Bad Luck Branch

Episode Info
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**Transcript**

Season 7, Episode 7b

**"Bad Luck Branch"** is the second segment of the 7th and final episode of the seventh season of *Trolls: The Beat Goes On!*, and the 89th overall episode in the series. It premiered on August 27, 2019.

## Synopsis

During a bumper bullseye ball game, Branch is apparently jinxed. Poppy brings Branch back to his senses.

## Plot

Poppy is commentating on a Bowling Pinball event named the "Bumper Bullseye Ball Championship". The two teams are in the final event facing off with Biggie and Branch on one time and Aspen Heitz and Creek on the other. Creek takes his bowl and kisses a blow towards it, the bit of wind gust pushing the ball into the hole. Branch needs a bullseye with either of his last two balls so that his team can win. He gets a prep talk from Biggie, but is confident in his abilities.

Branch steps on a muffin as he walks towards the ball and Biggie reels back in horror. Branch is confused and Creek states that stepping on a muffin is bad luck. Creek begins to mock him for being "jinxed", repeating the word over and over despite Branch not believing in such a thing as bad luck. Biggie heard Branch say he doesn't believe in luck, but suggests a time-out before his last roll and visit Cybil the village mystic. Branch dismisses Cybil as a mystic as she just states the obvious. Branch goes to roll the ball and steps in a second muffin. He rolls the ball and just as it is about to fall in the hole, a bird grabs it and flies off. Creek mocks him once again for his luck.

Branch calls for a timeout and goes to the bumper ball bush to get another ball, stepping on a third muffin along the way as he mumbles about there being no such thing as bad luck. Poppy announces the game will resume in 2 hours, long enough for a timeout party.

Poppy chases after Branch to make sure he is okay. He asks her if she believes in bad luck, to which she lists the things she believes in, but she doesn't believe in bad luck. When Branch says everyone believes he is jinxed because he stepped on a muffin, however, Poppy screams and tells him to go visit Cybil. Branch notes she just said she doesn't believe in bad luck. Poppy says that she has layers and contradictions making her endearing. She notes that while Branch doesn't believe in luck, he is worked up about things and should just see Cybil to put his mind at ease.

Branch picks a new ball and says "See? No such thing as bad luck!" just as the branch beneath him breaks and sends him to the ground. He still refuses to see Cybil and several balls hit him over the head. He gives up and says he'll see Cybil.

At Cybil's, she begins to state they are here to invite her to a party, Branch claims that they are not, and Poppy gives Cybil a invitation to a party, to which Branch points out that Poppy is always doing that. Every word that Cybil states as Branch explains the situation amazes Poppy, but just has Branch being more cynical about Cybil's mysticism. Cybil tells Branch that he needs a good luck charm to combat the bad luck. Cybil predicts she has none in her tent when Branch says to hand one over, then notes Cybil isn't actually making a prediction. She then states she will go and find one with them, and Branch notes that now all she is doing is saying what they are doing.

The first charm is a four-leafed clover; a critter takes it from Branch and though he fights the critter for it back it is ruined. This is followed by a rainbow gem, which is taken by the same bird who stole the ball earlier after Branch falls. His next attempt to get a charm is a golden cricket, which turns out to be huge. He begins to try and catch it, but Poppy can see this is futile. She tells him that she only took him to ease his mind, and asks him is his mind is at ease. He lets the cricket go and says no.

Poppy doesn't know if there is such a thing as luck, jinxes or lucky charms but him getting worked up about it isn't doing any good.

At the stadium, timeout is over and Branch is now taking his last roll. As he rolls again, a random critter pops up sending the ball into the air; Branch starts to say "Wait for it!" as more and more events occur and the ball goes off course. The ball ends up on the edge of the hole but doesn't go in; Branch apologizes to Biggie and Creek mocks Branch again. Creek then slips on a muffin and falls to the ground, causing a minor shake that nudges the ball into the hole, allowing Branch and Biggie to win.

Branch tells Creek that he knows where he can get a golden cricket, and he walks off laughing with Biggie. Cybil pops in and says that she didn't see that coming to Creek.

## Cast

Trolls
* Amanda Leighton as Queen Poppy
* Skylar Astin as Branch
* Rachel Bloom as Cybil
* Matt Lowe as Creek and Aspen Heitz
* David Fynn as Biggie

Other
* David Fynn as Mr. Dinkles

## Physical distribution

This episode is available on the "Trolls: The Beat Goes On! - Complete Seasons 5-8" DVD.

## Trivia

* This is the last episode of the series in which Smidge does not appear in.
* This is the fourth episode to have Branch's name in the title, the first being "Fun Branch", "Branchception" & "Branch Bum".
* Being "Jinx" is a superstitious belief that bad things are happening due to some misfortune that has befallen someone. It's sometimes thought to be a result of supernatural occurrences, such as evil spirits or a curse. In many cultures, the result was the invention of a variety of "good luck charms" to ward off bad luck. In reality, the charms have no influence on events occurring in a person's life, and it's all just a series of coincidences.
	+ The Troll Dolls themselves were originally sold as a "Good Luck Trolls", as a form of lucky charm designed to be a comfort doll for children. Supposedly, the doll's owner rubs its hair and carries it around; by being good to the doll, it will keep away bad luck. In the case of "Treasure Trolls", the owner would touch the gem and make a wish, which the doll will try to make come true. The "good luck" nature of the Trolls is never referenced in the DreamWorks Trolls franchise.
	+ Incidentally, Branch displays an example of how people come to believe in good luck charms. Superstitious beliefs in good and bad fortune is often a self-inducing one.
* Cybil makes references to items considered "good luck".
	+ A four-leafed clover is a clover with a rare mutation that makes it produce 4 leaves or more instead of three. Due to how clovers grow in a carpet of stems, it can be hard to spot one, making the act of finding one alone considered luck.
	+ Certain minerals and gemstones are believed to carry good fortune.
	+ In Asian cultures, crickets are said to be bringers of luck; when one stops chirping, danger is believed to be nearby.
* Cybil's "fortune telling" methods are based on some common medium tricks, such as making vague or obvious predictions or claiming such while straying from actually making any true psychic claims.
* In the movie designs, Cybil resembles a guru, whereas in the series she resembles a stereotypical Eastern European or "gypsy" fortune teller.