One Shot Posts: Rugrats: Cuffed/ The Blizzard

One Shot Posts  Rugrats Nickelodeon 

            This time in One Shot Post: Rugrats again.  We dip into a pair of season 3 segments from episode 12.  Season 3 was the last season of Rugrats, back when Nickelodeon was using the syndication model amount and really only needed 65 episodes. Rugrats would be the only of the first three Nicktoons to come back... on Nickelodeon...  that's right I stopped you from saying what about...?  Season 3 of the Rugrats was pretty strong  had some really memorable episodes. 

           I picked this one because well I like it, and this pairing happens to be one of my favorites of the series.  This episode aired on December 12, 1993. Let's get started.

    Cuffed 

         My favorite Rugrat is Chuckie Finster, but even going beyond that I like how this episode really only has two characters being Chuckie and Angelica, besides having Drew there, but from the main younger cast it's just those two. That's more unusual. Chuckie appearing without Tommy is even more rare. It makes for a tight and interesting story. 

         Drew is wrapping up gifts for poor kids in the orphanage because Rugrats apparently takes place with orphanages around. Unless they still exist and I'm the confused one, leave me alone.  Anyway, Angelica sees some toy handcuffs and wants them. (Drew is some random kids without parents, handcuffs, what'd he mean by that?)  He says no.  Also Chuckie is coming later and Angelia is annoyed because she called him boring, and Drew says don't be mean to him after calling him her little friend. (Drew is confusing) 

             Chuckie says he'll just sit there and be quiet until his Dad comes back, which off all the Rugrats, I think that is something he'd do.  Oh yeah, the handcuffs, Angelica wants Chuckie's help to get handcuffs.  Poor Chuckie his life his him being told to random stuff by someone with the last name Pickles.  Angelica gets the handcuffs. 

                The Chuckie and Angelica interactions in this episode are also a great treat. Chuckie, of course, is the cautious nervous one, especially with Angelica. When he has to look out for her parents while she's trying to get the handcuffs he screams thinking a sock a mouse is a sock and then asks if she needs help because he was lonely. 

              The episode also uses where Angelica tears into the package moment for a nice recall later. Chuckie asks what are they for and she decides to handcuff herself to Chuckie, "like the police do," then she finds out she can't find the key.  You can see when she tore in the package the key flew off the back... more on that soon.   Angelica can't find the key in the pack and thinks they made handcuffs without keys.   She gets mad at Chuckie and blames him for the fact they are stuck together. 

            Honestly, being stuck to Angelica is worse for Chuckie than Chuckie being stuck to Angelica.   

 She tries to get every single she can find around the house but none of them work.  (I'm happy that the 90's handcuff toys are were built to last) Angelica trying different things like her toy blow torch kit (what?) and plastic hammer don't work.   Drew comes into to say Chuckie's Dad is on his way and this causes her to worry.  Her later attempts are even funnier. 

            Chaz is at the door and this means Angelica has to hide the handcuffs, now she's going to find away to figure something out and Chuckie has something to tell her, but she's not listening. The true moral is: Angelica should have listened in the first place.  She's able to convince Chaz and her dad to let Chuckie stay over.  She'd rather make up a story than tell her father is very in character for her.  Chaz agrees to let Chuckie stay over. 

            Chuckie thought she was telling the truth and is happy to be with her too, it's sweet, but also sad because she was lying. Chuckie was willing to be Angelica's friend and be happy.  Anyway, Chuckie finally gets to say what he was trying to say: he found the key. They are free. Angelica decides to tell Chuckie to stay away from her and never speak to her, no matter what she says or does, he agrees and  walks away.  Just to make sure that was a stupid thing for her to do: she gets looped on to her bed's rail and can't reach the key.  She calls Chuckie. He was standing outside the room and hears her but says nope, he's listening to what she just said, and walks away. 

    

            It's a great character dynamic episode. Angelica of course would not listen to her father when she wants something and especially when she many times gets what she wants. Chuckie has that fear of Angelica but he's also friendly and kind and was happy to think Angelica would want to be his friend. He also listened to her when she said don't talk to her, no matter what she says and she's now locked to her bed until her father finds her. Though, I guess he's still staying the night or something. 

             The episode is funny too, I like how Angelica tries to get out of the handcuffs, and the little jokes were fun.   It's a fun episode. It's one of my favorites because of how the setup works and the way Chuckie's little win works without him directly doing it or knowing is a nice way to do it. 

More after the jump

One Shot Posts: The Simpsons: Bart, the Mother

One Shot Posts  The Simpsons

This image isn't selling the episode well 

             Here's a season 10 episode of "The Simpsons" I feel this one is a well known one, even if it's not from pre-season 9.  This is part of a look at possible post season 9 gem episodes of the Simpsons.  I do have to point out. I think season 10 does have some very charming and funny episodes  that might be over looked, overall. This is the third episode of that season it's  "Bart, the Mother". 

                 There's a well-known episode called "Marge Be Not Proud" where Bart steals a game and disappoints his mother  and Bart works to get her attention and care back. That's a good episode and a classic, and I do like Marge and Bart stories.  This episode falls in that camp.   

             Marge decides to reward the family by going to the Family Fun Center which leads to Bart trying to hangout with Nelson. Nelson, being the bad boy character,  Marge doesn't like how the boy acts and doesn't want Bart to hang out with him, which of course he does.  Bart really wanted to use the B.B Gun the boy had won and whilst playing around he ends up killing a bird mom. 

                 Bart feels instantly bad and he did try to not aim at the bird. Marge finds out that Bart got out and goes to get him from Nelson's place. She finds out that Bart killed a bird. She's disappointed and decides to let Bart be and goes away. He finds out there were two eggs left in the nest and decides to take care of them. 

                This episode is also historical for the Simpsons, this is the last episode that Phil Hartman had voice acted on in his role of Troy McClure.  

                In the episode  you see how much work and dedication Bart puts into taking care of these eggs.  Marge wonders what Bart is doing and finds out about the eggs. She's happy that Bart took the care. The eggs start to hatch and the episode has a twist, the eggs weren't birds but Bolivian Tree Lizards.  (Those aren't real too)  It's apparently a species of lizard that kills bird eggs then lays its own eggs and eat the mother. 

That's not paper/ Copyright Disney 

             The bird watchers want to kill the lizards because they are evasive species and Bart feels close to them.  Marge understands and decides to let him run, in a sweet moment.  The lizards apparently can glide and don't die off the roof and spread around the town. The episode's takes a dark sense of humor when the lizards spread and start killing the pigeons and the town is so happy that Bart gets an award. 

            This episode is not as good as "Marge Be not Proud" but it does offer a good Marge and Bart story and shows Bart's not all bad side. I think it's always good to give Bart more than  one element to his character and this was good for that. The episode is also good for people who dark jokes, it's kind of a dark joke at the end where the lizards, that are bad, are good for the town because they just hate pigeons.  That and Lisa even points out that Bart was sad he killed a bird but now many many birds are dead.  

            That's it for now, tune in next time when the great lizard vs pigeon war starts. 

Weekendering: The Weekenders: Season 2: Episode 8: Murph/Uncool World

The Weekenders Disney 

             Previously, vengeance is hard,  relax instead  here

Episode 8a: Murph 

        There's a big event coming  called Sidewalk Sunday which is on Sunday on the sidewalk ,everything has half priced, not the food though.  This episode's plot is a "Oh no! Someone doesn't like me how can that be?"  Tino is worried that a boy named Murph doesn't like him and this drives him mad.  This is a hard plot to enjoy, so let's see where this one goes, maybe this show can pull it off well. (let's hope!) 

            There's also a running gag about how the friends talk about how Tino makes noises when he reacts to something.  It's pointed out that Tino doesn't like Murph either so he's deciding to let it go, not really no.  He starts trying to get Murph to pay attention to him at the Pizza shop but it doesn't work. (high desperation)  Tino's mom actually doesn't help here at all this time, she makes it worse by saying that there are people who aren't going to like you there might more than one. (good going , we trusted you Tino's Mom you have forsaken us!) 

            He takes the message of having a poll of the entire city to see who likes him and doesn't. Which I don't think is helping.  Pretty much everyone likes him but there's like a few people who don't.  Also Carver is not helping as he gives him a stupid idea to go find the people who said they don't like him and (take them out?)  make them like him. Great, Tino is losing it.  He kind of succeeds, even mows an old lady's yard.  He also paints Murph's house because he's lost it.   Tish suggests that Tino should ask why he doesn't like him, but Tino won't. 

            The friends decide to help make Tino more likeable.  This is is really not going well, when they point out his flaws.   Like I said this don't go well and he kicks his friends out the house. Later, it's the sidewalk day. The friends see he's still depressed, and they ask why he doesn't like Tino.  Murph says it's because in third grade Tino poured milk down his shirt.  But in a twist it was actually a kid named, Tony Tortilaro. (what?)  But Murph still doesn't like Tino , then Murph asks does he like him. Tino realizes that not really no.  They just don't like each other.  Tino is happy.

            It think this show pulled off the plot well. As a stock plot it's not of the best stock plots and I think shows don't do it anymore. It message is simply that sometimes someone isn't going to like you and there's no reason. Here, it's handled well  because it's working in Tino's personality well. He does get hung up on things and he is likable as a character.  It's also interesting that Tino says he doesn't like the boy in the first place then says it again, and he didn't have a reason so it was like he knew the answer all along. The twist of Tony Torilaro was funny and the episode doesn't make Murph and Tino friends, it's more about Tino letting go.  It's fine, probably one of the better uses of this stock plot.  I give it 7/10. 

        Anyway, see you after the jump or SATURDAY  

Weekendering: The Weekenders: Season 2: Episode 7: Tickets/Vengeance

The Weekenders  Disney  

Previously,  We Tished up a good idea to write a post  here 

Episode 7a:  Tickets

           It's a tickets episode! You that plot where someone gets tickets and has friends all interested in the tickets but only has a small amount of tickets, so he's going to have to decide and feel bad.  That could go a few ways, so let's see how this show does it, because you can take a tried plot but it's how it's executed. 

                The band the gang likes called Chum Bucket is coming to town. (They are going to see Plankton, and Karen)  The gang can't get tickets because they are really hard to get.   None of their attempts have worked.  This episode isn't about  them trying to get ticket so.... they get some food and Carver was the 1 millionth costumer and wins a t-shirt, their secret chili recipe, and a toy, then Tino gets to be their 1,000,001th customer and he wins two tickets.  

            I love how goofy this show can be. Uh oh he only got two tickets to paradise, but has 3 friends.   (The only solution is to have the other three play Russian Roulette, at least twice)   Tino doesn't know what to do. He decides to have the other three play rock paper scissors which turns into a mess.  The new plan is apparently to drive Tino insane.  Adding to the fun some cook kids come over to also bribe for the tickets. (Show also does a subtle joke about something)  Also, also so does a bully comes over, because sure.  Though his offer is take me to the concert or I'll beat you up, not very bright. 

      I do have to admire that Tino refuses even the cool kids.   It's the next next day and the friends still show up and annoy him.  He can't take it anymore and decides to throw the tickets and walks away.  It's later in the day, and friends show up to give him the tickets and say he has to go, and they tell him he can pick anyone and they won't be mad.  He decides to pick Carver using a smart question. 

        Now there's a twist, those aren't tickets, they are passes and worth two tickets, what a twist. So everyone gets to see the group.  Tino tell us the morals and yes always read the fine print.   (like this one:  By reading this blog post, you agree to continue reading the whole post) 

               As I started, this was a tickets episode, and it plays it well. I think what works here is that Tino didn't try to make his friends compete  or do something where it makes him look bad. You can see he was really worried about picking a friend and having the rest hate him.  It really puts the ball in the friends' court and it was nice to see they realized the stress they put Tino through.  The twist is kind of  easy one, but it happened after the friends were willing to accept that only one of them could go and it gives Tino a nice win there.  Good 7/10.

More after the jump, I've got two tickets in my pocket. 

Weekendering: The Weekenders: Season 2: Episode 6: Taking Sides/To Tish

The Weekenders  Disney 

Previously, Tino, I'm not your Father  Here 

Episode 6a: Taking Sides 

    

          Tino and Carver were playing pool and Carver being Carver likes to make it a show and they end up losing. This causes the two buddies to get into a fight. Carver is telling this to Lor and this makes Tino think that she's on Carver's side and he runs to Tish to make sure Carver doesn't "contaminate her".  Carver runs to try to get there first. For note, Lor thinks they a both stupid.  Tish calls them Germany and Russia and kicks them out. (As you do) 

            Tino and Carver go to work to make sure Tish would be on their respective sides. They make things a mess and worse. They go to bother Lor instead. The two girls run to get away from the guys because of their annoyance. Then, it ends up getting bad for them because they get into a squabble about who should just apologize. Lor has Tino and Tish has Carver. It actually causes a whole theater to fight. (that's funny) 

          Tino's mom has been watching the show and knows everything that happened.  It's the next day and Lor is standing Tino's room eating cheese snacks until Tino wakes up. Tino realizes that his mom was right and wants to fix Lor from not being mad at Tish so he lies to her that he and Carver made up so she'll make up with Tish.  A sweet move.  She's going to tell Carver that she's his friend again too and  Tino races to make sure he gets to Carver first so Lor won't know he lied. 

         He finds out that Carver did the same thing with Tish and then they real make up.  Then we find out at the end that Carver and Tino had a rematch in pool and won this time.  

         It's a nice episode with a simple and again well done plot. I like how Tino doesn't want his fight to affect his other friends' just because of how silly it was, and decides to make sure they stay friends. It could have easily been a different outcome and drag out Tino and Carver being happy that they have someone on their sides. I think that again that's this show's strengths of  not fully following the treated path and does a good use of its characters.  I give this one 7.5/10

more after the jump

Weekendering: The Weekenders: Season 2: Episode 5: Dixon

The Weekenders Disney 

           Previously, I still haven't found what I was looking for  here  

Episode 5: Dixon

     This is the first fill the half hour timeslot special episode of the show.   It also opens up something that show really hadn't touched before Tino's Mom and her being divorced.  The episode eases into that with a different storyline first.  The gang want to visit a park that's reopening called Tesla Park and only 100 people can come in for the re-grand opening with tickets.  Anyway, at dinner, Tino's mother tells him she has a date the next night. 

            Tino is a little unsettled by the news, of course,  and we even get a strange dream sequence where the man and his new Dad is actually a slug monster (I'm scared) and Martian Van Buren shows up. (I would want William Henry Harrison, but he is a really quick cameo)  The next day, Tino tells his friends that his mother is going on a date. The friends are more happy about this news and they make Tino realize that he might be overacting. 

       I find that that the episode not having it be Tino be worried the whole episode or him trying to sabotage the date or something is refreshing.  The weekend gang (not calling them that) goes back to the other plot of working to get tickets for the park. They are working on making chairs and meet a named Dixon who is apparently good at making such things. (chairs are weird) Tish is impressed with him because he's an English major.  When they have to move cinderblocks, Lor is impressed that Dixon did the Scottish Games. (nice callback to a past episode there).I'm just going to say that Dixon is somehow able to connect to all them in liking some stuff they like. He also mentions he has a 14-year-old daughter. Also hmm I wonder why Dixon is in this episode? 

        Dixon ends up being the guy Tino's mom is going on a date with. (What a Twist!)   This is a two-part episode so..... join us after the jump.

Valentine's Day: Arnold's Valentine

Valentines Day  The Flashback  Nickelodeon 

          It's another holiday. That's right it's President... sorry it's Valentine's Day.  (Great, I thought we were doing a President's Day special, boo!)  I haven't done anything with Hey Arnold  in some time and it does have a Valentine's day half hour (with ads) special just laying around so let's go!

        This episode came out on February 12, 1997 . meaning once again I've missed a big 0 or 5 anniversary moment (par for course here).  This is from season 1 of the series, unless you find this on Paramount Plus they stuck it in season 2, Wikipedia says this episode episode is from season 1 and is episode 20, the production code says it's season 1 episode 24,  I've seen it called Season 1, episode 25, Hulu calls it season 1 episode 20, so things are going great.  It's an episode , it exists. 

         

           Hey Arnold is a series where romance does have its place, especially Arnold who has shown crushes and Helga being madly in love with Arnold. A Valentine's day episode seems to be fitting.  This is from the period of the show where 4th grader Arnold has a crush on a 6th grader named Ruth McDougal.  The class is making valentines because it's the day and it's something to do. (like sleeping) Arnold makes one for Ruth -signed anonymous because he is a coward.  Helga works on making one for Arnold which is hard. She overhears that Arnold wants to give on to Ruth and gets jealous.

     The teacher gives out the plot device to the episode, letters from their foreign pen pals.  Arnold has a pen pal from France named Cecile and Helga decides to commit mail crimes by opening his letter to read it and add a line to the letter where Cecile  says she's coming for one night only.  (Good thing the letter came the same date she was coming or that'd be odd)   Arnold sees the letter and is anxious, but he's also made a date with Ruth, so... oh no it's a dual date episode.  

He likes they have same head/ Copyright Paramount 

        Time for one of my silly tangents (oh great!).  I like how in  Arnold's city they have two French restaurants right next to each other.  There's Chez Pierre and Chez  Paris, they were also used a later plot because they similar naming.  So for some reason someone made a French restaurant then someone else decided to also make one - have it be next door to the other one and have a similar name because what? Sounds like bad business.  Back to the episode, Arnold is going on a date with Ruth at Chez Pierre and Cecile or I mean ' Cecile' wants to meet with him at Chez Paris. Good thing they are next to each other.  (We don't ask if he an Italian pen pal) 

It's a war!  Copyright Paramount

        So the plan, of course, is Arnold runs back and forth like a mad man.  I'm also glad a 9 year old has money for a French restaurant or wants to to go to one.  

            Helga continues her plan of whatever this plan is supposed to do, by pretending to be the French girl Cecile.  She does quick French learning, so it won't be very good.  Then she does a make over, which I mean I'm glad Arnold won't be able to tell.  This  episode has some funny moments in it, but have to laugh that Helga is so pushy that she won't let the man  at the salon tell her that it's a dog salon and makes him do a haircut.  (a bark life) 

Ruff hair cut/ Copyright Paramount 

            Gerald helps Arnold with the Ruth part of the date by trying to give him pointers.  It's funny how Gerald pretends he knows all this stuff.  Ruth as a character isn't very interesting, but that's not really matters; Arnold like her mostly because he likes how she looks. This special does a good job at pointing out that Arnold really doesn't know anything about her.  

        That's the first half. It is all set up for what the 2nd half will do. While the idea of having two dates and going back and forth is old, and was old when this episode was made, it does set up something funny for this show to do. The little jokes so far were great. It's also doing some good things with characterization like  how Helga just can't tell Arnold how she feels so she'll do an elaborate plan to do it instead. Arnold wanting to go on a date with a girl he doesn't know really, probably doesn't have a chance with, while he also wants to meet a pen pal. Gerald being his best friend and doing things to help prep his friend and also pretending to be a ladies man, even when some ladies tell him to leave them alone, all works together well. 

Weekendering: Weekenders: Season 2: Episode 4: Super Kids/Crevasse of Dreams

The Weekenders Disney  

        Previously, The TV characters try to act like TV characters ...read here 

        Episode 4a: Super Kids 

               The gang ends up going to a seminar because Carver had to go because his parents wanted him to go because reasons. (because alot)  I like how they agreed to join him just because free donuts.  The speaker is a 12-year-old boy who wrote a book and his advice is to have a goal and work until you get it.  He asks our gang  what they planned for the weekend and doesn't like their plans.  This makes them want to go something of "worth" for the weekend.  They try some random things, but eventually they decide to try out different goals separately. 

             Lor's goal is to set the record for the most consecutive baskets in basketball. Tish is trying to make a whole symphony. (as on does) Carver is trying to the ultimate athletic shoes. Tino being Tino is more angsty on an idea.  His mother , comes in  and tells him to just maybe he should just keep the goal of hanging out with his friends and relaxing for the weekends. (We wouldn't have a plot for this episode then, Tino's Mom)   

 

     They go see the 12-year-old Tripp Nickerson again for his book signing. They kind of figure he might be a little unhappy and unhinged. (I'm scared, help me) Tino asks if he would like to hang out with them and he agrees.  They sit together and watch the sunset. 

 

    One of the things about this show is that plots are simple sometimes, and this one is that, it's a nice simple plot. The idea that yeah it's good to have good goals, but also just to appreciate time and friends. I like how Tino asks Tripp to join him and his friends and we just get a nice simple ending. It's a well done episode and does a good job.  8/10

More after the Jump