Review: The Amazing World Of Gumball “The Nuisance”

Is Ohio really that bad?

Overview (Possible Spoilers Below)

The episode begins when the Waterson family looks through their house-mail and comes across an invitation from the Mayor which turns out to be a public banishment/deportation disguised as an offer for a “new house” in Ohio from a Mayor (who’s an obvious Trump parody) who points out their ridiculously long track-record of misdemeanors. In response to this, the Watersons decide to do a series of good deeds. But of course, putting up this new facade over time begins taking it’s toll as they painfully transform into “normal human citizens” in an unsettling transformation scene that’s reminiscent of the 80’s classic horror/comedy, An American Werewolf in London.

As it turns out, the Mayor had ulterior motives involving gentrification with the Watersons indirectly helping the Mayor’s goals for his plan to increase the land’s value and drive everyone out. So instead of actually telling the townspeople and protesting against the Mayor’s sinister intentions, the Watersons proceed to wreck the town in an effort to Ironically save it, even going as far as to poison the water supply with bath-salts. The episode ends on a comedic yet bittersweet note that while they saved townspeople from being forced out of their homes, It was at the expense of their likable image.

Our Take

While many of the Jokes were spot-on, this episode is possibly one of the few overly topical ones that I’ve covered. This clearly wasn’t written for kids with it’s far from subtle Donald Trump jokes in combination with satirical jabs towards his idealized vision of suburban perfection and the Transformation scene the Watersons go through is possibly the most memorable with its comical yet disturbing imagery.