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Poll

Do you like the episodes that focus on Pal and Kate, in which they can talk to each other, and other non-anthro animals?

Yes
1 (12.5%)
No
6 (75%)
Don't care
1 (12.5%)

Total Members Voted: 7

Author Topic: Pal and Kate Episodes: Love 'Em or Leave 'Em?  (Read 977 times)

Snowth Woogle

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Pal and Kate Episodes: Love 'Em or Leave 'Em?
« on: September 24, 2012, 11:33:22 am »
This has been an interesting issue that comes up quite often within the Arthur fanbase, so we might as well discuss here as well, and get everyone's opinion on it:

So, how do you feel about those talking Pal and Kate episodes? Personally, I can't stand them myself; I've given them a whirl, but I don't know, I just can't sit through one the whole way through. I mean, it's was an interesting concept to play with, we could pretty much tell that even before then, Pal and Kate liked to play with each other, I'm guessing someone decided to see what it was like from their perspective. Still, I'm just not crazy about the episodes. "The Great Sock Mystery" is just about the only one I can tolerate on some level, if only because I like the Stock Market satire, it reminds you that even older kids and adults can watch this show and be entertained by it.
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Muppetfan

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Re: Pal and Kate Episodes: Love 'Em or Leave 'Em?
« Reply #1 on: September 24, 2012, 11:41:02 am »
Most of them I think are terrible. If well executed, they could have some potential, but they never seem to work properly. The one with the "Dolly Llama" thing (a newer episode, forget what it's called at the moment), was by far the worst. Same with the imaginary friend search, that part of the episode "Fifteen," some of them are just plain terrible.

Others, like "The Great Sock Mystery," are ones that are alright. Same with the parts of it from "It Came From Beyond," and even the original "The Secret Life of Dogs and Babies" I like on some level.

Sergeant Slink

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Re: Pal and Kate Episodes: Love 'Em or Leave 'Em?
« Reply #2 on: September 24, 2012, 12:20:28 pm »
I have yet to actually see one that I can find something redeeming about it. I feel like the writing in those episodes is just bland and not interesting. And maybe this is just me, but the fact Pal sounds like a less whiny Stewie Griffin kinda irritates me  :-\
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Muppetfan

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Re: Pal and Kate Episodes: Love 'Em or Leave 'Em?
« Reply #3 on: September 24, 2012, 12:25:39 pm »
Since I posted my previous post, I came to a realization about something: the thing that redeems those episodes to me is the non-regular characters. Characters like Killer and even Amigo and the dogs at the sock market (Mr. Greenspaniel especially), those are what redeems these episodes to me. I feel like the non-Pal, Kate, Nemo animals have a lot more depth than the regulars.

Sergeant Slink

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Re: Pal and Kate Episodes: Love 'Em or Leave 'Em?
« Reply #4 on: September 24, 2012, 05:08:55 pm »
Really? You actually like Killer? :o I find her to be an obnoxious, whiny...mutt. But I guess Amigo is somewhat interesting. He's at least tolerable.

I feel like these segments are trying in a way to copy the Rugrats formula and they just aren't getting it. You've got your talking babies and going on "adventures." The only difference is the Rugrats was innocent childhood imagination. This is just...bleh...
Buster: "Hey fresh dudes, mind if we chill your crib?"
Slink: "WHAT?!?"
Buster: "Me and my homefry here wanna be in your possum, I mean, posse!"
Toby: "What's he trying to say?"

Muppetfan

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Re: Pal and Kate Episodes: Love 'Em or Leave 'Em?
« Reply #5 on: September 24, 2012, 05:35:17 pm »
I wouldn't say I like Killer, but I don't hate her either. I just mean that she actually adds some depth to the dog/baby world, unlike Pal and Kate and Nemo.

Crossover Dreamer

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Re: Pal and Kate Episodes: Love 'Em or Leave 'Em?
« Reply #6 on: October 30, 2012, 09:59:57 pm »
Actually, Mei Lin's pie chart said that most of the episodes were about kids and grown-ups.

I think that it's interesting that the babies and pets can understand toys and imaginary friends. So what they're saying is that imaginary friends are real, and that Nadine could be a translator if she wanted others to know that she exists?
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Muppetfan

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Re: Pal and Kate Episodes: Love 'Em or Leave 'Em?
« Reply #7 on: October 31, 2012, 04:13:22 pm »
Actually, Mei Lin's pie chart said that most of the episodes were about kids and grown-ups.

I think that it's interesting that the babies and pets can understand toys and imaginary friends. So what they're saying is that imaginary friends are real, and that Nadine could be a translator if she wanted others to know that she exists?

The original poster actually meant that on the pie chart, the most were about kids and grown-ups, then pets, then babies, meaning that there are more pet episodes than baby episodes.

When did toys enter the baby and pet world?

Crossover Dreamer

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Re: Pal and Kate Episodes: Love 'Em or Leave 'Em?
« Reply #8 on: November 01, 2012, 12:22:15 am »
I believe it started with "Desperately Seeking Stanley," and then "Baby Kate and the Imaginary Mystery."
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Muppetfan

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Re: Pal and Kate Episodes: Love 'Em or Leave 'Em?
« Reply #9 on: November 01, 2012, 04:33:58 pm »
I am so dumb. I knew Stanley interacted with them...I guess I just didn't think of him at the time...

But if I'm correct, no toys interacting with babies, pets, or imaginary friends in "Desperately Seeking Stanley"...

raidpirate52

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Re: Pal and Kate Episodes: Love 'Em or Leave 'Em?
« Reply #10 on: November 29, 2012, 07:46:04 am »
I don't like them.

LovingBeagles

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Re: Pal and Kate Episodes: Love 'Em or Leave 'Em?
« Reply #11 on: April 17, 2013, 07:19:54 pm »
They seem rather baby-ish...though it's a fun concept to play with, we get to see Kate outside of being just a baby, and Pal outside of just being a dog- basically a new perspective on some characters that typically don't play a significant role in episodes. For some reason I liked the original "The Secret Life of Dogs and Babies" and am okay with re-watching that...but the others, I sort of feel ambivalent, except for "Fifteen" but only because of the other two subplots involving George and Arthur.
So I guess I'm okay watching them for the first time or so (watching "Baby Steps" right now, an episode I've either never seen in its entirety or just forgot), but they're not typically episodes that I'd probably go back to watching...or watch again if they aired on TV as reruns.

MCCJ

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Re: Pal and Kate Episodes: Love 'Em or Leave 'Em?
« Reply #12 on: April 17, 2013, 08:32:49 pm »
These episodes really didn't contribute much in the series except for a few. Season 16 apparently is focusing on older characters instead of Kate and Pal.

ralfsmouse

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Re: Pal and Kate Episodes: Love 'Em or Leave 'Em?
« Reply #13 on: April 23, 2013, 11:22:19 pm »
They seem rather baby-ish...though it's a fun concept to play with, we get to see Kate outside of being just a baby, and Pal outside of just being a dog- basically a new perspective on some characters that typically don't play a significant role in episodes.

I couldn't quite put my finger on what I exactly didn't like about these episodes, but I think that this might just be it. In Pal and Kate episodes, it feels like the show is transformed into a different type of show, if that makes sense. It feels to me like I am watching Rugrats, not Arthur.

ChrisDilke

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Re: Pal and Kate Episodes: Love 'Em or Leave 'Em?
« Reply #14 on: April 26, 2013, 10:38:55 pm »
I've got to agree with ralfsmouse here, the Pal and Kate episodes do feel much more like Rugrats than Arthur, even if the sole reason is because they share the same concept. And while it's a cute idea, I don't think it works here, and I think the reason why is because Pal and Kate are too intellectual and perfectly spoken. The reason why it worked so well with Rugrats is because when the babies talked and played together, they still acted like babies, even if most of that came down to how often they would purposely mispronounce their words. When Kate talks to Pal, she often feels more like a child prodigy, and in my opinion, that shouldn't be.