The Smurfs episode that changed my life
I recently became fascinated with a memory I have of an episode of the Smurfs, entitled "The Astrosmurf". I think it had a profound effect on me as a child.
A smurf named Dreamy Smurf (other sources indicate he was named Astro Smurf) dreams of going to another planet. So he builds a space ship. The Smurfs all know he'll never succeed. But he's determined. So on the day of the big launch, THEY DRUG HIM WITH A MAGIC CLOUD OR SOMETHING. And he falls asleep.
The Smurfs then disassemble the spaceship, throw Dreamy on a stretcher, and very uncharacteristically have this HUGE EXODUS to some distant volcanic land. I mean they pick up all their belongings and just MOVE AWAY. It's a monumental community-shaking event. On the way there the Smurfs ask Papa Smurf "is it far?" and he replies "Not much farther, my little Smurflings" until finally they annoy him so much with their constant questioning and prattling that he replies angrily "YES IT IS FAR!"
When they arrive in the volcanic land, Papa Smurf doles out this potion which changes everyone's skin color to a bright orange, blackens their hair, and gives them spears and hides to wear. He explains that they are now "Swoofs", and NOT Smurfs. Other sources indicate they were not Swoofs at all, but "Schlips". (Note: This may be the preferred European term for Swoofs.) The Swoofs are supposed to be aliens from another planet, but I think in other episodes they are indicated to be a primitive original race of Smurfs and Papa Smurf derives much wisdom from their ancient ways. Anyhow, everyone's now a Swoof in this new barren volcanic land. They set up camp and reassemble the space-ship, throwing the drugged-up Dreamy back into his cockpit, just like he was before he took off. He wakes up, thinks he's landed on another planet, meets the Swoofs, who he's convinced are aliens, and is amazed and delighted his dream of space travel has come true.
The Smurfs as Swoofs all play their parts well. They act primitive and alien. They give Dreamy tests to see if he's worthy and Papa Smurf is very gruff and strict, but it's an act. The tests are rigged, too. Like they make Dreamy think he's doing a good job, and is all super-strong, but they secretly attach a bird to the rock he threw and stuff like that (okay this is just what I remember, it could be inaccurate). So Dreamy's all happy. I'm pretty sure there's some romance between Dreamy and the Swoof-Smurfette, who I guess is Swoofette (or Schlipette). I think the aim of the tests they give him is to see if he can marry her, or maybe it's just to see if he can be accepted into the tribe. I was always weirded out by the Smurfette romance though. I mean.. what happens when things go back to normal,and they're all Smurfs again? Is Smurfette insincere, putting on an act because Papa Smurf made her? That's creepy that he'd make her do that. I don't know. So anyway, I forget the end of the story but Dreamy misses his Smurfy home so they drug him up again, disassemble the spaceship and head back to their Village (would have been a good opportunity for Gargamel to have Azrael there waiting for them, but no). When he wakes up again, he thinks he's landed safely back on Earth. Everyone wants to hear his stories of interstellar travel. The Smurfs feign ignorance and enthusiasm. And Dreamy is oh so happy... the fool! (?)
A smurf named Dreamy Smurf (other sources indicate he was named Astro Smurf) dreams of going to another planet. So he builds a space ship. The Smurfs all know he'll never succeed. But he's determined. So on the day of the big launch, THEY DRUG HIM WITH A MAGIC CLOUD OR SOMETHING. And he falls asleep.
The Smurfs then disassemble the spaceship, throw Dreamy on a stretcher, and very uncharacteristically have this HUGE EXODUS to some distant volcanic land. I mean they pick up all their belongings and just MOVE AWAY. It's a monumental community-shaking event. On the way there the Smurfs ask Papa Smurf "is it far?" and he replies "Not much farther, my little Smurflings" until finally they annoy him so much with their constant questioning and prattling that he replies angrily "YES IT IS FAR!"
When they arrive in the volcanic land, Papa Smurf doles out this potion which changes everyone's skin color to a bright orange, blackens their hair, and gives them spears and hides to wear. He explains that they are now "Swoofs", and NOT Smurfs. Other sources indicate they were not Swoofs at all, but "Schlips". (Note: This may be the preferred European term for Swoofs.) The Swoofs are supposed to be aliens from another planet, but I think in other episodes they are indicated to be a primitive original race of Smurfs and Papa Smurf derives much wisdom from their ancient ways. Anyhow, everyone's now a Swoof in this new barren volcanic land. They set up camp and reassemble the space-ship, throwing the drugged-up Dreamy back into his cockpit, just like he was before he took off. He wakes up, thinks he's landed on another planet, meets the Swoofs, who he's convinced are aliens, and is amazed and delighted his dream of space travel has come true.
The Smurfs as Swoofs all play their parts well. They act primitive and alien. They give Dreamy tests to see if he's worthy and Papa Smurf is very gruff and strict, but it's an act. The tests are rigged, too. Like they make Dreamy think he's doing a good job, and is all super-strong, but they secretly attach a bird to the rock he threw and stuff like that (okay this is just what I remember, it could be inaccurate). So Dreamy's all happy. I'm pretty sure there's some romance between Dreamy and the Swoof-Smurfette, who I guess is Swoofette (or Schlipette). I think the aim of the tests they give him is to see if he can marry her, or maybe it's just to see if he can be accepted into the tribe. I was always weirded out by the Smurfette romance though. I mean.. what happens when things go back to normal,and they're all Smurfs again? Is Smurfette insincere, putting on an act because Papa Smurf made her? That's creepy that he'd make her do that. I don't know. So anyway, I forget the end of the story but Dreamy misses his Smurfy home so they drug him up again, disassemble the spaceship and head back to their Village (would have been a good opportunity for Gargamel to have Azrael there waiting for them, but no). When he wakes up again, he thinks he's landed safely back on Earth. Everyone wants to hear his stories of interstellar travel. The Smurfs feign ignorance and enthusiasm. And Dreamy is oh so happy... the fool! (?)
