Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown

Not quite up to the standards of the big Three specials (Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas), but still entertaining. The first one, in any case. Although I was surprised by the idea of having the students just give one Valentine to whomever they wanted. I don't think we ever did any special Valentine's day events when I was in elementary school, but I really like the tradition now of giving a card to everyone in the class (and the teacher). The second episode, however, which follows Charlie Brown's attempts to approach the mysterious "Red Haired" girl, who is strangely never depicted (like the adults in the series), felt uncomfortably like the portrait of a future incel - even though he gets a note from the girl at the end saying she likes him!

I always watch this Peanuts special every Valentine's Day. Seems that Charlie Brown is waiting for someone to give him a valentine, and Linus wants to give a gift to his teacher. Watch the results unfold in this favorite Peanuts cartoon that you will certainly love.

Poor Charlie Brown. He didn't get anything for Valentine's Day. Poor Linus. He is in the same mess too! This special is fun for the family and highly enjoyable. It is kind of normal for children who are in love with older people or adults. This is a good way to teach children to accept the fact that adults go with adults and kids go with kids. The good thing about this cartoon is that we see Snoopy's lovable tomfoolery with Lucy, Charlie Brown and Woodstock which gives out a good laugh (especially with his "pawpet show"). Bottom line: Worth the watch. Rated TV-G because it is fun for the whole family, plus parents can tell their kids the importance of love for their right age and how to accept it. Happy Valentines Day.

It's Valentine's Day. Charlie Brown keeps checking his mail box for valentines. Linus buys a big valentine for his teacher but Sally assumes it's for her. Lucy is going crazy for any sign from Schroeder. Linus is heart broken when the teacher leaves with her boyfriend. Charlie Brown has no valentine and Sally is mad that she's not getting the box of chocolate from Linus. Snoopy and Woodstock have their usual antics. I find some of voice work a bit harsh. I do like the various wacky stuff that Snoopy does. The puppet show comes out of nowhere but that's a fun side trip. Charlie Brown's desperation is fun. I love that he's so desperate that he grabs the pity valentine. It's missing some kind of central message but it's fun.

From the very beginning of the "Peanuts" specials, it's been clear that the makers were very opposed to the commercialism of many holidays. Remember the protest in "It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown" -- "It's Easter and they already have their Christmas decorations up!". So the very cynical view of this holiday, which has been completely co-opted by the greeting card and candy industries, in this special, can't really come as any surprise.

Yet at the same time, the animators do take the time, via Sally's recitation of Elizabeth Barrett Browning's famous poem, to offer a sincere tribute to the spirit of the holiday and the sentiments that it's supposed to be about. Admittedly, they also undercut that by having Linus specifically mention her, and the poem, in his ultimate denunciation of the holiday.