User blog comment:ThatGuy456/A Guy's Thoughts: Slight Shortcoming's Sequel/@comment-37877191-20191208125241/@comment-30307603-20191208212141

Ah, thanks for reading, dude! And yeah, you could count me as a fan of "The Mess" and "The Inquisition" if you wish. "The Mess" is just really creative and fun to watch, and even if "The Inquisition" has an unsatisfying ending and could afford to be bigger in scope, I think it is one of the most brilliant things conceptually the staff has ever written.

I have to disagree with Carwin being a strong couple. I certainly think there is the potential for them to be really strong, but as is, I think the show has done a pitiful job in demonstrating what they bring to the table. They feel there for the sake of appeasing fans without actually committing to the idea of them as a couple. I don't plan on investing myself into Darwin's Yearbook, but even if it did, not only is it outside of the main text of the series, but it's too little, too late.

I personally think that Penny was at her best in Season 3. For one, that was when "The Shell" aired, but it was also when the writers seemed like they cared the most about her prospects as a character. With that said, there are some great pre-"The Shell" Penny episodes, namely "The Meddler" and "The Storm." That's also a bring point you bring up about "The Inquisition" and its final Gumball/Penny moment; given it's ultimately a throwaway gag, I never paid it too much mind, but you are right in that there is something grim about ending an already neglected dynamic on that note.

I also assumed that Rob's self-awareness came from the time he spent in the Void, but you are right in that it is something the show should have touched on a little more. I wouldn't worry too much about how Darwin's Yearbook fits into everything, however as it seems to be mostly a vehicle for a clipshow rather than anything to be taken seriously.

Thanks for reading! Hopefully, I will be back with that Tobias piece soon!