Rupert's and Bill's trip to the carnival is spoiled by Algy constantly bragging about what a champion he is. Rupert decides to teach him a lesson by rigging some games in his favor, then ceasing to help him and watching his egotistical bubble burst. Unfortunately, Algy's "winning streak" is noticed by a race of little mole-like people called Mulp, secretly hunting for a champion of their own. The Mulp kidnap Algy (with his friends following close behind) and take him through a network of underground tunnels to their hidden village, where they explain they need a champion like him to fight a monster that's been menacing their town — the Mulp Gulper. Algy accepts before Rupert and Bill can find him and explain he's not actually capable of beating a monster. How are three young boys going to defeat a Mulp Gulper without becoming dinner themselves?
This episode provides examples of:
- Accidental Athlete: Algy quickly realizes he's in over his head against the lynx wrestler and runs away in terror. He slips on a scoop of ice cream, several crashes occur, and he appears to have won the match.
- Bread, Eggs, Breaded Eggs: Visual example — when the Mulp Gulper asks the three boys which of them is the Mulp's champion, they all answer, "He is!" Algy points at Rupert, Rupert points at Algy, and Bill points to both of them.
- Childhood Friend Romance: Rupert's parents recount how his dad always played carnival games trying to impress his girlfriend and future wife when they were kids (what impressed her was how he never gave up).
- Foreshadowing: Algy wins only one game on his own when the ball he throws accidentally bounces off of several other points before hitting the target. This is how he defeats the Mulp Gulper, when, with no other way to fight, he resorts to throwing his helmet at it, and misses...
- Indy Ploy: Discussed, as Bill only just now learns that Rupert improvises most of his plans on the fly.Bill: To think, all this time, I believed your plans were carefully thought out.
- "Metaphor" Is My Middle Name:Algy: Strength, Skill, Courage, and Daring are my middle names!
- Non-Protagonist Resolver: Rupert's plan backfires, and Algy (through sheer dumb luck rather than skill) defeats the Mulp Gulper on his own.
- "Not So Different" Remark: Bill observes that the Mulp Gulper is just as arrogant and full of himself as Algy is.
- Out-of-Character Moment: Rupert's not himself this episode, getting easily angered at Algy and plotting a prank to play on him.
- Sapient Eat Sapient: Both the Mulp Gulper and the Mulp are sapient.
- "Test Your Strength" Game: This is one of the games Rupert and Bill rig for Algy.
- Unexpectedly Dark Episode: Not many episode of Rupert start with someone being Eaten Alive!
- Unreliable Narrator: Rupert's dad claims he was "quite a champion" at carnival games in his youth; his mum, however, says it was admirable how he kept trying even though he never won.
- Victory Is Boring: The Mulp Gulper is bored with how easily he always defeats the Mulp's champions and wishes they actually would find someone who can give him a challenge.
- Villain Opening Scene: The episode opens on a battle between the Mulp Gulper and his latest challenger.
- You're Just Jealous: Algy says this ver batim when Rupert tries to stop him from accepting the wrestling challenge.
