Review: Tuca & Bertie “Vibe Check”

Overview:

Bertie’s reliable source of satisfaction seems to trigger some alarming fantasies in her that inspire her to do some long overdue shopping. However, Bertie’s new pleasurable purchases seem to only underscore that her concerns run much deeper than she thinks. Bertie becomes determined to better understand herself, while Tuca strives to learn more about her new friend, Kara. A tender friendship forms between the two of them, but Tuca gets lost in the specifics and where the two really stand with each other. Speckle also gets really invested in his new video game, so clearly everyone’s got a lot on their plates here.

Our Take:

Tuca & Bertie has always been a brutally honest series where shame is a popular theme that’s often under consideration. This level of transparency where characters actively work to improve themselves and frequently confront their faults is part of what makes Tuca & Bertie such a satisfying series. “Vibe Check” is an episode that’s particularly consumed with shame and harsh self-judgment, with these negative feelings falling onto Bertie, Tuca, and Speckle, but it’s Bertie who goes through the most scrutiny here. Bertie struggles through such a relatable and humanizing dilemma that helps make “Vibe Check” another excellent installment from Tuca & Bertie’s second season.

Tuca & Bertie hasn’t shied away from the material that it’s explored in the past and “Vibe Check” is a fantastic look into complex masturbation fantasies and the inherent power dynamics behind them. It’s an episode that fearlessly broaches weird, messy territory that’s often not explored this honestly. It’s interesting that both Tuca & Bertie and Rick and Morty’s episodes both revolve around shame and masturbation, but Tuca & Bertie handles it in a more layered manner that is actually able to say something deep about its characters in the process. Bertie’s dilemma begins in a place that’s almost blissfully naïve where she assumes that her vibrator is haunted or that something is off with it, which is the reason for her inappropriate sex fantasies, rather than her own psychoses being under scrutiny.

The reemergence of Pastry Pete is another element that’s well handled and it makes sense that the stress from him has slowly gotten to Bertie over the course of a few episodes. It’s a minor detail, but “Vibe Check” would feel a little too reactionary if it immediately followed “Kyle” where Bertie last mentally faces Pastry Pete. There’s more weight to the idea that Pastry Pete’s destructive influences would marinate in Bertie’s confused mind over the course of several episodes so that it can come to a head here. It’s not just better writing, but it’s also more true to life. Not enough can be said for the bravery of Tuca & Bertie getting into this complex territory wherein Bertie’s sexual fantasies in this area aren’t healthy, but certainly realistic. Furthermore, the live-action montage through masturbation is an excellent way to reflect the messy nature of this process that’s perfectly in line with Tuca & Bertie’s eccentric tone.

Bertie and Tuca’s worries are more than enough to fulfill “Vibe Check,” but it’s also nice that Speckle gets his own subplot here, which is yet another storyline that depicts him by himself and analyzes how productive he can be on his own. However, much like Tuca and Bertie, he’s still an individual that needs someone else by his side and doesn’t want to be alone. This episode explores this in a considerably simpler way than what Tuca and Bertie experience, but it still indicates important details about where Speckle fits in with all of this. He remains an anchor of stability for not just Bertie, but also Tuca, but this season has developed in an effective way where it looks like all of this could fall apart under the right set of stressors. It’s impressive to see how much more functional Bertie has become after starting therapy and seriously confronting her shortcomings, but she’s still very far from “perfect.” Her relationship with Speckle makes up a significant part of her identity of what it means to be healthy.

Much like how masturbation fantasies are filled with complex feelings to analyze, there’s just as much nuance involved with sexual roleplay that can end up highlighting schisms between a couple more than it brings them together. It’s extremely powerful, and indicative of where Bertie’s character is at the moment, that she’d allow Speckle to (unintentionally) co-opt her fantasy and have her engage in behavior that makes her uncomfortable, yet that she still “owes it” to Speckle. Bertie doesn’t owe anybody anything and it’s still going to take her a while to understand that. It’s another strong example of how Tuca & Bertie can take something highly innocuous and make it a borderline devastating action. Positivity and normalcy may seem like the key to fulfillment for Bertie, but those are just other masks for her to wear if she can’t be fully honest to herself, and to Speckle.

“Vibe Check” reaffirms why Tuca & Bertie deserves more seasons to explore these lovable characters. It’s an episode that asks deep questions and doesn’t expect easy answers. It’s a very funny episode of the series that shines a light on territory that most shows wouldn’t, but it also reflects the increasingly connected nature of this season. Everyone is headed in very compelling directions and they may hit some brutal lows before they’re able to build themselves back up.