Heartwarming / Dr. Crafty

"Thank you, Nurse. It means the world to me."

Moments pages are Spoilers Off. You Have Been Warned.

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Season 1

HalloWinter Special

• After discussing Morrigan Aensland's design history in "Street Frighters," Crafty delivers a rousing, poignant speech about the general creative process. Namely, he explains that the first attempt at something is often bad, but that shouldn't discourage creators from doing what they love. After all, they can take what lessons they learn from the first attempt and fine-tune their ideas until they work. Considering many members of the Crafty community are creative minds with similar ambitions, the speech is something that many needed to hear.
• "Hocus Mansion"
  • Nurse is sought after by the newly summoned Sanderson Sisters, who wish to eat her. She keeps misinterpreting their vows to enjoy her as a meal as sexual advances. Crafty immediately sees the Sisters' intent and repeatedly comes to Nurse's defense throughout the episode. Even as Nurse grows irritated with him constantly interrupting what she mistakes as a good time, he still protects her.
  • While mildly disquieting, the flashback sequence showing Crafty's first meeting with the mysterious creature (later revealed to be Sasha) is implicitly sweet. She seems to have rescued Crafty from drowning in the ocean and has brought him to shore. As Crafty comes to and looks up at the creature before him, her single visible eye within her silhouetted form implies that she's smiling at him. It's not birthed from malicious intent, but genuine joy from seeing Crafty alive. Suddenly, she darts back into the ocean to hide, and a thankful Crafty's call for her further implies that she saved his life.
    Crafty: Wait! Where are you going? Who are... you...?

Season 2

Season 2 Premiere

• "New Season, New Friends"
  • Crafty reveals the circumstances behind Pepper's hiring. During his vacation between the first two seasons, he met her at the Fish 'n Fish... which is a seafood joint. Being a sea creature herself, Pepper feels uncomfortable preparing seafood, but because she had no other work opportunities at the time, she resigned to working there as a waitress. Being unable to unleash her full potential, in tandem with the discrimination she faced for being the only non-human worker there, made her miserable. Crafty, taking pity on her, arranged for her to become the head chef of Crafty Industries. It's something Pepper's eternally grateful for, no matter how overstimulated she gets from the Doctor's eccentricities.
  • Shortly after Pepper appears on-screen for the first time, Crafty asks the annoyed Nurse what she wants for dinner. She replies with "Calamari." Crafty, misunderstanding or ignoring the implications, muses that they can probably check the store for some later on. Note that he doesn't suggest that Pepper prepare the meal; evidently, the good doctor is very mindful of his friend's beliefs.
• There's a brief moment in "Pros and Comms" where Messi, having viewed a certain art piece in progress, mistakenly believes she's about to be replaced—not even one episode after her debut. She sobs to herself, then to Crafty, who gently reassures her that she's here to stay; the interaction he's sharing with the other maid OC is non-canon. For that, Messi calms down and immediately returns to her work.

Nintendo Month

• "Aqua Marina" has Crafty experience a fairly intense flashback. When he snaps out of it, he apprehensively heads out of the castle for some air. Despite spending the episode beating him up over ink puns, Nurse gingerly follows after him, taking Crafty's sudden mood change dead seriously.
• "Legend of Lonk" formally introduces Sasha after being hinted at quite ominously for a while. It turns out she's an utter sweetheart, keeping Crafty company during his stay in the hospital. Being around him for so long gets her to laugh heartily for perhaps the first time in her life. As a bonus, when Crafty offers to bring Sasha home with him, "This is Crack(ship)" reveals she accepted the offer.

Beach Month

• Due to the subject matter, "A MERMAID MELODY FANDUB" has Pepper at her most outwardly excited thus far, greeting the viewers with an abrupt, but incredibly happy "Hello!!" And until Crafty gets her back on track, she almost gets lost in thought reminiscing about the ocean and its creatures with the viewer. It's nice to see Pepper come out of her shell, if only for a little while.
• In "Aquatic Characters," the idea of using the The Brady Bunch theme to summarize Fire Emblem Fates' plot was so good, that the in-universe audience gives Crafty and Messi a standing ovation.

The Foreshadow Game

• In Part 1, when a Bakura-possessed Nurse approaches Crafty and taunts him, Crafty's totally oblivious at first. He assumes that Nurse is roleplaying... then concludes that she's coming out as a trans man and sincerely, warmly welcomes the change. While this is very clearly not the case, it says a lot that Crafty is so supportive about it, especially after he and Nurse came to blows throughout most of Season 2 by this point.

Season 3

Season 3 Premiere

• In "Crafty Hearts Re:Grouped,"
  • The episode begins with Crafty's dream sequence, in which he and Sasha meet each other just off the coast of where they met. Their meeting is not a happy one, with Crafty slamming Sasha with bitter words and Sasha having to assert her feelings about their breakup to finally get Crafty to understand at least some of her point of view. However, once the both of them have calmed down, Sasha takes a moment to congratulate Crafty for his growth as a person since they last met. Even now, as she's calling him out for his selfishness regarding their breakup, she recognizes that he is a much better person than what she started with, and she knows that he can become even better. After offering the possibility of her returning to his life on his terms, Sasha departs, leaving Crafty to finally wake up from his coma since last season. As he looks out at the sunrise from his bedroom, he visibly contemplates everything from their conversation.
    Sasha: But... look at you. You’ve grown so much. Every time I see your show, seeing you create what you have... I feel a warmth in my heart knowing you’ve become a stronger person, with friends who support you... love you... Even if it meant being without me, I don’t think I can ever be forgiven for what I did. So if you can’t, I understand. I never wanted to hurt you. But I’m so, so sorry for the scars I left on your precious heart. But... if you find it in your broken heart to forgive the terrible things I’ve done to you, I swear that I will never let another wound like that ever be inflicted on you – not from me, or anyone else!
    [Sasha pauses to let her words sink into Crafty.]
    Sasha: ...The sun’s coming up soon.
    Crafty: Huh?
    Sasha: So, wake up. Have a good life. And... and maybe... think of me... if you want. I’m always going to be thinking of you.
    Crafty: Wait, Sasha!
    Sasha: [whispering] And Colin...? I love you...
    Crafty: SASHAAAAA!!
  • After Crafty wakes up, he passes by Pepper and Messi, taking a moment to greet them both as he continues to the lab. Everyone is shocked to see him alive and well, especially Nurse, who catches up with Crafty just before he enters the lab. After filling him in on what happened during and after "The Foreshadow Game" and admitting that she now knows about Sasha and Crafty's failed relationship, Nurse takes a moment to apologize for how she has treated Crafty up until this point. It's clearly something that she has been thinking about for a long time, so much so that she holds herself entirely accountable for their conflict, and she wants to make it up to Crafty by being his biggest supporter going forward. Crafty's response is depicted above: he embraces Nurse and sincerely thanks her for wanting to remain at his side. Nurse's awestruck reaction is everything.
    Crafty: So... You know, then.
    Nurse: *Sigh*... Yes. I know about her, Doctor.
    Crafty: I see. Nurse, I—
    Nurse: Please, don't, Doctor. You've just woken up, and I don't want to add more stress to you.
    Crafty: Nurse?
    Nurse: But, Crafty? Ahem... I must say, though. While you were unconscious, I've had a lot of time to think... about us. I've... been utterly terrible to you. I thought you were just some silly manchild that needed a nanny more than a nurse. But... I see now there's clearly been a lot more going on with you that I never picked up on. For that, I'm deeply sorry. For all the things I said, and the things I've done, too. I'd take it all back and hope you can forgive me being a poor nurse... and a worse friend. I don't know why you never told me about Sasha. Maybe... Maybe it was none of my business. Or maybe you just weren't ready to tell me. But whatever the reason...
    [By this point, the combination of Nurse's apology and the talk of Sasha makes Crafty visibly forlorn.]
    Nurse: ... I just want to make it crystal-clear to you: I'm not going anywhere. As your nurse, I'll stand by your side and follow you through Hell if you command it. Whatever she did that hurt you so much, I'll do everything I can to heal the pain! No matter what happens, you can always count on me to be there for you from now on! Make no mistake of that.
    [Crafty starts smiling throughout Nurse's promise, and by the time she finishes speaking, he's blushing as much as Nurse is!]
    Nurse: S-Sorry! Heh... That must've sounded silly coming from me—
    [Crafty gives Nurse a big hug, which leaves her utterly starstruck.]
    Crafty: [softly and sincerely] Thank you, Nurse. That means the world to me.
  • When Crafty and Nurse finally step into the lab, it turns out that Nurse and the other Crewmates were busy renovating the place in the months leading up to Crafty's full recovery. Now, it's even more personalized than ever before, something that Crafty welcomes with open arms.
    [Crafty releases the hug, but a blushing Nurse is still processing what just happened.]
    Crafty: Well, chop-chop, young lady! We've still got a show to do! Let's get to the lab already!
    Nurse: O-Oh! Doctor! About the lab...
    [Crafty opens the door and follows Nurse into the newly furnished lab, with a stained-glass window depicting him, Nurse, Pepper, and Messi as the centerpiece.]
    Nurse: We thought the lab could use some remodeling and thought this would be a nice surprise if... when you woke up.
    Crafty: Nurse...? This season is going to be good.
  • After they wrap up filming for this episode, Crafty takes Nurse aside and, for the very first time on the show, he deliberately breaks character from his persona and earnestly apologizes for his part in their conflict. By this point, Colin realizes that his bizarre form of escapism is starting to take its toll on his present-day relationships, and that he holds equal blame in his conflict with Nurse. His apology, as brief as it is, is clearly a considered response to not just Nurse's own apology, but the lessons that he learned from his dream conversation with Sasha. Nurse is so touched by it that she quietly admits that she loves him when he's just out of earshot. He asks to confirm what she says and she plays dumb, so she's not quite ready to take their friendship to the next level. But that doesn't take away from the impact of their apologies, their first big steps in their long, shared journey of self-improvement.
    Crafty: Nurse, wait a moment.
    Nurse: Hm? Yes, Doctor?
    Crafty: I um... I didn't want to say this on-camera—it's a little embarrassing—but um... I'm... I'm sorry, too. I've... taken you for granted. And I wanted to apologize. You... You're probably the best partner a silly manchild like me could ever ask for. So... Thank you.
    [The two silently, warmly smile at each other before Crafty's nervousness gets the better of him.]
    Crafty: W-Well, um... I'm going to work on next week's art, yes yes, um, talk to you later? Okay?
    [Crafty retreats to his bedroom.]
    Nurse: [softly] Hmhm... I love you.
    [Crafty suddenly returns]
    Crafty: What?
    Nurse: [panicking] NOTHING~~!! GO BACK TO SLEEP!
    [Nurse punches Crafty back into his bedroom and runs off.]
• "The Art of the Con(vention)":
  • During the first commentary segment, Messi admits to her childlike fascination with bubbles. It's somewhat unusual considering who she is, but it's also very adorable. Though slightly confused, Pepper is quite supportive of her interest, which ends up paying off in the Spin-Off Special later.
  • Comparing this episode to the Season 2 premiere shows that Nurse's negative outlook on Pepper has entirely swung in the other direction. When Pepper expresses some of her insecurities to her, Nurse warmly reminds her that she values Pepper for who she is already, and she hopes Pepper comes to value her own strengths as a person.
• In "Hyde and Shriek," Crafty reveals his Sonic The Hedgehog OC concept to Pepper: A hedgehog who hunts down tax-evaders. She starts cringing a little as she hears more details about the character, and she eventually bursts out laughing... but it's not spiteful in the slightest. Rather, her laughter is joyful, implying that she's genuinely enamored by the idea, odd and surprisingly down-to-earth as it is. It's a pity that Crafty didn't see it that way.
• Something similar to what happened in "Pros and Comms" happens in "Crafty Fan Characters": The moment she sees Maid-bot onscreen, Messi starts sobbing at the prospect of being replaced. Crafty reassures her again, but this time, he explicitly describes Messi as "irreplaceable."

Valentines Month

• "Mischief Match Maker" showcases Nurse's promise to improve coming to fruition. She's not quite there yet, but the progress is noticeable.
  • When the drawings for the episode are complete, it seems Nurse is about to make a snide remark towards Crafty, just as she would do in Season 2. Just a few minutes prior, she fell back on another old habit, having finished beating up Crafty over something petty again. However, before she completes the remark, she stops herself, instead offering earnest praise for Crafty's efforts. She even offers to dance with him during their Valentine's party as the episode closes when she notices how bummed Crafty looks.
  • The fact Crafty chooses to dance with Nurse at all is quite meaningful. The episode drops hints that something about February's atmosphere bothers him deeply. To see him overcome his pain and share a loving moment with someone close to him—even if it's platonic at best—can easily warm one's heart.
• "This is Crack(ship)"
  • This is the episode that introduces Crafty's parents. In a flashback to Crafty's past, they eagerly welcome their son back from his hospital stay, and they take Sasha in without a moment's hesitation. They're utterly delighted about their son finally finding a close friend, and Crafty's mother correctly guesses that the friendship is about to be something more. Crafty would later elaborate upon them in "LoveCrafty," where he admits that they've been incredibly supportive of him from the start.
  • Nurse immediately notices Crafty's distressingly reserved behavior throughout the episode. At first, she tries focusing on the episode and its subject matter, but she eventually drops everything to address her concerns. Once all the pieces for this episode are complete, Nurse sits Crafty down for a talk. She reminds him that she and the other hostesses are here for him, and they make plans for a therapy session in the future.
• "LoveCrafty"
  • Sasha has finally reached Crafty's castle, having traveled all the way from the other side of America to meet her him again. When Nurse, answers the door, however, Sasha gets cold feet, hurriedly handing her letter to Nurse and dashing off into the night. Nurse returns inside and Crafty puts two and two together about who Nurse just met. He rushes outside to meet Sasha, then quickly comes back. Realizing that he narrowly missed a chance to see his ex-girlfriend in person for the first time in years, Crafty suddenly lashes out on some of his belongings. Nurse tries calming him down, but Crafty just turns his aggression onto her... but only briefly. The moment he sees his friend choke up in shock and fear, Crafty immediately apologizes, agreeing with Nurse that he seriously needs to get his issues addressed.
    [Crafty comes dashing back inside.]
    Crafty: RrrrrrAAAGH, DAMN IT ALL!!!
    [He punches the nearby television, sending it flying.]
    Nurse: Oh my goodness... Colin, please calm do—
    Crafty: NEVER call me that name! YOU DON'T GET TO—
    [Nurse begins choking up in shock, after which Crafty instantly calms down.]
    Crafty: Oh... Ohhhhh, dear. Nurse, I-I'm so sorry. I... I don't know what came over me...
    Nurse: It's okay. Clearly... there are some issues that need to be worked out. Ahem... Doctor, I think it's time we talked about this. Heart to heart. If... that is to say... you're okay with that.
    Crafty: ... Yes. I-I think you're right. Come on. Let's get started.
  • After Crafty collects himself from his outburst, what follows is an entire episode dedicated to Crafty finally, openly discussing his withheld past with Nurse, from the depressive and suicidal thoughts that he faced in his youth, to his jubilation over Sasha being in his life, to his present-day bitterness over Sasha's sudden departure. For her part, Nurse sits back and listens attentively to Crafty's story, periodically demonstrating her empathy for Crafty, which culminates in their last exchange before the episode ends:
    Nurse: Crafty, I’m proud of you.
    Crafty: W-why?
    Nurse: It’s not easy to talk about issues that you’ve had and hard experiences you’ve faced in the past and coming to terms with them. I’m also very flattered that you could share these things with me and trust me enough to listen!
    Crafty: I’m... I’m grateful, too. For listening, and... for being here with me. I honestly can say that you’re exactly the kind of person I need in my life right now. So... thank you.
    Nurse: [blushing] N-no problem, Crafty! Now I’m off to my quarters! Toodles!!
  • After Crafty's work is complete for the day, the episode cuts over to where Sasha ended up after running off. It turns out that she didn't go very far; she took refuge in a nearby cottage. And the person who owns this cottage and voluntarily takes Sasha in is Disgustilda, of all people. She's quite an emotionally supportive presence for Sasha, willing to set aside her disdain for Crafty to help Sasha reconcile with him, despite only having just met her. And before going to bed, Disgustilda makes sure her new friend is nice and comfortable in the cottage.
• "Ad-ORC-Able!" highlights just how much support Pepper has received since joining the show—namely in the literal truckloads of Valentine's candy she's received from fans. She's unable to reciprocate their feelings, but she makes a point to enjoy all the candy she receives.
  • This time, however, she doesn't have all the candy for herself. Crafty, already feeling down this month, didn't receive any this year, so Pepper makes sure he didn't end the holiday unappreciated. She likely shared some candy to make up for sneaking some from his older stash, which she was called out for in "The Foreshadow Game." It makes the gesture feel a bit greater.
  • A Crafty Commission◊ created two years later follows up on the idea, showing that she can absolutely make good on her promise about the candy, with the expected result. Her expression is that of pure ecstasy; it's clear that she doesn't regret her decision one bit.

Cartoon Month

• "Socializing is Arcane":
  • As a whole, it is a very sweet episode. Crafty and Nurse Worse are cordial with each other as they discuss MLP, mutually gushing over the good parts of the franchise's fanbase.
  • Nurse's flashback reveals that she and Crafty used to be high school classmates. She was also the first (and until Sasha's intervention, only) witness of his first suicide attempt, having followed him from their school to the beachside cliffs where he tossed himself into the ocean. When she hurried down to save him, he finds that Sasha has rescued him, but her presence scared her off. This left Nurse to take Crafty to the closest hospital, confirming what Vinny mused over during the flashback of "This is Crack(ship)." Once Crafty was under the hospital staff's care, Nurse left a sleeping Crafty a get-well card and a peck on the cheek.
  • After the emotional rollercoaster that her flashbacks put her through, Nurse regains consciousness and completely loses her composure. After returning from a brief break, an immediately concerned Crafty helps make her feel better by indulging in his goofy MLP figure roleplaying with her. She perks right up and readily joins in on the silliness!
• "Atop the 4th Door"
  • Crystelle went through the trouble of preparing snacks for her guests. Since she doesn't need to eat herself, it's very surprising she approached this notion at all. It's clear this lady loves her job and the company she gets.
  • The last question delves into Crafty's parents' backstory. They met during Woodstock when they both snuck backstage. They were mistaken for Sonny Bono and Cher, forcing them to hastily sub in for the two celebrities. Afterward, they became very close and formed a traveling band, "Skinny and Hair," before later settling down and conceiving a son.

Disney Month

• Across the main episodes for this month, Crafty has a patsy journey through the Disney Parks in the Crew's stead. The patsy turns out to be none other than Alex, the creator of the show himself. He's taking time to showcase the various Disney attractions with a jovial and passionate sense of humor. In-character or not, he clearly has the time of his life producing the show however he can; even when visiting attractions that he's not as fond of, he merely makes light of them to keep the joy coming.
• "Disney Characters"
  • While Crafty was weirded out by Messi calling him her "father" in "Crafty Fan Characters," he's come around to the idea by this episode. It's demonstrated in a goofy, wholesome scene where he makes sure Messibelle earned her weekly allowance. In a season prior in "Pros and Comms," this is the same person who admits to being somewhat afraid of Messi due to her being a Blob Monster, and that he's only caring for her because he doesn't want her to turn on him. It's delightful to see his attitude flip in the opposite direction for his surrogate daughter.
  • Crafty has a poignant defense for why he chose Tigger for the number one spot, citing the Tigger Movie's powerful character arc as the chief reason why. The speech moves Messi to tears and likely some of the audience, as well.
• In "I'MA VAMPIRE," after so many episodes where she struggled without one, Pepper finally gets a new oven from Crafty—his design, even. From the looks of it, it's quite a nice one with many features!

Hero Month

• In General:
  • Crafty and most of Class 1-A have surprisingly strong chemistry. Even Ida, while distrustful and openly critical of some of his choices, starts to warm up to him. Bakugou is the only classmate who remains outwardly malicious towards him, but even he takes Crafty's much-needed advice about how to improve his character to heart.
• Spin-Off Special:
  • Chara-Cafe Episode 12
    • Pepper is free to be extremely wholesome with her workmates, even adopting an award system to help boost their spirits. She also lets them know right away that she greatly appreciates the time they've spent together. Best of all, this praiseful, sweet sentiment is reciprocated by all parties involved.
    • Most notably, she dedicates the final talking point of her segment to indulging Messi's love for bubbles, calling back to a moment all the way back in "The Art of the Con(vention)." She doesn't have a hint of the confusion she had when she first heard about it. She's just reminding her friend of something she enjoys during such a bleak moment of their lives. And for a brief moment, Messi is overcome with extreme glee.
  • Later on in their respective segments, Messi and Crystelle are overcome by distress for different reasons. The former misses her father, and the latter encounters a horrific vision of the future. Both times, Pepper has them rest in her lap until they feel better.
• Part 1
  • Having recovered from Screw knocking him all the way to Japan in "Magic Kingdom Mania," Crafty's first thought upon gaining his bearings is to seek help from whoever will listen in U.A. High School. He clearly has some reservations about doing so, but it's only because he never expected things to get this bad. He sets his fears aside and approaches the school anyway; he'll give anything to save his Crew and set things right.
  • After Crafty explains how he arrived on UA property to Class 1-A, Todoroki points out that he lacks crucial information as to why Mindstein attacked in the first place, and acting on such limited knowledge is dangerous. Recognizing Todoroki’s distrust, Crafty responds with a speech where he admits that while he may not deserve their help, his friends need rescuing, and that's all that matters to him. That show of selflessness and devotion manages to not only get Class 1-A to agree to help save the others, they also go as far as to declare him an honorary member of the class. A raucous "Plus Ultra" cheer seals the deal, enough to raise anyone's spirits.
• Part 2
  • Crafty spends the better half of the episode's first few minutes being violently kicked around by Class 1-A, who is spending the afternoon testing his endurance. Not seeing any meaningful progress, Deku decides to settle things by testing Crafty's resolve to save Nurse and the others. He closes in with a devastating punch, fully expecting and declaring for Crafty to catch the attack if this mission means that much to him. After spending the entirety of Season 3 up to that point strengthening his rapport with his crewmates, improving himself not just for his own sake, but theirs... Crafty stands his ground and catches the punch.
    Todoroki: ... I think you got your answer, Midoriyah.
  • Crafty's flashback as he recounts some of his past to Class 1-A reveals some meaningful details behind his relationship with Nurse:
    • Sometime after Sasha deserted him, Crafty—then Colin—found himself spending every day overlooking the cliffs where they met. He'd spent an unhealthy amount of time there, and he would've been in worse condition had it not been for a stranger's help. A girl he never met saw something in him, and she decided to drop by and sit with him on the cliff almost every day. She even brought Colin blankets during colder days. She stopped visiting him after some time, but Colin is nonetheless thankful for her help.
    • Several days after the girl stopped visiting him, Colin decides to attempt suicide once again. Before he can, he hears someone's cries for help in an open grave. It's another girl, dismembered but very much alive. By that point, Colin became so fixated on saving her life that all thoughts of ending his own evaporated. In the present, he suspects that this girl is the very same as the one from before, and he later turns out to be correct.
    • Colin successfully repairs the girl. However, she seems to have developed amnesia after the process, and Colin doesn't have the heart to tell her how he found her. So he instead coins their present-day nicknames: Dr. Crafty and Nurse Worse, and he soon after conceived this very show for him and Nurse to take part in. Suddenly, it becomes abundantly clear why the two are still together despite their ups and downs. Recounting this moment galvanizes Crafty even further to set things right.
    • The whole story is enough to trigger a group hug from the Class 1-A girls. It's adorable and hilarious in its own right.
• Part 3
  • Crafty is forced to swallow his pride and ask Disgustilda to help him regain his castle and save his friends. But when he first approaches her, Disgustilda rubs Crafty's failure in his face and reveals that he stole the castle from her to Class 1-A. However, when she realizes that Crafty's Crewmates are in peril, she sets aside her differences with Crafty and offers to help him and Class 1-A come up with a battle plan against Mindstein.
  • After Crafty and Class 1-A retire for the night off in a nearby field as they await Disgustilda's battle plan, Disgustilda takes Sasha aside for a tough heart-to-heart. For the duration of Crafty's visit, Sasha had been hiding in Disgustilda's closet, and Disgustilda is disappointed that she spurned her big chance at reuniting with Crafty. Despite her clear dislike of him, Disgustilda praises Crafty for setting his concerns aside to help his loved ones and calls out Sasha for not following his example. Her speech ends up motivating Sasha to help with the battle plan, and Disgustilda also approaches the matter with enough nuance to retract some of her criticisms.
    [Crafty and Class 1-A have left Disgustilda's cottage. The next panel focuses on a door behind Disgustilda.]
    Disgustilda: You can come out now, poppet.
    [Sasha exits Disgustilda's closet, looking very ashamed.]
    Sasha: I'm sorry... I... just couldn't—
    [Disgustilda interrupts by pointing a finger at Sasha]
    Disgustilda: I ain't happy with this! You're gonna have to face that boy sooner or later!
    Sasha: But... I... I was scared that—
    Disgustilda: Scared of what?! That you’ll hurt 'im again? Or are you really scared of bein hurt, if he rejects ya?!
    Sasha: I... no... That's—
    Disgustilda: That there boy’s probably scared half to death right now. You think he's hidin', though? Nahhh, mate. He’s runnin' in there, guns blazin'. I’d actually respect 'im a little if I didn’t already hate 'im as bloody much! And you say you love the boy! Well, if you do, you've got a funny way ah showin' it, mate!
    [Tears well up in Sasha’s eyes and she starts conceding to Disgustilda’s argument.]
    Disgustilda: With what that lad's tryin' to do right now, he'll be lucky if he makes it out alive. If I was you, lass, I'd start havin' a good, long think about what that boy means to you. Now, if you excuse me, I got a strategy to conjure up!
    Sasha: W-WAIT!
    [Disgustilda pauses.]
    Sasha: ... L-let me help you... with the battle plan. It's the least I can do to help him.
    Disgustilda: I suppose it's for the best. If you went with him right now, it'd just be more drama. Not the time for those kinda theatrics at the moment.
    [Disgustilda flashes a thumbs up at Sasha, who looks on with eager anticipation!]
    Disgustilda: Alright, Sasha, me girl! Let's get this done!!
    Sasha: R-Right!!
    [The two friends set right to work. Judging by her hand gestures, Sasha is already directing Disgustilda with some ideas.]
• Part 4
  • All alone in her prison with no signs of rescue coming, Nurse's hope drops even lower than it already has. She starts talking to herself about how her life has been before Mindstein forced her way back into it—how Crafty influenced it so positively in just about every way that counts. She progressively breaks down harder and harder as she cements her loyalty to Crafty and tries holding onto her finest memories with him. The scene is one of the most genuine and emotionally raw of its kind in the show, with everything from Megami33's acting and the show's minimalistic presentation coming together to create something gutwrenching, but utterly beautiful.
    [The episode opens with Nurse alone in her prison. She struggles to break free of her restraints, but she's made no progress. Soon, she stops, casting her gaze down in defeat.]
    Nurse: It's... no good. I've been at this for three days... and haven't budged. This machine... whatever it is... It's been slowly sapping away my strength. I don't know how much longer I'll last. Is this... what [Mindstein] wanted me to be? A useless, empty husk?
    [As she continues speaking, Nurse flashes back to several key moments that she shared with Crafty throughout Season 3—the two friends reconciling in Crafty Hearts Re:Grouped, Crafty thanking her for helping him through his issues in LoveCrafty, and the two sharing a dance in Mischief Match Maker.]
    Nurse: This whole time, I thought Crafty made me to help him with his silly show. Sure... It's not always the funniest thing ever, it's not the most popular thing to watch, but... he made it with love. Love for things he enjoyed—and that I've enjoyed. I... I've liked making this silly show... for all its faults and shortcomings... I like being here, and doing what I do...
    [The flashbacks end, with the scene cutting back to Nurse, now sobbing.]
    Nurse: But now... it's all going to be taken away from me. They took you away, Crafty—and now they're gonna take me away, too...!
    [Nurse gives into her sobbing once more.]
    Nurse: ... Because... I couldn't do the one thing I'm supposed to do above all else!
    [Nurse sobs even harder before letting out one last anguished shout.]
    Nurse: ... Protect you..! You may not have created me... but you made me who I am today. I'm sorry, Crafty! I'm so sorry!!
  • Right after Nurse concludes her poignant speech about Crafty, a bird suddenly flies into her prison with a letter in its talons. The letter proudly bears Crafty's emblem, and the bird opens it up to reveal instructions for Nurse's part in the castle rescue plan. Seeing all of this renews nearly all of Nurse's hope, and when the time comes for her to contribute, her newfound determination hasn't wavered one bit. As for what her part of the plan entails, she's tasked with singing a song that encapsulates everything about Crafty and Nurse's relationship and how much it has grown throughout the season: "I Need a Hero"—the special's namesake. It serves as both a signal for Crafty and Class 1-A to attack and a distraction for Mindstein and her forces. And Nurse pours her god damn heart out when she starts singing, enough so that even her fellow Crewmates imprisoned several floors below her join in as backup singers!
  • At the start of the final confrontation, Mindstein slaps the captive Nurse once more to keep her quiet. Witnessing this, Crafty snaps, abandoning all caution and lunging for Mindstein with full intent to tear her apart. It was a foolish move, one that Ida swiftly interrupts by returning Crafty to safety, but it's yet another highlight of how much Crafty truly cares about Nurse.
  • As the superpowered Nurse takes on Screw, Crafty thinks to himself about how passionately Nurse is fighting on his behalf. No one has ever cared for him that much... except for that girl who watched him during those many times he sulked on that cliff. He starts wondering if Nurse and that girl are one and the same, and after Nurse finishes off Screw, she takes some time to confirm Crafty's conclusion. While brief, Crafty's reaction is one of his sweetest, most genuine moments on the show.
    [Having sent Screw sailing into the sky, a tired Nurse hunches over, breathing heavily.]
    Nurse: Crafty... I remember everything now.
    [Nurse stands tall as the smoke around her clears.]
    Nurse: ... I am Greta Franzisca Wunderwurse! I told you I'd check up on you, didn't I? Heheh...
    [Crafty realizes that the girl who helped him in his youth and Nurse are one and the same. Tears well up in his eyes, and he can only whimper happily in response.]
  • When the Crafty Crew finally reunites after a stressful time, Messi, Crystelle, and Pepper all rush to Crafty and Nurse for a group hug. Messi and Crystelle start crying with joy, but Pepper starts bawling, wrapping everyone up in a single giant hug of her own.
    Pepper, Messi, and Crystelle together: YOU'RE OKAY!!!

Season 4

In General

• This season has greatly increased the presence of the spin-off hosts in the main show, tying in with Crafty's character development from last season's finale. He no longer sees them as only his coworkers who should stick to their roles—they're his friends, and they have an equal stake in the shenanigans he and Nurse get up to.

Season 4 Premiere Month

• "We're Back! A Crafty Story!"
  • While a bit impatient with her at times, Crafty is much calmer with Sasha than in "Crafty Hearts Re:Grouped." The only time he grows frustrated is when she doesn't show up in his dream, but after that, he lets go of his emotions to hear Sasha out. As for the reason Sasha didn't show up in Crafty's dream, she had finally worked up the confidence to show up to him in person! She gently wakes him up out of his sleep so they can finally talk with each other face-to-face, in the flesh, for the first time in years. What follows is a conversation about the history behind the Infinium Weaponry, the Infinian race, and how Sasha managed to survive the Divinimachi, which dovetails right back into Sasha and Crafty's failed relationship. She tries to apologize for it once again, but Crafty's response encapsulates the growth that he experienced throughout Season 3. The two exes get to part on more amicable terms, and Crafty decides to set his worries about his past aside to to kick off Season 4—not only for himself but for Sasha and especially his Crewmates, who he knows will all enjoy their time together.
    Sasha: Colin. I'm so sorry...
    Crafty: Don't be. Not for that, anyway.
    Sasha: Huh?
    Crafty: Whether I had this heart or not doesn't really matter when it comes to this Mindstein character. She was going to do what she did to Nurse either way. If anything, you've given me exactly what I need to protect her from that monster and put a stop to Mindstein's plans. So—at least for that—thank you.
    [Sasha blushes at Crafty's thanks, glancing away. She suddenly returns her gaze to Crafty, who has more to say.]
    Crafty: There's just one more thing I want to know.
    Sasha: A-Anything!
    Crafty: Why? Why did you leave me like you did?
    Sasha: You... didn't read my letter, did you?
    [Crafty remembers that very letter in a brief flashback, right as Sasha gets up from her seat to leave.]
    Sasha: It's okay. We're both still scared about where we stand as... 'us.'
    Crafty: Where are you going?
    Sasha: Don't worry. I'm not going far away this time. I'll still be here when you're ready—when we're both ready.
    Crafty: Will I see you again?
    Sasha: That's a question only you can answer. Get well soon.
    [Sasha's voice wavers as she blushes again.]
    Sasha: ... And... um... I... can't wait for your next episode! Uh... Bye!!
    Crafty: Wait! Sasha!
    [Crafty's too late; Sasha has already left the castle. He looks back in his room to find his lab coat, and in it, Sasha's letter to him. Surprisingly, he doesn't open it then and there; instead, there's a cut to him in his usual attire, making his way to the lab. He passes by the rest of the Crafty Crew.]
    Crafty: Come on, girls! Whaddya waiting for? Can't you see we've got work to do?
    Messi: Work?
    Pepper: Now?
    Nurse: What're you planning to do?
    Crafty: Well, what do you think? It's time for Season 4, baby!
  • As progress on the promotional artwork continues, Crafty decides to show off how his crew has been improving between seasons. He approaches the demonstration in a really eccentric way, but he's clearly proud of how far everyone has come, freely giving out praise to them and choking up a little when visiting Pepper.
• "Happy Crafty Day!"
  • Nurse forces Crafty outside to take a nature walk, during which she and the other cohosts spend time preparing an anniversary celebration for the show. Each of them reminisces about their times with Crafty and why they appreciate him and his show despite their flaws.
    • This time, Pepper gets to recount how she and Crafty first met. Her voice alone says that she's incredibly thankful for his job offer and how encouraging he has been toward her.
    • It turns out Crafty has a habit of giving people a new purpose. He met Crystelle under somewhat similar circumstances as Pepper—only this time, she had no job to speak of. What makes their meeting so memorable for Crystelle is that, somehow, she did not see Crafty coming at all, and he came into her life at one of her lowest moments.
    • Messi looks back on how she grew up to see Crafty as a father figure, how she had trouble accepting the notion at first but came around to it anyways. She's especially attached to him because he's the reason she's alive. When Stylene scoffs at Messi about his, Messi stands by her words. She makes a point to establish how long she's been working under Crafty compared to Stylene, in turn implying just how much Messi's time with her father meant for her.
  • When Crafty finally returns home, he sees the anniversary festivities laid out before him. The sight of his coworkers' kindness moves him greatly, and it leads to two of the sweetest moments in the whole show, starting with Crafty's flashback and ending with what the Crewmates after he relives the memory.
    • The sight of the party triggers a flashback to Crafty's first anniversary with Sasha, who promised to stay by his side for as long as he lived. While she failed to live up to this promise, she left Crafty something that he continues to wear to this day: his green turtleneck sweater. It says a lot that Crafty's held onto this gift even after his relationship with Sasha ended on a bad note.
    • In the present-day, an overwhelmed Crafty starts sobbing in the most tender, straightforward way he's ever done on the show. His friends wordlessly surround him with a group hug. There are some interesting details in this final shot that make it all the sweeter:
    • Notably, it's implied that it is Pepper who initiates the group hug, with everyone else following her lead. She wraps Crafty into a tight embrace against her torso; the other Crewmates have to work their way around her to contribute to the hug themselves. It's quite an interesting reversal from her hug in "I Need a Hero Academia": Rather than her coworkers being slightly confused by her affection, they join her in silent solidarity. Surprisingly, that includes Stylene, who has only known Crafty for a few weeks by this point. She drops her tough-girl attitude for the first time on the show, joining Crystelle in giving Crafty concerned, but reassuring clasps on his shoulder and head, respectively.
    • After Pepper, the next closest to Crafty are Messi and Nurse. Messi makes a point to lean down for her hug so that she can nuzzle her face against Crafty's. As she does, she's visibly holding back her own tears. Nurse, meanwhile, smiles sadly to herself as she hugs Crafty, too. No doubt, she's touched that the Crews' anniversary party moved Crafty as much as it does.

Season 4 Commission Month

• "Dog Days" opens with Pepper still struggling by without an oven, having to compensate with pre-made foods. She drops some unsubtle hints about the issue when she presents a box of Chips Ahoy cookies to a hungry Crafty. Crafty completely misreads the hints and instead offers Pepper some earnest praise, thinking that Pepper prepared not just the cookies but their box. He may be an ignoramus at times, but Crafty's heart is absolutely in the right place:
  Crafty: These look great! I didn't know you were also a graphic designer! You made this box, too?! Unbelievable!!... You impress me more and more every day.
  • However, the truth does eventually come out by episode's end; the Detective they've created can tell that the cookies were in fact store-bought, and Pepper comes clean not only about the cookies but also the broken oven. Realizing his mistakes, Crafty whips out a literal retcon button (which looks suspiciously like a car door opener), and he uses it to make Pepper's oven indestructible. While The Dog Detective sees it as a huge waste of such potential, the fact that Crafty used it to give Pepper an easier time speaks volumes about his care and concern.
• "Fly Me to the Sailor Moon."
  • Crafty hesitates to appear for this episode. When Nurse finally coaxes him out of hiding, he reveals that he's embarrassed to be covering Sailor Moon; he's struggling to reconcile his interest in the show with his predominantly masculine perspective. Nurse is very understanding of his struggle and comes up with a way to help him get in touch with his femininity: turn Crafty into Craftette, who commentates over the rest of the episode with Nurse. As the two discuss Sailor Moon, Craftette grows increasingly comfortable with herself; eventually, she candidly explains where her conundrum as Crafty comes from. From the topics that she touches upon and her ultimate conclusion, there are some profound, validating messages for not just herself, but for anyone encountering a similar issue.
    Nurse: Say, I know you mentioned that you had a harder time relating to shows like this. I was just wondering if you could elaborate a little bit on that?
    Craftette: Oh, thank you for asking, Nurse. Well... yes. If I'm being honest, I have had a little trouble, I suppose. It's not that I don't want to like shows like Sailor Moon, but, growing up, I would be lying if I said that it didn't have its own set of challenges, what with the gender norms and divides these companies really rubbed in the youths' faces from such an early age.
    Nurse: Oh, I'm sorry to hear that. It really does suck that children were pressured at times to turn away from certain interests based on stuff like that.
    Craftette: Exactly! You see, when I was a kid, I loved watching all kinds of shows—Sailor Moon included! I wasn't as conscious back then as there were boy shows and girl shows; I just liked what I liked. And considering most serialized cartoons at the time weren't exactly visually stunning, Sailor Moon was a treat to my artistic mind. At that age, I didn't even know that anime came from another country.
    Nurse: So what happened?
    Craftette: Well, as you can imagine, I eventually became conscious of the gender divide in media and toys, etcetera, and I sadly put it aside. I hate that I wasted so many years not watching things because of the limitations other people put on me. I'm so glad that we are slowly moving past all of that nonsense.
    Nurse: That's good to hear! Well, has turning into Craftette helped you in relating today?
    Craftette: Mmm... Yes and no, actually. While I have enjoyed this form, I think what it has really shown me is how fun it is to really dive into your feminine side. This isn't a form of myself that I always want to present at the forefront, but I rather like the fact that embracing your femininity has become more and more common. So, in some ways, yes, this form has been very liberating! But in others, I think it's just for fun. It doesn't have to be that deep. Sometimes you just want to try something new just for the hell of it.
    Nurse: Wow, Doctor! You are so astute today! I am really loving this new form. Can we keep her?
    Craftette: Absolutely not! Do you know how much merch we'd have to redesign?! Plus, these boots are a pain to walk around in...
    Nurse: But we don't show our legs on scre—
    Craftette: Not the point. Though... If I'm being honest, I do think there is a part of me that was afraid of dealing with hateful comments if I remained in my true form discussing these topics. But I feel a bit more confident now. And honestly, they can come at me with their pitchforks all they want! I know who I am, and I love who I am—girl Crafty or boy Crafty!
  • Right before Nurse prepares the Super Crown for Crafty, she asks if he trusts her. Crafty readily answers that he does—"more than anyone [he's] ever known. Well, aside from Isabelle from Animal Crossing; [he] would trust her with [his] life." It's a nice showing of Crafty's eccentricity and his loyalty to his best friend.
  • After the art is completed, Craftette and Nurse struggle to remove Craftette's crown so she can return to being Crafty. The other Crewmates easedrop on their conversation, and things quickly grow awkward for them as they misconstrue the matter as a sexual encounter. They each slowly turn to leave... except for Messi, who stays behind due to her mind running wild with the possibilities of what she's hearing. Then, rather unexpectedly, Stylene returns to drag Messi away so her other Crewmates can have some privacy. It's a subtle hint that she's come to understand her coworkers a bit more by this point; if she didn't truly care about them, she wouldn't have bothered to come back as she does.
• The second question of "ENDGAME SPOILERS" asks if Crafty keeps in touch with his parents. It turns out that he does; his parents call him after each episode airs to catch up. The accompanying cutaway gag demonstrates that they haven't lost their touch as a supporting presence in Crafty's life.

Sonic Month

• "Let's. Get. Metal..."
  • Midway through the art commentary, Crafty gets an idea for how to beat Metal Crafty: he could combine his Infinium Heart's powers with Nurse's. Nurse is doubtful, but Crafty reassures her that it'll work, even calling back to an affectionate insult she directed at him to boost her spirits. There are a few other little touches in their conversation that make Crafty's reassurance extremely sweet.
    Nurse: So, Crafty. What's our plan? How on Earth are we going to handle this... Metal Crafty? He could shut down my motor functions almost instantly, and you don't have One For All anymore!
    Nurse and Crafty together: Hmm...
    Crafty: Wait a tick. Your heart was affected by the EMP blast... but mine wasn't! Perhaps if we use our hearts together, we can circumvent the EMP blast?
    Nurse: I don't know. Doesn't that seem a little... dangerous? But on the other hand, we don't exactly have a bunch of options to choose from...
    [By the time Nurse finishes speaking, Crafty has slowly made his way over to her side, with a warm grin across his face.]
    Crafty: Nurse... No matter what happens, this 'donut dork' is going to be there for you. Right next to you. Always.
    [The duo's hearts suddenly start to glow their respective colors, and Nurse coos.]
  • Crafty's plan actually manages to work for a while, with Metal Crafty on the ropes. But what no one sees coming is when Crafty and Nurse are both teleported into a terrifying void... right in front of its sole, monstrous resident, who reaches out for them with ill intent. The friends brace themselves for the worst and reassure each other that they're not letting the other go. In doing so, they address each other by their real names, implying that they've grown close enough for that to be okay with Crafty.
  • Crystelle manages to rescue Crafty and Nurse just in time, but the horrifying creature from within the void rips her spirit from her body, leaving behind her now vacant crystal ball head. Surprisingly enough, it's Stylene who rushes to Crystelle's aid. Immediately, she picks up the ball and hurries it away to the Qloset before she's even finished explaining what she's doing to Messi.
    Stylene: Quick! Let's get back into her Qloset before we lose her!"
    Messi: R-Right!

High School Month

• "School Days of Yesterpast"
  • The Crew finally arrives at Crafty and Nurse's old high school, and once they get inside, they immediately look for clues about Nurse's past. At one point, Messi checks in with Crystelle to see what she has found, to which Crystelle reveals that she has nothing and opens up about feeling unreliable. Messi offers some brief reassurance that encourages Crystelle to focus on the positive, and the two then demonstrate their care for Nurse when they return to discussing her. Messi admits that she somewhat relates to Nurse's struggles, and both she and Crystelle feel mutual disgust over Mindstein's failure as Nurse's parent.
    Messi: So! How's the search coming along, Crys?
    [A concerned Crystelle remains silent.]
    Messi: ... Aheh, what? Crafty got a bad detention record or something?
    Crystelle: Far worse, unfortunately. While I did find all possible information on Crafty's time at this school, I couldn't find anything about Nurse. It's strange... Perhaps Mindstein had Nurse's old student records erased a long time ago.
    Messi: Shouldn't you already know about Ms. Brain-in-a-Jar, and what she's planning thanks to your, y'know... psychic powers?
    Crystelle: Sadly... I cannot trust my visions anymore when it comes to her. Assuming she can use the same tachyon tech Metal Crafty utilizes on herself, it will prevent me from even seeing her plans ahead of time... Only when we are in the face of danger against her, it seems... Quite frankly, these thoughts have caused me to feel... unreliable, as of late.
    Messi: Don't worry, Snowglobe. I'm sure we'll figure this all out.
    Crystelle: Yes... Still, the fact the evidence is missing at all is something to note. Mindstein clearly has some sphere of influence over this school, or, at the very least, knew how to cover her tracks well.
    Messi: Poor Nurse... I can sorta relate, not having much of a past to speak of. I only came around by accident a couple years ago. Crafty and Nurse are the closest thing I have to a mom or dad. Makes me wonder when Mindstein ever sent her here in the first place.
    Crystelle: My best guess? A subtle form of manipulation.
    [Messi wrinkles her face in disgust.]
    Crystelle: A tiny sliver of freedom from whatever horrible life must've waited for her wherever she dwelled. As though that peace was gifted to her by that blackhearted...
    Messi: Makes me sick...
  • During a lull in their search, Nurse asks Crafty about whether it was during his high school years that he came up with his Mad Scientist persona. He mentions that someone helped him improve it; while he appreciated their help, he wasn't in the best headspace at the time to thank them personally. This ends up triggering a flashback for Nurse, and its contents along with what comes after are some of the sweetest moments in the show.
    • In the flashback, a young Nurse—Greta—admits herself into a local high school, as part of a deal with Mindstein. She sheepishly makes her way into an art class and finds herself sitting behind Colin, hard at work trying to evolve his mad scientist persona. Seeing him struggle, Greta eventually gains the courage to offer a useful tip to help complete Colin's character design. Greta's tip is successful, leading to the deep friendship between him and Nurse on Dr. Crafty, while also paying off some foreshadowing about this plot thread from back in "Happy Crafty Day."
      [Greta awkwardly makes her way into art class, sitting behind Colin. She notices that he's struggling with something.]
      Colin: Hrmm... Something's missing.
      [Before him is a drawing of his Dr. Crafty persona... but his gloves are the same shade of green as his sweater, goggles, and the chemical vial in his left hand. Nurse hesitates to tap him on the shoulder, shuffling loudly as she does. Her mother's warning about talking with others clearly holds her back.]
      Colin: If you want to say something, just say it already.
      Greta: Huh?
      Colin: I can feel it. You've got something to say, right? Just get it out so your shuffling stops distracting me.
      Greta: Th-... The gloves.
      Colin: Hm? What about them?
      Greta: H-here's a tip: make them pink, maybe? It-it would make the tone you're going for more lighthearted. The warm color draws attention to those expressive hands the character has.
      Colin: Hmmm...
      [Colin tries applying Greta's tip. Just as she asked, the Crafty drawing's gloves are now pink.]
      Colin: Huh! That actually looks pretty good. Thanks.
      Greta: [blushing] N-no problem.
      [Colin pauses for a moment before turning slightly to face Greta. He's smiling slightly.]
      Colin: Got anymore tips?
      [Realizing that she's had her first positive interaction with someone in her entire life, Greta blushes even harder, and her eyes sparkle with intense joy. Bubbles and a pink backdrop surround her, implying that her long-standing crush on Colin has just started.]
      Greta: Yes!!
      [The flashback fades to a close and returns to the present, with Nurse and Crafty. "Clair De Lune" begins to play as Nurse begins choking up as she stands beside the boy who became her life-long friend.]
      Crafty: Nurse, are you all right?! You're crying!
      Nurse: [blushing as she calms down] Aheh... Heh... I know. It's just... Nice to finally remember a good memory, for once.
      [The two hosts exit the screen, letting "Claire De Lune" close out the art segment.]

Halloween Month

• "Crafty Horror Picture Show" ends the main show episodes with a loving Shout-Out to Rocky Horror. The Crew indulges in two songs—a parody of "Sweet Transvestite" called "Art YouTuber," and the original "Time Warp," used as a means to celebrate all of Dr. Crafty up to that point. It's obvious throughout both that the Crewmates are reveling in the festivities, even if the random couple that they dragged into the castle to watch them sing don't reciprocate.
• "Revolving Door"
  • The speed-dating gag, in which the Crafty characters are paired with various YouTube commentators, is mostly gutbusting. However, when Hiten is paired with Pepper, they have some surprisingly kind words for her:
    Hiten: So, yeah! I was just wondering how it is that you've been managing all your back problems.
    [Pepper, being a generously endowed woman, becomes visibly embarrassed.]
    Hiten: Ohhhhh, no no, sweetie. That's not what I'm talking about. I mean the back problems that you have from carrying this entire show!
    [Pepper clasps her face in joy!]
  • Kayden is paired with Disgustilda, and he doesn't seem to have any objections except for how she's treated as undesirable.
    Kayden: [addressing someone off-screen about Disgustilda] I... They're the ugly one? ... Are-are-are you sure? ... I mean, Crafty is here.

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