Dong-Chouel's Big Meltdown

Dong-Chouel's Big Meltdown is a Season 3 episode

## Characters

* Dong-Chouel
* Samchon-Chouel
* Chang-Ho Chouel
* Swoople
* Jimmy
* Mr. Chouel
* Ms. Chouel
* Young-Chouel
* Ki-Chouel
* Lee-Choi
* Sid-Jeon
* Mr. Choi
* Ms. Choi
* Halmeoni-Chouel
* Harabeoji-Chouel
* Eun-Chouel
* Iseul-Chouel
* Eun-Chouel
* Seok-Chouel
* Drake
* Big-Al
* Big-Al's friends
* Myung-Hee
* Rattles
* Amhed
* Aaban (does not speak)
* Amhed's little brother (does not speak)
* Fatima (does not speak)
* Aadil (does not speak)
* Message Birds

## Plot

A big blizzard strikes Dong-Chouel's neighborhood, knocking out their electricity and power, and the citizens struggle to cope

## Summary

The episode starts with a penguin eating a marshmallow, and Dong-Chouel regretting his want for snow, whilst walking Jimmy in a blizzard. He is called home by Ki-Chouel, who then asks about the penguin, which Dong-Chouel dismisses until they see a seal roll by; Dong-Chouel then says, “I’ve been hoping for snow, but.. this is ridiculous.”

The weather forecaster predicts a little snow, but Dong-Chouel wants more so that school will be closed.

Unfortunately for Dong-Chouel the next morning, despite more snow than was expected, Mapo Elementary is open — the weather will turn sunny and no other schools are shut either. Dong-Chouel then says, "Why do weathermen never say the right thing?" Upon getting to school, Myung-Hee informs Lee and Dong-Chouel that she didn't finish her report on the pioneers because they were "d-u-u-u-l-l-l".

As soon as Kim-Seo walks in, getting ready to start class, the power cuts out, and Principal Min-Jun tells the class that the storm is getting worse, the building's lost electricity, and that the school is closed. Kim-Seo is shocked, but the kids are happy and they cheer loudly. Now the kids have to give in homework on the way out, and Francine is made to do a three-page report while everyone else plays in the snow. Myung-Hee continues to struggle with her report. Kim-Seo says he could give her 59%, but she won't.

Meanwhile, the Chouels are cutting paths in the snow and Ki-Chouel remarks how deep it is. Mr. Chouel says this snow is nothing, and remembers that one time, they had snow so deep it was over his head! Ms. Chouel reminds him he was smaller than Samchon when that happened. The storm gets worse and they all head inside, which leads to the snow fantasies of Ki-Chouel - a toy factory, and Swoople and Jimmy - a nice and cozy cabin.

Samchon and Chang-Ho Chouel later arrive to The Chouel's house, Samchon later throws his raincoat to the table, Ms. Chouel gets angry at Samchon for causing a mess, but Mr. Chouel reminds her that she had done worse, On one rainy day in America, a younger Ms. Chouel puts her muddy raincoat in the couch, Halmeoni gets angry at Ms. Chouel for making the couch dirty, and sends her to her room

Later, Samchon, Chang-Ho, Swoople and Jimmy go to Kim-Seo's house for hot cocoa, but tells everyone that she's going to see her family in Canada, Samchon promises to keep her house safe as Kim-Seo leaves.

Myung-Hee's power cuts out, meaning she can't finish her report; she says she's going to have a snowball fight, but her father forces her to continue writing with a pencil and a piece of paper.

At Kim-Seo's house, Samchon and Chang-Ho Chouel are trying to get the van started, but Swoople forces Samchon and Chang-Ho Chouel to stay behind and keep the windows from freezing — otherwise, they would all die from hunger and pneumonia (much to Chang-Ho's horror.)

Chang-Ho's moaning about the beans — why eat them when they have the cafeteria food to choose from? However, all the food is frozen and, according to Samchon, inedible. Chang-Ho appears to be losing it from the predicament they are all in; hungry and wanting to go home, he bitterly grumbles that he hates winter, to which Swoople assures he is just upset.

Sid-Jeon gives Lee a psychic reading; there'll be more snow and Lee will meet a tall, dark stranger, which is confirmed by the D.J. on the radio. Lee is stuck at Sid-Jeon's house, as his power is out, and he is annoyed with Lee's constant "powers."

Chang-Ho, Swoople and Jimmy accidentally get themselves and Samchon-Chouel stuck overnight at the school to prevent the window from freezing.

After snow falls, a period of freezing rain then ensues, and an electrical tower collapses from the storm, leading to numerous power outages across the contury. As utility transformers short out and light up the night sky, Ki-Chouel says that the town is exploding, and it's very pretty.

No deliveries can get in to the store, and Principal Min-Jun has bought the last of many things. Mr. Chouel's supply is looking smaller and smaller.

Mr. Chouel picks up his family in Bukchon, as they too have no power. Ms. Chouel invited all who need warmth to the Chouel house, so the house ends up quite full. Even though he couldn't buy any food, Mr. Chouel says that everyone brought some of their own, so he will be able to mix it all up and makes *Jjigae*.

The power finally cuts in the Chouel household; everyone's going to die in a heap, according to Ki-Chouel, but Mr. Chouel's going to cook on the camping stove and Seok-Chouel has an idea to stay warm: huddle near the fire. Lee warns all to not practice the tuba, as he did at home earlier and it was so cold in the house that his mouth froze to the tuba for two hours. Ms. Chouel comes in with a pile of logs and says that the radio announced that power is out everywhere. She asks Mr. Chouel if they should call the other Chois to check on them; he replies that the Chois probably have a way of keeping warm that no-one else can afford. It turns out they don't, and Lee's little siblings run around, panicking, before being invited by the Chouels. Mr. Choi didn't bring any of the food he had been busy buying, so the stew portions may be a little smaller.

Samchon calls Big-Al his friends and tells them he's hosting a party. Chang-Ho, Swoople and Jimmy decides to keep their mouth shut to experience the party because he has never seen a party, but Samchon traps them in separate rooms, For Swoople and Jimmy, Kim-Seo's kitchen. and Chang-Ho, a spare room in Kim-Seo's house.

As Myung-Hee continues on with her report, she suddenly realizes that what the pioneers used to face is not different from everyone is going through right now. Finally understanding the harsh life the pioneers endured, Myung-Hee believes they must have been the toughest people on earth as they had to survive the cold weather without electricity nor weathermen.

As the Chouels prepare the *Jjigae* for everyone, the storm eventually ends. Sid-Jeon remarks "I told you so" (presumably to Lee) over and over, and it is time to dig out. Myung-Hee concludes that to survive such harsh times, people need to work together and help each other; they all dig out the Chouel's frontyard, clean out the snow on the roads and remove the fallen telephone pole from the car. Mr. Choi fetches his food and Chang-Ho, Swoople and Jimmy inside Kim-Seo's house are rescued. Chang-Ho runs to Mr. Chouel and cries, while Mr. Chouel pats him on the back. and Big-Al and his gang go to jail for the following crimes: Disturbing the peace, resisting arrest, property damage and animal abuse, and everyone is angry at Samchon for messing up Kim-Seo's house and ends up in a 2 hour time-out

Eventually, Myung-Hee's report is done. The power returns as everyone has enjoyed the snow, and Ki-Chouel brings his snowball into the house to freeze it as a reminder of this day, setting up the events for "Home Sweet Home" and finishing the episode.

## Trivia

* 36 characters appear in this episode
* This episode is the prequel to "Home Sweet Home." The final scene where Ki-Chouel saves a snowball and puts it in the freezer is taken from "Home Sweet Home." The animation from that episode was re-used, (notice how the characters are drawn slightly differently and the film quality aren't as bright), as well as Ms. Chouel's dialogue,
* Swoople's Canadian Mountie costume from "Home Sweet Home" is seen again when Swoople, Jimmy, Chang-Ho Chouel and Samchon-Chouel arrive at Kim-Seo's house
* The episode was partly influenced by a real life ice storm that occurred in the USA in 1973