Review written by Christian Garcia
On the 4th Day of Christmas, good Cee Gee gave to me: A Football-Headed Christmas!
As I said at the end of my previous review, there was one Nickelodeon Christmas Special that I believe is the best of them all: Hey Arnold’s Christmas!
Background:
Hey Arnold has been one of my favorite Nickelodeon classic shows and the Christmas episode is my favorite Nickelodeon Christmas special ever. It’s a touching story about reuniting a family and teaches a valuable lesson about the greater joy that one can get from giving to others, especially during the holidays. It’s a lesson that has stuck with me since childhood and is a big reason why this Christmas special holds such a dear place in my heart.
In this episode, Arnold’s family does a Secret Santa and he gets Mr. Hyunh. While trying to find out what to get him for Christmas, Arnold learns about Mr. Hyunh’s backstory and how he ended up separated from his daughter because of war. Arnold decides to track down Mr. Hyunh’s daughter and reunite them for Christmas. Meanwhile, Helga struggles to figure out what to get Arnold for Christmas and eventually their stories do come together.
My Thoughts:
I love this special, and it is the one that I make sure to put on every year. It has two of my favorite moments from any Hey Arnold episode.
The first is when Mr. Hyunh tells Arnold about his daughter. Before this episode, we don’t really know that much about Mr. Hyunh and its nice to see the life he had before he came to the Boarding House. It was a great way to give him more character and its always so gut-wrenching to watch him give up his daughter for her to have a better life.
The second moment that is my absolute favorite moment from any episode of Hey Arnold is the ending. I won't give it away for those who have never seen this episode before. It is a moment that makes me tear up EVERY time I see it. The music they play really sets the mood and the moment is one that always gets me, even as an adult who has seen it thousands of times.
I mention before that Helga and Arnold’s stories eventually come together. After receiving the present, she wanted most for Christmas, Helga realizes that to get Arnold what he wants, she must give them up. She eventually does and gives a very heartwarming speech about the importance of giving to others. These moments to me exemplify the spirit of Christmas and the importance of giving to others even at your own expense. It’s a lesson that I have carried with me since childhood and one that I will impart onto my own children someday.
What makes this special stand out to me above others is how simple of a story it is and yet it is very relatable and one that viewers can see themselves in. It may not be a magical adventure to the North Pole or holiday shenanigans under the sea but its one that perfectly captures the experience and spirit of Christmas. Throughout the episode Arnold and Gerald are running around the mall going from store-to-store Christmas shopping, capturing the hectic experience most of us endure during the holidays.
But then it brings us back to the more important part of Christmas, which is bringing joy to others. Arnold doesn’t want Christmas every day or to get on Santa’s nice list, he wants to reunite a family and make the holidays special for a person who is always sad during that time of year. Given that the holidays can be a rough time for people mentally, it’s a very important reminder that the holidays are for bringing joy to those who aren’t okay. I believe it is because of that message that this special still holds up so many years later and why it is my pick for the undisputed best Nickelodeon Christmas special of them all.
Conclusion:
Hey Arnold’s Christmas is my all-time favorite Nickelodeon Christmas special and one that I highly recommend. It captures the spirit of Christmas in so many ways and created a wonderful moment that reminds us all why the holidays are so special. It is a great reminder of the joy and happiness that we can give to one another, and I believe that is the most important lesson to teach any kid about the holidays. If you have yet to see it or have kids that haven’t seen it, please give it a watch, it’s another special gift that you can give to yourself and others.
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