Tour
De Pond
This cartoon falls into the
category of the characters involved taking part in a popular pastime of
childhood, in this case model boat-racing in an ultimately pretty fun
cartoon. It features Arnold becoming
very determined to enter a boat for the upcoming race called Tour de Pond after
being bullied by an uptight British kid named Rex Smythe-Higgins III. As Arnold and Gerald set out to build the
perfect boat, we learn that Arnold’s new rivalry with Rex has a major family
connection. It turns out that when he
was a boy, Grandpa entered the same boat race, but he lost on account of Rex
Smythe-Higgins, the grandfather of the third generation Rex, unfairly
sabotaging his boat. When you look at
how much animosity has formed between Arnold and Rex III as well as their
grandfathers having a similar rivalry, that gives this simple conflict a lot
more depth, which is enough to engage the audience in what goes on. However, it’s not until we actually get to
the Tour de Pond itself when the cartoon really starts to get interesting. We have Arnold, Gerald, and Grandpa enter
with a refurbished boat that Grandpa used many years ago at the race which has
to deal with a high-tech motor boat Rex and his grandfather have entered. At first, it seems like Arnold’s boat has a
good chance when it successfully pulls through a whirlpool Rex has his boat
make to stall the competition. Aside
from both boats clinging to each other leading to a tie, this scene is a well
done one to show off what Arnold’s boat is capable of. The only thing that puts a damper on the
boat’s chances of winning is history repeating itself with Rex and his
grandfather sabotaging Arnold’s remote control, preventing the boat from
leaving the starting line and ensuring the reputation of the Smythe-Higgins
family. It’s an unfortunate plot point
since the lengths the Smythe-Higgins went to was completely unfair though it is
nice that Rex III is shown to have some second thoughts about this. Ultimately, their act means nothing since a
convenient gust of wind blows Arnold’s boat to victory. It’s hard to suspend disbelief that the wind
would blow at exactly the right time, but I can live with this moment. Plus, as the cartoon ends, it’s nice that
even with both grandpas getting into a comedic argument, the kids show some
capability of being friends as they’re both shown to be mature about the race’s
outcome so not to make the conflict one-dimensional. Like with most cartoons focusing on
characters doing an activity, this one is simply nice and basic with certain
character and story quirks making it worth watching. 9/10
Teachers’
Strike
The conflict in this cartoon is an
interesting one that can also be relatable to many different people in many
different situations. It arises when the
teachers at Arnold’s school, PS 118, get annoyed by the decisions of Principal
Wartz made to prevent slippage of the school budget, including unfair rations
of proper supplies like chalk resulting in all the teachers going on strike. Following a humorous scene of Principal Wartz
trying and failing to teach the entire student body himself, the kids find
themselves free to enjoy themselves while the teacher strike goes on. Their fun is spoiled, however, when they find
the teachers taking small jobs at all the places they like to go to since they
don’t get paid during the strike, and the teachers’ tendencies to school the
kids get in the way. To me, it’s a
little too coincidental that teachers would show up at the specific places the
kids go to therefore making it too hard to believe, but it does move the plot
along. That’s because it leads to the
kids realizing that the strike is costing them every day of their summer
vacation, and you can really feel for them having to suffer for the problems
between the adults. Ultimately, the
cartoon goes in a direction similar to “The Vacant Lot” by having a theme of
kids deserving to have a voice in adult situations, only here I find it to be
done more maturely. While “The Vacant
Lot” had the kids focus on their problem and not ask the adults why they took
their ball field, this cartoon has them try to solve the problem by observing
what everyone’s problem is, making them more considerate of all sides of the
issue at hand. They first get the idea
that the strike happened because the teachers don’t get free coffee in the
teachers’ lounge, but when that doesn’t work, they’re left to deal with
arguments of how Principal Wartz is too cheap with his budget cuts and how the
teachers just use up all the supplies.
In the end, the kids cleverly resolve the conflict by just ignoring the
strike and going back to school to study.
Their determination to not lose their summer vacation is what gets
Principal Wartz and the teachers to reach a compromise thus ending the strike. This whole thing everyone goes through feels
very believable for anyone. It’s common
for people to disagree on ways to do things, and the only way disputes resolve
is if they compromise for the sake of other people, and the fact that we have
kids making the adults realize this makes this portrayal of the theme stand
out. So, for the maturity, relatability,
and charm from all the characters involved, I say this is a cartoon to check
out. 9.5/10
The Rankings
1. Pigeon Man
2. Arnold’s Christmas
3. Harold’s Bar Mitzvah
4. Haunted Train
5. Stoop Kid
6. Arnold’s Hat
7. Wheezin’ Ed
8. Spelling Bee
9. Helga’s Makeover
10. Mugged
11. False Alarm
12. Magic Show
13. Tutoring Torvald
14. The Baseball
15. Olga Comes Home
16. Teachers’ Strike
17. Four-Eyed Jack
18. The List
19. Das Subway
20. The Vacant Lot
21. Downtown as Fruits
22. The Old Building
23. Field Trip
24. The Sewer King
25. Tour De Pond
26. Coach Wittenberg
27. Hall Monitor
28. Sally’s Comet
29. Roughin’ It
30. Gerald Comes Over
31. Crush on Teacher
32. 6th Grade Girls
33. The Little Pink Book
34. 24 Hours to Live
35. Abner Come Home
36. Arnold as Cupid
37. Snow
38. Eugene’s Bike
39. Biosquare
40. Door #16
41. Heat
42. Helga’s Boyfriend
43. Part Time Friends
44. Benchwarmer
45. Operation Ruthless
46. World Records
47. Cool Jerk
Be sure to stay tuned for the review of the 25th episode of the series: "Arnold's Valentine."
