You never think about it when you're a kid watching a couple episodes a day. But when you look back on the series as an adult, it's really depressing to realize Eustis is just a broken man with a sad life who never gets better.

I loved this show. Courage’s catchphrase “the things I do for love” is seared into my head. The catchphrase emphasizes how courage’s ability to fight off the horrors of nowhere comes from love.

Courage is a kind-hearted eldritch abomination who couldn't live without Muriel. He deals with Eustace cause Muriel loves the man despite how awful he treats them. Both deserve much better.

I used to live in an emotionally abusive household. It was to a point where I realized people never took what I said seriously when needed. I actually took a vow of silence for a few months. At first my mother and brother thought it was just to make them mad By week 3 they were completely lost, asking me to speak again. He even tried to bribe me but I stayed firm Something that simple having such a profound effect isn't as strange as this episode may make one believe at first

Personally I think this is one of the best Muriel episodes because it truly showcases the importance of her voice, opinions and what she has to say.

This was one of several episodes that made me truly hate Eustace. Not only does he treat Muriel like absolute garbage in the beginning of this episode and makes her feel like a nothing, but his cruelty ends up putting both Muriel and Courage's lives in danger. The ending where she gave the lout a taste of his own medicine was not only extremely satisfying but a crowning moment of awesomeness for her.

It always sad to know Eustace does love her and is capable of showing it, but he is so bitter and angry he usually never does. That starfish demon was truly terrifying too, the idea of some hell-borne cosmic horror just running over everything really got to me as a kid.

lmaoo courage turning into a 3d model of muriels head really got me

Muriel didn't need magic, she needed a marriage counselor.

I feel sorry for Muriel in that episode, but you were right. Eustace should have been more respectful to her, instead of neglectful. Seeing Courage go above and beyond to help her like always, warms my heart as well as many fans(you included). Courage is quite the moral compass and a personification of a natural meaning. Having the courage to face your fears, despite being scared s#itless. Courage is such a good character to have as a friend. On an off-related note, though it's not canon to the show, I'm glad Eustace had his comeuppance in that Death Battle with Courage vs Scooby-Doo, LOL

Can we talk about courage just randomly laying golden eggs lol

This episode and the dodgeball ones really made Eustace pure evil Prior ones show that Eustace can be a grouch, and mean to courage. While he can be cranky with Muriel there is also signs he truly does love and care about her. The Mask episode where they have that heart to heart moment, Muriel crying that Eustace is missing and Eustace going to rescue Muriel from Katz are good moments of their marriage showing the two do love one another But this just makes him into a irredeemable monster

I had a friend who's parents looked like Eustace and Muriel. They were always fighting cause the dad was rude, inconsiderate, and treated the mom like a servant. Courage the Cowardly Dog hit so close to home my friend couldn't watch it. On another note thanks for keeping the memory of this classic alive! Can't tell you how awesome it is knowing this show's left such a legacy to inspire people making video essays on it.

this episode actually made me depressed when i was younger, i felt like i could relate to muriel on that fact that no one listens to you and you're kinda just existing.

Muriel is just such a baddie and Courage is just the sweetest. Gotta love em both.

Shirley was my favorite character from this show and I wish she'd gotten more episodes.

man i dont think i really realized the symbolism until this video, as a kid i didnt have the worries or issues i have as an adult, and seeing that horrible monster as a symbolism for death, and that muriel was ready for it until the one thing keeping her tethered to this world was in trouble😭that hits home pretty hard, i love this show

This video actually made me realize how similar Eustace and Muriel are to my own grandparents (mom's mom and step dad) more so Eustace and my grandpa though. My grandpa was a rather cold and disinterested old man who just wanted to watch tv and nap in his lounge chair in their small trailer, they did have a dog but I never really saw him acknowledge the dog more than a small pat on the head. He wasn't exactly an asshole like Eustace, but he could be rude. My grandma said a few times that if I had met him just a few years earlier, he would've been a lot kinder since he was once a good person. She was a large, kind woman (although she was an alcoholic) who used to take in strays and nurse them back to health, as she raised my mom, she had a little garden where she grew her own vegetables and was generally a good person. It was just a weird realization to have, do most people have grandparents like this or something?

I definitely had some level of understanding of the sadness as a kid, although perhaps not to the same depth that the story intended. While it was the same emotional abuse that eventually led to my parent's divorce, as a kid watching this episode I only really saw the depth of it from the perspective as a kid, frequently being told to shut up by my father and my words being disregarded altogether. So I related a lot to the sadness of this episode in those regards. It also helped me in a way though. There were times where I didn't want to speak altogether, and sometimes I'd let myself have those silent moments, but other times I'd remember this episode and remember that my voice and opinion does matter, even at the times where it feels like it doesn't. So, to answer your question, I think the balance between sadness and creepy was fine. I think it reached the kids that needed it, whether they realized it or not, and hopefully this episode gave them a bit of empowerment too when they needed it most.

Muriel is such a sweetheart and deserves to be respected

Not gonna lie, i read the video title and said "You're gonna have to be more specific than that." 😂😂

I was expecting the dodgeball game or the washing machine episode. While we see Eustace and muriel get in some physical violence or emotional ones we know they love each other very much especially the underwater monster episode where Muriel was basically seeing her husband cheat on her(kid version)

You should cover the episode where Eustace's mother first debuts, it showcased how much she abused Eustace as a child very similar to how he treats Courage. I hated Eustace before the episode when his mother appeared first but, after watching it as a kid I was able to be more sympathetic to Eustace

I never really thought of this episode through the perspective of a child witnessing a divorce. I also didn’t think when courage threw himself into danger and had completely given up as a way a child would develop unaliving thoughts or self destructive behaviors as a last resort to cry out for help. It’s so sad to see courage be ignored by not only Eustis but also by Merial too. This perfectly captures of what a child going through their parents divorce feels like. A child going through their parents divorce commonly feel ignored, neglected, stressed, overwhelmed and hopeless. In many cases parents get too caught up in their feud to realize that their child is struggling and this can lead a child to developing unhealthy coping mechanisms. If a child doesn’t get proper help or guidance on how to deal with tough situations. It can lead them down to a dark depressive or destructive path. I also want to point out that there are some kids who will try to use traumatic situations such as suicidal ideation or self harm as a way to either manipulate or garner attention especially from the parents. It’s up to the parents to correct that behavior at a early stage before their child does it in adulthood. Parents have a big influence in kids lives and it’s so easy for parents to get too caught up in their adult priorities to recognize the influence/impact they have on their child.

Eustis came from abusr and perpetuated it with his dog... poor thing. Courgae is an example of unconditional love

I don't understand how Muriel and Eustace never get a divorce.

I recall an episode one of the last ones of the original run where Eustace trained for a swimming contest against a whale or something like that. When I first watched it felt so off because it portrayed Eustace in a sympathetic light all throughout instead of just the result of a revelation of his past. Looking back I think the team wanted to give Eustace one episode where he got an unequivocal win.

the moment when a kids show is more mature than most of adult shows today, even the most popular adult shows on KZfaq and we shall not speak of them.

At 4:26, there is a nice detail here. After she shrugs it off, she plays the sitar faster, indicating she's mad

Growing up and watching this show I’ve always wonder why Muriel stayed with Eustace and didn’t divorce him cause he always treats her and Courage like dirt for like no reason other than he can

Courage was ALWAYS my favorite cartoon when i was growing up, i didnt know it scared other kids but it was always weirdly comforting

The pig guy was reused as the butcher from the fabric softener episode which had the hot head guy as the villain

Has anybody ever noticed the sky in this cartoon? It always looked real compared to the rest of the animation

silence is often overlooked but it a powerful thing when you understand and know how to use it both in real life and in most other forms of media. 1:55

Regarding Courage not understanding what happened, I think there's still some credence to it even if he knows Eustace was the cause. After all, Courage has experienced a lot of magical things, and knows probably more than anyone what the power of words and emotions have to control or harm others. He could very well not know what Eustace did or fully understand it, while at least understanding his actions led to the reaction of Muriel not speaking.

When I'm sad, I can rest easy knowing that I could never be as sad as Eustace Baggs. You made me realize just how pathetic Eustace's character is, an elderly man still mad over how his mom treated his brother as a child. I can understand how trauma can be very long lasting, but the guy seemingly never really tried to heal.

" I'm talking now! And the sound of my voice will save the Farm being destroyed!"

This episode is still crazy, even to this day

Makes me wish Courage actually beats Eustace up. Also, Happy New Year Shawn.

Muriel deserves better! Also Muriel and Eustace relationship kinda reminds me of my parents who constantly fight. Yet they still love each other. Also last video of 2023? Happy New Year Shawn! Hope you and your family have a great 2024! 🥂

After hearing you compare this episode to a kid going through divorce definitely makes this episode a lot more tragic, even if the ending was comedic. I'd never thought of this like that before. Also, as a kid, all the scary stuff going on absolutely trumped all the serious messages spread throughout the various episodes with them whenever I watched. I wouldn't have been able to understand these serious issues back then, let alone pick up on them.

Off topic, but I really like Shirley wailing on her Sax to conjure magic spells. The music she makes is so good!

Think Eustace wold've been more considerate to Courage and Muriel had he learned Courage could somehow lay golden eggs and might use them for money?

I personally loved this episode not only because it showcases just how important Muriel is, but also because it has some of the best sitar playing I've ever heard ! I was 19 when Courage came out, but even when I was younger, I understood quite a few jokes I shouldn't have in shows like The Simpsons (I was watching that when I was 10 !) and I appreciated the rapier wit they used. Granted, it's not like it once was, but it helped form me as the writer I am now.

I wasn’t expecting to see a 3D CGI Courage/Muriel fusion but because I was multitasking while watching I nearly jumped out of my skin when I turned and saw it on my phone screen

She needs to pull a Sofia from The Color Purple and peace out. 🎶when a man…raise his hand…HELL NO!🎶

I was honestly anticipating Shawn to review "The tower of Dr. Zalost" for a discussion on depression, but this works too, good on you Shawn for not going for low hanging fruit! Anyways, general biologist here yet again with more information on animals that happen to be part of the plots of whatever Shawn reviews for this channel. Doubt anyone would be interested but here's a few things about the "starfish" monster! -To put it bluntly, "starfish" is an antiquated common name as they're not actually fish, but invertebrates. It's more accurate to call them sea stars instead. Most people still make that mistake which is understandable, not many people are aware of /care about the difference. Same deal with jellyfish, they're jellies. -The landstar monster is pretty interesting to me as a biologist. During introductory courses in biology most students learn about enchinoderms (the phylum that sea stars belong to along coral and urchins) and they're fairly interesting creatures. Firstly, they have no blood and use sea water to pump nutrients throughout their organ system, which itself is pretty strange to us. Which, while this is a cartoon and everything with the monster of the week being conjured from an evil curse, makes me wonder what's keeping the landstar alive. -Calling the bristles at the bottom of the landstar "tube feet" is actually pretty accurate. Also, the way in which it crushes things to absorb them is also fairly true to life. They will slowly crawl atop shellfish and force open their shells and then use their stomach to digest the prey. Used to get these guys in oyster traps every so often and even watched it happen once, it's nuts! -Honestly kind of glad the solution to the problem was to have Muriel speak instead of having Courage fight the landstar. sea stars are notorious for one thing and one thing only: regeneration. Cutting off the limb of a starfish won't hurt it (at least, we think so) and not only will the limb grow back, but the discarded limb will grow into a new starfish. Oyster fishermen who encountered sea stars in their traps initially cut them up and tossed them back into the sea, only for them to later realize this worsened the problem instead of fixing it. Thus the only way to kill them is to take them out of water so they dry up. Sorry to hear that this episode traumatized you Shawn, but even with their bizarre anatomy, sea stars are still a "stellar" subject to observe. There's a reason Starmie is a good choice for a pokemon playthrough.

are we not going question courage laid a egg😂😂

BANGER ALERT! Shawn dropped another masterpiece! Courage is probably top 5 cartoons ever ! Appreciate you very much my brother 🙏

I feel absolutely spoiled this holiday season with all the dusktillshawn videos❤

“ *The things I do for love* ” 🖤

You are spoiling us with all these great videos back to back, Shawn

I always saw this episode as 'our actions, even if justified, made out of spite or selfish intents can affect others around us... Win a petty battle at the cost of (potential many) bonds'

Gosh I love this show. Just finished rewatching all of it and doing personal rankings. This one (along with a few other surprises) was a lot better than I remembered. Love what you do Shawn. Here's a cheers to the end of this year and the beginning of a new one for your channel🎉

I wonder how Muriel hasn't left Eustace a long time ago

I went to school with a girl that would burst into tears when she discussed the Dr.Zalost episode. So I'm sure the creepiness and the sadness can co-exist.

I feel bad for Eustis for having to grow up with a mean, brother and abusive mother, and maybe that’s why he never got better, but I always hated how he treated Muriel.

Muriel deserves someone better than Eustace. She’s still my gma in my head ❤ As someone who has mutism, it’s not hard to shut down and not want talk to anyone.

Somehow King Ramses, freaky Fred, and the damn starfish were the things that creeped me the most as a kid. They really nailed showcasing the magnitude of this thing, with both the camera angles the sounds, etc. It being so fast and strong, just tearing the town apart was terrifying too. But what freaked me the most was how unstoppable it was, just rampaging in a straight line, charging towards its goal, and no building and even not the entire town was enough to stop it. The sheer nature of it, like a tsunami or some catastrophic disaster, made the thing really stand out to the kid me. I generally am a bit spooked by giant things to this day, probably stemming from my early memories of walking on a sidewalk with my parents, and giant trucks just shooting past me with a roar. Also, my mom told me that if I get too close, the air current could just suck me in under the wheels lol.

10:38 Courage: *lays a golden egg. Shawn: This episode is realy one that made me think...

The word Muriel yells to save herself & Courage is "Courage!"😢...then she immediately gains the *courage* to stand up to Eustace😮😊

I always found the show to be sadder than scary. Though that maybe because I started watching horror based movies and shows at 4 years old due to certain family members. The things courage and Muriel both go through at the hand of Eustace or his mother are the worst. However if it was not for him there wouldn’t be much of a show.

Can't Eustace cook his own breakfast? I would have asked Shirley to create a spell to make Eustace be nice to Muriel and not being a giant manbaby.

I too am obsessed with morbid things so after I'm done I go to happy/funny animal videos to lighten my mood.

This show always held a soft spot in my heart its painfully realistic, but yet heartwarming and relatable to me personally. Its a show that always brings me joy.

I love this episode, and happy new year dude!

Love the frequent uploads dude 😊

Yes! Finally! I still remember that episode whenever i was at a dental appointment when i was 15. Man, that starfish monster crept me out. It reminded me of that big monster from the movie " Evolution". But I feel sorry for Erial on this episode

Love this show so much. Also the episode that made me cry as a kid and still does is the Starmaker episode.

Yeah this episode freaked me out too Dawn like why would a giant Godzilla sized star fish live underground?!

Do you have trypophobia? I feel like that's what starfish 'feet' reminds me of. I also like the gag of Courage laying golden eggs, because he truly the Golden Goose of the farm

I love your videos so much Shawn! You always provide great insight on my favorite childhood shows. I hope you and your family are having a happy holiday!

I used to have a theory when I was a kid watching this show and it got darker after I survived domestic voiliance. The theory was that Muriel being Scottish might have married Eustace because he tricked her through the mail into marrying him or he met her during the service and brought her back to America with him. Once away from her family and inna new land she became dependant on him because of how new everything was to her in a new land. If she acted out he might beat or threaten her with deportation. When she found courage as a pup he realized that with exactly how devoted the dog was to her he could get caught and sent away for domestic abuse. So when bad stuff happens he doesn't care as for the time being it doesn't affect him directly. When it becomes a point where the cops could pin it on him as nothing else makes sense then he cares because he rationalized that after marrying her and needing to cater to her needs aswell he grew unhappy since he didn't have the freedom to use his money fully how he wanted as he also had to take care of her. This explains his greed and why he gets mad or grumbles when he has to do anything to benefit her and courage.

My wife's favorite episode glad I was able to introduce her to one of my favorite cartoon dogs my dog was nearly named after Courage or Scoob instead of being named after my 3rd dog

Ustis reminds me of my dad sadley.

Brings me back to my childhood. My parent’s marriage was always dysfunctional so a lot of this went on growing up. It’s is sad when you realize how the silent treatment affects the people around you

Out of all things, I only mainly remember Muriel playing the guitar and how she walked when she was mad at Eustace 😂

Watching this show as a kid, I'd always feel bad when Eustace got left behind while Muriel got saved. Then I realized if Eustace had been kinder to Courage, Courage would protect him too like he does Muriel and it taught me if you want people to help you then you need to treat them with kindness. This show taught me that lesson and that's not even the point of the show.

the courage videos are the best ones

As a kid Shirley used to creep me the hell out now she is my favourite

I Grew up Watching Courage the Cowardly Dog and I still watch it even now. The Shadow of Courage and Windmill Vandals are My favorites

It can't be a coincidence that music was playing in the background during the initial spat. It usually plays when something chaotic is happening.

Happy new year

I love the small message Courage gives the audience at the end of the episode. Silence is Golden. Something Eustace needs to learn with his wife when she's speaking. XD

I don’t comment much. I tend to watch these on my smart tv. But I was equally disturbed by this episode as a kid. So here I am.

A remote that shuts off people.well they were able to make that in the Amanda show and the goosebumps show

My dad treated/treats my mom like that, shes dying of heart/kidney failure and diabetes and he has heart problems and diabetes too yet tells her he could do better wishes she would 💔 , im 27 now and my dads crap talk comes out of my mouth sometimes and the amount of self hatred I feel during those moments are intense enough to snap me out of it. I guess I have his bad example to thank for that, I never want to be like him. We called him "hitler" or "the devil" growing up as a "joke".

I don't understand why Muriel puts up with Useless?!?!?! I was neglected by my mom when I little but I NEVER cashed out like Useless did!!! Sorry this episode makes me angry and sad but at least we get a satisfying conclusion.

Sometimes I shutdown after getting yelled at and staying in my shell and they have to wait till I crawl out of my shell again

love how lovecraftian the starfish is

I swear imma be on every video you post like " omg that's my favorite " but you legitimately just talk about every bit of my childhood and what made me, me. Mad excited for this one courage is the creepiest and deepest show of CN

You should totally do the Mona Lisa episode.

I think one of the reasons this episode freaked me out as a kid was the unstoppable force of this enormous starfish thing leaving a path of smoking scorched earth and destroying everything. Like what the fuck was it?? It's gone now i guess?? The use of colors in this show was also really strong at conveying vibe and personality. From the color of the creature and the smoke drifting up from it's path always made me think of tainted/chemical-soaked earth

This really tells that show was ahead off time

To be fair Eustace always abuses Muriel

This was the episode that made me realize the show was cosmic horror.

I feel like they even planned out the TV clips here. Before Muriel stepped in front of the TV, the clips we see are characters that've been gagged, maybe symbolism for the events of the episode, maybe just coincidence.

Muriel is one of the reasons why I bought a Sitar off Ebay. That Cheap Sitar and I had many fun adventures together before the gourd cracked. I should get another and have some new Sitar Adventures.

I almost forgot about this episode. I’ve only seen this one once or twice. This episode was the one that solidified my hatred of eustace and wonder why the heck Muriel ever got with him to begin with. Though a lot of episodes really made me wonder why she got with him.

9:45 this part shatters my heart, courages sacrifice the scream for help