User blog:AlexKawa/April Fools Rules: The Worst Episode

OK, I know I look like a total hypocrite here, since back in March, I begged everyone to not make any "one-year anniversary" posts for No Such Luck, and now, here I am, talking about April Fools Rules on its second anniversary. Well, the difference is this: NSL has been talked about to death and it's time to move on from it, while AFR hasn't been talked about to death, and I think it's time someone gave it the tearing-to-shreds it deserves. So, without further ado, let's rip this one apart.

In case it wasn't already clear, April Fools Rules is horrific. I guess I'll start off with the fact that the majority of the episode's comedy revolves around Luan being "a cruel, ruthless, sadistic, and unforgiving monster," according to the trivia section for this episode's wiki page. With that description, what do you honestly think you're in for? That is what a good majority of this episode thinks is funny! Making fun of sadists, people who clearly have problems and need help! I mean, that's perfectly appropriate for a kids cartoon, right?! Now, you might say that that is not the episode's intent. OK, fine, but what is the intent then? Because the closest thing to a moral I could find in this episode is that it's OK to laugh at sadistic people! That's OK to laugh at people who are going through potentially life-threatening traps when they did nothing to deserve it! That these people can just get off scot-free for all this torment that they're causing to innocent people! Yeah, that's a PERFECT moral to teach kids! Just PERFECT!!!!! Again, I could not think of any other thing resembling a moral here, and given how Luan received next to nothing for her actions, I had to tear into this part.

Now, let's move into the crate scene. You know, if this episode had been ever-so-slightly better, I'd say that Luan spontaneously escaping from the crate would be funny. But since this episode is the bottom of the barrel, and because it led to all of what I just described above, it's not funny. How did she escape from the crate, exactly? I don't know! The episode never explains this! Again, if this hadn't led to Luan ruthlessly tormenting her family, I would've found this funny. But, of course, that's not the case. Also, the kitchen scene. I know people find this part funny, but I don't. Not at all. It goes nowhere, and feels totally forced! I mean, it's not that I don't expect this from Leni, but it's the fact that this is one of the most forced jokes about her in the show.

And now, let's go to the end of this inexcusable episode: Ronnie Anne shows up and pies Luan in the face. I'll fully admit, this was almost the episode's only redeeming quality. While it didn't make up for what Luan did at all, at least she got SOME consequence, even if it was minor. But that gets completely thrown out the window at the end, where the family gets in the car to go find Leni, and blue paint explodes everywhere, and ends the episode.

And that's all! The end of one of the worst cartoon episodes I have seen in my life! What were they thinking?! Did they have a lot of anger to get out of their system?! Did they actually think this was an episode that taught something good to kids?! What?! Were?! They?! THINKING?!!

You know, I just now realized that this theme (torturing other characters with life-threatening traps) has been done in old kids cartoons, like Tom & Jerry. But for those kinds of cartoons, at least that's within their realm. For the Loud House, this is completely out of place, and it doesn't fit.

So, yeah, overall, a horrid episode that does not deserve your time. I haven't watched this episode in almost a year, and I hope I never have to again. And if you're trying to get your friends into this show, PLEASE don't show them this episode! It will really rub them the wrong way.

Rating: 0/10

So, that's it. I know this was a very negative post, but this is how I feel about this episode. And to sprinkle in a little positivity, I will be posting a review of my all-time favorite Loud House episode in a few weeks, once its anniversary rolls around.