Ep 26. Mikey's Pants / Here Comes Mr. Perfect

Mikey's Pants / Here Comes Mr. Perfect is the 26th episode of the third season of the American animated television series Recess. The show premiered on February 5, 2000, on ABC and was created by Paul Germain and Joe Ansolabehere.

In the first part of the episode, Mikey is embarrassed when his pants rip during a game of dodgeball. Trying to get them fixed, Mikey gets a lot of teasing from other kids for having big pants. The next day in school, Mikey starts to feel sad about his huge pants and starts to feel like he is the target of criticism. The rest of the gang tries to cheer him up by stitching his pants and showing him that it's not the size of his pants that matter, rather it's who he is as a person.

In the second part of the episode, a new student named Mr. White comes to school and everyone is excited to meet him. He is cool, handsome, athletic, and smart and he looks perfect to everyone. Everyone except T.J., who feels that Mr. White is too perfect and must have some kind of flaw. He keeps looking for the flaw, but it seems like Mr. White is just too perfect. But then T.J. finds Mr. White's secret - he has a clown phobia.

The episode is a great example of how to handle tricky social situations with comedy and poignancy. It's not only a chance for the show to deal with the issues of self-esteem and body image, but it's also a chance for the show to jab at the concept of perfection and the idea that no one can be truly perfect in any way.

This episode is one of the few times in the series where Mikey takes center stage. His quirky personality shines through and his vulnerability is on full display. He's always been the "big" kid in the show, but now we see how that makes him feel and how he is affected by it. The gang rallies around him and the show gives a valuable lesson on self-acceptance.

The second part of the episode is a bit lighter in tone, but it is still poignant in its own way. T.J.'s search for Mr. White's flaw becomes more of a quest for self-discovery as he tries to understand why he can't just accept Mr. White's perfection. Ultimately, the show highlights the fact that nobody is perfect and it's okay to have flaws.

Overall, Mikey's Pants / Here Comes Mr. Perfect is a great episode of Recess that provides both comedic moments and valuable life lessons. The show is able to connect with its young audience in a meaningful way while still keeping things light and entertaining. Even though the show aired two decades ago, its themes still resonate strongly today.