The original post: /r/television by /u/PiousMage on 2024-06-25 20:30:19.
I was reading this thread today and searching, i found three mentions of it at the bottom of the thread.
Now it may not be the most watched show, but to me its one of the defining cartoons of the early 2000’s, and is the best episodic children’s cartoon I have seen.
The characters are all well fleshed out and memorable. The cast is diverse and interesting, not to mention that the main group is an excellent portrayal of a friend group involving people from all walks of life and all sorts of different personalities, that bounce off from each other well.
The minor characters in the show are phenomenal and help make the playground feel like an entire world rather than a small space.
From the two digger brothers, who are digging a hole every episode but can always be counted on to be the first people to join the gang when they need them.
The bully Lawson, whos a bit of a bully, a bit of a rival and yet also seems to show happiness and enjoyment for the gang when they succeed and help them when they need it. A sort of I’m the only one who can bully you.
King Bob, and the sixth graders, with an entire succession and lineage of royalty on the playground that gets passed down from generation to generation and a history behind that.
Or Finster the uptight and mean supervisor who has a sweet side to her.
Principal Prickley, who mirrors TJ and what he may one day become.
Butch, the black and white haired guy, who tells scary stories on the playground and is a great homage/parody of the twilight zone.
And the episodes are way beyond what I expect of a childrens show and deal and teach kids about some really incredible themes. Such as Economics and Capitalism, Trials and Court, Solitary Confinement, The Great Depression, Power Corrupting and so much more, and all of these episodes are only 10 minutes as well.
Any my own personal favorite episode, Spinelli’s Masterpiece, which shows how impactful and wonderful art can be, how amazing your friends and memories and moments are. Then wipes it all away, much like time does and yet when everyone else is sad and angry and frustrated. The person who made it is uncaring and happy anyways, that making it or having a big artistic project wasn’t the point or what she was trying. That it just was a way to blow off some steam and rather than lament, hey lets go play and have fun and enjoy being a kid instead.
Idk, and sorry for the rant but it’s one of my favorite shows beyond being a kids cartoon and I just want more people to talk about it and see it, and see what I see.