When Carl Met George

"When Carl Met George"
Season/Series:	13
Number in season:	6a
Original Airdate:	April 5, 2010 February 24, 2010 March 8, 2010 December 10, 2012
Credits
Written by:	Peter K. Hirsch
Storyboard by:	Gerry Capelle Nick Vallinakis
Episodes
Previous "Prunella and the Disappointing Ending"	Next "D.W. Swims with the Fishes"
Read transcript

"When Carl Met George" (or "George and the Missing Puzzle Piece") is the first half of the sixth episode in the thirteenth season of Arthur.

Summary

George is excited about spending time with his new friend, Carl, who seems to understand all kind of cool facts about trains and about... well, lots of things! Then George learns that Carl has Asperger's Syndrome - a form of autism that makes Carl see the world differently than most people. Can George and Carl remain good friends - and perhaps even learn from each other?

Plot

The intro starts with George drawing a lion. Carl tells him that lions used to live around the world. He also tells George that he hates brown. George says that one of the reasons he likes Carl is that he is really honest, and is an amazing artist. George then shows the viewers a picture of a train that Carl drew by himself. Carl explains that it is a steam locomotive nonstop. George then says once you get him talking about trains, it can be hard for him to stop. George then plans to tell the story of how he met his friend Carl, who has Asperger's Syndrome.

After the title card, George is sent by his dad to get more glue. At one of the classrooms, he meets Carl. At first, George didn't understand about Carl's disorder, and George thought something was strange because he didn't understand if Carl liked him or not. Later, George goes to visit Carl again and shows his blue backpack and his dummy Wally. Carl is unexpectedly terrified of Wally, which causes him to panic. It is then revealed by Carl's mother that he has Asperger's Syndrome.

George later goes to Brain for advice on what Asperger's Syndrome is, and Brain tells him all about it in the form of imagination. George then understands what Carl is going through, and chooses to bring him a book about trains (Carl loves trains). George also gives Carl the puzzle piece that accidentally fell into his pocket the first time they met.

We return to George in his bedroom, with Carl sitting at his table (just like he was at the beginning of the episode) still going on about his train picture. He asks Carl if he wants to get juice in a box, not a bottle. He agrees to it, and then he says to the viewers "It was nice to meet you" and George explains how he taught Carl to say that, and how Carl taught George to understand his behavior by speaking quietly, be clear, and not to take it personally if he ignores him. He also says that maybe Carl might teach him to draw a better lion.

Characters

Major

• George Lundgren
• Carl Gould (debut)
• Mrs. Gould (debut)
• Wally

Minor

• Arthur Read (George's fantasy)
• Brain
• Keith Powers (debut)
• Francine Frensky (George's fantasy)
• Neal Lundgren

Cameo

• James MacDonald
• Maria Pappas
• Unknown Female Rabbit (Number 8)
• Kenny
• Billy
• 3rd Grade Male Cat
• 4th Grade Female Aardvark
• David Read
• Kate Read
• Unknown Female Rabbit (Number 5)
• Little Boy

Trivia

• This is the first episode since "Arthur and the Real Mr. Ratburn" to have two title cards.
• The title card is in 16:9 wide-screen this is rare for season 1-13 outside the US to have this.
• In the pre-title card sequence, Carl notes that the steam locomotive belonged to the Great Western Railway (or the GWR) in the United Kingdom. This is a reference to the railway company of the same name, which was formed in 1833 (though its first train did not operate until 1838). Eventually, as a result of the 1923 Grouping Act, the railways of the UK were grouped into four large operating companies, of which only the GWR retained its former name; the others becoming either the London and North-Eastern Railway (LNER), the London, Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS) or the Southern Railway (SR). All four railways lasted until 1948, when they became nationalized to form 'British Railways' (later simply 'British Rail').
  • However, the railway's name is once again in use as of 2015, as there is currently another company called the GWR that employs modern diesel or electric locomotives, as opposed to the steam traction of its parent company.
  • In addition to this, there is a vast range of ex-GWR steam locomotives at various heritage railways across the UK.
• This is the first Arthur episode aired in the 2010s.
• In the A Word From Us Kids segment, the teacher is reading Arthur's Teacher Trouble.
• In the A Word From Us Kids segment, a scene from the episode is playing on the TV.
• Carl's condition was known as Asperger syndrome when this episode was produced (and he is said to have it in the episode), but since 2013, Asperger Syndrome is no longer a diagnosis of its own, having been merged along with other disorders into "autism spectrum disorder" (ASD).
• The newspaper article that features Brain's uncle is dated to November 22, 2005.
• This episode is permanently available for free on the PBS KIDS Video app and website.
• 4th Wall break: During George's fantasy, Arthur says, "What's he laughing at? Is it my nose?", which is a reference to Arthur's Nose.

Errors

• One of the flavors at the Ice Cream Shop is misspelled as "Ananas" instead of "Bananas".
  • However, "Ananas" is the German word for "pineapple," so this may just be a clever reference to pineapple ice cream.
• When George goes back to that room to give George the puzzle piece, before he has the fantasy of Carl, the puzzle is not on the table and after it is on the table

Production notes

• The A Word from Us Kids segment was filmed on January 20, 2010.
• This episode has an alternate title, "George and the Missing Puzzle Piece". On Amazon, On Demand, iTunes, and Netflix, "When Carl Met George" is still used.

Cultural references

• The use of the puzzle piece in the episode's plot and alternate title is a nod to the fact that a puzzle piece is often recognized as a symbol of autism awareness.
• This episode's title, "When Carl Met George," is a reference to the film When Harry Met Sally.
• Carl often states that he likes to have his apple juice "in a box, not a bottle." Not only is this one of Carl's quirks of his Aspergers' Syndrome, it is also a partial reference to James Bond's preference for vodka martinis: "Shaken, not stirred."

Gallery

:Main article: When Carl Met George/Gallery