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Big Nate - Kindness Wars (S1E18)
When Artur saves Nate’s life, Nate finds himself deeply indebted to his greatest foe. To even the scales, Nate engages in a war of kindness, unbeknownst to his opponent, Artur. Kim Cressly trains Francis to channel his inner Kim.
| Runtime (min) | 23 |
|---|---|
| Air Date | 2022-12-25 |
| Genres | Animation, Kids, Family, Comedy |
| TV Rating | TV-Y7 |
| Network(s) | Paramount+ |
Storyline
When Artur performs a heroic act that saves Nate's life, Nate finds himself in an uncomfortable position: owing a debt of gratitude to the one person he considers his greatest rival. Unable to simply accept the favor and move on, Nate decides the only way to restore balance is to repay Artur through an escalating series of kind gestures. What begins as a simple thank-you quickly spirals into a full-blown "war of kindness," with Nate determined to outdo Artur's original good deed without Artur even realizing they're in competition.
Meanwhile, a parallel subplot unfolds as Kim Cressly takes Francis under her wing for some unconventional coaching. Kim works to help Francis tap into confidence and assertiveness he doesn't typically display, encouraging him to channel what she calls his "inner Kim." The episode balances Nate's comedic struggle with pride and gratitude against Francis's journey toward self-assurance, both story threads exploring how kids navigate identity and relationships with peers.
What kids learn
This episode offers children a humorous yet meaningful look at pride, gratitude, and the sometimes-complicated feelings that come with accepting help from others. Nate's struggle to simply say thank you and move on illustrates how ego and rivalry can make even straightforward acts of kindness feel like competitions. Kids see that while it's natural to want to repay favors, turning gratitude into a contest can complicate relationships and prevent genuine connection. The episode gently encourages viewers to recognize when their own pride might be getting in the way of appreciating what others do for them.
Francis's storyline with Kim provides a complementary lesson about self-confidence and stepping outside comfort zones. As Kim coaches Francis to be more assertive, children observe that confidence isn't about becoming someone else entirely, but rather discovering strengths they already possess and learning when to let them show. The episode suggests that sometimes we need encouragement from friends to see our own potential.
Together, both plots reinforce the value of authentic relationships built on mutual respect rather than one-upmanship, and the importance of being open to growth and help from unexpected sources.
Parents' top 5 questions
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Why does Nate turn a simple thank-you into a competition with Artur? | Nate's ongoing rivalry with Artur makes it difficult for him to accept help graciously. His pride won't allow him to feel indebted to someone he views as a competitor, so he transforms gratitude into a challenge he can "win." This reflects how kids sometimes struggle to separate their egos from genuine appreciation, turning even positive interactions into contests when relationships are already complicated by jealousy or insecurity. |
| What does this episode teach about accepting help from people we don't particularly like? | The episode shows that good deeds don't require friendship or even mutual affection to be meaningful. Artur's act of saving Nate is genuine regardless of their rivalry, and Nate's inability to simply accept it gracefully creates unnecessary complications. Children learn that gratitude can be expressed sincerely even toward people they find challenging, and that kindness doesn't always need to be repaid in kind—sometimes a heartfelt acknowledgment is enough. |
| How does Kim help Francis, and what does he learn from her coaching? | Kim works with Francis to help him access confidence and assertiveness that don't come naturally to him. Through her coaching, Francis discovers he's capable of being bolder and more self-assured than he typically allows himself to be. The subplot illustrates that personality traits aren't fixed, and that friends can help us recognize and develop strengths we didn't know we had, even if it feels uncomfortable at first. |
| Is the 'war of kindness' concept a healthy way to handle gratitude? | The episode presents the "war of kindness" as comedic but ultimately misguided. While Nate's intentions aren't malicious, his approach turns a straightforward moment of gratitude into an exhausting competition that Artur doesn't even know he's part of. Kids see that when we overcomplicate simple gestures of thanks, we risk missing the point entirely. Genuine appreciation is more valuable than elaborate repayment schemes driven by pride. |
| What can kids take away about rivalry and respect? | The episode demonstrates that rivalry doesn't have to erase basic decency or mutual respect. Even though Nate and Artur are competitors in many areas, Artur's willingness to help and Nate's eventual recognition of that kindness show that adversaries can still treat each other well. Children learn that competition and respect aren't mutually exclusive, and that acknowledging someone's good qualities doesn't mean surrendering in whatever contest exists between you. |
Writing
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Directing
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| Season # | Episode # | Episode Name |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Nate has multiple detentions on the docket, per usual. But this time he is one detention away from a fate only whispered about in the halls of P.S. 38 AND the unhinged new kid is determined to become Nate’s prank partner. |
| 1 | 2 | To remedy Nate’s subpar birthday celebrations, Martin lets Nate borrow his credit card with rules that may have been “open to interpretation”. After a day of limitless fun, Nate and his friends must pay off their debt. |
| 1 | 3 | Nate has decided this Valentine’s Day, he will finally profess his love for his dream girl in the form of a grand gesture, but the day of love quickly turns into a nightmare after Nate’s “gift” gives the entire school food poisoning. |
| 1 | 4 | When Nate is paired with Jenny on a school project, he hopes to prove his awesomeness to her, but his cat phobia threatens to destroy his cool. Meanwhile, Ellen sets out to cure Martin of a deeply ingrained phobia of his own. |
| 1 | 5 | Nate gets his first pimple. In a quick turn of events, his blemish is deemed lucky and he blesses P.S. 38 with his zit until one by one, his clients luck turns sour. Meanwhile, Dee Dee gets the theatre teacher of her dreams. |
| 1 | 6 | While buying romance novels for a heartbroken Ellen, Nate discovers they are total cash cows. Under a pen name, he writes a best-selling graphic novel using the people in his life as inspiration until it catches up to him. |
| 1 | 7 | A local legend comes to life as Nate and friends prepare for an epic party. But Nate’s awesome plans may be foiled as a mysterious presence stalks the students and Francis disappears for hours at a time over at Jefferson. |
| 1 | 8 | While on a school camping trip, Nate is determined to win the Wilderness Warrior Award, Dee Dee uses her acting skills to cope with anxiety, and the teachers hatch a plan to steal an eagle egg. |
| 1 | 9 | When Francis gets an emergency cell phone, the gang makes major plans for it, but even the best laid cell plans can go wrong. |
| 1 | 10 | When Nate finds himself accidentally responsible for the cancellation of an entire species, he must save a pregnant lizard from the clutches of P.S. 38's latest homeec teacher. |
| 1 | 11 | Nate is asked to give up center stage as lead singer of "Fear the Mollusk" for his sworn enemy, but he won't give up that easily and neither will Martin. |
| 1 | 12 | Martin's desire to dive into a relationship with Randy's mom blinds him to countless red flags, while Nate struggles to co-exist with maniacal Randy who has now infiltrated every aspect of Nate's life. |
| 1 | 13 | To dodge a science test, Nate concocts a plan to shut down PS 38 by pretending that it's haunted; as he and his friends set the stage, they get locked in the school with a coven of man witches. |
| 1 | 14 | Nate hopes to spin a newfound gift into a bright future but soon discovers there's no fast track to success; Dee Dee worries a new actress is stealing her spotlight. |
| 1 | 15 | Nate and Team Awesome face Jefferson in the annual Big Freeze snow sculpture competition. |
| 1 | 16 | Nate's gym grade is on thin ice and the only thing that can save him from the humiliation of repeating 6th grade gym is something he swore to hate for eternity. |
| 1 | 17 | Nate and Francis discover the Pope family schedule while on spring break. |
| 1 | 18 | When Artur saves Nate’s life, Nate finds himself deeply indebted to his greatest foe. To even the scales, Nate engages in a war of kindness, unbeknownst to his opponent, Artur. Kim Cressly trains Francis to channel his inner Kim. |
| 1 | 19 | Nate is ready to be treated like an adult, so when Martin and Ellen head out of town, he insists he can hold down the fort ALONE. But when zombies strike, Nate questions his ability to take on life by himself. |
| 1 | 20 | When P.S. 38 is hit with the dreaded standardized testing, Teddy receives a perfect score and is exposed as a math genius. As Teddy’s success is exploited, Francis struggles with his identity as the smartest kid in sixth grade. |
| 1 | 21 | Dee Dee's excited to celebrate her birthday but her friends and family are so wrapped up with trying to surprise her that Dee Dee feels forgotten and winds up spending her special day with a new girl who has just moved to town. |
| 1 | 22 | When Nate's elected Student Safety Sergeant he's wildly unprepared for the responsibility. Meanwhile, Principal Nichols discovers the teachers hang out without him and is desperate to ingratiate himself into their inner circle. |
| 1 | 23 | Nate must convince a 5th grade girl to attend P.S. 38 next year and is sure his awesomeness will do the trick. But Leah has her head stuck in Medieval times and may need to be swayed to the present by her Nate in shining armor. |
| 1 | 24 | In the thick of Ellen’s recent heartbreak, Nate is apathetic per usual. But when he falls into a bromance with Ellen’s cool new beau, heartache ensues. P.S. 38’s new school anthem may be the only thing to put their pieces back together. |
| 1 | 25 | Nate has set the P.S. 38 record for most detentions in one month, putting the teachers on "Nate Watch." To dodge this personal purgatory, Nate decides to help Dee Dee put on the school's musical... casting the teachers as the stars. |
| 1 | 26 | It's April Fools' Day and Nate hopes to pull off an epic prank inspired by his hero, Brad Gunter, but Nichols is all too familiar with Gunter's old tricks. |
| Season # | Episode # | Episode Name |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | 1 | Nate's grandparents take the Wrights on an ill-fated seafaring adventure to find the rumoured lost treasure of Eewcorpico; Captain Dee Dee leads a rescue mission to save Nate and his family from the treasure's curse. |
| 2 | 2 | Nate continues his search for treasure, but the Curse of Ewwcorpico has other plans; washed up on an island, the rest of the crew searches for Nate while getting back to Rackleff safely looks less and less likely by the minute. |
| 2 | 3 | Nate and Teddy go to great lengths to get invited to hang with the cool 7th graders, but they get more than they bargained for when they find out just how much more intense middle school gets after 6th grade. |
| 2 | 4 | When Nate's favourite snack releases a flavor-blasted version, he can't wait to get his hands on it and rid P.S. 38 of its old vending machine in the process; when an allergic reaction sends Nate home, he returns to chaos. |
| 2 | 5 | Nate is excited when Martin agrees to sub for Godfrey, but his dad's behaviour soon has him longing for her swift return; Dee Dee gets cast in a commercial, but the embarrassing product has her hiding from the spotlight. |
| 2 | 6 | When Nate and Nolan's ongoing rivalry goes too far, they find themselves in a battle for one of Nate's most treasured possessions, his friendships; Dee Dee's shot at superstardom may just get caught in the crosshairs. |
| 2 | 7 | Principal Nichols makes the students take a love matchmaking quiz ahead of the Valentine's Day Dance, and Nate tries to rig the outcome to secure Jenny as his date. |
| 2 | 8 | Nate skips school to enjoy a day on the town with his friends, but his freedom is short-lived when he must team up with Godfrey to get Spitsy to the vet in time for an urgent procedure. |
| 2 | 9 | Nate hopes to impress Jenny by setting a world record but struggles to find a feat that aligns with his talents; Jenny wants to make it to Artur's big coming-of-age celebration, but her demanding schedule interferes. |
| 2 | 10 | When an esteemed art critic comes to town, Nate hopes to dazzle him; however, his original characters begin to disappear one by one from his mind; Nate and friends explore his imagination to save them with some help from the past. |
| 2 | 11 | Hoping to put Rackleff on the map, Nate decides to create a reality show set at P.S. 38, but to stay on the air he'll need to subject his friends to a whole lot of drama. |
| 2 | 12 | Responsible for a grisly bug infestation, Nate resolves to raise money for an exterminator by selling Zora's beloved pierogis. Meanwhile, Martin partners with one of Nate's teachers to take care of the bugs the old-fashioned way. |
| 2 | 13 | During the annual 6th grade sleepover, Nate is determined to join the ranks of legendary P.S. 38 pranksters. But his plans are foiled when Randy strangely refuses to let Nate out of his sight. |
| 2 | 14 | When Nate finds out he's moving away he wants the people of Rackleff to remember him fondly; meanwhile, Amy's best friend tells her she's changed since leaving NYC so Amy is determined to prove her wrong. |
| 2 | 15 | When a dispute over a speed bump at school divides the parents, Nate and Francis' friendship is tested. Chad is Kid Principal for the day but must navigate the chaos by himself when Nichols gets put out of commission. |
| 2 | 16 | After Ruby invites herself over to witness a famous Wright Family Thanksgiving firsthand, Nate is forced to flip the script, desperate not to scare her off. Dee Dee mines for drama in an otherwise mundane storyline for this year's holiday pageant. |
| 2 | 17 | When Nate is made captain of the P.S. 38 baseball team only days before the Rackleff County Championship game, he pushes his team too hard on the path to victory; meanwhile Francis conquers a sports related phobia. |
| 2 | 18 | Nate is determined to win the EEW Corp science competition so he can snag the grand prize, but he is up against Nolan and his genius friends who have a few tricks up their sleeves. Francis grapples with facing his exes. |
| 2 | 19 | With a huge haul of Halloween candy on the line, Nate makes a bet with Teddy to prove there's no such thing as ghosts; after Principal Nichols backs into a child's bike, he tries to bury the guilt but it follows him everywhere. |
| 2 | 20 | Nate's excited to collaborate with Ruby on an antitrash art project, but his desperate desire to impress her may get him dumped; meanwhile, Gina and Nichols' single use product addictions spiral out of control. |
| 2 | 21 | When a heartbroken Nate sings at the talent show auditions, it's so well received that he must stay down in the dumps or risk losing the band's success. Dee Dee's lack of painful life experiences impacts a performance. |
| 2 | 22 | Nate finds a sloth in his backyard and campaigns for a way to keep her as a pet. Meanwhile, Teddy is suspicious and investigates how an exotic animal randomly showed up in Rackleff. |
| 2 | 23 | When Ellen loses her babysitting job to a group of teenage triplets, Nate rallies his friends to bring down this ruthless babysitting monopoly! But to do so, Nate must tap intro the dangerous power of the 'Unsittable One.' |
| 2 | 24 | Nate hosts an exchange student who is not quite what Nate has imagined. Amy is excited to join a cooking team but to stay in her group she'll have to lower her culinary standards. |
| 2 | 25 | Nate's given detention for an epic prank, he offers to help Coach John impress his former classmates at a reunion in exchange for a reduced sentence. Gina is horrified to learn she's been voted "most boring" kid in class. |
| 2 | 26 | Nate enrolls in clown school in hopes of spreading global happiness. After learning Nate's dad forbids Nate from attending, Nate's friends recruit Martin into their bird watching club as a distraction. |
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