Courage the Cowardly Dog
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Courage the Cowardly Dog

"Muted Muriel" is part two of the eighth episode of Season 4 of Courage the Cowardly Dog, written by David Steven Cohen.

The episode was produced in 2002 and premiered on Cartoon Network in the United States on October 25 of that year.

Synopsis[]

Muriel refuses to talk because Eustace keeps ignoring her. To resolve this conflict, Courage has Shirley summon a Giant Starfish that can only be stopped by the sound of Muriel's voice.

Plot[]

Muriel tries repeatedly to get Eustace's attention, but he keeps ignoring her in favor of his newspaper or the TV. Eustace remarks that he doesn't care what she says or thinks. This hurts Muriel's feelings and she decides to stop speaking entirely. Eustace is pleased at the "peace and quiet", but Courage protests.

The following day, Eustace orders Courage to get Muriel to make breakfast for him. Muriel is in the basement playing her sitar. Courage asks her to speak again, but she refuses. Courage then calls Dr. Vindaloo to see if he can make her speak. The doctor says that he can't help Muriel if she won't talk, and jokingly states that only magic will fix the problem. Desperate, Courage pays a visit to Shirley the Medium.

Shirley says that she has a way to make Muriel talk. She will summon "powerful forces" that can only be stopped by the sound of Muriel's voice. If Muriel still will not speak with these "forces" on the loose, they will destroy everything in their path. With her saxophone, she makes the spell and the ground starts to shake. A giant starfish monster emerges from the ground and starts making its way towards the Bagge Farm. Shirley sells Courage a unicycle to get to the farm faster. The starfish crushes mountains and completely levels Nowhere as it makes its way to Muriel.

Courage manages to beat the monster back to the farm. Courage tells her what is happening outside and that the monster can only be stopped if she says something. Muriel opens her mouth, but Eustace's rudeness about her "hippie music" makes her close it. The monster arrives and starts destroying the farm. Courage brings Muriel outside so she can see the monster, but she still refuses to speak. Desperate, Courage gets in the path of the monster, who prepares to crush him. Hearing Courage call out for her, Muriel calls out for him in response and runs to his side. The monster immediately stops and crawls back into the earth. Muriel realizes that what she has to say does matter, at least to Courage and the starfish monster.

Afterward, Muriel tells Eustace that from here on out, he will listen when she speaks. Eustace can't say no because Courage has taped the farmer's mouth shut.

Characters[]

Main Characters[]

Minor Characters[]

Trivia[]

  • This episode have similarities with the episode "Be Careful What You Wish For" from Cow & Chicken.
    • Both episodes start with a character (Eustace / Chicken) being rude with other (Muriel / Cow), causing the latter to become mute, to the point of refusing to talk with anyone. Also, the rude characters got their comeuppance later in the episode (Eustace is gagged and scolded by Muriel / Chicken get jailed by a lost lawsuit about a car accident), and Muriel as Cow only talks again at the end of the episodes.
  • Shirley's saxophone used in this episode is golden, unlike in "The Curse of Shirley", it was silver. It is more likely that she either owns two saxophones, or she upgraded it.
  • The angelic music from " Curtain of Cruelty" plays when Muriel decides never to be silent again.
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