Arthur Seasons 3 and 4: Mom and Dad Have a Great Big Fight and The Blizzard

Arthur  PBS 

         We go Season 3 now once again, and this time look at an episode of Arthur that tries to connect to their audience something of great importance.

      Our episode this time is "Mom and Dad Have a Great Big Fight" It first aired on June 3rd 1999.

   Monologue: This time it starts with a the Read parents in the kitchen preparing for some company  coming over apparently the father forgot about it so they are in a rush.  D.W and Arthur are fighting because she wants him to play but he has to do his homework.  Then milk spills and Nadine , D,W's imaginary friend, freezes the picture and introduces the episode.



  Now the episode: Nadine is back and she unfreezes the picture. She rewinds what happens to show what D.W was doing and DW wishes that her parents were different after her parents were being too fair. She imagines that her parents would do whatever she wants and force Arthur to play with her. Then she hears the milk and stuff fall over and the parents start arguing.  D.W runs to Arthur because she's scared that her parents yelled.  Arthur decides to go check after D.W looks scared.  He hears them too.

We keep getting sad D.W/Copyright WGBH

      D.W then imagines that the parents don't speak to each other anymore. They live in the same house though, Arthur says that's silly because they'd divorce instead.  (Though that's implied not said)  Apparently they imagine if their father moves out since he is the cook, that they wouldn't have food anymore. (well then) So then they imagine if they lived with their dad instead but they only have one car so, no car rides. (what?)   Then they imagine the two of them being split up.  Then what if they lose both parents and become orphans.

Don't leave over spilled milk/Copyright WGBH 

        Then they imagine they live together without their parents in a country home?   Arthur decides to talk to them. When they hear the parents debating about leaving they think that he's leaving leaving. He's just getting milk.  The parents explain that sometimes adults get mad and disagree but they don't hate each other.

     Another episode where Arthur and D.W work together or have a common thing together or whatever I am trying to express here.  This is one of those episodes that works to tell it's target audience that if  your parents are fighting that doesn't mean they are going to break up because people who love each other sometimes disagree. It's a message that I think should be said as much as saying that maybe two people find it better not to be together anymore.
    D.W  not understanding what they were saying but only hearing the raised voices works well too, as a way to show that even what could be a meaningless argument over spilled stuff can sound worrying to a small child.  It does it's theme well and still keeps some lightness as well.


more after the jump

The Loud House Season 2: Snow Way Out/ No Spoilers

Nickelodeon The Loud House  

      Last Time, I did two random season 1 episodes now, we look at two random season 2 episodes.


      I picked 6 episodes (2 each) from the 3 seasons through a randomizer meaning some computer program thing picked the episodes. It seemed to like snow theme because it picked another snow episodes.  This one is called "Snow Way Out" it's the the final 11 episode of season 2, though broadcast order it's not because they like being that  way.   It was paired with "Snow Way Down" both airing on December 1, 2017.   This is season 2 episode 26b. Let's look at "Snow Way Out".

      Leni is deciding that re-heating stuff with a microwave ,oven,or stove is an out dated concept so,she is heating the galosh with a hair drier.  The other Louds question her wisdom and she takes the idea of heating on the stove as better this is why we can't advance as a society!  Lana has better news though she has a favorite race car driver named Booby Fletcher, and there's a contest at the Burp-in Burger. ( A burger place) Whoever finds a burger with a tire lined wrapper wins.  They family seems to be willing to run to this burger place. (The galosh weeps)   Meanwhile it's starting to snow outside Lisa also reminds us. (What's with Lisa and snow?)


      Bobbie Fletcher is there doing sponsorship pleasing stuff starting the contest which is to be on her pit crew.  Flip , the man who owns the convince store  also wants to win because he wants to do what normal people do , and sell at a high bid to someone. (He's that kind of guy)  Lana uses her 'kids' eat free coupon. We also find out what other weird things she keeps in her pockets.  Sadly, none of their 11 burgers has the golden ticket, I mean tire wrapper thing.

 
   Lisa once again warns us about the snow, I wonder if this is going to play into the episode later.  Lana wants to do a second round so, that's just what she does.  Once again, no more ticket. Yes Lisa, snow. Everyone is leaving the restaurant because snow. Lana's trick for trying to get free food didn't work this time so,  good thing this restaurant  is keep nice and dirty and she finds money.  But no, wrapper. Wait a minute , Leni found it!  episode over.

Burgers turned them into zombies/ Copyright Viacom

     (Hey there's more oh yeah)  The snow apparently piled up like Michigan snow does, I don't know how long they were in there, but that snow is like 9 feet tall. Luan says the epiosde title. Meanwhile Flip is back because he is  really trying to get that wrapper. So Lincoln, asks if he can get them out but Flip wants the wrapper, Lana refuses and promises she'll get them out.  Also, Flip reburies them in the snow (mean).   She finds the family van but it won't start because the van is weak (and we have 3 minutes left to go.)  Lana is also a mechanic and sees the van is frozen and she tries to fix it  and blows out the power to the burger joint.  Hops, Lana's frog is sentient and sees that the family is freezing and he alerts Lana to it.  Lana sees her family freezing to death. (dark)  She feels bad and comes back with Flip because she gave up her wrapper.  They give her a hug (better than what could have happened)

Fixed your car, you really should take care of that oil/Copyright Viacom 

     As Flip drives them home they run into (not literally) Bobbie Fletcher whose race car is stuck int the snow.  Lana helps her by fixing her car  and says that Lana should join her pit crew in 12 years. (She'll be racing that long right?)   Flip gets snowed in the face because he's a jerk.  Now, that's the episode.

       Do I like Lana? Yeah, I like Lana. I am glad I got to talk about this episode because I think it's good.  This easily could have been done badly but, everything that could have been bad about this episode was not in there.   What keeps it up is  that Lana while driven doesn't go into a zone where she's forcing everyone to follow in her quest she offers that they don't even have to eat the third burgers just open the wrappers. This episode gets kind of dark with the context that the family was freezing in the restaurant. When Hops alerts Lana to the problem she doesn't hesitate to give up the thing she wanted so hard to help her family.  Which is why is rewarding that she gets to meet Bobby Fletcher and even do some pit work on the car.  Flip was  jerk in this episode so, it's good that he got his comeuppance too.  I give this episode a 90%

more after the jump

Another Look at "Girls' Last Tour" From Episode 1

Anime 

    I did a post about "Girls' Last Tour" focusing on episode 6   and since I think it would be fun to do another post on this series and the timing is right since the Blu-Ray comes at the end of January (January 29th) dubbed and subbed (We aren't being paid to say this) we take a look at episode 1 called "Starry Sky/War"

     The first 2 minutes of this episode and the series as a whole is amazing sonic and visually.  There is  diegetic sound of water dripping, screws moving because of the kattenrad moving and causing the loose screws around to shake.  You can some pipes and otherwise it's dark.  Then this choral music starts and we the main characters Chito and Yuuri who are driving and riding in the kattenrad respectively .     When the choral music starts it warms up the scene that otherwise feels cold and dark because of the cold and dripping. Showing us that our main characters are friendly and warm in light.

     This is series that is post-Apocalypse setting story where something has wiped out most of humanity.  Our main focus are these two girls and their journey. They have been in this darkness for sometime  and trying to figure out to get out.  They also introduce our characters traits very well with Chito seeming to be the more serious one, while Yuuri is the more laid back one.  When Chito goes to sleep there's some dream she has that maybe a flashback on the past and how this journey started.  They follow a breeze to see if that's a way out and there's light and finally, they've made it out and can see the night's sky of starry beauty.  The visuals in this episode

         The scence where they take in the sky is a nice touch to end that part as they haven't seen it in sometime they have some appreciation of it.  The next part is called "War"  Yuu is doing some test shooting  Chito doesn't carry a weapon saying that she doesn't need one.  They in area that has some tanks and artillery.  This part also gives us some insight into their knowledge of the world and what's going on.  Yurri sees all the weapons and wonders why they people made all these weapons instead of food more food would make their lives in the present easier.  Or when Yui asks about war or to be exact  war means killing people , right? Why would they do that?  Chi's answer is maybe they their interests didn't fit with the other side's interests. They also find food, which makes Yurri very happy.

              They find some chocolate flavored rations as well and they don't know what is chocolate. Yuuri then points her weapon at Chito for the last ration now, don't take this moment in a dark way,  she seems to be taking what Chi said earlier about war being over resources and applying it.  Yurri eats the final ration then Chi jumps her.  The moments here are fun and shows their more playful side. 
   

        I think the start of this series was good one to set up and meet our characters and the world they are in.  It's not going to through the normal things you see in post end of the world themed media.  We are going to be following these characters on their journey as they mostly just survive.  I've liked this series since it came out and think it's charming and brings a good time. So take a look yourself. I may dip back into the show in the future.


  I think you should give this series a chance if you haven't seen it, it's currently (2019 January) on Amazon Prime streaming (with subs) and will be on Blu-Ray(dubbed/subbed) from January 29th.


       Tune in next time, after I fight this guy for some food.   

       

         
     

Arthur: DW the Copy Cat / Arthur's Knee

Arthur  PBS 

      I decided to dip back into another of this blog's interesting mainstays the PBS animated series "Arthur" unless you are  in different country than a show from America by PBS station WGBH in Boston that airs on a channel in your country. We getting pedantic. Anyway, we started doing Arthur talk during the 20th anniversary and have dipped into a few specials as well, so now we take another dip into some episodes.
 

    I'm going to follow the model we did during the 20th. Meaning a random 11 minute episode from 2 different seasons and talk about them.  So here we start with Season 1 with episode 5b called "D.W the Copycat" which first came out partnered with "Arthur's Pet Business" on October 11th, 1996.

     Arthur and DW Read as older brother and younger sister have this dynamic of sometimes  being at odds with each other. There are times where Arthur is annoyed by his sister and rants about her to his friends to their 'delight'. There are times where she is even shown to be annoying either that or this show works through Arthur's perceptions.(Make your own fan theories here)  Though there have times they have been shown caring for each other.  This is an early episode and takes us through a dynamic between the two.
   
   First off the monologue (the part where Arthur talks to us) : Arthur sees DW coloring in his book and then tells us he wonders what life would be like if D.W was different.  So he imagines if she was like his friend, The Brain, or like Bionic Bunny,  or a donkey. (What?)  This is the part where we don't question how this world of animal people works in the first place.

Out of context this is strange, in context this is strange/ Copyright WGBH 

    Now the episode :   Arthur groans that he is bored.  His mother suggests that he should play with D.W. So he decides that he is desperate. He tries but he finds her babyish. She yells at him that he doesn't want to do anything with her anymore and he says that she  does boring things and she should be more interesting , like him.  This gives DW an idea, she starts copying Arthur.  She even starts doing things he likes.  Arthur at first ,kind of likes this but then she goes a little excessive.  She then dresses like Arthur. (It's getting creepy)  He starts to notice that she is copying him (takes him a while). She also wears fake glasses now.  He tells his parents that it's annoying. He overheard his friends saying don't invite him to Muffy's house after school  because of Arthur Jr. (his sister) might tag along. (Mean)  His parents say he should deal with it. He tells her that she should stop copying her and she goes long with it? Was this some elaborate plan?  What happened?!

Rule 63? /Copyright WGBH 

    They are about 4 years apart in age and they have their interests, their may have been a time where they spent time together a lot more but as age has caused a drift as Arthur gets older. D.W just wanted to spend time with her older brother but, he doesn't like her interests. What I am also getting  from this episode was that she was also kind of tricking him. Where the part he says that he finds her boring probably bothered her. (Doesn't look a head at other episodes) Maybe they'll try to get along more later.

   More after the Jump

The Loud House: Season 1: Snow Bored/ Sleuth or Consequences

The Loud House Nickelodeon 

  

      I think it would be nice continue a look at "The Loud House" . I did this back in May where I used my "Arthur" model where I'd use a randomizer to look at two different 11 minute episodes of the "Loud House" from one season and look talk about them. So, here we are again with a look a couple episodes from season 1.   

  We start with the last episode of Season 1 "Snow Bored" which came out in the US on November 8th 2016,  it's not the last episode of the season, in production that was "Homespun".

   
      The Louds are hoping for a snow day because it's snowing outside and the weather man  gives them their wish.  Lisa has announced that she is going to eliminate the snow but the others decide to help her see that snow days can be F.O.N fun. (don't ask). The next day, Lisa (who has awesome winter wear) tries to see how much fun a snow day.  Lisa doesn't seem as interested in this weather.  After her looking at the others' activities she finds no interest in them and decides to do her plan.  Lana decides to  throw  a snowball at Lisa ,which sets off the rest of the episode.

Moment before tragedy starts /Copyright Viacom 

       Lisa decides that she has found something that she likes about snow days after all, and that's throwing snowballs.  That evening she tells Lincoln she enjoyed the snow day and then plays God and causes a second snow day.  So, the next day she goes a little crazy with snowball weapons, and starts crazily shooting them at her family members. (Why does Lisa have all these weapons, what is she planning, hello FBI, I'd like report someone please!)

Weapons of mass destruction/ Copyright Viacom 

     Evenutally, the others run to the safety of inside the house but, she ends up even shooting snowballs in the house.  This causes the Louds to wish it didn't snow but she plays God some more and causes it snow day again.  They ask  Lisa to use her invention from the earlier to stop the snow.  Apparently this was Lisa's plan was to make them not want snow days for awhile.  Lincoln is confused as I was here.

Don't ask me/ Copyright Viacom 

   

     My thoughts brought to you by Lisa's Snowzooka , you too can learn to wipe out people with snow! : There's not a sister I don't dislike the series, I do like Lisa,  it's nice thing to see her acting a little more like a 4 year old would and going silly over snow and her being a genius makes her going over the top  even more fun. I do enjoy the snow activities and them trying to get Lisa interested in the things. Also, I love her laugh in this episode.   I do fault the part where Lisa wants to deny her siblings a snow day because it's something they would enjoy  and the ending where I think she did this as an elaborate trick  to make them hate snow days.  I can see (overthink?) that cares about her family's well being and their mental/educational well being being part of that.   It's not an awful episode , to give it a  number value between 1% to 100%  I'd give it a 77%.

more after the jump

The Lookback: Christmas: Yes Virginia , There is a Santa Claus

Christmas  The Flashback 

          "Yes Virginia , There is a Santa Claus" is probably one of the most famous Christmas stories and the fact that it's a true story even makes it more appealing to adapt into media. This time, we look at the 1974 special for ABC of the same name based off the story of Virginia O' Hanlon who at the age asked the The New York Sun newspaper  if Santa Claus was real and the newspaper  gave a philosophy instead.   The media we are looking at is an animated short based off this story.   This special must have been good it won a prime time Emmy in 1975 for outstanding , Children's program  beating "Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown", "The Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown", and "Dr.Seuss Hoober Bloob Highway". (All great programming)  There is a connection to the two Charlie Brown specials to this special as well, you will notice how it looks, and Bill Melendez was a director and producer in this special so, he had at 75% of winning the award that year. (That's how you do it)

            So here we go.

           It starts with the narrator telling us that he wishes all things on Earth were as easy to fix as that crooked "h" spelling Earth was.    Meanwhile. at school in the 1890's  the teacher, Ms. Taylor, wants her class to write an essay about Christmas.  Virginia says she is going to write about why she believes in Santa Claus and the other kids laugh at her. (Because 1890's kids were  also mean like children are). The teacher tells them to pipe down(that's our words not hers) and let's Virginia continue. Virginia says she is unsure that Santa exists or not.

       Later on, kids make fun of Virginia some more.  A kid named Billy tells her that his older brother says there's no Santa because he's 14 and knows everything. (So a normal 14 year old) Virigina tries ask some kids if any of them believe in Santa. So far, none of them believe in except a couple.  So, she asks a policeman and he doesn't know Santa Claus is real then he calls his Sargent but that doesn't work. Then she asks the candyman if he knows if there's a Santa. I don't think this works. Then the Chinese restaurant man , he's no help either. ( Also what? )  She then asks her father and he says that people are out there have always been out there don't believe in anything they don't see. Just because you don't see something doesn't mean it's not there.

            The paperboy believes in Santa.  He also says the  same thing her father says too, and he suggests that you ask the editor of the New York Sun about Santa he'll give the definitive answer. (That's some paper)  We also find out the paper boy doesn't go to school because 1890s.  Her father thinks that is also a great idea to write the paper. 

    So, she decides to write the letter.  Meanwhile. editor Scrooge (he gives the words Bah humbug)  even his sectary calls him that, doesn't want to read an eight year old girl's letter.  Virginia waits for her letter to be in the paper, her father says just wait. The  paperboy from earlier named Tommy Keegan comes into Mr.Church's office , that's the editor, and convinces him to take the letter and write back.

      Mr.Church stews over what to write for awhile. While Virginia waits for answer. Then eventually,  at the school the Teacher reads the editorial that answers the question that Virginia asked.  The special does the full editorial , of course.  The other kids apologize to her. 

   There's an addendum where they talk mention some of the figures are real people and their names weren't changed to protect the innocent. Also, Santa was the narrator.
   

       That's it. I think it's an alright special it does do a nice take on the famous story that works well to keep you interested.   This special did fall off the television way side at some point. The story was also later used for 1990 movie which I am not sure how they took something kind of short and made it longer than this one tried, and there  was a CGI special in 2010.  

   That's our lookback tune in next time, when we wonder if there is a New Year's goblin. 

   If this is our last post before Christmas , then we Wish You A Merry Christmas from us here at Joshuaonline.  

NBC Midseason 2019: Four Returning Series and 2 New Series

NBC  Midseason 2019

           NBC has announced their mid season premiere dates for 4 returning shows and 2 new dramas. 

       The Voice returns  on Monday, February 25th at 8-10pmet. Tuesdays will run a little different with it  airing Tuesday episodes from  8-9pmet ,  on February 26th and March 5th, then no new Tuesday episodes until April 23rd.    

    Following, The Voice is  a new drama called ,The Enemy Within it premieres on February 25th at 10pmet.  World of Dance returns on Tuesday, February 26th from 9-11pmet,  and the it's regular  Sunday, March 3rd 8-10pmet,.  Airing Sundays 8-10pmet.    Good Girls returns on Sunday, March 3 at 10pmet.  A.P Bio returns Thursday March 7 at 8:30pmet.   New series The Village premieres March 12th at 10pmet, it moves to 9pmet on April 2nd. 

   Details 

   

Mondays starting Monday, February 25  

8PM  The Voice  (season premiere) 

10pm The Enemy Within (series premiere)

Tuesday, February 26

8PM  The Voice  

9PM  World of Dance (premiere)  

Sunday, March 3

8PM  World of Dance (regular time slot) 

10pm  Good Girls (season premiere) 

Tuesday, March 5

8PM The Voice 

Thursday, March 7

8:30pm A.P Bio  (season premiere)

Tuesday, March 12

10pm  The Village (Series premiere)

Tuesday, April 2

9pm The Village (time period change) 

Tuesday, April 23 

8pm The Voice (back on Tuesdays) 

 

press release after the jump

Christmas and Arthur : Arthur's Perfect Christmas

Christmas   The Flashback

 
     We return to an old friend, "Arthur" so they give us a Christmas special  interestingly enough, not one based off the book "Arthur's Christmas".  This one is called "Arthur's Perfect Christmas".   This special came out in 2000, why did they wait nearly 4 years into the series to have a Christmas special?  Why did they not use the book?  Nobody knows. To place the special in the "Arthur" cannon it was aired during or around the 5th season. I think it's the first Arthur hour long special as well.  This was the final time the original voice of Arthur Read, Michael Yarmush, voiced the character.

   Anyway let's take a look, is Arthur's Christmas perfect? Ehhh.

       It's starts with Christmas happening around Elwood City  so you know that it's Christmas time.  Then it's Arthur playing piano and he starts singing. (I'm out, get back over  you will finish this!)   It's his fan tasty and also he hates tinsel. (I'm out) Arthur wants his Christmas to be perfect (hense the title)  Oh it's 3 Days before Christmas.  D.W asks Arthur to help her write her wish list to Santa. I guess she does because the next cut she's mailing something.

Don't confuse him with Santa Claus in the east pole/ Copyright WGBH 

       Tina the talking tabby.  Now we are at the elementary school with Muffy and Francine. Muffy is going to have  a Christmas party and Francine keeps trying to say she can't go but, Muffy doesn't listen. So, why can't Francine go?  Let's have Arthur ask her.    Her family celebrates the last night of Hanukkah.  Arthur states the obvious but, again Muffy doesn't listen.  George talks about Christmas in Sweden.  Binky  talks about his Christmas tradition of helping at a soup kitchen and mmm pecan pie. (He needs to shell them)  Mr. Ratburn, the teacher, has decided to still give homework because he's addicted to teaching.   Buster has a problem his mother keeps waking him up early thinking it's Christmas because she's nervous that she might miss it. (She should watch the news first to find out the date)

Merry Not Christmas/ Copyright WGBH 

more after the jump