This Disturbing ‘Rugrats’ Fan Theory Might Change the Way You Rewatch the Show
In 1991, the animated show Rugrats premiered. The TV show, which featured the daily antics of a handful of toddlers as they attempted to navigate life, was a major success for Nickelodeon.
The main character was Tommy Pickles who had several fun opinions about life, adults, and his friends. Rugrats was loved by people of all ages. Not only did the show air for nine seasons, but it also triggered multiple spinoff movies.
One interesting fan theory has started circulating that could change how you feel as you watch reruns.
‘The Simpsons’ connection
Two of the three people credited with creating Rugrats were married and are now divorced. Arlene Klasky and Gábor Csupó met in 1979 and married. In addition to creating Rugrats, the pair also worked together on The Simpsons, Aaahh!!! Real Monsters, and As Told By Ginger.
While married, the pair created a pair of precocious sons and an animation studio which they named Klasky Csupo. Even though the pair divorced after 16 years of marriage, they continue to work together and are also close friends.
“It’s a lot easier for us now,” Gabor Csupo explained in a New York Post interview. “It was more difficult when we were married and brought our work problems home with us. We’re very good friends, we share children and we respect each other. People are always trying to dig up dirt, but there’s really nothing to hide – we have a very good, friendly relationship. That’s what everyone should know.”
‘Rugrats’: Elizabeth Daily didn’t let her own child keep her away from Tommy Pickles
When most women go into labor, they stop worrying about work and turn all of their attention towards having a child. According to The Guardian, Elizabeth Daily is the exception to that rule. Elizabeth was working on an episode of Rugrats when she realized she’d started going into labor. She didn’t want to be the reason for a production delay, so she refused to go into labor and stayed in the studio.
She was able to time things so that she performed her lines as Tommy Pickles in-between contractions. She stayed put until she’d read the last line, at which point she consented to go to the hospital.
The theory that could change how you watch ‘Rugrats’
Related: How Nickelodeon Is Supporting Black Lives Matter Amid Backlash
Most of us assumed that Rugrats was simply the show about the complex lives of a fictional toddler, but an extremely dark fan theory has started circulating that will not only change how you watch the show but also provides some insight into the mental health of parents.
The theory is that Angelica, who is Tommy’s mother, is imagining everything. The theory is that Tommy was actually a still-born, and unable to cope with the reality of not having her child, Angelica creates an imaginary world that her son inhabits.
Followers of this theory feel that it explains why Angelica’s husband spent so much time in the basement. They postulate that while Angelica created an imaginary world as a coping mechanism, her husband lost himself in the process of creating toys his child would never be able to play with.
The theory, which was published on CreepyPasta, also theorizes that Chuckie was a child that Angelica aborted and while Dil was a real child, Angelica wasn’t able to successfully cope with a child who didn’t fit into the imaginary world she’d created for Tommy.
The theory really does put a dark and heartbreaking spin on the show.
It will be interesting to see if the theory is explored when the Rugrats reboot eventually airs. At this point, there has been no word on when the reboot will launch, though many expect it will happen during 2021.
