It's time once again to dive deep into Goosebumps with its second television season. Starting August 10th, 1996, Goosebumps saw its second season premiere. This time, the episode list ballooned from 19 episodes to 25, which included more two part episode. However, at this point the show was beginning to run out of books to adapt into episodes, especially with some seemingly impossible to make on a cheap live action budget. So, they added one brand new episode not based on any book (More Monster Blood) and began adapting the short stories from the Tales To Give You Goosebumps series. So, let's once again rate how well these stories were adapted. The ranking list is once again as follows:
PERFECT: The adaptation is 90-100% faithful to the book with only minor deviations and logical cut content.
HIGH: The adaptation is faithful to the book, but deviates to fix issues the original book has.
MEDIUM: The adaptation is somewhat faithful to the book, but deviates wildly.
LOW: The adaptation feels extremely different in comparison to what the book was.
EPISODE 1: BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR
RATING: LOW
This episode starts strong, giving us some of the issues involving Sam Byrd, what with her being constantly annoyed by Judith and whatnot. But not long after meeting Clarissa, we get some serious detours with the wishes. Instead of her first wish accidentally making her teammates sick, it makes them worse at basketball than even Sam. Then the second wish, which originally had Sam wishing to be left alone, she wishes for everyone to buzz off, which turns everyone on the planet into flies. I mean, it's creepy, but the book having Sam be the only person left on earth was a lot more frightening. Then there is the twist involving Judith gaining Clarissa as her wish granter. In the original, it was a dark ending with Judith turning Sam into a bird. In the episode, well...
CHEESIEST EFFECT AWARD:
Move over, MSPaint Skeletons.
Book or episode: I'll take the book. I think the darker ending works far better for the overall story than Sam suddenly getting a happy ending.
EPISODE 2/3: ATTACK OF THE MUTANT
RATING: HIGH
This is a two parter that isn't all that bad. In fact, it's one that does come fairly close to the original book. Hell, this episode even gave us a guest cameo from Adam West, so it earns higher marks there. Biggest change I could really find was the ending, where instead of Skipper bleeding ink from an accidental knife cut, he instead becomes his superhero alter ego, The Colossal Stretching Boy. Also, the Masked Mutant stupidly turns himself to liquid instead of being splashed. Save for a few other subtle changes, it's relatively close. Overall, I enjoyed the episode more than the book.
EPISODE 4: BAD HARE DAY
RATING: MEDIUM
Overall the episode follows a lot of beats, but the ending is changed up considerably. In the book, it's revealed that Amaz-O is really the rabbit, and Tim ends up turning him back to human, only to end up as the rabbit in the act. In the episode, it turns out that the rabbit was really an evil magician named El Sydney, who tricks Tim into helping him, and in the end is turned back to human, and turns Tim and Amaz-O into rabbits. Other than that, a few minor tweaks are made, but it's faithful enough. Honestly, I think this twist works better than the book as the ending feels super rushed there. So, I'll take episode over book.
EPISODE 5: THE HEADLESS GHOST
RATING: MEDIUM
EPISODE 6: GO EAT WORMS!
RATING: MEDIUM
A lot of removed stuff in this one, but overall, it's kinda close. In the book, it's established that Todd's sister Regina was the one putting worms everywhere as revenge for his actions earlier in the book. In the episode, they make it more obvious that it's the worms seeking revenge on Todd, so the battle with the giant worm at the end is less random. The twist is also way different as in the book Todd takes up butterfly collecting, only to have a giant butterfly threaten to stab him with a giant pin. In the episode, Todd takes up fishing, only to be snagged by a fish hook in his sandwich and dragged into the water. As bizarre as the book twist is, the episode twist is somewhat more funny. Plus there's actually a scene where someone almost eats worms, so the title actually makes sense in the episode. Book or episode: Both were kind of disturbing, but I think episode wins out.
EPISODE 7: YOU CAN'T SCARE ME!
RATING: HIGH
The episode does a few things that deviates from the book. In the book, they establish the mud monsters as the former townspeople who were killed in a storm that created a mudslide, in the episode they establish it as one mud monster who attacks victims and drags them into the muddy abyss. The episode seems to have Hat be the one most obsessed with getting back at Courtney. The episode omits Eddie's brother, so instead it's Eddie covered in mud who tries to scare Courtney instead, only for a real mud monster to show up. And the episode ends with Courtney talking down the mud monster until it dries up. She gets the glory from news reporters, and Hat and Eddie get attacked by the mud monster when it starts raining. Other than that, it's pretty close to the actual book, with similar episode beats like the snake in the lunch bag, or Hat and Eddie trying to get the tarantula from the science room. Despite it not being as strong a book, I'd say I prefer the book. More things feel like they happen in that.
EPISODE 8: REVENGE OF THE LAWN GNOMES
RATING: LOW
A lot of changes in this one. Moose is gone, so no choking game. Buster the dog is also omitted, meaning that the dog whistle ending is also gone. This also turns Mr. McCall into more of a strict army major character. We don't get the end scene with the gnomes trapping the kids in the basement of the gardening store, but instead the end scene involves Joe and Mindy having to deal with the gnomes in the garden instead. Their defeat this time is caused by blinding light instead of a dog whistle. They also have magic powers in this one which leads to the twist. Instead of the infamous lawn gorilla, we instead get Mr. McCall turned into a lawn ornament. Damn you Goosebumps, you promised me a lawn gorilla! Episode or book? Book had more going for it, so that.
EPISODE 9: GHOST BEACH
RATING: PERFECT
It's another one with a few minor changes, mainly that Nat Sadler is omitted. Other than that, it flows about the same with Jerry and Terri going through the same structure of the book with dealing with all those Sadlers. The twist remains the same as well, but comes off a little less ambiguous that Brad and Agatha are also ghosts. Book or episode? Well, I wasn't a fan of Ghost Beach either way, so I'll say episode.
EPISODE 10: ATTACK OF THE JACK-O'-LANTERNS
RATING: PERFECT
So, there are a couple changes necessary for this to work as a half hour episode, but overall, this is really close to the book in terms of quality. First and foremost, all of the flashbacks in the book are thankfully truncated to quick exposition in the episode. Though they do keep that weird dream with the evil old couple. They put a bit more emphasis on the missing people and Shane and Shana reveal their alien forms in the end. So, overall the changes there are actually improve on the episode. Only notable thing is the races of some of the characters are changed around, but that's a minor issue overall. In the end, this is one of the better episodes of the season, and an improvement over the book in a lot of ways.
EPISODE 11/12: THE HAUNTED MASK II
RATING: LOW
Here we have the complete opposite of the previous Haunted Mask, which was one of the more perfect adaptations of the original book. In the case of Haunted Mask II, some elements remain the same, but the flow of the story takes far different directions. The biggest deviation being the original mask having a bigger role in the episode, coming to life and attaching itself to the shopkeeper. This leads him to lead Steve and Chuck to the store instead of the two breaking in. Steve never gets the mask to get revenge on kindergartners, as they're not in the episode either.
Carly Beth is made aware of the store early on and Steve's plight, meaning we never get any amazing recreation of that phone call from the book. Instead of trying symbols of love like dog or the cookies, he steals the Carly Beth bust as he's under the control of the original mask in its plans to get Carly Beth back. Even the twist is different with Steve and Carly Beth destroying the masks, only for Carly Beth's to come back to life. It's not the worst episode, and they clearly tried to add more horror, but I still prefer the book.
CHEESIEST EFFECT AWARD:
How did the mask effect end up looking worse for the sequel?
EPISODE 13: LET'S GET INVISIBLE
RATING: PERFECT
So, again there are changes, but in comparison to a lot of episodes this season, this is one that comes really close to the original book, with some minor stuff changed like Zack's weird haircut for example, several characters being removed, or Noah never being called Lefty. Other than that, it follows the book well enough, with a similar twist and everything.
EPISODE 14: SCARECROW WALKS AT MIDNIGHT
RATING: HIGH
Another one that follows similar beats to the book, but the ending gets overhauled. In the book, the scarecrows are destroyed by fire, where in the book they're destroyed by a thresher. This plays into the twist where in the book, Stanley brings a giant stuffed bear to life, wherein the episode he accidentally brings the thresher to life, so we're left on a darker cliffhanger. Book or episode: Episode flows a lot better than the book does. So that wins out.
EPISODE 15: MONSTER BLOOD
RATING: HIGH
This one's very truncated due to being only one part (well, kinda). But the major pieces are still intact. Biggest omission being no Beymer twins to beat up Evan. In terms of changes, Evan finds the Monster Blood can in the basement and Aunt Kathryn is longer depicted as deaf, which honestly works a bit better. Overall, between episode or book, I think the episode was more enjoyable. And considering this is the only Monster Blood book I liked, that's saying a lot.
CHEESIEST EFFECT AWARD:
"Help! I'm being eaten by the green screen!"
EPISODE 16: MORE MONSTER BLOOD
And here we have the only episode this season that's not based on any previous Stine work. Instead of doing one of the sequels, we get an original story which immediately follows the first book, where Evan is flying to Atlanta to meet his parents, while the Monster Blood has returned and begins to take over the plane. It's a corny episode, like most episodes of Goosebumps are, but I still prefer this to the actual sequel books. The reason again being that it treats Monster Blood like a threat, something to be scared of. Not something to be used as a revenge tool that constantly backfires in horrible ways ANDY!
EPISODE 17: VAMPIRE BREATH
RATING: MEDIUM
A lot more changes this time around, but flows about the same. Freddie and Cara are twins in the episode, but not in the book. They also have a new last name in Renfield to be more of a Dracula reference. And no werewolf sweat unlike the book, instead the kids just get bunk coffins, which is a funnier image and doesn't feel like one of Jovial Bob's weaker twists. Book or episode: Episode really fixes a lot of the messier bits of the book, so that gets the win here.
EPISODE 18: HOW TO KILL A MONSTER
RATING: HIGH
Aside from a few changes like Charley the dog being removed, and Gretchen and Clark being a bit more snide to one another, this one's close to perfect. And considering it was one of my top books, I'm glad it's actually one of the better ones at that. The monster, while looking rubbery as hell, is still a really good design. Plus we actually get to see the grandparents ditch the kids, which as I said is the best worst family member moment in the series that I've covered so far. Book or episode: Both are fine, but book I liked more.
EPISODE 19: CALLING ALL CREEPS!
RATING: PERFECT
Aside from the creeps being yellow instead of purple, this is pretty much on par with the book. From plot points like Ricky trying to plant the seeds in the cafeteria food to his constant bullying leading him to give in and let the school turn to creeps. It's all on point, making this one of the more consistent books. Not sure if this one being released so close to the actual book had anything to do with that (being two whole months apart). Book or episode: Both are solid enough, but I liked the book a bit more.
EPISODE 20/21: WELCOME TO DEAD HOUSE
RATING: LOW
Wow, was this episode a massive departure. Granted, there are still similar beats like how the town became zombies and whatnot, but everything else is way different. We don't get any of the more gory aspects of the original story, the parents aren't kidnapped in the amphitheater, the climax of the story takes place in the titular dead house as the villagers attack the Bensons, there's a lot of focus on a wreath that's supposed to ward away evil, only for that to be destroyed not too long into the episode. The twist sees the family escape with no other family showing up to live in the house, and Petey the dog turns zombie in the car instead of being killed midway through the book. As a standalone, it's actually not too bad, but as a representative of not just one of the books, but the first book in the series, it's a dire departure. Book or episode: Book easily.
CHEESIEST EFFECT AWARD:
Petey caught a case of the monochromes.
EPISODE 22: DON'T WAKE MUMMY
RATING: MEDIUM
Plus we get the mummy cat ending, so that makes the episode worth a watch at least.
EPISODE 23: THE BLOB THAT ATE EVERYONE
RATING: HIGH
EPISODE 24/25: NIGHT OF THE LIVING DUMMY III
RATING: MEDIUM
A lot of the elements of the book are still intact, but this one takes massive liberties. In the book, Zane is a brat throughout who keeps getting Trina and Dan in trouble and never sees the dummies alive. In the episode, Zane, Trina and Dan quickly become more friendly with each other, and all three have to deal with Slappy, Zane eventually being turned into one. This gives us a different twist with Zane spinning his head around like a dummy instead of Slappy being given to him. As for Slappy, he's given more screen time in the episode, and his demise is completely different. In the book, he's beaten down by the other dummies, in the episode, he gets thrown out the attic window by Rocky and struck by lightning. Overall, I'd say the episode is better than the book as while the book was fine, I do think it was less energetic than the episode.
And that's season 2. Still just as cheesy and poorly acted as the first season, but still has that weird charm to it as well. Compared to season one, this was a lot more all over the place in terms of closeness to the books themselves with far more episodes that wildly deviated either their twists, their full endings, or the plot altogether, with Dead House and Haunted Mask II being the biggest offenders. Comparing seasons, I'd say the first season had more episodes I enjoyed, but season 2 had some solids like Dummy III (with a young Hayden Christensen), Monster Blood, Attack of the Mutant and even the weirdly different Haunted Mask II being my standouts. Two seasons left to go, and I'll hopefully be covering them soon. Though with Netflix recently removing most of Goosebumps from the service, all I can say is thank goodness for Dailymotion. Until then!
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