The Purple Panther
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Premise
Sportacus is challenged by a new robot superhero, Roboticus, and needs to use all of his strength and SportsCandy to defeat him. Will Sportacus, with the help of the kids, be able to keep his place as LazyTown’s number one superhero?
Plot synopsis
Prologue
Sportacus is admiring the beautiful day and looking through his telescope when he is challenged by the airship computer (voiced by Brynhildur Guðmundsdóttir) to run over all five walls in the center of LazyTown within 15 seconds. He completes the challenge in a new record, 14 seconds while still adding a few other stunts (He throws his disc to cut an apple off the tree, and bats the apple over the walls, then chases and catches it). The record time registers on his wrist computer and then he says "SportsCandy works every time" before biting into his apple.
Main episode
The kids are trying to clean up the play ground area because Stingy won't play there unless the Sports field is squeaky clean. Ziggy has been roped in to push Stingy up and down on the SeeSaw. Stephanie shows up and asks them why they are cleaning the sports field. Trixie answers that Stingy doesn't want to get his clothes dirty. Robbie down in his lair (eating an ice cream cone) overhears the kids talking and cleaning and then says "I'll give them something to clean." He fires his trash out of his cannon and up to the surface.
Mini Save
Sportacus has to save Ziggy from Robbie's trash Can when it lands on the SeeSaw and flips Ziggy into the trash can causing him to roll through the town. Sportacus does this by shooting a cable out of his wrist band and pulling a ball to himself that he uses to line up the deck chair into the path of the trash can. He also drops the end of the deck chair using a racket and ball so that the trash can rolls up the tree and he can catch it with his hands. Robbie is very upset over this save. Pixel states that Sportacus is almost as fast and as strong as a robot.
Rotten Plan
When Robbie hears what Pixel says he comes up with the idea of using a Robot to defeat Sportacus. A robot would be stronger and faster than Sportacus. He looks in his telephone directory and finds a Robot Supply company. No sooner has he hung up the phone than the Robot arrives in a huge Cargo Case falling from the ceiling. It comes with a remote control (in another little box). Robbie tests the robot and it is clear that it is very strong and capable. Robbie thinks he can now get rid of Sportacus Forever.... (Echo). While Ziggy is rehearsing how Sportacus saved him, he falls into the trash can again. Robbie sends the robot after Ziggy to save him this time. Robbie arranges a few other mishaps and the robot saves a person every time. The kids are amazed at the robot. Robbie tries to get the mayor to banish Sportacus by quoting a rule that there can only be one Super Hero in LazyTown (I wonder why he didn't use that rule in Sportafake?). Sportacus voluntarily leaves to go and try to become faster and stronger. The children are very upset by this but the Mayor encourages them to play some games. Robbie uses the robot to destroy the children's equipment and prevent them from playing. Stephanie and the Mayor figure out that to get rid of the robot, they will have to challenge him to a race. They all begin working out and exercising to beat the robot. The song is "Never say Never." The race begins and Roboticus soons takes the lead, but Robbie uses him to set several traps on the way. The Mayor also figures out that Sportacus can compete in the race as he is just a normal LazyTowner now. Robbie says he will tell Sportacus. But instead he also sets a trap for Sportacus. Stephanie gives Ziggy some SportsCandy and this enables Ziggy to climb the large wall. Robbie tells Sportacus about the race and he runs off to join the team, but is caught in Robbie's trap. Robbie parks his bulldozer on top of the hole where Sportacus is, but Sportacus is able to escape anyway. He takes the baton from Stephanie and races to the finish. On the way he frees the other trapped children. He makes it to the finish line ahead of Roboticus while Roboticus runs into a post and malfunctions. Robbie is exposed when he tries to get the robot working again. Roboticus chases after Robbie and Robbie runs away. Stephanie sings the Bing Bang Song.
Epilogue
Robbie returns to his lair to hide from the robot, but the robot appears right behind him. Robbie runs into the packing case for the robot and it closes on top of him. Roboticus sits down on top of the closed case with Robbie inside and says in his robot voice "Someone's in trouble!"
Trivia
- The role of Stephanie is now played by new comer, Chloe Lang. She was just 11 years old when starting filming.
- Magnús Scheving, the actor who plays Sportacus, was 49 years old when filming this season. This is his last season playing the character.
- LazyTown Entertainment was acquired by Turner Broadcasting in 2011 and more money has been allocated to each episode.
- Once again, production quality has been increased. Props are larger and colours seem bolder and stronger. See also Colour Themes.
- Each season will only feature 13 episodes.
- This season features a much more diminished opening credits sequence cut down from the original series but featuring shots of the new Stephanie.
- The airship computer with the female voice (voiced by Brynhildur Guðmundsdóttir) plays a more expanded role in this season.
- Sportacus' outfit has been upgraded with several new features including his wrist computer and his foldaway backpack containing a new speedy hang glider vehicle (seen later in this episode).
- The songs used in Season 3 now all feature a mid-song work-out and teaching session lead by Stephanie, this was not a popular move and will apparently be dropped for Season Four.
- Robbie's names for Sportacus: "Sportaloon", "Sportaflop"
- Unused Disguises: in the background of Robbie's lair we see a clown suit, a purple shirted outfit (might be from Dancing Dreams), Miss Roberta's outfit, and what could be the Scout Master outfit from the future episode Scavenger Hunt (unclear).
- When Robbie sees how strong the robot is he says it is "6000 times stronger" than Sportacus. The number 6000 is used repeatedly in the model numbers for many of the devices in the show.
- The robot's outfit is clearly designed after Sportacus (even has a 10 on the emblem) but in the signature purple colour of Robbie's outfit. His name is also patterned after "Robbie".
- The LazyTown rule book makes an appearance in this episode.
- A new dimension has also been added to the Stephanie character in this season. She can put on her Super Hero goggles and do some amazing stuff. This is probably an off shoot of the "New SuperHero" episode in Season One.
