Ep 9. Arthur Babysits / Arthur's Cousin Catastrophe

Arthur is a popular animated children's show that focuses on the everyday life of an eight-year-old aardvark named Arthur Read. In season 1 episode 9, titled "Arthur Babysits / Arthur's Cousin Catastrophe", the show follows Arthur as he takes on the responsibilities of babysitting his baby sister, D.W. And later, Arthur is excited to welcome his favorite cousin, Cora, to town, but things take a turn when he realizes she isn't as fun-loving as she used to be.

In the first half of the episode, Arthur agrees to babysit D.W. for the night so his parents can go out to dinner. At first, he's excited about the prospect of being a responsible older sibling, but things quickly get out of hand. D.W. refuses to eat her vegetables, she won't take a bath, and she's terrified of the dark. Arthur tries his best to calm her down and come up with solutions to her various problems, but it's not easy.

Meanwhile, the rest of the family is having a lovely time at the restaurant. They even run into Arthur's teacher, Mr. Ratburn, who's enjoying a night out with his boyfriend. D.W.'s antics are starting to wear on Arthur, and just when he thinks things can't get any worse, the power goes out. D.W. is inconsolable, but Arthur finally manages to get her to sleep by turning on the family's old generator.

The second half of the episode focuses on Arthur's cousin, Cora. Arthur is thrilled to have her coming to visit, as she's always been his favorite cousin. He remembers all the fun things they used to do together, like building sandcastles and making up silly songs. But when Cora arrives, he realizes that she's changed quite a bit since they last saw each other.

Cora is quiet and introverted, and she doesn't seem to have any interest in hanging out with Arthur. She spends most of her time in her room, writing in her journal. Arthur is disappointed that they're not having as much fun as they used to, but he tries to be understanding. He even invites Cora to come play soccer with him and his friends, but she declines.

As the days go by, Cora's mood gets darker and darker. She starts snapping at Arthur and his family, and she becomes increasingly withdrawn. Arthur is worried that he's upset her in some way, but he doesn't know how to make things better.

In the end, Cora opens up to Arthur and tells him why she's been acting so strangely. It turns out that her parents are going through a divorce, and she's been feeling very anxious and sad. She didn't want to burden Arthur with her problems, so she tried to keep them to herself.

Arthur realizes that he's been so focused on having fun with his cousin that he didn't stop to consider what might be going on in her life. He apologizes for not being more understanding, and he vows to be there for her whenever she needs him.

"Arthur Babysits / Arthur's Cousin Catastrophe" is a heartwarming episode that deals with themes of responsibility, empathy, and family. It's a great example of the show's ability to tackle tough topics in a way that's relatable and engaging for young viewers.