Arnold's Valentine: An Analysis Of Indecisive Feelings

This video is about the season 1 finale of Hey Arnold.
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[@maggyfrog]

actually, helga initially was kind and appreciative of arnold from back when they were still in pre-school (or was it kindergarten?) but harold started to notice that she likes arnold and proceeds to tease her. in that episode, helga is given the backstory of the neglected child and when her only outlet of expressing positive feelings gets mocked by her classmates, she reacts exactly like a tough and lonely child -- with rage. this is also her origin story of being the complicated tormented bully 😹

[@twofacedmgrim]

The fact that most of the spooky episodes of Hey Arnold still manage to be creepy even today, is a testament to the writers.

[@oooh19]

Some things are timeless even though times change

[@Celestial7Heavens]

Arnold has a unfortunate habit falling for sixth grade girls that take him for granted.😓 Maria: Uses Arnold to make her boyfriend jealous at the school dance. Ruth: Leaves Arnold hanging at the cafe and goes out with the cafe’s server. Summer: Manipulates and takes advantage of Arnold to win the sandcastle building competition, while also lying that she actually has a boyfriend.

[@maggyfrog]

on surface, it seems so. but i think it's more like arnold is actually mature for his age and just mistakes older girls to be as intellectually or culturally interesting as he is. once he realizes that they are basically just pretty and famous with no substance, he loses interest. the problem with helga is that she hides her entire intellectual and cultural interests behind her tough persona and so almost nobody notices her (apart from brainy 😹)

[@jackcarraway4707]

My favorite thing about this episode is that Arnold grows a bit as a person. Once he found out he and Ruth have nothing in common and her personality is trash, he moved on and forgot about her.

[@keeperofthetale]

Always felt like it’s a great representation of childhood crushes on someone outside of your grade or even your elementary classroom. Those crushes often end by the person not living up to the person you made them in your head.

[@exeledusprince9165]

What a charming show this is. It feels so... idk how to explain it, but i guess surreal? Just the art design, especially the environment of the city with its jazzy soundtrack almost feel dreamlike sometimes... such a wonderful show.

[@liminal-angel]

luv this episode lol there's no way arnold and gerald didnt totally know that was helga the whole time lmao gerald even saved their date at the end he knew what was goin on

[@keeperofthetale]

Haha, yea Gerald was trying to give them a chance. Definitely one of my favorite episodes, but I love the relationship episodes on a lot of cartoons.

[@PokemonkaDub]

The end with the shoe is kinda like a Cinderella :'3

[@nathansullivan8472]

I hope that there is a sixth season someday to resolve all of these loose ends. We’ll just have to keep praying, donating, and signing petitions to make sure this happens.

[@keeperofthetale]

If you haven’t seen it, they released Hey Arnold : The Jungle Movie a few years ago. Although I didn’t think they did it well, they gave us some information to tie up a few loose ends that the show didn’t. It wasn’t my favorite movie, but it exists!

[@nathansullivan8472]

But there are still a few characters that haven’t got a spotlight episode yet, such as Sheena and Nadine.

[@ahliyanarodriguez5036]

I agree I think there was supposed to be a sixth season but nickelodeon denied it, but thats just what I've heard

[@GhostKyng]

The jungle movie clears it all up

[@ahliyanarodriguez5036]

​@@GhostKyngI think it does for the most part

[@ab6551]

Does Arnold really not know helga loves him? Jesus this guy really can’t tell the huge signs.

[@the-nina-beans88]

After the first movie he does. He’s aware of it

[@keeperofthetale]

Not in the series if I remember correctly. In the movies though, yea he catches on.

[@the-nina-beans88]

@@keeperofthetale but the April fools episode takes place after the movie

[@oooh19]

She’s always nasty and picking on him

[@uafgames9061]

Its not that uncommon to be completely oblivious to flirting/huge signs of affection. It happened to me as a kid. Plus, there was a recent(ish) study that came out that showed that participants can only detect flirting 28% of the time, and people observing from the outside are even worse at detecting it and can oftentimes make the situation worse for the participants. The Science of Flirting: Deciphering Subtle Signals goes into more detail about it. I know Hey Arnold came out before the study, but it's still based on fact, even if we didn't know it at the time. Plus, it's no surprise a fourth grader can't figure out the emotions of his school bully if full grown adults can't even figure out the emotions of other full grown adults. It's a very human experience.

[@ladynikkie]

This was definitely one of my favorite episodes throughout that entire series.

[@slystone4892]

My favorite episode of this beautiful cartoon, the ending is just bittersweet well as the whole cartoon is and that gorgeous music, everything about this episode is perfect.

[@Mi_Fa_Volare]

Flying across multiple time zones and visit someone right away. I don't know how that is to kids, but that must be an endurance test. 8 hours flght minus 6 hours local time and then probably waiting till the evening. And then still looking fresh. She flew during the day. Cecile must be the craziest.

[@ahliyanarodriguez5036]

Omg I rarely see recent Hey Arnold videos I love it!! ❤️

[@keeperofthetale]

Glad you like them! Thanks for the support.

[@ahliyanarodriguez5036]

@@keeperofthetale No problem😄

[@yourlocalfatshionista]

How...how many years was Ruth held back

[@snoopy-girl]

6:02 was hilarious😂😂😂

[@nessydelight470]

Multiple Fashion Violations so 😂😂

[@aprilcanipe2614]

Ruth mcdoogle...I've never understood my mans obsession

[@ThieflyChap]

One thing that's always confused me a little. Arnold & co. are in the 4th grade and is 9, Ruth is in the 6th which would make her what, 11, 12 at most? How come all these 6th grade girls look like teenagers? Am I missing something? Look, I'm British, the American school system is a little confusing, and I've not been in school myself for a long time.

[@keeperofthetale]

Hey! I think it was probably done more for the show’s aesthetic. There is another episode titled 6th Grade Girls, where Arnold and Gerald date “older” women. The older women are just 6th graders, who in reality aren’t that much older. It kind of falls into that playground elementary school trope of dating an upperclassman…. All that to say, the creators needed them to look older for the shtick, not just say it.

[@ThieflyChap]

@@keeperofthetale Hmm, yeah that makes sense.

[@TheChandraraj12]

I remember when I was around Arnold's age, 6th graders seemed so old. High schoolers were practically adults in my eyes. So I always assumed it was because the show is more from the kids' point of view.

[@maggyfrog]

@@TheChandraraj12 exactly. LOL when i was in the first grade, i legit looked up to the 6th graders as though they were adults. i totally get how the show represented the 6th graders in contrast to arnold's class.

[@slashbash1347]

Wait, why's a busboy dating a girl who guys to elementary school?

[@pufferfancyfish]

4:43 audibly shouted Nooooo because he didn’t know wether or not Arnold liked Cecile after all Arnold thought he was on a date with the real Cecile so how could Gerald just swoop in and take her from him when he thinks Arnold could possibly like her terrible wingman

[@lesterwilliamsjr649]

I really don't like double date episodes. It's one of those plots that is funny at first but the moment you think about it falls apart because eventually the character going back and forth will get caught. I feel like this episode would work a lot better if Arnold was helping someone who was confused over which person they like. I think Arnold should be smart enough to realize this is a bad idea. The only time I've seen this plot work was in My Gym Partner's a Monkey, add least in that show they justifed the plot by having the protagonist wanting to help a group of girls/friends talk things out. PS: The episode of MGAMY I'm talking about is 'I Fear Pretties'.

[@keeperofthetale]

It is one of the handful of episodes where arnold can be viewed as a bad person/ uncaring of others. Just like the bunny pajamas episode

[@lesterwilliamsjr649]

@@keeperofthetale Good point. It's not like I hate Arnold in this episode, I hate the formula most of these double date episodes take where the character going back and forth never questions if this is a good idea until they get caught.

[@rappsface]

Now I'm curious to hear your opinions on the Jungle Movie and whether you were happy with the direction it took! Have you seen it yet?

[@keeperofthetale]

Yea, I actually watched it when it came out. Honestly I had a pretty strong opinion about it after watching it. It felt a little unfaithful to the spirit of the show in a couple ways. Maybe I’ll make a video on it soon. Thanks for bringing it up, Rapps!

[@JL-ws6og]

Could you do an analysis of the Hey Arnold episode "Summer Love"? That would be cool.

[@dantegrell1484]

What is the background music called?

[@ashleyching5786]

Creator still posts on IG everyday about HA

[@CryingHurts1]

Hw did the 4th grader pay for a Fancy French Dinner….

[@nessamillikan6247]

Great video! It really got me thinking. I hope that cafe server that Ruth went out with is no older than 16, considering that he just stole the arm of 12 year old…

[@dejaporter7338]

I feel so lucky to have grown up in the 90s🥰🥰🥰

[@Gavrilo-ww6nd]

The end is my favorite Gerald moment in the whole show

[@keeperofthetale]

Gerald FTW. A true mac.

[@awesomebob7]

isn't Gerald the keeper of the tale?

[@keeperofthetale]

Hey! You are correct. Gerald is the keeper of the tale who is in charge of telling all of the neighborhood legends and stories!

[@SellavinAtoms]

I watched your video from beginning to end and I got a minute I agree with all the points that you make I'm looking forward to your other videos so much so that I subscribed can't wait to see them.

[@keeperofthetale]

Thank you! That really means a lot to me! I have a video coming out this week that Ive been working on. Thanks for subscribing!

[@Tohruchan202]

This is literally my favorite episode. Love your thoughts on it.

[@bcrunch4232]

I wonder how Arnold didn’t even guess that “Cecile” was helga, not even at the end when she stopped with him he accent.

[@BabygirlMiles]

Great videos! :) Just subscribed

[@icyblue878]

You have great taste, keep up the content and let's get you to 100 subs

[@keeperofthetale]

Glad you think so! Thanks!

[@TedsGotNoBword]

I really liked this analysis and genuinely your Hey Arnold content! I hope you make more in the future.

[@Alisha120058]

Helga would have been better off writing an secret admier letter and just showing up with her hair down. Lol. Although she'd really be better off just trying to be Arnold's friend and just start being nice to him and letting things build from there. But she isnt exactly the most rational character. Love the review. Not sure why it showed up on my for you page but I'm glad it did! 😊