Adventures in Budylon

"Adventures in Budylon"
Season/Series:	17
Number in season:	2a
Original Airdate:	November 12, 2013 November 12, 2013 October 24, 2013 April 24, 2013
Credits
Written by:	Craig Carlisle
Storyboard by:	Cilbur Rocha
Episodes
Previous "Dog's Best Friend"	Next "Ladonna Compson: Party Animal"
Read transcript

"Adventures in Budylon" is the first half of the second episode in the seventeenth season of Arthur. It was later adapted into the online game D.W. & Bud's Backyard Adventure.

Summary

D.W. and Bud embark on an epic wilderness adventure! Dense jungles, mystical ruins...the backyard has never been so exciting!

Plot

D.W. stood in front of a blank background, holding a flip chart depicting a TV, pretzels, and a couch. She addressed the TV audience, emphasizing the necessity of a TV for watching the show. Bud joined her, suggesting the possibility of viewers watching on a computer or phone. D.W. agreed but insisted on continuing her list. Bud playfully interrupted, reminding her of the need for a place to sit. With a wave of his pointing stick, a couch materialized beneath D.W. Next, Bud pointed to the pretzels, and a bowl of them appeared in D.W.'s lap. However, Bud wasn't satisfied and suggested replacing the pretzels with crawfish poppers, which instantly transformed the treats. D.W. was surprised by the sudden change. Finally, Bud pointed out the missing toy dinosaur, Rapty, who materialized behind D.W. as her imaginary friend. Bud then sat down beside D.W., acknowledging that even a simple activity like watching TV could turn into an adventure with him. D.W. agreed, passing the poppers and using a remote control to end the scene.

Adventures in Budylon

Ladonna and Arthur are in Arthur's kitchen, working on a diorama with a giant mountain as the centerpiece. Just then, Bud's stuffed animal Rapty flies out of nowhere and crashes into the mountain, popping it. D.W. and Bud appear, pointing fingers at each other and shouting "he/she did it!" Ladonna scolds them, saying she told them not to play around the diorama and that now the mountain has caved in. Bud looks confused when she says the name of the peak, and Arthur says that it is a mountain in Peru climbed by Annie Smith Peck, a famous mountaineer whom they are doing a project on. Ladonna says one of the mountains in the range was named after Annie, to which D.W. comments that she would like something named after her as well. Arthur tells D.W. that in order for this to happen, she has to be a famous explorer. Ladonna, sensing an opportunity to get the kids out of the house and away from their project, convinces them to explore the backyard, describing in detail the lush and dangerous scenery. At first, D.W. and Bud only see the backyard, until Ladonna helps them realize that they must use their imaginations. The two run outside, leaving Ladonna and Arthur to finish their project. In their tent, D.W. packs up sandwiches, juice boxes, a rope for mountain climbing, an umbrella for walking in the rainforest, and an inflatable bed, while Bud packs water, raisins, a sleeping bag, playing cards, Rapty, and a safari light. Then they go explore the rainforest in their imaginations. Then they discover a statue from an ancient civilization. Back in reality, it was Ladonna reading. That night, Bud suggests that he and D.W. play Crazy Nines. D.W. tries to explain it's called Crazy Eights, but Bud likes Crazy Nines because it is crazier. Then they hear a noise and see it is a raccoon, to which they panic. D.W. asks Bud where his sister is, and we see Ladonna is watching TV. Bud asks D.W. where her brother is, and we see Arthur is at Buster's condo. D.W. and Bud are still panicking, and then the raccoon takes off. Then Arthur and Ladonna check on them and they go to sleep. The next day, Arthur and Ladonna go in the house with D.W. and Bud, finishing the episode.

Characters

• Arthur Read
• Bud Compson
• D.W. Read
• Ladonna Compson
• Buster Baxter
• Rapty
• Tex Buttery
• David Read (indirectly mentioned)
• Jane Read (indirectly mentioned)
• Rufus Compson (indirectly mentioned)
• Cisely Compson (indirectly mentioned)

Trivia

• This episode was loosely adapted into the online game D.W. & Bud's Backyard Adventure on the PBS Kids website.
• Timeline: Ladonna is mesmerized by the television, which is explained in "Based on a True Story" by the fact that her family no longer has one.

Episode connections

• Ladonna says the same quote that Muffy does in "Arthur Sells Out": "You don't sell the steak...you sell the sizzle!".

Errors

• When Bud points out to Ladonna the spot where the tent must be placed in order to be in the imaginary jungle and D.W. turns to look that way, the pupil of her left eye disappears.

Cultural references

• Budylon's name is a parody of Babylon.
• Arthur and Ladonna are making a diorama based on the expeditions of Annie Smith Peck.

Gallery

Promotional images

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  "Remember when you used to watch #ArthurPBS as a kid? You still can! My all-new season airs 11/11 on @PBSKIDS"

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Screenshots

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  'Extreme Kite Flying'

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See also

• D.W. & Bud's Backyard Adventure