Maternal Instinct

Season 1, Episode 16, Aired
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Episode Summary

Maddie relishes the chance to bond with emotionally distant Danny at a weekend mother/son science seminar. However, the seminar is a ruse orchestrated by Vlad Masters -- a.k.a. Vlad Plasmius, Danny's archenemy! Vlad's plan is to convince Maddie and Danny to live with him while simultaneously destroying Jack with a massive ghost attack. When Vlad short-circuits Danny's powers, Danny gets to witness Maddie's impressive ghost fighting prowess. Meanwhile, a reluctant Jazz is pressed into ghost-fighting duty with Jack -- and likes it, in spite of herself!moreless
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Fan Episode Reviews (22)

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  • This episode was really cool even though all team Phantom weren't in it!

    10
    "Perfect"
    By 1ghostgal1, Jan 18, 2007 Report Abuse
    I thought this was a terrific episode! I really enjoyed seeing everyone in the Fenton family kicking butt a lot! It was also a really smart move for Danny to trick Vlad, and at the spurr of the moment! He's soooo smart! *fangirl sigh* Anyway, I also liked how dramatic everything was. Seeing the path through Danny's eyes was interesting, and awesome animation! Yet again, an awesome episode. I wish my mom could fight like Maddie does! Plus, I liked the ending- after everything they pretended nothing happened. Plus, I thought Jazz fighting ghosts adds an interesting twist to the storyline and to her character. I always thought she should support what her parents do the way Danny does. And I liked Danny finally beating Vlad without having to use blackmail. Two thumbs up! I loved this!moreless

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  • Vlad tries to convince Maddie and Danny to live with him at the same time that he's trying to kill Jack.

    10
    "Perfect"
    By trm6, Jan 13, 2007 Report Abuse
    In my opinion, this is the best episode of season 1. As I've said before, I absolutely love Vlad and every episode he is in is one of my favorites. The parts I enjoyed are when Danny is criticizing Vlad and then Vlad retaliates by shooting ecto-beams at Danny, when Danny suggests that Vlad should get a cat or try internet dating, and the fight between Danny and Vlad which results in one of them getting their powers shorted out for three hours. Oh! Another part would have to be where Vlad and Danny say they'll give each other a five minute head start, but they really only give them a five second head start. There was no part in this episode that I didn't like.moreless

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  • This was the first episode of Danny Phantom I saw.

    10
    "Perfect"
    By gaara257, Nov 27, 2006 Report Abuse
    It was a good episode they go out on vacation at vlad masters A great episode the first of Danny Phantom I saw at first I thought this show made no sence but the more and more I watched it the more and more I liked it the first episode I ever saw.

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  • The best episode of season 1

    10
    "Perfect"
    By sprepi, Oct 04, 2006 Report Abuse
    Maternal Instict is my favorite episode of the season. Vlad is at his best here, and the episode is full of awesome action. When Danny and his mother attemtp to go to on a bonding trip, they get forced onto Vlad's house. Vlad has created creature ghosts who chase after Danny, and Danny and his mother go back to Vlad for help. They must find a way to get out of his place and back home. I liked this episode because it shows that there is still strong emotion between Danny and his mother. Best of season 1, it definitely is.moreless

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  • danny bonds with his mom

    9.0
    "Superb"
    By CancerTheCrab, Sep 24, 2006 Report Abuse
    i liked this episode, although i like any episode with vlad in it. danny training at the begining was fun to watch, i also liked the whole dalv thing being vlad spelled backwards, i cant beleive i didnt catch that this show does that kind of stuff all the time. jack was funny when he answered the door to a ghost and didnt relize, he really is a idoit. i just really love vlad, he is a great villan, he makes it on my really cool villians list, which is encredibly short. any way dannys mom kicked but though i agreed with danny how could she not have a cell phone. danny with out his powers is really wimpy and i didnt like that, i mean he should have been scared but he was just to helpless and that annoyed me, he really needs to start thinking about fixing that.moreless

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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  • Trivia

    ADD TRIVIA
    • Jack tells the "mailman" to "get some sun, you're as pale as a ghost," when in actuality, he is green. Edit
    • DALV, the group that "invited" Maddie and Danny to their convention, is VLAD backwards. Edit
    • When Jazz opens the door, the expression she had on her face is like she knew the ghost was there already. Edit

  • Notes

    ADD NOTES
    • We learn Jack once sent the house into a parallel dimension, we can assume it was the Ghost Zone. Edit
    • It is revealed that in addition to being able to make ghost weapons, Jack also knows how to do needlepoint and make action figures of his family. Edit
    • It's revealed that Danny wore the same outfit when he was younger that he does now. Edit

  • Quotes

    ADD QUOTES
    • Jack: Ah, yes. Nothing says 'bonding' like backwash! Edit
    • (After Maddie is done destroying the animal ghosts in the woods) Maddie: (To Danny) Now, young man! Could you mind telling me what you thought you were doing-- (Danny suddenly jumps from the tree and starts hugging her arm) Danny: You are awesome! Maddie: Oh! Honey, thank you! (A small gopher-like ghost appears next to them) Ghost: I will destroy you! (Maddie takes her weapon and smashes him) Edit
    • Danny: You carry a lot of stuff, Mom. How about a Fenton Cellphone so we can call for help? Maddie: Cellphone? (Chuckles) You can't fight ghosts with a cellphone, silly! Not that we're likely to find a ghost in here. Edit

  • Allusions

    ADD ALLUSIONS
    • Weapon: Jack o' Nine Tails The name Jack o' Nine Tails obviously comes from the multi-tailed whipping device, Cat o' Nine Tails, formerly used by the British Royal Navy to implement harsh punishment. Edit
    • Dalv: Name
      Dalv backwards is Vlad, a reference to The Shining, where Redrum is Murder backwards. Edit
    • Vlad: (Sends out animals to hunt Danny)
      Vlad's sending out animals to hunt Danny down after giving him some time to run first is a bit similar to the short story, The Most Dangerous Game. Edit

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