Contributed by YHN1212.
Now, this is unlikely but not impossible: during the credits of Inspector Gadget, one can hear the words of Dr. Claw near the end: “I’ll get you Gadget, next time…” Typical villanous taunt. Yet at the same time as you hear the words of Dr. Claw, you can see the lips of Chief Quimby move as he speaks to Gadget. What does this mean? Though some might say that the conversation between the two was silenced as the words of Dr. Claw were heard, I believe that it was Chief Quimby speaking. In other words, I believe that Chief Quimby is possibly the greatest master of disguise ever: he is Dr. Claw. It would also explain a lot about things. I mean, how often has Gadget thrown a self-destructing message at Quimby just as it was about to explode? More times than anyone, even loyal fans of the show, can remember. The amount of times it happened may mean that Gadget is doing it on purpose, indicating that he knows that Quimby is Dr. Claw and is secretly trying to kill him. Which would make Gadget an even better master of disguise than Quimby: How else to avoid suspicion from others than by acting incompetent? So to summarize my theory, the two may be carrying out their unending battle secretly, without the eye of the public watching them. Why all this secrecy? Perhaps they have a respect for each other that one has for one’s enemy, leading them to believe their battle with each other is too sacred to share with others.
May 7, 2008 at 10:08 am
When i was a kid, I had always thought that too.
May 7, 2008 at 8:51 pm
Inspector Gadget is a cyborg- a chimeric creation of two entities. The man can not comprehend the complex game Quimby/Dr. Claw is playing, but the mechanical elements can. This explains, to a certain extent, the split between the mind and body within the figure of Inspector Gadget. Notice that the gadgets are not internally controlled, but instead require a spoken command to activate (”go go gadget skis!”). Often the Inspector will command the gadgets, but the artificial intelligence will preempt him and choose a different course of action (”Not roller skates!”).
The irony lies in the fact that while the connection between the Inspector and the Gadgets is the physically closest within the series, it is the most prone to failure. The connection between Penny and her computer book is arguably the most functional. Splitting the mind and body results in comic failure, however supplementing the human mind with the computer (especially a computer using a ‘book’ metaphor) is quite effective.
Pertaining to the narrative:
When presented with the most advanced crime-fighting technology available, Chief Quimby, in an effort to conceal his work as Dr Claw, chose the most incapable man to undergo the surgery, assured with the idea that a stupid man could never catch him in his machinations, no matter how good the technology. He was right, in part. The A.I. within the Gadget interface does understand the connection between Quimby and Dr Claw, and takes every opportunity to destroy him at close range. Ultimately, if it were not for the efforts of Penny, Brain and the computer book, Quimby would be successful. However, because Quimby can not perceive a threat from a dog, girl and a book (none of which are cyborgs), the blame for the failure of his plans falls to Gadget (and ultimately to himself, which explains his deep-seated loathing for Gadget). Moreover, Penny plays right into Dr. Claw’s hands by calling the chief when they discover his plans. If she let the Gadget interface play out its elaborate plan Dr Claw might be defeated once and for all.
The show is not about Inspector Gadget, or even about Penny. The show is about the struggle between a fractured man, playing both sides of the law, hovering somewhere between man and machine- living in a kind of borderland, and his eternal fight with a mechanical being of his own creation.
May 7, 2008 at 9:14 pm
or he resents gadget BECAUSE gadget keeps throwing bombs at him, unintentionally. mm. He resents the clumsiness of gadget, his unpredictability, chaos. Claw stands for order. Cat owners are like that. Cats are like anally retentive dogs. Hence the little asterisk bum.
May 11, 2008 at 7:45 pm
I seem to remember the Inspector Gadget toys as a child and Claw was unmasked and it just so happened to be Quimby.
May 12, 2008 at 6:31 am
The action figure of Dr. Claw showed his face… http://progressiveboink.com/mike/img/drclaw/claw1.jpg