Move over The Godfather, there’s a new mobster story in town.
Last night’s new iCarly dared to grapple with the violence inherent in human nature and underage criminal behavior, a welcome development for a children’s television show that is no stranger to examinations of the darker side of humanity. From the creation of sweatshops and Machiavellian discourse of “iSell Penny Tees” to the deft portrayal of the obsessions and compulsive lying in “iBelieve in Bigfoot,” Dan Schneider has taken his characters to grim philosophical depths while never abandoning his contemporary brand of experimental humor.
“iOpen a Restaurant,” while not one of the funnier recent episodes, was a classically-iCarly structured story that loyal viewers can appreciate. The majority of the episode details an enterprise undertaken by Gibby when he discovers an unused basement beneath the gang’s school, Ridgeway. Gibby declares that this is his chance to realize his dream of opening a restaurant, and thus, “Gibby’s” is born, despite Carly’s warnings that the administration is sure to discover and shut down the establishment.
Meanwhile, criminal activity has occurred at the Shay apartment; a thief broke in and stole their television and computer. While the cops attempt to recover the stolen goods, Spencer, taking advantage of what some would argue are very lenient private-property self-defense laws, uses his skill for invention to cook up some preemptive vigilante justice.
An old classmate from junior high recently released from Juvie named Billy Boots shows up at “Gibby’s” looking for trouble. After shaming Gibby in front of his patrons by bringing up Gibby’s shirtless childhood, Billy makes the mistake of trusting in his old friend Sam. Unbeknownst to Billy, Sam’s real loyalty lies with the man who employed her as head of security: the incomparable Gibby. Billy learns this the hard way (through a brutal meeting with Sam’s infamous instrument of pain: the butter sock).
Also being subjected to pain is Freddie’s mother. Spencer, Freddie and Carly find themselves trapped in the Shay’s apartment when Spencer’s new security system (a motion-activated, popcorn kernel machine gun robot) goes rogue and refuses to deactivate. Freddie and Carly must think of a way to escape so that they can make it to school in time for their history test. While hiding behind a kitchen counter, Spencer and Carly convince Freddie to sacrifice his mom as a distraction to give Spencer the opportunity to unplug the robot. However, the gang learns the ultimate triviality of ethical decisions created by the chaotic nature of an indifferent universe. The robot's power plug is stuck in the socket, so the robot unloads all of its ammo on Freddie’s mother before Spencer can wrestle the plug out.
Another moral debate is played out at “Gibby’s” when Billy informs Mr. Howard, the notoriously strict Ridgeway teacher, of the restaurant’s illicit existence. Mr. Howard appeals to Principal Franklin, citing the clear school regulations that the restaurant is violating. This established ethical code is ultimately overridden by the corrupt decision of Principal Franklin, a loyal patron of “Gibby’s.”
“iOpen a Restaurant” didn’t deliver on the one-liners. In fact, few isolated moments can be singled out as especially fantastic (see below), but that doesn’t add up to a bad episode. Something different was at play last night on Nick. The real joy and humor of this episode came in seeing a classic mob boss story play out so ridiculously convincingly on a mainstream pre-teen show. Each character, despite the fact they were transported into a morality drama, behaved as could be expected. Sam was driven by her love of food and violence, Mr. Howard was the voice of policy and rules and Gibby was a slightly insecure dreamer looking for respect through his ambition and Pokémon-esque repetition of his own name.
All was as it should be, but therein lies the problem. iCarly is at its greatest when it absolutely refuses to compromise. “iOpen a Restaurant” felt as thought it was missing that final push over the edge into the unapologetic, self-aware excess and ludicrousness that lives at the core of the show’s true merit.
Memorable Moments:
Sam apologizing to Gibby after viciously beating Billy, saying tenderly, “I didn’t mean to get butter on your face.”
Red pepper lemonade.