iCarly Season 3 Episode 3 Review: iMake New Memories

After 15 years, iCarly Season 3 Episode 3, “iMake New Memories,” makes Carly and Freddie official with a satisfactory payoff after recontextualizing their history.

The episode takes some necessary dramatic turns — resulting in some of the cast’s best performances yet — as Carly and Freddie have critical conversations.

So, “iMake New Memories” finds levity and an engaging story that brings about an unlikely partnership in iCarly‘s reintroduction of Mrs. Benson as Marissa.

Teaming up Harper and Marissa during “iMake New Memories” allows the show to double down on the skills that iCarly Season 3 Episodes 1 and 2, “iBuckled / iLove Your Shoes,” showcase in abundance — an acute and clever self-awareness that extends well beyond the show’s revival in 2021.

Not only are Laci Mosley and Mary Scheer a dynamic duo that encourages genuine laughs, but this story allows the unexpected scene partners to untangle one of the original show’s shortcomings. Marissa was the bud of many jokes on the Nickelodeon series, which “iMake New Memories” references in Freddie and Carly’s montage.

Despite Mary Scheer’s consistent guest appearances across five seasons, that show had a minimal perspective of her character. Consequently, only iCarly fanatics will probably remember that Mrs. Benson’s first name is Marissa, which makes her impassioned expression of individualism all the more significant.

Instead of persisting with the original show’s underdeveloped version of the character, “iMake New Memories” paints a more independent portrait of Marissa that accompanies Paramount+ iCarly‘s maturity. Like every other original character evolves, so does Marissa Benson, who is ready to be defined on her terms.

Though it would have been hilarious to see more of Jaidyn Triplett’s Millicent during the wedding dress debacle, Laci Mosley and Mary Scheer prove themselves to be a comedic duo that this season will only benefit from utilizing more.

Thankfully, iCarly all but outright promises just that, with Harper agreeing to design Marissa’s dress. The funny situations that could arise from that process are abundant.

Even so, one of the most underrated Harper beats comes outside of a scene with Marissa, and it’s another one where “iMake New Memories” addresses concerns as they arise, making for really entertaining TV.

It’s great to see how Harper shows up for Carly as she grapples with her feelings for Freddie. Seeing more of their honest friendship is a treat, especially when Harper tells Carly she needs to have the grown-up conversation. Still, the best part is how the script notes the prominence of Carly’s narrative in that scene.

It’s quick and raises a laugh because of Laci Mosley and Miranda Cosgrove’s comedic timing, but it resonates when Carly says she will make a better effort to ask what’s going on in Harper’s life.

During an episode where Carly is actively looking back at her past and trying to plan how to move forward in her future, a beat like that could play as inconsequential, but iCarly makes it a joke with meaning. It’s good!

Those connective scenes where the characters catch up with one another can become too loaded with exposition, but “iMake New Memories” gives this one purpose that iCarly Season 3 can follow up on later. 

This episode also does a fantastic job of showing instead of telling, especially considering a bulk of “iMake New Memories” is Carly and Freddie recounting a day in Italy that iCarly could have presented as a flashback.

Aany of the memories Carly and Freddie revisit could cut to scenes from the Nickelodeon series or the Paramount+ revival.

Instead, “iMake New Memories” pulls Carly and Freddie out of the past and into the present with touchstones from those episodes — Baggles from iCarly Season 4 Episode 9, “iBalls,” Chrissy Chase’s “Meant for Me” from iCarly Season 2 Episode 24, “iSpeed Date,” and the Cloud Block from iCarly Season 1 Episode 20, “iStakeout.”

The episode even features a deep-cut reference to Carly’s CPAP machine from iCarly Season 4 Episode 2, “iDate Sam & Freddie.” Nevertheless, Carly and Freddie’s infamously unseen reunion in Italy is the episode’s biggest recreation.

This grand gesture — of Carly’s doing — brings everything to the forefront for the pair that has gone mostly unsaid for more than a decade, and Miranda Cosgrove and Nathan Kress do not disappoint. Impressively, Kress’ performance gets even more vulnerable when Freddie opens up to Spencer about how he reacted.

As enticing as it would be to pull out Carly and Freddie’s friends-to-lovers romance and allow Carly and Freddie to exist in that “adult friends” space for a few more episodes, “iMake New Memories” makes an exceptional case as to why now is the right time. This episode puts it all on the Italian-themed table — to great success.

The script approaches Carly and Freddie’s perspectives about Italy with understanding as it leans into their complicated dynamic in childhood and their miscommunication in adulthood. It’d be easier to make either of them wrong and the other right, but iCarly finds an authentic and meatier argument by subverting that. 

The episode’s inclusion of Spencer throughout it all is an excellent addition. Jerry Trainor brings levity when necessary and finds additional emotional resonance when Spencer silently comforts Carly. Their brother/sister dynamic is still one of the best to come from iCarly — the original and the revival.

But “iMake New Memories” rightfully prioritizes Creddie. From Freddie reinforcing their life-changing friendship to Carly admitting her feelings (after all this time!), iCarly hits every mark right on cue — even the “5,4…” one. All the while, iCarly leaves room for a grander (or delightfully casual) love confession in the future.

Undoubtedly, “iMake New Memories” is the beginning of many new Creddie memories.

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New episodes of iCarly stream on Thursdays on Paramount+. Try Paramount+ for free, right here.

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