PHINEAS AND FERB: Episodes 5.1-5.3

Here's the decision, plainly. Ten years after Season 4, Phineas and Ferb are back on Disney+, and the first three episodes are as funny, charming, and quick-witted as the show ever was. The animation is more beautiful, the songs are catchy, and the moral spine is intact: make your days count, keep your commitments, and stand by the people closest to you.

The cautions are small and worth naming anyway. Perry foils Dr. Doofenshmirtz with mild cartoon violence. One character chalks a friend's misfortune up to "karma." And you'll hear a little wordplay — "sucks," "blows," a "weenie" — plus teenagers who can be disrespectful to their parents.

So: if you have a family that loved this show the first time, or kids meeting it fresh, press play with confidence. Just keep an ear open for the youngest viewers, and you'll have a delightful summer binge on your hands.

Summer vacation is back in Danville, and child geniuses Phineas and Ferb are determined to make every single day count with their incredible inventions.

Their teenage sister, Candace, has one mission: catch the boys in the act and finally show mom what they're up to. Meanwhile, the family pet, Perry the Platypus, is secretly a special agent — and local evil hobbyist Dr. Heinz Doofenshmirtz is back to his old scheming. When Perry sets out to stop him, the fallout has a funny way of ruining Candace's plans. That's the machine that makes every episode go, and we'll let you enjoy the wind-up.

Three stars, and here's what they mean. This is a celebration of everything that made the series work a decade ago, only sharper. The backgrounds are beautifully painted, the camera work and animation are more dynamic than ever, and the storylines are built for the binge — you'll want to keep going.

The jokes land, and they rarely lean on crude humor. Catchy songs and inside jokes are woven into every fun-filled moment, so even the show's formulaic premise stays fresh across all three episodes.

The one drawback is a fan's quibble: longtime viewers may find it dissatisfying that characters like Candace and Doofenshmirtz have inexplicably slid back into their old obsessions after the way their arcs closed in Season 4. But the sheer quality of this comeback goes a long way toward making up for it.

Phineas and Ferb runs on a primarily moral worldview, and it wears that well. The show prizes keeping your commitments, making the most of the time you're given, problem-solving, working together, and valuing family. Phineas and Ferb never waste a day — and they invite everyone around them to join the fun. Candace, for all her comic single-mindedness, refuses to give up on what she believes is justice, even when it's inconvenient. Laziness and wasted time are quietly frowned upon here. This season also leans harder on a mom who's supportive of her daughter, and on a heroic pet dedicated to stopping evil.

A few things call for discernment. Teenage daughters can be disrespectful or condescending toward their parents. The villain makes "evil" his hobby, and Perry stops him with mild cartoon mischief. And there's one pagan note to catch: the near-constant cosmic coincidence — where Doofenshmirtz's invention neatly disposes of the boys' creations — gets chalked up to "karma" or "a mysterious force" as a joke. It's played for laughs, but it's a chance to remind younger viewers who actually orders the world.

The show's better instinct — that our days are a gift to be spent well — points somewhere Scripture names directly: "Teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom" (Psalm 90:12).

This is Phineas and Ferb doing exactly what it did best a decade ago, only prettier and just as funny — a warm, moral summer full of inventions, songs, and family. A little cartoon mischief and a joking nod to "karma" are all that keep it from being spotless, and both are easy to talk through. Our answer stands: worth watching.