Tuca & Bertie Season 2 Episode 8 "Corpse Week" Recap & Review
"Corpse Week," the eighth episode of Tuca & Bertie's second season, is widely considered one of the strongest outings of the entire show. Airing on Adult Swim on August 1, 2021, the episode uses a fictional, morbidly festive holiday to dig into something much more universal: the messy, complicated, and deeply different ways families deal with grief, tradition, and unspoken feelings.
Here's a complete breakdown of what happens in the episode, why it resonated so strongly with critics and fans, and where you can watch it today.
What Is "Corpse Week" About?
The episode centers on Corpse Week, an in-universe holiday that blends elements of Thanksgiving, Halloween, and the Mexican tradition of DÃa de los Muertos. Tuca, Bertie, and their friends travel to visit both of their families for the occasion, with the holiday's morbid imagery, skeletons, spooky decor, and remembrance of the dead, acting as a clever backdrop for the episode's real focus: the very different emotional cultures of the two families.
Meet the Families: Two Very Different Approaches to Feelings
A big part of what makes "Corpse Week" work is the sharp contrast it draws between Tuca's family and Bertie's family. Bertie's parents are portrayed as an amicable, typically reserved Midwestern-style family who avoid discussing feelings or trauma directly. Tuca's family, on the other hand, communicates by yelling, loudly and openly airing grievances rather than suppressing them. This episode also marks the first major appearance of Tuca's older sister, Terry Toucan, revealing that after their mother's death, Terry had to step up and help raise her younger siblings, which explains much of the tension and resentment she carries toward Tuca's more carefree, immature personality.
Example: How "Corpse Week" Uses Contrast to Make Its Point
A clear example of the episode's storytelling approach is how it deliberately places these two family styles side by side without declaring one "correct." Bertie finds Tuca's family's constant bickering and yelling uncomfortable and off-putting on the surface, yet the episode subtly reveals that Tuca's family's transparency, however loud, may actually be healthier than the quiet suppression modeled by Bertie's own parents. Despite the constant arguing, Tuca's loyalty to her family remains completely unshaken, showing that volume and conflict don't necessarily equal dysfunction. This contrast is exactly what critics pointed to as the episode's biggest strength: rather than resolving family tension into a tidy lesson, "Corpse Week" lets both approaches sit in their messy, realistic complexity.
Why Critics Consider This a Standout Episode
"Corpse Week" holds a strong 8/10 critical rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with reviewers highlighting how it puts the idea of an "idyllic family" under real scrutiny, exploring what happens when the fantasy of a perfect family runs into the reality that no family is perfect. Reviewers also praised the episode as a strong culmination of Bertie's character development across the season, noting how it pushes her arc of confronting personal demons and unresolved trauma to a new emotional peak. The episode holds a 7.7 rating on IMDb and was directed by Aaron Long and Meg Waldow.
Cast Featured in This Episode
- Tiffany Haddish as Tuca
- Ali Wong as Bertie
- Steven Yeun as Speckle
- Tunde Adebimpe as a guest voice role
Where to Watch Tuca & Bertie Season 2 Episode 8
"Corpse Week" is available to stream on HBO Max, and can also be rented or purchased through Apple TV. The episode originally aired on Adult Swim, having moved networks after the show's first season on Netflix.
Watch: Tuca & Bertie Season 2 Episode 8 Promo
FAQs
What is Tuca & Bertie Season 2 Episode 8 called?
The episode is titled "Corpse Week" and is the eighteenth episode of the series overall.
When did "Corpse Week" air?
It originally aired on Adult Swim on August 1, 2021.
What holiday is "Corpse Week" based on?
Corpse Week is a fictional in-universe holiday that combines elements of Thanksgiving, Halloween, and the Mexican holiday DÃa de los Muertos.
Who is Terry Toucan in Tuca & Bertie?
Terry is Tuca's older sister, introduced in this episode as having taken on a parental role for her younger siblings after their mother's death.
Where can I watch "Corpse Week"?
The episode is available to stream on HBO Max, and can also be purchased or rented through Apple TV.
People Also Ask
Is Tuca & Bertie worth watching for its family-focused episodes?
Yes, episodes like "Corpse Week" are frequently cited by critics as some of the show's strongest, praised for handling family dynamics and emotional trauma with both humor and genuine depth.
Was Tuca & Bertie renewed for a Season 3?
The show aired its second season on Adult Swim after being cancelled by Netflix following Season 1, with fans hopeful for further renewal at the time this episode aired.
What network originally aired Tuca & Bertie?
The show premiered on Netflix for its first season before moving to Adult Swim for its second season.
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