Mickey Mouse Short: A Pete Scorned

Season 5, Episode 2: “A Pete Scorned” 10/19/18
Starring: Pete and Mickey Mouse
Costarring: Mortimer Mouse
Setting: Around Town

Plot: Pete gets jealous when Mortimer threatens his standing as Mickey’s arch nemesis.

Short Stuff

Although not on the title card, this should qualify as Pete’s first lead role.

Primarily a character in comics, Mortimer only appeared in one classic short, Mickey’s Rival (1936). This is his second episode in the Mickey series after Season Three’s “No”.

To further illustrate that Pete lives on the wrong side of the tracks, there’s a cash checking store in his neighbourhood.

Like Pete, much of his furniture features a missing leg.

Final Grade: A-

No bells or whistles here; this episode is all story with a fantastic performance from Pete.  This is our first short from the villain’s perspective and it does a masterful job of exploring the insecurities of a character who is defined by his adversarial relationship with the star of the company.  

If Pete isn’t the #1 proverbial thorn in Mickey’s side than who is he? What is he?  Pete is justifiably concerned with the emergence of Mortimer. And, what’s interesting here, is that Pete doesn’t puff out his chest and bluster back.  Nay, his broad shoulders sag while he mopes, pouts, and sobs until he eventually wallops Mortimer but good. Mickey seems to prefer it this way too.