"Since the Fraggles liked neither one, I must declare that there is no winner."
Flange develops a new tomato extract to add to the Doozer sticks, and Modem starts adding mustard powder. The tomato-mustard combination is a big hit with the Fraggles, but after the mustard seems to get more recognition than the tomato, Flange challenges Modem to a contest to determine which of the two new flavors is better. This affects the entire community, from adults working under Flange unwilling to work with the ones working under Modem, to the children fighting.When the day of the competition dawns, the Architect is unwilling to be the judge, declaring that a Doozer should build for the joy of it, not to compete. The Doozers leave the decision to the Fraggles, but this fails because the Fraggles dislike both the tomato sticks and the mustard sticks. They decide to try again and get Wembley to be the judge, who determines the flavors are better when they go together.
This episode contains examples of:
- An Aesop: Cooperation accomplishes more than competition.
- Chekhov's Gun: Toward the beginning, when the Fraggle Five first appear, Wembley is playing with a yo-yo. In the Fraggles' next appearance, just before the five of them declare both the tomato sticks and the mustard sticks to be awful, Wembley notices that the yo-yo's string is still hanging from his finger, but that the rest of it is missing. Later, when Flange and Modem want "the wisest Fraggle alive" to judge the contest, Wembley enters, looking for his yo-yo, and asks the Doozers if they've seen it. Flange and Modem immediately make him the judge.
- Color-Coded for Your Convenience: The Doozers on Flange's team wear red helmets, and the ones on Modem's team wear yellow helmets.
- Continuity Nod: When Uncle Matt gets to the top of the CN Tower, he claims it in the name of Fragglekind by planting a flag with the Solemn Mark of the Fraggle, first seen on the lid of the music box in "The Lost Treasure of the Fraggles." The mark is a pictograph of a smiling Fraggle putting his thumbs in his ears and spreading out his fingers.
- Friendship-Straining Competition: The contest leaves the Doozers working under Flange unwilling to work with the ones working under Modem.
- History Repeats: The Architect states this isn't the first time the Doozers had a competition.
- Hypocritical Humor: Cotterpin and Wrench agree about how silly the competition is, but then Wrench remarks it'll all be over when his mother wins, causing a brawl between him and Cotterpin.
- Inadvertent Entrance Cue: Subverted when the Fraggles dislike both the tomato sticks and the mustard sticks, and Flange and Modem are still trying to figure out a way to determine who won.Flange: We have to find a Fraggle who'll decide whose tower tastes better.
Modem: But not just any Fraggle.
Flange: One that's decisive.
Modem: Who can make a choice.
Flange: We need... the wisest Fraggle alive.
[Wembley walks in, then sees the Doozers and runs up to them.]
Wembley: Oh, hello! Did I leave my yo-yo here, or not? - Inner Monologue: Wingnut realizes how much the competition is affecting the youngest Doozers after Cotterpin gets into a physical fight with Wrench. Flange agrees to call off the contest, but on the way to see Modem, he has one of these and quickly changes his mind.Flange: Modem will be just as glad as I am to get back to what we Doozers do best: building. We'll call off the contest. No winners, no losers, just Doozers once again. [Beat] Wait a minute! What if she doesn't want to call off the contest? I'll look like I thought I was going to lose! But that's not fair! I challenged her, so I should be able to withdraw the challenge. I don't want to look foolish! She'll probably just laugh at me. If that happened, I won't be able to get any Doozers to work with me again. Modem will think I'm a fool! [aloud] Modem! Modem, get out here!
Modem: [answering the door] Yes, who is it?
[Flange throws his helmet, narrowly missing Modem.]
Flange: Who are you calling a fool? - Layman's Terms:Boober: [gasps] It's a culinary paradise!
Mokey: Oh, and such an aesthetic presentation!
Red: Yeah, and they look good too. - Lower-Deck Episode: Another episode revolving around the Doozers.
- Only Sane Man:
- The Architect. He's the only one who realizes how damaging the contest is.
- Wingnut is the only sane one in her household, but is unable to convince Flange to call off the competition.
- Ordered Apology: Wingnut insists that Flange apologize to Modem after supper for quarreling with her over which flavor is better. Instead, they fire insults at each other, disturbing the entire Doozer community and prolonging the fight.
- Unwitting Instigator of Doom: The Fraggle Five, when Flange and Modem overhear them agreeing that the mustard is what makes the new sticks delicious. This leads to Flange challenging Modem to a contest, which in turn leads to those working under Flange being unwilling to work with those working under Modem.
