| “ | Listen, Nordle. I mean, citizen Nordle. We know you're mad at us, but there's a Big Evil coming to Earth and Tobor could help us train. | ” |
"Tobor or Not Tobor" is the second segment of the second episode of the second season of Hamster & Gretel, and the sixty-second episode overall. It is paired with "Lair Necessities" and premiered on Disney Channel on September 14, 2024.[1]
In the revamped lair from last episode, Hamster and Gretel realize they need a sparring partner to prepare themselves against the upcoming extraterrestrial threat, so they try to invite Tobor. While Nordle refuses due to circumstances involving his father, Tobor accepts behind Nordle's back.
Plot[]
While showing Kevin, Fred, and Gretel their new lair, Hamster introduces them to the sparring room. Realizing that they need a formidable partner to train with, Gretel attempts to convince Tobor to help them. However, Nordle, who is unaware that superhero Gretel and civilian Gretel are one and the same, refuses to let them use Tobor due to holding resentment about what they have done to Professor Exclamation. Gretel laments to Kevin, only for Tobor, who does realize that superhero Gretel is the same as civilian Gretel, to arrive and agree to help train the heroes in order to protect Nordle.
After days of Tobor sneaking off to train Hamster and Gretel, Nordle becomes suspicious and decides to follow him. Meanwhile, Tobor is hit in the head with a wrench during one of the training sessions and begins to attack Hamster and Gretel. At the park, Nordle discovers that Tobor was indeed training the heroes and initially refuses to stop Tobor from attacking, but upon Gretel explaining that Tobor wishes to protect him, Nordle relents. He then presents Tobor with a gift, having realized through a trip to a milkshake bar that he does not show Tobor much appreciation.
Cast and characters[]
- Meli Povenmire as Gretel Grant-Gomez
- Michael Cimino as Kevin Grant-Gomez
- Beck Bennett as Hamster
- Joey King as Fred Grant
- Alex Estrada as Tobor
- Pamela Adlon as Nordle Exclamation
- James Adomian as Sam
Additional voices[]
- Grey DeLisle as Wig Store Owner
Songs[]
Running gags[]
Image scene transitions[]
(used to transition back to the sparring room)
(used to transition to the park)
Memorable quotes[]
TBA
Transcript[]
Click here to read the full transcript of "Tobor or Not Tobor".
Gallery[]
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| Click here to view the image gallery for Tobor or Not Tobor. |
Background information[]
Trivia[]
- This is Nordle's first appearance in Season 2.
- As of this episode, Tobor now knows that Gretel is the same person as the superhero Gretel. This is the third time an ally has discovered Gretel's hero identity; the first is her grandmother in "Abuelita's World" and the second is her best friend Bailey in "My Invisible Friend".
- It is also the fourth time someone overall, and the second time someone who has been a villain before, has discovered it, with Van Dyke being the first in both cases.
- When Nordle confronts Tobor about his frequent disappearances, many points of the conversation are similar to how TV media tends to portray a cheating spouse or partner:
- Tobor makes an excuse of "playing cards with the boys."
- Nordle points out Tobor's scuff marks, similar to how lipstick pecks would be noticeable.
- Nordle says that Tobor's lies are tearing him apart.
- Nordle goes to an ice cream bar afterwards to eat his feelings, similar to how a person would typically go to a bar to drink their feelings.
Allusions[]
- Hamlet - The title for this episode is a pun on "To be, or not to be", an iconic speech given by Prince Hamlet in the third act of this well-known work written by William Shakespeare.
- The Karate Kid - During the training montage, Hamster, Gretel and Tobor standing on stumps while practicing the crane kick is a reference to the iconic scene where Daniel does that pose during his training.
Errors[]
- When Kevin and Fred are mentioning the perfect characteristics for a sparring partner, one of their criteria is that they must not feel pain. However, it was made clear in "When Life Gives You Lemons" that Tobor does feel pain.
References[]
| Previous: Lair Necessities |
Episodes | Next: Evil Upheaval |