This year, 2021, marks the 25th anniversary of the PBS series "Arthur". Back in 2016 on this blog we did a series of posts celebrating the 20th anniversary and now it's time to do the same for the 25th.
"Arthur" first premiered on October 7, 1996 and has been on the air ever sense, at least as of this writing. Anyway, back in 2016 we did a series of posts and these were based off episodes of Arthur using a randomizer. It picked one segment from each episode since most of the episodes are 2 segments; this also meant that we have pairing segments that didn't get picked, so this project will start with picking episodes that were paired with the episodes we did back in 2016. Also since 2016 there's been a few more seasons added on so, we will have to do those present those a different.
First off, we start with Season 1, this season is the largest season of the series with 30 episodes or 60 segments. We are looking at Season 1; episode 6b, which is "Arthur Accused". It was paired with the season 1 episode we wrote about in 2016 for Arthur 20: "Locked in the Library" .
Since most episodes start with a monologue or a cold open I will describe that segment then do the rest of the episode.
Pictured: Arthur being accused of murdering Buster/ Copyright WGBH
The Cold Open: Buster Baxter introduces the episode as a private detective starting with a story about Arthur who is in detention and a mob is coming to the door, but Buster says we have to wait as he going back to the beginning.
The episode: Buster narrates and the episode introduces Arthur doing some fundraising to buy a puppy for the fire department. (An interestingly random cause) The donations are in quarters (the best currency) and Buster is dressed up as a detective. Arthur has to drop the quarters off at Mrs. MacGrady's lunchroom since she's in charge of this whole thing. The woman seems busy on the phone so, he just leaves the quarters there. (Arthur makes you feel like when your mom is on the phone and won't pay attention.) Arthur and Buster goes to the arcade with Buster's Mom. Arthur hits the high score on a game.
The next day, Mr. Haney, the principal, reminds Arthur to drop off the quarters to Mrs. McGrady, which is confusing we just saw him do that yesterday. (With our own peepers we did) Buster starts to mention that Arthur won a high score yesterday and principal thinks Arthur stole the quarters. If the money doesn't show up he'll not be allowed to picnic and have a week of detention. Buster decides to use his detective self to be on the case.
Buster goes to question Mrs. McGrady and she tells him that didn't anyone but Mr. Morris, the janitor was there. He was there to clean up some brownie mess. Buster goes to see him and gets answers mentioning the brownie mix mishap. Buster decides to check out Arthur's home and D.W defends Arthur, kind of. (That's cool) It wasn't looking good for ole' Arthur.
Sadly in real life, you can't do this, you will probably die / Copyright WGBH
Buster goes through his suspects list. Buster being Buster thinks that robots stole the quarters, because he's buster. (Oh no) So yes, Arthur can't go to the school picnic, and Buster still wonders where the answer and he gets an idea. The overflowing brownie mix. This makes him figure out that quarters were in brownies! The quarters didn't fit, Arthur must be acquitted. Now back to the mob, they came to get Arthur.... and take him to the picnic. (And not boil him in hot oil)
A fun episode giving Buster the lead role. I liked the little clues in the episode to make you think what happened. Though the episode made sure we knew already that Arthur had given the quarters to Mrs. McGrady, so we just had to figure out what happened to them. Buster brings his humor as well and I love the image he had of Arthur Scrooge McDucking the quarters and the robot taking the quarters.
More after the jump
Now on to season 2 with episode 9b, The Short, Quick Summer.
This episode premiered on October 30, 1997, the date in which everyone is thinking about summer. (oh real funny)
The Cold Open: It's the last day of school before summer vacation, every school kid's dream day. Arthur tells us that he has plans; like he's made a list. He goes through a montage of things he wants to do for the next 3 months. (He must live where the weather doesn't kill you in summer heat)
The episode: Arthur finds out it's the last week before school starts. He's confused (and so am I ) and know he can't find that list because he worries that he didn't get to anything on the list. When he's with Buster, he's still looking for the list and when he remarks he hasn't done anything all summer, Buster reminds him about saving the carousel from Mr. Crosswire. That ended up being more a Buster thing. Binky tells him about how he invented mud sledding.
Arthur sees more of his friends and they all talk about special things they did in the summer. Even learning that their teacher worked at a joke shop. It's kind of funny how Arthur wastes his last week of summer wondering about how he wasted his summer. (Ironic) Eventually, on the last day of summer he found the list.
Oh no/ Copyright WGBH
He reads the stuff off his list for D.W. he finds out as he reads the list that he had fun through the power of IMGINATION and D.W is sad that she made Arthur feel better. The episode ends with Francine, Buster, and Arthur roasting marshmallows and being cowboys.
It feels like a clip show episode, but with new clips. I do like how the episode goes through the feeling that time flies so quickly it doesn't feel like much has happened. The different things that happen in summer and that fun is how much you had doing something versus the actual results, which is a good message. The episode is light but pretty good.
That's it for now tune in next time, when we stop eating these brownies with quarters in them.
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