The Best Quote From It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown Still Resonates After 60 Years

Without a doubt, the most iconic Peanuts TV special is A Charlie Brown Christmas. Every holiday season, the 1965 special is appointment viewing, and just about everything in it is iconic, from Charlie Brown’s pathetic Christmas tree to the goofy dances the kids do. And while the first-place status for that special goes without challenge, there is also an obvious answer as to what the second most iconic Peanuts special is: It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown. Since we are well into the season where the Great Pumpkin graces the most sincere pumpkin patch, it is high time to determine the most iconic quote from this heartwarming TV special.

It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown aired on CBS in 1966. It was directed by animation legend Bill Melendez and written by Peanuts creator Charles Schulz. After the success of the 1965 holiday special A Charlie Brown Christmas, CBS greenlit two more Peanuts specials for television. First came Charlie Brown’s All Stars! in June 1966. A few months later, viewers received It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown just days before Halloween.

Why It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown is a classic

The beloved Halloween special tells of the goings-on around Halloween for the Peanuts gang, especially Linus. While most of the kids go out trick-or-treating, Linus sits in a nearby pumpkin patch, awaiting a Santa Claus-like figure named the Great Pumpkin to arrive with presents. According to Linus, “Each year, the Great Pumpkin rises out of the pumpkin patch that he thinks is the most sincere.” Convinced he has the most sincere pumpkin patch, Linus waits patiently all night while his friends, from Linus’ perspective, fritter Halloween away by getting candy.

Like the Christmas special, It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown is both funny and heartwarming. It was the first-ever Halloween TV special, as the holiday only really took off after World War II. That is why the Peanuts kids say “tricks or treats” instead of “trick or treat,” as that was a popular variant of the phrase before “trick or treat” was solidified.

The special’s most iconic quote

“Tricks or treats” is not the most iconic turn of phrase in the film; it is merely a quirk of history and language development. As it is a Halloween special, and Charlie Brown’s name is in the title, “I got a rock” stands out as a strong candidate for the special’s best line. When Charlie Brown trick-or-treats with his friends, they all get candy, while he only receives rocks. It is a funny running gag that speaks to the character’s bad luck. It is also one of those things that comes up every Halloween for fans of the special. The situation feels relatable, mirroring moments when life gives out rocks while others receive candy.

Despite how much “I got a rock” resonates with a cynical view on life, the best quote has to come from the true star of It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown: Linus van Pelt. Linus has the most memorable story, and his faith in the Great Pumpkin made the special iconic.

“There are three things that I’ve learned never to discuss with people: religion, politics, and the Great Pumpkin,” is a funny quote, presented in that classic Charles Schulz way where it is amusing to see a kid talk like an adult. Still, the best quote should be something sincere, as the sincerity of the special resonates more than its comedy.

For sincerity, “Oh, Great Pumpkin, where are you?!” works well, but it comes from the end of the special when Linus starts to lose hope in the Great Pumpkin’s arrival. While that forms an important part of Linus’ arc, his unwavering optimism in the earlier scenes sticks most with people, making another line the most resonant and iconic in the whole special:

“Tonight the Great Pumpkin will rise out of the pumpkin patch. He flies through the air and brings toys to all the children of the world.”

Linus delivers this line. It carries a touch of humor because the Great Pumpkin sounds like a ridiculous legend that raises many questions. Most of all, the quote speaks to Linus’ belief in the Great Pumpkin—a belief as sincere as the most sincere pumpkin patch.

It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown is streaming on Apple TV.

Source: Polygon