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Amphibia S3 Episode 5A/5B Review

Amphibia’s now well into it’s third and final season, and it has spent that time well. While several episodes have been one-off adventures, the show’s placing greater emphasis on the overall plot. Last week alone gave us a big clue regarding the connection between Earth and Amphibia while also exploring the effect of Anne’s disappearance on everyone who knows her. However, throughout it all, two plot threads have yet to be explored. Firstly, there’s the return of Frobo the frobot, who got smashed saving Polly. Secondly, there’s the fact that Anne hasn’t told her parents the whole truth about what happened.

Thankfully, both of these plot threads finally get explored as we deal with killer frobots this week on Amphibia.

Fixing Frobo

Having adjusted to life on Earth now, Polly reveals to her family a secret project she’s been working on. For some time now, she’s been using the Boonchuy’s garage to try and bring Frobo back online. However, her attempts end in disaster and the others telling her to wait until they’re back in Amphibia. Being a little kid, Polly ignores their advice, instead doubling down by researching everything she can about robotics online. She even gets advice from the two IT girls seen in the season three opening on how to fix Frobo.

Polly may be the youngest of the Plantar’s, but she’s shown herself to be immensely gifted. Last week, we learned she taught herself how to speak Thai using Mrs. Boonchuy’s romcom collection. Here, she manages to get a working knowledge of robotics in a matter of hours. Unfortunately, her desperation to bring back her best friend leads to her ignoring everyone’s advice and turning Frobo on. Her repairs worked too well, resetting him back to factory standards and almost getting Polly killed. Thankfully, her tears somehow reawaken his memories of Polly and restore him to normal, albeit as just a head.

I know it’s a cliche for an act of love to bring back the memories of a beloved robot friend, but heck if it isn’t a good one. It makes you question whether or not machines can develop something akin to a soul. I’m of the opinion that they can, given enough time. However, by the end of this, Polly accepts that she has to be patient in fixing Frobo, showing off some serious character development in the process. Here’s hoping she and her new friends can fix him.

Anne-sterminator

Having been back on Earth for a while, Anne continually impresses her family with her new level of responsibility. However, Anne feels guilty about withholding part of the truth from her parents, and their pride in her only makes it worse. Having reached her breaking point, Anne decides to come clean about everything. Too bad that assassin frobot returns for round three, no longer caring about being hidden. As a result, Mr. and Mrs. Boonchuy see everything.

From here on out, everything unravels as Anne’s parents realize how much she’s kept from them. Mrs. Boonchuy assumes the worst and tears into Anne, asking when she’s going to grow up, causing Anne to snap.

I really felt how stressed out Anne was at that moment. Given how we know what she’s been through, and her parents don’t, only makes this harder to watch. Once she sees how much her daughter’s been suffering, though, Mrs Boonchuy relents. At lest long enough for them to take down the Frobot and for Anne to launch it into the atmosphere with her Calamity powers where it explodes. Andrias used a self-destruct bomb in it to do so.

Things Will Get Heavier Going Forward

So, Frobo’s back, albeit as a disembodied head, and Anne’s secret is out in the open. Clearly, this episode is a game changer. And while I love that Polly managed to make progress with Frobo, I think we really need to talk about the second half of the episode.

Anne’s parents now know she partially lied to them, even if she had the best intentions. At least it wasn’t as bad as it was with Hop Pop, though. And while I’m glad Anne’s coming clean with everything, I’m also a little disappointed. The climax at the episode would’ve been the perfect time for Anne to fire back at her Mom about why she kept it all a secret. How Marcy got them stranded in Amphibia on purpose. Sasha betraying her not once, but twice. Andrias’ plans to conquer Earth, almost killing Sprig and Marcy, everything. I don’t think any parent could stay mad at their kids if they knew about that. Still, there’s always the fanfics for that.

In addition, Anne’s fight with the assassin frobot happened in broad daylight for everyone to see. While it looked like most bystanders didn’t notice or understand, the FBI clearly did. The episode ends on an ominous note with two government agents talking about contacting someone called Mr. X. Given the plot for the next episode, it’s clear that now Anne has to worry about the government being after the Plantar’s and possibly her. I, for one, am looking forward to seeing what Anne will do going forward. With the invasion on the horizon, Anne can’t afford to fight two powerful enemies at once. Fingers crossed. Happy Halloween, everyone!

I Give “Fixing Frobo” and “Anne-sterminator” a 3.8/5 and a 4/5

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Stray Observations

• Love that Mr. Boonchuy plays MMO’s

• Mrs. Boonchuy had some…interesting ways of coping with Anne’s’ disappearance.

• Okay, that arm is definitely going to come back into play!

• Andrias isn’t going to be getting any of those books.
• This was the second time we heard the term “Alms” or “Olms”.
• Loved the reference to the Star Wars Prequels!

Amphibia Season 2, Episode 15 Review

So, remember that robot that got created in that factory in the Season two premiere? The one that followed the Plantar’s all the way across Amphibia as a running gag? Well, the episode where Mr. Frobo finally joins the Plantar’s has come at last! But first, let’s look back on Mr. Frobo as he journeyed across Amphibia.

New Wartwood

It’s already been established that Marcy’s not the best when it comes to social interaction. She means well, but her eagerness can be off-putting to some people. And in the first segment of this week’s episode, she struggles to be accepted by the people of Wartwood, much like what Anne went through.

Anne and Marcy are both alike in that they yearn for acceptance from the people around them. As we see here, what separates them is their methods. It took Anne half a season before Wartwood accepted her. So she rightfully tells Marcy that its best not to force the issue. Marcy doesn’t listen to Anne, though, and instead follows through with Mayor Toadstool’s ideas to improve the town. AKA, make it look fancier-looking and appeal to Toadstool’s own ego. It works, until the extra weight causes Wartwood to sink into the swamp its built on.

Marcy quickly rectifies her error by saving the town, but everyone’s still rightfully mad at her. But, they do admit that after getting to know Anne, that sort of thing’s par for the course for them. They even admit that they’ll eventually get around to liking Marcy, same as with Anne.

I enjoy any story that involves Marcy in some way, and to see her experience the same sort of growth Anne did is endearing to her character. Also, seeing Anne give her advice shows just how far she’s come since arriving in Amphibia.

Friend or Frobo

Now it’s time for the moment we’ve low-key been waiting for since the trailer for the second half of the season dropped. It’s time for the Plantar’s to meet Frobo!

On a typical outing to Wartwood’s farmer’s market, a bored Polly wants to cause mischief to liven things up. However, Anne and Sprig refuse to partake, with their various experiences having made them seen how it’s not worth it. Since’s Polly’s still young, though, she does it anyway…only to find it hard to do so alone. That’s when she discovers the robot frog that’s been following them since the start of the season. Enamored by the big guy, Polly names him “Frobo”, and uses him to get into all sorts of trouble.

At first, it’s fun. Until Frobo angers the townsfolk, they accidentally hurt Polly, and Frobo goes berserk and starts lashing out at them. It was like watching an amphibian version of The Iron Giant, so it was very entertaining to watch.

Ultimately, Polly learns to take responsibility for Frobo and gets him to stop his rampage, the townsfolk to stand down, and for Hop Pop to accept Frobo into the Plantar family. At least he doesn’t need to eat, so that’s one less mouth to feed.

A Good Breather Episode

Ultimately, this is what people would consider to be a “breather episode.” A light-hearted story sandwiched in between a far more serious one to keep people from being overwhelmed by the seriousness. In other words, filler with a purpose.

Don’t get me wrong; I want to see the main story continue as much as everyone else. But I’d rather Amphibia take its time doing so. Plus, these episodes give the characters sufficient time to grow and develop, which they’re going to need.

Even though the Plantar’s now have Mr. Frobo, several questions remain unanswered. Who built the factory that made him? Why did he follow them all the way to Newtopia and back? How involved will he be in the plot of the show going forward? Hopefully, the show will answer these questions given time. For now, though, I’m content with enjoying this new family dynamic. Here’s hoping that we see more of Marcy and Frobo interacting with the people of Wartwood next week.

I Give “New Wartwood” and “Friend or Frobo” a 3.9/5 and 4.5/5 Each

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