REVIEW: 'Phineas & Ferb' Season 5 Is A Return To Beautiful Insanity
- Moriba Forde
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
Another 104 days of summer vacation are back with Phineas & Ferb. Disney Channel's hit animated series has been revived for a fifth season to make its mark in the age of comebacks.
The beloved series follows brilliant stepbrothers, Phineas Flynn and Ferb Fletcher, as they spend their summer building or discovering something new. Either way, it should not exist, especially as far as their big sister Candace is concerned. She makes it her life's mission to "bust" her brothers to their mother, only to fail spectacularly every single time. Meanwhile, their pet platypus lives a double life as a secret agent.
Phineas & Ferb might be Disney Channel's answer to Nickelodeon's SpongeBob. The series made history when it premiered in 2007 as fans fell in love with Phineas, Ferb, and of course, Perry The Platypus. Their wild inventions, hilarious shenanigans, upbeat music, and hallmark moments invited us to an amazing summer vacation that somehow lasted for four years. It was a bittersweet moment when the show ended its run in 2015. Following the success of Phineas & Ferb: Candace Against The Universe, the Disney overlords took note of the audience hungry for more of this world with the asymmetrical brothers we know and love. As fate would have it, the original creators, Dan Povenmire and Jeff "Swampy" Marsh, agreed and were more than happy to deliver. Thank the Heavens for them both because Phineas & Ferb season 5 captures the feeling of reuniting with family after a long time apart.
The more things change, the more Phineas & Ferb stays the same
The fifth season kicks off in the summer after the boys and their crew finally return to school. For those of you who wanted to see them during college years, that's not happening. Don't worry about it. No time is wasted getting back to the summer shenanigans. The 2D world comes alive with the flair that screams Phineas & Ferb. The infectious music's energy triggers toe-tapping, head-bobbing, and smiles from ear to ear. It is nostalgia bait, yes, but it hooks us in for a great time with an endearing story that builds suspense while cracking jokes, while each character's identity remains uncompromised.
Vincent Martella is as charismatic and brilliant as ever, leading the charge as Phineas, and David Errigo Jr. fills the void left by Thomas Brodie-Sangster as Ferb. Do not worry, you will not notice that Ferb has a new voice. Alyson Stoner, Dee Bradley Baker, Bobby Gaylor, Maulik Pancholy, Dan Povenmire, Jeff "Swampy" Marsh, Caroline Rhea, and Tyler Alexander Mann return, like it's business as usual, in possibly the best job on Earth. Lastly, Ashley Tisdale stands out as Candace becomes less of a foil, and more of an anchor to her brothers.
A look at family through Buster's eyes
Dire circumstances force Candace to join her brothers on their adventures before her attempts to expose them backfire horrendously. She is still a hilariously annoying snitch with a high failure count, positioning her as the second least fortunate character after Doofenschmirtz. However, season five reminds us how family motivates her choices as she is thrust into saving her mother or helping her brothers in any way she can when the situation demands it.
Although Candace is not the primary protagonist, she drives the narrative as a vessel for viewers. The overarching theme of Phineas & Ferb's fifth season is family. Through her eyes, we see how the time spent with family is precious and should never be taken for granted.
Beef may be on the verge of Expiration
The rivalry between Perry the Platypus and his arch nemesis, who might be his best friend, Doctor Doofenshmirtz, ends up being the weakest aspect of the season. Doofenshmirtz awakens one morning, decides to be evil again, and makes it everyone's problem for no reason at all. Of course, Perry must stop him. That's it, nothing ignites their subplot. Watching Perry face off against Doofenshmirtz has been fun in the original run, but their renewed antagonism feels dry.
You can still get a chuckle as Doofenschmirtz makes you question his qualifications as a doctor, beyond that, jokes don't land as they should when he and Perry fight each other. Major Monogram and Carl are funnier with their limited screen time. The affinity towards Perry and Doofenshmirtz is not called into question, the duo simply needs more substantial material. They both have something to offer to the story, as you will see in the season 5 premiere. Their subplot masterfully evolves into the main plot of the episode, uniting Phineas, Ferb, and Candace together to save someone they love.
Summer Belongs To Phineas & Ferb
In the last 104 days of summer vacation, Phineas & Ferb caused an astonishing generational impact. If season five is any indication, they are on the verge of causing another one. While Perry and Doofenshmirtz struggle to reignite the spark in their weird relationship, Phineas, Ferb, and the rest of the gang remain unimpaired by the time apart.
Get ready for another summer, which will probably go way beyond 104 days, to join Phineas & Ferb on their adventures, laughing with them, or at Candace, and embracing their family like your own.
Rating: ★★★★☆
About Phineas & Ferb
Premiere Date: June 5, 2025
Episode Count: 9
Executive Producer/Showrunner: Dan Povenmire, Jeff "Swampy" Marsh
Writers: Dan Povenmire, Jeff "Swampy" Marsh
Directors: Dan Povenmire, Jeff "Swampy" Marsh
Production: Disney Television Animation
Distribution:
Cast: Vincent Martella, David Errigo Jr., Ashley Tisdale, Alyson Stoner, Dee Bradley Baker, Bobby Gaylor, Maulik Pancholy, Dan Povenmire, Jeff "Swampy" Marsh, Tyler Alexander Mann, Caroline Rhea
Synopsis: The series follows the inventive stepbrothers as they tackle another 104 days of summer. Candace is more determined than ever to finally bust her little brothers, while their pet platypus, Perry, continues to lead a double life as the suave “Agent P,” whose sole mission is to thwart Dr. Doofenshmirtz from taking over the Tri-State Area.