Ep 13. Simon Strikes Back/The Ickis Box

Simon, the monster-hating human, strikes back in "Simon Strikes Back/The Ickis Box," the thirteenth episode of the first season of AAAHH!!! Real Monsters. In the first half of the episode, Simon returns to the dump to get revenge on the monster trio for a past humilation. The Ickis and Oblina try to avoid his wrath by hiding, but Krumm faces him head-on and tries to eat him, which only makes Simon angrier. Meanwhile, a group of kids from a nearby school stumble upon the monsters and mistake them for a movie set. They grab Ickis and take him with them, where he is actually able to enjoy himself for the first time in his life.

In the second half of the episode, Simon returns to his apartment with a trunk labeled "Ickis," which he plans to use to get rid of the monsters for good. Oblina and Krumm try to stop him, but he manages to open the trunk and release the contents—a group of flying shrieking beetles that attack anything in their path. The monsters must work together to stop the beetles and save their friend and themselves. Meanwhile, Ickis must face his fear of confinement when he is trapped in the trunk with the beetles.

"Simon Strikes Back/The Ickis Box" is a thrilling episode featuring high-stakes conflict and character development for our favorite monster trio. The return of Simon raises the stakes and the tension in the episode, and his plan to trap and kill the monsters adds a sense of danger and urgency. The introduction of the schoolchildren provides a unique opportunity for Ickis to experience joy and friendship, setting up an interesting conflict for his character as he is torn between his loyalty to his friends and his newfound desire for acceptance from humans.

The episode also presents interesting obstacles and challenges for each of the monsters. Krumm's failed attempt to eat Simon highlights his lack of impulse control and his tendency to approach problems with brute force. Oblina's attempts to reason with Simon reveal her intelligence and problem-solving skills, as she tries to outsmart him instead of fighting him head-on. Ickis's fear of confinement, introduced earlier in the season, is tested when he becomes trapped in the trunk.

Overall, "Simon Strikes Back/The Ickis Box" is a strong episode of AAAHH!!! Real Monsters that utilizes its various characters and conflicts to great effect. Fans of the show will appreciate the return of Simon and the heightened stakes of the episode, as well as the continued growth and development of the monster trio.