Ep 18. Meet The Carmichaels / The Box

In Rugrats season 2 episode 18, titled "Meet The Carmichaels / The Box," the babies make a new friend in the Carmichael family, who have just moved in next door. However, they soon discover that the Carmichaels have very different habits and customs than their own families. Meanwhile, Tommy, Chuckie, and Phil find a mysterious box in their backyard and try to uncover its secrets.

In the first half of the episode, "Meet The Carmichaels," the Rugrats are fascinated by their new neighbors, the Carmichael family. The babies watch as movers bring in the family's belongings, including a shiny red bicycle that they all take turns riding. When the Carmichael children, twins Susie and Edwin, come outside to play, the Rugrats are eager to meet them. Initially, the babies are overjoyed to discover that the Carmichaels also carry toys and snacks with them everywhere they go, but they soon realize that the Carmichaels have some unusual habits. For example, they always say "please" and "thank you" when asking for things, even if it's something they should just be able to take. The Rugrats also notice that Edwin always does the same karate poses whenever he's excited, and that Susie has a fancy hairstyle that she doesn't let anyone touch.

The differences between the two families start to lead to some misunderstandings, however. When the Rugrats see the Carmichaels making a tower out of their food, they think it's a game and eagerly start stacking their own food. But when they accidentally knock over the Carmichaels' tower, Susie scolds them for being rude. Later, when Tommy sees Susie's new bike and takes it for a ride, he doesn't realize that it's considered impolite to touch someone else's belongings without asking first. The Carmichaels are upset, and the incident leads to a tense moment between the two families. However, when Susie gets upset with her own family for not understanding her interests, the Rugrats come up with a creative solution to help her feel better.

In the second half of the episode, "The Box," the Rugrats discover a mysterious box buried in their backyard. They try to figure out what's inside, but they can't seem to open it. They try everything from jumping on the box to using a jackhammer, but nothing works. They even enlist the help of Stu, who uses his tools to try to pry the box open. Eventually, the babies decide to create a contraption using a rope and a roller skate to pull the box open. When they finally succeed, they're surprised to find that the box is empty. However, they quickly come up with a new game to play with the box, using it as a clubhouse and a spaceship.

Overall, "Meet The Carmichaels / The Box" is a fun and entertaining episode of Rugrats that explores themes of friendship, culture, and imagination. The introduction of the Carmichael family adds an interesting new dynamic to the show, and the babies' attempts to figure out the mysterious box are engaging and amusing. With its humor and heart, this episode is sure to delight both kids and adults alike.