Writing Feedback / Courage the Cowardly Dog: "Freaky" Fred Analysis (Weekly Essay to improve writing) [3]

Courage the Cowardly Dog may or may not have been meaningful to everyone but it is unique when compared to the traditional cartoon expectation. From a talking pink dog, constantly tortured by his owner, Eustace, and never ending journeys to rescue his Eustace's wife, Muriel, the canine's experiences can be entertaining but frightening. One significant episode challenges whether or not this cartoon series is appropriate for its target audience. The episode introduces Muriel's nephew, Fred, and his atmospheric tone in the cartoon presents the chaotic and unsettling personality of his. When further analyzing "Freaky" Fred, his reputation is much darker than anticipated, as he can be categorized as a sex offender added onto his psychological issues.

"Freaky" Fred shares his experiences with Courage when satisfying his urges and reveals hints of his fondness toward bestiality. When Fred first arrives in the "Middle of Nowhere", Eustace already dislikes his arrival due to his knowledge of how he's a freak. Later on, after Eustace locks Courage in the bathroom with Fred, Fred begins to stare at Courage with his infamous slasher smile. Fred begins to show signs of bestiality as he approached Courage and begins to shave his fur off. He exposes Courage's true skin, undressing him as his fur "encouraged him to be quite naughty". Midway of Courage's disrobing; Fred shares an experience with a past pet of his as it "reminds him of the first time he knew just how he felt, about hair". His pet hamster has many similarities to Courage because they both share the same tone of pink fur that catches Fred's attention. Fred is unable to control his urges and has no choice but to satisfy his impulses. The shade of pink from these two animals correlates to Fred's attraction to children. Fred shares a second experience with Courage about his ex girlfriend and is a manifest conclusion of his attraction towards young children.

Fred has numerous moments that indicate him being a sex offender, adding onto his psychotic tendency to cutting hair. Fred mentions his ex girlfriend, Barbera, to Courage as his "dripping hair, this droopy curl, unfolds sweet memories of a girl". Fred was infatuated with Barbera's untamed hair and when shown in the cartoon, she appears to be twelve. As he continues to reminiscence his obsession over her, a dark chant of children caroling is played in the background while Fred continues his flashbacks and simultaneously shaving Courage. The way Fred talks suggests that he targets children to appease any urges that he cannot control. Fred speaks in rhymes that is childish and silly but can attract the gullible mind of children into believing he is harmless. When the cartoon is played, his first words are him introducing himself in a kind manner: "Hello new friend. My name is Fred. The words you hear are in my head. I say I said my name is Fred." Fred reveals his past to Courage and opens himself up, as he does not feel shame towards what he has done but rather indulges it.

Fred's secret has been revealed along with his true colors, as his past can be fully understood. Fred ends the episode leaving his signature on Courage's patch of fur, located on his tail. Fred taunts the viewers and continues to show signs of him endorsing acts of bestiality by leaving a message behind saying "With love, Fred". Courage is scarred, along with Fred's past victims, as they can't do anything but wait and try to forget the experience as time passes by; watching their hair slowly grow taunted by his smile and enjoyment of their suffering.