Russian About

"Russian About" is an episode of the animated supernatural comedy series The Real Ghostbusters written by J. Michael Straczynski, and originally aired in 1990. It is the third episode of the series to incorporate elements from the Cthulhu Mythos, following "The Collect Call of Cathulhu" and "The Hole in the Wall Gang".
==Synopsis==
The Ghostbusters, a group of American paranormal investigators consisting of Egon Spengler, Ray Stantz, Peter Venkman and Winston Zeddemore, as well as a friendly ghost named Slimer, are invited to give a talk at a Soviet institute of paranormal research in Dnepropetrovs, sponsored by tennis player Katarina Novachenka. The Institute houses a vast collection of occult artifacts, as well as a laboratory where scientists Vladimir Maximov and Dmitri Smerdyakov conduct their researches.
During the lecture, Egon's demonstration is interrupted by Vladimir, who announces that a theft has occurred and accuses the Ghostbusters. Among the stolen items is the "Nameless Book", a grimoire containing magic so powerful and dangerous that even mentioning its real name would lead to terrible consequences, hence the appellation. Ray describes the Nameless Book as a "leftover" from when creatures known as the Old Ones ruled the Earth.
Egon tells Katarina that the Ghostbusters previously fought one of the Old Ones, and she in turn reveals that Vladimir has often talked about these beings, making the Ghostbusters suspicious. Tracking the book's supernatural energy with the P. K. E. Meter, they drive through the forest at night while pursued by police inspector Faden, who considers them the primary suspects. When the car breaks down, the Ghostbusters and Katarina take a horse carriage, and finally arrive at the entrance of a subterranean complex where Vladimir and Dmitri, along with several other cultists, conduct a magic ceremony with the Nameless Book.
Egon asks Slimer to fly back to North America and retrieve a box labelled "big trouble". Meanwhile, the Ghostbusters and Katarina follow the cultists into the underground complex, descending a staircase with steps made for humongous creatures, and containing marks made thousands of years ago. Down in the tunnels, Egon and Ray advise caution, as the Old Ones often leave "guardians" in their lairs, listing shoggoths, shamblers and ghasts as examples. Sure enough, several flying monsters appear. The Ghostbusters fire their Proton Packs, but their ghost traps aren't designed to contain these entities, so the heroes are forced to run away. At last, they find the cultists and confront Vladimir and Dmitri, who reveal their plans to revive one of the Old Ones and rule the world after it has ravaged it.
As the ancient beast starts to emerge from a pit, Slimer returns with the package, a contraption that Egon claims can use the power of all their Proton Packs to create a rip in time and space. Peter volunteers to carry the devide to the edge of the pit and throw it. The plan works, as the spacetime rip absorbs the monster. Back on the surface, Inspector Faden has arrested the cultists, but demands to know what's going on. Katarina lauds the Ghostbusters as heroes and rewards all five of them (Slimer included) with kisses.
==Behind the Mythos==
*In this episode, Ray claims that writers like H. P. Lovecraft and Clark Ashton Smith have written stories about the Old Ones. He also claims that the Nameless Book is one of only two books in existence which can be used to summon the Old Ones.
*Although its not stated in the episode, the flying monsters are meant to be Night-gaunts.The Real Ghostbusters Call Sheet (Season 5) at Spook Central
==Trivia==
*Originally, J. Michael Straczynski wanted to use the Necronomicon, which had already appeared in the series in "The Collect Call of Cathulhu". However, Broadcast Standards & Practices objected to its inclusion, forcing Straczynski to change it to "the Nameless Book".
==External Links==
*"Russian About" at the Ghostbusters Wiki
==References==
Category:Expanded Mythos Film & Television
Category:J. Michael Straczynski works
Category:Crossovers