Bråndeewine writes...

This isn't a question, but I had to comment on today. As everyone knows, it is Father's Day. I was reading your answers, that you let Erin and Ben give their input on. As I have said before, you are a great dad! Happy Father's Day!

Demonskrye writes...

Hi Greg!
Before I go into my comments proper, I just wanted to mention that I picked up the JLA Showcase for the sole purpose of reading your story. (Though, being a pretty well cerifiable comics fan, I did read the rest of it and enjoyed the majority of it.) I read in the archives that you had originally expected someone else to be penciling it. But judging from the appearance of "Le Trio", Seine, and Left Bank, I'm guessing somebody gave Mr. Jones some sort of reference. Anyways, it was a fun read and it's nice to see you finding a way to do some "Gargoyles" related stuff. Sort of.
Now the real post.
First off, I started watching "Gargoyles" during season 1. I got interested when I saw the trailer that preceded the "Nightmare Before Christmas" video and the various ads that ran in comic books. (It was a nice touch when Brooklyn repeated the "Stopping evil...stone cold!" catch phrase as well as every other one associated with the show in...."Gathering, Part One, I think.) But I actually ran across the show by accident. So the first episode I saw was actually "Awakening, Part Two". I think I caught on to what was going on pretty quickly in spite of missing part one. But after that, my sister and I both became loyal viewers. I only missed a few episodes - usually due to piano lessons - and I caught all of them on a later airing.

I think one things I noticed early on that might have clued me in to the fact that this show was going to be a bit different was Xanatos's line "Pay a man enough, and he'll walk barefoot through Hell." (Forgive me if I'm misquoting; I don't have my tapes with me.) Even though this was pretty much an isolated case, I think the fact that Xanatos was able to say that did strike me.

Thinking back now, I find it rather touching that Tom considered the gargoyles his friends after a single short conversation with them. Though he may just be picking up on their way of refering to one another.

Ah Demona. Definitely one of my top five favorite characters. As I missed Part One the first time around, I can't say if Demona's return was predictable or not. I did kind of figure she was going to be a villain, though I can't remember if I saw the D.A. preview comic before or after "Awakening". I do recall being a little saddened by the fact that the only female gargoyle (at the time) turned out to be a villain. Little did I know.
I admit that I'm biased due to my personal fondness for Demona, but I can't believe that there was nothing but schemeing in her head when she was reunited with Goliath. Yes, she does lie to him about how she survived the Wyvern massacre. But she's had a good thousand years to think about a plausable story to explain that. And granted she does want to win him over to her way of thinking. But I'm not sure that she had really considered the possibility that Goliath would turn her away. She probably thought that she had him just about on her side, since he would be seeing her alive again and still have the memory of the Wyvern betrayal pretty fresh in his mind. And after all those years of solitude, some part of Demona must have felt genuine joy at seeing Goliath again. And in this case, I think she would much more freely acknowledge that part of her than she would after "Awakening".

I got a hint at the fact that "Gargoyles" would be heavy on continuity when Elisa starts telling Goliath about the bright side of Manhattan and mentions "moms who sings their kids to sleep, like my mom used to sing to me". This implied that, in spite of her limited wardrobe, Elisa was not a standard cartoon character. She had not always been a twentysomething and she did have a family. Even though I didn't see them until "Deadly Games", it set me up for their appearance.

At this early stage, the Trio did seem a bit like typical cartoon teenagers with wings and tails. Within the context of the whole season, it does fit and the "Trio trilogy" defines them as individuals. But at the time, I was pretty much expecting the Ninja Turtles minus one.

I can't remember if I recognized Xanatos as the villain at that point. Demona either. Incidently, I'm sure you hear from Star Trek fans who watched the show and thought of Xanatos as Commander Riker. My experience was the opposite; I didn't start watching Star Trek much until after I was well into "Gargoyles". Consequently, I spent the first few episodes calling Riker "Mr. Xanatos"!

And I did appreciate the nice animation on the first awakening in Manhattan and the final fight scene. I love good characterization, but really cool action scenes certainly have their uses too.

And no, I didn't think Demona was dead. She had wings. She'd survived for a thousand years somehow. She was just too darn COOL to die.

That's all I can think of for now. I'll probably post what I thought about the rest of season one some other time. (In easily digested, one episode per post chunks) Thanks as always for your time.

And incidently, I expect nothing less than excellence from the "Bone" movie. Jeff Smith's got control of the project and he used to be an animator. So he has no excuse.

That's all. Really.

Warrioress writes...

I noticed something interesting about "Reawakenings". There's a scene where Brooklyn says "We live above a police station! What could happen?" And at the end of the next season, lo, the tower gets blown up by a missle from the Hunter's airship! What could happen, indeed.....! ;-)

Fanatic writes...

Greg, if you want to revive Gargoyles, you should probably stop quit with stuff that could offend the worlds major religions. Like for instance:
1)You said humans were using a variation of the gargoyle "Ashes to ashes or dust to dust" at their funerals.
This was a biblical reference to humans being created from the dust of the Earth, and a lot of people take everything the Bible says at face value. (I don't but I know people who do.
2)You once said the the Gargoyles Universe is ruled by fate, and God knows everything that will happen. This is a common religious mistake, God knows everything that COULD happen, not what WILL happen. Or at least thats what most ministers would say if you asked them.

Steve Soldwedel writes...

I realize that my composition is a little horrendous at points and, with you having been a teacher and editor, I apologize for the shoddiness of grammar in my post.

Steve Soldwedel writes...

Greg, this is in response to a rambling of yours from a while back that I just read in the archive; the one in which you spoke of vindication in a lawsuit over who'd created Gargoyles. You closed the post saying that you might seem petty. I just wanted to assure you that I don't think you're response to the situation is petty at all. As for him besmirching your honor, I think he did. As for you feeling vindicated, I think you're wholly justified. I write and draw, I've got my own little worlds with their own intricate characters. They're like my children, I know all about them, what makes them tick, who they are in more than just a face value sense; I also appreciate their predilection to define themselves as I write... Being a creator of things, of giving my ideas substance, I can empathize with the feeling of having been slighted by someone who claims that something of yours is actually theirs. The only thing we really have to call our own is the unquantifiable stuff in our minds. Alas when that stuff gets made into a tangible medium, it becomes quantifiable to many. Granted, you know that it will always be the ethereal stuff of your ideas, but having not created it themselves, the rank and file look at it as a commodity; unfortunately, people see commodities fit to be stolen. So, I guess the risk of quantifying and distributing your ideas to the masses is the potentiality to have some dishonorable charlatan try to steal it. I really respect that you pursued your vision and manifested it in a series as spectacular as Gargoyles. It still stands as my favorite show of all time. I hope that I'll be able to find the gumption to get my ideas out to the public; you're a bit of a hero to me in that aspect. And while my feeling that you're justifiable in feeling vindicated could be perceived as hero worship, I don't deify anyone. My empathy is just that, understanding. I wish you luck on all your future endeavors.

Todd Jensen writes...

I enjoyed your "Gargoyles vs. Batman" memo that you reprinted and sent to the list. It's nice to be able to read it at last.

While, as you admitted, some of the differences cited were probably not all that serious (as in the butler one you mentioned), I do think that it gives an effective explanation of the thematic differences between the two series, not only in the head one (the difference between how Bruce Wayne and Goliath have been affected by their tragedies), but also in your mentioning of how Gotham City and the gargoyles' New York differ from each other - which clearly reflects the nature of the leads as well (Gotham City's darkness reflecting Batman's own internal darkness, while New York's more upbeat tone reflecting Goliath's belief that, with a good amount of work, he and his clan can make things better).

(One other difference I might add: time period. The Gotham City of "Batman:TAS" is a surrealistic blend of different time periods - its technology is advanced enough to have computer disks and videotapes, but the clothing, architecture, and styles of the cars and airplanes all suggests something more 1930's to 1950's and color television hasn't even been introduced yet, apparently - while the New York of "Gargoyles" is more definitely set in the 1990's).

At any rate, thanks for posting it.

Alvaro writes...

Hello Greg:
My name is Alvaro, I am from Spain and I warn you that this message will be quite bad written even so I hope you answer.I am a I authenticate fanatic of your series and you are an it schemes.I almost have all the recorded chapters that have been emitted in españa but I doubt that they have been emitted all alone one to tell you that that you are a genius and that you continue with the series although that sees it difficult.Another thing Brooklyn is my favorite one although all are brilliant.I hope you are able to read the message well and that you answer me if you can.
my e-mail: zoom-alvaro@teleline.es

Ray Kremer writes...

My parents just took a trip to Ireland, and were surprised by the daylight hours. It's June, and the sun is up from 4:30 am to 10:00 pm. Scotland's even farther north than Ireland. I guess the Wyvern nights got pretty short in the summer, while being very long in the winter. Good thing Gargoyles don't mind the cold so much. Must've been nice for Goliath and crew to move to New York where the daylight periods don't vary quite as much.

Karen writes...

Dear Mr. Wiseman:
I find myself in a strange situation, but one perhaps you've heard about a hundred times before. I'm going on 37 years old and I LOVE Gargoyles! How I started watching I won't bore you with, suffice it to say I now MAKE my husband tape it on Toon Disney for me every night (to his credit, he rolls his eyes but does it - what a good boy!). Problem is, I don't even have any children so I can't say "Oh, you know, the kids like to watch it, and I sort of follow along to see what they're watching..." Nope. No excuses. I just plain love the show.
So, after all that, here's the question. I think the show was marketed towards the a 'young adults' market, but how many of the fans you accrued actually turned out to be my age? Did that surprise you, or were you hoping/expecting it? (I know, strictly speaking that's two questions, but I hope since they're variations on a theme...).
Thank you for your consideration.

Lexy (repost by Aris) writes...

And for my grand FANali:P

Comments on "Thrill of The Hunt" commentary:

I agree with you on how neat it was to see Xanatos actually sit his time out in prison rather then him escaping in the next episode. That holds true for the castle still NOT being the gargs to keep weather they kicked human hiney or not and later on how we kept Elisa on crutches AND gave her a permanent partner. Little details like that were always what made Gargoyles so realistic. Things didnt just Go away. Convinience is not a frase well reflected in the Gargoyles universe (IMO). I also loved this episode cuz..well LEX LEX LEX LEX..does that cover it? He was my favorite character from line One, "Not _afraid_ are you??" And I think that Thom's proformance was excellent, as you said, hats off to J.T. Again, as you pointed out already, it was really nice to see that type of scenario. Usually, the character in question thinks they are right and is wrong and learns the hard way. But in this case, Lex really _IS_ right and bad stuff still happens. We learn the lesson loud and clear at the end of the episode, but inbetween we are forced to really doubletake. Mabey Goliath was right at first, they should stick to Elisa and forget about it for the most part. I really liked that. Though..I kinda feel bad for poor Lex *LOL* It was his biggest moment in the show! Got to stand up to Goliath and give a great speech... poor guy pours his heart and sole into convincing his leader and his clan..and then gets his trust jerked around and his confidence kicked in the butt. *shakes head* ahh well. Now I wonder if he will ever go back to being as trusting with humans. Most likely not if you consider when they brough ColdStone to the Clock Tower. Lex leans in nearer to Goliath as they are gliding home and says something to the point of, "Are you sure we should trust him? He hasnt always been our friend. To invite him into our home, into our clan?". That shows right there that weather its a human or not..his attitude on trusting strangers has definatly changed. Though, the way these guys live, mabey its for the best *shrugs*.

I also got a kick out of your comment about how you were dissapointed with the animation. Your right, we were ALL spoiled with the magnificence that IS "Awakenings". It really was beautiful. But so were the other episodes. Some were drawn better then others, but when you get down to it Gargs had most of the best animation (if not all of it) out there at the time..maybe even now. (IMO) Well, thanks again for another great commentary..boy..episode seven is going to be interesting..Brooklyn seems to always be a hot topic.. *feels a twing of jelously for Lex* Not to say Brook isnt da garg..he _is_;)

Aris Katsaris writes...

Okay, I happen to have found in my hard disk the questions that had been lost in the crash... In the next few days I will try and repost as many of them as I can...

Mr. Thrugg (repost by Aris) writes...

I'll come out of the closet and admit that I'm a Trio fan, so this may be biased. I felt when Goliath, Angela, and Elisa went on their Avalon quest that the Trio back in Manhattan was very neglected(in terms of air time). This, I thought, was an obviously important time for them (even Hudson probably) as they are finally separated from Goliath. I thought the episode Kingdom wasn't enough to display the changes I felt in them after Goliath returned. What do you think?

Blaise writes...

I like your ramble on the Wind Ceremony. It sounds quite beautiful. It also feels extremely relevant to me because as of this writing it's been nearly 3 weeks since the death of my aunt. Her own ashes were scattered from a tackle-box into a river--she always loved fishing.

Probably a silly question, but would you have shown the Wind Ceremony in the series?

Todd Jensen writes...

Thanks for the Wind Ceremony ramble, Greg. It struck me as another fine example of one of the best qualities of "Gargoyles" (in my opinion): the care that went into creating the gargoyles as an actual race with their own customs and way of life.

Blaise (repost by Aris) writes...

RE: Thrill of the Hunt

When I first saw this I was still getting used to the characters myself, so most of the impact this ep had on me came in later viewings.

What I did like in my first viewing was the Pack itself. They were very interesting antagonists to me for some reason. Possibly it was because they were human and managed to give the gargoyles a hard time there for a while. Also, the Xanatos Tag. I almost missed that the first time I watched the show. I thought it was over when the gargoyles went to sleep, so I went to get a drink or snack or something. Then I came back and there's Xanatos talking about how "the test was most...informative [smirk]". I was completely blown away by this (and gained even more respect for how dangerous Xanatos could be). I also remember liking the fact that Xanatos's ownership of the castle was addressed and not swept under the rug. It was refreashing to have previous events being referred to and having an effect on the present.

In later viewings, I found even more things to like. My favorite part in the whole episode is when Goliath and Lex have the advantage. After seeing the Pack mercilessly come after them, I got kind of a vindictive pleasure in having the gargoyles now acting as the silent stalkers. It's kind of like a horror movie almost--only this time you want the "monsters" to win. Come to think of it, I've always gotten a big kick whenever any of the gargoyles were scaring/beating the living tar out of their opponents. I never really thought about how they became "borderline cuddly" as the series progressed. Maybe we all just got familiar with them. But I always liked seeing them cut loose when they did.

As for the whole stunt show--so insanely corny I almost couldn't watch. Great send-up of the P--uh, you-know-whats.

I hadn't given much thought to Wolf's display of brain's or Fox's lapse in judgement until you mentioned them. Fox's is easy to forgive (for reasons you have already stated). Wolf--wow, it surprises me I never noticed it before.

Pointless note: I didn't expect the Pack to appear again after this. I didn't know there were any ideas to bring them back in at any later point, so when Jackal and Hyena showed up about 6 eps later I was surprised (and a bit delighted).

As for the animation, I never saw what the problem with it was. Even after the multiparter, I thought the animation here was still good (at least above the level of quality reached by your average animated show).

Oh, and I agree with you wholeheartedly about television.;-)

Warren writes...

Greg;
I have a five year old niece, and we happened to find Gargoyles on TV. She loved it, [She hadn't seen it for a time] Then out of the Blue she asked me if I could get a Gargoyle for her. I got here one of my stone statues and she replied, "no; a live one."
He he he. Don't I [And the rest of us] wish. She then asked where they come from. I said it's only on TV. She wanted one bad, I could tell. She asked me one more question...
"Where do they come from?"

I replied that it's a TV show. Someone though up the Idea, and another one made it happen. I told her you were part of the puzzel. [Michael and Franks names escapped me at the time] She said one last thing...

"This is da bestest show ever, and I love Gregy." I thought it was cute, even for a five-year-old. My own Daughter said almost the same thing, but she said you were the gratest man in the world. Go figure Kids. I am sure you can relate. :)

Keep up ALL the good work you do, and thanks for ALL you shakespearean insight.

Tam "Goliath" Graystone writes...

Hey! I'm new to this site, but I've loved Gargoyles for years; it's a great show.

I was reading through the newest Q's and found someone named Koba Burnett that had posted on the similarities between a character's name and his uncle's. I can point out a few myself:

1. My Shop teacher's name is Lex Greenewinger
2. I know a kid named Marc Travis Marshall
3. My aunt has a tame fox called Fae
4. My girlfriend's name is Elise
5. My last name is Graystone, and my brother's name is Matthew.

Isn't that cool?

Laura aka 'ad astra' writes...

About continuing the continuity (you asked for opinions, so here's mine)- I am a bit of a trekie.. treker.. whatever, and I believe that model might work. Certain major parts, eps, a movie or two, are not considered cannon. I realize that Trek has never been a model of consistency, but it does prove what a loyal fandom can accept, and that the word can be gotten out to them about it, (and much of it was pre-internet). I have never seen the animated Star Trek, but I heard it was declared 'non-cannon'. Supposedly they had some very good stories, (poor animation, but good stories) but had mixed in other sci-fi authors' universes that created too much potential confusion. Despite its noncannon status, elements from it- a character's name here, some family background there- worked their way into cannon. On the basis of that I think that you can safely ignore TGC [excepting The Journey]. That is what most fans want anyway. If an aspect or two crosses over into cannon it would be recognized as coming from what you had told them of your master plan, or perhaps even just a idea you thought was good. If you want to distinguish between the two, you can even put a blurb of official acknowledgement in the credits. Obviously TGC would not be shown along with the other eps which might ironically make them sought after- but fans are funny that way.

Laura aka 'ad astra' writes...

You had asked for people's opinions about your giving away so much. Here is mine. I too have conflicted feelings about reading of upcoming events. I miss out on the chance of surprise as it happens before my eyes. My first watching experience will be more akin to a second watching after a while. I will remember vaguely what will happen, but not exactly when and where. The surprise will be much less, but the story (as do most Gargoyle related events) will hold as a story [most obvious example- I still find Hunters Moon amazing even though I know of all the shocking events]. That said I think it is worth it to let tidbits fall, even if you end up giving away much more than you intended. It keeps people coming to the Ask Greg page, and in turn keeps up interest in the show. Instead of feeling like interest in a finished thing, it constantly reminds us that the stories are still coming. A little addendum; I like the information that sheds greater light on what we've already seen the best. I had feared that you had given most of that away, but then I came across totally new things My favorite so far being, "Good thing we weren't facing Queens."

koba burnett writes...

dear greg, my last name is burnett, and i have an uncle named owen. they're not at all a like, and we pronounce it "burnet" instead of "bur-nett", but it's a cool coincidence, since i like gargs so much. puck, and owen after him, are my fav char's.

Blaise writes...

REAWAKENING

I really do like this one--maybe just because I have an affinity for cyborgs. At any rate, I was quite glad that we got intro'd to a gargoyle who DID die in the massacre. Yeah, sure he was brought back, but mentally putting that scene in the multi-parter adds another dimension of tragedy to the massacre.
I can more than understand the problem with seeing Xanatos and Demona looking at a monitor one moment, then appearing in Times Square about 3 seconds later. At times like these, I do the only thing I can do: rationalize. I make-believe X and D were in some odd, high-tech, bus-like vehicle (mobile control unit, anyone). It's silly, but it works for me.
Another animation note--in addition to Hudson's sword--when Brooklyn tackles Demona they are below the top cables of the bridge, and before they hit the ground they fall onto and bounce off...the top cables of the bridge. Oh well, the confrontation is still too great for that little bit to ruin.
Oddly enough, I don't mind Elisa's little crack about the size of her car. I actually find it an amusing, sarcastic beat. And yeah, the scarf and gloves are nice.
And of course, there is an abundance of funny lines. In addition to the bit with "Bambi" and Xanatos' fulfillment of a life-long dream ("It's alive! ALIVE!!"), I just love Morgan's little response to Elisa's "There must be something we can do."
Morgan: "I don't think so. Unless you're packing a nuclear weapon." I can see why you keep bringing this guy back--he's a wonderful character.

Coldstone> I was glad Micheal Dorn did a voice on the show. I mean, just listen to the guy! Coldstone himself made for some memorable moments. I noticed that you guys didn't put the "underwater respirator" on him as the memo stipulated. What changed you guys' minds?

The look into Gargoyle culture here was also quite welcome. A nice touch that the gargoyles did not "officially" become crime-fighters until the end of the first season. Kind of more organic and unique than most series that just intro a group of non-human heroes and have them be crime-fighters more or less from day one. And the differences in opinion of the gargoylean proverb between the characters was a nice use of the ep's theme. Goliath's quandry here is quite compelling.

Finally, just one question dealing with the memo. You made mention of a Madame Serena. Who was she?

Blaise writes...

ENTER MACBETH

Despite the animation (which even I must admit is sub-par for what I expected of "Gargoyles") this is one of my favorite episodes to watch. When I saw this, I had long ago seen a (very amatuer) performance of the play (heavily abridged of course--it was done by elementary schoolers). So naturally, the title immediately grabbed my attention. When Macbeth first appeared and spoke, my first thought was, "Is that Sean Connery's voice?" But I was still hooked on this character. His style, his equipment, and the fact that he knew about the gargoyles. The revelation of his connection to Demona--hell, the admission that he named her--just really drew me deeper into the character. And his final fight with Goliath, and the escape from his coat...I was eager for him to return.
I also liked some of the comedy snuck into this ep. Brooklyn's little bit with the electric bars, or his and Lex's reactions when they hear Goliath's roars reverbrating throughout the castle. Just wonderful. And in later viewings, I noticed more of Xanatos' prison life. I mean, look at his cell! The things one can do with some money. There's also his wonderful line in the cafeteria, "Just like mom used to make. If mom was a prison cook." He calls his term there, "a learning experience." What exactly did he learn--not to get caught again?
Then there's Owen. It really blew me away how he handled Hudson and Broadway's attempt to take the Grimorum. Too bad he didn't pay any attention to the party on crutches.
On that note, I cannot tell you how glad I was that you guys put Elisa on crutches. I was getting quite use to the continuity of the series, and I had developed a taste for it. Maybe that's why I wasn't shocked that the gargoyles had to move out of the castle--common-sense (at least from the audience perspective) dictates that they HAD to leave. Not to mention that such an action was in keeping with the feeling I got from the series. Bottom line: It made sense.
I just didn't expect them to end up in a clocktower. Just love the juxtuposition of Xanatos' cheery home-coming with the gargoyles' somber-but-hopeful relocation.

THERE! I think I've recovered my lost ground (and then some).

Blaise writes...

DEADLY FORCE

I missed the first few minutes of this the first time it ran. I came in on Broadway in the movie theatre, but I was able to pick up what was going on. When I did see the first few minutes...I was already impressed with Owen because I had seen him in ENTER MACBETH. Regardless, I still think he ROCKS in how he handles the attack. The way he takes out one of those goons...coolness.
Bruno--didn't notice him the first few times. But when I did, I liked the touch.
And then the end of Act I. When I saw Broadway watching the movie, I figured out what the ep would deal with. When I saw Elisa leave her gun out, I figured that Broadway would play with it and that she would be hurt. I DID NOT expect her to be hurt to the point of unconciousness. I really appreciated the realism in this. Yeah, you couldn't let her die, but at least you had her flat-line.
Dracon and Glasses had some style--Dracon especially in his confrontation with Elisa.
I love Goliath and Broadway's respective rampages. You're right, Broadway indeed presents a fearsome force when angered. That fight at the end...excellent. I, too, notice that the gargoyles seem to have more edge in these early eps, and I like it. I've always enjoyed monstrous heroes of the night, so to speak.
Broadway's reaction to shooting Elisa, and his accepting responsibility for it really speak to me.
Goliath destroying the guns> I've always wondered if, at the back of his mind, Goliath got a small kick out of destroying Xanatos' property. I'm not saying it was his main intent, but maybe sort of a "bonus."
The family Maza and Capt. Chavez were also touches I liked, and I'm glad this wasn't their only appearance. A wonderful cast. And in later viewings, I did recognize Matt as Chavez's driver. Just another thing to smile about.
Yeah, I noticed Goliath's feelings for Elisa here, too. I especially love their last moment together, when Elisa calls his name and he strokes her hair saying, "Shh. Rest now. You are safe." So beautiful.

Blaise writes...

Repost of THRILL OF THE HUNT thoughts.

I also was still getting used to the characters in this episode, so I didn't notice a lot of the little things you mentioned until later viewings.
Now that you mention it, Wolf did seem to display a bit more cunning in this episode than usual. Fox taking the hostage I could definitely see as "floundering for a life preserver" if you will. In fact I did find the Pack quite appealing in this. Maybe because they were a unique type of enemy I didn't normally see animated action heroes fighting. I liked their style and the fact that they had fairly individual personalities. And for some reason, I think I found it fitting that in this episode Wolf was the last to fall. Actually, at this time I thought the Pack were just some one-shot villains (I missed the first part of the Tag, see below) and so was quite pleasantly surprised when Jackal and Hyena returned several eps later.
I was also glad that you guys didn't just sweep Xanatos going to prison under the rug, or the danger he posed to the gargoyles. And the stunt show and kids scenes are so wonderfully ironic.
I almost didn't see the Xanatos Tag the first time. After the gargoyles went to sleep, I think I went to get a drink or something, and then I came back and saw Xanatos in prison talking about how the "Test was most...informative" and giving his smirk. I was blown away to see he was behind it and still a menace even IN prison. The show gained even more respect in my eyes. And how about Owen, huh?
In later viewings, I took especial note of Owen's first few lines in the episode. A villain who "is not the sort to harbor a grudge"--you don't find many of those. Then there's when Goliath and Lex become the hunters to the Pack's prey. I just love how Hyena is taken out without even a sound. Then Dingo's swooped away, and we only see Goliath take out Jackal as shadows. Kind of like a horror movie, only the monsters are the good guys.
I hadn't noticed the change in POV before, but you're right, it is VERY effective. And in later viewings, I noticed Lexington made valid point. He just tried with the wrong people this time.