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{{Episode infobox
|image = Rhythm_and_Roots_of_Arthur.jpg
|titlecard = The Rhythm and Roots of Arthur Title Card.png
|us = January 20, 2020 <ref name=KET>{{cite web|url=https://www.ket.org/episode/RRAR%20%20000000/|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20201118191836/https://www.ket.org/program/rhythm-and-roots-of-arthur/rhythm-and-roots-of-arthur/|archivedate=2020-11-18|publisher=Kentucky Educational Televison|title=Rhythm and Roots of Arthur}}</ref><ref name=CPTV>{{cite web|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20200919174849/https://cptv.org/the-rhythm-and-roots-of-arthur/|archivedate=2020-09-19|url=https://cptv.org/the-rhythm-and-roots-of-arthur/|title=The Rhythm and Roots of Arthur|publisher=Connecticut Public Television|date=January 2020}}</ref>
|aus = March 1, 2020<br>(part 1) and March 7, 2020 (part 2) {{Citation needed}}
|can = March 23, 2020<br>(part 1) and March 25, 2020 (part 2) {{Citation needed}}
|writers = [[Peter Ferland]]<br>[[Peter K. Hirsch]]
|storyboarders = [[Greg Bailey]]<br>[[Gerry Capelle]]<br>[[Helene Cossette]]<br>[[Allan Jeffery]]<br>[[Glen Kennedy]]<br>[[Tapani Knuutila]]<br>[[Daniel Miodini]]<br>[[Jeremy O'Neill]]<br>[[Tony Tupilano]]
|prev. episode = Special: [[Arthur and the Haunted Tree House]]
|next episode = Special: [[An Arthur Thanksgiving]]
}}"'''The Rhythm and Roots of Arthur'''" is a one-hour TV special that premiered on January 20, 2020 on [[PBS]].<ref name=KET/><ref name=CPTV/>

==Synopsis==
"Pack your bags, buckle your seatbelts, and get ready for an [[Arthur (TV series)|''ARTHUR'']] road trip to the [[Read Family Farm|family farm]]! Arthur's Great-Grand Uncle [[Theodore Read|Theo]] is celebrating his 85th birthday, so the Reads (and [[Buster Baxter|Buster]]) are off to [[Ohio]] to join in the festivities. While [[D.W. Read|D.W.]] and [[Arthur Read|Arthur]] learn that farm life is a little different than life in [[Elwood City]], Buster worries he may be getting in the way at this family reunion. With the help of Cousin [[Miles]], some llamas, and a little bit of music, they all discover what it truly means to be family."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pbsutah.org/whatson/rhythm-and-roots-arthur/rhythm-and-roots-arthur-episode-394174|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20201118191911/https://www.pbsutah.org/whatson/rhythm-and-roots-arthur/rhythm-and-roots-arthur|archivedate=2020-11-18|title=Rhythm and Roots of Arthur - episode: 394174 - Rhythm and Roots of Arthur | publisher=PBSUtah.org}}</ref>

==Characters==
===Major===
*[[Arthur Read]]
*[[Buster Baxter]]
*[[D.W. Read]]
*[[Thora Read]]
*[[David Read]]
*[[Theodore Read]] {{c|debut}}
*[[Ryder Read]] {{c|debut}}
*[[Miles]] {{C|debut}}

===Minor===
*[[Chrissy Read]] {{c|debut}}
*[[Minnie Read]] {{c|debut}}
*[[Bitzi Baxter]]
*[[Jane Read]]
*[[Kate Read]]
*[[Jimmy (cousin)|Cousin Jimmy]] {{c|debut}}
*[[Lorraine]]
*[[Laurie (cousin)|Laurie Read]] {{c|debut}}
*[[Older woman]] {{c|debut}}
*[[Pal]]
*[[Bernice]] {{c|debut}}
*[[Dora (llama)]] {{c|debut}}
*[[Henry (rooster)]] {{c|debut}}
===Cameo===
*[[Mr. Armstrong]]
*[[Mrs. Armstrong]]
*[[Molly MacDonald]]
*[[Rattles]]
*[[Slink]]
*[[Marc Brown (character)|Marc Brown]]
*Unnamed dog
*Taxi driver
===Mentioned===
*[[Dora Winifred Read (Theo's sister)|Dora Winifred Read]] {{c|debut}}
*[[Uncle John]]
*[[Bud Compson]]
*[[Timmy and Tommy Tibble]]
*[[Dark Bunny]]
*[[Bionic Bunny]]
*Daisy (skink) {{c|debut}}

==Songs==
*"[[I'm Bored]]" (D.W. and David)
*"[[I See You]]" (Miles and Buster)
*"[[Home or Here]]" (Buster and D.W.)
*"[[At This Table]]" (Miles and Buster)

==Trivia==
*This special reveals that D.W. was named after [[Dora Winifred Read (Theo's sister)|Theo's sister]], whose full name was also "Dora Winifred Read" and who passed away before D.W. was born.
*The line "Didn't it feel like third grade went on forever?" references the show's time loop and how the characters do not get older.
*The line "Hey Lorraine, this cousin is on some show called ''Arthur''!" is a reference to ''[[Arthur (TV series)|Arthur]]'' itself.
*An online game based on the special, titled "[[Moonlight Mazes]]," was released on January 8, 2020.
*According to the credits, this episode was produced in 2019.
===Episode connections===
*Buster's asthma from "[[Buster's Breathless]]" is mentioned.
*[[Theodore Read|Theo]] asks [[D.W. Read|D.W.]] how she feels about spinach, and she reacts disgusted. D.W. is known to hate spinach from "[[D.W., the Picky Eater (episode)|D.W., the Picky Eater]]." However, she does like it in [[Little Bo Peep pot pie]].
*The raccoon finds Buster's bathing cap, originally seen in "[[D.W. All Wet]]."
*Arthur and Buster previously saw a milk snake in [[Elwood City]] in "[[Hide and Snake]]."
*There is a picture of young [[Thora Read|Thora]] holding [[Clarissa]] (from "[[Clarissa is Cracked]]") on the wall in the farm house.
*When D.W. captures the lizard under a bowl, she says, "I hope I didn't hurt him," which is the same thing she says when she tries to find [[Toady]] in a tin can in "[[So Long, Spanky]]."
*[[Fluff McGuffin]] returns from the special "[[D.W. and the Beastly Birthday]]." D.W.'s [[Mary Moo Cow]] doll and unicorn ([[Uni]]) are from previous episodes as well.
*Buster finding the bottle from Theo's childhood is similar to him finding the bottle of [[Grape cola]] in "[[Buster Baxter & the Letter from the Sea]]."
*[[D.W. Read|D.W.]] still has [[Rapty]] from when [[Bud Compson|Bud]] leaves him behind while moving in "[[When Duty Calls]]."
*[[Buster Baxter|Buster]] and [[Arthur Read|Arthur]] play [[checkers]] together. It is mentioned they enjoy playing it in "[[Buster's Back]]."
*[[Arthur Read|Arthur]] mentions that [[D.W. Read|D.W.]] is being dramatic. [[Jane Read|Jane]] mentions her being dramatic in "[[Revenge of the Chip]]."
*Arthur mentions that he has relatives in Ohio in "[[Arthur's Birthday]]."

===Cultural references===
*During the "[[I'm Bored]]" song, signs for Highway 30 West and Highway 224 West are seen. These two routes meet near Van Wert, Ohio, which happens to be relatively close to Cridersville, Ohio. A sign for the Cridersville Fairgrounds is seen outside the medical clinic where Buster seeks treatment for his leg injury.

===Errors===
*D.W.'s ear is incorrectly animated above her hat when she greets [[Minnie Read|Minnie]].
*D.W. says that she does not know what a llama is, even though she acknowledges llamas on her birthday card in "[[D.W. and the Beastly Birthday]]."
===Production notes===
*This is the first ''Arthur'' production where the series director, [[Greg Bailey]], has helped storyboard an episode or special.

==Gallery==
===Videos===
<gallery position="center">
The Rhythm and Roots of Arthur promo
The Rhythm and Roots of Arthur promo 2
ARTHUR What's a llama?
ARTHUR Home or Here (Song)
</gallery>
===Promotional images===
<gallery widths="220" position="center">
The Rhythm and Roots of Arthur Promotional Image 001.jpg
The Rhythm and Roots of Arthur Promotional Image 002.jpg
The Rhythm and Roots of Arthur Promotional Image 003.jpg
The Rhythm and Roots of Arthur Promotional Image 004.jpg
The Rhythm and Roots of Arthur Promotional Image 005.jpg
The Rhythm and Roots of Arthur Promotional Image 006.jpg
SH033649060000.jpeg|Spectrum (Time Warner Cable) Promotional Poster for the special
</gallery>
===Screenshots===
<gallery>
db wow plow.png
arthur packing.png
dws toys.png
D.W.'s toys 2.jpg
D.W.'s toys 3.jpg
D.W.'s toys 4.jpg
Pal licks Arthur.jpg
Thora in The Rhythm and Roots of Arthur.jpg
The Rhythm and Roots of Arthur 005.jpg
D.W. in The Rhythm and Roots of Arthur.jpg
byebuster_bitzi.png
roadtrip.png|[[Molly MacDonald|Molly]], [[Slink]], and [[Rattles]] can be seen.
marc brown mowing.png
exit.png
rest stop.png
dwsign.png
Railroad.png
roadsigns.png
ohiomap.png
farmentry.png
The Rhythm and Roots of Arthur image.jpg
Arrival.jpg
meetingfamily.png
snake.png
pondmuseum.png
bathingcap.png
cornfield.png
buster_hurt.png
Arthur scared.png
Stargazing.png
Constellations2.PNG
Constellations3.PNG
Constellation4.PNG
Constellations5.PNG
Constellations6.PNG
Constellations7.PNG
Constellations8.PNG
Constellations.png
Flashback1.jpg
Flashback2.jpg
Flashback3.jpg
Flashback4.jpg
farm_dining.png
Farm_dining_2.png
dwspinachface.png
familyphoto.png|Family photographs on the wall, previously seen in "[[Clarissa is Cracked]]"
thora_clarissa.png|Close-up of a photograph of young [[Thora Read|Thora]] and her doll [[Clarissa]]
barn_interior.png
barn_exterior.png
Readsilo.png
guestroom.png
theo_dora.png|[[Theodore Read|Theo]] and [[Dora Winifred Read (Theo's sister)|Dora Winifred Read]] as children
jimmy.png
dw_ear.png|Animation error
buster_oldwoman.png
older_woman.png
lizardcatcher.png
lizard.png
piccadillys.png
lookingfordw.png
property.png
llamaxing.png
aunt_minnie.png
porch.png
dora_llama.png
naming_llama.png
farmhouse_wideview.png
taxicab.png
Untitled 496357.jpg
Untitled 496356.jpg
Untitled 496355.jpg
Untitled 496354.jpg
Raccoon1.jpg
Raccoon2.jpg
Buster laying on the ground.jpg
Bernice looks at Buster.jpg
Miles cheers up Buster.jpg
Miles cheers up Buster 2.jpg
Miles with Bernice.jpg
Buster riding Bernice.jpg
Buster riding Bernice 2.jpg
Lizard1.jpg
D.W. throwing horseshoes with Theo.jpg
A lizard on D.W.'s foot 2.jpg
A lizard on D.W.'s foot.jpg
D.W. held by her father.jpg
D.W. frowns.jpg
Ryder holding a snake.jpg
farmlake.jpg
Ryder swings.jpg
Arthur and Ryder in the barn.jpg
Arthur and Ryder sleeping.jpg
scaryowl1.jpg
creepyowl2.jpg
</gallery>

==References==
{{Reflist}}{{TitleSort}}
[[Category:Specials]]
[[Category:A to Z]]