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Big Nate - Valentine’s Day of Horror (S1E3)
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.
| Runtime (min) | 23 |
|---|---|
| Air Date | 2022-02-17 |
| Genres | Animation, Kids, Family, Comedy |
| TV Rating | TV-Y7 |
| Network(s) | Paramount+ |
Storyline
Nate Wright decides that this Valentine's Day will be the day he finally reveals his feelings for his dream girl through a grand romantic gesture. Determined to make an impression, he prepares what he believes will be the perfect gift to win her heart. His confidence is high as he envisions the moment when his crush will finally see him as more than just a classmate.
However, Nate's romantic plans go disastrously wrong when his Valentine's Day gift—likely homemade treats or food he's prepared—ends up giving the entire school food poisoning. What was supposed to be a day of love and admiration quickly transforms into chaos as students fall ill throughout the school. Nate must face the consequences of his well-intentioned but poorly executed gesture, turning his dream day into a nightmare he won't soon forget.
What kids learn
This episode teaches children about the importance of thinking through their actions before executing grand plans. Nate's enthusiasm and good intentions aren't enough to guarantee success—preparation, safety, and attention to detail matter just as much as the sentiment behind a gesture. Kids see that even when we want to impress someone or do something special, we need to consider the practical consequences of our choices.
The episode also addresses how to handle mistakes when things go wrong. Nate must face an entire school affected by his error, which provides a lesson in accountability and taking responsibility for unintended harm. Children learn that owning up to mistakes, even embarrassing ones, is part of growing up and maintaining integrity.
Additionally, the story explores the difference between grand gestures and genuine connection. Nate's focus on impressing his crush through a big display rather than building a real relationship highlights that meaningful connections come from authenticity, not spectacle. Kids can reflect on how being yourself and showing care through thoughtful, safe actions is more valuable than trying to win someone over with flashy but risky moves.
Parents' top 5 questions
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is the romantic content in this episode age-appropriate for elementary school viewers? | The romantic content is presented at an age-appropriate level for the show's target audience. Nate has a crush and wants to express his feelings, which is a normal part of growing up. The episode treats his feelings with gentle humor rather than mature romantic situations, focusing more on the comedy of his failed gesture than on romantic relationships themselves. It's a good opportunity to discuss healthy ways to express feelings. |
| How does the episode handle the food poisoning situation—is it scary or played for laughs? | The food poisoning is handled in the comedic, exaggerated style typical of animated shows rather than as a frightening medical emergency. The focus is on the chaos and embarrassment Nate experiences rather than graphic illness. The consequences are real enough to teach a lesson about food safety and responsibility, but presented in a way that's appropriate for young viewers without being disturbing or overly gross. |
| Does Nate face appropriate consequences for making everyone sick? | The episode ensures that Nate experiences consequences for his actions, which is important for teaching accountability. He must deal with the fallout of his mistake, including likely embarrassment and the disappointment of his romantic gesture backfiring completely. This provides a teaching moment about taking responsibility when our actions, even well-intentioned ones, cause harm to others. The consequences help reinforce the lesson without being overly punitive. |
| What can I tell my child about food safety after watching this episode? | This episode opens the door to discussing basic food safety with your child. You can talk about why it's important to wash hands, use fresh ingredients, store food properly, and follow recipes carefully when preparing food for others. Explain that when we make food to share, we have a responsibility to keep people safe. You might also discuss why homemade food gifts should be prepared with adult supervision and proper kitchen hygiene. |
| How can I use this episode to talk about expressing feelings in healthy ways? | The episode provides an opportunity to discuss how grand gestures aren't always the best way to show someone you care. Talk with your child about how Nate's focus on impressing his crush led to poor decision-making. Discuss healthier approaches like being kind, showing genuine interest in others, and building friendships naturally. Emphasize that being yourself and treating others with respect matters more than flashy displays meant to win someone's attention. |
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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