User blog:AustinDR/Review: Save the Date

Given that it is the month of love for couples, spouses, and whatever, I felt that it was the perfect time to give my two cents to "Save the Date." While eating lunch with his friends, Lincoln discovers that Ronnie Anne left a Sloppy Joe sandwich in his pants, which causes his friends to tease him about being Ronnie's "boyfriend." Naturally, Lincoln scoffs at the idea, and says that he'd rather lick the bathroom floor than kiss her. Unbeknownst to him, Ronnie Anne was behind him when he said that, and she runs out of the cafeteria. To make matters worse, Bobby breaks up with Lori, thus causing Lori to force Lincoln into going on a double date to get Bobby to date her again.

Okay, so where to start with this episode? Well, I guess for starters, I did like the interactions between Lincoln and Ronnie Anne; they do make a cute couple as they share a lot of things in common. Additionally, I also liked how Lincoln stood up for her when his friends were (again) making fun of him, and Ronnie calling out Lincoln the next day for kissing her as to discourage any further teasing. Oh, and their kiss was absolutely adorable. I think this was the fourth or fifth time I said that word in one of my reviews.....But anyway, I did like how Ronnie was depicted in this episode in comparison to "Heavy Meddle." Well, she didn't physically appear in it, but part of the reason as to why I disliked the former is because it unintentionally gives off the idea that if you're being bullied, it most likely means that they like you. Now, I'm not saying that's what they're implying, but it just gives off that negative connotation. Just because it works for Hey Arnold doesn't mean that it's the case in most shows. So, I do like Ronnie Anne a little more in this episode, if there weren't for a few issues.

For one, the episode just came off as contrived. Ronnie Anne so happened to be at the right place at the right time for her to hear Lincoln backtalk her, oh and it's revealed that she's Bobby's younger sister despite it not being established earlier? Oh, or how about the fact that Lincoln's friends happened to be in the same restaurant that Lincoln is made to attend? Not saying that contrivances are bad, but it was just too blatant in this episode. Additionally, I did not like how Lori was portrayed in this episode. While not her worst episode, she comes off as a brat by not even giving Lincoln a choice in the matter all because her boyfriend dumped her. Not only that, but she throws several objects at her brother in blind fury without a thought to his well-being. She's supposed to be the eldest of the Loud kids, and yet here she is acting like a toddler throwing a temper tantrum.

But the worst offender is Clyde. Now I like Clyde, albeit his infatuation with Lori is getting old. But his worst performance is definitely in this episode. He tries to sabotage the double date several times despite knowing that Lincoln's life was at line, he treats Bobby like garbage only because he's dating Lori, he blows Lincoln's cover, etc. Just, please writers, let the running gag die already. Speaking of running gags, the mariachi band shtick was getting on my nerves. Yes, it was funny at first, but it keeps getting brought back up as if they were expecting it to be hilarious the second time. Running gags can be funny, but they hardly gave enough time to lapse in between.