I always thought Betty and Howard were supposed to subvert expectations of gender roles. There's nothing wrong with having a mom that likes more traditionally male-oriented things, and it's fine to have a more soft spoken husband. I think making her a lesbian furthers the stereotype that women that do enjoy "masculine" things _have_ to be lesbians. That's pretty damaging.
Especially since the show came out in 1991 - that kind of "grrrl power" thing was big, so I just read it as like... she's just a tough woman who doesn't like to cook and is really feminist. Which doesn't mean you're a lesbian. It's just like "oh she has short hair and wears a sweater and likes to arm wrestle MUST BE GAY", that's not a helpful attitude at all.
THANK YOU I love representation but not at the expense of reskinning a character I rather a new queer parent character maybe a friend of betty and Dede since they seem the most likely not to be narrow minded
Chaz not wanting to dispose of his memorabilia of his late wife but not wanting it around at this time to trigger his depression regarding her is a real feel, and Stu and Didi letting him keep it at their house makes them real friends.
As someone who just lost my more than just best friend Friday after 15 years. and feeling this way with seeing his things in the house makes this hit even way harder.
I will say this, as a parent the episode where Stu is making pudding at 4am for Angelica because he's lost control of his life might be one of the most relatable moments in the show.
Over 25 years later and "because I've lost control of my life" has been the occasional answer to questions asked of me. (Though mostly meant with some humor.) the reality of that scene hit me even as a kid, but it still makes me laugh. Rugrats was my favorite, and always loved that episode.
I always thought that the parents gave this show a lot of depth and adds an additional layer to the stories that makes Rugrats worth revisiting as an adult.
Yes, as a kid I loved how the kids had their own perspective of the world yet they still showed the parents too, even though the show was about the babies.
@@keeperofthetale I always thought the parents were hilarious. I remember them playing a complicated board game and just getting frustrated with each other and arguing the entire time.
I was talking to a friend the other day about how the parents are like extensions of the kids, showing aspects of their personality in an adult form. Stu and Deedee are like Tommy's childish and protective aspects, Chuckie's dad is an extension of neuroticism. Betty and Howard are dramatic and unpredictable. Angelica's mom represents her ego, and her dad represents her hidden insecurity. It is actually kind of deep when you think about it
Very deep insight, however I think you have it inverted. The children reflect the characteristics of their parents and react accordingly to their emotional queues, not the other way around. Very much like in real life - however I do enjoy your theory and appreciate where you’re coming from.
Tbh I buy Drew and Charlotte having a kid even though it doesn’t mesh with their lifestyles and goals because in the 80s/90s people really didn’t consider not having kids as a choice. And especially for Charlotte being trapped in 90s girlboss hell she basically NEEDED to be a mom to be relevant. It totally sucks
I can totally see her character thinking an accidental pregnancy is a “hurtle” she has to prove she can through and still be a power boss. Being pregnant and staying in charge while her coworkers were probably talking as if she’d quite and just become a housewife, just made her double down on her career.
I wouldn't be surprised if that was the case, drew and Charlotte are slightly older than the moan parents group, so it could make sense that's why they spoil Angelica so much, maybe didn't pass as much Time with her when she was full baby and even currently since they both have demanding jobs
They are parents who perhaps wanted a kid, but then when they got one, they didn't really know how to be parents and its not something that clicks with them. Drew tries and charlotte wants to try too but their careers and their needs get in the way. not everyone is cut out to be a parent (that doesn't mean they don't love their kid or not want to provide the best for them, its just parenting isn't a natural thing) and its something you can't know until you have a baby. There is literally no way to prepare for parenthood. many friends used to talk about how they looked after their nieces and nephews etc but even if you have that kid for a week, there is an expiry date to that care and you are working from someone else's play book. you can't prepare for parenthood by looking after other people's kids because once you have your own, your expiry date (somewhat) is when they move out and it is 24/7. its easy to be a perfect parent for a week or so until you give your nieces or nephew or what ever back ... its much harder to do it for 20 years 24/7 or to prepare for the disruption it brings to your life. to me, they probably liked the idea of a child and had an idealized view of it, but then had angelica and weren't ready to let go of their corporate high flying life, so make up for it with things .. .this is not that uncommon.
There’s actually an episode where Charlotte believes she’s pregnant, and she’s somewhat excited. Angelica of course struggles with the idea of having a sibling and, her self centered attitude, she demands of her mother to not have another baby. To which her mother is like “? What? That’s not an option.” Turns out she’s not pregnant (I doubt they actually would feature a lost pregnancy) and I believe Charlotte’s response is “oh well.” And then Angelica of course is sad now.
The show hits different now that we're in our 30's realizing that Stu and Didi were only 32 and 31 when they had their first kid, and most of their friends/family were about that same age- with Dru being about 1-2 years older than Stu but Angelica being 3 years old so he also had his kid around age 30. Those adults all had single family homes, at least 1 car, spouses (even though Chaz's wife had died), careers/jobs. They just seemed so adulty that now that we're their age often not feeling like we have things very together, we forget that it is just a very different era that they had their lives in than we have now.
Even without the baby filters, the houses all feel so big. I'm a rare home "owning" (stupid bank) millennial, and while I got a little acreage, I have nothing compared to their standard of living. Funny thing is, until recently, only 2 sets of parents should have had more income than me.
I just had my first kid 10 weeks ago and I'm 34, kind of spins me out that I'm older than the Rugrats parents and going through all the baby stuff now!
The episode about Chucky’s mom really hits different as an adult with a son of my own. I can’t imagine what it must be like knowing your baby is going to have to live his life without you, and feeling the need to leave what you can behind to make sure he knows how much you loved him. Instant tears 😭
It was the 90's with a late 80's mindset. Of COURSE the workaholic parents had kids. It was not just the norm, it was an expectation. For a married couple (and a working woman), it didn't matter how successful Angelica's parents were if they didn't "start a family". That was so much the problem with my parent's generation.... Having kids when you would rather do literally anything else.
My parents kept getting asked when they were having kids. I was born about 2 weeks after their 2nd wedding anniversary. My dad was turning 31 the year I was born. He was a year younger than his brother when he first became a dad, the oldest in their siblings/spouses.
I'm 35, 36 soon, I don't have kids, I don't want kids at all and yes you can do a lot but people in other times were not really into that, having kids was like an obligation for them
@@JazDickinson1you'll get lonely in your 40s and 50s when all your friends have kids and no-one "goes out" anymore I'll tell you that also Christmas gets more and more lonely as times goes on and your parents die, trust me I'm living it
@@JazDickinson1 I'm glad for you, all my true friends growing up all have family's now and I'm happy for them as they seem truly happy but I do realise it's too late for me, I mainly hang around associates in bars now not the friends I grew up with
Despite their absent-mindedness, they have a good system going; they periodically take care of each other's kids whenever the others need to do something on their own. It's especially touching when you remember that Chaz is a widower and they all have to help him raise Chuckie. There are all kinds of dynamics I learned to appreciate as an adult, like how Boris and Minka treat Angelica like their own granddaughter, even though she's not related to them. Also, Drew and Stu's relationship kinda reminds me of my brother and I.
True, i think what saves the show's dynamic is that while the parents are often oblivious, they're clearly TRYING. They're not neglecting their kids per se like so many other cynical shows with asshole parents, they're always these super relatable moments of turning their back for one minute, often while they're actually trying to get to the bottom of taking care of them properly. And yeah, one thing I noticed is that before Chaz became a regular, Chuckie was often being looked after or brought to Tommy's house by Betty or another parent. Episodes even elaborate that Chaz and Drew were childhood friends and despite being a workaholic who struggles with just Angelica, he does take his turn with Chuckie in episodes like Cuffed. I don't know how long Chaz's background was planned, especially considering he's barely a character for most of Season One, but it all adds to a quiet but touching arc of Chaz being on the mend that is culminated in the second movie.
Damn, I haven't realized Angelica is not related to Boris and Minka until now. Anyway everyone threats all the children as their own. They are just a big family
I could buy Charlotte and Drew having a child, because they're the couple that proves a woman in the '90s can "have it all," while also showing the struggle to reach a proper work/family life.
Me too! Just the *mention* of I Want A Mom That Will Last Forever is enough to get me weepy. Chucky was my favorite growing up, but even more so now that my own mom has passed away 😅
Honestly even as a kid I felt like stu was to an extent. Kinda how Oscar in proud family was. His wife had to make most of the money to invest in their passions. At least stu was more inner child innocent. Oscar came off as egocentric and a cheater with his eyes
I always take it with a grain of salt. Dru thinks he's clever but at least Stu's the better father and, unlike Dru, has dreams instead of wanting to be a nameless faceless number cruncher.
Yeah, my little sister runs her fucking cock trap about me. we've been adults for 20+ years and in the last 20 years, saw each other maybe 25 times, she's still terrible towards me. I couldn't image the Hell Drew & Stu go through.
Chuckie's mom wasn't originally supposed to be dead if you watch the first season. Stu says in "Real or Robots" that his mom and dad will pick him up in the morning, and there's a redhead in "Barbeque Story" who's meant to be her. As it's clear the writers were still working out the characters, I don't mind the continuity error. It just shows how a series can develop over time, and as lots of viewers are affected by Chuckie's story, it was probably better that they simply wrote in that his mother died when he was very young, rather than following through on a few details from season 1 and having his mother alive.
Yea you are totally right. It goes into the same of how Charlotte doesn’t appear until later in the show and that Howie was never fleshed out. Most of the upfront work of the show went into developing the kids that the adults got put on the back burner. Or in Chuckie’s mom’s case, completely forgotten about until much later when new writers came in.
@@keeperofthetale It's worth noting that Chas wasn't really fully fledged at that point either. He only had one speaking role very late in the first season, only really coming into spotlight in season two (which was when Chuckie starting getting actual episodes centered around him). Same for Charlotte as Angelica episodes also came in around that time. Really the first season mostly focused around Tommy's family, so it makes sense a lot of the other characters didn't really set in until afterwards when it became more an ensemble show.
I always just thought she died between seasons in order to explain the continuity error. But I see what you mean. The show changed a lot in the years that it ran for.
Rugrats' greatest strength was being able to seamlessly juxtapose the perspectives of the babies and adults. That's how the show was able to appeal to all audiences.
I enjoy the contrast of Stu basically being a kid in an adult's body, while we see from flashbacks that Drew was basically an adult in a kid's body as a child.
My two favorite jokes in the show are "Dr. Lipschitz" and "Dr. Lepetomaine". Both names make fun of their respective occupations. Lipschitz is pronounced as "lip-shits", which is making fun of the fact that his lips spew nothing but shit. Lepetomaine is a pronounced as "Le Pétomane", which was the stage name of a real French professional farter (yes, that was a real thing); this is making fun of Lepetomaine's penchant of spewing hot hair, which is something psychologists are often accused of doing. These two jokes alone show that the writers of the show were extremely clever and witty.
Holy shit, I learned something new today! That’s hilarious, I feel like the writers of a lot of our favorite children’s shows were the most clever a lot of times
You know I always thought the Carmichaels were just generic idealised token minorities, but how you put them is actually pretty clever, they're the main parents' dream goal, to balance career and parenting perfectly. While I get why they were rarely spotlighted because of this, it's a shame they didn't utilise them in this role in a meaningful way (though one understated moment for Lucy in the movie is when Tommy 'pays' her with a chocolate coin for helping with Dil's birth, another bit of mangled logic from the babies, but Lucy actually seems to get it. An adult actually understands what the babies' actions mean).
What’s interesting is how it kind of gets subverted in the grown up series. There’s an episode or two that explore the polar opposite upbringings of Susie and Angelica and how they lean to one extreme or the other and need balance as a result: Angelica because she’s too spoiled and lazy and Susie because she’s too much of a perfectionist and very stressed.
@@inkheart151 I admit it feels like something potentially could have been made of it in the original show, since Suzie is clearly within the friend circle more and more after her first appearance. Not as often as the others but she's clearly given to Stu and Didi a lot. One episode even shows her older sister trying to babysit her siblings and almost cracking under the pressure of so many rambunctious kids. There's also that episode that implies that the family are constantly moving house due to career advances, leaving Suzie with no friends long term before she finally settled in Tommy's neighbourhood. She straight up breaks down in tears when she thinks she's going to go through all that again.
I caught the coin thing too. As for them being idealized, where I was from, we only had 1 black kid in my school, and I thought he was loaded. He wasn't, and was surprised when I stated he was, but yeah. This trope in television mixed with his confidence and clothing to make me think that.
@@LegendStormcrow I am curious if you learned anything - about yourself and societal stereotypes as a whole - from that incident. If you don't mind sharing, I'd love to know what you learned and how you applied that knowledge to your interactions with Black people going forward. (no pressure. I'm just curious. 🤗)
@@dr.braxygilkeycruises1460 I learned people were just people. I was pretty young at the time, so there had been a kind of mystique about anyone who didn't glow in the dark or get an orange tan from a bottle, minus maybe the Lakota. I still gathered around for their stories, not that I can remember much so many years later, but since I knew a good many...
I re-watched the first rugrats movie a few years ago as an adult and I was so stressed out lol it was more like a horror movie than an adventure. The concept of literal babies and toddlers being lost in a state park, stalked by a wolf, is like something right out of a scary movie.
I think the writers did an incredible job humanizing the parents and keeping them that way, while still allowing charcacter growth. Looking back on this show as a 42 year old man, the writing around this was absolutely genius. Not because of the complexity of storylines but because every character was relatable in some way. Every character had flaws and strengths. Everybody on the show had purpose. The storyline of the Finsters, however, is downright heartbreaking, and the show constantly highlights (subtly) the damage done to Chucky by not having his mother around. He shows all of the signs of early childhood trauma. I really related a lot to Chucky growing up because my childhood was super messed up. My mother didnt die, but I suffered other horrific traumas, and I could identify with the fear of the unknown, because the unknown is what takes your innocence away.
Another aspect of didis and stus parenting shows in the mothers day episode. Didis first experience as a mom was her son being born very early and only being able to touch him through an incubator. So she likely had to rely on the doctors and nurses to know how to care for their baby. It also explains how worked up they got when tommy got that fever. He is a preemie. A cold can be VERY serious for them. Tommy also shows signs it may have affected him. He is bowlegged and walks a bit differently from the other babies. He hasnt got hair or teeth by 1, which makes sense bc his age would be adjusted. So didi is overprotective. And more cautious than others might be.
Fun Fact: Arlene Klasky (the show's co-creator) was something of a surrogate for Didi. She was also known to be a massive book parent, keeping volumes of "how to" books when it came to raising her children.
As a first time parent who grew up watching rugrats, I can say first hand that you will see the parent characters very differently. Even in other shows, I have found myself giving parent characters more empathy in situations now knowing how hard it is to be a parent.
I would say Charlotte is an example of the pressure 90s women felt. You couldn't be a career woman if you didn't also have kids and "doing it all" and I liked the episodes with her struggling to find that balance and not being a naturally maternal mother figure❤
I wonder with Charlotte and Drew if they had Angelica specifically for a work-related reason. Like if one of them was trying to bag some family-oriented client so they decided to try to have a baby so they could be like "Oh yeah we're all about family, in fact we're expecting our first child soon!"
That seems in-character for both of them, though mostly Charlotte, because Charlotte, to me, seems more willing to do that than Drew. Plus, this came on in the early 1990s, when the 1980s corporate culture was more-or-less still around, even though its best days were behind it.
One thing I definitely noticed when I was older looking back on this show, it's amazing to see how much the writing reflects the psyches of the parents. It wasn't just a cutesy television show about babies so much as a familial slice of life story about the growth and experiences of new parents. Each parent, though technically in the background,are the driving force of the series. they are what give the series a plot and not just entirely episodic with the "status quo is god" that most animated series fall back on. Grandpa really does leave home, gets remarried, has a life of his own the whole family is still part of. Tommy really does get a younger brother that remains part of the plot instead of phasing him out as what normally happens even in adult programming. It was brilliant.
@@lucar9873 That brings back memories. I didn't have any Rugrats on VHS, but my dad loved Ren and Stimpy, and I remember finding an old tape with a bunch of episodes when I was in high school. A friend and I watched that tape repeatedly, enjoying the early 90's commercials almost as much as the show.
This is soooo well done. Thank you for making it! I’m 31 so I grew up on Rugrats & have been feeling nostalgic asf lately.. and I’m constantly looking for things my kids & I can enjoy together. I’m gonna see if I can talk them into watching this with me now! Lol
Growing up in the 90s, Rugrats was the first ever cartoon I watched religiously and it will always be one of my favorites. Even today I still enjoy seeing the imaginative adventures that the babies went on and I too have picked up on more of the things that the adults did and there was even an adult joke thrown in very subtly that I picked up on in the episode where Tommy sheds his clothes and it was hysterical.
I’ve watched it at 3 points in my life. As a kid, as a 20 year old “adult” and then recently as a 30 year old with Netflix. Each age has given me different feelings. As a kid I use to think how Dede and Stu were always acting with hysteria or psycho helicopter parenting and I wished my parents were as blind as they could be. As an adult, it almost bugs me more just how unconscious they are and out of touch with how their children feel, and I remember thinks like that as a young child. Being unable to communicate or even convey the emotion or thoughts as a toddler, and your parents either not getting your feeling or simply not caring. The parents are always concerned about either the wrong things or not paying attention at all. It’s funny and entertaining still because it’s a show. But the part that bugs me is how it’s basically realistic. It’s so weird how I always saw my own parents and others parents and kids in this show. They did it all so well.
Rugrats started when I was eleven, and as someone who couldn't remember my late father, I was really touched by Chuckie and his dad's story. I remember feeling like the show was a level up in storytelling compared to a lot of cartoons I had been watching, because there was that feeling of two equally important strands of story and the parents felt like real people (compared with, say, Muppet Babies, where you only ever saw Nanny below the knee). It was just in that period when it felt like writers were getting more conscious of parents watching alongside their kids and wanted to throw some stuff in for them, but which would also add a degree of emotional truth to make it more attractive to the children too - the cross-generational popularity of The Simpsons probably did a lot to expand what felt possible in a fairly short, episodic cartoon series.
The song I want a mom that will last forever is about to make me start crying my eyes out just being reminded of it. When I was a kid, I would cry SO MUCH when I would hear that song. The Movie Rugrats in Paris makes me SO Thankful I had my mom growing up.
something i lvoe about angelica is her character development as she does soften up over time andw e see in all grown up she does become an over all good person with some stuck up issues
*Does anyone remember the episode about Grandpa's long lost love Morgana?* And how he worries that she'll think he's "too old" if she finds out his a grandad? It hits differently as an adult and I always wondered why they never revisited her, especially in the Rugrats in Paris movie when he gets remarried. Damn, this show was deep.
I have found the show always relevant throughout the different stages of my life. P.S The reason the psychologists are called crude names is due to an ongoing feud between the writers and Arlene Klasky who used to be a big fan of that types of psychology.
Randy was always my favorite. He is a big writer for the dummy bears and said to be a comedic genius but every scene he is down to earth, normal and deadpan. My favorite episode is the one where the dummy bears creator comes by for dinner. Randy at the end just has the greatest “I’m done with this” expression
Born in 89. Was one years old, the same time that Rugrats premiered, was the same age as them in All Grown Up when war ended, I finish middle school and went all grown up and they have finished high school. And now I’m 34 with the reboot. I’m appreciating the parents and everyone else looking at😮 them a different way with these TH-cam videos.
I Grew Up With Rugrats Myself. I'm In 80's Baby And Turned 2 Years Old When The Rugrats Was In It's First Season. Angelica Was My Favorite Character Back In The Day And Later On Liked Susie.
@@keeperofthetale I Liked Angelica Because Of Her Hairstyle, Outfit And Personality. I Also Liked Susie As Well Because Susie Was The Only Rugrat That Angelica Could Not Ever Bully Because Susie Was Smarter Than Her And Also The Same Age. I Loved When Susie Put Angelica In Her Place Because It Was Funny.
Howard and Betty were definitely a lavender marriage I wish they kept them both for the reboot but have them be ex or just best friends who both wanted to be partners
Thanks for making this. Your ideas are insightful and refreshingly wholesome. Your voice is the best mix of soothing and great pacing. Much needed within the internet space
I’m shocked you don’t have 100k subscribers this was so well edited and produced. You’re voice is soothing and authentic 😊 I started watching this on Netflix recently and felt guilty watching a kids show in my free time but it’s so nice to hear others older like me enjoy it and the complexity of the family dynamics and situations. Thanks for the video can’t wait for more
As a parent whose 4-year-old daughter just discovered Rugrats, I love this analysis. Rugrats first came out when I was in middle school, so I only knew of the early episodes. I used to love them. Now, watching it with my daughter, I appreciate them on a different level. I definitely see myself as part Stu, part Chas personalitywise. But let’s not forget the older generation and the attitudes they have. Predominantly we have Lou Pickles. He represents “the greatest generation”, as they’re called. The ones who came of age during WWII and the Korean War, during the Eisenhower era, etc. While Lou is not as fleshed out as Stu and Drew, we definitely see a lot of that old pre-Boomer attitude in Lou that’s usually ignored or mocked by the younger adults (any “back in my day” statement of his). But we see that Lou has a wisdom to his, he’s actually very handy, and more often than none understands the kids better than the other adults. The other grandparents, Boris and Minka. As someone with Jewish family, their characters really hit home for me. At first, they’re kind of caricatures (ie Boris complaining about Didi having a carrot cake instead of a chocolate cake). But the more the show goes on, the more Boris and Minka begin to accurately portray Eastern European Jewish grandparents (most of my mother’s parents’ family for me). The episodes that focus on Boris are mostly the ones focusing on Jewish stuff like the Hanukah and Passover episodes. But as an American raised Jewish, currently married into a non-Jewish family, I love those moments that Lou and Boris clash. It about explains my cultural upbringing to a T, the American in me vs the Jew in my family.
Fun fact Stu & co were only in their early 30s when they had Tommy. I love that they showed “older” parents rather then those having kids in their 20s.
Damn dude this was a really relatable take on a childhood classic. I actually am tempted to go back and re-watch the OG series again, particularly to pay attention to the parents. All of the families represent fundamental and REAL parental archetypes. Thanks for the analysis. Subbed.
Thank you for posting this…I might be on the same age as the parents now…and I used to watch this a lot as a kid and love it so much…thank you because this encourages me to watch it again and looking into the parent’s perspective
And everyone arguing about what prize she should take if she wins and she picked that Dalmatian statue just because she liked it, and not whatever would be worth the most money or whatever?
I always kinda liked that episode for Didi and Tommy's bond in that episode. Didi confides to her son how unlikely she thinks it is she'll win anything and get her 'place in the sun'. Tommy of course mangles the logic and literally goes after the sun, but it's still a sweet moment. I like all those episodes that show even with communication barrier the two sides clearly love each other, that you don't have to 100% "get" someone to care deeply about them.
Interesting how SpongeBob worked because you had childlike SpongeBob for the kids and the adult representation in squidward where viewers of SpongeBob who grow up are able to empathize with squidward and the same thing can really be said for rugrats where growing up as a kid watching the show the viewer relates to the children/babies but as they age are able to rewatch the show and relate to the adults. And technically speaking those are the two most iconic shows associated with Nickelodeon so it’s really almost like making shows that cater to both adults and children on a deeper level isn’t just a waste of time that’s missing out on an easy cash grab. These franchises are seen as timeless the way I’m sure Bluey now will be able to keep a similar legacy. Family media that indulges the *entire* family will always be relevant.
I loved Howard, he might not have been a very big factor in the show but his quiet presence sort of impressed me as a kid and you could say i became a bit of Howard myself
Amazing analysis of one of my favourite shows growing up! Chucky was always one of my favourites and seeing him get a new mom in the movie arc was something I resonated with as a child.. having been estranged from my family this gave me hope that someday someone will love me even though I’m not theirs.
All things considered, Chaz did a freaking awesome job as a dad for everything he (and Chuckie) went through. I’m not a parent at present but I have lost someone I loved deeply before and it’s been several years and I’m still not over it. Not saying Chaz was/is ever “over it” but, like, he really held his shit together much better than I think I would have… especially raising a kid on his own simultaneously with holding said shit together.
I was born in 1991, so i was at the prime age to love this show when I was a kid. Now I watch it with my 2 year old and we enjoy it together, and I do find myself relating to the parents and finding humor in their perspectives. I will say that they do need to watch those kids better though!!! If my kid ever got lost as much as theirs, I would probably be put in jail for neglect. I know the babies' tendency to get loose drives the plot for adventures though 😂
I remember seeing a bit of the show when I was a child - I was very close to hitting the 2 digit mark and "too big" for what I perceived as a Baby Show, and TV was extremely restricted in my household, so I don't think I saw more than one or two episodes, so it really didn't have a chance to resonate with me, sadly. Then I had a kid of my own and it was one of those things that was available on Netflix, so I would let him watch it while I got work done, but eventually found myself sitting down and watching with him. Some of those episodes hit way harder as both an adult and a parent, but with such a quiet knack for never taking away from the story geared towards children. (and I do appreciate the many Doctor Who references, which I definitely did not get when I was a kid)
One thing always resonates with me as an is when Stu says "Yippee! School's canceled" Not to mention the infamous chocolate pudding quoquo"Because I've lost control of my life "
i was 3 when i started watching this show and now i m 29 (around parents age) and it does hit different, but I don't have kids yet. I will introduce this cartoon to my future babies. It was best experience as kid, i swear i feel like i had all adventures with team rugrats. I love how realistic are all characters, not just good or bad, they have different sides and this is what brings them to life. My fave couples are Stu and Did, and Carmichaels, i love their bond. Stu is same as Phil Dunphy archetype to me and i really relate to it. p.s. i dont like remakes as genre i just dont understand why you should reboot something what is already good and not that old. Betty being lesbian in reboot is toxic because as queer person i can say that its only stereotyping. Women can be masculine, strong, or have short hair or something but it doesn't make them gay, or not enough, as well as Howard was enough husband even is he did cooking or was calm or some shit considered feminine.
Thank you for this. I turned 30 this year, about to get married, and my fiancée and I decided to revisit this show recently. We don’t have kids, just pets; yet we found ourselves relating to the parents in terms of navigating our ways of caring for them and also navigating our roles in our new life together. When we were kids, my siblings and I always said, “Oh you’re a TOTAL Tommy” to someone, but as an adult, we’re figuring out which of the parents we would be haha. Anyway, great analysis. Subscribed, and I look forward to watching your channel grow!
I always felt Chuckie was a boy version of myself, shy,anxious, kinda just did what his friends did,was also confirmed to be a lefty,the is only main child character to have glasses,and we both lost our mom's at a young age. (I was 14 months. A year & 2 months)
This was such a well done thoughtful video. I hope your channel sees major growth. Other note- these 90s kids shows hit some good topics and did it in a way where it didn’t feel forced (like just for the sake of meeting some quota), it felt natural and genuine.
I always thought it was a disservice to what they did for Betty . She always struck me as that Roseanne type of woman, someone coming in the modern age who could be the strong person in the relationship.
It never occurred to me until I was an adult how young the adults are supposed to be. I imagine that none of them (except for maybe Drew and Charlotte) are even over 30
Something ive also noticed on rewatch is relating some of the babies issues to my own child. Namely the sippy cup and not wanting to be weened off the bottle. Jesus that hits home now.
The reboot also tackles this, but unlike in the original, Tommy comes to terms with being too old to have a bottle, and decides to pass on his bottle to Dil.
I watched this show as a toddler up until it finished syndication. My mother took us to see the first two movies. As an adult around the same age the adults of this show, not only does it hit differently, it shows me how life as an adult in the 90s is worlds away from adult life today. How everyone is married, with families, stable jobs except Stu, doing the things adults did back then. However, it's not all bad. For example: things like playing videogames were deemed childish back then, today a lot more people play and it's a legit form of leisure. This is a cartoon but it really reflected a lot of aspects of life especially during that time. The adults I know, very few have that. It's really a blast from the past.
I remember watching this as a kid and being so young I couldn't actually read the episode titles and had to ask my mom what they said. This was easily my favorite show as a child and I remember always wanting to watch it all the time and we even had a VHS tape of a few episodes, of which, the only episode I can remember that was on that tape was when Tommy and Chucky (I think it was those 2) were in the toy store after it closed.
Rugrats was a favorite cartoon of mine growing up and is also one of my mom's. I was about Phil and Lil's age when the show first premiered so I related to the babies while my mom related to the parents. The stuff I did was similar to what the babies did.
For some reason, despite only being 4 at the time, I still remember watching Doug, Rugrats, and Ren & Stimpy first premiering back in 1991. It was really weird when I realized that I went from being only 1 year older than Angelica, to now being older than the parents...
Love this deep dive. Rugrats is one of my all-time favorite cartoons. I can relate to the adults more now that I’m older. I feel myself more in Finster's shoes. Rugrats in Paris is a movie that helps my son and me easily understand complex concepts. My son's father passed when he was seven months old. Watching that movie help me relate to his life in comparison. Though I haven’t settled down I hope my son understands that he’s never alone and that death is a part of life. That we can treasure the ones we lose but they never really leave our hearts. We just find room to grow into bigger families and love those we’ve lost.
Even though the Carmichaels are the oldest parents, their children are also a bit older, hinting that maybe they were at similar ages to the other parents where they started out. Afterall, their younest is 3 and the eldest looks around 5.
Wasn’t Susie’s oldest sister a teenager who would usually be seen on her phone as much as Charlotte? There was an episode where she babysat and all sorts of issues cropped up that brought in some of the other Carmichael kids to help deal with it.
This show is a great example of how it really was written for both audiences, but as you mentioned, more of children as well as older adults, especially parents. The plights of adulthood suddenly reframe this show has being half about the babies and half about the adults, making sure at least one group is relatable.
My eyes still water up a bit with that I want a mom song. Seriously, how many kids in this world are in that very situation. I love my mom so much, she was the person i ran to when i found out i was pregnant. Im dreading the day i dont have her in my life.
Thanks! I appreciate this comment. Researching and editing these has proven to be pretty time consuming, but you’ve given me some motivation to work on the next video! Thanks again!
@@keeperofthetale I watched them all last night and loved it, man; lately, I’ve had a tough time locking into any entertainment, but these captured my attention, so thank you for the excellent material~
Great video, just happened pop on my recommended. I recently started rewatching the series a few months ago with my 6 month old. I too started to see the adults POV through the show. It has really breathed new life through this rewatch.
I was 4 in 1991. I watched Rugrats from the start. My cousin's were also into Rugrats as well. I read the majority of rugrats books put out in the 90's, I still have all of my Rugrats games for gameboy, GameBoy Color, GameBoy Advance, PS1, & PS2. I got every rugrats games released back then except the one for the N64. Ironically I had the N64 but didn't know about the rugrats n64 game until after I traded in my n64 back then~ 🤦♀️🤣 Me & my cousin's also had the majority of the rugrats doll's released back then. I still have all of my rugrat doll's from the 90's / early 2000 era. I can't speak for my cousin's. My one cousin who is my best friend for 30+ years used to copy me back when getting any new toy. I still remember getting Angelica in the pink remote control car my cousin got Suzie Carmichael in the green remote control car. She told me because I got Angelica she had to get Suzie & claimed her & suzie were alike because suzie was the good character in the show & asking me why I got Angelica. Angelica was easy for me to relate to sadly... I'm an only child & a girl so I did get the only child perspective of Angelica even though I was always a good kid. I guess easier for my cousin to relate to suzie because they both have sisters etc. Same cousin she did this with Barbies too always getting the Teresa (barbie doll's instead of barbie doll's back then) When I asked her why it was because her mom / my aunt's name is: Teresa~ 🤷♀️🤦♀️🤣✌️
Rugrats came out around when I graduated second grade and moved to a new town. I'll never forget when Rugrats came out. I lost all my friends and really dug into TV at that time. The whole SNICK line up was great.
I was a kid that grew up watching this show. I loved it. Now I'm a father of a 4 year old boy, 2 year old girl, and 3 month old boy. Seeing the clips you showed of the parents triggered memories from seeing the show as a kid that I hadn't remembered in decades. It also made me think of all the wonderful tender moments I have had with my kids and how quick it goes by. It's truly one of the most beautiful things that someone can experience.
Bro. You hit something in me. When talking about Stu and DiDi on Tommy’s first birthday. I had my daughter two years ago. And you nailed it. I was starting my own business. Being caught up in that but trying to balance being a new dad. And being a good father. Having my own personal dreams. But trying to put them on the back burner so I can focus on being a good dad and husband. Shit I’d hard. You explained it so perfectly and simply. Much bettter than I could ever had. Made me emotional
I just watched the first couple of seasons a little while ago. During that episode when Tommy and Chuckie were left at the toy store, when Stu told Chaz they should go to the toy store again and Chaz said that he can't cuz he's gonna apply some mulch, I just burst out laughing. I was like I can't believe I'm laughing at something so dumb and relatable.
I absolutely loved your analyzation of this and it’s so hard to find friends who can also relate to media like this. New subscriber for sure, keep up the great work
I also love how the adults have their own personal families like Boris, Minka, Grandpa Lou and Lulu, but they decided to stay with each other as their chosen family and keep their children close together. It really concerns me when people say that they don't need each other and that they can do everything by themselves. We need each other. We need community. We need people. And we don't just need each other to be our village to take care of each other's kids, but we actually need to be FRIENDS with these people. You can't say that you have a chosen family or you have a village if you want other people to depend on, but they can't depend on you. To be friends outside of your children, to hang out outside of your children, to want to share your good fortunes with them, and not just dump on them when only you have issues.
I always thought Betty and Howard were supposed to subvert expectations of gender roles. There's nothing wrong with having a mom that likes more traditionally male-oriented things, and it's fine to have a more soft spoken husband. I think making her a lesbian furthers the stereotype that women that do enjoy "masculine" things _have_ to be lesbians. That's pretty damaging.
Completely agree
When I was a kid I assumed Betty was a lesbian because she reminded me a lot of my lesbian aunt. I was confused about why she had a husband
Especially since the show came out in 1991 - that kind of "grrrl power" thing was big, so I just read it as like... she's just a tough woman who doesn't like to cook and is really feminist. Which doesn't mean you're a lesbian. It's just like "oh she has short hair and wears a sweater and likes to arm wrestle MUST BE GAY", that's not a helpful attitude at all.
THANK YOU I love representation but not at the expense of reskinning a character I rather a new queer parent character maybe a friend of betty and Dede since they seem the most likely not to be narrow minded
That's a thought that crossed my mind, if it kinda feeds into stereotypes. Also just erasing Howard feels weird, idk maybe they coulda made her bi?
Chaz not wanting to dispose of his memorabilia of his late wife but not wanting it around at this time to trigger his depression regarding her is a real feel, and Stu and Didi letting him keep it at their house makes them real friends.
As someone who just lost my more than just best friend Friday after 15 years. and feeling this way with seeing his things in the house makes this hit even way harder.
@@franniebear777 im so sorry for your loss. Hang in there.
@@franniebear777I am so sorry for your loss.
I lost my boyfriend in 2016 and yeah, it's super real, I have a lot of his stuff where he left it to this day
I will say this, as a parent the episode where Stu is making pudding at 4am for Angelica because he's lost control of his life might be one of the most relatable moments in the show.
Yes 😂
What's worse is that would be considered less out of control now.
That scene lives rent free in my head. It’s crazy bc even as a kid, for whatever reason, I understood the realness of that moment even then.
Love that scene!😂😅
@@Canthavemybones Same here!😂😅
Over 25 years later and "because I've lost control of my life" has been the occasional answer to questions asked of me. (Though mostly meant with some humor.) the reality of that scene hit me even as a kid, but it still makes me laugh. Rugrats was my favorite, and always loved that episode.
I always thought that the parents gave this show a lot of depth and adds an additional layer to the stories that makes Rugrats worth revisiting as an adult.
Yea exactly! There’s so much information there when you look at the parents
@@keeperofthetale aaaa😅aaa😅aa
Yes, as a kid I loved how the kids had their own perspective of the world yet they still showed the parents too, even though the show was about the babies.
@@keeperofthetale your getting better at youtube every time you upload, keep it up
@@keeperofthetale I always thought the parents were hilarious. I remember them playing a complicated board game and just getting frustrated with each other and arguing the entire time.
I was talking to a friend the other day about how the parents are like extensions of the kids, showing aspects of their personality in an adult form. Stu and Deedee are like Tommy's childish and protective aspects, Chuckie's dad is an extension of neuroticism. Betty and Howard are dramatic and unpredictable. Angelica's mom represents her ego, and her dad represents her hidden insecurity. It is actually kind of deep when you think about it
Very deep insight, however I think you have it inverted. The children reflect the characteristics of their parents and react accordingly to their emotional queues, not the other way around. Very much like in real life - however I do enjoy your theory and appreciate where you’re coming from.
Tbh I buy Drew and Charlotte having a kid even though it doesn’t mesh with their lifestyles and goals because in the 80s/90s people really didn’t consider not having kids as a choice. And especially for Charlotte being trapped in 90s girlboss hell she basically NEEDED to be a mom to be relevant. It totally sucks
It could also be that Charlotte got pregnant accidentally and rather than a planned pregnancy.
I can totally see her character thinking an accidental pregnancy is a “hurtle” she has to prove she can through and still be a power boss. Being pregnant and staying in charge while her coworkers were probably talking as if she’d quite and just become a housewife, just made her double down on her career.
I wouldn't be surprised if that was the case, drew and Charlotte are slightly older than the moan parents group, so it could make sense that's why they spoil Angelica so much, maybe didn't pass as much Time with her when she was full baby and even currently since they both have demanding jobs
They are parents who perhaps wanted a kid, but then when they got one, they didn't really know how to be parents and its not something that clicks with them. Drew tries and charlotte wants to try too but their careers and their needs get in the way. not everyone is cut out to be a parent (that doesn't mean they don't love their kid or not want to provide the best for them, its just parenting isn't a natural thing) and its something you can't know until you have a baby.
There is literally no way to prepare for parenthood. many friends used to talk about how they looked after their nieces and nephews etc but even if you have that kid for a week, there is an expiry date to that care and you are working from someone else's play book. you can't prepare for parenthood by looking after other people's kids because once you have your own, your expiry date (somewhat) is when they move out and it is 24/7. its easy to be a perfect parent for a week or so until you give your nieces or nephew or what ever back ... its much harder to do it for 20 years 24/7 or to prepare for the disruption it brings to your life.
to me, they probably liked the idea of a child and had an idealized view of it, but then had angelica and weren't ready to let go of their corporate high flying life, so make up for it with things .. .this is not that uncommon.
There’s actually an episode where Charlotte believes she’s pregnant, and she’s somewhat excited. Angelica of course struggles with the idea of having a sibling and, her self centered attitude, she demands of her mother to not have another baby. To which her mother is like “? What? That’s not an option.” Turns out she’s not pregnant (I doubt they actually would feature a lost pregnancy) and I believe Charlotte’s response is “oh well.” And then Angelica of course is sad now.
The show hits different now that we're in our 30's realizing that Stu and Didi were only 32 and 31 when they had their first kid, and most of their friends/family were about that same age- with Dru being about 1-2 years older than Stu but Angelica being 3 years old so he also had his kid around age 30.
Those adults all had single family homes, at least 1 car, spouses (even though Chaz's wife had died), careers/jobs. They just seemed so adulty that now that we're their age often not feeling like we have things very together, we forget that it is just a very different era that they had their lives in than we have now.
Even without the baby filters, the houses all feel so big. I'm a rare home "owning" (stupid bank) millennial, and while I got a little acreage, I have nothing compared to their standard of living.
Funny thing is, until recently, only 2 sets of parents should have had more income than me.
Isn’t 32 and 31 a pretty normal age to have a kid?
@@mummytrolls exactly, but when you're a kid, 30 seems so old. But now we realize that even being 36 isn't unreasonable to even be grandparents
I just had my first kid 10 weeks ago and I'm 34, kind of spins me out that I'm older than the Rugrats parents and going through all the baby stuff now!
If I remember right, stu and didi live in Pops's house
The episode about Chucky’s mom really hits different as an adult with a son of my own. I can’t imagine what it must be like knowing your baby is going to have to live his life without you, and feeling the need to leave what you can behind to make sure he knows how much you loved him. Instant tears 😭
It was the 90's with a late 80's mindset. Of COURSE the workaholic parents had kids. It was not just the norm, it was an expectation. For a married couple (and a working woman), it didn't matter how successful Angelica's parents were if they didn't "start a family". That was so much the problem with my parent's generation.... Having kids when you would rather do literally anything else.
My parents kept getting asked when they were having kids. I was born about 2 weeks after their 2nd wedding anniversary. My dad was turning 31 the year I was born. He was a year younger than his brother when he first became a dad, the oldest in their siblings/spouses.
I'm 35, 36 soon, I don't have kids, I don't want kids at all and yes you can do a lot but people in other times were not really into that, having kids was like an obligation for them
@@JazDickinson1you'll get lonely in your 40s and 50s when all your friends have kids and no-one "goes out" anymore I'll tell you that also Christmas gets more and more lonely as times goes on and your parents die, trust me I'm living it
@@schmitz4206 I have a lot of friends on my same age range that don't have or want kids
@@JazDickinson1 I'm glad for you, all my true friends growing up all have family's now and I'm happy for them as they seem truly happy but I do realise it's too late for me, I mainly hang around associates in bars now not the friends I grew up with
Despite their absent-mindedness, they have a good system going; they periodically take care of each other's kids whenever the others need to do something on their own. It's especially touching when you remember that Chaz is a widower and they all have to help him raise Chuckie. There are all kinds of dynamics I learned to appreciate as an adult, like how Boris and Minka treat Angelica like their own granddaughter, even though she's not related to them.
Also, Drew and Stu's relationship kinda reminds me of my brother and I.
As the saying goes, "it takes a village".
True, i think what saves the show's dynamic is that while the parents are often oblivious, they're clearly TRYING. They're not neglecting their kids per se like so many other cynical shows with asshole parents, they're always these super relatable moments of turning their back for one minute, often while they're actually trying to get to the bottom of taking care of them properly.
And yeah, one thing I noticed is that before Chaz became a regular, Chuckie was often being looked after or brought to Tommy's house by Betty or another parent. Episodes even elaborate that Chaz and Drew were childhood friends and despite being a workaholic who struggles with just Angelica, he does take his turn with Chuckie in episodes like Cuffed. I don't know how long Chaz's background was planned, especially considering he's barely a character for most of Season One, but it all adds to a quiet but touching arc of Chaz being on the mend that is culminated in the second movie.
Damn, I haven't realized Angelica is not related to Boris and Minka until now. Anyway everyone threats all the children as their own. They are just a big family
I could buy Charlotte and Drew having a child, because they're the couple that proves a woman in the '90s can "have it all," while also showing the struggle to reach a proper work/family life.
I ain’t gonna lie you elaborating on Chaz and Chucky dynamic got me teary eyed. Chucky was always my favorite character
There’s a reason that family was the story line for Rugrats in Paris. They tug on heart strings like nobody’s business.
Me too! Just the *mention* of I Want A Mom That Will Last Forever is enough to get me weepy. Chucky was my favorite growing up, but even more so now that my own mom has passed away 😅
This ☝🏼😭
as a kid I hated Chucky’s character but as an adult it’s Phil and Lil’s nasty behinds I detest lol
That “aunt didi got saddled with a loser” line from the movie hits differently too. Stu was providing free child care and dru says that?
Honestly even as a kid I felt like stu was to an extent. Kinda how Oscar in proud family was. His wife had to make most of the money to invest in their passions. At least stu was more inner child innocent. Oscar came off as egocentric and a cheater with his eyes
I always take it with a grain of salt. Dru thinks he's clever but at least Stu's the better father and, unlike Dru, has dreams instead of wanting to be a nameless faceless number cruncher.
@@lunch_treytrue Dru looked at Stu like a loser but Stu was happier than he was
Yeah, my little sister runs her fucking cock trap about me. we've been adults for 20+ years and in the last 20 years, saw each other maybe 25 times, she's still terrible towards me. I couldn't image the Hell Drew & Stu go through.
Chuckie's mom wasn't originally supposed to be dead if you watch the first season. Stu says in "Real or Robots" that his mom and dad will pick him up in the morning, and there's a redhead in "Barbeque Story" who's meant to be her. As it's clear the writers were still working out the characters, I don't mind the continuity error. It just shows how a series can develop over time, and as lots of viewers are affected by Chuckie's story, it was probably better that they simply wrote in that his mother died when he was very young, rather than following through on a few details from season 1 and having his mother alive.
Yea you are totally right. It goes into the same of how Charlotte doesn’t appear until later in the show and that Howie was never fleshed out. Most of the upfront work of the show went into developing the kids that the adults got put on the back burner. Or in Chuckie’s mom’s case, completely forgotten about until much later when new writers came in.
@@keeperofthetale It's worth noting that Chas wasn't really fully fledged at that point either. He only had one speaking role very late in the first season, only really coming into spotlight in season two (which was when Chuckie starting getting actual episodes centered around him). Same for Charlotte as Angelica episodes also came in around that time.
Really the first season mostly focused around Tommy's family, so it makes sense a lot of the other characters didn't really set in until afterwards when it became more an ensemble show.
I always just thought she died between seasons in order to explain the continuity error. But I see what you mean. The show changed a lot in the years that it ran for.
The show was never clear on how much time passes.
Maybe she died after she was shown it doesn’t ever really say WHEN she died
Rugrats' greatest strength was being able to seamlessly juxtapose the perspectives of the babies and adults. That's how the show was able to appeal to all audiences.
I enjoy the contrast of Stu basically being a kid in an adult's body, while we see from flashbacks that Drew was basically an adult in a kid's body as a child.
My two favorite jokes in the show are "Dr. Lipschitz" and "Dr. Lepetomaine". Both names make fun of their respective occupations. Lipschitz is pronounced as "lip-shits", which is making fun of the fact that his lips spew nothing but shit. Lepetomaine is a pronounced as "Le Pétomane", which was the stage name of a real French professional farter (yes, that was a real thing); this is making fun of Lepetomaine's penchant of spewing hot hair, which is something psychologists are often accused of doing. These two jokes alone show that the writers of the show were extremely clever and witty.
Holy shit, I learned something new today! That’s hilarious, I feel like the writers of a lot of our favorite children’s shows were the most clever a lot of times
Sweet violets by menagerie. Basically a song about him, though with a fictional twist for the sake of comedy.
I only realized "Lipschitz" sounded like a swear word when I rewatched some of the episodes at age 15.
Lipschitz was the name of the judge who precoded over my parents divorce. I always found that humorous
My mom and I use to laughter at lipshitz name 😂
You know I always thought the Carmichaels were just generic idealised token minorities, but how you put them is actually pretty clever, they're the main parents' dream goal, to balance career and parenting perfectly. While I get why they were rarely spotlighted because of this, it's a shame they didn't utilise them in this role in a meaningful way (though one understated moment for Lucy in the movie is when Tommy 'pays' her with a chocolate coin for helping with Dil's birth, another bit of mangled logic from the babies, but Lucy actually seems to get it. An adult actually understands what the babies' actions mean).
What’s interesting is how it kind of gets subverted in the grown up series. There’s an episode or two that explore the polar opposite upbringings of Susie and Angelica and how they lean to one extreme or the other and need balance as a result: Angelica because she’s too spoiled and lazy and Susie because she’s too much of a perfectionist and very stressed.
@@inkheart151 I admit it feels like something potentially could have been made of it in the original show, since Suzie is clearly within the friend circle more and more after her first appearance. Not as often as the others but she's clearly given to Stu and Didi a lot. One episode even shows her older sister trying to babysit her siblings and almost cracking under the pressure of so many rambunctious kids. There's also that episode that implies that the family are constantly moving house due to career advances, leaving Suzie with no friends long term before she finally settled in Tommy's neighbourhood. She straight up breaks down in tears when she thinks she's going to go through all that again.
I caught the coin thing too.
As for them being idealized, where I was from, we only had 1 black kid in my school, and I thought he was loaded. He wasn't, and was surprised when I stated he was, but yeah.
This trope in television mixed with his confidence and clothing to make me think that.
@@LegendStormcrow I am curious if you learned anything - about yourself and societal stereotypes as a whole - from that incident. If you don't mind sharing, I'd love to know what you learned and how you applied that knowledge to your interactions with Black people going forward. (no pressure. I'm just curious. 🤗)
@@dr.braxygilkeycruises1460 I learned people were just people. I was pretty young at the time, so there had been a kind of mystique about anyone who didn't glow in the dark or get an orange tan from a bottle, minus maybe the Lakota. I still gathered around for their stories, not that I can remember much so many years later, but since I knew a good many...
I re-watched the first rugrats movie a few years ago as an adult and I was so stressed out lol it was more like a horror movie than an adventure. The concept of literal babies and toddlers being lost in a state park, stalked by a wolf, is like something right out of a scary movie.
I think the writers did an incredible job humanizing the parents and keeping them that way, while still allowing charcacter growth. Looking back on this show as a 42 year old man, the writing around this was absolutely genius. Not because of the complexity of storylines but because every character was relatable in some way. Every character had flaws and strengths. Everybody on the show had purpose.
The storyline of the Finsters, however, is downright heartbreaking, and the show constantly highlights (subtly) the damage done to Chucky by not having his mother around. He shows all of the signs of early childhood trauma. I really related a lot to Chucky growing up because my childhood was super messed up. My mother didnt die, but I suffered other horrific traumas, and I could identify with the fear of the unknown, because the unknown is what takes your innocence away.
What traumas happened to you in childhood?
Another aspect of didis and stus parenting shows in the mothers day episode. Didis first experience as a mom was her son being born very early and only being able to touch him through an incubator. So she likely had to rely on the doctors and nurses to know how to care for their baby. It also explains how worked up they got when tommy got that fever. He is a preemie. A cold can be VERY serious for them. Tommy also shows signs it may have affected him. He is bowlegged and walks a bit differently from the other babies. He hasnt got hair or teeth by 1, which makes sense bc his age would be adjusted. So didi is overprotective. And more cautious than others might be.
Fun Fact: Arlene Klasky (the show's co-creator) was something of a surrogate for Didi. She was also known to be a massive book parent, keeping volumes of "how to" books when it came to raising her children.
Even Arlene has admitted that Didi was based on her. (Or at least Arlene when the show started)
As a first time parent who grew up watching rugrats, I can say first hand that you will see the parent characters very differently. Even in other shows, I have found myself giving parent characters more empathy in situations now knowing how hard it is to be a parent.
I always thought it was so odd how Chaz and Didi weren't siblings, you'd think they were related and you'd think Tommy and Chuckie were cousins.
I thought about that too as a kid!
Dee Dee is Jewish. Chaz is probably Irish American
Because they have red hair and glasses? 😮💨
I would say Charlotte is an example of the pressure 90s women felt. You couldn't be a career woman if you didn't also have kids and "doing it all" and I liked the episodes with her struggling to find that balance and not being a naturally maternal mother figure❤
I wonder with Charlotte and Drew if they had Angelica specifically for a work-related reason. Like if one of them was trying to bag some family-oriented client so they decided to try to have a baby so they could be like "Oh yeah we're all about family, in fact we're expecting our first child soon!"
That seems in-character for both of them, though mostly Charlotte, because Charlotte, to me, seems more willing to do that than Drew. Plus, this came on in the early 1990s, when the 1980s corporate culture was more-or-less still around, even though its best days were behind it.
One thing I definitely noticed when I was older looking back on this show, it's amazing to see how much the writing reflects the psyches of the parents. It wasn't just a cutesy television show about babies so much as a familial slice of life story about the growth and experiences of new parents. Each parent, though technically in the background,are the driving force of the series. they are what give the series a plot and not just entirely episodic with the "status quo is god" that most animated series fall back on. Grandpa really does leave home, gets remarried, has a life of his own the whole family is still part of. Tommy really does get a younger brother that remains part of the plot instead of phasing him out as what normally happens even in adult programming. It was brilliant.
I was born in 1988, so I grew up with the original series. This video hit all the right notes for me. Subscribed!
Also an 88 baby. I used to rewatch episodes of Rugrats and Rocko and Ren and Stimpy that I had taped on VHS over and over
@@lucar9873 That brings back memories. I didn't have any Rugrats on VHS, but my dad loved Ren and Stimpy, and I remember finding an old tape with a bunch of episodes when I was in high school. A friend and I watched that tape repeatedly, enjoying the early 90's commercials almost as much as the show.
Same. ‘88. Just had my second and last kid. This show is wild now.
Let me tell you, watching Rugrats as a parent is like watching an ENTIRELY new show.
Bruh, "I want a mom" still has me bawling.
This is soooo well done. Thank you for making it! I’m 31 so I grew up on Rugrats & have been feeling nostalgic asf lately.. and I’m constantly looking for things my kids & I can enjoy together. I’m gonna see if I can talk them into watching this with me now! Lol
Thanks so much. Comments like these mean a lot! Hope your kids get into these cartoons in general, because they’re great!
Lol, so im not the only one trying to do that with my 2 and 3 year old 😂
Growing up in the 90s, Rugrats was the first ever cartoon I watched religiously and it will always be one of my favorites. Even today I still enjoy seeing the imaginative adventures that the babies went on and I too have picked up on more of the things that the adults did and there was even an adult joke thrown in very subtly that I picked up on in the episode where Tommy sheds his clothes and it was hysterical.
I loved this video, thank you. Rugrats used to be my all time favorite show. Chuckie’s story always broke my heart.
Yea, I wonder, is it still your favorite cartoon from childhood? It was definitely way up there for me.
@@keeperofthetale I would have to say it’s tied with hey Arnold. Great video and editing. Keep it up!
I’ve watched it at 3 points in my life. As a kid, as a 20 year old “adult” and then recently as a 30 year old with Netflix. Each age has given me different feelings. As a kid I use to think how Dede and Stu were always acting with hysteria or psycho helicopter parenting and I wished my parents were as blind as they could be. As an adult, it almost bugs me more just how unconscious they are and out of touch with how their children feel, and I remember thinks like that as a young child. Being unable to communicate or even convey the emotion or thoughts as a toddler, and your parents either not getting your feeling or simply not caring. The parents are always concerned about either the wrong things or not paying attention at all. It’s funny and entertaining still because it’s a show. But the part that bugs me is how it’s basically realistic.
It’s so weird how I always saw my own parents and others parents and kids in this show. They did it all so well.
Rugrats started when I was eleven, and as someone who couldn't remember my late father, I was really touched by Chuckie and his dad's story. I remember feeling like the show was a level up in storytelling compared to a lot of cartoons I had been watching, because there was that feeling of two equally important strands of story and the parents felt like real people (compared with, say, Muppet Babies, where you only ever saw Nanny below the knee).
It was just in that period when it felt like writers were getting more conscious of parents watching alongside their kids and wanted to throw some stuff in for them, but which would also add a degree of emotional truth to make it more attractive to the children too - the cross-generational popularity of The Simpsons probably did a lot to expand what felt possible in a fairly short, episodic cartoon series.
The song I want a mom that will last forever is about to make me start crying my eyes out just being reminded of it. When I was a kid, I would cry SO MUCH when I would hear that song. The Movie Rugrats in Paris makes me SO Thankful I had my mom growing up.
As a first-time mom to a 9 month old boy Rugrats hits different!!! 😭❤ this is wonderful, you have a knack for this. Subscribed!!!
something i lvoe about angelica is her character development as she does soften up over time
andw e see in all grown up she does become an over all good person with some stuck up issues
*Does anyone remember the episode about Grandpa's long lost love Morgana?* And how he worries that she'll think he's "too old" if she finds out his a grandad? It hits differently as an adult and I always wondered why they never revisited her, especially in the Rugrats in Paris movie when he gets remarried.
Damn, this show was deep.
The flashbacks to the 1950s to give audiences specifically young ones a chance to see how life was back then for a moment.
The fever dream in slumber party always kind of freaked me out
I have found the show always relevant throughout the different stages of my life. P.S The reason the psychologists are called crude names is due to an ongoing feud between the writers and Arlene Klasky who used to be a big fan of that types of psychology.
Randy was always my favorite. He is a big writer for the dummy bears and said to be a comedic genius but every scene he is down to earth, normal and deadpan. My favorite episode is the one where the dummy bears creator comes by for dinner. Randy at the end just has the greatest “I’m done with this” expression
Born in 89. Was one years old, the same time that Rugrats premiered, was the same age as them in All Grown Up when war ended, I finish middle school and went all grown up and they have finished high school. And now I’m 34 with the reboot. I’m appreciating the parents and everyone else looking at😮 them a different way with these TH-cam videos.
I Grew Up With Rugrats Myself. I'm In 80's Baby And Turned 2 Years Old When The Rugrats Was In It's First Season. Angelica Was My Favorite Character Back In The Day And Later On Liked Susie.
Nice bro, I usually don’t find people say Angelica is their favorite. What made you like her so much?
@@keeperofthetale I Liked Angelica Because Of Her Hairstyle, Outfit And Personality. I Also Liked Susie As Well Because Susie Was The Only Rugrat That Angelica Could Not Ever Bully Because Susie Was Smarter Than Her And Also The Same Age. I Loved When Susie Put Angelica In Her Place Because It Was Funny.
Howard and Betty were definitely a lavender marriage I wish they kept them both for the reboot but have them be ex or just best friends who both wanted to be partners
I think in the reboot he's gonna show up as Betty's other bff. I have that feeling... everyone from the og cast is there except him
Thanks for making this. Your ideas are insightful and refreshingly wholesome. Your voice is the best mix of soothing and great pacing. Much needed within the internet space
Thanks so much! That means a lot to me, and I’m glad you took the time out of your day to write this.
I’m shocked you don’t have 100k subscribers this was so well edited and produced. You’re voice is soothing and authentic 😊 I started watching this on Netflix recently and felt guilty watching a kids show in my free time but it’s so nice to hear others older like me enjoy it and the complexity of the family dynamics and situations. Thanks for the video can’t wait for more
As a parent whose 4-year-old daughter just discovered Rugrats, I love this analysis. Rugrats first came out when I was in middle school, so I only knew of the early episodes. I used to love them. Now, watching it with my daughter, I appreciate them on a different level. I definitely see myself as part Stu, part Chas personalitywise.
But let’s not forget the older generation and the attitudes they have. Predominantly we have Lou Pickles. He represents “the greatest generation”, as they’re called. The ones who came of age during WWII and the Korean War, during the Eisenhower era, etc. While Lou is not as fleshed out as Stu and Drew, we definitely see a lot of that old pre-Boomer attitude in Lou that’s usually ignored or mocked by the younger adults (any “back in my day” statement of his). But we see that Lou has a wisdom to his, he’s actually very handy, and more often than none understands the kids better than the other adults.
The other grandparents, Boris and Minka. As someone with Jewish family, their characters really hit home for me. At first, they’re kind of caricatures (ie Boris complaining about Didi having a carrot cake instead of a chocolate cake). But the more the show goes on, the more Boris and Minka begin to accurately portray Eastern European Jewish grandparents (most of my mother’s parents’ family for me). The episodes that focus on Boris are mostly the ones focusing on Jewish stuff like the Hanukah and Passover episodes. But as an American raised Jewish, currently married into a non-Jewish family, I love those moments that Lou and Boris clash. It about explains my cultural upbringing to a T, the American in me vs the Jew in my family.
Fun fact Stu & co were only in their early 30s when they had Tommy. I love that they showed “older” parents rather then those having kids in their 20s.
More like mid since he's 35 when Tommy is 1. They say it in snowday episode
Damn dude this was a really relatable take on a childhood classic. I actually am tempted to go back and re-watch the OG series again, particularly to pay attention to the parents. All of the families represent fundamental and REAL parental archetypes. Thanks for the analysis.
Subbed.
Thank you for posting this…I might be on the same age as the parents now…and I used to watch this a lot as a kid and love it so much…thank you because this encourages me to watch it again and looking into the parent’s perspective
No problem 😊
Didi’s episode where she was on the game show and she kept talking about having her day in the sun is really relatable
And everyone arguing about what prize she should take if she wins and she picked that Dalmatian statue just because she liked it, and not whatever would be worth the most money or whatever?
I always kinda liked that episode for Didi and Tommy's bond in that episode. Didi confides to her son how unlikely she thinks it is she'll win anything and get her 'place in the sun'. Tommy of course mangles the logic and literally goes after the sun, but it's still a sweet moment. I like all those episodes that show even with communication barrier the two sides clearly love each other, that you don't have to 100% "get" someone to care deeply about them.
@@e-122psi3”She did it! She found her place in the sun!” gets me every time!
Interesting how SpongeBob worked because you had childlike SpongeBob for the kids and the adult representation in squidward where viewers of SpongeBob who grow up are able to empathize with squidward and the same thing can really be said for rugrats where growing up as a kid watching the show the viewer relates to the children/babies but as they age are able to rewatch the show and relate to the adults. And technically speaking those are the two most iconic shows associated with Nickelodeon so it’s really almost like making shows that cater to both adults and children on a deeper level isn’t just a waste of time that’s missing out on an easy cash grab. These franchises are seen as timeless the way I’m sure Bluey now will be able to keep a similar legacy. Family media that indulges the *entire* family will always be relevant.
I loved Howard, he might not have been a very big factor in the show but his quiet presence sort of impressed me as a kid and you could say i became a bit of Howard myself
It's like I'm watching an entirely different show with my kids. 😂
I think raising a baby means loving them, teaching them and allowing them to explore and make mistakes
Amazing analysis of one of my favourite shows growing up! Chucky was always one of my favourites and seeing him get a new mom in the movie arc was something I resonated with as a child.. having been estranged from my family this gave me hope that someday someone will love me even though I’m not theirs.
Rugrats hits HELLA HARD as an adult. I appreciate the writers for making the show enjoyable for adults as well, especially in the earlier seasons.
All things considered, Chaz did a freaking awesome job as a dad for everything he (and Chuckie) went through. I’m not a parent at present but I have lost someone I loved deeply before and it’s been several years and I’m still not over it. Not saying Chaz was/is ever “over it” but, like, he really held his shit together much better than I think I would have… especially raising a kid on his own simultaneously with holding said shit together.
I was young enough to be stoked about All Grown Up too!
SUZIES SONGS WERE MY FAVE
I was born in 1991, so i was at the prime age to love this show when I was a kid. Now I watch it with my 2 year old and we enjoy it together, and I do find myself relating to the parents and finding humor in their perspectives. I will say that they do need to watch those kids better though!!! If my kid ever got lost as much as theirs, I would probably be put in jail for neglect. I know the babies' tendency to get loose drives the plot for adventures though 😂
I remember seeing a bit of the show when I was a child - I was very close to hitting the 2 digit mark and "too big" for what I perceived as a Baby Show, and TV was extremely restricted in my household, so I don't think I saw more than one or two episodes, so it really didn't have a chance to resonate with me, sadly. Then I had a kid of my own and it was one of those things that was available on Netflix, so I would let him watch it while I got work done, but eventually found myself sitting down and watching with him. Some of those episodes hit way harder as both an adult and a parent, but with such a quiet knack for never taking away from the story geared towards children. (and I do appreciate the many Doctor Who references, which I definitely did not get when I was a kid)
One thing always resonates with me as an is when Stu says "Yippee! School's canceled" Not to mention the infamous chocolate pudding quoquo"Because I've lost control of my life "
i was 3 when i started watching this show and now i m 29 (around parents age) and it does hit different, but I don't have kids yet. I will introduce this cartoon to my future babies. It was best experience as kid, i swear i feel like i had all adventures with team rugrats.
I love how realistic are all characters, not just good or bad, they have different sides and this is what brings them to life.
My fave couples are Stu and Did, and Carmichaels, i love their bond. Stu is same as Phil Dunphy archetype to me and i really relate to it.
p.s. i dont like remakes as genre i just dont understand why you should reboot something what is already good and not that old.
Betty being lesbian in reboot is toxic because as queer person i can say that its only stereotyping. Women can be masculine, strong, or have short hair or something but it doesn't make them gay, or not enough, as well as Howard was enough husband even is he did cooking or was calm or some shit considered feminine.
Thank you for this. I turned 30 this year, about to get married, and my fiancée and I decided to revisit this show recently. We don’t have kids, just pets; yet we found ourselves relating to the parents in terms of navigating our ways of caring for them and also navigating our roles in our new life together.
When we were kids, my siblings and I always said, “Oh you’re a TOTAL Tommy” to someone, but as an adult, we’re figuring out which of the parents we would be haha.
Anyway, great analysis. Subscribed, and I look forward to watching your channel grow!
No, thank you!
I always felt Chuckie was a boy version of myself, shy,anxious, kinda just did what his friends did,was also confirmed to be a lefty,the is only main child character to have glasses,and we both lost our mom's at a young age. (I was 14 months. A year & 2 months)
I can't believe how much of the first episode rushed back to me as you were describing it! Its been 30 years but it felt like last week. Great video!!
This was such a well done thoughtful video. I hope your channel sees major growth.
Other note- these 90s kids shows hit some good topics and did it in a way where it didn’t feel forced (like just for the sake of meeting some quota), it felt natural and genuine.
My mom always laughed when they bring up Lipschitz what a clever way to swear in a kid show lol
growing up watching both Rugrats AND The X-files, Stu always reminded me of David Duchovney
I always thought it was a disservice to what they did for Betty . She always struck me as that Roseanne type of woman, someone coming in the modern age who could be the strong person in the relationship.
Amazing video, dude! It felt really sincere.The adults of Rugrats have grown on me a lot,too.
Great video! Never thought about any of that.
The main thing I noticed watching older is that Grandpa is a wild dude lol and be snapping
I don’t think I saw a hearing aid depicted in any other cartoon…
I realized that Didi is a teacher (I think she teaches Home Ec) so her “by the book” personality fits in
It never occurred to me until I was an adult how young the adults are supposed to be. I imagine that none of them (except for maybe Drew and Charlotte) are even over 30
they are all over 30
@@soapsphere early 30s but yea
Me too. I always thought that Drew and Didi especially were in their early 20's.
Something ive also noticed on rewatch is relating some of the babies issues to my own child. Namely the sippy cup and not wanting to be weened off the bottle. Jesus that hits home now.
The reboot also tackles this, but unlike in the original, Tommy comes to terms with being too old to have a bottle, and decides to pass on his bottle to Dil.
@@consumeroftoons2119 Word? I haven't caught any of the reboot yet
I watched this show as a toddler up until it finished syndication. My mother took us to see the first two movies. As an adult around the same age the adults of this show, not only does it hit differently, it shows me how life as an adult in the 90s is worlds away from adult life today. How everyone is married, with families, stable jobs except Stu, doing the things adults did back then. However, it's not all bad. For example: things like playing videogames were deemed childish back then, today a lot more people play and it's a legit form of leisure. This is a cartoon but it really reflected a lot of aspects of life especially during that time. The adults I know, very few have that. It's really a blast from the past.
I remember watching this as a kid and being so young I couldn't actually read the episode titles and had to ask my mom what they said. This was easily my favorite show as a child and I remember always wanting to watch it all the time and we even had a VHS tape of a few episodes, of which, the only episode I can remember that was on that tape was when Tommy and Chucky (I think it was those 2) were in the toy store after it closed.
Yea it was those two, when their dads forgot them. The orange vhs sets were iconic. Thanks!
Howard and Betty were great.
Man knew the best type of woman, Amazonian warrior.
I’m 28 and coming across this just made so many memories being a kid watching this. I appreciate this video. Might have to watch some episodes myself
Rugrats was a favorite cartoon of mine growing up and is also one of my mom's. I was about Phil and Lil's age when the show first premiered so I related to the babies while my mom related to the parents. The stuff I did was similar to what the babies did.
I'm not crying about Chucky's mom, you're crying about Chucky's mom
For some reason, despite only being 4 at the time, I still remember watching Doug, Rugrats, and Ren & Stimpy first premiering back in 1991. It was really weird when I realized that I went from being only 1 year older than Angelica, to now being older than the parents...
Your forgot the most relatable scene, the 4am chocolate pudding
Love this deep dive. Rugrats is one of my all-time favorite cartoons. I can relate to the adults more now that I’m older. I feel myself more in Finster's shoes. Rugrats in Paris is a movie that helps my son and me easily understand complex concepts. My son's father passed when he was seven months old. Watching that movie help me relate to his life in comparison. Though I haven’t settled down I hope my son understands that he’s never alone and that death is a part of life. That we can treasure the ones we lose but they never really leave our hearts. We just find room to grow into bigger families and love those we’ve lost.
Even though the Carmichaels are the oldest parents, their children are also a bit older, hinting that maybe they were at similar ages to the other parents where they started out. Afterall, their younest is 3 and the eldest looks around 5.
Wasn’t Susie’s oldest sister a teenager who would usually be seen on her phone as much as Charlotte? There was an episode where she babysat and all sorts of issues cropped up that brought in some of the other Carmichael kids to help deal with it.
This show is a great example of how it really was written for both audiences, but as you mentioned, more of children as well as older adults, especially parents. The plights of adulthood suddenly reframe this show has being half about the babies and half about the adults, making sure at least one group is relatable.
My eyes still water up a bit with that I want a mom song. Seriously, how many kids in this world are in that very situation. I love my mom so much, she was the person i ran to when i found out i was pregnant. Im dreading the day i dont have her in my life.
This is so well done; you should be very proud of yourself, man. I can’t wait to watch more :)
Thanks! I appreciate this comment. Researching and editing these has proven to be pretty time consuming, but you’ve given me some motivation to work on the next video! Thanks again!
@@keeperofthetale I watched them all last night and loved it, man; lately, I’ve had a tough time locking into any entertainment, but these captured my attention, so thank you for the excellent material~
No problem, any time!
Great video, just happened pop on my recommended. I recently started rewatching the series a few months ago with my 6 month old. I too started to see the adults POV through the show. It has really breathed new life through this rewatch.
I was 4 in 1991. I watched Rugrats from the start. My cousin's were also into Rugrats as well. I read the majority of rugrats books put out in the 90's, I still have all of my Rugrats games for gameboy, GameBoy Color, GameBoy Advance, PS1, & PS2. I got every rugrats games released back then except the one for the N64. Ironically I had the N64 but didn't know about the rugrats n64 game until after I traded in my n64 back then~ 🤦♀️🤣 Me & my cousin's also had the majority of the rugrats doll's released back then. I still have all of my rugrat doll's from the 90's / early 2000 era. I can't speak for my cousin's. My one cousin who is my best friend for 30+ years used to copy me back when getting any new toy. I still remember getting Angelica in the pink remote control car my cousin got Suzie Carmichael in the green remote control car. She told me because I got Angelica she had to get Suzie & claimed her & suzie were alike because suzie was the good character in the show & asking me why I got Angelica. Angelica was easy for me to relate to sadly... I'm an only child & a girl so I did get the only child perspective of Angelica even though I was always a good kid. I guess easier for my cousin to relate to suzie because they both have sisters etc. Same cousin she did this with Barbies too always getting the Teresa (barbie doll's instead of barbie doll's back then) When I asked her why it was because her mom / my aunt's name is: Teresa~ 🤷♀️🤦♀️🤣✌️
Rugrats came out around when I graduated second grade and moved to a new town. I'll never forget when Rugrats came out. I lost all my friends and really dug into TV at that time. The whole SNICK line up was great.
As a kid I actually avoided this show because of how much Angelica pissed me off. Lol
I was a kid that grew up watching this show. I loved it. Now I'm a father of a 4 year old boy, 2 year old girl, and 3 month old boy.
Seeing the clips you showed of the parents triggered memories from seeing the show as a kid that I hadn't remembered in decades. It also made me think of all the wonderful tender moments I have had with my kids and how quick it goes by. It's truly one of the most beautiful things that someone can experience.
I kind of forgot how much I cared about Rugrats until watching this video. Brought back a lot of emotions. Great video!
Bro. You hit something in me. When talking about Stu and DiDi on Tommy’s first birthday. I had my daughter two years ago. And you nailed it. I was starting my own business. Being caught up in that but trying to balance being a new dad. And being a good father.
Having my own personal dreams. But trying to put them on the back burner so I can focus on being a good dad and husband. Shit I’d hard. You explained it so perfectly and simply. Much bettter than I could ever had. Made me emotional
I just watched the first couple of seasons a little while ago. During that episode when Tommy and Chuckie were left at the toy store, when Stu told Chaz they should go to the toy store again and Chaz said that he can't cuz he's gonna apply some mulch, I just burst out laughing. I was like I can't believe I'm laughing at something so dumb and relatable.
Yea, we’ll make any excuse not to hang out with someone lol
I absolutely loved your analyzation of this and it’s so hard to find friends who can also relate to media like this. New subscriber for sure, keep up the great work
I also love how the adults have their own personal families like Boris, Minka, Grandpa Lou and Lulu, but they decided to stay with each other as their chosen family and keep their children close together. It really concerns me when people say that they don't need each other and that they can do everything by themselves. We need each other. We need community. We need people.
And we don't just need each other to be our village to take care of each other's kids, but we actually need to be FRIENDS with these people. You can't say that you have a chosen family or you have a village if you want other people to depend on, but they can't depend on you. To be friends outside of your children, to hang out outside of your children, to want to share your good fortunes with them, and not just dump on them when only you have issues.