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This episode brings up some very important and thought provoking topics: gender, feminism … and should a deer really date a cat?

‘Gender Bender Butterflies!’ puts a longer-haired Francine in the starring role for a change. We learn she can actually be quite sappy and surprisingly anti-feminist … but I’ll forgive her because she looks so cute in her little sailor hat :) Love is in the air (not rabies) as Francine readies herself for a hot date with spunky elk, Bucky. But things go terribly wrong when a swarm of gender-swapping butterflies are set lose on Little Tokyo, changing Francine’s boyfriend into a water-colouring wimp. Don’t you just hate it when that happens?

This is one of the funniest episodes of the series IMO. Why? Three simple words: Speedy the girl.  If Speedy the girl doesn’t make you laugh then I don’t know, you need your funny bone checked. “Good news! I didn’t break a nail after ALL!” Seriously, there are some fantastic lines in this episode.

On a deeper note, I feel the Big Cheese’s desire to create a gender-bending robot was a metaphor for breaking down the borders that define traditional gender roles in our society ... meaning this has all been a very profound political statement, or the Big Cheese just can’t figure out what gender he really is.

Other highlights: Big Al forgetting to blow his nose before going to sleep, Francine meeting Bucky via Cat-apult (not exactly smooth) and then later shooting off Lucille to defeat the robot.

Five out of five! *****

I'd agree with you louie that it's one of the funniest and best-written episodes. 5/5 for me as well.

I love Fran's long-haired design in this one. And she gives an angry Polly a run for her money too!

Interesting how this was really the only episode to have a serious point being made in it, yet it was banned in a few countries (I certainly don't remember it being shown over here).

You're in Australia, right? No it was definitely shown over here, this is one of the few episodes I had on tape when I was little. If Agro can be on TV anything can be on TV (only australians will know what I'm talking about).

Fair enough. You're right about Agro though. Didn't know you were an Aussie either.

'Agro's Cartoon Connection' was the source of my SPC obsession ;]

This really is one of the best episodes. Funny, clever and starring a minor character for a change.

But I noticed something today, namely a small continuity error. In Quake, Rattle'n Roll we learn that Speedy is terribly afraid of earthquakes. But in this episode there is also a short earthquake when the robot emerges from the ground and we get a quick shot of the Pizza Cat parlor and Speedy isn't anymore scared than Polly and Guido.

According to one website (I'll have to find it), this episode was banned from the US due to the Big Cheese's whole "changing male into female and vise-versa" idea. Again, this isn't official but if it's indeed true then they must have had something against sex changes in a children's series.

This was a very interesting plot...hilariously done, I must say.  I loved Speedy's speech once he collected his senses, so to say.

"Not only did you mess with my masculinity, but you called my girlfriend a babe!"

Best line of the episode:

Speedy: I feel like a real man again.
Polly: Don't expect miracles...

Best frame in tHE animation history:
(http://www.geocities.com/megayattaro/Omikick.JPG)

One of my fav's episodes, I love when a series explores the personallities of the supporting characters...

I love this episode for its theme of challenging societal norms, between gender roll-reversal and inter species relationships. Further on; we learn that a woman is nothing without a man. We see a dessert shaped like a nuclear reactor, and our favourite flying skull clan insignia. Finally, someone considers using the giant pistol on the top of their building as a weapon.

And Bucky is such a dear.  :-*

Yeah, thanks... I kind of got it...

The episode that made us wonder for years this question "What if a Gender Bender Butterfly landed on the Big Cheese?"

Probably wouldn't make much of a difference, lol.

IT'D MAKE HIM A TOMBOY!

Possibly... I wish one had landed on Princess Vi... that would've been good.

lol

That would have turned Vi into a arrogant and muscle building prince, who gets mad if he doesnt get what he wants...

What would have been the point?

Oh, so now there has to be a point, eh? Well that just shatters MY hopes and dreams!