I didn't notice till now everyone went back to help a friend, no matter the outcome, no man left behind: Vince went back for Mikey, Spinelli went back for Gretchen and finally Gus went back for TJ. I like how its a principle thing, where if some one is going to get taken down, then they wont have to do it alone. Really touching.

I never realized this,but Randall looks like he could be Moe Syzlak's little cousin.

I love how as adults we get the real meaning of these episodes.

I like Randall's harmonica. "Took it off a messy kid." That's like in a war movie, where one of the soldiers scavenges the prized possessions of someone killed in action.

TJ is a true friend

Gus, you've got one heck of a platoon leader - Lieutenant Griswald

Recess is a masterpiece. This epsiode, one of the best in terms of emotional content. When TJ and Gus were running it showed how determined they were, TJ especially as Lawson began being... Well, Lawson. That look on TJ's face as he was waiting for Lawson to throw cheese on him made his monologue in one of the Digger's holes ring through my head. TJ's parents probably don't know how amazing their son is, but I'm sure they were the same as kids.

He straight dove on like 15 1st graders! I laughed way harder than I should’ve. I miss the 90’s!

"He was gonna wear that suit to church!" xD

My favourite part is Randall playing the harmonica 😂😂

"watcha talkin bout Ms. Grokie" loled so hard

"took it off a messy kid" That line is actually kind of hard especially coming from randall

"...I took it off a messy kid"

Saving Private Ryan theme, love it. Man Im so nostalgic for this show, I cant believe its been so long since it was on tv, since I was that young...

"Look, clean people...."

This was a touching story of friendship. :')

Did anyone notice the Ashleys are wearing the same dresses they wore in the episode "The Contest" where they compete against Spinelli in the beauty pageant?

3 things. The way TJ carries himself about and the things he says are truly inspirational. I mean that. Also, the photo at the end: TJ winks just before the video is over. The last thing? When Randal says "Took it off a messy kid." I almost cried from how beautiful and perfect the scene was. This is brilliant, no, this is perfect writing. This is more than a cartoon ladies and gentlemen. This is my inspiration.

crap i shed a few tears myself.

9:45 "What do you think of this photo?" "I don't have sufficient training to analyze photos." What? 😂😂😂

One if my favourite episodes

7:15 😂 Randall nailed it

I remember being so impressed as a kid that they mentioned British bulldog in this episode, we played it a lot when i was in primary school

If every grow up and become a parent and no matter how mad I get I’m never going to picture day my kids -TJ Detwiller

This was one of my favorite episodes especially the moving ending and the Apocalypse Now vibe.

Saving private Griswold

5:25 wow they really said church in this episode. Disney was different in a good way back then.

Gus did what true soilder would do....Saved his President T.J...😎😎

I REALLY hope that the writers’/illustrators’ homage to the original elementary school tough girl brunette that everyone loved (Lucille van Pelt) with Spenelli’s hair style was purposeful because that would be an AWsome subtle detail if it was.

3:34-3:36 "First graders? That's us!" That kid sounds like Tommy Pickles. x3

one of the best episodes lol......specially randalls harmonica solo....its like a zombie apocalypse the way he says 'took it off a messy kid' lol good stuff

I personally think that this is the best episode of Recess, with "Economics of Recess" being a close second.

And in real life, they get the photos done early while the kids are in class and before lunch so that they can avoid getting messy. Though, my Mom was once gifted the greatest gift in the world. She got gifted with two packets of my school photos with no extra charge. The reason was that I was just coming from Recess in Kindergarten and had my jacket still on. So, the photographer ended up taking two photos. One with my jacket on and the other with my jacket off. They accidentally sent them both to my Mom.

This is exactly why I don't like to wear formal clothing. I'm afraid they might be ruined.

love how they all walk around and talk like they are in a war zone and getting the slighest bit of dirt is like being shot lol

The thing that made my childhood awesome !

I'm an adult and I still hate having my picture taken especially when I am forced to smile.

I still tear up on this episode. My absolute favorite.

Love the ending so much. it makes me cry how nice it is. : )

am I the only one 19 y-o and still enjoys this cartoon?

This is one of the best Recess episodes, it's beautifully played out, so many references to various movies that the creators of the show put in for their own and indeed the kids' amusement, now that I'm older it's great to see the things I kinda missed before, or only took them in subconsciously, there's definitely a 'Saving Private Ryan' theme going on, as well as various other war films, it's a great tale of friendship and sacrifice, but all done in a very realistic playground setting!

This show is so sweet

or they could just go downstairs with the pale kids to stay clean. Just saying.

Lawson huffed gas in the womb

Who knew Randall had such hidden depths.... like literally hidden... deep down.

Finnally we see Gus's mom

with this type of cartoon the clothes aren't just clothes but part of the character design as well. Spinellei's boots are about of her design and in the simpsions so is lisa's dress and barts shorts. Not just iconic or easy for animation but also design and brand recognition

I really like the ending of this show. Makes me stop and think...and then smile.

My friend from high school is similar to TJ acts like a big brother to me. Although I don’t have an older brother I’m happy that I do have some friends who act like big brothers to me. I’m different than Gus but similar when I’m not feeling well. My friend was the first person who comfort me after I told his younger brother at school. I do sometimes talk to him after we graduate high school.

Good lad gus!!

Oh my gooood, this is so corny and heartfelt. I loved the ending. What a sappy cartoon :)

This episode is touching it shows what real friends are able to do to help others

What are these teachers doing? Just sitting there? Why aren’t they taking the finished classes inside?

If he ran, Lawson would've chased him, and gotten both him and Gus. With TJ standing there, Lawson would have no reason to run after Gus.

ahahaha when Vince tackled the 1st graders I almost died of laughter XD God I love this show!!

Gus has a great dad

Cornchip girl: look clean people! She sold them out in a heart beat, i laugh every time at that scene 😆😆

Still one of my all time favorite episodes. I actually tear up with this one. I know, that's corny.

I love how on another other day.. they are perfectly clean. And today mud falls from the sky haha

4:57 You look great Spinelli!

I always thought corn chip girl was in 1st grade

Man the beginning reminds me of the Marine Corps xD. Amasing show!

If i was a principal of the school, i'd have all the kids inside the classrooms ready for the pictures to be taken. so they don't have this fiasco.

That epic run across the battlefiel…playground. Gotta come back and watch that again every now and then

7:22 maybe the only time Randall was on friendly terms with TJ and Gus.

Awwww I wanted to see King Bob all dressed up!!

"He was gonna wear that suit to church" LOL

I wonder what Finster would’ve said about Randall’s dorky sailor suit. LOL.

this was my favourite episode :)

I didn't know Randall Weems could play the harmonica

All the kids look adorable all dressed up.💖 (Except for Randall, poor kid.)

This episode makes me think about the times in 8th and 9th grade where I actually wanted to dress nice for school picture day. For both of my yearbook pictures for those years, I wore a short sleeved button up dress shirt tucked in, blue jeans, a brown belt, and my Nike sneakers. Not to mention that there were certain girls in my grade that I wanted to impress.

TJ Detweiller is the final kid to stay clean.

So staying inside was out of the question LOL

I can't believe Gus sleeps in camouflage pyjamas xD

Yep. All the voice actors from Rugrats are in this show. I have so far seen Chuckie, Lil, Phil and of course Tommy.

This is brilliant! I love how epic this is. Its just like a war movie!!!

Cornchip girl sounded so sinister when she said, calmly, "Hey, look. Clean people."

"It's almost over!!"

So clever turning class picture day into a war movie. This showwwwww

Why didn't the Ashley's just hide in their clubhouse??

I always remembered that guy talking about cheese for five minutes 😂

Great show. Best cartoon from the 1990s. Needs to be in a box set.

jeez. hitting me in the feels

this was one of my favorite episodes

just how AWESOME was this cartoon though ? Like really...

2:17 , Nice choice of words T.J "I'm listening to the junk he's telling us about his parents" lol ..

i love this show

So... What exactly was the point in TJ just standing there while LAwson threatened to get him w/ that can of cheese?

you are so right. ^_^

man i wish i had somewhere like Kelso's to go after i finished primary school lol

This made me cry

0:50 - I used to think Gus was just his dad, but he looks more like his mom. 1:15 - Who is she kidding? Gretchen always looks that dorky. 3:11 - It's like a convoy in Afghanistan! 5:19 - Vince just took down 4 guys in one tackle. Future linebacker? 6:18 - Theresa sounded quietly insane when she said, "Look. Clean people." 7:28 - Oh God, this entire episode is a war movie parody, isn't it? 8:53 - 9:25 - Longest. Taunt. Ever. 10:01 - Awwww!

I've never seen the kindergartners look so civil.

Cool show

Awww Spinelli's hair should look like that more often !

omg the world kinda thing when they were in the hole was so wow emotionall a kid version of war

i think it's cute that they made it seem like a war...well for them i guess it was a war...love this epi!

Gus's dad is awesome

"I took it off a messy kid" Just in case the surviving war theme wasn't obvious enough.