Static Shock – 24jimmy

Virgil has a classmate named JIMMY OSGOOD, and he is one of those kids who just doesn’t fit in socially. Unfortunately, Jimmy is very troubled, so when a popular clique who has relentlessly bullied him goes too far, Jimmy is pushed into thinking that the only way to solve his problems is with a gun. Can Jimmy be reached before it’s too late?

Media by Bird Boy, Jim Harvey
Review by Matt Zimmer

Voices:
Phil LaMarr as Virgil Hawkins/Static
Jason Marsden as Richie Foley
Kevin Michael Richardson as Robert Hawkins
Matt Ballard as Carmen Dillo
James Cronin as Kevin
Chad Gabriel as Ray
Richard Horvitz as Jimmy Osgood
Mikey Kelley as Nick
Danica McKellar as Frieda
Pat Musick as Mrs. Osgood
Joe Spano as Mr. Osgood
Lorraine Toussaint as Dr. Franklin

Static Shock deals with the dangers of kids and guns in this "very special episode".

The episode opens with Richie being taken to the hospital after being shot. Virgil then relates the story of what happened to a counselor.
Jimmy Osgood is a kid at his school that is always picked on and humiliated by the school bully. Virgil notices it happen and feels uneasy but doesn't tell the teacher. One of the bullies breaks Jimmy's computer mouse. Later Virgil and Richie visit him to give him a new mouse and he invites him up to his room. He tells them that he can show them his father's gun which upsets Virgil greatly and he and Richie leave.

Meanwhile Frieda is setting up Halloween decorations for the Community
Center's Halloween party. Jimmy takes an interest in her as does the school bully. Later when asked to get Frieda from the Haunted House by
Virgil Jimmy overhears her talking with the bully who is manipulating her into saying she isn't interested in Jimmy. The bully sees that Jimmy overheard and stuffs him into a locker which frightens and humiliates
Jimmy beyond belief. The next day Virgil and Robert visit Jimmy at his house and Virgil sees that he has written journals on his computer where he threatens to kill the bullies. Virgil alerts Robert and Jimmy's dad who is horrified to see his gun is missing.. Meanwhile Jimmy arrives at the center and pulls the gun on the bully. Richie manages to convince him that it isn't worth wrecking his life for them and he lowers the gun. The bully’s friends rush him and the gun accidentally goes off shooting Richie. Static arrives and puts the gun out of harm's way. We learn that Jimmy has gone to juvie, the bully has been suspended and that Richie is going to be all right. Virgil and he decide to help another kid who is being bullied.

I know. We're supposed to roll our eyes at "very special episodes" and think they are preachy beyond belief. But I have to say this one was done exceptionally well and it is a good idea to have kids see it.. For one thing, it was important that the episode showed Richie in agony after being shot screaming that it wasn't like it looked on TV. That's a very important message for kids who see guns glamorized in violent video games and action movies. I also thought the public service message at the end of the episode was a good thing as it informed me of stuff I didn't know about kids dying from gunfire. As far as I'm concerned people complaining about the epilogue are only mad because it doesn't fit into DCAU continuity. But I think it's an important message none-the-less.

My only real complaint of the episode is that there was no blood when
Richie was shot. I'm not someone who is looking for gore but when someone is shot there is ALWAYS a lot of blood and showing that would have hit the situation home more than Richie just clutching his leg. I remember I still got the willies from seeing Elisa lie in a pool of blood in Gargoyles' Deadly Force. And I was 17 at the time.

Still, this is a good episode for kids to see and I have no objections to Static Shock doing episodes like this when they are this well done.
This is what sets the series apart from other superhero shows.

Story: ****1/2
Animation: ****
Average: ****1/2