7 best Baby-Sitters Club episodes to watch in honor the 40th Anniversary of the books

I'm still in awe that 40 years ago, Ann M. Martin started a legacy with her beloved The Baby-Sitters Club series. The books spanned many spin-offs, and young girls in the 1980s and 1990s immersed themselves in the lives of Kristy, Claudia, Stacey, Mary Anne, and Dawn as they started their own business and dealt with teen issues.

I was so excited when Netflix adapted the series. While it had been adapted before, Netflix's version modernized the books while honoring the characters and the nostalgia. Even though most of the parents had babysitting apps, they still held their meetings at Claudia's with her cool landline phone.

The Baby-Sitters Club remains a pivotal coming-of-age series for young girls because it focuses on strong friendships, but also on real-life issues like juvenile diabetes, a parent's remarriage, or losing a loved one. These are the best episodes to watch and honor the characters and the 40th Anniversary of the series.

1. Kristy's Great Idea

You can't watch The Baby-Sitters Club without watching "Kristy's Great Idea." It was the series premiere when the girls formed the club after Kristy watched how difficult it was for her mom to find a babysitter for her younger brother.

"Kristy's Great Idea" was similar to its counterpart since it introduced the main characters and their personality quirks. While Kristy, Mary Anne, and Claudia grew up together, only Claudia really knew Stacey. Building a new business with teen girls had issues, especially when most of them had opinions. Kristy Thomas was still bossy, but she learned that being a leader means trusting her team.

2. The Truth About Stacey

"The Truth About Stacey" was one of the series' most important episodes because it was relatable, especially to young teens dealing with juvenile diabetes. Stacey was the cool girl, so she wanted to hide the actual reason she couldn't eat sweets or why she wore baggy shirts. But then a rival baby-sitting club spilled the truth about her diabetes.

Stacey needs to take a leap of faith, both in her friends and in their clients. It was such a pivotal episode where she learned who was in her corner. Since Netflix modernized the series, it highlighted new ways she could give herself insulin. Stacey was so much more than a teen with diabetes, and this episode showcased that.

3. Mary Anne Saves the Day

"Mary Anne Saves the Day" is my favorite book and episode. Netflix modernized it by replacing prim and proper Jenny Prezzioso with a little girl who's transgender, named Bailey. She and her parents like Mary Anne and call and request her, which broke club policy.

All of her friends began fighting, leaving Mary Anne isolated, so it was the perfect time to bring in Dawn Schafer, showing that Mary Anne could make new friends. Then, while she watched Bailey one day, Bailey became ill, and Mary Anne needed to think quickly. This episode highlighted how Mary Anne showed growth when she needed to think independently. She had a fierce spirit, and her father and friends finally recognized it.

4. Dawn and the Impossible Three

Dawn's entry into the series was essential, and Netflix honored it well. However, her story was similar. Kristy was wary of Dawn joining the club because she feared losing her place as Mary's closest friend. However, Kristy related to Dawn because they were both children of divorce, and Dawn was never afraid to be bluntly honest.

Dawn needed that bluntness when dealing with the Barretts, whose household was always chaotic, and Mrs. Barrett almost always expected Dawn to be a housekeeper as well as watch the kids. Could Dawn handle that, Kristy's jealousy, and her mom dating Mary Anne's dad? Sounds like a lot to me.

5. Kristy's Big Day

"Kristy's Big Day" was important because many young teenagers have experienced one of their parents getting remarried, even if their stepfather was a decent guy like Watson. It's challenging to meld two families together, and this episode highlights that even more than the book did.

Watson was well-off and wanted to shower his new family with gifts, including new cars and wedding attire, but Kristy's mom, Elizabeth (Alicia Silverstone), grew angry that her children accepted those. She had raised her kids to be self-sufficient, and this new romantic fairytale was hard to get used to. Kristy was so much like her mother, and the wedding was a new beginning for everyone.

6. Jessi and the Superbrat

There weren't as many episodes about Jessi or Mallory, who joined the club as junior officers in season 2. Both of them wanted to fit in and impress the older girls, especially Jessi, who had only lived in Stoneybrook for a short time. She kept thinking she had landed a lead role in the next ballet, but then she was only dancing in the corps de ballet. The actress who played Jessi had been doing ballet since she was a toddler, and it shows.

It felt relatable again. Jessi wanted her chance to be noticed, just like her latest babysitting charge, Derek Masters, who was already acting. But this episode highlighted the stress and pressure young performers go through and whether it's more important for them to enjoy being carefree children. 

7. Claudia and the Sad Goodbye

If you've read the books, you know how close Claudia was to her grandmother, Mimi. Claudia's best episodes showcased that deep relationship and highlighted why Momona Tamada (To All the Boys I Loved Before) was a rising star. She portrayed Claudia's artistic passion and her emotional depth with equal talent and displayed how her grandmother understood her better than anyone.

The adaptation included many Japanese traditions, from historical references to the infamous tea that Claudia shared with Mimi. While this episode changed some things, the core theme was the same -- how heartbreaking it is to lose a loved one who's been there since the beginning. This is the best episode of the series, but it's a tear-jerker.

While these episodes represent the books the closest, there are two full seasons of The Baby-Sitters Club on Netflix. The 40th Anniversary of the books is the perfect time to re-watch or share them with a young child in your life.

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