#Tgamm the internship

[tgammsideblog]

Tgamm S1 Ep 16-B ¨The Internship¨ Episode analysis

Molly is assigned to be Weird Larry’s intern as part of a school project, something she isn’t thrilled about. Meanwhile, Scratch looks for an intern that can easily follow his orders...

Episode Writer: Cynthia Furey ¨The Internship¨ is an episode that is a bit complicated to talk about because it does gets some things right while other things are excuted poorly, leaving bad implications as result. Molly’s plot is pretty good but Scratch’s plot feels forced and out of character. So, to analyse this episode, i’m going to first talk about Molly’s story and later discuss Scratch’s story, explaining went wrong with it.

First, Molly’s story: Molly is assigned to be Weird Larry’s intern, the character that asked Molly to helped him searching his pet skunk on ¨All Systems No¨. Molly isn’t fond of Larry, probably because she considers him too extravagant of a person. She mentions a few times in the episode that Larry’s workshop is ¨where happy memories go to die¨. She sees it as a place that doesn’t make other people happy, only miserable.

Molly has a hard time understanding what is the purpose of Larry’s workshop. She doesn’t know how she could enhappify other people with broken watches and old antique. She gets frustrated with the place so much she asks her teacher to change her to other mentor than isn’t Larry. The teacher reminds Molly that she is always able to see the bright side of things, which inspires the teen to ¨enhappify¨ the workshop.

The song sequence involves her cleaning and changing Larry’s work place into something she considers more ¨happy¨. The lyrics of the song capture Molly’s personality pretty well in how she tries to be optimistic and help her community. It’s a positive nice catchy song that i often find myself listening to. Other aspect that makes the sequence work is showing this flaw that Molly has of pushing the way she sees the world into other people without trying to see things from their perspective. Since she is still a teenager, she still struggles others point of views.

Weird Larry is shocked when he finds out his workplace got completely changed. He explains to Molly that he has his own system to find things easily. Later Molly sadly expresses that things aren’t working out between them. Seeing her reaction, Larry shows to Molly the project he has been working on: a big dragon built out of the materials people bring to him. He lets her play with it and later puts a crown on her for ¨defeating¨ the dragon.

With this, Molly is able to understand that Weird Larry is an inventor and, much like her, he uses his inventions to ¨enhappify¨ others. The difference is that Molly does it with multiple people while Larry prefers to doing it one person at time. I think it is nice lesson to learn for a character whose goal is making the world a better place. There are different ways to do that depending on the person and their skills.

On the other hand, there is Scratch’s story, which is the part that made some fans feel uncomfortable while watching it. Scratch’s B plot is about him taking advantage of his mentor powers and abusing them to make Reggie, his intern, do what he demands. In the first half of the episode, Scratch’s actions make more or less sense for his character: He is someone who struggles empathizing with people outside his social circle,unlike Molly, and he has terrible example of bosses who push him around, make fun of him and are constantly abusing him emotionally. This leads him to copy their behaviour, thinking that is the correct way to be a boss. The issue comes the second part of the episode when he starts yelling at Reggie for trivial things and chasing him for giving him a very specific food. There is difference between him making Reggie do his chores and treating him so poorly. Scratch rarely goes this overboard when it comes to being rude to others.

What makes this B plot fail is when Reggie goes to report to the Ghost Council about Scratch’s mentorship and it ends up potraying his poor treatment as a good thing that helped him learn some skills. I’m sure this wasn’t part of the writer’s intention but Reggie’s dialogue comes off wrong in this scene.

Another issue is that Scratch doesn’t get any serious consequences of being abusive to Reggie aside from Reggie becoming his superior and being yelled at to make him a sandwich. It doesn’t help that this wasn’t given any proper continuity in the season, which feels like wasted potential and makes the B plot kind of worthless. If it had some continuation, it would probably be less harsher with this episode.

In conclusion:¨The Internship¨ is mediocre episode that leaves a mixed impression after watching it thanks to Scratch’s side plot. It’s still worth of watching for Molly’s plot, which is well executed, and even for Scratch’s behaviour despite of not having a satisfying conclusion to it. It’s the weakest episode of this season if you ask me.

[tornrose24]

I just had a realization about TGAMM’s ‘Citizen McGee’ and ‘The Internship’ which are both two parters within the same episode. I thought the artistic design of the ghosts was one of the reasons why Molly wasn’t able to make any connection between Todd and Scratch, and then I realized something.

In ‘Citizen McGee,’ Mayor Brunson was able to easily identify his Mom when she was a ghost. It’s unknown how long she has been dead, and he has a picture of her in his office, but he was able to tell it was her, despite some visual differences.

Then the next part of the episode is ‘The Internship’ which is the second time Molly is able to interact with Todd, but this time she had more than just a few seconds to get a good look at his face. She knows Scratch’s face so well by this point that she should have picked up the physical similarities, and there should have been a reversal of that identification…. And yet that didn’t happen.

I know it wouldn’t have worked for obvious reasons, and I know realistically she would not have immediately saw the connection, but it’s still a bit laughable that she wasn’t later all “Hey Scratch there was this guy who kind of looks like you. You don’t think you have any descendants or family members who are still around?”

Then again, this is the same girl who mistook Geoff for President Lincoln, so….

… But now I’m having another realization. Brunson knew Todd since they were kids, so why the hell did he not recognize Scratch, who was RIGHT THERE WITH THE OTHER GHOST MAYORS?! In that song?!

…..Is Todd so average-looking that this applies to his ghost as well?

[the5n00k]

Choose violence asks: any that Sil didn't include 😅

Y'all making me do HOMEWORK TONIGHT /lh

Again, readmore bc this bitch is heafty

1: I have this problem a lot bc I tend to overcomplicate and project onto my favorite characters but honestly it's Dan from Roommates because the creator has addressed us multiple times to say it's "not that deep" (which is kind of why I went into TGAMM with a surface level understanding and once y'all opened my eyes to the iceberg it was downhill from there I love complicated characters)

2: ... Uh... scratch is ace? This is such an odd question LOL

3: I can't find a screenshot but literally every person who said Molly and Ollie look like they could be related.

5: if I speak I will be shot (owlphibia)

9: worst part of canon? Depends on the fandom I'm talking about. I'll simplify it to TGAMM because that's what most of y'all are here for and simplify that even further by saying the worst part of canon is the fact that The Internship is an episode that exists

11: I think I only filtered Amphibia and Amphibia adjacent tags once on Twitter because I didn't want the finale spoiled for me

12: normally I'd say Ollie but he's picking up some traction in the love department after Frightmares and Unhaunting (nature is healing) so imma say Harriet. Fking love her every time she's on screen I wanna kiss her (it's pride month I can exercise my girl pretty disease)

17: praying coping and seething that we get more corrupted scratch art and fics if I keep making analysis and foreshadowing collecting posts please I am carrying this theory on my back

19: I'm kind of embarrassed that I unironically enjoy Learning With Pibby and some FNF mods like Lullaby and VS Boy and Girl those rock fight me. I'm also really mad I love analog horror. Such a dumb and usually predictable genre but it pulls me in every time (Gemini Home Entertainment, Vita Carnis, and Harmony and Horror my beloveds)

20: uhhhh not much? In regards to tgamm I was never usually bored watching. I think both seasons have been well paced so far although due to my own impatience I do wish for more scratch lore in my veins immediately

21: so funny that I just said that bc I think the answer to this is scratch lore, there's so many other cool things coming this season (jinx, the Chens, the Bizmart guy, Molly's history with street magicians, Sharon's history with musicians to name a few) that it feels like we've gotten tunnel vision (I'm guilty of this too don't worry)

It feels like all we talk about anymore and I don't want to get my hopes up for it, I already have my expectations so high I'm terrified of what we're actually gonna get lol I'm trying to keep an open mind about it

24: APPARENTLY THE PACING OF OLLIE'S REDEMPTION ARC AND THE DISCUSSION SURROUNDING MOLLIE AFTER I WANNA DANCE WITH SOME-OLLIE DROPPED. I SAW SOME ABSOLUTELY RANCID TAKES. Most things surrounding Ollie just. Happen to have some very heated discussions sometimes. It's gotten better but damn it's actually very frustrating (this kid was being compared to every bigoted extremist in the books, he is 13 years old please sit down)

I THINK THAT'S EVERYTHING hot damn y'all put me to work lol /lh

[candydos]

Citizen McGee / The Internship

https://mega.nz/file/mxlXVQDb#RgfwYfSoWI7oMwOnipNgeFG8qZn8myHZvHTxeWgj01A

(if that doesn't work, try https://drive.google.com/file/d/1DiR1LuwNhZUHq7jzHrnI1v5Z0o7mXer9/view?usp=sharing )

[kingpagie]

New episodes were pretty good. The songs were bangers. I like that they gave Larry an actual character instead of just making him some one note joke character. The animation is still beautiful, and that all I really have to say.

[castorochiaro]

here's how each of the episodes in tgamm s1 stack up for me

overall least fave is "the internship" and my absolute fave is either "molly vs the ghost world" or "all systems no"

[tgammsideblog]

Just curious, why do you dislike the Internship so much? I don’t think it’s spectacular or anything, I personally see it as mid tier, but why is it your least favorite?

It's because of the B plot that is about Reggie being Scratch's intern and the way Scratch treats him

Scratch spends most of the episode yelling and even threatening him a few times, like chasing him down for not bringing a very specific drink. That's not to say that it isn't in character for him to be a bad boss, after all he is imitating the treatment he got from the Ghost Council at the point. However, many Scratch fans i know complained about how it felt too much even for Scratch. He has been controlling and mean in previous episodes but not to this extent. He usually doesn't care about being specific with food with some exceptions.

I think the main problem is that the conclusion to the conflict feels like it is ¨praising¨ the way that Scratch treated Reggie, as Reggie potrays his treatment as something ¨positive¨ when it was just Scratch screaming and pushing him around all the time. It delivers some wrong message about how being an abusive boss is okay since you are ¨pushing¨ your intern/employees, which is a really bad lesson.

Scratch gets scot free by quite a lot because all that happened to him was that Reggie became his superior at the end of the episode. We don't see Scratch trying to apologize for his actions nor Reggie becoming his boss was brought up in later episodes. It hasn't had any repercussions in Season 2 because Scratch became the new chairman, meaning Reggie isn't his boss anymore. Reggie has yet to show up again in Season 2, which doesn't seem like it is happening so far. That's not to say that Scratch doesn't regret the abusive treatment he gave in that episode, but it would be good to see him apologizing to Reggie for being so terrible to him at least.

In the end it leaves a B plot with a pretty bad message and with no proper follow up so far.

[tgammsideblog]

Tgamm S1 Ep 17-B ¨Lock, Stock and Peril¨ Episode analysis

When Pete, Sharon and Darryl accidentally get trapped inside the basement, it is up to Molly and Scratch to rescue them. But can the duo find Weird Larry to help them without getting distracted?

Much like its sister segment, ¨The Lucky Penny¨, ¨Lock, Stock and Peril¨ is a simple story with some ridiculous shenanigans happening. Unlike ¨The Lucky Penny¨, the Mcgee family is the focus in this episode, with Molly and Scratch taking the A plot and Pete, Darryl and Sharon carrying the B plot.

The A plot itself is very chill, with Molly and Scratch getting distracted by different type of things, most of them being in character (Scratch eating food, Molly wishing to see an unicorn that turns to be a horse). It's adorable seeing hanging out in the city and having a sibling like dynamic. There are some cute scenes of the two imitating each other's poses or reactions, showing how much they are used to each other's company.

We get to see a bit of Brighton's daily life. It's often enjoyable to watch the different people that live in the city and Molly and Scratch interacting with them. For example there is an scene the duo stops to get lemonade for a kid, who takes too much time to squish the lemon and make the drink. It's both a cute and funny moment from background character that otherwise wouldn't have a role in other episodes. What's more Weird Larry has some importance in this episode as the duo spends most of the story trying to catch up to him and ask for his help. It's a good way to use a character that was explored in a previous episode (The Internship) and let him have a role in here.

For plot B it involves Pete, Sharon and Darryl losing themselves and starting a ¨mini war¨ inside the basement while they wait for Molly and Scratch to come back. I love how they start to have their own factions and the whole situation becomes more and more ridiculous the more time they spend trapped inside the room. While Plot A is good, i would argue that B plot is way funnier because of how exaggerated the reactions of the Mcgee family are.

The song sequence when Scratch posesses Larry in his motorcycle and the duo tries to not get distracted is pretty good as well. The visuals gags are hilarious, like a posessed Larry dancing with doll like moves. The neon visuals used in the sequence are pretty eye catching, showing all things Molly and Scratch try to avoid.

If there is one issue i have with the episode is that i find rather out of character for Molly to get so easily distracted. It does makes sense for someone like Scratch, but it isn't so believable when it comes to Molly. At least the things that make her lose focus are in character like the ¨unicorn¨ exhibition and asking lemonade to help the kid with a cause. However, as a ¨flaw¨ itself it feels a bit out of place.

The conclusion to the story is kind of cute and funny. The Mcgees make up for getting carried away while being trapped inside the basement and Molly and Scratch getting in trouble for taking so much time to return.

In conclusion: ¨Lock, Stock and Peril¨ is a good Mcgee family episode with some hilarious moments and nice character interactions, specially with Molly and Scratch. It doesn't have any important development nor lesson, but it is worth of watching because of its humor and entertainment value.

[tgammsideblog]

My list of Tgamm Season 1 episode analyses

1) The Curse / First Day Frights 2) Howlin Harriet / The (Un)Natural 3) Getting the Band (Shell) Back Together / The Greatest Concert Ever 4) Mama’s Gotta Hustle / Horray for Mollywood! 5) Not So Honest Abe / The Best of Nintentions 6) Mazel Tov, Libby! / No Good Deed 7) The Turnip Twist / All Systems No 8) Monumental Disaster / Talent Show 9) Scratch The Surface / Friend-off 10) Festival of Lights / Saving Christmas 11) Ice Princess / Ready, Set, Snow! 12) Game Night / The Don’t Gooder 13) Innocent Until Proven Ghostly / Twin Trouble 14) Goat Your Own Way / A Very Hungry Ghost 15) Scare Tactics / The Bad Boy Bobby Daniels 16) Citizen Mcgee /  The Internship 17) The Lucky Penny / Lock, Stock and Peril 18) Out of House and Home / Home Is Where The Haunt Is 19) Scaring is Caring / All Night Plight 20) The Jig is Up / Molly vs The Ghost World

More will be added to the list as a make them

[the5n00k]

I respect when anyone can put aside hyperbole and be critical about something they genuinely love. Is there anything about TGAMM you don’t like or at least feel can be improved on in later episodes? For me, it’s the songs. I love plenty of them, but they are inconsistent in quality compared to P&F or Steven Universe.

Definitely agree, I even admitted in my first watch through a lot of the songs were forgettable. I'm appreciating more of them now but there's definitely a lot I still forget/think are incredibly mid. Which is a shame because I love Rob Cantor and his work

The other thing is a few characters that got shafted in season 1 like Darryl, Geoff, the ghost council, and Jinx, although we already have confirmation that That particular issue will be addressed and tended to lol

Some of the writing was kinda bad too? I could go on about how a considerable handful of episodes are just kinda There for me or how Twin Trouble and The Internship make me physically roll my eyes so far back into my skull I can see my brain deleting every memory of ever seeing them. When this show is good it's PHENOMENAL which makes the mid to low tier episodes stick out that much more to me. Hoping for some more consistency in that regard as well

Love this series to pieces, I would die for the characters, but I recognize it's not a masterpiece and has its issues. Maybe one day I'll address them all in full

[tgammsideblog]

Thoughts on ¨ Citizen McGee/The Internship¨

General: I like the character growth of Molly in these episodes. She was great in both segments. I appreciate the show continue exploring her character like in this one.Another thing i like is seeing more secondary characters getting development like Weird Larry and The Mayor in this case. Both are fun and interesting. I hope they get more episodes in the future. ¨Citizen McGee¨: It was for the most part a solid episode. I’m a bit confused of what message it’s supposed to be. I think that not everyone is ready to be a leader and you need experience for that? Anyways, the song of the episode is great, i love seeing more ghosts characters. Molly screwing up everything is very fun too. ¨The Internship¨: I really enjoyed Molly’s plot in this episode. I think i like it more than Citizen McGee because the conflict is a bit more changelling for Molly since Larry is someone she doesn’t like that much. The lesson is more interesting too. It’s about how people have different ways of doing things and how we can see other side of things when we change our perspective. I feel it’s something i don’t see that often in other shows. However, Scratch is plot is… weird. He asks for an intern. He starts acting like one would expect him to do, with taking advantage of Reggie but then he takes it to a complete extreme that he starts yelling at Reggie and totally pushing him around. Some people pointed out that he isn’t usually this terrible with other people. It feels like they exaggerated too much these traits in this episode. At the end Scratch almost gets send to Flow because of how he treated Reggie, which feels out of place honestly? I like that Reggie becomes Scratch’s boss, meaning that he could appear in later episodes. It’s likely that he is going to pick up how Scratch hasn’t been keeping up with his scare numbers. To sum up: Molly’s plot is good, Scratch is plot is weird but hints potential arcs for later in the show.

[tgammsideblog]

On Bill Motz’s thread on Scratch, cartoon fandom has weird idea of how redemption arcs work, which they think it consists in a character learning a lesson and becoming a complete different one without barely making the same mistakes again or having setbacks.

The true is that a person doesn’t change in a day and stops being what they are, they are going to make many mistakes along the way. They are going to have moments when they fall back in their old habits because getting over behavior you have had most of your life is difficult.

I think one of the few shows i watched that really gets this is Bojack Horseman, which is adult animation. The main character Bojack tries changing multiples times in the series and he fails miserably more than one time. He ends up pushing people away and completely ruining relationships forever. It takes him a long time until he starts to work on be better himself.

Speaking about that, i have watched very few animated shows with semi-episodic format that dion’t have the characters learn a lesson multiple times before they start changing. Not only that but older cartoons used to make the character learn lessons that rarely sticked to them and i don’t see people saying that they are bad series because of it. Look at Anne from Amphibia, it took her almost a season to really start seeing her changing and had to learn tons of things along the way.