Freaky Fred - Dark Toons

It's the scariest Courage the Cowardly Dog cartoon, even though almost nothing happens. How is that possible? Doug takes a look on a new Dark Toons.
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Freaky Fred is part two of the fourth episode of Season 1 of Courage the Cowardly Dog, which aired December 3, 1999, following The Demon in the Mattress. It was directed by John R. Dilworth and written by David Steven Cohen, with storyboard by Bill Marsilii.
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[@dragonheart2272]

Any episode of Invader Zim would work! The organ harvesting episode (Dark Harvest) is probably the darkest.

[@deshawnedwards6412]

Do any of these Steven Universe episodes for a Dark Toons episode. 1) Frybo 2) Rose's Room 3) Horror Club 4) Nightmare Hospital

[@TorsilClimber]

Invader Zim, "Dark Harvest".

[@NEVETSGILBERT1233]

Invader zim dark harvest

[@xblade149]

2003 tmnt insane in the membrane

[@Teifling]

The set up and behavior comes off like a sadistic murderer, but he's just a barber who can't stop himself from cutting until there's nothing left. Like you said, nothing truly malevolent happens, but the delivery mirrors much more disturbing material.

[@breejames6323]

That’s what I thought he’s secretly some sort of psychopathic murderer obsessed with “cutting ” you stated everything I always thought about this character.

[@simple-commentator-not-rea7345]

I always thought this is meant to mirror a serial rapist. I mean, he smiles creepishly, he says the word "Naughty" over and over again, and he shaves people of all hair until there's nothing left, possibly mirroring sexual gratification from stripping people naked

[@funnyblog100]

@@simple-commentator-not-rea7345 Actually he has an entirely different disorder. He is not crazy or a psychopath. He actually just suffers from a form of OCD. It is a rare disorder that actually exists Trichotemnomania.

[@travissmith2848]

@@funnyblog100 The very loose empathy and seeming lack of real emotion may indicate some level of sociopathy as well. And he has his own hair, indicating that his obsession if principally focused on the hair/fur of others. The man may not be dangerous, but he is not well.

[@wobblewokgaming655]

I just wondered what he DID with the hair.

[@DarkLordGanondorf190]

I think Freaky Fred speaks to something every kid has experienced or thought about at some point. Fred is like a representation of the scary stranger your parents warned you about or that weird distant relative that always seemed off to you. There is nothing worng with them on the surface and they may not even do anything, but all your insticts tell you to get out.

[@TheGuardDuck]

Ohh yeah, I feel it...

[@casper6405]

True very true

[@jawllypop1750]

Indeed. I know the feeling.

[@gracenotme671]

I relate.

[@alexanderavila4662]

@@gracenotme671 what happened

[@alyssa-hk2pg]

I never noticed til now, but when he talks to Muriel, his voice sounds deeper and more normal than it does when he’s talking to himself and to Courage, like he’s putting on an act for her

[@Fritter_Films]

Yeah. Then again, he did say she was “my dear aunt Muriel”.

[@theenderdestruction2362]

Well he loves her

[@SonicMania2099]

Sad news. Muriel's voice actor has died recently

[@CosmicG777]

@@SonicMania2099 Damn. I just now heard about from u. Rip.

[@nautilusshell2089]

The scariness of Fred for me was the fact that he was so normal on the surface, but he *knows* he's in a TV show. He talks directly to the viewer, and the fact that he is just a guy and not some eldritch monster from the moon or something really hit a nerve that shouldn't exist, and yet it does.

[@Sonichero151]

He's so insane he actually became too Sane. He's become aware.

[@rangopistacho6928]

i think its the fact we cant tell if hes an eldritch being or not is what makes him scary they say fear the unknown but we know about him and yet we don't fully understand so really its fear what we do not understand

[@rockycuro7737]

@@Sonichero151 now that's a terrifying concept

[@sterling7]

I think it's something in Fred's teeth, too. It's like he's been told that the world expects you to smile, and he's putting his "best face" forward... and even his "best face" is slightly crooked, which makes you wonder about all the faces he's hiding.

[@Fritter_Films]

Yeah. Plus, he emphasizes the word “naughty”. I think his parents told him he was naughty for shaving his pet hamster.

[@BardicProductions]

Try the Hey Arnold episode called, the Ghost Bride. An actual murder on Nickelodeon.

[@EssexAggiegrad2011]

Hey Arnold had a bunch of scary episodes

[@shioriryukaze]

Facts.

[@ChristionGirl45]

No joke I had to sleep with the lights on after watching that episode for the first time! I think I was around 8 or 9!

[@HauntedChipDoodles]

Which season and what episode

[@xophis2]

Also the headless cabby episode

[@kylenguyen7371]

Someone was feeling... *NAUGHTY*. Freaky Fred is very unnerving. He doesn't do anything heinous, really. He just has a very unhealthy obsession with shaving off others' hair. Part of the scare factor comes from presentation. Another part is the subtle demonstration of how Fred will gladly violate boundaries like personal space in pursuit of that obsession.

[@nathanielleack4842]

Also his voice is phenomenal and chilling. But the way he talks and justifies his weird fetish makes him almost kind of likeable and endearing. Freaky fred was such a great one off character

[@tydaniels3784]

creepy

[@endurancegal93]

I also think there's an aspect of being locked in a room with someone who wants something from you and you can't do anything about it. There's an aspect of violation there that a kid, even if they're not sure exactly what would be taken, can pick up on and find uncomfortable.

[@CreeketsCreek]

It's the fact he's shaving you also. Hair covers you, it's like he's undressing you and making you feel vulnerable

[@soldyrkare5790]

PRECISELY... thats the exact feeling I had. And that aspect of knowing the intentions but not exactly what it is made it all the more worst.

[@KnightElemental]

Freaky Fred is the scariest episode. King Ramses' Curse: "Am I a joke to you?"

[@demi-fiendoftime3825]

Return of the Chicken from Outer Space would also like a word with you!

[@shioriryukaze]

WHATS YOUR OFFER???

[@mrgreen497]

That episode is 2020 rn

[@jongon0848]

@@demi-fiendoftime3825 That was more weird and different, not really scary. King Ramses was so damn unsettling with his cgi design, his voice, and just how threatening he was.

[@demi-fiendoftime3825]

@@jongon0848 What's not disturbing about a undead rosted chicken comeing to kill you since you were the one who rosted him and some how his neck stump is expresive

[@clericofchaos1]

Honestly all courage cartoons can be considered "dark". That's pretty much the entire series.

[@shizuwolf]

It had its lighter episodes. The space squid episode. The Valkyrie episode

[@milorca4412]

shizuwolf Howlajima they were all pretty creepy, but not equally creepy imo

[@kylemorello4787]

When it wasn't making you scream, it was making you cry.

[@samuelneese482]

Which is why it's still one of the greatest shows ever. This show defined my teenage years.

[@glowworm2]

@@kylemorello4787 Yeah, the episode "Last of the Starmakers" with the space squid who makes the stars in the sky had the most beautiful yet saddest piano music playing throughout the episode--which itself was a tearjerker as the squid had fled to Nowhere with her unhatched babies from the sky and a ravenous black hole sperm whale. It's a rather charming episode--but it's unmistakably sad too.

[@bluskamqko]

just one more addition to Doug's thoughts: " He doesn't only pronounce "NAUGHTY" in a certain way but the word "HAIR" is said in the same manner.

[@pundertalefan4391]

Eeewwww.

[@Sonichero151]

His inflections are what steal the show. It just makes you so uncomfortable like watching a burning car wreck.

[@diegodubber2140]

In Italian, he says "MALVAGIO!", which means "EVIL"

[@cdcdrr]

The show that introduced us to the concept of non-consensual shaving. This guy seemed like a child molester even when I was barely aware of what that was.

[@hellpenguin3031]

This. Exactly this. Fred was a parody of serial killers, but he was an allegory to molesters.

[@Fritter_Films]

Hell Penguin No, that’s not what he represents. In fact, Fred doesn’t represent anything. The creator of the show, John Dilworth, wanted to make a Dr. Suess like episode. He confirmed that Fred is just a creepy guy with OCD.

[@bluskamqko]

@@Fritter_Films LOL Funny how people think "molesters" or "serial killers". Just shows how creepy and cringy they themselves are. I watched this as a kid and never thought he was so bad. Just crazy guy with a crazy fetish even though I didn't know what fetish is probably at that age.

[@littenfire3563]

@@bluskamqko nothing wrong with being creepy. Since Courage is Horror inspired, him facing off against a parody of a serial killer isn't that out of the question

[@bluskamqko]

@@littenfire3563 "nothing wrong with being creepy" keep telling yourself that.

[@user-ok2lw9cc1z]

Parents: Why did I let you watch this when you were young? Kids: Because you wanted us to be quiet.

[@MandleRoss]

Quiet.... FOREVER!!!

[@Phanthief95]

Makes sense. Scare your kids into silence.

[@ezelfrancisco1349]

Kids: Because we were *NAUGHTY*

[@CreeketsCreek]

@@ezelfrancisco1349 pFFFT

[@mityakiselev]

oh, and quiet I became

[@gidgetthefidget]

This is scary, but honestly I was more terrified of Ramsey's Curse "ReTuRn ThE sLaB..."

[@LucyLioness100]

That one is the freakiest

[@katmossa3503]

The Doctor Of Delight that and the mask episode for me

[@gidgetthefidget]

I'll be honest, I was so scared of this episode as a kid I wouldn't watch it if it came on. Now I can sit back and appreciate it for what it is and it holds up, I still get shivers up my neck seeing the horrible cg effects of that ghost but that's what makes it so good! The mask episode was scary but I think it was more on a level of realism, as (if I remember correctly been a while since I've seen it) I think it actually had prostitution in it. The Great Fussili also creepy but it's more creepy if you think about the ending. Honestly the whole damn series is freaky and scary...and god bless it so glad I grew up with it ❤

[@Karmy.]

OR SUFFER MY CURSE

[@Blizzard0fOz93]

The man in gauze, the man in gauze~!

[@kharnthebetrayer8251]

"If those eyes weren't there it'd be nowhere near as creepy" I beg to differ. If Freaky Fred had no eyes, that'd be 10 times creepier. Just black holes where his eyes should be

[@genera1013]

Thank you for my nightmares for the next month😂😂😂

[@samanthakelly718]

Christ on a bike.

[@lawlietyuri]

maybe, but then it would feel less real. part of the scare is that it's a seemingly normal person doing this. i say normal.. loosely here.

[@officialrenegades9590]

Sweet memories of a girl...can tempt me to be *NaUgHtY* Doug: *looks at camera slowly* now what am I supposed to say to that?

[@tykamen5588]

I mean what are you supposed to say to that?

[@supersyfydude]

Possibly that's disturbing

[@bluebelt1235]

How about “How is this a kids show again?”

[@julieporter7805]

Reminds of Lenore in the Raven or the way Humbert talks about Lolita.

[@ThatDudeWithBoobs]

Go for a classic, "A faaaaamily picture!" Also, Memento Mori, my friend. 🖤⏳🤍

[@CrazyFoo501]

Freaky Fred is even more scary as an adult after you realizes he kinda definitely gives off the vibes of a sexual predator.

[@masonakamara7556]

Yes. Courage being locked in a room with him is like leaving a child alone with a predator and the kids parents won’t pay attention to their distress regarding the abuse.

[@johnc9558]

That's forsure what its about

[@King_of_Gamers2099]

Agreed if this was on adult swim that definitely what he would have been

[@sarikajoshi7156]

That hair fetish was putted as metaphorical representation for family viewing.

[@icantthinkofaname8139]

“Sweet memories of a girl… can tempt me to be naughty”

[@nickdorenkamp959]

This show is pretty much Tim Burton meets Stephen King.

[@peelslowly28]

The creepy yet whimsical aesthetic of Tim Burton with the Scary and sometimes campy writing of Steven King

[@VicAnderson]

As interpreted by Salvador Dali's nightmares.

[@gregmatic2861]

That combination needs to happen in an actual movie. They've left money on the table.

[@Boney4000]

This show is pretty much the best thing I ever seen on TV short of gravity falls...

[@Boney4000]

And amazing world of gumball

[@racekitty]

This show has psychos,aliens and demons and somehow Fred is one of the scariest.

[@MauZangetsu]

Shows you how real he feels compare to others

[@Sonichero151]

In the episode where course faced his rogues gallery. It was Fred appearing in the end that terrified him the most. And that rogues gallery included legit dangerous monsters and beings. But it was Fred that caused him to collapse his entire house in a scream to level nations

[@ahshhr3jeoapjfb3jejeee74]

That's because freaky fred is probably all 3

[@greenbanana1001]

It shows you that a normal guy can be a monster

[@cartooncritique6625]

Kinda reminds me of "The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy". In a world of unholy monsters, evil demons, and eldritch horrors the scariest thing in that show was a little girl in a pink dress. 😅

[@darthestar8791]

“It’s a kid show, it’s not going to do anything to bad.” That depends on the kid show Doug.......

[@glowworm2]

Yeah, there was a lot of "What the heck is going on in this show?" scenarios that were genuinely disturbing.

[@Mr3DLC]

Revenge of the chicken from outer space

[@samanthakelly718]

Invader Zim was a kid show. Anyone remember Dark Harvest?

[@armchairrocketscientist4934]

Gravity Falls: "ancient sins, ancient sins, ancient sins...."

[@bigman5823]

awesome astronaut i never found gravity falls that scary

[@Hessed3712]

Other youtubers: “I’m running out of content because I can’t go outside.” Doug: Thriving

[@Marinealver]

or that some people are truly terrified of Barber shops opening... ...too soon(?)

[@sammyi2505]

When I was 11 or so, I was at the park with my grandfather playing tennis. A man with a dog came up to us after we were done. He wanted me to pet his dog and had a bit of small talk with my grandfather... but he was smiling at me the entire time. His eyes never left me, they never even blinked, he just kept staring and smiling like he was trying to be friendly but even at that age I could tell something was wrong... He didn't feel like a friendly man, it felt like he was eyeing me like a piece of meat. Freaky Fred back then gave me those vibes. Still feel them now.

[@blissfulinsomniac5711]

Ew!

[@MandleRoss]

And that man grew up to be... Kevin Spacey. And now you know... the rest of the story.

[@Mikemyers2948]

Sure your just trying to get attention

[@YukoValis]

I think the scariest episode that i remember is the one called head of beef. Just them at some road side burger place with a pig chef that seems a little too in love with his work. There is a lot of fear of the unknown and worry there, especially when people start to vanish.

[@MisterXenomorph]

I like that episode. All it was in the end was a guy who liked to make art with hamburger meat.

[@Perid0tStar]

@@MisterXenomorph Then at the very, VERY end, the last line one of the characters says and the delivery almost acts like a bait and switch, where you wonder if you were right in the first place...

[@ZanyMei]

@@Perid0tStar Yes! Someone else agrees with me. The fact that his wife said it and then winked makes me feel like she actually did want to eat him. I always thought they might just not eat humans, but dogs are fair game. If she hadn't winked and looked at camera like that I would say yeah it was just the meat art.

[@1995stripey]

The thing that creeped me out the most about the episode was that my grandma's bathroom had the same design on the walls as courage's bathroom

[@foolishcious1807]

I would say the thing that makes this episode the creepiest in the series is the music. It's absolutely haunting

[@anthonytrres23]

I'm surprised nothing was said about the music because that was the creepiest element of this episode

[@banjiromasati4907]

I thing Theres other episodes most scary of this, butt this have thr most disturbing music.

[@chrisholloway5460]

And the kids chorus at the end with the "la la la, lala, la la."

[@funnyblog100]

I found it the saddest. Honestly Fred might actually be a decent person who just can't control himself. His disorder makes it hard for him to interact with people and he didn't get the help he really needed. As someone who struggles with mental illness myself I always felt bad for the guy.

[@radgoncan]

I watched all of Dougs Courage reviews and I can't believe how he overlooks the soundtrack. Its a really major element of a lot of episodes.

[@derpdiamonduniverse1523]

He never mentioned the fact that he constantly stares at you

[@airbending_sith]

Why does Fred get so many matches on tinder? He likes to get Naughty

[@jadenhernandez5109]

( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

[@kadelarson2535]

NaUgHtY

[@seal8092]

xD

[@recnarak813]

LMAOOO 💀💀💀

[@saharzaidi1018]

Personally, I think the reason Freaky Fred is scary is because its one of the few episodes where we get the villain's perspective throughout the story and the fact that he always talks in rhyme ...

[@AriochStarr]

I think it's safe to say that we can all agree that the majority of Courage episodes could fill an entire Dark Toons series. And I'd be okay with that.

[@TheLoneLoony]

"Surround the area! Cut the power! We don't want anyone getting shaved in there!" XD

[@jamester012345]

Over the Garden Wall. Does an amazing job switching between gorgeous and terrifying. Probably one of my favorite cartoons that was definitely able to put me on edge, but I couldn't stop watching.

[@CrystlRain27]

I remember this episode. The Police: " Surround the perimeter. We don't want anybody getting shaved in there."

[@Hayden-vf1ss]

King Ramses' Curse was the one that always haunted me as a kid.

[@j-manjr8127]

That reminds me. Really need to return that slab.

[@ZakoZakoSoldier]

What's your offer

[@OtterloopB]

The Violin Girl got me the most. In regards to Ramses, I still wish someone would make a mod for Slender where instead of Slenderman pursuing you, it's King Ramses. Imagine picking up the first of 8 slabs, and you hear a low cry carrying through the trees: "Retuuurn the slaaabbb...!!" I think that would make for an epic mod.

[@GraveDigger35]

what about the Spirit of the Harvest Moon?

[@ERBfan01]

Return the slab hayden

[@misaelramirez3178]

I recomend the Invader Zim episode: "Dark Harvest" That episode is a dark/twisted highlight in all the entire show.

[@zachsutton9866]

One of the best cartoons ever

[@DracoMagnius]

That's my favorite episode of Invader Zim! I love the ending with Dib's vocal cord exchange.

[@noahroangoldwing]

Pretty much all of Zim was like that. And I loved it

[@plumpydayz]

It was also the episode that got the show taken off Nikolodeon

[@avosmash2121]

@@plumpydayz No it wasnt. They had 2 more new seasons after that ep.

[@ScarletRedCrimson]

I remember watching this as a kid just being unnerved as hell by Fred. While its not the darkest episode..far from it. I feel like this captures a sort of adult horror. Fred is a psychopath, and honestly fairly realisticly portrayed. Although most of it is sugested.

[@scottbuckley823]

Doug is missing the creepist thing about him being a barber is that he's 'grooming' courage and the little girl think about it .

[@arielruh7773]

Barbara? ( his girlfriend or ex girlfriend)

[@scottbuckley823]

@@arielruh7773 or a girl he groomed

[@CurtyTails]

This confirms someone thought of that term and took the allegory direction of a crazy barbor- seriously there are too mamy pieces that fit

[@QuarterLifeCrises]

Yeah I think that's the biggest part of why I, as an adult, found this creepy. The hair cutting to the point of ignoring the other person's boundaries reads like an allegory to a less goofy violation. They did a phenomenal job with this episode. It has so many layers that you can keep talking about for a long time.

[@angell8632]

Harika Mohan I'm very glad you brought up the boundaries aspect. As a child when I watched this as surprising as it sounds, Fred's smile never really registered as overly creepy, it was the fact that he was locked in a room with courage and shaved him pretty much hairless despite it obviously violating several boundaries and courage was obviously uncomfortable, that was what really kept me up at night. As a young adult I can now see far more sinister innuendos.

[@dariushcreates]

Powerpuff Girls - Speed Demon. That is the creepiest episode

[@Penguinmanereikel]

Now THAT'S a good recommendation

[@1Archielan]

I was just going to comment that. Absolutely agree. And the best part about this episode is that unlike an episode like Abracadaver which scared me more as a kid, Speed Demon terrifies me even more today.

[@glowworm2]

@@1Archielan I can't even get myself to rewatch Speed Demon, and I'm 32 years old and own the entire original PPG series on DVD.

[@PeninsulaPaintings]

Nah man, Abracadaver was the one that always got me! You see the dude die on screen, impaled in an Iron Maiden in a magic show gone wrong!

[@Askerad]

Years and years later it's still the only ppg episode i can think about. Definitly interesting for that kind of video.

[@KingOGreen]

It's been decades since I probably last saw Courage, but I have always recalled two things, Fred saying naughty and King Ramsey saying, "return the slab."

[@lakobause]

My favorite part is when Courage tries protecting his tail and Fred says “Shaving your tail? Now that would be weird!” Like, of all things, THAT’S where he draws the line.

[@Bigalllofty]

I used to love and HATE this episode when i was a child. My Mum would quote this when I wanted to stay up and I would rush my ass to bed XD

[@BugsyFoga]

One of the most memorable episodes of Courage out there .

[@JestKartoonsStudios]

Indeed. Definitely very memorable.

[@JonpaulGee]

Doug: "This is the scariest episode " Pharoah: "Hold my slab!"

[@nikolai1326]

IT'S A TRAP!

[@presidentobeng]

Doug: This is the best!!! Pharoah:No I am! Kitty: Hold my mask.

[@heathazezero3967]

Hooold my Slaaaab

[@Phanthief95]

WHAT’S YOUR OFFER?!

[@sabrinamiller3671]

The episode with Bunnie and Kitty was bloody terrifying.

[@fallenninja75]

Fred is the only Courage character that ever made me feel uncomfortable as a kid. He's got "Stranger Danger" written all over him!

[@helllooo2140]

Same

[@Aust51989]

The soundtrack in this episode was spot on. The “la...lala...” really added to the creepy atmosphere.

[@burnthetrolls5971]

Imagine if they had Tim Curry voice this character

[@ezelfrancisco1349]

Man, that would’ve made this scarier. In fact, I’m kind of surprised that Tim Curry isn’t in this cartoon

[@glowworm2]

A lot of people thought that Tim Curry voiced the Goose God in the episode "The Gods must be Goosey", but it was actually Paul Schoeffler.

[@burnthetrolls5971]

@@glowworm2 they should've cast him in at least one episode but they couldn't I think he was with Nickelodeon at this time doing The Wild Thornberrys

[@TheWesinatorvids]

Burn The Trolls Being on Thornberries wouldn’t have prevented him from being on Courage. Voice actors are free to work for multiple networks.

[@Z2Wolf]

I think that would have made it worse. Tim Curry is always so recognizable as himself; as this over the top comic terror... while Fred is just... Fred. If he had a celebrity voice rather than being so very mundane outside of his mannerisms, some of the impact would be lost.

[@CsongorVarady]

My favorite fan theory about Courage the Cowardly Dog is that actually there are no supernatural elements, they are only in his cowardly brain. As he is a small scared dog, isolated in the middle of nowhere, every new thing just freaks him out. This episode really underlines it, as Fred actually is just a "dog barber" but Courage is really afraid of him.

[@LM-kl3gy]

To take that further, he's not really in the middle of nowhere. Courage's owners are old and he doesn't go out. Therefore knows nothing of the outside world.

[@malcomchase9777]

Let's work with that theory. Courage is just getting a haircut and his imagination makes everything worse. Then why is the barber taken away by a third party? That theory assumes Courage embellishes the truth, but not that he adds elements, right? He didn't imagine two people coming to take Fred before he finished his work. So that actually happens. Which doesn't make sense if he is just a dog barber doing his regular job.

[@SingeScorcher]

@@malcomchase9777 While I personally am not huge on the whole "It's all in his head" theory, for the sake of diving down the rabbit hole, the people that took him away could have just been friends or other relatives coming to pick him up. Maybe someone big enough to force the jammed door open. Could be that he really was a professional dog groomer who came out to do a house call. The Bagge's wanted him to set up in the bathroom, but had to warn him about that bad door lock that Eustace had been meaning to fix. So when the door closes right behind them anyway, terrified Courage perceives it as Eustace the grumpy old man locking him in with the serial barber. Consequently, when someone shows up to pick up Fred and they force the door open, Courage's addled mind sees it as someone busting him and taking him away by force. That being said, apply this logic to episodes like The Clutching Foot or The Tower of Dr. Zalost and it doesn't quite hold up.

[@chadderwent8787]

@@SingeScorcher This is a late response, but that would explain the pancake scene. It's common for people to try to make dogs calm down through offering them food, so Courage could have interpreted this as Fred forcing him to eat it.

[@Fritter_Films]

@@SingeScorcher The clutching foot is simple. Eustance’s foot is swollen makes Eustance very mean because he is in pain, with different personalities each represented by a toe. All of the weird “treatments” Muriel gives to Eustance are odd to Courage because he doesn’t know what they are. The tower of Doctor zalost doesn’t make sense to me, I’m not sure what it could stand for.

[@repleca]

I always got "Stranger Danger" vibes from Fred as a kid. He seemed like the kind of person your parents warn you about getting too close to, but courage's "parents" are letting him in even though all the NOPE signs are there and he's getting too close. I think that's why he displays more of a creep factor than a scary factor that just... unnerved me.

[@lunerblade13]

11:07 i think it has to do with the intrigue and delight that fred gets off of it. hes not doing this out of obligation or consent he just wants to do it.

[@wstine79]

My favorite Courage the Cowardly Dog episode were "Everyone Wants to Direct" and "King Ramsie's Curse."

[@glowworm2]

"Everyone Wants to Direct" is pretty unnerving when you realize that the zombie pretending to be a director and his resurrected partner basically went around pretending to be directors and killed people--they actually killed 12 people--when they were still alive. The computer actually mentions the entire story in detail to Courage.

[@cameliongrim183]

"King Ramses curse" is the creepiest episodes of courage the cowardly dog of all time

[@Ashurman666]

It's really not, there's episodes that are much creepier

[@Chris-th4kx]

return the slab

[@thatstupidchannel4903]

I thought the your not perfect episode was really scary and other ones

[@Ashurman666]

@@thatstupidchannel4903 Perfect and The House Of Discontent are, to me, much creepier

[@Karmy.]

@@Chris-th4kx or suffer my curse

[@chubbyninja89]

Why is no one talking about how hilariously deadpan Doug is at 9:38? That's pretty funny.

[@troperhghar9898]

I think freaky Fred's smile inspired alastor in hazbin hotel

[@cheshireket3132]

I LOVE THEM BOTH SO MUCH!

[@Capt.Peachy]

YAAAAAASSSSSS

[@Matt_0417]

I can see Alastor being a distant friend to Fred

[@lawlietyuri]

@@Matt_0417 i can confirm, we are distant friends.

[@nanuqo2006]

can you not

[@BeingRedAlice]

The scariest episode of Courage, for me, was the one with the cursed slab of the Pharaoh's thomb. That early CGI was so terrifying in combination with the voice.... It was also my favourite episode!! 🤩

[@dsilva369]

A rare case where early CGI actually works because it's uncanniness adds to the scariness.

[@Vigriff]

For me, it's either the episode with the spirit of the Harvest Moon or the Windmill Vandals.

[@PsychRN84]

My favorite courage episode. My sister loved the Ramses one.

[@ryanschneider115]

God that one scared me as a kid, still loved watching it.

[@dforman4770]

R E T U R N T H E S L A B

[@Jo_Jo_Valentín]

That one always freaked me out

[@MephilestehDarkness]

@@dforman4770 RAMESES! THE MAN IN GAUS! THE MAN IN GAUS!

[@Mathematiman]

The episode where a monster was seducing Eustace was the one that scared me the most. She kept saying his name and drawing it out much longer than needed, and it really creeped me out.

[@reckless1ify]

When I first saw Boris Johnson (Currently the UK Prime Minister), he instantly reminded me of Freaky Fred

[@RandomYorkshireGaming]

He could do with an appointment with Freaky Fred, to be honest.

[@moriah93ohio]

Now I can’t unsee this

[@WesternOhioInterurbanHistory]

"Scariest episode" *laughs in Perfect* That blue thing is the scariest thing ever.

[@voidastralbirth]

“YoU’rE NoT PeRfEcT.....”

[@TheGoldenDunsparce]

The blue thing didn't scare me, but the fact that the teacher was all in his head freaks me out.

[@Spacers3057]

King Ramsey made me cry ngl I thought he was so scary

[@mikistenbeck6517]

yea CGI in that show was SO terriying,

[@samanthakelly718]

*suffocates in The Mask*

[@SonicTheCutehog]

Every episode of Courage the Cowardly Dog is a Dark Toon

[@thisnamehaschangedthanksto8185]

6:15 it is his eyes creeking. You can hear them one more time when he turns back to see Eustace as he was about to leave

[@gianinabadami5341]

I noticed that too

[@cyanity1017]

Honestly the fact he's just so casually let inside makes it even scarier, cuz despite the fact he's quite literally got "BAD TOUCH" written all over him, he's still trusted and let in by Muriel because he's family, and eustice doesn't trust him but still gives no fucks if he tries to hurt courage, for all eustice knew Fred could have tried to murder courage in that bathroom but he still locked courage in there with him. It's honestly scarily real because I've been in a situation like that where my biological mom started living with me and grandma because I had gotten in a whole thing with the hospital and she wanted to spend time with me that she never got to, and every bone in my body was telling me "SOMETHING ISN'T RIGHT WITH HER" even down to her being as scarily happy as fred in the episode, and I ended up being right because years later there was a situation where I had to call the cops on her and she was arrested due to violently hurting my grandma. She would never hurt me physically but I was still very much terrified anytime I was left home alone with her. Honestly the episode is scarier when you take in that situations like this do happen and are sometimes even dragged out from months to years, and even in the worst case scenario there isn't a good ending where the person is taken away.

[@k-trashradio5163]

You gotta do the mask now Doug that episode is tied with this one for darkest cartoon ever if only because it pretty much portrays an abusive relationship in a kids show. Like there's a rumor that the episode was so dark that the show had to be majorly toned done for its remaining run.

[@Dusty_B]

Just commented on that myself. The Mask was just so dark. The first Courage episode that actually kinda disturbed me as a kid.

[@pikminologueraisin2139]

it's not that dark, but kinda ballzy

[@manuelalbertoromero9528]

@@pikminologueraisin2139 it kind of is in retrospect.

[@cass6082]

Dusty B really? I couldn’t watch Courage as a kid because it gave me nightmares but I never really had an issue watching the Mask. I mean there were certainly disturbing episodes but it wasnt scary

[@RafaelRibeiro-td1dx]

Courage was the shit. Just to remember that creepy 3D egyptian ghost or something from that episode of the curse. Traumatized the shit out of me. Best show

[@kyleshiflet9952]

King Ramses

[@demi-fiendoftime3825]

Return the slate!

[@skeletonentertainment4201]

@@demi-fiendoftime3825 what's your offer?!

[@RafaelRibeiro-td1dx]

@@kyleshiflet9952 Exactly! Nightmare fuel

[@kyleshiflet9952]

@@RafaelRibeiro-td1dx yup

[@vivimariefedorov7374]

Fred will shave anyone and anything. Except tails because that would be weird...✂️

[@lawlietyuri]

not the tail; never the tail.

[@heatherlowry754]

What about "The Puppetmaster" episode of Avatar: The Last Airbender. It's not a very old cartoon but it's youngest fans are discovering nostalgia.

[@sarafontanini7051]

the one with the bloodbenidng? gives me chills, man

[@CreeketsCreek]

That one was horrifying, also the face stealing monster

[@pundertalefan4391]

Ooh yeah.

[@thekrillsterex628]

The puppet master is kinda perfect

[@aidanredding8058]

He probably won't do that because he said he wouldn't do shows that were more for older kids, which I believe Avatar is one of. Though I might be wrong.

[@Formoka]

I’m a grown ass woman and the clips in this review still freaking scared me. Good job animators and voice actors, please never show me any more.

[@user-pu5sc4bt8r]

It's more when your an adult imo

[@vm141789]

I think the scariest episode of Courage is "The Great Fusilli". Oh, and the darkest episode is "The Mask".

[@jeffbrehove2614]

Oh God the Great Fusillini is terrifying. As for the Mask, I think he means "scary" not mature

[@heretyk_1337]

I`ll be a little bitch but i got most scared watching episodes about Weremole and Queen of Black Puddle... Tension in those in some moments was killing me...

[@voidastralbirth]

“The Mask” is definitely the darkest episode. “The Great Fusilli“ I remember having a really screwed up ending. And then there’s “Perfect”, with the *nightmares* Courage has, but I found that more funny than creepy.

[@zarthus2623]

Can we please talk about the episode where they go into the future and there are banana people everywhere? CAuse that shiz haunted me.

[@vm141789]

@@zarthus2623 I thought that episode was more humorous than most others, though seeing all those banana peels behind the big ape was a little haunting.

[@No_Sleepee]

Tapping into Courage the Cowardly Dog for Dark Toons? Buddy, I'd say you've hit the gold mine with this show.

[@MetalHeadManic612]

I never watched this show. But I have never been so scared of and yet laugh so hard at a fictional character. His voice, his design, the way he moves... I think I'm in love.

[@ImmaLittlePip]

I remember watching this as a kid and was kind of freaked out by fred But as an adult I always thought this episode was a metaphor for something darker

[@Garfewloid]

Oh. Well then.

[@chaoticangel9616]

Somebody told me Fred is supposed to be a metaphor for a sex offender. I then put the pieces together and I was like OMG he's right.

[@rogerhurtubise2150]

@ImmaLittlePip I agree, there was a theory I read some years ago that Fred was a serial killer, especially with kind of the allusion stating with the pet. But then again that's from the same group that spawned the purgatory theory for Ed Edd n Eddy. So take it with a grain of salt.

[@ImmaLittlePip]

I think both theories work well and add to the creepiness

[@chaoticangel9616]

@@ImmaLittlePip Ya but it was the word naughty that mostly made me think sex offender vs serial killer.

[@professorcapricorn5788]

You know, it's kinda saying something when one of the last episodes of the series, 'Ball of Revenge', gave FREAKY FRED a cameo as possible final villain near the end of the episode. As opposed to LITERALLY ANY OTHER VILLAIN that legit wants to KILL Courage.

[@gothicMCRgirl]

“Ball of Revenge” wasn’t the final episode, the finale of Courage were dual episodes, “Perfect” and “Remembrance of Courage Past”.

[@Faithknight3]

gothicMCRgirl he said one of the last.

[@ma3mc3mu-X]

The only time Fred doesn't show his trademark smile is when he catches Courage trying to escape through the sink. I wouldn't say Fred is completely evil, just his obsession with cutting hair has caused him problems.

[@MrSocialdeviance]

Its more of a fetish, really.

[@KolozII]

Courage the Cowardly Dog is such a great show. It finds a way to scare children, but not traumatize them. One of my favorites as a teenager, mostly because of the visuals and music. Also, so many memorable characters, and creepy situations.

[@RobertBurns71405]

You should do the sponge Bob episode “ Nasty Patty” where spongebob and mr krabs “Kill”A health inspector

[@SupremeLeaderKimJong-un]

Can’t forget about the legendary moment when Courage danced with Bigfoot

[@Bostonterrierslol]

Insert the cabaret music here

[@MrJroc21]

La la la laaaaaaaaaa la.la.la.

[@benjackson7872]

As well as the episode where Eustace was constantly fighting to keep his cool.

[@johnmartin9846]

Can we just talk about how nice it is to have Doug review something and emphasize the good parts of something?

[@bloodmoon0746]

One thing that stands out in this episode is the music, especially the piano. It's both whimsical and sinister, much like Fred's narration.

[@47ratsinahoodie]

I always hated how Fred would look into the camera like at 6:09. It felt like he was staring into your soul.

[@47ratsinahoodie]

Freaky Fred was so unnerving. To me, King Ramses was the scariest CtCD character but Fred is definitely the....freakiest. Hearing him speak is not pleasant.

[@UltimateGamerCC]

i literally cringe when i hear him say "naugh-ty", damn even thinking about it makes me shudder.

[@FreekKing27]

I would turn off Scooby Doo Cyber chase immediately before that episode started since they put it at the end of the movie for some reason

[@andrewcook2625]

Return the slab!

[@CheeseBlaster]

The music is the biggest factor that made this episode for me. Especially the children chorus while he shaves Courage. In that particular scene you can see Courage screaming his lungs out, but there's no sound. Just the buzzing of Fred's razor and a song that kindergarteners would sing. Then, it suddenly stops and Fred says his line in complete silence. Amazing.

[@PTMWontDie2]

Billy & Mandy’s “Halls of Time” would be perfect to review since you see the characters de-evolve into onscreen FETUSES before they disappear from existence from tipped hourglasses. Out of all the Billy & Mandy episodes, that ones considered the darkest, and given that show’s lineup of dark material, that’s saying a LOT.

[@kaylawolfie1111]

Oh my...this and Grim Adventures Billy and Mandy are a big part of my Childhood.

[@ImmaLittlePip]

What's that episode called The one where Mandy be friends this old lady and they get back at Billy The ending line always stuck with me

[@kaylawolfie1111]

@@ImmaLittlePip Wasn't that the beauty pageant episode where Mandy's smile caused the end of existence.

[@gothicMCRgirl]

ImmaLittlePip I believe it was called “Who Killed Who”. The whole episode was a nod to the game Clue, and it was about Mandy getting back at Billy with the help of a mysterious old woman. The ending is what makes that episode climb up in the creepy factor, and it’s one of my favorites.

[@annvictor9627]

@@gothicMCRgirl That was the name of the game. The episode is "Mrs. Doolin".

[@glowworm2]

@@annvictor9627 The episode was called "Who Killed Who?" The old woman's name was Mrs. Doolin, who is fantastically voiced by Betty White.

[@OmegaChance27]

I personally thought the "Return the Slab" episode was the scariest, and that's something coming from Courage.

[@schuylerthackeray5834]

Scariest one for me as a kid was the mummy, Rameses. "Return the Slab"

[@eaglescout1984]

I think the narration makes this creepy too. It's not like most other Courage cartoons where the villains are speaking their mind and you see them doing their thing without an internal monologue. But, the fact Fred is talking to himself throughout the entire episode and, as stated, relishing in his "naughty" behavior, including flashbacks, is very unsettling. It really pushes home the fact that Fred has a few screws loose, so you don't know what he is really capable of.

[@JustADioWhosAHeroForFun]

You know, he actually was the least baddest villains in Courage

[@kobra6660]

That song was also creepy on its own

[@SpireFNBR]

*naughtyyyy*

[@taiyonnii]

I love ur pfp

[@mohammadalbader3538]

I think the return the plaque episode was darker cuz the moaning voice and creepy design of the ghost

[@Karmy.]

@@mohammadalbader3538 RETURN THE SLAAAAAAAAAB

[@3fatkid]

"It's a kid show, they're not gonna do anything that bad" *Eyes The Mask warily* Yeah um........About that, Doug? There's something we need to tell you.

[@gothicMCRgirl]

True, but that episode worked more on implication. We do see SOME of the abuse, but nothing overt and nothing the show hasn’t shown us already. Honestly, that episode was more uncomfortable than genuine scary or creepy, thinking back on it. It’d be fun for Doug to analyze, though.

[@Amestrian]

I think it remains the creepiest episode because over time, kids know monsters aren’t real, but like other commenters have said, it’s the creepy stranger. The older you get the scarier people get. What’s more, the other monsters don’t need to follow human logic.

[@Forever_Rayne]

This episode still stays in my mind. I can tell why it scares and makes people uneasy. I have a relative who made me too uncomfortable with his display of affection when I was a kid. Too much hugging, touching and kissing on cheeks. To this day, whenever I see him, it's like every cell in my body is telling me to run away. Last time I shook hands with him, it felt like it went on for too long and I was soo uncomfortable.

[@Demonicnemesis]

Now we're getting to the good stuff.

[@princesskingforever]

"The return of Raggedy Android" from My Life as a Teenage Robot

[@Jackie-McCann]

Agreed. That exosuit was that show’s version of the Venom symbiote.

[@jeffbrehove2614]

I would have liked to see more of her.

[@maverickzero88]

...if anything, it should have been "A Night at the Katz Hotel" **Shudder**

[@Dogmaguy74]

Katz's spider collection.... *Shugs whiskey*

[@someonerandom8552]

This episode scared the shit out of me as a kid. But for some reason I always laughed my ass off whenever he said “Naughty.”

[@tomhulce852]

Courage is one of the scariest kids show ever along with Goosebumps.

[@Gothclownz]

What about Are you afraid of the dark?

[@tomhulce852]

@@Gothclownz that too

[@incrediboxbeatmaker3870]

Sorry but Goosebumps was never scary

[@Asaylum117]

No way. You actually covering Courage The Cowardly Dog? You have done great justice Doug.

[@ma3mc3mu-X]

You skipped out Fred's rather "surprised" reaction to seeing Courage trying to escape through the sink.

[@twiztidfreekshow199]

The way in which he says the name "Barbara" is so reminiscent of the famous line "they're coming to get you Barbara." From Night of the Living Dead. Great start to the series. Love your face

[@epicgamer127thehedgehog2]

The invader zim episode “dark harvest”

[@JAM92]

I want to see him do an entire episode on Courage The Cowardly Dog!!

[@rayc2680]

That out of place kids singing in the background while Courage is being shaved was the most menacing part for me.