Tuca & Bertie Review: Somebirdy’s Getting Married / The Mole (Season 3 Episodes 9 and 10)
Tuca & Bertie Season 3 Episodes 9 and 10, “Somebirdy’s Getting Married” and “The Mole,” boast some of the show’s most evocative imagery while exploring universally relatable themes.
To say these episodes are a turning point for our eponymous duo would be an understatement. “Sombirdy’s Getting Married” exposes their internal wounds to the elements, while “The Mole” heals said wounds figuratively and literally. It’s beautiful to witness Tuca and Bertie’s growth over the past three seasons, but they shine in the Season 3 finale.
TUCA: You feel the same way about alcohol as I do about juicy butts.
“Somebirdy’s Getting Married” even lays bare Speckles’ struggles, and it’s lovely to watch his arc blossom this season. Ali Wong, Tiffany Haddish, and Steven Yeun give it their all vocally, infusing our favorite avian characters with nuance and depth.
“The Mole” might be one of the strangest and sweetest episodes ever seen on TV, and that’s not hyperbole. Bertie shrinking herself via her mother’s incessant belittling (her mom makes her feel small — it’s a brilliant touch) to hop through Tuca’s vagina to fix a growth from impending rupture is, undoubtedly, a wholly unique premise that only Tuca & Bertie could execute with flying colors.
If there’s one thing we can expect from this show, it’s profound reflection with a smattering of cheeky humor and a lot of heart. This finale doesn’t pull punches, illustrating the devastating effects of medical gaslighting and how quickly doctors dismiss “invisible” pain.
BERTIE: Whispers are comforting and everybody loves them.
Thankfully, Tuca’s loved ones believe her, and Bertie’s trippy journey inside Tuca’s body simultaneously heals them both. Bertie learns she has all the tools to succeed inside her and the importance of setting healthy boundaries. It’s okay to prioritize your well-being over your job.
Meanwhile, Tuca learns to let love in and not deprive herself of her intrinsic needs. She also learns the valuable lesson of not taking “no” for an answer when your health is at stake. Our titular birds embark on similar paths in that they don’t feel worthy of love or deserve to have their desires fulfilled.
Bertie meeting Tuca’s mom is a pivotal moment, as we discover the things Tuca holds most dear are locked away inside her. It’s poignant and the perfect personification of the perpetual grief cycle.
DR. MOLE: I’m climbing up the vagina-ina-ina. Just kidding. There’s no echo.
Overall, “Sombirdy’s Getting Married” and “The Mole” are standout episodes in the Tuca & Bertie universe, showcasing the best of what this charmingly deep series has to offer. It’s heartfelt and humorous; it’s visceral and dreamy. There is something everyone can relate to and, in the end, derive inspiration to keep going. Tuca and Bertie’s triumphs feel well-earned and gratifying. Someone, please renew this fantastic show for a fourth season!
Stray Observations:
- In “Somebirdy’s Getting Married,” we learn one of Speckles’ ex-girlfriends cheated on him with a building. How does that even work? Where does everything … go?
- The “rose-colored glasses” metaphor becomes literal when Figgy sees the world through Tuca’s eyes via actual glasses and vice versa. It’s such a brilliant, subtle moment that makes a metaphor tangible for these characters.
- The bits of real-life imagery interspersed in the animation in “Somebirdy’s Getting Married” is a fun touch and a nice but brief departure from the show’s norm.
- The care and creativity behind each detail on Tuca & Bertie never ceases to amaze us as viewers. Figgy’s license plate says “Root 66,” which should delight the word nerds. Another moment: the ambulance speeds by a children’s book store, and the pages of the book illustration on the window flip to the “end” of said book.
- “The Mole” boasts some of the show’s most evocative imagery thus far, from Bertie discovering “Horseyland” (which feels like an homage to BoJack Horseman) to Tuca removing the growth that could affect her ability to have children. It’s impactful and powerful.
- Bertie’s boss is horridly insensitive. That phone call between them while Bertie is trying to save Tuca is frustrating to no end.
- So, did Dr. Mole stay inside Tuca? Will a miniature mole physician live rent-free in her body in perpetuity? That could be helpful for future health issues. Alas, the world may never know.
What did you think of these episodes of Tuca & Bertie? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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Tuca & Bertie Season 3 is now streaming on HBO Max.
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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.