Return to Recap: The Smurfs (1981).
Originally a multi-part episode when it first aired on Saturday mornings, it was later converted into two separate episodes, with Parts 1 and 2 joined together to make up one episode keeping its original title while Part 3 was renamed "Lost In the Ages".
In the story, four Smurfs find a baby dinosaur frozen in the ice that was awakened in the middle of winter, and the Smurfs try to take care of it while trying to keep it from causing any damage to the village, but in the end they find out that the dinosaur is unable to eat anything from the present time to sustain itself. Grandpa Smurf realizes that they must send the dinosaur back to the time where he came from in order to save him, but because Father Time wasn't there in his workshop to offer any help, it falls upon Grandpa Smurf to reveal his hidden vault where he keeps the Time Scrolls that allow Smurfs to travel through time. A group of Smurfs help lower the baby dinosaur into the vault as Grandpa Smurf arranges the crystals so that he and Papa Smurf can travel through time to bring the dinosaur back home, but an accident causes the group of Smurfs to also go back in time when the crystals create a whirlwind at the exact same moment, shredding the Time Scrolls in the process.
When they do arrive in the prehistoric past, the group of Smurfs barely avoid being squashed by huge dinosaurs before Papa Smurf, Grandpa Smurf, and Snappy set off with Crinkles to find his parents. While the Smurfs wait at camp for their return, Clumsy tries to find rocks that he can start a fire with when he gets spotted by a young cave dweller named Grog, who after seeing him create fire with rocks decides to take him back to his group of cave dwellers. After Crinkles is reunited with his family, the dinosaurs help rescue Clumsy and a few other Smurfs from Grog, but just before they can return to the present, a big dinosaur attacks the group, causing Grandpa Smurf to lose the key to the crystals in a lava pit and trapping the Smurfs in the past.
This episode provides examples of
- Costumer: The time crystals change the Smurfs' clothes to furry loincloths and tunics.
- Exposed to the Elements: Played with. Brainy, Clumsy, Hefty, and Snappy appear to be dressed for the winter weather, while the other Smurfs in the village hardly wear anything heavier than a scarf.
- Hair-Trigger Avalanche: Brainy Smurf causes one in the beginning of the episode with his loud voice.
- Harmless Freezing: A baby Triceratops is unfrozen by the Smurfs, which then kicks off the plot of Season 9.
- Multi-Part Episode: Originally a three-part episode when it first aired on Saturday morning.
- Power Crystal: The time crystals, which when combined with the ruby key activate time travel.
- Rump Roast: The cave child Grog is given a toasted backside near the end of the third part.
