Clarissa Explains It All Review: An Important Show for Nick

Clarissa Explains It All Review - An Important Show for Nick

On March 1991, Nickelodeon premiered a new show that would be very important for years to come. That show was called Clarissa Explains It All, starring a teenage Melissa Joan Hart as the titular character Clarissa Darling, who explained everything about getting through teenage life. It was the first ever Nick show with a female protagonist, which would pave the way for future shows like The Secret World of Alex Mack, The Amanda Show, Tania, ICarly, True Jackson, Victorious, and Side Hustle. In this review, I will take a look at every single season and give you my thoughts on the episodes in very short words.

Season 1

Clarissa's Revenge: 8/10

School Picture: 8/10

No T.V.: 9/10

Urge to Drive: 7/10

Haunted House: 8/10

Clarissa News Network: 9/10

The Bully: 9/10

New Addition: 8/10

Brain Drain: 8/10

Clarissa Makes a Cake: 10/10

Parents Who Say No!: 9/10

Cool Dad: 9/10

Sick Days: 7/10

To recap the first season of a tv show is always simple. It always differed from what it would become later on. With this show, I don’t really noticed much of a difference in quality or aesthetic other than Sam not hitting puberty yet. The first episode of the show was simply titled Revenge, but it doesn’t focused much on the revenge part of the story other than the beginning and the ending. It’s more or less your typical first episode where everyone is introduced. And as you’re watching the show, you’ll be noticing pop culture references and most of them are usually what topical during the early 90s. Unlike the newer sitcoms, they don’t bother me because they don’t come off as forced and they’re usually just written in the script because the writers are fans of a show, singer, etc. The Looney Tunes getting mentioned in particular is funny when you think about it - Nickelodeon was actually airing this show. The second episode is about preparing for picture day and it can be relatable for any student who don’t want to be embarrassed about their school picture. I always remembered how I looked in picture day and I never had an embarrassing photo except for my early ones since I didn’t know how to smile in front of a camera. Next episode revolves around TV time getting banned because of intimating antics from tv shows. As you expect, you’ll notice mentions of several tv shows that are still relevant at the time it was airing. Of course, The Simpsons is the only show still on the air. It’s the first episode I consider better than the previous two because I am a tv fanatic. And towards the end at the episode, Janet is shown smoking. So much for being a kids show (but this was during a different time). But it’s not amazing just yet. I still need to find the first perfect episode of the show. Urge to Drive is a downgrade from the other episodes so far, as it focuses on a topic that I have no interest. I am honestly scared of driving and prefer to chose a better transportation option. Haunted House is the first episode to focus on a family member coming over the Darling residence. Yeah, I don’t blame Clarissa for why she doesn’t want to see her aunt. She is pretty creepy. This is perhaps the first surreal episode of a otherwise grounded show. Apparently Paramount+ skipped out Clarissa News Network until later in the second season (still labeled as season 1), but I remembered enjoying it a lot than the other episodes of the first season as it focused on Clarissa’s dreams of being a journalist. Well, on to the next episode: The Bully simply involved a plot of a character getting bullied and it’s pretty much what you seen in many tv shows. But it’s different in that Ferguson, the bully brother, is actually the victim. And they handled it better than most shows. The episode ended in a weird way, the bully’s brother has a crush on Clarissa. New Addition focused on the possibility of having a new baby in the house. And the status quo is exactly what you expected. The parents want a new kid but in the end, it turn out to be a misunderstanding. Also, I just learned Ferguson is a conservative. I wonder what would he look like many years later because Republicans have become literal dictators. And speaking of Ferguson, the next episode Brain Drain is all about the possibility of him being a genius. Of course, this doesn’t make Clarissa happy because she feels threatened to be outsmarted by her mean brother. So towards the end of the episode, it become a game show plot and because of Ferguson’s stupidity, they end up losing the game. Clarissa Makes a Cake is all about her baking a cake for her parents anniversary. However, they end up getting into an argument and their relationship is on the line. Honestly, this is my favorite episode of the first season because it’s a simple story, but they managed to give it a little bit of drama with the parents. After spending a day arguing and instead of trying to end the marriage, they try to put their differences aside and have a moment while Clarissa prepares for a cake. The ending is the definition of wholesomeness. Parents Who Say No! is a great episode about trying to convince your parents to say yes. For Clarissa, all of this was over asking for a job. It’s understandable why her parents don’t want her to work. I mean, child labor is such a exploitive thing. In the end, she just ended up being a babysitter, much to her disappointment. Cool Dad is about Clarissa trying to make her dad to not embarrass her at school for career day. I gotta say, it’s amusing seeing her dressed up as a goth just so things won’t get awkward at school. Also, they mentioned a movie that supposed to be a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles reference but with a cheerleaders. Season 1 ended on a weaker note with a sick day episode. We all know how these type episodes go on tv shows. All in all, the first season is good, but it’s not the best the show has to offer so far.

Season 2

Crush: 8/10

She Drives Me Crazy: 9/10

Sam Darling: 8/10

President Ferguson: 8/10

The Return of Mafalda: 9/10

The Great Debate: 7/10

ME 101: 10/10

The Understudy: 8/10

Can't Buy Love: 6/10

Misguidance Counselor: 9/10

Sam in Love: 8/10

A New Look: 8/10

Total TV: 9/10

The second season starts off on a very weird note. Clarissa develops a crush on a weather man, rather than someone at her school. I’m a weather freak so I enjoyed this episode despite the weirdness of it. The second half shifts gears to trying to go on a trip to a mountain and meeting the weather man himself, but it turns out it’s not exactly what she had in mind. She Drives Me Crazy is all about Clarissa unusually being nice to her brother so she can win herself a car after participating in an essay contest hosted by someone named Jill. Yes, it’s going to be an occurring theme in the show where she wants to do something to start driving, but always fails in the end. I like how the situation ended with Jill storming off while insulting Clarissa and Ferguson and in a rare moment, they actually sided with each other. Sam Darling is self explanatory. He becomes a guest in the Darling residence and becomes too much of a guest, which starts to alienate Clarissa. It plays out like a houseguest story, except that it had a less predictable execution. Instead of trying to get too along with Clarissa’s parents, Sam actually wants to get out of the Darling house. Next up, we have another Ferguson episode and it’s a political one as well. The idea of President Ferguson freaks Clarissa out. It’s an interesting concept that doesn’t get too preachy. Most political episodes tend to be predictable and often not executed well. But this show managed to handled it better than other sitcoms. The first sequel episode features the second appearance of Aunt Mafalda. Clarissa dreads the idea of seeing her aunt babysit her and Ferguson while Marshall and Janet are out of town. And it’s exactly what you expect - Mafalda starts to meddle with Clarissa’s life, especially the sleepover. And it turns out Clarissa actually has other friends besides Sam. It’s better than Mafalda’s first appearance as it’s less surreal. The Great Debate focused on the parents doing the opposite thing and they get into themselves a debate. It’s one of the lesser episodes of the season, and it’s still decent. Just not much else to discuss about. ME 101 is about Janet trying to bond with Clarissa. However, it turns out she doesn’t know much about her. It’s a pretty amazing episode featuring an interesting dynamic between Clarissa and her mom. The Understudy focused on preparing for a school play. It’s basically a standard school plot. I prefer the subplot with Ferguson wanting glasses a little more. In Can’t Buy Love, Clarissa has a secret admirer and it turns out to be one of Ferguson’s friend, a British boy. Well, I found my least favorite season 2 episode (and of the whole show) and it’s not a memorable one. Secret admirer episodes usually don’t fare well. The Misguidance Counselor focuses on Clarissa’s situation with a counselor who last name has Cheese. It turns out she’s too weird so tries to live a normal life but it turns out her family are abnormal. I find it interesting this was the Not Normal of Nick sitcoms before SpongeBob covered it in 2008. And they handled it just well as that episode. The New Look is about Clarissa having a boy problem, while Marshall takes modeling. Well, it’s another episode that I prefer the subplot more the main plot, I’ll say that. Turns out Paramount+ doesn’t have two of the episodes during this season, but I remembered enjoying Total TV more than Sam in Love. What did I think of season 2? Eh, it’s slightly better but the worst episode of the season is worse than season 1’s worst. We’ll find out if the show truly become great for the third season.

Season 3

Janet's Old Boyfriend: 8/10

The Darling Wars: 10/10

Poetic Justice: 9/10

Sam's Swan Song: 9/10

Punch the Clock: 9/10

The Silent Treatment: 7/10

Involunteering: 8/10

Take My Advice... Please: 8/10

Marshall's Midlife Crisis: 9/10

Football Fever: 8/10

Life of Crime: 9/10

Marshall's Parents Visit: 9/10

Blind Date: 7/10

I’m dropping the review format with this season since I don’t want to get repetitive with my thoughts. First thing I noticed with this season is that Ferguson sounds older now (took about a year and a half compared to Sam, who voice was breaking during season 1). And the episodes are even better than before. A few episodes focused on the characters dynamics (Darling Wars, Marshall’s Midlife Crisis, Marshall’s Parents Visit), while the same episodes also put less emphasis on the comedic moments. The weakest episodes are still decent at best, even if their plots aren’t the most interesting.

Season 4

March 13, 1993 140 The Flu

March 27, 1993 141 ESP R Us

April 17, 1993 142 Commitment

May 8, 1993 143 Road Trip

May 22, 1993 144 The Bicycle Thief

June 19, 1993 145 Boy Thoughts

June 26, 1993 146 Hero Worship

August 14, 1993 147 A Little Romance

July 10, 1993 148 The Zone

August 28, 1993 149 Tale of Two Moms

September 11, 1993 150 Don't I Know You?

September 25, 1993 151 Babysitting

October 16, 1993 152 Educating Janet

Season 5

October 23, 1993 153 The Cycle

November 13, 1993 154 A New Mom

November 20, 1993 155 Editor in Chief

December 4, 1993 156 Piper Comes to Visit

December 18, 1993 157 Alter Ego

January 8, 1994 158 Sam's Dad

January 15, 1994 159 The Firm

February 5, 1994 160 Janet and Clarissa, Inc.

April 23, 1994 161 Ferguson Explains It All

March 12, 1994 162 Dear Clarissa

July 16, 1994 163 UFO

July 23, 1994 164 Clarissa Gets Arrested

October 1, 1994 165 The Last Episode