The Real Ghostbusters Series Review

The Real Ghostbusters (1986-1991)

Season 1 - 13 episodes (1986)
Season 2 - 65 episodes (1987) 
Season 3 - 13 episodes (1987) 
Season 4 - 8 episodes (1988) 
Season 5 - 21 episodes (1989) 
Season 6 - 16 episodes (1990) 
Season 7 - 4 episodes (1991)
Rent The Real Ghostbusters on Amazon Video (paid link)
Based on: Ghostbusters (1984) by Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis
Developed by: Joe Medjuck, Michael C. Gross
Starring: Lorenzo Music, Maurice LaMarche, Frank Welker, Arsenio Hall, Dave Coulier
Rated: TV-Y7

Plot
An animated series sequel to Ghostbusters (1984), this continues the adventures of the staff of the ghost removal service, Peter, Ray, Egon, and Winston.

Verdict
I loved this show as a kid. It's easy to see why as an adult. This doesn't dumb things down as much as typical cartoons from the era, and at least the first two seasons had some real scares and stakes as it explored popular myths and legends. While it's a bit shallow in appealing to adults, it's a really good kids cartoon. The first two seasons are easily the best, after that the show makes an effort to simplify stories to be more kid friendly and make Slimer prominent and more kid friendly. It helps to be a fan of the franchise or have watched this as a kid.
It depends.

Review
"The Real" was added to the title after a dispute with Filmation and its live action Ghost Busters (1975) show. I watched this in syndication long ago, and I was surprised at how many episodes I remembered.

In each episode the Ghostbusters use their technical know-how to capture ghosts and spirits that are terrorizing the city. Their foes even include demons and creatures from alternate dimensions. Many episodes reference lore, legends, or even pop culture. While the tone is mostly light and comedic, the first two seasons specifically explore darker themes on occasion. Every crisis resolves within the same episode, following the pattern of discovering a monster and then capturing it. For a cartoon, the soundtrack is pretty good, though repetitive.

S1E2-Killerwatt: Ray Stantz, Egon Spengler, Peter Venkman, Slimer, Winston Zeddmore

Season 1
The first episode re-establishes the characters, making them a bit more unique and providing them with discernible characteristics as an aid to the cartoon and toys. Slimer is also a sidekick or pet.

The first season tackles several popular mythical beings. In episode six, Egon has to confront his fear of the Boogieman. The season also includes Samhain, a being seeking eternal night, and Sandman. Along with the Boogieman, these are the villains I remember best. There's also a genie, Scrooge, trolls, and poltergeists among others.

S1E6-The Boogieman Cometh: Boogieman

In episode ten the Ghostbusters go to Hollywood to consult on a movie about themselves. There's a joke about Murray, Aykroyd, and Ramos.

Episode eleven bridges the gap between the movie and cartoon, revealing how Slimer became their pet. 

There's a fair does of nostalgia watching this, but it is better than a lot, likely most, of the cartoons from that era.

S1E11-Citizen Ghost: Egon, Ray, and Peter's ghostly doubles

Season 2
This show is smarter than it needed to be and that pays dividends. Episode four makes a joke about cartoons made to sell toys. There's more variety than many contemporary cartoons as every episode features a different foe. While the formula an be repetitive, the variety of ghosts and spirits and the related method of capturing them keeps this from being too monotonous.

Several episodes expand on the character's lives showing uncles, aunts, and family. 

While nostalgia is part of what propelled me to keep watching, this is really good for a kid's show. There's also plenty of pop culture references, though it's a little shallow if you would compare it to modern dramas, which isn't this show's competition.

This season includes, among other plot lines, a blues player, pirates, psychics, a Native American legend, plenty of family, demons, myths, gremlins, vampires, Cthulhu, and the Eiffel tower.

Episode forty-seven features a gunfight at the O.K. Corral, the frequent closeups are clearly an homage to western movies. Episode fifty-six introduced Phillip Spade as a reference to The Maltese Falcon.

Season 3
Dave Coulier replaced Lorenzo Music as the voice for Peter Venkman starting with season 3. Janine's voice actor was also replaced and the character's appearance and disposition was revised due to focus groups and executive demands.

S3E7-Halloween II 1/2: Egon, Peter, Ecto-1

The Boogieman comes back in episode three to haunt Egon. Overall, this season is toned down. Slimer features more prominently, and the story lines seemed toned down to be more kid friendly.

Episode two features an alternate dimensions where ghosts hunt people. Unfortunately Peter, Ray, and Egon end up in this world and struggle to avoid "peoplebusters." 

S4E2-Flip Side: Ray, Egon, and Peoplebusters

There's a were-chicken, the ghostbusters are shrunken in size, and the guys explore the Land of Lost Objects. 

Season 4 Title Card

Season 4
The show was renamed to Slimer! and the Real Ghostbusters with Slimer! episodes airing in tandem.

Continuing the third season's more kid friendly episodes, the Ghostbuster get kicked out of the firehouse, Sherlock Holmes appears, Slimer wins the lottery, Egon transforms into a baby, and Peter becomes a super hero.

Season 5
Beginning with season three, the show became less interesting. The story lines are simplified, clearly geared to be more kid friendly. I get it. While later seasons remain appealing, mostly for the nostalgia, it's clear the first two seasons are the best.

Louis Tully makes his first appearance this season, featured in several episodes.

Season five started becoming a chore to watch. Episodes became more shallow, frequently featuring children. With so few episodes left, it wasn't difficult to the through the series.

Season 6
The first episode focuses on how Janine has changed. It's a nod to changes in the show, though it did take characters two seasons to realize it.

Episode twelve has a ghostly family that has to be a Simpsons riff taking over the firehouse. That exemplifies my problem with the show. It less interested in mythos. The Simpsons has no connection to the paranormal. It seems like a pop-culture reference in an attempt to stay relevant.

S6E2-You Can't Teach an Old Demon New Tricks:
Peter Venkman, Winston Zeddmore, Egon Spengler, Ray Stantz

Season 7
The final season is more of the same. I kept wishing the show could recapture the first two seasons, but unfortunately that was never the intent. The studio wanted a series more palatable to children. Even watching this show as a kid, I liked the darker episodes of the first two seasons.

This was a fun nostalgia trip, and I was surprised at how many episodes I remember. I may very well have seen all the episodes. The first two seasons are easily the best. It's still clearly a kids show, but the story lines offer more depth and intrigue while later seasons focus on Slimer and less complex stories. Even then, I'm not sure this would hold my interest if it wasn't for the nostalgia. That certainly helps.