The original Sailor Moon series is quite a bit to get through. 5 seasons, 200 episodes, 3 movies, and tons of reused shots & music (and I do mean a TON of reused shots & music).

As we have covered the awesome theme song, the characters, and some interesting facts about the franchise, its only nature we come full circle (or full moon in this case) and rank all the seasons.

But first, some disclaimers:

-This will be based off the English dub VIZ Media did from 2014-2019. I doubt if I watched the original DiC Entertainment/Cloverway dubs, it wouldn’t be TOO different, but just throwing it out there in case some OG fans have questions.

-The movies will not be counted cause they’re just one off movies that don’t add anything to the overall plots. They’re pretty much just extended episodes, and while pretty, they’re just there.

-I will not be comparing the show to the original manga, mainly because I haven’t gotten through all of it, and I want to judge what the show itself presented.

In the name of the moon, I will educate you!

Images used are owned by Naoko Takeuchi, Toei Animation and Viz Media

5-Sailor Moon SuperS

Before diving deep into the show, I did some research to see what the general perception on what seasons were considered good & bad by fans, and a lot of fans considered the Season 4 the worst one. I wanted to judge for myself, and then after getting through all 39 PAINFUL episodes, I have to agree.

While each season up to this point got better & better, and then eventually peaked, this one falls so flat & dead on the very first episode. The whole story revolves around Chbiusa falling in love………with a unicorn. I’ll repeat, The whole story revolves around Chbiusa falling in love………with a unicorn.

I like Chibiusa a lot, she’s so underrated & overrated, but this was not a great story for her at all, let alone a whole season long story, and because of that, everything really suffers. The characters all regress, there are plots repeated, the message about dreams is so cliché, the villains are awful for the most part, and it just seems so inconsequential in the grand scheme of things. The outer Sailor Guardians don’t even show up outside of its movie, what is up with that?

I will say that the only saving grace of this season is the Amazoness Quartet. They were really fun villains, and had the potential to really be “evil Sailor Guardians”, which would have been a fun concept, and let’s be real, the best one was VesVes. I loved her voice, and her mannerisms. She was the real standout (plus I like characters in Red, so there you go). I REALLY wish they stuck around, and made them heroes (which Cosmos seems to be doing, but that’s another discussion for another month).

But otherwise, just really forgettable. A season where the s in SuperS is capitalized for some reason isn’t worth a second watch.

Also, made me feel VERY uncomfortable that Helios preferred Chibiusa as a child instead of an adult. VERY uncomfortable. Stranger danger! Stranger danger!

4-Sailor Moon Sailor Stars

I was excited to see this, as this was the “lost” season in America for such a long time, and fans finally got to see it in English in 2019, so I wanted to see why it was limited to being shown outside of Japan for 22 years, and once I got done with it, I was all “This was the exciting unaired season people rave about?”

Season 5 is miles better then what we had previously. It was much darker in tone then what we had before. They discussed death, they showed brutal death (Sailor Iron Mouse’s demise must have been TERRIFYING for Japanese kids), showed some good LGBTQ+ representation without it being shoved into our faces, and was an overall nice end to the show. So why is it down here.

Well, for all of those good elements, it kind of doesn’t make a whole lot of sense, and makes some really weird decisions. There’s some plot holes, and elements missing from making it great.

For starters, the first 6 episodes fell like the ending to SuperS that they wanted to put in, but got placed here. I will give them credit for tying it in the overall season, but it just feels odd, especially considering the fact that Chibisua just peaces out after that with no indication that she wanted to leave. Girl has been captured & used so many times, and after her life is saved, she just disappears. I don’t know if its because of the bad reception SuperS got, but if this is your finale, you’d want to include everyone. That’s like if Rocky was removed from the final “Mighty Morphin Power Rangers” episode just because no one liked him as much as Jason.

Also, the Sailor Starlights’ motives are dumb. Like, okay, they were looking for their princess, and wanted to keep their mission in the dark, so they decided to become a boy band that just appears out of nowhere? That makes it more suspicious then just trying to keep your identities as warriors secret. Why not just be students in school or something. Also, Seiya messed with Usagi’s emotions. Not cool.

Probably the most confusing plot hole is Chibi Chibi. Not a big fan of her, mainly cause she’s Chibiusa’s replacement, but its because she’s Galaxia’s starseed that turned into human? Star seeds have human forms? And if they do, they don’t form whoever they embodied, and can choose if they want to be an adult or child? This puzzled me a lot to no end, and still does.

Other then that though, its still pretty good, it just needed to be tweaked to make it amazing. Still a very good season to end things on.

And that theme song is BRAIN ALTERING.

3-Sailor Moon

First seasons of any show usually get a pass for me, mainly because everyone is trying to figure out how the show works, and you do see them improve as time goes on. However, compared to the other seasons, there is a nice balance between good & bad.

The good is that we actually get to take time to know everyone, and we actually take time in adding the team. There’s some episodes with just Usagi before Ami, then there’s some where its just the two of them before Rei shows up, and etc. It’s a very organic way of introducing the cast, as we get to see what their personalities are, and that we see them grow as teammates, people, and friends.

Where is falls is that it can take a bit to get things going, and there’s some elements that feel like afterthoughts. For example, Minako only shows up with only 13 episodes left, and there’s not a lot about her, or Artimus aside from one backstory episode right before the end. I wish we got at least a little more about her (which we see later on, but we will get to that).

Also, the villains are boring. Jadeite just sucked as his job, Nephrite was the best one, until he starts a creepy affection for Usagi’s friend Naru, and then dies, Zoisite & Kunzite don’t really have any character other then being lovers, and Dark Endymion is just Mamoru as if he was Tommy Oliver when he was the Green Ranger. Queen Beryl honestly could have done all of this on her own, but big bosses always need to do minions to do their dirty work right?

Still a very awesome start, even if the ending was messed up by having everyone’s memories just reset.

Also, lowkey glad that they didn’t keep Usagi’s transformation pen around, and only used it a handful of times. Was not really necessary to have her disguise as different people.

2-Sailor Moon R

This is a very interesting season, as it starts off really, REALLY weird, but then picks up and gets good really, REALLY quick. When you start it, it feels like a new show all over again, and then when you end it, it feels different, but the same.

Season 2 is recognized for having the first 13 episodes be a creation of the anime team, as due to the popularity of the anime, manga, & merchandise, the creator, Naoko Takeuchi, needed time to come up with a new story since both the show & manga were close together in terms of production.

As such, we got the villains, Ali & An, who are lovers that disguise themselves………as brother & sister. Seriously, Japan is weird. Also, their whole arc just feels like another season, and then when they’re done, they’re never brought up or appear again. Just in & out like the Alien Rangers of Aquitar.

But once you get past that, it really is a lot of fun. We see the introduction of Chibiusa, get teased at other Sailor Guardians out there with Setsuna, get a glimpse at what the future is like (and who Chibiusa really is), and it was just overall, fun. Plus, we get to see the first signs of Usagi maturing, and becoming more independent & initiative-driven. A true definition of started from the bottom, and ended at the top.

Although, was that weird clip show at the end really needed? Why was it part of the main season run?

1-Sailor Moon S

Many fans who have been around for longer then I have, state this as their favorite, and even collect multiple home media releases, and just as the season began with its redone theme song, I can safely say this is where the show peaked!

There is so, SO much happening with Season 3, that is can be quite a lot to take in. We get the introduction of Haruka & Michiru as Sailor Neptune & Sailor Uranus, the mysteries surrounding them, the motivation behind the Death Busters and their inner politics, Chibiusa returning as Sailor Chibi Moon & joining the team, and the dark secret behind Hotaru as Sailor Saturn.

Not only that, but we really start to see the characters we know & love really grow & improve as people, teammates & friends, especially Minako. She didn’t have that much backstory or character, and with this season, they rolled with it. Her best episode was when she thought she didn’t have a pure heart, and did all of these things to gain one, only to find out she does when the villains try to take it, only to run away with it hilariously. Seriously, she is quite the character.

I also think the Death Busters were the best villains, as their motivations for why they were doing what they were doing was as mysterious as Sailor Neptune & Sailor Uranus, and its actually really sad. Plus the inner politics between the Witches 5 was fun, and almost accurate as to how women will act shady towards each other. I also found it hilarious as to how they just changed their sign each time they lost a member with just a white board & marker. Seriously, very subtlety hilarious.

A very, very awesome season that really pushed it, and had a great message about what pure hearts actually are, and realizing that you aren’t bad just because you grew up in a bad environment. Such a fun, fun ride.

Did anyone also get Matrix vibes while watching it? The Matrix didn’t come out until 5 years after this season. Maybe they got some inspiration?

And that is my ranking of the original Sailor Moon series! I hope you all enjoyed my thoughts on what I thought was the worst to best of Usagi Tsukino and all of her friends. As someone who is not an anime fan, I really liked the show, mainly because it did such a good job at showcasing real friendships in life. As Arturo Pérez-Reverte says, “You don't choose your friends, they choose you, and you either reject them or you accept them without reservations.”. Friends can be right under your nose, and they come along at the most unexpected time, from the most unexpected people, and if more people watched Sailor Moon, they would realize that.

The Sailor Moon anime is available to stream on Hulu, and is also available for free on Viz Media’s official YouTube Channel, as well on DVD & Blu-ray from Viz Media/Warner Home Video.

The Sailor Moon manga is available from Kodansha USA/Penguin Random House.

Remember readers, she is the one named Sailor Moon!

While I am not the biggest Anime encyclopedia out there, I do know that a never ending debate amongst fans is which theme songs are better if they are adapted for international audiences. There are great localized anime theme songs out there, and Sailor Moon’s American theme by DiC is no different.

WAY before I watched the entire series, I actually first heard the theme song while stumbling onto it on YouTube, and while I had very minimal knowledge, I was…intrigued by it. It was, not only different from other anime themes I heard in passing, but also different from other themes in general. There was something so whimsical about it, and that whimsy was very descriptive. How so?

Well in the name of the moon, let’s dissect this underrated should have been Billboard Top 100 hit.

Images used are owned by Naoko Takeuchi, Toei Animation, Viz Media, and Sylo Video.

It Starts Slow & Goes STRONG

Most action shows always like to just put you right in, so that you will get pumped up, be hyper, and probably hurt someone or something. However, the Sailor Moon theme takes a different approach.

It starts of very mysterious and slow, with these “twinkling light sounds” and an ominous bell in the back ground, and then you hear sort of a screech that gets a bit higher every second (think of a D.J. hyping up a bass drop), and then once you get to the high point, you hear a guitar power cord, and then all of the sudden, this theme song that you thought was going to be soft & simple whiplashes you with hard rock about a girl who uses the power of the moon to fight monsters.

Dragon Ball Z’s American theme WISHES it had this (I’ve only heard the themes. No questions about Goku being beat by Usagi, which may be correct, but I don’t know, but probably is) !

Redone Song=Better Energy

Unlike most animes when they get dubbed overseas, DiC decided to actually recompose the original theme, “Moonlight Densetsu”, with a more heavy rock theme to match up with other action shows, namely “Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers” (DiC and Saban Entertainment had a complicated business relationship. Go Google it).

And look, don’t get me wrong, Moonlight Densetsu is fine for what it is, and it is a very traditional Japanese anime theme song. However, for an action show, its too…..slow, in fact, I feel that the theme song used for the final season, “Sailor Stars” fit much better.

DiC probably felt that to about the former, so they took it upon themselves to re do it, and add some much needed “umph”! It just sounds so uplifting, and instantly recognizable. You could be in another room, and sing along, or hum to just the instrumental, all because of the added guitar & drums.

Take that failed live action Sailor Moon pilot theme.

Descriptive Lyrics

One thing that I don’t understand about Japanese theme lyrics is that most of the time, they don’t match up to what the show is about. For instance, the “Digimon” Japanese theme is called “Butterfly”, but its about following dreams, not so much about how Digimon are Digital Monsters, and that Digimon are the champions. Yeah, that’s blatantly descriptive, but it at least tells new viewers about the show. Same thing with Moonlight Densetsu. It’s talking about romance that ultimately has really nothing to do with Sailor Moon. Its a major aspect, but not the central theme. This is where the American theme shines.

It tells you who Sailor Moon is (“fighting evil by moonlight, winning love by daylight, never running from a real fight, she will never turn her back on a friend”, etc.), and even tells you who the other Sailor Scouts are, and that they’re there to help her fight.

Yes, its very descriptive, and repetitive, but that’s what makes a good theme song. Yeah, the original Power Rangers theme is just “Go Go Power Rangers, you Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers”, but the rock track just tells the audience what its all about, much like how the music & lyrics in Sailor Moon’s theme go together.

It’s so awesome, it doesn’t matter if the singers sound like a slightly better then my elementary school choir.

Consistent Tone

Something that struck me about the Sailor Moon theme is the kind of tone it has, in regards to the “feeling” of it, and it’s hard for many to determine what kind of feeling its trying to portray.

Circling back to Digimon’s theme for a moment. It, like Sailor Moon’s theme, is great, and very uplifting. You can tell it sounds very happy, and sounds triumphant.

Sailor Moon’s on the other hand, sounds the same throughout without really changing the notes, even the bridge, and sounds very……serious, and neutral. You don’t know if its a happy theme, or a sad theme. In fact, you could say its a hopeful theme song, and that’s all because they didn’t really change the notes too much.

I really don’t have much to say here, but I thought it was cool to talk about none of the less. If only the DiC voices matched the tone of the show.

Brilliant Visuals

Of course a theme song is nothing without its visuals, and Sailor Moon’s visuals are really, REALLY good, so much so to the point where fan-made versions have been made.

I’d say the opening template is actually a really good one for a show like this. Starts off with showing who Sailor Moon is (“Fighting evil by moonlight…..), showing what kind of person she is (“She will never turn her back on a friend……), showcases the Sailor Scouts (“Sailor Venus!, Sailor Mercury….”), shows off the villains (wordless bridge….), and shows the team being triumphant & posing (“Fighting evil by moonlight…..) .

It works because it matches the lyrics & the music, and the clips they use make it flow really, really well too. Plus, as I said, there are a lot of fan-made content that shows off how the opening could have evolved if DiC had continued to dub the series. Heck, these fans did a much better job then Cloverway did when they had “S” & “Super S”. All they did was just put the theme over the Japanese into, and it looked really out of place.

Seriously, they should have just hired the DiC editor, or better yet, just one of these fans, even if they were just children when those were out.

Not as big of a topic as the others, but still cool none of the less. Hope that this shows that just because its not Japanese doesn’t mean it can’t still be good, and in some cases, better.

What are your thoughts? Do you think the American Sailor Moon theme is better then the original, or vice-versa? Leave your civil comments down below.

The Sailor Moon anime is available to stream on Hulu, and is also available for free on Viz Media’s official YouTube Channel, as well on DVD & Blu-ray from Viz Media/Warner Home Video.

The Sailor Moon manga is available from Kodansha USA/Penguin Random House.

Never run from a real fight, readers!

Sailor Moon is many, MANY things. It’s action, it’s wholesome, it’s aesthetics, and most importantly, it’s heroes, in which case would be the 10 Sailor Guardians. Some are awesome, some are just okay, and some aren’t even considered planets anymore.

For my second Sailor Moon entry, I was give you my personal ranking on all of the guardians who protect earth, the planets, and the galaxy. Plus giving my two cents (or one dime) on what I feel they brought to the series.

Firstly, some disclaimers:

-Mamarou Chiba, a.k.a. Tuxedo Mask, isn’t considered a Sailor Guardian. Heck, he’s not even considered a hero. Sometimes he’s a Deus ex machina, and most times, he’s a damsel in distress. He’s also not that interesting of a character, but that’s another article for another month.

-Sailor Starlights are a league of their own. They are warriors, but they’re on their own agenda, and honestly, Seyia could just be the only one, as Taiki & Yaten are just cardboard standees.

-Luna, Artimus and Diana are cats. Just cats. Expositional cats.

-Chibi Chibi is just a plot line that makes no sense.

With that said, in the name of the moon, let the ranking begin!

Images used are owned by Naoko Takeuchi, Toei Animation and Viz Media

10-Sailor Pluto-Setsuna Meiou

Pluto hasn’t been considered a planet for 17 years, and to be honest neither should Setsuna. She overall adds nothing to the show, other then just exposition about future events, and advice for her life long friend, Chibiusa. I guess being the “keeper of time” between the future & past is cool, but it really doesn’t add anything. She does look cool, I’ll give her that (I do like her staff), but overall, she was just dead weight. Sorry fans.

Although, I will admit, it was cool to hear her say “Death Scream” so calmly before obliterating her enemies.

9-Sailor Neptune-Michiru Kaioh

Being a Power Rangers fan, the debut of Sailor Uranus, and Sailor Neptune reminded me a lot of the debut of the Crimson & Navy Thunder Rangers of “Power Rangers Ninja Storm” (Me thinks that Toei got inspiration for those two in the Sentai from here), and much like how I prefer Crimson to Navy, I prefer Haruka to Mitchru.

She was just….kind of going along for the ride with her girlfriend. There’s not a lot about her that’s great. She plays the violin, she’s smart, and she’s a good swimmer. That’s about it. Nothing else to special other then she’s a good fighter, and will go to the ends of the earth to be with her lover, but otherwise, just someone to ride shotgun with Uranus.

Also, her weapon is a mirror. That may have been useful in SuperS, but not so useful elsewhere.

8-Sailor Mercury-Ami Mizuno

Out of original five, I will say that while I don’t mind Ami, she’s the least interesting in terms of traits, and growth. What I will say about her is that she doesn’t change her self for anyone, and is just herself. She is very smart & self disciplined, which can help on the battlefield, as she has need scanner glasses to track enemies that may be hiding. She even skipped out on going to school overseas to help the cause, so she is very loyal.

Those character traits are also where Ami falters. A lot of her focus episodes & scenes are very repetitive. If it’s not her studying for a competition, it’s her secretly crushing on a boy she likes, and vice versa. Some of those are interesting, but she could have used a different side to her or two.

Despite all of that however, she is still good, and is a great friend to her teammates & classmates. She teaches us to just be yourself, and walk your walk.

Also, did anyone ever associate Mercury with Red before this? No? Just me?

7-Sailor Uranus-Haruka Tenoh

Ah yes. The better half of the Uranus/Nepture duo. When Haruka comes on the scene, she really makes a good first impression, and is very different from the five we had before.

Before they find out Haruka’s female, the team is instantly attracted to her, and she lets them play along before finding out about her & Mitchru. She likes to play video games, and is a pro at them, as well as likes working on cars. Not something that the main five instantly think of when it comes to being female, and she teaches them that women can do what’s mainly done by men, and that women can like other women.

Her determination was also really strong, whether it was to just get an object like pure hearts, or if she needed to protect someone. She was always fighting for something big and small, and that is a lesson we can all take away from her.

Also, her weapon is a legit sword. Much MUCH more effective then a mirror ever would be.

6-Sailor Chibi Moon-Chibiusa Tsukino

A lot of people don’t like Chibiusa a lot, cause of how “annoying” she can be. Of course she is, she debuted as a kid, but matured over time, and she is a sweetheart.

While very weird how she’s Usagi & Mamoru’s daughter from the future, and acts more like a little sister to present day Usagi, she is actually fun to have around, and is very mature for someone her age. Her main goal was how to “be a proper lady”, but she already was in a lot of ways, mainly in how she treated her peers.

This can be a simple as comforting kids in her class who are scared of thunderstorms to asking a boy her age if a figure of a younger children’s character is his without judging him, to seeing the brighter side of Hotaru, who knows she isn’t evil despite being around evil influences.

She actually is a good character for younger viewers, as she shows how to show kindness to others, whether they may like the same things, or be different from anyone else, and it’s done, much like every other message, in a subtle way. In fact, if this show ever introduced a special needs character, I feel that they would have paired them up with Chibiusa, cause she recognizes the good everyone, and is an example of how to be a good rounded friend.

I will never forgive Sailor Stars for just forgetting about her though. Seriously, she just leaves after she’s revived? Me no likey.

5-Sailor Saturn-Hotaru Tomoe

Hotaru is a very interesting character, yet tragic one. After being killed due to a freak accident by one of her father’s experiments, an evil being known as Germatoid, promised to bring her back to life, only if she kept an evil spirit named Mistress 9 in her, to which her father agreed to, and worked with him as part of his evil entourage.

As a result, Hotaru is a very sad character, as she is being controlled, and this can lead to her having seizures, or snap into evil ways that she tries to balance. Because of this, she was often disowned by her classmates, and others until she met Chibiusa, who saw that she needed a friend, and wanted to help her in any way possible, cause she knew she wasn’t a bad person.

What’s so interesting about Hotaru is what we learn from her. She is growing up in a bad environment, and is reminded of that every day by her episodes, and others in her home. However when she meets Chibiusa, she realizes that there are people who do care about her, and want to be friends with her. She doesn’t feel alone, and she then knows that just because you grew up around bad influences, doesn’t mean that you yourself are bad. She’s a favorite of many fans, and it’s easy to see why.

Also, I like her weapon, and attacks. She could probably knock out John Cena if given the chance.

4-Sailor Jupiter-Makoto Kino

Makoto packs a punch! Literally! She is the tallest of everyone, and is very much the big sister of the group. Before the start of the show, she sadly lost her parents in a plane accident, and had to learn to fend for herself by learning how to cook, garden, and karate.

She’s also a very, VERY protective person, and will come across anyone who is being mistreated, whether it’s her friends, or just some random passerby, and if they try to go at her, she’ll just show them some moves, and they’ll flee.

What is most interesting about Makoto though is that she has a friend she’s known since childhood named Kenji, whom she protects one night after being attacked by a monster. After volunteering herself to give him some of her blood, as both are O positive, she explains to Usagi & Ami about how he is her closest guy friend. “More precious then any boyfriend” in fact.

I like the fact that she has this trait, as it teaches viewers that two of the opposite sex can be friends, and can have a close platonic relationship, cause it’s totally normal. Even Usagi questions “Can a boy & a girl have a friendship that’s more powerful then romantic love?” If you find the right people, yes it can be.

I do wish we saw more of Kenji though. One episode wasn’t enough to explore that friendship.

3-Sailor Venus-Minako Aino

Now we get to the one who was at it longer then anyone else, and is the one who is the funniest. Minako started her journey in the United Kingdom with, oddly enough, the Interpol unit, until she moved to Japan after letting her two partners believe she died in ax explosion (Go look up the reason why. It’s odd.), along with Artemis, and she is a fun one to have around.

While many compare her to Usagai, in how the two relate is so many ways (she’s basically her twin in every sense of the word), her own personality is very bright, and bubbly. She is someone who fully supports her friends, even if it means putting her own dreams on hold, and she always tries to brighten everyone’s day if they’re feeling down by making them feel good, or tending to them when they’re not well.

But I think my favorite trait of hers is just her humor. She can be really, REALLY funny, especially when she gets phrasing wrong. (Don’t cry over spoiled milk.) Probably the funniest she was in the episode where she literally has one. She feels like she doesn’t have a pure heart (poor girl), and then when the villains try to steal her heart crystal, instead of fainting, she laughs hysterically cause she finally gets that recognition, which she learns that she didn’t need, as pure hearts are something you are born with, not objects to obtain.

Minako is just a joy to have around, and is a friend you can count on during the good times, and during the bad times. Plus, you can always count on her to give you a good laugh.

I would have loved to see that mini series that was conceptualized about her adventures before Sailor Moon. I bet she would have been the same as she was when she joined.

2-Sailor Mars-Rei Hino

I was someone who didn’t like Rei at first. I thought she was a meanie for the sake of being a meanie, but then as the series went on, I realized I really REALLY liked her.

Rei has a very cold chip on her shoulder, mainly because she takes her responsibilities as a Shrine Keeper & priestess very seriously, and as a result, she doesn’t have any friends. That is until she met Usagi, and Ami. At first, she didn’t like Usagi all that much because of how bubbly and “immature” she seemed. As a result, these two always butted heads throughout the series.

However, as time went on, Rei realized that Usagi was actually a good leader, and more importantly a very good friend. Usagi may have butted heads with her, but that didn’t mean she would not save her if she was in danger, and Rei would eventually do the same. In fact, I feel like out of everyone, Rei was the one who wanted to see Usagi get better at things the most, and would go out of her way to make sure she was protected & safe if some enemies were after her.

I feel like the best moment of growth for her was in Sailor Stars, when Usagi transformed into Eternal Sailor Moon, as her emotions were really high with Mamoru being captured, and as she takes off towards Queen Nehelenia, Rei literally jumps across a table to try and grab her, but misses, and after getting up she says “Usagi, you idiot”, with tears running down her eyes. In the course of 5 years, she went from calling her an idiot because she meant it to calling her an idiot, cause she didn’t want her to get killed.

I compare Rei & Usagi’s relationship to that of Wednesday & Enid’s relationship from the “Wednesday” Netflix series, as both are very similar. Both Rei & Wednesday act so cold towards Enid & Usagi because they were never treated nicely by anyone before, and it comes as shock to them that someone tries to be kind cause no one ever put that effort towards them before. It’s a good psychological way to show viewers that there are friends for everyone, it just takes the right friends to open up to, and trust.

Also, I love her voice actress. I feel everyone brought their a game to the Viz dub, but Christina Vee knocked it out of the park with Rei! Top notch!

1-Sailor Moon-Usagi Tsunkino

This is probably the most obvious, and most lamest answer. Of course everyone likes Usagi, as she’s the titular character, but I honestly feel like she is mainly the reason why the series has so many fans, cause she is so relatable, and that is because of the friendship elements she carries.

Usagi is someone who isn’t really understood by many people, including her family, and is usually made fun of, or belittled. She’s not good at school, gets extremally overwhelmed to the point where she cries over the most minor inconveniences, thinks she’s heavy cause of how much she likes to eat, and is just overall misunderstood. She longs to be loved unconditionally by anyone, whether through romance, or platonic friendships (aside from the few friends she does have, Naru & Umino, who quickly dip after the two get together).

This all changes when she is chosen to become Sailor Moon, and is responsible for leading the other Sailor Guardians in saving the Earth. Because of Usagi, all four of their lives change for the better, whether they know it or not. They know Usagi is clumsy, a big “crybaby”, and can get overwhelmed easily, but love her regardless, cause of how much energy she brings to the room, whether its sharing an manga she’s reading, or just being perky over an ice cream cone. They love what makes her unique, and want to help her become a better person in the world.

And with the friendship she received, she gives friendship back. She loves every single one of the Sailor Guardians, regardless of how they may address her flaws(if they’re being nice or not about it). In fact being around the other 4, she realized that she had friends that chose her, instead of her choosing them, and not because they were all just teammates either. Even before they came into the picture fully, she was a very sweet & kind person. She's friendly to those who may need it, and harsh to those who deserve it. She's also very supportive in anything anyone is into, or does, even if she's not interested, and that only strengthened when she became Sailor Moon.

I feel like I like Usagi the most because she symbolizes my best friend (who indirectly made me want to check out Sailor Moon) in almost every aspect (minus the crybaby & clutzy side). Much like Usagi, she would do anything for her friends, whether it’s consulting them when their down, to hanging out with them for a drink, and would curse out anyone who is nasty & cruel to me. She really does have the heart to be a Sailor Guardian, much like Usagi, whether it’s saving the world from evil, or saving your friend from bullies.

Usagi’s ultimate message is to always give the friendship you receive back to others, and, to quote my favorite saying of hers, “No matter how much you change, please don't forget the people who care for you."

I hope this article explains my thoughts on all 10 of the Sailor Guardians from the original series very well, whether how little or how deep they may have been. This was probably the first time I ever really thought hard about characters like this, and analyze their place in a series other then gimmicks, colors, and attacks.

Everyone has their own thoughts, so if you want to share your rankings, leave them in the comments below, and remember, be like Usagi, and be kind to one another about them.

The Sailor Moon anime is available to stream on Hulu, and is also available for free on Viz Media’s official YouTube Channel, as well on DVD & Blu-ray from Viz Media/Warner Home Video.

The Sailor Moon manga is available from Kodansha USA/Penguin Random House.

I send you all a Moon Healing Escalation (Sailor Moon talk for good vibes), readers!

I am someone who’s not to big into anime at all, and it really never interested me as a child. There were some I saw, like “Pokemon” & “Yu-Gi-Oh!”, but that never really stuck for more than a year, and there are some I have heard of, like “Dragon Ball Z”, and “One Piece”, but never got into, even to this day. Actually, the only one I watched and liked was “Digimon”, and even now, it’s more so on occasion. I have never sat down and binged a show from a genre I’m not familiar with, or really interested in.

That is until one day in September 2022, I decided to peek at a show called “Sailor Moon”, a series I had really only heard about in high school, and got inspired to check it out after a birthday present I put together for my best friend (Sailor Moon and Studio Ghibli are to her as Power Rangers, and Thomas & Friends are to me).

Initially, I thought I’d check out after maybe 4 episodes or so, but by November 2022, I had binged all 200 episodes & 3 movies of the original series, and I loved it! Its messages, voice cast, music, visuals, and the topic of today, its history!

Whenever I get into something, I like to research it from back to front, because it fascinates me. Every big media franchise has a great story about how it came to be, and Sailor Moon is no different, and I wanted to share some things that I found interesting. Some you may have heard of, and some you may find mind-blowing!

In the name of the moon, let’s begin!

If any of these are inaccurate in any way shape or form, please let me know in the comments below. Sources of info are in the links themselves.

Images used are owned by Naoko Takeuchi, Toei Animation, Viz Media, and Sylo Video.

Sailor Venus Had Her Own Manga & Almost Had Her Own Mini-Series

Before Usagi came into the picture, it was Minako who was front & center, for about a year or so. Creator, Nakoto Takeuchi debuted Sailor Venus in “Codename Sailor V”, which started out as a one-shot in the manga magazine, “RunRun” from 1991-1997. This series served as a prequel to Sailor Moon, as it follows Minako, and Artemis on their adventures before they met the other Sailor Guardians. When approached by Toei Animation, and Bandai to animate & merchandise the series, they asked Takeuchi to revitalize the concept into a team, rather than a single character, and thus the rest of the squadron was added.

But that’s not all, cause even after Sailor Moon’s success, a mini-series, known in Japan as an OVA (original video animation) starring Sailor V was announced in 1995. However, for unknown reasons, it was scrapped, and the only known footage out there is short clips online, which you can find if you look hard enough.

Minako is one of my favorites, and I’d admit, it would be cool to see the adventures she had before meeting Usagi and the crew. That explains why she strangely shows up so late in Season 1 (but we will get to that).

The Creator Got Big Inspiration From Super Sentai

While the idea to make Sailor Moon about a full team was an idea Toei & Bandai executives may have put upon Takeuchi, it was actually an idea that she had in the back of her mind. The Super Sentai series (a.k.a. Power Rangers worldwide) was a big inspiration as she was developing the Sailor Moon manga, and anime given the fact that she watched when she was a child, and it’s pretty clear to see.

The devices they use to transform, the communicators, the long transformation sequences, the posing, and the colors all scream Super Sentai elements. It was pretty much Toei & Bandai’s answer to give girls their own superhero team, and both franchises complemented each other well in ratings and toy sales.

I so want Boom Studios & Kodansha to partner up and develop a Power Rangers/Sailor Moon crossover comic. That would be so awesome.

Everyone Was Supposed To Die & Stay Dead

Remember the final few episodes of Sailor Moon (and chapters in the manga. I’m taking my time with that) feature scenes of everyone, but Usagi getting killed by Queen Beryl’s minions, and then when she finally killed her, the whole planet was wiped out, and then the timeline reset with everyone’s memories wiped? Well, that last detail actually wasn’t supposed to happen.

Takeuchi had intended for Sailor Moon to be a one & done story, much like her other works, and wanted the characters to actually die & stay that way. However, the series in terms of ratings, and merchandise was so good, that Toei & Bandai want to continue it, so she added the final scene at the end of the first arc to the Manga.

Would have been interesting, and depressing to see Sailor Moon just end like that, but what if it did? Would the message in that final episode about appreciating all the small things in life be more impactful? We will never know.

A Story Arc Was Made To Play Catch Up

Sailor Moon is probably one of the more unique-looking animes of its time cause of how detailed, and different it was from similar shows. You’d think with such nice & beautiful-looking shots, it must have taken them a lot of time to develop, right?

Well, no. In fact, the time between the manga & anime debut was literally 3 months, as they were both developed congruently. Toei was even still auditioning voice actors in that same 3-month window, as the anime was set to premiere in March 1992. Naturally, going off the previous detail, this threw a wrench into Takeuchi’s plans, and she needed time to come up with another story idea.

So, to give her that time, the anime crew developed an arc that was exclusive to the anime, which became the first 13 episodes of the second season, “Sailor Moon R”, which is where villains Ali & An, and the Hell Tree came from, and explains why it starts out so weird, almost like it was from another season.

Yeah, this was typical in the first season, to fill out the gaps in between chapter adaptations, but no matter what you think of it, it’s neat that the team created a story of their own, free from the source material, while still staying true to the characters.

Adapting The Anime In America Was Crazy

This is something most know, but it’s worth recapping anyway, cause there are so many plates spinning with this.

After “Mighty Morphin Power Rangers” took the world by storm, Bandai wanted to bring Sailor Moon over to America to capture that same lightning in a bottle for girls that Power Rangers did for boys, and while their first attempt at making it a live-action/animated hybrid was pretty much laughed at, DiC Entertainment (known now as WildBrain) acquired the first two seasons to dub & localize it for syndication to premiere in 1995, and the results were……sad.

Putting quality aside, the show was not treated by stations all that well, as most aired the show at bad times, either when most kids were in school, or when they were asleep (one station aired it regularly at 5:30 am!). As a result, the show was canceled with only 48 of the 65 episodes made being shown. In response to this, many fans signed petitions and bought tons of merchandise in hopes that the show would get picked back up, and it did.

In 1997, the show aired in full (including the missing 17 episodes) on the USA Network, and in 1998, it was acquired by Cartoon Network to air on their Toonami block, which they called home until 2002. Not only did this include the 65 DiC episodes, but also Seasons 3 & 4 (“S” & “SuperS” respectfully), this time dubbed by Cloverway, and was a little less censored than the first two seasons.

It’s a lot, but it does indeed show that Sailor Moon had quite the trip getting recognized on American screens.

Sailor Stars Had Limited Viewing Outside Of Japan

This is also one that many know, but it’s still interesting. The fifth & final season, “Sailor Stars” was a very different one compared to the others. It was a bit darker, more mature (as the main team was now in high school), and very progressive for its time. However, it was really never aired outside of Japan, or even really distributed, aside from places like France.

There are a lot of reasons behind this, too many to list here, but the two big ones are that Cloverway couldn’t get the rights to this season after Toei was supposedly upset with the dub quality of “SuperS”, and just because the themes of the season were seen as “not appropriate” at the time, like the Sailor Starlights being genderfluid characters, or discussing homosexual relationships.

The much darker themes, such as Galaxia killing off her minions brutally (the death of Sailor Iron Mouse must have been TERRIFYING to Japanese kids), may have probably not been a factor in skipping it if it aired on Toonami, but it’s sad, and really silly that it was because of rights (dub rights & equal rights) that it never happened.

Can you believe the season of Sailor Moon with an absolute BOP of a theme song didn’t get released officially in the U.S. until Viz Media did so in 2019? Seriously, long overdue.

There Was Supposed To Be A Live Action Movie

This was a shocker, mainly because I’m shocked it never even happened, but maybe for good reason. Back when the show was dubbed by DiC, there were talks to develop a live-action movie.

DiC merged with ABC in 1993, and in turn, they were acquired by Disney in 1996, so of course, with the mouse behind them, they wanted to develop some movies based on their properties, with two of them, “Inspector Gadget”, and “Meet The Deedles” coming to light.

While details of what the movie would be like are scarce, rumors at the time stated that Melissa Joan Hart (“Clarissa Explains It All”/”Sabrina The Teenage Witch”) would portray Serena (Usagi in the English dub), and Geena Davis (“Thema & Louise”/”Stewart Little”) cast as Queen Beryl, and probably would only focus on the first season, as DiC only had the dubbing rights to the first two.

So why didn’t it happen? Well, it was because of the 1997 film “Mr. Magoo”’s commercial failure, as the director for that movie was supposed to direct Sailor Moon’s, but never got to due to this film’s turnout. What’s worse is that DiC separated itself from Disney in 2000, so it’s safe to say that afterward, plans were scrapped.

Wow. Two live-action American attempts and both never got the green light to go ahead. Maybe if Japan did one, it would actually be better, right?

A Live-Action Adaptation Put A Pause On Licensing The Show

This one, I feel, is the craziest out of all of these facts, cause this was a BIG reason why you didn’t see Sailor Moon re-emerge until the early 2010s or so.

By 2003, DiC, and Cloverway lost their individual rights to dub & distribute the show, and the franchise was being pulled worldwide from all directions. Many factors contributed to this, like Takeuchi wanting more control over her creation, but this seems to be the icing on top.

The same year, a new live-action series, called “Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon” aired on Japanese TV, which was basically Super Sentai, except with Sailor Moon characters, and a really REALLY low budget (they even reused Sentai monster costumes sometimes), almost something like you’d see in a student film. Heck, the fan-made live-action film looks better than this.

Despite its shortcomings, it was actually popular enough to get a full season, specials, direct-to-DVD movies, and even a concert. Toei was so sure of its success that they attached the series to licensing the anime to different broadcasters/distributors. However, this meant that if they weren’t interested in the live-action show, then they weren’t getting the anime.

Just because it’s like Power Rangers doesn’t mean it’s going to work like Power Rangers, and even Takeuchi didn’t like this stipulation, so in 2013, it was announced that a new anime called “Sailor Moon Crystal” would be developed and that Viz Media would release both it, and the original anime worldwide, not even touching “PGSM”, and the rest is history.

It’s nuts, isn’t it? Some things are better animated, and some things are better live-action.

Mastodon Lion Thunderzord Power & Monster Growing Wands In The VIZ Dub

This is more of a fact for me than anything really. I already said that Sailor Moon has its connections to Super Sentai, and when we think of Sentai, we automatically think of Power Rangers of course, and the VIZ dub includes a couple of voices who have either dawned the spandex or fought against it!

Artemis, is voiced by the legendary Johnny Young Bosch, who is best known in Power Rangers as Adam Park, the 2nd Black Mighty Morphin Ranger, Zeo Green Ranger, and 1st Turbo Green Ranger. This doesn’t come as a shock, as after his initial Ranger run, he got into doing voices for for many anime properties, including “Bleach”, and “Naruto: Shippuden”. He is very easy to pick out, but when I first watched Sailor Moon, I didn’t even recognize him, because his voice for Artemis is very soft & different.

However, the biggest shock was Barbara Goodson voicing Zirconia, and it’s great that she voiced a character that looked like Rita Repulsa, and even acted like her, so it was natural to give her Rita’s voice! She is in her early 70s, and can STILL rock it, just like she did in Once & Always!

Again, Boom! Studios/ Kodansha, do a Power Rangers/Sailor Moon crossover. Make it happen. Please. It would be awesome.

From The Moon To Green & From Jupiter To Red

This may come as a shock to some, but Thomas & Friends is probably more popular in Japan than it has ever been around the world, and since the original series pre-CGI used an all-voice cast, there were some Sailor Moon voice actors who provided their voice to Thomas, and vice versa, and while not exactly related, that connection even went to the U.S. dub!

The feature film, “Thomas & The Magic Railroad” was released in 2000, when the series still used model trains to film, and instead of being filmed in England like the TV show, it was filmed in Canada for tax purposes. So naturally, as they would give the characters voices of their own, instead of relying on a narrator, the production team hired some Canadian talent to fill those roles, and low & behold, two of them were Sailor Moon voices!

Percy The Small Engine was voiced by Linda Ballantyne, the voice of Serena for the Cloverway dubs, and James The Red Engine, was voiced by Lita (Makoto) in both dubs, Susan Roman.

While the voices they gave these two may have seemed odd to Thomas fans, as they were voiced by women, when both characters were males, I feel like they captured the characters really well. Roman stated that James was her favorite character, & she captured that vain personality that he had, while Ballantyne’s performance as Percy matched how he was, very cheeky, frightened sometimes, but determined, much like Usagi herself. Nice to see these two reunite, even if the colors don’t match the Sailor Guardians they played.

Could you imagine 5-year-old me living in Japan, and having Super Sentai, Thomas & Friends, and Sailor Moon surrounding me? I would have been in heaven!

Hope you guys enjoyed learning & reading up on these amazing Sailor Moon facts! These were as fun to find out, as fun as they were to share!

What did you think? What did you know before, and what do you know now? Comment below.

The Sailor Moon anime is available to stream on Hulu, and is also available for free on Viz Media’s official YouTube Channel, as well on DVD & Blu-ray from Viz Media/Warner Home Video.

The Sailor Moon manga is available from Kodansha USA/Penguin Random House.

Fight evil by moonlight, and win friendship by daylight readers!

If you have been living under a rock, or if you just don’t pay attention, they you may have not known that 2023 marks the 30th Anniversary of Power Rangers, and instead of an all star crossover like during past anniversary years, Hasbro and eOne developed an hour-long special for Netflix, which features the return of the original Blue and Black Rangers to the franchise for the first time in YEARS.

Now, of course, to all of you reading, you’d probably expect I’d share my own thoughts about it here, and you were right. However, my ultimate feelings about it are the same as most, so it would mainly be repeating what others have said to a tea. So, what could I bring to the Juice Bar table?

Well instead of just an overall review of Once & Always, I have decided to share 5 yays, 5 things I liked about it, and 5 nays, 5 things that disappointed me. Much like every Power Rangers production, there are good & bad things about it, but in the end, much like life, it’s a balance. Let’s see what those things are.

IT’S MORPHIN TIME!

All screenshots used are owned by Hasbro, and eOne. Screenshots provided by Netflix, PowerRangersDaily, and Morphin Legacy.

SPOLIERS AHEAD FOR ANYONE WHO HAS NOT SEEN THIS SPECIAL YET. PLEASE READ AT YOUR OWN RISK, OR NOT I’M NOT YOUR PARENT.

Yay-Return Of Old Friends

Of course being a reunion special, you’d expect to have said actors return to reprise their roles, and for Once & Always we get them, and then some.

Of course, we get Steve Cardenas and Catherine Sutherland to reprise their roles as Rocky DeSantos & Katherine Hillard respectfully since Austin St. John & Amy Jo Johnson weren’t around to do so (There are reasons. Go look them up if you’re curious).

However, those two we saw in the previous anniversary episode, “Dimensions In Danger” during Super Ninja Steel. The big wins here were David Yost as Billy Cranston, who hasn’t been involved with Power Rangers since Zeo in 1996, and Walter Jones as Zack Taylor, returning back since his departure during Mighty Morphin Season 2. It felt really good seeing them again, not to only return to the show under newer, more accepting bosses, but also to see them finally get closer, which neither of them really got as their original departures with the brand weren’t on good terms. Plus, both of them refused to return without the other, and it shows that the two really had each other’s backs both in and out of reality.

We also got back Barbara Goodson as Robo Rita Repulsa, and Richard Steven Horvitz as Alpha 9, who still sound as good as they did back then, especially Goodson. She’ll probably do Rita until she fully retires!

But what about the then some I mentioned? Well, not only did they bring back on screen talent for this, they also had off screen talent too! Specifically, Ron Wasserman, and Jackie Marchand.

Ron Wasserman was, of course, the original composer for the show, writing it’s earworm of a theme song, & various fight songs for Mighty Morphin, as well as Turbo, In Space, and S.P.D. He really loved composing for it, stating that he was able to use both rock and orchestral music, the latter he wasn’t able to use in the original series, and it was very experimental.

But the biggest surprise was Jackie Marchand, who is very well known in the fandom as a writer/producer for Mighty Morphin Season 3-Time Force/Ninja Storm-RPM, and knows the series probably better then anyone else aside from her long time collogue, Judd Lynn. She worked as story consultant, assisting the writers to make sure that everything was accurate, and suggested references to put in. Very fitting for her, as this was closure for her as well since her departure from the brand while Disney owned it was pretty sour.

Nay-Who Are These Guys?

Every villain needs their henchman right, even if they’re returning, and along with her Putty Patrollers, Robo Rita also has…….Robo Minotaur, and Robo Snizzard……..why them?

Don’t get me wrong, they look cool, and are super detailed, but these guys were just random Monsters of the Day the Rangers pretty much killed in the exact same episode. Nothing about them really stuck.

I get Snizzard a little bit, as this was the one of two monsters Bryan Cranston voiced before playing a father & drug dealer (he doesn’t voice him in this), but who in the world remembers Minotaur other then the super fans? The choices were just random, and these monsters aren’t well known to casuals. If they had to stick with monsters, they should have just gone with Pumpkin Rapper, and Pudgy Pig, or even Eye Guy, something that Funko made POPS for.

Better yet, why not bring back Goldar & Scorpina? Kerrigan Mahan and Wendee Lee are still in voice over work, and can still pull off those voices (as Mahan voiced Goldar in the Battle For The Grid video game) . Plus, it would give us an explanation on what happened to Scorpina as she legit just disappeared in the middle of Mighty Morphin Season 2 without a trace. Goldar, or at least a updated version of him, did appear in Beast Morphers as Goldar Maximus (yeah, seriously), and was defeated, but if evil Rita’s spirit can just come back to life through trial and error, then so can any evil force.

Yay-Morphenominal Easter Eggs

Of course, anytime Power Rangers celebrates an anniversary, it celebrates the whole entire franchise, and there are some pretty good ones here, even if it’s just a Mighty Morphin reunion.

There is tons here to keep the super fans smile. From small things to “Bandora Protocol” being a reference to the Super Sentai character that Rita’s adapted from to name dropping planets, like Aquitar, home of the Alien Rangers, and Mirinoi, home of the Lost Galaxy Rangers.

The ones that made me the happiest, was the Morphing sequence, the Zords summoning & transforming, Zack still able to break down, & do some Hip Hop Kiddo action, and the Juice Bar itself, which according to producer, Simon Bennett, they rebuilt from scratch, and it looks great, even down to the lighting. Such good detail!

Nay-Collect The Lightning Collection

Since Power Rangers anniversary episodes were created, it was always tradition that, unlike the team-ups where the previous team meets the current one, it would be an all star cast, to show off the wider world.

While I wasn’t expecting this to happen here, cause it was strictly Mighty Morphin centered, I would have thought we would have seen other Rangers in suit, maybe at the end to fight off putties, or in “security camera” footage as they were attacking all over the world, but I felt all we got with this was, in true Power Rangers fashion, a toy commercial for the Lightning Collection, and nothing more. We didn’t even see them teleported to Aquitar to get re-sized.

Would have loved to see Zeo Yellow, Turbo Phantom, In Space Black & Yellow, Lost Galaxy Red, Blue & Green, Dino Thunder Red & White, Wild Force Lunar Wolf and Beast Morphers Red, Blue & Gold get in on the action, but they’re sadly background set dressing.

Yay-No Super Sentai Footage

Something that has always hindered Power Rangers is the use of Super Sentai footage for 90% of it’s footage, as a way to keep the show as cheap as possible. It is fun to see what switches from U.S. to Japanese footage, and to point out all the inconsistences, such as the film quality or a random boy just popping up out of nowhere.

However, as the show went on, it became clear that they didn’t need to rely on it all the time, and started to film more of their own fight scenes, villain footage, and even Megazord battles. There have even been plenty of episodes in which they didn’t use any at all, and it felt so fresh.

However, since the show went back to Saban Brands in 2010, they backtracked on that a lot, and when original footage was filmed, most of the time it was for something dumb, like a in show musical number (yeah, seriously. I legit shut my laptop), and the reason was always “it was too expensive”, which is garbage as they did it before, even when the show was under Saban Entertainment the first time.

Whether this was because Netflix poured money into this, or if this was something the production team fought for, I am so glad that this feels like a late Saban Entertainment/Disney Power Rangers production. Literally not using any footage so that it feels like Power Rangers can tell its OWN story, and not a story they they try to do, but can’t cause it’s not in the footage, and it looks glorious. The camera work is really really advanced (drones during fights and all), and the effects, while not on movie level of course, look really good, and not obvious that it’s an effect, much like the late Saban Entertainment days. All of this because they didn’t use any pre-existing footage, and if we’re all being honest, if the show is continuing past Season 30 (which it’s supposedly not due to Hasbro wanting to reboot it), this is what I’d want. Use the Super Sentai costumes, but just film it all yourself. It doesn’t make you look cheap in 2023.

**Yes, I know they used archive footage for Rita in the time portal, and in Minh’s memories of her Mom, but honestly, does that really count if it’s less then 1 minute? No. No it doesn’t**

Nay-CGI Megazord

For all of that good however, this made me sad. I wasn’t so much disappointed, but just sad as how this kind of thing is going to go in the future. The Megazord fight is supposed to be the most exciting of any Power Rangers episode, because they’re so cool, and yeah, while most of them are Japanese footage, a select few have been American also, and it was always cool to see how the U.S. teams would do it, whether it was for 30 seconds, or 3 minutes.

I loved how they mirrored the Zord summoning sequence from Zyuranger, and they did so really well, and the CGI animation was really good, actually more advanced then what Power Rangers has had in the past, but then when the battle itself happened, it was……underwhelming to say the least.

Apparently, they didn’t have the budget to do this since it all went into everything else, which is fine, though if they had to use CGI, it would have been cool to see Snizzard & the Dino Megazord done in motion capture. Still animated, but had the movement of “guys in suits” to make it flow. The way they did it here felt…more fake. Yeah, so were classic Megazord battles, but that was the charm. This just felt very….meh.

Yay-Mature Tone

Power Rangers, on the surface to anyone who is a passerby, knows that it is corny, silly, and not so serious all the time, and that is true to an extent. While not often, there have been times where its had dark tones, and dark subject matters, even one episode about the main villain committing repentant murder on the Red Ranger’s parents. However, unless you read the awesome BOOM! Studios comics, the Mighty Morphin show never went this hard until this special, and they take advantage of it.

Never before has a Power Rangers production has used the words “kill”, and “die” so much, and they roll with it in a figurative & visual way. Seeing Trini get killed was actually quite surprising, and the amount of stabbings in this thing is nuts, and gasp worthy. Heck, a Putty throws a women off a balcony, and Rocky has to jump & catch her mid air. Crazy stuff!

Not only was the action more mature, but the dialogue was too. There is a theme of revenge, and how it can never go good for anyone on either side, cause it leads to the same result. This is what Minh felt towards Rita about killing her Mom, and is really cold to Billy about it, even blaming him for her death. However, after Zack explains how Rita feels the same way, just on the other side of the Power Coin, and how she doesn’t want her to go down that same path.

Yes, Power Rangers has before done this kind of thing in other seasons like In Space, Lost Galaxy, Lightspeed Rescue, and Time Force, but it’s so satisfying to see this coming out of the Mighty Morphin actors. They’re older, so they’re capable of more mature dialogue and themes. You’re not going to get that from a retelling about a fighting a rapping pumpkin!

Nay-Just Like The 90s

The other thing passerbys know about Power Rangers is that it’s not known for its acting abilities, and this has been true for its whole 30 year history, as showcased here sadly.

I will say, out of the Rangers, the two who shined the best were Zack, and Minh. Walter Jones’ performance felt the most real out of everyone, mainly because he was the best actor in the original series, and he even made the weirdest episodes fun. Charlie Kersh as Minh was very good too. Her performance felt very natural (aside from a few ADR’d scenes. I don’t blame her for that though.), and surprise surprise, she was actually a teenager with attitude, instead of an adult pretending! She’s very talented too, as not only is she a actress, but she’s also a singer, a dancer, and has a 3rd degree black belt! Keep it up!

However, Steve Cardenas just felt…off (as he always was), and Catherine Sutherland was okay, until she was in suit. However, I feel like David Yost wasn’t his best here. Could be just age, and it could be just because it’s his first time back on the show in 27 years, but he just seems very….flat here. He really doesn’t emote, and in any scene he’s with Zack, Walter Jones had to help carry it. Writing wise, Billy was good, but performance wise, he could have used some tweaking.

Also, what was up with those collars? I know it’s the reunion of a 90s show, but not everything needed a tribute.

Yay-Fitting Tribute

I do not understand the negativity towards this at all. People actually don’t like this cause Trini is dead, much like her actress Thuy Trang? If so, then they need to look up the Sesame Street episode where they addressed Mr. Hooper’s death cause his actor, Will Lee passed in real life, which they chose to do over writing him off by having him move implying he was still alive.

This tribute was long LONG over due, and it was about time that there was closure for her and her actress. I feel like it was very tasteful, and didn’t disrespect her in any way, shape or form, and having her Minh continue her mom’s legacy was perfect in every sense of the word. Also, the final scene at the Juice Bar was really them talking about Thuy, and not Trini. You know it, and I know it.

I also love the scene at the end where Adam says goodbye to his predecessor, and Aisha complementing her successor (Yeah, Johnny Young Bosch, and Karen Ashley were in this briefly). These three (excluding Minh) were never on screen together, and seeing Zack arm hug Adam was like he was saying “Thank you for taking my place”, and Aisha stating that the Yellow Ranger Powers are in good hands to the daughter of the person whom she replaced was very sweet to see too.

And of course, Amy Jo Johnson’s sole contribution to this. The song she sung in “The Song Of Guitardo” was used as a tribute to Thuy Trang, and the late Jason David Frank. It hit me in the feels, even when I just look at the still.

Nay-No Dynamic Duo

This was the thing I was personally most disappointed about. If this is a Mighty Morphin Power Rangers reunion, where in the world were the legendary Farkas Bulkmeier, and Eugene Skullovitch? The two characters that lasted longer then any of the original Rangers? The poster of them owning a bulk food business (that was punny) was cool, and it was neat to see them still succeeding after all these years, but I would have loved a scene where they were either at the Juice Bar reflecting on old times & getting something thrown on them, or maybe where a Ranger saves them. It didn’t have to be long, just a little wink scene, like they got in Forever Red. A poster is nice, but it doesn’t do it for me! I want to see pies in the face gosh durn it!

Conclusion

While I do think Forever Red is the winner on how to do a proper Power Rangers Anniversary, Once & Always comes in at a close second, and honestly, I enjoyed it a lot, despite it’s flaws, which is what you have to expect when watching anything Power Rangers. It’s just part of the fun, and these nays are more of nitpicks then anything else. Honestly, it was a much better Power Rangers story then the 2017 reboot was. Yeah, I said it!

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers Once & Always is a fun time, whether you are a superfan, or a casual viewer. It does have flaws, mainly in the acting and climax, but that is forgiven by the mature tone, and giving characters closure before the franchise is set to be rebooted after it’s 30th season. - 8.5 out of 10

What about you? Have you seen Once & Always yet? If so, what do you think about it? Leave your thoughts below!

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers Once & Always is available to stream on Netflix worldwide. You can also stream older Power Rangers episodes for free on their official YouTube Channel.

May the power protect you, readers!

“Thomas is a tank engine who lives at the big station on the Island of Sodor. He’s a cheeky little engine with six small wheels, a short stumpy funnel, a short stumpy boiler, and a short stumpy dome.”

Once Ringo Starr enunciated those words to British audiences in 1984 (and American audiences in 1989), Thomas The Tank Engine became an instant hit and continues to delight children worldwide to this very day, for better or worse.

For those living under a rock for the past 35 years or so, “Thomas & Friends” follows the adventures of the titular tank engine and his friends as they always strive to prove their worth, and get into trouble while doing so. Whether it’s something as simple as racing a bus, or crashing into a chocolate factory, there is always something happening on Sodor.

While it got its start as a book series by the Reverend Wilbert Awdry entitled “The Railway Series” in 1945, it was thanks to the efforts done by Britt Allcroft & David Mitton that Thomas really took off. Instead of using the traditional flashy “made to sell toys” animation route (much like the shows “He-Man” & “Thundercats” tended to go down), it was decided that the series would be made using live-action model trains & sets. This was the series’ hallmark until 2009, when it was decided to switch to CGI, where it remained for the next 12 years.

For me, personally, Thomas was the very first thing I was ever into as a child. I was downright obsessed with it, and still am to an extent. I had multiple VHS tapes, TONS of books, a handful of toys from each toy line released and went to actual railroads for “Day Out With Thomas” a few times. It never really left me all that much, and even when I didn’t watch, or collect it anymore, I still kept up with it. For something targeted at kids as old as 6, it was fascinating. 

However, what I find most interesting about Thomas is something that gets overlooked by its fans, general audiences, and even by the companies that have owned it, is its popularity and connection with those on the Autism spectrum. Why is that? Why are the adventures of this little blue engine something that connects to a certain audience?

Well, in 2002, The National Autistic Society released a study as to why that is, and while we identify Autism much differently today than when this was released, I believe a lot of the points made here still ring true. So, let’s look at some of those factors. 

“ALL ABOARD!”

All images and videos used are owned by Mattel, and/or credited creators

**Any users’ content shared does not indicate that the users themselves are on the autism spectrum. Their work is included to provide examples of the connections to said audience**

Facial Expressions

One common struggle that people with Autism have is difficulty in reading or misunderstanding facial expressions. It can be hard to tell if someone is Happy, Sad, Angry, or Neutral, as there can be many different interpretations of those emotions. This is one area where Thomas shined. 

David Mitton & his crew sculpted various different faces for all the different characters featured, which could be swapped out depending on what the scene required. To make it even better, they had moving eye mechanisms, which gave the faces life without moving the mouths.

And it was more than just a couple of face masks. Thomas alone had over 38 of them! This was a good way for Autistic kids to learn about emotions, as they had quite a variety. For example, if Thomas was seen as mad, was he angry or annoyed? What about when he looked happy? Was he calm, excited, or proud? Little variations like that really make it stand out, and make it very easy to decipher one over the other.

Narration

I think everyone, even those who haven’t seen Thomas, know that Ringo Starr, George Carlin, and Alec Baldwin provided their talents as storytellers during the series’ golden years in America. However, while they were very good, I am also referring to the style in which it was presented. 

Being based on a series of children’s storybooks, it was decided that Thomas needed a narrator to give it that kind of feel. And those who lend their voices really took it to heart. All three really made each narration their own. In doing so, it was easy to follow the story, whether they were expressing how “cross” Sir Topham Hatt was, doing a voice for “Devious Diesel”, or having Oliver confused about what it means to have “resource & sagacity”. They also really matched their tone to whatever situation the characters were in and kept it consistent even if it was frightening, or scary, as to not make the audience feel the same way.

For Autistic kids, that’s important, especially with a format like this. Most of the time, they prefer calm & simple tones that not only keep their attention, but can also make them feel safe & sound, which all three narrators did whether they knew it or not. 

Side note: George Carlin’s narration is soothing to the soul.

Music & Sounds

Music in any kids show is important, as it is one of the driving forces in its success, and Thomas was no different in that regard. Yes, you all know the earworm that is the original theme song, but original composers, Mike O’ Donnell & Junior Campbell (pictured below), had more up their sleeves. 

Pretty much each character, situation, and every location had a very unique score that was updated as the series went on. From the mighty theme of engines going over the viaduct, to the whimsical charm of Thomas’ theme, to the inclusion of the William Tell overture in the show’s musical scores for runaway trains, each scene had its own special symphony.

Autistic children like repetition & familiarity, in which the music helped a lot. Sometimes they would use the same score they did a year ago, and sometimes, they would update it to match the look of the season’s update. As such, familiar chords can be picked up and pointed out, no matter if the show looks different, or if the narrator sounds different.  Just compare Season 2’s Viaduct theme with Season 3’s Harbor theme, or Percy’s Season 1, and Season 5 themes to see for yourself. These are all music recreations, by the way, but they sound exactly like the show’s scores.

This also was apparent in the sound effects from the engine’s whistles, to the famous chuffing sound and the crashing sounds. It all added a sense of familiarity and really made the other elements feel complete.

Vocabulary

One section of the study states: “About a quarter of responding parents described their children’s relationship/association with Thomas to be partly about learning, primarily around colors, numbers, and language. The significance of Thomas’ role in all forms of learning is considerable, but especially noteworthy is the influence on language learning, which is often late to develop and sometimes entirely absent in children with autism.”.

This is true on many levels, and the one that stuck out to me was the vocabulary that Thomas presented. Of course, for being a show about a railway, they used technical terms all the time, but I’m talking more about the big words they would use that would have nothing to do with railway terminology. Words like resource, sagacity, deputation, conceited, coloratura, admiration, sagacious and dignified were all said and explained on a series about talking trains. Some of these can be attributed to the adaptions of the Railway Series books, as Wilbert Awdry stated that he was not really writing for children, but for the adults who had to read them to their children. In doing so, kids probably knew these words way before their peers did. 

Plus, they were sometimes funny when it came to advanced vocabulary. For example, in the episode “The Deputation”, while they understand what it means, they can’t pronounce it right, mistaking it for “Depot station, desperation, disputation”, or in “Oliver Owns Up”, where Oliver says he’s “sagacious” and the other engines say “good gracious” ’cause they can’t pronounce it themselves. Doing it this way sticks out more and helps kids remember if they need to use these words in the future.

It Looked & Felt Real

Without a doubt, the best thing about Thomas was that it looked & felt real. How does this connect with Autistic kids? Simple. It adds a sense of “real-life fantasy”. 

The decision to make the series using model trains & sets was a smart one, as a lot of money was poured into it. Britt Allcroft even re-mortgaged her first home to finance the first season! As a result, everything was built from scratch. The characters, locations, wooden figures, trees, everything. The best part was that as each season went on, it improved in quality (the first 5 seasons anyway), which gave it a familiar, yet very real look to it. The characters looked real, the stations looked real, the trees looked real, the water looked real, the crashes looked real, everything just looked so lifelike. David Mitton himself used to work on the original Thunderbirds series and also did a short-lived sister project called Tugs, so it’s no shock he brought his a-game to Thomas as it gained worldwide fame.

Autistic people can be very drawn to detail and Thomas was a detail-filled series, to the point where those who love it can pick out any inconsistencies, or relate it to real-life railways that they may visit, or view online. While this particular trait wasn’t on Britt Allcroft or David Mitton’s mind, it was one that helped Thomas succeed beyond the general audience it was made for.

Sparking Creativity

Much like every children franchise that gets big, Thomas is pretty massive in the toy market as well. Back in the 2000s, you couldn’t walk down the toy department of Target without seeing one-half of the preschool aisle stocked with battery-powered, die-cast, and wooden products based off of it.  But what does this have to do with its connection to Autism?

As mentioned earlier, the show’s format is that of a storybook with various locations & characters, and the toys are meant to replicate that. With this, children can repeat various episodes or even create their own. 

An article from The Place For Children With Autism states, “Children have an inherent sense of creativity that grows and stretches as their minds develop. Children on the autism spectrum, in particular, can display a deep sense of creativity and imagination.” I feel that this defines the Thomas toy lines quite well. They can very well teach autistic children about creative development and how to create stories all of their own. In fact, there are TONS of Thomas fan content on YouTube that display just that with various toy ranges, model trains, and even train simulators. This remake of “Thomas & Bertie’s Great Race using Wooden Railway toys is a great example.

Plus, as they get older, they may be interested in learning about how the show was made and how it was filmed, which could lead to them making their own replica model episodes. Much like this group of fans did.

While this doesn’t apply to just autistic children/adults (Thomas is a brand that can be enjoyed by everyone, of course), the fact that its connection with this audience goes beyond the TV series is fascinating.

Life Imitates Art

Probably one of the most interesting facts about Thomas and its Autism connection is that someone who worked with it actually has it. 

In 1981, Australian illustrator, Owen Bell, was hired to create illustrations that emulated the TV series. He mixed in the charm of the Railway Series books to use for various products, such as: books, posters, jigsaw puzzles, and fine china (seriously, it’s amazing). While he ended his contributions in 1996, his artwork continues to be in circulation, most notably in Japan.

In an interview with Australian Broadcasting Company News, they showcased Bell’s digital image work as well as his past Thomas work, where he revealed that he self-diagnosed himself with “Asperger’s Syndrome”. At the time of the interview, it was labeled as a form of autism, which was later confirmed by his doctor & psychiatrist. He attributes this to how obsessed he is with detail and that is very apparent in his Thomas work, from the way the engines look, to the building, and even to tiny things like backgrounds or foaming water from a watermill.

When asked about it, he described it as,“I’m well up on the spectrum, but I’m not full-blown. I like to put it this way. I’m not ‘rain man’,  I’m sort of like ‘shower man’. I don’t look upon it as a disability. In my own experience, it’s actually a gift because it allows me to do what I do the way that I do it, because of my obsession with detail and my ability to be able to focus so strongly on one thing for hours and hours and hours without sort of wandering off. It allows me to do what I do.”

Pretty neat that someone who actually worked on Thomas had the same disability as a good chunk of its audience did, and that makes it all the more humble.

"Security Blanket"

One particular section of the study talks about how Thomas acts as a “security blanket” for autistic children, even in their teenage & adult years. What does that mean exactly? 

It states that “Many parents mention the ‘calming’, ‘comforting’, ‘ security blanket’ role of Thomas. Some children had to have their diecast models with them at all times, including in bed. In other cases, the security may involve leaving the video on in the background for the comfort and sound whilst children are eating or involved in other activities.“ This can be true for many other franchises aimed at a similar audience like “Blue’s Clues”, “Bear In The Big Blue House”, “The Wiggles”, and “Winnie The Pooh” to name a few. However, Thomas is in a whole league of its own.

Its visual style, its narrators, its musical score, and its overall familiarity can really give autistic children a sense of safeness & comfort. They need it the most, especially after having a bad day, or in the aftermath of a meltdown, which I’m sure made many parents, teachers & caregivers relieved that their children gravitated towards something positive and soothing to calm them down. Thomas was indeed really useful in more ways than one.

Trust Thomas

It really comes as no surprise that Thomas connects with this specific audience the way it does. What just looks like a typical kids brand to the everyday viewer and shopper is actually much more than that. The connection to autistic audiences is probably the strongest one on the kids market. In fact, in 2002, “Children on the autism spectrum associate with Thomas before any other children’s character (57%).”  Imagine what that number is like 20 years later! 

But the most important thing to take away from this is that the Thomas brand is a very “trusting” one. It makes parents of autistic children relieved that their child is gravitating towards something so safe & wholesome that they do not need to worry about their child being sad or frustrated. In fact, Thomas makes them happy, but a special kind of happy. If they were alive today, Wilbert Awdry, David Mitton, and George Carlin would be very proud.

“Now I know I can trust an engine, especially if his name is Thomas!” – Bertie The Bus

Seasons 1-7 of Thomas & Friends are currently available to stream on Amazon Prime & Roku. If you would like to learn more about the series, visit these various sources:

• Thomas The Tank Engine Wikia – fan-created Wikipedia covering all incarnations of the franchise

• The Unlucky Tug – weekly YouTuber who does analysis videos on characters, episodes, timelines, etc.

• Mod Music – Co-composter Mike O’Donnell’s blog as well as an online shop in which he sells albums with Thomas music recreations

• An Unlikely Fandom – Upcoming Thomas & Friends fandom documentary directed by Brannon Carty

• S.A. Music – Composer who re-creates Thomas scores

• ThomasTankMerch – Owners of several Thomas props

To learn more about ASD (autism spectrum disorder), visit ASAN (Autistic Self Advocacy Network).

Be responsible, reliable, and really useful readers!

“Parks & Recreation”. We’ve all seen that show, right? The show that looks like it’s ripping off “The Office”, but in reality, is ten times better than “The Office” since they actually were outside offices? 

If you haven’t, it follows the daily goings-on in the City of Pawnee, Indiana. More specifically, the Parks & Recreation Department, headed by Leslie Knope (played by Amy Poehler). The series aired on NBC for 7 seasons from 2009-2015, and has gained a cult following thanks to its reruns on TV and streaming. 

One character that has stuck out, even to those who have never seen the show, is Ronald Ulysses Swanson (played by Nick Offerman).  He’s Leslie’s superior and a government Ponzi scheme theorist who loves woodwork, hunting, and has his own pyramid of greatness.

But what about Ron makes him so great? Let’s have a look at five episodes where he is at his best and explore that (along with Leslie Knope).

All screenshots used are owned by Comcast

5) "Women Of The Year" - Season 2, Episode 17

“Look, Leslie, your job, which you’re great at, is making me look good, which you’ve clearly done well because I’m getting an award.”

Proud & noble Leslie is esthetic when she assumes she’s won the annual IOW (Indiana Organization Of Women) Women Of The Year award, only to find out that it was Ron, which he is cheeky about since it pushes her buttons knowing that it was for a project she started. In response, Leslie pushes all her responsibilities onto him, only to find out he passed on the award to her in a very Ron Swanson way.

So, why did Ron win this award? Simple. The head of IOW thought it would be good for “marketing purposes”. In typical fashion, Ron & Leslie plan to ruin the ceremony, which doesn’t turn out like either of them planned.

This is a good episode cause it really shows how much they get under each other’s skin and that is actually rare in this show, as most of the time, Leslie is seen as the optimist and Ron is the “Negative Nancy”. Nice to see both sides!

4) "Pawnee Rangers" - Season 4, Episode 4

“This forum, like all public forums, is a waste of time. Thank you.”

Seen as a sequel to a previous episode you’ll see later on this list, The Pawnee Rangers, led by Ron, and the Pawnee Goddesses, led by Leslie, are off to their annual camping trip in the woods. While Leslie is more of the “fun” head trooper with cabins & crafts, Ron is more of the “traditional” leader with cardboard boxes & canvas sheets.

What at the surface just seems like an episode about gender roles, is really more about Ron being jealous of Leslie, as his troopers rather do activities with the Goddesses than traditional rituals. Seeing this, Leslie sets up something special for him at the end.

This is no different than any other “Ron vs Leslie” episode, but that’s what makes it good, as each one is different. Not to mention that this one mostly takes place in the woods, instead of around Pawnee. Different location shoots can make an episode memorable!

3) "Sweetums" - Season 2, Episode 15

“I think the entire government should be privatized. Chuck E. Cheese could run the parks. Everything operated by tokens. Drop in a token, go on the swing set. Drop in another token, take a walk. Drop in a token, look at a duck.”

The Sweetums food company announces that they are expanding their presence in Pawnee. The Parks Department gets a lot of free products from them, only to find out that there are filled with very high amounts of corn syrup. This drives Leslie & Ann to protest against it, while Ron is all for it.

While it doesn’t focus on Ron very much, aside from him debating with Leslie about the protest, there is one scene here that sticks out.

Ron is a very heavy drinker and drinks a bit too much at the Sweetums launch event, so much to the point that Leslie, following the instructions on a “Don’t Drink & Drive” card (which also includes a handy Blackjack guide), sits on the hood of his car until it’s safe for him to leave. The following day, he comes into work with a new harp he made after drinking 6 glasses of whiskey, along with pictures featuring that day’s newspaper, to prove he wasn’t lying.

What a class act.

2) "Ron & Tammy" - Season 2, Episode 8

“Look, Tammy and I don’t work. We are oil and water. Or oil, and TNT, and C-4, and a detonator, and a butane torch.”

Leslie finds out that the lot she put a bid in has also been reserved by, of all things, the library, which she has a strong disdain for. To make matters worse, the head of the department is Ron’s ex-wife, Tammy 1 (He’s been with 2). After going to speak with her, Tammy tries to explain that she’s blowing this out of proportion and says “government gals” have to stick together. As an act of gratitude, Leslie sets the two up on a date. 

Oddly enough, they argue after getting reacquainted, but then fall for each other and spend the night in a motel. The next day, he is surprisingly happy & chipper with everyone. While Leslie thinks she did a good thing, she then finds out that Ron gave her the final paperwork for the lot that she wanted, both realizing that they were bamboozled by Tammy in different ways.

This just shows how easily persuaded Ron can be, depending on how desperate he is. Plus, it shows how Leslie can be as big of a pain as well as a miracle. 

1) "Hunting Trip" - Season 2, Episode 10

“You know, Leslie, the Super Bowl is in a couple of months. I usually watch it with my brothers. Maybe you could come by at halftime and shoot me in the head.”

The Parks’ Department annual turkey hunting trip is on the horizon (a.k.a. “Trail Survey”), which usually involves Ron and all the male workers. In true Leslie Knope fashion, she recommends that all of the women (as well as Tom) join along, much to Ron’s dismay. While it does go smoothly for the most part, it comes to a halt when Ron gets shot, which Leslie fears she did. 

What follows is some really hilarious events involving Ron blaming Leslie, Leslie getting interviewed by the police, and finding out who the real shooter was. Not going to spoil it here, but it was really funny on who it ended up being. 

Does a lot happen in this one? No, not really. So, why do I consider it the best? I feel like it shows Ron when he is in his element. He is, among other things, a nature lover, and spending time around it with some familiar buddies, is his home away from home. Leslie joining along cramps his style, but he doesn’t fully admit that. It shows that he’s a good sport and does have a good heart, despite his disgruntlements.

Where do you think these episodes land on the “Ron Swanson Pyramid Of Greatness”? Are they more at the top, along with Honor, America, and Buffets, or near the bottom with Capitalism, Security, and Rage? Tell us your thoughts below!

Parks & Recreation is currently ready to stream on Peacock, is available on DVD & Blu-ray from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment, and currently airs on Comedy Central & IFC.

Remember this readers: “Sting like a bee, but do not float like a butterfly. That’s ridiculous”.

“And I say, hey! What a wonderful kind of day! Where we can learn to work & play, and get along with each other!”

Ziggy Marley’s opening lyrics have been introducing viewers to the world of Arthur Read, and his Elwood City entourage for the past 25 years. Originally launching as a book series in 1976 by children’s author, Marc Brown, it wasn’t until 1996 until this aardvark began his success story, and it’s not hard to see why. The series is fun, calm, free of any sugarcoating, can be quite savage (we’ve all seen the memes, you know what I’m talking about), and has lessons that not only can help kids throughout their life but adults as well. It was very much set out to do what was done with Sesame Street, but for the elementary school crowd (even though anyone of any age could get something from it) .

But what was it about Arthur that made it so good, likable, and very well praised? What made it my favorite PBS Kids series, and why did I watch it religiously up until I was a senior in high school?

Was it because of how well put together visually & musically? How the episodes were written, or just how savage the characters could be? What was it exactly?

I think Marc Brown put it best in his most recent book “Believe In Yourself: What We Learned From Arthur” (one sentence review: It’s amazing. Get it!), in which he states “I like to think that one of the best things that Arthur has done all these many years is tell children the truth. Children look to the media for truth. We all do.”

In honor of the show’s final curtain call on February 21st,  I’d like to take a look back at 25 of my favorite episodes. Some of them are for the morals they convey, and the others are just based on the humor they deliver. This isn’t a ranking list, and there are so many I could choose from, but if I don’t limit myself, you’d be reading this well into next week.

And to make it even more narrow, I will only be including episodes from the first 15 seasons. I was not a fan of the animation change from Season 16 onward. The episodes were still well written, but that animation style is an eyesore.

With that out of the way, queue the title cards!

All of the following images are owned by PBS, GBH, and Wildbrain Ltd.

1) Arthur's Eyes-Season 1, Episode 1A

Getting glasses can be quite an interesting experience, because you never know what the outcome will be from others, specifically from the peers you see daily. This is what Arthur goes through when he begins to wear glasses.

Aside from his best friend, Buster, everyone makes fun of him for it, to the point where he tries to get rid of them by either slingshotting them to oblivion, or by having his baby sister smash them. However, once he sees a TV star wear the same glasses he has to read a script, he realizes that needing them to see is a positive trait, as does everyone else. His other best friend, Francine even wears some lens-free sunglasses in support. That’s dope.

Moral: There are other people like you out there, so never feel like you’re alone, and embrace it.

“Wilber Rabbit wears glasses just like mine? All right!” – Arthur

2) Locked In The Library!-Season 1, Episode 6A

Friends get into arguments, and disagreements all the time, and that’s just part of life. Does that put a strain on their friendships? That question & answer is well defined in this episode.

Arthur & Francine are paired up for a school project on Heroism while having a personal quarrel. When they visit the library to work on their report, they lose track of time and are the only ones there after hours,  which they can’t escape. What makes it even worse, is that their arguing doesn’t help, and the two go their separate ways. Later, while Arthur can’t find Francine, he hears a scream, and, without hesitation, runs to rescue her, only to find her in the lounge watching a horror movie. Surprised that he was worried about her, Francine makes peace with Arthur, and the two use their experience as the basis of their report. It was a “putting friendship to the test story” that took it to the next level, which is very appreciated.

Moral: Your friends are still your friends no matter what. They care about you, even when they’re upset or angry.

“Who would need a book on escaping from a library, unless they were already in a library…?!” – Francine

3) Arthur Meets Mister Rogers-Season 2, Episode 1A

You know you have the approval of Fred Rogers when you let him be depicted as an aardvark (I think?).

The titular TV host is staying with the Read family, as well as presenting in Arthur’s class. Worried that his friends may laugh at him since he believes that his friends will laugh at him for potentially still liking a kid’s show icon, he acts strange around his peers, to the point in which three of his friends get mistaken as robbers while checking upon him. Low & behold, this makes the news, and this leads to the two discussing how Arthur is feeling in classic Mr. Rogers fashion, who tells him what he thinks about his friends. Very humble, and wholesome. We miss you, Fred.

Moral: Friends are still your friends no matter what you may be into.

“Real friends don’t make fun of real friends. And your friends seem like real friends. They all seem to be concerned about you.” – Fred Rogers

4) Buster & The Daredevils-Season 2, Episode 3B

Okay, this one was more for laughs.

Two older kids at the park are being admired by Arthur & Buster, which the latter gets dared by the two to do embarrassing things to gain skating tips from. Everything Buster does is pretty hilarious, from singing “Mary Had A Little Lamb” is an awful key, to kissing Francine at the pitcher’s mound & running home as fast as he can. He realizes in the end that he doesn’t need to do any of this to gain notoriety, but still. Hilarious all around.

Moral: Don’t give in to peer pressure, and make sure you get hand-me-down shorts that fit.

“Hey, fresh dudes. Mind if we chill your crib? Me and my homefry here would like to be in your possum… well, I mean, heh heh, posse.” – Buster

5) Arthur's Faraway Friend-Season 2, Episode 12A

Friends leaving when they’re part of your everyday life can be difficult, because you will never know when you will see them again.

Buster breaks the news to Arthur that he is traveling around the world with his Dad, whom he & his Mom, Bitzi, have been divorced since he was 4 years old. While Arthur tries to think of many ways to keep him around, even suggesting that he live in a dug-up pit (what?), Buster insists that he does go, and this makes Arthur depressed, even up until the day when he has to say goodbye to him. While he does struggle without him around, he eventually realizes that he is having fun with his Dad, who he probably doesn’t see as often as he likes. And if that is making him happy, then so is Arthur.

Moral: Even if your friends are not in the same town, state, or country as you, they’re still your friends, and if they’re happy doing what they’re doing, then you’ll be happy for them too.

“We’ll dig a pit under my house, and you’ll live in it. They’ll never find you.” – Arthur

*Fun fact: Buster’s voice actor, Daniel Brochu, was going to be in traveling in Australia for well over a year, and instead of recasting him, they just decided to write Buster out of the show until he returned in Season 3. Nice job security!*

6) Love Notes For Muffy-Season 2, Episode 16A

This one is also strictly for laughs.

During a science fair, class knowledge encyclopedia, Alan (a.k.a. “Brain”), and Francine are upset that their classmate, Muffy, looks to have won, due to her bribing the judges. In a very rare out-of-character move for Brain, he acts like a mad man and wants revenge. With Francine’s help, he writes her a love note from a secret admirer, whom Muffy wants to figure out. She eventually reveals that she knows it was all a hoax, but the whole thing leading up to it is, funny, especially with how Brain plans his revenge, and how he talks
like he’s on a trial. Just a laugh-fest all around. 

Moral: Don’t make a federal case out of a science fair.

“Have you ever realized how frighteningly easy it is to manipulate someone into doing whatever you want?” – Brain

7) Revenge Of The Chip-Season 3, Episode 5B

It took me this long to not mention an episode featuring Arthur’s sister, D.W. ? She is probably the funniest character on this show, and a good chunk of her episodes are among the greatest. This is one of them.

In what is a rarity for the series, this is an epilogue to the previous one, in which she ate a green potato chip, and thought she was going to die. As such, she doesn’t want anyone to speak of it again. She then realizes that everyone around town knows about it, to the point where it even makes the newspaper. What’s even worse is that she finds out her Mom is the one who is responsible. While she apologizes and promises to never share it again, D.W. still has her doubts, and even wears a football helmet while going out in public (in typical D.W. fashion). She then realizes her Mom broke her promise and is still telling others about it. The discussion that follows is pretty interesting, as the moral seems to be more aimed at the parents who are watching with their kids, which was RARE for kid’s shows during that time, and one of the only ones I’ve seen do such a thing. Good wholesome stuff.

Moral: Kids are people too, and their feelings are just as valid as yours.

“President D.W., in your past term, you ended poverty and war and outlawed older brothers who break their promises. But, Mrs. President, I have one question. Would you like a potato chip?! I checked for green ones!” – Fantasy Sequence Francine

8) Arthur's Big Hit-Season 4, Episode 1B

Oh, this one’s quite popular, thanks to the various internet memes based on it. But for those unfamiliar, here’s what happens.

D.W. decides to play with Arthur’s new model plane, and throws it out the window, shattering it to pieces. Furious with her, after telling her multiple times not to mess with it, Arthur hits her hard in the shoulder, leaving a bruise. While Arthur acts like what he did was valid, all of his friends disagree, stating that he could have handled it differently. On the other side of the fence, Binky, the school “bully” hears about this, and his friends peer pressure him into doing the same to show off his toughness. Not wanting any confrontation, he tries to avoid Arthur at every turn, until he actually does it in front of his friends and walks away in shame. Upon meeting karma, Arthur realizes that what he did to D.W. was wrong, and actually thanks Binky, who in turn apologizes, and states that if his friends want him to do things like that, then he doesn’t want to hang out with them. Good job, Binky! Stick with your principles!

Moral: Karma comes back around, so make sure you think before you do something you’ll regret later on.

“If it could break the sound barrier, falling out of a window shouldn’t be able to break it!” – D.W.”

9) Kids Are From Earth, Parents Are From Pluto-Season 5, Episode 2A

Parents can be so embarrassing right? But what if them being embarrassing is part of their personality?

This is a fun one since it doesn’t cover one particular character, as it focuses on multiple ones and their relationship with their parents. From Sue Ellen thinking that her parents will be perceived as strange since they’ve traveled the world, to Binky’s parents calling him “Mr. Muffin Man”, to Brain’s parents not being as smart as him. Nothing moral-filled, just a nice one for laughs.

Moral: Parents can be embarrassing sometimes, and that is just the way it is.

“Oh my gosh! There’s a sale at Kitchen Crafts!” – David Read

10) The Last Of Mary Moo Cow-Season 5, Episode 8A

What does it feel like when your favorite TV show is canceled? More importantly, how do kids feel when the show acts as a comfort blanket?

D.W.’s favorite series, Mary Moo Cow (which is a straight-up parody of Barney & Friends) has met the chopping block, and she doesn’t know how to process it. While her parents explain that it’s just the way things go, she still doesn’t quite understand it. She then sees a news report about a petition, and on her own, figures out that it may work in bringing the show back. In response, the TV studio invites her on a tour. Thinking that speaking to “Mary” will make her come out of retirement, she is devastated to find out that it’s still canceled. After running off, she meets with a news lady (who happens to be Mary herself) and states that she knew of her petition. She also tells her that she may return one day and that her petition may have helped with that. D.W. then leaves satisfied, as the newscaster says goodbye to her in her “Mary” voice. It’s kind of like closure between the two, which is very subtle, and a nice touch, especially for a young kid like D.W.

Moral: Even though it may not reflect right away, what you do today can make a big difference in the future.

“P-E-T-I… something-something-something.” – Mary Moo Cow Kids

11) Arthur Plays The Blues-Season 6, Episode 2A

Teachers in any field can be a bit difficult and may expect more from you than you realize.

Arthur gets a brand-new piano teacher, Dr. Fugue, who was a once world-renowned pianist. As such, he gives Arthur much more advanced music than what he was used to. Putting it off, possibly out of fear, he fails to play the material at his next lesson, and gets “fired”. While discussing this with his old piano teacher, she states that he doesn’t have to play perfectly for him, just to do his best to earn his respect. Arthur takes this to heart and does just that at his next lesson, which is good enough for Dr. Fugue, as he agrees to help him get better.

Moral: By trying your best at something, you will earn respect from those around you.

“C sharp. He should get that tuned.” – Dr. Fugue On Arthur’s Car Horn

12) The Boy With His Head In The Clouds-Season 6, Episode 7A

Arthur’s never been a stranger to sugarcoating things simply because it’s made for children. They’ve dealt with a range of topics, and one that is most consistent would be disabilities. This one, in particular, focuses on dyslexia.

George has trouble staying focused in class whenever words are involved, and even more so at home while attempting to research a report. It gets even more apparent when he gets frustrated cause he can’t read trivia cards. After a hilarious segment in which Binky tries to improve his image, Mr. Ratburn asks him if he’s ever been tested for dyslexia, to which he explains that even famous people like Albert Einstein & Leonardo DaVinci had. Plus, he explains that he’s not the only one who has it either, as even the school principal has it. What’s even better is that, while it only lasts a few scenes, we see that his friends are concerned about him, worried that he may need to go to a special school. That’s nice to see, and it’s very genuine.  

Moral: Everyone struggles with something, and you are not “dumb or weird” because of that.

” Let’s see. We did insults, pushing, rude noises… You’re almost ready for your first public appearance!” – Binky

13) Cast Away-Season 7, Episode 1A

Little Sisters. They can either make your day miserable or ruin a good time. But how should older brothers handle it?

This is the question Arthur has when his Son & Father fishing trip is tainted by having to bring D.W. along. While he does get that alone time with his Dad, they’re not successful in catching any fish. However, when D.W. does it, she gets lucky and catches a bunch, twice. This makes Arthur jealous and states that “she gets whatever she wants” all the time. His Dad then says while she was lucky, what he did was even greater, and that was Arthur being kind enough to let D.W. go on their private Son & Father trip. Clearly shows that he’s come a long way from his big hit. Plus, the ending is just worth watching. I won’t spoil it here.

Moral: Sometimes, you just have to go with the flow, and be  the better person.

“Can I be excused? I wanna do my homework.” – Annoyed Arthur

14) Francine's Split Decision-Season 7, Episode 2A

While really more on the humor side of things, but it weaves the moral in so perfectly.

Francine gets caught in a pickle, as a very important bowling tournament is the same day as her cousin’s bar mitzvah. In classic TV show fashion, she & her friends come up with a plan to go back & forth between events. It’s hilarious, as she has to tell fibs in front of her parents and tape up bowling shoes that are too big for her, all the while acting like a ping pong ball. Her parents eventually find out what she was doing in the most hilarious way, and then gets punished for it, realizing that she missed out on learning more about why the bar mitzvah was so important. Perfectly funny, and perfectly moralized.

Moral: Never deny missing out on something important. You may learn something interesting.

“You know, I thought it was your nose that grew when you told lies. But, apparently, it’s your bowling shoes.” – Oliver Frenskey

15) April 9th-Season 7, Episode 10

Much like how Sesame Street did an episode in response to 9/11 for their audience, it was appropriate that Arthur did the same for theirs.

A fire at the school happens, and we see how a lot of characters handle the situation. We see Sue Ellen feeling depressed that her journal was destroyed, Binky getting PTSD from seeing the flames, Buster not knowing how to react since he wasn’t there, and Arthur is afraid that something will happen to his Dad since he was caught in the fire. All of these are handled perfectly & realistically too. How they went about each character’s worry helped me out as a child, showcasing that just being afraid isn’t the only effect events like this have on all people. How they’re resolved is well done too. Just a winner, and a testament to how great this show was.

Moral: People feel differently about scary situations, so let them know that they’re not alone and that you’re all in this together one way or the other.

“It’s my job to worry about you Arthur, not the other way around.”-David Read

16) Bitzi's Break Up-Season 8, Episode 1A

Breakups are hard. No doubt about that, especially if one of them is a single parent. But what effect does this have on their children?

Bitzi, Buster’s mom, and Harry, whom she’s been dating since Season 5, announce to Buster that they’re breaking up. Conflicted, since Harry was like a father to him, Buster, hilariously, goes to Muffy for advice on how to get them back together, who gets all of her “wisdom” from a teen magazine. After setting up a surprise dinner for the two, which blows up in his face, Buster tells his Mom that Harry won’t want her back if all she does is argue with him, to which she reveals that she’s the one who broke up with him. She then explains to Buster that he had nothing to do with it, and she is way too busy to commit to a relationship. The next day, Harry then explains that they are still friends and that he would like to hang out with Buster whenever they get the chance to. Once again, I feel like this is more geared towards the adults, rather than the kids, giving them good examples on how to discuss this kind of situation with their children.

Moral: Breakups not only affect adults, but they can also affect kids too.

“I hate Martin Spivak!” – Buster

17) Arthur's Snow Biz-Season 8, Episode 3A

This one is purely for laughs once again, and it’s a knee slapper.

After realizing that they can make a little bit of cash for shoveling snow, Arthur & Buster get into business together, however split up after disagreeing on who does more of the work. As such, they compete, and it is hilarious. The comebacks, the animation, how little pay they will accept & how far they will go to do more than clear snow. They mend in the end, but still, hilarious. Without a doubt, a must-watch.

Moral: Snow shoveling can get completive.

“Getting your little sister to find you work?! No fair! Who’s gonna say no to a four-year-old girl?!”-Buster

“No one!” – Arthur

18) Vomitrocious-Season 8, Episode 5A

This episode made me wish more people were like Francine. Seriously, I’m starting to think she’s the best character on this show. 

After she makes fun of George dealing with a bloody nose, she vomits in the cafeteria in front of everyone, which is due to her catching a 24-hour bug. Her older sister, Catherine, then states that she should expect everyone to make fun of her. With this thought in her head, she’s nervous. However, to her surprise, she is treated quite well, and you would think that it ends there, but nope. She still has her doubts and gets nauseous several times as a result, sometimes in front of George. She then actually invites him to lunch and asks what it’s like to be made fun of. George then states that no one makes fun of her because she’s popular, and he’s not, to which Francine then realizes that that’s not okay. Making another mad dash to the bathroom after her friends see her with George, she hits him, causing him to make his nose bleed again. When she recovers from her nausea after she hears the other kids making fun of him, she then tells them to leave him alone, and that he can’t help it, indicating that it’s not nice to treat him poorly just because it’s not her. After she leaves, the kids offer George some tissues, and Francine suddenly feels better. Something tells me that her feeling nauseous was her conscience telling her that it was wrong to make fun of him in the first place. Very good message, and props to her sticking up for someone who doesn’t have many friends, to begin with.

Moral: Just because your friends don’t treat you badly, doesn’t mean you should treat others badly. Everyone deserves sympathy. 

“I think we just entered the fourth dimension.” – Buster

19) Bleep-Season 8, Episode 10B

As Arthur got more popular with kids 5 and under over the years, a lot of PBS stations began airing it in the morning hours as well so that the stay-at-home kids could get a chance to watch. As a result, more & more episodes about D.W. and her friends were made, and this one, I feel, is her best one.

D.W. overhears a teenager curse at his Mom, which results in her dropping a glass sculpture. Curious as she is, D.W. asks Arthur was it means, who tells her that she better not hear their parents say it. She then asks her friends, the Tibble Twins at school, who say it’s a magic word that hypnotizes adults into doing whatever they want. She then tells their neighbor’s kid, whom she watches through the window with her binoculars. However, after her Mom repeatedly asks her to come downstairs, she blurts it and gets scolded for it. While she gets away with it cause she didn’t realize what she was saying, her Mom explains that those kinds of words are another way of telling people that they want to make them feel bad. While mainly targeted at the younger crowd, this is something all kids need to hear (and even adults).

Moral: If it sounds bad, you probably shouldn’t be repeating it, no matter what people tell you.

“Um… Can I have a soda?” – D.W.

20) The Law Of The Jungle Gym-Season 9, Episode 3B

Another hilarious one and the screenshot above is proof of that alone.

While messing around with her new digital camera, Muffy runs into “The Tough Customers”, Binky’s group of friends which include Slink, Rattles & Molly, who call the Jungle Gym their “Tower Of Pain”. Despite a lot of threats from Molly, Muffy doesn’t give in, as she shouldn’t, and says she can go up there whenever she wants. This turns into a hilarious slew of events, as the two groups have to share the jungle gym after Muffy’s attorney (seriously) requests it. This leads to the Tough Customers attempting to find other places to hang out. While in the end, Muffy decides to just let them have the Jungle Gym, and not bother them, it’s still a hilarious episode. Makes me wonder if the writer of this episode worked on Recess at one point.

Moral: Jungle gyms are serious business.

“Molly McDonald, by order of the second circuit court of this jurisdiction, you are instructed to grant Muffy Crosswire access to this public facility, this “The Jungle Gym” aka “The Tower of Pain” at any time, in any manner, and for any purpose of her choosing. – Muffy’s Attorney

21) Flaw & Order-Season 10, Episode 5B

An obvious Law & Order parody, and a very on-point one at that!

Arthur’s Dad finds out an expensive cake place for one of his catering clients is chipped, and thanks to Buster letting D.W. use his camera, it’s assumed that Arthur did it. However, he states he was never near it, to begin with, and he & Buster work together to prove his innocence, very much like a Law & Order episode. In fact, it’s harder to figure out than a Law & Order episode. I won’t spoil it here, just go watch it. Very fun, and very unpredictable.

Moral: Take a break from “Law & Order” once in a while and give yourself a challenge.

” I can’t believe you videotaped us!” – Arthur

“Well, I’m glad I did, since it proves I didn’t do it.” – D.W.

22) Francine's Pilfered Paper-Season 11, Episode 8A

What is a good age to teach kids about plagiarism? Simple. Any age.

Mr. Ratburn gives his class an assignment that covers an assigned topic about Thanksgiving, to which Francine’s is pilgrims. When she thinks finds the perfect source, she copies & pastes everything onto a word document, adds a title page, and turns it in the next day. On Thanksgiving day proper, Catherine gives her the same research materials, and after explaining to her what she did, Catherine states that she was plagiarizing and that there are consequences to it. Later on, she visits Mr. Ratburn to explain, only to realize he already graded it. She rubs it off, but has a nightmare about it, and feels guilty. She then comes out to Mr. Ratburn, who explains to her that if she went that route, she wouldn’t learn anything, and the author would have been robbed of the credit. Francine then hands in an original report, which he appreciates because the fact that she did it is more important than any grade she gets. Once more, a very
good moral that can be good for teens & adults as well as kids.

Moral: If it doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t right.

“Five pages. How will I ever write five pages? This must be what college is like, except we still have to be in bed by nine and can’t drive.” – Buster

23) Is That Kosher?-Season 12, Episode 1A

Another thing Arthur has also excelled in is showcasing different religions & cultures in a very respectful manner, which is cool to see.

Yon Kipper is around the corner and Francine’s grandma “Bubby” (voiced by the late & great Joan Rivers) comes to visit & celebrate with them. As one of the traditions of Yon Kipper is fasting, Francine makes a bet with Catherine to see how long she can go without eating, despite her being too young to do so. She does well at first, but it begins to be difficult, as she starts seeing food commercials, and is invited to a pizza party Arthur won. On the day of said party, she goes to visit just to get her mind off of things. At one point, all the kids are given a slice of pizza for a photo op, and after the picture is taken, she stuffs her face with the first thing she has eaten in several days. Feeling ashamed, she walks home, to find that Bubby is eating a sandwich, to which she explains that there are indeed exceptions and that she’s proud that she tried anyway. A+ episode that
anyone of any religion can enjoy, and gain knowledge from.

Moral: Everyone goes at their own pace. If you’re not ready for something, that’s okay.

“Oh, how wonderful! I am so glad you’re not cooking. Paper plates? What, china’s suddenly too good for me? Oh, I wish your grandfather were here to see this. He would have loved this. He would have been so proud of you girls.”-Grandma Bubby

24) D.W. Unties The Knot-Season 14, Episode 2B

Another hilarious D.W. episode, and a great satire on reality television.

One day, while flipping through channels, she comes across a wedding reality show, and as such, gets the idea to hold a real wedding. Not wanting anyone to know that it’s not her wedding, she fakes it and hires Muffy to plan it. Of course, this being an episode about D.W. and her friends, there are misunderstandings, but hilarious ones at that. From her dad being hired to cater the ceremony to the Tibble Twins throwing cooked rice instead of dry rice, and to Muffy stating that it’s “normally the father’s responsibility for the bill”. Just funny stuff. Seriously, funny.

Moral: Don’t let kids watch reality TV. You may get stuck paying for a wedding.

“Romantic?! Live together?! No one told me that part!” – D.W.

25) Grandpa Dave's Memory Album, Season 15, Episode 10A

As this was the last season of Arthur I watched religiously, this was the final episode I saw when it was new, and I feel it appropriate to end this list with it.

As mentioned in the show since the beginning, Arthur & D.W.’s Grandpa Dave has been declining in health for years now. Upon his most recent visit, it is revealed to the kids that he has Alzheimer’s, which Arthur has a hard time processing. When he tells Francine & her Grandma Bubby, they get the idea to create a memory album to help him remember things. While small in the grand scheme of things, it’s a very comforting way to teach kids about Alzheimer’s, and they explain very well how that is much different than just not remembering something. It was something Arthur was always good at, and this is no exception.

Moral: Even though people may change a little bit, they are still the same person they always were no matter what.

“Anyhow, I wanted to share with you the story of my new friend. You are never going to guess who it is, so I’m just going to tell you. Okay, are you ready? My new friend is… What? We’re out of time already? I was talking too much? Okay, fine. Children, darlings, it is time for the show. So you’ll watch, you’ll enjoy, goodbye for now. Yeah, bye-bye. Will someone please tell me what was the rush? At this age I only have two speeds: Slow and stop. It’s public television. Why don’t we all just stop and smell the roses? Has anyone got a rose?” – Grandma Bubby

Honorable Mentions

• D.W. The Picky Eater-Season 2, Episode 3A: This is a childhood favorite of mine just because I also had the matching book. Love how Arthur doesn’t do it for D.W.’s best interest either.

• Arthur’s Almost Live Not Real Music Festival-Season 3, Episode 11B: The one with all the songs! I can’t tell you how many times I’ve sung along to “Jekyll Hyde”. It slaps!

• The Contest-Season 4, Episode 4A: This is mainly for all the neat parodies. Surprised that they let spoofs of “South Park”, “Beavis & Butthead”, and “Dr. Katz” in. I was really confused about what the heck they were doing with these as a kid.

• The Great McGrady-Season 13, Episode 5: Much like “ April 9^th”, this is a great story that shows cases how different people react to when a loved one gets cancer. I wanted to put the episode on the list, but they removed it from rotation after the Lance Armstrong controversy, which he guest stars in. And oddly enough, they redid this episode with the new animation. Why though?

• When Carl Met George-Season 13, Episode 6A: Yup, they even covered Autism, in a fantastic way, even explaining how those with Asperger’s  Syndrome process things. What’s even cooler is that Carl is a recurring character. Awesome stuff!

• Mr. Ratburn & The Special Someone-Season 22, Episode 5A: Only reason why it’s on here is that they had the gut to show a gay couple getting married on a PBS Kids series. It’s awesome. If only the animation followed suit.

I hope that these episodes, as well as the honorable mentions, showcase what Arthur meant to me growing up. Ultimately, outside of all the laughs it gave us & morals it taught us, I think what it ultimately taught me is how to interact with others in life, especially when you are growing up. All these situations are what kids go through, and Arthur showed us how to deal & handle those situations whether they’re with other kids, or grownups, and they did it in a way where everyone could understand it. 

A recent study report by Eric Rasmussenn, Ph.D. on the PBS for Parents website states, “Adults often ask kids what they want to be when they grow up. A teacher. A firefighter. A ballerina. The list of career choices is endless. I like to tell my kids that they can be whatever they want to be. As a parent, however, I’ve come to the conclusion that in the long run what they do isn’t nearly as important to me as who they become. And research shows that the television shows our kids watch may play a part in our children’s process of “becoming.”

Arthur currently airs on PBS Kids stations, episodes of varying quality are available on YouTube, and every episode is ready to stream on the PBS Kids add-on via Amazon Prime Video (The latter has some selections listed wrong, so just Google the episode list) .

“Believe In Yourself: What We Learned From Arthur” is available from Little, Brown Books for Young Readers wherever books are sold.

Have a wonderful kind of day, readers!

Ever since I have been active on the world wide web, I have tried various ways to express my thoughts about certain subjects, and topics. I had a Blogger/WordPress site dedicated to Power Rangers and tried out 2 long gone YouTube channels with videos on various things. While I did have some success with these ventures, I eventually lost interest and left them defunct.

About a year ago, I was provided the opportunity to be part of the staff for a new “any & every” topic article website called EFNCool.com, in which I wrote three very successful articles before it was closed as well. However, unlike last time, the passion for writing these kinds of pieces never left.

This is what the purpose of this is. To continue these articles that are filled with history & passion, and my thoughts on said history & passion. Whether you’re a fan of Power Rangers, Thomas & Friends, Nickelodeon, Arthur, Sailor Moon, Parks & Recreation, Video Now, or whatever, you are sure to find it here and are sure to enjoy it.

Stay well, readers.

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