Synopsis: Wembley and Boober discover the “good blue rollie,” an excellent uncommon pebble. The legend behind it says it’s the best present you can provide. Boober as a substitute tries to maintain it. He finally ends up alone with simply his stuff till his cave of stuff collapses and his associates save him. See? Buddies are extra essential than issues.
Authentic air date: February 17, 1986
Boober and Wembley are an ideal pairing for this story–Wembley’s openness and pleasure that focuses outward on others and making them glad. And Boober’s existential dread and inward seek for which means and be happier.
Roaring Ravine has run to a trickle due to a warmth wave, and Wembley and Boober discover all these stunning smoothies and rollies which have been coated up by the water. Together with the right blue rollie, “the rarest pebble within the universe.” Boober is drawn to having it. Possibly it’s the factor he’s lacking in his life. Wembley fortunately offers it to him, introducing the legend that it’s the biggest present you can provide. Then Wembley units to work gathering different pebbles and rollies for his or her associates whereas Boober finds a method to cover the pebble in his “hidey-hole,” a cave he dug on his personal to place his stuff.
The Fraggles dance and sing exuberantly after Wembley passes out the rollies, all in regards to the pleasure of passing issues on to associates. And really, I really feel that is Wembley’s favourite factor. He’s a Fraggle-pleaser who likes to see his associates glad and be the supply of that happiness. He additionally tells everybody in regards to the good blue rollie and Boober painfully admits that not solely has he hidden the rollie, however that he created a complete place to cover issues. The others power him to point out them.
Look, I don’t begrudge Boober desirous to have one thing of his personal and a spot the place he can manage issues. He’s an introspective, quiet man who likes management however he lives in a chaotic Fraggle commune the place every thing appears to belong to everybody and the vibe is usually peppy. He’s criticized for desirous to personal issues, however many of the issues he owns in his hidey-hole are odd socks and buttons and lint he has collected from doing everybody else’s laundry. Most issues he collects others don’t care about and don’t perceive, which is why he hides them away. And he veers severely into Bert territory when he’s giving a tour of his issues. Like the 2 of them may fill a satisfying afternoon displaying one another their collections of string and bottle caps. And swapping tales about boisterous roommates.
I get that pondering issues will deliver your life which means usually are not a path towards peace and happiness. I feel Boober does, too. However the others power him to dig in quite than deliver him round and he finally ends up throwing them out of his cave saying he needs to maintain the rollie as they threaten him in regards to the legend.
Has anybody just lately tried to get somebody to vary their thoughts by simply telling them how incorrect they’re. Did it work? Did that Thanksgiving dinner go higher? Gobo and Wembley principally inform Goober he isn’t seeing issues proper and say that the pebble isn’t extra essential than associates. Boober throws them out once more, however not earlier than he breathes on the pebble to shine it then breathes like a snake hiss at them as they depart the collapse a effective little second.
So Gobo and Mokey gown up Wembley like lint to steal the pebble. But when friendship is extra essential than that pebble then why are they jeopardizing their friendship with Boober to steal it? And he shared his particular place with them and confirmed him his lint assortment and now they’re simply utilizing that towards him. They might additionally take the excessive highway right here and say effective, present it when you’re prepared. They’re now right into a “means to an finish” scenario that may have them do something they need for what they assume is correct even whether it is hurtful to Boober. Boober, in fact, catches Wembley and factors out that he doesn’t “want associates who creep into my hidey-hole dressed as lint.” I imply, he does want them, however good on Boober for calling out that they aren’t appearing so nice both.
And Wembley responds as a great good friend ought to—he doesn’t lie when he’s caught. He feels dangerous about sneezing and sending the rollie off its pedestal. And even after Boober throws him out, Wembley instantly runs for assist when he hears the rocks falling contained in the cave. Slight plot query right here–did Gobo and Mokey actually ship their good friend dressed as lint in to steal a uncommon pebble and simply take off with out ready till he got here out?
However it does purchase time for Boober to lie below a rock and be aware that right here he’s entombed in his hidey-hole with all his stuff. And the blue rollie rolls to relaxation proper by him and might’t assist him. He traded in his associates for issues that may encompass him as he dies and now doesn’t have associates to save lots of him. “Now I’m going to get what I deserved,” had been his final phrases. After which Boober dies, alone together with his ideas as he at all times knew he would. Surrounded by his organized laundry.
Besides in fact he didn’t as a result of Fraggles don’t die–they simply give it some thought rather a lot. And the opposite half of this pair is Wembley who’s far more optimistic. Wembley will get the chums and Mokey reaches in simply in time to drag Boober out so he can declare he’s executed with stuff. And I like the way in which he says “stuff.”
He and Wembley share an awesome Fraggle hug and the rollie rolls on out, so Boober can provide it to Wembley and Wembley can provide it to everybody. Boober confronted down demise and realized a lesson. Did anybody else be taught a lesson about be a greater good friend to Boober? Anybody?
MVF (Most Precious Fraggle): Wembley. He’s an awesome good friend. He doesn’t maintain a grudge or get upset. Sharing makes him glad. And that little grunt factor in “Cross it on” is pure pleasure.
Most Basic Second: The entire Fraggle opening:
Wembley: One other good day in Fraggle Rock. I can’t consider something so as to add to it or enhance it.
Boober: I wouldn’t be so positive about that… I simply have that nagging feeling that one thing essential is lacking from my life.
Musical Spotlight: “Cross It On” and never simply because it was the one track and was in “A Muppet Household Christmas.” I find it irresistible. I sing it. No notes.
Coolest Puppetry Impact: I like Boober’s preliminary response to the pebble. He simply stares at it and you’re feeling the longing from him. All of the extra spectacular as a result of we will’t see Boober’s eyes.
Fraggle Lore: The legend of the blue rollie.
One Extra Factor…: Uncle Touring Matt doesn’t appear to have a lot to do with the story, however I loved watching him thrown right into a river.
Okay, One Extra Factor…: Sprocket is lovable. When Doc needs Sprocket to sit down nonetheless in plaster of paris to make a statue mould and Sprocket is like, nah, you first, and locks him within the cupboard to make a statue mould of him, he does this eyebrow wiggle that’s so cheeky to tease Doc. Additionally, did Doc actually simply make a statue of himself to sit down out on Ms. Ardath’s garden? That she’s going to take a look at whereas she “lifts weights?”
Click on right here to go it on to the ToughPigs Discord!
by Drake Lucas
