5 Terrifying Facts About "Return The Slab": The Curse That Still Haunts The Internet In 2025

The chilling demand to "Return the slab" remains one of the most iconic and genuinely terrifying moments in modern animated television history. Decades after its original air date, this simple, heavily-reverberated line from the Cartoon Network series Courage the Cowardly Dog continues to spark fear, generate thousands of internet memes, and dominate discussions about childhood horror.

As of December 15, 2025, the episode, officially titled "King Ramses' Curse," is still cited by fans and critics alike as a masterclass in unsettling, non-traditional horror, primarily due to its jarring shift in animation style and the relentless, non-negotiable nature of its antagonist, the ancient pharaoh King Ramses. The cultural impact of this single, seven-minute segment has cemented its status as a timeless piece of creepypasta lore.

The Anatomy of Fear: Key Facts About King Ramses and the Cursed Slab

The episode "King Ramses' Curse" (Season 1, Episode 7a) first aired in 2000, but its legacy has only grown stronger, thanks to its viral presence across platforms like TikTok, Reddit, and YouTube. The story centers on the Bagge family—Courage, Muriel, and the perpetually grumpy Eustace—after a priceless, stolen Egyptian artifact washes up on their farm in the middle of Nowhere.

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The artifact, known simply as "The Slab," belongs to the ghost of King Ramses, who appears as a terrifying, low-polygon CGI figure to reclaim his property. The simplicity of the plot is overshadowed by the sheer dread induced by the pharaoh's appearance and his ultimatum: "Return the slab or suffer my curse." Eustace, driven by greed, attempts to negotiate, leading to the unleashing of three biblical-style plagues.

Here is a breakdown of the central figures and entities that make this episode unforgettable:

• The Antagonist: King Ramses, the ghost of an ancient Egyptian pharaoh.
• The Voice Actor: King Ramses was chillingly voiced by the series creator, John R. Dilworth, adding a deeply personal touch to the horror.
• The Artifact: The Slab, a small, stone tablet covered in hieroglyphs and protected by a curse.
• The Protagonist's Role: Courage the Cowardly Dog must overcome his fear to find a way to appease the ghost, constantly battling Eustace's stubborn greed.
• The Famous Line: "Return the slaaaabbbbb..." delivered in a slow, distorted, echoing voice that has been endlessly parodied and remixed online.

The Three Plagues: King Ramses' Relentless Curses

When Eustace Bagge, played by veteran voice actor Jeff Bergman, refuses to return the slab, demanding "What's your offer?" instead of complying, King Ramses unleashes a series of three progressively escalating plagues upon the farm.

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The use of the "Rule of Three" in storytelling is highly effective here, building tension with each curse that Muriel, Eustace, and Courage must endure. These plagues are a direct reference to the biblical Plagues of Egypt, grounding the supernatural horror in a recognizable, ancient context.

The three curses inflicted upon the Bagge residence are:

1. The Curse of the Flood: A deluge of water bursts from all plumbing and fixtures, flooding the entire house. This plague forces the family to retreat to the roof, demonstrating King Ramses' immediate, overwhelming power.
2. The Curse of the Annoying Music: A repetitive, grating, and high-pitched musical tune begins to play relentlessly. This sonic torture is not physically harmful but drives the characters—and the viewer—to the brink of madness through sheer annoyance.
3. The Curse of the Locusts: A massive swarm of CGI locusts descends upon the farm, devouring everything in their path, including the house itself. This plague is the final, most destructive act, forcing Eustace to finally concede.

The escalation from a simple flood to psychological torture, and finally to complete destruction, underscores the pharaoh’s unyielding demand. Only when Eustace is stripped of his possessions and his home is nearly consumed does he finally allow Courage to return the slab, ending the curse.

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Why the CGI Pharaoh Still Terrifies Us in 2025

The primary reason "King Ramses' Curse" has maintained its grip on the cultural zeitgeist, even in 2025, is the deliberate and masterful use of computer-generated imagery (CGI). The vast majority of Courage the Cowardly Dog is traditional, hand-drawn animation, which is often fluid, expressive, and cartoony.

The sudden, jarring introduction of a low-resolution, blocky, 3D-rendered King Ramses creates an immediate sense of unease. This technique, which was a stylistic choice by creator John R. Dilworth, exploits the uncanny valley—the feeling of revulsion or discomfort when something is almost, but not quite, human. The pharaoh's movements are stiff, his texture is flat, and his mouth movements are unnatural, making him look "otherworldly" and wrong within the established 2D world.

The Topical Authority of Fear: Entities and LSI Keywords

The episode's success is a testament to its topical authority in the niche of "animated horror." It brings together several key elements:

• The Uncanny Valley Effect: The stark contrast between the traditional animation of Courage and Muriel and the low-poly CGI of Ramses is a classic horror trope, maximizing the fear factor.
• The Creator's Vision: John R. Dilworth's background in independent animation allowed for these experimental and often unsettling artistic choices, distinguishing Courage the Cowardly Dog from other Cartoon Network shows.
• Eustace's Greed: The episode serves as a moral fable, where Eustace Bagge’s avarice is the catalyst for the entire terrifying ordeal. His final, desperate act of trying to sell the slab for "three free wishes" before finally giving in is a moment of dark comedy that relieves the tension.
• Lasting Meme Culture: The phrase "Return the slab" has evolved into a versatile internet meme used to demand the return of anything from borrowed money to a forgotten item. Its use is prevalent in modern meme culture, proving its enduring relevance into the mid-2020s.

The enduring power of "Return the slab" lies in its ability to tap into primal fears: the fear of the unknown, the fear of a relentless curse, and the unsettling feeling of an image that simply does not belong. It is a terrifying, yet beloved, moment that ensures the legacy of *Courage the Cowardly Dog* remains a cornerstone of nostalgic horror for a new generation of viewers.