The well-celebrated animation series has received several praises and recognition especially for combining education and entertainment in a program well-loved by children of school ages. The series ran between September 1994 to December 1997 with 4 Seasons and 52 Episodes. Netflix acquired rights to air a revival series titled The Magic School Bus Rides Again in 2017.
The show itself centres around the adventures of teacher Valerie Frizzle voiced by lily Tomlin and her class on the magic school bus. They take several interesting field trips and discover exciting creatures, locations, time periods and also explore the wonders of science. One of the reasons the show was well-received is its uncanny ability to convert complex subject matters; like the laws of physics into simple and easily digestible episodes which are mostly less than 30 minutes.
Best Magic School Bus Episodes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubrtV7IO-Lw
1. Gets Lost In Space Season 1, Episode 1.
The first episode of the series is quite educative and entertaining and probably set the tone for the whole show. In the episode, the bus turned into a rocket and they explored the solar system. In the episode, we learn about the value of teamwork and of course all the planets.
2. Inside Ralphie Season 1, Episode 3
This episode is exactly what it sounds like. When Ralphie falls sick and couldn’t make it to school, the class alongside Ms Frizzle goes home to visit him and use the opportunity to learn how the immune system attacks a virus. They enter his body through a scrape on his knee and even help him feel better. The episode has been named the best of the inside human body episodes as it helps the children understand how their self and bodywork.
3. The Busasaurus Season 2, Episode 3
This episode has been likened to a kid-friendly Jurassic Park as the whole class went back in time to the Cretaceous Period to monitor and learn more about the fossilized egg they were examining. As they progressed everyone became thrown at the mercy of a tyrannosaurus and Ms Frizzle used the technology of the bus to make Arnold large enough to scare off the dinosaur in order for them to return to the present.
4. Family Holiday Special, Season 3, Episode 13.
In this holiday-themed episode, Dolly Parton features as Murph (Ms Frizzle’s cousin). Another icing on the cake in this episode is watching the School Bus un-recycled itself and the class teams up to put it back together.
5. Gets Eaten Season 1, Episode 4
Like most of the best episodes, the kids are not only taught the subject at hand but are also encouraged to look deeper. The whole class shrunk to explore the microscopic life consumed by larger life forms in the beach.
6. Gets Ready, Set, Dough Season 1, Episode 9
This episode was a fun departure from Ms Frizzle giving a hands-on lesson. The students baked a cake for her surprise birthday party. As the bus was also experiencing some mechanical issues, the kids were shrunk down than usual. They also had the opportunity to learn and experience things without her.
7. For Lunch Season 1, Episode 2
Arnold gets the opportunity to stay back in school instead of attending the day’s field trip. Unknown to him that he was the days trip location. The whole class shrunk down to be digested with his snacks. They got to experience the stomach, oesophagus, small and large intestines. They exited his stomach when he burped.
8. In The Arctic Season 3, Episode 2
The kids travel to the ‘Arctic’ which is one of the coldest areas on the planet to learn about temperature and insulation.
9. Blows It’s Top Season 2, Episode 1.
This episode is quintessential for two reasons, the exposure to the knowledge of how landmasses are truly formed which teaches the student to respect and appreciate nature. Secondly, it teaches them the importance of teamwork especially in caring for things which they created together. This is an important life skill which they will find useful as adults.
10. The Magic School Bus Gets Planted Season 3, Episode 10
The students had several questions about how plants grow after putting up a production of Jack and the Beanstalk. “Phoebe” is transformed into a beanstalk while the rest of the students travel inside a sweet potato plant to learn what Phoebe requires to grow tall.
See Also: Best Futurama Episodes- 10 Best Everyone Should Watch
5 Worst Magic School Bus Episodes
Being an educative and well-loved show, it’s hard to come up with a list of worst episodes. In no particular order, this list highlights episodes that were not well received in terms of ratings.
1. Shows & Tells Season 3, Episode 6
Arnold and DA represent their class in the international Show and Tell.
2. Ups and Downs. Season 2, Episode 13
The class fall victim of reporter Gerri Poverri who reports that there is a monster in Walkerville Lake.
3. Goes Upstream. Season 3, Episode 8
In this episode, Ralphie works hard to catch a salmon for the annual school picnic.
4. Under Construction. Season 3, Episode 4
The kids are trapped in Wanda’s bathroom just 2 inches tall. They have to figure out a way to get out before they are discovered.
5. Out of This World, Season 2- Episode 11
The kids get a field trip into space after discovering an asteroid headed straight to their school.
