FRAGGLE ROCK: GOBO'S DISCOVERY {BRITISH VERSION} (TV)
Summary
One in this series of children's programs with Jim Henson's Muppets, featuring the adventures of the singing and dancing Fraggles who live in the caves of Fraggle Rock.
Gobo tries to rush out to get one of his Uncle Travelling Matt’s postcards, but is chased away by Sprocket. Once back in Fraggle Rock, Gobo begins to rethink his aspirations of becoming an explorer like his uncle. He thinks back to his childhood and realizes that it was his uncle who wanted Gobo to become an explorer like him, denying Gobo his own dream of becoming a juggler. As Gobo thinks over his situation, Boober asks him to take him to the Squeaky Cavern. Fed up with constantly having to lead Fraggles around, Gobo gives Wembley directions and sends him off with Boober.
Depressed, Gobo looks over an old postcard from Uncle Travelling Matt describing his encounter with a group of “fuzzy creatures” (sheep being sheared). Gobo wonders if he is emulating his uncle out of a genuine desire to be an explorer or because it’s merely what he’s “supposed to” do, singing a song to put his dilemma into words (“Once Upon a Time I Knew My Name”). Red interrupts Gobo, telling him that Boober and Wembley apparently took a wrong turn and are headed for the Great Outer Maze, where a terrifying monster known as the Invisible Garboil lives. Gobo fears he gave them wrong directions and goes after them; should they disturb the Invisible Garboil, it would spell doom for the Fraggles.
As Gobo searches, Wembley and Boober return, much to Red and Mokey’s relief. It turns out that Wembley recognized they were going in the wrong direction and set them straight before they reached the Great Outer Maze. They realize, much to their worry, that Gobo must be lost in the Maze. Gobo wanders the Maze for a time before finding his way out, but unbeknownst to him he has awakened the Invisible Garboil. His friends are relieved to see him, but Gobo announces he is no longer going to be an explorer. The others attempt to pull Gobo out of his depression by pretending that the Invisible Garboil is attacking and they need his help, but Gobo sees through their ruse and tells them to go away.
After explaining his feelings to his friends (“Just Can’t Be the Me I Want to Be”), Gobo wanders off to be by himself. The Invisible Garboil attacks Fraggle Rock, causing mass panic. Gobo makes up his mind to become a juggler, believing that his uncle would understand. The others rush to Gobo for help against the Invisible Garboil, but he doesn’t believe them until he is tossed aside by the monster. Gobo immediately makes up his mind to go after the monster, reasoning that since he released it, it’s his responsibility to recapture it. He manages to lure the Garboil back to its lair and reseal it there. Gobo returns to Fraggle Rock, hailed as a hero. He points out that the whole thing was his fault in the first place, but his friends point out that instead of hiding like everyone else, Gobo risked his own life to save Fraggle Rock. The episode ends as Gobo realizes that exploration is what he really wants to do with his life. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: ITV
- DATE: May 30, 1983
- RUNNING TIME: 0:24:33
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:64477
- GENRE: Children's programs
- SUBJECT HEADING: Children's programs; Puppets; Comedy, fantasy/science fiction
- SERIES RUN: ITV - TV series, 1983-1987
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Anna Home … Executive Producer
- Duncan Kenworthy … Producer
- Lawrence S. Mirkin … Producer
- Martin G. Baker … Associate Producer
- Nick Abson … Director
- Martin Lavut … Director
- Jim Henson … Created by
- Jocelyn Stevenson … Writer
- Victor Pemberton … Writer
- Philip Balsam … Music by, Lyrics
- Dennis Lee … Music by, Lyrics
- Jerry Nelson … Muppet Performer
- Dave Goelz … Muppet Performer
- Steve Whitmire … Muppet Performer
- Kathryn Mullen … Muppet Performer
- Karen Prell … Muppet Performer
- Richard Hunt … Muppet Performer
- David Barclay … Muppet Performer
- Mike Quinn … Muppet Performer
- Louise Gold … Muppet Performer
- Fulton Mackay … Cast, The Captain