Aladdin Central Messageboard

[APK]

I was watching King of Thieves on youtube and someone left a comment, "Why didn't Genie just poof the elephants away when they were destroying the palace?" Well, the "studio" answer would probably be, "Because then that scene would've been lame!" But if we were trying to come up with a "fan" answer for that, what would it be? Is there a method to Genie's magic madness?

I do believe the writers try to have some continuity with Aladdin. For example, giving Genie a reason to keep wearing his shackles even though he's a "free genie" (fashion!) So, has anyone noticed any continuity with the way Genie uses his semi-phenomenal, nearly-cosmic powers? We know he's not as powerful but what exactly can he do and not do?

One thing I've noticed is that even though he can float, he always uses Carpet for a ride in the series. Maybe Carpet can fly faster than him or maybe he's just lazy. I don't really recall him being able to poof anything away, come to think of it. He either poofs something new up or he turns something small into something else. Or he tries to distract villains with his impersonations.

[AladdinsGenie]

Why Didn't Genie Just ____? and actually did it would make this a really boring saga in general. We'd pretty much have no series with Genie's God-modding powers

As far as his powers are concerned, I just tell myself that once he became free, his power was just reduced (not that his ability to do things went away, although they like to make it that way sometimes. That's where the problems comes in at because sometimes in the series he can do something like transport them to a different location, but other times he can't do that at all. I know it's a plot thing, though), but when he did the Genie Embrace to get his powers back with Eden (who still had hers at full power), that affected his in the process and made him possibly a little stronger than before, although still not where he was before.

There's also his power getting mixed with other sorcerers' powers in Beast or Famine, so that could also explain some of it, too, although I'm not sure if it really got mixed or just taken, and I know you can't mix magic so maybe it didn't. I kind of question that, though, because I don't think its that you can't, but that the results might be bad if you do.

Sometimes I get the feeling that as he hangs out with the gang, he starts to become a little more 'human', so he catches a ride with them instead of flying, runs with legs instead of floating away, actually makes things by scratch instead of making it appear like food, possibly even trying not to cramp Aladdin and Jasmine's independence, etc. It may not be a power thing at all as much as it is him forgetting "oh, yeah, I'm a genie! I can ___" cause he has a lot of moments like that

[APK]

I just chalk it up to Genie being so focused on the theatrics of what he can do that he doesn't go for the obvious or easy thing. Like in the King of Thieves when he tried to keep the roof from falling by covering it with his body while everyone else was fighting below. Later, Genie realizes there wasn't a point to him doing that and he just joins in on the fight.

I know the use or non-use of Genie's powers are all about plot points but I like to make up reasons for everything. Like in a Sultan Worth His Salt, I just say that Genie couldn't fix Carpet when he got torn because Carpet is a magic Carpet and Genie's magic works differently, so Genie wouldn't know the intricacies of magic carpetry. Or Genie isn't good at sewing.

Do you remember where he teleported them to?

[AladdinsGenie]

The gang has never been one to do things the easy way, no. They'd be bored to tears

According to the Adventure Books, he knows how to weave him back, but maybe he hadn't learned that yet.

I know he does it for a fact in KOT when he brings Jasmine and himself into the throne room from off her balcony, and I can't pinpoint the episodes but I can see him bringing them all outside and all into another room in the palace. I might be hallucinating, but t's going to bug me until I figure it out either way

[APK]

I think in ROJ, he poofed them from the dungeon to the roof. Maybe he can only teleport (with company) short distances? If that were the case,
it wouldn't matter if he teleported with the rampaging elephants because they would've rampaged right back into the palace - perhaps worse the second time around, out of crankiness or fright from being poofed.

I don't recall Genie being able to poof something away that he hadn't created himself.

In Fairly Odd Parents, if Timmy wants something poofed away, it doesn't really disappear. It has to go somewhere. In Timmy's case, all of his "wished away" wishes all go to the same deserted island. Also, when Timmy wished Vicky were nice, her "meanness" exited her body, manifested themselves into evil little bugs and went around biting everyone in Dimmsdale.

[AladdinsGenie]

He got rid of the bars holding them down in Wind Jackals of Mozenrath once he was free from the anti-magic ones holding himself down, so I'm wondering if he can get rid of things, but not necessarily people.

I forgot how funny that show is

[Calluna]

[APK]

You know, I think you're right on the theory about the gang just wanting to do it the hard way. In Moonlight Madness, Aladdin tells Genie if he wants to dig for treasure, it would make more sense to know where it's buried first. Genie says, "Oh, sure, if you want to do it the EASY way!" In that same episode, when Genie is making dinner for Aladdin and Jasmine's date, Aladdin gets irritated and says, "Why does it take so long for a genie to make dinner? Can't he just go, "POOF" ?"

Also in that episode:

Jasmine: Genie, you have to block the moon!
Genie: *poofs sunglasses up and wear them* This should do it!
Jasmine: No, you have to block the moon itself!

Genie just doesn't think on his feet that's why he never goes for the obvious thing.

[MacPJ]

I've always thought that Genie has retained all of his powers after being freed. He still has the ability to change reality and time. But I think that he is intentionally holding himself back for the benefit of Aladdin and co. He has the ability to foresee the future, so he only intervenes when life and limb are at stake. The rest of the time he only uses his powers for self amusement and the amusement of others.

Genie knows that Aladdin will have to grow up to be a great leader, and he cannot have a constant clutch by his side to solve his problems. So the Genie artificially limits himself so that Aladdin has to rely on his own wits and prowess to succeed. I don't think it's luck that Aladdin and the rest constantly and consistently save the day just through the slimmest margins. I think Genie has a hand in helping his friends and also preparing them for their future.

[APK]

You raise a good point, Mac

Okay, here are things I've noticed by rewatching a couple of episodes:

* Genie can't lift the palace like he used to (but in a very cool moment of continuity, Genie does remember that he used to be able to)

* When he's confined inside small spaces, tied up in knots or his limbs are not attached, he's basically useless but isn't that the case with most of us? Genie said it was "a genie thing" so it probably has nothing to do with being free

* He has trouble reversing spells by other magical beings but was successful in reversing the spell on Jasmine in Do The Rat Thing after a couple of tries and semi-successful reversing the spell on Aladdin in Dune Quixote

* He can duplicate himself but his other selves have wills of their own (Elemental, My dear Jasmine) Unless he was just joking around with himself But he did look worried that his duplicates wouldn't finish the construction in time since they were lounging about.

* he can regenerate a body part if he's lost it and heal quickly when injured but if he loses his head, he has to yell at his body for a while before he can find himself and reattach himself to himself

On that note, does anyone remember an episode of Aladdin where Aladdin helps the head of some guy find his body but it turned out the head was evil and the body was good? Someone on youtube brought it up but I don't remember that episode or know if it even exists.

[AladdinsGenie]

Yeah, that's "Heads, You Lose". I should watch that episode, it's been a while...

[APK]

[Calluna]