Tuca & Bertie Review: The Dance (Season 2 Episode 9)
Tuca & Bertie Season 2 Episode 9, “The Dance,” is a compelling, thought-provoking outing that dives into our eponymous pair’s codependency while exploring what it means to be yourself in a relationship.
The episode also propels the overarching narrative forward and sets the stage for next week’s season finale.
Tuca’s girlfriend, Kara, is verbally/mentally/emotionally abusive, and she seeks to change anything and everything about our favorite toucan. It’s a behavior endemic to abusive people, but notably, those who inflict pain with words. Abuse is all too commonplace.
“The Dance” gracefully and deftly handles this sensitive topic.
Tuca & Bertie has always embraced visuals to convey character emotions — it is an animated show, after all. Tuca, Bertie, and Kara are illustrated in a beautiful lyrical dance that paints Tuca as a victim of Kara’s venomous behavior while Bertie lets her shine.
While Tuca musters the courage to voice her concerns to Kara, who appears to be sympathetic and willing to change, those of us who’ve experienced abuse know full well that it’s cyclical. The abuser apologizes, but it’s only a matter of time before history repeats itself.
Kara: I’ve had this issue with partners in the past. I’m not good at bending. But you mean a lot to me, Tuca.
Of course, it wouldn’t be a Tuca & Bertie episode without addressing the titular duo’s codependency issues.
When Tuca goes three consecutive weeks with no more than the occasional text as communication, Bertie’s anxiety gets the best of her. Understandably so, and the show depicts Bertie’s anxiousness in a profoundly relatable way.
This leads to “The Dance” posing the following question: Why don’t we talk to each other?
If you wanted to take a deep dive into the issue, you could blame social media. While the series doesn’t make it out to be the culprit, it’s clear these characters have spent most of their adulthood consumed by social media.
There’s even miscommunication between our best bird buddies. Tuca’s “Bertie will keep me alone” cup makes a resurgence in “The Dance,” and if there’s one thing this show excels at besides its depiction of mental health, it’s playing the long game.
Even the moss from a few episodes earlier reenters the fray, and, naturally, it represents the pervasive gentrification in Tuca and Bertie’s neighborhood.
The series artfully sneaks it into the background of the carnival scenery, showing us the repercussions of gentrification on more than just apartment complexes — it can affect every facet of a community.
Tuca: Look, I’m usually too much for people. So, if I can make myself not be too much, then maybe Kara will keep liking me.
Tuca’s desire to change herself because she’s ” too much for people” is an issue women often face. Women are “too emotional,” “too aggressive,” “too dramatic.”
Tuca & Bertie poignantly brings a seldom-discussed talking point to the forefront.
Thankfully, the show reminds us that there’s no such thing as “too much.” Maybe they’re not enough.
“The Dance” is a humorous and heartfelt exploration of relationships and their complexities, from friendship to romance. As per its usual, it even handles the darker parts with consummate tenderness.
Thank the avian gods Tuca & Bertie will be back for Season 3.
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.