Martha Speaks Episode Reviews

Hello. My username is Discofurby and I am a fan of the PBS cartoon Martha Speaks about a talking dog. Here, I am going to review episodes.

Martha Speaks
This is the very first episode of the series.

It begins with Truman visiting Helen and talking about how there is a cat burglar in the neighbourhood. They eat alphabet soup together. At one point, Truman says, "I didn't shout--THIS IS SHOUTING!" which I find funny. They're a bit cheeky with each other, but aren't outright fighting.

Then, T.D. arrives, scaring Truman because he thinks the burglar is around. Helen wants to play with T.D. but has to finish her lunch first. However, she is in such a rush she feeds it to Martha instead and that's how Martha got her first bowl of alphabet soup. That evening, Martha says her first words (as far as we know), asking the Lorraines for dinner. This shocks them, and she says she will tell them everything after dinner. I like the scene where she's asking them for dinner.

After dinner, Martha explains that she could always understand English and that dogs dream. When Helen asks Martha how she learned to speak, Martha says that it must be the alphabet soup. We then cut to the narrator, who explains that the letters got into Martha's brain somehow. (I found it funny when he said "Don't try giving alphabet soup to your dog. It won't work. Unless your dog is a cartoon.)

Martha then uses her voice through a montage (a scene I find funny), until the Lorraines get bored of it and Helen says, "sometimes I wish you'd never learned to speak". This hurts Martha's feelings, and I can't blame her. After all, being able to talk must be fun for a dog because you get to be understood. I think it's nifty how, even though her parents still look ticked after that line, Helen looks shocked. It goes to show that, despite Helen getting angry (and kids can be rude if they're angry) the two are still best friends. Martha also reveals during this montage that she can understand Cat (but she can't speak it).

The next morning, Helen wants to apologize to Martha, but the dog's asleep. At school, Helen talks to T.D. about Martha talking too much, which gets her in trouble for talking in class.

That evening, Martha doesn't want to eat her soup, a scene which I find a bit sad. This worries Helen and I can't blame her. Eventually, Helen's parents (Daniel and Mariella) are worried too and consider calling the vet. While it's quite a serious scene, I do get a chuckle out of the vet's line "Your dog won't say a word?!" The Lorraines then leave to go to the movies (sans Jake, who's staying with Truman's mother who runs a daycare).

While they're out, a man in a mask breaks into the Lorraines' house so Martha tries to call the police but she's forgotten how to talk. She barks at him and he feeds her alphabet soup to distract her. When the Lorraines come back, police are outside their house, arresting the burglar. Apparently, Martha called the cops. The Lorraines call Martha a good dog and Helen apologizes, a happy ending.