#iWill Date Freddie

[zackmartin]

icarly rewatch ☆ (1.09) iWill date Freddie

[nickelodeon-closet]

Carly Shay’s printed henley tank top in “iWill Date Freddie”!

Exact: Damsel Floral Henley Tank (Urban Outfitters)

Also worn in blue/purple in “iWanna Stay with Spencer”!

[seeleybooth]

Carly fixing Freddie’s clothing | 1.09 “iWill Date Freddie” / 2.01 “iGuess Everyone Hates Me Now”

[secondbeatsongs]

please write part three of your icarly meta i’m gonna cry about spencer as a quirky queer man he was always my favorite and i just want him to be happy

I will get back to Spencer, because I have some more things to say about him - but for now, let’s take a little detour.

let’s talk about Freddie.

at the beginning of the show, Freddie is definitely a weird kid. he’s got a crush on Carly, but it’s nearly obsessive, and he has a hard time acting normal around her.

over the years, he mellows out, and grows into himself more - just like Spencer, he’s very passionate about what he does, but it takes him some time to figure out how he fits into their friend group, and how to express his creativity without overthinking it.

and also just like Spencer, Freddie is not heterosexual.

okay, so sure - he’s not rollerblading everywhere or joining a book club. but there’s more than one way to be queer! even in a show like this, you don’t have to be flamboyant to be very obviously attracted to dudes (which Freddie is, by the way. more on that in a bit).

let’s go to season 1 again.

s01e09 (iWill Date Freddie) is a cute episode in which tiny, baby Freddie Benson goes on his first date! and when his mom finds out about his plans, there is this exchange:

Mrs. Benson: “I’m so proud of you; I can’t believe this is finally happening! Your first date...”

Freddie: “Mom...”

Mrs. Benson: “...And with a girl!”

Freddie: “Mom!”

Sam: (sarcastically) “We’re all in shock...”

now, this may seem like period-typical homophobia on the part of the writers (that’s because it is!), but in-universe, it also lends us a little insight as to how Freddie’s mom views him - she’s been wondering if he might be gay. but, don’t worry! he’s going on a date with a girl, therefore he must be straight, and so Mrs. Benson is delighted.

(this poor child.)

but the above interaction is not the gayest part of this episode. oh, no. that happens when Freddie asks Spencer for first date advice, and Spencer says that if he runs out of things to say, he should stare deeply into the girl’s eyes, because it’ll make him seem cool and mysterious.

Freddie starts to say “Yeah, I don’t really think that works...” but when he looks up, Spencer is staring deeply into his eyes, cheerful and earnest. and just like that, Freddie loses his train of thought and stares back, falling silent.

I really don’t know what the writers were trying for there, but like...holy shit, right? that’s gay as hell.

there’s actually a decent amount of evidence that Freddie has a crush on Spencer - and no, it’s not just about the time Spencer taught him how to fence (though it is very much about that).

it’s also about s03e08 (iQuit iCarly). in this episode, we learn that Spencer has a birthmark on his butt. I’m not kidding - this is a canon fact about Spencer Shay.

“but how do we know this?” you might ask. oh, friends. we know this because Freddie notices it when he checks out Spencer’s ass.

that’s not even a joke. that actually happened. Spencer had set up a bunch of mirrors so he could watch TV while taking a shower. and, apparently unable to resist, Freddie checks him out in one of the mirrors and asks about his birthmark.

what a show, you guys. what a show.

even besides all of that, I think the friendship between Freddie and Spencer is really interesting. here’s Freddie, this little nerdy kid with an incredibly overbearing mom - a mom who gives him tick baths every other week, a mom who installed a chip in his head so that she could track him everywhere he goes - and then right next door, there’s Spencer Shay.

Spencer, who let him crash in their living room when he didn’t want to go home to his mother. Spencer, who asked, “Think it’d be okay with your mom?” when Freddie wanted to try fencing, but when Freddie said, “No...” only grinned and exclaimed, “Let’s do it!”

for Freddie, Spencer is a bad influence in the best possible way. it’s Spencer who gives him dating advice, who nerds out with him about video games and movies, and who is, for the most part, his only male role model.

(no wonder Freddie has a crush on him)

but while I’m talking about the men in Freddie’s life...where is his dad? like, genuinely, where the fuck is Freddie’s dad?

and, more importantly - who is Freddie’s dad? because you see, Freddie’s mom is Mrs. Benson. that’s the name she’s called throughout the show - not Ms. Benson, but Mrs. Benson - implying that it’s her married name.

but in s01e22 (iFence), we find out that Freddie’s great-grandfather ran a troupe of fencers called The Fencin’ Bensons. his great-grandfather on his mom’s side of the family.

now, I’m not saying that anything bad happened here - but I do think it’s interesting that the show hints that Freddie’s parents had the same last name.

if we dig, we can find out a bit more - there was an unaired scene from s03e03 (iSpeed Date), where Freddie mentions that his father’s name is/was Leonard Benson, and confirms that his parents had the same last name before they were married. unfortunately, this never made it into the show, and is therefore not canon. and still, it doesn’t answer the biggest question - where’s Freddie’s dad?

there is no concrete answer to this. just like Carly and Spencer’s mom, Mr. Benson was never mentioned on the show.

turns out this show has kind of a lot of absent parents. I’m not sure how to feel about that.

so, this post has gone on long enough, but I have a lot of feelings about Freddie, so once more I’m going to talk about the show’s finale.

Freddie Benson got maybe the worst ending out of all of the characters.

if you haven’t seen the finale (warning, spoilers, I guess?), you should know that it was weird. it’s a long episode and a lot of things happen, but here is basically how it ended:

* Carly’s dad showed up and asked her to move to Italy with him

* Carly packed up, said goodbye to everyone, and then left.

* Freddie got all of his tech stuff from their studio, took it back to his apartment, and leaned on the door a bit, thinking about the past.

* Sam got on her motorcycle (I’ll talk more about this in another post), and rode off into the distance, her destination unclear.

* Spencer sat on the couch, smiled to himself like he was trying not to cry, and accidentally set his squirrel sculpture on fire.

that’s it. that’s how the show ended.

Spencer’s ending is one of the hardest for me to think about - he raised this kid for at least twelve years, and now she’s gone, no looking back, and that’s sad.

but Spencer is an adult, and he’ll be okay. he knew parenting was a thankless job, and he can be happy now - Carly gets to be with their dad! she gets to go off and have adventures, and that’s why he’s smiling a little at the end. it hurts, but he’s happy for her. his job is done - time to figure out what the fuck to do with the rest of his life (weird gay stuff, probably).

and Sam? Sam will be fine. she’s always been able to take care of herself, and she knows what she’s doing - even if she’s reckless, she’ll turn out okay.

Freddie’s ending is what gets me the most. the day before, he was the technical producer for a hugely successful web show, with two best friends who’d been with him since middle school. and then, suddenly, all of that was gone.

Freddie Benson had to graduate high school without his two best friends by his side. he had to figure out a new purpose for his life, something else that could help him escape from the life his mother wants him to live. because after the series finale? most of Freddie’s life is back to what it was in season 1.

sure, he’s got Gibby, and that’s great! but he was always closer to Sam, Carly, and Spencer. Spencer, who he probably won’t hang out with much, now that he doesn’t have the excuse of him being his best friend’s older brother.

like, shit, you guys - this is heartbreaking to me. he had everything, and then he had to enter the next part of his life completely alone.

I just...I can’t get over it. Freddie Benson deserved better.

[youareheaven]

Spencer in every iCarly episode: Season One, Episode Nine: iWill Date Freddie

[samantha-benson-blog]

Sam Puckett» iWill Date Freddie

[kristenschaals]

[samsfatcakes]

Just a few times Sam hated Freddie and didn't care about him. 

[lizagraceffa-blog]

[hobocaps]

[samandfreddie]

[whyusostoopid-blog]

iWill date Freddie

- Freddie: Yup, we've gone out every night this week. I'd say we're almost officially boyfriend and girlfriend.

- Sam: So, which one are you?

[lizagraceffa-blog]

[miketownsends]

iWill Date Freddie

Carly: Okay, now it's time for a brand-new segment here on iCarly. Sam: Which we call- Carly & Sam: The Blab Cam! Freddie: Actually, it's really called the two-way high-speed video ca- Sam: Well, we're calling it the Blab Cam, so get used to it.

Valerie: Hey, is Freddie there? Can I see him? Sam: Why would a person wanna see Freddie? Freddie: Right here, Valerie. Valerie: All right, can I just say I think you're insanely cute? Sam: Uh, Valerie, you might wanna check your webcam and your brain because I'm pretty sure one of em's malfunctioning.

Sam: Yeah, it's a new feature on iCarly which we call "Date the Dork." Whadda ya say, Val? Valerie: Well, I don't think Freddie's a dork, and I'd love to go on a date with him. Freddie: *to Carly* You won't be jealous? Carly: I'll try to be strong. Freddie: *to Valerie* Yes! Sam: All right, Valerie, just e-mail Freddie the address of the mental institution you're locked up in and he'll meet you there.

Sam: Just take the girl out, kiss her, then step back before she pukes.

Mrs. Benson: I'm so proud of you, I can't believe it's finally happening. Your first date! Freddie: Moom! Mrs. Benson: And with a girl! Freddie: MOOM! Sam: We're all in shock.

Mrs. Benson: It seems somebody forgot our little rule. Sam: What rule? Freddie: Just skip it, all right? Mrs. Benson: Freddie, tell her the rule about standing up straight. Freddie: *sighs* ...You won't get respect if your back's not erect. Sam: *spits watermelon all over the table*

Freddie: I'm not even sure if I'm going on the date. Sam: Yes you are. Carly: You're going. Freddie: But what if she's not- Mrs. Benson: Freddie, there is a living breathing girl who wants to go out with you! This may never happen again! Unless... Carly changes her mind. Carly: Freddie and I are just buds. Mrs. Benson: I totally understand. Carly: Thank you. Mrs. Benson: WHY WON'T YOU LOVE MY SON?! Freddie: MOOOM!

Sam: Okay, I'll give you a thousand dollars for one picture of Freddie's butt.

Carly: What, noodles can't live happily in a hard corn shell?

Spencer: I'm cookin', I'm cookin' things, cookin' things for people to eat. I'm cookin', I'm cookin' things, things that people will cheeeeew!

Spencer: Then just stare into her eyes and say nothing. That'll make you seem all cool and mysterious. She'll be, like, hypnotized! Freddie: Yeah, I don't really think that works. Because if I don't say anything won't she think I'm... won't she think I'm... won't she... just.... Spencer: What doesn't really work?

Carly: I said to stall her! Sam: She is stalled! I slammed the door right in her face!

Freddie: Hey, no one knows audio and video like Freddie-o! Carly & Sam: *groan*

Carly: Good berries. Sam: Well, it's berry season. Carly: I did not know that.

Freddie: Yep, we've gone out together almost every night this week. I'd say we're almost officially boyfriend and girlfriend. Sam: So which one are you?

Carly: So have you kissed her yet? Freddie: Maybe, a little. Sam: No way! Did she puke?

Sam: Man, I don't think I have ever seen that kid when he wasn't sneezing and... wasn't there a dork next to me?

Freddie: But... Carly and Sam are my friends, I can't just bail on 'em. Valerie: Um, from what you told me, Sam's not your friend. You said she's always calling you names and putting you down. Freddie: I know, but she can't help it! She's just naturally vicious!

Jeremy: She kissed you! And she's not even your mom!

Carly: Freddie quit! Sam: Quit what? Sucking his thumb?

Sam: Freddie! Open up! We need to talk to you right now! Freddie: *in high pitched voice* Uh, Freddie's not here! I'm just a lady! Carly: *to Sam* What are you doing? Sam: Picking the lock. Carly: How are you gonna pick the lock with a hairpin - oh, like that.

Carly: WHY are you quitting iCarly?! Sam: Yeah, why?! Freddie: Um, 'cause, 'cause... 'cause maybe I don't like the way Sam treats me! Carly: Oh, come on! Freddie: Yeah, yeah, she's - she's always putting me down, and... and calling me mean names, and... and every time I get an ice cream cone she takes it and she licks it! She just licks it all over the place, just to bug me!

Carly: So you're just going to ditch us for another webshow?! Freddie: Valerie's my girlfriend! What am I supposed to do? Sam: Dump the chick! How about that?!

Valerie: Oh, and... don't say anything. We wouldn't want Carly to know about this. Sam: I won't. *scene change* Carly: She WHAT?! Sam: That skunkbag tried to steal me too!

Carly: That little.... Sam: Say it. Carly: I don't like to say it. Spencer says it's not lady-like. Sam: Say it! Carly: That skunkbag! Sam: Feels good, doesn't it?! Carly: Yeah it does! Sam: We gonna go tell Freddie? Carly: Yeah we are! Sam: Can we get a smoothie first? Carly: No we cannot!

Freddie: You're lying! Sam: I don't lie! Carly: Yeah! Sam may be obnoxious and irresponsible, but she doesn't lie! ...Oh, you know I love you!

Freddie: You guys were right about her. She's a skunksack. Sam: Bag. Freddie: Bag.

Carly: Tell him he's just as important to the show as we are! Sam: Aw, why don't you just make me drink out of a toilet?!

[lizagraceffa-blog]