The Substitute Arthur

Summary
With Arthur out of town, Buster is on the hunt for a new best friend. Problem is, Buster only wants to play games HIS way. Will Buster learn to compromise? Or is he destined to play alone?

Plot
Buster is devastated when he learns that Arthur will be leave the town with his dad for a few days. He tries to initiate Arthur to new games, including play draughts with cards, create new sounds while playing Megalopolis, or swimming and water-skiing at the same time. They even play baseball and look at the TV. At the end of the day, they cook marshmallows in a fire with their feet while playing harmonica and tuba, much to DW's dismay.

However,  Buster's joy fades away when the Friday arrives. Mr Ratburn says that it would be great if everybody were like him, to Brain's astonishment.

Arthur and his dad leave Elwood City while Buster tries to say them goodbye, only to manage to be exhausted as he tries to chase them on foot while they use their car!

It seems that Buster's world is now gloomy and he does not find neither the courage nor the force to continue any activity.

That's when his mother suggests him to find a new friend who could be serve as a substitute during Arthur's absence. Buster tries the Brain at first, but the Brain does not appreciate his ways to play Megalopolis. Then, Buster tries Muffy and Francine, but after realized that their commons interests weren't shared, he reluctantly follows them in the mall for a shopping day with Muffy and a tennis court to play one-on-one with Francine.

Ultimately, Buster finds a new best friend in DW. That's when he realize how bossy she can be, and he rethinks about his day.

Buster finally agrees to compromise, and while he hesitates at first, he learns that it can be fun to try new hobbies. He manages to play the Megalopolis game correctly with the Brain, advises Muffy on a hat choice and beats Francine at tennis.

Arthur comes back to Elwood City, and Buster says that he found new ways to play games. However, Arthur is surprised when Buster says that all came from DW.

Main

 * Arthur Read
 * Buster Baxter
 * David Read
 * D.W. Read
 * Bitzi Baxter
 * Nigel Ratburn
 * The Brain
 * Francine Frensky
 * Muffy Crosswire

Other

 * Fern Walters
 * George Lundgren
 * Ladonna Compson (cameo)
 * Madison Compson (cameo)
 * Teenage boy
 * Maria Pappas
 * Catherine Frensky (cameo)
 * Sean (cameo)

Episode connections

 * Arthur mentions Buster's Trip with his dad, which started in "Arthur's Faraway Friend".
 * The title for the official preview clip on YouTube is "Buster's Faraway Friend".
 * When Buster imagines everything being gloomy, it resembles what D.W. thought life would be like without Mary Moo Cow in "The Last of Mary Moo Cow".
 * In the board game Megalopolis (a spoof on Monopoly), there is a space on the board called Scarborough Street which is named after the writer of this episode Ken Scarborough.
 * At the swimming pool, Buster wears his swimming cap, which he first wore in "".
 * Buster mentions he was thinking of inventing a "Mud Sled", which Binky had already completely built in "The Short, Quick Summer".
 * The TV show Buster's watching was "Turbo Troopers", which is similar to the Terrific Turbo-Trooper Toy T-Bot Team from "Attack of the Turbo Tibbles".

Cultural References

 * Fern's swimsuit resembles the outfit by Wonder Red from Super Why!.