Garlene

Garlene is the het ship between Garfield and Arlene from the Garfield fandom.

Canon
Arlene was introduced in the December 17th 1980 Garfield comic strip. when Garfield waited for a female cat.

Since then, she has become Garfield's love interest. A running gag occurs throughout the comic, mostly in the recent strips, where Garfield and Arlene are seen talking/dating behind a fence. Sometimes, she would get annoyed because of Garfield (for example, it could be his obsession for food).

Garfield: The Movie
Arlene has a brief cameo as one of Garfield's friends chastising him for his cruel treatment of Odie. Unlike Garfield, she is depicted as a photorealistic cat.

TV Movies
In the first movie "Garfield Gets Real", their relationship is central to the story. After Garfield ends up in the real world, Arlene starts to miss him terribly and tries everything she can to move the rest of the cast to help bring him back. When a rescue team is assembled, Arlene is one of the first ones to volunteer, but is forced to stay in the comic world on the grounds that the mission is too dangerous for her. In the end, all is well when Garfield and Arlene reunite.

In the movie "Garfield’s Fun Fest", Arlene tries to convince Garfield to perform a dance routine for the titular event. Garfield, who has won the past 29 Fun Fests with his comedy bit, was uninterested. Eventually, he suggests that Arlene find another partner for Fun Fest, leading her to join up with suave newcomer Ramone. This upsets Garfield, and he further finds that he’s lost his comedic flair.

Now fearful both of losing the contest and Arlene’s affections, Garfield sets out to find the legendary funny water, supposedly capable of giving the drinker great comedic talents. He becomes determined after Arlene guest stars in Ramone’s strip, unaware that Arlene wasn’t serious about Ramone. As the deadline for Fun Fest approaches with Garfield conspicuously absent, Arlene grows increasingly concerned. After Garfield returns but loses his supply of funny water, Arlene tries to go to him but is hindered by Ramone.

Garfield, his confidence regained, later returns in the outfit Arlene got him for their proposed tango. A confrontation then plays out through dance as Ramone tries to keep Arlene and Garfield apart. Ultimately, Ramone is revealed to be Nermal in a mechanical suit, and Arlene and Garfield win Fum Fest. Garfield apologizes for his earlier behavior, and the two share a kiss.

The Garfield Show
In “Odie in Love”, Arlene and Garfield sit on top of a fence together as they often do in the comics. After Garfield throws away a brush that Odie is smitten with, Arlene accuses him of being jealous. In “Freaky Monday”, Arlene sees Garfield’s entrapment in Odie’s body as fitting comeuppance for his mistreatment of Odie. In spite of this, she attempts to comfort him.

In “It’s a Cat’s World”, Garfield’s counterpart from an alternate universe where cats keep humans as pets is dating Arlene’s counterpart, a vet. Mistaken for his alternate self, he makes a date with Arlene, only for the other Garfield to incur her wrath by failing to show up for it. He attempts to soothe her anger, but she doesn’t buy his (entirely true) account of swapping places with another version of himself. In “Out on a Limb”, Arlene joins in teasing Garfield for his apparent lack of cat-like instincts.

In “Home for the Holidays”, Arlene is unimpressed by Garfield’s self-indulgent holiday plans and lack of charity. She tries to impress the larger meaning of the holidays upon him and invites him to join her in visiting some of the less fortunate. Distracted by Jon, Garfield hastily declines ands bids Arlene farewell, only to regret it afterwards. Garfield tracks Arlene down, and he and Odie help her care for some stray animals. They then enact a plan to get their new friends homes for the holidays.

In “Furry Tales”, Arlene plays the role of the “Beautiful Cat Lady” who awakens Garfield “the Handsome Cat” from a sleeping spell with a kiss. In “The Garfield-Only Show”, Arlene is among the characters-here portrayed as actors playing themselves in the series-to quit in response to Garfield hogging the series for himself at their expense. In “Glitter Gulch”, Arlene tries to soothe an irate Garfield over side character Ms. Cauldron being awarded an Emmy. Taking part in Nermal’s film, she later expresses the intent to get Garfield to eat healthy, adding that she will insist upon it once they’re married.

Later, Arlene becomes distraught at seeing Garfield with Miss Kitty, believing that he is cheating on her. Garfield goes after her to explain himself and make amends. The two later work together to try and stop a runaway stagecoach, with Garfield assuring Arlene of his continued affection. As they are hanging from a cliff, Arlene questions whether Garfield loves her enough to eat healthier food, which he hesitates to commit to.

Despite her conniving ways, Miss Kitty ends up befriending Arlene and expressing approval of her relationship with Garfield. Arlene and Garfield later walk together, and Garfield (though only in character for his role in the film) agrees to eat healthier for her sake. In “Garfception”, Arlene appears in Garfield’s dreams.

In “World Without Me”, Garfield is dismayed to learn that the Arlene of a world where he never existed is happily dating Bruno. Later, however, the alternate Arlene breaks up with Bruno because he lacks the Garfield-like qualities she wants in a boyfriend. Upon returning to the normal reality, Garfield’s renewed enthusiasm for life includes promising Arlene that he will be punctual for their next date. In “Fraidy Cat”, Arlene is visibly distressed when Garfield flees from her in terror, unaware that he has been artificially afflicted with fear of cats.

Garfield Originals
The episode “Sweet Arlene” shows Arlene and Garfield in a number of scenarios. In typical fashion, Arlene’s attempts to get Garfield to be more romantic fizzle out miserably. He also proves deceitful, acting as though he is showing affection when he’s really just out to steal Arlene’s food.

Video Games
In Garfield: Saving Arlene, Garfield sets out to rescue Arlene after she’s captured to be taken to an “Animal Annihilation Facility.” Though the adventure proves to be a dream, it is nonetheless indicative of Garfield’s genuine affection for his girlfriend.

Moments

 * In "Garfield Gets Real", while trapped in the real world, Garfield looks at a panel of Arlene and wishes her good night. Arlene wishes him good night on the other side, aware that he couldn't hear her.

Fanon
The fandom mostly had positive opinions on that ship. Though it is not popular enough on AO3 to receive its own tag.

Quotes
"It's time I met a cat of the female persuasion. (beat) (Arlene shows up) What took you so long?"

- Garfield (in Arlene's debut comic)

-The October 21st 2016 comic strip

Fandom
FAN FICTION

WIKI
 * Garfield Wiki's page on Arlene.