Ep 16. Icky Pop/Dream Submarine

Esme and Roy season 1 episode 16, titled "Icky Pop/Dream Submarine," takes viewers on two fun and adventurous journeys. In the first part of the episode, we see Esme and Roy helping Tillie, a young monster who loves to play with bubbles. However, after she accidentally pops one that had a bee inside, she becomes afraid of bubbles altogether. Esme and Roy need to come up with a plan to help Tillie overcome her fear and learn to love bubbles again.

In the second part of the episode, Esme and Roy help Simon, a nervous young sea serpent who is afraid to go to sleep. He has been having scary dreams about a giant octopus attacking his submarine, and he is too nervous to go back to bed. Esme and Roy help Simon overcome his fear by using their imagination and transforming his submarine into a dream submarine.

The episode's first part, "Icky Pop," opens with Tillie happily blowing bubbles and playing with Esme and Roy. She's having a great time until she accidentally pops one and discovers a bee inside. This traumatic experience causes Tillie to become afraid of bubbles altogether. Esme and Roy attempt to reassure Tillie that bubbles are typically safe, but she is still too nervous to play with them. They realize they need to employ a different strategy and decide to confront Tillie's fear head-on.

Esme and Roy set up a bubble machine to show Tillie that bubbles are harmless. They even show her how to pop them without getting stung by using a special bubble-popping tool. Slowly but surely, Tillie becomes braver and starts to blow bubbles again. However, when the machine creates too many bubbles, she becomes overwhelmed and runs away in fear. Esme and Roy intervene and teach Tillie different calming techniques, like deep breathing and counting to ten. This helps Tillie regain her confidence and overcome her fear.

In the second part of the episode, "Dream Submarine," Simon is too nervous to go to sleep after having a series of bad dreams about a giant octopus attacking his submarine. His anxiety keeps him from falling asleep and is getting in the way of his daily life. Esme and Roy decide the best way to help Simon overcome his fear is to transform his submarine into a dream submarine, where he can imagine that he is in a safe environment.

Esme and Roy pull all the stops to make the dream submarine as realistic as possible. They use pillows and blankets to create a cozy sleep environment, and they use special lighting effects and sound to mimic the sounds of the ocean. The goal is to make Simon feel like he's safe and secure in his own bed, despite being underwater in his submarine.

In the dream submarine, Simon imagines he's cruising through caves and avoiding dangerous creatures like the giant octopus. However, when the octopus finally appears in his dream, Simon is able to confront his fear and outsmart the creature. When he wakes up safe and sound, he's a different serpent and thanks Esme and Roy for helping him.

"Icky Pop/Dream Submarine" is an episode that masterfully tackles two common fears among young children, fears of insects and fears of bad dreams. Through the adventures of Tillie and Simon, young viewers learn essential strategies for dealing with fear and anxiety, like confronting their fears and imagining safe environments. Esme and Roy are excellent role models, showing children how to be patient, compassionate, and understanding when it comes to overcoming fears and anxieties. All young viewers will enjoy this fun and educational episode.