Top 10 Things Only Adults Notice in Hey Arnold
#10: Addiction “Chocolate Boy”
Since first surfacing in 1968, the term “chocoholic” has been written off by many as a joke. However, there is an addictive nature to the tasty sweet. Chocolate Boy is the proof in the pudding. Often seen with a brown ring around his mouth, raggedy clothes, and unhinged eyes, Chocolate Boy is like Bubbles from “The Wire” if you crossed him with Sonny from Cocoa Puffs. After several appearances, Chocolate Boy is motivated to kick his addiction with some help from Arnold. It turns out that his habit is largely rooted in psychology. He eats chocolate to fill the void left by his nanny, who moved to Delaware. Addressing his abandonment issues, Chocolate Boy gets clean, although he trades one addictive substance for another: radishes.
#9: Orsen Welles’ “War of the Worlds” “Arnold’s Halloween”
In this Halloween special, Arnold and Gerald trick the neighborhood into thinking that aliens are real, which catches the attention of a TV host named Douglas Cain. Kids might think something like this could never happen in real life. That’s because they weren’t alive on Halloween 1938 when Orson Welles performed a radio broadcast of H. G. Wells’s “The War of the Worlds.” Welles’ broadcast was so effective that many believed aliens were actually invading, unintentionally igniting a panic. Douglas Cain, whose surname could be a nod to Welles’ “Citizen Kane,” is voiced by Maurice LaMarche. In addition to voicing Big Bob, LaMarche has imitated Welles on numerous occasions, this being one of the most meta examples that younger viewers likely missed.
#8: Helga Stalking Arnold Various
One of the show’s best running gags involves Helga pretending to hate Arnold to disguise the truth that she loves him… maybe to a creepy extent. Helga keeps a shrine to Arnold in the back of her closet, as well as a diary where she writes about how he awakens her “girlhood.”(xref) On more than one occasion, Helga has broken into Arnold’s boarding house, sometimes seeing more than she should’ve. To be fair, there’s a part of us that secretly relates to Helga and even if he doesn’t realize it at first, Arnold reciprocates her feelings. Still, if any adult found out that somebody was collecting their used gum, they probably wouldn’t find it delightfully quirky. They’d call the cops and it wouldn’t be unwarranted.
#7: Woodstock “Back to School”
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Grandpa Phil has lived a long, colorful life, some of which can’t be shown on a kids’ network. When Arnold learns that his grandpa never finished grade school, he encourages him to go back and get his diploma. Grandpa hesitates, claiming that he lost most of his brain cells at Woodstock. Kids might think he’s talking about Snoopy’s bird pal, but adults will be familiar with the 1969 rock festival that Grandpa is referring to. They’ll also realize that Grandpa didn’t lose his brain cells due to the loud music. It’s safe to say that Grandpa had some psychedelic hobbies back in the day. Grandpa takes Arnold’s advice, although he lets youth go to his head, leading to an awkward date with two underaged girls.
#6: Isolation “Pigeon Man”
Opening up to Arnold, Pigeon Man, whose real name is Vincent, reveals that he used to have friends. As Vincent developed an interest in birds, others grew distant and he cooped himself up. While Arnold partially restores his faith in humanity, Pigeon Man still feels out of place in this cruel world, leading to a bittersweet sendoff. As kids, we could identify with Vincent’s loneliness. As adults, his isolation hits us on another level. Pigeon Man can represent a wide range of people who've been ostracized by society. The episode doesn’t leave us with an easy answer, as intolerant people don’t change overnight. If we can learn to listen like Arnold, though, perhaps outcasts like Pigeon Man won’t feel the need to hide anymore.
#5: Agoraphobia “Stoop Kid”
“Stoop Kid’s afraid to leave his stoop.” It’s a chant that any 90s kid will recognize and it’s continued to endure through meme culture. As a kid, the idea of a person being afraid to vacate their home might’ve sounded silly. As an adult, you suddenly realize that Stoop Kid is suffering from a very real anxiety disorder, Agoraphobia. In addition to those who fear leaving their residence, this mental health condition can apply to people who feel uneasy in crowded areas and open spaces, igniting panic attacks. As Stoop Kid exemplifies, what seems like a small step to some can be a perilous journey for him. Arnold is the only one who takes Stood Kid’s condition seriously, helping him overcome his social phobia.
#4: War References “Veterans Day”
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How did you first learn about World War II and Vietnam? Maybe in history class or from a relative? You also might’ve seen this episode, which goes to places we honestly never expected to see from Nickelodeon. How many times have Nazis been depicted in Nicktoons before or since? Granted, the swastikas are replaced with frowny faces. Nickelodeon apparently had to draw the line somewhere, but they did sign off on Grandpa beating up Hitler. While Grandpa embellishes that part, Arnold finds that many of his war stories are true. Gerald also learns that just because his father didn’t see much combat during Vietnam doesn’t mean that he didn’t play an integral role. For all the jokes, the episode ultimately highlights the heroism of veterans.
#3: Being a Refugee “Arnold’s Christmas”
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This episode also explores Vietnam, but in a subtler way. Arnold learns that Mr. Hyunh had a daughter during the war. To guarantee her safety, Mr. Hyunh entrusted his daughter to a U.S. soldier. Upon coming to America as a refugee, Mr. Hyunh struggled to find her. Like Mr. Hyunh, voice actor Baoan Coleman is a Vietnamese refugee. Given his experience, Coleman worked closely with the showrunners to make the episode authentic without directly mentioning the specific war. This topic proved so heavy-handed that Nickelodeon considered pulling the episode. After an executive showed her son an animatic, he asked, “Mom, is that what Vietnam was all about?” This convinced the executive to approve the episode, granting us a Christmas classic with a happy ending.
#2: Child Neglect “Helga on the Couch”
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If you ever wondered why Helga acts out, look no further than her family. Her father is an egomaniac who can’t remember her name, her mother is clearly blending her “smoothies” with something intoxicating, and her sister is an overachiever who casts a wide shadow over the younger sibling. This episode provides a deep dive into Helga’s psychology, exploring how a nine-year-old girl can be far more complex than some might assume. Chances are we all grew up around somebody like Helga, who we assumed was just born antagonistic. In reality, a lack of attention at home might’ve been at the root of their actions. You may need to be older to fully grasp Helga’s therapy session, but kids will walk away with more empathy. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. “Try My Sausage,” “Eating Contest” This Background Artist Knew What They Were Doing Reach, Pull, “The Old Building” We Knew Ernie Was Lonely, But We Didn’t Need That Image “Pet the Kitty,” “Oskar Can't Read?” We Can See Why Oskar is Drawn to This Book Miss. Felt-er, “Crush on Teacher” Even Her Name Is a Tease Nantucket, “New Teacher” So How Does That Poem End?
#1: Abandonment “Parents Day” & “The Journal”
Arnold is often drawn to people who have been separated from their loved ones, such as Mr. Hyunh, and those who’ve been neglected like Helga. We come to understand Arnold’s motivations upon finding out why he’s being raised by his grandparents. Unlike some absent parents, Arnold’s mom and dad left for noble reasons with the intention of returning. Having mysteriously disappeared, though, it’s hard for Arnold not to feel abandoned. Although there is a void, Arnold takes comfort in knowing that his grandparents have always been there for him. Arnold does reconnect with his parents through a journal, leading to a touching reunion… 15 years later. Ironically, by that point, the kids who grew up with the show were mature enough to appreciate Arnold’s nuances.
