The Tunnel of Friendship

"The Tunnel of Friendship" is the second segment of the 3rd episode of the fifth season of Trolls: TrollsTopia, and the 69th overall episode in the series. It premiered in December 9, 2021.
== ==
Synth is deeply honored when Minuet asks if he will commemorate their friendship with a ride down The Tunnel of Friendship. There's just one problem... Synth is terrified of the dark! And the tunnel is very dark. With the help of Poppy, Synth tries to confront his fears before his big day with Minuet arrives.
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At the Tunnel of Friendship, Synth and Minuet approach Striped Smiley, who asks them if they are solidifying their one-of-a-kind special bond. The Tunnel is booked until tomorrow at noon, so the pair take up Smiley's booking. They are given their tickets and are then approached by Poppy and Holly. Holly and Poppy reminiscence over their ride together and how it went even though it was only yesterday. Minuet hopes their ride will be as special, and Poppy states she didn't realize Minuet and Synth had gotten so close. Minuet and Synth say that they are a strange pair-up, but they find each other open to new experiences. A montage is shown of Synth trying Classical culture and Minuet trying Techno culture. Minuet has been waiting to share the Tunnel with a special friend, and that belongs to Synth. He states it will be amazing.
In the next moment, at Poppy's pod, Synth states the Tunnel will be terrible, much to Poppy and Holly's confusion. Synth tells his friends he is afraid of the dark. It is why he has so many glow sticks, as the dark scares him, and he is embarrassed to admit that. He notes Minuet is excited for the Tunnel, but the second he goes in the dark, he's going to freak out and ruin the special moment. Holly reassures him that everyone gets a little uneasy in the dark, but Synth shows them otherwise; he turns the light off in Poppy's pod and he freaks out and when he turns the light back on, it is shown that he has wrecked her pod. Synth woes over there being another faset (fact) to his character, and how deep and complex he is.
Poppy and Holly decide to try and find a way to completely cure his fear of the dark by tomorrow. Holly states it will be no different to closing his eyes; Synth reveals he sleeps with his eyes open and notes that's deeply unsettling. Poppy decides that rather than trying to cure him, she should work on him lasting only the length of the Tunnel ride: 3 minutes. Holly gives Synth a sleep mask, and Poppy gives him a pillow to squeeze. Holly starts the timer and Synth puts the mask down and squeeze the pillow. This only lasts 8 seconds, and he last 8 seconds as he squeezes the stuffing out. They try with a piñata, and he lasts 47 seconds this time. He lasts a minute and 23 seconds with a melon. Lastly, they try a rock and this works and he lasts a full 3 minutes. As they tell him the good news, he squeezes the rock out of his hand and it bounces across a number of pods.
The next day, Minuet and Synth board the tunnel and Synth has his rock. Smiley gives them a farewell bid and they enter the ride. He holds the rock as they enter, Holly and Poppy watch Synth goes in. Synth is in a semi-freak out, but Minuet grabs his hand and thanks him for going in the ride with her. This calms Synth down and says that he wouldn't let anything stop him from being here with her, like anything. As they ride, they sing together about their unlikely friendship being like bread and jam.
As they go to exit the ride, it breaks down and Synth starts panicking. Smiley announces there is a wrench in the works, and he'll have it removed soon, but makes it worse. Minuet is happy, since their special ride will last longer, but Synth is freaking out slowly. He tries to rewire the ride so that they move again; they do just backwards at full speed. They stop further back in the tunnel with only a red light shining. Minuet starts to notice Synth is really starting to freak out and asks him if he is okay. Synth nervously denied, trying to hide his fear of the dark from her. He grabs a light out of his hair claiming he dropped his Hug watch, but a fish jumps out of the water and grabs the glowstick. Synth's freak-out is now showing and Minuet shows concern for him, but he again hides his freak-out. Just then, Synth has squeezed his rock so hard and so much that it suddenly slips out of his hand and it hits the red light, breaking it and it becomes pitch black.
Synth finally freaks out and breaks through the side of the ride. Minuet follows him outside and asks him why he freaked out. Synth still tries to hide his fear of the dark from Minuet, but she calls him out. Synth finally gives up, calms down and sadly confesses his fear of the dark, and Minuet now understands why he has all those glowsticks. Synth feels terrible that he ruined something she was excited for. She then sees it as no big deal, to his surprise. Minuet explains that "with you" is the part she really enjoyed, and that was all that mattered. If he doesn't want to ride the Tunnel, neither does she. Synth is so touched by Minuet's kind words that he feels much better and they share a special hug. Holly and Poppy witness this moment and go "aww". Minuet is certain there are other ways they can celebrate their friendship instead.
They are next seen riding the Highly Illuminated Gondola, which Synth approves, making Minuet happy.
== ==
;Pop Trolls
*Amanda Leighton as Queen Poppy
*Matt Lowe as Striped Smiley
;Country Trolls
*Megan Hilty as Holly Darlin'
;Classical Trolls
*Jeanine Mason as Minuet Sonata
;Techno Trolls
*Vladimir Caamaño as Synth
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*"Me & You"
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*The "Tunnel of Friendship" was last seen in the Trolls: The Beat Goes On! episode "Haircuffed", and would later be seen again in "Fastest Draw in the West".
*The name of the "Tunnel of Friendship" is based on the title of a common ride known as "the Tunnel of Love", which is supposed to be a romantic ride for couples.
*Synth breaks the fourth wall by talking about how "just when you think you know everything about Synth, you find out there is being another fact to his personality, and why must I be a deep and complex character...".
**This is also a joke. Synth appears to be not that in-depth, since he's always happy and always seeking to rave over everything else. On the outside, Synth is a bit absent-minded, forgetful, and not that intelligent otherwise, but he always displays learning issues and is quite emotional and irrational at times. He mistakes the words of others and gets many things wrong, in addition to his short attention span.
*A fear of the dark is called "Nyctophobia".
*Biggie and Mr. Dinkles took the ride in another instance, and their photos can be seen in Smiley's booth, as can Satin & Chenille.
Category:Episodes
Category:Trolls: TrollsTopia episodes
Category:Techno Trolls Story Arc Episodes
Category:TT Season 5 episodes
Category:2D animation