Being Vietnamese this hit a little close to home. My parents fled the country in a boat and was lucky enough to be accepted into Canada.

The scene towards the end when Arnold is disappointed just laying on the bed with music playing is so good. Almost no kid or animated shows have scenes like that

This is definitely one of those episodes that you appreciate more as an adult.

The show and this special especially is timeless.

I realized years later how special this whole show is/was. One of the greatest cartoons ever made.

Truly one of the greatest episodes of the show! The writing for TV at that time was on another level. The 90’s TV revolution is something that hard to top. Both Animated and live action is just insane

@tylermccurry403

6 ай бұрын

It's the golden age for a reason.

I miss 90 cartoons. They knew we were kids but never really treated us like kids. They werenr afraid to show us good people dont always have good endings but the way we reqxt and cope is what actually defines us. I was only 6 when i witnessed my first death. Friend of mine got hit with a stray bullet and bled out all over me. Never made it a problem, only an obstacle i had to overcome.

Those flashback scenes are gut wrenching. I loved how real this show could feel.

This is probably one of my favorite Nickelodeon Christmas episodes. I love how it dealt with a real, mature tragedy like this. I like how they don't mention vietnam specifically, but most people know what they're referring too with the obvious imagery. I always thought Mr. Bailey was kind of a jerk, but seeing him being the only one working while everyone else at his job is having a party makes him a bit more sympathetic. This was imo, one of Helga's best episodes, and shows how she can be a genuinely kind & caring person when she really wants to be. It's not just that she gave up her own gift, but the fact it was a gift that was so rare & near impossible for anyone else to get. There was no big triumphant bragging or smugness by her either. It ended perfectly with her just giving a heartfelt smile and "Merry Christmas" outside Arnold's house. I also respect how unlike other christmas specials, especially on a children's network, it's not some sudden handwaving miracle that just happens out of convenience for the story to end on a good note. Sure, you have Gerald & Arnold call it a miracle, but it shows what a miracle really is. People's selfless hard work & sacrifice to bring happiness to someone else who genuinely needs it at this time of year. It's was Helga's sacrifice of her christmas gift & Mr. Bailey's hard work (on christmas eve no less) that allowed that miracle to happen.

I watch this one every year. Watching it in 2020 while everything was still locked down hurt the most

It still gives me chills, tears, and goosebumps. One of my favorite Xmas specials of all time!

Wonderful review of Arnold's Christmas! I love this special a lot too. It was also so sweet that Helga didn't take credit for it because she knew the good deed was enough.

Seeing Mr. Hunyh reunite with his daughter makes me cry every time. It hits even harder now because of losing my mother last year.

@michaelhall736

6 ай бұрын

@@meltedvelveetacheesesauce4540 Why is that funny?

Whenever the woodwind instruments kick in, immediate light goose bumps on the forearms. Such a unique special with a great soundtrack & story. Plus that ending🥺 🙌👐

True Christmas of Nickelodeon shows honor of Vietnam.

😢😢😢😢I’m not gonna lie, but looking back on the episode yeah this one literally still makes me emotional to this day. back when I saw it as a little kid then as an adult, I still get emotional to that. now what I never thought about is Helga not only that she sacrificed her gift she got from her mother for once. Just to find Mr Hyunhs daughter. it’s possible she was out all night after Mr. Bailey actually did discover where she is Helga probably found her address told her everything about where her father is escorting her to the boarding house hiding behind the stairway I mean that would explain how she’s outside the boarding house in the end saying merry Christmas Arnold.😊😊😊

I love arnold's christmas and watch it multiple times every December. I like how it shows miracles do happen, but they don't happen on their own. There is no divine intervention or magic. They could have went with a cop out and brought santa in as a deus ex machina at the ending and have Helga get her boots and Mr. Hyunh his daughter, and when Gerold says "a miracle is a miracle" show santa flying over the city, kinda like how rugrats santa experience ended, but they didn't do that. They showed people sacrificing their time, energy and for Helga, her own gift, literally the shoes off her feet, to do what they knew was the right thing to do for someone they cared about or even for a stranger in the case of Mr.Bailey, and no one cared about getting recognition for it. They just did it.

I can't believe they stop airing it on tv 😭

Why is it I don't even remember this episode yet I'm tearing up when I see the clip of father and daughter reunited

I was 7 years old when this episode came out. It will always hold a special place in my heart. ❤️

I remember watching this christmas special when I was little walter

I after watching this always felt a lil bad for helga and thought this proved she’s a good person. like she doesn’t have the greatest home life, she’s consistently a semi disappointing after thought at best to her parents and the rare time they come thru and get her something she truly wants, she is asked to sacrifice her happiness and joy for someone else’s benefit on behalf of the love of her life. And she does it and as far as we know, never brings it up and is genuinely happy she could make this happen.

I watch this episode every christmas eve and christmas episode because its just so powerful

I watch this every year. It’s so awesome and creates a true holiday atmosphere

The batmay depth without the need to commit to a full month of content. I tip to my hat to you @Walter Culture

@WalterCulture

7 ай бұрын

Thank you

Wow, I'm sorry I missed this special back then. As a kid in the 90's I was fully entrenched with Nickelodeon but I just never did get into Hey Arnold. I would've loved this special back then!

Helga was the real hero😢

My favorite Christmas special ever

I was thinking even if Helga didn't give up her boots could Arnold still try to find Mr. Nguyen's daughter after Christmas? I'm sure he would be glad to be reunited with her even if it wasn't Christmas.

This made me cry so hard

Tremendous

Awesome review

I always wondered if Helga and that guy's daughter even had the same shoe size. Like, maybe the daughter was some kind of land whale with massive hooves too big to fit the boots, so her jerk of a dad still got chewed out by his wife. Which, as I look at the situation now as an adult and someone who hates bureaucracy, would be rather karmic retribution for not bothering to do his job despite Arnold and Gerald's best efforts (which they shouldn't have needed to do in the first place, again: helping the taxpayers find the information they're looking for is his goddam job).

@VintageVinny

3 ай бұрын

Arnold was really trying to help someone. With his good heart, he would have, and did, anything to get Mr. Hyunh and his daughter reunited.

Bro hey Arnold was legendary!!!!! I am actually a rising Hip Hop Star 🌟 ofcourse my music here for yall. Everyone is welcomed. Thanks again KZread family!!!! 💪🏽

@pleaseshutup7053

6 ай бұрын

“Rising star” lol

For years, probably as long as I’ve been watching Doug’s work, his Hey Arnold segment of his Nicktoons video even felt too shallow for the episodes he watched. It doesn’t even touch the emotional depth of episodes like this, which in particular was just the 17th of the entire series, and still within season 1. While I do understand that its home video situation at the time of production wasn’t up to where it should’ve been and eventually went (let alone with streaming) it means he’s really overdue for a revisit. Even outside the storytelling he’s probably going to have a leveler head than the “itching to just get out” vibe the video gave.

@WalterCulture

7 ай бұрын

Sounds like you should be telling Doug that...

When was this? I watched this show I think in 1998?

@WalterCulture

7 ай бұрын

This episode came out in 1996.

@beast9839

7 ай бұрын

@@WalterCulture Thanks bud. My memories are getting a little mixed together. I knew I was in high school, just didn't remember the year :) I don't watch everything but I do enjoy your reviews. BTW, what was that movie you had on hulu? I think I missed it years ago. Keep up the great work!

@WalterCulture

7 ай бұрын

@@beast9839I had a video on Prime for a while called City of Gold. Not sure if it’s still on there.

@phallondavenport470

7 ай бұрын

​@@beast9839It's Paramount Plus and Hulu

@beast9839

6 ай бұрын

@WalterCulture It was pretty good IMO. You did well in your limited role!