[7.0/10] This isn't a bad episode or anything, just kind of weak in comparison to the rest of the season. I never especially cared for Tammy as a character (which is tough since she sticks around for pretty much the whole show). Her introduction here as a lingo-using, Zeke-crushing, Tina-torturing mean girl is probably responsible for that, but it’s an intentional choice to make her not especially likable on the part of the show, so I suppose I can’t complain too loudly.
There’s some comedy to be had from straight-laced, honor-bound Tina trying to be bad and not being able to live the double life. Her clown makeover and peer pressured efforts to break the rules create a relatable and amusing conflict for her. She’s clearly a good girl trying to be a rebel, which has some solid comedy to it.
But the whole erotic friend fiction and blackmail thing is a combination of being too weird and too sitcom-y. Tammy lording the friend fiction over Tina felt inevitable from the jump. And while the split screen of Tina’s friend fiction is a cool visual twist, her reading it to the whole school was an odd place to take things. (That said, I got a kick out of Linda’s realization that it was a terrible idea, even if her intention to encourage Tina was a commendable one.)
I do kind of appreciate that rather than there being some warm lesson about being yourself, the episode basically just ends with everyone being weirded out by Tina’s friend fiction (except a very naive Jimmy Jr.) but getting distracted when Tammy farts, showing how fickle elementary school teasing can be.
The other stuff in the episode isn’t bad though. I like Gene and Louise’s initially joining in on the blackmail goodness, only to turn around and scheme to help Tina in the end. And Bob’s obsession with the Stomp parody and patty-cake enthusiast show doesn't really go anywhere, but is good for some silly gags.
Overall, this is a lesser light of the show’s early run, but it still has some good gags and some good Tina material.
(As an aside, my biggest laugh was for Tina’s porcelain horse, “Horselain”)
Review by Andrew BloomVIP 9BlockedParentSpoilers2019-09-04T02:37:40Z
[7.0/10] This isn't a bad episode or anything, just kind of weak in comparison to the rest of the season. I never especially cared for Tammy as a character (which is tough since she sticks around for pretty much the whole show). Her introduction here as a lingo-using, Zeke-crushing, Tina-torturing mean girl is probably responsible for that, but it’s an intentional choice to make her not especially likable on the part of the show, so I suppose I can’t complain too loudly.
There’s some comedy to be had from straight-laced, honor-bound Tina trying to be bad and not being able to live the double life. Her clown makeover and peer pressured efforts to break the rules create a relatable and amusing conflict for her. She’s clearly a good girl trying to be a rebel, which has some solid comedy to it.
But the whole erotic friend fiction and blackmail thing is a combination of being too weird and too sitcom-y. Tammy lording the friend fiction over Tina felt inevitable from the jump. And while the split screen of Tina’s friend fiction is a cool visual twist, her reading it to the whole school was an odd place to take things. (That said, I got a kick out of Linda’s realization that it was a terrible idea, even if her intention to encourage Tina was a commendable one.)
I do kind of appreciate that rather than there being some warm lesson about being yourself, the episode basically just ends with everyone being weirded out by Tina’s friend fiction (except a very naive Jimmy Jr.) but getting distracted when Tammy farts, showing how fickle elementary school teasing can be.
The other stuff in the episode isn’t bad though. I like Gene and Louise’s initially joining in on the blackmail goodness, only to turn around and scheme to help Tina in the end. And Bob’s obsession with the Stomp parody and patty-cake enthusiast show doesn't really go anywhere, but is good for some silly gags.
Overall, this is a lesser light of the show’s early run, but it still has some good gags and some good Tina material.
(As an aside, my biggest laugh was for Tina’s porcelain horse, “Horselain”)