User:Mattalamode

'''I NEED HELP FOR AN UPCOMING ARTICLE! YES, FROM YOU. TELL ME WHAT EPISODES YOU HATE HERE.'''

Hello! My name is Matt and I overanalyze things to the point where all comedic value is lost.

I'm currently working on a series of articles called A Second Opinion, where I offer up an alternate viewpoint on certain episodes that might otherwise fly under the radar. For the most recent article, wherein I took suggestions from Wiki users, CLICK HERE.

History with the Show
Aside from watching it in passing throughout Season 1, I started watching it routinely through the second half of Season 2, where I fell in love with the show. Then, after I inadvertently dropped out of watching it for most of Season 3 (a massive mistake), I was brought back in to Season 4, and I'm permanently on-board for Season 5.

Since "The Code", I've been writing comprehensive reviews of each episode that can be seen HERE. It's been received surprisingly well, which helped coax me into coming here and becoming more of a part of the community. I have since attempted an original series over here entitled "A Second Opinion," where I try to explain why I appreciate some of the shows' most hated episodes.

I have taken to episode analysis in large parts due to my compulsive desire to try to find what makes humor so effective. In other words, I'm seeking to find things funny while understanding what makes them funny. Sounds draining, doesn't it? Well, it is.

Why Do I Watch The Amazing World of Gumball?
Aside from Saturday Night Live, TAWOG is the only show currently airing that I watch regularly. The fact of the matter is that TAWOG manages to succeed on every possible level at almost every finite detail that makes a cartoon good. The visuals are gorgeous, almost all of the characters all have something different to contribute to the show, and the underlying score, while vastly underrated, is a great compliment to whatever's occurring in the episode.

Most importantly, though, TAWOG is impeccably written. The writers have managed to find all of the nuances of every character and fully flesh them out, and on top of that, they manage to find so many unique perspectives for every episode that no two truly feel the same. It certainly helps that the show is not afraid to invade upon other genres in its quest for perfection- zombie horror movies, prison drama, dystopian fiction, mystery drama with maximum Southern drawl, etc.- but regardless of what direction is taken, the writing is ace. I can only dream of being able to write something as brilliant as even the worst episode of the series. (Okay, maybe the second worst.)

What Are My Favorite Episodes?
Skipping Season 1, of course, I will say that my favorite episodes from Season 2 are "The Remote," "The Phone," "The Job," "The Sweaters," and "The Finale."

From Season 3, my favorites are "The Shell," "The Question," "The Safety," "The Countdown," and "The Money."

In Season 4, my favorites are "The Signature," "The Check," "The Signal," "The Slap," and "The Detective."

It's too soon to say for Season 5, but "The Stories," "The Choices," "The Copycats," "The Vase," and "The Matchmaker" are top-notch.

My least favorite episodes (at the moment) are "The Genius," "The Slide," and "The Diet."

The episode that sold me on the show was "The Job". The episode that further confirmed my love for the show is "The Money". I believe it was leaked at some point, and even though I watched it in crappy 360p on Youtube, it was enthralling nonetheless.

A Second Opinion
As mentioned on the top of this page, my main focus here is on a series of articles entitled "A Second Opinion," serving as analytical essays on much-hated episodes. I'm so tired of people saying, "I hate this episode," without offering any further explanation, so I'm working to undermine that by providing the alternate opinion with precision.

For Season 2, I decided to take a slight change of direction, instead tackling episodes that fell under the radar for some reason or another. By bringing more light to such underrated episodes and pointing out what makes them work, I want to help change some minds into recognizing their quality.

Season 1: The Hated

 * S01E01: "The Promise" (2/11)
 * S01E02: "The Extras" (2/16)
 * S01E03: "The Dream" (2/23)
 * S01E04: "The Picnic" (3/2)
 * S01E05: "Individual Appeals: Part I" ("The Laziest," "The Skull / The Move," "The Ape," "The Bros," "The Boss," "The Saint," "The Triangle") (3/9)
 * S01E06: "Individual Appeals: Part II" ("The Fridge," "The Limit," "The Ex," "The Gripes," "The End," "The Sock," "The Countdown," "The Downer") (3/16)
 * S01E07: "The Others" (3/23)
 * S01E08: "The Hero" (feat. ThatGuy456) (3/30)

Season 2: The Underrated

 * S02E01: "The Flakers" (5/4)
 * S02E02: "The Parking / The Vase" (5/11)
 * S02E03: "The Oracle" (5/18)
 * S02E04: "The Pony" (5/27 WHOOPS)
 * S02E05: "The Refund" (6/1)
 * S02E06: "The Banana / The Sidekick" (6/8)
 * S02E07: "The Detective" (6/15)
 * S02E08: "The Curse" (feat. C. R. Martin) (8/13)

Season 3: The Revival

 * S03E01: "Gumball Wiki Individual Appeals: Part I" ("The Awkwardness," "The Disaster / The Rerun," "The Puppy," "The Diet," "The Catfish," "The Kiss") (9/7)
 * S03E02: "Gumball Wiki Individual Appeals: Part II" (9/14) (TBA)

Other

 * Season 1 Debate (w/ ThatGuy456) (8/5)

The _______ Problem
My secondary series is similar to "A Second Opinion," but more on the offensive. Basically, if there's a character that I have a problem with, expect me to dissect them to death and find out why they don't work.

Covered Characters List:

 * S01E01: "The Bobert Problem" (4/6)
 * S01E02: "The Miss Simian Problem" (4/13)
 * S01E03: "The Harold Problem" (4/20)
 * S01E04: "The Rachel Problem" (4/27)

General Work
Other then that, you can usually find me editing episode plots due to my obsession with syntax and aversion to repetition in writing. When new episodes come out, I also tend to add images from the least-enjoyed one of the batch (because nobody else likes to take care of those episodes).

I enjoy spending time reading others' blog posts as well. Helps get the creative juices flowing.

Personal Life
I started writing on the Internet way back in 2011. I was a terrible writer back then, but the writer's bug prevailed; in late 2013, I started a now-partially-defunct video game-oriented blog where I worked on honing the craft. Eventually, to pass time, I started writing reviews of SNL episodes, eventually leading to me reviewing the show. Thus, here I am.

I'm a dedicated workhorse. I write and study excessively, often to no avail. If you ever find a chance to chat with me, savor those moments, because there's a good chance I won't be coming back anytime soon. To make up for the difference, I seek to respond to every comment hurled my way - try it.

Additionally, I'm a massive sketch comedy buff and veteran watcher of Saturday Night Live, That Mitchell and Webb Look, Key & Peele, Tim & Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!, Wonder Showzen, and WKUK. Naturally, it feeds into my aspirations to become a comedy writer (and also a photographer for reasons unrelated). In other words, I expect no money out of my future. But let it be known that I have come to terms with it. And I have accepted my fate in this world.

And, as a disclaimer, I am NOT a huge cartoon fan. Just putting that out there. If anything, TAWOG's an anomaly in terms of the kind of stuff that I watch.

If I was cornered into choosing a character I relate to most, I would lie and say Gumball while secretly knowing my destiny as the world's Darwin, a sidekick never getting his due. Additionally, like Larry, I'm an avid workaholic who hasn't gotten quality sleep in years, with a tinge of the School Nurse's signature snark, however subdued.

"Most well-adjusted, sane men would be hesitant to take a job where their decisions would so drastically affect the lives of so many. Not me. I possess a sort of sociopathic narcisissm that makes me think that I should be in charge of everyone, but all of that needs to start here at home, in this beautiful state that I've grown to love since I moved here 18 months ago. Together, we can piggy-back some of our state's legitimate needs onto my unquenchable lust for self-glorification. And that's a promise."

People Who Said Nice Things At Some Point

 * Good and Nice Guy
 * Game
 * C.R. Martin
 * PhoenixKenny
 * Katapultman
 * Marv
 * Glass
 * Star
 * Attawog
 * Karymme
 * Fenton

Other Information

 * If anybody wants some pointers on writing or is just generally curious about how my mind works, I wrote a little something HERE.
 * I am much, much, much, much, much better about writing things I hate more than things I love.
 * I'm currently working as the bureaucrat/admin over at the Mitchell and Webb Wiki. I love the show, I'm bored, the site's dead, and it's a nice playing ground.
 * I have the most upvoted post on r/gumball.
 * Tobias is the best supporting character and there's no competition.