| "D.W.'s Baby" | |
| Season/Series: | 1 |
|---|---|
| Number in season: | 11B |
| Original airdate: |  October 21, 1996[1] January 20, 1997[2] December 21, 2001[3] |
| Credits | |
| Written by: | Joe Fallon |
| Storyboard by: | Gerry Capelle |
| Episodes | |
| Previous "Arthur's Baby" |
Next "Arthur Writes a Story" |
| Read transcript |
"D.W.'s Baby" is the second half of the eleventh episode in the first season of Arthur.
Summary
When Baby Kate was born, D.W. felt neglected and wondered if anyone would even miss her if she ran away.
Plot
The episode starts off with Arthur watching videos of his and D.W.'s first birthdays; Arthur sneezed out his candle and got cake in his mother's face, while D.W. waved out her candle while asking for her presents. D.W. films Arthur during Kate's birthday. He gets annoyed when she lies upside down to film him. D.W. jokes she's trying to make Arthur look more interesting, but it's hopeless. When filming Kate, D.W. claims that little sisters are more interesting than brothers. Arthur points out that she didn't always feel that way and reminds D.W. of what happened when Kate first came home from the hospital.
D.W. is excited about being an older sister (especially since her new sibling is a girl), to the extent of yelling and jumping in excitement upon Kate's arrival and stalking her sister's every move, including listening to her sleeping. However, she becomes frustrated when her parents won't let her help with the baby, even though D.W. (at least in her own opinion) is a "baby expert." D.W. is also impatient about Kate sleeping so much. Nadine advises her to give her parents time, since grown-ups are "slow-learners".
When Jane has to go grab something from upstairs and asks Arthur to keep an eye on Kate, Nadine tells her that this is her chance to show her mom how much of a "baby expert" she is. D.W. intervenes to sterilize Kate's pacifier. After Buster and Francine come over to check out the new baby, Kate starts crying. D.W. tries to take charge and comfort her, but nothing's working. When D.W. hands Kate over to Arthur to get a clean diaper, Arthur ends up helping her burp (the real reason she was crying). When Jane comes in to see what all the commotion was about, Buster explains what happened and everyone's happy that Arthur and Kate have finally bonded--everyone except D.W., that is.
D.W. becomes jealous when her parents let Arthur help with the baby but not her, though she gets excited when Kate's crib is moved into her room. However, D.W. soon finds drawbacks to sharing a room with her new baby sister…
On the first night of baby Kate being moved into D.W.’s room, Kate keeps D.W. up all night with her constant crying.
The following day D.W. comes across Jane and Kate in a very unfortunate situation. Jane is in the middle of changing Kate’s dirty diaper. D.W. is disgusted by this and compares the smell of Kate’s used diaper to that of a zoo. D.W. then frantically runs to the window to get some fresh air and air out the stink from her room. However, D.W. Is immediately scolded by Jane, who orders D.W. to close the window, before Kate catches a draft. D.W. then picks up her doll and complains that it has started to smell like stinky diapers as well.
D.W. gets further annoyed when she can't play with her sister in the same way she would play with a kid her age, because, as Jane points out, her toys have too many small pieces that Kate could choke on and she has keep her room "baby-safe".
The new big sister also starts feeling jealous of the attention that Kate's getting from their parents. On advice from the Tibble twins, D.W. tries getting rid of Kate by blaming her for stuff that others or even herself have done. Luckily for Kate though, D.W. is terrible at the blame game as this only gets her into trouble with David and Jane as both parents see through her lies. D.W. eventually goes as far as to try and sell her sister at their family's yard sale to Mrs. Tibble (first for 50-cents but then lowering it to 35-cents) until she reports this to the Reads so D.W. rushes to get rid of the evidence.
Eventually, feeling that her family doesn't need her anymore, D.W. decides to run away to Button Island to live with monkeys. She packs a dollhouse and says goodbye to Nadine and (a confused) Arthur. After stopping by Grandma Thora's house to say goodbye, D.W. tearfully asks Thora to drive her to the waterfront. Thora asks if her family would miss her, but D.W. believes they like Kate better now. Thora rents a row boat and rows her granddaughter out to the island. During the journey, Thora says she will miss D.W and points out Kate would too; she will have a mom, a dad and an older brother to take care of her, but not an older sister. Realizing Kate needs her and refusing to let Arthur guide her, D.W. is convinced to return home.
When D.W. returns home, Jane is relieved, as the family was worried about her being gone. D.W. rushes to Kate’s side, ensuring her that she will teach her baby sister to do everything, as that’s what big sisters are for. D.W. picks Kate up and hugs her in a passionate embrace, showing that D.W. has truly come to accept her role as a big sister. However, this heartfelt moment is suddenly interrupted, as D.W. becomes aware of an aroma she knows all too well. The smell of a stinky diaper.. D.W. glares at Kate before holding her at arms length. She then loudly exclaims “Peeyouu…” and screws up her face in protest of the smell. D.W. then informs Kate that while she will act as a mentor, it’s mommies and daddies job to change diapers, before loudly calling for her mom.
Major
Minor
Cameo
Trivia
- Although the title is not read on the VHS and DVD versions, Francine says the title when this is aired on television on reruns.
- When David, Arthur, and D.W. are watching TV, there is repeated dialogue from the later episode, "So Long, Spanky."
- The diaper change scene was later removed from the episode promo.
- WGBH faced copyright issues with The American Red Cross for featuring a red cross on D.W.'s nurse outfit. It is claimed that a donation was sent to The Red Cross as a settlement.[4]
Episode connections
- D.W. and Grandma Thora may have went to the same lake as in this episode in "The Secret About Secrets."
- This episode and its sister episode, along with "Arthur Goes Crosswire"/"Sue Ellen and the Brainasaurous," is one of only 2 known Arthur episode sets to focus on the same story from 2 alternate points of view.
- "D.W.'s Perfect Wish" later reveals that Kate was born prior to D.W.'s fifth birthday.
- Kate's crying is completely different in this episode (and "Arthur's Baby") compared to the stock sound effects that are normally used for Kate and other babies. This is most likely because she was a newborn at the time.
- In "D.W.'s Perfect Wish", while some scenes of this episode is playing, Kate is heard crying in her stock sound effects instead of this specifically unique crying.
Errors
- During the intro, in the video of Arthur's first birthday, his ears are covered in the hat.
- Also, in the video of D.W.'s first birthday, she was referred to as "D.W.," but she didn't chronologically go by that name until she was able to talk clearly.
- D.W.'s toy truck is brown when she is playing with it, but when she offers it to Kate, it changes to blue.
- When Arthur is supposed to watch Kate, Kate is wearing a green bow in her hair, but a few seconds later, it's gone. Also in the same shot, Jane is in her regular clothes.
- Kate's first birthday is different compared to the opening of "Arthur's Baby"; Kate is shown in her newborn design and clothes here instead of her normal design in the previous episode.
Gallery
Home video
VHS:
- Arthur's Baby (VHS)
- New Baby Adventures
DVD:
References
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/19970723021343/http://www.ket.org/Visions/Oct96/VL961021.html
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20130719100407/http://ww3.tvo.org/program/157024/arthur/#1997
- ↑ https://www.fernsehserien.de/erdferkel-arthur-und-seine-freunde/episodenguide/staffel-1/3906/2
- ↑ https://www.reddit.com/r/Arthur/comments/1clzu4e/comment/l430hzo/