Arthur: Why “Mr Ratburn And The Special Someone” Was So Groundbreaking

Why is the Arthur episode “Mr Ratburn And The Special Someone” considered such a groundbreaking moment in TV history? Classic PBS cartoon Arthur ranks as the longest-running animated children’s show in U.S. television history and has been entertaining and educating generations of young viewers since 1996. Sadly, the series is set to end in 2022 after a quarter of a century on the air but Arthur will be forever fondly remembered by those who grew up watching it.

A big part of what makes Arthur such a beloved show is how it handles issues that many kids face in a way that’s sensitive, informative and relatable. During its 25-year run, the series has featured storylines with life lessons about everything from bullying and racism to single parent families and cancer. A 2001 episode of PBS’s Arthur series titled “The Boy With His Head In The Clouds” received praise for its handling of dyslexia and was nominated for a Humanitas Prize in the Children’s Animation category.

Arthur tackled another important issue in season 22’s “Mr. Ratburn And The Special Someone.” This outing sees Arthur and his classmates learn their teacher Mr. Ratburn is getting married and wrongly deduce his wife-to-be is a bossy woman named Patty (voiced by Jane Lynch). Concerned that marrying Patty will turn Mr. Ratburn into a tough nut, they resolve to stop the wedding. However, on the day of the ceremony, they learn Patty is Mr. Ratburn’s sister and his bride-to-be is actually a groom-to-be – Patrick, a kindly aardvark who runs a gourmet chocolate store the kids visit earlier in the episode.

“Mr. Ratburn And The Special Someone” is by no means the first kid’s show to feature LGBTQ characters, nor is it even the first instance of gay characters in the Arthur universe considering that spin-off show Postcards From Buster includes an episode from 2005 titled “Sugartime!” that features a lesbian couple. The episode is, however, considered a major milestone as it’s the first time Arthur has featured a same-sex wedding. What perhaps makes it even more groundbreaking is how without fanfare and matter-of-factly Mr. Ratburn’s sexuality is revealed.

“Mr. Ratburn And The Special Someone” received a lot of positive reviews but not everybody was happy with Arthur depicting gay marriage. Several conservative-leaning media outlets deemed it inappropriate for a kid’s show while PBS member station Alabama Public Television refused to air it. However, the fact such attitudes still exist is proof of why “Mr. Ratburn And The Special Someone” is such an important, groundbreaking Arthur episode.