The best Amazing World of Gumball episodes contain a mixture of kid and adult humor. The Amazing World of Gumball was part of a group of classic Cartoon Network shows that had situations and humor that could appeal to both kids and parents. It’s therefore not all that shocking that the adventures of Gumball and his adopted brother Darwin went on for six captivating seasons, all the way up until the series finale and its polarizing cliffhanger. Even though the series is pretty solid as a whole, some episodes were clearly better than others. From the unrelentingly witty to the surprisingly poignant, many episodes in the series rank highly.
Having reached its conclusion roughly two years ago, The Amazing World of Gumball maintains a legacy as one of the best Cartoon Network shows of the 2010s. Fans who grew up on excellent animated series from the 90s and early 2000s like Dexter’s Laboratory and Courage the Cowardly Dog will be fond of the dry wit and the surprisingly genuine nature of Gumball. Unlike SpongeBob SquarePants or The Fairly OddParents, Gumball’s showrunners knew when to call it quits. That said, there are still plenty of hilarious and wholesome episodes to check out. Here are the best Amazing World of Gumball episodes.
15 The Shippening
After Sarah happens upon a magical notebook in one of the best Amazing World of Gumball episodes, she uses it to write romantic fanfiction about everyone in Elmore, inadvertently making her stories “canon” to the series. Chaos ensues, but Gumball and Darwin eventually figure out what’s going on. A hilarious jab at amateur fan fiction writers and the couples they create, “The Shippening” pokes fun at fans who obsess a bit too much over relationships between characters. The episode is also one of The Amazing World of Gumball‘s most meta, directly referencing the network on which the show airs, as well as fan-favorite non-canon character relationships.
14 The Future
Banana Joe’s mother is adducted by Rob in one of the best Amazing World of Gumball episodes, who hopes to get a glimpse into the future via her supernatural paintings. However, Banana Joe, Gumball, and Darwin team up to save her, eventually erasing Rob from existence through one of Barbara’s paintings. One of the most action-packed episodes of The Amazing World of Gumball, “The Future” has the makings of a climactic finale episode. It premiered a few weeks before the show finally wrapped up, and Barbara’s eerie warning that “there is no future” certainly made for a haunting conclusion.
13 The Disaster
In The Amazing World of Gumball‘s season four finale, “The Disaster,” Gumball’s life is slowly ruined by his nemesis Rob, who’s discovered a universal remote that can control their world. One of the best Amazing World of Gumball episodes was good on its own merits, but, since it left viewers with an exciting cliffhanger that wouldn’t be resolved until season five’s premiere, it’s really not complete without that second half.
The conclusion to the episode picks up in the season 5 premiere, but “The Disaster” is definitely the more action-packed of the two. What makes this one of the best episodes is the sheer amount of conflict that is packed into such a short amount of time. The dissolution of Gumball’s parents’ relationship is both hysterical and complicated, mixing in some adult themes with the kids’ humor, something the show is famous for.
12 The Plan
One of the best Amazing World of Gumball episodes features time travel, terribly written emails, and an imaginary assailant. Amazing World of Gumball takes a surrealist turn in this installment when the Watterson kids come across a letter for their mom Nicole and believe that a man named Daniel Lennard is trying to steal her. What ensues is Gumball and the kids stumbling through different plans to stop this from happening.
Clues to the identity of the mysterious Daniel Lennard are given early on in the episode, but it isn’t fully revealed until the very end that the entire thing was a misunderstanding on the Watterson kids’ part. It’s a hilarious episode that’s full of twists and turns and half-baked plans that, of course, come to nothing in the end.
11 The Countdown
Another one of the best Amazing World of Gumball episodes implements a foreboding countdown ticker, and that’s “The Countdown.” In the installment, Miss Simian threatens to expel Darwin and Gumball if they’re late for school one more time. Of course, Darwin and Gumball wake up late, and a mysterious countdown ticker appears above them (which they see and are puzzled by).
The boys try anything and everything to get to school on time and, of course, end up everywhere but the classroom. Amazing World of Gumball does what it does best with its absurdist humor and meta references in the animated series’ episode. This episode truly goes off the rails (even for an Amazing World of Gumball episode), making it one of the best of the show.
10 The Remote
In season 2’s “The Remote,” the Wattersons, each wanting to watch different things at the same time, go to drastic measures to each get their way after Richard hides the TV remote. In an insulated episode surrounding the Watterson family, hilarity ensues as the family cons and manipulates each other into getting what they want. One of the best Amazing World of Gumball episodes features one of the best of the many twist endings in The Amazing World of Gumball, and it was so popular with fans that it even got turned into a game, “Remote Fu,” for the Cartoon Network website.
9 The Matchmaker
In this season 5 episode and one of the best Amazing World of Gumball episodes, Gumball finds Darwin pining over a picture of one of his classmates and believes that he’s fallen in love with Teri. After concocting a love potion with the help of Carrie and setting Darwin and Teri up, Gumball discovers that his brother was originally in love with Carrie all along.
This episode is full of the subtle, high-brow wit—high-brow for a children’s show, at least—for which the series is known, and the ending is as satisfying as it is hilarious. Between Gumball’s attempts to set up Teri and Darwin and Carrie’s attempts to thwart them all, the installment is a great example of why the series appeals to adults and kids alike.
8 The Fury
In “The Fury,” Nicole meets an old figure from her past, a former friend named Yuki who wants revenge for her loss against Nicole in a martial arts tournament when they were children. Initially, Nicole refuses, but, faced with losing everything, she agrees to a rematch.
One of the best Amazing World of Gumball episodes is primarily remembered as having one of the best scenes in the entire Cartoon Network series, an anime-style fight sequence between Nicole and Yuki produced by Studio 4°C. Aside from Gumball, the studio is best known for its contributions to the Berserk anime series. Getting Studio 4°C to animate a fight sequence for the show only speaks to its massive success, and the sequence itself contributes greatly to the episode’s celebrated status.
7 The Job
Season 2’s “The Job” sees Richard decide to stop lying on the couch all day and get a job in pizza delivery. Unfortunately, his dedication to the role causes him to unknowingly wreak havoc upon the City of Elmore, as the rest of the family tries to catch and stop him. One of the best Amazing World of Gumball episodes and a funny episode that makes the best of its incredibly varied cast of characters, “The Job” might be too formulaic to be considered as Gumball’s absolute best episode, but it’s certainly up there thanks to the outstanding ensemble cast of surreal characters.
6 The Console
The Amazing World of Gumball has parodied a lot of different media during its near-decade run, but perhaps the most original of these parodies is their love letter to classic video game RPGs, season 5’s “The Console.” In one of the best Amazing World of Gumball episodes, Gumball, Darwin, and Anais are trapped inside a cursed video game console, forced to beat the fantasy RPG game “Inverted Paradox: The Enemy Within” to escape.
What could be a formulaic plot is actually given quite the original spin by the series’ writing team, and the result speaks for itself. The episode is also memorable thanks to the sixteen-bit aesthetic evoked in many of the scenes. The plot subverting all expectations is why this is one of the best Amazing World of Gumball episodes and a testament to just how good the writing for the show really is.
5 The Origins Part 2
After Gumball’s pet fish Darwin is accidentally flushed down the toilet, he embarks on a journey to reunite with his adoptive family in this Amazing World of Gumball episode with some raunchy jokes to boot. Overcoming long odds and growing a pair of legs in the process, Darwin harnesses the power of friendship to return to Elmore and find his new brother.
Darwin’s origins have always been something of a mystery, and, while an explanation was never necessary, it’s charming to see the establishment of a familial bond that’s central to the series. While the second part of the arc is good, the story setup in Part 1 is just slightly better than its conclusion.
4 The Origins Part 1
The Wattersons can no longer put up with the rambunctious actions of their toddler, Gumball, so they buy him a pet fish in the hopes that it will distract him. The plan works, but Gumball keeps accidentally killing his pet fish, forcing Mr. Watterson to buy up all the fish at the pet store.
Eventually, in one of the best Amazing World of Gumball episodes, Mr. Watterson buys a magical fish from a mysterious trader, and gumball befriends it. The episode explores the origins of Gumball’s brother, Darwin, and it’s one of the series’ many touching episodes, as installments that focus on the Watterson family always end up being the more entertaining chapters of the series. Part 2 of this arc is good, but Part 1 has funnier and more heartwarming moments.
3 The Game
A round of Gumball and Darwin’s homemade board game “Dodj or Daar” goes awry in season 2’s “The Game,” one of the series’ most bizarre episodes, but one of the best Amazing World of Gumball episodes. The Jumanji-like situation the family finds themselves in makes for excellent comedy, and the writers aren’t afraid to think outside the box with the wild dares Gumball and Darwin put in the game. It’s one of many episodes in the series that takes clear inspiration from other media. The writers’ ingenuity and nods to other programs work incredibly well in the world of Gumball, which is why this is one of the best installments.
2 The Shell
In season 3’s “The Shell,” Penny goes through a transformation after Gumball accidentally cracks her shell. Afraid to show her true self, she runs away, with Gumball—who’s still trying to explain his feelings for her—in pursuit. One of the best Amazing World of Gumball episodes was a pivotal one in Gumball and Penny’s relationship, and it actually has a strong message for a Gumball episode. As humorous and lighthearted as the show often is, The Amazing World of Gumball presents more than a few serious and emotional situations throughout its six-season run, which is why this is one of the best, and sharpest, episodes.
1 The Choices
Season 5’s “The Choices” is one of The Amazing World of Gumball‘s most truly heartfelt episodes, as it focuses on Nicole reliving the events of the day she met Richard and sees her wondering if her life would have turned out better if she had done things differently.
It’s a surprisingly poignant episode for a kids’ show, and it really drives home the fact that the team behind Gumball cares about their audience. Rather than present a stiff message about morality or a series of slapstick gags, one of the best Amazing World of Gumball episodes appeals to every member of Gumball‘s wide demographic and focuses on the beloved Watterson family.