I remember loving this episode as a child but when I watched it with my daughter this past Thanksgiving I realized that it did not age well. The animation is classic, and I loved it - but the story...
It is fat phobic - which fits with classic Garfield but is not suitable for children given what we know now - John brings Garfield to the vet (Liz) and even though she says he is healthy in every way, he is fatter than he should be so she puts him on a strict crash diet (half a leaf of lettuce). It isn't until later in the episode when Liz sees how the diet is hurting Garfield that she considers exercise.
It ignores boundaries and unhealthy relationships - John has a crush on the vet - fine. He asks her on a date - fine. She says no - fine. Or it should be but John continues to repeatedly ask, she continues to say no - until he holds his breath until she says yes. This is wrong on so many levels.
Grandma is the one saving part of the show - she comes in, makes Thanksgiving dinner - has some great one liners (including cranberry sauce from a can) - and then she leaves.
I'm sure there are other problems with the episode, but those are the two that have been haunting me for over a month.
It is fat phobic - which fits with classic Garfield but is not suitable for children given what we know now - John brings Garfield to the vet (Liz) and even though she says he is healthy in every way, he is fatter than he should be so she puts him on a strict crash diet (half a leaf of lettuce). It isn't until later in the episode when Liz sees how the diet is hurting Garfield that she considers exercise.
It ignores boundaries and unhealthy relationships - John has a crush on the vet - fine. He asks her on a date - fine. She says no - fine. Or it should be but John continues to repeatedly ask, she continues to say no - until he holds his breath until she says yes. This is wrong on so many levels.
Grandma is the one saving part of the show - she comes in, makes Thanksgiving dinner - has some great one liners (including cranberry sauce from a can) - and then she leaves.
I'm sure there are other problems with the episode, but those are the two that have been haunting me for over a month.