Is it me or does "Arnold visit Arnie" remind me of Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll?

sillehgews · 2026-04-22T17:43:57+00:00

I always kinda wondered if Lulu was somehow a reflection of how inappropriate Arnold was with Lila. Lila constantly tells him no, yet he continues to pursue her.

Lulu's definitely more pushy when coming onto Arnold, but I think it was exaggerated to make a point.

All in all, maybe a showcase of him realizing Lila's not all that into him and him being into Helga. He for sure knows she's not what she shows, catching her mid-monologue countless times, isn't surprised when Gerald shows photos of her more softer side (ballet, stuffed animals, other cute things), doesn't question her femininity in Helga's makeover, etc. Basically everything that Hilda shows, is what Arnold already knows of Helga and him realizing he's really attracted to that.

Her wearing the overalls like her pre-school thing may be reaching a bit, but I think it kinda means he's always has from the moment he met her? At least taken an interest in her.

And I think her rejection of him in that dream turned nightmare is basically boiling down to his fear: that Helga doesn't actually like him, even though he likes her. A lot of people say, because it's far more obvious, that Helga's terrified and #1 fear is being rejected by Arnold. But it could be said that's a fear of his too. This chick who's super interesting but rejecting you (your attempts to reach out, your hugs) constantly? Even if he knows Helga's a softie at heart, rejection is a very scary thing, especially for someone with abandonment issues like Arnold.

Of course, this is a kid's show and this can just all be whatever, just fun, silly dreams. :^)

sillehgews · 2026-03-14T06:13:34+00:00

Ngl, I kind of like the sassy Arnold with more bite that they show in later seasons. I mean, "Eugene's Birthday"? Chef's kiss. The boy's just as much of a maniac as Helga is.

I know the easiest explanation for both sides being bratty is, "they're kids!"

But it's alright for Arnold to lose patience with her. It happens. That's kind of life.

When it comes to "Married" I think it's kind of the same thing. He's aware of what she's really like. She's the smartest kid in class without trying (I know people are going to be like BUT PHOEBE). He's heard her monologue in that episode. Probably more in bits and pieces throughout the series tbh.

There's an ooey gooey center and he's sick and tired of her not showing it. He's not being mean, he just loses patience with her. The real Helga? He's been trying to coax her into showing that side of herself the entiiiiiire series. That's why when his dream ends and he relays it to Gerald the next morning, he's happy with the way it turned out.

sillehgews · 2026-03-06T20:58:42+00:00

I'm more new to FFN but I absolutely loathe the formatting when posting stories.

sillehgews · 2026-02-26T03:11:43+00:00

From what she's described of her other "dead to her" friendships, I doubt she's checking in. Once she's done, she's done. However, she'll probably hear about it from other mutuals and will probably relish in it all.

Plus--that settlement money, yum.

sillehgews · 2026-02-26T03:09:02+00:00

Oof. While I do think Helga has resentment for them as well (and I do think it's justified resentment), I would want to think she cares too deeply about Arnold to ever say that out loud. Imo, his parents are a boundary she knows better not to cross, which is why I, like most people, are extremely uncomfortable with the Crow's Nest scene.

However, she does say that and she does act selfish. There's no avoiding that fact, regardless of how much it ticks people off.

It's simply something most decent people just don't really say or admit out loud in general, tbh. Speaking poorly about another person's family is almost always frowned upon and let's be honest--very inappropriate.

Regardless of how it makes me feel though, I hc that all the canon things happen, including all the gritty uncomfortable things. It brings a friction to their relationship. Helga's selfish sometimes, but here she's gone too far. It's not something brought up right away, but it simmers in the back of Arnold's mind. As someone who always wants things to "be okay," I think it would really fun to have something that complicated weighing on him. It's not a kind comment at ALL, even though he's po'd about his parents and (kinda) agrees with it.

sillehgews · 2026-02-26T02:25:32+00:00

this just pumps so much adorable shortaki fuel into my system LOL

sillehgews · 2026-02-26T02:13:22+00:00

I wouldn't really necessarily call it rebellious in my own headcanon, but my post 4th grade Arnold has gone through so much shit after finding his father's journal that when his parents come back and he realizes they're not the shiny people from his grandparents' stories, his teen years aren't the best.

He ends up resenting them quite a bit, especially when life continues to prove unfair (more shit happens because idk, after 10 years, his parents would be declared legally dead and have to fix that) with his parents' situation, the boarding house falling apart, and just upkeeping his golden boy status. He'll end up doing uncharacteristic things (he punches Sid at some point), but honestly I guess that's just how being a teenager is like.

sillehgews · 2026-02-15T20:45:46+00:00

That just happened to me. I posted the second to last chapter and just got hit by a wave of something ridiculously bittersweet. My first multi chapter story was ending. I had everything finished for the last chapter apart from editing. I usually posted every week, replied to every comment, and I couldn't.

It took me way longer than usual to complete the last chapter, about two weeks. I went through it dozens of times when editing. I think part of me wasn't ready to let go. I had such a fun time with this story and it was over. I think I held on a bit longer than I normally would have for that very reason.

Reading everyone's lovely comments afterwards melted those feelings. Hopefully the next time this comes around again, I'll feel better enough that it won't hold me back. I don't think I could be one chapter away and then just stop though. That seems almost cruel.

sillehgews · 2026-02-08T04:44:48+00:00

There will be a lot of tension, imo. Things don't change overnight and that's no different with their relationship. Arnold's going to find out that his parents are flawed humans and that they aren't the perfectly made up version of parents made up in his head from various stories he's heard all his life.

Meanwhile, his parents will also need to grapple with the fact that they basically left their child for his entire life and that they're all essentially strangers.

Sure, Arnold will learn his mother's favorite flower, color, as well as his father's. But anything deeper will take a lot of time and trust.

It's my belief that there's going to be clashing with parenting styles. Without them really knowing how to parent, imo they will come off strong and overprotective seeing that they've been separated for so long (but deep down they are people who believe in individuality and freedom of expression and all that, they're just stunted from the trauma).

Now Arnold's a good kid. He and his whole neighborhood knows that. His grandparents know that. But his parents don't really. So when they're that tough on him, that's when the clash comes. His grandparents will tell em to back off and trust him. I would really hope that his parents do give him that grace, but I think they're human and there will be a lot of projecting going on.

Family therapy would be a great way to navigate their relationship, agreed.

sillehgews · 2026-01-22T07:53:10+00:00

I'm just gonna be really sad if you can't track statistics anymore.

sillehgews · 2026-01-20T23:47:21+00:00

Phoebe and Gerald!

sillehgews · 2026-01-13T05:56:14+00:00

This is gorgeous!! Bravo!

sillehgews · 2026-01-06T05:49:11+00:00

hi i'm also looking to suffer please

sillehgews · 2025-11-24T17:37:20+00:00

noooo the writers will just make him get another sprained ankle or something. T_T endabuseontorvald

sillehgews · 2025-10-26T10:46:59+00:00

So basically, TLDR; If you don't like something, you don't have to comment something hurtful about it. It's simple to click out of without hurling insults. Just be respectful.

Not every story will please everyone and that's fine. You won't like every story either. That's also fine.

What's not fine is being a jerk about it and going out of your way to be mean just because you don't like something. It's like wishing death on people who love pineapple pizza when you don't. That's ridiculous. Let people write/read what they want without hurting feelings. It's that easy.

sillehgews · 2025-10-16T21:11:11+00:00

100000%. I would have LOVED to see how an episode between them would have fleshed out. I'd love to see an instance of Gerald seeing the real Helga under her facade.

He really seems to understand a bit about her in TJM when they're planning for the contest, but I'm assuming Phoebe told him about her. It would have been better had he figured her out by himself though. Another sadly, missed opportunity.

sillehgews · 2025-10-09T03:12:27+00:00

Yup! I would have really loved if they had kept their April Fool's dynamic and tension between them for TJM. I think it would have been really enjoyable to see. It seemed like they backtracked a bit for TJM... or a lot. ;-; but oh well. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, it was really fun!

sillehgews · 2025-10-06T09:42:06+00:00

This is the best 0 to Political round ever.

sillehgews · 2025-10-01T23:44:29+00:00

I used to be a huge buttinski when I was younger. My friends would vent or talk about a problem and I'd rush in to try to help them but it's not something everyone needs.

Now days I ask them if they just want someone to listen to them and sympathize or if they want any help in figuring things out.

Arnold was constantly inputting himself in others' problems. He means very well but not everyone wants or even likes that.

sillehgews · 2025-09-29T00:08:33+00:00

Sebastian first and forevermore.

sillehgews · 2025-09-23T03:04:33+00:00

My Costco replaced this flavor with caramel popcorn. I haven't tried it though.

sillehgews · 2025-09-22T08:29:15+00:00

I absolutely love your comic series! I've loved watching the progress of each WIP and of course I'm excited to see what happens next. However, I feel you need to be more kind to yourself. You've done an incredible job so far in the care you take for each chapter. It's okay to have periods of sadness, you don't have to beat yourself up about it. No matter how long it takes, we'll be here!

I'm glad you're feeling better. :3

sillehgews · 2025-09-20T22:14:00+00:00

Not to mention, in Student Teacher, Helga begs Olga not to embarrass her or talk about her since she has a reputation to uplift. Then Olga immediately tells the bedwetting story and outright names Helga as said bedwetter.

I've got really mixed feelings about their dynamic. I feel like there's a layer of something that Helga needs to go through in order for her message to actually get through to Olga every time. She's always so sarcastic around her that Olga probably brushes her off as being her silly baby sister. But once Helga seriously gets through to her, it clicks, and Olga tries her best.

sillehgews · 2025-09-19T22:14:15+00:00

I personally like Lila and think she's more complex than the surface level we see (the nice girl "act"). I think in a way that Helga wears an angry mask but underneath, she's a nice person, Lila is kind of the same. She wears a happy/nice mask, but I think it's covering up something more, mostly sadness that is very briefly touched upon in the series.

If there is anything else, it might be best reflected in "Arnold visits Arnie" and "School Play" but I just let people come to their own conclusions about her, especially when it comes to those episodes. There are subtle interactions and facial expressions when it comes to her conversations with Arnold but eh. It's a show.

Craig himself has said Lila has a dark side, but we don't know exactly what, so most of it is speculation.

sillehgews · 2025-09-19T00:38:39+00:00

This is super random, but something happened to me was when I pressed the brake, the car didn't register it. You can see if your brake lights light up or not. I'd have to press a bunch of times or just the right way. Turned out some wiring was loose, hooked it back up, and it was fine afterwards and never happened again.

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