"Now, every morning when I wake, I can't get out of bed!"
Eager to cure his indecisive nature, Wembley seeks out Convincing John so he can manipulate Wembley into being decisive. Wembley—now calling himself Wilfred—becomes certain of his actions and decisions but becomes a pain as well, taking over his friends' jobs and putting himself in dangerous situations. When he knocks himself out after sneaking into Doc's workshop, his friends take him back to John, who returns Wembley to normal.This episode contains examples of:
- An Aesop: Be Yourself. After Wembley returns to normal...Mokey: Oh, Wembley, we love you just the way you are.
Wembley: [touched] Awww.
Gobo: Yeah, I really miss it when there's no one around wembling!
Wembley and Convincing John: [in unison] Do you really? That's great! [Beat] Or is it?
[Wembley's friends laugh for joy.] - Angry Animalistic Growl: Wembley, on seeing that Convincing John is a wembler, starts growling at him like a wild animal.
- Anything You Can Do, I Can Do Better: After becoming decisive, Wembley goes back to his friends, tells them he's calling himself Wilfred, and then announces he's switching beds with Gobo.Gobo: [aghast] But I... I like my bed! I don't...
Mokey: [taking his arm to restrain him] Uh, Gobo, Gobo... don't you think we should be supportive of Wembley's newfound strength?
Wembley: That old bed always gave me trouble. Now, Mokey, I've also decided I'll get the radishes from the Gorgs' garden from now on.
Mokey: What? But I...! [The others restrain her.]
Wembley: I don't want to be the siren for the Volunteer Fire Department anymore. I need fresh challenges. Oh, I have great ideas for a swim meet I'm going to organize...
[Red sputters in shock as the others restrain her.]
Wembley: ...and a new technique for handling all the laundry!
Boober: What? [The others restrain him as well.] - Berserk Button: Wemblers for Wembley after he becomes Wilfred. When he sees that Convincing John is a wembler, he looks ready to attack him, but his friends restrain him.
- Big "NO!": When Convincing John mentions "The Definite Challenge," the Fragglettes let out a big "OH, NO!"
- Big "SHUT UP!": At the end of "A Tiger and a Terror" (the second reprise of Convincing John's theme song):Wembley with the Fragglettes: [singing] Listen to Convincing John/And all your troubles will be go-o-one.../He's gonna tell it, spell it, sell it, just for you!/He's gonna tell it, spell it, sell it...
Wembley: THAT'S ENOUGH!!!
Lavender Fragglette: But... but, honey, there's still one verse left!
Orange Fragglette: That's right!
Convincing John: Yes, and it's the most convincing one, too!
Wembley: I'm the one who asked for this session of convincing, and I say that's enough. I've got things to be getting on with, and time's a-wasting! Woohoo-hoo! [Bustles off.]
Convincing John: Well, there goes one definite Fraggle!
Fragglettes: [in unison] Mmmm-hmmm! - Blatant Lies: The Fragglettes, when Wembley first arrives at Convincing John's cave, tell him that John is the model of definiteness. On Wembley's second visit, he sees that Convincing John is so indecisive, he needs the Fragglettes to make sure he actually gets up instead of wembling over which foot to put out of bed first.
- Bring It: Convincing John challenges Wembley to prove his decisiveness by taking "The Definite Challenge."Convincing John: Ha! Listen, Fraggle. You think you know your own mind?
Wembley: Yeah!
Convincing John: You think you'll never wemble again?
Wembley: Yeah!
Convincing John: Well, come on, Fraggle... take "The Definite Challenge"!
Wembley: Ha! Ha, ha! There's no doubt in my mind about anything! Come on, do your wembliest! - Can't Take Criticism: When his friends tell the now-decisive Wembley how dangerous his idea of going to Outer Space is, he just brushes off their remarks. In fact, he's ready to go straight back to Doc's workshop even after knocking himself out there.
- Clown School: Convincing John convinces a crowd of Fraggles—including Mokey, Red, and even Boober—to wear red noses and act like clowns.
- Continuity Nod:
- As noted in "The Preachification of Convincing John," Convincing John can convince anyone to do anything.
- After becoming decisive, Wembley tells his friends that he no longer wants to be the siren for the Volunteer Fire Department, a job he got in the episode "The Thirty-Minute Work Week."
- Crazy-Prepared: Convincing John. He just so happens to have everything needed to make Wembley normal again. Red and Gobo even lampshade it.Gobo: Where's this guy get all this stuff?
Red: I heard he was prepared for anything, but this is ridiculous! - Crisis Catch-and-Carry: When Wembley, after becoming decisive, sneaks into Doc's workshop, he falls into a hole Doc has made in the floor—in a fruitless attempt to fix the plumbing—knocking himself out. Gobo has to sneak in, pick him up and, with the help of his friends, carry him back through the Fraggle hole and down the tunnel. Mokey is particularly cross with Wembley for having put himself in such a dangerous situation.Mokey: [as the other Fraggles are carrying Wembley] Wembley, this was VERY self-destructive of you. Why, look at you! You are completely unconscious now. I mean, what if we had not been here to help, hmm?
- Deprogram: Convincing John returns Wembley to normal by having him take "The Definite Challenge."
- The Ditherer:
- Wembley, who can't even decide which side of bed to get out on.
- Convincing John is revealed to be this as well. He has two identical red-and-gold plaid suits and, like Wembley, has trouble deciding which one to wear.Convincing John: [sitting on the edge of his bed after a nap] I wonder which is my best foot to put forward? My left foot or my right?
- Dragged by the Collar: Wembley's friends drag him back to Convincing John to get unconvinced.
- The Dreaded: Zigzagged with Convincing John. In his first appearance, "The Preachification of Convincing John," he's treated as this because of his ability, and his eagerness, to convince anyone of anything. In this episode, most of the Fraggles seem to have gotten over their fear and actively encourage him to convince them of the most ludicrous things. Boober, however, is quick to remind Wembley of what a manipulative bastard John can be.Boober: Now, wait a minute, Wembley!
Wembley: What?
Boober: Convincing John is dangerous. He can talk anyone into anything.
Wembley: Then he's exactly the Fraggle I need: one who doesn't know the meaning of the word "wemble." [Laughs.] Wow! You know, Boober, my friends aren't safe unless I can become a brand-new me! - Easy Evangelism: Exaggerated. Early on, Convincing John convinces a crowd of Fraggles—including Mokey, Red, and even Boober—to wear red noses and act like clowns. In no time, even the Doozers are complimenting one another on their clown noses.Convincing John: Give a cheer, Convincing John is here!
[The Fraggles in the Great Hall cheer wildly.]
Mokey: [rapturously] To wear a clown's nose and actually believe in it!
Boober: Yuck.
Convincing John: Say yes to the nose!
All the other Fraggles: Yes to the nose! - "Everybody Laughs" Ending: After Wembley returns to normal, his friends all laugh for joy.
- Fainting: Wembley knocks himself out when he falls into the hole.
- Fluffy Fashion Feathers: The Fragglettes, while pushing John toward his clothes rack, are wearing feather boas with their nightgowns.
- Forgot to Mind Their Head: Wembley bumps his head on the pipe again.
- Game Show Appearance: Convincing John's "The Definite Challenge," which he uses to return Wembley to normal, is basically a Game Show. Wembley has to choose between two curtained cave doors, two banana-tree shirts, and so on.
- Gone Horribly Right: Wembley gets his wish and becomes decisive, but this makes him arrogant, bossy, stubborn, and prone to dangerous choices.
- Hapless Self-Help: Wembley, after his indecisiveness causes Gobo to fall in a hole, seeks the help of Convincing John, a Fraggle who can convince anyone of anything. John makes Wembley decisive but also arrogant, bossy, stubborn, and prone to dangerous choices. His friends drag him back to Convincing John to have the process reversed, just in time to hear John singing a lament about being unable to make up his mind about anything, including which foot to put out of bed first after a nap.
- Hidden Depths: Convincing John is revealed to be a wembler himself. Deep down, he's actually insecure and has problems making up his mind about anything.Gobo: It is pretty strange—you, of all Fraggles, having a tough time making up your mind.
Convincing John: [quickly] Well, it's... uh... well, it's the secret to my success!
Fragglettes: [in unison] Mmm-hmmm!
Convincing John: It enables me to see everything from every point of view.
Orange Fragglette: That's right! - High-Class Gloves: Convincing John always wears short white gloves, even when asleep. He also wears a bejeweled pinky ring over the left one.
- Idiot Ball: Wembley, after becoming decisive, takes this, sneaking into Doc's workshop, ignoring his friends' warnings of danger, failing to see the hole right in front of him, and falling into it, knocking himself out.
- Insane Troll Logic: How Convincing John makes Wembley decisive.Convincing John: [singing] So now you've heard my teaching,
And you've heard my mighty preaching,
And you know inside your soul it's really true!
Fragglettes: True...!
Convincing John: And for every new decision,
You will see and hear a vision
Of the teaching that I'm preaching unto you!
Fragglettes: You...!
Convincing John: You can wemble, you can wemble,
You can tippy-toe and tremble.
But it's time to face the music and the news...
Fragglettes: News...!
Convincing John: ...that you're a tiger, you're a terror, you're a Fraggle who can really choose!
Wembley: Yeah! I'm a tiger, I'm a terror, I'm a Fraggle who can really choose!
Convincing John: [speaking] You are!
Orange Fragglette: Sure can! - Let Me at Him!:
- Each of Wembley's friends, on hearing that Wembley intends to take over that particular Fraggle's job, is ready to pounce on him and has to be restrained by the others.
- Wembley, on seeing that Convincing John is a wembler, tries to attack him. His friends manage to restrain him.
- Let's Just See What WOULD Have Happened: When taking Convincing John's "The Definite Challenge," Wembley first has to choose between two curtained cave doors. He picks the one on the left. Behind it are two banana-tree shirts, which he has to choose between. Again, Wembley picks the one on the left.Convincing John: An excellent choice, sir. But there's more. Let's see what you would have gotten if you had chosen that cave door!
[The curtain on the door on the right opens, revealing three Fraggles wearing fire gear and wailing like sirens.]
Convincing John: Your very own Volunteer Fire-Engine Backup Trio to add new depth and resonance to your siren calls!
Wembley: Ohhh. Aww, gee. That would have been nice. - Lovely Assistants: Convincing John's trio of female backup singers, the Fragglettes, who wear identical sequin-covered gowns, with headpieces to match. They advertise the self-improvement courses John offers, show what's behind the curtains in "The Definite Challenge," and make sure John actually gets up in the morning instead of wembling over which foot to put out of bed first.
- Manipulative Bastard: Convincing John can convince anyone to do anything. As bastards go, however, he's a fairly harmless one.
- "Metaphor" Is My Middle Name: When Boober tells Wembley that Convincing John convinced him to wear a clown nose...Wembley: He convinced you, Boober Doom-Is-My-Middle-Name Fraggle to wear that?
Boober: Well, you know Convincing John. He could convince a Gorg that he was a Doozer. - My God, What Have I Done?: To get his Uncle Matt's latest postcard, Gobo needs to get across the hole Doc has made in the floor of the workshop. Gobo ties a rope around his waist and tells Wembley to tie the other end to something and hold on. While Gobo is in the workshop, Wembley can't decide whether to tie the rope to a pipe or a rock, so Gobo falls into the hole. He makes it back unhurt, but Wembley is aghast at what his indecisiveness has led to.Wembley: My wembling almost killed my best friend!
- Nice Guy: Wembley wants to become decisive for the sake of his friends. He believes that his wembling nature is putting them in danger.
- Non-Fatal Explosions: Convincing John, when Wembley visits him for help in becoming decisive, has him stand at the fork of two tunnels. While Wembley is trying to choose between the two, a small explosion goes off between them, sending Wembley running to the cave entrance on the right. Wembley and the other Fraggles are completely unharmed.Wembley: You got me to choose! That's amazing!
Convincing John: Listen, I'm not finished with you yet! - Plot Parallel: While Wembley is trying to become more decisive, Doc, after reading a self-help book, decides to become positive instead of grouchy. When the water won't turn on, instead of getting angry and phoning the landlord, he decides to "face this little challenge with a smile" and tear up the floor to fix the plumbing himself. This does not end well for himself, Gobo, or Wembley.
- Rash Promise: Against his better judgement, Boober has promised to be at the Great Hall when Convincing John arrives to teach everyone to act like clowns.Boober: I can't believe I was foolish enough to promise I'd be there!
- Rule of Three: For anyone wishing to become more definite, Convincing John offers a choice of three courses—each with a certain number of convincing verses that John sings:
- The One-Verse Basic Course in Temporarily Thinking of Yourself as Pretty Okay
- The Two-Verse Total-Confidence-in-Public-but-Still-Some-Doubts-in-Private Tutorial
- (only for the really serious) The Three-Verse Complete-Emergent-Developmental Workshop in Total Belief in Your Own Supremacy
- Sadistic Choice: Inverted. As the final part of "The Definite Challenge," Convincing John offers Wembley a choice between two sweet—and ultra-rare—treats.Convincing John: Which will it be?
[The lavender Fragglette brings out a gold plate containing part of a Doozer construction.]
Convincing John: A fifty-year-old Doozer stick culled from the legendary Tooth Tower...?
Wembley: Ohhh, the tower so sweet to eat, they withdrew the building material from the caves because it drove Fraggles wild!
Convincing John: Or...?
Wembley: What?
[The orange Fragglette brings out a gold plate containing a slice of mossmelon.]
Convincing John: ...a slice of mossmelon?
Wembley: Ohhh, mossmelon, the rarest and sweetest fruit in the Rock! You can only harvest it every hundred years!
Convincing John: Yes! You can have one or the other... but you can't have both! [Chuckles snarkily.]
[Wembley keeps looking from one treat to the other and finally falls down from indecisiveness.]
Wembley: [getting up] I CAN'T DECIDE!
[Convincing John laughs triumphantly as Wembley's friends cheer.] - Something Blues: Convincing John, with help from his trio of backup singers, the Fragglettes, sings "Choose-Right (Up-Tight Move-Now) Blues," a lament about John's trouble making up his mind about everything, including which foot to put out of bed first. Wembley's friends drag him back to John's cave just in time to overhear the song, and Wembley is NOT happy to hear it.Wembley: You... you... you... WEMBLER!
- Speak in Unison: The Fragglettes often confirm what Convincing John has just said by declaring in unison: "Mmm-hmm!"
- Tempting Fate: Red tells the now-decisive Wembley he's got to go back to Convincing John to get unconvinced because "he's the only Fraggle more definite than you." Cue the revelation that John can't even decide which foot to put out of bed first.
- That Man Is Dead: Wembley insists that everyone address him as Wilfred after he becomes decisive. This choice of new name may have been due to Convincing John accidentally calling him Wilfred on first meeting him.Gobo: Huh?
Wembley: Yes, I've finished wembling, and I've also finished with the name "Wembley." - Title Drop:Gobo: Huh, Convincing John! I don't know what that Fraggle's secret is, but he's got the power to convince a Doozer to stop working and start dancing.
- Took a Level in Jerkass: After becoming decisive, Wembley also becomes bossy, arrogant, and stubborn. When he knocks himself out falling into the hole in Doc's floor, his friends decide they want the old Wembley back.
- We Want Our Jerk Back!: Inverted. Wembley becomes a jerk after seeing Convincing John, and his friends want the Nice Guy he used to be back.
- The X of Y: The episode's title.
