|
I am Government Man, come from the government! The government has sent me! — GIR |
|
| Invader Zim Episode | |
| Attack of the Saucer Morons | |
| |
| Chronology | |
| Previous: | Dark Harvest |
|---|---|
| Next: | The Wettening |
| Information | |
| Episode No: | Episode 05 |
| Production No: | 05A |
| Airdate: | April 27, 2001 |
| Credits | |
| Writer(s): | Jhonen Vasquez Eric Trueheart |
Plot
SPOILER WARNING OF DOOM: This section or article may contain spoilers!
attempts to test some of Earth's defenses by taking his Voot out for a drive to monitor local police units. However, when a bumblebee collides with his viewscreen, Zim comes crashing down in the park. When GIR does not respond when Zim calls for him, Zim decides to go home and get his Voot the next day, using a recovery vehicle disguised as a giant, floating pig.
Unfortunately, by the time Zim gets back to his ship, some alien worshippers known as the Saucer Morons have reached it first. Zim joins the group in hopes of stealing it back, but, by the time he completes the initiation, his recovery vehicle has been found as well. Fed up with subtlety, Zim tries to take the Cruiser back by force, but accidentally blows his cover. The Saucer Morons capture Zim and hold him in a tent so they can worship him.
Zim, being paranoid, is more worried about being dissected, so he calls for GIR again and, this time, gets an answer.
GIR disguises himself as an agent from the government, and tells the Saucer Morons that Zim's ship, recovery vehicle, and Zim himself were all "experimental government aircraft". They start to believe him until GIR falls out of the suit. GIR and Zim quickly escape on the pig, only to run the 'death' bee and crash into an alien convention.
End of Spoilers: There are no further spoilers for this section or article. You can breathe now.
Facts of Doom
Cultural References
- The beginning of the episode is a possible parody of the Val Johnson Incident.
Trivia of Doom
- In one scene, a baby that looks similar to Stewie from Family Guy can be seen returning from Walk of Doom.
- This title is the seventh and so far the latest to use the squiggly Invader ZIM font. From The Wettening and onwards, the official font was used instead.
- There is a Saucer Moron who bears a keen likeness to Dib; this character has been branded "Adult Dib". Also, the pig bites down on his head, but you can see him still in the crowd moments later when GIR is forced out of his "government man" mech. Jhonen has not commented on whether he planned this character as an adult Dib or not.
- When Zim is making his escape on the pig, it flips over and immerses him in water, though he experiences no pain from this. This is even more perplexing since this episode airs with The Wettening, the episode where it is revealed that water is lethal to Zim. Though it is possible he had bathed in paste earlier.
- Five characters are said to die in this episode according to the commentary.
- When Zim sees his Voot Cruiser on the stand with the Saucer Morons around it, you can see through his mouth.
- The scene where GIR is dancing at a disco club has become a popular internet meme. However, they use the song called, "Mr. Wonderful," from Dance Dance Revolution instead of the normal background music used in this episode.
- When Zim is taking his pig to where the Voot crashed, the tune he is whistling is called "I'm Bringing Home a Baby Bumble Bee".
- In the episode, he strangely calls his ship the 'Voot Runner', though in every other episode, it's 'Voot Cruiser'. But when he's seeing the smoked ship after it shows GIR dancing, he refers to it as the 'cruiser'. It is possible that Zim calls his Voot different names now and then.
- This episode is the third to have Dib nor Gaz appear. The first being Walk of Doom and the later being Germs. Though, an Adult Dib makes a cameo appearance in the background with the Saucer Morons.
Things You Might Have Missed
- Keef makes a brief cameo in the episode. He is the second child on the bus Zim flies past whilst riding the pig.
- When the girls drop off GIR at the house, listen closely. They quickly crash after they drive away, meaning they possibly have died as a part of the five deaths explained in the episode.
- Jhonen Vasquez made a cameo in this episode as one of the Saucer Morons. He is visible in the tent when GIR rescues Zim about halfway through the crowd on the right side. Seconds later when they leave the tent, he can be seen outside.
- Steve Ressel made two cameos in this episode. He can be seen in the tent in the second row on the right side. Later, he saves a baby (presumably his) from Zim's flying pig.
- Rikki Simons made a cameo in this episodes as one of the Saucer Morons. He is visible in the second or third row on the left side.
- A Bloody GIR can be seen while Zim is tumbling around in his Voot. Another one can be seen in the center of the screen while Zim is sliding after ejecting.
- Due to time restraints, Zim's initiation ceremony was originally going to be shown, but was later cut.
Inconsistencies and Animation Errors
- When the crowd first picks up Zim and carries him, he still has his trenchcoat on, though in the next scene when he calls for GIR, his trenchcoat is missing.
- At one point in the episode, when Zim says "Release the pig!", the Madness Dog turns grey.
- When the Saucer Morons go towards Zim (after finding out that he's an alien), in the shot that shows the back of Zim's head, if you look closely in this, you can see that his eyes are white, like they are when he has his contacts on. They go back to normal in the next shot.
- When Zim recoils from the Madness Dog, his hands are green, when he should be wearing gloves.
- In this episode, you can see Zim with four fingers. This happens when he's sitting on the chair in the tent and lifts up his hand to get a gasp in response.
- When Zim and GIR are flying on the pig, while Zim laughs, his mouth disappears in multiple frames.
Music
Main Article: The Kevin Manthei Invader Zim-phony Special
- Happy Bee
- Sneak Home
- Escape on the Pig
- Killer Bee
- This track is on the partial release only, and is a compilation of UFO and Happy Bee.
Quotes
GIR:
I am Government Man, come from the government! The government has sent me!
Desmond Flapp: And why should we let you take our discovery?
GIR: I like you.
Zim: Human law enforcement vehicle. Markings: lighty-flashy things on top. Defensive capability... (police car explodes) ... minimal; explodes on contact with giant weenie.
GIR: This is no alien, he is an experimental government aircraft!
Desmond Flapp: That's an aircraft?
Zim: Fools! What else would I be?