Ep 8. Fear of Foul Odours (Osmophobia)

In The Adventures of Figaro Pho season 1 episode 8, titled Fear of Foul Odours (Osmophobia), we join Figaro as he battles his overwhelming fear of bad smells. His phobia leads him to change his daily routine and avoid certain places altogether, like the garbage dump and public restrooms. But when Figaro finds himself trapped in a confined space with a group of unpleasant odours, including a skunk, he must face his fears head-on.

As Figaro tries to outrun the smell of the skunk, he ends up running into a bathroom with a broken door and gets locked inside. The pungent odour coming from the clogged toilet and the dirty sink quickly overwhelms him, but there's no escape. Panicking and desperate for fresh air, he tries several ways to open the door. Eventually, he manages to create a hole through the wall using a plunger and breaks free, but not without taking some of the stench with him.

Figaro realizes that the fear he feels around certain odours is irrational and decides to seek professional help. He visits a therapist who offers him breathing exercises and gradual exposure to unpleasant smells in a controlled environment, hoping to help him overcome his osmophobia. However, things don't go as planned, and Figaro finds himself on a wild rollercoaster, dodging giant garlic, onion, and fish, at the city's annual food festival.

Just when he thinks he's overcome his fear, he encounters an unexpected challenge. A friend hands Figaro a bag of garbage to throw out, and as he smells it, his osmophobia returns tenfold. He becomes convinced that the odour has entered his nose and that he will never smell normal again. His friend tries to comfort him, assuring him that the smell will eventually fade, but it takes some time and calming words from his therapist for him to feel better.

In the end, Figaro realizes that he can't avoid unpleasant odours forever and that exposure therapy is the key to overcoming his fear. The episode ends with Figaro taking small steps towards getting over his phobia, such as visiting the garbage centre and not holding his nose around unpleasant smells.

The Fear of Foul Odours (Osmophobia) episode of The Adventures of Figaro Pho explores the issue of phobias and the impact they can have on one's daily life. It is an engaging and educational episode that sheds light on the importance of facing our fears and seeking help when necessary.