day*Sits in the Teacher’s Lounge and hears the bell ring.*

Hey everyone, Quinn the Loremistress of the Gay Canon here, and after a two month break due to depression I AM BACK! This time we’ll be doing a series of RETRO-Rewatches and thoughts on some old time favorite cartoons from my childhood! A quick disclaimer on this, I WILL BE tossing out QUEER / LGBTQIA* / GNC headcanons, story ideas and more. IF YOU DO NOT LIKE THIS then, um, whatever, go to another page :D

As this is my FIRST of the Retro-rewatches I’ll try to establish a frame here. First, I’ll go through about 5-7 episodes each with thoughts on each self-contained vingette. I’ll keep up my hottakes, and then lay out how I see a good fanfic or even fanon arising from this series. Since THIS SERIES deals with kids I want to emphasize that any and ALL story ideas I write will focus on College Age or more for things!

Anyway *Blows her Whistle* RECESS IS ON!

Episode 1

The Break In - We learn about the playground and the organizatino of its poli,tics and personalities. TJ, the leader of our gang, is captured after trying to get “The Good Food”. We get a good show off of the gang including Grethin’s intelligence Mikey’s drama, and Spinelli’s tenacity. Vince remains our sports star (which is perhaps a bit of an obvious racist stereotype here), and the one who refuses to just directly insult the King (Bob is himself pretty...over the top).

The New Kid - This episode speaks a lot to the school transfer experience. To me, it means a lot to see Gus standing up for himself and telling the kids his name. To me this sets up some nice ideas for some fae stories. Honestly, this story mostly focuses on how its important to deny erasure of yourself, and to rebel in the face of tyranny. That and how cool of a character every single member of the gang is!

Episode 2

The Experiment - We see the first example of the Jimmy Cratner stories and we learn how Butch got the white-streak in his hair. Of course, he gets the freak out from seeing his brother kiss a girl. This sets up our kiss experiment between Spinelli and TJ. Honestly, this is where I consider them a cute pair, but honestly not “destined” to date down the road. Plus, oh god, I do love the introduction of Randall as the evil little swindler.

The Great Jungle Gym Standoff - Old Rusty is going to replaced the iconic Jungle Gym must be replaced from years of slowly falling apart. The kids make a stand off and later their parents join them. I think ,this was one of the ones made before Gus’ arrival since he’s completely gone in this episode. It sets a nice tone though about how the kids see their playground and how their parents aren’t always against them.

Episode 3

Jinxed - Gus is introduced to the “KIds Unwritten Code of Honor” and the Jinx curse is dropped on him. The Ashley’s little dastardly intro is nicely done, as it shows how much these kids can be bullys. This episode really establishes Gus’ Lawful Good take on the Code. We’ll see this later during the Tattletale episode which makes it even far more interesting. Gotta love how Gus does a bad trade for a Harmonica and a bunch of music from the same instrument.

Officer Mikey - Wow Mikey sets his eyes on one of his silly hobbies (I say this because it’s part of the joke of the story). It does help that this is an example of how kids change their dreams on a whim at times. This is a typical trade and fetch quest story. The gang must bounce between various points so that they can make Mikey live his dream for a day. He immediately quits because it was too hard, almost unleashing the anger of Spinelli.

Episode 4

First Name Ashley - The eponymous “Ashleys” learn of Spinelli’s first name after Randall reveals it. The little snitch loses standing in Finster’s Outfit and thus begins the well known takeover of Spinelli into the Ashley’s. Luckily the gang manipulate the Clique rules of the playground to get her out. I like this story because it really builds the foundation for why the Ashley’s don’t the Gang. It also sets up one of the more interest dynamics between Ashley A and the others.

To Finster In Love - Finster finding love is an interesting story as while she’s seen a major antagonist along with Prickly in the series she really is a good person. Hank is a great character who really highlights the wonders of custodians in schools. It also shows how manipulative TJ and the kids can be. I think it really gives us a good idea that the playground has a pretty well established hierarchy and without it goes to hell, fast.

Episode 5

King Gus - King Bob is struck with laryngitis leading to us to see Gus become King. Originally a figurehead to the King’s advisors his head closely swells and he finds himself instituting a lot of tyrannical new decrees. The kids try to see King Gus and face the bereaucracy of the Playground. I do love how the Sixth Graders illustrate war via dodgeballs which is even more important with Gus’ background. Gus is quickly dethrone by King Bob and is sent back to being a nobody.

Big Brother Chad - Yes, we are introduce to geekdom, and we learn that Vince’s big bro is an Urkelesque geek. Honestly this particular episode really sets things up on how instead of being a toxic geek we need to be nice. Chad doesn’t look down on others he has fun with programming and playing 3D chess. He doesn’t see himself as anything bad. Vince’s werewolf dream of becoming a ageek is so over the top I fucking love it soooo much. NEATO!

Perhaps the best part of this particular vignette is how even Geeks should protect and can back their family.

Episode 6

My Fair Gretchin - A aptitude test shows Gretchin’s genius and she attempts her best to fail. This particular ep reveals Prickly’s focus on using achievements to become a Middle School Principal. Gretchin appears in the middle of a test dressed in a strange 80s / 90s styled outfit. Spouting weird dumb response such as Dennis Rodman is the President. What we learn later is she is allowed to stay while staying as a tutor to the rest of Third Street’s faculty.

Speedy We Hardly Knew Ye - The class hamster passes away and hte Gang decides to call for funeral. We learn an entire series of hamster generations has connected with a variety grades. Speedy the Hamster has been an icon of Third Street school extending their way all the way back to the current Bus Drivers which means people well into their forties knew Speedy. Hell, even the Mayor pops up.

The fact that they kept changing out the Hamsters and no one figured it out is just so bloody weird. It does make sense, if you want a long living pet for the Class for several years you’d do something like a Bearded Dragon or a Chinchilla. But Speedy himself like much in school represents a lot for kids even through the generations. The Canon - Thoughts!

So let’s begin Double Ashley aka Spinelli and Ashley A or Ashley B is perhaps one of my favorite possible pairings. Then there is Spinelli and Gretchin but honestly I prefer these two mixing up with the Ashleys since it shows nerd and preppy love!

Honestly, Recess has a lot of good opportunities for later life gay story telling. Kurst the Worst as a local baker dating Mikey would be adorbs. TJ and Laws as boyfriends and running their own game shop perhaps. Vince as a big time baller and supporting his friends while Gus is military veteran councilor. Skies are the limit here. So far I’ll focus on my favorite should be Gretchin and Spinelli, but nah and nope. I could easily seeing someone writing Gus or even Mikey as trans perhaps.

Who knows, I write Trans HP so who knows. I’ll have more thoughts once I sleep on these episodes and watch a few more!

Hottakes:

The intro of the New id wow those bring back memories of being singalled out in school.

Gus in the Jinx sitch is far more interesting when we see the Freudian expert show up.

Chad is a great non-creepy Geek and he has not obvious toxic masculinity.

Speedy was a nie hamster. Most Hamsters are not nice I say this as a bloody petcare specialist! Fuck those little devils!

Love how instead of Jesus Christ or God, the kids say “Mike”. I wonder who “MIKE” is.