Recap / The Backyardigans S 1 E 2 The Heart Of The Jungle

Pictured: Austin performing the Tarzan Yell.

Original Airdate: September 12, 2004 (Canada), October 13, 2004 (United States)

Music Genre: Gilbert and Sullivan

Absent Character(s): Tasha

Writer: Janice Burgess

The One With… "Into the Thick of It".

A creature named Sherman the Worman is lost and needs to find his way back to the heart of the jungle. Professor Uniqua sets off with Tarzans Pablo, Tyrone and Austin on an adventure to get Sherman home.

"Let's find the heart of the tropes!"

• Chekhov's Gun: The stick Austin picks up to check for quicksand is ultimately what saves Uniqua at the end.
• Decomposite Character: Each of the boys represents a key trait associated with the figure of Tarzan. Tyrone takes on the Speaks Fluent Animal trait (which allows him to understand Sherman), Pablo has the Super-Strength, and Austin ("who doesn't say too much") has the Hulk Speak.
• Early-Installment Weirdness: Uniqua's Elmuh Fudd Syndwome from the previous episode carries over into this one.
• Foreshadowing: Before Uniqua leaves, the boys warn her about the various obstacles in the jungle. Not only do said obstacles happen, the team experiences them in the same order the boys list them (can't-see-ems, getting lost, heavy rain, and finally quicksand).
• Going in Circles: The team winds up experiencing this during the "Into the Thick of It" number, something Uniqua doesn't notice until seeing the same flower three times. One of the lines sung by Pablo is also the first alert to this.
• "I Am" Song: "I'm Tarzan".
• Insufferable Genius: Professor Uniqua certainly qualifies as this.
• In-Universe Factoid Failure: Professor Uniqua constantly claims that there's no quicksand in the jungle, which is obviously not true in real life, as quicksand pits do exist in jungles. The boys constantly lampshade how she's wrong, and karma catches up to her when she gets stuck in quicksand at the end and has to be rescued.
• Quicksand Sucks: Constantly alluded to throughout the episode, and constantly refuted by Uniqua, who claims quicksand doesn't exist. This comes back to bite her when she gets stuck in quicksand at the end, but she's fortunately saved by the boys.
• Running Gag:
  • "Professor Uniqua!" "Wait up/Not that way!" "Ugh!"
  • Austin getting smacked in the face by a giant leaf during the "Into the Thick of It" musical number.
• Shout-Out: During Pablo's verse in "I'm Tarzan", he describes himself to be "as mighty as King Kong"
• This Is Gonna Suck: When Uniqua heads down the trail where the can't-see-ems are encountered, Austin voices a worrying "Uh-oh."

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