Falafelosophy

"Falafelosophy"
Season/Series:	14
Number in season:	4a
Original Airdate:	October 25, 2010 January 24, 2011 March 4, 2013
Credits
Written by:	David Steven Cohen Peter K. Hirsch
Storyboard by:	Elise Benoit François Brisson
Episodes
Previous "The Play's the Thing"	Next "The Great Lint Rush"

"Falafelosophy" is the first half of the fourth episode in the fourteenth season of Arthur.

Summary

At the urging of author Neil Gaiman, Sue Ellen tries her hand at writing and illustrating a graphic novel. When Sue Ellen needs inspiration and encouragement, she turns to Neil - who pops up in unexpected places! - and to the philosophy lessons of her local falafel vendor!

Plot

Arthur talks to the viewers about how great it is to be appreciated, but that a lot of famous people didn't get a first round of applause, using examples such as Galileo. After talking for a while, D.W. gets Arthur to start the show.

Falafelosophy

The episode starts with Neil Gaiman speaking at a book signing. Afterwards, he signs everyone's books.

At the park after Binky leaves, Sue Ellen goes to get a falafel from a food stand and the man who works there talks about how some people are round like falafel sandwiches and some are pointy like pizza slices. This inspires Sue Ellen with a plot for her graphic novel: a war between circles and triangles. Circles were happy, bouncy and whole, while triangles liked arguing and having a point. How can they get along? When she gets writer's block, her "inner Neil Gaiman" shows up and gives her inspiration to keep going.

At first, her friends don't get it, but at the Sugar Bowl, inner-Neil tells her that she should not write for other people, but for herself, and that her friends would come around in time. After much writing and imagination throughout the episode, she is left with a great graphic novel that her friends enjoy.

Characters

Major

• Neil Gaiman
• Sue Ellen Armstrong

Minor

• D.W. Read
• The Brain
• Francine Frensky
• Muffy Crosswire
• Binky Barnes
• Mr. Contabulous
• Mr. Armstrong (Does not speak)
• Arthur Read (Intro)
• Tommy and Timmy Tibble(fantasy)

Cameo

• Thora Read
• Jane Read
• 3rd Grade Male Dog (Number 3)
• David Read
• Billy
• Rattles
• Catherine Frensky
• Mrs. Fink
• Rubella Deegan
• Mr. Powers
• 3rd Grade Female Cat (Number 2)
• 3rd Grade Female Aardvark
• 3rd Grade Female Aardvark (Number 2)
• 3rd Grade Male Dog
• 3rd Grade Male Rabbit
• Lisa
• 3rd Grade Male Rat
• 3rd Grade Male Cat
• Mrs. Wood

Mentioned

• Buster Baxter

Trivia

• 4th Wall break:
  • In the Cold Open, D.W. gives Arthur half a star for his monologue on how many famous historical figures were initially considered failures. When Arthur tries to shut her up and promise the episode is even better than his opening, she uses a remote to switch to the episode.
  • Inner Neil breaks the fourth wall when he appears in Sue Ellen's falafel and shouts "Cue special effects!" when she's understandably confused.

Cultural references

• Sue Ellen's story bears much resemblance to Harry Nilsson's The Point!

Errors

• In Sue Ellen's story, she starts a chapter by saying "On a night with no moon...," then later in the chapter, she says "The moon reminded him that much in the world is circular...," even though she just wrote that there was no moon.

Gallery

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  1404a Title Card

References