Ep 17. Blinky's Day Out

Blinky's Day Out is the seventeenth episode of the first season of Trollhunters: Tales of Arcadia. In this episode, Blinky takes on the responsibility of showing the human Claire the ropes in Trollmarket while Jim goes to school. As he takes her on a tour of their world, they encounter a variety of creatures including the Goblin Tech Men and the Krubera, all while trying to avoid detection by the Gumm-Gumms.

As they wander around Trollmarket, Claire is amazed by the beauty of the realm and intrigued to learn about its inhabitants. Blinky educates her on the Trollmarket rules, like prohibiting humans from entering certain areas and to be cautious of the Gumm-Gumms, nemeses of the trolls. They enjoy a warm drink at a café where Blinky teaches her about the differences between human and troll cuisine. Claire is eager to learn, and Blinky indulges her by buying her a pastry, which she admires for its exquisite texture and taste.

While they walk, Blinky shares with Claire his fears, such as losing his knowledge and memory, and his dreams of becoming a historian. Claire empathizes with him and gives her own insight into her life as a human.

The wandering duo then encounter the sinister looking Goblin Tech Men, who are tinkering with machines and gadgets. They approach Blinky and Claire with the wrong intentions and try to force them to hand over their items. Blinky, being the seasoned warrior he is, steps up to defend them and engages in a fight with the Goblin Tech Men. Claire is momentarily taken aback by the violence of the fight but soon realizes that this is a part of his life that Blinky cannot change.

After the fight, Blinky and Claire proceed to visit Krubera, an ancient creature who lives in an underwater cave. Blinky needs to gather information from Krubera to help with a future mission. They let themselves be guided underwater, outfitted with special protective gear, and make their way through the murky depths of the cave.

Claire and Blinky are welcomed by Krubera and have a long conversation with him, during which Blinky extracts the information he needs. Krubera also talks to Claire and shares his philosophy and knowledge with her.

After the conversation, Blinky and Claire run afoul of the Gumm-Gumms, but Blinky's cleverness saves them from a nasty confrontation. He quickly distracts the Gumm-Gumms and misdirects them so that they continue on their mission.

After a long day, Blinky and Claire return to the surface where Jim is waiting for them. Claire remains awestruck by the events of their adventure, and Blinky radiates with joy, knowing that he had a successful outing. Jim is pleasantly surprised to find that Claire has taken to their world, and he is grateful that Blinky had been looking out for his best friend while he was off at school.

Trollhunters: Tales of Arcadia, Blinky's Day Out, is a beautiful episode that showcases the relationship between the troll Blinky and his human friend Claire. Together, they navigate a fantastical world, overcoming obstacles and challenging their fears. It is heart-warming to see how Blinky tries to educate Claire about his home but also how deeply he cares about his realm. Despite the episode's violence, it is a gentle reminder of how kindness and empathy can triumph over hatred and violence.