Werewolves of Highland
"Werewolves of Highland" | |
---|---|
Beavis and Butt-head episode | |
Butt-head pointing at his neck when asking to be bitten. | |
Episode no. |
Season 8 Episode 1 |
Directed by | Mike Judge |
Written by | Mike Judge |
Production code | 801 |
Original air date | October 27, 2011 |
Episode chronology | |
"Werewolves of Highland" is the first episode of Season 8 and 201st episode overall of the American animated television series Beavis and Butt-head. It is notable for being the first episode of the series' revival after its initial cancellation in 1997. It aired alongside "Crying" on October 27, 2011, on MTV.
Plot
Beavis and Butt-head watch Twilight at a theater, which gives them the idea to become undead so that they will be irresistible to girls. Later in class, Butt-head asks David Van Driessen how to become undead. He tells them that they must be bitten by one, which prompts the duo to leave class and look for a member of the undead. The duo eventually find a crazy old homeless man (Henry) who they mistake for a werewolf due to his long white hair and beard and his large canine teeth. Beavis and Butt-head ask him to bite them. The man asks for a dollar, but Butt-head gives him a piece of gum instead, and he bites them numerous times. The old man has Hepatitis C, infecting both Beavis and Butt-head with it when he bites them. The duo are later seen at home, feeling poorly, their sickly-pale skin sporting a slew of bite marks and bruises, but they believe that they have become werewolves. While the boys are hanging out in town, two young women find them and take them to the hospital, even though the duo thought they were going to take them on a date. At the hospital, it is discovered that Beavis and Butt-head not only contracted Hepatitis C, but Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, gonorrhea, gangrene, MRSA and Staph, surprising the doctor that they are still alive. As the nurse attempts to insert catheters, they start giggling at her touching their penises, despite being in a deep coma. With Butt-head uttering the word: "Deep...".
Featured videos
- MGMT – "Kids"
- A clip from Jersey Shore
- Skrillex – "First of the Year (Equinox)"
Production
This episode was created in response to the cultural phenomenon with vampires in movies and TV shows.[1]
Mike Judge mentioned that he wanted the new episodes to be topical, starting with this episode, but there's no instance where the series acknowledges its 14-year gap. As of this episode, the hand-drawn animation process has also been updated and is in high-definition, but produced in the 4:3 aspect ratio, unlike most HD programs which are typically produced in 16:9.[2] However, archive footage was used for featured video segments due to being broadcast in both 1080i and 480i.
During the first video segment Beavis utters the word "fire" a total of 7 times within 28 seconds, with Butt-head saying it once as well, as a reference to the writers ban on using the word "fire" which was set in place during the first run after the series was associated with a fire that resulted in the death of a two-year-old in 1993.
Reception
The episode was seen by 3,286,000 viewers in its initial airing.[3]
IGN commented that the episode was one of the show's funniest episodes, stating "It would appear that Mike Judge's comedy senses have only sharpened over years" and also said "With a pilot this solid, and the promise of some great TV (and perhaps another movie) down the pipe, it's safe to assume Mike Judge's cult fame will continue for decades to come."[4] HitFix states "Beavis and Butt-Head are who they've always been, for ill or (comedically) for good. I'm glad to have them back," when reviewing this episode and "Crying".[5] Assignment X called the episode "reckless, silly and on target".[6]
References
- ↑ "'Beavis and Butt-head' to Return With Fewer Music Videos Due to Licensing Constraints". Billboard.biz. 2011-08-01. Retrieved 2011-10-25.
- ↑ "'Beavis and Butt-Head': 7 Things to Expect From MTV's Relaunched Series". Hollywood Reporter. 2011-07-29. Retrieved 2011-10-25.
- ↑ Gorman, Bill (28 October 2011). "Thursday Cable: 'Beavis & Butt-Head' Return Tops + 'It's Always Sunny,' 'The League,' 'Project Runway' & More". TV By the Numbers. Retrieved 29 October 2011.
- ↑ R.L. Shaffer (2011-10-25). "Beavis and Butt-head: "Werewolves of Highland; Crying" Review – TV Feature at IGN". Tv.ign.com. Retrieved 2011-10-26.
- ↑ Sepinwall, Alan. "Review: Mike Judges Beavis & Butt-Head returns, 14 years later". HitFix.com. Retrieved 2011-10-26.
- ↑ "TV Review: Mike Judge's BEAVIS AND BUTT-HEAD – Season 9 – "Werewolves of Highland" / "Crying" Assignment X – The Pop Culture Entertainment Magazine for Movies, TV, DVD, Blu-ray, Video Games, Books, Comics and Technology – News, Interviews, Reviews, Photos and Videos". Assignmentx.com. Retrieved 2011-10-29.