The third episode of the first season of Hey Arnold!.
Arnold's Hat
When Arnold loses his hat, it ends up in Helga's possession, and she uses it to complete a sculpture she made of him from his used gum.
Stoop Kid
When Arnold finds out that Stoop Kid is afraid to leave his stoop, he feels sorry for him and decides to help him overcome his fear.
"Arnold's Hat" provides examples of:
- An Aesop: It's who you are on the inside that matters, not the outside.
- Baldness Angst: As part of his discussion to cheer up Arnold about his missing hat, Grandpa Phil tells Arnold a story about how he struggled with hiding his hair loss throughout the years. But in the end, he realized that losing his hair was nothing, so long as he was confident in himself.
- Bird-Poop Gag: At one point, Helga narrowly avoids a flock of flying pigeons doing their business on her, only for the last pigeon that flies above her to nail her.
- I Want My Beloved to Be Happy: Helga wanted Arnold's hat so she could complete her shrine, and she was pretty happy when she got it. But after learning how unhappy Arnold is without his hat, she decides having a complete shrine to Arnold isn't as important as the genuine article or his well-being. Throughout the rest of the episode, she tries to get it back at all costs.
- Stalker Shrine: The intensity of Helga's love for Arnold was quickly established by showing that she kept a shrine of Arnold in the back of her closet that was shaped like his head and made out of his used chewing gum. Later shrines shown included one made out of an actual football and garbage, and another that was some sort of hat / mask thing that she put on and danced around in. About the only thing preventing this from being incredibly creepy is the fact that she's nine years old and there's an air of comedy when she tries to kiss its gum-covered exterior.
- Status Quo Is God: Although Arnold learns he doesn't need his hat to be complete, he's still happy when Helga reunites him with his hat.
- True Beauty Is on the Inside: Played with, and explored. It's not that Arnold's lack thereof hat makes him ugly, but it still makes him feel incomplete. When he goes about the neighborhood without his hat, everyone remarks that he looks awful for some reason, seemingly confirming his belief that he can't look his best without his hat. Later, however, after a talk with his grandfather concerning appearances, Arnold comes to realize he had it all wrong. People weren't remarking on his appearance because of his lack of hat, but for his downtrodden, miserable attitude. Once he takes that same walk through the neighborhood with a more confident attitude, everyone notices he looks better for it.
- Your Television Hates You: To take his mind off his missing hat, Arnold turns on the TV, only to see that it's Hat Day at the local ballpark, and everyone in the stadium is wearing one.
"Stoop Kid" provides examples of:
- An Aesop: Don’t be afraid to take chances.
- Berserk Button: Don't ever get on Stoop Kids' stoop.
- Bullying a Dragon: Played With; early in the episode, people bully Stoop Kid, knowing that he's too afraid to leave his stoop to stop them. At the end of the episode, Harold continues to tease Stoop Kid and litter his stoop with a popsicle stick. This proves unwise, as Stoop Kid, now having found the courage to leave his stoop, chases Harold across the neighborhood.
- Chekhov's Gun: Earlier in the episode, Stoop Kid is seen reading The Little Engine That Could with awe. This later becomes Arnold's means to motivate Stoop Kid that he's capable leaving his stoop with a little courage and determination.
- Comically Missing the Point: The episode ends on the note that Stoop Kid celebrates he can leave his stoop. ...so he can chase off and bully kids who dare get close to his stoop. And this is despite the impression that if he achieved the courage to step off his stoop, he'd be able to go places and travel. If anything, it plays for laughs how short-sighted Stoop Kid is after all the build up.
- Exit, Pursued by a Bear: This episode ends with Harold being chased across the neighborhood by Stoop Kid.
- Mundane Made Awesome: One would never expect something as simple as stepping off a stoop to garner an entire city of cheering on-lookers. But given Stoop Kid's legendary inability to leave his stoop, it's nothing to sneeze at.
- Oh, Crap!: Harold's reaction when he learns that Stoop Kid can now leave his stoop.
- The Shut-In: Played with. It's less that Stoop Kid can't go outside and more like he's afraid to step off the stoop.
