Angelica's In Love

"Angelica's In Love" is the first segment of the fifth episode of season 2, and the eighteenth Rugrats episode overall.

Characters Present

 * Tommy
 * Chuckie
 * Angelica
 * Phil
 * Lil
 * Spike
 * Didi
 * Betty
 * Drew
 * Dean
 * Jean-Claude
 * Dean's Mom
 * Jacqueline DuMonte
 * Cynthia
 * Charlotte (mentioned)
 * Howard (mentioned)

Synopsis
''Angelica falls for Dean, a biker-type kid who she describes as "a 4-year old's dream on a 5-year old's bike". Her heart is broken when Dean ends up pledging his love to someone else -- his mother.''


 * - Description from Klasky Csupo

Plot
This episode is told mostly through Angelica's narration and flashbacks. While riding home from Tommy's house, she thinks about "the boy who got away." While visiting Tommy earlier that morning, Angelica starts picking on the babies. Tommy tells her to stop because a big kid is coming over. Angelica doesn't care until she catches a glimpse of the new boy, Dean. Almost immediately, she’s smitten by him, his shiny black hair, and his tricycle. Before she can say anything to him, he introduces himself to Tommy and the other babies. Dean says he knows that Tommy tried to break out of daycare, and goes to talk with the babies some more. Angelica doesn’t know how to tell him she likes him, so she drops him hints throughout the whole episode.

First, she tries being direct. This makes Dean uncomfortable. Then, she tries being helpless, saying she is too weak to pick up Cynthia from the ground. This backfires when Chuckie picks it up instead. Then, Angelica tries playing hard-to-get. Dean is surprised, but does not respond further. This makes Angelica sad, and the babies ask what is wrong. Angelica explains that she loves Dean more than cookies, but can't get him to notice her. Tommy suggests that they make it seem like she is in trouble, that way Dean will help her.

The babies tie the wagon to Spike's collar, and Angelica sits in the wagon, feigning distress at Spike "going wild." But, a bee stings Spike and causes him to run in a panic, dragging the wagon behind him. Angelica's actual screams bring Dean to her rescue. Dean calms Spike down, and helps Angelica out of the wagon. She thanks him, and when Dean finally gets a good look at her, he starts to fall for her.

Angelica and Dean finally spend some time alone together. Dean sings the ABCs for her, then reads her See Spot Run. Afterward, they have a little tea party. Dean asks if he could talk to Angelica alone, pointing at Cynthia. Angelica tosses her doll away, and asks what is on Dean's mind. He confesses that Angelica makes him feel strange, like he could do something crazy. The babies look on from nearby, confused as to what is about to happen. The two of them lean in to kiss, but Dean's mother comes to pick him up. Dean apologizes to Angelica, saying that he loves "another woman."

After this incident, Angelica decides not to fall in love again. But, as she and her father arrive home, Drew notices that they have new neighbors; a family from France. The mother, Jacqueline, introduces herself and her young son, Jean-Claude. He greets Drew and Angelica. Jean-Claude kisses Angelica's hand, and says that he is going to enjoy living in America. Angelica instantly falls in love all over again and forgets about Dean.

Music Identification

 * Original Music by: Mark Mothersbaugh and Denis M. Hannigan

Trivia

 * This is the first episode to show the exterior of Angelica's house. You'll get to see the interior by "The Santa Experience." In "Touchdown Tommy," a small portion of Angelica and Fluffy were present when Stu called Drew.
 * This is the first appearance of Dean.
 * This is the first episode focusing on Angelica.
 * This is the only appearance of Jean-Claude on television apart from a cameo in "Angelica's Birthday"; however, he does appear in the Rugrats book, Bonjour, Babies!.
 * This is the first episode to mention Chuckie's fear of the "" (referred to as "the guy on the oatmeal box").
 * This is one of the few episodes to make mention of real-life products. For example, Chuckie mentions.
 * Dean references and his iconic 1957 children's story,.

Episode connections

 * The events from the episode "The Big House" are referenced when Tommy and Dean talk about Tommy's unsuccessful attempt to break out of daycare.