Recap / Arthur S4 E5 - "The Blizzard" / "The Rat Who Came to Dinner"

Airdate: October 11, 1999

The Blizzard

Elwood City is hit by a massive blizzard. While Arthur is thrilled by the snow days, Francine is bummed because she has to make up a report on the pioneers that she failed to complete the day the power went out, and the adults find food in short supply with Mr. Crosswire taking most of it from the grocery store. She finds that the local events with power outages and food shortages may help her report. Meanwhile, Mr. Morris commandeers Mr. Ratburn and Principal Haney to help him keep the school pipes from freezing.

• The Apocalypse Brings Out the Best in People: The Read house becomes a haven for most of the neighborhood as the blizzard gets worse, with David making stew from whatever food people could bring. Once the snow stops, they work together to dig out and restore services.
• Big Blackout: The episode revolves around a huge blizzard that gradually shorts out all the electricity in Elwood City, and how the characters deal with it.
• Book Ends: Rattles can be seen trying to pedal his bike through the thick snow at the beginning and end of the episode.
• Epic Fail: Arthur puts it best to Francine: "You couldn't do a one-page report on the pioneers?" She says they're too boring to fill up a whole page.
• Gilligan Cut: When the Read house finally loses power, Jane asks if they should check on the Crosswires. David replies that the Crosswires probably have some way of keeping warm that nobody else can even afford. Cut to the Crosswires running around their mansion, panicking.
• Hero of Another Story: While the kids' families gather. Mr. Morris commandeers Mr. Ratburn and Mr. Haney to help him keep the school pipes from freezing. He says if the pipes do freeze, then school will be closed for a month.
• Hollywood Darkness: When the electricity initially goes out at the Read family's house, even though it's nighttime, everything in the den is still clearly visible, with a bluish hue, despite there not being any other light sources around at the time (such as candles or flashlights).
• Hypocrite Has a Point: Buster usually has the reputation for being the class's Ridiculous Procrastinator who frequently takes the Laborious Laziness route. He also correctly points out to Francine that if she had done her one-page report the first time, then she wouldn't have more work while everyone is playing in the snow.
• Misplaced Wildlife: Played for Laughs. In the teaser, D.W. asks Arthur if he saw a polar bear eating a marshmallow anywhere. Arthur replies that there are no polar bears in this part of the world. Then a penguin rolls by.
• Money Is Not Power: While Mr. Crosswire buys the last of the fresh groceries before David can get anything, he later tells Muffy that money won't fix the power outages.
• Not So Above It All: Principal Haney is able to keep a fairly professional demeanor during school sessions. He then says, "I...hate..school'' while trying to thaw out frozen hot dogs by banging them. Mr. Ratburn can't believe it, and shouts to the sky, "He didn't mean it!"  
• "Not So Different" Remark: Francine uses this as the impetus for her final report. Arthur points out that she and her family walking to the Reads' house during the blizzard made them look a lot like the pioneers on the cover of her research book. She realizes that, like the residents of Elwood City, pioneers often had to work in harsh conditions while traveling. Francine notes that it was even harder back then, but it seems that what helped them was working together as a team towards a common goal, just as her neighbors are doing now.  
• O.O.C. Is Serious Business: Francine is established as studious and hardworking. Arthur is baffled that she couldn't finish a one-page report on the pioneers and colonizers. She handwaves it by saying that they were super boring, and is annoyed that Mr. Ratburn says that he won't give her an F if she does a three-page report while school is closed. She is relieved to not be failing, but is mad at herself.
• Odd Friendship: Genius Brain and Prunella are hanging out as the power is going out all around the town. Lampshaded when Brain can't believe her predictions are coming true.
• Real Life Writes the Plot: The weather events in this episode are extremely similar to the 1998 Ice Storm that crippled Quebec and parts of Ontario, and had just recently happened when this episode was in production. The electrical tower falling over in the freezing rain references when said Ice Storm similarly knocked over such towers.
• Sacred Hospitality: The Reads are the last family to have power before it goes out. For that reason, they decide to host their neighbors and Mr. Read makes a stew out of what people bring. He even makes sure there is enough stew when the Crosswires come, despite the fact that Mr. Crosswire didn't bring anything.
• Screw This, I'm Outta Here: Subverted. When the power in their apartment goes out, Francine decides she can't write her essay without a computer and says she's going to build a snowman. Oliver then gives her a pencil and paper to continue working. When the temperature drops too low in the apartment and she tries to make excuses, he calls the Reads and asks if they can take shelter at their house.
• Stuff Blowing Up: As the storm gets worse, the freezing rain causes a transmission tower to collapse and numerous transformers to fail, resulting in bursts of light across town.
  D.W.: Mommy! Daddy! The town is exploding and it's very pretty!
• Tempting Fate:
  • The weatherman declares that there is a zero percent chance of freezing rain. That's when the freezing rain starts.
  • Francine is thrilled when Principal Haney announces the school power is out, and it's time for a snow day. She says that it saves her from Ratburn finding out she didn't finish her report. Mr. Ratburn then asks everyone to hand in their reports when they leave. Cue a cut to Mr. Ratburn giving her an extension on the provision that she writes two more pages, since he understands Francine is normally more responsible.
• Wham Shot: After all the hardships of the blizzard, the episode ends with D.W. bringing a snowball into the house and wanting to save it.
• Whole Episode Flashback: It's implied that the episode took place sometime before "D.W.'s Snow Mystery" as she wants to save a snowball towards the end of the episode.

The Rat Who Came To Dinner

After his roof collapses, Mr. Ratburn moves into the Reads' house.

• Ambiguous Situation: It's never stated if this episode follows up on "The Blizzard" due to both of them being set around winter (as that sets up to the first season episode), but there was a callback on Ratburn's fondness of cake, which never occurred until a few seasons later.
• Accidental Misnaming: D.W. mispronounces Mr. Ratburn's name throughout the episode, such as "Mr. Ragworms". Justified since she's four years old.
• Delayed Reaction: Jane tells Arthur that they've invited Mr. Ratburn to stay with them, but Arthur doesn't react until after she's left the room because he's watching television.
• Friend to All Children: Out of school, Mr. Ratburn gets along very well with D.W. and Kate.
• Genius Sweet Tooth: In the teaser, Mr. Ratburn tells Arthur to hurry before he and D.W. eat all of the delicious blueberry waffles their dad made. Naturally, David later makes a cake for Mr. Ratburn, and before going to bed, he asks if there will be more cake tomorrow.
• Hidden Depths: Arthur learns a lot more about Mr. Ratburn, including that he enjoys cartoons and magic tricks.
• Karmic Twist Ending: When the kids start making fun of Arthur for Mr. Ratburn living at his home, Mr. Ratburn approaches the cafeteria table. He says that Binky and Francine's families have agreed to take him in temporarily, and he may even stay with the Crosswires or Baxters. This causes everyone to go Mass "Oh, Crap!" and beg Arthur for advice.
• "Not So Different" Remark: Arthur says this under his breath when he learns that Mr. Ratburn watches cartoons. He had mentioned earlier that he likes watching dumb shows to relax from school. It turns out Mr. Ratburn does the same thing!
• One-Joke Fake Show: Arthur is seen watching a show called Dunce Patrol that consists of nothing but the characters saying "duh" over and over.
• Pet the Dog: D.W. overhears Arthur telling his parents about his friends shunning him and making fun of him. She grabs a Tin-Can Telephone and tells Mr. Ratburn to listen to the other end. This allows Mr. Ratburn to find out that he has inadvertently been causing Arthur trouble, and finds a solution.
• Reasonable Authority Figure: Arthur gets a cold shoulder from his friends, thinking Mr. Ratburn intentionally gave him an A because he's having a great time staying at the Read house. Mr. Ratburn assures Arthur that he would never give him or any other student special treatment. What's more, when D.W. alerts Mr. Ratburn about the situation, Arthur begs Mr. Ratburn to flunk him. Mr. Ratburn has a better idea: stay with the other families in his class so the kids have no leverage over Arthur.
• Rhetorical Question Blunder: Arthur has a nightmare that everyone in his family has become Mr. Ratburn in the Cold Open. He wakes up and asks Pal, "What would be worse than dreaming that your teacher is living with you?" Cue Mr. Ratburn coming in pajamas and saying that Arthur will miss the blueberry waffles!
• Running Gag:
  • D.W. mispronouncing Mr. Ratburn's name, including "Mr. Ropeburn," "Mr. Rathead," and "Mr. Ragburp."
  • Arthur tries to impress Mr. Ratburn by putting a lot of science posters and books in his room. When D.W. tries to show the Bionic Bunny posters, Arthur gets rid of her by claiming their dad is making a cake. Naturally, Mr. Ratburn says "Did you say 'cake'?" and leaves, though he's disappointed when he finds there was no cake.
• Spoofy-Doo: Spooky-Poo is an obvious parody of Scooby-Doo, but more in the style of the kid spinoff A Pup Named Scooby-Doo. The theme song for Spooky-Poo sounds like the theme song for The New Scooby-Doo Movies.
• Sweet and Sour Grapes: In following his parents' advice, Arthur doesn't break off his friendship with Mr. Ratburn and goes to school despite his peers taunting him. At first, he's rather unhappy with his situation and can only mutter how he hopes his parents appreciate it. But it's rewarded when he's approached by Mr. Ratburn saying he'll be staying with the other childrens' families. This leads to the kids begging Arthur for advice on how to make Mr. Ratburn's visit managable.
• Teachers Out of School: D.W. asks Mr. Ratburn if the roof to the school collapsed, to which he says it was the roof to his home.
  D.W.: But you're a teacher. The school is your home.
  Mr. Ratburn: Teachers don't live at school, D.W. We have houses, just like you.
  D.W.: The world seemed so simple before this moment.
• Teacher's Pet: Arthur's friends think Mr. Ratburn is giving him special treatment because he's staying at his house, and they start shunning him because of it.
• Tempting Fate: A roofer assures Mr. Ratburn that the roof will hold up until the snow melts. Shortly afterwards, the roof does collapse.