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"Aplopalypse Now" is the twenty-eighth episode of the second season (and eightieth episode overall) of Randy Cunningham: 9th Grade Ninja. It premiered on April 6, 2015.[1]
Synopsis[]
Randy breaks a sacred rule by removing Plop Plop, the ancient guardian, from his post.[2]
Plot[]
The episode opens at the McFist-A-Plex with Randy and Howard trying to watch the horror Slasher movie "Splatterday Fright Cleaver," intended for those above 17 or with guardian supervision. Randy attempts to disguise himself to look older and pretend to be a guardian taking Howard, but the cashier at the counter is able to see through Randy's poorly-made getup and denies entry. As the two complain about what to do next, the NinjaNomicon starts flashing and buzzing. Randy optimistically suggests that perhaps the Nomicon might provide them with a solution, but Howard does not entertain the idea, not even when Randy says it might not hurt to look. However, Randy still steps inside as he is duty-bound to, inside the events of the final moments of the fight between First Ninja and the Sorcerer takes place, which occurred in "Randy Cunningham: 13th Century Ninja." The recounted story reveals that one of the four power balls had been retrieved by the First Ninja and that he had entrusted the guarding of the ball to a "noble one." First Ninja, then further explains that once every four years, a ninja must travel to the Enchanted Temple replenish the noble one's food supply.
Randy is very excited by the prospect of a quest, while Howard is anything but excited as the journey requires them to travel into the sewers to reach the temple. Once they arrive at the location stated on the map provided by the Nomicon, they only find a waterfall running from a pipe. Randy believes that the entrance is behind the waterfall, so he immediately jumps straight into it. At that moment, Howard finds a ninja nine symbol embedded in a wall. Once he presses the symbol, the waterfall stops flowing, revealing that indeed hidden behind it, is a doorway adorned with several ninja nine symbols around it. The two then enter inside the dimly lit room where they encounter the noble one, who immediately runs towards them excitedly asking what did they bring for him. During this exchange, it is revealed that the noble one, who guards over the power ball, is none other than Plop Plop, First Ninja's trusted squire. Plop Plop explains to them very briefly that First Ninja had chosen him for the position, and emphasized that First Ninja wasn't asking him, but telling him to take the job of the guardian. The word "guardian" gives Randy the idea of having Plop Plop act as their parental guardian and thus allowing them to see the horror movie. When Randy asks if Plop Plop wants to see a movie with them, he is excited (albeit confused by the concept and regards it as witchcraft), but he disappointingly reminds them that he is required to stay in the temple to guard the ball. Randy then asks if he can just take the ball with them and guard it along the way, to which Plop Plop responds by saying that Randy is the Ninja and that he should tell him. Randy then makes the decision to take the ball with them, and they all cheerfully exit the temple unaware of the seal that had just cracked seconds after they passed it.
At that moment, the Sorcerer senses the seal breaking and maniacally explains that his power ball will soon possess the one who holds it, as he laughs in his prison. The scene shifts back to the McFist-A-plex with the same receptionist questioning Plop Plop if he really is over 17. The centuries-old guardian laughs at the question and replies that he is indeed over seventeen and nearly blurts out how old he really is, had Randy not interrupted by asking for three tickets. In the theater, the movie turns out to be quite scary as the teen boys are frightened watching, except for Plop Plop, who seems to be pleasantly enjoying it. During this moment, an ominous disembodied voice speaks through the ball instructing Plop Plop to bring the orb to him. Plop Plop becomes momentarily possessed by the ball's dark influence before being shaken out of it by Randy, and the three of them continue watching the movie. As the horror picture ends and the three walk out of the cinema, they share a happy moment before Plop Plop slowly and with exaggerated sadness parts ways with the boys. But Howard tries to take further advantage of having a willing guardian by reminding Randy of PJ McFlubbuster's Super Spicy Appe-teaser Pleaser Platter, which requires the signature of a parent or guardian. Randy, excited by the idea, calls for Plop Plop, who appears immediately and joyfully behind them.
They have a brief exchange before the scene shifts to a table at the PJ McFlubbuster restaurant with all three of them eating the spicy food, with Plop Plop being the only one unaffected by its spicy properties as his tongue was full of calluses. Randy asks Plop Plop why he doesn't just guard the ball outside on the surface and enjoy the outside world instead of remaining all alone inside the temple. Howard also chimes in by offering him a place to stay in his garage. The guardian then replies if Howard's garage also has a sacred seal which protects him from the ball's influence. Randy is shocked to learn this reveal as he realizes that Plop Plop is no longer protected by the seal. He immediately tries to take Plop Plop back to the temple, but as he is distracted with trying to call for a waiter to pay the bill, Plop Plop is fully overtaken by the power ball and comes under the Sorcerer's control.
The possessed Plop Plop runs out of the restaurant with Randy and Howard chasing after him. He then enters Slimovitz's car, with the boys doing the same, and they drive off as they were being chased by the staff for leaving without paying the bill. Randy demands that Plop Plop turn back immediately, but Howard dismisses it as they had dined and dashed and would likely get McFlubbusted from the restaurant if they returned. Randy argues that they need to return the ball to where it belongs, but possessed Plop Plop responds by saying that he is doing exactly that, as they head directly for the high school.
Upon reaching the campus, with the power ball in hand and now in closer proximity to the Sorcerer's prison, possessed Plop Plop transforms into a sumo monster and destroys the car from the inside, leaving to enter the building. Randy does the same and transforms to stop Plop Plop. He briefly tries to reason with him, but it fails, and he attacks with an Airfist, but it bounces off his belly and strikes the school's main entrance, destroying it. Plop Plop enters inside and makes his way towards the Eye of Eternities, but the Ninja intervenes. The fight seems to end in Sumo Plop Plop's favor, but the Ninja continues to get through to Plop Plop, with "duty" being the key word to temporarily snap Plop Plop back to his senses. He fights for control, but the Sorcerer's power is proven to be too strong. The Ninja tries to think of a plan to get Plop Plop somewhere far away from the Sorcerer and safe from corruption, but with the seal broken, there are not many opinions, until the Nomicon begins buzzing and flashing at that moment, with doodles pointing at Plop Plop and then towards the Nomicon
The Ninja then opens the pages of the ancient book and directs it towards the monster. A bright flash of golden light emerges from the book, showering the Sumo Plop Plop, as the Sorcerer loses control and Plop Plop reverts back to normal. He then floats like a spirit above the Nomicon as Howard joins the Ninja. Plop Plop thanks the Ninja, but Randy states that if it hadn't been for him, Plop Plop would still be safe in the temple. However, the 800-year-old guardian cheerfully responds that if that had been the case, then he would never have got to see a movie or eaten modern food. He joyfully exclaims that he had the best day in centuries and reminds them that they can always visit him inside the Nomicon. As he fully enters inside the Nomicon, leaving his robes behind in the physical world, Randy momentarily opens the Nomicon, and both see Plop Plop happily reunited with First Ninja.
The Ninja then retrieves the power ball, now its newest guardian. Randy vows to learn from his mistake and do a better job at guarding the ball, though Howard doesn't show much enthusiasm. The episode ends with the scene shifting back to PJ McFlubbuster's, as Randy and Howard are made to wash dishes for their dine and dashing. However, as the scene continues, the washing station and building are revealed to be a live TV set, filmed in front of a live audience. The audience applauds the ending of the scene, and Randy and Howard both thank the audience as they exit the set, and the screen fades to black.
Characters[]
Main characters[]
Secondary characters[]
Series continuity[]
- The events of "Randy Cunningham: 13th Century Ninja" are referenced in this episode.
Trivia[]
- The title is a reference to the 1979 film Apocalypse Now.
- This is the second episode whose title references the film, the first being "Hip Hopocalypse Now".
- Plop Plop is revealed to be the guardian of the second Sorcerer's ball for 800 years.
- The Enchanted Temple, where Plop Plop resides in, has a striking resemblance to the temple in the Nomicon at the end of "Randy Cunningham: 13th Century Ninja".
- As well there are two creatures seen together on the floor of the temple and as a statue holding the chaos pearl in place, which are called Red cranes the are a symbol of longevity.
- The movie "Splatterday Fright Cleaver" is based on Saturday Night Fever.
- This episode reveals that the First Ninja is currently residing in the NinjaNomicon.
- Plop Plop joins him after the seal protecting him from the Sorcerer's influence is broken.
- It is also revealed in this episode that the Nomicon can save a person that is possessed by the power of the Chaos Pearls, but at the cost of sacrificing their physical form.
- In the end of the episode, Randy and Howard are breaking the fourth wall as a live TV set.
- Randy is seen chewing his right pinky finger while watching the slasher movie.
- Running Gag: Plop Plop being misguided by Randy and Howard.
Gallery
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