- Original airdate: September 22, 1984
"Who's Afraid of the Big, Bad Dark?" is the second episode of Muppet Babies (1984).
The gang helps Beaker get over his fear of the dark.
This episode contains the following tropes:
- By the Lights of Their Eyes: While they're in the closet, the babies are only visible through their eyes.
- Chekhov's Gun: Scooter's computer pen, which the kids play with earlier in the episode, is what Beaker uses to fend off the slime monster that represents his fear.
- Counting Sheep: This is suggested as a way to get Beaker to sleep. Gonzo asks if he's counted sheep, elephants, squirrels, or kangaroo rats. Then Fozzie mentions he always counts baby ducks jumping over chili dogs into a bowl of tapioca bumblebees.
- Double Take: Fozzie sees the slime monster is next to him, tells it he was afraid it was the slime monster, and then realizes it is and panics.
- Face Your Fears: The main conceit of the plot is the gang helping Beaker not to be scared of the dark.
- Gale-Force Sound: After trying to stay in a dark shadow, Beaker screeches so loud, it causes Fozzie's ears and tie to flutter as if being blown by a strong wind.
- Hypocritical Humor: Gonzo makes fun of Fozzie for sleeping with a teddy bear, but stops when Fozzie pulls Camilla out from behind his back.
- The Joy of X: Is named after "Who's Afraid of the Big, Bad Wolf?" from Disney's The Three Little Pigs.
- Narrative Shapeshifting: Since Beaker can only say "meep", in explaining his situation to the others, he morphs into a bed with a monster under it.
- Remember the New Guy?: When Nanny brings Bunsen and Beaker into the playroom, she announces their arrival as if the core babies already know them, despite this being their first appearance.
- The Unintelligible: Like his adult counterpart, Baby Beaker can only say "meep" and squeak.
