"Stealing Grandpa's Thunder" is a Season 8 episode from the Smurfs cartoon show.
Characters[]
- Grandpa Smurf
- Nanny Smurf
- Wild Smurf
- The Stalker
- Smoogle
- Sassette Smurfling
- Snappy Smurfling
- The Stalker's Falcon
- Animals
- Nat Smurfling (Does not speak)
- Slouchy Smurfling (Does not speak)
- Unnamed Smurfs
Synopsis[]
Grandpa Smurf fears Nanny will take his place as storyteller with her better memory. Meanwhile, Wild tries to save the animals from the Stalker, but Stalker captures him and Grandpa.
Plot Summary[]
On a normal day in the village, the Smurfs are listening to another one of Grandpa Smurf 's stories. He talks about the time Nanny was captured by the long-haired Gabbolonions. She was held captive, high on the top, but the rest of the story is interrupted by Nanny herself, who says that the Gabbolonions were bald and lived in a valley, trying to jog his memory. Grandpa continues to tell the story, starting from a blue handkerchief, but gets into another argument with Nanny on if it was a red handkerchief or a blue one. Nanny unveils it, revealing it as blue. Sassette asks Grandpa what happens next, but Grandpa's memory is foggy from this point on and says that there must've been a thousand Gabbolonions until Nanny says there were only a few. The line is drawn when he believes that the creatures were big, but Nanny corrects him again. Grandpa has had enough and says if Nanny knows so much, then she should tell the story and walks away. Nanny simply says that she was just trying to help and says he was doing a fantastic job. Grandpa Smurf leaves the village while Smoogle follows him. Nanny then tells the real story after asking if anyone wants to. She starts narrating, but Snappy gets bored.
In the forest, Wild enjoys testing the forest traps and dancing around them. However, he hears the Stalker from behind and immediately runs away. When the Stalker walks to see what he has caught today but sees that the traps are empty. Meanwhile, Wild sees two mice trapped and frees them. Then, he comes across the Stalker and sees a Smurf, remembering the time he met them and ended up running away. He attempts to catch him, but Wild runs away and captures the Stalker's crow with one of the Stalker's traps. He continues running as the Stalker trips over his crow's cage, allowing Wild to escape.
At another side of the forest, Grandpa continues his story with Smoogle listening, but Grandpa's memory continues to fail and he starts crying. Smoogle repeats his cries. Grandpa is happy to see that someone respects his stories, even if it's only Smoogle. Grandpa continues telling his stories as Smoogle imitates details of the story, including fanfares and a horse skipping. However, Smoogle unveils one of the Stalker's traps, though they don't get caught and analyze it was the work of a Stalker.
Wild continues to swing on vines and enjoy life in the forest. However, he hears another animal trapped in a cage. When he releases the animal, however, he traps Wild with another cage, revealing himself to be the stalker.
Back in the village, Nanny still tells the story of the Gabbolonions, but the Smurfs are actively bored, with Sassette and Snappy wanting Grandpa back.
Grandpa realizes his memory wasn't as good as it used to be, believing that a shortcut back to the village is where he thought it was. Just then, he hears Wild's cries for help. Grandpa and Smoogle go to the sound of it and see that he has been caught by the Stalker as the latter tries to shut Wild up so he wouldn't drive away any of the animals. Grandpa tells Smoogle to not say a word and stay out so he can think of a plan. The Stalker dreams of getting more Smurfs if he's quiet enough. Wild cheers for Grandpa, but as Grandpa tries to think about how he can get him out of the cage, but Grandpa himself gets caught by a trap. The Stalker cackles, seeing his latest capture "dropping by".
Back in the village again, Nanny finishes the story about the Gabbolonions, but none of the Smurfs are awake to hear it, as her story was too boring. She wakes up Snappy, who lies when saying the story was good. Just then, Smoogle comes back and tells Nanny that Wild and Grandpa are trapped by the Stalker. Nanny goes with Smoogle back into the forest.
Wild and Grandpa are now in the same cell, with the Stalker's crow not letting them out of its sight. Grandpa assures Wild that Smoogle will get Nanny to save them. The Stalker sees this as "the more Smurfs, the merrier" and has set traps all around his territory. As he leaves, Wild is worried while Grandpa hopes that Nanny's memory is better than his as he throws the red handkerchief tied to his walking stick as far as he can to signal where they are.
Smoogle and Nanny are still looking for Grandpa and Wild, with Smoogle being Nanny's navigator. Just then, they come across the handkerchief with the walking stick, with Nanny believing this will be easy.
While the Stalker's crow eats its dinner, the Stalker tells it not to fill up to make room for one of the two Smurfs. However, just then, the Stalker hears the cry of Nanny and run to it. When he sees Nanny caught, he runs to take her, but ends up caught himself! Nanny laughs at him, but while the Stalker is in denial, Smoogle reveals himself to be the sound maker of the trap sound, while also revealing himself to be Nanny's "captive". The Stalker is mad at this while Nanny and Smoogle release Grandpa and Wild.
However, the four aren't safe yet, as the crow captures Smoogle and Wild runs after him. He swings from a vine and hits the crow with his feet, causing him to control it until it hits a tree and falls. With the four officially safe, Nanny says it reminds her of the time where he saved her from the Gabbolonions. Grandpa, for once, says he's glad for Nanny's good memory.
At night, Sassette asks about the story of Nanny rescuing him. Grandpa starts the story, but Nanny ends up correcting him. However, Nanny decides to let Grandpa tell the story, saying that she's always liked his story better. Grandpa begins to tell the story again. Nanny then tells Smoogle that it really is all in the way you tell the story, a thought shared by Smoogle.
Trivia[]
- The Stalker remembers meeting the Smurfs, referencing "The Smurfstalker".
- The title is a parody of the saying "stealing one's thunder", when someone uses your ideas or inventions to his or her own advantage.
- This is the only episode where Grandpa's stories are shown to be factually inaccurate.
- In airing order, this is the final episode of Season 8 and the final episode to feature Nat and Slouchy due to them not going back in time with Sassette, Snappy, and the other Smurfs in Season 9.
- This is also the final appearance of the Stalker.
- This is also the last episode of the series to use digital ink-and-paint animation.
- This is the only episode in the series where all of the five main Smurf characters (Papa Smurf, Smurfette, Brainy, Hefty, and Clumsy) don't appear.
Videos[]
