The season starts with Arnold and the rest of the kids exercising their right to protest when Helga's dad decides to open a new beeper store (if that doesn't date the series, I don't know what does). The problem is, he wants to put it in an empty lot that contains the only tree in the neighborhood. The second half of this episode introduces a new teacher to the kids. Mrs. Slovak has retired, and now the kids have to get used to a very chipper Mr. Simmons. When the kids pull all the usual pranks, it sends the new teacher into a mental breakdown, but the kids soon learn a lesson involving the evil you know over the one you don't. While neither Simmons nor Lieutenant Major, the militant substitute, are by any means evil, they do decide they would prefer Simmons over their sub.
This episode is followed by one where Helga feels that she is too infatuated by Arnold and goes to a local gypsy shop to get an "Out of Love" potion. When she wakes up the next morning, she not only doesn't have feelings for Arnold, but is generally passionless. The series then goes on to touch on topics like truth in journalism, competing in a fishing competition, investigating a kidnapped baby doll and even dealing with a new girl from the Midwest, Lila. Helga has an especially hard time with this since Arnold seems to be developing feelings for the new girl.
An amusing episode called "Phoebe Cheats" has the class's smartest kid plagiarize a poem in order to keep her top-of-the-class status in a field she doesn't feel too confident about. Phoebe wins a statue of Emily Dickinson who torments Phoebe and constantly accuses her of cheating ... very Poe-like, if you ask me.
This half of the season, and this DVD, concludes with Gerald getting tired of being in a very crowded house. As a result, he decides to move into the boarding house that Arnold and his grandparents run. It isn't long before Gerald realizes how tough life on his own can be.
Like Season 1, Season 2, Part 1 doesn't contain any special features, but its still a fun collection of episodes for anyone who grew up with this early Nicktoon. Those fans will definitely want to revisit these shows, and if they have kids, then a purchase might be necessary since it teaches quite a few good lessons.
