‘Arthur’: Fans React As Kids’ Show Airs Last Episode After 25 Seasons
It was an emotional kind of day on February 21 as everyone’s favorite aardvark animated series Arthur came to an end after 25 seasons.
The PBS show, which debuted in 1996, aired its final episode, ‘All Grown Up,’ on Monday, offering viewers a glimpse of what becomes of the beloved characters who inhabit Elwood City. After introducing a board game that predicts occupations, the episode jumps ahead 20 years in the future, delivering a Six Feet Under-style ending.
After accidentally taking an instructional drawing book from the library (from the show’s creator Marc Brown nonetheless!), Arthur winds up becoming a graphic novelist. The scene sees the anthropomorphic aardvark sporting a floppy haircut and some wispy facial hair as he reads the first chapter of his book to his old friends. Original Arthur voice actor Michael Yarmush returned to voice the older version of the character.
Meanwhile, Arthur’s best friend, Buster, is working as a teacher, and Muffy is running for mayor of Elwood. Arthur’s sister D.W. appears to be a no-nonsense traffic cop, while Francine works for a sneaker company, George owns The Sugar Bowl, and Binky is enjoying life as a local news reporter.
“Excuse me while I go cry seeing my childhood end with this scene!” wrote one emotional viewer on Twitter. Another fan added, “Arthur somewhat shaped my childhood. As a kid, this show brought me so much joy when I would watch it after a long day from school. I’m sad that this monumental show is ending but all good things must come to an end.”
Excuse me while I go cry seeing my childhood end with this scene! 💔😭
(Also, Arthur’s OG voice actor came back to voice his grown up self!😭😭) #Arthur25 #Arthur #ArthurPBS pic.twitter.com/QjnPWUIHld
— EdwardSabaVO (@EdwardSabaVO) February 22, 2022
arthur somewhat shaped my childhood. as a kid, this show brought me so much joy when i would watch it after a long day from school. i’m sad that this monumental show is ending but all good things must come to an end. #Arthur25 #Arthur @arthurpbs pic.twitter.com/3LuYNzuh5f
— aMucc (@amurkymuc) February 21, 2022
Arthur‘s cancellation came last summer, with the show’s executive producer Carol Greenwald confirming the news in a statement to IGN. “In the winter of 2022, the 25th and final season of Arthur will debut… Arthur will continue to be available on PBS KIDS for years to come,” Greenwald said.
However, the Daytime Emmy-winning show will not be disappearing entirely. As revealed by Greenwald, “Producer GBH and PBS KIDS are continuing to work together on additional Arthur content, sharing the lessons of Arthur and his friends in new ways.” This includes games, a podcast and educational video shorts.
Check out more reaction to the Arthur series finale below.
hi sorry i’m emotionally overwhelmed rn, they just aired the series finale of Arthur and they time skipped 20 years, but the biggest surprise is they brought back the original voice from season 1-5 (Michael Yarmush) to play his adult self and I recognized it 😭♥️ #Arthur25 pic.twitter.com/IvAOxiYD51
— Shaybs 🏴☠️ (Skypiea) (@CaribouCoon) February 21, 2022
The ending was revealed to us on Day 1.
DW IS READING ARTHUR’S GRAPHIC NOVEL 🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯#Arthur25 pic.twitter.com/kIk3FBWUWV
— Peeebs (@ItsPeeebs) February 21, 2022
Y’ALL LOOK HOW THEY HAVE GROWN!!! I AM CRYING!!! #Arthur25 #Arthur pic.twitter.com/MAlnqBPeRw
— aMucc (@amurkymuc) February 21, 2022
why this arthur finale got me tearing up?? he ended up getting an art drawing book from the library by accident and 20 years later he became an artist. and made a graphic novel about his life. and the first story of it was the first episode of arthur. 🥺 #arthur25 pic.twitter.com/4LNkzingdB
— tay ³³³ (@plainpotatotay) February 21, 2022
ARTHUR JUST TALKED TO MARC BROWN!! THE CREATOR TALKS TO HIS CREATION!! 😭 #Arthur25 pic.twitter.com/BEsLFyMv4f
— aMucc (@amurkymuc) February 21, 2022
OMG, I love the number they chose for the closet door there! A favorite of Simpsons and Pixar artists! #Arthur25 pic.twitter.com/T7limwwMMU
— Zak Wolf @ ANE 2022 (@wiley207) February 21, 2022
After 25 years on the air and over 490 episodes, Arthur has aired its last episode.
All I can say is thank you @PBSKIDS for turning Marc Brown’s iconic books into an equally iconic cartoon series.@arthurpbs will always have a special place in my heart. ❤️#Arthur25 pic.twitter.com/K8QJLethME
— Sir Simon A. (@BabyLamb5) February 21, 2022
Did I, a 30 year old grown adult just sit down and watch the series finale of @ArthurPBS and shed a tear, grieving the official end of my childhood? You bet your lucky pencil I did. #Arthur25 pic.twitter.com/wwIYM447ii
— Shayna S-W (@shaynasw) February 21, 2022
Adult Arthur looks like he used to front a regionally successful pop punk band in the late 00s that was just a few years too late to REALLY catch the big commercial wave so then he got into tech startups pic.twitter.com/bDNnm37olR
— Hanif Abdurraqib (@NifMuhammad) February 22, 2022
