Top 10 Times Rugrats Tackled Serious Issues
#10: Self-Doubt
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In a nod to the classic film “It’s a Wonderful Life”, Chuckie has a falling out with his friends and starts to think the world would be better off without him. Thankfully, his guardian angel sets him straight by showing him what it would be like if Chuckie was never born… and it is horrifying! His dad is a lonely wreck, Phil and Lil are out of control… and worst of all, Angelica has completely dominated Tommy’s life! Have you ever had that nagging feeling that you don’t matter in the grand scheme of things? Fortunately, this episode reminds us that we all have a purpose no matter how big or small -even if we don’t always see it.
#9: Unfair Labor Treatment
Angelica puts the babies to work in her lemonade stand, but she has them doing everything for no pay while she rakes in the dimes. Does any of this sound familiar to you? Do you feel like you’re being overworked and underpaid at your job? Unfortunately, there’s still an ongoing problem where a company -retail or otherwise- tries to get away with taking advantage of its employees. Forcing them to work unreasonable hours for little pay, and threatening termination if they don’t keep working. Susie teaches the babies to stand up for their rights, and their efforts are rewarded in the end. Still, if animated toddlers can learn to respect their workers, why can’t major companies?
#8: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
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Tommy has been dubbed the “the Braveliest Baby”. But when he gets a cut on his finger, his confidence is completely shattered. He becomes petrified of anything sharp, he’s too afraid to do anything adventurous, and worst of all, he has nightmares of getting an even worse cut. This is a subtle-yet-accurate representation of someone struggling with PTSD – facing flashbacks and frightening images of traumatic events or injuries, and more often than not becoming paralyzed with fear. Thankfully, Chuckie is there to help Tommy overcome his terror by showing that the cut will heal over time. Unfortunately, real-life trauma isn’t as easy to overcome, but with the right emotional support, it becomes more bearable.
#7: Picking On Others
When it comes to pushing people around on “Rugrats”, you’d expect all eyes to turn towards Angelica with how often she picks on the babies. However, there’s someone who’s undoubtedly even worse than she is – Josh. He lures the group with promises of playing “fair” before slowly taking advantage of them and turning them into his own hard labor force. This showcases that there’s more to this type of mistreatment and misbehavior than just harassing someone – there’s emotional manipulation and exploitation; the worst part is that not everyone is able to recognize when someone is using them. Thankfully, Angelica is there to rescue her dumb babies, proving that dealing with her could always be much worse.
#6: Feminism
For the longest time, strong characterization in cartoons was a man’s game, with women being more often than not reduced to either stay-at-home housewives or damsels in distress. Well, “Rugrats” doesn’t have time for that nonsense. Instead, Angelica, at only three years old, is large and in charge, and her mom, Charlotte, is the CEO of a major corporation who takes nonsense from no one. Not only that, but Lucy is a multi-talented physician, Betty is the embodiment of female empowerment, and Didi is the main breadwinner of the household. Not only did the series have a perfectly gender-balanced cast, but it was refreshing to see the women get their time in the spotlight.
#5: Anxiety
On almost every adventure the babies undertake, Chuckie is the designated worrywart who tries to keep the group out of trouble. It’s easy to brush him off as just a “scaredy-cat”, but can you blame him? Life is unpredictable and for someone afraid of uncertainty, the world can be a terrifying place. That alone is what makes Chuckie so relatable to anyone plagued with anxiety. Thankfully, whenever they can, Chuckie’s friends help guide Chuckie through an adventure and offer emotional support when he feels frightened. At the end of the day, that’s all an anxious person really needs – a little patience and assurance that everything will be alright.
#4: Gender Norms
Back in the day, it was a rare thing for television shows -especially cartoons- to try and challenge society’s gender norms. And yet, “Rugrats” not only challenged it, but they straight-up also called it out. For context, Phil and Chuckie decide to try and wear dresses for a day, and they were perfectly happy with the change. But when two jerks threaten to beat them up, Chuckie angrily shouts what we’re all thinking – if moms can wear pants and grown-ups can wear diapers, why can’t boys wear dresses? Thankfully, the cowards are chased off in the end, proving that no matter your gender, you should be allowed to wear whatever you want without being shamed for it.
#3: Different Types of Families
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A lot of shows try to portray the average nuclear family, but the truth is that families come in all shapes and sizes. “Rugrats” fully embraces this fact by displaying many different family dynamics. There are traditional families of course, but there are also single parents such as Chas. Further down the line, they really pushed the envelope by bringing Chas and Kira together into an interracial family, with them adopting each other’s children. They were also never afraid to mix up the “gender norms” of families with the wives bringing home the bacon and the husbands being the stay-at-home parents. Every family was different, but what they all had in common was the strong bonds they shared.
#2: Race, Culture & Religion
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Let’s face it: race, culture, and religion are super sensitive topics that you NEVER want to mess up. And yet, not only did “Rugrats” do all three well, they EXCELLED at them. With the inclusion of an African-American family -who became major players in the show- and Japanese main characters, the show never shied away from diversity. Speaking of which, how many other Nicktoons can say they’ve made holiday-themed episodes for Chanukah, Kwanzaa, and even Passover? “Rugrats” not only spotlighted all three holidays, but also did them in a respectable, genuine manner that really enlightened viewers on what each holiday is all about. When it came to cultural representation, “Rugrats” truly was ahead of its time.
#1: Loss
Undeniably, losing a loved one is one of the worst hardships anyone can endure at any age… and poor Chuckie -at only two-years-old- was forced to experience loss twice. His only pet Melville passed on and Chuckie got his first taste of the five stages of grief. What’s even worse, he lost his mother when he was even younger -and his father worried that remembering her would hurt too much. Thankfully, both instances tackled the subject beautifully and respectfully, teaching young viewers that even when someone is gone, the memories and good times you shared with them never truly leave as long as you hold onto them.
