Randy Cunningham 9th Grade Ninja - Season 1

If you are doing a re-watch, keep an eye out for these bangers from the first season:

The heart of Season 1 lies in its character dynamics.

Randy Cunningham (Ben Schwartz): Long before he was Sonic the Hedgehog or Jean-Ralphio on Parks and Rec, Ben Schwartz defined the fast-talking, pop-culture-referencing Randy. Randy is not a natural hero. He’s lazy, vain about his hair, and frequently tries to cheat his way through training. What makes him likable is his genuine heart. Season 1 slowly peels back his bravado to reveal a kid terrified of messing up, but determined to protect his town. Randy Cunningham 9th Grade Ninja - Season 1

Howard Weinerman (Andrew Caldwell): The platonic ideal of the "fat sidekick." However, Howard isn't just comic relief. He is Randy’s "Han Solo"—skeptical, greedy, and obsessed with his "Wrestleman" dolls. He builds the "Butter-Doom" catapult and accidentally creates villains with his greed. Yet, in episodes like "Swampy Seconds," Howard proves he will literally go to hell and back for his best friend. Their banter represents the most authentic 9th-grade friendship on television.

Heidi Weinerman (Katie Crown): Howard’s older sister and Randy’s love interest. Heidi is a sarcastic, eco-conscious goth who listens to "Sad Core" music. Unlike typical love interests, Heidi is deeply competent. She runs the school news, solves mysteries, and is frequently smarter than the entire male cast combined. Randy’s crush on her drives much of the season’s B-plots. If you are doing a re-watch, keep an

The NinjaNomicon (John DiMaggio): The voice of Bender from Futurama plays a mystical, moody spellbook. The Nomicon speaks in cryptic riddles and literally slams shut when Randy annoys him. Their relationship is a hilarious mentor-student mismatch.

The Sorcerer (also John DiMaggio): The main antagonist. 800 years ago, he was the first ninja, but corrupted by power. Now a green, gluttonous specter chained beneath the school, he creates the "Monsters of the Week" by possessing inanimate objects with his "McFist" corporation's waste. He is grotesque, hilarious, and genuinely threatening. He’s lazy, vain about his hair, and frequently

Randy Cunningham is visually explosive. The character designs are sharp, angular, and exaggerated—all long limbs and elastic faces. The action scenes are surprisingly brutal for a Disney show; Randy gets hit by trucks, falls from skyscrapers, and uses a "Shredfist" that leaves spiral bruises on robots.

The comedy is fast and referential. Within one episode, you’ll see parodies of The Matrix, The Lord of the Rings, The Social Network, and Fight Club. The show is also unafraid of "potty humor," but it’s clever potty humor. The school’s football team is called the "Norrisville Sphincters." The ninja lair is in a sewage pipe. The humor is low-brow, but the construction is high-brow.

The finale ends on a cliffhanger when the Sorcerer’s spirit almost possesses a student, and Randy’s identity is narrowly saved. It sets up Season 2 by:

While episodic, Season 1 builds several satisfying arcs.