Gilben's Different (Clarence)

"Gilben's Different" is a Clarence episode from Season 3. In this episode, Gilben has a mustache and Clarence tries to see what it feels like to be a Grownup.

Plot
Gilben's newly sprouted peach fuzz sparks a discussion about puberty that ultimately convinces Clarence to act more like an adult.

Why This Episode Is Different (In a Bad Way)

 * 1) One of the main problems is that this episode doesn't really focus that much on Gilben, We only learn that he’s older than all of them. Despite being one of the main characters in this episode, he barely has any screen time in this episode and the episode ignores Gilben and focuses more on Clarence and his friends instead.
 * 2) Clarence is very unlikeable in this episode, as it proves Clarence can not raise a childhood.
 * 3) * He mentally abused Jeff who is supposed to be the baby in their roleplay and he’s doing it just for laughs which were not funny.
 * 4) * He on purpose gives Jeff the wrong medicine. He doesn't even give him the proper medicine.
 * 5) * He literally cuts off Jeff’s hand which is fake while trying to cut his nails, the scene is portrayed as dark.
 * 6) * Jeff even calls out Clarence for giving him wrong medicine, but Clarence didn’t listen and kept abusing Jeff.
 * 7) * Clarence is very immature at the start, Sure he is childish in other episodes. But not to this extent.
 * 8) * When Jeff was helping him with homework, he erases all the answers and decides to bring trash inside the house and mess up his house
 * 9) * Clarence didn’t listen to Jeff or Mary because they were telling him about maturity and Clarence thinks it’s a joke.
 * 10) Half of the humor in this episode is either dull or just straight up not funny.
 * 11) * Chelsea and Belson pretending to shoplift vehicles was an unfunny and terrible joke.
 * 12) * Percy pretending to be a baby also falls flat.
 * 13) * Sumo, Chelsea, & Clarence pretending to be sharks was just a sour way to start off the episode and the scene alone is unfunny and pointless.
 * 14) * The running gag of Chelsea and Belson gasping felt like it went on too long.
 * 15) * The scene of Clarence cutting Jeff’s fake hand was dark and Clarence was abusing him in an unfunny matter.
 * 16) Jeff’s crying can be very annoying.
 * 17) Some of the characters were pretty poorly used or unlikable mostly some of Clarence’s school friends because some acted either out of character or mean-spirited like how Belson threatened to call Child Protective Services on Clarence for child abuse and too much whining, yelling, and screaming from some of the characters. Some of them even destroy the treehouse which is Clarence’s workplace in the roleplay by tearing up signs, knocking things over purposely, making a mess, and pretending to shoplift cars.
 * 18) The plot had potential but it got poorly executed because it’s more of a Clarence-focused episode than an episode about Gilben.
 * 19) Clarence's motivation to start acting like a grown-up is one of the main problems in this episode.
 * 20) Not only does this episode has a poorly executed plot. This episode also has rancid writing and poor execution and characters.

Redeeming Qualities

 * 1) The song "Feels Good To Be A Grownup" is pretty good.
 * 2) We get to see more Gilben, as we don't see him very often.
 * 3) The ending was decent
 * 4) Gilben, Jeff, & Percy are pretty likable characters despite some being poorly used.
 * 5) * Mr. Reese, Chad, & Mary can be likable to an extent.
 * 6) Clarence does get his comeuppance when Jeff rightly slaps him in the face after what he’s been through.
 * 7) As said above, the plot has potential to be good but it got executed poorly in the second half.
 * 8) The start of the episode was decent but the problems start to transpire when it cuts to Clarence’s house.

Reception
This episode has a 5.3/10 on IMDb. Making it the lowest-rated episode of Clarence.