After the Falls

## Stats

**After the Falls** is the 23rd episode of *The Neverending Story*. It aired on May 4, 1996. While it was the 23rd episode to be aired (at least on HBO), it was the 21st episode to be produced.

## Summary

Barktroll is attempting to give his crush, Willow, a tree with more humanoid-esque features, some flowers. He also practices what he plans to say. But he steps on a log which makes him roll down the slope and he crashes, but Willow finds his flowers although just shrugs. In the real world, Bastian shows his dad a chemical reaction he put together, saying that this is an effort to get a higher test mark than Joey, who winks at Bastian whenever he gets a mark higher than his. The chemical starts to overflow, so he leaves to go get fresh air and goes to the bookstore to read The Neverending Story. He gets transported and finds Barktroll feeling sad because his attempt to talk to Willow failed again. Bastian tries to lighten him up and with pep talk, he tells him t go try again.

Barktroll stands outside Willow's home in the forest neighborhood and tries to recite some lines, but the first time a ball hits him, and the second time some kids run over his foot which makes him fall into a bush. Barktroll paints a red heart on a tree knowing she passes it every day, but the tree is living and it gives Barktroll a piece of it's mind, chasing him off. By the river where she is seated, Barktroll attempts to then do some of his yo-yo tricks to her, but he ties himself up and gets laughs from Ash, a darker and intimidating tree who proceeds to also try impressing Willow, by hopping on a log in the water and walking on it. Barktroll gets up there as well and does his tricks in front of her, but like when he practices, he also ties himself up by doing the "flight to the moon" spinning trick and falls into the water, causing Ash to fall in as well. He challenges Barktroll to a log rolling contest at Splinter Falls, which Barktroll fears of because he will be embarrassed in front of everyone.

Bastian tries to boost his self confidence, so Barktroll does push ups and also climbs up a tree, with the help of the forest animals supporting his heavy self. After running, Barktroll is hungry, so Bastian feeds him some lunch, peat moss pudding, enriched soil souffle, and mashed minerals with extra iron mixed together to create one bubbly gray "power food". Barktroll is hesitant to eat it, but Bastian forces him to. Barktroll, with help from the animals, does more training, and simultaneously so does Ash. At the end as Barktroll rests in a hot spring Bastian knew all along that Barktroll could do this and that he must believe in himself. Bastian takes a peek at Ash, who was exercising on a log and then gazes at the Splinter Falls waterfall, laughing about how rough the ride will be, making Bastian suspicious about this challenge.

He tells Barktroll about this and how dangerous Splinter Falls really is, but Barktroll doesn't want to back out of it, and believes in himself. Bastian talks to Willow who could be the only person to change his mind. At the water area where the tree trolls are watching, Barktroll hops on the log but can't stop rocking it until Ash hops on it, and his weight causes Barktroll to launch in the air. The log rolling begins, but the rope holding the log breaks and the two start to move in the water, getting closer to the waterfall. Barktroll holds onto a branch, and Ash holds onto a rock. Barktroll swims to the rock to help Ash up, and the two climb a vine that the animals create to safety. Willow is upset at them at the fact that they both tried to endlessly impress her, going to even risking their life to win her over, but she praises Barktroll's braveness, and Ash and Barktroll agree to become friends. Bastian's lesson taught is that making friends with somebody is better than competing with them, so he invites Joey over to help him with his science experiment.