iCreate a New Ecosystem is the 9th episode in season 3 of iCarly (2021), and the 32nd episode overall. It premiered on July 20th, 2023.
Synopsis[]
"When Gwen comes to visit, Carly and Freddie are determined to prove Millicent has a supportive ecosystem around her. Spencer mistakenly shares a secret amongst the friend group. Harper attempts to make up for traumatic childhood memories. Carly and Freddie struggle to find the perfect time to tell Millicent's mom about their relationship, fearing that she will take Millicent away with her."
— Official Paramount+ Synopsis
Plot[]
The episode opens with Carly, Freddie, and Millicent in the Benson Apartment, where Carly and Freddie are cooking in preparation for Gwen's arrival for her yearly check-in with Freddie and Millicent and to show that Carly is a good addition to the family. Carly and Freddie are excited about telling Gwen they are dating, but Gwen just wants time alone with Freddie and Millicent so Carly is forced to leave and Freddie is not ready to tell Gwen about him and Carly. After Freddie has dinner with Gwen and Millicent, Carly comes in and Freddie apologises to Carly for how Gwen acted and says that she is quite sensitive when it comes to their check-in's, which she calls an ecosystem.
Carly, Freddie and Harper, in the iCarly Studio, try to come up with a way to prove that Carly is a positive addition to the family by referencing babies and how Carly can be part of the family and come up with a way to throw Gwen a party in the local park as a way to tell her about Carly and Freddie's relationship. Carly invites Paul, her manager as a way to cheer him up as he is upset that he has just been dumped.
In the park, Carly, Freddie, Harper and Millicent are setting up for Gwen's party and Harper has made t-shirts. Carly brings 18 bottles of wine as a way to get Gwen drunk to make the news easier, only for Gwen to say she is doing dry August. When Paul comes, he brings a foam machine and Carly introduces him to Gwen with him instantly hitting on her, much to her dismay.
Carly and Freddie try to tell Gwen they are dating.
After failed attempts, Carly and Freddie try to tell Gwen they are dating only for Spencer, Marissa and Lewbert to rush over to hug Carly. Spencer tries to protect Carly from drinking alcohol and the foam as he thinks Carly is pregnant. Lewbert blurts out that Carly is pregnant much to everyone's excitement, especially Freddie. Freddie asks Carly if they are having a baby together and she tells him she isn't actually pregnant, much to his disappointment, but Gwen finds out about the couple. After an argument, Gwen decides to take Millicent with her as she believes Seattle isn't safe enough for Millicent, who wanders off.
Carly finds Millicent in the foam pit and asks her if she is okay. Millicent explains that no one asked her how she feels about moving away. Carly convinces Millicent to speak up for herself and she thanks her for listening.
Gwen overhears and apologizes to Millicent for not asking what she wanted, deciding to let Millicent stay with Freddie and Carly, believing she is truly safe and understands she is happy here. Gwen thanks Carly for stepping in, telling her she is happy Carly is part of their family and for caring for Millicent. Spencer tells Carly and Freddie that if they are expecting a baby, now would be a great time to tell him. Lewbert and Marissa agree to live in her apartment and he asks anyone if they have seen his insects, which makes everyone scream.
In the final scene, Carly wonders into the iCarly Studio to find many of Lewbert's insects wandering around and screams, running around the apartment, only to see Spencer with a spider on his head and she runs out of the apartment in horror.
Subplot[]
The grandparent club meeting
Meanwhile, Marissa and Lewbert come to Spencer to help him design a sculpture for their wedding as the insect farm is not romantic enough, which he agrees to do. That evening, Spencer finds pregnancy books in the studio that Carly left there and believes she is pregnant. Spencer runs around the apartment and straight into the Benson apartment to tell Marissa and Lewbert that he is "going to be a grandfather". Excitedly, the three of them scream and run around the apartment.
They all have a meeting in Spencer's apartment about being grandparents and Spencer tells Marissa and Lewbert that Carly and Freddie cannot know that they know about the "pregnancy", until it is mentioned at the park. Marissa and Lewbert are also debating who's house they should live in once they are married, which causes beef between the two. Since Spencer doesn't like the conflict, he offers for them both to live in his apartment with them, which makes Marissa say she would rather die than live with Spencer. Later on, Lewbert agrees to live in the Benson Apartment, much to Marissa's joy, saying it is the right choice.
Guest Stars[]
- Josh Peck as Paul Denham
- Mary Scheer as Marissa Benson
- Jeremy Rowley as Lewbert Sline
- Carmela Zumbado as Gwen
Trivia[]
- This is one of Paul's 3 appearances in season 3 as well as one of Marissa's 5 appearances in thee season.
- This and iGo Public are the only episodes where the title was announced from the script.
- It is the penultimate episode of the season.
- This episode touches on Millicent's perspective of Carly and Freddie's relationship.
- Gwen learns that Carly and Freddie are dating.
- This is considered a big episode for the relationship between Carly, Freddie, and Millicent and shows that Carly is accepted into the Benson family.
Carly is welcomed to the Benson family.
- Everyone thinks Carly is pregnant.
- Its revealed that Freddie sold his Kevin app and the store after he broke up with Pearl.
- This episode hints to the possibility of Carly and Freddie having kids together.
- Tinsley is seen in behind the scenes photos, but doesn't actually appear in the episode. The reason behind her scenes being cut are unknown, but it is likely due to time.
- Granddad Shay and Colonel Steven Shay are both mentioned.
- The subplot of Spencer thinking Carly is pregnant is similar to what happened in the Boy Meets World episode "She's Having My Baby Back Ribs". Shawn and Spencer experience some misunderstandings and believe Topanga and Carly are pregnant. They tell their friends (Cory and Freddie) the news, who are very excited. However, their partners have to tell all of their friends/family that they aren't actually pregnant.
- Information from the live tweet:
- Originally Lewbert and Marissa were going to commission Spencer for a nude sculpture of them for the wedding.[1]
- Harper’s childhood trauma monologue stayed virtually untouched from Studio Draft to Shooting Draft, which is one of the few times a draft has stayed the same.[2]
- Shadow Puppet Swan Lake was originally called Shadow Puppet Hamilton - based on the play - and lyrics were written for it, but the idea got changed.[3]
- Spencer knocking over the chair and Mrs. Benson going back to pick it up was unscripted.[4]
- The foam pit was originally going to be a bounce house, but then the writers thought that would be too difficult for sound so they switched to the foam pit.[5]
- When Carly and Freddie are talking about his instant pot, both Miranda Cosgrove and Nathan Kress are both trying to not laugh.
- This is the last episode of the season to feature Paul Denham.
- It is hinted that Freddie and Carly have already shared some intimacy with one another, seeing as how Freddie had no problem believing that Carly is pregnant.
- This is the first time the Seattle Park is shown.
- Freddie mentions he has a yearly custody check-in with Gwen, but he didn't mention it at all in the second season, implying it happened off-screen.
Character Revelations[]
- Harper attends therapy and had a nanny growing up.
- Gwen has a tattoo that says "If it ain't broke, don't fix it".
- Spencer hates conflict.
- Lewbert is scared of the vacuum pictures that are in the Benson Apartment and has a pet tarantula.
- Freddie writes music and has sold his Kevin app company.
- Carly's favourite fruit is pineapple.
Carly suggests Harper goes back to therapy.
- Freddie wants to have a baby with Carly.
- Gwen lives on a boat.
- Carly tries to prove she is a good mother for Millicent.
- Lewbert loves insects.
- Freddie has yearly custody check-in's with Gwen.
Allusions[]
- Paull mentions the film Avatar.
Goofs[]
Spencer telling Marissa and Lewbert he "is going to be a grandfather"
- It doesn't really make sense that Gwen doesn't know about Carly and Freddie dating as they announced their relationship during a live stream in iGo Public. It could be possible Gwen did not watch iCarly at the time of Carly and Freddie announcing their relationship, but it is also unknown why Millicent didn't tell her mom about them unless they are not able to contact each other much due to Gwen's job.
- Spencer assumes he will be a grandfather when he believes Carly is pregnant. However, he would actually be the uncle because him and Carly are siblings.
- He may have thought this because he raised Carly since she was young, and sees himself as a father figure. However, this is most likely a joke done on purpose due to Spencer's goofy nature.
Running Gags[]
Paul flirting with Gwen.
- Everyone thinking Carly is pregnant.
- Paul flirting with Gwen.
- Carly and Freddie both saying "Hi Gwen".
- Everyone putting "fu-da" in front of words.
- Lewbert mentioning his insects.
Series Continuity[]
- Paul, Lewbert and Marissa all last appeared in iGo to Toledo.
- Gwen last appeared in the season 1 episode iLove Gwen.
- The giant ball of yarn appeared in the previous episode, which Spencer used to help Freddie overcome his fear of cats.
The ball of yarn from the previous episode.
- The subject of Carly and Freddie possibly having kids together was previously mentioned in the old show, in the episode iApril Fools, although that was considered a non-canon episode.
- Gwen mentions it is August, meaning it has been 6 months since iBuckled - which took place in February - and that Carly and Freddie have been dating for about 6 months.
- Harper mentions the fa-da party in iHave A Proposal.
- In iFauxpologize, Millicent reads Freddie's tweet from 2013 where he said he never wanted children, but clearly wants to have one with Carly, as established in this episode.
Quotes[]
[Spencer runs into the Benson Apartment] |
Millicent: It's cool that mom works on a boat, but if I ain't captain, I an't going. |
Paul: Sorry I'm late, Carly. Penelope just ended things and I'm really.....going through it. |
Gwen: I have legs. |
Gwen: [to Freddie] So, you lied to me about your job, a huge relationship, all these disruptions to our daughter's environment, and what? You thought I'd be chill about it if you threw me some park wine, a FUPA shirt, and this freaking guy? |
Harper: I've waited 20 years for this family cookout, and you all are ruining it! |
Gwen: Carly, thanks for jumping in. I'm glad you're part of our ecosystem. |
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[Carly walks into the Benson apartment] |
International Premieres[]
| Platform | Premiere date | Title |
|---|---|---|
Paramount+
|
July 21, 2023[6] | iCreate A New Ecosystem |
Gallery[]
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See photos of iCreate a New Ecosystem here.
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References[]
- ↑ iCarly Writers tweet #1
- ↑ Writers tweet #2
- ↑ Writers tweet #2
- ↑ Writers tweet #3
- ↑ Writers tweet #4
- ↑ The episodes air every Friday in the UK