The SADDEST Episode of As Told By Ginger...

[@infjmale91]

Ginger's mum is the best mum I've ever seen in media. She is a single mother with an aloof ex-husband & dealing with so much. Hearing the wisdom & efforts she goes to for protection of her kids is the epitome of being a parent. She works a hard job, has an overbearing son but still holds it altogether; rarely getting her children involved. Ginger knows this & does come to her aid. It's almost poetic that her aloof dad is what makes their family unit so strong.

[@daniapfel2825]

Yeah

[@gingergoddess8953]

Ginger's mom is a champ and a boss, but I never understood her occasionally-weird hangups on teenagers wearing makeup and shaving their legs. Maybe the makeup is justifiably a little advanced for some at 12-13 but if a pubescent teen girl has hairy legs and wants to shave them...why not? lol

[@infjmale91]

@@gingergoddess8953 She's still protecting her. When you are a child, you can have your heart broken VERY easily by romances. She was wanting to keep her innocent so she could enjoy her life & discover who she is. Remember Ginger's mum had her heart broken by her ex so it makes sense. When you are a parent, it can be hard to accept they are getting older. She was just trying to look out for her best interests. She knows Ginger will do really well & become a very independent smart woman. It can be difficult, especially when you are a single parent, to accept they will move on with their own lives/partners & leave them alone.

[@DuskTillShawn]

This!!!! 100% Lois Foutley is a 10/10 TV mom. Genuinely such a well written character and very well thought out portrayal of a great parent giving it their all.

[@infjmale91]

@@DuskTillShawn Thank you Shawn. You are the best. All the best for the new year. I'll donate money when I'm in a better situation. Keep well.

[@rustyshackelford312]

She knew it was her mom who sent her the flowers because, how would her dad know what her favorite flower is? I loved as told by ginger as a kid and would be down for more episodes in the future.

[@GaleneIanthe]

I came to the comments to say this. Seeing the episode as a kid, I never understood how she figured it out. Now that scene rips my heart out even more than everything leading up to it.

[@kikicogger2284]

Oh my god- I never realized that before. Damn that makes it hurt so much worse.

[@thanksforreadindmyunusuall3346]

Ginger needs some pocket sand!

[@gamerrowedy6614]

Rusty how are you speaking to us from the dead

[@rustyshackelford312]

@@gamerrowedy6614 I am the alpha and the omega. I am unknowable, shhh shh shaaaa.

[@Manda_Kat]

Her dad sending her a late congratulations card, promising to be there and telling her to call him if she needs him... only to ignore her calls. To the point where his ex wife has to pretend he is a better person than he is to protect the innocence of her kids. Ow.

[@princesspikachu3915]

Dishonesty isn’t something to be praised. My mother never pretended my dad was anything but an awful person.

[@artistfloor9]

⁠​⁠​⁠​⁠​⁠​⁠@@princesspikachu3915 Maybe sending the fake card wasn’t the best choice, but she did it with good intentions and Ginger doesn’t hold it against her because she knows how much her mom loves and supports her. Lois doesn’t want Ginger’s hope for a fatherly relationship to be destroyed, and she doesn’t want to sh*t talk her ex because she actually wants him to be better. I don’t think she believes he’s an awful, irredeemable person. Not everything is so black and white.

[@briasandifer210]

@@princesspikachu3915Yeah fuck her for not wanting to destroy the idea of Ginger’s dad wanting to form a real, fatherly relationship with her. Worst mother in all of media right? 🙄🙄🙄

[@ashleighberryman9280]

Story of my life. Reasons why I related to Ginger so much.

[@bluz1864]

​@@artistfloor9Yeah. I agree it might not have been the best choice but I think it does show that Lois meant it when she said her ex wasn't "bad", just flawed and that while she didn't believe he changed, she still hoped he would. I personally believe that unless an ex did something really irredeemable (think abuse), it isn't up to the parent raising the kids to trash talk the other parent. To be fair, I am saying this with some bias. My mom never said anything bad about my dad - I was the one who wanted space because I saw things I didn't like even when I was only 5 or so.

[@slashbash1347]

I don't understand how a father can willingly abandon their kids, but you know what I love? How Dr. Dave was always willing to act as a father figure to Ginger and Carl, even before he began dating Lois. Those kinds of men are worthy of admiration.

[@doedee7973]

I LOVE Dr. Dave

[@ShalemAhava]

Even later on in the show, Carl refers to Dave as his father, and still refers to Jonas as his first name.

[@tricksterfoxx]

How do you understand a mother abandoning her family? Some people just aren't meant to be parents

[@slashbash1347]

@@tricksterfoxx I never said I did, but we're talking about fathers here, and I'm also speaking from a male perspective. Shoot, man, if I compliment your shoes, do you think I must hate your shirt?

[@slashbash1347]

@@ShalemAhava The different reactions are interesting. Ginger is more forgiving and just wants a relationship with her father, whereas Carl is resentful and would prefer Dave just take Jonas' place completely. Both valid reactions.

[@darkhistory1436]

I also really enjoy the difference between Ginger and Carl in regards to their dad. While Ginger clearly still cares and wants to be close to her dad, Carl resents him immensely. He hates that he never visits his family, which he actually wishes for every Christmas only to be disappointed. And when Ginger was in the hospital, he was angry their dad visited and refused to talk to him. But his time with Dr. Dave, the man who becomes his step-father, is what helps him to realize holding it against him won't fix the past and tries to grow closer to him. I like the different dynamic with the kids in this situation

[@shinyagumon7015]

I love that it's the younger sibling that's resentful in this case because a lot of times in media, when we have two siblings with an absentee parent, it's the older one that has a rocky relationship with the parent while the younger is blissfully unaware, so it's great to see the opposite.

[@jupiterwatchesvideos]

very similar to a current relationship with my older sister and dad. she has more sympathy and connection with him still, while me being the younger child have ghosted him. feels representative of my reality, and it hits a bit close to home.

[@bluebird1914]

It was the opposite with my sibling for a bit, as the younger one I was the one who wanted a relationship with my dad while my sister was done with him. But then years later when he died, my sister took his last name while I went with our mother's maiden name.

[@patrickzalatoris3206]

I feel maybe carl can start getting closer to his dad, at least talk a bit, but I don't believe he'll ever see him as his father, a true parent, whether together or divorced should always try to be there for their kids, and the guy was out of their lives for years, can't take back all the years he abandoned them, maybe get to know them, but to be seen as a real parent is incredibly hard to accept and likely won't be accepted

[@maxruiz691]

My mom tried to show me this show when it was first airing, but I was too young to understand why it connected with her so much. Why she wanted ME to connect with it, after rewatching a good chunk of Ginger I can see it. This was exactly how my family was, single mom and two kids. I was Ginger and after having this almost exact moment happen to me in middle school. Seeing this episode, I broke down crying knowing how badly my mom wanted me and my brother to grow up happy and safe, accommodating for a father who was never there. There was a lot more than just abandonment in my case, but regardless shows like this are so important. Kids like Ginger do exist. Families like hers do exist. We need our stories told too. I'm so glad I went back, and I'm glad my mom got to experience it all in a way that truly understood.

[@daniapfel2825]

Yeah and your mom was very smart for show this

[@DuskTillShawn]

I can totally relate with being too young to understand why this show connects with people at the time that it was airing. You're so right though. Representation is incredibly important. At the time this was airing, there were (and still are) thousands of kids facing similar situations, yet most of the cartoons they're consuming portray a typical nuclear family or some slight quirky variation of that. It makes my heart happy that shows like this were able to break the mold and show more portrayals of real life situations and diverse family units. It sounds to me like your Mom did a great job of raising her kids

[@ZeranZeran]

I liked this show as a kid but I was way too young to understand any of the lessons it tried to teach Re-watching as an adult made me appreciate the show, myself, my parents, my family, my friends, my experiences. Gosh. I know that sounds silly, but this show had a seriously positive effect on me. As Shawn says "Not afraid to hurt your feelings" - it made me confront a lot of my childish past and current behavior and wonder where it came from. Gave me real answers. More than any therapist has done for me in a long time 🥲

[@ZeranZeran]

Also, your mom sounds amazing, and the fact that you went back and tried to understand it for yourself when you were older is seriously heartwarming. You should tell her if you can. I bet it would warm her heart too. This comment made me smile. Thank you.

[@mastermoye3915]

Ur mom is so cultured on television! 😁🤩😭🥹

[@V-max97]

As a kid I found these Carl antics hilarious. As an adult I’m wondering how much this hospital bill would be if Lois wasn’t a hospital employee.

[@sexygirlmax2019]

carl channeled his inner dennis the menace

[@BledaRassmar]

Nurse Lois likely got what is called “professional courtesy”: since she works at the hospital, they likely gave her a reduced price.

[@Kaboomboo]

I'm sure she has insurance and I'm sure Carl's stay was covered by Brandon's parents.

[@patrickzalatoris3206]

Along with health benefits, I assume most hospitals have good health coverage for employees and their families

[@simplyjuannie5128]

He was doing the most 😂😂😂

[@LiShuBen]

Macy Gray singing this opening will always be the most random but ultimately fitting thing about this show.

[@DuskTillShawn]

I love the intro song so much. It's definitely very fitting for this show.

[@BrianEnraged96]

She also sang "I Try" in the late 90's, possibly 2000.

[@fkaciggs]

@@BrianEnraged96Listen to the other tracks on that album, her music is like sonic gold! Sex-O-Matic Venus Freak is a straight banger!

[@bokcmeatyvstheworld8273]

Really? I did not know that but it's a perfect fit

[@fkaciggs]

@@bokcmeatyvstheworld8273 There are two versions; one by Macy Gray and another by Cree Summer.

[@SnowyWolborg]

Lois Foutley is easily one of my favorite cartoon moms. Just a straight hitter.

[@DuskTillShawn]

100%

[@carlyskolnik296]

Same 😊

[@Tena.]

I read hitter as Hitler 💀

[@Father_of_Death]

She's a caring and nuturing mom. The only fictional mother named Lois who can truly claim the role of best animated mother.

[@tokunaga432]

@@Father_of_Death right? She was one of the best indeed. Im so glad at the end of the show she found herelfs a real amazing man

[@RaptorofRex07]

Maybe it’s me but Carl’s monkey business seems like a typical attention seeking behavior problem brought on by the lack of a father figure in his life.

[@DuskTillShawn]

I feel like that's a HUGE thing that completely went over my head while making this video. There's a lot that I could have said about how their father not being around effected both Ginger and Carl in different ways. Kinda kicking myself for that lol.

[@ashleylabaki2872]

I felt so bad for Brandon too! Like, yeah, he was annoying, but all he did was bring his monkey in for show and tell and Carl went, (pardon the pun,) apesh!t.

[@TheLastHylianTitan]

@@DuskTillShawnhey, you can always revisit this topic with another video, which means more content for you and me!

[@crescentcrab]

​@@DuskTillShawnThere are other episodes that you can address this and call the episode back in..other ways to do it as well. Thanks for your videos!

[@rainbowlady1532]

Though Carl is creative and witty with his attention seeking antics & doesn’t backstab anyone, unlike Dodie

[@neoshnieder2974]

As Told by Ginger could be put up there with Hey Arnold as some of the handful of cartoons that made me tear up. I wouldn't burst into tears, but it definitely did have a strong impact. I'm actually rewatching this show right now with some friends who've never seen it.

[@DuskTillShawn]

I can definitely relate with this being one of the few shows that can make me tear up. It's such a good one! :D

[@ZoobiethePopplio]

You can add ATLA to that list.

[@g1rldraco7]

Ginger has the best mom ever, I dont understand why Dodies mom Joanne has problems with her. When i first saw this episode as a kid, I went and hid in my closet and cried so hard from the feelings this episode broguht up. My parents split when i was 8 and I know how Ginger felt although I am grateful my dad was around from time to time not absent.

[@jasonrandom372]

Dodie is nothing but an annoying narcissistic teen who just uses Ginger and Macy. Joanne is no better Dodie. Dodie's mother's behavior explains why Dodie is who she is. Macy's parents are just as bad as Ginger's dad. Because Macy's parents are both rich successful behavior health psychiatrists who both never had time for their daughter. Ginger is the reason her parents remembered her birthday in that one episode. Her parents not knowing it's their daughter's 13th birthday take her to a kiddie arcade with a huge playground instead of letting her have a party at home with her friends.

[@goofybutserious4807]

Nobody needs men

[@roxanhaandrikman7592]

Pretty sure Dodies mom was jealous at her and literally every single person she met

[@cooperminion825]

I think Dodie's mom has a problem with Ginger's mom bc she's divorced. I remember there were a few kids whose parents were offended at my best friend's mom for divorcing her husband and this was around the same time ATBG came out

[@sakurashy8492]

Dodie’s mother was a Karen before Karens got their term. Carl being a well known delinquent probably didn’t help Mrs. Bishop’s image of Lois. But as far as delinquent kid characters go he’s pretty much a well rounded one who’s shown to have a heart when it counts the most. Praying at the hospital chapel while his sister was in surgery even though he’s an atheist is probably the show’s best example.

[@arthas640]

this episode really touched me as a kid. I had a mom like Gingers dad who'd just disappear for days or weeks, miss important events then feel embarrassed so she'd respond by just avoiding me, and my dad was a lot like Gingers mom and Darren who tried to gently talk me down and get me to lower my expectations.

[@ViridianCrisis7]

Lois is such a great mom and seeing the things she does to keep the kids happy is such a good addition to the show. You can see in her conversation with Ginger that she knows their dad isn’t going to be better but wants Ginger to hold onto that hope. She tells her that both of the kids will have to decide what part their dad will play in their lives which is a sad reality for kids who have to grow up and learn that one of their parents just…doesn’t care.

[@sierratree93]

When the florist read the card back to Lois, I immediately broke down crying.

[@baffledbrandon3132]

This show is criminally underrated.

[@daniapfel2825]

Yeah

[@DuskTillShawn]

I couldn’t agree more.

[@carlyskolnik296]

Agreed

[@theepic1944]

So is Hey Arnold.

[@Neku628]

Hoodsy is a better friend to Carl than his sister is to Ginger.

[@fernandachapa]

Definitley… i hate Dodie

[@nenesspirtualgirlbest9562]

I agree

[@amwfan88]

I feel like Dodie was one of those people who, once she got a taste of being the popular girl, realized that she wanted to be that way and wouldn't let anything stop her - even if it meant stepping on her friends. The sad thing is, this is pretty true to life. I know many people who have had this happen to them.

[@pcbassoon3892]

Hoodsy was such a good friend.

[@tdarkhorse4]

honestly courtney was also, in her own slightly ignorant due to wealth/pretty privilege way, a better friend to ginger than dodie was.

[@ElizabethHamilton-ty5li]

I think the episode where Dodie’s grandmother dies is the saddest. I know lots of As Told By Ginger fans hate Dodie and she’s definitely not a great friend but she’s the kind of not a great friend that plenty of pre-teen/teen girls are. I think that there’s also evidence to support that she isn’t a total lost cause with some therapy and self-reflection. Her home life wasn’t great…her dad was nice enough but her mother was a vile woman who dodie, hoodsy, and their friends had to walk on eggshells around. When you come from a toxic home environment you seek relatives to be your safe-space and nana clearly was that to Dodie and to lose that person unexpectedly can really do a number on you.

[@167logan]

People hate on their character all the time but I think it's very realistic. It was so nice to turn on the TV and see friendships like the ones I was actually in.

[@ElizabethHamilton-ty5li]

@@167logan I always felt sorry for Dodie more than anything. For every time she’s not a great friend, there’s also a time when she’s genuinely loyal to Ginger and Macy. I always got the sense that Dodie was always desperately seeking her place in the world and it manifested to her wanting popularity. When you think of it I feel like she’s the only one who never really found her place because she came off as such a wannabe. I think it completed the dynamic of the friend group. Macy was kind of a nerd but that helped her feel more confident to like what she liked without any fear of rejection because she was self-actualized as a nerd and therefore didn’t have the societal stress of needing to please anyone but themselves. Ginger is more overall neutral in that she kind of struggles with being “in between” being popular and being a loser, but she had an identity in her writing talent and had a mother figure who she could rely on to help her figure things out. Meanwhile Dodie wants to find her place and have an identity and leave an impact on the world, but because she seeks popularity and approval from others it often leads to her self-sabotaging herself and making poor decisions in how she treats her friends. Meanwhile, at home she gets some affection from her father but her mother just pushes the notion that she isn’t good enough unless she’s the best. She tries hard but doesn’t have enough guidance to find her place throughout the series and we never really see that change unfortunately.

[@artistfloor9]

I agree. Dodie was often a bad friend, but she still had some moments where she stepped up and I did feel sorry for her. She was clearly a very insecure girl struggling to break away from the influence of her insufferable mother. I wish she had received more character development over the course of the show (she and Macie trying to break up Ginger and Darren was a big mistake, and even the writers seemed to agree. Although I think Ginger and Darren getting together was also a mistake.) The episode where her grandmother died was very good in my opinion. Dodie’s pain felt genuine and relatable, although Hoodsy was the highlight. He brought up an interesting dilemma that is rarely ever acknowledged - is it ok to feel indifferent when someone dies?

[@ElizabethHamilton-ty5li]

@@artistfloor9 I agree with that. I wish we saw more of Dodie interacting with her dad. He was great in the episode where her mom started acting like a pre-teen again (and even started bullying her own daughter as a result…that’s so disturbing it could be a family guy subplot) and the heartwarming moment between her and her mom wasn’t even all that heartwarming. I like to canonize that Dodie’s mom has a better relationship with Hoodsy than Dodie and Dodie is a daddy’s girl, unfortunately, where Carl was often the black sheep of his family…I think Dodie is the same with hers. Ginger and Darren as a couple is a whole different beast altogether. I would actually argue that Dodie’s worst deed was faking an injury to get bonus points from the pep squad. It was especially jarring considering that the episode prior had Dodie and Macy being really good friends to Ginger after her appendicitis operation.

[@Kaboomboo]

​​@@ElizabethHamilton-ty5linah. Dodie's worst crime was outing everyone that had lice to the whole school to get gossip points. Seriously, how was she not suspended or beaten up for that?

[@gingergoddess8953]

I'd love to see you do the sex ed episode, or the one where Macie basically gets infantilized by her parents when they realize they neglect her, and she just goes with it because she wants their attention. Ginger was a bit darker than people remember. Or just go on a rant about how Dodie is one of the worst characters ever written for a Nickelodeon show ever.

[@oooh19]

Yea Dodie was a horrible toxic best friend but she was sadly realistic; many people have bad friends

[@DuskTillShawn]

I don’t wanna spill any beans for future videos, but I’ll say this much… I have a ton of videos planned about this show. 😁 It’s just sooo good

[@jessicavictoriacarrillo7254]

Or we could go in how Dodie's family life molded her and Hoodsey (honestly on rewatch, Dodie did try to be a good friend and sometimes even Courtney, who I live, was always great but they were young and young people have a lot of time and opportunity to be better, honestly it's better to learn the hard way as a kid than to be continuing doing shit as an adult)

[@gingergoddess8953]

@@DuskTillShawn EEEE that makes me so happy to hear!!!

[@gingergoddess8953]

@@oooh19 I had a friend like her. They are super real

[@PotatoSaladjr]

This episode hits so hard. I’m so proud of Lois for being such a strong mother. She does such an amazing job raising those kids…

[@bboops23]

I always thought that doctor Dave was worried that the mom was pregnant and if she was, he was certain he was the father. I got the impression that the two of them were more than colleagues the entire series and that he was very aware of the possibility that she could be pregnant

[@gothicMCRgirl]

Yeah, that makes a little more sense, this whole time I was like, “why do you need an ultrasound over something she swallowed??? He’s a doctor, he knows nothing would grow inside there lol” But if they were having a secret affair, then it makes sense that he would personally be worried that her symptoms were similar to pregnancy. I do like that this show can have its adult moments without being super overt about it.

[@jonathanalfaro6005]

​@@gothicMCRgirlIt's appropriate to visualize her organs. To insure there aren't any masses, inflammation, or foreign bodies.

[@KingOfGaymes]

@@gothicMCRgirlusing an ultrasound to check someone’s stomach is kinda normal, they’re not only to check something growing

[@Antisocial_Cryptid13]

In my opinion, I think he was just doing his job. Plus, at that time, she wasn't only his coworker, but also his patient. He also mentioned that they saw movement, but suspected it was most likely gas, but wanted to keep her overnight just to be sure. I mean, it's not like a baby would noticeably grow overnight. And like Kingofgames and Jonathan said, ultrasounds are used to see any foreign objects and other things in the organs, not just in the uterus.

[@whisperwhipper2240]

love how Nick had so many non traditional family types in their shows

[@DuskTillShawn]

I completely agree! They did a great job of representing all sorts of different family dynamics.

[@SweetCrumblingDoll]

Thank you for reminding me why this show was so important to me as a kid. Memories unlocked. While my dad never left my family, he never showed up for important events. Not recitals. Not showcases. Not awards. Not even my graduations. I completely understood Ginger knowing her mom was the one who sent the flowers. My mom did similar to try and patch any relationship between my father and myself. Hearing it again after all these years still stings.

[@MoonLoonie69]

“Thanks for the flowers, mom” I’m not crying….im not crying….. 😭💔

[@Hyper_Drud]

This was an episode I had watched before but I only remember Carl being in the padded room. Honestly this episode reminds me of the relationship my half sister has with her dad. She wanted him to be her escort for our school’s meet the homecoming maids presentation. Our mom and I weren’t sure he’d show up so I took the day off from work and brought my suit there in case he didn’t. Thankfully he did and mom said my sister was absolutely ecstatic that he made it. Unlike Ginger’s mom though my mom never sugarcoated the kind of man my sister’s dad is. She knows and accepts it but she still wants him in her life. It’s simultaneously sad and sweet to me.

[@lewisdutra6104]

I should have appreciated this show as kid...it tackled topics kids/preteens or teenagers struggle with. I hope you do episide of Ginger lowest moment when her appendix problems become life threatening, where we see Carl and his absent father really hash out where they stand with each other...but also how much Carl and Lois look out/worry for Ginger health.

[@MichaelLovely-mr6oh]

In case you're wondering; the episode is titled "A Lesson in Tightropes." Anyone who has had their appendix removed can relate to this episode.

[@leavemealone802]

Man, I really was too young to appreciate Ginger She speaking about the family "getting together" really hitted me. I remember wanting the same thing with my parents

[@katemichael4002]

My grandparents raised me and there were many times I wanted to connect with my bio dad but he is a terrible person. I felt everything Ginger felt

[@loverrlee]

me too ❤

[@MTTT19]

Something I didn’t know until recently was that there was originally going to be a storyline revolving around Courtney realising that she has a crush on Ginger. I guess Nickelodeon wasn’t ready to tackle this subject back then. But then again, I guess most kid networks wouldn’t have either. Though, As Told By Ginger was certainly ahead of its time.

[@MASTEROFEVIL]

Homosexuality was still considered taboo back then. Arthur tried a story like that only for it to be almost immediately banned

[@must-love-cats]

I would've loved to have watched that. We need more lesbian visibility in media.

[@NeedlessExposition]

I got so upset when they stopped focusing on Courtney and made a ton of bad things happen to her but they kept rewarding Dodie for being literally the worst.

[@Che1seabluesdrogba11]

​@mustloveAlastor8880 anime

[@alchemistofsteel8099]

Anime ​@@must-love-cats

[@remyoung]

I've been telling everyone I get the chance about your last as told by ginger video because it's my favorite of yours. You helped me realize alot of things about young me so I'm a bit more excited than normal ❤ thank you for being one of my favorite creators and taking me back to my childhood even for sad moments.

[@DuskTillShawn]

This makes me so happy! 🥹 Honestly, making that video made me realize a lot of things about myself as well, as did this one. This show will always hold a special place in my heart for that reason. 💚 Thanks for being here, remyoung! I appreciate you!

[@Ominousgoat]

I always appreciated that Lois says that one day it will be their [the kids] decision if they want their father in their life.=

[@zoroarkling]

I dont remember much about the father issue much in this episode but i do remember the "snake incubation" fiasco and laughed so much harder than i should have as a kid

[@damonrichardson1999]

I think the reason I love As Told by Ginger so much is that it's so sincere and relatable in so many ways. I think the episode that always hit me hard was where Ginger gets appendicitis and gets dumped in the same day. Seeing everyone, even Carl, so anxious to make sure Ginger would be okay as well as Carl holding Dave's hand because he feels like he's the dad he never had around was just really emotional. Even in this episode, the way Lois gives Ginger the flowers and she knows they're from her mom is just so bittersweet. My dad used to do that too and say the chocolates were from my mom. I knew cause only my dad knew about my favorite chocolates.

[@mathieuleader8601]

Lois's nightmare about birthing that snake is like something out of Junji Ito

[@LittleMissLounge]

If it was Junji Ito, the snake would be trying to go back inside. 😂

[@gatocomtesao4573]

​@@LittleMissLoungeuuhhhhhhhhhhhh 😮😳😳😩

[@WhoIsRaphaelLeraux]

I've said it before, but "As Told By Ginger" was such an important ahow for me growing up. This episode always hit me deep. Even though I couldn't really blame him for being absent because he wasn't alive, that feeling of being on stage looking in the crowd and not seeing her dad always brought me back to when I performed at a talent ahow as a kid and saw everyone with both their parents supporting them. It was a crushing feeling that alwaya came back when I watched this episode. Hell, I still felt it creeping back just watching this video. This show was definitely something special and it helped me process a lot of complicared feelings at an early age.

[@DuskTillShawn]

That's such a tough feeling. Having to carry those kind of emotions is so hard. It makes me happy that shows like this are able to help kids going through similar situations process some of those feelings. Emotional processing is really hard for a majority of kids and shows like this are so important to shine some light on really hard topics. Thanks for sharing your story, my friend. :)

[@sketchyskies8531]

I’ve never really seen this show and know next to nothing about it, but seeing Ginger’s mom order the flowers for her making them seem like they were from her dad is probably one of the most heartbreaking things I’ve ever seen. Makes me grateful that my dad is a part of my life and genuinely cares about me

[@eacorpe88]

My mom did that when my brothers and I were young and they first divorced (so 4yo 7yo 10yo). When she told me about writing postcards etc "from dad" and then....as we realized he did NOT g.a.f. (Like he kinda said it in a way) she slowly stopped. Being told this when I was an adult broke my heart

[@Nightstriker995]

shes really one of the greatest moms ever. this show was so good and covered some very heavy topics. its impossible to forget the lessons it taught.

[@jjmusiclover3]

How gracious the mom is with the dad is very telling of her character

[@KateeAngel]

Women should stop covering for those men who are a-holes. Women also should teach their daughters truth about men

[@twiztidfreekshow199]

Damn I'm almost 35 / my kid is almost 17 and this hit me far harder than it did back in the day. Fantastic video as always, thanks for making me cry again XD

[@skootergirl22]

I'm almost 36 god I'm old

[@scionixx9568]

Every time you mention, all of these old shows tons of of my childhood memories, come storming back into my brain

[@SageArdor]

Every single time I watch a video essay about As Told By Ginger, I feel bad that I couldn't have possibly given it the proper chance it deserved. At the time it started its initial airings, I had just been diagnosed with autism, and later down the line I would also be diagnosed with ADHD. My brain just didn't have the attention span to comprehend how deep and mature of a show it really was, and now that I'm an adult and the series has been concluded for decades now, I just want to turn back time and give this show the dignified recognition it deserved when it needed it.

[@DuskTillShawn]

That's such a hard spot to be in... I definitely see where you're coming from. For some of us it seems like the older we get, the more complex our relationship with our parents gets. It's normal to grow apart as you grow up. You're getting a job, you're starting a family, you're moving out of their house... It definitely changes the relationship, whether it was already flourishing or not. However, that change in combination with having your Dad not being around is definitely a hard thing to tackle... I see what you mean about getting yourself in a good position before trying to solidify that connection further. That's totally a valid thing to do and I feel like you have really sweet intentions in wanting to do that. If there's anything I'd try to keep in mind when finally making the move to connect with him more, it's that from what it sounds like, he was only gone so much because he was working to provide for your family. I'm hopeful that if he had his way back then, he would have been there with you guys everyday instead of going off to work. That's such a hard spot to be in. When I was working for 911 I was gone from my wife and kids a LOT working mandatory shifts... One of my biggest fears was developing a gap between my kids and I because I was gone so often. I'm glad you took some time to vent here. It's important to get those thoughts into the universe and not bottle them up. :)

[@MackenzieNerdyEMT]

I always adored this show. I was absolutely the target demographic and it had me in its grasp. I loved the depth to the characters and how it wasn't all sunshine and rainbows. At this age as a young girl going through a lot in life it was helpful honestly. Thankyou for the video! :)

[@DuskTillShawn]

It was such a good show. I’m very thankful that it was helpful for you growing up! It’s such a good show and there are so many valuable lessons to be learned across every episode. For me, as a young boy, there was so much toxic masculinity around me that I felt the need to hide from a lot of emotions and bottle them up… As an almost 30 year old guy who’s worked past the toxic masculinity, learned how to talk about my feelings, and learned that it’s okay to cry, this show has had a huge effect on me. It’s genuinely helped me learn how to embrace the fact that I wear my heart on my sleeve! 😆 Thanks so much for watching. I appreciate it!

[@MackenzieNerdyEMT]

@@DuskTillShawn Toxic masculinity is so destructive. I'm sorry you had to struggle with it but super happy you were able to overcome it, that's genuinely something to be proud of. Many people never do and end up miserable men who don't know how to handle emotions outside of anger. My mom was extremely abusive then ended up leaving super unexpectedly back to Croatia when I was 12, so I was left with my dad who had no clue how to raise a young girl. Shows that only showed perfect cheery families made me feel like something was wrong with me. This show helped me feel like it was okay to have the feelings I was having. The characters were more human, in a sense, than most shows. It's crazy how much shows really can be life savers for children in general, but especially for children who are struggling. I'm 31 and through therapy and hard work im proud of where I'm at. I had to get myself together to become the best person I could be when I had my daughter. She is innocent and doesn't deserve my traumas to become hers. You're fantastic at making videos and I absolutely enjoy them all, they scratch that nostalgia itch haha :)

[@MariAnimates]

I had this exact same childhood. My dad used to be a very good and present dad, but in high school it all just stopped. My friend Eleana has an absentee dad too, she watched Ginger as a kid and told me to watch this episode and it was *hard* . You spend so much time hoping, praying, yearning, and wanting a connection with someone who doesn't want you. You're their own kid and for some reason they don't want you. My mom was just like Lois, she did everything to be amicable with my dad to keep him in my life. Kids like Ginger, Me, and Eleana always figure things out too late to spare our heartbreak.

[@demiraichan]

This episode hit hard as a kid, my mom lived a state away and while I got to see her every summer, it's not the same as school performances or graduations (was a drama kid for 5 years, did choir, and was the opening lines to a few elementary school holiday shows.) She never saw a single one. Not even on film.

[@ZeranZeran]

I just recently finished rewatching As Told By Ginger and I just want to thank you. It made me cry, happy tears. It made me appreciate my mom, and even my not so perfect dad so much more. It made me think back to my own childhood and what made me who I am. It made me have more compassion for those along the way. Thank you Shawn. I really love this channel, and your content warms my cold heart.

[@DrummerXero626]

Even though I was never a fan of this show, it was one of my brother's favorites & watching these videos makes me reflect on how & what my brother might have been going through & I feel a little closer to him.

[@J91Y]

did he kill himself or something

[@lizzeyflower]

19:51 got me chills like what??? She knew 😮

[@DuskTillShawn]

I’m glad that watching these videos gives you the opportunity to reflect on what he was going through. It makes me happy that it makes you feel a little closer to him 😁 Thanks so much for being here! You were the first comment on this video!

[@Phantomphan613]

Wtf who asks that? It's none of your business ​@@J91Y

[@DrummerXero626]

@@J91Y no, age difference but growing up he got sent to juve then started working everyday since he was 16 then he go to sleep so I never really got to know him besides he liked to watch every sport & drink.

[@libramoon1582]

The Ghost & Molly McGee did an episode that also dealt with an absentee father focusing on Libby's blind optimism that her dad will reconnect with her despite other characters, Molly and Libby's mom, gently explaining to her that her father sometimes doesn't keep his word while trying to avoid breaking her spirit. Then in the end Libby is forced to sadly accept the reality that he isn't showing up any time in her life but is happy to have her mom as her emotional support

[@Heretowatchvideos123]

Yeah it reminded me of that episode and the dad of soos , his grandma wrote letters so that soos will believe that his dad will be there for him

[@sexygirlmax2019]

I love Libby as a character SO much. She reminds me a lot of me. Tired, introvert, nervous, always wearing loose comfy clothes likely due to chronic illnesses, loves their stuffed animal. 😢❤

[@ClaudiaWowPaw]

The saddest one is when ginger breaks up and gets very sick in my opinion. It was shocking.

[@cherryjello777]

As soon as you said the title of the episode I was like oh, it's gonna be a heart-breaker. And it was~ but you always handle these topics so well ❤️‍🩹

[@DuskTillShawn]

Aw, thanks! Yeah, this one is a real heart breaker of an episode. It’s a really good one though! Thanks for watching and being a patron 😁

[@daniapfel2825]

​@@DuskTillShawn And the hittest part is that Ginger knew it that these sunflowers are sended by her mom

[@vivimariefedorov7374]

I remember a Lesson in Tightropes hit pretty hard too. Not only did Ginger go through a bitter breakup. But a near death with appendicitis. 😰

[@rebajoe]

And what makes that worse is that she doesn't get a lot of sympathy for it, but Dodie gets everyone to feel bad for her when she fakes her injury.

[@SparkleBurgerLuv]

Lois is truly Nickelodeon greatest cartoon mom, she have helpful advice to her childrens mostly Ginger, she a single mom who doing her best raising her kids , she a working mom as a nurse, and she tries to go out into the dating world but making sure if her kids are ok with it and if they honest of who she date, which she later married Dave, Now unless Ginger who did wanted her dad to come into the world, carl is a difference story who hated his dad for abandon his family in cark eyes, you either feel bad for Joan or dont whenever Joan tried to connect with carl

[@Skittyissocool]

Man that ending hit hard. My biological father was absent from most of my life and the only father figure I had is my grandfather who's not even my mother's biological father. My grandfather is the best person ever and just like ginger's mom, he's always there for me and my siblings 💖

[@pizzapie08]

This reminds me of my relationship with my dad. He's been in prison since I was 4 ( I'll be 30 in January). He recently got out and got back in touch with me a few months ago. I'm still not sure how I feel about him being in my life after not being there for the entire time, but I have to admit that I miss him. This video really made me think of that

[@symphonic7585]

I love your channel so very much. I'm on the younger side of gen z and I didn't get to really experience the 90's and early 2000's golden age of cartoons. You're introducing me to so many cool shows and episodes of those shows and its just so nice to be able to listen to these long videos while I sew/draw. It gives me a nice warm fuzzy feeling :) keep up the great work

[@Jacob-jl3xd]

This hits really close to home I never knew my dad so seeing ginger go though this is extremely heartbreaking

[@swetuski]

Her poems are just amazing, this was one that i still memorized to this day besides ‘She was gone’ her mother bless her is one of the strongest examples of what a great mother is

[@NicoleJones-e2d]

I loved as told by Ginger as a child. Because I could relate to her to my real. Dad didn't love me either. So yeah that hit hard.. I guess I had a really special connection with her. In a lot of ways. Growing up as a hit the heart strings, you know.❤

[@scionixx9568]

Carl’s little dog house/club house was the coolest thing I’ve ever seen when I was a kid and try to build my own

[@cosmictheorist6091]

I'd love to see more of As told by Ginger on your channel

[@DuskTillShawn]

You got it! I have a bunch of videos planned about this show :D

[@nostalgiamostalgia0319]

I would argue that Lesson in Tightropes is sadder and more realistic but I enjoy this episode as well. As Told by Ginger deals with real problems with real consequences (even harsh ones) so that teens could relate to it, which is what shows like All Grown Up failed to usually achieve.

[@drawmeelyse5133]

Lesson in Tightropes makes me cry EVERY TIME

[@AnAverageGoblin]

given the nature of All Grown Up no one working on it probably bothered trying to do more than what was expected of them

[@LittleMissLounge]

AGU tried to be kinda serious at times, like the episode where Kimi wants to connect to Japanese culture more, and Chuckie doesn't get it. But yeah, AGU and ATBG are very different tonally, despite coming from the same studio.

[@Babymarie0420]

I always feel like such a baby when I cry at kids shows but this show really pulled at every little string in my heart😭🥹❤️

[@Owlthinkabtit]

I loved this episode so much as a kid, because I didn’t think other kids dealt with this too. Especially seeing a kid that didn’t look anything like me. My father was there but not there, if that makes sense. So many let downs, so many broken promises, I’m crying now even watching this cuz I know the feeling of wanting that relationship. I’ve grown from it but wow this episode still hits hard for me, even at my big age of 33. And of course, my mom always had to pick up the pieces. But I love her so much for being so strong and present, just like Gingers mom. As Told By Ginger is still one of my favorites.

[@JNT737]

As Told By Ginger will be one of my all time fav shows

[@emraldmars]

I forgot about this episode. I was tense the entire time watching it because I could relate so much with Ginger. My mother died when I was 8 weeks old and my father was only 19 and not ready to be a father. My mother's parents adopted me, but I still wanted my dad to be a part of my life. He was totally absent until I was 7, then started to make holiday appearances. There were several events when he said he would be there, but... there was more than once my grandmother did something very, very similar to Lois. Hits me right in the feels. Still makes me cry. On a happy note, he is now an active part of my life now that I am 35.

[@Gadgetman1989]

I loved this show as I was at this demographic this was aimed at, this was one of my favorite shows, and being a simple man, I instantly hit like on your videos, not only an effort to appease the Almighty algorithm, but also show my support for you and your dives and been wanting to comment for awhile, thank you Shawn for all you post dude!! Keep on keeping on! Respectfully Gadget

[@beatnikmumrik]

Even though my childhood was ptsd-inducing, my parents tried their best, and i had the mother-father-onlychild dynamic some covet. I'm glad. I'm glad shows like this exposed me to the situations other children dealt with.

[@RayvenLunaNite]

As someone whongrew up with an aloof dad (who chose my older sister to k.i.t. with,) I watched this episode and cried. It opened old wounds. Themes of abandonment are hard to understand as a kid unless you've been through it

[@DuskTillShawn]

That hurts so bad. I'm sorry you had to go through that as a kid, NixieDelor. Those old wounds may heal over time, but the scars they leave are very fragile...

[@RayvenLunaNite]

@@DuskTillShawn thanks. My sis and I are close, and she doesn't talk to him anymore

[@Nolitaflat]

This was such a great show. Might be my favorite Nick cartoon of all time honestly. I was 100% this show's target audience when it came out.

[@berniekatzroy]

What a time to grow up, man I didn't think many folks remembered Caitlin's way. Atbg was way ahead of its time. What I enjoyed about this ep is how Lois is honest about gingers dad, not bashing like many divorcees but understanding that their relationship just didn't last. She even goes as far as to say how he's a good guy.

[@rickydavis4325]

While everyone's in awe over Mr. Licorice, I'm more impressed at the fact that Noelle (the girl on the far left with glasses) owns a flamingo. That's one exotic pet! General biologist here, and the Carl subplot is full of a lot of scientific inaccuracies from a biological and anatomical standpoint, guess I'll throw my hat in the ring for those interested. -First off, sea snakes do NOT lay eggs in the way that ATBG depicts, which I'd wager is a dehydrated milt/roe combination in the water similar to fish or sea monkeys. They are ovoviviparous, which means they develop their young in eggs but don't give lay the eggs like most reptiles. Rather they give live birth to them when they fully develop into a realized organism. -Lois says "Thanks for your concern Carl, I'm the one incubating an invertebrate over here" which is also incorrect. Snakes (sea snakes included) are vertebrates, same as humans, birds, reptiles, etc. In fact, you could argue snakes are the baseline for vertebrates as they're mostly a long spine with a head and tail at different ends. -The human digestive system is actually pretty hostile to most forms of life. Stomach acid in particular burns away anything within its contents like watermelon seeds and food. So the idea of a "sea snake" growing inside of Lois is rendered moot the moment the mixture touches her stomach acid. -The only other "sea snake" that could possibly be grown the way the show depicts are eels. Ignoring the fact that they are fish and not reptiles, they reproduce with the milt/roe method I mentioned prior, but there's one important thing to note: No one has EVER seen where eels come from/reproduce, ever. It's still a mystery on how eels mate, but we do know that it takes place somewhere deep in the sargasso sea. That being said, Eels can't be bred in captivity because of the mystery, so either ATBG's universe is so far advanced in terms of aquatic husbandry that they can easily market sea snakes to weird little buck toothed gremlin children, or the writers wanted to use sea monkeys but ran into a copyright issue and then decided to go with "sea snakes". (Also, I bring this up because Klasky csupo also made the wild thornberrys, a show primarily built around the premise of exploring nature and biology).

[@pokeydex]

No one is reading all that. Calm down it’s a cartoon.

[@rickydavis4325]

@@pokeydex I'm aware that not a lot of people will read it, I just found it interesting on how they go through the process of making it the B plot and don't fact check anything.

[@rannvamacdonaldarnskov4794]

​@rickydavis4325 I read all of it and the invertebrate joke stood out to me too so it was a delight seeing this infodump

[@rickydavis4325]

@@rannvamacdonaldarnskov4794 Thanks, it makes it all worthwhile in the end.

[@KaylaChaotic325]

I remember when the Christmas special first aired and Carl explained that he used to ask Santa for his dad to come home, but he never did, so he concluded Santa must not be real. I dont think I'd ever seen that jaded perspective displayed on any kids show before

[@patcahill3724]

This show is underrated, and I like it

[@KagiWarai]

I loved this show as a kid and even as an adult I catch myself often thinking about the episodes, the morals, the friendships and characters. The ones sticking out the most is the slumber party, the lice episode and the one with the talent show. It really was a good show!

[@EvanYoungMusic]

Wow… I remember this episode but forgot that ending. Wow… you’re right… being an adult, this just hits you… I couldn’t imagine being that kind of a “father” who doesn’t care.

[@dd6325]

Please do a video on “A Lesson In Tightropes” it’s such a pivotal episode of the show and the fact that it was unaired basically in the US is insane. Also just for some context, Gingers dad does return later on in the series, and in the last weirdly aired season in high school he plays a major role in Carl’s arc. I think sometime during that episode it was mentioned that this wasn’t the first time the dad had implied he wanted a more active role and that Darren may have already seen this situation before, which adds some explanation to his skepticism and brashness this episode.

[@oooh19]

The high school episodes are on paramount plus along with all the episodes and tv movie specials

[@Terestrasz]

Even when I was a kid, the Ginger plotlines were just as interesting to me - cause this was the kind of stuff I'd see in real life.

[@jessinthecomments]

As an elder millennial of 37 almost 38 I was able to fully enjoy Clarissa Explains it All era plus the Secret World of Alex Mac, the whole Snick line up down to the As told By Ginger and Caitlin’s Way era and I loved it all.

[@GiraffasaurusRx]

My parents never showed up to a single show and it kinda hurt. The moment that she's looking in the crowd sad, but gets a standing ovation, brought back a lot of feelings. My family was absent but I was so lucky to have a Darren in my life. I wish they'd have seen me or showed they cared with flowers, but in the end my friends were there. Darren and Gingers mom make big differences in people's lives.

[@Canev821]

I always loved the show I liked both Carl and ginger and I think Lois is one of the best cartoon moms ever you could she loved both Carl and ginger so much

[@jacobjamaal8369]

Yeah, the ending of the episode just made me cry like a baby. Holy shit

[@Crunchy_Troll]

As Told By Ginger Is the Evangelion of Nickelodeon Shows

[@zackattack8845]

Taina is pronounced TAH-YEE-NUH. I remember because it’s repeated in the theme song, which is permanently ingrained in my brain.

[@caitlinjones2114]

🎼never gonna stop ‘til I see my name in lights, no one’s gonna stop me, you’ll see! Taiiiiiiiiiiiinaaaa🎼 your comment just unlocked part of the theme song in my mind! 😂

[@jenneacubero1036]

Im only 8 minutes in but sometimes I wonder what's holding Ginger's dad back from being more involved like what PieGuyRulz said.

[@BlkK1ng]

Good show, way before its time, good writing

[@aronaranyossy]

This show was a master at destroying you with the last few seconds. The episode when Carl's teacher dies fucking CRUSHED me as a kid

[@thefantasticretroreviewer3941]

Trying to tackle something serious isn't a bad thing

[@ShiningTaiga]

It’s not but there are so many shows that fail at properly doing it.

[@thefantasticretroreviewer3941]

@@ShiningTaiga True

[@DuskTillShawn]

True! I think it’s actually very crucial. It gives these light-hearted children’s shows an opportunity to teach a lesson about the real world. Thanks so much for watching 🙂

[@thefantasticretroreviewer3941]

@@DuskTillShawn Seems fair

[@KittyChibiWaifu]

It broke me when I watched this when it was current. I had similar moments in my life. My mom was also a nurse and she did everything on her own for me and my sister. It didn't help how much I related to Ginger. Especially during the camp/depression arc she goes through. I'm so happy I got to grow up with this beautiful, deep kids show.

[@Mglay556]

My parents did this when it came to my grandparents. On one birthday my grandparents got my brother (we are not twins nor share the same month for a birthday) got him a new watch and me nothing. My parents were pissed at them. Later that week they surprised me with a new bike claiming it was from my grandparents. But deep down as a kid I knew it was my parents who got me the bike. This episode hits so different as an adult

[@XTWDeadShot]

I remember not giving this show a shot at first since i was 9 when it first aired but my older cousin made me sit down and watch it with her. I ended up being hooked after. Mostly due to Carl's antics. I gave it a rewatch a couple years ago and honestly, i missed how emotional it was as a kid. Honestly, imo there might be one episode even sadder than this. Mrs gordon passing and seeing how carl reacted after really got me.

[@skootergirl22]

I remember a episode where ginger almost died from appendicitis after a break up

[@leemorrell]

S3:E14 A Lesson in Tightropes That episode tore me up emotionally, and I wanted to throat-punch Darren and Dodie in that episode, because Darren cheated on Ginger with mf Simone, a fucking cheerleader, and Dodie was being insensitive about the whole thing quoting some stupid shit from a damn magazine, NOT KNOWING THAT GINGER WAS IN PHYSICAL PAIN FROM HER FUCKING APPENDIX AND HAD TO BE RUSHED TO THE HOSPITAL FOR AN EMERGENCY APPENDECTOMY, AND ALMOST DIED FROM IT!! Ooh, I was so pissed at those two!

[@AbstractOddity]

I’ve said on your other video about the and then she was gone episode of as told by ginger but this show meant so much to me being a preteen/teen around when it was airing. I grew up with a single mother and watching just the synopsis made me start choking up. The way this show was written was just wow… like how her friends don’t really get it even tho Darren tries to be supportive. And her outlet being poetry was something I did as well. Lois is such a good mom. I had a mom who totally demonized my father so Lois trying to just be supportive and let Jonas show who he is by his actions without actively badmouthing him just shows what a good character she has. One thing I find myself thinking now tho is how brave she was to share her poetry and even read it in front of her peers. I’m glad she got a positive reaction but maybe that part rings a little unrealistic to me lol I’m looking forward to the new upload schedule! Don’t drive yourself crazy if it becomes too much to put out that much content. I’m sure we’d all prefer you not to get burnt out :)

[@c00mgoblin]

Thank you for talking about this show!!! This is my favorite “retro” Nickelodeon show, it’s relatable and seriously real. I’m so sad they had to rush to end it when they did. 🥺

[@WARRIOR4LIFE9761]

This show was one of my favourvites. When I had paramount plus I binged this whole show cause its so relatable. 😊

[@DestinyMaeTheBlogger]

The librarian 😂😂 “I WONT TELL YOU GIRLS AGAIN!”

[@ShadyRK9]

Awesome! More "As Told By Ginger" video! Happy Holidays and Happy New Year! 🎊 🕛

[@DuskTillShawn]

Happy Holidays, ShadyRK9!!!! I hope you have a fantastic start to your 2024 😁

[@rosey3580]

This episode really reflects how I felt about my biological dad when I was younger. Its makes me more appreciative and happy with the people in my life that take the time to be there for me when I really need it.

[@sawyerrichardson6077]

I haven’t actually sobbed like this in a long long time my father wasn’t around when I really needed him always something else to do but anyway thank you for making this I loved it

[@blackrose6058]

So Taiana is pronounced Ty-En-Ah. But ATBG is one of my favorite shows, I’m 28 and still watch it. It’s so good, so deep kind of like my other comfort show Gilmore Girls, it just has that energy.

[@JohnSmith-jh6ey]

Their dad appears in a Christmas episode in forget the details though tbh as a kid i mainly watched for carl and hoodsys antics

[@BeeKee404]

I was and still am kind of the opposite of how you used to view the show. I was always way more invested in Ginger's story than Carl's. Nowadays, I'm kind of equally invested in both of theirs. I did a rewatch of this show not too long ago and I found myself really enjoying Carl's scenes. I liked his humor and story lines and also whenever he would show his caring side like when Hoodsy lost his memories and would rather hang out with Brandon or when Ginger almost died from appendicitis.