Best Episode/Worst Episode

Just curious: what episodes do you guys think are the best? Which ones do you think weren't so great (or maybe were just plain bad?)

That's really funny, because I literally just talked to my mom about this the other day. I'll start with the worst, because that was what our convo was about:

For me, almost hands-down, the worst episodes are "Arnold Betrays Iggy" and "Bag of Money." Both are so cringe-worthy that I have a hard time watching them, even now. I'm not a big fan of them because Arnold was treated like crap in both of them for no good reason. They only needed to change little things to make them redeemable (like have Sid and Stinky be the ones punished in the end instead of Arnold in "Arnold Betrays Iggy", or have Gerald stick up for him more in "Bag of Money"), but they didn't.

Oh man, to choose the best episode? That is a hard task. The first one that comes to mind is "Helga on the Couch," because it really gives us a good backstory on Helga. It was definitely that episode that made me move from just liking her to loving her. It also shows a great message: there is nothing wrong with going to a therapist and talking about your issues. Another one might be "What's Opera, Arnold?" because it taught me Carmen. I will always think of the parodied lyrics when I hear the songs.

I can't wait to hear, er, read what everyone else has to say!

Favorites? Helga on the Couch is pretty much my top choice, I also like the opera and Haunted Train.

The worst ones I can think of besides the obvious choice of Arnold Betrays Iggy are probably Bag of Money (pretty basic sounding plot, kind of feels like a "we ran out of ideas" episode) and New Bully on the Block (pretty grim ending)

Also I'd have to say Arnold Betrays Iggy has quite a bit of unchecked rumors about it...the Hey Arnold wiki stated at one point that apparently Craig despised the episode and ordered Nick not to air it after its initial airing among other things. I'm hazarding a guess that didn't actually happen.

Huh, I hadn't heard that rumor, Zeether. I wonder if it's true? (I feel like I saw it multiple times, but then my memory isn't the greatest).

I agree, though, Arnold Betrays Iggy is by far my least liked episode. While my favorite is probably What's Opera, Arnold? followed very closely by Helga on the Couch.

I still loathe "Curly's Girl". I can't hate "Arnold Betrays Iggy" because of how cute he looks in those bunny PJs with the blush on his face.

If we're going by favorites? "The Flood" and "Buses, Bikes and Subways"!

If we're going by BEST? "Helga on the Couch" and "Parent's Day".

Worst episode by far was Arnold Betrays Iggy, holy c o w.

Personally my favorite episodes are Arnold's Thanksgiving, The Flood, and Rich Guy!!

The best episode as far as quality is concerned has to be Helga on the Couch though. The writing was just....brilliant. <3

The worst episode by far is of course, "Arnold Betrays Iggy" but personally (which a lot of you might disagree with) I think the one that comes second for me personally (which is an unpopular opinion) is "It Girl", like it's just too ridiculous and so is the plot which makes no sense. But like Arnold Betrays Iggy, it does have a FEW funny moments I also don't find "Bag of Money" to be one of the worst but mediocre at best, it's still bad though.

My favorites are a three way tie between "Pigeon Man", "Helga on the Couch" and "The Journal" because these episodes are pretty emotional and perfect for the show. I think Helga on the Couch is possibly my favorite of the three because it is well Helga's backstory and of course like everyone, I felt pretty bad about her because she had to go and still is (at the show's current time of when it was set) and Arnold is the one kid or person she feels comfortable with. I love this episode like many other people do!

Kind of an unpopular opinion here, but actually I don't hate "Arnold Betrays Iggy". I do feel sorry for Arnold but at the same time, I feel like it's true to how things play out in real life. Sometimes you don't get justice for the wrongs that happen to you. It's a harsh lesson, but kids will have to learn it eventually.  It may at first run contradictory to the spirit of the show, but at the same time, Hey Arnold does show a lot of less-than-ideal situations with several characters.

It's honestly hard for me to find an episode I don't like (my favorites are the ones revolving around the individuals kids/the kids working together, urban legends, and boarders) but if I had to choose, I really don't like the Coach Wittenberg episodes because I find that character irritating. Seriously, why does he involve the kids in his spats with his wife? Leave those kids alone! >:O

I'd also maybe add the Dino Spumoni episodes but I do like that he's a Frank Sinatra parody (and I like his songs), so he's a step up from Coach Wittenberg.

Also the episodes where Stinky and Sid make fun of Harold (the weight one and the Big Patty one) make me cringe a little. Like come on, you guys are best friends! Stop picking on each other and play nice. :'( I guess in the end though, the kids remain friends even after teasing each other so much.

The reason people hate Arnold Betrays Iggy so much is because the way Sid and Stinky found out about Iggy's bunny pajamas was completely unrealistic. Like....they just needed something to move the plot along.
"It's not like he was wearing bunny pajamas or something"
That's a totally random guess, who just pulls that out of their @$$ like that????

SpectrumBunny wrote:The reason people hate Arnold Betrays Iggy so much is because the way Sid and Stinky found out about Iggy's bunny pajamas was completely unrealistic.  Like....they just needed something to move the plot along.  
"It's not like he was wearing bunny pajamas or something"
That's a totally random guess, who just pulls that out of their @$$ like that????

Yeah, I get that. I can understand why people don't like it because it wasn't a well written episode. Certainly I wasn't too happy with episodes that portray Sid and Stinky as bullies since I like them both. Actually sometimes I feel it's a little off character for Stinky to be mean in that episode because he's so nice to Arnold otherwise. Eh, I guess I'll just chalk it up to peer pressure and leave it at that.

Yeah, I really don't hate Arnold betrays Iggy either. I don't love it, but I don't hate it.
In Deconstructing Arnold I hate that they portray Helga as kind of an amoral imbecile. I just feel like it goes against her character. Usually when she acts like that it can be/is taken as a front or a defense mechanism, but the way this episode is written, writing it off as just that is kind of impossible. Other than that, I really do like the rest of the episode. There are a few others that I feel are kind of meh or have moment that go against the characters persona's in a difficult-to-justify way.
Back in the day Helga on the Couch was probably my favorite. Now I have too many to count. One that always sticks out is Helga vs Big Patty. I really enjoy the interaction between the two of them at the end. It also is one of the first episodes to show that Arnold does know Helga's truer side at least somewhat, maybe even deeply but subconsciously.
I like many of the side-character-centric episodes too. Like Ernie in Love is just so sweet

It's tough to pick a best episode, there are so many, but some of my picks for worst ones would be:

Grandpa's Sister
Polishing Rhonda
Synchronized Swimming
umm I forget what it's called, the one where Grandpa's old friend/enemy comes back and they keep having competitions to try to beat each other

Those are episodes are just boring and not that exciting, but, that's just my opinion

BC1096 wrote:It's tough to pick a best episode, there are so many, but some of my picks for worst ones would be:

Grandpa's Sister
Polishing Rhonda
Synchronized Swimming
umm I forget what it's called, the one where Grandpa's old friend/enemy comes back and they keep having competitions to try to beat each other

Those are episodes are just boring and not that exciting, but, that's just my opinion

The one you forgot is "Old Iron Man"

yea, that's the one... funny how it comes right after "Beaned", an episode that I love

Honestly... I can't say that I hate "Arnold Betrays Iggy", and I actually liked "New Bully on The Block" because of great bro-mance between Wolfgang and Ludwig, the freaking curly "gimme the ball " scenes crack me up, and the ending, well I think the whole "you can't win them all" message was great and very real/relatable...

Some episodes I don't like are Helga's Makeover, Arnold as Cupid because of Oskar, Curly's Girl, fishing trip because of the excessive farting, Girl Trouble, and chocolate turtles...

LuiThe2nd wrote:Honestly... I can't say that I hate "Arnold Betrays Iggy", and I actually liked "New Bully on The Block" because of great bro-mance between Wolfgang and Ludwig, the freaking curly "gimme the ball " scenes crack me up, and the ending, well I think the whole "you can't win them all" message was great and very real/relatable...

Some episodes I don't like are Helga's Makeover, Arnold as Cupid because of Oskar, Curly's Girl, fishing trip because of the excessive farting, Girl Trouble, and chocolate turtles...

The farting scene in Fishing Trip really bugged me too.