This Guy is Not Normal

I used to watch this show all the time, both on video cassette and on ABCTV when I was very little. And it always used to bother me, even way back when, that Wally (or 'Waldo', as one refers to him in the US) never showed any emotion other than extreme joy or excitement. He struck me as a character who actually ENJOYED being tortured or being placed in situations which had a high likelihood of resulting in death. I even remember the narrator making fun of him at one stage because of that. And I remember a music video for Wally which had lyrics like "keep on smiling".
But seriously, this guy is not normal. He is so overly optimistic he puts Pollyanna to shame. In fact, at times he can be a pain in the butt, to the point where Odlaw, the VILLAIN, is actually more likeable than Wally.
It's a shame that North America's treatment of Wally turned him into a more savvy traveller than the British goofball that Martin Handford orginally set out to create. And what's worse, Martin Handford now refers to 'Wally' as 'Waldo'.
GAAH!
But I digress. Wally in the TV show is not normal, in fact, he's creepy. If you don't like characters who continually smile at the thought of being put through enduring pain and suffering, this is not the TV show for you. Look for Wally in the books instead.