Top 10 BEST Episodes Of 101 DALMATIAN STREET Season 1

The first season of "101 Dalmatian Street" has concluded, and of course, like most shows there were a lot of great episodes that made it up. I've already done a list of some of the worst moments from "101 Dalmatian Street", but I have yet to go into full detail about the episodes I feel are the best. All of the rules I stated in the previous list apply here as well, but I'd also like to elaborate more on one of them. This is a subjective list, meaning that these are episodes that I liked, not the ones that are the most popular. A lot of people think that the most popular episodes of any show are the absolute best that a series has to offer. That's not entirety true, as I have found numerous episodes that aren't as highly praised that are worth recommending, some of which you'll see on this list. Let us begin the countdown of the ten best episodes, but of course, before we start, here are five honorable mentions...

-------------------------------
FETCH
One of many episodes that is very clever, "Fetch" succeeds on most of its levels to deliver. As many episodes of the series have horror themes by looking at the first season, I like that "Fetch" takes a futuristic sci-fi horror angle and it succeeds at it. This is a well calculated mix, and all of the characters are written well in this episode. Not an episode that I constantly revisit, but that does not mean that "Fetch" doesn't deliver, because in my opinion it does.

YAPPILY EVER AFTER
This is a later episode of the show, but it still manages to be very good for what it is. This is where the dynamic of Dolly and Clarissa as characters is pulled off well, and it's enjoyable to watch. The Royal Corgis also have a much stronger presence, and even if it's not for the whole episode, I like that they made the attempt to show them a bit more than previously. There is a lot to get behind with "Yappily Ever After", and it's easily in the category of better written episodes.

POETRY SCAM
Evidently, the first half of this season fared better than the second half, and proof of that lies in this episode "Poetry Scam", which introduced Hansel as a major character. This episode works because Dolly is believable as a character and the humor is also well written and composed. Dolly's relationship status is sort of vague, but this episode made me convinced that Dolly and Hansel are the perfect pair. Not one of the best, but certainly good enough to be here.

WHO THE DOG DO YOU THINK YOU ARE
Another early gem from this series that showed that there were some good ideas brought to the table. Personally, I feel that this episode's strongest asset is Clarissa as a character. This is the first time where we legit see Clarissa clash heads with Dolly and the other Dalmatian characters, even though she believes Dylan is royalty throughout the episode. The whole episode works well, and I am certain that this is one of the more underrated episodes of the show.

THE D FACTOR
Here is an episode with the word "factor" in its title that actually works. This episode really made me appreciate Dylan as a character more than I already did, and I like how this episode is partially narrated by Dylan. It's structured differently than many other episodes, but this structure adds a lot and they gave it that extra step to make it succeed. I just saw this episode, so it's too new for me to make a core judgement, but this episode is worth seeking out.

-------------------------------
Other great episodes include "Power To The Puppies", "The Longest Night", and "Poodlewolf", but those episodes were not good enough to make it to the big leagues. The following ten episodes are the ones I think are the best of the series thus far. Some of these might be unpopular opinions, others might be fan favorites, and all of them are episodes that I love. So, what are they? Why are they so good in my eyes? Let's take a look at the ten best episodes of the first season of "101 Dalmatian Street".

10. ALL FIRED UP
I remember being extremely enthusiastic about this episode when I first saw it. Since it's been a while and there have been many more great episodes of this show, "All Fired Up" is only at #10 on my list of the best that this show has to offer, so I guess you could say it aged only slightly less than others. But, this is still one of my favorite episodes, and for good reason. For one, I love how much energy this episode has and how vivacious it is. That comes from Dolly, who is chosen to come to her father Doug's workplace and expects that there will always be something interesting happening, since he works at a fire station. Turns out the mood is not too lively, so Dolly attempts to change that. The subplot with Dylan wanting to be alone is just as entertaining, and this is where I can say I really relate to Dylan as a character. Not so much with Dolly, although she is excellent in the episode. The scenes with her training the firefighters are a lot of fun and whenever there actually is danger at hand which is caused by accident, the plot's momentum does not get lost or sacrificed. I don't see a lot of people talking about this episode, and that's unfortunate because I really enjoy it. It's not an episode that is a requirement in order to fully feel good about yourself, but if you want to be entertained, this episode fires on most of its cylinders, and that's admirable.

09. FOX IN THE DOG HOUSE
One of the strongest qualities of the series is when there are episodes that focus on other characters besides the two leads, and this is undoubtedly what "Fox In The Dog House" is. It's an episode about Fergus, obviously since he's the fox the title is alluding to, and in this episode he gets an injury that leads to him staying over at the Dalmatians' house to recover. As the episode goes on, it turns into a "boy who cried wolf" plot where it's revealed that Fergus is overdramatizing his injury just to attain more affection. It is the kind of story that's certainly been used before, but this episode pulls it off well. The reason why I have this episode on here is because I actually legit chuckled at one point, meaning that I was involved and interested in what was going to unfold and the humor really did work that phenomenally on me. That's hard to do, and it managed to succeed in that, so mad props to this episode. Even beyond that I think this episode is entertaining. It's a lighthearted episode that doesn't get boring or generic or worthless, and additionally it is one where all of the characters are well written, especially in the case of the central characters. These are the episodes that should not be taken for granted. Certainly not the best episode of the show as we'll eventually get there, but as for "Fox In The Dog House", it's one of the better ventures into these dogs' house we've received.

08. PERFECT MATCH
This was another episode I was very enthused about whenever I first saw it. In fact, at a point I stated that it was my favorite episode of the series. Well, that has certainly changed, but "Perfect Match" is another story that worked extremely well, and it is also an underrated episode of the series. Part of the reason I enjoyed this episode so much is that it is more humorous and lighter hearted and it doesn't lose any of those qualities throughout. After all, with a plot that puts Dylan aside a character that makes him uneasy, it is easily a believable dynamic. Like with "Fox In The Dog House", the story this episode tells isn't unfamiliar or groundbreaking in any way, being sort of a friendship story crossed with an unlikely pair story, but it works extremely well. That last scene with Dolly raging at Dylan for allegedly taking her best friend away from her (who is Roxy) is one of the most entertaining parts of the episode. Sure, it's a scene that does make her unlikable in a way, but the mindset that people should go in when watching this episode is to have a fun time with it. And in the end, Dolly does get redeemed when everything is figured out and it is revealed to her what their true intentions are. It's an episode that actually has an arc to it despite being light hearted, and that's one of many reasons I enjoyed it. This episode is pretty much perfect.

07. A SUMMER TO REMEMBER
Many are going to find this hard to believe, but this is the only double-part episode on my list. Most of the others were good, especially "London We Have A Problem", but the best one in my opinion is "A Summer To Remember". What are the reasons behind why this is one of my favorite episodes of the show? First off, Summer makes her debut here. Okay, that's not the full story, although I do love that character. The main reason why I enjoy this episode is that it's a playful jab at vacation plotlines and it uses each of the typical tropes you'd find in such a story well. There is very little that is wrong about this episode and the approach it takes to use all of these cliches. It isn't there to make you inherently annoyed by it, but rather it's an episode where the people behind it had a lot of fun making. It's also an episode that uses its comedy well, mainly the scenes with Dante and a cow named Bessie. The stuff with Dylan and Summer is the meat of "A Summer To Remember", and I would like to see their relationship established in the future because in my opinion, they are inseparable and have a lot of charisma together. Does the episode shift away from this at times? Yes, especially when the episode turns into a rescue mission, but even with that they sell you everything including the kitchen sink with this episode, and they do it with success. Overall, this episode really resonated with me, and it is definitely worth remembering as far as this show is concerned.

06. FLEAMAGEDDON
Okay, so this episode isn't reflective of what is currently going on right now in our world. Given that at this moment, we're all stuck in our homes because of the coronavirus, and in this episode of the show, there is talk about quarantining and protection. Sarcasm. It was stated earlier that there are a lot of horror-themed episodes of "101 Dalmatian Street". The people who made this show are either fans of horror movies or they just wanted to place these characters in horror situations, but whatever the reason, the fact is that a lot of the episodes are horror-related. "Fleamageddon" is an excellent example of this. It is a zombie apocalypse themed episode, and it is also an example of the writers and other personnel tapping into their creative bone to make a consistent story that seems like there was a lot of fun involved. It's very similar to what I described about "A Summer To Remember", as both episodes are lighthearted parodies of the genres they're utilizing, and they don't infuriate you or make you shrug your shoulders. It has a little bit of everything, especially in the humor and horror departments, but there isn't an element that shines brighter than the other, and none of the elements are pulled off poorly. It's very consistent. This episode isn't perfect. I wish they would have switched around the order of who gets quarantined to spice things up, but even with that, it's fine for what it is because at least there is effort that paid off. It might feel like we are living in armageddon as of right now, but this episode will make you forget about all of that.

05. MY FAIR DOLLY
The movie "My Fair Lady" and the "101 Dalmatians" franchise have crossed trajectories before, as the original show had two episodes in which the titles made reference to that movie. That trend continues with this show, in "My Fair Dolly". It's another episode that doesn't seem to get that much attention, and that's strange considering with this episode they give Dolly a different look. The fact that I have this episode this high on my favorites list, and it revolves around about Dolly being more posh and diva-like as she attends a fashion show to win the top prize, is very odd in and of itself. I don't look for episodes that are "girly" or mostly targeted towards the female audience. But if one of these manages to impress me in terms of storytelling and character, than I'm definitely going to enjoy it for what it is. This episode shares similarities to "Crushed Out", which was about Dylan changing his appearance to fit into the crowd that he's trying to go for. Unlike that episode, which had its share of problems, this is easily the more consistent episode. This is one of those episodes that actually has a character arc, as we see the posh image get to Dolly's head to the point to where she becomes ignorant towards other characters. That is snapped out of her once she sees the effects it is having on them, particularly Dorothy. I've complained before about certain episodes not focusing on their plots, which in turn makes them jumbled. "My Fair Dolly" is proof that the writers and the storyboarders aren't talentless hacks, and they KNOW how to utilize their focus. I wish that they'd do this for other episodes in the future. I also hope that we don't have another episode with a title that references "My Fair Lady", but that's beside the point because this episode still succeeds.

04. THE DOG HOUSE
I seem to be repeating myself a lot throughout this list, but "The Dog House" is another episode of this show that I feel does not get acknowledged enough. It's inevitable that a series will have episodes that aren't talked about on the same level as others, due to the fact that fans are more likely to highly rank the pivotal episodes above ones that are minor and seemingly don't have that much of a point. I'm sure many fans would rank "London We Have A Problem" or "Dog's Best Friend" over "The Dog House", but I'd actually put this episode above those two. "The Dog House" is one of many plots where it's the Dalmatian characters versus Clarissa, and this time she is trying to get the Dalmatians removed from their house. Delilah, who is at work with her human partner, immediately races back home to save the day. This is easily the closest that Clarissa has come to being genuinely evil, even though in essence she is a neutral character, and Harriet Carmichael sells this aspect of the character extremely well. What's even better in my opinion is Delilah and her human doctor partner. They really feel like the frontrunners of the episode even though Dolly, Dylan, and the other pups get a good amount of screen time. "The Dog House" is a cop procedural type plotline that just so happens to take place in a hospital, and I like the creativity that's involved here. It's another episode where there is focus put into the plot, and whenever humorous moments are brought in, they mix right in with the narrative and they don't bring the episode to a halt. This episode has so much entertaining ideas and thought put into it, and overall it really feels like one of this show's most grandios episodes even in a 10-minute period of time. It's an episode that I recommend highly, and if you've left this episode in the dog house in order to look at other episodes, I advise you to go back and rediscover it.

03. MAY CONTAIN NUTS
This episode in particular I really connected with. One of the many reasons why was because it was the first episode that I thought was spectacular, and I ended up watching it a lot after my first viewing. Out of all of the episode listed here, I think I may have watched this episode the most, but that's a tough call. "May Contain Nuts" is also one of the overlooked episodes of the series, much like "The Dog House" and "Perfect Match". That is hard to believe, because I think this episode succeeds on every level, and it really made me love Dolly as a character. The plot of this episode revolves around Dolly, who witnesses Sid the squirrels' impressive moves and wants to be more like him. So, she learns parkour from Sid, who we find out is only manipulating Dolly into giving him nuts. Then, Dolly ends up in a predicament and has to be saved. I realize the whole idea of a squirrel loving nuts is a little played out by cartoons and other media, and it's definitely a cliche, but here it's utilized well. Message wise, I really like that the writers decided to dig a little deeper and showcase Sid as an unhealthy addict who will rope others into fueling his addiction. Dolly's role in the episode works even better in my opinion, due to the fact that Michaela Dietz does add a lot of bite and likability to this character. I compare "May Contain Nuts" to the awful episode "Don't Push Your Luck". Both episodes feature Dolly seeking assistance from another character in order to improve on her skills. But where "Don't Push Your Luck" pulled this off in every incorrect way imaginable, "May Contain Nuts" actually has depth, character development, and a focused plot that fires on all cylinders. And even beside that, I really enjoy this episode. It is an episode that's essential for any "101 Dalmatian Street" fan to watch at least once. It may contain quality and excellence. Actually, it does contain those things.

02. FEAR WINDOW
As stated before, many episodes are horror-related in some way. "Fleamageddon" definitely works well in this regard, but if you were to ask me which episode is the best in this category, it would have to be "Fear Window". There are several episodes of this series that borrow elements from different genres in order to make something whole, but this is the only episode I can think of that is a direct reference to another piece of media, that being the classic 1954 Alfred Hitchcock film "Rear Window". That is a clever idea in and of itself, and this episode executes everything perfectly. In this episode, Dolly is stuck with a broken leg and a cone, and believes that Clarissa has killed her owner Hugo after she's spotted through Dylan's telescope trashing the yard. Dolly sends Dylan and Diesel to see what's actually going on, only to be spooked continuously be everything. I've brought up before that several great episodes feel like the people behind them are having fun with the subject material, and this is a motivator for them to stay focused on the story and the pacing as a whole. "Fear Window" is one of the best examples I can find of that. It's been stated that "Fear Window" has more of a serious tone than other episodes. I think that by playing it mostly straight, there is actually a humorous tone that's present through the entire episode, and this makes the episode extremely well-layered. Funny moments are definitely a feature here, such as the end where Diesel scares Dolly by breaking through the floor, as well as the stuff with the pigeon, and that only helps to make this episode even better. They took a classic movie, adapted it into a 10-minute episode of this show, and excelled on every single level in terms of plot, story, focus, and everything else that makes a good episode exactly what it is. I was looking forward to this episode after hearing about it, and my expectations were met while also offering some surprises along the way. This episode isn't for everybody, and if you don't like it, that's fine. But, in my opinion, "Fear Window" revealed to me that the window of creativity was wide open.

01. DOGGY DA VINCI
There is absolutely no argument whatsoever. "Doggy Da Vinci" is the best episode of "101 Dalmatian Street". And not only am I saying that, but several other fans have admitted that this is the series' best or at least one of the best. Is it because Da Vinci is my favorite character? No, not at all. In fact, this episode is the reason why she is my favorite character on this show. The reason why "Doggy Da Vinci" is the best episode of the show is because it is the biggest example of the writers taking what they were given and pushing it past the limit. As the title of this episode indicates, "Doggy Da Vinci" revolves around Da Vinci getting noticed for her talent in art. They could have simply made this episode a showcase of who Da Vinci is as a character, similar to what "The Wow Of Miaow" did with Deepak and "Dawkins Strikes Back" did with Dawkins. Instead, "Doggy Da Vinci" goes further past that and gets pretty deep and dark, an element that very few "101 Dalmatian Street" episodes contain. In the episode, Da Vinci is tapped to create shirts for the Camden Town residents after a mishap takes place, but the strenuous effort causes her to be burned out. She eventually runs off to do some street art after a disagreement with Dolly, Dylan, and Snowball, which is when the entire town notices her. This episode seems to be an allusion to mental anxiety, as it's been speculated that Da Vinci most likely has a disorder that includes mental anxiety as a symptom. Whether or not the creators or the writers have come out and stated anything about that, this is very deep stuff. They even establish Da Vinci as a character who gets tired of doing the same thing repeatedly, and wants to diversify with different ideas. That's something I really love, and it is proof that "Doggy Da Vinci" is a showcase of the personnel going above the call of duty and creating something that people can relate to. The third act of the episode when Da Vinci is trying to escape the crazed citizens who are in love with her artwork is fabulous. I love the visual style that they play around with in this scene, and I absolutely love the use of symbolism to illustrate the anxiety that Da Vinci is facing. It's daunting for an episode to go this far, but the writers of "Doggy Da Vinci" arrived at these levels and did it brilliantly. An episode focusing on Da Vinci was one of my biggest hopes for this show. After this episode was announced, I was excited to see it solely based around that. What I wasn't expecting was to be blown away by how phenomenal this episode would be. I compare this to "Lucky To Be Alone" from the original series. While the plots of these two episodes are superbly different, both of them blew me away at how excellent they were, and how they got me to feel compassion towards the characters the episodes focused on. "Lucky To Be Alone" made me feel that way towards Lucky, whereas "Doggy Da Vinci" made me feel that way towards Da Vinci. But, when putting these two together, I feel "Doggy Da Vinci" is the superior episode. I can't say enough about how good this episode is. It is one of the best episodes of any cartoon ever, and the fact that many other fans of the show agree is proof of my points. I went a little longer on this one than the others, and I apologize for that, but as it stands currently, "Doggy Da Vinci" is my favorite episode of this show, and nothing will change my mind.

-------------------------------
Which episodes from the first season did you enjoy the most? Why did you like them? What do you think should take place in the next season? Leave all of your thoughts in the comments section below. Please feel free to enjoy all my other content as well, including other lists, reviews, series, and my artwork. Also, if you'd like to get a glimpse at all of the insanity that takes place outside of this site, check me out as Scamp4553 on Instagram and as SimbaKoda4444 on YouTube. And of course, more content is coming your way soon. Take care.