I have to imagine that part of that stems from her profession as a nurse. She knows the field of medicine quite well, which psychology falls into, and thus understands that it is not always perfect and that’s assuming the practitioner is a professional who actually cares about your well-being to begin with, which thankfully the school psychologist seemingly was despite some clear missteps.
This episode did a great job touching on the tortured artist myth. That in order to write about a subject like trauma or depression, you need to have actually experienced that. It also touches upon the problem of assuming a character is an author insert. Lois hit the nail on the head. Ginger wasn't able to write about a girl with depression because she knows first hand what it's like to have depression. She was able to write that because Ginger is sensitive and willing to understand other's feelings.
Yes but these things should still raise at least a little concern. I made a lot of troubling art and writing, I was not very depressed but I was being SA'd since age 6, and my parents never bothered asking me directly had these things happened ever.
I wish more people understood this. People say to be sociol and have freinds but than tell you not to have empathy or something is mentally wrong with you. People want surface level care not genuine empathy because true empathy means you have a bad mental space. This is why people who have genuine health issues can't get genuine help.
@@RepubsWannaMarryKids Was it by a family member? And when did it stop. I have an autistic child that I believe it has happened to because of her behaviors
this is the only episode I truly remembered cause I was a depressed teen girl at the time and I was shocked by how many people in the show actually tried to step in to help Ginger (ie; teacher, psychologist, mom) because my issues were either ignored or outright denied by the adults in my life.
Honestly, teachers are required by law to report if they notice something is wrong with their students. The fact that your's didn't shows that they illegally failed you. I'm so sorry. I hope you're in a better mindset now. *hug*
It’s such a shame how nick didn’t air the finale, let alone almost the whole final season due to “low ratings or insufficient feedback”. Ginger was a very smart show and I am so happy that its cult following grew so strong.
I never knew they didn't finish the show, I watched all the time as a preteen but it didn't seem like many people I knew enjoyed it as much as me. It's such a shame it was under appreciated.
What?? I clearly remember watching the finale when it aired, she reading her book(diary) in a bookstore to all her friends and family... I saw it in spanish tho, so it was bit after the usa
@@m.v.gonzalez5575I think they released it on direct to video but I remember seeing commercials for it while in Mexico. (Had I known that it was the finale and that they weren't going to air it in the US I would've watched it while I was there 😭)
It has been a while so bare with me. I remember the last new episode that they aired on Nickelodeon was the episode where Dodie revealed just how terrible of a friend she was to Ginger. It took place after the winter special (where Ginger went to an arts academy because of her writing prowess and Darren and her officially became a couple). The episode that took place after that had it where Dodie convinced Macie to team up with Miranda and Sabotage Darren and Ginger's relationship because she was jealous of the two of them spending time together. Courtney ended up being a better friend that Dodie ever was by revealing what was happening. The end of the episode had Dodie leaving a message on Ginger's answering machine saying that she was sorry. After that Nickelodeon removed As Told By Ginger from their lineup, and I think they moved it to Noggin. Since we didn't get that channel I had no idea that there were any episodes after that, and everything just felt incredibly bleak. The weirdest thing was that the new episode of As Told By Ginger aired because it was the one most voted on during a U-Pick Live event, but then I learned that all of those "viewers vote on the next episode aired" was never real. It was all an illusion of choice.
One of my favorite shows as a kid, partly because I didn't feel preached at. It seemed to respect you as a coming-of-age teen that you understood basic "right from wrong" scenarios, but showed things that might just be part of life or things that aren't so black and white. Hello Stranger was a personal favorite since I grew up with divorced parents, and I still tear up at the notion that her dad didn't show, and even though her mom was in the hospital she sent flowers to her daughter as though they came from her dad. And Ginger knew, and sweetly thanked her for it. It's hard for me to dislike a show that has both a ton of heart and a lot of respect for its audience
"Respect for the audience" is exactly what I wanted to say. Many shows that try to have this energy either dumb down a complex grey area topic or they beat us over the head with basic morals like stealing is bad fellow kids.
Honestly I'm willing to bet that Jonah was a former addict, as we're briefly shown his house and some fans said it looked like a stoner's house. Plus it could explain why he's been absent for the majority of Ginger's and Carl's lives, and knowing Lois, there's no way she would want there to be substance abuse in front her kids and most likely cut him out of her life until he would get sober, which he probably has at this point.
As a kid watching this I was with Ginger like "Why does the teacher have to report this?" Now as a teacher I'm like "Yeah the mandated reporter thing can get tricky."
Its crazy how when i first seen these episodes, i didnt fully grasp the "seriousness" of the themes. Now im like "holy crap" I had some great cartoons as a kid...
I wish I was able to see this as a kid since I was seriously depressed and hearing the things said by Ginger and her mom in this episode probably could have helped me so much. I related a lot to the girl in the book and to Ginger as I knew what would’ve and then did happen when people found out how much I was suffering. I was called an attention seeker but also babied as people thought I was seconds away from offing myself and I hated it.
@@s.tiaira9081Craig of the Creek was a great down-to-Earth comedy show, and the last ten-ish years has only been a boon to LGBTQIA+ kids, teens, and adults that enjoy cartoons. But I will concede, that in terms of cartoon dramas, there really hasn’t been anything like As Told By Ginger before or since. If it’s a drama, it’s either entirely an adult oriented comedy, or using science fiction or fantasy to explore serious themes (like how My Dad The Bounty Hunter really dug its nails into how an absentee working parent can negatively affect the mental health of their family and how that such a time intensive job can keep the working parent from emotionally connecting with their own children, I can’t wait for season 2).
@@supotter377yup, my own dad and step mom accused me of lying about being raped, naturally I have never ever mentioned the sex abuse that began as a child that they seemingly ignored, too.
I'm in my 30s and still remember this episode very well. I had the same situation like Ginger, with my mom being called w/the therapist because my middle school writing was "heavy"😂They asked my mom how I would know how to write serious stuff and she said "I'm a substance abuse counselor and I don't sugar coat life for my kid". The teacher and therapist were shook and never said anything to me after that...I was lucky to have a mom like Lois
Middle school…? I got shoved into therapy in elementary school… They asked us what was the saddest thing to happen to us and I wrote about the night our dad told us grandma died. Guess it was too heavy for a 11-12 year old to feel… lol
I would only argue one point with you, the point of the 'girls only' therapy group being exclusive. If the school counselor is good, there's probably a separate group for boys- because a lot of girls wouldn't speak up in front of guys. It's not that "boys don't feel depressed", it's that gender roles still play a big part in psychology. There are adults that only want a psychologist of a certain sex for comfort reasons.
I remember middle school had groups like this for separate genders because it was awkward to talk about feelings surrounding changing bodies, social dynamics changing, or topics that might make someone uncomfortable to speak up about in front of the opposite gender.
Actually Courtney improves as the show moves on, personally she’s my favorite character, in the later seasons she’s definitely a great friend to Ginger…. Even more so then Dootie…. Continue watching, you’ll see
I do remember this episode and I'm pretty sure I felt the same. I knew it had a dark tone, but just like Ginger, in my eyes it was just a poem. If I wanted to write a murder novel it doesn't mean I want to be a murderer.
@@jackpijjin4088true, but so many struggling children go unnoticed due to adults ignoring the « signs », making sure someone is okay never hurts, assuming that they are might cause more harm than good
Yeah I really noticed that after I rewatched as an adult. As a child I could feel she genuinely liked Ginger which actually made me happy bc I was tired of the rich popular Bully trope.
I never liked the art style but would always watch As Told by Ginger. As an aspiring writer myself back then I identified a lot with Ginger. There was a certain melancholy to the show. And this episode in particular really showcases that. I still have the ending song of this episode on my phone. I loved the musical rendition of the poem and still do.
Thank you for your service as a 911 dispatcher, many people forget how hard it is to be a rock when someone is panicking and in need of help. You deeply are needed in life and I'm sorry it's taken so much out of you. Thank you for being you.
Noelle for the first couples seasons, was, in fact a background/filler character. So it’s sort of an inside joke on the show runners and production to make what is essentially a NPC a supporting character. And how perfect that the episode was centered around someone who wants to disappear.
I took the flyer on the locker as being from a student trying to "help," or even Miranda picking on her again. The therapist didn't seem the type to be passive aggressive like that. As a kid I never picked up on the message behind the Noelle story and how it compares to Ginger's story. With an episode themed on mental health and implications of suicide, Carl's story teaches that even if you think someone won't be missed, there is always something special about them and someone who will be devastated by their absence.
Man, "As Told By Ginger", Hey Arnold", and "Daria" really made me feel seen as a kid. I related to this episode so much back then, too. I had something similar happen with a fictional story I wrote for a school assignment. My school didn't have a psychologist so the counselor wrote a referral to one off campus and I had to miss a basketball game that I was really looking forward to, to see them. Everyone telling me that I was depressed eventually ended up making me think that I actually was.
We had to write slam poetry in French class once and halfway through I changed my topic cause I was scared thry would get concerned and call my parents😅
Can we applaud Ginger's teachers too? They cared enough for their student that they just wanted to check in with her, make sure she's doing okay. Teen years are delicate. Good on those teachers.
Courtney actually likes Ginger very much and I feel like she's reflecting Ginger's situation in this episode. It may not look like it and she may say it's for the attention, but I feel like she has Ginger as her role model. Courney has obviously family issues, not enough emotional support and attention from her parents but Ginger does have super healthy relationship with her mom and that makes her mature, healthy and empathetic person. Ginger is the best person Courtney could have relationship with.
This episode made me think of being a horror fan and the way some people can think people who like or make horror fans are sick or disturbed in some way. The musical rendition of the poem in the end credits of this episode is damn awesome.
@@dangernoodledee111 Honestly if they're so sweet, why is it they create or indulge in enjoying some of the most macabre and horrifying forms of media? Where does their sweetness factor into all that?
@EmptyMan000 I think it's less that their "sweetness" directly factors into enjoyment of horror, and more that they are... regular people. With as varied degrees of sweetness as any other group of people. Why do they indulge in macabre forms of media? Well, why does anyone enjoy any media? It's entertaining.
Courtney was actually a very kind person and friend but Miranda here in this episode was actually showing some morals and conscience by acknowledging she would have gone a lil easier on her if she'd known Ginger was clinically depressed (even thoguh she actually wasnt)
When I first saw this episode I was head over heels in love with it but at the same time I kept getting upset at everyone, mostly Ginger’s teacher and her friends cause…honestly I hate it when people assume things about me and try to tell me somethings wrong when I know for a fact there’s not. Writers and Artist do delve into dark themes but not because their sad or depressed, thats not always the case, sometimes its to challenge themselves or explore other forms of art. I still have to hand it to Lois she handled this so well and the fact she tells Ginger that she doesn’t have to see the school psychiatrist just puts a huge cherry on top. Ginger is a Empathetic person, she knows emotions an knows how to convey them…
The irony is that they seem like the kind of people who would actually try to help a depressed individual, unlike the real world that flat out ignores or denies that you have it.
I feel like you kinda missed the point of Courtney's constant need for attention being part of the whole point of Ginger being a well adjusted person, and Courtney who looks well adjusted being the person who had an issue in actuality. Could just be me here, but Ginger is expressing the ability to use sympathy, where as Courtney not only doesn't have it, but displays the underlying issue.
I wish Klasky csupo came back. I miss their cartoons and animation style. As told by ginger was the pinnacle of early 2000s teen animated shows. A true gem on nickelodeon.
Courtney was and probably is my favorite character in this show. Not even sorry I really felt uncomfortable with Macy especially in the sweet sixteen episode, that gave me chills
this show got me through my depression when I was in middle school because I was getting bullied and I had no friends. It brought me such a comfort that I had never experienced before in a show. I’m forever thankful for this show for getting me through hard times even if at the time I didn’t quite understand my emotions or feelings. I wish they had more shows like this for kids now ❤
This episode hits hard because I wrote a song that I then showed to my teacher expressing I was suicidal. I was 12 at the time, I then went on to start self harming after the song was taken away, I also then went on to attempt suicide twice. Luckily it was because of that that I finally got therapy and diagnosed with autism after 10 years of my mum fighting for it, I got sent to a special education school, made some of the best friends I've ever had, got my first romantic relationship and am now training to be a therapist. I can't believe how far I've come in 10 years!
I was just forced into group therapy with an abusive therapist, groomed by an older boy, sexually assaulted, then when I stopped group therapy I went through over five therapists and couldn’t be medicated because A. I’m treatment resistant and B. I kept getting scolded about not taking my meds which I stopped because I had severe anxiety with was going to probably kill myself on but they thought I was being lazy, then altogether I left therapy am waiting for an official autism diagnosis which will probably take years even tho my primary doctors say I was misdiagnosed, and I am surprised I wasn’t put on suicide watch. I think the only “medication” that worked for me is CBD and I wouldn’t be opposed to weed either but there aren’t many certified doctors in my area
I was flat out fantasizing about strangling Miranda for how she treated Ginger especially in this scene. That was beyond disgusting and without a doubt the worst thing Miranda has ever done/ said. Some fans think Dodie was worse than Miranda and- don't get me wrong there are definitely instances where she doesn't fall too far behind but Miranda was a total demon in this scene.
Imo the therapist calling out Courtney wasn't just good bc she needed calling out, it was acknowledging that this behavior in itself IS a problem that deserves therapy. It's not just her being annoying, but a sign of a deeper problem and lack of self worth that needs to be addressed
I remember this episode scaring me so much! Maybe it’s because I find old looking dolls creepy? But seeing that woman being dragged along by puppet strings and then she disappears, I thought she was someone out there that could get me 😭 but now as an adult I really appreciate what this episode is and it’s message.
*This* is the episode that made me want to write. I loved it. Damn the tortured artist myth - also, Courtney does have issues, just not depression specifically. Trust me, as someone with it and a bunch of other issues, I applaud this episode both for tackling the aforementioned myth and having people who are genuinely willing to help with depression around Ginger.
I would say Courtney is a narcissist, but she actually has empathy, unlike Miranda, Dodie, or Mipsy. I think Courtney is just mainly spoiled and her parents never spent time with her.
Man, I grew up watching As Told By Ginger. I was the targeted demograph for it, especially since I was entering middle school. I didn't understand depression until I was older. Looking back at this cartoon and a lot of Klasky Csupo cartoons, really touched a lot of serious topics that you don't really see being touched upon in kid shows. As Told By Ginger is a great cartoon, but it's certainly one of those 'you have to have been there or experienced that' to really feel it
I was the target demographic too, but I didn't want to see it because I was more into dumb cartoon slapstick. Now, as an adult, I know it's a great show but there is very little about Ginger or anyone else in the show I can see in myself at that age. I'm on the spectrum and I can relate to the medical emergency episode, I just wasn't social at all until near the end of high school. If someone was upset about a dark poem or story I wrote, I would mock them and write more of that stuff. Fashion and the perspectives of others never factored into my plans for myself. It leaves me wondering what I would have turned out to be if I had simply given Ginger a chance. Would I have seen her as a role model, or been able to empathize with her? I could do that to Homestar Runner, a creature with no arms, so why not a realistically written human girl?
I can’t believe I missed out on this show growing up…and I was born in 99. I still get a giant sense of nostalgia watching clips of this. Because it really does give off another time feel.
Back to the point about courtney, I'd like to make rhe argument that narccistic traits are common within kids/teenagers and they're going through puberty so her storyline seems semi realistic. Children say and act a certain way for attention all the time. I know that it was stated you hadnt seen the show in a long time, I promise courtney does become more likeable as the series goes on
911 Operator must be really rough, I can't imagine anyone could do that job and keep their humanity completely in tact. Just remember youre there because you want to help and you always do the best you can and thats all anyone could ever really expect of you. As long as youre being an asset rather than a hinderance, youre one of many unsung heroes and thats something to really be proud of. Head up man, youre doing great.
@@commenteroftruth9790 In my personal opinion, once you've watched enough episodes, you'll be able to get a general idea of what type of series it is and decide if you personally want to see it through to the end.
As Told By Ginger was always a show I could really relate to, especially as a young writer, who encountered people who would take a "dark" poem or story I wrote as some confession as inner trauma or conflict.
Never heard of this show, never watched this episode. I guess it wasn't part of my generation, but this story is very interesting and relatable. I like to write sweet/sour stories. Cute stuff and dark stuff. I enjoy making people say "awww" but also make them feel close to tears. I have been asked about my mental health due to this when I first started writing. It does make you feel strange. Because when you first write those stories, you don't really think about you, since you are writing a story about a fictional character, not you. The impression I get with this episode is that it's okay to bring up the topic of mental health if you are concern for a friend's mental state, but at the same time, you shouldn't assume someone's mental health based on the art/writing they create. Especially because some people use art/writing as an outlet for their emotions and it can be discouraging when people ignore the work and start questioning the author. It can make authors/artists feel like they did something wrong, when the reality is, creating art and writing is a great and healthy way to express emotions without physically expressing them. In a weird way, writing dark topics can make the author feel better and happier. It can mean the author is more comfortable with expressing darker themes instead of completely suppressing them. Either way, writing/creating dark stories is hard to get into when you've never done it before. Because it can lead to those uncomfortable questions. But at the same time, it's because those people care about you.
I strongly believe As Told By Ginger is one of the reasons why I love to hear and write poetry. This was one of my favorite shows from classic Nickelodeon. ❤
This episode helped me realise that at least a little bit of yourself comes out in your writing. I write stories with my partner and the latest one has a lot of my childhood in our protagonists. One of them even has a crisis over his lack of attraction, much like I had in highschool. As Told By Ginger was such an important show to me as a kid.
Man, I feel bad for you and all 911 dispatchers. You guys deserve much needed respect and a 3 week vacation. As for anyone's mental health, take care of it. Remember that you are a human, not a machine.
This happened to me when I was 9yo. It was the late 90s and I posted a sad poem on an online contest after watching an episode of Arthur about poetry. I got so many concerned comments that I ended up renaming it “not a call for help”. I was depressed, not in a dangerous way, and poetry was a outlet
Loved the video😊 I do have to point out one thing though. The rap group being exclusively for girls has it’s place. For example, you mentioned how Carl considered Noelle a non-entity. It’s awful, but it was only truly through falling in love with her that she gained value in his eyes. This is a sentiment that can be really prevalent and is really common in male spaces (young and old). Also, being raised as a girl/fem can often mean being raised to make space for and centre boys/masc individuals even to your own detriment. Having a place to figure out your humanity without the presence of a type of individual that routinely dehumanises you and that you are continuously conditioned to yield your agency to is important. That way, you don’t have to divide your effort between introspection and battling internalised societal expectations. An example is having youth groups where kids can talk about things without having to worry about their parents input/viewpoint. It’s also important to note that just because we didn’t see that there was a group in the show exclusively for boys and mascs, doesn’t mean there wasn’t one. You’re comment about it’s existence asserting that it is ONLY a fem issue has merit, but also presents a false dichotomy in the reaction. The presence of one does not negate the presence or need for another. Now make no mistake. I believe all people of all genders deserve a space like this and that there is great value in having both mixed and separate types of spaces. I just wanted to shed light on this angle.😊
i don't know if i've ever seen a children's show tackle the issue of psychiatric abuse via gaslighting. something that is VERY prevalent in today's culture, and something children are particularly vulnerable to. a very important episode.
Glad to see your channel grown as much as it has lately and honestly, super cool of you to not only talk about mental health but being brave enough to talk about your own, keep on making awesome videos Shawn!
To me it seems like courtney is actually troubled as well. If the most important thing to her is attention and its really that vital, its a sign that shes going thru something.
It is so brave, and beautiful, and refreshing for you to be so vulnerable and honest about your own mental health struggles, and the catharsis you experience diving so thoughtfully into these beloved childhood shows. You set a wonderful example of compassionate discourse within and about media, and I hope you realize how impactful it is. And I hope you receive all the support you need to thrive in your own life!
I honestly got so much comfort and assurance from this episode. I’ve also been in this scenario, I make a piece of art that is challenging or different, next thing I know I’m talking to the “feelings lady” who’s asking invasive questions about my home life. I had never seen a cartoon that talked about the struggle of actually being creative and sensitive until Ginger. I still love this show to this day 💜
I remember this being very profound for me. My mom watched it with me and she seemed to understand it more than I did and she was impacted by it. We ended up having a talk after about whether or not I had ever felt like that. It was the first time I ever talked about my more negative feelings after hitting my teens. We have a great relationship to this day.
I honestly can relate to this episode because I lost my grandfather when I was 10 years old. I began to write poems and stories that allowed me to express my feelings and it helped me get through that tough time in my life. Though I don’t write anymore, always have an outlet for yourself to express your thoughts and feelings whether it’s talking to someone or writing because it will eat you up inside. I’m still going through a tough time now with the loss of my grandmother, aunt and cousin within the past two years.
This episode is very close to me as I had a similar thing happen to me in middle school. My teacher wanted me to go talk to a counselor about seeking help after she read my writing prompt. But I felt that I didn't need therapy. And yet, people tried to push me against my wishes. It felt like they never wanted to listen to my feelings, only interested in my diagnostic. Like what I want didn't matter. It also didn't help that I came from a home where if I did try to get help, I was shamed for it or could get in trouble. People, of course, started to treat me differently. Which isolated me a lot. Especially when the adults in the situation put out my business to the class even though I wanted it to be private. Since I also had bullies in that same class and didn't want them to know about my private life. But thanks to this episode I watched as a kid, I knew if I stayed true to myself and pushed my desire on how I wanted my mental help to be dealt with, I would be okay. And I did eventually gain power over myself again. I'm so sorry that you're dealing with your issues right now. I wish you the best. And sometimes, even though it's good to seek help, pushing people will only make things worse for them. They want people to listen, not judge or babysit their emotions. It's up to them to decide how they want to seek treatment and how they truly feel. And I think this episode portrayed that well.
It seems very possible that the boys at the school just have their own counseler's discussion group. I don't perceive it just as "Boys not allowed to discuss their mental health." I was in a bit of a rut after my parents' divorce and I wasn't lacking for a facility to turn to in school.
I do remember this episode, though younger-me only recalled the parts of Ginger reciting the poem, and her friends/others treating her different because they thought she was "upset". Growing up to see how the episode actually was, well feels eye-opening! I really do resonate with Ginger, and her arc was really good here. I think the whole episode is handled pretty well Had completed forgot about Carl & Hoodie though.. they're B-plot was.. interesting. Just like them lol! What Carl eventually came to by the end was quite sweet, I'm glad they did that with him. And Noelle is an interesting character 🤔 Courtney and Miranda really hurt in this, as little as they showed up, like that's ridiculous! But guess that's good for their character types huh? Another on the list of savage, sad moments of a true bully(or emotional immature teen). :(
I have not bawled during a TH-cam video like this in AWHILE. I completely forgot this show existed and remembering now how much it meant to me as a little girl, this episode specifically... I feel it in my guts. Thank you for reminding me of this wonderful show and lesson I learned when I was 11 that I so desperately needed to be reminded of decades later.
I was a big "As Told by Ginger" fan growing up and this episode freaked me out as a kid although I couldn't quite put my finger on why. Like you, I was too young at the time to catch the theme of struggling with mental health, but I was still deeply troubled at the idea of Ginger's poem protagonist wanting to "just disappear". I thought it meant she wanted to run away, vanishing without a trace so her family and friends would never see her again or be able to find her. Now that I'm older, and am a writer myself, I'm able to appreciate even more the depth and layers of this episode. Not only does it touch on mental health issues, but also something us artists face all the time: Putting pieces of ourselves, consciously or unconsciously, into our characters and how that affects our work and how we and others perceive it.
I am so excited for this video, I never expected you to cover Ginger any time soon! I don't remember the content of most episodes but I remember watching this and getting so excited when it'd be on. I will never forget the opening song though, and i got chills hearing it again!❤❤ Edit: holy crap I actually remember this episode, it was an eye opener for little writing me
As a fellow 911 dispatcher, I totally feel you. I’ve been struggling a lot lately with the mental health aspects of the job. I loved this show when it was on and I love your content. I needed to hear all of this.
Even to this day, I may not be a huge fan of the show BUT I always knew there was more to it than I comprehended as a kid Now as an adult, while still not 100% grown on me, i deeply appreciate the fact this show exists to begin with. Few if any other shows do what this one does well more than not. And for that I'm glad for it being one so many watched ♡ Also, Mrs Foutley 1000% is a fantastic mother. Bless her heart to no end
So you mentioning having mixed feelings on this show as a kid really sent me back to when I was a kid seeing this show for the first time. its hard for me now to remember this because I was 5 years old when this show first aired, but I solidly remember hating this show for a long time when I was young. Like I would always switch over to cartoon network or Disney when this show came on, I just did not get it at that age. But the towards the end of its run, probably the final season when i was around 10 or 11 i finally gave the show another watch and absolutely loved it. It was great. So like now whenever I look back I just remember the strong love I got for the show watching re-runs of it as it was ending, but the more I think back to it the more I remember being sad that Ginger was on instead of something better like Rugrats or Spongebob, But like the older I get and the more I look back at the show, the more it just wipes those younger prejudices away and makes me really appreciate everything this show did. When I was finally able to understand what the show was talking about it was there for me at the age I needed it to be there for me and I absolutely loved it!
I really enjoyed this show in my youth. The theme song is a banger, the characters are all so unique and fleshed out, and the stories really felt relatable
Thanks for the hard work you do, both on and off TH-cam. I'm studying to be a therapist now, and plan on working with children and teens. I worked in a juvenile detention facility for a while and let me tell you, you were SPOT ON about guys being raised to be closed off and hiding their emotions. These poor boys were so hurt inside, but the culture they grew up in is one of "showing emotions = weakness." I'm sorry that your job is so painful, and I hope therapy really, really helps for you. I'm glad this channel is an outlet for you.
I always loved Ginger. I was to young to really grasp the meaning of the episodes at the time but the art style and music and good writing always just disarmed me and made me feel good. As a writer this show is hitting hard today. My book isn't even finished yet and people already love it. I love writing. Sometimes a poem can say everything you can't say and then its outside of you now and the best thing is when other people see it and understand the meaning 😊
I'm sorry to hear that you've been going through it, man. You're not alone and these videos you produce are so important to me and 100k others. keep whooping wholesale ass. next stop 1M subs
I was so ready for you to say that Ginger was writing about some repressed memory, like when her father left or if he died (I haven't seen the show in years) but to find out that no, nothing bad happened to her, she didn't experience anything horrible at a young age to make her write the poem... she's just a really good writer, gotta say that's a breath of fresh air. Especially when she kept saying to everyone she wasn't depressed, but they insisted she was after reading the poem, goes to show people sometimes just get it wrong when they think they've interpreted a piece of art or media. "Oh the author meant this", or "Oh this is really about the author's life". A lot of the time, that's just wrong. It has nothing to do with the author outside of they created it. No personal trauma or feelings injected into it.
This is unironically one of my favorite nicktoons! Dunno if you know about them already but the youtube channel "Old School Lane" has done a Ginger podcast going through every single episode, they have sometimes members of the production team as guests and even voice actors, i highly recommend it if you are doing a deep dive of the show!
I'm going to disagree with the "girls only" being a problem in terms of therapy sessions. I suspect that "girls only" in this instance is for this particular group and there may be other therapy sessions that include boys as well. I'm not sure if you're aware, but there's actually a lot of group therapy sessions that are strictly women only. This is because a lot of women who go through therapy do tend to deal with abusive men, be it physically, mentally. You almost realized this very point, because you mentioned toxic masculinity being an issue because of being excluded, but the reason why men are excluded from female only therapy sessions is specifically because of toxic masculinity to begin with. I just wanted to point that out, as while from the outside looking in, it seems unreasonable, but I can assure you there is a legitimate reason for that. Many girls/women just will not open up if there are boys/men in group. That's not to say boys/men do not need therapy or that they do not have their own issues themselves, but understand that this is not an uncommon situation.
Loved this show growing up, now planning to go rewatch it. Great video! Thanks for sharing about the importance of mental wellness for being vulnerable and sharing your own experience. Wishing you well in your journey!
It's kind of odd that I vaguely remember watching this episode despite the fact that until this video I was pretty sure I didn't even remember this show but now I can vividly remember waking up at night and going to Nickelodeon just to find this running. This definitely completely went over my head as a kid (although i think if I asked little kid me, he'd probably say he hated Courtney and Miranda too and i'd agree lol) but it's amazing to me that an episode like this could even be tackled with such nuance and profound understanding of the subject when the target audience was likely not going to 'get' it. Really, it makes me grateful that I grew up with shows like this as a kid since while I may not have got it at the time, it feels like one of those things you're meant to reflect on when your older and gain new appreciation for.
I loved this show so, SO much as a kid. I think it’s a big part of what kept me interested in cartoons as I grew up, honestly - just knowing that a serious show like this existed and could exist again made me want to dive deeper into animation as an art form. I still think about the poem randomly sometimes & it still really touches my heart.
as told by ginger used to be one of my fav nick cartoons back then. i never realized how this episode went over my head. one of the craziest episodes i can remember was the carl and maud one, i still think about it every now and then til this day.
Not gonna lie, watching this reminds me why I love Psychonauts as a franchise: A series aesthetically reminiscent of Klasky Csupo that, as the name suggests, deals in the realm of psychology. Gaming University has a very good video series delving into the psychology of Psychonauts’ level design which I highly recommend.
I remember that this especially why I loved this series. I was a young teenage at the time (about Ginger's age) and I often wrote poetry too so I could relate a lot to Ginger and the show. Also her mom is wonderful and reminds me a lot of my own mother.
As a artist/writher who makes story’s and art about those subjects, I’ve had people look at me different when I explain or show my art. I’ve had people comment if I’m struggling and sometimes I am sometimes I’m not. Whenever I’m fine people will still think I’m emo or trying to act depressed when I’m not. That’s why I don’t really share my art or story’s with others. This episode is really accurate to how it feels to just wanna make a thing that’s sad without being sad.
This poem and episode is definitely the first thing I think of when I think of this show. The second thing is the mom saying she doesn’t mind her kid rolling around in the mud because it makes it hard for lice to move around in their hair or something.
I love this show (I watched it religiously on Nick as a pre-teen). Definitely one of my forever/ cozy re-watch shows. This episode specifically - As a kid, I thought it was talking about running away or mysteriously disappearing, and most of the seriousness went over my head. Now when I re-watch this episode it's kind of ground breaking that Nick let them bring such a serious & real topic up! One of the reasons I loved As Told by Ginger was the fact that they had topics that were actually relevant to kids in Middle School. I lived in a similar (poverty/broken) household and Ginger was my icon about how to act/talk about not being able to afford things when my peers asked without being embarrassed. Now, I'm the same age as Ginger in the last episode (When you see her all grown up!) and it's crazy that a little "Me" started watching this show, but now it's come full circle!!
I absolutely loved this show as a kid / preteen growing up as a 90s kid I was mature for my age and I loved the show in the way that it progressed and had a storyline which was unique for the time and they wore different clothes every time which very little cartoons did at the time .. I really don’t understand why as told by ginger is so underrated
"Talk to me; I'm listening" I had a moment like that myself in high school. It was the end of my senior year. I didn't get a yearbook. I was in the gym with the rest of the entire class of 08, getting our mass picture taken in the bleachers. When it was over, everyone fanned out of the gym to get their yearbooks. I decided to stay behind, though. I was alone. I just decided to pull up a chair in the middle of the gym and got out my notebook. I immediately remembered this episode and just started writing. What came out was a time capsule of the moment. I just wrote whatever came to mind until I filled the page. It wasn't anything negative, either. Looking back, I should be relating to this episode a lot harder. This takes place in middle school, yes, but I didn't start going through things like Ginger did in this episode until my freshman year of high school when I was forced into therapy due to an undisclosed incident.
As Told By Ginger had a huge impact on me growing up. I'm a writer, my mom's a nurse. This episode in particular struck a chord because writing is what helped me discover, and ultimately deal with things I had buried.
Seeing this review makes me want to rewatch As Told by Ginger, I remember watching this as a kid but I never understood why people treated Ginger weirdly at first over the poem. Like Ginger, I just thought it was fiction too! But coming back to this... WOW! I was way too young and innocent for this show back when it aired! I need to give this show another chance now that I'm older!
Honestly Lois Foutley is THE BEST mother I've seen on TV, animated and live action. So much love, respect, and understanding for her children.
Gotta agree with you there. I think the television mom who came the closest within the past 5 years is Chilli Heeler from Bluey.
I have to imagine that part of that stems from her profession as a nurse.
She knows the field of medicine quite well, which psychology falls into, and thus understands that it is not always perfect and that’s assuming the practitioner is a professional who actually cares about your well-being to begin with, which thankfully the school psychologist seemingly was despite some clear missteps.
You can't not be impressed at how she did the mother thing so well while simultaneously being the furthest thing from a Mary Sue you can imagine.
credibility at its finest! Lois Foutley is the BOSS at Parenting.
She is but I’d also like put Nicole from Craig of the Creek in the running
This episode did a great job touching on the tortured artist myth. That in order to write about a subject like trauma or depression, you need to have actually experienced that. It also touches upon the problem of assuming a character is an author insert. Lois hit the nail on the head. Ginger wasn't able to write about a girl with depression because she knows first hand what it's like to have depression. She was able to write that because Ginger is sensitive and willing to understand other's feelings.
Well said!
Yes but these things should still raise at least a little concern. I made a lot of troubling art and writing, I was not very depressed but I was being SA'd since age 6, and my parents never bothered asking me directly had these things happened ever.
What do you consider sensitive
I wish more people understood this. People say to be sociol and have freinds but than tell you not to have empathy or something is mentally wrong with you. People want surface level care not genuine empathy because true empathy means you have a bad mental space. This is why people who have genuine health issues can't get genuine help.
@@RepubsWannaMarryKids Was it by a family member? And when did it stop. I have an autistic child that I believe it has happened to because of her behaviors
Growing up with a chaotic and broken family, watching Ginger was comforting.
It’s a combo of this and P!NK playing off my laptop
Shut the hell up
Twinnnnn
@@0123456789pi you’re black
It really was
this is the only episode I truly remembered cause I was a depressed teen girl at the time and I was shocked by how many people in the show actually tried to step in to help Ginger (ie; teacher, psychologist, mom) because my issues were either ignored or outright denied by the adults in my life.
Agreed. No one tried to help me. Luckily I’m okay now.
I wish I’d seen it as a kid, I’d maybe have realized how abnormal it was that no one cared
Honestly, teachers are required by law to report if they notice something is wrong with their students. The fact that your's didn't shows that they illegally failed you. I'm so sorry. I hope you're in a better mindset now. *hug*
i feel like you missed the entire point of the episode
@@entitledindustries9135 I was talking about @TriXJester and the troubles they faced, not the episode.
It’s such a shame how nick didn’t air the finale, let alone almost the whole final season due to “low ratings or insufficient feedback”.
Ginger was a very smart show and I am so happy that its cult following grew so strong.
I never knew they didn't finish the show, I watched all the time as a preteen but it didn't seem like many people I knew enjoyed it as much as me. It's such a shame it was under appreciated.
What?? I clearly remember watching the finale when it aired, she reading her book(diary) in a bookstore to all her friends and family... I saw it in spanish tho, so it was bit after the usa
@@m.v.gonzalez5575I think they released it on direct to video but I remember seeing commercials for it while in Mexico. (Had I known that it was the finale and that they weren't going to air it in the US I would've watched it while I was there 😭)
It has been a while so bare with me. I remember the last new episode that they aired on Nickelodeon was the episode where Dodie revealed just how terrible of a friend she was to Ginger. It took place after the winter special (where Ginger went to an arts academy because of her writing prowess and Darren and her officially became a couple). The episode that took place after that had it where Dodie convinced Macie to team up with Miranda and Sabotage Darren and Ginger's relationship because she was jealous of the two of them spending time together. Courtney ended up being a better friend that Dodie ever was by revealing what was happening. The end of the episode had Dodie leaving a message on Ginger's answering machine saying that she was sorry.
After that Nickelodeon removed As Told By Ginger from their lineup, and I think they moved it to Noggin. Since we didn't get that channel I had no idea that there were any episodes after that, and everything just felt incredibly bleak.
The weirdest thing was that the new episode of As Told By Ginger aired because it was the one most voted on during a U-Pick Live event, but then I learned that all of those "viewers vote on the next episode aired" was never real. It was all an illusion of choice.
I loved Ginger so much 🤧
One of my favorite shows as a kid, partly because I didn't feel preached at. It seemed to respect you as a coming-of-age teen that you understood basic "right from wrong" scenarios, but showed things that might just be part of life or things that aren't so black and white.
Hello Stranger was a personal favorite since I grew up with divorced parents, and I still tear up at the notion that her dad didn't show, and even though her mom was in the hospital she sent flowers to her daughter as though they came from her dad. And Ginger knew, and sweetly thanked her for it. It's hard for me to dislike a show that has both a ton of heart and a lot of respect for its audience
"Respect for the audience" is exactly what I wanted to say. Many shows that try to have this energy either dumb down a complex grey area topic or they beat us over the head with basic morals like stealing is bad fellow kids.
It's so sad that we don't get deep and meaningful shows and movies like this anymore. I really miss this era of cartoons I grew up with.
Honestly I'm willing to bet that Jonah was a former addict, as we're briefly shown his house and some fans said it looked like a stoner's house. Plus it could explain why he's been absent for the majority of Ginger's and Carl's lives, and knowing Lois, there's no way she would want there to be substance abuse in front her kids and most likely cut him out of her life until he would get sober, which he probably has at this point.
As a kid watching this I was with Ginger like "Why does the teacher have to report this?" Now as a teacher I'm like "Yeah the mandated reporter thing can get tricky."
Its crazy how when i first seen these episodes, i didnt fully grasp the "seriousness" of the themes. Now im like "holy crap" I had some great cartoons as a kid...
I hate to sound like an old person but we truly had better cartoons! They animation style and writing was A1
I wish I was able to see this as a kid since I was seriously depressed and hearing the things said by Ginger and her mom in this episode probably could have helped me so much. I related a lot to the girl in the book and to Ginger as I knew what would’ve and then did happen when people found out how much I was suffering. I was called an attention seeker but also babied as people thought I was seconds away from offing myself and I hated it.
@@s.tiaira9081Craig of the Creek was a great down-to-Earth comedy show, and the last ten-ish years has only been a boon to LGBTQIA+ kids, teens, and adults that enjoy cartoons.
But I will concede, that in terms of cartoon dramas, there really hasn’t been anything like As Told By Ginger before or since. If it’s a drama, it’s either entirely an adult oriented comedy, or using science fiction or fantasy to explore serious themes (like how My Dad The Bounty Hunter really dug its nails into how an absentee working parent can negatively affect the mental health of their family and how that such a time intensive job can keep the working parent from emotionally connecting with their own children, I can’t wait for season 2).
I second this comment
@@supotter377yup, my own dad and step mom accused me of lying about being raped, naturally I have never ever mentioned the sex abuse that began as a child that they seemingly ignored, too.
I'm in my 30s and still remember this episode very well. I had the same situation like Ginger, with my mom being called w/the therapist because my middle school writing was "heavy"😂They asked my mom how I would know how to write serious stuff and she said "I'm a substance abuse counselor and I don't sugar coat life for my kid". The teacher and therapist were shook and never said anything to me after that...I was lucky to have a mom like Lois
Middle school…? I got shoved into therapy in elementary school…
They asked us what was the saddest thing to happen to us and I wrote about the night our dad told us grandma died. Guess it was too heavy for a 11-12 year old to feel… lol
It was possibly thanks to this episode that I learned not to share the angst poetry with my teachers.
I stuck to Jesus for the school assignments.
I would only argue one point with you, the point of the 'girls only' therapy group being exclusive. If the school counselor is good, there's probably a separate group for boys- because a lot of girls wouldn't speak up in front of guys. It's not that "boys don't feel depressed", it's that gender roles still play a big part in psychology.
There are adults that only want a psychologist of a certain sex for comfort reasons.
Yeah this was a generally good analysis but he really missed the mark on certain points.
What did you expect? He's a man
Yeah, especially if a girl or boy wanted to open up about getting unwanted attention from someone of the opposite gender.
I remember middle school had groups like this for separate genders because it was awkward to talk about feelings surrounding changing bodies, social dynamics changing, or topics that might make someone uncomfortable to speak up about in front of the opposite gender.
Actually Courtney improves as the show moves on, personally she’s my favorite character, in the later seasons she’s definitely a great friend to Ginger…. Even more so then Dootie…. Continue watching, you’ll see
Yeah Dootie 😂 sucks, that's a great name for her.
@@athena6832 haha.
I do remember this episode and I'm pretty sure I felt the same. I knew it had a dark tone, but just like Ginger, in my eyes it was just a poem.
If I wanted to write a murder novel it doesn't mean I want to be a murderer.
That concept seems to be lost on people.
@@jackpijjin4088 yep, if it had any standing at all Rob Zombie needs therapy for making Texas Chainsaw Massicar lol
@@jackpijjin4088true, but so many struggling children go unnoticed due to adults ignoring the « signs », making sure someone is okay never hurts, assuming that they are might cause more harm than good
Dude the b plot of the boys being fascinated by the girls uniqueness is so sweet
Edit: Damn, i am just noticing how obsessed for Ginger Courtney was
Yeah I really noticed that after I rewatched as an adult. As a child I could feel she genuinely liked Ginger which actually made me happy bc I was tired of the rich popular Bully trope.
Both Gripling kids were obsessed with the Foutley kids lol Blake had a framed picture of Carl on his dresser.
I never liked the art style but would always watch As Told by Ginger. As an aspiring writer myself back then I identified a lot with Ginger. There was a certain melancholy to the show. And this episode in particular really showcases that. I still have the ending song of this episode on my phone. I loved the musical rendition of the poem and still do.
Lllq0qqq0p😂
Wait till you see the very first episode (pilot) for as told by ginger. It was even worse. 😂
I feel that on the art style
The artstyle is a pretty common take, but i rlly like it 😭
@@L0rdOfThePiesYeah. It takes some getting used to.
Thank you for your service as a 911 dispatcher, many people forget how hard it is to be a rock when someone is panicking and in need of help. You deeply are needed in life and I'm sorry it's taken so much out of you. Thank you for being you.
Noelle for the first couples seasons, was, in fact a background/filler character. So it’s sort of an inside joke on the show runners and production to make what is essentially a NPC a supporting character. And how perfect that the episode was centered around someone who wants to disappear.
I took the flyer on the locker as being from a student trying to "help," or even Miranda picking on her again. The therapist didn't seem the type to be passive aggressive like that.
As a kid I never picked up on the message behind the Noelle story and how it compares to Ginger's story. With an episode themed on mental health and implications of suicide, Carl's story teaches that even if you think someone won't be missed, there is always something special about them and someone who will be devastated by their absence.
Man, "As Told By Ginger", Hey Arnold", and "Daria" really made me feel seen as a kid.
I related to this episode so much back then, too. I had something similar happen with a fictional story I wrote for a school assignment. My school didn't have a psychologist so the counselor wrote a referral to one off campus and I had to miss a basketball game that I was really looking forward to, to see them. Everyone telling me that I was depressed eventually ended up making me think that I actually was.
Exactly 💯
We had to write slam poetry in French class once and halfway through I changed my topic cause I was scared thry would get concerned and call my parents😅
I just thought they were fore shows lol
Can we applaud Ginger's teachers too? They cared enough for their student that they just wanted to check in with her, make sure she's doing okay. Teen years are delicate. Good on those teachers.
From the poem itself to the character design they used for the girl… this episode was a masterpiece of emotion
Courtney actually likes Ginger very much and I feel like she's reflecting Ginger's situation in this episode. It may not look like it and she may say it's for the attention, but I feel like she has Ginger as her role model. Courney has obviously family issues, not enough emotional support and attention from her parents but Ginger does have super healthy relationship with her mom and that makes her mature, healthy and empathetic person. Ginger is the best person Courtney could have relationship with.
I always assumed Courtney was neglected by her parents hence her craving attention
This episode made me think of being a horror fan and the way some people can think people who like or make horror fans are sick or disturbed in some way.
The musical rendition of the poem in the end credits of this episode is damn awesome.
Those people have never heard of Junji Ito
From what I’ve heard and seen, a lot of horror fans are actually some of the sweetest people.
@@dangernoodledee111 Honestly if they're so sweet, why is it they create or indulge in enjoying some of the most macabre and horrifying forms of media? Where does their sweetness factor into all that?
@EmptyMan000 I think it's less that their "sweetness" directly factors into enjoyment of horror, and more that they are... regular people. With as varied degrees of sweetness as any other group of people.
Why do they indulge in macabre forms of media? Well, why does anyone enjoy any media? It's entertaining.
It's always great when someone talks about As Told by Ginger.
@@josie233 You should
Courtney was actually a very kind person and friend but Miranda here in this episode was actually showing some morals and conscience by acknowledging she would have gone a lil easier on her if she'd known Ginger was clinically depressed (even thoguh she actually wasnt)
Courtney was a better friend that her supposed best friend dodie
@@greenbanana1001 exactly! some friends are terrible but hopefully Ginger saw this eventually
@@greenbanana1001 Courtney could act spoiled, but behind that was a geniunely kind heart.
Courtney never came across as kind to me.
Courtney is like those girls who code switch when certain people are around.
When I first saw this episode I was head over heels in love with it but at the same time I kept getting upset at everyone, mostly Ginger’s teacher and her friends cause…honestly I hate it when people assume things about me and try to tell me somethings wrong when I know for a fact there’s not. Writers and Artist do delve into dark themes but not because their sad or depressed, thats not always the case, sometimes its to challenge themselves or explore other forms of art. I still have to hand it to Lois she handled this so well and the fact she tells Ginger that she doesn’t have to see the school psychiatrist just puts a huge cherry on top. Ginger is a Empathetic person, she knows emotions an knows how to convey them…
The irony is that they seem like the kind of people who would actually try to help a depressed individual, unlike the real world that flat out ignores or denies that you have it.
@@eatatjoes6751 thats true, an I’m actually happy the psychologist called out Courtney’s attention seeking
I was the only one in my friend group that actually enjoyed this show growing up. This was a treat for me☺️
@@alysiawilliams2139 you’ve inspired me to watch some episodes today. I’d like to see if I notice anything different watching as an adult
I loved it as a kid / preteen
Me too. Definitely a hidden gem.
As told by Ginger is one the main reasons why I love poetry! Ever sense I started watching this show, all I have wanted to do is become a poet!
Mmh hmm, I going to write you an referral to see a psychologist anyway
The animation is so high quality. I know the art style isn't for everyone but the movement and framing is so good.
never noticed until this video how unique the framing is for this show.
as an animator who has never watched the show, now i feel like i must watch it just to study the animation and general quality and production!
The art style shines because of this imo
@@_BubblGum_ this show has some of the best animated transitions I've ever seen!
I feel like you kinda missed the point of Courtney's constant need for attention being part of the whole point of Ginger being a well adjusted person, and Courtney who looks well adjusted being the person who had an issue in actuality.
Could just be me here, but Ginger is expressing the ability to use sympathy, where as Courtney not only doesn't have it, but displays the underlying issue.
yeah, courtney probably really did belong in therapy because, as you alluded to, well adjusted people dont crave attention so intensely
I wish Klasky csupo came back. I miss their cartoons and animation style. As told by ginger was the pinnacle of early 2000s teen animated shows. A true gem on nickelodeon.
Courtney was and probably is my favorite character in this show. Not even sorry
I really felt uncomfortable with Macy especially in the sweet sixteen episode, that gave me chills
this show got me through my depression when I was in middle school because I was getting bullied and I had no friends. It brought me such a comfort that I had never experienced before in a show. I’m forever thankful for this show for getting me through hard times even if at the time I didn’t quite understand my emotions or feelings. I wish they had more shows like this for kids now ❤
comforting is such a perfect word for the tone of this show 💕
Yeah for real. Felt like therapy for me.
❤❤that’s amazing.
This episode hits hard because I wrote a song that I then showed to my teacher expressing I was suicidal. I was 12 at the time, I then went on to start self harming after the song was taken away, I also then went on to attempt suicide twice. Luckily it was because of that that I finally got therapy and diagnosed with autism after 10 years of my mum fighting for it, I got sent to a special education school, made some of the best friends I've ever had, got my first romantic relationship and am now training to be a therapist. I can't believe how far I've come in 10 years!
I was just forced into group therapy with an abusive therapist, groomed by an older boy, sexually assaulted, then when I stopped group therapy I went through over five therapists and couldn’t be medicated because A. I’m treatment resistant and B. I kept getting scolded about not taking my meds which I stopped because I had severe anxiety with was going to probably kill myself on but they thought I was being lazy, then altogether I left therapy am waiting for an official autism diagnosis which will probably take years even tho my primary doctors say I was misdiagnosed, and I am surprised I wasn’t put on suicide watch. I think the only “medication” that worked for me is CBD and I wouldn’t be opposed to weed either but there aren’t many certified doctors in my area
Yessss you go girl!!! I wish you nothing but the best the absolute best!! ❤
I also went through a similar experience and got diagnosed as autistic at 24 🥺
@@mmeeaaggaann3025did your insurance cover it
@@ThatOneFurhow are you now
I was flat out fantasizing about strangling Miranda for how she treated Ginger especially in this scene. That was beyond disgusting and without a doubt the worst thing Miranda has ever done/ said. Some fans think Dodie was worse than Miranda and- don't get me wrong there are definitely instances where she doesn't fall too far behind but Miranda was a total demon in this scene.
Imo the therapist calling out Courtney wasn't just good bc she needed calling out, it was acknowledging that this behavior in itself IS a problem that deserves therapy. It's not just her being annoying, but a sign of a deeper problem and lack of self worth that needs to be addressed
I remember this episode scaring me so much! Maybe it’s because I find old looking dolls creepy? But seeing that woman being dragged along by puppet strings and then she disappears, I thought she was someone out there that could get me 😭 but now as an adult I really appreciate what this episode is and it’s message.
I was scared as hell watching this as a kid for the same reason
*This* is the episode that made me want to write. I loved it. Damn the tortured artist myth - also, Courtney does have issues, just not depression specifically.
Trust me, as someone with it and a bunch of other issues, I applaud this episode both for tackling the aforementioned myth and having people who are genuinely willing to help with depression around Ginger.
I would say Courtney is a narcissist, but she actually has empathy, unlike Miranda, Dodie, or Mipsy. I think Courtney is just mainly spoiled and her parents never spent time with her.
that moment shes told her writing was concerning reminded me of how adults punish children for being innocent.
Man, I grew up watching As Told By Ginger. I was the targeted demograph for it, especially since I was entering middle school. I didn't understand depression until I was older. Looking back at this cartoon and a lot of Klasky Csupo cartoons, really touched a lot of serious topics that you don't really see being touched upon in kid shows.
As Told By Ginger is a great cartoon, but it's certainly one of those 'you have to have been there or experienced that' to really feel it
I was the target demographic too, but I didn't want to see it because I was more into dumb cartoon slapstick. Now, as an adult, I know it's a great show but there is very little about Ginger or anyone else in the show I can see in myself at that age. I'm on the spectrum and I can relate to the medical emergency episode, I just wasn't social at all until near the end of high school. If someone was upset about a dark poem or story I wrote, I would mock them and write more of that stuff. Fashion and the perspectives of others never factored into my plans for myself.
It leaves me wondering what I would have turned out to be if I had simply given Ginger a chance. Would I have seen her as a role model, or been able to empathize with her? I could do that to Homestar Runner, a creature with no arms, so why not a realistically written human girl?
I can’t believe I missed out on this show growing up…and I was born in 99. I still get a giant sense of nostalgia watching clips of this. Because it really does give off another time feel.
Back to the point about courtney, I'd like to make rhe argument that narccistic traits are common within kids/teenagers and they're going through puberty so her storyline seems semi realistic. Children say and act a certain way for attention all the time. I know that it was stated you hadnt seen the show in a long time, I promise courtney does become more likeable as the series goes on
911 Operator must be really rough, I can't imagine anyone could do that job and keep their humanity completely in tact. Just remember youre there because you want to help and you always do the best you can and thats all anyone could ever really expect of you. As long as youre being an asset rather than a hinderance, youre one of many unsung heroes and thats something to really be proud of. Head up man, youre doing great.
i regret not being matured enough to appreciate this incredible show.
You could always rewatch it, this time through a more mature lens.
@@KevinTheKevinable definitely.
Same here. I've been so hung up on the art style when I was a kid that I miss out on the messages.
Now as an adult, I need to marathon this show.
is the rest worth watching?
@@commenteroftruth9790 In my personal opinion, once you've watched enough episodes, you'll be able to get a general idea of what type of series it is and decide if you personally want to see it through to the end.
As Told By Ginger was always a show I could really relate to, especially as a young writer, who encountered people who would take a "dark" poem or story I wrote as some confession as inner trauma or conflict.
Never heard of this show, never watched this episode. I guess it wasn't part of my generation, but this story is very interesting and relatable. I like to write sweet/sour stories. Cute stuff and dark stuff. I enjoy making people say "awww" but also make them feel close to tears. I have been asked about my mental health due to this when I first started writing. It does make you feel strange. Because when you first write those stories, you don't really think about you, since you are writing a story about a fictional character, not you.
The impression I get with this episode is that it's okay to bring up the topic of mental health if you are concern for a friend's mental state, but at the same time, you shouldn't assume someone's mental health based on the art/writing they create. Especially because some people use art/writing as an outlet for their emotions and it can be discouraging when people ignore the work and start questioning the author. It can make authors/artists feel like they did something wrong, when the reality is, creating art and writing is a great and healthy way to express emotions without physically expressing them.
In a weird way, writing dark topics can make the author feel better and happier. It can mean the author is more comfortable with expressing darker themes instead of completely suppressing them. Either way, writing/creating dark stories is hard to get into when you've never done it before. Because it can lead to those uncomfortable questions. But at the same time, it's because those people care about you.
Started in 2000
How old are you ?
I adore As Told By Ginger and this episode in particular has always been a favorite. It’s stayed in my mind for years.
When I was a kid I was never a huge fan of this show. Now as an adult, I absolutely LOVE this show lol
I strongly believe As Told By Ginger is one of the reasons why I love to hear and write poetry. This was one of my favorite shows from classic Nickelodeon. ❤
I can’t believe I knew all the words to the theme song after all these years!! As soon as the theme song started playing I was singing along 😊
Same 🫶🏻
Same 2😊
I'm pretty sure that Tracey Chapman sang that intro song.
Edit: I’m wrong, it’s sang by Macy Gray.
Huh weird. For some reason I thought it was Ertha Kitt. 🤔
@@anjie-kun4evur20 actually I was wrong, my apologies, is was sang by Macy Gray. Which makes sense.
This episode helped me realise that at least a little bit of yourself comes out in your writing. I write stories with my partner and the latest one has a lot of my childhood in our protagonists. One of them even has a crisis over his lack of attraction, much like I had in highschool.
As Told By Ginger was such an important show to me as a kid.
Man, I feel bad for you and all 911 dispatchers. You guys deserve much needed respect and a 3 week vacation.
As for anyone's mental health, take care of it. Remember that you are a human, not a machine.
This happened to me when I was 9yo. It was the late 90s and I posted a sad poem on an online contest after watching an episode of Arthur about poetry. I got so many concerned comments that I ended up renaming it “not a call for help”. I was depressed, not in a dangerous way, and poetry was a outlet
Loved the video😊
I do have to point out one thing though. The rap group being exclusively for girls has it’s place. For example, you mentioned how Carl considered Noelle a non-entity. It’s awful, but it was only truly through falling in love with her that she gained value in his eyes. This is a sentiment that can be really prevalent and is really common in male spaces (young and old).
Also, being raised as a girl/fem can often mean being raised to make space for and centre boys/masc individuals even to your own detriment. Having a place to figure out your humanity without the presence of a type of individual that routinely dehumanises you and that you are continuously conditioned to yield your agency to is important. That way, you don’t have to divide your effort between introspection and battling internalised societal expectations. An example is having youth groups where kids can talk about things without having to worry about their parents input/viewpoint.
It’s also important to note that just because we didn’t see that there was a group in the show exclusively for boys and mascs, doesn’t mean there wasn’t one. You’re comment about it’s existence asserting that it is ONLY a fem issue has merit, but also presents a false dichotomy in the reaction. The presence of one does not negate the presence or need for another. Now make no mistake. I believe all people of all genders deserve a space like this and that there is great value in having both mixed and separate types of spaces. I just wanted to shed light on this angle.😊
i don't know if i've ever seen a children's show tackle the issue of psychiatric abuse via gaslighting. something that is VERY prevalent in today's culture, and something children are particularly vulnerable to. a very important episode.
Glad to see your channel grown as much as it has lately and honestly, super cool of you to not only talk about mental health but being brave enough to talk about your own, keep on making awesome videos Shawn!
To me it seems like courtney is actually troubled as well. If the most important thing to her is attention and its really that vital, its a sign that shes going thru something.
It is so brave, and beautiful, and refreshing for you to be so vulnerable and honest about your own mental health struggles, and the catharsis you experience diving so thoughtfully into these beloved childhood shows. You set a wonderful example of compassionate discourse within and about media, and I hope you realize how impactful it is. And I hope you receive all the support you need to thrive in your own life!
I honestly got so much comfort and assurance from this episode. I’ve also been in this scenario, I make a piece of art that is challenging or different, next thing I know I’m talking to the “feelings lady” who’s asking invasive questions about my home life. I had never seen a cartoon that talked about the struggle of actually being creative and sensitive until Ginger. I still love this show to this day 💜
I remember this being very profound for me. My mom watched it with me and she seemed to understand it more than I did and she was impacted by it. We ended up having a talk after about whether or not I had ever felt like that. It was the first time I ever talked about my more negative feelings after hitting my teens. We have a great relationship to this day.
I honestly can relate to this episode because I lost my grandfather when I was 10 years old. I began to write poems and stories that allowed me to express my feelings and it helped me get through that tough time in my life. Though I don’t write anymore, always have an outlet for yourself to express your thoughts and feelings whether it’s talking to someone or writing because it will eat you up inside. I’m still going through a tough time now with the loss of my grandmother, aunt and cousin within the past two years.
This episode is very close to me as I had a similar thing happen to me in middle school. My teacher wanted me to go talk to a counselor about seeking help after she read my writing prompt. But I felt that I didn't need therapy. And yet, people tried to push me against my wishes. It felt like they never wanted to listen to my feelings, only interested in my diagnostic. Like what I want didn't matter. It also didn't help that I came from a home where if I did try to get help, I was shamed for it or could get in trouble. People, of course, started to treat me differently. Which isolated me a lot. Especially when the adults in the situation put out my business to the class even though I wanted it to be private. Since I also had bullies in that same class and didn't want them to know about my private life. But thanks to this episode I watched as a kid, I knew if I stayed true to myself and pushed my desire on how I wanted my mental help to be dealt with, I would be okay. And I did eventually gain power over myself again. I'm so sorry that you're dealing with your issues right now. I wish you the best. And sometimes, even though it's good to seek help, pushing people will only make things worse for them. They want people to listen, not judge or babysit their emotions. It's up to them to decide how they want to seek treatment and how they truly feel. And I think this episode portrayed that well.
It seems very possible that the boys at the school just have their own counseler's discussion group. I don't perceive it just as "Boys not allowed to discuss their mental health." I was in a bit of a rut after my parents' divorce and I wasn't lacking for a facility to turn to in school.
I do remember this episode, though younger-me only recalled the parts of Ginger reciting the poem, and her friends/others treating her different because they thought she was "upset". Growing up to see how the episode actually was, well feels eye-opening! I really do resonate with Ginger, and her arc was really good here. I think the whole episode is handled pretty well
Had completed forgot about Carl & Hoodie though.. they're B-plot was.. interesting. Just like them lol!
What Carl eventually came to by the end was quite sweet, I'm glad they did that with him. And Noelle is an interesting character 🤔
Courtney and Miranda really hurt in this, as little as they showed up, like that's ridiculous! But guess that's good for their character types huh?
Another on the list of savage, sad moments of a true bully(or emotional immature teen). :(
I have not bawled during a TH-cam video like this in AWHILE. I completely forgot this show existed and remembering now how much it meant to me as a little girl, this episode specifically... I feel it in my guts.
Thank you for reminding me of this wonderful show and lesson I learned when I was 11 that I so desperately needed to be reminded of decades later.
I was a big "As Told by Ginger" fan growing up and this episode freaked me out as a kid although I couldn't quite put my finger on why. Like you, I was too young at the time to catch the theme of struggling with mental health, but I was still deeply troubled at the idea of Ginger's poem protagonist wanting to "just disappear". I thought it meant she wanted to run away, vanishing without a trace so her family and friends would never see her again or be able to find her. Now that I'm older, and am a writer myself, I'm able to appreciate even more the depth and layers of this episode. Not only does it touch on mental health issues, but also something us artists face all the time: Putting pieces of ourselves, consciously or unconsciously, into our characters and how that affects our work and how we and others perceive it.
I am so excited for this video, I never expected you to cover Ginger any time soon! I don't remember the content of most episodes but I remember watching this and getting so excited when it'd be on. I will never forget the opening song though, and i got chills hearing it again!❤❤
Edit: holy crap I actually remember this episode, it was an eye opener for little writing me
I was in my late teens/early 20s when this show was on. I still love it and this episode was, hands down, my favorite of the whole series.
As a fellow 911 dispatcher, I totally feel you. I’ve been struggling a lot lately with the mental health aspects of the job. I loved this show when it was on and I love your content. I needed to hear all of this.
As an ex EMT I have to thank you for what you do. Dispatch was so incredibly helpful and I can't express how thankful I am for what you do 💜
I love the part about "you don't have to be afraid of your feelings" ❤❤❤
Even to this day, I may not be a huge fan of the show BUT I always knew there was more to it than I comprehended as a kid
Now as an adult, while still not 100% grown on me, i deeply appreciate the fact this show exists to begin with. Few if any other shows do what this one does well more than not. And for that I'm glad for it being one so many watched ♡
Also, Mrs Foutley 1000% is a fantastic mother. Bless her heart to no end
So you mentioning having mixed feelings on this show as a kid really sent me back to when I was a kid seeing this show for the first time. its hard for me now to remember this because I was 5 years old when this show first aired, but I solidly remember hating this show for a long time when I was young. Like I would always switch over to cartoon network or Disney when this show came on, I just did not get it at that age. But the towards the end of its run, probably the final season when i was around 10 or 11 i finally gave the show another watch and absolutely loved it. It was great. So like now whenever I look back I just remember the strong love I got for the show watching re-runs of it as it was ending, but the more I think back to it the more I remember being sad that Ginger was on instead of something better like Rugrats or Spongebob, But like the older I get and the more I look back at the show, the more it just wipes those younger prejudices away and makes me really appreciate everything this show did. When I was finally able to understand what the show was talking about it was there for me at the age I needed it to be there for me and I absolutely loved it!
I really enjoyed this show in my youth. The theme song is a banger, the characters are all so unique and fleshed out, and the stories really felt relatable
I loved this show so much when I was growing up.
Thanks for the hard work you do, both on and off TH-cam. I'm studying to be a therapist now, and plan on working with children and teens. I worked in a juvenile detention facility for a while and let me tell you, you were SPOT ON about guys being raised to be closed off and hiding their emotions. These poor boys were so hurt inside, but the culture they grew up in is one of "showing emotions = weakness." I'm sorry that your job is so painful, and I hope therapy really, really helps for you. I'm glad this channel is an outlet for you.
I always loved Ginger. I was to young to really grasp the meaning of the episodes at the time but the art style and music and good writing always just disarmed me and made me feel good. As a writer this show is hitting hard today. My book isn't even finished yet and people already love it. I love writing. Sometimes a poem can say everything you can't say and then its outside of you now and the best thing is when other people see it and understand the meaning 😊
I'm sorry to hear that you've been going through it, man. You're not alone and these videos you produce are so important to me and 100k others. keep whooping wholesale ass. next stop 1M subs
I was so ready for you to say that Ginger was writing about some repressed memory, like when her father left or if he died (I haven't seen the show in years) but to find out that no, nothing bad happened to her, she didn't experience anything horrible at a young age to make her write the poem... she's just a really good writer, gotta say that's a breath of fresh air. Especially when she kept saying to everyone she wasn't depressed, but they insisted she was after reading the poem, goes to show people sometimes just get it wrong when they think they've interpreted a piece of art or media. "Oh the author meant this", or "Oh this is really about the author's life". A lot of the time, that's just wrong. It has nothing to do with the author outside of they created it. No personal trauma or feelings injected into it.
This is unironically one of my favorite nicktoons! Dunno if you know about them already but the youtube channel "Old School Lane" has done a Ginger podcast going through every single episode, they have sometimes members of the production team as guests and even voice actors, i highly recommend it if you are doing a deep dive of the show!
Keep ur head up, bubba. These videos always give me a crazy nostalgic boost in dopamine. Thank you for that & being the person answering the calls.
Shout out to Macy Gray for singing one of the most iconic theme songs.
I'm going to disagree with the "girls only" being a problem in terms of therapy sessions. I suspect that "girls only" in this instance is for this particular group and there may be other therapy sessions that include boys as well. I'm not sure if you're aware, but there's actually a lot of group therapy sessions that are strictly women only. This is because a lot of women who go through therapy do tend to deal with abusive men, be it physically, mentally. You almost realized this very point, because you mentioned toxic masculinity being an issue because of being excluded, but the reason why men are excluded from female only therapy sessions is specifically because of toxic masculinity to begin with. I just wanted to point that out, as while from the outside looking in, it seems unreasonable, but I can assure you there is a legitimate reason for that. Many girls/women just will not open up if there are boys/men in group. That's not to say boys/men do not need therapy or that they do not have their own issues themselves, but understand that this is not an uncommon situation.
Loved this show growing up, now planning to go rewatch it. Great video! Thanks for sharing about the importance of mental wellness for being vulnerable and sharing your own experience. Wishing you well in your journey!
It's kind of odd that I vaguely remember watching this episode despite the fact that until this video I was pretty sure I didn't even remember this show but now I can vividly remember waking up at night and going to Nickelodeon just to find this running. This definitely completely went over my head as a kid (although i think if I asked little kid me, he'd probably say he hated Courtney and Miranda too and i'd agree lol) but it's amazing to me that an episode like this could even be tackled with such nuance and profound understanding of the subject when the target audience was likely not going to 'get' it.
Really, it makes me grateful that I grew up with shows like this as a kid since while I may not have got it at the time, it feels like one of those things you're meant to reflect on when your older and gain new appreciation for.
I loved this show so, SO much as a kid. I think it’s a big part of what kept me interested in cartoons as I grew up, honestly - just knowing that a serious show like this existed and could exist again made me want to dive deeper into animation as an art form. I still think about the poem randomly sometimes & it still really touches my heart.
I'm a Little Seal Girl living in the real world and it's so hard to get by.
Cause Seals can't even cry...
as told by ginger used to be one of my fav nick cartoons back then. i never realized how this episode went over my head. one of the craziest episodes i can remember was the carl and maud one, i still think about it every now and then til this day.
This poem still hits me hard 20 something years later
Not gonna lie, watching this reminds me why I love Psychonauts as a franchise: A series aesthetically reminiscent of Klasky Csupo that, as the name suggests, deals in the realm of psychology.
Gaming University has a very good video series delving into the psychology of Psychonauts’ level design which I highly recommend.
I remember that this especially why I loved this series. I was a young teenage at the time (about Ginger's age) and I often wrote poetry too so I could relate a lot to Ginger and the show. Also her mom is wonderful and reminds me a lot of my own mother.
As a artist/writher who makes story’s and art about those subjects, I’ve had people look at me different when I explain or show my art. I’ve had people comment if I’m struggling and sometimes I am sometimes I’m not. Whenever I’m fine people will still think I’m emo or trying to act depressed when I’m not. That’s why I don’t really share my art or story’s with others. This episode is really accurate to how it feels to just wanna make a thing that’s sad without being sad.
This poem and episode is definitely the first thing I think of when I think of this show. The second thing is the mom saying she doesn’t mind her kid rolling around in the mud because it makes it hard for lice to move around in their hair or something.
I wish they still aired all these cartoons from the 90s. I would love for my neices to experience them in all their glory.
I love this show (I watched it religiously on Nick as a pre-teen). Definitely one of my forever/ cozy re-watch shows. This episode specifically - As a kid, I thought it was talking about running away or mysteriously disappearing, and most of the seriousness went over my head. Now when I re-watch this episode it's kind of ground breaking that Nick let them bring such a serious & real topic up! One of the reasons I loved As Told by Ginger was the fact that they had topics that were actually relevant to kids in Middle School. I lived in a similar (poverty/broken) household and Ginger was my icon about how to act/talk about not being able to afford things when my peers asked without being embarrassed. Now, I'm the same age as Ginger in the last episode (When you see her all grown up!) and it's crazy that a little "Me" started watching this show, but now it's come full circle!!
I absolutely loved this show as a kid / preteen growing up as a 90s kid I was mature for my age and I loved the show in the way that it progressed and had a storyline which was unique for the time and they wore different clothes every time which very little cartoons did at the time .. I really don’t understand why as told by ginger is so underrated
"Talk to me; I'm listening"
I had a moment like that myself in high school. It was the end of my senior year. I didn't get a yearbook. I was in the gym with the rest of the entire class of 08, getting our mass picture taken in the bleachers. When it was over, everyone fanned out of the gym to get their yearbooks. I decided to stay behind, though. I was alone. I just decided to pull up a chair in the middle of the gym and got out my notebook. I immediately remembered this episode and just started writing. What came out was a time capsule of the moment. I just wrote whatever came to mind until I filled the page. It wasn't anything negative, either.
Looking back, I should be relating to this episode a lot harder. This takes place in middle school, yes, but I didn't start going through things like Ginger did in this episode until my freshman year of high school when I was forced into therapy due to an undisclosed incident.
I can’t wait to see the long form content about this show! Loved it growing up.
As Told By Ginger had a huge impact on me growing up. I'm a writer, my mom's a nurse. This episode in particular struck a chord because writing is what helped me discover, and ultimately deal with things I had buried.
Seeing this review makes me want to rewatch As Told by Ginger, I remember watching this as a kid but I never understood why people treated Ginger weirdly at first over the poem. Like Ginger, I just thought it was fiction too! But coming back to this... WOW! I was way too young and innocent for this show back when it aired! I need to give this show another chance now that I'm older!
I screeched when I saw this in my recommended videos! One of the best cartoons ever made💕