Return to Recap: The Smurfs (1981).
Have you ever been so angry and frustrated with something that you want to shout it out loud ... and just one word holds the power to make that something go away forever?
"Kaplowey!"
That's the word the Smurfs learn could hold grave consequences, especially if uttered in anger ... or if Gargamel gets to the scroll first and learns the word that could render their species extinct in a matter of moments ... in "The Kaplowey Scroll."
As we open, Gargamel reveals to Azrael he has obtained a map containing directions to a secret Wizard's Chamber. Inside contains a magic scroll that he says will allow him to become the most powerful wizard on earth. Why, you dare ask? It seems the scroll has powers that, once translated, will allow its bearer to utter a powerful word ... one that Gargamel says will allow him to kill all the Smurfs once and for all.
Meanwhile, Clumsy stumbles across a hidden underground chamber — the Wizard's Chamber — which contains a mysterious scroll. Papa Smurf translates as having the magic word "kaplowey" which makes things disappear, including Smurfs. Papa Smurf realizes that the scroll, which is now in their power, holds potentially devastating powers and warns them never to utter "that word," going so far as to ask the Smurfs to police themselves in not using the word. Some Smurfs, however, are unable to resist using the word to get rid of things they didn't want around, causing a wide variety of problems that come to a head when Grouchy — having lost his patience with Jokey when he is the butt of his latest "joke box" — shouts out "KAPLOWEY!" ... causing Jokey to disappear ... perhaps permanently.
Meantime, Gargamel is also seeking the chamber and the scroll, whose powers he has learned of but the word to successfully put the power into action are as-of-yet unknown to him. Once Papa Smurf agrees with the other Smurfs that the scroll needs to be returned (after causing problems), Gargamel takes it to his hovel to try to learn its powers. Later, the Smurfs return to the chamber to destroy the scroll and reverse its effects, only to find it gone.
Realizing Gargamel might have it and that they may be "kaploweyed" into extinction if he learns the power of the word "kaplowey," Papa Smurf and the other Smurfs frantically rush to the evil wizard's hovel before he can wreak havoc on their existence.
Which they do, and just in time.
Indeed, they arrive ... just as Gargamel has translated the scroll and discovered the correct word that will allow him to wipe things out of existence. Just as Gargamel is about to consecrate his plans, the Smurfs shout out "KAPLOWEY!" to wipe out the front door of Gargamel's hovel ... then, before Gargamel has a chance to react, they "kaplowey" the scroll ... causing Jokey and Fly to reappear. Then, just as the Smurfs are fleeing his hovel, Gargamel is forced to go on the defensive, stumbling over a sack of flour that had been "kaploweyed" earlier but reappears, before he yells out "KAPLOWEY!" again ... making it rain. Gargamel cries in frustration as the Smurfs have made their getaway.
Tropes associated with this episode include
- An Aesop: Among several, the power of one word said in anger, or rant uttered thoughtlessly can have devastating consequences. This is illustrated perfectly when Grouchy, having lost his patience with Jokey's surprise boxes, "kaploweys" him out of existence ... and then realizes that Jokey might be dead because of his actions.
- Asshole Victim: Jokey accidentally became this when Grouchy used the word "kaplowey" on him after being the butt of his usual "surprise" prank. Fortunately, Papa Smurf reversed that.
- Beat Them at Their Own Game: Papa Smurf and the other Smurfs catch Gargamel and Azrael off guard when they arrive, just as the villains have successfully translated the scroll and discoverd that the word that wields destructive powers is "kaplowey" and are consecrating their plans. First, the Smurfs "kaplowey" the scroll, causing Jokey, Fly and other items that had been "kaploweyed" earlier to reappear and then turning it against Gargamel, causing him to trip over a sack of flour (which Brainy had "kaploweyed" earlier when he was annoyed at the meager rations he was being served) and ... in a final adding of insult to injury, making it rain on top of Gargamel when he screams out the word again in frustration.
- Curse Cut Short: Several Smurfs nearly use the word, but are stopped Just in Time.
- Didn't Think This Through: The fear of saying "kaplowey" causes everyone in the village to become depressed and unwilling to do much of anything. Jokey tries to lighten the mood with his trademark gag, only to pick the absolute worst possible target: Grouchy.
- Foreshadowing: In the opening scene, Gargamel shows Azrael a map and says he is aware of a Wizard's Chamber that contains a scroll that allows its bearer to utter a magic word that will allow him to wield great power ... and the potential to wipe out the Smurfs once and for all.
- Just in Time: Just as Gargamel and Azrael successfully translate the scroll and that the word they are looking for is "kaplowey," the Smurfs arrive to stop them.
- The Last Thing They Ever Hear: Gargamel, as he declares what will happen once he translates the scroll and unlocks the power of the yet-as-of-unknown word ... "Kaplowey!"
- My God, What Have I Done?: Grouchy is horrified when he uses the word "kaplowey" on Jokey.Grouchy: Oh, no!
Greedy: Poor Jokey!
Grouchy: I hate... myself. - The Scottish Trope
- This Is Gonna Suck: Papa Smurf's reaction when Grouchy is about to use "kaplowey" on Jokey.
