Search - iCarly: Season 2, Vol. 1 on DVD

The writing keeps getting better on this show

Alexander M. Walker | Chicago, IL USA | 08/27/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The first time Nickelodeon sent us a DVD volume of iCarly, it felt like what it was: a Nickelodeon show from a new generation of programming. Now though, I'm willing to consider that iCarly might just have had a place back in the good old early 90s days of Nickelodeon glory alongside Pete & Pete, Clarissa Explains It All and All That. Season One, Volume Two of iCarly felt like a newer kids' show with little gems of classic Nickelodeon mixed in, but the second season seems off to a happy inverse of that. iCarly has achieved a creatively funny streak that easily reminds me of a better Nickelodeon. But there's a reason for that: Dan Schneider, one of the producers of All That (and one of its writers - but only in the later years) writes for iCarly.

Still running a show out of the loft where she and her brother live, Carly (Miranda Cosgrove) lives an otherwise normal life. Spencer (Jerry Trainor), her brother, is a comically eccentric sculptor with a penchant for spaghetti tacos, all-night video game obsessions and creating highly flammable metallic Christmas trees. Carly's two partners on iCarly are Freddie (Nathan Kress), the tech guy, and Sam (Jennette McCurdy), her co-host. More often than not, the show gets them into all sorts of trouble including trips to Japan for award shows, fake car giveaways and feuding with other internet stars. Through it all Carly, Sam and Freddie struggle to keep their personal lives and their public personas separated; only to find them bleeding through into one another.

The funny Sam and Freddie rivalry continues in the second season, though it doesn't occupy quite the limelight that it did in the first season. The shift in this case doesn't really help the show's comic strengths but it replaces the Freddie vs. Sam moments with a lot more Spencer - and fans of the show will agree that that's not so bad. Jerry Trainor looks more and more like a Jim Carrey on the rise. His facial contortions, his spasmodic body language and his general wackiness give the Spencer character that special quality reminiscent of older Nickelodeon comedy. The same can be said for Jennette McCurdy who gives the perfect air to the wildly cynical Sam and imbues her with the deadpan personality that the character needs to stay relevant. I said this with the first season's review, but Cosgrove still feels like the weakest link in the cast; Trainor has the wackiness; McCurdy has the deadpan delivery; Nathan Kress has the look of victimized exasperation; and all Cosgrove really brings is a slightly too heavily ham-handed spin on the comedy. She works as the more innocent of the show's hosts, but her persona just isn't as strong as McCurdy's. It may be less her fault and more the writings, but there's an imbalance there that just makes me wonder why she's more the titular character than the other two.

But I digress. For all intents and purposes the show is television gold for a new generation. I won't guarantee that anyone over 16 will enjoy it, but there are crazier things. The writing is sharp and it feels like Nickelodeon is letting its content return to that sarcastic edge that made Nick programming special all those years ago. My biggest gripe with the release is Nickelodeon's insistence on these Volume 1/Volume 2 sets. With only 11 episodes it's hard to justify paying typical TV on DVD prices - even with an extended length episode in the mix. Nickelodeon should really just release the two volumes as one - but oh well.

DVD Extra Features:

There are really only two extra features and one of them is deleted scenes, so as far as I'm concerned: one extra feature. But it's a decent one and it chronicles the making of the extra long "iGo to Japan" episode. It's fun to watch the cast interact because they're every bit as energetic and enthusiastic as they seem in the show. Most people will probably just skip it, but it's nice they included it for those who care."

Status Quo (greatness)

Alax Martin | 11/18/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you liked the first 2 DVDS, this one will not dissapoint.

Disc 1:
iSaw Him First 4.5 Stars
iStage an Intervention 5 stars
iOwe You 5 Stars
iHurt Lewbert 5 Stars
i Go To Japan 5 Stars+

Disc 2:
i Pie 5 stars
i Christmas 2 stars
iKiss 5 stars
i Give away a car 4 stars
iRocked the Vote 4.5 Stars
i Meet fRed 5 stars

"

Great show...great deal

J. Bialy | Davie, Florida | 02/27/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I was thrilled to find this DVD...They were out in all the stores..But as it turned out....Our grand-daughter already
had this one...so I had to return it...The sellers were very
gracious, gave me a refund immediately...I would deal with
them again....."