Relationships
Arnold has had two major crushes in the series: sixth-grader Ruth MacDougal (through most of season 1), and with a classmate named Lila Sawyer (who was introduced in season 2). His crush with Ruth ended in Arnold's Valentine after going on a date with her, where he decided that she was not really interesting and came to realize he never knew much about her himself; his crush on Lila ended when he realized how much she's hurt him in the series, and she did not approve of his reason for hanging out with his best friend Gerald's younger sister, Timberly in Timberly Loves Arnold. In the episode Crush On Teacher Arnold develops a crush on his substitute teacher Miss Felter and Arnold thought she had a crush on him too. The crush on her ended at the end of the episode when Arnold found out that Miss Felter did not actually have a crush on him and it was just a misunderstanding. Miss Felter's partner's name was also Arnold, whom she refers to earlier in the episode, hence the confusion.
In the episode 6th Grade Girls, two "older" 6th grade girls named Connie and Maria ask Arnold and Gerald to be their dates for an upcoming dance in an attempt to teach their jerky boyfriends a lesson. Arnold is unsure, but Gerald convinces him to go along with it. At the dance, the girls leave to go to the bathroom, at which point the girls' boyfriends threaten them and attempt to beat them up. Before this can happen however, Connie and Maria return and intervene, sending the boys to wait for them at the bus stop. It is at this point that the girls "break up" with them, though they do kiss each of them on the cheek before leaving.
Arnold also has a summer crush in the "Summer Love" special with a girl named Summer. Summer is an aspiring actress who already has a boyfriend but pretends to be interested in Arnold because of his art skills in making great sandcastles. There is a "babe watch" (which is poking fun of the show "Bay Watch") competition that is awards the winners of the Sand Castle competition a main role in an episode. Arnold finds out Summer is using him with the help of Helga, and Arnold and Helga both end up acting for "Babe Watch" and they share their second kiss in the series.
Arnold's most catalytic relationship is with his classmate Helga Pataki. Unbeknownst to Arnold, Helga is secretly in love with him, though to keep these feelings secret she bullies Arnold so he will never come to that conclusion. Because Helga struggles with her conflict of emotions towards him, Arnold is often witness to some erratic behavior when she is around him, which he responds to by saying, "Whatever you say, Helga." Normally, Arnold tolerates Helga well, and true to his optimistic nature, he is convinced that underneath her tough, mean exterior, she is a kind and caring person, and tells her so in a few episodes. Good examples of this are shown in "Married", near the end of Arnold's dream when he confronts Helga, and "Patty vs. Helga," wherein Arnold explains to Patty that the reason Helga is mean is that she's insecure about her own feelings, hoping she will not beat Helga up.
In the movie on the series, Arnold finds out that Deep Voice, a stranger who helps Gerald and him throughout the movie, is actually Helga. This surprising him as her father would make a lot of money from the demolition of their neighborhood, making her rich. So after constantly questioning her, Helga tells Arnold of her feelings for him and she kisses him. Later on, at the end of the movie, the two of them agree it was all just in the 'heat of the moment'.
According to series creator Craig Bartlett, had the canceled "Jungle Movie" sequel been animated, Arnold would have returned Helga's feelings with a kiss of his own, with his best friend interrupting the moment. The two would have also dated prior to the proposed, but ultimately aborted MTV spin-off The Patakis, where they would have broken up, though they were to remain friends, with Helga sending Arnold letters of her life in a new location. Craig Bartlett did say that even though "The Patakis" was never aired, Arnold and Helga are meant for one another. He just wanted to keep Arnold out of the way for a short while so Helga can be the main attraction. He had an idea that she would eventually run away to visit him. But even at the end Helga and Arnold were going to get back with one another. Unfortunately, Nick at Nite and MTV decided not to air it so Craig Bartlett never got to fully write everything out. Considering The Patakis was canceled, it remains unclear whether or not this development remains canonical.
Arnold's best friend is Gerald Johansen, whose relationship dates as far back as pre-school. The pair have a distinct handshake consisting of putting their hands together and wiggling their thumbs back and forth.
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