Candace Is Still Trying and We Love Her for It

TV SERIES REVIEW
Phineas and Ferb - Season 5 (EP 501 & 502)
TV-G -     

Genre: Action, Adventure, Animation, Comedy
Year Released: 2007- (Season 5 - 2025)
Runtime: 20 x 22m episodes (first two screened for this review)
Creators(s): Dan Povenmire, Jeff "Swampy" Marsh
Cast: Vincent Martella, David Errigo Jr., Ashley Tisdale, Dan Povenmire, Alyson Stoner, Dee Bradley Baker, Caroline Rhea, Jeff “Swampy” Marsh.
Where to Watch: New season returns June 5, 2025, on Disney Channel and June 6 on Disney+

RAVING REVIEW: When the screeners for the first two episodes of the new season of PHINEAS AND FERB landed in my inbox, I realized something embarrassing—I’d never seen a single episode. Not out of disinterest, just one of those pop culture moments that had slipped through the cracks. But if I was going to weigh in on the revival, I figured I’d do it right. So I hit play on season one… and didn’t stop until I binged the original series. All 104 days of summer. All the ridiculous inventions. All the thwarted schemes. Through to the final curtain call. (This was quite the process, but it was a blast!)

When I reached the two new episodes, I wasn’t just caught up—I was converted. And now, having seen how the revival begins, I can confidently say: this isn’t just a return for longtime fans. It’s a smart, funny, and fresh reintroduction that works for the newbies, too. The best part of the series is that you can jump in anywhere and still appreciate it (even with the occasional throwback). And if you’re new, like I was until recently, the learning curve is barely noticeable. The show is confident enough in its style that you catch up by osmosis.

The two episodes I previewed—split across “Summer Block Buster” and “Cloudy With a Chance of Mom” (episode 501), and “Submarine Sandwich Submarine” paired with “License to Bust” (episode 502)—pick up exactly where the show left off. Phineas and Ferb are still turning the backyard into something extraordinary daily, Candace is still on a mission to catch them in the act, and Perry the Platypus continues moonlighting as Agent P, locked in his eternal struggle with Dr. Doofenshmirtz, whose evil plans remain as absurd and endearing as ever.

The new episodes offer more of what longtime fans love. The boys’ adventures are still ludicrously over-the-top—this time involving super-sized parties and submarine sandwiches you can pilot—and yet they’re told with such infectious enthusiasm that the logic doesn’t need to track. It’s about invention, imagination, and making the most of every moment. And under all that chaos is a highly reliable structure that feels almost architectural. There’s a reason the formula never wore thin: it’s flexible enough to keep spinning new ideas without losing what works.

And of course, it wouldn’t be PHINEAS AND FERB without its eclectic ensemble. Ashley Tisdale is firing on all cylinders as Candace, whose high-strung obsession remains a comedic goldmine. Vincent Martella’s Phineas still oozes boy-genius charm, while David Errigo Jr. makes a seamless transition voicing Ferb. Dee Bradley Baker delivers more personality in a few platypus sounds than some actors manage in full scenes. And Dan Povenmire’s Doofenshmirtz remains a scene-stealing favorite, still equal parts mad scientist, sad dad, and self-aware goofball.

What stands out in the revival is how it feels both classic and current. The animation hasn’t been overly modernized—it still has that bright, clean, slightly angular look that helped define its identity. And the humor, while still rooted in its fast-paced, pun-laced tradition, occasionally sneaks in some sharper modern commentary. There’s a knowingness to the writing that respects its audience without ever talking down to them. It remembers that the kids who grew up on this show are now adults, yet it hasn’t aged itself out of being for kids either.

From someone who started watching this series just weeks ago to someone now eagerly awaiting the full new season, that’s the real testament to its strength. This revival doesn’t rely on nostalgia alone. It’s funnier, sharper, and more consistent than many long-running animated series ever manage to be, even after years away. And it’s clear the creative team, including returning co-creators Dan Povenmire and Jeff “Swampy” Marsh, haven’t lost their touch. They know what makes the show tick and are still building new inventions from that blueprint.

There’s something magical about a show that can bring in a brand-new viewer, hook them, and still leave them wanting more. That’s what happened here. And now that I’ve seen what this new era has to offer, I’m in it for the full 104 days again. Summer’s back—and I’m not missing a second of it.

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