Synopsis: Cotterpin Doozer doesn’t need to work all day like the remainder of the Doozers. When she leaves Doozer society to reside with the Fraggles, she meets Crimson and learns why being a Fraggle won’t be the reply for her in any case.

Unique air date: February 20, 1984

Have you ever ever felt like an outsider? I understand that when you’re studying this, the reply might be sure. So many people within the Muppet fan group have expressed how the Muppets supplied a way of belonging when nothing else did. In spite of everything, the place else do pigs, bears, frogs and others work collectively to placed on a present? There’s a spot, a job, an understanding for everybody.

The Fraggles’ entire lives revolve round the same social construction the place everybody is inspired to bop, sing, work (for half-hour) and have enjoyable in their very own means, even when that entails laundry or beginning a cult. Not so with the Doozers. The Doozers’ social construction is as inflexible as their towers. There are expectations positioned on each Doozer to be taught sure guidelines, carry out sure acts and develop as much as be builders. However Cotterpin Doozer doesn’t need any of it.

Whereas we as foolish creatures have as many potentialities for pleasure because the Fraggles, there are simply as many conditions during which we discover ourselves feeling like Cotterpin. Strict mother and father, a faculty that solely helps a technique of studying, dwelling in a cultural hegemony that denies primary rights, all of those make working away to reside as a Fraggle sound very interesting. Cotterpin feels extra kinship with the Fraggles than she does with different Doozers. She desires to take heed to rumble hums, draw hexagonal bridges, and race to the whistling tunnel.

Greater than eager to be a Fraggle, Cotterpin takes motion to turn into a Fraggle. She leaves the Doozer Dome. She walks proper as much as Crimson Fraggle and so they run off to do Fraggle issues collectively. Cotterpin is straight away offered with the difficulties of becoming into Fraggle society, however she persists till she reaches a line she will be able to’t cross. In her case it’s swimming. If we ran away to Fraggle Rock, we’d in all probability have to present it up after we didn’t match within the caves. And so we’ve to return. However what’s most vital for Cotterpin and us, is that we settle for ourselves and don’t settle for a prescribed life. We proceed to behave and uncover our personal sense of belonging and happiness.

Strongest Second –  Crimson and Cotterpin’s go to to the rumble bugs and the tune they sing. Such an exquisite approach to deliver these two collectively and discover a means they’ll each have enjoyable.

Weakest Second ­–  I’m afraid the Doc and Sprocket sections don’t do a lot for me on this episode. They mirror the Fraggle plot in that Sprocket desires to be a horse as an alternative of a canine. And good on Doc for supporting his canine’s need. However whereas Sprocket is extremely joyful to be a horse earlier than he realizes he has to eat hay, he offers it up with out additional remark. Whereas this echoes what many youngsters do with their imaginary play, I believe the writers might have performed just a bit bit extra with that.

MVF (Most Worthwhile Fraggle) – I contemplated altering this part to Most Worthwhile Doozer in order that I might heap reward on Cotterpin, however I made a decision to depart it and provides it to Crimson. You may count on Mokey to be the Fraggle most certainly to befriend a Doozer. In spite of everything, she’s the one who took Flange out to the Gorg’s backyard in The Nice Radish Famine. Apart from being inconceivable for Kathryn Mullen to carry out each of them, this episode permits Crimson to develop a bit by overcoming her preconceptions of the Doozers as boring and accepting Cotterpin for what they’ve in widespread.

First Look Of… – So many Doozers! Although Cotterpin technically appeared in “The Nice Radish Famine” as a baby, that is her first episode as a totally shaped character. However we additionally get Wrench and the Architect as effectively!

Most Basic Second – The Doozer Ceremony of the Helmet is ceaselessly etched in my mind with all of the Doozers turning out in town inexperienced of their lovable hats with a Doozer-sized organ blowing bits of vapor out of it. It’s a tableau match to be immortalized in artwork.

Musical Spotlight – “Sure, We Can” is the tune the Doozers sing throughout their helmeting ceremony. It’s a name and response from the Architect to the initiates after which the already be-helmeted Doozers renew their very own vows. Not solely is it catchy as heck, nevertheless it’s an exquisite illustration of Doozer tradition. And, I’ve to level out, for all of these individuals who didn’t like Jack Hammer’s talk-singing efficiency in Again to the Rock, that is sung equally and nobody complains. Doozers are usually not the excessive performers that the Fraggles are.

Coolest Puppetry Impact – It’s solely a small second of puppetry and doubtless a much bigger second for the lighting and set crew, however when Crimson and Cotterpin are working down the cave tunnel, we will’t see Cotterpin. She’s out of body due to her dimension. However we do see her shadow seem on the cave partitions which helps us visually know what’s taking place whereas additional contrasting simply how completely different Fraggles and Doozers are. Very considerate.

Doozer Lore – The Doozer Who Didn’t is talked about on this episode as a cautionary story to Doozers. They need to keep away from laziness and frivolity or else they’ll flip right into a Fraggle. Fraggles being the antithesis of Doozer tradition.

Obscure Character Watch – The rumble bug background creatures by no means seem once more on this Fraggle Rock, however will probably be reused in The Track of the Cloud Forest and in Again to the Rock.

One Extra Factor…  – Cotterpin likes hexagons! And as everyone knows Hexagons are the bestagons.

Okay, One Extra Factor… – Regardless that the one clothes that the Doozers put on are gloves, boots, helmets and power belts, for some purpose once they’re not carrying them, the impact of their nakedness remains to be fairly stark.

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by Katilyn Miller