Episode 114: The Challenge

Fraggle Rock
Air Date	April 11, 1983
Written by	Jerry Juhl
Director	George Bloomfield

Gobo's always been the leader of the five Fraggle friends -- until Red decides she's sick of doing things Gobo's way. Between them, they "lead" themselves and Boober right into the Gorgs' Garden, where Junior Gorg is looking for a genie to rescue him from his drudgery.

Meanwhile, Doc buys a computer and a game on it has him and Sprocket competing for the high score until Ned Shimmelfinney wants to try the game.

Fraggle Facts

• The Fraggles still don't know the Gorgs very well. When Gobo, Red, and Boober are trapped, they wonder if the Gorgs will eat them. That's probably because Junior himself seems unclear on the subject, sometimes trying to catch Fraggles for pets, and sometimes threatening to "thump" them.

• Mokey Fraggle does not appear in this episode, though she is mentioned.

• This episode has the most mentioned but unseen characters: Mokey, The Trash Heap, Ned Shimmelfinney and Fluffinella.
• Pa Gorg spends the entire episode in Ma Gorg's crown from the first 12 episodes instead of his regular crown

Notes

• When this episode aired on The Hub, the computer game that Doc and Sprocket were playing (Zombie Attack) had the word "attack" muted whenever Doc said it and the game's box was blurred.

International versions

• French version: Doc and Croquette are entranced by a new video game system, but are reluctant to take turns with the sole controller. After Croquette sets a record, the system short-circuits. Doc repairs it, and adds a second controller, so the pair can play together. Meanwhile, Uncle Traveling Matt finds a stone lion and assumes the lion is alive. He climbs up and waves, hoping to make friends. Tourists spot him through their pay telescopes.

Songs

• "Noodlin' Nut"
• "Dum De Dum II (I Wish I Had a Genie)"
• "Dixie Wailin'"

Video releases

• Fraggle Rock: Complete First Season (HIT!, 2005)
• Fraggle Rock: Complete Series Collection (HIT!, 2008)

International episode titles

• Denmark: "Udfordringen"
• France: "Le défi" (The Challenge)
• Germany: "Die Herausforderung" (The Challenge)
• Japan: "リーダーはどっち" (Which is the Leader?)
• Netherlands: "De uitdaging"
• Norway: "Utfordringen"
• Poland: "Wyzwanie"
• Spain: "El desafío"
• Sweden: "Utmaningen"

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