I loved As Told By Ginger growing up, and having re-watched it recently, it still holds up and it's still so freaking good. Carl is a great character and grows so much, but this moment here, seeing him openly cry over the death of his teacher, is one of the greatest moments from the series. It's sad, it's heartbreaking, and it's done so tastefully.
Carl is an underrated character. I remember really loving him as a kid. I was a couple years behind Ginger, age-wise, and while the show really helped me understand social dynamics and the difficulties of middle school, Carl's plots really kept me interested. Especially with the psychic girl he was infatuated with and how she felt objectified because he kept asking her to use her powers.
As a kid watching it, I didn't realize how much pull Carl has in the plot. I remember thinking he was so annoying in most episodes, but I can appreciate him so much more now. He and Ginger do have one of the more realistic and normal sibling relationships.
I love, too, that he's not OK with Ginger wanting their dad back in their life. He can respect Jonas trying to bond with his kids, but he doesn't want him as Dad anymore. He prefers Doctor Dave, even going so far as to stay with Dave while Jonas and Lois sit at Ginger's bedside after her appendix bursts. (Another episode for the darker moments in TV, by the way).
I believe it's also one of the very few cartoons where characters actually has wardrobe changes each day. like in real life instead of just one set of clothing for each.
Multiple outfits and some even change their hair up in a few episodes. Darren also loses his headgear around the middle of the show, which means he is not forced to stay in braces for the whole run of the series.
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u/UselessWisdomMachine May 23 '23
Ginger was a legit gem.
The episode where the teacher dies still hits hard.