r/DanielTigerConspiracy

Linus, the erstwhile voice of reason (think Charlie Brown Christmas where he quotes the Bible and expostulates on the true meaning of Christmas) is somehow completely delusional when it comes to Halloween and the coming of the Great Pumpkin. He seems to have entirely fabricated the legend and lore of the Great Pumpkin. He sacrifices everything a child can sacrifice-candy, fun, Sally’s admiration-to wait in the pumpkin patch on Halloween night. And he’s under the impression that the most sincere pumpkin patch will be the chosen one (sincerity being a proxy for faith?). Then, when the Great Pumpkin turns out to be Snoopy, he refuses to listen to reason and see the error of his ways. Candyless and socially ostracized, he refuses to concede the non existence of the Great Pumpkin and he vows to return the following year.

My extremely low stakes conspiracy theory about Its the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown (1966): some Peanuts writer had intel about MKUltra and used the Halloween special as a vehicle to covertly warn the public about the dangers of mind control, group think, cult behaviors, and late 60s drug culture

This is the only subreddit that understands me.

I remember enjoying the show as a kid, so when episodes were recently recommended to me on YouTube, I was like, "Oh yeah! That adorable little turtle dude! I'll rewatch! What a fun little nostalgic revisit this will be!"

I was wrong. I was so terribly wrong.

Sure, Franklin can count by twos and tie his shoes, and that is darn near the limit of his talents. I don't remember him being so mean and frustrating.

Exhibit A: Franklin goes on a family picnic where HE BRINGS HIS GOLDFISH IN HER BOWL???? He then takes the goldfish down to the river to be like, "Let's look at the water," which, Franklin, I can assure you she has seen water before. Then his little sister trips over the bowl because she is a little newly-ambulatory toddler and the fish gets thrown in the river and he's so rude to his sister about it, for DAYS, despite her feeling truly terrible and apologizing every three seconds! Buddy, if you hadn't had the dumb idea to bring your fish on a picnic AND take her down to the water, this wouldn't have happened. Your sister did your fish a favor. It's only when Franklin's stomach is so in knots from being a jerk to his sister when he finally forgives her.

Exhibit B: Franklin wants to buy a scooter, and to make money to do it, he attempts to sell his PARENTS' stuff for extra cash and NONE of his own stuff except for two broken toys. He seems incredulous and irritated when his family tells him he cannot sell their things to earn money.

Exhibit C: Franklin wants to borrow a boat or something from Beaver's grandma (I honestly muted the episode at this point while I did other stuff because his whining was getting to me.) Anyway, I suppose Beaver's grandma, mind you, an ELDERLY WOMAN, is like "If you can help me spruce up the boat, you can borrow it," and Franklin gets bored and annoyed after like, FIVE SECONDS of scraping old paint off the boat, and he whines when he gets a splinter. He then, after his five minutes of "help," leaves Beaver's elderly grandma to do the rest of the work.

I'm bummed because I remember finding this show so calm and relaxing and charming as a child. As an adult, however, I think my rewatch stops here.

Has anyone had this kind of experience with shows they grew up watching???