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"What's in a Name?"
Season/Series: 15
Number in season: 7b
Original Airdate: United States April 16, 2012[1]
Canada May 23, 2013[2]
United Kingdom January 26, 2011
Australia October 16, 2010
Germany December 31, 2012[3]
Credits
Written by: John Marsh
Storyboard by: Gerry Capelle
Robert Yap
Episodes
Previous
"Prunella the Packrat"
Next
"Muffy's Classy Classics Club"
Read transcript

"What's in a Name?" is the second half of the seventh episode in the fifteenth season of Arthur.

Summary[]

Muffy threatens to reveal Binky's real name, Shelley, after she thinks his winning the class award for most improved student is undeserved after she is in trouble.

Plot[]

Arthur is busy in his room when D.W. comes in with a new stuffed penguin she got, wanting him to help her name it. Arthur goes over how it is an elaborate process every time D.W. gets a new doll or stuffed animal: First, she must be blind-folded and spun around, then the first letter of the first object she sees will be the first letter of the toy's name. Next, she drinks milk with cinnamon and chants random words before kicking her legs and sipping the drink through her curly straw. Finally, she takes a nap with the toy under her pillow and proceeds to dream of chasing it until she catches it and learns its name. D.W. declares her stuffed penguin shall be named Xeno, introducing him to her brother. After she leaves, Arthur asks why names are so important to some people.

What's In a Name?

Mr. Ratburn goes on to give a special award to a student who truly deserves it, stating that he only gives out one normally, but this was a very special award, so he has given a second one to Binky. Binky is distracted at first and very surprised. Mr. Ratburn notes his improvement in class (most of the time) and asks him to say a few words. As Binky thanks everyone who helped him, Muffy interrupts his speech by using her cellphone until he scolds her and asks her to be quiet. Muffy is then in trouble as Mr. Ratburn claims she has done this four times previously. As punishment for insulting Binky, Mr. Ratburn confiscates her cellphone and keeps her from recess for a week. Everyone is in shock as Muffy grows angry. She goes to leave, but is reminded that she has to stay back, starting the day she got punished.

Later during recess, Muffy staples together papers when Mr. Haney comes inside. He mentions how beautiful and nice today is, unaware that she is actually in trouble. Mr. Haney asks her to give the class list to Mr. Ratburn. Muffy looks over it to see her name, then notices someone named "Shelley Barnes". She wonders who that is and is quick to recognize the name.

At the end of the day, Muffy sits in her limo as Binky walks by. She then confronts him over his real name being "Shelley", but Binky asks who Shelley is and Muffy tells him that it is his real name. Binky denies this accusation, but Muffy shows him the class list for proof. Muffy threatens to reveal his name on Monday in retaliation for getting her in trouble.

At home, Mrs. Barnes confirms that Binky's name is really Shelley. Binky is noticeably upset and annoyed at being named that. Mrs. Barnes tries to assure him that she will keep it a secret and right away, Binky sends a message to Muffy, asking what she wants in order to keep his real name a secret. Unfortunately, he is unable to provide either request.

Binky lays in bed that evening imagining what his classmates will do when they hear of his real name in school. He fears that they will all mock him, including Mr. Ratburn. It is then that Mrs. Barnes comes into the room with some food. She shows Binky a very old photo of his great-grandfather, Shelley Barnes.

Binky asks her about Shelley's position in the circus and she explains he eventually owned the circus. Originally, a nine-year-old Shelley was in a circus where nobody really had fun. He would help the struggling trapeze artist, a heartbroken clown, and the lion tamer as his apprentice (though the "lion" was actually a cat). Eventually, nobody would come to the circus anymore. One day while on a walk, Shelley found his talent as a strongman. He became known as the world's strongest boy and with all of the money they were making, the circus was saved. The circus now had a real friendly lion, a trapeze artist partner, and the old "lion" was given to the sad clown. Binky begins to feel a lot happier knowing how amazing his great-grandfather was.

The following Monday, Binky prepares to resume his award speech, but not before Muffy interrupts and asks to introduce him. At first, she seems to plan on giving away his secret, but then quits and calls him Binky, privately admitting that she was never really going to tell anyone. In front of the class, Binky reveals his real name himself. Everyone is surprised at this revelation. Binky explains how he just found out his name is Shelley after his great-grandfather. He still wishes to be known as Binky, but maybe someday, he will become Shelley.

Characters[]

Major[]

Minor[]

Cameo[]

Mentioned[]

Trivia[]

  • This episode is not to be confused with the Barney & Friends episode of the same name.
  • This episode is one of the few in the series to feature non-mammalian anthropomorphic animal characters, as there are bird-people in the flashback to the life of Binky's great-grandfather.

Episode connections[]

  • Like "Nicked by a Name," this episode explores how names affect people.
  • Like "The Last King of Lambland," this episode reveals the story of something amazing a character's ancestor did.
  • The ending uses music from the Trucks movie from "The Agent of Change."
  • In this episode, George thinks he has won the "Thinky," until Mr. Ratburn corrects him to say Binky was the actual winner. This is a subversion of the ongoing running gag in which George tends to win most awards and contests.
  • Lionel the Lion Tamer looks exactly like Gus Grim the Child Trainer from "Mind Your Manners."

Cultural references[]

  • D.W.'s naming ceremony is somewhat similar to a Sikh's naming ceremony (Hukamnama) as she/he has to point to a random thing which will be the first letter of the toy's name, but in Sikhism, they have to open the holy book at a random page and the first letter on that page will be the first letter of the baby's name.
  • Binky mentions Machiavelli, a political scientist of the Renaissance who described the deceitful and violent measures used by the rulers of his time.
  • Ferdinand the Flying Fox may be named for a genus of fruit bats.

Gallery[]

Main article: What's in a Name?/Gallery

References[]


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