The debate is surprisingly funny, as the debaters argue half tongue-in-cheek, and half with utter sincerity about why their chosen children’s cartoon is a better demonstration of love and friendship than the other. A perfectly delivered account of a hypothetical massacre in the land of Care-A-Lot has me almost in tears.
Though both teams are doing well, the audience is quick to pounce on any fallible argument, and they constantly break out into satellite debates amongst themselves.
But MooMan is used to the ferocity of nerd fandom. In Halifax, he was a regular debater on the original Geeks Vs. Nerds. “My first one was Blade vs. Buffy,” he says. “I lost that so badly.” I joke that he should have been on team Blade, but he only nods grimly. “I was on Blade.” He lets that sink in, and then bursts out laughing. “Whedon,” he says. “Blade lost because Whedon fans are crazy.”
About halfway through the show I find myself actually caring about who will win. MooMan, the ever-quipping puppet master, has brought out the desperation in both teams (with help from a fully-loaded Nerf gun), and the final rounds of debate have me at first laughing, and then intensely considering which cast of magical pastel animals deserves the honour of victory.
MooMan asks the crowd what they think. All I hear is an incoherent cacophony of high-pitched screams, but MooMan is listening for something else. He asks them one more time. Then he nervously admits that he doesn’t want to incite the ire of either fiercely loyal fanbase, but he has come to a decision. I can see a pony-person brandishing what looks to be a halberd at a table behind me.
“The Care Bears win!” MooMan presents a little trophy to Team Geek, and every man, woman, and pony in the audience is cheering. I find myself oddly satisfied with the verdict.
Leave it to the Care Bears to show you the things you didn’t know you cared about.
