Synopsis: The Gorgs determine to construct a gazebo, and their chosen location simply occurs to be the house of the Trash Heap. Philo and Gunge summon Wembley and Boober for assist, and the hesitant Fraggles should take motion to forestall Junior Gorg from dumping the Trash Heap within the river!

Authentic air date: January 16, 1984

Query: Do folks ever actually change? Some folks would say nope, no method, nuh-uh. Everybody has a set of habits, behaviors, and beliefs baked into them, and nothing will ever really change them.

I assume that’s partially true. Think about this: Most people who find themselves studying (or writing) these phrases proper now have been huge Muppet followers for a very long time, and at this level in our lives, it’s not very seemingly that we’ll get up tomorrow and determine we don’t care about these puppet exhibits anymore. Then again, I believe most individuals are constantly altering, even when it’s simply in little methods.

For instance, I used to assume avocados have been bizarre and guacamole was dangerous and gross, and now I like avocados and guacamole very a lot. Clearly one thing about me modified, even when I’m not a drastically totally different individual now than I used to be pre-avocado. That’s a superb lesson for a kid-friendly present like Fraggle Rock to impart — and in true Fraggle Rock trend, “The Trash Heap Doesn’t Stay Right here Anymore” does it with cleverness, nuance, and a foolish hat.

Comply with-up query: As soon as modified, can folks change again? The Doc and Sprocket segments of this episode would possibly lead you to assume so. See, Doc has this ice dice, and he realizes it supplies an thrilling alternative to show Sprocket concerning the three primary phases of matter. Sprocket is lower than thrilled to search out himself in an episode of Mr. Wizard’s World, however Doc has a rip-snortin’ good time melting the ice dice, heating up the water so it turns into a vapor, then turning it again into water after which to ice once more.

So there you will have it: What was as soon as an ice dice, even after going via a number of modifications, may be an ice dice once more. Due to this fact, an individual who modifications can change again to being precisely the identical once more. Proper? Properly, the tales of Wembley and the Trash Heap convey us to a extra sophisticated conclusion.

Marjory the Trash Heap goes via the expertise of being thrown in a wheelbarrow, transported, dumped, transported once more, and dumped once more – and she or he nonetheless appears to be like the identical when she lands in her new house. But it surely’s not possible for the Fraggles to not discover straight away that her voice has modified, and it retains altering, as Marjory’s performer Jerry Nelson cycles via a complete repertoire of vocal registers and accents.

She assures her buddies that she’s superb, and there’s no motive to assume she’s not. However a significant life change like shifting to a brand new house at all times leaves you somewhat bit totally different than you have been earlier than. Not solely have you ever begun a brand new section of your life, you’ve additionally left the earlier section behind you.

That occurs to Wembley and Boober too. Once they’re referred to as upon to save lots of the Trash Heap, they’re bowled over. Historically, they go to the Trash Heap so she can assist them with their issues. However Marjory is totally assured within the Fraggles’ capacity to unravel her drawback for as soon as. And so they do! They didn’t assume they might, however once they should, they do. And that’s acquired to vary an individual.

We’ve all handled huge conditions of varied levels of seriousness. I modified the primary time I went on a date, the primary time I needed to go grocery procuring on my own, the primary time I purchased my very own airplane ticket, the primary time I needed to drive a field truck via New York Metropolis site visitors for work, and the primary time I rode House Mountain.

However right here’s the opposite factor: I didn’t change too a lot. I used to be nonetheless recognizable to my household and buddies after every of these experiences, despite the fact that all of them affected me. Identical to Marjory remains to be principally the identical Trash Heap beloved by Philo and Gunge and Wembley and Boober. Folks (and trash heaps, and Fraggles) can change, however not all huge modifications should occur directly.

This episode’s theme may be utilized to so many potential life modifications that children and adults undergo. Now that I consider it, I want I had seen it earlier than the primary time my household moved to a brand new city, after I was eight years previous. After we moved, I used to be a modified little Trash Heap — and but, I used to be nonetheless the identical little Trash Heap.

Strongest Second: Wembley’s plan to forestall Junior from dumping the Trash Heap within the river depends on Junior’s tendency to sleepwalk. When Junior falls asleep, Wembley climbs in his hair and directs him to stroll this manner, stroll that method, and to empty the wheelbarrow in a protected location. It’s enjoyable to look at. And it’s kinda like Ratatouille!

Weakest Second: Early within the episode, Doc tells Sprocket he’s gained some weight. Later, Ma Gorg says she doesn’t need lunch as a result of she’s making an attempt to drop some weight. Sufficient already!

MVF (Most Priceless Fraggle): It must be Wembley. That goofball is the hero of the episode.

First Look Of…: The Trash Heap’s new location! It’s behind the rock formation that separates Fraggle Rock, from the Gorg’s backyard, which suggests the Fraggles will now not should undergo the ordeal of sneaking their method over to her.

Most Basic Second: I had forgotten that this episode has one in all my favourite traces of the present. When Boober and Wembley are brainstorming methods they can assist the Trash Heap, Boober responds to one in all his good friend’s concepts by saying “Wembley… Your mind is floating off into the dawn.”

Musical Spotlight: The Trash Heap has a track the place her voice retains altering, which is enjoyable, however I actually like “What an Terrible Day,” the easy little track Wembley is writing by himself in the beginning of the episode. He rhymes “that” with “hat,” and insists that he has to put on a hat whereas singing it.

Fraggle Lore: How about some Gorg lore? Ma carries round an precise E book of Lore, which she makes use of to clarify the idea of a gazebo to Pa, who initially thought it was a striped animal that runs quick. (Have they got… gazelles? or… zebras? within the Gorg world?) And the household says a blessing over their meal: “All because of the spirit of the nice Gorgs and the generosity of the backyard. Hey, nonny… nonny, nonny.”

One Extra Factor…: When the Trash Heap is reconstituted after being moved the primary time, she speaks with a low, gravelly voice, and Philo reacts by exclaiming “She’s a fella!” The Fraggles and Philo and Gunge proceed to be unsettled by Marjory’s stereotypically male-sounding voices. I can’t think about anybody concerned with this episode in 1984 ever suspected that this would possibly come throughout as insensitive in a extra enlightened time like ours, however I can solely assume a narrative like this might be portrayed in another way immediately.

Okay, One Extra Factor…: Wembley and Boober are the one Fraggles on this episode! It’s established that Gobo is off exploring the Ring Caverns, however what are Mokey and Pink as much as? They could possibly be having their very own, equally thrilling journey for all we all know.

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by Ryan Roe – Ryan@ToughPigs.com