| "Operation: D.A.T.E." | |
| Season 2, Episode 15 | |
| |
| Mission: | 030 |
|---|---|
| Production Code: | 15b |
| Airdate: | October 10, 2003 |
| Credits | |
| Writer(s): | Mo Willems Mr. Warburton |
| Storyboards by: | Guy Moore Quack Leard |
| Episode Guide | |
| Previous Mission "Operation: S.P.A.N.K." |
Next Mission "Operation: S.U.P.P.O.R.T." |
Dance Actually Threatens Everyone
Operation: D.A.T.E. is the second story in the second episode of Season 2 of Codename: Kids Next Door. It first aired on October 10, 2003 on Cartoon Network.
Information[]
Summary[]
The KND and nearly every kid in town are invited to a dance at the DCFDTL's mansion. However, it was actually a trap, all the party guests (except Numbuh 1 and Lizzie) are "delightfulized" like the DCFDTL.
Plot[]
The episode begins with Sector V running to the briefing room, reporting for duty. Nigel informs the team that earlier that morning, he had received a dangerous item in the mail drop. He holds up a fancy piece of paper by tongs, as if afraid to touch it. Abigail attempts to read it- "You have been cordially invited to-" only to be interrupted by Nigel screaming at her not to touch it. She clarifies that it was just an invitation, and Kuki reads the rest of the letter, and excitedly cries out that it was an invitation to the Kid's All-Town Cotillion, the "biggest shindig in town" as Numbuh 4 calls it. Numbuh 2, 3, 4, and 5 were excited. Nigel tells the group that it may not be an innocent dance, as it is being hosted by the Delightful Children From Down the Lane. Kuki sadly asks if that means they aren't going, to which Nigel shouts, "Of course we're going!" The team celebrates, and Nigel clarifies that it won't be for fun, it'll be a mission to find out what the Delightfuls are up to. He says that to avoid suspicion, they'll have to couple up. He turns back to the team to see Abigail lean on Hoagie's shoulder, pairing up, and Wallabee take Kuki's hand, smiling funnily, pairing themselves up as well. Nigel is taken by surprise that his other four teammates paired up so fast, leaving him dateless. They tease him about finding a date, causing him to call Lizzie.
The next scene consists of Nigel calling Lizzie while the others laugh quietly at him in the background. He fumbles at first, and then adopts a more strict tone, informing her of the mission and what she was expected to do, as well as earning the temporary codename: Numbuh 49. Lizzie misinterpreted this as him asking her on a date, accepting quickly. Nigie yells into the phone that it is not a date and it's a--, but Kuki steals the phone from him and tells Lizzie that they'll pick her up at 7 o'clock pm, along with advice on what to wear (either something with feathers, or a pretty pretty princess dress.)
We next see the DCFDTL's mansion, a crowd of kids being dropped off or talking to each other excitedly surrounding it. Then, Sector V arrives by air, landing on the front yard and exiting by the ramp. Hoagie exits wearing a white and blue suit, top hat and red bow tie, Abigail is wearing a navy suit and red bow tie, Wallabee is wearing a black tuxedo jacket, white shirt, red bow tie and jeans, and Kuki wears a pale pink dress and pink Mary Janes with a silver tiara. Referring to her tomboyish attitude, Nigel emerges with a smart black suit and red bow tie with a white rose boutonniere, Lizzie close by wearing a sparkly blue dress and her hair in rolls near her ears and white shoes. She thanks Nigel for the corsage, and he responds that it's not a corsage, that it's a two-way communicator. He receives a call on it at that very moment, but it turns out to be Lizzie, only a foot away, annoying him with "You're neat!".
The team enters the mansion, to find the DCFDTL themselves greeting kids at the door. After a short threat, they tell them that they only wish to have fun, providing free entertainment and refreshments. Finding nothing wrong, Numbuhs 2-5 enter the ballroom, excited. Numbuh One remains behind with Lizzie, and the Delightfuls wish him good luck on his date, derogatorily calling him "Nigie".
He joins the rest of the team in the doorway, looking in awe at the elaborate decorations in the ballroom. Nigel tells Hoagie and Abigail to keep their eyes open, but they move on to do "recon" on the sandwiches. He turns to Wallabee to remind him to keep an eye out for anything suspicious, only to find Kuki and Wallabee gone. He finds them dancing fast together on the dance floor, surrounded by onlookers. Lizzie tells Nigie that she thinks there's a slow song coming up, making him laugh nervously and leave quickly.
Hoagie and Abigail are at the refreshment table, eating and drinking happily. Nigie startles Abigail into spitting out her drink, and after a substance test of the punch, he finds that it's...cherry flavored. Hoagie and Abigail reassure him that they are keeping their eyes peeled, but don't find anything suspicious, and to relax and enjoy his date.
Nigel spends some of the night with Lizzie, having refreshments with her while acting suspicious, like on the balcony, planting a fake Nigie for Lizzie to rest on, and as they're having a slow dance together, Lizzie sees a photo room and takes Nigie to the photo room, only to find out that the DCFDTL have made a machine that turns the other kids into delightfuls where they said, “Join us,” and wore the same clothing the real Delightful Children wore.
Nigel takes Lizzie out of the photo room with the delightfulized kids chasing after them and they went through a door where poor Numbuh 2, 3, 4, and 5 got delightfulized too. Numbuh 1 and Lizzie ran off and they both hide in the closet. They open the door to show Lizzie getting her camera out to take their photo and as she takes the photo, the kids are back to normal. Nigel, realizing this, uses the camera and takes photos of the other kids.
Eventually, Lizzie, who was indeed cross with Nigel, threatens him that she won't let him walk her home that night and tells his friends about how badly he ruined their date. Nigel instantly loses control of his rage and screams out loud that this isn't a date. He says he has a mission that is more important than some girl who is "date crazy", humiliating Lizzie in front of the other kids. Everyone and even the rest of Sector V left. Nigel goes into the ballroom and sees that the DCFDTL has more delightfulizing machines to turn Nigel “delightful.” Lizzie storms in to angrily tell Nigel that it was the worst date ever and she tries to throw a cherry punch at him, but he gets out of the way by dodging it and splashes on the power generator box. Nigel hugs Lizzie, telling her how clever she is, to which Lizzie responds "Oh Nigie! Now was that so hard?"
All the kids run out of the mansion and the mansion explodes into fireworks. Nigel holds Lizzie's hand and they and everyone else enjoy the fireworks together.
Featured[]
KND Operatives
Allies
- Lizzie Devine
- Leaky Leona (cameo)
Villains
Locations
2x4 Technology
- E.L.I.M.O.N.A.T.E.R.
- Communicator
- Liquid Identifier
- B.O.N.G.O.S.K.O.P.E.
- S.C.A.M.P.P.
Villain Technology
Transcript[]
Operation: D.A.T.E./Transcript
Trivia[]
- This marks the first time someone besides Lizzie or Sector V has called Numbuh 1 "Nigie". The Delightful Children from Down the Lane called him that in a derogatory manner.
- Alessandra and Constance have a pink bow, and pigtails and glasses (respectively), and so do Kuki and Abigail (respectively).
- Unlike the other delightfulized children, Numbuh 2 kept a piece of his clothing from before he was delightfulized, after he was delightfulized (his goggles).
- It's revealed that a KND operative can temporarily deputize another kid and give them a temporary codename to operate under for the duration of their mission.
- It's also revealed that the DCFDTL's clothes automatically comes with being delightfulized.
Series Continuity[]
- When Numbuh 1 mentions coupling up for the party, Numbuh 3 offers Numbuh 4 her hand and he gladly takes it, signaling the first real romantic moment between them.
- Numbuh 1 goes to the dance with Lizzie, with whom he previously went on dates in Operation: L.I.Z.Z.I.E..
- Numbuh 3 and Numbuh 4 are shown to be very good dancers, at least with one another. This is the first of 2 dances they share over the course of the series, the other being in Operation: P.A.R.T.Y. where Numbuh 4 hates dancing.
- Some of the Ugly Children from Operation: Z.O.O. appear at the party.
- One of the waiters appeared in Operation: L.I.Z.Z.I.E., and later again in Operation: T.H.E.-S.H.O.G.U.N..
- This is the first time that the DCFDTL delightfulizes other kids, with the next time being in Operation: F.O.U.N.T.A.I.N..
- When Lizzie and Numbuh 1 neutralized the delightfulization of the other kids, their clothes returned to normal. This later happens again in Operation: Z.E.R.O..
Pop Culture References[]
- Lizzie's hair style at the party is similar to Princess Leia from Star Wars.
- The Delightfuloids saying "join us" might be a reference to the 'Evil Dead' horror film franchise.
Errors/Goofs[]
- The ice box next to Numbuh 1 is not there in the opening shot. Instead we see the control panel usually positioned there in all other episodes. He is also not holding the green tongs.
- The DCFDTL are standing in the hallway to greet guests, but are nowhere to be seen behind Sector V when Numbuh 1 opens the doors to the main hall.
- When everyone is delightfulized, there are some kids without faces or arms. This is also the case in the scene where Wally and Kuki are dancing.
- When Numbuh 1 opens the door to find his delightfulized teammates, he was standing in the hallway. But they're all in the main hall in the next shot as he grabs Lizzie and starts running, before it's shifted back to the hallway in the next shot of them running.
- Lizzie's pink purse keeps disappearing and reappearing.
- Numbuh 5's braid is missing in the shot after Sector V returns to normal.
- When Numbuh 1 goes into the main hall to face the DCFDTL, the hall is as narrow is the hallways in the mansion.
Voice Credits[]
- Benjamin Diskin: Numbuh 1, Numbuh 2, and DCFDTL
- Lauren Tom: Numbuh 3
- Dee Bradley Baker: Numbuh 4, DCFDTL, and waiter
- Cree Summer: Numbuh 5 and DCFDTL
- Grey DeLisle: Lizzie and Boy #1
Gallery[]
