The Animated Disasters: 10 Episodes That Nearly Destroyed Great Shows

Mentions of suicide.

Summary

Viewers are calling for the ban of "No Such Luck," an episode of The Loud House, due to concerns of promoting child abuse and neglect.

The "It's A Wishful Life" episode of The Fairly OddParents is receiving criticism for its depressing storyline and missed chance to impart a positive lesson.

The "Blue Cat Blues" episode of Tom & Jerry is often regarded as the worst due to its dark and somber theme, portraying Tom and Jerry contemplating suicide.

Regardless of how excellent an animated TV show may be, none of them are immune to encountering subpar episodes. In some cases, even great cartoon shows have come dangerously close to being marred by one such episode. These animated series have been cherished by multiple generations of viewers, accompanying them through their childhood and teenage years. With their availability on various streaming services, viewers of all ages now have the opportunity to relive these shows time and time again. However, revisiting these shows has not only expanded their fanbases, but has also exposed their flaws and instances where they teetered on the brink of being irreparably damaged.

It is uncommon for a TV show, whether animated or not, to have no episodes that are considered subpar. However, in the case of cartoon shows, the audience tends to be exceptionally critical of the episode content and quality, particularly when the target audience is young viewers. Several exceptional animated shows have been near marred by a single episode that was poorly received, resulting in some being banned or sporadically aired. The reasons behind their negative reputation are diverse, ranging from unremarkable and lackluster storylines to the inclusion of dark themes and messages that may not be entirely appropriate for their intended audience.

10 “No Such Luck” - The Loud House

The Loud House revolves around the everyday chaos of Lincoln Loud, the middle child and sole son in a family of 11 siblings. Despite gaining widespread popularity and critical acclaim, the show faced a major setback during its early stages. In one particular episode from Season 2 titled "No Such Luck," Lincoln is wrongly believed to bring misfortune, leading to his exclusion from all family activities and ultimately being expelled from his own home. This episode sparked controversy and drew criticism for its portrayal of child abuse and neglect. Numerous viewers have expressed their strong disapproval of the episode on social media, voicing their opinions on why Lincoln did not deserve such mistreatment. A campaign to ban the episode has even garnered support from certain individuals.

9 “It’s A Wishful Life” - The Fairly OddParents

The Fairly OddParents follows the adventures of 10-year-old Timmy Turner and his fairy godparents, Wanda and Cosmo. They grant Timmy wishes to help him solve his daily problems. In season 5, an episode titled "It's A Wishful Life," Timmy becomes frustrated when no one appreciates his good deeds. As a result, he wishes that he had never been born. To his surprise, Timmy discovers that life without him is actually wonderful, and no one truly depends on him. However, Timmy learns that unless he can find someone whose life is genuinely worse without him, he will be sent to a place where children who wished they were never born go.

Similarly, many viewers have expressed their thoughts on how poorly Timmy was treated both before and after he disappeared. They believe that there could have been less discouraging and unjust ways to demonstrate to Timmy that good deeds are not done for praise. They also note that the other characters could have at least shown some gratitude to Timmy by saying "thank you."

8 “Blue Cat Blues” - Tom & Jerry

The Tom and Jerry short films revolved around the endless rivalry between cat Tom and mouse Jerry. Their entertaining escapades took a somber turn in the 1956 short film, Blue Cat Blues. In this film, Jerry narrates Tom's heartbreaking story of falling into a deep depression after being left by a white cat who chose a wealthy cat for his riches. Tom finds himself sitting on train tracks, consumed by sadness. Jerry, facing a similar predicament as his girlfriend left him for a rich mouse, joins him. The short concludes with the growing sound of an approaching train as Tom and Jerry remain on the tracks. Undoubtedly, Blue Cat Blues is highly controversial and widely recognized as the worst installment in the Tom and Jerry series. However, it is important to note that the series continued despite this dark and shocking episode.

7 “Sun Scream” - The Powerpuff Girls

The Powerpuff Girls focuses on Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup, who are the superhero trio protecting the city of Townsville from various monsters and villains. In the episode "Sun Scream" from season 6, the Powerpuff Girls suffer from sunburns caused by battling a solar flare, leaving them unable to combat other villains due to the excruciating pain. This particular episode has stirred controversy within The Powerpuff Girls fanbase, as the citizens of Townsville mockingly laughed at the girls for their sunburns, leading to accusations of unethical behavior. Furthermore, the portrayal of the girls' agony in the episode is notably difficult to watch.

6 “Pre-School Daze” - Rugrats

Rugrats chronicled the imaginative escapades of a group of toddlers – Tommy, Chuckie, Phil and Lil, and Angelica. Over the course of the series, these characters experienced significant life changes, from Tommy welcoming a baby brother to Chuckie's father remarrying Kira, Kimi's mother. However, in a surprising twist, the seventh season took things a step further by sending the show's two eldest characters, Angelica and Susie, to pre-school. This exciting episode, known as "Pre-School Daze", not only intensified the rivalry between Angelica and Susie but also paved the way for a spin-off mini-series bearing the same name and featuring a completely different animation style.

The introduction of the character Harold in this episode was not well-received, often being seen as annoying. Additionally, the conflicts between Angelica and Susie were not enjoyable to watch, leading some to believe that this episode marked the decline of Rugrats.

5 “The Great Gazoo” - The Flintstones

The Flintstones transported viewers back to the Stone Age where they were introduced to Fred and Wilma Flintstone, as well as their pals and next-door neighbors, Barney and Betty Rubble. In season 6, an episode titled "The Great Gazoo" brought forth a new character named Gazoo, an extraterrestrial being who generously offers financial assistance to Fred and Barney. Their intention is to use the money to treat their wives to a fancy dinner at a high-end restaurant. However, much to their surprise, when the bill arrives it becomes evident that Gazoo has devised a way to return to his home planet, leaving Fred and Barney to handle the expense. Gazoo's addition to The Flintstones has faced significant criticism, with this particular episode often cited as the moment when the show took a downturn in quality.

4 “Arnold Betrays Iggy” - Hey Arnold!

Hey Arnold! revolves around Arnold, a fourth grader residing with his grandparents in a downtown tenement. Renowned for its ability to tackle everyday issues faced by kids, the show captivated Nickelodeon's audience with its charm and occasional comedic flair. Despite its popularity, the third season's episode, "Arnold Betrays Iggy," nearly tarnished Hey Arnold!'s reputation. In this episode, Sid and Stinky accurately deduce that Iggy wears bunny pajamas, leading Iggy to wrongly believe that Arnold spilled the secret. Consequently, Iggy severs ties with Arnold, who goes to great lengths to rebuild their friendship. Ultimately, Iggy puts Arnold in an uncomfortable position by making him march through a crowded street wearing bunny pajamas as an apology.

In complete contrast to the show's established norms, "Arnold Betrays Iggy" delves into themes of betrayal, revenge, and humiliation that do not align with its overall tone. Arnold is subjected to public humiliation for a wrongdoing he never committed, yet those responsible for the misunderstanding face no consequences and fail to rectify the situation with Iggy by telling him the truth. The characters' actions in this episode stray completely from their usual behavior, making it the most despised installment in the Hey Arnold! series.

3 “The Great Divide” - Avatar: The Last Airbender

Avatar: The Last Airbender introduces Aang, the newly chosen Avatar and the ultimate master of all four elements. His extraordinary duty is to restore peace among the four elemental nations. Acclaimed as one of the finest animated series ever created, Avatar: The Last Airbender bears a slight blemish on its otherwise impeccable reputation with its episode titled "The Great Divide". In this episode, Aang successfully unites two warring Earth Kingdom tribes by concocting a tale about their common ancestors, while assisting them in crossing the world's largest canyon. Regarded as inconsequential and detached from the overarching narrative, the episode was acknowledged by the show's creators to the extent that in a subsequent episode, the characters effortlessly soar over the canyon without acknowledging its presence.

2 “One Coarse Meal” - SpongeBob SquarePants

SpongeBob SquarePants chronicles the daily escapades of its eponymous character, an aquatic sponge, and his array of underwater companions. Despite being Nickelodeon's most popular animated series, the show's quality has gradually declined over the years. Among its episodes, season 7's "One Coarse Meal" is widely regarded as the worst. The storyline revolves around Mr. Krabs discovering Plankton's fear of whales and using this knowledge to torment him by disguising himself as Pearl, his daughter. The extent of the torment pushes Plankton to contemplate suicide, with SpongeBob ultimately coming to his rescue and revealing the truth. However, the episode's portrayal still depicts Plankton as the antagonist and Mr. Krabs as the hero, leaving no amusement in subjecting someone to such distress that they contemplate ending their life.

1 “The Principal and the Pauper” - The Simpsons

"The Simpsons, widely regarded as one of the most successful and beloved animated shows in television history, has had its fair share of episodes that did not quite hit the mark. However, one particular episode stands out as the pinnacle of disappointment and the moment when the show lost its charm: 'The Principal and the Pauper'. This controversial episode unveils the shocking revelation that Principal Skinner is not who he appears to be, but rather an imposter named Armin Tamzarian, who assumed Skinner's identity after mistakenly believing he had died in the Vietnam War. This sudden twist completely disregarded years of character development and left viewers bewildered. To further compound the frustration, the episode's conclusion only added to its absurdity. The immense disappointment caused by this installment of The Simpsons is so notable that even the series creator, Matt Groening, publicly voiced his disdain for it."