Tuca & Bertie season 2 uses dance to show Tuca’s inner feelings

This week’s Tuca & Bertie saw the two friends hit a surprising bump in the road in their friendship thanks to Tuca’s new girlfriend, Kara.

While Bertie is still staying with Tuca, she hasn’t seen or heard from her best friend in three weeks. The anxious song thrush is trying to pretend everything is okay between them, but Speckle sees through it all as he gives her a tour of their nearly completed dream home (which Bertie thankfully loves).

Bertie finally breaks down in therapy, wondering if her friendship with Tuca is over. Her therapist suggests she simply calls to invite Tuca to the Bird Town fair, part of their annual tradition. While Kara declines to attend, Tuca agrees.

At the fair, Tuca shows up fully Kara-fied, wearing pants and speaking like her new girlfriend. It’s clear that Kara’s judgy attitude has gone too far in tamping down Tuca’s flamboyant personality as Tuca shows off a bag with pins for each of the disagreements they’ve had.

Bertie tries to have an intervention with Tuca, who reminds Bertie that she told her relationships require compromise and change. But Bertie simply asks if it’s all one-sided, leaving Tuca speechless.

The themes of the episode are reinforced in a gorgeous animation sequence. As rain hits the fair and the two couples hide under a tent, Bertie and Speckle tease each other and kiss while Kara talks on the phone to her job, ignoring Tuca.

The animation transitions from the show’s typical style to minimal line art of figures dancing, almost like a musical dream ballet. It’s a kind of dream sequence that conveys Tuca being swallowed up by Kara. It’s easily one of the season’s more beautiful and emotional moments.

After the sequence ends, Tuca finally expresses her feelings to Kara and asks for more give and take. Later, she returns to her apartment at long last and tells Bertie they’re moving in together, and while Bertie asks if she’s happy, she seems anything but.

Tuca and Bertie have grown a lot this season, and are sure to experience more highs and lows in next week’s season finale.

What did you think of this week’s episode? Make sure to tell us in the comments below!