D.W.'s Deer Friend

"D.W.'s Deer Friend"
Season/Series:	2
Number in season:	11a
Original Airdate:	April 6, 1998 September 7, 1998 July 20, 1999 February 7, 2002
Credits
Written by:	Joe Fallon
Storyboard by:	Robert Yap
Episodes
Previous "Arthur's Mystery Envelope"	Next "Buster Hits the Books"
Read transcript

"D.W.'s Deer Friend" is the first half of the eleventh episode in the second season of Arthur.

Summary

On a camping trip, D.W. befriends a wild deer and decides to try to take him home with her.

Plot

When Mom calls for another weekend trip, Arthur knew it was going to be Ponyland because it is D.W.'s turn to choose. D.W. was still thinking...

D.W.'s Deer Friend

Finally, D.W. chooses Camping, much to Arthur's surprise. Mom and Dad are so happy because it proves that their limiting her T.V. time to educational channels has helped her learned to think for herself and not just repeating what the T.V. says. Until they heard D.W. and the T.V. "It's time to experience the wonders of nature in the great outdoors". But Mom admits that it's still a good idea.

So they packed the bags in the car. Arthur was disappointed because he's going to be trapped in the tent all weekend with D.W. She pressed a car horn many times to make everyone ready to go. Once arrived at the campsite, D.W. was so excited that she can't stop playing wild animal explorer. While Arthur and Dad were fishing, they caught a fish, but D.W. is upset that the fish is dead and they give an impromptu funeral for the fish D.W. dubs "Bucky".

Early the next morning, D.W. noticed a deer. She ran out and says, "Hi!" but the deer ran away. Mom told D.W. that deer are easily frightened and she needs to keep very still or she'll scare them. D.W. waited so long for the deer to come back, imagining a deer named Walter bringing her to the deer herd. They even leaped over a log, flying in the sky and they looked at the sunset.

D.W. wakes up and finds the deer. Dad wonders where is she taking a cereal. She replies that she will bring it to Walter the deer so he can come close to her. Dad says it's not safe and it's not allowed but she can look at the deer. D.W. would rather watch T.V. at home if all she can do is look at the deer. Dad says this is the deer's home. Then, D.W. imagines her bringing a deer home and do some fun activities.

D.W. tells her parents that they'll bring Walter home with them. When her parents said they couldn't bring a wild deer home, D.W. is sad. Mom explained that Walter wouldn't be happy with them because he would miss his family. She soon asked how would D.W. feels if she was taken away from her family beside just Arthur. She soon imagines Walter in her room crying, saying how much he misses his family. D.W. asked why he never told her, until Walter pointed out that she never asked him and she just took him away from his family and she feels guilty about it. This makes D.W. realize Mom is right and chooses that it's just better if she looked at the deer and visit him. 

In the end, Walter tells his father that a girl had watched him all weekend behind the bushes. He wishes that he could've brought her to live with them, but his father says she'll never fit in this family, as those animals "never last long" and live in cars. He agrees with his father.

Characters

Major

• D.W. Read
• Walter
• Arthur Read
• David Read
• Jane Read

Fantasy

• Edwin
• Kyle
• Amanda Hulser
• Lucy
• Maryann
• Emily
• Lisa
• Sarah
• Liam
• Timmy and Tommy Tibble
• Thora Read
• Mary Moo Cow

Trivia

• Walter's sister, Sheilarae, is named after Arthur writer Sheilarae Carpentier Lau.
• Walter's sister, Mary Alice, might be named after Muffy's real name.
• Walter having brothers named Petey and Paul might be a reference to the musical group Peter, Paul and Mary.
• Michael Caloz also voices Walter.

Cultural references

• During D.W.'s imagine spot of hanging out with Walter, she confronts another dear whose nose flashes red, like Rudolph from the 1964 Rankin/Bass TV special, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.

Episode connections

• Arthur thinks D.W. wants to visit Ponyland, like in "D.W. Goes to Washington." Additionally, in that episode, David promises D.W. that she can choose the next weekend trip.
• Walter returns in "Francine Redecorates" and "D.W.'s Name Game."

Errors

• When D.W.'s mother responded "Everybody," her mouth didn't move while the scene changes to flashback.
• D.W. is unable to read, but her mother says "I should buy her more books".

Home Video

DVD:

• Arthur's Best Friends
• Arthur: The Complete Series 3

VHS:

• Arthur's Best Friends

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