Branch Out of Water

Episode Info
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**Transcript**

Season 1, Episode 3b

**"Branch Out of Water"** is the second segment of the 3rd episode of the first season of *Trolls: TrollsTopia*, and the 5th overall episode in the series. It premiered on November 19, 2020.

## Synopsis

When the Techno Trolls take over Branch's favorite hot springs and disrupt his morning routine, he has to go down to Techno Lagoon to reach an understanding with Synth, a Troll with whom he has nothing in common.

## Plot

Poppy is in her pod scrapbooking blindfolded. When she peeks at her finished results, it is a mess and thus confirms she can't scrapbook blindfolded.

She is then interrupted by Branch, who is demanding to talk to her. She states that of course he can talk to her; however, he is covered in glitter right now and she has to take a photo of it (She finds it funny). He explains that 4 days ago, he went to have a swim at 4 am at Hiding Place Hot Springs where he was unable to swim there in peace since the Techno Trolls took over it. While Poppy is confused why it is at 4 am, Branch claims via flashback because it's the most refreshing time of the day. He tells that without his morning swim, his entire day is thrown off. Not only can he even pour coffee correctly, but he wore odd socks - even though he doesn't even wear socks. The worst part was that he picked Flavor Berries and ended up getting sunk in a pit of Quick Glitter. Branch stresses that he almost drowned in glitter. Poppy asks him to try talking to the Techno Trolls, but Branch says that he's more of a "lock myself in a fortress and groan" person. She claims that making friends with the Techno Trolls would help to work something out. After Poppy puts him on the spot, he agrees to do it her way.

They take the elevator down to Techno Lagoon. Poppy points out at Synth, telling Branch to make friends with him, as she's sure that he'll help Branch with the springs. Branch tries to talk to him but Synth says the music is calling the shots and when it says they rave, they rave. Synth likes Branch and asks him for his "rave name", dubbing Branch as "Dubstep". His frustrations attract the attention of Laguna Tidepool, another Techno Troll who is studying him and he's happy to talk to a scientist. As he goes to talk to her she's hooked by the beat and like her fellow Techno Trolls can't stop raving. Branch decides to cut to the chase a question for his 4 am swim back, but the Techno Trolls say that they need it for their wake-it rave and it's the best way to start their day. Poppy pushes Branch to be their friend. He suggests spending the day doing things they like doing.

Synth begins by showing Branch that they like whirlpool surfing while making new friends. Branch ends up getting sucked into a whirlpool while trying to surf on it. He then does "Treaditation", which involves a careful and steady swim; Branch kicks to stay above the water. He ends up getting sucked into the whirlpool again. Lastly, there is sea urchin acupuncture, an activity that Branch gets terrified at it and it makes him run away. Branch then stops running and looks down; he is floating in midair above the whirlpool. He falls into the water and ends up getting sucked into the whirlpool once again. Poppy is on the shore of the lagoon, waiting for Branch. He washes onto the shore and he states he's done, as he and the Techno Trolls will never be friends. Poppy just says that he'll have to spend the rest of his life having his days thrown off. He agrees to go but under groans.

Branch tries again, but he struggles to do everything. Synth can see he's trying and failing and this time he helps him out. With Synth's help, Branch pulls off the whirlpool surfing, Treaditation, and sea urchin acupuncture. As the two become friends, Synth decides to give back his 4 am swim.

The next morning, Branch goes back to his routine and his day is much better which he shows off to Poppy. While Poppy is happy for him, they soon see the Techno Trolls aren't doing too well. They are doing the same things Branch did before; a number of them are pouring hot coffee on themselves, Laguna is wearing odd socks, and Synth has gone off to the Flavor Berry patch. Branch hurries off to go after Synth due to the Quick Glitter.

At the patch, Synth is sinking in Quick Glitter. He decides that if he is going down, he will do it via raving. Branch joins him in the quick glitter pit and gets him to go Treaditation, which helps him rise back out.

After getting out of the Quick Glitter, Synth thanks Branch for saving his life, to which he says that it is the least he can do for a friend. Branch and the Techno Trolls agree to share the 4 am time. Branch joins the Techno Trolls and agrees that their mornings together are much more refreshing.

## Cast

Trolls

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

Techno Trolls
* Vladimir Caamaño as Synth
* Anita Kalathara as Laguna Tidepool

## Trivia

* The title is a play on "fish out of water", which refers to someone being in a situation wherein they're not able to be their best, and "branch out", which means "to look into new areas of interest".
* This episode starts a running gag throughout the series, in which the common classic cartoon logic rule of "gravity doesn't work until you look down" is referenced. This already happened in *Trolls: The Beat Goes On!* and *Trolls World Tour* as well.
* Poppy's scrapbooking blindfolded joke is a nod to the joke "I can do that so well I can even do it blindfolded". Its supposed to be a joke about how well someone knows a skill or can use an object so well, that they don't need their eyes to see to do it. An example would be; "I can drive a car so well, I can drive is backwards while blindfolded without hitting anything". Usually, its said as part of a brag and oftne is just an exaggeration of a skill. In other words, Poppy was testing to see if her scrapbooking skills were so good, she could indeed do scrapbooking blindfolded - as she found out, she could not.
* Synth's nickname for Branch, "Dubstep", is a reference to the music genre of the same name.
* A "rave name" is a nickname that was often given to people who frequently attended raves, signaling they're known on the rave circuit. Rave names are often silly-sounding, such as being related to their jobs ("Tim from Reception") or just sounding plain random and strange ("Lockstar").
* In real life, some sea urchins have irritating, toxic chemicals in their bodies, and are able to do a lot of damage to skin and tissue. It's likely that the chemicals in their strings are impacting Synth when he says that they get their head right. Based on this, the Techno Trolls likely use the sea urchins as a form of mild anesthesia to relief themselves from pain.
* Techno Trolls can breath underwater but not in Quick Glitter. It's most likely due to it being made of sand particles, which are more solid; thus, it's possible to suffocate any Troll.