Talk:Freeze Ball/@comment-5291852-20170502205314/@comment-4165715-20170503020426

Honestly, Sony's interpretations of Gargamel have been nothing but two-dimensional in recent works with the best example stemming from the Smurfy Hollow short film. He had a basic set of Smurf traps and no major follow-up plan to speak of for his intentions or anything, and it fell apart as soon as the Headless Horseman arrived. They told a story in that film, sure, but was it good? I think it was a good concept off of a more successful story (the tale of the Headless Horseman, that is), but not solid on its own.

Like, if they took out the Headless Horsemen entirely so it was just focusing on the rivalry between Brainy and Gutsy in the Annual Smurfberry Picking Competition, that alone would have been enough material to work with. They could have used Gargamel more effectively by leading up more clues proving it was him causing them problems rather than a figure of myth that was added simply as a means of weak inclusion. Gargamel could have been placing traps outside the village boundaries with the knowledge that they would be around picking Smurfberries for their contest -- "But this time, Azrael, it'll be me who wins first prize!" Then, he could have been lying in wait, overhearing how Gutsy is upset about Brainy always winning, etc. and put together a diversion to make him and Brainy run straight into his traps (mainly putting Azrael to work, probably by chasing them in the right direction).

Later when neither one of them shows up, Papa and Smurfette realize something is wrong, so they go searching for the boys, which lands them in Gargamel's other traps. Once all are caught and they are in Gargamel's hovel (where Gargamel undoubtable would explain what he plans to do with the Smurfs), the group formulates a plan of escape using Gutsy's guts, Brainy's brains, and sheer luck and timing.

Classic cage-escape and bolt for the door moves lead into a chase through part of the forest, and with all four Smurfs separating (and only two pursuers on their little blue tails), they would lead Gargamel and Azrael into one another. As the old wizard curses his misfortune and his cries of "I hate Smurfs! I'll get you all someday!" echo through the underbrush, we see the Smurfs make their way back home. Once all are safe, they wrap it up with Brainy apologizing for keeping the Smurfberry patches a secret, Gutsy apologizes for letting his jealousy get the best of him, and everyone agrees that it was teamwork and love that wound up saving them all in the end -- and it leaves off positively with a renewed rivalry between the boys, who agree that next year's competition will be even better because they'll be competing fairly.

If that isn't a solid way to tell a story without using conventional "big figures" of other tales, then my name is Agatha Monroe III.