The Domino Effect

"The Domino Effect" is the first segment of the fourth episode of Amphibia. It premiered on June 20, 2019.
==Synopsis==
Anne wants to keep a caterpillar as a pet, but she'll have to keep it a secret from Hop Pop.
==Plot==
Anne and Sprig are playing outside when they encounter giant wasps attacking a small creature trapped in the mud. After rescuing it, Anne discovers that the creature is a small caterpillar that resembles a cat, specifically Anne's cat Domino from back home. Anne immediately falls in love with the creature despite Sprig's reluctance to take it in, but Anne wins him over, dubbing the cat "Domino II". Anne asks Hop Pop directly about taking a pet in, but he instead angrily goes off on how Sprig and Polly once had a pet tarantula named Charlie Bigbottom who would cause a mess, causing Hop Pop to develop a strong stance against keeping pets. While still uncomfortable with Domino II, who has begun licking and "play biting" him, Sprig distracts Hop Pop with stories on Charlie Bigbottom while Anne sneaks the cat in.
The next morning, Sprig goes down to Anne's room to see that it is covered in cobwebs. He notices that Anne is covered in scratch marks from Domino II, but she insists that he is just getting used to the home environment. After spending a day hiding Domino II from Hop Pop and Polly, Domino II takes a nap, only for it to make itself a cocoon. Anne and Sprig start eating upstairs when Hop Pop catches them and demands to know what is happening. After hearing a noise, The three rush downstairs to find that Domino II is missing, causing Hop Pop to realize Anne and Sprig had snuck in and kept a pet. Sprig mentions that Domino 2 was black with white spots and Hop Pop reveals that they have taken in a Coastal Kill-a-pillar, a dangerous frog-eating creature, and that it has transformed in a deadly butterfly. Polly comes down to see what is happening, causing Domino II to reacting ferociously.
Despite Anne's efforts in keeping Domino II at bay, the monster begins attacking the Plantars forcing Anne to lead it outside with one of its toys. After getting far away, Anne solemnly tosses its toy into the wild as Domino II leaves for good. Upon coming back, Anne apologizes and Hop Pop breaks down in tears, admitting that he misses Charlie Bigbottom. The next day, Anne is cleaning up with Sprig telling her that it is not difficult to take in a wild beast and keep it as a pet (referring to her) and offers a stuffed doll version of Domino II to her which she lovingly hugs.
==Cast==
*Brenda Song as Anne Boonchuy
*Justin Felbinger as Sprig Plantar
*Amanda Leighton as Polly Plantar
*Bill Farmer as Hop Pop Plantar
==Gallery==
==Trivia==
*Moral: Wild animals belong in the wild for a reason. As the old saying goes, "You can take an animal out of the wild, but you can't take the wild out of the animal."
*The "cat-a-pillar" was inspired by creator Matt Braly's cat, Domino, who he adopted in 2016.
*Domino II's hatched cocoon resembles the open eggs from the Alien franchise.
*This is the first episode where Sprig is seen without his hat.
*The Planter family use to have a pet spider named Charlie Bigbottom.
==International Premieres==
*September 17, 2020 (Portugal)
==International edits==
*In the Southeast Asian, "I swear to the frog" was cut. Anne's line "Welcome, brother, to the church of cute" was shortened to "Welcome, brother". Then Sprig's line "This a cult thing?" was cut. Also the line "What the heck is that?" was shortened to "What is that?" Anne saying "Oh, crud." was also cut.
==References==
==External links==
*The Domino Effect at the Amphibia Wiki
pt-br:O Efeito Dominó
Category:Amphibia episodes