http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Recap/ArthurS25E3ListenUpArthursNewOldVacation
Listen Up!
Muffy tries to help Francine deal with the loss of her Bubbe.
- Call-Back:
- Arthur recalls Bubbe helping him when Grandpa Dave was losing his memory in "Grandpa Dave's Memory Album".
- Muffy mentions she had a pet hamster named Snowball, who was only ever seen in S1's "Poor Muffy". She reveals Snowball had died.
- Comic-Book Time: Arthur says that Spanky from "So Long, Spanky" died a few months ago. This is particularly egregious given the episode aired twenty-five years ago, and this is one of the final episodes of the series.
- It's All About Me: Deconstructed. Muffy is trying to be there for Francine, but never having consoled anybody grieving, she doesn’t know what to do and just does what would make her feel better until George sets her straight.
- Killed Offscreen: Benign example. Bubbe dies offscreen.
- Surprisingly Sudden Death: It’s implied Bubbe’s death was this, as Francine is completely blindsided by it.
- Very Special Episode: The only episode of the series to focus on death and grieving in regards to a loved one. Previous episodes have dealt with the death of a pet.
Arthur's New Old Vacation
Arthur wants to make his traditional family more exciting.
- Book Ends: One of the final episodes of the series that strongly calls back to “Arthur’s Family Vacation”, a Season 1 episode about what was clearly the Reads’ first vacation with Kate.
- Continuity Nod: The episode features a lot of nods to “Arthur’s Family Vacation”.
