REVIEW: Amphibia Season 3, Episode 15, “Newts in Tights; Fight or Flight”

"Justice is half blind!"

Television Reviews

*SPOILERS*

“Newts in Tights” finds Anne and Sprig doing recon when Robin Hood-style newts ambush Andrias’ troops. The newts are led by Tritonio, Anne and Sprig’s treacherous former sword teacher. They offer to help Tritonio’s gang against the animals Andrias has enslaved in exchange for them joining the resistance. Tritonio tells Anne about his childhood scavenging on the streets and how there is no loyalty or attachment among thieves. When the band is ambushed by Andrias’ forces, they’re arrested. Tritonio tries to run away rather than save them, but Anne guilts him into joining her and Sprig on a rescue mission. Anne, Sprig, Tritonio, and his friends destroy Andrias’ machines and escape. Back at base, Hop Pop and Sasha show Anne a mysterious room that can only be opened with the Plantar family tome. Inside, they find a blank piece of paper. “Fight or Flight” concerns the rebellion’s food supply and the enigmatic disappearance of its stores. Anne discovers that the food is being stolen by Domino 2, the Kill-a-Moth that she briefly adopted. Domino 2 is kidnapped by Andrias’ followers, leaving several “kittens” motherless. Against Sasha, Hop Pop, and even Sprig’s advice, she takes the kittens to camp for safekeeping, and they set out to free Domino 2. They find her and several more fully grown moths in a cage, but Domino 2 initially tries to attack Anne. Once her collar is broken off, she remembers her former caretaker and even defends Sprig from the other moths. Anne and Sprig discover that Domino 2 is the alpha among her pack and, as such, the other moths obey her and are, therefore, not a threat to the rebellion. They take the moths home, reuniting Domino 2 with her babies and bolstering resistance defenses.

Wow. This season has been pretty good so far, but this is a particularly strong pair of stories. They continue to re-introduce previously minor characters in both episodes, and in both cases, the returning characters are integrated in meaningful and satisfying ways. I wouldn’t have guessed we’d ever see Tritonio again, yet they added depth to his character and redeemed his selfish ways. I absolutely loved Domino 2 because I’m a sucker for cats, even bizarre bug-cats from alternate dimensions. So I was legitimately pumped to see her again, even more so when Anne recruited her and the other moths. Giant, flying cat mounts for the resistance? Yes, please. The references and Easter eggs have been on point this season as well, and while I didn’t expect a Men in Tights-inspired episode, I’m not mad at all. The explanation for why Tritonio and his people wear the titular tights had me in stitches, especially when they waved their legs at Anne. Archie Yates guest stars in this episode. Best known for his role in Jojo Rabbit, here he plays a character also named Jojo. I  haven’t seen that movie, so I may have missed a joke or two with his character. The story’s conflict and resolution were obvious early on, but it works for the characters, and sometimes less is more. I don’t think Tritonio needs a big emotional moment where he realizes he cares about his friends; that much is obvious, and screen time is scarce. I like little details like how Jojo is very innocent and bright-eyed, just like Tritonio was in the flashback. If Tritonio had gone through with his initial plan of running away and abandoning his friends, he would have betrayed the boy’s friendship and broken his faith in people, just like what happened to him as a kid. I wish the fight to save the merry band could have been a little longer; I really liked the judge robot and his jokes about justice and the law. 

I like “Fight or Flight” even more, even if the only reference I caught in it was Domino 2 looking like Mothra until Anne got close to her. I’m not sure that was intentional, but I wouldn’t be a bit surprised. I love stories about animals and the bond we humans share with them, so any episode involving Domino 2 or Domino, Anne’s cat at home, has a head start in my book. I love the overwhelming cuteness power the kill-a-pillars wield against the frogs. It makes sense as a trait they would develop in a world like this, and honestly, it would work on me, and I’d be moth food. I feel like most shows wouldn’t know how to pull this off, and it would be too silly, but Amphibia’s unique setting allows for such things. Hop Pop’s initial reluctance and eventual acceptance of the moths is hilarious. He’s like a dad who doesn’t want a pet but can’t resist once he’s seen it. Wally dressing one of Domino 2’s “kittens” up like himself got a chuckle out of me, too. Overall there’s not a lot to critique in this episode for me because it’s cute and cuddly, my #1 weakness. The sweet reunion between Anne and Domino 2 almost makes me sad, in a way; Domino 2 must have been confused all this time, wondering where Anne was. And the original Domino back at home is probably devastated at losing her owner yet again when Anne returned to Amphibia. When the finale does air and Anne presumably goes home, they better show her and the original Domino back together. 

Overall, this is an excellent half-hour of TV. “Newts in Tights” has Matt Braly’s sense of humor and penchant for making oddly specific movie references on full display. It takes the character of Tritonio from a one-episode side villain to a friend and ally of Anne and the Plantars. “Fight or Flight” is a lot of fun, too, and Anne’s reunion with her former pet tugged on my heartstrings. This type of creature doesn’t even exist, but I want ten immediately! This season is just getting better and better, and I genuinely can’t wait to see how they wrap things up. One way or another, I’ve really enjoyed this show, and I’ll miss it after it ends.