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| Image source: Spectacular Optical |
Here’s the basic premise courtesy of IMDB:
Two rival robotics companies in the future release their latest creations at a robotics convention, claiming each to be the latest and greatest in technological advances. Mega Stellar Company's release is a robot boy named Romie-O, while Super Solar Cybernetics has released a girl robot named Julie-8. Unforeseen to each of the company's creators, is how each of the advanced robots soon falls in love with the other.
I blogged
about ROMIE-O AND JULIE-8 before, but it bears repeating since I saw this
purebred science fiction romance show at an early age. I was probably somewhere
between ten and twelve.
The other night, while in-between blog tasks, I decided to
look the show up on YouTube. I figured someone might have a snippet or a
trailer I could watch. However, I found more than a snippet—some generous soul
had posted a video of the entire show! (You can read a plot summary at Wikipedia).
I was shocked out of my mind, I tell you. I never thought
I’d be able to see ROMIE-O AND JULIE-8 again. And it looks like the video went
up not too long after my 2008 post. Go figure! Naturally, I dropped everything and
re-watched it immediately. I had to make up for some seriously lost time.
As the story began to unfold, a big question loomed in my
mind: would the show hold up to my hopelessly fond memories?
The answer: ROMIE-O
AND JULIE-8—WTF?
What a wild, surreal trip down memory lane that was!
On the plus side, I still like the show’s kitschy animation.
Scratch that—I love the kitschy
animation! There’s lots of action and never a dull moment despite the clichéd
setting. Their romance is one of forbidden love. External threats conspire to
keep Romie-O and Julie-8 apart. The romance ain’t deep, but it’s strong and
true.
The strange thing is that the romance has an adult romance
vibe, but it’s sanitized for kids. Structure wise, the plot is similar to what
you’d find in some romance novels.
So what’s the problem, exactly? This show contains some pretty offensive elements, that's what. I’ll describe a few of them.
* Creepy guy Gizmo is a man who has the hots for Julie-8. He
experiences lust at first sight and then practically paws her to death, er, I
mean, to rust.
* Damsel-in-distress heroine. This aspect probably bothered
me the most and it ties into Julie-8’s other problematic character flaws. In
the space of a thirty-minute show, two male characters obviously want to have sexual relations with her. Julie-8 becomes
little more than a commodity even though
these two guys view her as a person. So the message of not judging Julie-8
because she’s a robot is undermined by toxic misogyny. That kind of subtext is
disturbing for a kid’s show.
* The villain kidnaps Julie-8 for himself (never mind that
he’s a giant robot called Junk Monster). The show includes a pitiful KING KONG
type sequence—I hesitate to call it an homage—where Junk Monster picks up
Julie-8 in one massive, rivet-studded metal hand. Apparently, Julie-8’s body is
the sum total of her worth.
* Heroine agrees to marry the villain to save the hero. I
know, this show was made in 1979. But that kind of storytelling is still
backwards.
* Offensive jokes about overweight people. For shame,
Nelvana.
Here's another oddity: the final action
sequence is a really, really lame montage. Pathetic, even, because it prevents the viewer from experiencing any tension. Still, as a kid I
was totally sucked in. The “rust storm” was (is?!) one of my favorite sequences
even though it’s completely ludicrous. As a kid I could barely stand the
tension of that scene. While re-watching the show, I could feel long-buried
emotions stirring to life. I recall questioning—in a biting my nails way—whether
Romie-O and Julie-8 would survive the storm.
I love what this show meant to me as a child, and the
influence it had on my eventual interest in science fiction romance. I’m not so
sure I love the show itself given the numerous storytelling flaws. But I’d
watch it again in a minute—especially if I could do so in the company of fellow
SFR fans! That’d be a hoot.
Re-watching ROMIE-O AND JULIE-8 with fresh eyes didn’t diminish
my nostalgic feelings, but the experience certainly reinforced my appreciation
for the authors who write smart and sophisticated science fiction romance
stories today.
If you’re game to watch ROMIE-O AND JULIE-8, tell me what
you think!
Joyfully yours,
Heather