The Twelve Episode Series
Episodes 5 to 8
Reviewed by: Stoney Ripley and Terry Angus
(Production Creators and Performers)
Blizzard Island Episode Page episodes 5 to 8
Episode Five: The Secret Of The Siren's Song
written by: Carol Bolt
Directed by: George Bloomfield
Original Air Date: January 8, 1989
Sir Python and Molcaster devise an elaborate plan to lure our heroes into their lair by setting out fake Argon foot prints using an old bedroom slipper of Argon's that they found. Wayne is the only one that falls for the snake's plan and is captured. Now with Wayne as Sir Python and Molcaster's prisoner they have but to wait for Tracey and Rog to come to rescue him and trap them as well and steal the necklace of Argon. However, with the help of some exotic instruments sent to Tracey and Wayne from their Father, our heroes charm their way out of danger.
Stoney Ripley:
This episode has some nice moments like a drunk Sidney the Witch who has had too much frog bile and my favorite moment when Sidney and Eggbert appear disguised as a Gypsy and her Crystal ball. One blooper to mention is when Sir Python is smashing Molcaster's hat against the tree and ruffling up the cat's clothes, we can see the arm of assistant puppeteer Jamie Bradley working Python's tail for Terry.
Terry Angus:
Myself I liked this episode as Stoney said it has some nice moments. I also had fun with Sir Python on this show. The only problem I had with the episode was, ok, picture this. Sir Python captures Tracey and Rog with his coils wrapped around them. He's got them trapped. He tells them that he has Wayne captured in his lair and if they wanted to see Wayne again to bring the Necklace Of Argon..... Ok ,got that pictured? Why on earth didn't Sir Python just take the Necklace right then and there??? DUH!! I mean he has them tied up in his coils. It would have been easy to do. Other than that one thing I liked the episode. A funny thing about Sidney and Eggbert appearing as a Gypsy and her Crystal ball was that they put Uncle Eggbert in an upside down fish bowl. The idea is that Sidney's transportation spell always had her fall into the shot. So as they dropped the dummy of Sidney I'd usually be waiting to pop back up with the hand puppet. This time as both Stoney and I jumped up into the shot, Stoney accidentally hits me hard just above my eye with the fish bowl/crystal ball. I know we were running very late and had to do the scene very quickly so I did the lines as my eye brow throbbed in pain. That line is in the show. If you ever get to see this show listen to my line as you can tell I'm in pain.
Episode six: The Bellringers Of Argon
written by: Bruce McKenna
Directed by: George Bloomfield
Original Air Date: January 15, 1989
While exploring the caverns of Hollow, Hollow our heroes meet two strange creatures named Bang and Clang, the Bellringers of Argon who are joined by a single white beard. The two constantly argue with each other over everything and can't stand each other anymore. After Tracey separates the two by cutting their beard the Bellringers are eternally indebted to Tracey, Wayne and Rog which is more than the trio can handle.
Stoney Ripley:
To be perfectly honest I was not extremely fond of this episode when it first aired. However, some ten years later I have warmed up to it considerably. It was a very nice script written by Bruce McKenna and the show looks great because of the nice sets and miniatures used. What I remember most about shooting the Bellringers was doing the banging scenes. The special effects guy Paul Cormier, was fond of scaring the heck out of Terry and myself by putting in extra powder to set off loud charges behind us when we were not expecting it.
Terry Angus:
Aaaaaa yes! the explosions, how I remember them well. We had a blooper out of that which I wished they kept for a Blooper reel. In that explosion that Stoney talks about my character Clang jumps real high and says "What the H*** was that!!!!!" Lucky I kept an extra pair of pants around. Writer Bruce McKenna hated the voice I used for Clang saying that it sounded like Mortimer Snerd and he got the director to tell me not to do it. I very much disagreed with him. I didn't think it sounded anything like Mortimer Snerd. I was really trying to do Hanna Barbara's Wally Gator. I pretended to change it for the rehearsals and went back to doing Wally again for the keepers. It was the first and only time I got my own way by being sneaky. George: "Terry you're doing that voice again!" Terry: (sheepishly) "Oh Gee, sorry I didn't notice."
Episode seven: In The Heart Of The Heart Of The Stone
written by: Bp Nichol
Directed by: George Bloomfield
Original Air Date: January 22, 1989
After curing Molcaster of an itching problem (Thanks to the Witch) the healing Stone gives Tracey clues about Argon which lead her to the Witch's lighthouse to find talking stones. Tracey and Rog are able to get more information from the stones and escape before Sidney and her super power potion capture them.
Stoney Ripley:
For me this is the second best episode from the series. Ranking just behind "Dune Da-Dune, Dune". The Healing Stone is a great character and Terry had the perfect voice for it. I just love the scene where Tracey, Rog and Molcaster sneak into the Lighthouse while Sidney and Eggbert are sleeping. Probably the main reason I love this show is the talking stones that Terry, Tim and myself played. Writer Bp Nichol always got a kick out of my brothers names which are Rocky and Micah. So he incorporated all three of our names into the script which I thought was really cool.
Terry Angus:
First off Stoney I'd like to say thanks for the compliment. I remember that voice was hard to do but I loved it. The only thing I didn't like about this episode was that by this point I was worried about my Sir Python character. He was getting stupider and stupider with each new script. He was no longer the great out thinker that I had originally created him as and it bothered me that he just ran off on Molcaster after Sidney tells them that Molcaster drank itching potion and not the super power potion. In one of the early drafts of this script they had Sir Python going back to the lighthouse to get Sidney to cure Molcaster. The two get into a bit of a fight. Of course it would have meant that I would have to be doubling for that scene and they didn't want to pay me for doubling. It would have also taken longer to tape. The naming of the rocks was great though. I have to laugh every time people find out that the Ripley's named their sons with rock-like names. Now here's the funny part. Stoney's Father says they were not named after Rocks but after Western heroes on TV. Way to go, Burt!
Episode eight: The Night Of The Covered Sun
written by: George Bloomfield
Directed by: George Bloomfield
Original Air Date: January 29, 1989
During an eclipse Tracey, Wayne and Rog must get to the top of the highest mountain on Blizzard Island to find the Great Argon. Unfortunately, the eclipse affects everyone in strange ways including making Rog extremely love sick for a female Rogalonian and switching Sir Python and Molcaster's personalities.
Stoney Ripley:
I like this episode quite a lot in spite of the fact that the ending is pretty lame. Tim Gosley did a fine job doubling as Rogalena. Terry and I had a fun time with switching the personalities of Sir Python and Molcaster. This is only one of two episodes of the series to not feature Sidney and Eggbert, the other being "The Bellringers Of Argon". I think Sidney and Eggbert could have worked well in this show. Who knows how the eclipse would have effected them?
Terry Angus:
I feel basically the same way as Stoney on this episode. George did a wonderful job with this script making Sir Python and Molcaster very funny. I liked the little line that he put in that Python says to himself about Molcaster "Sometimes I feel so very alone!" Another piece that I liked was where Molcaster is almost giving himself away with giving a note to Rog by giving Python an O.K. sign. I then had Sir Python drop his head in a "This can't be happening" way. I loved this script but...as Stoney says the ending was bad and a cop out. We have Tracey Allen fooling Sir Python into believing that her hand covered with a leaf or two is a female snake that he falls for. "Snake of my dreams!" Sorry but he's not that stupid, but then again it could have been the eclipse.....Naw!!!!
