Dark Qiviut

Finished The Deep End.

There's a boatload of comedy here in this episode. When the comedy lands, it lands really well. The best ones are Soos telling Dipper not to think about why the sun on his towel wears sunglasses, Mabel sneaking about to get to know Mermando, Mabel sighing in relief after realizing he doesn't have a girlfriend. Some dark jokes, like the pool boss revealing his prosthetic hand, Mermando not being able to breathe when beached, and Stan's back catching fire work real well. Initially, the Jail Pool Kid worked well as a dark joke, but because he was left there for too long, the joke became less funny and more sad, if not mean-spirited.

Gideon makes his return, and that white-haired SOB remains as devious as ever. XD He and Stan continue their rivalry, but he reveals his cleverness and intelligence by always having some backup plan in case Grunkle Stan wants to take his spot. This show uses its continuity to its advantage, and TDE ain't no exception.

This episode focuses a lot on Mabel, her crush angle, and getting to know Mermando while fulfilling her kiss dream. No, she ain't afraid to admit lusting over him, but as she gets to know him, begins to appreciate him for his caring personality. When he reveals how much he misses his family, she decides to help him, a side of her personality that rounds her character.

The pacing here was really tight, although maybe a little quicker than others. Probably because the show uses jump cuts rather extensively, and the scenes go through rather quickly. There's a lot of content here, and it crams it through. But if there's one scene that doesn't work at all, it's the climax. The episode tends to rush his beached scenes and plug in a lot of comedy here, but this is the first time where he actually shows great danger, but the scene plugs in a quick "I think I'm dying" joke, and Mabel takes a picture of both Dip and the dying Mermando "kissing," severely downplaying the serious situation. Mermando telling them both they could've dragged him to the lake undercuts the tone more.

Act 3 and the pacing can be filtered a bit (and the climax given more dignity), but it does a nice job overall.

Grades (Boss Mabel grade changed):

1. Tourist Trapped: A-
2. The Legend of the Gobblewonker: C+
3. Headhunters: A
4. The Hand That Rocks the Mabel: A
5. The Inconceiving: C+
6. Dipper Vs. Manliness: A-
7. Double Dipper: B
8. Irrational Treasure: C
9. The Time Traveler's Pig: A
10. Fight Fighters: A
11. Little Dipper: B-
12. Summerween: A
13. Boss Mabel: B- C+
14. Bottomless Pit!: B-
15. The Deep End: B-/B