Picspam - Hey Arnold! - Operation: Ruthless (Part One)

[leskuh]

warning: this post is extremely image heavy (50+ caps).






Our story begins as Arnold and Gerald come upon a bunch of people setting up for the annual Cheese Fair.




Arnold: "Seems like it was just last year that we celebrated the annual festival of the holy provoloni."

Oh, Arnold.




So Helga and Phoebe are there already too and Phoebe's acting weird, looking through some hole-y provoloni and Helga's like "WTF, dude?". Phoebe explains that there's a legend about spinning around and looking through cheese holes and finding true love. Helga is like: "Yeah, fucking right." and snatches up the cheese just to show Phoebe how not true this legend is.




Seems there might to be something to that ridiculous legend after all, eh Helga?




Hee, she's so cute.




Just then Arnold spots something he likes.




A ladder! (Okay, fine. It's Ruth.)




I'm going to apologize in advance for the ridiculous amount of caps that are just of Arnold and Helga making goofy faces. I HAVE A DISEASE.




Gerald tries to get Arnold's attention, but the dude is not available. Arnold then attempts to toddle off towards Ruth direction, with Gerald being all: "Dude, what the hell?" behind him.




Here he comes!




There he goes!




This can only end in tears. (Probably they will be MINE.)




Arnold tries to grab his gal's attention.




But...




It doesn't really work.




Meanwhile, Helga is hulking out.

"Why that little yellow haired runt! I oughta squash him like a bug."




That's unfortunate.




Haha, I love that Gerald is always along on these Ruth adventures. His faces in this episode pretty much sum up all of my thoughts and feelings.




Helga: "Of all the idiotic things - Arnold in love with Ruth? Puh-leaze! Not that I care, but what's she got that I haven't got?"




Phoebe: "Let me check my list."

PHOEBE THAT IS NOT WHAT BEST FRIENDS SAY IN RESPONSE TO THAT QUESTION.

Phoebe: "Long slender legs, a dazzling smile, shiny chestnut hair..."

So... Phoebe's into the ladies then? I-I'm not sure what reason other than "I think Ruth is hot and here is why." that Phoebe would have a list describing a bunch of Ruth's physical assets.




Helga: "Give me that!"

The ever attractive Helga G. Pataki.




So while Arnold makes plans to woo Ruth at the Fair that night, Helga plots to DESTROY HER.




Carnival pictures!




Arnold begins freaking out and going through all these ridiculous variations on what to say to Ruth.




Gerald's like: "Dude, just say HI." And then Arnold's all: "YOU ARE A GENIUS. HI RUTH - IT IS SO BRILLIANT OH MAN."

Then Arnold repeats it OVER AND OVER AND OVER.

"Hi Ruth."




Gerald: "Stay cool, Arnold."

I really like this shot of Gerald for some reason.




Gerald: "There she is!"
Arnold: "AAAAUGH!"

Smooth.




Helga has spotted her victim.




Phoebe: "Uh, Helga. Just one question."
Helga: "WHAT? Are you implying that I have some sort of ulterior motive? That I'm after this Ruth person because she happens to be the object of some other kid's affections? Some certain young man that I may have my own obsessive affection for? Is that your question?! Is that your question?!"
Phoebe: "No. Actually, I was gonna ask you which way to the bathroom."
Helga: "Oh. They're right over there, next to the wiener stand. And Phoebe?"
Phoebe: "Yes?"
Helga: "This conversation? Never happened."
Phoebe: "...Right."

That never gets old.




So the boy's first plan is for Arnold to give Ruth a cheese kabob to break the ice and from there he will ~romance~ her.




The girl's first plan involves a subtle variety of moves.




Yes. Subtle.




Helga: "Oh, how clumsy of you."

I LOVE HER.




So does Arnold.




So Ruth ends up going into the House of Mirrors. Also, why is she all alone? Does she not have any friends? No one at all who would enjoy spending time with her at a Cheese Fair?




Arnold goes to follow her and... forgets his line.




Arnold: "Augh, what was it again?"




Gerald: "Fuck this shit."




Gerald: "Hi Ruth."




It is about time to execute Plan #2. Helga follows Arnold into the House of Mirrors.




Meanwhile, the sidekicks seem to be getting along swimmingly. Oh Gerald's seduction face. ♥♥♥








Funhouse mirrors.




So Arnold ends up in a WHOLE ROOM full of mirrors!




And goes chasing after Ruth.




HAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHHAHA!




However, Helga is also lurking about.




He tries to unleash his awesome opener on her, but she's already gone.




And there is someone else in her stead.




He ends up backing into Helga and she gets pissy with him. She goes on to talk some smack about Ruth to Arnold's face, but he pretty much tunes her out when he hears the siren giggle of his would-be lady love.

Also, I think this picture is kind of a decent representation of their relationship in these early episodes.




Then, after he leaves Helga starts swooning.




Helga: "He touched me!"




THIS IS THE VISION THAT HAUNTS MY NIGHTMARES.




a/n: Happy Valentine's Day!!! ♥♥♥ As per usual you can use all the pictures in this post in any way that you'd like - icons/graphics/etc. Apparently this is now an annual sort of thing? Maybe? Haha, next year I promise to do an episode that ends a little happier than this one does.

Comments

[luna301.livejournal.com]

This is one of the older eps isn't it? You can always tell from the way it was drawn. The animation got progressively glossier and more sophisticated as the show went on.

Aw Helga. She was such a wonderful mix of pathetic stalker and badass head bitch in charge.

[leskuh.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah, this is Season 1 baby! This is back when everyone looked REALLY HIDEOUS (but it is also the point at which the series had the most heart).

Haha, that's a great way of putting it. XD

[inuyatta.livejournal.com]

Also, I think this picture is kind of a decent representation of their relationship in these early episodes.

I like how you phrased that--Arnold is looking every which way but in Helga's direction, but only in the mirror panel directly behind Arnold do you see a reflection where it looks like Arnold is directly behind her--as in he always has her back. Naturally it's the one he can't see. XD

[leskuh.livejournal.com]

<333 I hadn't actually thought of it that far! I was mostly at: "Helga is pretend mad and Arnold is unconcerned." As the series progresses he really does begin to NOTICE her, but in these early episodes he doesn't really seem to care that much about her.

[inuyatta.livejournal.com]

.......lol--wtg, self. I looked really far into it, didn't I? XD

Ngl, some of the later episodes of HA! are my favorite, not only because of the sleeker art, but because Arnold just didn't seem quite as fleshed out until later. However, I think by about halfway through S1 or S2, they'd gotten it. Though I might be funny on my timeline, I don't think Nickelodeon actually showed it in order...

[leskuh.livejournal.com]

Haha, I like your response very much though! IT WAS SO DEEP.

For me it's very mixed. I actually think I prefer the later episodes, but at the same time there the earlier episodes are the ones that were a lot more likely to make me cry or really, truly feel. Arnold was much more of a 9 year old in the early seasons.

[inuyatta.livejournal.com]

Hahaha, maybe a bit much so, but I can always pretend I was looking at the subconscious message. XD

Too true--Loved the later episodes as a whole, but the hands down favorite? The Christmas special. And that was season 1.

[elphieee.livejournal.com]

HI RUTH HI RUTH HI RUTH. Oh Arnold.

I always wanted to go to a Cheese Fair after this episode. I mean...IT'S NOTHING BUT CHEESE. I would die of happiness. Or possibly constipation.

I love your commentary. It makes me giggle :D

[leskuh.livejournal.com]

Hahahaha, everytime he starts doing the HI RUTH thing I just want to punch him in his face. SHUT UP ARNOLD.

Lol! I would be all about a Cheese Fair! We should start one and invite a bunch of HA! fans. XD

I'm glad I could entertain ya!

[mizunosakura.livejournal.com]

This amused me so XD Oh, Hey Arnold, I miss you.

I wish we had a Cheese Fair. I could go for a cheese kabob.

[leskuh.livejournal.com]

I'm glad! I was hoping to keep you guys amused. I MISS IT TOO.

INORITE? A Cheese Fair sounds like SO MUCH FUN.

[cecilegrey.livejournal.com]

OH MY GOD. I WANT TO RIDE THE COW CAROUSEL. I NEVER NOTICED IT BEFORE.

So... Phoebe's into the ladies then? I-I'm not sure what reason other than "I think Ruth is hot and here is why." that Phoebe would have a list describing a bunch of Ruth's physical assets.

Lololol. I didn't know there was canon evidence for Phoebe's bisexuality and/or lesbianism. Yessss.

[leskuh.livejournal.com]

HAHAHAHA ME TOO. SO MUCH FUN.

I mean... unless she just makes lists of EVERYTHING or something. But yes, Phoebe might be into Ruth just a little. PERHAPS.

[kristinkat.livejournal.com]

Aww, such ~nostalgia~. I remember I had this episode on VHS and the tape was BRIGHT ORANGE.

HI RUTH. HI RUTH. HI RUTH. HI RUTH.

[leskuh.livejournal.com]

Hee! I never owned any Nick shows on VHS, but I can imagine the nostalgia.

I DID HAVE A RUGRATS TAPE THAT WAS BRIGHT ORANGE THOUGH YAAAAAAY NICKELODEON!

Hahahaha. HI RUTH.

[heron-advocate.livejournal.com]

HAHA PHOEBE. "Let me check my list." AWESOME. Also - WOW, I never really noticed how much smaller Phoebe is than Helga.

That never gets old.

I am so with you on that. I also love when Phoebe's response is "Forgetting!" Haha, for some reason this picspam is making me ship the hell out of Phoebe and Gerald because they're such awesome best friends. And obviously because they have the hots for each other.

[leskuh.livejournal.com]

Phoebe is sweet, but generally the answer to: "What has she got that I haven't got?" should NOT be "OH BOY DON'T EVEN GET ME STARTED."

She is so much smaller! Eeee Tiny!Phoebe!!!

This is actually probably the first time in the series that Helga and Phoebe go through this exchange. So I don't think the "forgetting" thing was developed just yet.

PHOEBE/GERALD YES.

[poisonivory.livejournal.com]

I am so glad you're doing another one of these. SO GLAD.

DO EVERY EPISODE.

[leskuh.livejournal.com]

I'm glad too! They're actually pretty to do.

I WOULD, but... they take FOREVER to put together. Capping, cropping, resizing, etc. Takes awhile.