MSB S4E04: Goes on Air

I'm going on air! I'm reviewing this episode with air pressure in a glass jar, and we're seeing a little absurd moment. It just might be a jarring experience. Blog, do your stuff!

43. Goes on Air.
Topic: Air.
Written by: Brain Meehl, George Arthur Bloom and Jocelyn Stevenson.

Aired: 26 October 1997.

For the Walkerville space capsule, Ms. Frizzle's class has to put in something on air. Keesha brings an "empty" pickle jar though, as she explains, "It's not empty; it's filled with air." The rest of the class believes this is extremely pathetic and Ms. Frizzle "accidentally" gets the entire class stuck inside the pickle jar. Conveniently, they have to use air to get out of the jar in time for the space capsule's liftoff. 

This here is the Walkerville Space Capsule. It's going to wait for schools to talk about some things.

For the Frizzle science class, Keesha's brought an empty pickle jar. But she says there is something inside. Air.

One class is explaining how water flows down the mountains.

This is something Arnold would love. An explanation of how rocks are formed. And we all know how much Arnold Perlstein loves rocks.

"We're stuck with air, and that's not fair! Hey! We can write a poem!"

"Carlos!"

They could've taken Carlos' idea sooner. 

Even if it's not launch time, Ms. Frizzle decided to give Arnold a bag of Sea Weedies. Foreshadowing much?

"I don't know, Arnold. Maybe I should've stayed home today."

"You too?"

Would've been funny if Keesha did stay home. But then the space capsule would have nothing from the Frizzle class! 

"Talk about a jarring experience!"

"Carlos!"

This is a jarring experience, Carlos. 

This woman doesn't realise the class is inside the pickle jar, so she's closing the lid.

There's something useful, yet weird. Pink extraordinair.

Funny how Arnold used Ms. Frizzle's catchphrase about taking chances, making mistakes, see what Extraordinair can do.

 This is something useful. A giant rubber glove to trap the extraordinair.

This is the absurd and weird moment I've been wanting to cover ever since I took reviewing this series into account. When Ralphie suggested using Dorothy Ann's favourite rubber hairbands to seal the glove, Dorothy Ann took them out, and, very strangely, her ponytails stayed in place. And even Arnold pointed it out.

Here's what happens to extraordinair if there's too little room. It turns red.

"Nothing like being a roll model, right Liz?"

Yep, it's funny because they're rolling up the glove's fingers. 

This is a great idea! Phoebe and Wanda jump on the glove and Keesha bounces in the air!

Who would've thought Keesha could do a brill somersault?

But unfortunately, it didn't work.

Here's another useful idea. Pump the extraordinair!

I'm afraid the air pressure is too much!

Now the jar is open, even scaring a cat!

It's funny how Keesha took Arnold's idea seriously, but Arnold said he was joking.

 Funny how Ms. Frizzle liked Ralphie's question. But Arnold suggested the idea.

The cat is confused. First everyone in the jar was so tiny you could barely see them, now they're big again!

The pod returning to normal size really scared this blue jay flying by!

And this is great teamwork between Keesha and Ralphie!

It's the cork popper and the poem they're sending to space.

Now Liz is attaching the bottle to the Producer's chair.


I've noticed that this episode made a reference to Star Wars. "May the air pressure be with you."

This episode has a pretty weird moment apart from pink air which can turn into red air. It's Dorothy Ann's hair that's weird. Even when she takes out her hairbands, her ponytails stay in place. I'm surprised the caller didn't question that in the Producer Segment.

Could the teamwork between Ralphie and Keesha in this be another reason most people who grew up with this ship them? I've said it before and I'll say it again, I'm one of the many Ralphie/Keesha shippers.

But even so, it was an interesting way to learn about air. And it was all Keesha's idea, Carlos' idea, Ralphie's idea and Arnold's idea. And it was brill teamwork that Keesha and Ralphie had, delivering the poem and the cork popper. And remember folks. Air today, gone tomorrow. And may the air pressure be with you.

My rating: 9/10.

Season 4 scorecard:

1. Meets Molly Cule: 9/10.

2. Cracks a Yolk: 10/10.

3. Goes to Mussel Beach: 9/10.

4. Goes on Air: 9/10.

Season 4 so far: 9.2/10.

MSB S4E03: Goes to Mussel Beach

Let's go back to a regular muscle beach! This time, most of the class become mussels, and learn about the tides. Blog, do your stuff!

42. Goes to Mussel Beach.
Topic: Tidal Zones.
Written by: John May, George Arthur Bloom, Jocelyn Stevenson.
Aired: 19 October 1997.

The class has gone to the beach, but Ralphie insists on keeping the class in one spot, which the rest of the class think is the most rotten spot on the beach, being crowded with other people. Ralphie, however, insists that this is where they want to be. Ms. Frizzle hears that "Uncle Shelby" needs a special spot saved. Eager to get away from Ralphie's spot, the rest of the class agrees. However, they find the inhabitant of this spot is not a human; it is a mussel. They decide the middle tide zone is too crowded so they decide to find a spot. However, they find worse problems in the low tide zone and the high tide zone, so they eventually come back. When they get back to Ralphie, they try to apply what they have learned to convince him to change spots, but they discover that he did have his reasons for picking the spot-–the ice cream truck stops there!

Get a load of these kids in their beachwear. Especially Arnold, Carlos and Tim with bare torsos, Wanda and Phoebe wearing 2 piece bikinis, Keesha and Dorothy Ann wearing 1 piece bikinis, only Dorothy Ann wearing a skirt with hers. 

Yet Ralphie isn't relaxing with them. He claims the spot neat the bins is the perfect spot. 

"And how come nobody's here but us? Uh, scratch that!"

Ironic twist. Dorothy Ann immediately assumed she and the whole class were the only ones there, and many other people come to the beach. 

Look at Ms. Frizzle! She's hanging 10! 

Trash City?! More like Recycling City. 

And the Friz got a message in a bottle! 

And Tim is giving a good demonstration about the tide. 

This message is something from Ms. Frizzle's friend Mert. 

Wanda's even begging for Ms. Frizzle to take her and the whole class on the field trip. 

Ms. Frizzle has got a shellular phone! 

Come on! Ride on The Magic Bathtub Bus! 

This is Mert's Place. And there are a lot of mussels and barnacles around. 

Ralphie didn't agree to go with them. He's just staying where he and Liz are staying. 

And this owl limpet is knocking the class out of that spot! 

Might I say, these kids look funny as mussels. 

The low tide isn't a good place for mussels. Starfish are eating the mussels! 

The high tide isn't a good place for mussels either, as Wanda learned the hard way. Seagulls eat mussels. 

These boys digging are giving Ralphie a hard time in his spot. 

"This is still the best place!"

Liz doesn't agree. She just disapproves of Ralphie's spot. 

The tide has lowered and there are mussels everywhere! 

I'm afraid crabs can't whistle. 

That's the way! The Magic Owl Limpet Bus to remove the unnecessary mussels! 

This is how mussels eat. With siphons 

"It's a good thing Ms. Frizzle has her shellular phone!"
"Carlos!"

Another one of Carlos' puns. 

This is Doctor Shelby. He's sending a mussel back to the water. 

This is Mert. He's actually a mussel. 

 

It's a good thing Ralphie got so many umbrellas.

Good thing Liz has a mask to protect her from a Frisbee. 

This is why Ralphie said this is the best spot. Ice cream! 

Ralphie did get the right spot. And they're having ice cream together. 

This net, log, chain and bottle are too much for Liz to handle. 

Time for the Producer and Liz to go home.


It's interesting to see how stressful it was for Ralphie to keep the spot he kept. The ending revealed why he kept the spot.

The kids looked funny as mussels. And I'm amazed Dorothy Ann was still able to read her book, even as a mussel


This was still an interesting way to learn about how mussels live, how they eat and how they stick themselves where they go. And Ralphie's parts were pretty funny yet frustrating due to him doing his best to keep the spot he and Liz were in. Still an interesting way to learn about tides and mussels. And it was a bit scary when Wanda almost got eaten by a seagull.

My rating: 9/10.

Season 4 scorecard:

1. Meets Molly Cule: 9/10.

2. Cracks a Yolk: 10/10.

3. Goes to Mussel Beach: 9/10.

Season 4 so far: 9.3/10.