60 Parent’s Day (with Charlie Mackin)

Returning guest Charlie Mackin (https://twitter.com/charliemander13) helps us close out Season 3’s episode discussions – and boy, it’s a doozy!

“𝙊𝙧𝙥𝙝𝙖𝙣 𝙠𝙞𝙙.”

Big Bob’s name-calling at the Parent’s Tournament Weekend gets Arnold thinking of the mom and dad he doesn’t remember in “Parent’s Day,” leading Arnold to ask Grandpa to tell him what really happened to his parents. What follows is an emotional revelation that adds context to some of Arnold’s best features: his altruism, his optimism, and his desire to see only the best in everyone. But it’s also a catharsis for Arnold as he comes to terms with the family he has – and for us as we join Arnold in yearning for closure in the wake of trauma.

In this episode, we talk about how “Parent’s Day” came into each of our lives, what sticks out now that went over our heads as kids, why it reminds Harry of The X-Files, and how a show that’s so innocent can be so deeply, deeply emotional.

Find Charlie’s work at https://charliemackin.com/

Follow Charlie on Twitter at https://twitter.com/charliemander13

Buy Décorum, the tabletop game created by Charlie, Harry, and Drew Tenenbaum: ​​https://floodgate.games/products/decorum

Listen to Charlie’s other episodes of Stoop Kidz!:

- 8A The List/8B Haunted Train
- 20 Arnold’s Christmas
- 46A Arnold Betrays Iggy/46B Helga and the Nanny

Wanna see more Hey Arnold! stuff? How about some fun, goofy posts? Follow us on https://twitter.com/stoopkidzpod and www.instagram.com/stoopkidzpod/ between episodes for more fun stuff from the Kidz! While you’re at it, rate us on Apple or Spotify and leave us a review if you love the show – not only does it help us grow, we read every single one!

All Stoop Kidz show art is created by our own Emily Csuy (https://www.instagram.com/emilycsuy/). Intro music: “Hey Arnold! Theme” by Jim Lang. Intermission music: “Groove Remote” by Jim Lang. Outro music from “Parent’s Day” by Jim Lang.