Ep 2. A Broom of One's Own

In the Cyberchase season 4 episode 2 titled "A Broom of One's Own," the trio of young math whizzes, Matt, Jackie and Inez, find themselves in the world of Frogsnorts, a magical land of witches and wizards. Specifically, they enter the castle of the grumpy and solitary Witch Hagatha, who is being oppressed by her own cleaning robot, the Cleano-Bot 3000.

Hagatha, played by voice actor Liliana Mumy, has always been skeptical of technology and never trusted robots. However, she not only lacks the ability to perform cleaning spells herself, but is also haunted by the memory of her former apprentice, who left her to become a high-tech wizard. The Cleano-Bot 3000, played by voice actor Phil LaMarr, was supposed to make her life easier, but it only makes things worse by causing chaos and destruction wherever it goes.

As always, the kids arrive just in time to witness a fight between Hagatha and the Cleano-Bot 3000, who refuses to listen to her commands and seems to be malfunctioning. The Cleano-Bot 3000's manufacturer, the evil wizard DeWitt, played by voice actor Christopher Lloyd, appears on a screen and admits that he sabotaged the robot to take over the land of Frogsnorts. DeWitt intends to sell his cleaning robots to every witch and wizard in the land, but first he needs to demonstrate their power by cleaning the entire castle of Hagatha.

The trio of kids, who have already saved places like Solaria and Sensible Flats from villains using bad math, decide to help Hagatha and prevent DeWitt from succeeding. With the help of Digit, the cybersite's resident bird and their math guide, they devise a plan to hide the broomstick of Hagatha, which is the source of her magical power and the only thing that can clean the castle properly. They also have to repair some of the castle's furniture and artifacts that were broken during the Cleano-Bot 3000's rampage.

The episode explores themes such as fear of new technology, the importance of self-sufficiency, and the balance between tradition and progress. It showcases that even creatures from a fantasy land can benefit from math skills, as the kids use problem-solving and spatial reasoning to fix the castle's interior. It also gives some depth to the character of Hagatha, who is not just a stereotypical ugly witch, but a complex individual with a history and a personality.

The animation quality of the show is consistent with past seasons, with bright colors, fluid movements, and appealing character designs. The voice acting is solid across the board, with the cast bringing charm and personality to their roles. The music is catchy and memorable, with a distinct techno flavor that reinforces the show's focus on math and technology.

Overall, Cyberchase season 4 episode 2, "A Broom of One's Own," is a fun and educational adventure that manages to combine elements of fantasy and science fiction seamlessly. It offers positive values and role models for kids, while entertaining them with clever storytelling and lovable characters.