Ep 21. Helga's Boyfriend / Crush On Teacher

In Hey Arnold! season 1 episode 21, titled "Helga's Boyfriend/Crush on Teacher," the focus is on Helga's romantic interests.

In the first half of the episode, "Helga's Boyfriend," Helga begins dating a new boy named Arnold who shares the same name as her secret crush. However, the new Arnold is nothing like the boy Helga pines for. Despite this, Helga finds herself completely swooning over him in order to make her crush jealous. The new Arnold is completely oblivious to Helga's true intentions and falls for her throughout their date. Meanwhile, Helga's real crush, who moves at a snail's pace, fails to notice Helga's ploys to gain his attention.

In the second half, "Crush on Teacher," Helga's love interests turn towards a new person - her substitute teacher and Mr. Simmons’ temporary replacement, Mr. Bailey. Mr. Bailey is young and handsome, catching the attention of all the female students, including Helga. Helga becomes infatuated with him, fantasizing about their future together, to the point where she ditches Arnold to follow Mr. Bailey around school. However, Helga's plan to get closer to Mr. Bailey backfires when he becomes interested in her only as a student, leading to a hilarious and awkward scenario.

Overall, this episode delves into the humorous ups and downs of adolescence, as Helga navigates her ever-changing romantic desires.