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In the Loop
RussellSurprisedToSeeHaroldAgain
Season 3, Episode 24
Production Information
Air DateFebruary 28, 2015
Written byStory: Julie McNailly Chaill & Tim Cahill and Mitchell Larson
Teleplay: Mitchell Larson
Supervising directorDallas Parker
Directed byJoel Dickie
Steven Garcia
Episode Guide
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Sue SyndromeIt's the Pet Fest! - Part 1

In the Loop is the twenty-fourth episode of the third season of Littlest Pet Shop and the seventy-sixth episode overall.

Overview[]

When an obnoxious groundhog named Harold arrives at the day camp, Russell cannot wait for the day to end, but is horrified to discover it never really does.

Summary[]

In a flashback, as Minka, Zoe, Pepper, Sunil, and Vinnie are playing around in the Littlest Pet Shop's day camp, Mrs. Twombly enters the room and introduces Russell to the other pets. Hiding behind Mrs. Twombly's ankles, he nervously emerges out and voices his concerns about the safety of the room. As the other pets crowd excitedly around Russell, Russell points out that hedgehogs are not rodents, falling on deaf ears. As soon as Mrs. Twombly leaves the room, Vinnie and Sunil zip on over, with Vinnie admiring Russell's "rodent fur," Zoe in awe of his "rodent nails," and Minka looking into his "giant beady rodent eyes," though Russell asks how eyes can be both beady and huge. With that aside, Pepper announces that Morning Mayhem would begin, and all of the other pets start dashing around full speed everywhere as Russell watches. Horrified, he asks them if someone could get hurt doing so, but Sunil reassures him that nothing will go wrong. Having relaxed a bit, Russell steps forward to join in on the fun, only to step on a loose floorboard, which springs back up to propel him up against a wall. The other pets run over to Russell as he collapses to the floor. When Pepper asks if he's okay, Russell vows, to the other pets, to never behave unsafely again.

In the present, an ice cream truck zooms past the Littlest Pet Shop as a little girl lets go of her balloon and runs after the truck, dragging her father with her. Minka, in the day camp, finishes her painting, but Russell comes over and criticizes her lack of safety because her paints are disorganized. Minka doesn't take it seriously, but Russell warns her that Vinnie may trip on her paints. Russell looks away to see Pepper throwing her comedy props all over her immediate area and runs over in concern. Pepper, seeing Russell has come over, shows him the live chicken she found in the prop chest. Russell, unimpressed, calls her props scattered on the floor a hazard for the entire room. As he walks away, Sunil shows his mysterious magical box to Russell, but Russell simply says that the box's corners are too pointy. Leaving Sunil staring at his box somewhat confused, Russell walks away, only to step on the loose floorboard again and slam up against the wall. Russell makes a personal reminder to fix it eventually when Blythe enters the room with a new guest for the day. He introduces himself as Harold Winston, though in identifying his own species, Harold pronounces "Rodentia" as "Rodentianata" and ignores Russell's attempts to correct him. Harold, however, does correctly identify Russell as a hedgehog, and Russell correctly identifies Harold as a groundhog.

As Blythe leaves the room, she says "Carpe diem," which Harold claims is German. Russell attempts to point out that it's Latin, but he gets brushed aside by Vinnie admiring Harold's "real rodent fur," Zoe in awe of his "real rodent nails," and Minka looking into his "real giant beady rodent eyes." Harold proudly takes it all in as Russell tells Minka, once again, that eyes can't be both beady and giant at the same time. Russell gets interrupted, however, by Harold proclaiming groundhogs being the most famous among "Rodentianata," but as Russell tries to say that rats are more famous, the other pets run past him to admire Harold some more.

Later, Zoe sings for the other pets, and when she finishes, Harold yells "Timber!" standing right next to Russell, startling him. When Russell tells him he thought a tree was falling, Harold is quick to tell Russell that yelling "Timber!" is a customary way to appreciate a singer's timbre. Before Russell can truly call out Harold, he sees the other pets yelling "Timber!," to Russell's bewilderment.

Harold then demonstrates the "underwater elephant step," which will supposedly improve Vinnie's dancing. Russell soon shows up and starts arguing with Harold that it isn't a real dance move, but Sunil pulls him aside, asking Russell why he's so rude to Harold. Harold, seeing this, tells Sunil and the others to forgive Russell as he means no offense but refers to Russell's claims as misguided. Russell reminds Harold that he claims tree frogs are made of wood, implying that Harold is the only misguided one, but as Russell walks off, he steps on the loose floorboard again, sending him flying into the armchair.

Russell retreats to the front room next to Blythe, banging his head against the counter. Russell frustratedly explains to Blythe that Harold constantly gets his facts wrong—and to prove that these people like Harold are insufferable, he can cite his sources. Russell also tells Blythe that he'd rather the day be done so he doesn't have to deal with Harold anymore, but Blythe warns him that he shouldn't desire to remove a day away because once it's gone, it's gone forever. Russell is fed up enough to want it anyway though.

He walks back into the day camp, where Minka is painting and overhears Harold talking about how artists used to prop their canvases on weasels and how magicians used to pull hats out of rabbits. When he sees Penny Ling chewing on a stick of bamboo and says that the best bamboo comes from Indiana, Russell gets fed up and exclaims that he actually means "India," not "Indiana." Pepper, concerned about Russell, tells him to stay quiet if he can't say anything nice. To Russell's relief, he hears Blythe tell Harold that his owner's here and that it's time for him to go. Russell excitedly escorts Harold to the exit as Sunil talks about how much he'll miss Harold. Russell, however, happily says that he'll never have to see Harold again, when he steps on the loose floorboard again and slams into another wall.

Night becomes morning in Downtown City. An ice cream truck zooms past the Littlest Pet Shop as a little girl lets go of her balloon and runs after the truck, dragging her father with her. Russell walks by, in relief that he can live his life without Harold when Blythe comes in, gives the very same introduction to Harold, and Harold incorrectly identifies his species taxonomically again, to Russell's confusion and terror. Russell dumbfoundedly asks Harold what he's doing in the day camp, but Penny tells Russell he's acting rude and Vinnie says that Russell and Harold have never met before. Russell tells to everyone that he was just here the previous day, but Zoe simply says to Harold that Russell doesn't normally act so abrasively. Harold, unbothered, walks off with Zoe and tells her that the lesser hogs have little patience, and Russell takes offense at being called a "lesser hog."

Zoe demonstrates her singing, and when she finishes, Harold comes by and yells "Timber!" Russell tries in vain to tell the others they've already done all of this, but no one else knows what he's talking about. Russell sees everyone else shouting "Timber!" to Zoe, following Harold's lead anyway, ignoring Russell. Then, Harold teaches the underwater elephant step to Vinnie. Russell comes up and identifies it as such, and Harold is impressed that Russell is familiar with it. At this point, Russell is convinced there is some kind of prank being played on him, but it becomes clear from the other pets' annoyed expressions that they're not. Walking away to think, he steps on the loose floorboard and crashes into the tire swing.

Russell explains to Blythe that he thinks he's living the same day as before, but Blythe says that it sounds crazy. Russell responds that she's talking to a hedgehog, so Blythe decides to take Russell's word for it. Going with it all, Blythe tells Russell to treat this repeated day as a second chance to get to know Harold better and to try to get along with him. Russell has grown too annoyed at Harold to forgive him so easily though.

An ice cream truck zooms past the Littlest Pet Shop as a little girl lets go of her balloon and runs after the truck, dragging her father with her. Russell observes Zoe singing and the other pets yelling "Timber!" from a distance, as he does with Harold's dancing and Minka's painting. Not sure what's going on, he paces forward, only to step on the loose floorboard, sending him into the tree. Exasperated, he turns to Blythe, who suggests that it may be Russell's chance to fix things. Russell puts on a headband and takes out his clipboard and gets to work: He tightens the screws on the slide, lines up Minka's paint cans, puts all of Pepper's comedy props back in the chest, sands down the corners of Sunil's box, and fixes the loose floorboard. As he's finished, Blythe calls for Harold to leave, and Russell feels relieved that the day is over.

Night becomes morning in Downtown City. Russell looks out the window looking forward to the day, but after he leaves, the familiar ice cream truck and the red balloon pass by. Russell calmly and confidently makes conversation with Vinnie, but when he sees Blythe drop Harold off, Russell goes insane and loudly proclaims that Harold's not supposed to be here. Blythe asks Russell if he's okay and if she should call a vet, but Russell figures nothing matters anymore and lets go of all his inhibitions, venting his frustration by destroying everything in sight. Everyone genuinely concerned, Blythe goes over to call a vet to deal with Russell and Russell finds an outlet cover on the floor and threatens the other pets with it. Harold slowly walks over and attempts to negotiate, and though he successfully gets Russell to put the outlet cover down, Russell runs off elsewhere saying that he'll relive the day over and over no matter what. Harold says that he knew a hedgehog in Peru who behaved his he did, but Russell calls him out one more time, that hedgehogs are not native to the Americas. Harold asks about what Russell is doing in North America, which quiets Russell up. Harold tells the other pets to leave him alone for the time being.

An ice cream truck zooms past the Littlest Pet Shop as a little girl lets go of her balloon and runs after the truck, dragging her father with her. In the day camp, Russell watches, in bored annoyance, Zoe dancing and everyone shouting "Timber!" and applauding. As Zoe walks by, Russell asks to borrow her MP3 player so he can listen to her music. The following (repeated) day, Russell asks to borrow Zoe's music again. He continues to spend repeated days listening to Zoe's music until he learns to sing and dance "Dance Like You Know You Can" by heart. Once mastered, he beckons Zoe to come perform as a duet, and they get joyous applause and shouts of "Timber!" from the other pets, including Harold. An elated Zoe gives Russell her compliments, and Russell explains that he has learned why Zoe likes singing so much and has gained a new appreciation for it.

An ice cream truck zooms past the Littlest Pet Shop as a little girl lets go of her balloon and runs after the truck, dragging her father with her. Russell delightedly watches Vinnie dance, and after an unspecified number of tries, is able to accompany Vinnie in a synchronized number. Russell moves on to Pepper next, working with her until he can fluidly partner with her for two-person gags. Russell goes climbing with Minka, snacking and chatting with Penny, and pulling himself out of Sunil's hat, complete with a Sunil-like mistake.

Russell goes over to Blythe and contentedly says that reliving his day through numerous iterations has allowed him to understand and appreciate the other pets more. Though Blythe asks if Russell is feeling okay, Russell reassures her that he's never felt better. Blythe acknowledges Russell is stuck in a time loop, or plays along, and wonders about the key to escaping the time loop. Before she can say what it is, Russell cuts her off and says that it's probably to get along with Harold. Blythe asks Russell how he know she'd say that, and Russell answers that it's because he heard her say it before, and this time, he'll give her advice a try.

An ice cream truck zooms past the Littlest Pet Shop as a little girl lets go of her balloon and runs after the truck, dragging her father with her. As Harold gets dropped off, Russell steps up to greet him directly. This time, Russell ignores Harold's "Rodentianata" remark and finds out that Harold was going to compliment Russell afterwards, calling him "marvelous." Sunil and Vinnie escort Harold away when Russell chases after the three of them, grabbing Harold's foot and making him collapse. Zoe and Sunil call Russell out for potentially hurting Harold, but Russell shows and inadvertently demonstrates that Harold was about to step on the loose floorboard, and Russell goes flying, crashing into the plastic tank. The other pets gather around Russell, but he tells them he's fine. As Harold helps Russell get up, Harold talks about how most pet shop injuries are preventable, which Russell confirms. Harold, however, admits that he sometimes gets factoids wrong as he reads so many of them. Russell compliments Harold on his concern for safety, to which Harold lets Russell know that loose floorboards particularly annoy him. To that end, the two of them hammer down the floorboard together until Russell can step on it without it moving.

Russell and Harold discuss factoids, with Russell, though still skeptical, far more civil and polite than before. Their conversation is interrupted, however, by Blythe announcing that Harold has to go home. Russell says goodbye expecting to see him again tomorrow, but Blythe informs Russell that Harold is only there for the day. Russell walks away, not entirely convinced.

In front of the Littlest Pet Shop, there is no ice cream truck, little girl, her father, or a red balloon. Russell asks the other pets if anyone has seen Harold, but they reply back that Harold was only there for the previous day. Russell realizes, from those statements, that the time loop is over and he is experiencing the following day, though he laments that he'll miss Harold, despite Harold getting his facts wrong.

Russell heads to Blythe to speak with her about how he's sad to see yesterday gone, as he learned so much about all of his friends. He also vows to not get frustrated with any day camper again. Blythe is glad to hear it, as she lets Russell know about this day's guest: A parakeet named Crash Dangerfeather, who's been banned from at least three other locations for her recklessness. Russell soon regrets what he says when Blythe walks off, requesting Russell to show this new guest around.

Release[]

This episode became available to purchase by iTunes on February 23, 2015 5 days before its television air date.

Cast[]

Singers:

Trivia[]

  • This episode is a parody of Groundhog Day.
  • During the flashback, it is revealed that Russell was the sixth pet to join the pet shop. However, this is a continuity error since in Frenemies it was revealed that Zoe was the sixth pet to join the pet shop.
  • Penny Ling is absent in the flashback since she was the concluding pet to join the pet shop pets while still in her adult years, which is also in Frenemies.
  • The music the ice cream truck plays at the beginning of each time loop is The Entertainer by Scott Joplin.
  • Russell being catapulted by a loose floor board serves as a running gag.
  • Blythe's line "Carpe diem" is well known in Dead Poets Society.

Continuity[]

Errors[]

Coming soon!

Quotes[]

Main article: In the Loop/Transcript
Blythe: Russell, do you want me to call the vet?
Russell: Call the vet? Why? You'll just have to call them again tomorrow!
"The finest bamboo is from Indiana."
Harold
"Adding an underwater elephant step is sure to improve your timing."
—Harold

Gallery[]

Young Pets and Young Russell

Click here to go on In the Loop image gallery

References[]

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Littlest Pet Shop Episodes, Films, and Animated Shorts
Season 1
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Season 2
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Episode 8
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