Clarence: Rough Riders Elementary, Nothing Ventured, Bedside Manners, Jeff Wins

Rough Riders Elementary

A-

Tyrant Josh and his wacky sauce

Clarence is able to balance the surreal in a realistic setting quite well. In this very entertaining episode, Clarences elementary gets a new sauce which inspires him to report to the class why the Rough Riders companies condiment is his all time favorite. Even though the story is told straight up Clarence style with chicken aliens, his heroes saving the day, and dictator Josh there is a somewhat deeper message of how corporations manipulate children. Using school as elementary propaganda, corporations are able to clone and brainwash kids into the consumers they want them to be. And that my friends is much more scarier than Clarences story because that is in fact real.

Cool Things Noticed:

1. I love that shining reference when Clarence runs through the halls. Wonder how many young children caught that.
2. Can Colonel Sanders sue for copyright infringement?
3. Josh looks good with a eye patch

Nothing Ventured

B

Well That Explains how Sumo ended up in a trailer park

The most appealing aspect of Nothing Ventured is we get to see a little more development on the adults of Clarence. In particular, the big dreams and the bigger failures of Sumos dad. A man with a great imagination but without the confidence or persistence to make anything out of it. This probably explains his lack of white collar work and his easiness to relate to well meaning but slacker Chad. But even Chad has more stamina in his missions than his friend does trying to be the gentle mentor even when it is a hopeless cause. There is a also a story of Clarences  humorous convoluted plan to make a venture out of putting cockroaches in peoples home. Not a lot of stakes in the episode seeing how neither story seems more than a side story but that does not mean it is low in laughs or character depth.

Cool Things Noticed

1. Chads Sour cream and Onion Industries might have some more success in the cream cheese products.
2. I also love Chads design that sort of ape like man character.
3. How does that italian resturaunt  have a C? Was the health inspector on drugs that day?

Bedside Manners

B+

Have a taste of your own medicine Belson

Although there has been some moments of redemption for Belson in the series, he has been mostly a pessimistic mean spirited little boy. Many of the children are aware of this and decide not to attend Clarences sweet gesture to visit him in the hospital. While most would welcome Clarence to cheer them up in their ill state this is hell for Belson. What follows is a bonding experience that is sure to damaged Belsen more than his broken bones. Meanwhile Jeff and Sumo are guilt tripped into visiting their unlikeable peer and end up in Jeffs worst nightmare: Hospital contamination. This side story easily becomes great visual humor as the animation shows Jeff horror in his misadventures in the hospital. A fun episode in a very not fun place.

Cool things Noticed:

Belson sure goes through a lot to prank Clarence then again so does Clarence.

Jeff Wins

A-

Introducing Jeffs Family

An episode exploring Jeff is either going to be a hit or miss. It will either expand on the idea of Jeffs worst character attribute that he feels he is superior and dominant over his friends like Average Jeff or they can dive deeper into his insecurities of being  judged based on his achievements or lack there of. This episode central story explores this. Jeff's parents asks for Clarences help into brining Jeff to a cooking contest that he always backs out of due to the possibility of failing. Clarence is also one who is at odds with how to handle the situation once his philosophy of just have fun is put to the test when finding out their meal is awful. He battles between doing the right thing or letting his friend overcome this false pretension of being a loser. Seeing how Clarence handles his friendship in moments of disparity and watching Jeff finally loosen up his tight persona always make for good television and demonstrates how Clarence excels at bringing realistic people, problems, and solutions for children and adults.

Cool Things Noticed:

1. That running photo montage was priceless. Seeing a crying Jeff from age 3 to 9 was great.
2. Jeff has two moms and yeah thats it. I love this shows contemporary views on family and dating.
3. Those old ladies do look intimidating in all their niceness.
4. Clarences musical number was fantastic. Highlighting all of Jeffs flaws to perfection.
5. So thats it for Clarence (for now). Its not I do not love watching this show its that I will be much more busy this semester and do not have the time to devote to writing for three shows. But Regular Show and Steven should be around before Thursday! Yay! Probably be shorter reviews :/