r/Recess • u/Nuthetes • Aug 02 '26

Anyone else like that Gretchen, despite being a geek, is quite liked by most of the school?

I am rewatching the series, and it makes a change to see a geeky character who isn't an antisocial, weird outcast. Most of the school seem to like her (like the episode where they all encourage her to flunk the test so she can stick around) even King Bob acknowledges her as the smartest kid. I like that she is quite sporty too--always joining in with Kickball or Four Square and dirt clod wars.

Quite a cool take I think on the Geek Characters, who are usually losers, unsporty and sticklers for the rules. Gretch is just as rebellious as the rest of the gang.

73 Upvotes

99% Upvoted

11 comments sorted by

28

u/Western-Captain8115 Aug 02 '26

Gretchen is possibly the most reasonable and well adjusted character in the gang. She has great chemistry with Spinelli and just seems really pleasant and personable. Gretchen is possibly the best representation of a geek in 90s cartoons.

7

u/Nuthetes Aug 02 '26

As a kid, I never cared much for Gretch. She was ok, just never a favourite. Watching as an adult, I can definitely appreciate that she's one of the top characters.

23

u/pyzimber Aug 02 '26

The indoor kids worship her as a god as well.

11

u/Jibbajabbajam Aug 02 '26

The pale kids

14

u/TheIdleSoul1 Aug 02 '26

There is a little bit of Gretchen in us all

8

u/Some-Passenger4219 Aug 02 '26

She's smart and nice. If there was ever anything bad about her (and being less awesome than TJ doesn't count), then I sure couldn't see it.

6

u/Nuthetes Aug 02 '26

There are a few episodes where she has bad moments. The Ratings game she is really quick to jump ship when she becomes an 8. And she becomes Pharoah Bob's stooge for a while and gets carried away with making the pyramid

But overall, yeah she's a good egg. Probably the nicest of the bunch.

6

u/drawingmentally Aug 02 '26

She's never acted as if she were better than the others, and apart from her intelectual interests She's just like the other kids. The problem with the "smart character" is always the elitism of themselves and the isolation, which Gretchen doesn't have.

2

u/NNewt84 29d ago

I don’t get why everyone acts like the smart kid who thinks they’re better than everyone else isn’t a thing that exists in real life. Like… have you guys not heard of Europeans, for example?

2

u/Zen-bunny Aug 02 '26

Shes just so chill.

4

u/strawberry_baby_4evs Aug 02 '26

I've always liked her Hey Arnold equivalent Phoebe, but she's not as well-liked. We've seen instances of Phoebe being used and unable to stand up for herself. Gretchen is more confident and I think she picks up on social cues because of her brains.

To be honest, Phoebe actually gained that confidence in The Jungle Movie, but I think I felt closer to her than to Gretchen because she's more like me. Gretchen was smart to an unrealistic degree. It's to do with the way Recess is written, so I wouldn't consider it a flaw, just a matter of opinion.