Special Agent Oso (2009–2012) User Reviews

The kid doesn't know how to color in a coloring book???

[plantjen · 5/10 · 16 February 2013]

I am thoroughly familiar with my six-year-old daughter's favorite shows on Disney Jr, Nick Jr and Sprout, and love most of them. This one, however, raises questions for my daughter and me both. Why would a child who talks like he is school-age not know how to color? Why is it an "emergency" for him to know how to color by the time his father comes home? Why haven't his PARENTS taught him how to color?? We voice similar questions with many other episodes. I think most of the things that Oso attempts to do are duties of parenthood…and are certainly more pleasant and rewarding than changing diapers, so why are the parents neglecting to perform these duties? On the other hand, I personally benefited from the episode on how to use chopsticks…which actually was a bit too advanced for the show's audience, I believe.

I think the repetition, colorful characters and catchy songs are great for its target preschool audience, but like other reviewers have said, they could have done a much better job making the show entertaining for the preschoolers' older siblings and parents. This is the standard that was set more than 40 years ago by Sesame Street.

Sometimes I chuckle at the Bond-inspired mission code names, but the humor is lost on my daughter, and I sometimes have difficulties explaining it to her—I don't want to be talking about a "golden gun" while we're watching a children's show about a teddy bear!

I am also not quite comfortable with the message the show sends to its young viewers. Oso is not very bright, clumsy, forgetful, and doesn't really help anyone. The writers carry this to an extreme. In fact, in most episodes, the child ends up showing HIM how to accomplish the task. That might be a great learning tool for the "rescuee", but why does Oso get a medal for bungling each mission? Rewarding children for trying their best rather than only for perfection is great, but is Oso really doing his best? He seems careless to me, and his efforts to learn seem half-hearted.

Over time and repetition (which we parents experience with years of all the children's' shows), I have found Oso's bungling and…well, I will say it: stupidity…so annoying, I often leave the room when Special Agent Oso is on.

I also agree with the other reviewer who commented that Paw Pilot's "floating head" is rather creepy. It doesn't bother my daughter, but it creeps me out every time I see it, for some reason.

So bad, that it is Oso good

[kdnor2011 · 5/10 · 17 August 2011]

I might get a lot of hate for some of the stuff I say about this show, people will complain and say that it's for kids, I don't care. This show, is so bad, so terrible, so horrendous, that it is absolutely hilarious, I love this show.

Some people may have a problem with it because it's the exact same episode being repeated. That doesn't bother me, after all I like Scooby Doo, and I love phineas and ferb.

No, my problem is the fact that these kids, who seem to not know how to do stuff that they should, get help from Oso, and then they end up doing most of the work. And somehow this leads to Oso completing his assingment that he messed up ealier.

Bottom line, the show sucks. Maybe if your under 2 years old you may like it, but if your over two, then maybe you can be like me and my brother and sister and just love the show to mock it.

Also, why do they allow Oso to drive a space shuttle when he can't even brush his teeth?

It's for THREE year olds!!

[rlsmithcarter · 6/10 · 25 March 2011]

If you're looking for something that is brightly colored, has catchy earworm songs, and will entertain your toddler while you write TV show reviews, then Special Agent Oso is for you. We stumbled across this show a few weeks ago, right before Disney Playhouse became Disney Jr. (to compete directly with Nick Jr.? nice try!) I described it to my husband as Winnie the Pooh meets James Bond and to expect anything beyond that is asking too much. The animation style is definitely different, but what's wrong with that? Once you get used to certain aspects, most adults should find wry humor in the repetitive twists on 007 movie titles as well as appreciate the simplicity with which a child's dilemma (tying one's shoes the first few times IS a big deal!) is broken down into steps to achieve success. From a personal aspect, my 3 year old mimics the entire opening sequence, pantomiming the movements and attempting to sing along, which of course, to us, her parents, is hysterical. Older children may get quickly bored by it and adults should in no way attempt to see this as any thing more than harmless and mildly endearing fluff by Disney. Plus it's kind of funny to listen to Samwise Gamgee's voice coming out of Oso's (Spanish for 'bear', btw!) mouth! ; )

So true!

[moomles74 · 22 December 2009]

I agree with the comment about every episode being the same. My 4-year-old-son watches it. I was laughing when you said Oso was always surprised to hear from Mr Dos at the end of the "assignment", even though it happens every time. I always think the same thing! But kids love repetition, so it works. Sometimes you don't have to try too hard to make a good show for kids. I've seen much more ridiculous kids shows than this. Have you ever seen the show "Bo on the Go"? Every episode in that show is also the same, and they repeat the same catchphrases each episode too. But my son loves it! As you say, these shows are not aimed at adults! And I thought it was cool to find out Sean Astin was doing the voice! I'm a big fan, and I didn't realise it was him! And I have to admit I like all the James Bond movie references, although how many times have they had an episode/code name based on Casino Royale?

Disagree

[mystracopeland · 9/10 · 28 October 2019]

What is wrong with you guys?! I loved this show when I was a little kid. And I still love it today. What is your problem?!

10/10

[arielsiere · 10/10 · 11 March 2022]

Well guys here goes my review it's also part of people's childhoods just like my friends tigger and pooh thish show ran for 2009 til 2012 i think oso is a great character from my childhood.

Every episode is the same...

[Scrat-Stitch · 11 May 2009]

Alright, alright, I am perfectly aware that this show is made for little kids, and that little kids enjoy their show shows having a formula and all of that. But "Special Agent Oso" takes that formula to an extreme. Every episode, and I mean *every* episode, is *exactly* the same.

Here's what happens in each 11 minute cartoon...

Special Agent Oso, a teddy bear voiced by Sean Astin, is in training to become a secret agent. Each episode begins with either Agent Doty or Agent Wolfie introducing him to a training exercise and giving him very simple instructions. Oso, however, is something of a bumbler, so he tends to forget what he's been told to do.

We then cut away to some random kid somewhere in America who has some sort of *very* small problem. It could be that Billie doesn't know how to tie his shoes, or that Jane doesn't know how to make a salad. In any case, this little spy camera bug thing sees the kid in "trouble," and automatically sends a message up to a satellite in outer space. This is always done with the EXACT same animation in every episode.

Cut back to Oso, who's having trouble with his training exercise, when all of a sudden, he gets a "Special Allert" message from Paw Pilot. Paw Pilot comes across to me as somewhat creepy, as she's essentially just a bouncing head with big eyes who contacts Oso on his communicator. Oso then talks with his boss, Mister Dos, who's so secret that no one can see him. Dos then tells Oso about the "urgent situation" involving whatever child Oso is supposed to help, so the teddy bear immediately springs into action.

But first, he asks Paw Pilot for the "Three Special Steps" that he'll need to complete his assignment. Paw Pilot will then sing the *exact* same song in the *exact* same way in every single episode, with the only difference being in the steps that she gives to Oso changing each time.

Oso then asks Paw Pilot what the "Code Name" for the special assignment is. Paw Pilot will then sing a song that "spoofs" a James Bond movie title. I forgot to mention earlier that this series at least believes that it's a decent, kid-friendly James Bond parody, and that every single episode is named after a Bond film. Truth be told, it gets a little repetitive when titles are parodied multiple times ("The Man with the Golden Gun" has been done at least twice now), and it's arguable that spoofing movie titles isn't enough to make your show "clever," but we'll ignore that for now.

After Paw Pilot sings the song, Oso then helps the child with whatever problem that he or she has, always remembering to use his "three special steps." Oso isn't always very good at accomplishing the task on his own, so "help" from kids at home is usually needed...six or seven times.

But Oso, of course, always manages to come through, and it *always* somehow involves him remembering the instructions of the training exercise that he was having problems with at the beginning of the episode. He always does so under pressure, though, since Paw Pilot will always urgently inform Oso that he only has a certain number of seconds in which to complete his task. Paw Pilot, however, seems to have no idea on earth what a "second" actually is, since her countdowns are usually done extremely inaccurately. No wonder that Oso is always able to come through.

Oso will then go back to "headquarters" to complete said training exercise, and will then be given a medal. After words, Oso's boss will then contact him (which always surprises Oso, even though it seems to happen every day), and will offer his congratulations to Oso for finishing his special assignment. Paw Pilot will then sing the "Three Special Steps" song *again*, and Oso will be awarded a Digi-Medal, which he shares with the audience. Oso then makes a crack that the writers assume to be worthy of spoofing a Bond one-liner, and the episode is over.

This is, quite seriously, how *every* episode of the show works. Again, I'm aware that kids like this stuff, but "Special Agent Oso" almost feels like lazy writing. I'm guessing that the scripts for these are finished in a matter of minutes sometimes. That's how simple that they are.

It's also notable that the animation on the show isn't as good as some of the other stuff that Disney's come up with for television. Oso himself looks alright, but the kids who he helps seem have some sort of glitch involving their mouths, which seem to just...flap around. Normally, I wouldn't condemn the show for this, since I'm aware that budgeted CGI animation isn't easy, but we've seen Disney do (slightly) better than this with human animation on "Handy Manny." It just seems as though a little more effort could've gone into it.

Obviously, I am not the target audience for this thing, and really only watch it because my mom likes to have Disney Channel on when she wakes up in the morning. But preschool shows *are* capable of having at least some form of creative spark, as demonstrated by "Manny" and "My Friends Tigger and Pooh." "Oso" doesn't seem to have that, even though it seems to believe that it does. Having said that, children are bound to enjoy it very much, so if you're a parent looking for a non-offensive program that your kids are going to like, you don't need to look any further.

I just can't get over a secret organization wasting Government tax dollars on helping kids who have small problems.