Synopsis: An necessary rock hockey participant is coming to observe Pink play in a recreation. When Pink will get injured at apply, she has to determine what’s extra necessary: taking the time to heal or assembly perceived expectations.
As this episode includes sports activities, there are solely two ToughPigs workers members certified to overview it. Since Matthew Soberman wasn’t quick sufficient on the draw, the respect falls to me. However you could be shocked on the lesson this episode has to share. It’s not one of many typical subjects that sports-themed reveals are inclined to hit: sportsmanship, enjoying truthful, working as a crew, and many others. It’s rather more than that.
This episode was considered one of my favorites as a child, I presume due to the rock hockey (an nearly incomprehensible recreation involving phrases and maneuvers taken from baseball, hockey, American soccer and basketball on the very least). I come from an all-sport-appreciating household. Each sports activities season, regardless of how horrible our dwelling groups are, we tune in and yell on the tv. My siblings and I signed up for each sport in school, not as a result of we had been notably good, however as a result of it was one thing we cherished to do. It was a tradition we had been snug with. And perhaps, if we had been fortunate, the participant we simply sacked would possibly finally change into the beginning quarterback for the Cincinnati Bengals. Then we’d have a hell of a narrative to inform. (Alas, not me, considered one of my brothers.)
However as I grew older, harm all my joints and have become much less able to competing in some of these arenas, the episode nonetheless caught with me. Within the plot, Pink actually desires to impress Rock Hockey Hannah, one of the crucial esteemed rock hockey gamers of all time, who’s coming to the rock particularly to observe Pink play. Pink is so distracted by the upcoming go to that she is late to apply, can’t think about what’s occurring and finally ends up injuring herself.
Taken care of by a really thorough medical attendant (Boober), she is suggested that the very best factor to do is relaxation. And what’s the one factor that Pink can’t do even on the very best of days? Relaxation. So you’ll be able to lay cash there’s no manner she’ll handle it when her idol is coming to city.
And if this isn’t me, I don’t know what’s. Lower than a month in the past, I took a visit to the emergency room and left with, amongst different issues, a prescription for relaxation. And boy did I hate it. I’m a “get up at 5am to put in writing, verify off no less than three issues from a check-list, go for a run or no less than a stroll each single day” kind of particular person. And that’s me taking it straightforward. So when somebody says relaxation, I ask if I can nonetheless stroll the canine. And sadly the reply was no. I couldn’t.
That is one thing else I bought from my household. Simply final week my mom broke her leg and he or she was in additional ache having to sit down nonetheless in a recliner than she was from the damage. She’s retired with grown kids round to assist and no rapid obligations she needed to are inclined to. But she nonetheless couldn’t assist however attempt to shuffle round and contribute. (She thought it was a pulled muscle on the time as a result of they couldn’t discover something on X-ray.) Nobody anticipated something of her, however her expectations of herself had been such that sitting nonetheless whereas life continued round her was an impossibility.
For these of you pondering, “Wow, what a nutso household!” ask your self, are you working whenever you’re not feeling 100%? Are you going out as a result of your mates invited you even should you’d a lot relatively watch some TV at dwelling? Are you staying up late to work on a undertaking as a result of how else will the job get accomplished? Expectations, whether or not self-imposed or imposed by others, whether or not consciously imposed or not, are highly effective motivators.
Getting again to the Fraggles, Pink slips away from her enforced mattress relaxation after she has a dream of Rock Hockey Hannah and all of her closest pals telling her, “When it hurts actual dangerous, you gotta play actual good,” creating much more stress on her to disregard what her physique so clearly wants. She disguises herself because the goalie and performs her recreation of rock hockey in entrance of Hannah. And he or she does it poorly. She lets down her crew, herself and her idol. Solely to seek out that when she comes clear, Hannah already is aware of the knowledge of self-care. “When it hurts actual dangerous, you gotta give up actual quick.”
This episode begs you to interrogate your individual life. Is there something that you just’re pushing your self to try this your physique or your mind is providing you with alerts to cease doing? Psychological and bodily burnout are actual and we don’t get sufficient exterior cues reminding us to relaxation. Pushing past our limits does us extra hurt than good, making us extra more likely to injure ourselves each bodily and mentally. So that is your exterior cue! The expectations of the world should not as necessary as taking good care of you. Relaxation!
I’ll deliver you some peace soup to nourish your thoughts, physique and soul.
Strongest Second – Once we first dive into the Rock, Pink has simply acquired a letter from Rock Hockey Hannah and is thrilled on the alternative to impress her idol. That’s adopted up with an ask to not inform anybody. Placing this rapid stress on Pink has the impact of setting into movement all the pieces that comes after, together with all of Pink’s wonderful actions and reactions.
Weakest Second – As a lot as I like sports activities and love how Fraggle Rock takes its time in constructing to a climax, I feel there’s a bit an excessive amount of time spent exhibiting the precise enjoying of rock hockey. Since we don’t know the foundations of the sport or know who’s scoring, a number of the motion is contextless. We solely see Pink a handful of occasions failing as goalie and people are actually all that’s mandatory. The remainder is type of a waste.
MVF (Most Useful Fraggle) – Excellent episode for this distinction as each sport on the earth awards this honor. And I feel it goes to Gobo. Contemplating how antagonistic he could be with Pink, it’s good to see that on this case he’s insistent and agency that Pink really do what’s finest. He received’t hear of her enjoying as a result of it will harm her extra and presumably harm others. He doesn’t make enjoyable of her or specific disappointment. He’s the pal/boss/mum or dad all of us want.
First Look Of… – Rock Hockey Hannah, Chuchu Fraggle, and Harmer Fraggle, who all appear to solely make this one look. You want a number of Fraggles to place collectively two hockey groups. Additionally Dimpley Fraggle who shares the identify with one other Fraggle, however is clearly a distinct puppet.
Most Traditional Second – “Chase the Wind” is on this episode. A fan favourite for years due to its dreamy high quality and message of infinite chance. Pink will get to decorate in a shiny rock hockey uniform and reside out being the very best participant ever. It’s so traditional that they introduced it again in Again to the Rock for Cynthia Erivo to completely crush.
Musical Spotlight – Since I already talked about “Chase the Wind,” I’ll spotlight “Lonely as Can Be.” It’s a really feel your emotions music that Fraggle Rock does simply after they’re wanted. Pink sings this melancholy melody sitting alone in her room at night time after Mokey has left in order to not disturb her relaxation. Her pals are actually caring for her, however what Pink actually desires is for somebody to know the place that she’s in, however since she will’t point out Rock Hockey Hannah, that’s one thing she simply can’t do. Psychological loneliness is simply as legitimate as its social counterpart.
Coolest Puppetry Impact – There are such a lot of folks on the ice(?) subject(?) courtroom(?) throughout the rock hockey scenes that it’s nearly inconceivable to maintain observe of simply what number of puppeteers must be down there dancing between each other, elbowing one another as they jerk their arm rods round and are usually simply as athletic as the game they’re depicting above.
Darkest Second – One of many occasions that Pink sneaks off the bed, Boober involves take her pulse solely to seek out that the dummy she has left in her place has no pulse in any respect. Boober believes that she has fallen right into a coma and that he has failed her.
Obscure Character Watch – We’ve bought Tosh, Feenie, Rumple, Noble and Gettas: your rock hockey all-stars, all of whom present up in additional than simply this episode, some greater than others.
One Extra Factor… – In my overview for Pink-Handed and the Invisible Thief, I requested “What tooth?” when Boober talked about sweets rotting your tooth. Nicely, hockey wouldn’t be hockey except somebody misplaced some tooth, so please get pleasure from these horrifying Fraggle tooth. Filming in Canada, Fraggle Rock tales had been typically required to incorporate Canadian particular content material. And I’d say there’s nothing extra Canadian than hockey. Slap one between the wickets and don’t go spitting chiclets.
Okay, One Extra Factor… – Be careful for the icy patch.
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By Katilyn Miller – KTLyn@ToughPigs.com
