun" is Link anticipating? With two Zeldas, you gotta wonder. :D
I love how Zelda bites Gannon's finger. =)
Zelda says of the boomerang, "Good thing I...kept this." I don't know if it was meant to be a continuity touch with the previous episode or not, but the boomerang doesn't look the same.
Animation error: Link's lips keep moving after his last sentence when the doppelganger (off-screen) says "Good. Come on." In fact, Link's lips move exactly to the doppelganger's lines. Maybe Link was just having fun, anticipating the doppelganger's response? :P
The Moblins and Stalfos appear in an odd way: streams of white ribbons.
There's inconsistency with the number of stalfos. 7 originally appear. Link defeats 2. That means there should be 5 left. However, Link is shown surrounded by 6. The Triforce of Wisdom mysteriously falls down (what's that about? did the doppelganger throw it down?), defeating 2. Link defeats 3. This is consistent with the original number that appeared but not with the number that Link was later surrounded by.
I'm not sure what Link wants to "explain" to Zelda: his kissing her doppelganger or his bringing the Triforce of Wisdom to the underworld. I doubt that Zelda would care about the former. :P
Go frame by frame. Zelda doesn't slam the door on Link (as much as that would have rocked). It simply closed on its own.
Zelda opening the door and accidentally hitting Link is awesome, though. :D She gives him only a momentary glance before turning her attention to the doppelganger. Good for her. That's more important.
Link says "Sorry. Why don't you look where I'm goin'?" I don't consider this a dumb line, more like an arrogant line that is further proof that Link is a dick. He was the one that knocked Zelda down, and he blames it on her. Dick.
Animation error: Zelda's outfit is momentarily colored in the doppelganger's colors when she exclaims "Don't you ever do that again"; when the shot changes, and she finishes with "without telling me!", her outfit is back to its normal colors.
Sheesh, Link throws quite a hissyfit, not only exclaiming "Well, excuuuse me, Princess!" but also throwing his hat to the floor. Zelda should smack him when this mission is over.
I love that Zelda slaps Link to prove that it's really her. =)
Some people might doubt which Zelda was really killed. Look closely after her outfit when she and Link are floating up. The mud is partially gone, revealing her normal colors. It's the real Zelda that survived. =)
I love how Zelda gets angry when Link suggests that she get a black outfit. Serves him right.
Link exclaims "Excuuuse me, Princess!" and asks Zelda for a kiss (albeit in a slightly different manner than the usual "Kiss me"). Bob Forward's contribution to the script is apparent. What remains to be seen is how Eve Forward writes by herself.
Lesson: Link is a dick.
Despite Link's infamous line and demands for a kiss, "Doppelganger" is a good episode.
There is only one good line in this episode, since it's mostly action and basic dialogue, but the fact that I found no bad lines should indicate how good this episode is.
Zelda again demonstrates her capabilities as a fighter. She even defeats her doppelganger.
Overall, "Doppelganger" is a good episode. I look forward to reviewing the next one.
Usefulness ratings:
Link: 19 (defeating 8 Moblins, noticing that the doppelganger doesn't have a reflection; deciding to follow the doppelganger to Zelda, defeating 4 Stalfos, creating the forcefield, defeating 3 Octorocks, causing the ceiling to collapse)
Zelda: 3 (freeing herself from the ropes, defeating her doppelganger, making the Triforce of Wisdom float to allow herself and Link to escape)
Spryte: 0 ()
Unfortunately, Zelda doesn't fight much in this episode, due to being kidnapped. This is the second episode of the series without Spryte (not that I missed her), so she doesn't get any points.
The running total usefulness ratings for the series so far are:
Link: 82 (7 episodes)
Zelda: 37 (7 episodes)
Spryte: 6 (5 episodes)
That's the end of my review of "Doppelganger". I'll review "Underworld Connections" next. See you all in my next review!