The Loud House Casagrandes Nickelodeon
Already have written about The Loud House season 4 premiere , called "Friended! with the Casagrandes" that part "With the Casagrandes" is important. They decided to turn an entire section of the fourth season of The Loud House over to a slight "preview" of the spin off series that was coming out later. They gave them eight segments of the season, 4 episodes, plus "Friended" so 5 episodes of the fourth season wasn't Louds. That was controversial, the hope , in theory, was to have people introduced to these characters, or at least more invested with them before the spin off was to happen,
It took me a while to figure out how to write about these episodes, maybe the standard way, but that felt daunting , so I decided instead to do a Super Mega post of all 10 segments of the Casagrandes take over of the fourth season. With a slightly off format, on format style or whatever this is, we'll see.
The intro of these episodes are fun, first it's a shortened version of the normal intro (blessed intro) then Ronnie Anne pops up and scares you....(using the word scared with abandon aren't we?) "If you like the Louds..." Ronnie Anne starts. (Which opens up other doors, like if I don't like them, then why am I here? Then again... maybe I'm here only to see Ronnie Anne's family) Then she introduces her family members so we'll know who they are.
Episode 2a : Power Play with the Casagrandes
There are not many episodes of the Loud House, I don't like, that give me a reaction that make more go no. Like are some episodes I just find alright and don't grab me back, but only a few episodes don't make me never want to see them again, one of those episodes is "The Green House" which I've already written about. This episodes of the Casagrandes chunk, seems to be the same idea of saving engery but done less badly. This episode is better than the one but, it's not wow it's great! This episode will introduce something that the Casagrandes the show would run with a few times, so thanks a lot.
The Casagrande grandparents are concerned about the power bill being high. (Rosa is going to have to sell Ronnie Anne's kidney's ) The real plot driver for the episode is Ronnie Anne wanting her grandparents to want to go on their annual trip, so she decides help the family save money so they can go on the trip after all.
Also the random line where Bobby complains about Sergio being obsessed with him is not a throw way line, it's important and more on that , when we get to that.
Episode doesn't know how to computer, neither did The Green House, so things are going fine. Ronnie Anne makes her brother, mother, and herself cut back on electricity. Lori is in video chat because they need to remind you, you are watching the Loud House. (I thought this was Spongebob, I'm suing!) Things get weird. Also, a week later, the energy and water bill is up... somehow, so Ronnie Anne decides she needs to check her cousins too.
So she figures out the cousins and other extended family members to have them cut back too. Also, Sergio shows up, keep your eyes on the dumb bird. I do like how the episode does show the hints of each character to get to know them a little more. I find it funny that they mention the electric car doesn't save energy. If it was gas powered it would not be using power, heh.
You already know that none of this is going to work, the real cause is of course... (please stand by) THE BIRD. Ronnie Anne notices that there's party going on in the family store where Sergio and some pigeons are having fun. (Minus 1pt for just everything I saw there) Ronnie Anne puts a stop to the parties and that means things went back to normal and the grandparents go on the trip. Also the bird is in her room now instead of Bobby's.
The episode is alright, though it does start the idea that Sergio will be the cause of many problems for the Casagrandes... so shame on the episode of not being clear enough to warn me.... that's right I saw it when it aired and it didn't warn me before the series. Uh 7/10.
Way more after the Jump
Episode 2b: Room for Improvement with... (yeah that's right we aren't going to keep adding the rest of the tile; ellipses, baby!)
That's right Ronnie Anne has a best friend now... but what about... sush. (this got weird) Ronnie Anne and Sid want to do K-Pop stuff because that's a thing... but they keep getting interrupted by everyone. (Also Sid's Mother just brings home zoo animals because sure that's allowed) They go the roof (it's not bad, they have...oh) but the neighbors are there and everything is going there, they try hallways, that doesn't work.
They find a room in the back of the laundry room and make it their space. Ronnie Anne and Sid decide to keep it a secret and make it their own space. (I'm also glad old TV's some how work in this world, screw digital transition) It's fun to see them try to hide reasons they moving random stuff around to make a secret room and room looks cool.
The episode takes notice that the neighbors noticed the girls wanted to use a space but couldn't, which is a slightly nice touch. With some easily induced guilt tripping. I will debate if they should really feel about them having their own secret space, and they are feeling they were selfish so the right thing was to tell everyone about their space... which I guess is something.
It's alright episode though, not going to harp on that, it's fine. 7/10.
Episode 3a: Roll Model with...
This episode introduces Carl's favorite superhero El Falcon. ( I find the Casagrandes TV interesting, I mean look at it) Like many children, Carl is influenced by television, that will kick off our plot, but first Nickelodeon really hammers in their Worldwide Day of Play so much Freida makes Carl go with Ronnie Anne to play and get way from TV. (Imagine a TV channel telling kids to not watch TV, then realizing the kids could just change the channel, I mean go play)
Remember what I said about television? (No really, he forgot) Ronnie Anne goes skateboarding while plays with his doll. (It's Action Figure!) Ronnie Anne ends up looking like a superhero through a series of events and helps save a dog from being stung by bees. (not a squirrel though, screw that squirrel)
Thanks to Carl watching that show and the same thing happening in real life he can't separate the difference and he starts copying Ronnie Anne because he thinks she's a hero. (She is a hero, he doesn't think, he knows!) It is fun to see Carl dressed up like Ronnie Anne (they wouldn't do that if Redacted Redacted Redacted) and seeing him idolize Ronnie Anne is kind of sweet and the one thing that kind of fits his age.
Ronnie Anne is finding this annoying. (Just like Superman finds his fans annoying) She does things to make sure that Carl stops idolizing her. Each time, of course, things don't go well for her and Carl gets more impressed with her.
I like how the things are working of timing convivence, that's a subtle type of humor if done right and they do that here. She talks to, at the time of the original airing, convenient Dad, who didn't exist until Friended! He tells her that reminds him of the time where she used heroize Bobby. (What?)
Bobby has plot convenient videos to show Ronnie Anne. He gives her good advice. They also have a Lori mention, incase you forgot this was the Loud House. (This was the Loud House?) Then Ronnie Anne's problem fixes itself.
This episode is fine, there's some good aspects to it. The charm comes from Carl having a moment of acting his age and following Ronnie Anne around and heroizing her is sweet. The Bobby and Ronnie Anne moment was sweet too. It's 7/10.
Episode 3b: No Show with...
This is a character doesn't like something but then finds they do like something, but (big but) wants to keep that they like it a secret because reasons. (Read: Spongebob episode with Squidward and he doesn't like Krabby Patties)
This time, Ronnie Anne doesn't like a TV show with a character that looks kind of like her. ( I wonder why ) and she ends up liking it. Actually, in this plot there is a slight difference, because she was so good at saying she didn't like the show, she can't even admit she does because her family figures she doesn't want to see it and moves her away. Most of the episode is her trying to find a way to watch the show. (With the Xfinity app she could... they aren't paying us... rude... never mind) Her attempts gets funnier as she even accepts a haircut just to watch the show. (Show makes 4 weddings and funeral reference)
Then Ronnie Anne misses the finale, but then the TV decides to announce that the episode is being replayed the next day. (If she had the ...never mind) Now Ronnie Anne is trying avoid spoilers in a deep serious way, like a madman. Eventually, (thankfully) Ronnie Anne tells her family she got into the show and feels bad she acted that way about the show and then the family tells her that they already knew and played a joke on her. (They had time for that )
They recorded the finale (so they do have a DVR or something) and Ronnie Anne watches the show with her family. The fun of the episode is seeing Ronnie Anne 's attempts to watch the show and dodge spoilers, it is a simple episode otherwise, 7/10.
Episode 4a: Face the Music with...
Apparently, it Casagrande family tradition for the family members to perform for Hector on his birthday, because that's a thing. Also find it fun that that nobody told Ronnie Anne until she asks the others on the day itself. That also means Ronnie Anne has to do something, but she has a backstory where she's worried about performing in front of people. (Is Hector having his birthday at the hall?)
Sid decides to help her get over her freight. Plan B, is find a gift for him to impress him instead, and Ronnie Anne decides to get him a new drum. But she plot overhears him talking to Vito and hears he's more impressed by the the performances over some gift. Ronnie Anne offers to join Bobby and Sergio's thing instead.
That doesn't work as apparently Hector has decided to invite other people over and conveniently Sergio can't do his part now, so Ronnie Anne has to, but she can't because of that. She panic attacks and runs off, then Hector comes to see her and she tells him what happens. He tells he had the same problem and the same backstory. (Interesting) It ends with Hector and Bobby doing a song together. (How did everyone else know the words though?)
It's a simple episode, but nice. It's a relatable episode with a warmth to it. I give 7/10.
Episode 4b: Pranks for the Memories with...
The episode sets up that Ronnie Anne has gotten close with her extended family... except one... Carlota. She wants to get closer to her older cousin but is having a hard time. Meanwhile, Carlota has to watch the boys and they are pranking her.
I do like how it gives the sense of awkwardness between the two and they have a hard time trying to find something they can both relate to. (heh relate) That pranking thing comes up again and Ronnie Anne decides to help Carlota get back at them for their pranks. Because apparently, Ronnie Anne was a big pranker.
This becomes a prank war episode. The girls don't have the best luck, because Bobby has been giving away their secrets. Ronnie Anne tells Carlota why she wanted to help prank, and find out they both wanted to try things with each other.
This is an alright episode too, I like how it worked out, the pranks weren't that interesting, but the heart was there. Interesting to see them have a plot where Ronnie Anne wants to bond with her only girl cousin , where she has trouble doing so, the episode is good. 7/10.
Episode 5a: Store Wars with...
There's a new grocery store in town... uh the neighborhood and that makes Bobby worry about the mercado because you know, they do groceries there too. Ronnie Anne and Bobby get worried about the fact their regulars are going to the new store. Bobby decides to mention how smaller stores get crushed by big stores all the time. (ooh
The episode shows Bobby's attachment to the family store and wants to defend it, so he offers new ideas to make sure people want to shop there instead of the other place. The whole family decides to help in the idea. That goes well, until Bobby sees the new store doing 24 HOUR SHOPPING. (wow 3AM time to buy stuff!) He decides to have the family work with him to work all night. They seem to want to do the mission but this doesn't go well for them. (Why are people shopping at 2AM ? Go to Bed!)
Eventually, Bobby decides the personal approach works for the store and brings things back to normal. (Not like the store was going to go away from the series) Also minus 0.1pts for that one thing with the dog.
It shows a side to Bobby for his dedication to something he loves, it fits well with his character and something that would be later under used in the spin off series though, Again, there's not much to say more than just how kind of nice it was, and interesting to see the whole family take their time to help out and invest in the store. I give it 6.9/10
Episode 5b: Lucha Fever with....
Ronnie Anne likes lucha wrestling and she likes a wrestler named La Torminta and La Tormita is retiring and R.A is excited to watch this final bought. We need something to... oh her uncle Carlos' s award thing is the next day... uh oh. (She's going to have to clone herself) She chooses to fake being sick (how cliché)
Ronnie Anne gives you tips on how to fake being sick. This plan can't go to well, because Rosa decides she'll stay home to help. But she figures a way out of that. But (big but) Rosa had called Arturo, her father, and she finds away to convince him she's sick. Rosa had also called other neighbors to check on her as well. (This is good planning, for not Ronnie Anne though) Ronnie Anne thinks of creative ways to get people who show up to go away.
The big guns show up, Rosa herself. Thanks to Ronnie Anne's good faking all the stuff that Ronnie Anne did made her come back. The grandmother tends to her granddaughter and this causes Ronnie Anne to miss her wrestling match. Ronnie Anne overhears Rosa talking to Carlos on the phone, she's sad she's going to miss his award show. This causes Ronnie to tell the truth. Now, thanks to the power of Ronnie Anne being able to lift a woman she's able to bring Rosa to the award show. Then she finds out that Carlos likes La Tormenta and they end up watching his phone.
Yeah, this was a fake sick episode, it hit the beats well and it was an alright episode. I give it 7/10.
That's it for this set of episodes. They were all ... alright... there's nothing wow about these episodes. "Friended!" was the best of the pack It's an odd taste sample for , at the time, an upcoming spinoff. The intro there playing part of the Loud theme then coming in and saying , "hey if you like the Louds... meet my family" is kind of a hard sell because the hope that Loud House fans would also like the spin off, though if someone wasn't interested these would kind of be a turn off. I do think "The Casagrandes" episodes of their own series were much more stronger than these, but these weren't bad, it's just that they weren't as polished as the final product became. I do like that they established the family bonds, the locational space and things we'd be seeing in the spinoff since they hadn't really done that before these episodes. Sid was a nice addition as well.
It was interesting to see Ronnie Anne and her family get some more in the main series before starting their own series. I'm also apperceive they didn't try to force in any Loud stuff because you would these to stand on their own like you'd want the spin off to do. These were a good rough draft to the new series and were pretty alright, that's the word alright. That's it for now, tune in next time when Maude AND the Jeffersons stop over to see Laverne and Shirley. (What?)
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