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Shell Game

"Shell Game" is the twelfth episode of Season 2 of the CGI TV series, The Smurfs.

Characters

Synopsis

Gargamel changes into a snail so that Farmer leads him to the Smurf Village. But, once there, Gargamel can't get back to his normal appearance! Condemned to remain a snail, he becomes Dimwitty's pet.

Summary

Gargamel cackles in the Smurf Forest, telling Azrael he is a genius. He demonstrates to him a potion that will transform him into a snail, something that does not catch the cat's interest. Gargamel reminds him of the last time they came across Farmer Smurf, who he calls a "country bumpkin". In the flashback, Farmer lets his snails eat some grass from the grass patch when Gargamel and Azrael come out the bushes. When they get out, they slip on some slime and hit a tree while Farmer and his snails leave in confusion. After the flashback, Gargamel reveals he will turn into a snail during the clearing so Farmer can take him to the village. Then, he will snap his fingers and turn back into Gargamel. Azrael tries to warn him the downsides, but he is already drinking it and he transforms into a snail.

Gargamel in Drool

Azrael is disgusted at his look while Gargamel is ecstatic. Just then, they hear Farmer and the Gargamel snail shoos Azrael away. Farmer comes by with his snails so they can feast on the delicious grass. He sees the Gargamel snail and believes they got a new friend. When he sees him up close, however, he sees that he is pretty ugly. Farmer then claims the snail is lucky that he found him so he could take him back to the village. The Gargamel snail is ready and laughs evilly.

Angry gargamel snail

In the village, Farmer informs his snails about their new friend and goes to get some snacks. As he leaves, Marilyn, one of the female snails, flirts with him, much to Gargamel's worriment and annoyance. He is ready to turn back and says "PRESTO", but it doesn't work. He tries again... only to remember he had to snap his fingers and realizes snails don't have fingers! He screams at this as snails crowd on him. He escapes and falls into their food bowl. He thinks of the idea to steal some ingredients in Papa Smurf's lab to make an antidote. He opens the pen with his face and struggles to cope with being a snail, which involves moving slowly.

The Gargamel snail struggles all the way throughout the village, almost experiencing freedom - but Dimwitty suddenly greets him and walks around him. He believes he is a frog and puts him onto his cart. He passes by Farmer, who tells him he has to prep him for the snail race happening tomorrow.

Dimwitty is in his house with the Gargamel snail. He calls him a "beautiful frog" and names him Fluffy. The Gargamel snail comments on this name, but Dimwitty overhears him, but he starts speaking gibberish, which he buys. Dimwitty decides to give the snail a massage. This massage, however, contains stretching out his neck and rubbing his head. The Gargamel snail notices Papa Smurf's lab, which is near his house. He tries to get out of the house via the window, but Dimwitty takes him back. He feeds him some leaves, saying he needs to get ready for the big race.

Farmer hosts the snail race, a competition where snails go as fast as they can to win. While Storm and Hefty who have Escar Go and Gliding Biceps, respectively, a new challenger is revealed: Dimwitty. Various Smurfs make fun of his ugly-looking snail. While they are being announced, Farmer feeds the snails something inside of Jokey's box (which is the potion from "The Round Up"). He announces the start, and the snails go faster. The Gargamel snail goes much faster, however, and is about to go into Papa Smurf's lab. His plans are suddenly changed by both Hefty and Storm, who comment on his snail. Storm calls the snail "old", which ticks him off. He revs up and knocks the two other Smurfs away. He ultimately wins and the Smurfs are quite surprised. Gargamel is happy he actually won while Dimwitty hugs him.

At night, Dimwitty loves his trophy and kisses it and the Gargamel snail. He goes to sleep as the Gargamel snail wakes up. He gets out of Dimwitty's house via the window once more but finds himself even slower than before since the potion wore off. He spends the entire night going from Dimwitty's house to near Papa Smurf's lab and it is the early morning. He is about to get in, but Dimwitty finds him, and he is dragged back to his house. Just then, he screams to let him go, revealing that he can talk. Dimwitty instead asks him various questions and continues to take him back in.

In the house, Dimwitty gives him some food while the Gargamel snail asks for magic sarsaparilla. Dimwitty says he doesn't have that and wonders how he can talk in the first place. The Gargamel snail almost says he is a sorcerer, but instead says he is a magic snail. Dimwitty begins talking about how Papa Smurf knows lots of magic. The snail asks him if they could go in there, but Dimwitty says they can't go inside. The Gargamel snail is irritated and resorts to hypnosis. He moves his antennae together and Dimwitty is successfully hypnotized.

The Gargamel snail orders Dimwitty to go to Papa Smurf's lab, where the village leader hears the door banging. He opens to Dimwitty - and the Gargamel snail, who head tackles Papa Smurf as Dimwitty goes into the lab and ties him up.

Papa Smurf is tied up while the Gargamel snail tells Dimwitty what to do, which fails, and he head tackles Dimwitty and does the potion instead. The tied-up Papa Smurf heads to the window, where two Smurfs outside see and imitate him, believing it is a game. Brainy comes by and wonders what is going on. The two Smurfs say they are playing with Papa Smurf. Brainy tries to open the door, but with no success and rightfully believes he is in danger. As the Gargamel snail has Dimwitty almost pour it in his mouth, Brainy, Farmer, and the two Smurfs break the door open. However, Dimwitty pours a drop on the Gargamel snail, about to become the real Gargamel, but it turns out he is the same since Dimwitty had accidentally used the green potion instead of the red one. The Gargamel snail ends up floating.

In the forest, Dimwitty, Papa Smurf, Brainy, and Farmer are here as Dimwitty bids farewell to the Gargamel snail, who yells he'll be back.

Trivia

  • The episode's title alludes to the gambling game.
  • This episode uses many elements from "The Round Up":
    • The snails used in this episode are the same snails (Escar Go and Gliding Biceps) that were used from that episode. However, the Gargamel pet replaces Nibbles, who was Chef's pet, while Chef does not appear in this episode.
    • Farmer uses the magic potion from Jokey's box. Prior to this episode, Farmer said he should use the snail potion a little more often.
    • Storm and Hefty are part of the snail race once again.
  • When the snails first take off, Jokey and Smurfette have the same reaction as they did in "The Round Up".
  • Hefty's scream when he is knocked away is similar to Chef's voice.