'Toon Reviews 16: Hey Arnold Season 3 Episode 19: School Play

School Play

Full half-hour specials of this show often bring major events.  That’s the case with the last two Season 3 episodes which are both specials that add depths to certain aspects of this show’s cast of characters. 

This one focuses on Arnold and Helga’s relationship while building it around a classy theatrical setup.  The start of the special sets the tone for the main relationship with the usual moments of Helga giving Arnold a hard time while pining for him in private.  However, there’s also an interesting layer with Arnold flat out saying that he believes Helga’s a good person on the inside making the potential pairing worth getting behind as he gets closer for seeing her true self. 

We then get the class of the special when Mr. Simmons is put in charge of the school play, and chooses Romeo and Juliet hoping to put together a truly great performance.  There’s great respect payed to the famous Shakespeare play along with some nice childlike charm.  The recitations of the original dialog has the feel of getting into the play, and coming from the mouths of modern-day children gives a pleasant perspective.  The kids themselves also apply to this for how they approach performing.  Most of the boys are excited about the violent sword-fighting and killing parts and ridicule sharing a kiss at the end with whoever plays Juliet, thus refusing to try out for the role of Romeo, so Arnold is roped into playing Romeo since he’s not the judgmental type. 

However, the most winning element is Helga’s role which ties into what the special as whole does for her and Arnold’s relationship.  When she hears Arnold’s playing Romeo, she stops at nothing to win the part of Juliet and get a chance to kiss him without anyone suspecting her true feelings for him being under the guise of a role in a play.  There’s a lot standing in the way, but fueled by her major league love for Arnold, it’s amazing to see how Helga faces them all.  She has clear knowledge on Romeo and Juliet when looking into the role of Juliet and twists her different aspects around to convince the first three potential Juliets to drop out.  However, with the fourth Juliet, Lila, it’s not as easy. Everything that dissuaded the others doesn’t faze her.  The weight of Helga getting Lila to drop out is that she does so with the logical, but very major solution, which is revealing her love for Arnold.  It’s huge because Helga’s crush is something so undying that she’s always hiding it.  For her to go as far as to reveal it just so she can kiss him in a play speaks volumes about the strength of her to do it as well as why it makes perfect sense for Lila to never like-like Arnold at any point.  Then once Helga gets the Juliet role, she simply astounds by memorizing her own innumerable lines all night long to give her best performance alongside Arnold’s Romeo. 

Her dedication pays off when we get to the performance the special was building towards.  While most kids give mostly unenthused performances akin to most grade-school play performances, Helga steals the show providing the most passion with her role which feels real with her true love for Arnold intact.  Her great performance culminates with the avid kiss to Arnold she was aiming to give holding on for a considerably long time greatly satisfying her and the audience.  Also, even when she claims to not enjoy the kiss when the play’s over, one small smile from Arnold suggests that he may know this isn’t the case.  As a result, their relationship is made further interesting with her going through so much, including revealing her secret, to be with Arnold during one play, and him suggesting that he’s not as oblivious as he lets on. 

Along with several other funny, relatable, and heartfelt moments leading up to a satisfying performance, this is a production I proudly give a 10/10.

The Ranking

1. School Play
2. Helga Blabs it All
3. Harold the Butcher
4. Cool Party
5. Grandpa’s Birthday
6. Crabby Author
7. The Flood
8. Mr. Hyunh Goes Country
9. Road Trip
10. Helga Vs. Big Patty
11. Arnold’s Thanksgiving
12. Hey Harold!
13. Curly Snaps
14. The Aptitude Test
15. Pre-Teen Scream
16. The Pig War
17. Olga Gets Engaged
18. Oskar Gets a Job
19. Arnold and Lila
20. Phoebe Takes the Fall
21. Best Man
22. Career Day
23. Helga’s Show
24. Gerald’s Tonsils
25. Grand Prix
26. Rich Kid
27. Dangerous Lumber
28. Casa Paradiso
29. Arnold’s Room
30. Helga and the Nanny
31. Roller Coaster
32. Stinky Goes Hollywood
33. School Dance
34. Sid’s Revenge
35. Girl Trouble
36. Arnold Betrays Iggy

Be sure to stay tuned for the last Hey Arnold Season 3 review on a half-hour special that looks into Arnold's missing parents and how he copes with them not being around.

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