Episode 1a: Arthur Meets Mister Rogers
This the ultimate PBS cross over, of the ages. I have to mention that Arthur wore it's PBS life in a pride in away that most other shows didn't on the network. Like, this show did air on other channels in other countries, but had PBS stuff in it , like mentioning Antiques Roadshow and Nova. The show wasn't really afraid of mention and having real human people we know in the show. (Minus Lance Armstrong, but we all have regrets) This one was probably the first of the episodes to ever have that happen.
Mister Rogers, or Mister Fred Rogers, and I hate that I might have to do an explainer here, had a show on PBS called Mister Rogers' Neighborhood a show that predated PBS by a few years and ended in 2001. He passed away in 2003. Mister Rogers and his show were probably the first thing one would think of when the name PBS was brought up, that or Sesame Street, but they don't matter for this post. (Then why'd you bring that up?)
This episode is the first episode of season 2 of "Arthur" which aired on October 20, 1997. They went for a strong start here. Let's get in to the episode.
Arthur has big news that Mister Rogers is coming to the school, tomorrow. Prunella, Muffy, and Binky react in a way of saying that Mister Rogers is a baby thing. Again, I get what the plot is going to do because Arthur decides not to tell people that Mr. R is going to be staying at his house, because of that reaction. But, it's freakin' Mr. Rogers, a real life guy on TV, I don't think any kid would act that way, even if his show was for younger viewers, it's freakin' TV star!
Mr. Rogers is played by Mister Rogers who is staying at the Read House because they know him somehow. D.W is really happy he's at the house and Arthur doesn't want people to know now, because he doesn't want to be embarrassed and made fun of. Also to be fair, Arthur shouldn't have listened to Prunella, Binky, or Muffy, I mean really.
Arthur does things to hide that Mister Rogers is at his house, even pretending he wants to change his name to Fred. D.W wants to take D.W for a walk around. I do think it's fitting Arthur would think that people [Binky and Prunella] would laugh at him for being with Mister Rogers, because he's eight and would think that way, as much as D.W wants to show him off. I like how Mister Rogers plays along. Buster being Buster is impressed when he sees Mr. Rogers even forgets his name. See, Arthur, Buster is a great friend. Arthur tells Buster not tell people.
Brain, Prunella, and Rubella are at the ice cream shop and Rubella thinks Arthur has been taken by zombies and worries that everyone else could end up zombie slaves. A) I didn't zombies did slavery, B) If this was Buster, he'd be saying Aliens, C) it's funny that the eldest character here is saying this.
I do love Buster's reactions with Mister Rogers it's wholesome and sweet. Rubella. Prunella, and Brain decide to peek in Read's windows because sure. He also ends up thinking that zombies have taken them. I love how Arthur saying that Buster is there for homework help snaps him into thinking zombies are a possible true answer.
The police show up because a neighbor thought the trio were prowlers. Now the news shows everyone that Mister Rogers is at the Read house. Arthur feels bad and Mister Rogers comes to talk to him. I like how everyone is impressed that Mr. Rogers was at his house and even Binky is impressed when he shows up.
This episode also introduces Arthur lore that Arthur messes with his glasses when he lies, it does show up in other episodes too, it's nice someone used as his thing. This episode is pretty great, more than just having Mister Rogers in it, it's has some funny moments too. The heart is really nice here too and Mister Rogers brings his charm. I think it fits that this show was going for an older kid audience than many parts of PBS Kids fare where 8 , like Arthur's age, would be where a kid might see things like Mister Rogers as a baby or out of their age range type thing. Arthur built up an occurrence in his head after seeing the other kids react in a way that worried him and plays with that through. The message of a true friend wouldn't be mean shows through like Buster, his best friend, doesn't even hint at making fun of Arthur is really happy to see the Mr. R.
I will also mention the word from us kids segment here, being the kids wondering how Mr. Rogers was turned into a cartoon worked. It's a nice little look at animation and voice acting.
A great start to season 2, and a good memorable episode. 8/10.
More after the jump.
Episode 1b: Draw!
The cold opening: Arthur says that Francine can be a difficult friend. Like how she can be a sore winner, likes to argue. This is going to be something.
The episode : There's a teachers' charity carnival where the teachers perform carnival stuff. Francine doesn't like Mr. Ratburn's puppet shows then ends up calling Fern dumber than a rock. She doesn't think she did then when Arthur prompts her to apologize ,she doesn't and calls Fern a mouse (is that slur in the Arthur world?) and laughs, Fern heard this.
The next day, everyone is laughing and they are laughing at a comic Fern made . Francine assumes it's about her and Muffy even says it is. There's also going to be running gag of Miss Sweetwater going around and following Miss Tingley and singing at her, which is a strange thing. The other kids have made Francine joke comics, Arthur realizes that it might be bothering her, though she yells at him.
There's a comic about Francine as a slime and I think eats other kids or something. Though the ending of Buster eating Francine is something else too. Why did Buster make a comic where he eats Francine? I'm concerned. (oh my)
Mrs. McGrady finds the comics and figures out something. She calls Fern over and decides t help. She gathers the other kids and tells them to hide in her fortune telling booth and wait for the keyword to dump green gloop on Francine. Francine reveals her feelings that she's hurt and realizes she shouldn't have called Fern a mouse. The others decide not to dump gloop on her. It wasn't gloop at all either. That was a well played plan.
This episode is good. It gives a point to show that Francine did end up feeling bad and that sometimes a joke can go too far. I did find the comics fun, Buster's story was the best because how unhinged and strange it was. Miss Tingley having to deal with both Miss Sweetwater and Principal Hainey chasing her was odd and funny. Mrs. McGrady's plan was well done, she knew what she was doing, glad it worked for her. I give it 7/10.
That's it for now, tune in next time when Arthur literally shows up. That'll be fun, we're going to have lime slime
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