Synopsis: Mokey will get jealous of one other native artist, and the Trash Heap provides her a Magic Paintbrush to make artwork sooner.
Unique air date: February 24, 1986
Once I was in center faculty, I knew Fraggle Rock existed, however I’d by no means seen it. I didn’t have premium cable, and Fraggle Rock was not a present for fundamental cable kids. However my good friend Brice received HBO, and he advised me about his vivid recollections of an episode the place “Mokey will get a magic paintbrush and it involves life.” For years, I imagined a strolling, speaking paintbrush puppet. I didn’t truly see the episode till Season 4 got here out on DVD in 2008, and I used to be startled to appreciate that I used to be all improper concerning the Magic Paintbrush.
So what *is* the take care of the Magic Paintbrush? Learn on to search out out . . . (or, you recognize, watch this episode of Fraggle Rock.)
We start with Crimson and Mokey sprucing up their condo. Crimson needs to exchange Mokey’s portray with one by native artist Pedley. Right here’s what I really like about that: Mokey’s is a portray of Lanford, her pet who lives in that very same cave. Crimson’s Pedley unique, in the meantime, is a portray of herself combating a dragon, which is hilarious.
Crimson actually needs to eliminate Mokey’s Lanford portray so she means that Mokey grasp it within the Nice Corridor subsequent to a different Pedley portray. Quickly, everyone seems to be standing round admiring each work. However then all of it goes awry, as a result of one of many dumbest issues within the historical past of Fraggle Rock occurs.
Everybody praises Pedley’s portray, after which Gobo says Mokey’s is “typical Mokey,” whereas Wembley says “When you’ve seen one in all Mokey’s work, you’ve seen all of them.” Mokey overhears them and tearfully runs away. However, after all, Gobo meant that Mokey’s work are usually nice. I can permit that one, I suppose, however I can’t abide Wembley’s subsequent line. He clarifies that Mokey “paints one of the best footage round. And when you’ve seen one in all her work of something, you seen all of the work it is advisable to see about that factor.”
The others shake their heads and inform him no. However that is *such* a stretch. It doesn’t make any sense as an expression. That is simply an episode of Three’s Firm at this level.
The plot wants Mokey to be insulted, so that they compelled a misunderstanding. In addition they have Wembley hold saying issues like “That’s one other a kind of expressions!” to cowl up for the truth that the unique one is nonsense. However that doesn’t change the truth that this second feels very very like a primary draft.
When Mokey shows her new portray of Blossom Boulder later within the episode, Wembley mistakenly says “Magnificence is within the eye of the boulder.” Crimson exasperatedly corrects him. That’s a mistake that is smart! I completely imagine that Wembley would assume that’s an expression, which is what separates it from the sooner one.
Look, I get it. Typically you don’t wish to spend additional time writing one thing. Possibly you’re within the fourth season of a kids’s TV present. Possibly you’re within the fourth season of reviewing a kids’s TV present for a Muppet fan web site. You don’t take as a lot care as you used to, and also you get sloppy. Occurs to the bets of us.
Anyway, that’s the low level of an in any other case terrific episode. Subsequent, Mokey goes to the Trash Heap to get a brand new paintbrush. Madame Heap provides her a magic paintbrush. She heads out to color Blossom Boulder, a gorgeous location named for the entire flowers in it. The magic paintbrush permits her to color it instantly. Simply brush her fingers throughout the canvas and a completed image seems. The Magic Paintbrush makes artwork so simply, like all Mokey needed to do was immediate it with an thought.
However when she demonstrates for her pals, she finds that she will be able to’t put the comb down and she will be able to’t cease portray. She goes to the Trash Heap for assist, and Madame Heap tells her “If you wish to cease portray, begin portray.” The Trash Heap reveals to Crimson and Wembley that Mokey “stated the comb had all the ability, so the comb took her at her phrase.”
I’m no artist, however this certain seems like some type of metaphor for “artists” who “make artwork” by typing a immediate into an AI program. The Magic Paintbrush needs to be a device, however Mokey has given it full management of her creativity. The Fraggle Rock manufacturing workforce couldn’t have identified in 1986 how prevalent this type of “simply let a machine to do” strategy to “artwork” could be 40 years later.
Mokey decides that the one means she will be able to cease the comb is by taking again management. She fully drops the brand new know-how and goes again to fundamentals, utilizing her tail as a paintbrush. This reminds her of “all the things I used to like about portray,” and as soon as she’s completed the image, the curse is damaged and he or she drops the Magic Paintbrush.
We will create artwork by counting on ourselves as an alternative of know-how, and I can’t think about a greater message for Fraggle Rock to provide us within the yr 2026.
Strongest Second: Mokey’s demonstration of the Magic Paintbrush for the opposite Fraggles is a tour de drive.
Weakest Second: I already spent a very long time in the principle evaluate specializing in Wembley’s misuse of “When you’ve seen one, you’ve seen all of them” nevertheless it’s that. Scroll again as much as learn my ideas on why.
MVF (Most Useful Fraggle): As is so typically the case on Fraggle Rock, this one is all Mokey’s present, and he or she’s fantastic in it.
First Look Of…: Pedley Fraggle, a traditional instance of “all the things revolves round this man who supposedly lives right here for one episode, and he’s by no means seen or talked about once more.”
Most Traditional Second: The scene the place Touring Matt will get misplaced displaying Mokey to Blossom Boulder is a terrific use of the brand new “Touring Matt lives in Fraggle Rock now” established order.
Musical Spotlight: “Present Me” is a superb showcase for Kathy Mullen’s attractive voice. It’s one in all my favourite Mokey songs in all the collection, and he or she sang lots of nice ones.
Coolest Sound Impact: The vibrational tones of the Magic Paintbrush actually assist promote it as an odd object. It feels like some type of UFO.
Fraggle Lore: The Trash Heap and her sidekicks are preparing for the Swap Meet and Rubbish Gala. I’d like to know who else is attending that occasion.
Obscure Terminology Watch: Mokey says she’s going to make a portray so good it should “curl their baloobiuses.” So far as I do know, that time period for the tuft on the top of a Fraggle’s tail was beforehand solely utilized in season 3’s “Scared Foolish.” I like to see continuity particulars like that.
One Extra Factor…: Doc calls the frequent canine recreation “fling and fetch” quite than simply fetch. I actually like that – each individuals get to be within the title.
Okay, One Extra Factor…: The Magic Paintbrush seems to be a large brush extra appropriate for house-painting than the finer work of portray footage.
Click on right here to make a portray so good it should curl their baloobiuses on the Robust Pigs Discord!
by Anthony Strand
