Tuca & Bertie S2E5 explores Bertie’s inner desires
After last week’s stellar and quiet capsule episode, “Nighttime Friend,” Tuca & Bertie is back to regular form with “Vibe Check” as the series continues to explore Bertie’s past traumas.
As Speckle is absorbed with a new video game, Bertie is left to take care of business by herself. While alone, disturbing fantasies come to the surface starring Pastry Pete, her former boss who also harassed her.
Tuca & Bertie‘s surreal animation shines in the episode as Bertie literally falls to pieces trying to figure out what is wrong with her, collecting bits of her arms and legs as she leaves therapy with the conclusion that she has to tell Speckle the truth about what’s leaving her hot and bothered.
In a very sweet scene, Bertie joins Speckle in his game, modeling a real-life way to provide emotional distance through tough conversations. While Bertie immediately kills all of Speckle’s virtual friends, she tentatively shares the truth about her fantasies and how wrong she feels.
As Speckle validates her feelings, in a brilliant moment of animation, Bertie’s pieces start to come back together as her arms pop back on, and Speckle confesses his own secret fantasies related to Bertie’s baking.
“Vibe Check” provides lovely depth to Bertie and Speckle’s relationship by combining very real emotions with heightened and humorous animation, while also surely validating the experiences of those watching.
Bertie’s storyline also contrasts nicely with Tuca’s as she struggles to determine her relationship with Kara, her new “nighttime friend” from the previous episode. For many queer people, it can be hard to determine whether someone of the same sex is being friendly or flirting.
This dynamic is only exaggerated by Tuca’s eccentricities as she volleys texts back and forth and finally meets Kara’s numerous “girl friends.” While Kara finally chases her down to kiss her, we’ll have to tune in next week to find out what develops next with Tuca and Bertie’s relationships.
Next. Tuca & Bertie reveals the beautiful sadness of nighttime. dark
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