Tuca & Bertie Review: Vibe Check (Season 2 Episode 5)
Tuca & Bertie Season 2 Episode 5, “Vibe Check,” dives headfirst into the sexual trauma healing process as well as consent and healthy communication in a relationship.
While last week’s outing was more Tuca-centric, “Vibe Check” shines the spotlight on both members of our eponymous duo in equal measure.
That being said, Bertie’s story is more emotionally resonant. It’s not often that we see a harmless masturbation session morph into a sexual fantasy featuring an abusive figure of power. But it’s all part of the healing journey.
Grief can manifest itself in unexpected and unwanted ways, and Tuca & Bertie gracefully drives that point home.
“Vibe Check” utilizes imagery to great effect here. Yes, this is an animated show, but the Powers That Be use abstract visuals to convey the emotions our core characters are feeling.
It’s profoundly relatable, notably when it showcases Bertie’s grief journey. Her limbs falling off when she describes herself as “broken” is rather striking.
Bertie: Can’t you just snake it all out at once?
Tuca & Bertie delicately handles hot-button topics like a pro, so it’s no surprise that “Vibe Check” hits the nail on the head as far as Bertie’s mental health is concerned. The misconception that grief can be dealt with “all at once,” like snaking a drain is addressed here.
By the episode’s end, Bertie finds herself feeling discombobulated again but when her arm falls off, she simply screws it back on and forges ahead. It’s a beautiful metaphor for how we pull ourselves back together and soldier on. We experience the grief as it comes, and then we keep going as the tide recedes.
In addition to Bertie’s story, Tuca & Bertie shows us what consent and a healthy relationship look like.
When Bertie discloses her fantasy involving her abusive boss, Speckles is wholly supportive. He asks for her consent whenever they engage in sexual activities.
It’s important to show audiences that, even after experiencing a traumatic event, consensual and trusting relationships are possible. Speckles plays a role in helping Bertie find her voice again. Not in a “knight in shining armor” way, but in a manner that bolsters Bertie’s confidence. It’s lovely to see.
Besides Bertie’s narrative, Tuca undergoes her own anxiety-riddled journey: the unending paranoia of modern dating.
While Tuca susses out whether or not the woman she fancies reciprocates her feelings, we see the show’s unique use of visuals come into play again. That dreaded ellipsis that pops up after sending a crucial text is implemented in a fun bit that’s all too relatable.
We’ve all been on the receiving end of those dot-dot-dots. “Vibe Check” is an interesting study of the perils (and pluses) of the current dating scene, from agonizing over the perceived tone of texts to meticulously analyzing body language.
“Vibe Check” perfectly encapsulates Tuca & Bertie‘s penchant for thought-provoking storylines and promotes a positive attitude toward mental health, one that isn’t always showcased on TV.
It’s a stark, yet hopeful, reminder that the mental health journey is a life-long one.
What did you think of this episode of Tuca & Bertie? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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Tuca & Bertie airs Sundays at 11:30/10:30c on Adult Swim.
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Melody McCune
Melody loves TV. Maybe too much. Besides being a Senior Writer for Tell-Tale TV, she's the Managing Editor for Geek Girl Authority, an Independent Contractor for Sideshow Collectibles, and a Senior Writer for Eulalie Magazine. Additionally, she has bylines in Culturess, Widget, and inkMend on Medium. To top it all off, she's a critic for Rotten Tomatoes and CherryPicks.