The Dark Side of Hey Arnold! - Rhonda (Episode 5)

[@iwasinabox]

thank you so much for letting me be apart of this one, shawn. talking about hey arnold is always a good time!

[@DuskTillShawn]

Thank you, my guy!! I couldn’t have done it without you. 😁 my voice needed that break.

[@beegborg3303]

Love both of your content, was a nice surprise hearing you jump in the video

[@zerotodona1495]

Rosa park was a plant. Claudette was the real victim. Plus blacks have put us back in wanting segregation. Like they literally are demanding segregation now. It also wasn’t bold in the 90s. We didn’t have racism in schools then. Plus no, most kids did not get the Rosa park reference at all. Kids will focus on the glasses thing.

[@rocketsfan05]

Excited to see what your channel has to offer

[@leebulger7112]

​@@DuskTillShawnAfter watching the previous episodes about Helga and Harold I'm starting to see a pattern of characters that care a lot about their reputation for different reasons.

[@somebvnny]

if Curly was a real person, he'd be in prison right now

[@hoarsebard]

I dunno. I feel like there's a good ending for Curly. He's clearly an energetic, passionate, eccentric, so I think he'd do well in some kind of artistic or theatrical career. Also, he's like 8 and has an elementary school crush, I don't think he can be judged that harshly.

[@doutchebags]

The dude straight up committed the plot to a generic blackmail Hentai manga. That could have easily been a prison sentence if he took it any farther.

[@hoarsebard]

@@doutchebags He's still 8 years old. So no, it wouldn't.

[@doutchebags]

@@hoarsebard You clearly don't understand blackmail laws, even between minors. On top of consent laws, even for something as basic as compensated dating. That kiss alone could be enough for a lawsuit if she was willing to tell her parents at the risk of them finding out what she did.

[@mahkaylalee6898]

@@doutchebagsmy guy he’s 8 I hope you don’t have kids jeez

[@AnAverageGoblin]

half her episodes are basically "Well well well if it isn't the direct consequences of my own actions"

[@robinkholmes7127]

It's a kid's show, what do you expect?

[@AnAverageGoblin]

@@robinkholmes7127 I wasn't expecting anything, just pointing out how funny it was.

[@Thespeedrap]

I always wondered what happened to her when she grew up?

[@Sasha-vb3mh]

@@ThespeedrapShe fell in love with Harold but because it went against her social cues, she ditched him and married a wealthy welsh man, continuing her family’s generational wealth and lineage

[@Thespeedrap]

@@Sasha-vb3mh Who knows most of these shows are fictional people so it's up to everyone's imagination.

[@robertbarrows6687]

I have a feeling Rhonda's parents never actually 'passed' the academy, only coasted by on their family's names. Its telling when the teacher tells Rhonda to her face 'Times have changed' when she tries to use her family name to her advantage. Either showing that the original founder of the Polishing Academy had either died or were tossed out for corruption.

[@nationalinstituteofcheese3012]

How did Patty not get valedictorian when she was doing perfect but Rhonda catches up last minute and graduates top of the class?

[@urahara64360]

Honestly I think Rhonda's attraction to Harold is actually a potential rejection of her obsession with her image. It's her going for an option that makes Her happy instead of one that means she has to uphold that image.

[@SaiOkami777]

That arc wouldve been perfect to explore in their high school years

[@elijimenez7710]

Some weird female friends of mine actually a lot of them. Say they prefer dating non attractive men or at least never more attractive than them. These women are insecure.

[@CoffinKitten]

I always found her attraction to Harold odd at first. He was a certified bully (I understand why he was throughout the series) he did have good character development which is why I enjoyed Hey Arnold so much!

[@aroccoification]

It's one thing that Harold isn't appealing on the outside but he sucks 90% of the time on the inside too. He's stupid and mean so wtf is this attractive rich girl into him for besides the fact that it's to lash out at her upbringing?

[@Doors067]

​@@elijimenez7710 my wife is that way, she approached me in a bar and made moves and everyone thought she was joking me included. She said "I want to be the pretty one for you"

[@twindrill2852]

I wish the glasses episode actually had Rhonda keep the new thin-framed glasses she wore at the end. It would keep up a status quo while remaining subtle enough to work.

[@Chimeragui]

Same, I would’ve loved making her a permanent resident of the boarding house too. Rugrats had this sort of continuity with Dil and Kimmy and hell Susie was canonically a character that moved into the neighborhood. It’s not even like there wasn’t a precedent for this in Hey Arnold either given Lila’s very existence.

[@lahlybird895]

Interestingly while she's trying to keep up appearances she does lie about dropping a contact did she make up contacts or is she actually wearing contacts and only lied about dropping one

[@Chimeragui]

⁠@@lahlybird895it’s mentioned in the glasses episode that she isn’t allowed to wear contacts which makes the lack of consequences continuity wise for Rhonda so frustrating for me

[@lahlybird895]

@@Chimeragui maybe she got her parents to change their minds

[@RazzleDazzle106]

@lahlybird895 I was thinking about this mixed with a The original comments and your reply as well as comments about her parents. I truly believe it’d only take one snooty comment from her mother’s friends or even peers for her to suddenly think contacts are a great idea. Which in all honesty i despise that idea.

[@budderk1305]

Harold and Rhonda's egg parenthood sounds like a tragedy of greek gods "sorry I ate our child honey!"

[@labyrinthgirl17]

Only difference is, if a Greek god did it, there'd be no sorry lol.

[@zihark8444]

Fantastic comment! I love it

[@HunhowsShadowStalker]

Damn it, Kronos!

[@TheAbcd567]

A Modest Proposal

[@masterjoda999]

@@labyrinthgirl17 If a Greek god did it, the egg would somehow kill them from the inside and lead a revolution.

[@Nando75549]

Moral of this video: 1. Rhonda is a snob. 2. Curly needs Jesus.

[@WonderlustThing]

I need Jesus. But pretty sure he hates me.

[@mariagil2170]

​@@WonderlustThing Oh no sir or ma'am please dont think that! Jesus is one with his father. Jesus' father is God. God is love. Jesus is love. Pure love! God and Jesus hate sin, but they love the sinner. They don't like the bad actions of a person but they love that person. Jesus doesn't hate you! If He did He would not have died for you. Jesus knew about everything wrong you would ever do, but He still died to being you back into the family and restore your value. Go someplace where you are alone, and pray to Jesus and tell Him you need Him and that you want to be back into His family. Say sorry for the things you have done and He will forgive you! Never think that it's to late for you because God is faithful and will always care about you. God bless you sir or ma'am, Jesus loves you so so much!

[@mariagil2170]

​@@WonderlustThingPsalm 86:15 "But you, my Lord, are full of compassion and mercy; you are very patient and full of faithful love."

[@mariagil2170]

​@@WonderlustThing There's another scripture I feel called to share with you. 1 Timothy chapter 1 verse 15-16 "This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. Howbiet for this cause I recieved mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show forth all long suffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on Him unto life everlasting". This scripture means, that Christ Jesus came to save sinner. That is a fact and should be accepted by all people. And that the writer was the worst. (The writer is Paul, who before having an encounter with Jesus Christ, hated Christian's and would kill them.) But He was given mercy, so that others in the future can look back and see how wonderful God is and how merciful He is based of his forgiveness and love of the writer. God is love, and He uses that forgiveness and love that He has toward the writer to show us that even if we did bad stuff in the past, we can change to a life of Christ. There are sometimes where you might make a mistake, even after you are saved and are righteous, you just have to talk to God about it say you're sorry and share your heart with Him. It wont all be easy but God will be with you every step of the way. He is good and He is on you're side, so talk to Him please. He loves you, He loves everybody so much. You are wanted by God! You can talk to Him. He will always love you!

[@Thespeedrap]

Both need Jesus Christ as well as everyone else in the world fictional and non fiction✝️

[@alicedelgado955]

The next character has to be Grandpa Phil. Growing up during the Great Depression, dropping out of school, being bullied the same as Arnold and marrying said bully, possibly foreshadowing Arnold and Helga's future. Raising his grandson while dealing with the possibility that he may never see his son and daughter-in-law ever again

[@austria-hungary4981]

And let's not forget his heroic effort in giving Hitler a wedgie.

[@zihark8444]

Pookie bullied Steely Phil? Gasp

[@GOLDHAJIKVONGOLA]

you forgot serving during world war 2

[@austria-hungary4981]

@@GOLDHAJIKVONGOLA yeah. Grandpa once gave Hitler a wedgie.

[@rocketsfan05]

Yeah he punched Hitler​@@GOLDHAJIKVONGOLA

[@brandenaustin37]

I never hated Rhonda, i grew to appreciate her more but i always had a very" come on Rhonda, your better then this" kind of attitude towards her

[@robinkholmes7127]

People need to see these bully characters, they're great cautionary tales

[@JohnSmith-jh6ey]

Yeah shes vain and arrogant but you never really got the idea that she would hurt someone on purpose

[@OliverOils]

yeah she's in the middle of the rich spoiled girl stereotype she wasn't as mean as Pacifica but she's not kind and loyal like Charlotte La Bouff just the type of personality you'd expect from a spoiled kid

[@dww7094]

Absolutely, it always reads like behavior that she could and probably would grow out of. You can tell she's a decent kid overall.🎉

[@tierefuerimmer9635]

I always did bc of how she treated others, was a spoiled brat and never had any lasting character development and just went back to her selfish ways.

[@rocketterrier]

Honestly, I think Patty is my favorite character. She's so sweet and thoughtful. If I was a character in the Hey Arnold universe, I would be friends with her right away. I was a quiet kid in school.

[@xxthatsnotmexx]

Facts 💯💯💯

[@Shadow731000]

I’ve always wanted to be friends with Patty she was super sweet and it’s a shame she didn’t have more episodes I always looked forward to her episodes.

[@robinkholmes7127]

Phoebe and Patty, a lot of the time they're the people that make Helga and Ronda likeable.

[@Chimeragui]

I get the feeling that the reason Patty is so sweet and soft spoken is that as the strongest girl in the cast and likely the strongest fourth grader after Torvald, she doesn’t need to secure her place in the pecking order like Helga or even Harold Hell the series makes it abundantly clear that she can easily kick both of their asses, and technically did kick Helga’s at least once, despite them being the prominent bullies hence why both make a point to not fuck with her if they can help it A small dog barks incessantly while a large dog will send a message with little more than a growl

[@alysssabear]

Same, I’ve always loved Patty

[@VoidWalkerOblivion]

Rhonda's eyesight is actually super easy to explain; one eye is stronger than the other, so her body learns to compensate by having the 'good' eye do all the work. Rhonda probably got killer headaches in the afternoons/evenings that went unnoticed as either her being dramatic or as result of watching too much TV. I'm projecting, by the way. People only realised that I needed glasses when I was 12, years after my eyesight became a problem, because my vision as 20/*12*. My left eye was straining so hard I had literal years of migraines that went dismissed.

[@alexandregingras1622]

Rhonda's parents in the glasses episode make Bob and Miriam Paktaki look like great parents, especially her mother

[@weelzneal4768]

Nah.. alcoholics are garbage. Her mother would just drink the money for glasses, abandon the family, deny the actual need, or would have forgotten about it. Never trust them for anything

[@robinkholmes7127]

Neglect vs unrealistic expectations

[@weelzneal4768]

Nah, alcoholics are garbage ppl & would have been worse. Was my last comment deleted or something?

[@Emigdiosback]

Did they ever consider that glasses can also be used as a fashion statement? Why pick a nerdy looking one?

[@robinkholmes7127]

Because plot@@Emigdiosback

[@notrealnamenotatall2476]

Rhonda is one of those characters who time reframes. As a kid, I thought Rhonda was just an awful person who was sometimes good. As an adult, I see her as a mouthpiece for her parents. Many of these episodes display that Rhonda's behavior is a direct result of her parents' upbringing. Like, they don't seem like awful people, they don't abuse her, but they have fostered this behavior. For example, after hearing that Rhonda gets in a fight they take her to the polishing school to have her around more kids 'like herself'. Not dealing with the issue and instead assuming the problem is the other "less sophisticated" kids. I think that's why Rhonda flips so fast. At her core, she's just a kid doing what she thinks she is supposed to, and when she gets a wake-up call then she takes it. Alas, she slips because she's in an environment that constantly assures her that her behavior is fine, it's everybody else's fault.

[@winterwitch8914]

I love your FNAF analysis videos. I totally agree, though. Rhonda can't ever change if she keeps being told her unacceptable behavior is okay. Kids look to their parents as role models, and her parents don't seem like ideal role models of well-rounded people.

[@nationalinstituteofcheese3012]

Especially when her mom told Rhonda how they can’t both be upset. Like you’re the mom, you’re supposed to be comforting her, not being dramatic about the whole situation.

[@timtimmonsmusic]

as a kid i was always jealous of Arnold's room but now i look at it as an adult his room must be hot af with having windows for a ceiling.

[@AceLM92]

And Arctic cold in the winter.

[@rizkiramadhan9266]

He lives in a foreign country tho, so probably even in the summer it won't reach 27 degrees

[@AceLM92]

@@rizkiramadhan9266 you would be surprised how warm it can get in places like the Bronx, especially when you're standing under a window in the sunlight. It's like standing under a magnifying glass.

[@rizkiramadhan9266]

@@AceLM92 really? Does it get as hot as 30?

[@timtimmonsmusic]

yeah i forgot to add winter. how is he not sick? lol @@AceLM92

[@robertbarrows6687]

....Curly is definitely the sort of person in adulthood who would be a stalker, rapist and potentially a murderer of the object of his affection. He has all the signs of being a disturbed individual even before the blackmail.

[@ReeveTheMysterious]

Yeah

[@MasterVenik]

Still waiting for his episode of the Dark Side of Hey Arnold, cause yeah, he fits the serial killer vibe in every aspect

[@spadinnerxylaphone2622]

Hopefully he'll have an early intervention to prevent it. I'm surprised Miss Bliss overlooked him but noticed Helga.

[@isolated_illust]

​​@@MasterVenik I wonder if he'd (Shaun) bring up the episode where Curly straight up went insane and locked himself in the principles office just because he wasn't chosen to put away a bag of dodgeballs, since I believe he has already, and that's one of the episodes were I think Curly was at his most unhinged.

[@teamboobooseth1]

@@isolated_illustShaun talked about that episode in the first The Dark Side Of….!

[@jessicajones1995]

Curly black mailing Rhonda is just so wrong and creepy

[@bitterzombie]

Rhonda should have smacked him for kissing her, he crossed the line & that should have been framed as what ruined the illusion & grossed everyone out. An instant karma kinda scenario. Curly was a jerk & he should have given her the photos back, & then they could have had a more "mutual" breakup. It could have been funny if he admitted that he was selfish, the timing was wrong, etc., typical things someone might say during a real breakup. Curly isnt a very deep character & doesnt need to be, but he should have been able to recognize that their fake relationship was killing any hopes he ever had for a real one. Curly doesnt have to change who he is to get some perspective on his behavior. Even if he went right back to creeping on her, he should have promised to do it in a more courtly & respectful manner, & "wear her down the old-fashioned way".

[@robinkholmes7127]

I didn't see the gravity of the situation as a child, now it hits harder

[@marlonclark-pp9wg]

the episode was a parody of can't buy me love

[@hhh1234h]

Yes times were really different because how does nobody see the issue with a boy forcibly kissing a girl and said girl running to the bathroom crying saying she’ll put up with it so she won’t be an outcast.

[@marlonclark-pp9wg]

@@hhh1234h yeah if this went on today Curly would definitely be put in prison

[@randallcraft4071]

The glasses episode blows my mind at how her parents act. Like the mom would know there are super high end fashion houses that put out glasses. Cool women in the 90s would were non script fashion glasses like they do to this day. Like her mom didnt even seem to care about that, like she thinks the same way.

[@robinkholmes7127]

Later episodes show that her parents are kind of dumb, not knowing what recycling is and the dad working but not really understanding his job

[@mynameisreallycool1]

I didn't even know the fake glasses trend existed that long ago. For some reason, I just thought it was started by hipsters in the early 2010s.

[@ToriOfTheNile]

Depending on the prescription of glasses, they can really distort one’s face and easily make a person super insecure. I first was prescribed extremely high prescription glasses in 7th grade and they distorted the hell out of my eyes and mid face. I had such bad eyesight I couldn’t function without them anymore, and I was very self conscious. When I first started contacts in college, people were literally stunned by what my face actually looked like. So it’s really not as simple as most people make it sound. It’s a object distorting ur face that you have to wear everyday. Designer or not, It can seem really big as a child….

[@randallcraft4071]

@@ToriOfTheNile true, ive worn glasses since the 2nd grade and i hated wearing them. My issue is her parents acted like children, that you cemented that glasses are wrong for her, on top of the issues children already have with glasses. If her mom wasnt also a 4th grader about the issue she could have guided her through it better.

[@winterwitch8914]

To be honest, I never got why cartoons portrayed getting glasses as the worst thing ever. I've been wearing glasses since grade 1 and have been lucky enough to have classmates who didn't care about me wearing glasses. I was lucky not to be picked on. Although I did get kids grabbing the lens of my glasses asking "are they real?" Or asking me to try my glasses on. But thst was more annoying rather than mean.

[@YourWaywardDestiny]

Giving an apology is harder than most people think. The words "I'm sorry" alone aren't difficult to say, but if you don't understand _why_ you should be sorry, it's going to fall flat, and if you're incapable of letting people not be satisfied with the apology, it wasn't an apology in the first place. "I'm sorry for being called out" is an apology for yourself, and that's not the point of the matter. I don't begrudge a 9 year old for not being able to do it properly, or being too afraid of rejection to be able to even say those two simple words, changing how she acts very visibly is a good first step. The fact that she can reflect enough to alter her perception is further than a lot of people get, and it's honestly the hard part about it that everyone gets hung up on. Most of us are conditioned to think those two words are magic without ever considering the rest of it. Admitting wrong-doing would be the next step for Rhonda.

[@NekoFye]

An apology isn't just the words "I'm sorry" it's the actions to prove it as well. And I feel Rhonda doing the right thing is already in a way an apology too. I have been bullied a lot as a kid, never got an apology ever... and I doubt that if they would have apoloized to me that I believed them... To me Rhonda's actions may not excuse her behavior but to me it speaks more than a bully telling me they're sorry.

[@scyriena]

As someone who was bullied heavily by kids like Rhonda simply because I'm different than the popular girls, I've seen people can change. Someone who bullied me every single day in middle school ran into me at the store almost 10yrs later after graduation and apologized to me personally for being such a b*tch to me and that not me, nor anyone deserved that kind of treatment. I honestly feel bad for those who are like this but refuse to see the way they act is hurting others and refuse to change their ways more than hate them because I feel a lot of them aren't going to be surrounded with people who truly care and love them for who they are, and rather care more about their social status more than anything. I myself try to be nice and understanding to everyone, despite their background and upbringing because you never know what someone might struggle with personally. Everyone deserves to be loved, respected, and treated like a human being and Rhonda is no different, rich or not~ Thank you Shawn for bringing a character like her to light, it's very refreshing to see her included in a video of her own and shown they are human deep down too~

[@robinkholmes7127]

A very sweet, heartfelt message, thank you🥰

[@byronrush9802]

a lot of them peak in high School anyway the rest of their lives are downhill

[@ajjamsen694]

6:23 '...the front seats are for the cool kids...' SINCE WHEN? 😆

[@milkystar8950]

Haha right? When I was in school, all the cool kids sat in the back (or whatever opposite side of the room the teacher's desk was).

[@shadowguy321]

True, usually everyone loves the back because last out and love of the bounce every time the bus goes over a bump

[@nicolasmeisel]

​@@shadowguy321 you also get away with more stuff and can curse.

[@RubixKyuub]

The heat was also somewhat towards the back

[@RubixKyuub]

The heat was also somewhat towards the back

[@pokemaniacalex8031]

Curly... Curly's gonna end up on a few lists...

[@kyngsolomon]

I hear you, but how is his obsession any different from Helga's?

[@nickelakon5369]

​@@kyngsolomonwhile I do think people are being somewhat unfair to curly, afterall he is a kid and kids do fucked up things sometimes, the real problem lies in them not learning those lessons which we see curly show hes capable of doing in the curly's girl episode. His obsession is different than Helga's cause he actively forces her into a relationship, helga doesnt do that. Both are unhealthy of course though.

[@gingergoddess8953]

I always thought Rhonda's mother spoke like an actor because she was one. Rhonda got the lead in the school play first so she's got talent. Prolly got it from her mother.

[@Bostonterrierslol]

You know, I always felt that Rhonda might’ve had a lowkey crush on Arnold and sometimes she does stuff like this to impress him. Almost like she knows she can’t buy him over

[@oooh19]

Everyone would love Arnold he’s an awesome person

[@Bostonterrierslol]

@@oooh19i mean in the school play episode, Rhonda & Arnold were supposed to have a kiss scene. And she looked VERY interested

[@rocketsfan05]

Yeah I always thought that too

[@Nel_Annette]

She always gave that vibe, I felt.

[@theWanderersnotebook]

I honestly thought they would have worked better than Helga and Arnold

[@CharmCityGamer]

Ah Rhonda, a brat? Sure. But a layered one and a good kid deep down. Thanks Shawn!

[@robinkholmes7127]

Also shows that every kid based social rule is kind of dumb a lot of the time

[@CharmCityGamer]

@@robinkholmes7127 Agreed!

[@Nicholasmcmath-cr1xl]

Same

[@SunGodNika-bi2jr]

She's Spoiled Sweet

[@CharmCityGamer]

@@SunGodNika-bi2jr For sure.

[@DuskTillShawn]

Hey, Friends! I worked SO HARD on this video and I really hope that you all enjoy it! It wouldn't have been possible without my friend iwasinabox. Make sure you check out his channel here: www.youtube.com/@iwasinabox

[@thefantasticretroreviewer3941]

Everyone, even in Cartoons, needs to have something to talk about in Life

[@unviewerrandom4792]

glad to have you back my boy

[@thefantasticretroreviewer3941]

@@unviewerrandom4792 Was he gone?

[@CharlietheWarlock]

Well I already subscribed but I will also like the video

[@thefantasticretroreviewer3941]

@@CharlietheWarlock Ok

[@DaBeanieBaby]

The bus seating thing always bothered me. I rode the bus for two years. It was always the ‘cool’ kids in the back because they would do whatever back there. I tried sitting back there once and very quickly for sent to the middle

[@pLanetstarBerry]

My friends and I always sat in the back on the bus ride home because, being easy targets for bullying, the back seat was the safest spot for us. The times have changed, I guess.

[@Snakie747]

The thing that bugs me about Rhonda (and it's an issue with some of the other side characters too) is that none of her big changes seem to last more than an episode. She has to learn the same lesson about treating people decently and not separating people based on what they look like multiple times, and always has to start at square one every time.

[@TaskMaster5]

That's the problem with cartoons of the era is that they are isolated and things sort of 'reset' so each episode is digestible by itself without having to see the entire series. This was a product of cable TV and needing reruns to be successful and it is easier to keep attention when an episode airing isn't one from halfway through a season of a big overarching plot/development. If the series had been made today with the abundance of streaming services where one could watch in order any time someone wanted then it'd likely be ba series where past episodes have st least some relevance to each subsequent episode and developments would carry over.

[@leebulger7112]

​@@TaskMaster5I think it would be intriguing if Hey Arnold! got a reboot in the future where it would have more consistent continuity and development if it's written well.

[@stoiccrane4259]

@@leebulger7112 Wouldn't work in this era. Hey Arnold is a product of the 90s created by adults influence by the Civil Rights Era. Arguably the most prosperous time in American history which says little considering how terrible race relations and gender disparities were.

[@HaruWuu]

That is the thing kids can change but not really lol. 😂

[@CristinaGarcia-xx4gy]

52:31 alright but who else needed to catch this episode to realize that it was a shirt under his sweater and that Arnold wasn't just randomly wearing a kilt over his jeans everyday?

[@charlesbennett7484]

You can see the shirts collar as well so I knew it was a shirt, I just thought it was weird that Arnold wore two shirts all the time.

[@CristinaGarcia-xx4gy]

@@charlesbennett7484 Yeah, I think I noticed the collar was the same colour and pattern as the bit at the bottom, I don't remeber,. It either didn't register, or I just assumed the sweater collar matched the ''kilt''. I remeber being taken by surprise when he pulled it up in the episode and it was all one piece.

[@LCMucke14]

............................what? o_______________O

[@NotWhatIamMadeFor]

I am surprised that so many people thought about what Arnold was wearing so much. I was in an older child when I watched this (born in 83 and I watched this when it aired originally on Nick.) I think I just assumed that it was Arnold's version of tying a flannel shirt around his waist which was a pretty common thing then - and man was it a great way to hid it if you got your period and there was a stain. Not that that has anything to do with Arnold lol!

[@robinkholmes7127]

I remember watching that scene as a kid

[@archieblue2801]

I don't think a friendship like Ronda & Nadine would last much longer than a couple more years at best if they were real people in real life. Their friendship is really unbalanced & they're both into completely different things & would eventually be drawn to different friend groups by middle/high school.

[@JazzTen-]

Literally my old best friend and me.. 🙃 I guess I was Nadine cuz I didn't have the bougie life and was more drawn to the "geek/kick-back" crowds watever I jus sit on KZbin now lol

[@RogueT-Rex8468]

Curly is one of those characters that I never for any reason liked. His type of weird set off so many red flags even as a kid. As an adult- if he were real, I’d genuinely worry for anyone that he’d ever come into contact with. Especially if he perceived you rubbed him wrong, even a glance. Knowing him as a character, I genuinely am so glad to know he’s a cartoon and not real.

[@awkwardbean1504]

I actually briefly dated a guy like Curly in high school. 5 years later, I'm still dealing with the consequences. There were absolutely red flags present that I ignored at the time because I just thought he was "misunderstood and geeky". Always trust your instincts and never ignore red flags

[@CoolMagmar]

@@awkwardbean1504 I hope everything ends well because these dudes are the worse. I also met a dude who was just like Curly in college our only interaction was that we did one group project together, and he stalked me for a full semester...

[@rocketsfan05]

Curly is a total mess. It's not just the episode with Rhonda; the kid is running around letting zoo animals loose and blockading himself in the principals office

[@robinkholmes7127]

And dressing up as a ghost bride to scare the s**t out of the regular group@@rocketsfan05

[@Lo0serx3]

​@@rocketsfan05 his elaborate plan to frame Eugene for pulling the fire alarm

[@caitlinmccloud7431]

Tbh when the episode came out, needing glasses was like the end of the world to some people. Like when I needed glasses I got made fun of, my parents were mad at my “disability”, and that went on until popular kids started needing glasses. Then they were cool and cute! So I didn’t really get the segregation.

[@lalalarose8197]

I remember those times. I had an existential crisis when the school nurse recommended I wear glasses.

[@ToriOfTheNile]

Oh yes, having glasses was literally the end of the world as a child. My parents first blamed me, even though my doctor insisted I was sitting close to the tv because I couldn’t see it, and my self esteem that was already in the gutter was brought to hell by my classmates.

[@winterwitch8914]

Oh my god. That's terrible. I'm sorry you had to experience that. No one should be ridiculed for wearing glasses. Like damn bro, I just wanted to see. And that's absolutely terrible parents would blame their child for needing glasses. That's not on the kid for not being able to see. Like dang give me some better eyesight genes then/j. But honestly, to blame a kid for something out of their control is so out of pocket. I'm so sorry you had to feel guilty about that on top of being bullied in school.

[@DrTimes99]

The problem with trying to look into Nadine's motivation is that the writer's of the show treat her like Rhonda does. She's only important in how she relates to Rhonda. If she isn't a part of the Rhonda centric story being told, she basically doesn't exist.

[@Zacman1123]

I can't believe that you actually made an over 2 and a half hour "Dark Side" video for Rhonda of all characters from "Hey Arnold". I'm very impressed.

[@cakes3958]

Yeah but a lot of it was on Arnold and Helga

[@Zacman1123]

@@cakes3958 not really

[@Recessbiru]

It's bad that we never got Nadine centric episode. Heck, in The Jungle Movie, Nadine is the ONLY one of the girls who got re-casted.

[@robinkholmes7127]

It's a pretty big cast, it's inevitable that some got lost in the mix

[@byronrush9802]

​@@robinkholmes7127could also be the person who does her voice wasn't available or not with us anymore

[@grapeshot]

Rhonda is interesting character I know she's a stereotypical good-looking rich girl of their group but Rhonda Goes Broke cast always been one of my favorite episodes of that series.

[@lavieestunsonge4541]

Yay! It’s here! Another “Dark Side of Hey Arnold!” We appreciate your hard work with editing, research and compiling clips with your added commentary and insight.☺️

[@Warrior-Of-Virtue]

Rhonda is a prime example of how this show's creators were devout believers of "Status Quo is God." Rhonda forgets her lessons almost as soon as she learns them.

[@Chimeragui]

And honestly I think she suffers the most from it With Harold at least, the return to status quo was actually _the whole point_ of an episode (his insecurity regarding his weight leading to him gaining weight and subsequently having to work to lose the fat he had gained) and the other major developments in his character (his aptitude test, his bar mitzvah, befriending a woman and her cat and his aspirations of being a butcher leading to him becoming Mr Green’s apprentice) shook up continuity so little that they could be kept and no one watching would’ve even noticed (not like Thurston would be randomly brought up in casual conversation anyway) Really the only major point of continuity is that Harold is Jewish which actually _does_ get brought up but _only_ in the two episodes when this point plays a central role and while, yes, it does suck that it’s only brought up in these two episodes specifically; at the very least this limited continuity doesn’t actually hurt him as a character and arguably helps him With Rhonda however, not only was there no reason why her development needed to be rolled back but two of the major instances of this (her wearing glasses and her family living in the boarding house) were arguably things that rolling back actually hurt her as a character in my honest opinion

[@stoiccrane4259]

American cartoons aren't known for character development. That's why so many American kids at the time fell in love with anime where they actually grew with the characters.

[@abbystarheart1]

My hot take is she never actually learns a lesson. She doesnt reflect on her actions and go 'oh, it was wrong of me to make the geeks sit in the back, reguardless of whether im a geek myself'. Her 'development' is exclusively self serving. She doesnt care about other people, she doesnt develop empathy, she only cares about causes that specifically re-elevate her to whatever status and treatment she desires Just my interpretation though based on the clips used in the video!!! I havent seen the episodes in their full in a very long time.

[@stoiccrane4259]

@@abbystarheart1 Hey Arnold is arguably the best Nicktoon of all time that imparts gems worth of life lessons. Rhondas is a character study of how a lack of self-introspection and personal accountability leads to stunted growth. She compensates for her deficient character traits through materialism and elitism while being hollow and insular from within. Alot of legitimate people embody the psychological (or perhaps spiritual) pathology Rhonda exhibits.

[@Kite403]

I never understood how Rhonda and her family were considered wealthy when I was young. They lived in normal sized home and only had a maid on staff as far as I saw. I think it makes more sense when you examine her parents and how "high society" they seemed to act; they were probably not as rich as they liked to act. Especially if the only thing Buckley does for work is speculative finance and stock trading. It only takes one downturn in his portfolio to upend his family's life, which means he's probably not a good investor. Love these videos as always!

[@dandereninja4750]

It could be that they live in an expensive area of the city. It’s also possible that they own multiple homes and the townhouse in the city is where they mainly live during the school year.

[@CiCiArts]

I've always interpreted Rhonda's parents and family as being bougie. Maybe they once had a great fortune, but generational wealth was running dry and they refused to live below what their parents and their parents' parents were living. Which would explain things like why they have a more or less regular townhome and why Rhonda has to take a public bus rather than being driven ala Lorenzo. Rhonda acts more like a trust fund baby rather than a sheltered and pressured rich kid like Lorenzo as well. One can live off Daddy's money and the other knows he'll have to take over a business or a company when he comes of age.

[@ayindestevens6152]

Yeah Rhonda’s family screams Old Money. However, they have some new money traits as Rhonda tends to brag about most aspects of their wealth. Most old money folks traditionally didn’t brag about their except to exclude the new money wealth.

[@robertbarrows6687]

It also explains why Rhonda's parents are a bit dumb and have no idea the value of an actual dollar. While they aren't super rich, more like upper-middle class to high class, they have the expectations of the 1% due to how their grandparents and parents were. When flat out offered a job Buckley has no idea how to respond other than 'I'll think about it' because, lets face it...he'd probably be fired from it since he has literally no skills. No people skills, no money skills, no physical skills, nothing. Rhonda needs to break from the cycle and start learning how to do things and when she's 16 get an actual job.

[@leeeroyjenkins555]

I think Rhonda takes the bus to be with the other kids and socialize/brag, or to hang with Nadine. Other than that, everything else is most likely right.

[@ayindestevens6152]

@@robertbarrows6687exactly they may not be as wealthy as new money but they have enough money to keep their lifestyle going in a way that doesn’t require work. Now some old money types do go into philanthropy or a creative venture because the money allows them the freedom to be creative or devote time to a cause but the Lloyd’s stereotypical attitude is more common. I actually kinda wished they expanded on Rhonda being poor as a two parter because one of the sour notes of that episode is that she immediately reverts back to being a snob at least in other episodes Rhonda does grow a little bit in each one. Heck I would’ve gagged if Rhonda grew a spine in the jungle movie because when pushed Rhonda could get shit done.

[@MrDavicovic]

I always wondered why she went to public school instead of a private one.

[@JuFated]

To be fair Shawn, Rhonda and the rest of the cast are children. Most are probably not even 10 years old so not everyone knows how to apologize and own up to their wrongs properly, especially if they have shitty parents. And sadly the show is kinda episodical so some stuff just reset xD

[@enigmaticallis3110]

Yes, exactly!! I mean, the frontal lobe isn't even complete until the age of 25...🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️😂😂

[@AxelWedstar411]

I didn't think there'd be enough Rhonda focus episodes to fill a 2+ hour video. She's practically a main character by season 4!

[@CJ-442]

When I was a kid, I always kinda liked that they never really had Rhonda do some big apology scene because it felt more real. When you’re that young, apologizing is scary. There’s this irrational (sometimes maybe not) that you’ll put yourself out there and make yourself vulnerable and end up be shamed for it either by your friends or that’ll it’ll be rejected and thrown back in your face by the person you’re apologizing. Don’t get me wrong, as an adult, I realize you should always apologize, but when the only options that someone is willing to make is either to quietly make the decision to be better and follow through when the opportunity presents itself or to double down on being a little douchebag, I think the can all agree that the former is better. I know when I was a kid, I’d hoped my own bullies would do that one day. I mean they did eventually in the 5th grade when I suddenly became 4” taller than all of them. lol 😂

[@CoffeeCrowgasm]

Polishing school sounds like a place to learn shoe shining lol

[@robinkholmes7127]

🤣 so true

[@vivimariefedorov7374]

Rhonda surprisingly never wears glasses outside this episode. (Much like how Eugene only wore glasses in False Alarm) I remember her mentioning contacts when she goes broke. But her mother told her she wasn't ready for contacts. Also the nerdy red head and the snobbish blonde never seem to make an appearance again. I'm surprised Rhonda and the other Popular Girl wouldn't think twice to insult Patty Smith. Sense Patty is one of the school bullies. And had beat up Helga more than once. Curly's Girl is very similar to the 80s Romantic Comedy, Can't Buy me Love. Where a Popular Girl borrows her mother's designer jacket to a party. Only to get it stained. And an unpopular guy offers to help her out of the situation. Only if she agrees to be his girlfriend for the week. Unlike with Curly and Rhonda, the films main leads have actual chemistry. And have great character development. I so do NOT ship Harold and Rhonda!!! 1st of all, Rhonda Forced Harold to ride the tunnle of love with her! In her Cool Party, she talks ill of him behind his back! Also Harold is 13, and Rhonda is 9! While for Harold and Patty, they are a much Better couple! Patty understand Harold. They have potential chemistry, and good character development. Also she is at least 14. Much closer to Harold's age.

[@oooh19]

Yea but maybe since Rhonda and Harold are opposites it could work also as you grow up age differences mean less

[@jasonrandom372]

Big Patty actually beat Helga up twice in the janitor's closet in just one episode called Ms Perfect. She wanted to beat up Helga again in the episode Helga vs Big Patty. But Arnold saves the day by convincing Big Patty to change her mind. So instead Big Patty tricks the whole school into thinking she really did whale on Helga.

[@vivimariefedorov7374]

That is what I meant. She beat up Helga twice in Ms Perfect. ​

[@localnailjunkie]

I think it’s a neat detail how they put an advertisement on the back of the bus for stomach medicine referring to the kids sitting in the back of the bus getting sick from it lol no more throwing up, Eugene! 😂

[@robinkholmes7127]

Holly shit, I didn't notice that

[@zamouri8744]

I genuinely hate curly. Like. He’s the kind of guy who grows up to do MUCH worse to woman who need help. Rhonda might have been a brat but she’s a 9 year old. She doesn’t deserve to be constantly harassed by him.

[@friedchickenfetus]

Preach! I used to hate him even as a kid

[@OliverOils]

his character could've been changed and done justice he was funny but also annoying but that when I realized before the episode Rhonda "inspired the geeks" He started acting all different and actually became a major character, he could've been an actual character with a good story instead he's just this weird quirky guy who harasses her I thought they could've made an episode where they show how Rhonda changed him because she kinda did if you think about it Curly never expressed himself before Rhonda became glasses girl

[@WeirdWonderful]

I definitely see that.They definitely put the focus too much on Curly to make him sympathetic here, hence why Rhonda's fairly reasonable desire to get back her old life, which she only lost because of Curly's blackmail, comes off as manipulation. I will say, she probably could have not shouted at Curly in front of the entire class, that didn't help her image and she might have had an easier time regaining her popularity if she had kept this on the down low. Understandable frustration on her end, but that didn't help.

[@animezilla4486]

Believe me if this episode were to air today people on social media will have a field day

[@OliverOils]

@@WeirdWonderful the episode where they pretended to date just did such a bad job at handling BOTH of their characters 😂 like maybe Curly shouldn't have tried to blackmail and harass her 💀

[@cofagrigusfan24]

there is 1 way Mr. Simmons could have made sure the students didn't cheat a simple stamp on the eggs a stamp the students can't replicate

[@changvasejarik62]

He did, it was invisible ink. At least that’s what I would do.

[@operaanimelover369]

Rhonda is a character I enjoy because of how much I love her for her flashy sassiness but also loathe her for her incredible elitism. On the one hand, her high-maintenance attitude is a welcome trait that I emulated when I was a young child and I still value her said trait to this day as an adult. However, I can never overlook how she tends to use her elite status as a rich girl to push everybody around including her friends. Just because she is wealthy does not always mean that she has to step on various people who do not meet her impossibly high standards. Yes, her self-centeredness can be annoying, and she does make the same mistakes in select episodes from "Rhonda's Glasses" to "Cool Party" to "Polishing School", in which she does not grow so well as a person. This is also due to her not owning up to her crummy actions, words, and deeds toward those she has hurt. Nevertheless, she serves as a reminder that humility and consideration toward other people are always the best traits to possess as a person, not just financial and social capital.

[@HollyClementine]

6:22 Funny he says that lol when I was in school, the backseats were always for the older kids & the “cool” kids.

[@trippingandbrowsing1269]

About 20 minutes in, and I wanted to comment on your issue with Rhonda not liking glasses. I think you're forgetting a bit that not only was this a TV trope at the time, for a lot of us it was our elementary school reality. Sure, Rhonda is vain and materialistic....but kids also definitely bullied other kids for glasses. When I was Rhonda's age I had to get glasses, and I absolutely got it worse than she did. Girls and boys alike were calling me ugly to my face, to the point where I still to this day have issues wearing glasses in public. Kids notice the difference in how they're treated with glasses and without. I have no idea if this is an issue for kids today, but it was definitely a reality in the 90s and early 2000s. So no, I don't think a 9 year old is necessarily "pathetic" for being that upset about glasses....I cried too because I knew what was coming. Teaching kids to NOT bully other kids with glasses and treat them like equals was a very good lesson.

[@Zacman1123]

They all may be 9 but they acted like teenagers, so "pathetic" is a good word to use here.

[@misscalicogirl]

idk if this still happens to little kids or not but it definitely doesnt happen when you get into middle/high school. i got glasses in 10th grade and nobody gave a shit, if anything people were complimenting me and telling me how cute i looked with them, and i was extremely unpopular in school. i was way more likely to get bullied for my "weird" fashion sense as opposed to my glasses. but even in elementary i don't ever remember kids getting bullied for having glasses.

[@trippingandbrowsing1269]

@@Zacman1123 You must know an absurdly large amount of immature teenagers, because no the hell they did not. Not even close.

[@RanterInShades]

Was not expecting Rhonda to be the next character in line for analysis here. She's the kind of character that's so hatable in most episodes, but you like seeing her be humbled or even redeemed. In a way, she's like the female Harold in the sense that she's so bitchy but has it in her deep down to grow.

[@BDWriter92]

Ironically, I got my glasses around the time the Rhonda's Glasses episode aired. It helped me be chill about the situation.

[@stormkelleh]

Can’t lie. Ran across these vids today and was very interested in what you had to say. I’ll be tuning in now and again to see what else you touch on. Thank you.

[@DuskTillShawn]

Thank you so much for your support, my friend! I really appreciate that! I'm excited for the next video in this series! I love Hey Arnold :D

[@Parasolhyena]

2:19:45 I kinda agree with getting the beetle away from the food, purely because many beetles can also produce strong foul odors when disturbed especially when picked up. I mean Christmas beetles make a stink that lasts for 2 hours even when not disturbed. Wow one of the very few times I agree with Rhonda.

[@phild8238]

It’s crazy how well I remember these episodes as you go over them. It’s been 20+ years since I watched

[@jemofthe80s18]

Once she gets to high school, she becomes Libby Chessler:):) Seriously, watch this show and 'Sabrina' and you'd totally think they were the same person! The glasses episode is just like when Libby turned into a geek! And, of course, Sabrina would find out several times that there's a nice person in her;) I always found it pretty funny too that Rhonda forced HAROLD of all people to go through The Tunnel of Love with her:) Sid had a picture of her in his room in the episode when he used Arnold's room to impress Lorenzo--he must've really liked when she insulted him in the 'Goonies' spoof;)

[@AliciaNyblade]

As a kid, I knew Curly was being totally inappropriate in "Curly's Girl" (and in general), but I didn't pick up on the darker implications of his behavior. That scene where Curly takes pictures of the stained coat to ensure Rhonda keeps her part of the bargain. O_O Seeing that again as an adult literally gave me chills because I realized those photos could be a metaphor for more grown-up ones. Also, that scene in "The Egg" where Arnold and Helga come across Oskar begging as a fake blind man. I'm visually impaired (have been since birth) and even as a kid, I was like, "Wow, Oskar, that's low even for you."

[@beegborg3303]

I feel her pride doesn't let her say sorry but she uses her actions to say it for her. 41:00

[@Whyteroze28]

The Curly and Rhonda episode is basically a spoof of 'Can't Buy Me Love', except Curly is so gross that you (the audience) can’t help siding with Rhonda. The guy in CBML just wanted to be popular, and the girl falling for him actually was a side-effect.

[@marbledryes]

Im a licensed therapist and I love these, and they are done really well. Thanks for making them

[@neonflights5951]

Same here, also a therapist who loves these analyses!

[@simonlevknecht4276]

I like your the dark side of hey Arnold episodes very much. You put so much details into your videos. Greetings from Germany.

[@PotatoSaladjr]

Yessss. Let’s talk about all the characters!!! Can’t wait for Sid, Stinky, Gerald, and of course Arnold!

[@ZimVader-0017]

I feel like Stinky's deep dive will be amazing. He's so great, one of my favorite characters.

[@giovanniorellana2200]

A Dark Side video all about Rhonda! Interesting!

[@kristopherwillis8075]

Very interesting 🍿🤔

[@Thespeedrap]

All the young girls in Hey Arnold were very insecure except for the Grandma she was cool though😎

[@BigDaddyP1980]

I have this idea that Eugene on his 21st birthday bought a lotto ticket and won $500 million dollars. Because, he’s been a jinks the first part of his life is now very lucky and people travel from all around the world for that luck to rub off on them!

[@robinkholmes7127]

That's sweet besides other trying to mooch luck off of him

[@shami5enwow]

“You know, I was born on Friday the 13th! And look at me, I turned out just fine! 🤗*crashes and falls off bike*……I’m okay…😵‍💫” Love that headcanon idea of yours. Eugene deserves some good luck 🍀💯

[@crocoshark4097]

I always remembered the line "Do red and orange go together? Of course not." When I first heard it, I felt so distant from aesthetics that I honestly wasn't sure whether or not she was listing two colors that obviously go together or if it was a more ambiguous pairing that she had an unnecessarily strong opinion on. BTW, a single egg may not be a full meal, but a bite of food can certainly take the edge off hunger. There are lots of times I'm hungry and one bite just makes me feel better even if I'm not actually full.

[@RaptorofRex07]

54:01 I wanna believe Curly bit head off of rubber chickens but given this kid track record…

[@MrsSurrealista]

The Eugene episode is so iconic that in my country we call anyone with extremely bad luck or who gets injured “Yuyin” which is what the name sounded like here. 😂

[@floatingFran]

To me, Rhonda forgiving Harold for harming the egg, is a reference to those mothers who keep forgiving abusive men for harming their kids, just because they love them and "he won't do it again". Which is dark as hell.

[@Sianostrakarenrenren]

I think you're reading into that too much.

[@logangustavson]

Even if the OP "read too much into it" their interpretation is still valid because it is supported by evidence

[@nickelakon5369]

​@@logangustavsonexcept its not cause Harold never does anything to the egg again and never shows abusive tendencies outside being kind of a bully sometimes, but thats not even something that was really relevant at that point in the show cause he grew out of that in earlier seasons.

[@labyrinthgirl17]

While I know this episode is about Rhonda, I do have to point out that I love seeing Patty getting mentioned in this video, and in the Harold one. To me, she was the best representation of me at that age - tall, quiet, didn't have friends, etc. I would've loved to have been friends with her.

[@itsyoboypedrito5629]

YESSSSSSS IVE BEEN WAITNING FOR SO LONGGGG TYYYY!!!

[@dsguy2none851]

One underrated moment with her for me was that episode in season 5. I think it was the episode where Dino fakes not being around for his music. Rhonda makes an attempt to comfort an obviously down Arnold by talking to him. The delivery is a lot like her giving Arnold the tip, but good intention at least.

[@Irish_Ian17]

Two and a half hours later, thanks for keeping me company while I cleaned Shawn :) Always great to relive a bit of the Nostalgia with you. Hope your family is well!

[@jackmcdonnell8505]

My favorite Hey Arnold Character thanks for doing my request

[@Deadmothdonoteat]

FINALLY POOKIE IS BACK ༼⁠;⁠´⁠༎ຶ⁠ ⁠۝ ⁠༎ຶ⁠༽ WE'VE MISSED THIS SERIES SO MUCH (⁠´⁠;⁠︵⁠;⁠`⁠)

[@Sn33kyy]

It's weird Rhonda gets mad at patty for scuffing her shoes when she unintentionally tripped her never thinking her actions cause her to be put in those situations

[@TaskMaster5]

It isn't all that weird when one is self absorbed and entitled. That sort of thing happens every day.

[@JoltJin]

2:12:08 To be fair since she had to go through the trash for bottles to get food, that's probably from all the garbage she went through and to her it was hard earned. She realized just how hard it must be for him not having wealth and decided to give up everything she had left from that time in her life as a thank you.

[@kirmaHallow]

the curly episode gives a such bad message to kids on forgiving your stalker and blackmailer like ew

[@azaznogalesaz]

THIS IS NOT A DRILL I repeat THIS IS NOT A DRILL !!! Omg so excited for this one!! About to start it once I go into my work shift!!

[@melaniegrace7707]

I think a lot of people look over the fact that many people who are rich act snotty and entitled because it mirrors the attitude of their parents. Lorenzos mom doesn't seem to act entitled or treat people As if they are beneath her which is likely why he is such a friendly and down to earth kid despite his wealth. It's definitely more of an attitude thing than a money thing but many rich people pass this terrible entitled attitude down to their children.

[@dougcouchshow]

Thanks! I love your series keep it up

[@marawe1292]

59:37 FREE THE ANIMALS😂🤣😭 this is why i loved this old cartoon so much!!! It's the unique kind of "weird" humour!

[@dougcouchshow]

Thanks! have you ever thought about doing wild Thornberry‘s videos? I really like that show as well.

[@DuskTillShawn]

Thanks, Doug!!!! I love the Wild Thornberry's. It's been on my list for a while now. I'm gonna make a video about it very soon :D

[@ReeshsPieces7646]

Whenever these Hey Arnold videos arrive, I cant focus on other shows! Your voice is so good, I love the descriptions of the episodes and your input on the behavior and actions of the character... I love your vids, Shawn! Ive got 10 min left and this was a great watch ❤

[@MrAweeze]

Calling Rhonda "pathetic" is a little harsh. She's like 9. Her parents are pathetic.

[@angelsartandgaming]

Oh god the Curly and Rhonda episode is giving me flashbacks to a stalker I had. I knew this one guy for a short while by basically being a neighbor and helping him move in furniture at one point. He said he wanted to be friends. Seeing how I didn't have any friends at the time since I just moved in myself, I was like "okay sure". While thankfully nothing TOO bad happened to me, he had touched me without my consent, he kept flirting with me even after I said I wasn't interested, and... told my mom while I was in the bathroom that he wanted to... *grape* me... without the g! Yeeeaaah..... Mom, being the badass she is, took some scissors and pointed them to him and said "if you touch her, I WILL castrate you!!" But even after mom scared him off, he would still stalk me. I didn't even want to be on my own street for a while. He later ended up actually getting arrested for attempted murder!!! So yeah!! The whole Curly episode bothered me too. I was just lucky that guy was honestly just... not that smart. He told my mom, again the biggest badass I know, he wanted to do non-consensual things to me to her face. Curly, however, seems like the type as he gets older WON'T make those mistakes... and of course, Rhonda didn't get to tell her side of the story.

[@RogueT-Rex8468]

Good lord. I am seriously so sorry you had to go through that- but so profoundly happy it didn’t go worse than. Glad it’s just a bad memory and not a hardcore trauma, friend. Hope things are better for you.

[@gian3008]

I dated someone who had gone through a similar experience, it ended very poorly for her and she's been in a constant battle with depression since. (Since before I met her.) It was very hard to always be there for her. I am so sorry you had to go through that. It pains me to know people like exist in our world. But I am also so thankful it did not go beyond what that monster intended to do. Please do keep yourself safe. I wish you the absolute best and safe and happy life and nothing less. Absolutely nothing less.

[@EebyDeeby413]

What the fuck do you MEAN this guy was so stupid he told YOUR MOTHER he wanted to sexually abuse you?! I'm not calling you a liar but fucking hell.

[@Kittykitty77729]

Eugene snapping that ruler with a smile on his face lol 😂

[@dandereninja4750]

I’m surprised Rhonda and Nadine didn’t do a report on how beetles and insects have been used in fashion in the 1800s.

[@artron-gunhaver]

The thing about people who make fun of others for needing glasses... is that they could always, sooner or later, need glasses themselves. It's like that with general ableism too, someone who makes fun of a person for needing a device like a walker or a cane could at ANY point have to start using one themselves.

[@DuskTillShawn]

Thank you soooo much for watching, my friend!!! I promise the next one won't be as long of a wait 💚

[@CHARLESXTDOOLEY]

The glasses episode with Rhonda reminds me of the South Park episode where Stan, Kyle, and Kenny turn Cartman into a Ginger.

[@BrianaLynn7]

I wish they let Nadine go off to find better friends. That would be a good lesson to not keep toxic friends.

[@BrianaLynn7]

I was Nadine. Lol

[@Thespeedrap]

For some reason Nadine and Phoebe were very similar given their friendship with rich spoiled brats like Helga and Rhonda at least they wrote a what if Phoebe skips to the 6th grade episode but Nadine didn't get nothing.

[@dr3dg352]

I always seem to be drawn to characters like Rhonda. 😆 My most (in)famous D&D character, Verity, has a very similar personality.

[@BrontoSmilodon1]

1:05:30 actually I think its just suppose to be a stylized exclamation point. but I guess Jerald does kinda look like a exclamation to show how large and in charge he presents himself.

[@FLORIDA_DAN]

Calling Rhonda out for wearing the same fit every day 😂 💀

[@Thespeedrap]

All the characters wore the same thing 😅

[@interfl0p]

Fantastic work as always! I love these in depth video essays on shows I used to watch because I gain a new appreciation for them as an adult. I always get excited about a new 2 hour video to watch.

[@GamerGirl997]

I’ve been hoping you covered Rhonda! Thank you! I was very young and barely recall 100% Arnold but Rhonda was and is my favorite female character, she was memorable for me even since then. Maybe I’m biased bc I like ‘born with a silver spoon’ characters who become down to earth.

[@HitsugiHime]

Also can I point out how much I love that Patty’s parents are little people? I love the representation 😊

[@rollforapples6625]

My public high school didn't use the traditional yellow school busses, but rather than my city's public transport busses. We were given a bus pass, but if you didn't have it you had to pay the fair. I believe it was a contract between my school and the bus system that a number of busses on routes that the busses normally traveled were hired for the school days at specific hours where the only people allowed on the bus were students. So it was entirely possible for a Rhonda dictating where people could sit on a public bus to happen. It didn't look like a cheesebox bus, but in all essence it is because the only ones allowed on it were the students, which seems to be the case for Rhonda's Glasses.

[@Chewynimball]

Been waiting for another dark side of Hey Arnold. Rhonda was definitely not the one expected, but a fun surprise at that. The fact that even a character as interesting but frustrating like her could offer a lot. Just shows how great the early nicktoons were and I look forward to more! Glad to see things coming along, Shawn and shoutout to Rocko's modern Life, easily one of my all time favorite cartoon series ever.

[@georgeprchal3924]

Rhonda may be a "spoiled rich kid" but she still goes to public school, rides the bus, and plays football and baseball with all the other kids.