Changes: Desk Wars

	"Desk Wars"
	Main image; Title card;
Season/Series:	8
Number in season:	7a
Original Airdate:	December 23, 2003; March 3, 2004; December 25, 2007;
	Credits
Written by:	Glen Berger
Storyboard by:	Gerry Capelle
	Episodes
Previous; "Postcards from Buster"	Next; "Desperately Seeking Stanley"

Latest revision as of 22:12, 9 November 2023

This article is about the episode. You may be looking for the podcast.

"Desk Wars" is the first half of the seventh episode in the eighth season of Arthur.

Summary

It is the hottest school day of the year, and tempers are even hotter. To keep the peace, Mr. Ratburn moves Brain and Arthur away from their usual desks ... and sets off a chain reaction resulting in the most explosive desk war in third grade history!^[4]

Plot

Arthur starts off by looking (unsuccessfully) through his classmates' desks. They all debate why he's allowed to start the show; Arthur says the reason is that it's his show. Binky wants it to change — to the Binky Barnes Variety Hour. Then Mr. Ratburn claims to the viewers that the teachers don't blow things out of proportion, but in the teacher's lounge, viewers can see that they do.

Desk Wars

One morning, it's a hot day and all are sweating in the classroom. Brain calculates that his seat's getting the most cool air. But then arguing breaks out on desk over Muffy's stickers and dust ruffle, meaning that he's sent to the second hottest spot in the room (behind Binky's desk) by Mr. Ratburn. Arthur, Buster, and Francine have an argument which eventually leads to Arthur being sent to Brain's desk, and Binky seizes Arthur's desk. Arthur messes with Brain's supplies dispenser, which angers him.

Mr. Haney comes in and calls Mr. Ratburn into the office to take a call, and Ratburn tells the kids that he has to go and to work on their assignments while he's gone. Brain plots to try to get his desk back, after discovering the gum from George's (who's absent) dinosaur model, Binky even has a rubber band ball. Muffy moves to the sharpener after her pencil breaks so she can keep her seat.

This is Brain's chance to get back to a cooler spot! But Muffy sees this and scrambles back to her seat. George returns early to discover his seat is missing, and he can't sit anywhere. George is duped into sharpening Muffy's pencil.

Then a lot of threats start off — if George doesn't give the pencil to Brain, then his gummy dino is squashed; if this happens, then Sue Ellen will throw Binky's rubber band ball out the window, Brain's desk will get covered in judo kitten stickers by Muffy if she doesn't get the pencil; this isn't fair on Francine, who was promised those, so she'll cut the dust ruffle in half, Buster's comic book will be shredded by Fern if the ruffle is cut. Then Buster will eat Arthur's cookies.

The pressure builds on George, and the pencil keeps snapping; if this continues, then Sue Ellen's UN report is history, according to Brain. A book falls onto the dinosaur, so all threats are carried out, which leads to mass destruction of the classroom. Mr. Haney comes in to warn them, but he'll let them off so long as they tidy up. All refuse to do the hard jobs, as none of them believe they're at fault.

When Arthur turns to George, he is puzzled when he sees that George is doing the cleaning up, as he “didn’t make any of this mess”. When Arthur asks why, George replies that he doesn't mind and adds that they all make a big deal about everything. They all muck in and clean up, and Brain rewrites Sue Ellen's UN report. Mr. Ratburn returns and gives the good news — his sister had a baby, so he's an uncle, he is impressed with how well everyone is working. Everyone is invited to Muffy's pool to cool off. They debate what started the fight, but no conclusion is reached. Then Binky's rubber band ball bounces through the pool, so it's chased.

Characters

Major

Minor

Cameo

Mentioned

David Read

Trivia

This is the last episode where Patricia Rodriguez voices Sue Ellen.
Sharky appears in Muffy's pool, despite D.W. (Sharky's owner) being absent from the episode. However, D.W. appears in the title card.
There are four extra students seen in the classroom, in contrast to the fact that they are not on Mr. Ratburn's class roster.
This episode is reminiscent of World War I because various alliances and incidents dragged countries into the conflict just like how the students were forming alliances and causing conflict amongst one another.
- The students are also writing reports on the UN, an intergovernmental organization.

Cultural references

Muffy's Judo Kittens stickers appear to be reminiscent of The Powerpuff Girls.
The title is similar to Star Wars.

Episode connections

A binder with a Love Ducks sticker on it can be seen in Buster's desk. Love Ducks first appears in "That's a Baby Show!"

Errors

When Sue Ellen looks at Binky, her body is stretching out.
Jenna's arm color is the same as Sue Ellen's in the same scene.
Fern's leg disappears but it reappears when Brain looks at his desk.
Muffy disappears for a second when Mr. Ratburn tells Arthur to go sit at Brain's desk.
Buster is seen wearing his blue pants.
When Francine said "That's so like Arthur, he’s always betraying his friends!" the red lines on her shirt disappear, but then they reappear when Sue Ellen tells Brain "It just doesn't matter."
The words on Francine's report are not written but when she says "If I were you, I would take a deep breath then work on my report." the words on her report are already written at different scenes.
The word 'World' changes from white to blue when Muffy says she is going to put Judo Kittens on Brain's desk.
Fern's dress turns dark-green when Buster says he is going to eat Arthur's cookies.

Home Media

VHS

Arthur's Learning Curve (Cancelled)

DVD

Arthur's Learning Curve (Cancelled)

Gallery

Main article: Desk Wars/Gallery

References

[1] ttp://www.ket.org/episode/ARUR%20%20000807

[2] ttps://web.archive.org/web/20120413104003/http://ww3.tvo.org/program/157024/arthur

[3] ttps://www.fernsehserien.de/erdferkel-arthur-und-seine-freunde/episodenguide/staffel-8/3906

[4] ttp://www.klru.org/schedule/episode/193670/

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{youmay|the episode|[[Desk Wars (podcast)|the podcast]]}}
 {{Episode infobox
 |ep. name= Desk Wars
@@ Line 12: / Line 13: @@
 ==Summary==
-It's the hottest school day of the year, and tempers are even hotter. To keep the peace, Mr. Ratburn moves Brain and Arthur away from their usual desks ... and sets off a chain reaction resulting in the most explosive desk war in third grade history!<ref>http://www.klru.org/schedule/episode/193670/</ref>
+It is the hottest school day of the year, and tempers are even hotter. To keep the peace, [[Nigel Ratburn|Mr. Ratburn]] moves [[Alan Powers|Brain]] and [[Arthur Read|Arthur]] away from their usual desks ... and sets off a chain reaction resulting in the most explosive desk war in third grade history!<ref>http://www.klru.org/schedule/episode/193670/</ref>
 ==Plot==
-[[Arthur Read|Arthur]] starts off by looking (unsuccessfully) through his classmates' desks. They all debate why he's allowed to start the [[Arthur (TV series)|show]]; because it's his show. They all want it to change, including the ''Binky Barnes Variety Hour''. Then [[Nigel Ratburn|Mr. Ratburn]] claims to the viewers that the teachers don't blow things out of proportion, but in the teacher's lounge, viewers can see that they ''do''.
+Arthur starts off by looking (unsuccessfully) through his classmates' desks. They all debate why he's allowed to start the [[Arthur (TV series)|show]]; Arthur says the reason is that it's ''his'' show. Binky wants it to change — to the ''Binky Barnes Variety Hour''. Then [[Nigel Ratburn|Mr. Ratburn]] claims to the viewers that the teachers don't blow things out of proportion, but in the teacher's lounge, viewers can see that they ''do''.
+<center>'''Desk Wars'''</center>
-One morning, it's a hot day and all are sweating in the classroom. The [[Alan Powers|Brain]] calculates that his seat's getting the most cool air. But then arguing breaks out on desk over [[Muffy Crosswire|Muffy]]'s stickers and dust ruffle, meaning that he's sent to the second hottest spot in the room (behind [[Binky Barnes|Binky]]'s desk) by Mr. Ratburn. Arthur, [[Buster Baxter|Buster]], and [[Francine Frensky|Francine]] have an argument which eventually leads to Arthur being sent to Brain's desk, and Binky seizes Arthur's desk. Arthur messes with the Brain's desk-sorting pencil thing, which angers him.
+One morning, it's a hot day and all are sweating in the classroom. Brain calculates that his seat's getting the most cool air. But then arguing breaks out on desk over [[Muffy Crosswire|Muffy]]'s stickers and dust ruffle, meaning that he's sent to the second hottest spot in the room (behind [[Binky Barnes|Binky]]'s desk) by Mr. Ratburn. Arthur, [[Buster Baxter|Buster]], and [[Francine Frensky|Francine]] have an argument which eventually leads to Arthur being sent to Brain's desk, and Binky seizes Arthur's desk. Arthur messes with Brain's supplies dispenser, which angers him.
-[[Francis Haney|Mr. Haney]] comes in and calls Mr. Ratburn into the office to take a call, and Ratburn tells the kids that he has to go and to work on their assignments while he's gone. The Brain plots to try to get his desk back, after discovering the gum from [[George Lundgren|George]]'s (who's absent) dinosaur model. Muffy moves to the sharpener after her pencil breaks.
+[[Francis Haney|Mr. Haney]] comes in and calls Mr. Ratburn into the office to take a call, and Ratburn tells the kids that he has to go and to work on their assignments while he's gone. Brain plots to try to get his desk back, after discovering the gum from [[George Lundgren|George]]'s (who's absent) dinosaur model, Binky even has a rubber band ball. Muffy moves to the sharpener after her pencil breaks so she can keep her seat.
 This is Brain's chance to get back to a cooler spot! But Muffy sees this and scrambles back to her seat. George returns early to discover his seat is missing, and he can't sit anywhere. George is duped into sharpening Muffy's pencil.
-Then a lot of threats start off - if George doesn't give the pencil to Brain, then his gummy dino is squashed; if this happens, then Sue Ellen will throw Binky's rubber band ball out the window, Brain's desk will get covered in judo kitten stickers by Muffy if she doesn't get the pencil, this isn't fair on Francine, who was promised these, so she'll cut the dust ruffle in half, Buster's comic book will be shredded by Fern if the ruffle is cut, despite saying "Cut up that dust ruffle and, Arthur's comic book gets shredded, then Buster will eat Arthur's cookies.
+Then a lot of threats start off — if George doesn't give the pencil to Brain, then his gummy dino is squashed; if this happens, then [[Sue Ellen Armstrong|Sue Ellen]] will throw Binky's rubber band ball out the window, Brain's desk will get covered in judo kitten stickers by Muffy if she doesn't get the pencil; this isn't fair on Francine, who was promised those, so she'll cut the dust ruffle in half, Buster's comic book will be shredded by Fern if the ruffle is cut. Then Buster will eat Arthur's cookies.
-The pressure builds on George, The pencil keeps snapping, if these continues, then Sue Ellen's UN report is history, according to Brain. A book falls onto the dinosaur, so all threats are carried out, which leads to mass destruction of the classroom. Mr Haney comes in to warn them, but he'll let them off so long as they tidy up. All refuse to do the hard jobs as none of them believe they're at fault.
+The pressure builds on George, and the pencil keeps snapping; if this continues, then Sue Ellen's UN report is history, according to Brain. A book falls onto the dinosaur, so all threats are carried out, which leads to mass destruction of the classroom. Mr. Haney comes in to warn them, but he'll let them off so long as they tidy up. All refuse to do the hard jobs, as none of them believe they're at fault.
-George cleans - he doesn't mind and said that they all make a big deal about everything. They all muck in and clean up and Brain rewrites Sue Ellen's UN report. Ratburn returns and gives the good news - he's an uncle. Everyone is invited to Muffy's pool to cool off. They debate what started the fight, but no conclusion is reached. Then Binky's rubber band ball bounces through the pool, so it's chased.
+When Arthur turns to George, he is puzzled when he sees that George is doing the cleaning up, as he “didn’t make any of this mess”. When Arthur asks why, George replies that he doesn't mind and adds that they all make a big deal about everything. They all muck in and clean up, and Brain rewrites Sue Ellen's UN report. Mr. Ratburn returns and gives the good news — his sister had a baby, so he's an uncle, he is impressed with how well everyone is working. Everyone is invited to Muffy's pool to cool off. They debate what started the fight, but no conclusion is reached. Then Binky's rubber band ball bounces through the pool, so it's chased.
 ==Characters==
 ===Major===
-*[[Alan Powers]]
+*[[Alan Powers|Brain]]
 *[[Muffy Crosswire]]
 *[[Arthur Read]]
@@ Line 39: / Line 42: @@
 *[[Sue Ellen Armstrong]]
 *[[George Lundgren]]
 ===Minor===
 *[[Fern Walters]]
 *[[Jenna Morgan]]
-*[[Nigel Ratburn]]
+*[[Nigel Ratburn|Mr. Ratburn]]
 *[[Miss Sweetwater]]
-*[[Francis Haney]]
+*[[Francis Haney|Mr. Haney]]
 *[[Ms. Krasny]]
+*[[Mr. Marco]] (does not speak)
 ===Cameo===
+*[[D.W. Read]] (title card)
-*[[Alex]]
+*[[Alex Davidson|Alex]]
 *[[Maria Pappas]]
-*[[Mr. Marco]]
 *[[3rd Grade Male Rabbit (Number 2)]]
 *[[3rd Grade Male Monkey]]
@@ Line 57: / Line 59: @@
 *[[3rd Grade Female Aardvark (Number 4)]]
 *[[Sharky]]
+===Mentioned===
+*[[David Read]]
 ==Trivia==
+*This is the last episode where [[Patricia Rodriguez]] voices Sue Ellen.
-* The students wear different clothes in this episode because it's almost summer vacation.
-*[[Sharky]] was seen in the pool in this episode, even when D.W. was not seen in the episode at all. Although, it's possible that [[Arthur Read|Arthur]] purchased it or Muffy's parents may have bought it.
+*[[Sharky]] appears in Muffy's pool, despite [[D.W. Read|D.W.]] (Sharky's owner) being absent from the episode. However, D.W. appears in the title card.
-* There are four extra students seen in the classroom, in contrast to the fact that they are not on Mr. Ratburn's class roster.
+*There are four extra students seen in the classroom, in contrast to the fact that they are not on Mr. Ratburn's class roster.
+*This episode is reminiscent of {{W|World War I}} because various alliances and incidents dragged countries into the conflict just like how the students were forming alliances and causing conflict amongst one another.
-===Cultural references===
+**The students are also writing reports on the {{W|United Nations|UN}}, an intergovernmental organization.
-* Muffy's [[Judo Kittens]] stickers appear to be reminiscent of ''{{W|The Powerpuff Girls}}''.
-* This episode seems to be an allusion to {{W|World War I}} and {{W|Word War II|II}}, regarding the fact that one thing led to another, until it got chaotic. The students were also studying about the {{W|United Nations}}, an international organization that was established after World War II, which aimed for world peace.
+===Cultural references===
+*Muffy's [[Judo Kittens]] stickers appear to be reminiscent of ''{{W|The Powerpuff Girls}}''.
+*The title is similar to ''Star Wars''.
 ===Episode connections===
+*A binder with a ''[[Love Ducks]]'' sticker on it can be seen in Buster's desk. ''Love Ducks'' first appears in "[[That's a Baby Show!]]"
-*In this episode, [[Nigel Ratburn|Mr. Ratburn]] gets a call from [[Rodentia Ratburn|his sister]], and he tells the class that he became an uncle, which meant that she'd given birth to a child; even though in her exclusive appearance in "[[Arthur's Substitute Teacher Trouble]]," she was single and she wasn't pregnant, nor did it reveal whether or not she had children. This may be a continuity error - or Ratburn's sister was only just pregnant and it didn't show, or maybe he may have another sister. Given the time that has elapsed between the two episodes, it's likely just a new addition to the ongoing continuity, which is not always consistent.
+===Errors===
+*When Sue Ellen looks at Binky, her body is stretching out.
+*[[Jenna Morgan|Jenna]]'s arm color is the same as Sue Ellen's in the same scene.
+*Fern's leg disappears but it reappears when Brain looks at his desk.
+*Muffy disappears for a second when Mr. Ratburn tells Arthur to go sit at Brain's desk.
+*Buster is seen wearing his blue pants.
+*When Francine said "That's so like Arthur, he’s always betraying his friends!" the red lines on her shirt disappear, but then they reappear when Sue Ellen tells Brain "It just doesn't matter."
+*The words on Francine's report are not written but when she says "If I were you, I would take a deep breath then work on my report." the words on her report are already written at different scenes.
+*The word 'World' changes from white to blue when Muffy says she is going to put Judo Kittens on Brain's desk.
+*Fern's dress turns dark-green when Buster says he is going to eat Arthur's cookies.
+==Home Media==
+===VHS===
+*Arthur's Learning Curve (Cancelled)
+===DVD===
+*Arthur's Learning Curve (Cancelled)
 ==Gallery==
@@ Line 73: / Line 97: @@
 ==References==
 {{Reflist}}{{EpisodeNav|8}}
-[[Category:Episodes]]
 [[Category:Season 8 episodes]]
+[[Category:Episode pages without home video]]
+[[Category:A to Z]]
+[[Category:Arthur episodes]]

"Desk Wars"
Main image Title card
Season/Series:	8
Number in season:	7a
Original Airdate:	December 23, 2003^[1] March 3, 2004^[2] December 25, 2007^[3]
Credits
Written by:	Glen Berger
Storyboard by:	Gerry Capelle
Episodes
Previous "Postcards from Buster"	Next "Desperately Seeking Stanley"