Also, Arnold's Grandma was voiced by Tress Macneille who is the voice of Daisy Duck, Charlotte Pickles on Rugrats, Gabs Bunny on Tiny Toons, Dot on Animaniacs and other big shows.
One thing I liked about this show was that many of the jerk characters, whether it would be Helga or Harold, are portrayed as flawed human beings. They either have redeemable qualities or have moments where we sympathize with them depending on the episode.
And the writers actually did explain why Helga and Harold were like that, unlike most shows where they just throw in a character who's a jerk for the sake of it, without explaining why the character is like that.
Arnold is one of my favorite boy characters, he’s different from most of the current characters. He’s quiet and doesn’t perform an overboard of masculine traits. He’s intelligent, and no one ever teases him or mocks him for it. He doesn’t lack emotional intelligence and isn’t afraid to learn. It’s nice to see a slightly muted, for the lack of a better word, character. Though he is constantly thinking and imaginative, he’s very calm and quiet on the outside! He has depth and is an overall good character
I like how despite how much more mature he is for his age, at the end of the day he is still a kid. Prob the most times he shows his flaws tends to be when he's around Lila who ironically is a manipulative one that enjoys playing the role of the "perfect good girl."
Actually, they dealt with adultery in the beach episode "Summer Love" where Miriam (Helga's Mom) and Suzy (Mr. Koshka's wife) meet a dance instructor named Carlos who gives them "private lessons". From what I remember, they don't get caught.
they don't though it is a bit arguable if that was infidelity. I mean if it was just Miriam i could certainly see that especially considering how bob acts on that occassion but despite how much of an ass Oscar acts in a lot of eps his relationship with Suzy is suppose to be stronger then that.
@@nicobellic2238 Well that could of just been Craig explaining why she wasn't in The jungle movie. Still that really isn't dealing or talking about infidelity if it's just too vague a notion in a total comedy plot.
DianaGohan Well, the Hey Arnold writers have been known for leaving hints and /or a creative workaround to say something indirectly that the network wouldn't let them outright say. For example, whenever Helga's mom was having a lot of "smoothies", the "smoothies" were a stand-in for alcohol, thus indirectly saying Helga's mom is an alcoholic.
I find i like this show and Rocko a lot more then most Nicktoons, hell most cartoons in general, due to the more down to earth and serious stuff that most kids cartoons don't go over. Plus i agree with what Enter said something about the atmosphere that the music and even the art itself helps get you invested in the stories to tell a tale most others wouldn't. This show was miles ahead of it's time similar to Rocko.
Avatar was great for that reason. Especially the episode "The Avatar State" The Earth Kingdom general wants to use Aang's Avatar State power as a superweapon to quickly defeat Ozai and end the war. he doesn't care how Aang feels about it ((He's uncomfortable using his powers to hurt others and even has nightmares about it)). The general shows Aang a group of wounded soldiers and says "Those are the lucky ones. *They came back*", once again hoping to use the superweapon inside Aang to finish the war once and for all.
@@MrBonessss say what you will about Steven Universe's pacing and overarching plot but this show does deal with wartime trauma, relationships of all kinds, and emotions incredibly well.
I could really use another series that really delves into loss. I've just become numb from not trying to feel pain sometimes, but I can tell there's a damn ready to burst if I let my guard down.
My sister lives very close to a college and a couple of years of ago one of her neighbors was getting ready to graduate and they made a banner that said “stoop kid’s gonna leave his stoop” made me so happy
Hey Arnold is without a doubt one of the best show that nick has ever produced. The topics, the characters, and even the setting are all fantastic. This show was able to make me laugh hard and get me emotional. I mean if you do not cry or at lest feel like it at the end of its Christmas special ( AKA best Christmas special that nick has EVER done), then you might not be human. This also scared the crap out of me, for years I could NOT watch the ending to the train episode by myself! The ghost bride still gives me chills to this day! I just love almost everything about this show there is little wrong with it, I mean yeah, some episodes were bad ( the infamous Arnold betrays Iggy comes to mind) and Arnold might be a little too perfect, but apart from those MINOR issues, nothing. As I stated before it dealt with VERY serious topics, like child neglect. It also hinted at things that went right over my head as a kid like Miriam’s alcoholism and Mr. Simmons being gay. It is totally obvious now, but I did not see that when I was little and it make me relay respect this show for having the guts to put those in there at a time when it was frowned upon. I think this show was probably the best nick made in the 90’s and I was BEYOND excited to see it FINALLY an ending in the jungle move which I thought was good for the most part, not prefect but it let me satisfied.
Tim McKee Completely agree. This is the show that “you liked as a kid but then figured out that you loved as an adult.” I rewatched “helga on the couch” this year and realized this show aged like fine wine. The jungle movie was cool too.
I won an art contest in primary school thanks to this show. The subject of our artworks was "Your Ideal Front Porch". While everyone the class drew gardens full green grass and outdoor toys, I drew the front yard of Arnold's boarding house - complete with the concrete steps and red brick wall. The prize was large crayon and water color set from Crayola.
At least with Jesus he would have genuine emotions and get sad mad irritated even tired/hungry and thirsty. He even knocked over tables and chased out the highly religious authorities of the time. He would also hang out with some pretty gross and immoral people. Arnold on the other hand is kind of those mr perfect types.
Arnold seems like the kinda friend I’d be very comfortable being around because his energy is so humble and calming also seems non judgmental. He never laughed at his friends or said anything mean behind their back.
I absolutely adored this show as someone who had an incredibly similar home life to Helga. I saw myself a lot in Helga because I was kind of a bully, emotionally distant, and generally kind of angry. It meant a lot to me when I was 7-8 to see a character like that portrayed sympathetically rather than made as a caricature with no redeeming traits.
Of course in that dream, Arnold and Gerald were 70-80 years old. Arnold's grandpa is somehow still alive, albeit as a 140 or 150 year old man who is needless to say, quite fragile.
I've always loved Hey Arnold ever since I was a little kid. I can't really relate to a lot of shows I watched when I was a kid but this is the exception. I still watch this show years later and relate to things, Craig Bartlett created a masterpiece with this show
If I could describe Hey Arnold in one word: chill. It was definitely a show that went with the flow. It had an atmosphere, a vibe, a je-ne-sais-quoi that was felt deep in the soul.
I never understood fans that said Arnold had no flaws. Arnold had a lot of flaws. He was idealistic, naive, had no street smarts AT ALL, and wore his heart on his sleeve - even when all of those attributes would cause him problems. I do agree that it got to be too much with how many times Arnold would solve someone's problem - but at least they balanced it out by giving him actual flaws and emotions. I'm not saying Doug had none - Doug actually had plenty, but apart from panicking a lot, Doug didn't react to much emotionally. That said, yes. I ADORE the Christmas episode. But one episode that I feel doesn't get talked about enough with this show is Veterans Day. Like Arnold's Christmas, it handles the subject of Vietnam beautifully - not something that even usually done well in adult media. Plus, the part with Grandpa is hilarious. I highly recommend it to anyone who either hasn't seen it or just doesn't remember it.
Plus the Christmas episode was one of two cartoons of the ten years that touched on the Vietnam War. The other being a Peanuts special in the late 80s dealing with American History that managed to bring that detail up
I think Arnold's character changes fit well with how the other characters changed. The other characters got increasingly more dysfunctional and crazy over the course of the series.
I dunno, it did give me one big laugh out loud moment that I can still remember. When the grandpa thinks he’s dead and asks if he’s in heaven. Then he sees Oskar. “Oh no, I must’ve gone to the other place!” Even past the comedy, I really liked this show. Remember being sad when it was cancelled. May have been the first time I experienced that
*Says that he's going to fix many of the details he got wrong in his earlier reviews* *Doesn't bring up that Pigeon Man commiting suicide as an alternate ending to "Pigeon Man" was actually a false rumor*
a chill and quiet person who isn't emotional doesn't = bland. Arnold is like Persona 5's Akira Kurusu before P5 was a thing. A shy, laid back, and nice guy who will go out of his way to help others in need and has a hidden aggressive side. (while not as focused on as Akira's Joker/aggressive side, Arnold does have that too and can show his anger in certain situations) 9:15 yup. Hey Arnold was basically P5 before P5 was a thing
Helga is honestly such an interesting and dynamic character - possibly the best in the whole show. Hey Arnold pulled no punches with showing how her home life affected her, and showed the reasons for her behavior.
I just really hope as she got older, things did get better and Miriam sobered up, but as we saw in the Jungle movie, they apparently lost their house and were living in the former Beeper emporium building.
Hey Arnold was easily one of my Favorite Nicktoons as a kid. Nice slice of life show with great stories and adventures, and episodes that weren't afraid to be different.
Something I really appreciate is while other kids shows might try to chase trends and attempt to be "Hip with what the kids are into these days" The creators just took their own interests and tried to show the kids at home why they personally liked them. For example, Old crooner music. Most ten year olds in the 90's arn't going to be into that but the show runners are, so they try to make the kids understand why that stuff is interesting by adding the interesting character Dino, an old crooner and showing how much fun performing that genre of music is. The same could be said for Opera with their episode "What's Opera, Arnold" trying to slip a little culture into the show.
I think Arnold being the blandest character is kind of the point of the show. He's meant to be the well-grounded protagonist to open up the doors for the quirkiest citizens of the cartoon. If anything, he's the glue that balances everything out.
This is, without a doubt, my favorite Nicktoon of all time. The episodes gave us something fresh, much of the cast is extremely fleshed out, and both of Arnold's grandparents were voiced by Simpson's veterans Dan Castellaneta and Tress MacNeille. P.S. It might interest you to know that the creator, Craig Bartlett, is Matt Groening's brother-in-law.
I never found Arnold bland, he was more or less meant to be the voice of reason as a main character. Plus, he had his moments of selfishness or scheming and daydreaming. Considering how dysfunctional most of the cast was they kind of needed an anchor. Especially poor Helga.
Man, this was another show that defined my childhood. It was one of my favorite cartoons as a kid and it still resonates with me to this very day that I can love and appreciate it more as an adult.
Except for in Hey Arnold! The Movie and especially Arnold Betrays Iggy where Arnold was pretty much reduced to a one-dimensionally helpless victim of bullying. But that’s the only couple of instances where Arnold was all-around boring. But I see Mr. Enter’s point on why Arnold was boring to begin with. But he just got more and more interesting since after the start.
Hey Arnold is my all time favorite cartoon. In an era when Ren and Stimpy and The Animaniacs ruled the air waves with pushing the envelope with tons and tons of adult innuendos (not saying Hey Arnold didn't, but it was way more subtle), it blew my mind on just how mellow this show was when I first rewatched it back in 2011. Sure, I enjoyed watching it when I was little, but I feel completely hook, line and sinker for this show as an adult. I love how it gives the feeling of it both being episodic while having a small continuing story arc in it, all culminating with The Journal and The Jungle Movie. And I love how they didn't just focus on Arnold for most of the show and how they devoted at least 2 or 3 episodes a season for other characters. This is especially true with Helga, where as a kid, I couldn't stand her, but when I watched her as a character later on, she rightfully claimed the Number 1 slot as my all time favorite character. To this day, I haven't seen a show that comes close to it (Though Gravity Falls comes to a VERY close second).
What's odd about this show is that despite Arnold being the titular main character, the show focuses more on those around him rather than Arnold himself My personal favorite episode is the one where Arnold helps Torvald with his math. To this day I STILL remember that episode fondly. I dont know why it's my favorite or why Torvald is my favorite background character (he only appears like twice I believe) but that episode didnt focus on Arnold like most other ones. And that to me I think is why I like this show Despite Arnold being the main character, it wasnt often HE was the true main focus
Armold's bedroom is still one of the most awesome kids rooms of all time, fold-out couch giant skylight roof access id kill for that room today sweet digs
My wife and I have binge watch the show on Hulu twice and we come back to watch our favorite episodes of the show on multiple occasions even when we're trying to get caught up on other shows that have been out since. I think this is the Nicktoon I watched in the 90s that I actually remembered the most decades later
That scene made me cry again. Even just with that small portion of the scene. It's so well portrayed and the emotions come through so well, it's a masterpiece.
When I got a little older after having watched most of the show, I ended up figuring it out. It was a sad realization and explained a lot of Helga's behavior. Even Olga's behavior can be explained by pressure from her parents, as it made her dependent on other's praise and her crying about a 'B' due to the fact she probably got yelled at if she didn't do well or maybe she was threatened. A lot of theories I could craft, but it didn't appear as if Bob had _physically_ abused them and Miriam just didn't do much of anything.
I figured it out as a kid while watching Beeper Queen cause you come to learn that you lose your drivers license if you drink and drive, so Helga being asked if her mom got her’s back was a huge red flag that she has a drinking problem.
@@Goleon Yeah, but you can lose it for other reasons. With the other evidence it's obvious, but without it the alcoholism wouldn't be clear. Ironically, that episode probably had Miriam the most sober of any episode.
This is going to soudn stupid to talk about, but this show had a huge impact on me when I was a kid... and it wasnt until We Bare Bears that I felt another show had the sort of spirit that it had. Hey Arnolrd and Ed, Edd, n Eddy were some of the shows that had the biggest impact on me as a kid... and We Bare Bears was like a fusion of the best qualities of both those shows
Hey Arnold is my 2nd favorite Nickelodeon show of all time behind SpongeBob SquarePants. At first, I was never interested in the show until I saw youtube videos of ranking nickelodeon shows and Hey Arnold would mostly be in the top ten and they would explain how amazing the show is. This made me give the show a watch and I immediately fell for it. I loved the jazz music and the writing had a lot of passion. The stories were interesting and relatable and this show would make me cry. I hope that nickelodeon will bring this show back and season 6 can happen.
The horror episodes of this show I remember well and very fondly. The Engine 25 episode in particular still creeps me the fuck out. Something about a haunted vehicle is always creepy to me.
There are 2 thing I will never forget about this series: 1- The end credit 2- That one episode he visits an old writter for kids and is grumpy... cause she curses at the end of the episode XD
Hey Arnold! is a more refined version of Doug... which isn't a bad thing because while the Nickelodeon Doug mostly focused on the titular character's interactions with other people, Hey Arnold! was focused on how the characters interact with Arnold. Helga, Gerald, Phoebe, Stinky, Sid, Harold, and so many others become better versions of themselves, more or less, when they're around Arnold. Yes, there are at least one or two episodes where Arnold doesn't exactly cause character development to others; Iggy, Curly, Ruth, and Lila come to mind almost instantly, but that just goes to show that even Arnold himself isn't perfect in bringing the best out of others. That main idea, I think, is probably the driving point of the Jungle Movie: by helping out so many other people, Helga, the person that went through the most complex character development thanks to Arnold, decides that Arnold himself needs his own character growth for a change by trying to reunite him with his lost parents... and is not only successful, but is rewarded with her crush reciprocating and finally acknowledging.
This show was made for me. I was the same age and grade level as the main character, grew up right outside the city. I swore up and down this show took place in Nyc or bklyn alone. Just goes to show you loads of these cities in the country so much alike
I always think this is a really nice looking show. It's very vibrant in every sense of the world. The characters look weird, but it works in their favor. It's just very vibrant and alive.
Hey Arnold in my opinion is by far the greatest Nicktoon that was ever created. I am so glad they were finally able to finish the series back in 2017. A part of me would like it if they were able to renew the series and explore Arnold's 6th grade experience , but I'm satisfied with what we got
Hey Arnold is my favorite Nick show. Best episodes imo where the Chrismas one , Parents day and The journal. Im so glad we got closure with the jungle movie 🌚
This was a show that I never paid much attention to growing up, but as you said, I realized how high quality it actually is now that I have gone back to it.
You shouldn't call yourself an idiot, sir, It's an honest mistake. This whole time, i thought it took place in NY too. Also, I loved this show. Not as much as avatar ghost in the shell or mlp, but it still has a big place in my heart, always glad to have more people just mention, or point out the existence of these shows. This generation is, by and large, selfish, listless, and bigoted (I'm looking at those cali colleges, where the students asked to be segregated, no whites allowed) so, shows like these really help drag the overton window back into place. Sorry, I didn't mean to ramble, just quite stressed about everything and nothing, and as I said, very happy these reviews exist.
I only had one issue with this show and that is the status quo is god syndrome. Those are so many episodes that I love because the character goes through some kind of dramatic change or experience and they’re not the same person anymore. The two best examples are Quantity Time and The Beeper Queen, where Miriam and Bob actually recognize that they are terrible parents and make an actual effort to improve and be there for Helga. Then the ending credits roll and all the character development is flushed down the drain. It makes the experience a lot more frustrating since I know there’s no reason to stay invested in their arcs, because well there aren’t any. I really wished they used prior episodes as a foundation to built upon, as opposed to sticking to the status quo.
Arnold is a good example of getting mileage out of a Mary Sue character. we were more focused on those around him rather than him. It also made sense that he wanted to help people because he lost his parents at a young age and understand how life is hard on your own.
Criminy! Here's another one of my most favorite Nicktoons. I don't know what else I could say that everyone's already said about this amazing show. Although, if I had to pick a favorite episode, it would be 'Crabby Author.' This episode did an interesting take on the whole 'favorite celebrity/idol isn't what they seem' plot line, since Arnold actually explained to her why he still valued her stories and how genuine they felt, which eventually inspired her to continue writing books after losing her passion for it.
Yeah I feel the same about this show. You cover the deep bits really well but I remember the background characters such as Eugene or the grandparents being very... Well, cartoonish. Heart takes center for sure but this show was funny when it wanted to be. It's a strange blend that honestly I want to capture in my own writing someday. Arnold was definitely the weakest link. Though I'll admit his willingness to do the right thing even when it's difficult is kind of inspiring. I wish you talked about Helga's crush. Honestly that part of the show really messed me up as a kid as it convinced me that it was normal for people to have stalkerish idolizations of their crush even if you don't talk to them. I never took anything to a creepy level thankfully. But I'm curious if anyone can relate.
I think you describing Arnold as bland at times can maybe be the case sometimes but I also feel like it was moreso important to have Arnold not stand out as much as the others because he's there to be the voice of reason. Without him, it would just be a bunch of crazy characters doing a bunch of crazy things. Although I do kinda understand the point about Arnold sometimes being treated as someone that can do no wrong at times. It never became a big problem but it could sometimes happen.
There will never be another cartoon like Hey Arnold. I always thought the Pataki family was just ... that was who they were. Miriam was simply an airhead, Big Bob was the big surly businessman, Olga was the perfect sister . . . then they aired Helga On the Couch and we finally saw Helga's depressing backstory. I can't believe not one person called CPS when they saw a 3 year old girl walking to preschool ALONE in the RAIN! And we finally saw why Helga is so attached to Arnold. He was the ONLY person that noticed her that morning, and gave her his umbrella. Such a different show watching it from an adult's perspective. Plus I think Olga has a darker side to her too, that we never see. Kind of the opposite of Helga. Her parents always expected her to be perfect but I bet she was depressed deep down. And the Christmas episode . . . I can't believe they actually showed the Fall of Saigon in a kid's cartoon. And it took me many years until I realized "holy shit, that was the Vietnam war . . ." Loved it since it first premiered in 1996!
Another layer of depth to add to the Oscar cannot read storyline, is that Oscar is not from America. He is from a European country of origin. Him not being able to read may be that he never took the time to learn English, not just being illiterate overall. So people labeling him a loser for not learning another language is kind of unfair.
I liked this show as a kid. I think I would like it today. I never knew Helga’s mom was an alcoholic until you mentioned it but I think I remember hearing them asking her if she got her driver’s license back.
Hey Arnold was a cartoon that at least I was pretty hit or miss on, sometimes I would watch it and love it, others I would watch and hate it. Nowadays tho I feel like I would love it
I personally don’t find Arnold a boring character at all. He’s so different from most other main characters I’ve seen, with his quietness and subtlety.
Fun fact: Grandpa Phil was voiced by Dan Castellaneta, the same person famous for voicing both Grandpa Simpson and Homer Simpson on The Simpsons.
Also, Arnold's Grandma was voiced by Tress Macneille who is the voice of Daisy Duck, Charlotte Pickles on Rugrats, Gabs Bunny on Tiny Toons, Dot on Animaniacs and other big shows.
@@brettquimby3274 I believe you meant *Babs* Bunny...
I almost didn’t recognize Dan at first. He did a phenomenal job.
And Genie when Robin Williams didn't voice him.
@@dcb99filmz I did. The autocorrect strikes again dammit.
One thing I liked about this show was that many of the jerk characters, whether it would be Helga or Harold, are portrayed as flawed human beings. They either have redeemable qualities or have moments where we sympathize with them depending on the episode.
And the writers actually did explain why Helga and Harold were like that, unlike most shows where they just throw in a character who's a jerk for the sake of it, without explaining why the character is like that.
Heck, even Oscar, the lazy bum is made into a sympathetic character.
@@nathanseper8738 Helga was such a bizarre character, and that made her great... XD
@@spongebobfan190 yeah, Harold was simply possessed by the yellow eyed demon. pretty cool.
One of Harold's greatest moments was when he defended the girl he liked in the cafeteria.
Arnold is one of my favorite boy characters, he’s different from most of the current characters. He’s quiet and doesn’t perform an overboard of masculine traits. He’s intelligent, and no one ever teases him or mocks him for it. He doesn’t lack emotional intelligence and isn’t afraid to learn. It’s nice to see a slightly muted, for the lack of a better word, character. Though he is constantly thinking and imaginative, he’s very calm and quiet on the outside! He has depth and is an overall good character
I wonder though, what are his character problems?
@@nathanschmitz2302 there had been some flaws in some Arnold episodes, which shows that he isn't perfect and that's fine.
I like how despite how much more mature he is for his age, at the end of the day he is still a kid. Prob the most times he shows his flaws tends to be when he's around Lila who ironically is a manipulative one that enjoys playing the role of the "perfect good girl."
Actually, they dealt with adultery in the beach episode "Summer Love" where Miriam (Helga's Mom) and Suzy (Mr. Koshka's wife) meet a dance instructor named Carlos who gives them "private lessons". From what I remember, they don't get caught.
they don't though it is a bit arguable if that was infidelity. I mean if it was just Miriam i could certainly see that especially considering how bob acts on that occassion but despite how much of an ass Oscar acts in a lot of eps his relationship with Suzy is suppose to be stronger then that.
@@DianaGohan according to the creator she divorced Oskar after the first movie so...
@@nicobellic2238 Well that could of just been Craig explaining why she wasn't in The jungle movie. Still that really isn't dealing or talking about infidelity if it's just too vague a notion in a total comedy plot.
DianaGohan Well, the Hey Arnold writers have been known for leaving hints and /or a creative workaround to say something indirectly that the network wouldn't let them outright say. For example, whenever Helga's mom was having a lot of "smoothies", the "smoothies" were a stand-in for alcohol, thus indirectly saying Helga's mom is an alcoholic.
@@Andysnyc My God....
Man, Arnold’s Christmas made me wish more kids cartoons would talk about war and loss more.
I find i like this show and Rocko a lot more then most Nicktoons, hell most cartoons in general, due to the more down to earth and serious stuff that most kids cartoons don't go over. Plus i agree with what Enter said something about the atmosphere that the music and even the art itself helps get you invested in the stories to tell a tale most others wouldn't. This show was miles ahead of it's time similar to Rocko.
Avatar was great for that reason. Especially the episode "The Avatar State"
The Earth Kingdom general wants to use Aang's Avatar State power as a superweapon to quickly defeat Ozai and end the war. he doesn't care how Aang feels about it ((He's uncomfortable using his powers to hurt others and even has nightmares about it)). The general shows Aang a group of wounded soldiers and says "Those are the lucky ones. *They came back*", once again hoping to use the superweapon inside Aang to finish the war once and for all.
Jurassic King Avatar was just fantastic! I just love how the characters are developed, especially Iroh.
@@MrBonessss say what you will about Steven Universe's pacing and overarching plot but this show does deal with wartime trauma, relationships of all kinds, and emotions incredibly well.
I could really use another series that really delves into loss. I've just become numb from not trying to feel pain sometimes, but I can tell there's a damn ready to burst if I let my guard down.
I always wanted a bedroom just like Arnold's
Dude, same. Man, that bedroom was so cool.
The one problem with a room like that is that it would get hot AS FUCK in the summer.
hypn00s197 That was pretty much the only interesting thing about the character himself.
I wanted the icarly bedroom
What kid didn’t want a bedroom like Arnold’s?
"Attempting to leave school grounds, Miss Pataki...?"
"Attempting to dance the Flamenco, Principal Wartz...?"
"This moment never happened."
"Agreed."
Devin Paul A Classic Moment
@@DanzigFan-vq3zf Truly.
Hey Arnold: One of the finest examples of a Slice of life cartoon.
It is the standard of how slice of life cartoon should be done
at the wierdest times, i still find it funny to chant "Stoop kids afraid to leave his stoop"
Stoop kids afraid to leave his stoop!
That's okay, I always sing the mailman's snow song everytime I need to shovel snow.
@@CodeNameX001 I love you. I love his song about tonsils even more.
CodeNameX001 “I hate the snow, I hate the snow, I hate the rain and I hate the sleet” 😂😭 I think I got it right🤷🏽♀️😂 from what I remember
My sister lives very close to a college and a couple of years of ago one of her neighbors was getting ready to graduate and they made a banner that said “stoop kid’s gonna leave his stoop” made me so happy
Hey Arnold is without a doubt one of the best show that nick has ever produced. The topics, the characters, and even the setting are all fantastic. This show was able to make me laugh hard and get me emotional. I mean if you do not cry or at lest feel like it at the end of its Christmas special ( AKA best Christmas special that nick has EVER done), then you might not be human. This also scared the crap out of me, for years I could NOT watch the ending to the train episode by myself! The ghost bride still gives me chills to this day!
I just love almost everything about this show there is little wrong with it, I mean yeah, some episodes were bad ( the infamous Arnold betrays Iggy comes to mind) and Arnold might be a little too perfect, but apart from those MINOR issues, nothing. As I stated before it dealt with VERY serious topics, like child neglect. It also hinted at things that went right over my head as a kid like Miriam’s alcoholism and Mr. Simmons being gay. It is totally obvious now, but I did not see that when I was little and it make me relay respect this show for having the guts to put those in there at a time when it was frowned upon.
I think this show was probably the best nick made in the 90’s and I was BEYOND excited to see it FINALLY an ending in the jungle move which I thought was good for the most part, not prefect but it let me satisfied.
Tim McKee Completely agree. This is the show that “you liked as a kid but then figured out that you loved as an adult.” I rewatched “helga on the couch” this year and realized this show aged like fine wine. The jungle movie was cool too.
Damn. I feel the same way about the show.
I won an art contest in primary school thanks to this show. The subject of our artworks was "Your Ideal Front Porch". While everyone the class drew gardens full green grass and outdoor toys, I drew the front yard of Arnold's boarding house - complete with the concrete steps and red brick wall. The prize was large crayon and water color set from Crayola.
I remember liking this show because of how grounded, real and overall just Human it was
When you called the town Aron City, you were probably thinking of Johnny Bravo, which DOES take place in Aron city.
Funny enough, Aron City is named after Elvis' middle name, Elvis Aaron Presley!
@@AlexG-jk8tc Johnny originally was gonna be an elvis impersonator so makes total sense with that added in as well
"By the end of the series, he was basically Jesus."
- TheMysteriousMrEnter, 2019
At least with Jesus he would have genuine emotions and get sad mad irritated even tired/hungry and thirsty. He even knocked over tables and chased out the highly religious authorities of the time. He would also hang out with some pretty gross and immoral people. Arnold on the other hand is kind of those mr perfect types.
@@theautisticcomedian If there's anyone I could imagine Mr. Rogers calling an uptight square who has to loosen up, it's Arnold.
Arnold was hung on a cross! He died for your sins!
Next on the mysterious mr. Enter is Jesus a superhero
@@theautisticcomedian Mr Perfects?
Arnold seems like the kinda friend I’d be very comfortable being around because his energy is so humble and calming also seems non judgmental. He never laughed at his friends or said anything mean behind their back.
I absolutely adored this show as someone who had an incredibly similar home life to Helga. I saw myself a lot in Helga because I was kind of a bully, emotionally distant, and generally kind of angry. It meant a lot to me when I was 7-8 to see a character like that portrayed sympathetically rather than made as a caricature with no redeeming traits.
_Arnold is far from a bland, boring character. He was what kept the show a little more grounded._
What did I tell you, Shortman... eh-heh-heh-heh-heh...
*jaw snaps off*
Dark as hell...
This was scary 😱
b r u h
Of course in that dream, Arnold and Gerald were 70-80 years old. Arnold's grandpa is somehow still alive, albeit as a 140 or 150 year old man who is needless to say, quite fragile.
That scene legitimately gave me nightmares, I'm not gonna lie.
I've always loved Hey Arnold ever since I was a little kid. I can't really relate to a lot of shows I watched when I was a kid but this is the exception. I still watch this show years later and relate to things, Craig Bartlett created a masterpiece with this show
Apparently there was an episode with a flashback involving Adolf Hitler, not even making up.
@@Lucios1995 lol at the smiley face in lieu of a swastika
Hey Arnold is one of those cartoons where you can feel the writing staff respects the intelligence of the viewers.
If I could describe Hey Arnold in one word: chill. It was definitely a show that went with the flow. It had an atmosphere, a vibe, a je-ne-sais-quoi that was felt deep in the soul.
*still chill*
Does anyone else remember that episode where Gerald and Arnold were fighting and Arnold flash forward to the future and *GRANDPA’S JAW FELL OFF*
I'm always actively trying to forget that scene. Jesus....
What did I tell ya, Shortman?
Yeah... living to age 140 or 150 does that to people.
Hannah Shribman-Brown “EH HEH HEH HEHHEHEHEHEHEHEH HEH. *Jaw snaps off* *Arnold wakes up* AAAAAAH!”
its a crying shame the Pataki's spin-off never got greenlit
*AND YET PLANET SHEEN IS A F’IN THING!!!!!!!!!!!!*
Kieran Stark ikr like the heck
😢
2 of these types of videos in one day
Impressive
I’d say the same if I could watch it in my country
@@cujoh1814 Where are you from? 😀
JC Denton he most likely made them last month and the month before
Asriel_Memurr in this case, probably, but there are some channels that crap out a video every day.
I never understood fans that said Arnold had no flaws. Arnold had a lot of flaws. He was idealistic, naive, had no street smarts AT ALL, and wore his heart on his sleeve - even when all of those attributes would cause him problems. I do agree that it got to be too much with how many times Arnold would solve someone's problem - but at least they balanced it out by giving him actual flaws and emotions. I'm not saying Doug had none - Doug actually had plenty, but apart from panicking a lot, Doug didn't react to much emotionally.
That said, yes. I ADORE the Christmas episode. But one episode that I feel doesn't get talked about enough with this show is Veterans Day. Like Arnold's Christmas, it handles the subject of Vietnam beautifully - not something that even usually done well in adult media. Plus, the part with Grandpa is hilarious. I highly recommend it to anyone who either hasn't seen it or just doesn't remember it.
Yes, thank you!!!! IMO, Arnold's biggest flaw is that he can be dense as a brick. Looking at you, Arnold's Valentine.
Plus the Christmas episode was one of two cartoons of the ten years that touched on the Vietnam War. The other being a Peanuts special in the late 80s dealing with American History that managed to bring that detail up
I think Arnold's character changes fit well with how the other characters changed. The other characters got increasingly more dysfunctional and crazy over the course of the series.
And Doug Hardly Grew a Backbone But Had His Jerk Moments in both Versions Of Doug
metalheadrailfan ikr
Arnold trying to get out of a physical fight with another character
His solution: IM CRAZY!
this is a legit tactic!
Does a whole number to a James Brown like song lol
And in the original Comic In 1992 when he went Full Out Michigan J Frog. (Singing Hello My Baby)
I always thought of Hey Arnold as a modern-day version of 'Peanuts' (Charlie Brown)
I dunno, it did give me one big laugh out loud moment that I can still remember. When the grandpa thinks he’s dead and asks if he’s in heaven. Then he sees Oskar.
“Oh no, I must’ve gone to the other place!”
Even past the comedy, I really liked this show. Remember being sad when it was cancelled. May have been the first time I experienced that
Robin Ashenor In one of the dubs (I forget which one). Grandpas Voice Actor for the sub doesn’t say the other place but the actual name of it
lol I remember watching that one as a 10 year old and I thought "the other place" was the Boarding House 🤣
*Says that he's going to fix many of the details he got wrong in his earlier reviews*
*Doesn't bring up that Pigeon Man commiting suicide as an alternate ending to "Pigeon Man" was actually a false rumor*
Did Enter himself say that though?
@@AkameGaKillfan777 that was in the 3 Nickelodeon episodes.
Although he actually did appeared in the Hey Arnold Jungle Movie.
"a character's hobby and inviroment is not their personality"
Oh, if Pixar had thought about that when making Inside Out
I remember when watching this show with my grandpa, he said, "Those are some weird-looking kids."
a chill and quiet person who isn't emotional doesn't = bland. Arnold is like Persona 5's Akira Kurusu before P5 was a thing. A shy, laid back, and nice guy who will go out of his way to help others in need and has a hidden aggressive side. (while not as focused on as Akira's Joker/aggressive side, Arnold does have that too and can show his anger in certain situations) 9:15 yup. Hey Arnold was basically P5 before P5 was a thing
I thought Mr Enter said that Arnold was boring at the beginning of the show
Does anyone know the reason why this video stopped being available in the U.S., then all of a sudden became available again?
Copyright
Viacom most likely.
Copyright
Epic Steve Probably due to the Viacom-CBS merger
Weird because Mr. Enter is an American.
...I always thought Hey Arnold took place in New York specifically.
Helga is honestly such an interesting and dynamic character - possibly the best in the whole show. Hey Arnold pulled no punches with showing how her home life affected her, and showed the reasons for her behavior.
I just really hope as she got older, things did get better and Miriam sobered up, but as we saw in the Jungle movie, they apparently lost their house and were living in the former Beeper emporium building.
Hey Arnold was easily one of my Favorite Nicktoons as a kid. Nice slice of life show with great stories and adventures, and episodes that weren't afraid to be different.
Quick! Enjoy the review before it gets claimed again!
Immediately watched.
Something I really appreciate is while other kids shows might try to chase trends and attempt to be "Hip with what the kids are into these days" The creators just took their own interests and tried to show the kids at home why they personally liked them. For example, Old crooner music. Most ten year olds in the 90's arn't going to be into that but the show runners are, so they try to make the kids understand why that stuff is interesting by adding the interesting character Dino, an old crooner and showing how much fun performing that genre of music is. The same could be said for Opera with their episode "What's Opera, Arnold" trying to slip a little culture into the show.
I think Arnold being the blandest character is kind of the point of the show. He's meant to be the well-grounded protagonist to open up the doors for the quirkiest citizens of the cartoon. If anything, he's the glue that balances everything out.
This is, without a doubt, my favorite Nicktoon of all time. The episodes gave us something fresh, much of the cast is extremely fleshed out, and both of Arnold's grandparents were voiced by Simpson's veterans Dan Castellaneta and Tress MacNeille.
P.S. It might interest you to know that the creator, Craig Bartlett, is Matt Groening's brother-in-law.
For the millions of people in the city part, Gerald could have just been over exaggerating.
I never found Arnold bland, he was more or less meant to be the voice of reason as a main character. Plus, he had his moments of selfishness or scheming and daydreaming. Considering how dysfunctional most of the cast was they kind of needed an anchor. Especially poor Helga.
You had to go and make me cry with the Christmas episode there. God damn man, im at work.
When I first saw Olga crying in her bed, I thought she was crying mud, when it was really makeup.
Man, this was another show that defined my childhood. It was one of my favorite cartoons as a kid and it still resonates with me to this very day that I can love and appreciate it more as an adult.
I don't think Arnold is a boring character
Except for in Hey Arnold! The Movie and especially Arnold Betrays Iggy where Arnold was pretty much reduced to a one-dimensionally helpless victim of bullying.
But that’s the only couple of instances where Arnold was all-around boring. But I see Mr. Enter’s point on why Arnold was boring to begin with. But he just got more and more interesting since after the start.
@@kieranstark7213 I actually liked that first movie growing up and still do. Probably the first I had seen of the show being born in 2000
Hey Arnold is my all time favorite cartoon. In an era when Ren and Stimpy and The Animaniacs ruled the air waves with pushing the envelope with tons and tons of adult innuendos (not saying Hey Arnold didn't, but it was way more subtle), it blew my mind on just how mellow this show was when I first rewatched it back in 2011. Sure, I enjoyed watching it when I was little, but I feel completely hook, line and sinker for this show as an adult. I love how it gives the feeling of it both being episodic while having a small continuing story arc in it, all culminating with The Journal and The Jungle Movie. And I love how they didn't just focus on Arnold for most of the show and how they devoted at least 2 or 3 episodes a season for other characters. This is especially true with Helga, where as a kid, I couldn't stand her, but when I watched her as a character later on, she rightfully claimed the Number 1 slot as my all time favorite character. To this day, I haven't seen a show that comes close to it (Though Gravity Falls comes to a VERY close second).
That music took me back. And I feel it help give rise to chill hop. It’s very reflective music and it was very unique for the time.
What's odd about this show is that despite Arnold being the titular main character, the show focuses more on those around him rather than Arnold himself
My personal favorite episode is the one where Arnold helps Torvald with his math. To this day I STILL remember that episode fondly. I dont know why it's my favorite or why Torvald is my favorite background character (he only appears like twice I believe) but that episode didnt focus on Arnold like most other ones. And that to me I think is why I like this show
Despite Arnold being the main character, it wasnt often HE was the true main focus
Hey Arnold! is a show you learn to appreciate more and more as you get older
Armold's bedroom is still one of the most awesome kids rooms of all time, fold-out couch giant skylight roof access id kill for that room today sweet digs
The song the Simple Things is awesome I still listen to that song to this day. It's really good
Performed by the great Randy travis (Travis Randall in the show)
Between that episode and the Christmas episode, Mr. Hyunh is hands-down my favorite character in the show
8:30 The main character being hated for something that wasn't his fault, then being abused and completely humiliated later on.
My wife and I have binge watch the show on Hulu twice and we come back to watch our favorite episodes of the show on multiple occasions even when we're trying to get caught up on other shows that have been out since. I think this is the Nicktoon I watched in the 90s that I actually remembered the most decades later
There’s an interesting theory that Helga was the real protagonist of the show
"As for me calling it Aron City, I have no idea where that came from." That's where Johnny Bravo takes place.
If he didn't cover Cartoon Network's original series yet, he should do a month of them.
That scene made me cry again. Even just with that small portion of the scene. It's so well portrayed and the emotions come through so well, it's a masterpiece.
Arnold would win a wide head competition vs. Stewie Griffin
Nickelodeon’s fine wine, an excellent analogy to describe this show.
"Aron City" - Isn't that where Johnny Bravo lives?
up until i first saw mr. enter's review of "Helga on the couch" i never knew Helga's mom was an alcoholic.
When I got a little older after having watched most of the show, I ended up figuring it out. It was a sad realization and explained a lot of Helga's behavior. Even Olga's behavior can be explained by pressure from her parents, as it made her dependent on other's praise and her crying about a 'B' due to the fact she probably got yelled at if she didn't do well or maybe she was threatened. A lot of theories I could craft, but it didn't appear as if Bob had _physically_ abused them and Miriam just didn't do much of anything.
It's pretty obvious early on in the show when she's seen drinking "smoothies" all the time
I figured it out as a kid while watching Beeper Queen cause you come to learn that you lose your drivers license if you drink and drive, so Helga being asked if her mom got her’s back was a huge red flag that she has a drinking problem.
@@Goleon Yeah, but you can lose it for other reasons. With the other evidence it's obvious, but without it the alcoholism wouldn't be clear. Ironically, that episode probably had Miriam the most sober of any episode.
I watched Arnold's Christmas a few days ago, the same I do every year. And it still gives me the feels that's why I watch it every year.
Another gem from the earliest days of this marathon. He did a decent job here.
Aron city is Johnny Bravo's home.
This is going to soudn stupid to talk about, but this show had a huge impact on me when I was a kid... and it wasnt until We Bare Bears that I felt another show had the sort of spirit that it had.
Hey Arnolrd and Ed, Edd, n Eddy were some of the shows that had the biggest impact on me as a kid... and We Bare Bears was like a fusion of the best qualities of both those shows
Hey Arnold is my 2nd favorite Nickelodeon show of all time behind SpongeBob SquarePants. At first, I was never interested in the show until I saw youtube videos of ranking nickelodeon shows and Hey Arnold would mostly be in the top ten and they would explain how amazing the show is. This made me give the show a watch and I immediately fell for it. I loved the jazz music and the writing had a lot of passion. The stories were interesting and relatable and this show would make me cry. I hope that nickelodeon will bring this show back and season 6 can happen.
The horror episodes of this show I remember well and very fondly. The Engine 25 episode in particular still creeps me the fuck out. Something about a haunted vehicle is always creepy to me.
There are 2 thing I will never forget about this series:
1- The end credit
2- That one episode he visits an old writter for kids and is grumpy... cause she curses at the end of the episode XD
Hey Arnold! is a more refined version of Doug... which isn't a bad thing because while the Nickelodeon Doug mostly focused on the titular character's interactions with other people, Hey Arnold! was focused on how the characters interact with Arnold. Helga, Gerald, Phoebe, Stinky, Sid, Harold, and so many others become better versions of themselves, more or less, when they're around Arnold. Yes, there are at least one or two episodes where Arnold doesn't exactly cause character development to others; Iggy, Curly, Ruth, and Lila come to mind almost instantly, but that just goes to show that even Arnold himself isn't perfect in bringing the best out of others.
That main idea, I think, is probably the driving point of the Jungle Movie: by helping out so many other people, Helga, the person that went through the most complex character development thanks to Arnold, decides that Arnold himself needs his own character growth for a change by trying to reunite him with his lost parents... and is not only successful, but is rewarded with her crush reciprocating and finally acknowledging.
This show was made for me. I was the same age and grade level as the main character, grew up right outside the city. I swore up and down this show took place in Nyc or bklyn alone. Just goes to show you loads of these cities in the country so much alike
Helga opening saying just thinking about Arnold made her WOMANHOOD tremble took me a while to get that
That damn parrot lol.
I always think this is a really nice looking show. It's very vibrant in every sense of the world. The characters look weird, but it works in their favor. It's just very vibrant and alive.
Hey Arnold in my opinion is by far the greatest Nicktoon that was ever created. I am so glad they were finally able to finish the series back in 2017. A part of me would like it if they were able to renew the series and explore Arnold's 6th grade experience , but I'm satisfied with what we got
Hey Arnold is my favorite Nick show. Best episodes imo where the Chrismas one , Parents day and The journal.
Im so glad we got closure with the jungle movie 🌚
You’re right it’s a show you understand, cherish and love much more when you’re an adult because of the subtleties you just don’t see as a kid.
It's great. It can be deep dramatic and interesting, or light hearted and silly
I think Arnold's Christmas is the only episode I ever saw of this as a kid.
This was a show that I never paid much attention to growing up, but as you said, I realized how high quality it actually is now that I have gone back to it.
Can I just say that I love your videos, and I'm really enjoying your Nick-O-Rama videos.😊
You shouldn't call yourself an idiot, sir, It's an honest mistake. This whole time, i thought it took place in NY too.
Also, I loved this show. Not as much as avatar ghost in the shell or mlp, but it still has a big place in my heart, always glad to have more people just mention, or point out the existence of these shows. This generation is, by and large, selfish, listless, and bigoted (I'm looking at those cali colleges, where the students asked to be segregated, no whites allowed) so, shows like these really help drag the overton window back into place.
Sorry, I didn't mean to ramble, just quite stressed about everything and nothing, and as I said, very happy these reviews exist.
I only had one issue with this show and that is the status quo is god syndrome. Those are so many episodes that I love because the character goes through some kind of dramatic change or experience and they’re not the same person anymore.
The two best examples are Quantity Time and The Beeper Queen, where Miriam and Bob actually recognize that they are terrible parents and make an actual effort to improve and be there for Helga.
Then the ending credits roll and all the character development is flushed down the drain. It makes the experience a lot more frustrating since I know there’s no reason to stay invested in their arcs, because well there aren’t any.
I really wished they used prior episodes as a foundation to built upon, as opposed to sticking to the status quo.
Arnold is a good example of getting mileage out of a Mary Sue character. we were more focused on those around him rather than him. It also made sense that he wanted to help people because he lost his parents at a young age and understand how life is hard on your own.
Criminy! Here's another one of my most favorite Nicktoons. I don't know what else I could say that everyone's already said about this amazing show.
Although, if I had to pick a favorite episode, it would be 'Crabby Author.' This episode did an interesting take on the whole 'favorite celebrity/idol isn't what they seem' plot line, since Arnold actually explained to her why he still valued her stories and how genuine they felt, which eventually inspired her to continue writing books after losing her passion for it.
Yeah I feel the same about this show. You cover the deep bits really well but I remember the background characters such as Eugene or the grandparents being very... Well, cartoonish. Heart takes center for sure but this show was funny when it wanted to be. It's a strange blend that honestly I want to capture in my own writing someday.
Arnold was definitely the weakest link. Though I'll admit his willingness to do the right thing even when it's difficult is kind of inspiring.
I wish you talked about Helga's crush. Honestly that part of the show really messed me up as a kid as it convinced me that it was normal for people to have stalkerish idolizations of their crush even if you don't talk to them. I never took anything to a creepy level thankfully. But I'm curious if anyone can relate.
I think you describing Arnold as bland at times can maybe be the case sometimes but I also feel like it was moreso important to have Arnold not stand out as much as the others because he's there to be the voice of reason. Without him, it would just be a bunch of crazy characters doing a bunch of crazy things. Although I do kinda understand the point about Arnold sometimes being treated as someone that can do no wrong at times. It never became a big problem but it could sometimes happen.
There will never be another cartoon like Hey Arnold. I always thought the Pataki family was just ... that was who they were. Miriam was simply an airhead, Big Bob was the big surly businessman, Olga was the perfect sister . . . then they aired Helga On the Couch and we finally saw Helga's depressing backstory. I can't believe not one person called CPS when they saw a 3 year old girl walking to preschool ALONE in the RAIN! And we finally saw why Helga is so attached to Arnold. He was the ONLY person that noticed her that morning, and gave her his umbrella. Such a different show watching it from an adult's perspective. Plus I think Olga has a darker side to her too, that we never see. Kind of the opposite of Helga. Her parents always expected her to be perfect but I bet she was depressed deep down. And the Christmas episode . . . I can't believe they actually showed the Fall of Saigon in a kid's cartoon. And it took me many years until I realized "holy shit, that was the Vietnam war . . ." Loved it since it first premiered in 1996!
I always assumed Hey Arnold took place in NYC too. Huh.
No show is perfect, as even you demonstrated with Arnold Betrays Iggy, but I'd call this Doug Done Right. It was intense at times.
Hey. I’m not the only one who would call Hey Arnold! “Doug except it’s actually (mostly) good”!
Another layer of depth to add to the Oscar cannot read storyline, is that Oscar is not from America. He is from a European country of origin. Him not being able to read may be that he never took the time to learn English, not just being illiterate overall. So people labeling him a loser for not learning another language is kind of unfair.
Wasn't he also behind on rent? Like, a lot?
In regards to American cartoons, Helga is probably one of the first and is definitely the best tsundere character in cartoon history.
"Aron City" is from Johnny Bravo.
I don't think I gave Hey Arnold! much of a chance the first time I watched it, need to watch it again.
I liked this show as a kid. I think I would like it today. I never knew Helga’s mom was an alcoholic until you mentioned it but I think I remember hearing them asking her if she got her driver’s license back.
Two videos a day? Wowwe
Hey Arnold was a cartoon that at least I was pretty hit or miss on, sometimes I would watch it and love it, others I would watch and hate it. Nowadays tho I feel like I would love it
I personally don’t find Arnold a boring character at all. He’s so different from most other main characters I’ve seen, with his quietness and subtlety.
It doesn't get more nostalgic than this amazing series. I just wish the finale was handled better.😊😓
One of my favorite oscar episodes is when he took care of a baby.
Bruh, Haunted Train is probably one of my favorite episodes