Lollipop – Season 1, Episode #1
In this first episode, Mona has a lovely lollipop that she excitedly shows to the audience (who may be her imaginary friend, but the jury is still out on that). Behind those button eyes, Mona’s expressions and gestures tell a complex emotional story of a little girl learning about her world through her senses.
Then Russel the Dog, who shall henceforth be known as “Russer,” decides he wants a bite of that lollipop. Russer’s actions set a precedent for the show: he is a scamp and does what he wants.
Mona snitches on Russer for the destruction of her lollipop, and so her Nana and the kind neighbor Mr. Wooka use the experience as a learning opportunity about the value of getting along.
Nana and Mona conclude the episode by doing a little hula-inspired song and dance, which could be more culturally accurate, but it was Canada in the early 00s, so we’ll cut them some slack.
Purple Juice – Season 1, Episode #6
Mona tries to share a sip of delicious purple juice with her beloved stuffed duck, Fleefer, when she accidentally spills the juice everywhere, staining her beloved stuffy. Russer refuses to share his water bowl so that Mona can wash the juice away from Fleefer, prompting an important lesson from Nana and Mr. Wooka about sharing.
Don’t worry – Fleefer makes it out okay, and Mona and Russer share their lunches with each other.
Playday – Season 1, Episode #9
Mona is inspired when she sees her Nana making a bowl of chocolate chip oatmeal cookies (it’s not as good as my recipe, but we still love Nana). Mona embraces her inner thespian and spends the day pretending to be various things – a baker, a bee, a Nana, and finally, a beautiful princess.
Is the song “Who’s that Wonderful Girl?” dumb and over-the-top? Yes. Does Mona look like a silly idiot in that ridiculous pink dress? Yes. Does that make this moment, in which a child growing in love and security can safely express herself creatively, any less poignant? NO. We all wish we had someone like Nana who would gas us up and sing about why we’re the best person in the world.
I hope that you have that someone.
Goodbye – Season 1, Episode #10
In this episode, Mona loses her balloon and inadvertently learns about the impermanence of time.
I did not expect to sob through the entire episode, but that is what I did. The passage of time is inescapable and nothing lasts forever. We must all say goodbye at some point, whether we’re ready or not.
We also get a little clarification on the “does Nana reciprocate Mr. Wooka’s feelings” front, as she refers to Mr. Wooka as a “wonderful gentleman.” Um, excuse me, but can you say “SWOON“???
Brownies – Season 2, Episode #3
Mona unleashes her inner id and scarfs down three massive brownies. It’s an impressive display of gluttony that made me mentally replace Cookie Monster with Mona as the “Puppet Creature Who Best Represents Me.”
Unfortunately, as any sad girl might be able to explain to you, eating three brownies in a row is the kind of thing that feels very good in the moment, and then cataclysmically awful for several hours later. Poor Mona must suffer the consequences of her actions when she is struck with the mother of all tummy aches.
(And no, there’s no scene of puppet Mona having puppet diarrhea, but given that the creators of this show also made “Mr. Meaty,” I bet there was at least some discussion of portraying it behind the scenes)
The Fruit Lobby may have had a hand in the creation of this episode, but since it brought us the scene of Mona dramatically losing a race due to all the brownies wreaking havoc in her tummy, I’ll let it slide.
Under My Wing – Season 2, Episode #5
Yes, this episode is famous because Mona takes care of a baby birdie.
But you know who else she takes care of? ALL OF US. She holds all of our hearts in her gentle puppet hands.
Nanalympics – Season 2, Episode #7
Mona learns about joyful movement! Nana is out in the backyard, working on her fitness, when she inspires Mona to join her. It is also undeniable that Mr. Wooka is head-over-heels in love with Nana, because why else would he stop his day to put on his tracksuit and compete in a series of games with a toddler and a dog?
And when you think the episode can’t get any better, Nana ups her game and turns her backyard into the dance hall of our dreams. Mona is decked out in her leotard and tutu and happy to dance with Russer, but poor Nana has no one to dance.
That is until Mr. Wooka shows up in his suit, absolutely SERVING and ready to cut a rug with his best gal.
If there is ever a “Nanalan'” movie, it better be about their wedding.
Bubbles – Season 2, Episode #11
You know what doesn’t make me feel mad or sad? When I see Nana validating little Mona’s emotions. Even though we’re not supposed to cry over spilled milk, Nana understands that Mona is a sweet gremlin experiencing many big feelings in her tiny body, and those feelings need to be honored.
What makes this episode even more impressive is the extremely meta puppet show Mr. Wooka puts on for his friends. I don’t want to spoil too much about the wonders of this particular puppet show, but it manages to encapsulate the complexities of human emotions in such a way that it becomes clear where James Cameron got his inspiration for “Inception.”
Russell Did It – Season 2, Episode #17
Shakespeare wishes he could have crafted as tense a narrative as “Russell Did It.” In this heart-pounding episode, Mona accidentally breaks Nana’s prized ceramic kitty statue and then, in a moment of panic, blames the mess on Russer, her supposed best friend.
“Mona, you little, green bitch,” Russer’s eyes scream, his face contorted with indignation and the sting of betrayal.
Mona is eaten alive with guilt, which only worsens as Nana tells Russer he may not attend Mr. Wooka’s puppet show. Then the puppet show in question is a variation of “The Boy Who Cried Wolf,” and Mona watches mutely in horror as her crime of dishonesty plays out before her very button eyes.
This episode is truly something special, so I will let readers of this blog speculate on how the story concludes. Do you think it’ll end happily, with Mona’s mom coming to pick her up from Nana’s house? Or in tragedy, like when young Hamlet tried to force a confession from his evil uncle Claudius?
Winter Wonderland – Season 2, Episode #26
It’s snowing outside, and the Nanalan’ crew goes ice skating!
Mona builds precious memories with Nana and Mr. Wooka as they enjoy hot chocolate in the snow. Nana is so resplendently happy in her little red Belle-cloak and her pretty ice skates that it almost makes me want to ice skate, except I don’t feel like slipping and eating shit in 20-degree weather.
Readers, did I miss your favorite “Nanalan'” episode? Are you feeling kind of mad? Are you feeling kind of sad? If so, let me know in the comments.
Happy Hagfish 
HAHAHAHA I love this post and all the gifs and memes about this puppet show you love! I haven’t seen Mr. Wooka memes though yet!
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Mr. Wooka is a good man 🙂
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