History SoYouWantTo / WriteAVerySpecialEpisode

* One of the most notorious examples of this trope of all time was ''WesternAnimation/CartoonAllStarstotheRescue'', a MassiveMultiplayerCrossover featuring the most popular {{Saturday Morning Cartoon}}s of TheEighties... [[CluelessAesop trying to address the subject of]] [[DrugsAreBad drug abuse]]. The marketing for this special [[NeverTrustATrailer never made its intentions clear]], and the children that anticipated it [[TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodPlot were left greatly disappointed when they got a lecture instead of an epic adventure]], but the flaws of the special run much deeper. The characters chosen to address the subject were chosen by their popularity, rather than connection to the subject matter, which leads to characters like [[WesternAnimation/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles1987 Michaelangelo]] and Series/{{ALF}} trying to educate TheProtagonist on the dangers of drug use, disregarding how the former was TheStoner of his group, while the latter's franchise was ''conceived'' by a drug user. The "clean" characters aren't much better, with [[WesternAnimation/AlvinAndTheChipmunks Simon Seville]] and WesternAnimation/BugsBunny delivering [[{{Narm}} unintentionally funny lines]] when trying to discuss the dangers of marijuana, and [[WeirdCrossover the overall mishmash of characters from marginally-related works]] [[SpaceWhaleAesop muddying the delivery of the aesop]] and giving the impression that this special ''is'' [[WhatDoYouMeanItWasntMadeOnDrugs a drug trip]].\\

The special was made in the height of the War On Drugs, and [[SocietyMarchesOn was clearly a product of its time]]: the dangers of [[MarijuanaIsLSD marijuana]] are overstated, as is the role of [[TheAggressiveDrugDealer peer pressure]] in how drug addiction begins. Making matters worse was the misguided belief that early awareness would help its young TargetAudience be vigilant of the dangers of drugs as they became older, except - as [[https://www.livescience.com/33795-effective.html the DARE program demonstrated]] - this would have made them ''more'' likely to experience drugs in their youth, as they became curious about drugs [[TooDumbToFool they wouldn't have even known about otherwise]]. With society having developed a much more sophisticated understanding of drugs, and the disappointment of the special having far outlived its hype, the best it could hope for nowadays is [[SoBadItsGood an unintended laugh]].

* In addition to its typical GreenAesop fare, ''WesternAnimation/CaptainPlanetAndThePlaneteers'' has attempted to address social issues like overpopulation, [[DrugsAreBad drugs]], gang violence, and even [[UsefulNotes/TheTroubles political turmoil]]. The flaws seen in its regular episodes - its [[{{Anvillicious}} bluntness]], [[BlackAndWhiteMorality lack of nuance]]; etc. - were exasperated by [[CluelessAesop the show's lack of experience or relevance]] in the various issues it attempted to address in these episodes. To the team's credit, [[https://www.mnn.com/family/family-activities/videos/captain-planet-ted-turners-agenda they did bring in child psychologists to review episodes like the episodes on drugs and AIDS]], and these tend to fare better critically than the others, but no matter how good their intentions were, there was only so much they could have done with the foundation they've been given.

* One of the most notorious examples of this trope of all time was ''WesternAnimation/CartoonAllStarstotheRescue'', a MassiveMultiplayerCrossover featuring the most popular {{Saturday Morning Cartoon}}s of TheEighties... [[CluelessAesop trying to address the subject of]] [[DrugsAreBad drug abuse]]. The marketing for this special [[NeverTrustATrailer never made its intentions clear]], and the children that anticipated it [[TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodPlot were left greatly disappointed when they got a lecture instead of an epic adventure]], but the flaws of the special run much deeper. The characters chosen to address the subject were chosen by their popularity, rather than connection to the subject matter, which leads to characters like [[WesternAnimation/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles1987 Michaelangelo]] and Series/{{ALF}} trying to educate TheProtagonist on the dangers of drug use, disregarding how the former was TheStoner of his group, while the latter's franchise was ''conceived'' by a drug user. The "clean" characters aren't much better, with [[WesternAnimation/AlvinAndTheChipmunks Simon Seville]] and WesternAnimation/BugsBunny delivering [[{{Narm}} unintentionally funny lines]] when trying to discuss the dangers of marijuana, and [[WeirdCrossover the overall mishmash of characters from marginally-related works]] [[SpaceWhaleAesop muddying the delivery of the aesop]] and giving the impression that this special ''is'' [[WhatDoYouMeanItWasntMadeOnDrugs a drug trip]].//
//

* ''WesternAnimation/CaptainPlanetAndThePlaneteers'' had a few.

* BrokenAesop: Make sure that the lesson you're trying to teach doesn't go against the entire premise of your work, or the methods used to resolve the plot. You can't have HarryPotter decrying the evils of witchcraft, or have an episode of WesternAnimation/BeavisAndButthead that has...[[IdiotPlot well, really any morals whatsoever]].

* You wouldn't think that ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'' would be [[BlackComedy the kind of series]] that would make a Very Special Episode, which is why "[[Recap/FamilyGuyS10E3ScreamsOFSilenceTheStoryOfBrendaQ Screams of Silence: The Story of Brenda Q]]" works every bit as well as you would think: between a haphazard balance between the show's usual zany comedy and the serious tone the episode's trying to go for, an unrealistic depiction of DomesticAbuse, and UnfortunateImplications regarding victims of abuse, it's likely to do more harm than good for people trying to escape abusive relationships. This isn't to say the show isn't suited for heavy subject matter, but it tackles it best with its understated {{satire}}, ''not'' with straight-faced drama.

* You wouldn't think that ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'' would be [[BlackComedy the kind of series]] that would make a Very Special Episode, which is why "[[Recap/FamilyGuyS10E3ScreamsOFSilenceTheStoryOfBrendaQ Screams of Silence: The Story of Brenda Q" works every bit as well as you would think: between a haphazard balance between the show's usual zany comedy and the serious tone the episode's trying to go for, an unrealistic depiction of DomesticAbuse, and UnfortunateImplications regarding victims of abuse, it's likely to do more harm than good for people trying to escape abusive relationships. This isn't to say the show isn't suited for heavy subject matter, but it tackles it best with its understated {{satire}}, ''not'' with straight-faced drama.

* You wouldn't think that ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'' would be [[BlackComedy the kind of series]] that would make a Very Special Episode, which is why Recap/FamilyGuyS10E3ScreamsOFSilenceTheStoryOfBrendaQ works every bit as well as you would think: between a haphazard balance between the show's usual zany comedy and the serious tone the episode's trying to go for, an unrealistic depiction of DomesticAbuse, and UnfortunateImplications regarding victims of abuse, it's likely to do more harm than good for people trying to escape abusive relationships. This isn't to say the show isn't suited for heavy subject matter, but it tackles it best with its understated {{satire}}, ''not'' with straight-faced drama.

* You wouldn't think that ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'' would be [[BlackComedy the kind of series]] that would make a Very Special Episode, which is why "Recap/FamilyGuyS10E3ScreamsOFSilenceTheStoryOfBrendaQ" works every bit as well as you would think: between a haphazard balance between the show's usual zany comedy and the serious tone the episode's trying to go for, an unrealistic depiction of DomesticAbuse, and UnfortunateImplications regarding victims of abuse, it's likely to do more harm than good for people trying to escape abusive relationships. This isn't to say the show isn't suited for heavy subject matter, but it tackles it best with its understated {{satire}}, ''not'' with straight-faced drama.

* CompressedVice: Don't give your character a flaw out of the blue to deliver the relevant lesson. The potential CharacterDerailment that will ensue will only make the episode look more {{Anvilicious}}, and thus erode at the audience's WillingSuspensionOfDisbelief.

* ((Glurge)): A good very special episode delivers its lessons with enough tact that it doesn't deviate too far from the typical tone of the work. Going for a more serious tone than normal [[SomeAnvilsNeedToBeDropped might be able to hammer in the moral more effectively]], but it could easily backfire if the work can't handle such a ToneShift: a BlackComedy isn't going to effectively convey a hot-button issue with a straight face, if it jokes about similar subject manner on a regular basis. Play your very special episode to the work's strengths, lest it comes off as an [[FanonDiscontinuity unwelcome]] BizarroEpisode.

* ''WesternAnimation/BojackHorseman'' has "Braap Braap Pew Pew", an episode tackling an extremely sensitive topic (in this case abortion) that has no shortage of the show's trademark BlackComedy, proving that very special episodes should not resort to total melodrama to prove their point.

''WesternAnimation/{{Gargoyles}}'' had one about guns ("Deadly Force", currently a MissingEpisode), and about reading ("A Lighthouse in the Sea of Time").

''WesternAnimation/CaptainPlanetAndThePlaneteers'' had a few.

* BrokenAesop: Make sure that the lesson you're trying to teach doesn't go against the entire premise of your work, or the methods used to resolve the plot. You can't have HarryPotter decrying the evils of witchcraft, or have an episode of BeavisAndButthead that has...[[IdiotPlot well, really any morals whatsoever]].

Again, the world is your oyster, but make sure that whatever Aesop you pick doesn't get cancelled-out by your premise. Also, make sure that your series can deliver an Aesop that your intended audience can handle reasonably well.

* SpaceWhaleAesop: You can use metaphor, but don't get too crazy. Having your characters get into an accident after driving drunk makes sense. [[Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer Having the beer turn out to be magical and turn those who drink it into cavemen]]... is suspect, but useful. If the beer summons EldritchAbominations that steal everybody's cats until the kids stop drinking, and you've lost all credibility.

Pick an Aesop, any Aesop, and subvert it. SpaceWhaleAesops are really good for this.

* CluelessAesop: Do the research, and make sure you can reasonably fit it into the story. A Saturday morning superhero cartoon isn't going to do well with a moral on Keynesian economics. If the subject matter is particularly [[MediaWatchdogs dark or controversial]], it might be best to try and approach it from a different angle.

* SpaceWhaleAesop: You can use metaphor, but don't get too crazy. Having your characters get into an accident after driving drunk makes sense. [[BuffyTheVampireSlayer Having the beer turn out to be magical and turn those who drink it into cavemen]]... is suspect, but useful. If the beer summons EldritchAbominations that steal everybody's cats until the kids stop drinking, and you've lost all credibility.

* {{Anvilicious}}: You're a storyteller first and a preacher second; PLEASE DON'T FORGET THIS! When the work itself is lost in the repetitiveness,the audience changes the channel/reads something else/whatever at best and is offended at being treated like [[ViewersAreGoldfish being treated like five year olds at worst]],just no. Entertain AND inform.

* {{Anvilicious}}: You're a storyteller first and a preacher second,PLEASE DON'T FORGET THIS! When the work itself is lost in the repetitiveness,the audience changes the channel/reads something else/whatever at best and is offended at being treated like [[ViewersAreGoldfish being treated like five year olds at worst]],just no. Entertain AND inform.

* {{Anvilicious}}: You're a storyteller first and a preacher second,PLEASE DON'T FORGET THIS! When the work itself is lost in the repetitiveness,the audience changes the channel/reads something else/whatever at best and is offended at being treated like [[TheViewersAreGoldfish being treated like five year olds at worst]],just no. Entertain AND inform.

* {{Anvillious}}: You're a storyteller first and a preacher second,PLEASE DON'T FORGET THIS! When the work itself is lost in the repetitiveness,the audience changes the channel/reads something else/whatever at best and is offended at being treated like [[TheViewersAreGoldfish being treated like five year olds at worst]],just no. Entertain AND inform.

Well, obviously there's going to be an {{Aesop}}.

* BrokenAesop
* CluelessAesop
* SpaceWhaleAesop

Pick an Aesop, any Aesop, and subvert it.

It might be tempting to bring in a LongLostUncleAesop but it might be more meaningful if you either introduce them several episodes prior or if you use an already exisisting character (for example if the drunk driving episode is one where TonightSomeoneDies).

''{{WesternAnimation/Gargoyles}}'' had one about guns ("Deadly Force", currently a MissingEpisode), and about reading ("A Lighthouse in the Sea of Time")

CaptainPlanet had a few.

''{{WesternAnimation/Gargoyles}} had one about guns ("Deadly Force", currently a MissingEpisode), and about reading ("A Lighthouse in the Sea of Time")

Again, the world is your oyster, but make sure that whatever Aesop you pick doesn't get cancelled-out by your premise. Also, make sure that your Aesop can handle reasonably well.

It might be tepting to bring in a LongLostUncleAesop but it might be more meaningful if you either introduce them several episodes prior or if you use an already exisisting character (for example if the drunk driving episode is one where TonightSomeoneDies).