Ah, "MAD Dreams Are Made of This"--I remember when INSPECTOR GADGET returned with new episodes in 1985, this was the first new episode that I saw, and it's been one of my favorites ever since. Notice too my choice for the title's episode; this episode is often credited as "Bad Dreams Are Made of This," but I have an episode on tape that lists it as "MAD Dreams Are Made of This." (I prefer "MAD" over "Bad," but both make sense, honestly.) Dr. Spectrum begins his three-episode story arc with his nightmare machine that makes the citizens of Metro City too tired to function in the morning by inflicting bad dreams waves all over the city; with everyone sleeping during the day, MAD has full reign over the city. Of course, it's up to Gadget to stop MAD's plot.
This episode has it all--great music, animation, writing, and directing with a fun cameo of Hector and Wordsworth of the Catillac Cats. Penny and Brain are actively involved in the episode (which happens in all the best episodes), and Brain has some humorous disguises.
The voice acting is fun with added enjoyment of Louis Nye as MAD agent Dr. Spectrum. Townsend Coleman makes his animation debut in this episode as pitchman (and MAD agent) Sweetley--(to Dr. Claw) "Yes yes yes yes! More bad dreams for them, more profits for MAD! I just love the way you think!" I just watched this episode a few weeks ago, and I find it to be just as funny and exciting as it was in 1985. Personally, I enjoy the 1985 episodes of INSPECTOR GADGET. For the record too, GADGET wasn't "cancelled" because of low ratings of the 1985 season. I have read several times that DiC Animation felt they had more than enough episodes with the additional 21 episodes--bringing the total count of episodes to 86--so they felt they would move on to other projects, and they did. (DiC used the same maneuver when making its 86 episodes of HEATHCLIFF AND THE CATILLAC CATS in its two seasons.) In fact, if you'll notice, most animation companies did not make over 65 episodes unless a network agreed to pick it up for additional episodes (such as THE REAL GHOSTBUSTERS).
For those who are unsure about the second season, I recommend watching this episode, "Gadget and Old Lace," and "Gadget Meets the Clan" as some of this season's best episodes. The second season of GADGET is still better than anything else GADGET to follow (with the exception of INSPECTOR GADGET SAVES Christmas, which is worth a watch).
Let's hope DiC will release a volume 2 of GADGET episodes soon. Otherwise, it will be a long time before great episodes like this see the light of day.