Bad Hair Day (Trolls: TrollsTopia episode)

Episode Info
**Gallery**
**Transcript**

Season 1, Episode 13b

**"Bad Hair Day"** is the second segment of the 13th and final episode of the first season of *Trolls: TrollsTopia*, and the 25th overall episode in the series. It premiered on November 19, 2020.

## Synopsis

Val's best friend arrives in TrollsTopia for the big concert. But when she tries to talk Val into coming back to Volcano Rock City, it's up to Poppy to show Val just how much TrollsTopia needs her.

## Plot

At the stadium, Poppy just spotted Bad Hair Day, the most popular Rock Troll band, approaching. As the other Trolls rush forward, Branch appears in an over-the-top Rock outfit, and Poppy guesses he is a fan of the band. He confirms this, saying Demo showed him a song which made him scream and turn into a fan. Demo said it was his "Rockawakening". Val rushes to Poppy to say she can't believe she came through and got Bad Hair Day to come to TrollsTopia. Then to Poppy's delight, Val asks for a fist pump. After fist-bumping Val, she hides herself and Branch using her hair, and inside can be heard screaming with excitement.

Inside, she asks Branch if he can see how far she and Val have come in their friendship. She didn't "blow it up", but Poppy sees that as another milestone she has to achieve with Val. She comes out of her hair and acts as though she wasn't just freaking out. Val introduces Poppy to Petra, her best friend growing up. Petra apparently follows the band wherever they go. Poppy didn't know about Petra, and doesn't have a personalized gift basket for her, but luckily keeps emergency ones in her hair; she takes a moment to decide which of the two to give her. Petra guesses Poppy is the Troll Val often writes home about, who made Val go to "Girl's Night". Val tells her she's full on double rainbow, and needs to dial it back to a single. Branch comments on Val opening up and introducing Poppy to her best friend, but he is falling on deaf ears as Poppy is still trying to work out if she gave Petra the best gift basket. She rushes off to give her both instead.

Poppy finds the two Rock Trolls talking in private elsewhere, as Petra shows concern with Val, since TrollsTopia is changing her and making her lose her edge. Val denies it, but Petra pulls out a letter where Val signed it with "X"s and "O"s. Val claims it's because "XOXO" looks like a tiny skulls and crossbones, but her expression only confirms Val is going soft. Petra tells her that she has to move back home before it's too late. Poppy realizes Petra wants Val to leave TrollsTopia invite her to go "rocker-hang", and after the extreme fun she may feel differently, betting Val will want to pack her bags before sunset.

In a panic, Poppy returns to Branch, but before he can dish out advice, Poppy jumps to a response and puts words into his mouth, Poppy goes off to follow the girls and convince Val to stay.

She finds the two and tries to convince Val to stay with her favorite cupcake, which she can only get in TrollsTopia. Petra responds with a treat from her own Tribe: "cupcake à la splode". The cupcake explodes, sending cake everywhere, which Val enjoys. Next, Poppy tries the Dune Huggy on Petra and Val. Petra says the ride is boring and calls in a Rock Moto-Critter. Poppy watches as the two have fun; she then tries to win Val over by showing her all the best bits of TrollsTopia in a song, pointing out it has a bit of everything and there has never been anything like it in their history like it.

After the song, Poppy goes to confess she wants Val to stay, but Petra comes running, having secured tickets for VIT passes to see Bad Hair Day. When Val falls down as she's overwhelmed by the gesture, Petra makes a snarky remark to "Ploppy"; she only has two passes, so Poppy will have to miss out and drags the unconscious Val backstage. Poppy notes she will get backstage.

That evening, Poppy tries to convince the Hard Rock bouncer to let her in with cupcakes à la splode. The bouncer takes too long to decide which of the 3 to pick and they explode, sending Poppy flying.

She lands near the start of the line to get in, and Branch is waiting first in line. He ditches his place in line to see Poppy is alright. Branch can see the line just opened and he really wants in, so he talks to Poppy, who believes Val can't leave as she and Val were just becoming friends. He basically says that no matter what he has to let her do her own thing, and as a friend she has to let her friends go. Poppy can tell Branch is talking about him wanting to go into the concert, and thus lets him go, thanking him for his words.

In the concert, Poppy finds Val and talks to her, finally confessing she will miss Val if she leaves, but it is her choice. She says she spoke to Petra, and Petra is okay with Val staying, as Val is becoming the Troll she wants to be. Petra shows a brief moment of disappointment but is cool with this. Val says she can't give up what TrollsTopia offers; different Trolls from different Tribes coming together to do their thing. She gives Poppy a second fist pump. This time Val does an explosion sound, confirming the next milestone in their friendship. Petra comments on it, and when Poppy asks Petra if she wants to do a fist pump, Petra says it is too soon and Poppy acknowledges it.

## Cast

Trolls

Pop Trolls
* Amanda Leighton as Queen Poppy
* Skylar Astin as Branch

Rock Trolls
* Lauren Mayhew as Val Thundershock
* Charles DeWayne as Demo
* Larissa Gallagher as Petra
* Jake Green as Billy Reverb and Bouncer

Country Trolls
* Megan Hilty as Holly Darlin' (non-speaking)

Classical Trolls
* JP Karliak as Dante Crescendo (non-speaking)

Funk Trolls
* Michael-Leon Wooley as Lownote Jones (non-speaking)
* Kat Graham as Rhythm & Blues (non-speaking)

Techno Trolls
* Vladimir Caamaño as Synth (non-speaking)

## Trivia

* This is the last episode to premiere in 2020.
* This episode shares its title with one of ASK POPPY, as well as a comic published by Egmont Group.
* The only named member of the band is Billy Reverb, whose name is only mentioned in the closing credits of the episode.
* The episode refers back to what Queen Barb said about friendship in *Trolls World Tour*: "Friendship takes time and years of mutual care and respect, you don't just become best friends like that!". This is common among the Rock Trolls; they don't "just make friends".
* Petra makes a reference to "Girls' Night" with her guess about what Poppy does to Val. The Dune Huggy also returns from said episode.
* The music playing while Val and Petra ride the moto critter resembles 1980s Rock songs from TV shows like Knight Rider or movies like Top Gun.
* The song where Bad Hair Day plays, "Heart to Heart", alongside the note Billy Reverb makes about needing to talk is also a reference to 1980s film and TV. Often when two characters were having a "heart-to-heart" moment, a steady guitar riff would play in the background, with a single lead guitar playing a gentle tune.