Salutations, traveler of The Internets! Welcome to William's Bloody Hell, so named after our founder, Sir Bloody William.
He is seen in the likeness above in a rare, 19th century woodcut. This
image was rumoured to have been
commissioned after a bout of unpleasantness
in the White Chapel district of London. Do enjoy your stay and peruse our many, varied offerings, much of which cannot be found elsewhere!
:: The Adventures of Pete & Pete season 1 ::
by William the Bloody
The Adventures of Pete & Pete chronicle the lives of Pete Wriggly his brother, Pete Wriggly, his tattoo, Petunia (li'l Pete is 10 years old so no one knows how he got it), their mom, her metal plate (in head from an accident when she was 12), their dad, friend Ellen and Artie, the Strongest Man in the World in their town of Wellsville.
The Good: Pete & Pete is early 1990s television and it's finest. I remember watching this show on Nickelodeon when it originally aired, but have not seen it since. I was nervous about watching it on DVD... would it stack up to my cherished memories or would I be disappointed? I pleasantly surprised by how much sheer awesomeness this show managed to retain over the years. Pete & Pete managed to take average, smalltown life and somehow make it seem larger than life. It took regular, everyday events and gave them a little push into something more, and it turns out to be hilarious. Whether it be the idea of li'l Pete combating his unfair bedtime turning into an eleven day sleepless-a-thon to fight the International Adult Conspiracy, or elder Pete getting the marching band to play "Love Rollercoaster" to win back Ellen, this show tackles the troubles of youth like none other. The episodes are surprisingly well directed and put together for something that was as "small" as it was. That's probably due in no small part to the talent which was attracted to the cool weirdness that was Pete & Pete such as actors Michael Stipe (as an ice cream vendor), Steve Buscemi (as Ellen's dad), Hunter S. Thompson (as a miscellaneous New Year's celebrator), William Hickey (as the Petes' grandpa), the writing of Rob Des Hotel (yes, of Buffy the Vampire Slayer), as well as several cast and crew members who worked for artsy film director Hal Hartley (re: crazy bus driver Stu Benedict is played by Damian Young (who was in Hartley's Simple Men) and Ken the crossing guard is Martin Donovan (who was in Hartley's Trust among many others), as well sharing cinematographer, editor, and other crew members) all contributing to create one massive glob of one hundred percent TV greatness. Big Pete's narrative over nearly every episode includes allegory and comparison that is bound to make you giggle (not to mention the nickname's given to the majority of his nemeses like "Endless" Mike and "Openface."). The inclusion of several of the specials, a couple of the shorts, and uncut, full length versions of the Polaris songs used in the soundtrack are welcome gravy which only adds to the radness that is season 1 of Pete & Pete.
The Bad: Artie, the Strongest Man in the World is so many kinds of wrong I don't even know where to begin. Something about him SCREAMS "child molester", but no one in the world of Pete & Pete seems to notice. Someone needs to modify Artie's medication and fast because "uncomfortable" is the only way to describe the feeling I get when I see him ride on the back of li'l Pete's bicycle seat.
All in all, The Adventure of Pete & Pete is funny in such a unique way it has yet to meet its match. Some people may not "get" its style, but I consider this to be the best of 90s television, at the peak of originality. The way episodes like "Don't Tread on Pete" can take something as simple as last minute test cramming and turn it into something bizarrely avante guarde is pure brilliance. No wonder all the hip musicians and up and comers turned up for not only this season, but for the ones to come as well.
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