User blog:EpsilonMk46/Between the Lines: Making the Case

Greetings, one and all. I am EpsilonMk46: the lone rebel that stands against the popular opinion.

Well folks, I believe the time has come to start living up to my catchphrase and actuall tackle one of the earliest episodes that has recieved one of the harshest backlashes of all time. I am, of course taking about Making the Case. *high pitched scream* Ah, stuff it, you cheap sound effect.

I remember when I first had a viewing of this episode. My inititial reaction was quite a bit of uncomfortableness when it came to Lincoln being chewed up by his sisters but the more I thought about what Lincoln exactly did and why the sisters were so mad at him, the more and more I began to be indifferent towards the scene and the episode as a whole. But now that I'm looking at this episode again with a more analytical perspective, have my indifferency towards this supposed abomination changed or reinforced? Let's find out for ourselves, shall we? This is Making the Case!

We open up with a view of the Loud family trophy case and the awards that everyone but Lincoln has earned.

Lincoln:  [to the viewers] "The Loud Family trophy case. My sisters have done some pretty impressive stuff to get in here. There are Lynn's soccer trophies, Lola's pageant crowns, Lisa's Junior Nobel Prize, even Lily's won her thumb sucking contests! And then there's me." [shows that such trophies are in their proper spots, but his spot is completely vacant and sighs.] "I've tried everything to get into this trophy case."

Oh my...what do we have here? An insight into a lack of talent and recognition from the only boy in the family in a house full of achieving and successful sisters? Oh me oh my, this could lead to something quite grand! I can't wait to hear about-

''Lincoln: "But now, I finally have my chance! The 5th Grade Video Contest. Whoever's video gets the most votes wins this beauty." ''[points to trophy on display, breathes on the glass, and draws a heart around it, Clyde wipes it off.]'

.......Oh. So he doesn't really want to find any sort of talent; he just wants a trophy for the sake of having a trophy. Okay then, my mistake. Carry on, episode. ...............What? Why are you looking at me like that? Are you surprised that I'm not complaining about a certain plotline not being followed? Well I hate to be a dissapointment but I ain't that kind of guy. I mean, sure it would've been really interesting and nice to see a plotline like that but if an episode just isn't about it and wants to go off on a different course, I'm not about to criticize it for something like that. I'm perfectly fine with anything an episode does as long as it does it well enough to provide a suitable story and message.

With all this in mind, let's move on to where Lincoln tries out his first attempt to reaching the top of the charts.

Lincoln: "Are we rolling?" [in character] "Hey, fifth grade! Lincoln Loud here! Ever wonder what happens when 672 breath mints meet 88 gallons of diet soda?

Uuhh... death by kinetic and hydraulic pressure?

Well, you're about to find out!"  [rides on Lana's skateboard off a ramp onto a catapult where he is launched by Charles and Cliff into a swimming pool full of diet soda, causing the soda and mints to shoot out like a geyser.]

They're not gonna vote for it.

Clyde:  [drenched in soda] "That was amazing! You're right. Everyone's gonna vote for this."

They're not gonna vote for it.

[However, a while after uploading to the school's website's contest page, the video doesn't have any votes at all.] Lincoln: "Why isn't anybody voting for this?"

Hehe... called it.

So what could possibly beat out an impressive stunt like that? Well I'll tell you: a hamster simply running on a wheel.

......Guys, what are we doing? Not with this episode or anything. Just...what are we doing with as a species in that we spend so much energy watching a hamster just run around in a cage?

After realizing that they're video isn't going anywhere in terms of popularity, the boys think to go to Luan for advice.

[Luan is looking over Lincoln's video.] Luan: "Mm-hmm..." Lincoln: "Pretty sick, right?" Clyde: "That means awesome." Luan: "Yeah, not in this case." Lincoln:  [shocked] "What?!" Luan:<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Molengo,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;"> "Sorry, Linc. Stunts are so last year. If you want to win the contest, you have to make funny videos."

Yeah... uh, I'm by no means an expert on how videos go viral but is there really a set season for which type of videos are worthy of going viral or does it just happen? I mean, that video they did with the soda was actually really friggin sweet! So why can't you just judge it for what it is and not because it was "so last year"?

Whatever the case, Clincoln McCloud find out the secret to success is comedic videos. So they set out to find whatever side spliiting material they can get their hands on.

[A few hours have passed] Lincoln:<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Molengo,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;"> "We've had the camera on all day! Where exactly is this comedy gold?" [beat]<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Molengo,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;"> "Clyde? Are you listening to me?" Clyde:<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Molengo,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;"> "Sorry, Lincoln. I was just worried that Lynn was going to accidentally step on that rake, resulting in a series of escalating mishaps." Lincoln:<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Molengo,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;"> "That's great, Clyde, but-series of escalating mishaps?!" [hides in a bush to film Lynn] Lynn:<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Molengo,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;">  [bouncing a Soccer ball off her head]<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Molengo,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;"> "56...57...58...59..." [steps on the rake and gets hit]<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Molengo,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;"> "Ouch!" [The ball bounces off a pole and onto her face, sending her flying onto a trampoline where she bounces off and lands in the soda pool.]

Mmmmm.....now that I look at this again, I'm beginning to think that we as humans are pretty sadistic to think that someone getting injured in a way that happens to be comical is funny. But what do I know, I'm just a lone cartoon reviewer.

But since it gave our heroes such an endless amount of entertainment, they then think to spy on every other one of Lincoln's sisters and capture their personal lives on camera as well.

Luna:<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Molengo,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;">  [in a British accent]<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Molengo,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;"> "Just like me idol, Mick Swagger. ALL RIGHT!" [splits and rips her new jeans; in her normal accent]<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Molengo,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;"> "Oof! Ooh, drafty."

"Uh, Chris? We've been looking at this scene for the upcoming episode and we're worried that people will be offended by their kids looking at girls' underwear." "Bah, don't worry about it. They're just gullible kids; they don't have any hormones in them yet, so we should be fine. Oh, and keep working on all of the underaged girls twerking, okay?"

Lucy:<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Molengo,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;"> "Oh, Edwin, I know you're forbidden to love a mortal like me, but I can't resist your piercing gaze, your sparkly skin, your icy lips..." [kisses the bust and gets its wax lips over hers.] Lincoln:<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Molengo,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;"> "Hmm...maybe something like this is a little  too<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Molengo,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;"> personal." Clyde:<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Molengo,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;">  [checks the school's site's poll]<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Molengo,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;"> "HamstaCam just got 10 more votes!" Lincoln:<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Molengo,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;">  [shakes fist]<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Molengo,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;"> " HamstaCam!<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Molengo,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;"> Eh, it's not  that<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Molengo,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;"> personal. Keep rolling."

Yeah...this'll end as well as you'll think it will. But even so, I don't really think that Lincoln is really acting outside any of his boudaries. I mean, yes he's being inconsiderate and all that, but I also think that his actions are in character while still demonstrating a subliminal message of greed and lust for fame driving a man to deplorable lengths. And besides, as much of a man with a plan as he is, he's still only 11 years old and, as such, he has a lot to learn about how the world works...

[They then secretly film Lori who is walking up to the fridge and looks around and thinks she's alone; she lets out what looks like a fart; next, they film Lola who is sleeping with a mud mask, a sleeping mask, hair curlers, and a retainer to make herself beautiful; they move onto Lana who rummages through the trash and finds a piece of gum and chews it; they film Lori again while she's texting and she presumably lets out another fart; they film Lisa who is reading a science book until she walks into the banister; Leni comes in and walks into the wall next to the banister; they film Lori yet again while she's getting ready to go out for a drive and she presumably farts again; she notices the stench and rolls down the window.]

...which he's about to find out when he posts his award winning video and sees that it becomes completely, up the walls popular almost instantly. .........Wow, that was... quick...

[The next day at school, all the kids are talking about Lincoln's video.] Female Classmate:<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Molengo,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;"> "Lincoln, your video rocks! You got my vote!" Male Classmate:<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Molengo,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;"> "Man. Lucy and that sculpture? What a weirdo!" Female Classmate:<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Molengo,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;"> "And how about Lori?" Male Classmate:<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Molengo,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;"> "You mean Miss Toots-A-Lot? She should see a doctor about that." [As the kids laugh, Lincoln starts to look a little worried.] Female Classmate:<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Molengo,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;"> "So embarrassing." Lincoln:<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Molengo,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;">  [worrying]<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Molengo,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;"> "Embrrassing?" Male Classmate:<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Molengo,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;"> "Yeah! My sisters would pulverize me if I posted a video like that!" Lincoln:<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Molengo,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;">  [scared]<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Molengo,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;"> "Pulverize?"

It was at this moment that Lincoln knew...he f***ed up.

And now we get to one of the most infamous scenes in all of the Loud House as well as the main point of contention in this episode: the sister's chewing Lincoln up for uploading all of their embarrassing moments. Oh, the horror!

[The sisters rant about Lincoln's video.] Lincoln:<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Molengo,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;"> "Wait, wait, wait! Let me explain!" Lori:<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Molengo,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;"> "You've got exactly three seconds before we pulverize you!" [Lynn cracks her knuckles and Lisa starts a stopwatch to time Lincoln's very limited time.] Lincoln:<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Molengo,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;"> "There was this video contest at school and I really wanted to win!" Lola:<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Molengo,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;"> "YOU SHOWED MY SLEEP FACE FOR SOME STUPID CONTEST?!" Lincoln:<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Molengo,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;"> "I just wanted a trophy to put in the case like you guys!" Luna:<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Molengo,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;"> "You think you deserve a trophy for that, bro?" Lincoln:<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Molengo,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;"> "No. I don't deserve it. Look! I'll delete the video!" Lucy:<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Molengo,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;"> "Too late, Lincoln. The damage has already been done." Lynn:<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Molengo,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;"> "You made me look like a fool!" Lucy:<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Molengo,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;"> "You made me look like a freak!" Lori:<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Molengo,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;"> "You made me look like I fart! And for the record, it was these shoes! See?" [tries to make it look like they were making the farting noise but fails]<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Molengo,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;"> "Of course it's not working now."

All righty then, I believe that everyone else has said their piece on this spiel to I believe the time has come to say mine. I don't mind it. I don't mind it at all.  Look, this kid went behind the backs of his own siblings and made their private lives accessable to the public all for the sake of getting a golden cup. So you bet that I wanted to see Lincoln get some retribution for his actions and this verbal beatdown is just what I wanted to see from the sisters. But it's not just for the fact that he happened to embarrass his own flesh and blood in such a way that it makes them complete laughing stocks, but also because he violated the sacred trust and respect for privacy that family is suppsoed to have for each other straight out the window for his own selfish ambitions. So no, I am not saddened because Lincoln went through some verbal "abuse". And on top of that, I also disagree with this whole notion that the sisters "disowned" Lincoln. I mean, let's take a little quick look as to what exactly they said.

Lincoln:<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Molengo,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;"> "Luna, let me explain!" Luna:<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Molengo,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;">  [drowning Lincoln out with heavy metal frustration]<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Molengo,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;"> "Can't hear ya, bro!" [slams her door]

Okay... not too bad. Continue.

Lincoln:<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Molengo,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;"> "Leni! Lori! I'm sorry!" Lori:<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Molengo,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;"> "You literally disgust me!" Leni:<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Molengo,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;"> "Yeah!" [walks into the wall and gets dragged in by Lori.]

Mmm... nothing too bad there. What's next?

Leni:<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Molengo,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;"> "Yeah!" [walks into the wall and gets dragged in by Lori.] Lincoln:<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Molengo,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;"> "Lola! Lana! Please!" Lola:<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Molengo,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;"> "You're uninvited to my birthday party FOREVER!" [slams the door] [Lincoln sighs and Lana opens it which he thinks she will forgive him.] Lana:<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Molengo,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;"> "I wanna slam it, too!" [does so]

Ooohh... savage Lana. So what's after.

Lincoln:<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Molengo,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;">  [knocks on Lisa's door]<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Molengo,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;"> "Lisa! Lisa?" [Lisa slides a note under the door.]<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Molengo,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;"> " Vengeance shall be mine.<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Molengo,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;">"

'chuckle' Good ol' Lisa. And finally?

Lynn and Lucy]<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Molengo,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;"> "Guys, come on! I'm your brother!" [Lynn growls in fury] Lucy:<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Molengo,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;"> "I have no brother!" [starts to close the door then opens it]<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Molengo,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;"> "I know I say that a lot, but this time...I mean it." [slams door]

...........................oh. Well I suppose you could make the argument that Lucy was the one who wanted to disown him, but that could easily be because she's only 8 and she doesn't know any better. Besides, I think that line wasn't meant to played in that direction and more so along the lines of the fact that if Lincoln wanted to violate the sacred bond that siblings are supposed to have, then he was sure going to reap what he sowed. And this scene, along with every single other one during the third act of this episode, doesn't even use their mean-spiritedness as a way of getting a quick laugh unlike say, No Such Luck. No, this episode is perfectly intended to play this scene in a very mean spirited way towards Lincoln in a effort to establish a little something called *deep breath in*

DRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMMMMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!

And I gotta tell you, the way it's presented here really sucks the viewer in so that you can really feel the emotion and turmoil that Lincoln is facing at this moment. It doesn't exactly make me feel bad for him but it does make me very interested in how he's going to fix this mess.

Which leads us to our big climax where Lincoln deletes the video that would've gotten him his trophy and instead gets the idea to film his own emarrassing moments to make up for the humiliation his sisters suffered.

Lincoln:<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Molengo,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;"> "I guess it's hard for anyone to have the camera on you all the time." [gets an idea]<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Molengo,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;"> "Camera on you all the time! That's it!" [goes to Luan]<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Molengo,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;"> "Luan! You said your one simple rule is to always have your camera on, right?" Luan:<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Molengo,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;"> "That is correct, Captain Obvious." Lincoln:<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Molengo,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;"> "Then I'm going to need to borrow all your footage of me." Luan:<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Molengo,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;"> "You mean...Comedy Fort Knox?" [reveals a vault of footage of Lincoln she's filmed over the years.]

.........Do I need to call the cops on you, Luan? Because this seems like borderline stalking material right there. Aside from that though, I found it very interesting that Luan was actually willing to help out Lincoln even though he pretty much screwed over the social reputation of his sisters. Perhaps Luan might've done something like he did and he's taking pity on him because she was once in his shoes. Or maybe the sisters weren't completely enraged at him and still would've done a little to help him make things right. Either way, this really brings some things into perspective.

So now that Lincoln's substitute video is online and Lincoln has become the man who died for all fo our sins, Lincoln returns home from school the next day and...

Lincoln:<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Molengo,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;"> "I sure hope that worked." [opens the door only to find out that his sisters are STILL furious]<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Molengo,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;"> "It didn't work." Lori:<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Molengo,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;">  [sternly]<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Molengo,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;"> "Lincoln..." Lincoln:<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Molengo,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;">  [apologetically]<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Molengo,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;"> "I know I embarrassed you and I can't undo it, and I'm sorry, but the least I could do was embarrass myself right along with you, that way we'd all be even!" Lynn:<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Molengo,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;"> "Even? You think this makes us even?" Lincoln:<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Molengo,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;"> "Well, I was trying to-"

Well... I guess the universe just was not shining down  on you, Lincoln. Oh well, I'll have a few refreshments supplied for your-

Lynn:<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Molengo,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;"> "Yours was way worse!" Lori:<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Molengo,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;">  [cheerfully]<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Molengo,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;"> "Yeah! That video was hysterical!" [The girls surround Lincoln and ensure him that they forgive him.]

Ohhh hoh hoh. They were just kidding with him. Hahaha, that's fine then. ........Yeah, I'm not being sarcastic either. I really do not see what the big deal is with the sisters wanting to play a little gag on Lincoln. I mean, c'mon, they weren't really going to tear him to shreds, so all in all it was just a little funny joke.

Lincoln:<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Molengo,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;"> "So, we're good?" Lucy:<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Molengo,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;"> "We're good... brother<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Molengo,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;">." Luan:<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Molengo,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;"> "Sorry you didn't win the trophy." Lori:<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Molengo,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;"> "But we really appreciate what you did and thought you deserved  something<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Molengo,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;">." [hands him a tiny trophy.]

And here is our last topic to talk about: Lincoln's consolation prize of a "Most Improved Brother" award. Now, to many fan, this seemed liked a total slap in the face with how Lincoln ended up right back where he started with absolutely nothing but a ruined social standing. I, however, stand to diasgree. You see, Lincoln did gain something from all of this: his own personal achievement that stems from more than a silly trophy. Lincoln went above and beyond the call of duty and willingly sacrificed not only his trophy, but also his reputation in order to bring balance to the world and his relationship with his sisters. That right there is a huge accomplishment in its own right and considering what he actually pulled in this episode, I'd say he should be grateful that he even got a small trophy. And even though this trophy doesn't really signify any special achievements that he can be proud of when he grows older like the rest of his sisters' trophies, that was never really the case in the first place. Remember, this whole endeavor was never about finding any sort of special talent to avoid being overshadowed; this was simply to just get a trophy for the sake of having a trophy. Sure it's not a big trophy like the one from the video contest, but it's still his and he seems perfectly content with it and that's honestly all that matters for me. This episode ended on a happy note and that's all I can really ask for.

So when all was said and done, Lincoln finally is able to fill the empty space within the trophy case, Lori bring out one more fart for the road and that was Making the Case! So how does it hold up for me in the end. Well, I have to be brutally honest............I have absolutely no clue as to why this gets so much hatred.

I mean, if one were to get hung up on the fact that this episode could've been something phenomenal instead of what it turned out to be. I suppose one could end up hating the final product out of pure spite for belittling their expectations. However, as I've mentioned before, I'm not that kind of a fan; I'm willing to give an episode a try on its own merits. And from its own merits, I found that Making the Case gives a very good tale of someone taking their greed too far and having to pay the consquences for it. It manages to stay down to Earth and believable, doesn't take any retribution too far and/or cruel, and gives us a rewarding pay off in the end. People have been treating this episode as an unholy abomination and I don't think it deserves it at all. It's not on my favorites list but that's not the point. At the end of the day, I came out of this episode content and happy and that's all I can really ask for. But with all of this out of the way, I do have to point that this is simply my perspective on it so go check it out for yourselves and see if you agree with me or not.

Story: A-

Writing: B-

Characters: B-

Message: B+

Final Score: B

I am EpsilonMk46 and I actually managed to go this entire review without showing that horrifying image!!!

.........Don't worry, I'm not that kind of guy.