“I want to make a show that will change the world and stop war.”
This ambitious statement from Jim Henson sparked the creation of the original Fraggle Rock series (1983-1987). While Henson’s initial mission for the show could never be fulfilled, the series excelled at portraying the power and beauty of a place where communities could unite to improve the world they all live in despite their differences.
Since its finale, the colorful characters of Fraggle Rock laid dormant until AppleTV+ released a 2022 revival of the series titled Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock. While its first season successfully recaptures the spirit and themes that made the original so unique, the second season reminds us why this show is as necessary now as it was decades ago.
Developed by Alex Cuthbertson and Matt Fusfeld, Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock’s second season follows our favorite Fraggles (Gobo, Wembley, Mokey, Boober, and Red) on all-new adventures. With the Gorgs and Fraggles now friends and Uncle Traveling Matt gearing up for a new expedition into “outer space,” life down in Fraggle Rock seems better than ever. But when Doc’s (Lilli Cooper) wind-based energy experiments send tumultuous storms through the Fraggles’ land, they’re forced to face their fears and adapt to the sudden, drastic changes challenging their way of life.
Through catchy songs and whimsical antics, the Fraggles, Gorgs, Dozers, and Silly Creatures from Outer Space (humans) learn the importance of embracing change and that no one needs to face their fears alone.
While the first season engaged me with its colorful characters, infectious songs, and innovative puppetry, every aspect of this season is a step up from the last: fresh new characters, fascinating worldbuilding, and memorable new songs. But beyond technical advancements, the themes and stories this season were more reflective of the current state of the world, giving the show a noticeable relevancy. Using the wind storms as a season-long conflict allowed episodes to explore themes like the importance of admitting fear amidst uncertainty and the permanent damage caused by mass-spreading hateful words.
This new season has several standout episodes, moments, and songs. As a Non-Binary person, I felt the purest joy watching Episode 5 (“I’m Pogey”), which explores gender identity beautifully through Wembley (Jordan Lockhart) and an openly Non-Binary Fraggle named Pogey (Canja Chen). I love the storyline about the Gorgs, seeing Junior Gorg (Dan Garza) question the rigid and intolerant traditions Pa Gorg (Frank Meschkuliet) pushes on him.
In episode 10 (“Fraggle Up”), I found myself shamelessly crying at the song ‘It Makes You Cry/Sister and Brother,’ when Gobo sings, “Look at the world. What can you do? ‘Cuz it makes you ache, and it leaves you blue.” It’s a very specific, sad sentiment that I’ve felt a lot lately but could never articulate until it was sung through the mouth of a Fraggle. And that’s the beauty of this show.
As adults, it’s easy to dismiss kids’ shows where the lesson of every episode is easily identifiable through a line of dialogue or a particular song. But sometimes, when it comes to learning something new about ourselves and the world, what we need most is simplicity. In the first episode (“The Great Wind”), Gobo admits, “I have no idea what we’re going to face next. But that can’t stop us from trying to improve things or take away the fun of being here now.”
It’s simple, but simplicity garners so much power when used sincerely. It’s evident that the cast and crew behind Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock understand and respect simplicity’s weight, creating a show beneficial to “silly creatures” of every age.
This series asks its audience to focus not just on the world as it is but on the world as it could be. Even if, especially lately, it’s easier to accept that the world can never be the one Fraggle Rock pushes us to hope for, every episode reminds us that even when everything seems out of our control, we are never useless, and we are never alone.
Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock Season 2 is more than a step up from the previous season; it re-establishes the original show’s impact and relevance for the modern generation. Through their songs, antics, glitter, and radishes, the Fraggles assure us that when we keep our hearts open and our minds willing to listen, we take one step closer to the positive changes in the world that we want to see.
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