Hey ladies and jellyfish, wumbos of all sizes, welcome back to A.S.K.
Air’s Christmas videos!
This year for Christmas, I’m only gonna tackle one show.
Last year I reviewed more than a couple cartoon Christmas specials, and honestly, I don’t
think they were very good.
So this year, I think it’s time to turn my reviewing around and review my favorite
Christmas special ever and one of my favorite cartoon episodes ever.
I think this year it’s time to do Arnold’s Christmas justice.
If you don’t already know, I love this show.
I grew up with it and enjoy every bit of it.
So many amazing and subtle morals and messages about subtle characters and conflicts, and
just everyday life growing up as a kid.
Anyways, be sure to subscribe if you aren’t already, like this video and comment your
thoughts at the end, check out my DeviantArt, website and second channel and check out the
card above for links to other videos and playlists.
The links to all these will be in the description below, as always.
So, with no further a dieu, let’s begin the review of Arnold’s Christmas!
This episode starts off with Helga and Phoebe talking about Christmas.
As you would expect, Helga is going on about presents and getting, getting and more getting
while Phoebe is the side of giving and compassion.
I have to start off by saying I adore this setup.
When you show these characters’ moralities and true opinions in the beginning of the
episode, it shows way more contrast when, most likely near the end, they gradient their
personalities.
And yes, I’m talking about Helga.
Not even a minute in and I’m already swooning.
That is a true sign of knowing what you are doing when it comes to writing and showing
character development.
Another reason I like this intro is because of two lines by Helga.
She talks about how Christmas is about getting as much as you can get, before the other guy
gets his.
She also mentions how she loves these fancy Nancy Spmoni snowboots that she really likes.
Remember this.
Remember, remember, remember, remember, remember, remember, remember.
Anyway, let’s continue.
Now , we see Arnold and Gerald, basically doing the same thing.
We get a joke about Gerald getting everybody in his family, including his 4 year old sister
a tie and Arnold saying that gifts are supposed to be from within.
This, once again, shows character moralities.
To be honest, personally, I’m with Arnold.
Every year, when I’m getting my friends and family presents, I ALWAYS, give or take
a few times, but ALWAYS make something out of crafting materials.
Stupid or not, flimsy or not, in my opinion, making your mom a heart out of cardboard and
popsicle sticks is worth more than however many ties you can buy.
Ahem.
Then, as they all separate, Arnold walks past Helga.
We see that Helga wants to buy her crush something flashy and cool, something expensive.
Again, character moralities and contrast.
Then, we go to the boarding house.
There, guess what they are doing?
Mistletoe, decorating, wrapping gifts?
No!
That would be the cliché thing to do.
And that’s another thing, it’s not cliché!
Not in the slightest!
And I’ll explain as we go.
Anyway, instead of all those beaten to the ground clichés, we get a nice sweet game
of Secret Santa.
What a great way to bring jokes and move the exposition.
And yes, they do both those things.
And while still having Mr Hyunh, the main conflict of the episode, and no he isn’t
on the naughty list or whatever.
Instead, he actually has a sad story, which I’ll once again get to later in the review.
Anyways, in the game, Arnold gets Mr. Hyunh, and let me just say this is the best and most
subtle way to move the plot and bring Mr. Hyunh into this, through an innocent game
of Secret Santa.
Well done, writers!
Arnold doesn’t know what to give Mr. Hyunh so he asks Gerald and Gerald says he should
simply talk to him.
So he does.
They talk and Mr. Hyunh’s accent and expression just cracks me up!
He’s always talking like a child, I don’t know, it’s just amusing.
And this is where the sad story and cliché thing comes back.
Mr. Hyunh tells Arnold a story.
He explains that well, I think you’re better off listening from him.
Man, that’s just sad.
This is one of the most powerful messages any cartoon has ever come out with.
It’s nice and not cliché in the slightest.
You would expect a Christmas episode to be sunshine and rainbows, but no, they go with
one of the most heartbreaking and powerful messages in existence.
War.
I personally was born in a similar situation.
My parents immigrated to a better country for a better life for me.
I might not understand Mr. Hyunh’s perspective as well as say, my parents, but I get touched
with emotion and guilt whenever I see this.
Not in a bad way either, but thank you writers.
Thanks for hitting me in the heart with that.
This, without a doubt, is my favorite scene in animation period.
Not favorite episode of the show.
Not favorite scene in Hey Arnold.
No, think about everything I’ve reviewing and talked about so far.
Spongebob, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2003, Ben 10, Spiderman and even this show, Hey
Arnold.
No cartoon episode’s scene for me, compares to this.
Wow!
Back to the review, we are back with Arnold and Gerald.
Gerald says Arnold’s plan to get Mr. Hyunh’s daughter back is very far-fetched.
Arnold says it’s gonna need a miracle and what better time for a miracle than Christmas.
Isn’t that what Christmas is all about?
Now, this question is a running gag.
Not a “my leg” kinda thing, but a repeating question that finally gets repeated until
the end of the episode.
Isn’t this what Christmas is all about?
Isn’t that what Christmas is all about?
Now, we go back to Helga as she is looking for the flashiest, maturest and most expensive
gift there is.
What could possibly be the right gift?
Cut back to Arnold and Gerald as they go to this missing person place and run into a guy
named Mr. Bailey.
Long story short, they do his Christmas shopping and he’ll search for Mr. Hyunh’s daughter.
So then we get a montage of Arnold and Gerald shopping.
I haven’t really mentioned this yet but the music is spectacular.
It was by the late Jim Lang, and it is amazing.
I even used one of his tunes as music for one of my old videos.
Anyways, the last thing on their list are the already mentioned Nancy Spmoni boots.
We get little shots of Helga shopping when Arnold and Gerald run into her.
Gerald says her gift is not very personal and not very good.
But wait a second there buster, you would think this is filler, but no, because the
important thing about this scene is that Helga gets the list and figures out that they need
the fancy boots.
Arnold and Gerald ask the store cashiers if they have the boots, and they do the cashiers
laugh in your face cliché.
It’s a cliché, but I have to admit it’s pretty funny.
And that’s how Helga finds out that that could be the perfect gift for her beloved,
so to speak.
They go to Mr. Bailey and he says no boots no deal.
This makes Mr. Bailey look unlikable but it moves the plot so I’m happy.
Helga overhears Arnold and Gerald give up and finds out what to do.
She goes home, as you would expect.
With Olga at home and the parents singing.
But don’t worry, this isn’t Helga On The Couch.
The parents, or at least Meriam, are likable.
Meriam giving Helga the snowboots is probably the most important event in the entire thing.
Yes, the same snow boots!
Helga is super happy because she got the boots she wanted 20 minutes ago in the beginning
of the episode, remember, remember, remember, remember?
She remembers the boots Arnold needs to get Mr. Hyunh for the Christmas present.
She debates with herself, which glistens her character and tells the audience a literal
summary of the following events.
And I actually feel for Helga here, as her character has gotten a literal upgrade through
and through and she actually has to consider Arnold and the right thing to do.
That is not Helga, and congratulations to the writers for hitting the literal bullseye
here.
She gives the boots to Mr. Bailey as he is leaving.
Now, this is one of the best character developments I have ever seen.
Helga says stuff like “It’s Christmas, it’s not about presents or getting yours
before the other guy gets his” and “take the boots!”.
Once again, remember, remember, remember?
Mr. Bailey, instead of doing the lazy and cliché thing to do, which is to go in and
do what Helga says, just refuses and leaves.
Now, this could have been Helga’s gut saying “I tried, time to go home” or “maybe
he’s right”.
No, she doesn’t give up, and with her own free will begs Mr. Bailey to help find Mai
Hyunh, or that football headed kid will never believe in miracles ever again.
The next day as the boarders are opening presents, Arnold is disappointed that he failed in finding
Mr. Hyunh’s daughter.
Then, they show one of the deepest things I have seen without any doubt whatsoever.
Mai and Mr. Hyunh get reunited as a family.
Oh I’m gonna cry!
It’s such a beautiful scene, but not without the perfect ending.
Thanks Helga.
You’re such a likable character and now, without any credit or anything, you made a
miracle, and that ladies and gentlemen, is what Christmas is all about.
What a great episode!
Wow!
This is one of my favorite cartoon episodes, my favorite Christmas special ever, and it
includes my favorite scene in all of animation.
It hits every single note pitch perfect and hits every bullseye so perfectly I have nothing
to say, but great job!
That’s enough metaphors for today, and I’m happy to see this episode.
If you enjoyed this review, be sure to like and subscribe, and comment down below your
thoughts on this episode.
Did I do this episode justice?
I hope I did.
Anyways, be sure to visit my website, I have many links and upcoming news and projects,
the link is in the description below., and I’ll see
you guys next time.
Peace!