Further, it doesn't serve as a cheap throwaway joke, instead becoming an integral piece of the episode's storyline and progression.īack to the episode, though, as after watching a few stolen clips, the Wattersons find their faux-family copying everything they're saying from outside their window and chase them down, engaging in a smart fight sequence that utilizes the characters exceptionally. Comparatively, that's all fun and games- this particular joke gets political, serving as a mockery of China's child policies and the whole attitude of the Chinese patriarchy. There have been a lot of brilliant adult jokes throughout the series, but none have been as gutsy as to go beyond explicit innuendo.
Seeking to get to the bottom of the problem, the Wattersons dig up the website, getting a good laugh from the faulty English translations before delivering the ultimate kicker: the lack of an Anais character due with the explanation of "Woman no right to celebrate in republic of people," from which I'll make a slight tangent. On the ride back from the store, the two tell their parents and Anais of their strange encounter, who dismiss it immediately until they see the fake family right across from them. The episode starts off innocently enough, with a simple enough exchange, before Gumball and Darwin walk off-screen, paving the way for Chi-Chi (fake Gumball) and Ribbit (fake Darwin), who reenact the exact same exchange, but are busted by the real guys, leading to some confusion and a couple of gags (no, like literal choking-type gags). That's the pinnacle of meta comedy that's never been attempted in the slightest by anybody else in any shape or form, and to see that idea knocked completely out of the park is simply a wonder to behold. It's Gumball and family meeting their Chinese knock-off counterparts. Even if the episode was a complete botch, it would've succeeded due to the sheer brilliance of the idea alone. How is that even a question? Of course it was. (Granted, I'm not too excited about CN blowing a solid third of the season over the course of one month instead of extending the show's run, but I digress.) Was the wait worth it? "The Copycats" seems to have been dangling over us for eternity as we waited ever-so patiently for its release, enduring the great episode drought of 2016-2017. "Gumball, are you thinking what I'm thinking?" "No, Chi-Chi's thinking what I'm thinking."