For 25 years, Arthur was one of PBS’ biggest successes. While the series might be about the titular aardvark third grader, a large part of what makes the series so beloved is actually Arthur’s best friend, the lovable sidekick rabbit Buster Baxter.
Buster is the dream best friend, always supportive and willing to stand up for Arthur at any moment. But he’s also an incredible character on his own, with hilarious hobbies, unique interests, a complex family dynamic, and the best sense of humor in the series’ entire 25-season run.
Buster’s New Holiday
“I’ve Got Our Holiday. Are You Ready? Give Me Candy Day. … Not You. Me. Me Me. Give Me, Buster Baxter, Candy Day.”
There are many interesting things about Buster’s character, but perhaps his most defining trait is his love of food. There are many episodes across Arthur‘s 25 seasons that feature Buster’s eating as a main story point, and it’s rare to find an episode in which Buster isn’t eating or talking about food.
So it’s not even a surprise, then, that Buster has the unique idea for a new Arthur holiday that he does: “Give Me Candy Day. Not you. Me. Me me. Give Me, Buster Baxter, Candy Day.” His new holiday is essentially Halloween, except only for Buster. And if that’s not the most Buster idea ever, then what is?
His Response To Naysayers
“I Bet That’s What They Told The Astronauts: ‘Oh, The Moon’s Too Hard. Why Don’t You Just Go To Seattle?'”
Buster Baxter has always been a dreamer. His creativity often gets him in trouble, whether it has to do with coming up with implausible food ideas or taking comics and cartoons too literally. In the episode “Buster Spaces Out,” that hyper-creative spirit causes Buster to want to build a rocket to fly to the moon.
But soon enough, Buster struggles to even build regular model rocket kits, frequently gluing things to his hands in the process. When Arthur tells him that he’s trying something too complicated, Buster has the perfect snarky retort: “I bet that’s what they told the astronauts. ‘Oh, the moon’s too hard. Why don’t you just go to Seattle?”
Buster’s Unique Understanding Of Aliens
“Buster, Not Everyone Who’s Quiet Is An Alien.” “You’re Right. I Bet There Are Some Loud Ones, Too.”
Buster has many special interests, ranging from the already mentioned food, to travel, to comic books like Bionic Bunny and Dark Bunny. But one of Buster’s truest loves comes from his belief in aliens and his desire to meet them one day.
In the season 3 episode “Arthur’s Dummy Disaster,” Buster talks with Francine about George’s odd and quiet behavior, and of course, he suggests that George might be an alien. When Francine tells him that “not everyone who’s quiet is an alien,” Buster, goofy as always, misses the point: “You’re right. I bet there are some loud ones, too.”
When He Supports Arthur Without Understanding What He’s Saying
“Do I Look Husky To You Guys?” “Husky? Husky? You, Husky? Nah, You Don’t Look Husky. What’s Husky?”
As Arthur’s best friend, Buster is loyal to a fault, always standing up for his best friend and doing whatever it takes to make Arthur feel happy. In the season 9 episode “Arthur Weighs In,” Arthur struggles with the fact that he has gained a little bit of weight and can’t seem to fit into a costume anymore.
“Do I look husky to you guys?” Arthur asks after being told that he will need to buy clothes from the husky department at the clothing store. Buster, ever eager to comfort his best friend, immediately pipes in, “Husky? Husky? You, husky? Nah, you don’t look husky. What’s husky?” Everyone would be so lucky to have an incredibly loyal best friend.
No One Eats Quite Like Buster
“Well, That’s It. We’ve Lost For Sure Now. Might As Well Get Something To Eat.” “Eat? You Just Had Six Pies!” “I Feel Empty Inside.”
One episode that prominently features Buster’s uncanny eating skills is the season 3 episode “The Return of the King.” In this episode, Mr. Ratburn’s class takes part in competitions at a medieval fair, where Buster competes in a mincemeat pie-eating contest.
After the kids lose a few competitions, Buster, previously stuffed from the pie competition, suddenly gains a second hunger and declares “might as well get something to eat.” “Eat? You just had six pies!” Francine incredulously exclaims. And poor Buster, suddenly somber, replies, “I feel empty inside.”
Buster’s Internet Innocence
“You Really Think Someone Would Do That? Just Go On The Internet And Tell Lies?”
Arthur teaches many important lessons across its 25 seasons, ranging from conflict resolution between siblings to the consequences of plagiarism. In the season 9 episode “Buster the Myth Maker,” Buster learns a hard lesson about trusting the internet and not verifying sources.
While trying to prove to Arthur where he gets all his random and often disgusting trivia from, Buster cites the internet. But when Arthur questions their veracity, Buster is suddenly horrified and exclaims, “You really think someone would do that? Just go on the internet and tell lies?” Oh, Buster, you sweet, summer child.
When Fame Got To His Head A Little Too Much
“Get A Picture Of Me With My Fans… Uh, Classmates.”
One of the most memorable Buster-centric episodes of Arthur occurs pretty early in the series’ run, and also provides some hilarious Buster moments. Season 2’s “Buster Baxter, Cat Saver” follows what happens when fame gets to Buster’s head after he is (somewhat incorrectly) credited with saving a cat from a tree.
In actuality, the cat merely jumped from the tree into his arms when it smelled his fish-flavored ice cream. But Buster revels in the attention and praise it gets him, even having reporters and photographers follow him to school, where he encourages them to “get a picture of me with my fans… un, classmates.”
He Can Be A Little High Maintenace Sometimes
“I Don’t Think I’ve Gone Without Food Or Water For 25 Minutes!”
In the season 13 episode “Is That Kosher?” Arthur explores the traditions associated with the Jewish holiday Yom Kippur. Francine explains to her friends that she will have to fast for an entire day as part of the recognition of this important day.
To Buster, this is immediately unthinkable. “I don’t think I’ve gone without food or water for 25 minutes!” he exclaims in horror. Given his track record for compulsively eating whenever he can, that seems like an entirely likely scenario.
Buster’s Attempts To Be Cool
“Me And My Homefry Here Would Like To Be In Your Possum.”
Buster and Arthur are many things – best friends, nice kids, nostalgic 90s icons – but if there is one thing they aren’t, it would have to be “cool.” The season 2 episode “Buster and the Daredevils” finds Buster briefly trying to fit in with a group of older, trouble-making kids, who are really just taking advantage of his cluelessness.
As part of his attempts to fit in, Buster and Arthur both dress “cool” and approach the older kids at a burger shop. “Me and my homefry here would like to be in your possum,” Buster confidently states, showing just how uncool but lovable the rabbit really is.
A Simple Rabbit With Simple Needs
“Happiness Is Pizza On A Friday Right Before A Three-Day Weekend.”
There are many great characters in the world of Arthur, but Buster Baxter routinely shows why he just might be the best of them all. From his heart to his humor to his wide-eyed innocence, Buster is a character who sometimes understands the world and people in ways that no one else could ever understand.
One of the traits that makes Buster such a profoundly lovable character is perhaps best summarized by arguably his most iconic quote, which perfectly explains his happily simple worldview: “Happiness is pizza on a Friday right before a three-day weekend.” Who could possibly disagree with that?
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