Ep 21. Mort Unbound

Mort Unbound, the 21st episode of the first season of The Penguins of Madagascar, revolves around the character Mort, the cute and charming lemur, who ingests Kowalski's experimental over-the-counter bone strengthening serum, which turns him into a gigantic creature. The serum was intended for Riccio, an aged porcupine, but Mort accidentally drinks it.

The episode starts with Mort being bored with his routine life and desiring to do something different. Kowalski's serum, which was supposed to cure Riccio's osteoporosis, becomes an easy solution to Mort's problem, and he drinks the entire bottle without realizing the consequences. Noticing Mort's behavior changing, the penguins first think he has a new pet or imaginary friend. However, things soon take a turn for the worse as Mort grows to a monstrous size.

Amidst the chaos, Mort starts wreaking havoc on the zoo by destroying everything in his path. He accidentally swallows King Julien, his best friend, who is also Mort's de facto ruler of the lemurs, and the penguins set out to find a way to shrink Mort down to his regular size and rescue King Julien.

Meanwhile, Mort enjoys his new size and power and embraces his alter ego as Morticus Khan, the mythical giant who is feared and respected by all creatures. Mort proceeds to transform the zoo into his domain and causes destruction all around, leaving everyone in shock and chaos. The four penguins must use their abilities, teamwork, and intelligence to devise a plan that will turn Mort back to his normal self, and save King Julien from being digested.

The penguins try to lure Mort to the zoo's aquarium to contain him, but Mort becomes even more destructive upon his arrival. Eventually, the penguins who were initially intimidated by Mort's newfound strength and size, begin to realize that Mort needs a positive touch to return to being his caring, small self.

The episode highlights Mort's transformation from an adorable and innocent character to a colossal creature, with realistic details into his new physicality, behavior, and voice. The plot revolves around Mort being consumed by power and losing his sense of identity, with the penguins' mission to restore him back to his regular self. Not only does the episode explore Mort's character, but it also showcases the bonds between the four penguins and how each of them contributes to the group's effort to help Mort.

Overall, Mort Unbound is an entertaining episode that explores Mort's character while highlighting the penguins' ingenuity, intelligence, and teamwork. It is a fun-filled episode with an engaging plot, visual humor, and a solid storyline that all ages can enjoy.