Arthur Ending & Flashforward Explained
Jessica Cortez Arthur ends its 25 years on PBS as the longest-running animated children's show ever, showing in the finale all its main characters in adulthood.
Ending after 25 years, here's what happened in the Arthur flash-forward finale and where the main characters are now. Based on Marc Brown's children's book series, Arthur follows the daily adventures of the eight-year-old aardvark Arthur Read with the anthropomorphic characters of Elwood City. Arthur's best friends include the rabbit Buster Baxter and the monkeys Francine Frensky and Muffy Crosswire. Other supporting characters include Arthur's younger sister D.W., his teacher Mr. Ratburn, and classmates Binky, Brain, Sue Ellen, Prunella, George, and Bud.
Arthur is the longest-running animated children's cartoon ever and has gained a beloved fan base that grew up with the show. Since the show's cancellation announcement on July 27, 2021, thousands of fans took to social media to express their emotional reaction to the news and gratitude towards the show. Arthur received much critical acclaim during its existence, from Arthur's groundbreaking episode of Mr. Ratburn's same-sex marriage to its tactful representation of conditions like autism, dyslexia, and blindness. Its accolades include a Peabody Award, a BAFTA, and seven Emmy Awards.
Segmented with the episode "Blabbermouth," Arthur's finale "All Grown Up" premiered on February 21, 2022 along with all of season 25's four episodes. The show will continue to air its 260-episode catalog on PBS Kids, with games, digital shorts, and an Arthur podcast continuing the franchise. Arthur's finale, however, provides the show with a satisfying conclusion.
What Happened In Arthur's Final Ever Episode
"All Grown Up" begins with Arthur picking up a library book and going to the Sugar Bowl ice cream shop with Buster. There, he learns that the librarian Ms. Turner gave him the wrong book, Drawing Animals The Easy Way. He goes back to the library to return the book with Buster, Francine, and Muffy. At the library, he finds a hidden room labeled with the famous A-113 Pixar Easter egg that's found throughout media like The Simpsons, The Avengers, and Doctor Who. In the room, he discovers the fortune-telling game "Oskar the Oracle Octopus," which "predicts what you will do in life."
Oskar the Oracle Octopus predicts everyone's fate based on their characteristics: Muffy will be a public servant, Francine will be a business person, and Buster will be a teacher. Everyone reacts fearfully to their fate, with Muffy imagining herself as a mail carrier being chased by dogs, Francine working in a hectic cubicle environment, and Buster teaching a class of Brain clones overwhelming him. However, Oskar breaks down before reading Arthur's oracle. The episode then flashes forward 20 years later with everyone reconvening as adults at the Sugar Bowl before Arthur reveals his newest project to the group.
What Happened To Every Arthur Character
Arthur
Taking a meta approach seen in the likes of Lord of the Rings' ending and Game of Thrones' series finale, adult Arthur produces a graphic novel representing the show. Described as "creative, meticulous, and hardworking" by Oskar, Arthur grows up to be a graphic artist. Because he never actually returned Drawing Animals The Easy Way, he discovered a passion for art. The graphic novel he shows to his friends alludes to Arthur's first episode, "Arthur's Eyes." Adult Arthur is voiced by Arthur's original voice actor, Michael Yarmush, who was on the show from seasons 1 through 5.
Buster
Adult Buster meets Arthur at the Sugar Bowl after a day reading stories to his class. He enthusiastically tells Arthur that his pupil Kate wrote a story in class about a "baby who can read animals' minds," which implies that his student is Kate Read, Arthur's baby sister. Since Kate would be 20 to 21 years old in the flash-forward, Buster is likely a college English professor. Buster is an Arthur fan-favorite, partly due to his affability and support for other people, which makes him perfect as a teacher. While playing Oskar the Oracle Octopus, Buster hoped that he'd grow up to be a pseudoscientist because of his interest in all things sci-fi and esoteric. Luckily, Buster thoroughly enjoys his teaching job.
Muffy
When Oskar predicts Muffy would be a great public servant, Francine tells her that a public servant could also be a politician. Enticed by the idea, Muffy's adult self is shown running for Elwood City's mayor. Entering the Sugar Bowl, she asks George if she can hang up her campaign posters there. George allows her and says that he'll do "anything to get Mayor Hirsch out of office," which is a clever Arthur Easter egg referring to Arthur's head writer Peter K. Hirsch.
Francine
As a show ahead of its time, Arthur has always supported progressive themes. Francine being the CEO of a sneaker company continues Arthur's strong track record of representation in television, showing a woman in a successful position of power. Now sporting a shaved pompadour haircut, Francine walks into the Sugar Bowl testing out her newest sneaker style.
D.W.
Always enjoying a position of authority, adult D.W. is a police officer. Another memorable character in the show, D.W. is known for her bossiness and spunk, so becoming a police officer comes as no surprise. In the finale, she's writing up a parking ticket for Arthur's supporting character Bud Compson, who apparently left Elwood City and is returning for a visit. D.W. offers to buy him coffee before writing up his ticket.
Binky and George
Binky Barnes and George Lundgren are the only other supporting characters with their adult life revealed in the finale. Binky, one of Arthur's characters helping represent disabilities and differences, is now a weatherman for Elwood City and appears in the finale on television predicting an incoming cold front. George operates the Sugar Bowl.
Arthur's Perfect Finale Cameo
Credited as playing himself, Marc Brown appears in the finale as a librarian that convinces Arthur to keep the Drawing Animals The Easy Way book. Not only does the appearance of Arthur's creator serve as a nice Easter egg, but the cameo also makes the finale feel more conclusive and full-circle. Brown interacts with the titular character in an engaging way. He inspires Arthur to go down a path that leads to the creation of a graphic novel representing the show. His cameo is not just a simple nod to the audience. Brown's appearance symbolically says that while Arthur has ended, its continued syndication and further plans for the franchise mean that it'll still remain for generations.
