Kung Fool

"Kung Fool"
Main image Title card
Season/Series:	13
Number in season:	2b
Original Airdate:	October 13, 2009 February 24, 2010 May 1, 2009 December 10, 2012
Credits
Written by:	Claudia Silver
Storyboard by:	Robert Yap
Episodes
Previous "The Silent Treatment"	Next "Arthur's Number Nightmare"

Read transcript

"Kung Fool" is the second half of the second episode in the thirteenth season of Arthur.

Summary

Fern helps an elderly neighbor, who was once a Kung Fu star, with his household chores.

Plot

In the introduction, Arthur talks about how people you know can surprise you. Examples are D.W. liking foreign food and Mr. Haney doing a difficult plate spinning act. Then Arthur meets Fern, who does martial arts.

Kung Fool

Fern's mother takes her to elderly Tony Wu, whom Fern has volunteered to help around the house. Mr. Wu is a nice man with an odd sense of humor. He watches golf with Fern and Fern is restless.

When Fern mentions Tony Wu at school, Sue Ellen recognizes him as a former Kung Fu master. She shows Fern a martial arts movie in which Tony plays a wise master who teaches a student that even housework can be Kung Fu.

When Tony gives Fern some ordinary household chores to do, she tries to do them Kung Fu style. She even wears an Asian headdress to school. She dreams about Kung Fu while washing dishes at Tony's house and breaks a plate. When she talks to Tony about learning Kung Fu, he tells her that she was merely helping him, but he could teach her some things.

Tony starts teaching Fern Tai Chi. It is not what she expected, even though Sue Ellen envies her for having Tony as a teacher. During another session, Tony tells Fern that he grew up in California rather than China and learned Kung Fu from his aunt. He advises Fern to let go of her preconceptions and "go with the flow," a phrase he learned in Berkeley in the sixties. Fern is able to talk Tony into having their practice sessions in the park. At first, Tony does not want to leave the house, but in the park, some ladies ask to join the session and Tony begins to enjoy himself.

Characters

Major

• Fern Walters
• Tony Wu
• Sue Ellen Armstrong
• Doria Walters

Minor

• D.W. Read
• David Read
• Arthur Read
• Binky Barnes
• Master Wu (in movie)
• Kung Fu Student (in movie)
• Mrs. Renaldi

Cameo

• Mary (3rd grader)
• 3rd Grade Male Rat
• 3rd Grade Female Cat (Number 2)
• Kenny
• 3rd Grade Male Rabbit
• 3rd Grade Male Dog (Number 3)
• Molly MacDonald
• Prunella Deegan
• Paul Jacobs
• Beulah McInnerny
• Alex Davidson
• Maria Pappas
• George Lundgren
• Jenna Morgan
• Alan Powers
• Mr. Haney

Trivia

Episode connections

• Arthur says "you think you know someone, but suddenly, they do something that surprises you." This premise is done in some other Arthur episodes, such as "What's in a Name?" and "Binky's 'A' Game."
• The "Save Our Sugar Bowl" banner from "Sue Ellen Chickens Out" is still on display outside Sue Ellen's house.

Cultural references

• Mr. Read serves yaprak dolması.
• Kung Fu means a "skill acquired through training." Along with Wu Shu, meaning "martial art," it is an umbrella term for various Chinese fighting styles, including Tai Chi.
• Tai Chi is short for t'ai chi ch'üan, meaning "supreme ultimate fist." It is a Chinese martial art that in most forms focuses on fitness and meditation rather than actual fighting.
• Despite Fern wanting to learn Kung Fu (Chinese), her clothes in the fantasy are a karategi suit (Japanese) and a mongkon headdress (Thai).
• Master Wu in the movie is based on Bak Mei, a legendary shaolin monk. Fictionalized versions of him have appeared in various martial arts movies. He always has huge white eyebrows and a long beard.
• "Go with the flow" was a hippie slogan. Tony Wu mentions learning it in Berkeley, which was a major hub for the hippie movement.

Errors

• When Fern visits Sue Ellen, Sue Ellen is not wearing any shoes, but when the video "Master Wu and the Rebel Monks" concluded, her shoes appear.

Gallery

Screenshots

Trying yaprak dolmasi

Talented Mr. Haney

"Even a mighty oak was once a nut like you."

Portable black screen

Fern and her mother

Tony Wu's house

At the door

“The alligator's in the bathroom.”

Tony Wu's fridge

Tony Wu asleep

Newspaper cutouts

Master Wu and the Rebel Monks

“Only how to sweep and swat flies.”

Master Wu

Fake beard

Filing letters

“Any practice is Kung Fu.”

Dusting shelves

Hanging up shirts

Dreaming

“It’s just a plate.”

“It's a soft style. About focus and balance.”

Learning Tai Chi

"Mind if I join in?"

Mrs. Renaldi, Tony Wu, and Fern Walters practice tai chi in the park