The Cuphead Show! is a new cartoon series on Netflix based on the Cuphead video game, one of the most popular run and gun games ever made. Devoted fans eagerly anticipated The Cuphead Show!‘s release, waiting nearly three years for its arrival. Cuphead fans finally got their wish when Netflix released the 12-episode season this February.
The Cuphead Show! proved enjoyable for long-time fans and newcomers alike leading Netflix to approve a second season scheduled for the summer. While each episode is infused with humor and interesting events, some Cuphead episodes stand out more than others.
12 Elder Kettle Suspects Cuphead And Mugman Don’t Like Him In “Dirt Nap”
In the eleventh episode, “Dirt Nap,” Elder Kettle overhears a conversation between Cuphead and Mugman, leading him to conclude they dislike him. Elder Kettle’s attempts to change their opinion backfire, causing the children to grow concerned instead. The situation escalates until a now terrified Elder Kettle believes they wish to kill him. Prepared to fight his children, he discovers they’d been talking about a worm they’d found, much to his relief. Though this episode shows the bond between Elder Kettle and the brothers, it follows a similar plot that many other cartoons have used.
11 Cuphead And Mugman Take Care Of A Bad Baby In “Baby Bottle”
The second episode follows Cuphead and Mugman, who discover a baby left on their doorstep while Elder Kettle is away. Mugman wishes to care for Baby Bottle, but Cuphead doesn’t, especially after Baby Bottle proves too much for him to handle.
Baby Bottle destroys their stuff, attacks them, and even locks them out of their own house. Once Elder Kettle returns, the three of them bring Baby Bottle to someone else, happy to hand him off. Like “Dirt Nap,” similar plots exist in other cartoons, making this episode seem unoriginal.
10 Cuphead And Mugman Go To Mt. Eruptus In “Dangerous Mugman”
In the 10th episode, “Dangerous Mugman,” Porkrind sends the brothers on a dangerous errand to retrieve a delicate package from Mt. Eruptus. To help Mugman face his fears, Cuphead gives him goggles telling him their magic can make Mugman brave. Later, Mugman discovers he hasn’t been wearing the goggles for most of their journey. Realizing he is already brave, Mugman safely delivers the package to Porkrind. Though a familiar plot, Mugman’s immediate recognition that he didn’t need the goggles to be courageous is a fresh twist.
9 Cuphead And Mugman Are Haunted In “Ghosts Ain’t Real”
During the sixth episode, “Ghost Ain’t Real,” Cuphead and Mugman get themselves locked in a cemetery. Mugman fears the ghosts might haunt them, but Cuphead doesn’t believe ghosts exist. Mugman’s fears turn out to be correct when ghosts discover the two and start chasing them around the cemetery. After seeing them fall from a roof, the ghosts assume the brothers have died and end their chase, allowing Cuphead and Mugman to escape. While this episode isn’t as thrilling as others, it offers great music and animation.
8 Mugman’s Handle Falls Off In “Handle With Care”
In the fourth episode, “Handle with Care,” Mugman’s handle falls off, causing him and Cuphead to panic. The brothers scramble for a way to fix it, unaware that it’s normal for baby handles to break off. After Elder Kettle informs them that a new handle will grow back on its own, Cuphead breaks his handle as well. The brothers wake up with their new man handles the following day. Though it echoes similar “lost tooth” plotlines, this episode does a great job making Cuphead, Mugman, and Elder Kettle relatable.
7 Cuphead And Mugman Fail To Care for Elder Kettle’s Vegetables In “Root Packed”
During the seventh episode, “Root Packed,” Elder Kettle breaks his back and asks Cuphead and Mugman to care for his garden. However, the brothers strike a deal with Sal the potato, Ollie the onion, and Chauncey the carrot, instead. Rather than keep their promise, the trio throw a party. Cuphead and Mugman put a stop to the party by making Ollie cry. In retaliation, Sal, Ollie, and Chauncey consume Elder Kettle’s vegetables, causing them to grow. Elder Kettle mistakes the trio for the vegetables he planted and tries to eat them, scaring them off. While it isn’t an important episode, it introduces three iconic bosses from the Cuphead video game.
6 “Ribby & Croaks” Fight Cuphead And Mugman
During the third episode, “Ribby & Croaks,” Cuphead and Mugman sneak onto Ribby and Croaks’ boat. Since the frog brothers stole 5 dollars from them, Cuphead and Mugman retaliate by stealing ice cream from them. However, the frog brothers catch them and a fight erupts.
As Cuphead and Mugman dodge Ribby and Croaks’ attacks, the frogs accidentally hit their own boat, causing it to sink. Before it does, the two pairs of brothers forgive each other. This episode introduces two bosses from the game and is funnier that “Root Packed.”
5 Cuphead And Mugman Face The Devil In “Sweater Off Dead”
In the 8th episode, “Sweater Off Dead,” the Devil throws a party for himself, celebrating the bad things he’s accomplished. However, Stickler reminds him that Cuphead still has his soul, prompting the Devil to find him. Meanwhile, Cuphead struggles with nightmares about the Devil, so Mugman goes to Quadratus for help.
Quadratus tells Mugman to make a sweater for Cuphead that will protect his brother’s soul. The Devil learns of the sweater and tries to trick Cuphead into taking it off but fails every time. This episode stands out by setting up the events in “Sweater Luck Next Time,” and focusing on the Devil — one of the franchise’s most beloved characters.
4 Cuphead And Mugman Meet Ms. Chalice “In Charm’s Way”
During the season finale, “In Charm’s Way,” Cuphead and Mugman break Elder Kettle’s glasses, and go see the optician. While there, they meet Ms. Chalice, who uses her charm to manipulate others. Wanting to be like her, Cuphead and Mugman follow her, studying what she does. She discovers them and agrees to help them. After some lessons, she has them charm their way into a cookie factory. The police arrive and arrest Cuphead and Mugman, but Ms. Chalice escapes. While Ms. Chalice’s introduction is great, some fans found the cliffhanger disappointing.
3 Cuphead Takes His Sweater Off In “Sweater Luck Next Time”
In episode 9, “Sweater Luck Next Time,” the Devil burns Cuphead and Mugman’s fence while trying to steal Cuphead’s soul. After Elder Kettle tells the brothers to paint it, the Devil and Cuphead strike a deal — Cuphead will remove the sweater if the Devil paints the fence. While the Devil works, the brothers sneak off to an amusement park. The Devil finds them and pursues Cuphead while Mugman searches for the sweater. Although the Devil discovers Cuphead isn’t wearing the sweater, Mugman returns it before Cuphead’s soul is taken then puts the sweater on the Devil, electrocuting him. This is one of the show’s funniest and most thrilling episodes.
2 “Carn-Evil” Is Where It All Begins
In the 1st episode, “Carn-Evil,” Cuphead and Mugman leave to get paint so they can make their fence look better. On their way, they notice a carnival. Unaware they’ll lose their soul to the Devil if they lose a game, the two attend the carnival.
Though Cuphead loses at Soul Ball, the Devil fails to take his soul. Containing some of the Devil’s best moments, this episode does a great job introducing both newcomers and fans of the game to the series and setting up future conflict.
1 King Dice Almost Takes Cuphead’s Soul In “Roll The Dice”
In the 5th episode, “Roll the Dice,” Cuphead winds up on King Dice’s game show, unaware King Dice brings the winner’s soul to the Devil. Luckily, Cuphead turns out to be terrible at the game. The audience becomes outraged as King Dice does everything he can to make Cuphead win a visit to the mystery prize room. As a result, Cuphead and Mugman leave, disappointing the Devil. It’s great having King Dice — one of Cuphead’s most iconic bosses — as the chief antagonist of this episode. It also stands out as both the funniest episode as well as the one with the most beloved characters present.
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