#itwins

Well, coming off the heels of re-watching iCarly in it’s entirety, again, I feel it suitable to reflect on what I feel are the best episodes in the series. Keep in mind, these choices are just my personal opinion. This is all in good fun, so if you disagree, share what your favorite episodes are. I’m not gonna break down everything that happens in each episode, there’s no need. If you’re reading this, you’re already an iCarly fan, and know the episodes. I’ll just be listing my choices, and discussing why I chose each one. So, lets get started…

Honorable Mentions: iFence, iBloop, and iLost My Mind

There are honestly plenty more episodes that can be talked about here, but for the sake of keeping things as concise as possible, I narrowed this section down to three.

Season 1, Episode 22: iFence

This was originally in my top 10 when I was choosing my list, but in the end, it was edged out by what actually made the number 10 spot. This episode is funny, charming, and all around enjoyable. Even this early in the series, it was a nice change in formula to see Freddie take center stage. I’m also a huge a sap for any kind of heartfelt interactions between characters, and there is a brief, platonic one between Carly and Freddie during this episode that totally hits that soft spot for me. I’m also the biggest supporter of the Sam and Freddie pairing, so the moment where Sam is cheering on Freddie while he’s fencing his rival is my favorite thing ever.

Season 3, Episode 14: iBloop

Just a fun watch. I honestly wish they did more of these throughout the series. One per season would’ve been a nice treat for the viewers. I know there is a squeal in the latter seasons, but it’s not quite as good. Regardless, seeing the actors who play our beloved characters, goofing off on set, and flubbing their lines is just fun. I love it.

Season 5, Episode 1: iLost My Mind

This last honorable mention is probably not gonna be a popular choice, but it’s my list so whatever. I know, the “Seddie” arc is not remembered fondly by most iCarly fans. Heck, even some of the biggest “Seddiers” out there don’t like it, and I agree that the arc is poorly executed; but, I don’t think the whole thing is bad. It spans across five episodes, from iOMG to iLove You, and in my personal opinion, the arc is good until the third episode, iDate Sam and Freddie. It falls off a cliff from there on, but I’m adamant in my choice to include iLost My Mind as an honorable mention. All in all, this is an overall cute episode, with a sweet ending, and like I mentioned earlier, I’m a total sap for that stuff. That said, it could be a lot better, and that’s why it didn’t crack the top 10.

Alright, now that we’ve gotten the honorable mentions out of the way, let’s move on to the top 10…

10. Season 6, Episode 10: iRescue Carly

I know, I know, this is an odd choice to include. It’s one of the last few episodes in the series. Around this time it was very apparent that the show was winding down. The episode plots were weaker, the bloom was off the rose, and iCarly’s best days were admittedly in the rear view. That said, the show was still one of the most popular shows on Nickelodeon. It may not have been in it’s prime anymore, but it still delivered an enjoyable product to the fans that loved it. But why did I choose to include this episode specifically? Why did it edge out some arguably better episodes from when iCarly was at it’s peak? I’ll tell ya why. Sam Puckett.

It’s no secret that I love the Sam Puckett character, and this episode is nice culmination of the wonderful girl we get to watch her blossom into throughout the series. When we are first introduced to Sam, she is essentially an irritable bully who is mean to most people, except for Carly. At first, it’s even questionable as to why Carly considers this troublesome delinquent to be her best friend; which Carly even acknowledges in the very first episode. But as the series progresses, we learn that Sam isn’t a bad kid, she’s just a little rebellious is all. It’s acknowledged that she grew up without a father, a dysfunctional mother, and a perfect twin sister that most people prefer over her. Her attitude and demeanor is the byproduct of the surroundings in which she grew up, but underneath that rough exterior, Sam has a heart of gold.

The aggressive behavior she often displays can easily be interpreted as a defensive mechanism to protect herself. She has plenty of acquaintances, but doesn’t truly let many people get close to her, and that’s by design. At the start of the series, Carly, and by association, Spencer are the only ones shown to have a legitimate connection with Sam. Freddie would forge that connection shortly thereafter, as the two transition from enemies, to frenemies, to friends, and Gibby would also follow suit later on; but Sam’s inner circle doesn’t really stretch beyond that.

As we follow the rebellious blonde throughout the series, we are made privy to a plethora of moments where Sam drops her guard and displays her compassionate side. This episode captures that side of her beautifully, as she goes to extreme measures to protect her friends, especially Carly. It’s a nice bow on top of her character arc, as we see just how much she’s grown.

9. Season 2, Episode 7: iChristmas

Carly’s miniature arc of taking what she had for granted in this episode is wonderfully told. It has a good message while still skillfully sprinkling in the comedy the show is known for. My favorite thing about this episode is how it displays just how important Carly was to everyone around her. She is the literal glue that holds everyone together, which is made very apparent at the end of series when she leaves for Italy.

8. Season 2, Episode 20: iTwins

Turns out Sam has a twin sister who doesn’t live at home. She is the opposite of Sam in every possible way; she’s well behaved, gets good grades, she’s super friendly, and is a total girly-girl. Honestly, based on what we know, she is the total antithesis of not only Sam, but their entire family.

In this episode we are introduced to Melanie Puckett. What a totally fun concept this was. It’s honestly baffling that they never revisited the Melanie character. She is seldomly mentioned after this episode, but we are never graced with her presence in the series again. I would’ve loved to see her to become a reoccurring character. There was so much potential for fun plots involving her; but even in a one off episode, she left a lasting impression, and secured this episodes’ spot in the top 10.

7. Season 2, Episode 17: iReunite with Missy

Much like I mentioned during number 10, there are a plethora moments in the series where Sam drops her guard, and this episode is chock-full of that. It’s heartbreaking when Sam realizes she can’t do anything to stop Missy’s evil plan to steal Carly as her best friend. The “I’m her best friend,” line Sam shoots in response to Missy during the Groovy Smoothie scene gets me every time. She legitimately sounds upset, and is practically helpless in the moment. Then there is scene towards the end where Carly finds out the truth about Missy, and reconciles her best-friendship with Sam. It’s there we are shown again that Sam has a huge heart buried beneath her attitude when she forgives Carly despite having every right to be upset with her.

This episode is also a total smorgasbord of Sam and Freddie moments too, and I can’t help myself, I love it. From their little spat at the start of the episode to Sam at her most vulnerable when she comes to Freddie for help with the Missy situation, it’s just swimming in cuteness between them. Then of course, it’s revealed at the end that Freddie did help Sam without telling her, and it gives me all the feels. The “You care about Sam,”  moment in which Carly calls him out for helping Sam is just my favorite thing.

Maybe I’m a little bias because this episode is so centered on my favorite character, but I don’t care, it’s just great.

6. Season 1, Episode 5: iWanna Stay with Spencer

Starting to notice a trend? Like I mentioned earlier, I’m a sucker for the episodes with sappy, mushy, heartfelt moments in them, and you’ll see that continue throughout this list. This episode hits me right in feels as we just how strong the bond is between Carly and her brother, Spencer. It’s incredibly touching when Spencer is giving his Granddad the rundown of how to properly take care of Carly, and I always get a kick out of the “dinosaurs are cool,” line when Spencer mentions he only gives Carly dinosaur shaped vitamins.

5. Season 4, Episode 9: iOMG

Oh the “Seddie” arc…yes, it’s bad. There are just so many issues with how Sam and Freddie’s relationship was written. If you’re a supporter of their romance like myself, you know how unbelievably frustrating it was to see how terribly the writers fumbled their story. It was exploited merely for shock value, and the actual story that deserved to be told was never a priority. But despite the major issues within the arc, this episode that kicked everything off was wonderful.

In the honorable mentions section, I stated that I think the arc is actually good until the third episode, iDate Sam and Freddie, where everything starts crumbling apart, and iOMG is a testament to that opinion. I absolutely adore the subtle attempts from Sam to get to closer to Freddie, and how awkward she gets she finds out the PearPad app revealed her mood as “in love.” There are definitely minor flaws in both this episode, and iLost My Mind, but they don’t deserve the bad reputation they have simply because the episodes that followed them fumbled the ball. The cliff hanger at the end of this episode and the mere potential it had for a great story to be told is enough for me to include it on this list.

4. Season 3, Episode 3: iSpeed Date

If you haven’t noticed yet, beyond the trend of mushiness that is apparent on this list, there is also a trend of episodes that involve some kind of heavy implications with Sam. Here’s another one. 

I love and hate this episode lol. I love that we get more glimpses of Sam’s vulnerable side, but I hate how sad I feel for her as the episode plot plays out; which is a testament to the episode. Not only does she embarrassingly get turned down by Gibby, who she never wanted to ask to their school dance in the first place, she also walks in on Carly dancing with Freddie, unbeknownst to them. That dancing scene at the end has so many implications, and is surprisingly heavy for a kid’s show, honestly. You are left feeling so many emotions for the main trio as the episode concludes. There is a sense of pity for Sam as it is very clearly implied that she’s bothered by what she sees, but happiness combats that feeling as you proudly watch Freddie share that intimate moment with Carly he so desperately wanted for so long. It is happiness, sadness, confusion, and suspense all wrapped up into one scene, and it is fantastic; as is the entire episode.

3. Season 3, Episode 9: iSaved Your Life

Surprised at all? Why would a Sam and Freddie supporter, like myself, rank an episode centered on the pairing of Carly and Freddie in the top 10? Well, simply put, it’s a fantastic episode regardless of personal preference, and I cannot ignore that. There is a reason this was the highest rated episode in the series when it aired, and it’s because it’s fantastic. It scored an enormously high, record setting, television rating for the premier and that is nothing to scoff at. But beyond the record numbers it scored, I chose this episode because I honestly like it. There is a lot to unpack when discussing this episode…so strap in.

Yes, this episode revolves around Carly and Freddie, but it is still an integral part of Sam and Freddie’s relationship in major ways. As the plot unfolds, Freddie goes through a miniature arc in which he finally obtains what he craved for so long, a romantic relationship with Carly, but he ultimately decides to walk away from that relationship when it doesn’t turn out how he envisioned it. This is a crucial moment in Freddie’s overall journey as his character slightly changes from here on out. He practically abandons the constant adoration for Carly that was a staple of his character until that point, and we don’t see it again until Season 6, where it begins to be teased that those feelings still linger; but before the “Creddie” resurrection of Season 6, this episode essentially served as the metaphorical shutting of the door on his childhood crush that never felt the same for him.

Now as one metaphorical door shut, another was opened, one that led to a potential romance with Sam. Obviously, this romance had already been seldomly teased several times in prior episodes, as well as this episode itself, but it was now free from the shackles of its opposition. This admittedly has a lot to do with my personal enjoyment of the episode, and I’ll probably discuss the implications it has between Sam and Freddie in another post at some point. That said, I still enjoy the story told between Carly and Freddie, and I won’t pretend not too. Couple that story with the subtle allusions to Sam and Freddie’s possible romance, and I can’t help but love this episode.

2. Season 2, Episode 8: iKiss

Well, if the last episode I chose came as a surprise at all, I’d be willing to bet that this choice is the exact opposite. What can I say? I love Sam and Freddie to pieces, and this is the first episode centered on their connection. I’d venture to say this is my most watched episode of iCarly. I always re-watch the balcony scene, and it gives me all the feels. That kiss the two characters share at the conclusion of the episode is so well done, and captures the awkwardness of adolescence brilliantly. You literally feel their confusion as they lock lips with each other. The tension between these two constantly argumentative characters is released into a kiss, and you witness them subtly realize there might be a reason behind their sometimes hostile behavior toward one another. Of course, this is not stated outright, but it is absolutely what you’re intended to infer from the scene. It is shot in a way that makes it clear that both Sam and Freddie want to say something more after the kiss, but just don’t know how, resulting in awkward banter before they ultimately retreat into their own solitude. I could honestly write an essay breaking down the every little minute detail in that scene, it’s just so wonderfully done.

The general arc Sam goes through in this episode is also wonderfully told. Early in the episode there is a moment where Sam refers to herself, Carly, and Freddie as all being “friends,” before immediately backtracking and saying that Freddie is merely a “coworker.” There is an obvious denial of any kind relationship between them, even platonically, but we as the audience know better than that. Then of course, Sam later finds out that Freddie has never had a real kiss, and publicly shares that information on iCarly as a prank, but it practically ruins Freddie’s social life. That moves us into the second phase of this arc, in which Sam realizes that her actions have consequences. Carly berates her for being so harsh to Freddie, in a moment that terrifically displays why Carly is such a wonderful character, and Sam is left to harbor the guilt of her choices. This carries us into the third phase of her arc where she faces her emotions head on, and apologizes to Freddie. Even without the kiss that follows, this arc Sam goes through is a tremendous display of growth for an otherwise, closed off, defensive, rebellious teenager. That alone is testament to the excellence that is this episode.

Like I said earlier, I could write an essay on this episode. There is just so many little details that make it so great, and I absolutely love it,

1. Season 6, Episode 13: iGoodbye

So, here we are at number 1, and it’s the series finale, iGoodbye. Is this even a shock? This final episode of iCarly is so freaking good, and there was no way it wasn’t going to claim the number 1 spot for me. Even with the fact that Sam and Freddie get no closure, and just have a general lack of interaction at all during the episode, I still rank at number 1. That’s how good it is.

So, I guess I’ll start with the Sam and Freddie issue since I mentioned that first, just to get the one negative out of the way. This is single flaw this episode has, but it is a major one, and I have to acknowledge it. While they may have a few little moments here and there, Sam and Freddie have an extreme lack of interaction throughout this episode, and it’s incredibly disappointing as a viewer. Of course, to a fan like myself, these two ending up back together would’ve been the ideal outcome, but I digress. Even disregarding the idea of them getting together, the simple fact that they don’t even have a final moment together, even just as friends, is criminal.

But, I ranked this at number 1 for a reason, and it’s because it is fantastic even with that flaw. This finale is a love letter to fans of the series, and is an emotional roller coaster throughout. There are numerous tear jerking moments that tug at the heart strings amazingly hard for a kids show. From Spencer forsaking his long lost love, Audrey, so he can take his little sister to her last dance, to Carly and Sam on the elevator during the final scene, and everything in between, this episode is emotionally beautiful. Both of Spencer’s moments with Carly and Sam respectively are two of my favorite moments in the entire series, and they give me all the feels. The goodbye he and Carly share before she leaves for Italy genuinely makes me cry every time I watch it, and the moment where he gives Sam the motorcycle before telling her she has “a good heart,” is so touching. I adore that “good heart,” line so much, as it validates my favorite character as a good person deep down. 

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