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"Helga and the Nanny" is an episode of Hey Arnold!.
Summary[]
Big Bob hires a nanny to take care of Helga after his wife has to do community service, but when Helga feels that Inga ruins her life, she tries to get rid of her. Helga succeeds but is forced to come to terms with her character.
Plot[]
Bob brings a breakfast of soda and donuts for Miriam and Helga. He tells Miriam to get ready because she starts her community service that day. While Miriam lethargically gets ready, Bob continues, saying that with Miriam out of the house for most of the day, he hired a live-in nanny to watch Helga. Helga insists she can take care of herself, but Bob thinks Inga will be helpful. Inga arrives at the house, and Bob leaves for the day. Inga insists that Helga eat something less sugary for breakfast, and offers bread and jam. Then she says that Helga isn't going to school with a wrinkly dress and unbraided hair.
Later at school, Helga is dressed in clothes similar to Inga's and her hair in flower-adorned braids. Stinky compares Helga to "the girl on the box of hot chocolate." Helga explains her situation to him and Phoebe, angry that Inga is trying to change her whole life. Later, Helga tries playing baseball with the other kids in the neighborhood, but Inga interrupts. She says its time for Helga to go home and do her homework. Inga then offers to show Helga how to do needlepoint. Helga protests this, but Inga says she can play with her friends tomorrow. She even promises to bring cake for the others. Helga talks with Phoebe on the phone later, saying that Inga won't be bothering her much longer after Bob eats what she made for dinner. Unfortunately, Bob loves Inga's cooking, saying it reminds him of his childhood. Helga tries leaving the table, but Inga tells her to ask to be excused and curtsy to Bob before leaving. Helga curtsies dramatically, and sarcastically remarks, "All hail the Beeper King!", before going to her room.
The next day, Inga brings cake to Helga and her friends at the park. Phoebe tells Helga that Inga isn't that bad, and that Helga may learn something from her. Helga isn't convinced. Arnold thanks Inga for the cake, and says she is beautiful and nice. Helga makes her mind up to get rid of Inga. She starts by trying to upset Inga by dumping her crafting glue onto Bob's armchair. Inga isn't bothered. Helga then tries ruining the meal Inga is cooking by turning up the oven's temperature. Inga had already pre-made some meals just in case. Helga then puts Miriam's irreplaceable tablecloth into a heavy duty cycle in the wash. Inga calmly states she can fix it, but says a "little rain cloud" is following her around and ruining things. Helga then decides to put her last plan into action.
Helga takes Bob's lucky diamond studded belt, and hides it in Inga's room. The following day, Bob is frantically searching for his belt, since he always wears it during big sales at the beeper store. Helga urges Bob to check in every room, particularly Inga's. Sure enough, Bob finds the belt and accuses Inga of stealing it. Inga denies it, and subtly tells Helga to admit what she did. Helga pretends to be devastated at Inga's theft, by fake crying while saying, "I trusted you, Nanny Inga!". Bob fires Inga, and she packs her things to leave. The following day at school, Helga tells her friends that Inga has been fired. She boasts about setting Inga up, and the other kids are stunned that Helga would sink so low. Helga starts to feel guilty. Later, Bob admits that he misses having Inga around to help with the house, and is upset that she would be a thief. Helga feels worse, but says to Bob that she likely has found other work by now.
A few days later, Helga has a dream. She walks through a park and sees Inga, looking disheveled. Inga says that she is unable to find work due to people accusing her of being a thief. She is homeless, and even starts fighting the pigeons for crumbs on the ground. Helga wakes up screaming, and decides to go to the park to ease her mind. The next day, Helga goes to the park, but sees Inga there. She nervously asks Inga if she found any work yet. Inga says she likely won't be able to work in the U.S. anymore due to the incident. The guilt is too much for Helga to bear, and she starts admitting what she did, but Inga reveals she already knew. She says there is no excuse for what Helga did. She adds that Helga is an unhappy child, and until she allows someone to help her and be a positive influence, she will stay unhappy. Inga then leaves for the airport.
Some time later at the Pataki house, Bob is ranting about the state of the house. Helga reads a letter from Inga. It states that she is back home in the Alps, and is positive that things in the Pataki home are the same as they were before. Helga solemnly sets down the letter, picks up a needlepoint kit, and starts to sew.
Reception[]
Not unlike its sister episode, "Arnold Betrays Iggy", this episode has received criticism from some fans. They argue that Helga had a good reason to want Inga out of her life, since the Nanny wouldn't stop controlling her every move. Nannies are also usually meant to just help with housework and care for children. Inga instead follows Helga everywhere and attempts to change her.