Based on the number of tween-focused shows I've watched, iCarly is easily one of the more grounded. Just to recap for any latecomers, iCarly centers on Carly Shay (Miranda Cosgrove), who co-hosts an incredibly popular Internet series with her best friends, Sam Puckett (Jennette McCurdy) and Freddie Benson (Nathan Kress). I somehow manage to bring this up in every review, but the concept is absolutely brilliant. The idea opens up numerous plot possibilities, and as absurd as the idea may seem, it makes complete sense.
iCarly: Season 2, Volume 3 is the largest release for the show yet. The three-disc set includes 15 episodes of the show presented in numbered running order. Considering the show's episodic nature, the running order doesn't matter, though for fans, big blocks of episodes are preferable to the jumbled episode collections we typically get with shows like this. That said, a decent number of episodes included in Volume 3 also appear in the iSpace Out collection. If you already own the set, you won't get quite the same bang for your buck in terms of new episodes.
Volume 3 also includes two extended "movie" episodes, "I Quit iCarly" and "iPsycho." Although the normal episodes are typically good, the extended episodes are Volume 3's crown jewels. Normal episodes tend to wrap up problems with one quick, easy, ready-made TV solution. This is expected, but tends to shortchange episodes. With more time, the episodes get a chance to breathe and develop a better story.
Volume 3 also features an extended version of "iSaved Your Life." Freddie saves Carly from being hit by a taco truck, leading her to develop a crush on him. As shorter episodes go, this is one of the better-developed ones and, in a small way, is significant for setting up what looks like a major plotline later in the series. Another fun episode is "iCarly Awards," a meta-episode featuring real Internet stars.
The set is rounded out with "iBloop," a short bloopers episode hosted by Miranda Cosgrove and Jerry Trainor. The duo shows up alongside other cast members in the "Best of Season 2" featurette. In addition to sharing memories from the season, the cast also talks about working with Noah Munck's (Gibby) younger brother, Ethan (Guppy) in "Meet Guppy."
As an added bonus, Volume 3 includes the pilot episode for T.U.F.F. Puppy," an animated series starring Jerry Trainor. It's a cute show, though it didn't do much for me personally.
For the price, iCarly: Season 2, Volume 3 is a great buy. There's a lot of content here, and it's something parents can feel safe about letting their kids watch unsupervised. Again, the only major knock on Volume 3 is the amount of repeat content from iSpace Out. There's still enough here to justify the price (at least when compared to other DVD releases), though this is strictly a judgment call.
