iCarly: iGet Pranky (4×03)

Evening, my fellow humans. How life goes on….No, wait, it doesn’t! The world has just stopped! And that is due to the premiere of another iCarly episode, iGet Pranky!

Now, the leadup to this episode was nothing short of pumpy. See Dan – I can come up with weird words too! Basically, everyone (at least from the official Danwarp page and the Bickering Sidekicks forum) was pretty excited for this episode – the members of the forum especially so, hoping for some ‘Seddie’ (Sam and Freddie) interaction. But then again, they are ALL ‘Seddie’ shippers – every episode contains ‘Seddie’ according to them.

Me? Well, I’m a ‘Seddie’ shipper too – I’m just more realistic. I tend to believe that if something like that occurs, it’ll be pretty clear in the title name. The title, ‘iGet Pranky’ just doesn’t connote the same feeling, eh?

So, with hearts pumping and emotions all tizzy with excitement, I sat down to watch it tonight. And I have to say – I was bitterly disappointed.

Oh, don’t get me wrong, I appreciate that this is a random episode aimed at humour and bolstering the interactions between all the characters. It just didn’t live up to general expectations. Unlike iBeat the Heat, where the ‘Seddie-verse’ was frenzied with rumoured Seddie-Griffin interaction, the general consensus was that of a moderate episode, one that just did it’s job of providing a laugh. That it failed to do.

I’ll give my reasons…..or rather just one. There was a lack of a secondary plot line. In most other episodes, Carly and one other character would be involved in the crisis enunciated in the title, and the others would be up to their necks in some other trouble. ‘iSam’s Mom’ was a great example of two totally segregated storylines – they were hilarious, each had its own funny stuff, and they worked so well.

iGet Pranky, and indeed even iGot a Hot Room, just had one storyline that meandered on for the whole episode. This would be good if they were able to go into the story in depth, but instead it felt like an episode of The Suite Life on Deck. And looking at my previous post, you all know how I feel about that. What a secondary storyline provides is a change of pace, different interactions, and a moment to take a breather. With just one, it just doesn’t work.

Now, just some more comments about this episode. In the style of Dan’s ‘Fun Facts’, Imma be gonna dividing it up into several sections:

The Good and Hilarious

1. I luv the new intro video.
2. Oh my word….Gibby and hair, and then Gibby and Fish. What will that boy do next?
3. Did anyone catch the Drake and Josh reference in there? If not, you haven’t been worshipping Dan Schneider enough.
4. Catheters. L-O-L.
5. Despite all the trouble he caused, Spencer’s pranks were freakin’ hilarious.
6. And the montage video was good as well.
7. I have to say, the extra Gibby interactions in the episode kinda made it seem more that he’s a main character instead of a supporting one, despite what it says on the intro video. I also appreciate the randomness that he brings to the iCarly party (figuratively), but unless he is actually involved in a main plot to the same level as the iCarly trio (+ Spencer), he should go back to being a supporting character.
8. “Ye – it makes it more official.” Oh, Carly.
9. Spencer’s dancing when he pranked someone. Oh, how I wish I had the same moves.
10. Nunchucks. Sam. Win. Guess that crush wasn’t that deep….

The Bad and the Ugly

Funnily enough, most of it’s already been stated above. I just also feel that the humour was a bit lacking in this episode….perhaps they went over the limit in iSam’s Mom (which I felt was the most hilarious episode ever) and had to take some away from here.

The Downright Unbelievable

Time to do what this blog was designed to do.

1. No Carly – “ye” doesn’t make the contract more official. Even the Bible is still official in The Message version. I know that this was deliberate, but still…
2. If Spencer was so good with his ‘3 days in law school’ that he could find loopholes in a major company’s contract (see iPromote Techfoots), why didn’t he just read the contract himself instead of wanting to send it to Socko’s friend?
3. Come on – no one noticed a big bag of garlic powder on the ceiling? I’m pretty sure that their eyesight was affected AFTER the bag dropped, not the other way round. Maybe it was just because it was the nineties.
4. And how did Spencer get the bag up there anyway?
5. Carly, Carly, Carly – your brother got beat up and you didn’t hear a thing?

Random Thoughts

1. The big talking point – Sam has a crush on Spencer? O-M-G! -.- I have no comment to add to this, save for three things: (1) ‘Spam’ will never happen, because it’s against social standards and Nickelodeon’s code on conduct, (2) It was probably meant to be random (a la Dan) but it didn’t come off right, and (3) I concur with the views of a commenter on the Bickering Sidekicks Forum called Archnemesis, who holds that this was merely a nod by Dan to the other unlikely ships out there in the fandom.
2. A bit random – but has anyone noticed how tall Gibby’s got? It’s incredible!
3. Another thing about Gibby – his fashion sense is horrible. By the looks of the collar shirt and cardigan, it’s almost worth him taking it off.
4. Why did past Spencer have the same hair as present Spencer?

Final Thoughts

This episode was one that was not advertised as a special – and it was because it really wasn’t anything special. It’s not because the Seddie shippers wanted Seddie and got Spam instead. Its because there is a lack of secondary storylines in Season 4 episodes, and it’s detrimental to the effect of the show. I really appreciate the hard work Dan and the other iCarly writers do, but if you’re really stuck for ideas, please take a hiatus – I know the fans will hate having to wait for ages, but if it allows you to think of new and interesting storylines, it’s worth it.

I liked the episode, I really do. But you would have  thought that a better episode should have been chosen to follow the hilarity of iSam’s Mom. Ah well. Here’s hoping ‘iSell Penny-Tees’ will be much better…..and deliver the Seddie goodness that many, including me, are hoping for.

Overall score: 5.5/10
Funniest part: The Catheters reference by Gibby. Can’t beat that.
Best performer: Spencer’s dancing won this for him.

Till next time, ta ta!

Do you agree or disagree with this assessment, or do you just want a place to rant? Leave a comment right here!