iCarly Review: iCupid (Season 2 Episode 5)
iCarly Season 2 Episode 5, “iCupid,” delves into the longstanding iconic familial relationships of these characters and it is safe to say that not too much has changed, especially between Carly and Spencer, and Freddie and Mrs. Benson.
The family aspect is a huge part of iCarly. It’s cute, campy, and a bit cringe — which is expected at this point.
What really makes “iCupid” stand out, though, are the more adult forward themes as well as the addition of Rachel Bloom as McKenna.
After the beer mimosas (gross) and terrible instrument playing, Spencer gets a bit long-winded and feels that he’s missed out on key points of his life including settling down with someone.
It is nice to see him open up from time to time because his mix of goofiness and vulnerability is what we all love so much.
Carly is the fixer, so it’s fitting that immediately after his proclamation she tries to find him a partner and the move is definitely to assuage her guilty conscience rather than helping Spencer.
“iCupid” brings Rachel Bloom into the iCarly world as a matchmaker, which is an absolute delight. Her banter fits in well and her takes and “red flags” on the dating world bring in that realistic aspect of how hard dating can be today.
The episode is geared toward a more mature audience with all the sex talk and jokes, yet it still adheres to the typical charm of Carly and Spencer’s sibling relationship.
It’s even funnier when they reveal their names for each other in their phones. Carly’s being brother father for Spencer and his being sister daughter for her.
Trying to change Carly and Spencer’s relationship, however funny it may be, does not ultimately pan out. On the other hand, the way Freddie and Mrs. Benson’s relationship is bending works well for Freddie’s character development.
Their relationship is all cringe all the time. As an adult, he not only still lives with her, but he lets her fawn over him and baby him at any chance she gets. It’s weird and something needs to shift.
The nice turning point of iCarly Season 2 Episode 5, “iCupid” is when Freddie stands up for Pearl and becomes more assertive with his mother. His attitude change is refreshing, and while he still decides to live with Mrs. Benson, he is finally establishing some much-needed boundaries.
Since Mrs. Benson is weirdly a part of Freddie’s overall character, the original idea of him moving away from her doesn’t fit the narrative that has been created for them. She is a lot, but the way Freddie interacts with her as well as how she affects his choices is too important to leave behind.
Millicent also plays a key role here. Her unmatched sass makes me forget she’s only 11, and her opinions in “iCupid further solidify her place in the unconventional Benson family.
Stray Thoughts:
- I would love for some more of Harper’s storyline. She’s kind of been intermittently interspersed and needs more for her own development.
- Spencer’s makeover is ridiculous and I love it.
- The outfits are on point.
What did you think of this episode of iCarly? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Critic Rating:
User Rating:
New episodes of iCarly air Fridays on Paramount+.
Follow us on Twitter and on 
Instagram!
Want more from Tell-Tale TV? Subscribe to our newsetter here!
Courtney Shapiro
Courtney is a New Jersey native who loves sitcoms, reality TV and dramas. When not talking about pop culture, she can be found catching up on the latest book. She graduated from NYU with a master's degree in journalism. Her favorite shows include New Girl, Gilmore Girls, and the Bachelor franchise.