Just One of the Princes

"Just One of the Princes" is the first episode of the Disney Junior series Sofia the First, which premiered on January 11, 2013.

Synopsis
Sofia and her family go to watch a flying derby race. During the race, James tells Sofia that Royal Prep has its own flying derby team and that the team tryout race is next week. After the race is finished, Sofia decides to go watch the tryout practice at her school tomorrow.

But to everyone's shock, Sofia wants to try out for the team herself instead of just watching, but is told that racing is not a "princess thing",  because Hugo and Amber won't let her, though she believes it could be. After being encouraged by Clover, Sofia announces at dinner that she will try out for the team. While her parents are supportive, Amber and James are not, and James says Sofia doesn't even know how to ride a horse. King Roland suggests that James could teach her, and at the same time get in some more much-needed practice himself.

The next day, Sofia is ready to get a horse of her own, though she ends up with the one horse nobody wants, Minimus. Even though Minimus lacks self-confidence and has many faults, Sofia thinks he is perfect just the way he is. Unfortunately, she has trouble right from the start, and even with James's help, is unable to even stay on her horse. However, Sofia refuses to give up trying out for the team and James vows to continue teaching her, even after they are mocked by Prince Hugo, the best rider in the group.

Sofia and Minimus do well on most the course, but are unable to tackle the final hurdle, which is to go through the top of the steeple. Later that night, Amber once again tries to discourage Sofia from racing, since she had almost crashed after failing to get through the steeple and Amber doesn't want her to get hurt. She then talks with her animal friends about what to do, and they say all she needs to do is get an early start so she can get more practice in.

But even with extra practice, Sofia and Minimus still can't get through the steeple, for which Minimus blames himself. Hugo appears and tells Sofia there's no point in starting a race she can't finish, and she should go back where she belongs with the other princesses. After Sofia comes home from school, her mother tells her that she and Roland will be going to watch the tryout race, but Sofia says she might not participate since she can't finish the course. Miranda tells her not to give up and that while she believes Sofia can make the team, what Sofia herself thinks is most important.

On the day of the race, several people show up to see if a princess can indeed make the team, which makes Sofia nervous but with support from James, she is ready to race. She starts out in last place but quickly makes progress. Hugo, deciding to take her out of the race, purposely brings his own horse to a sudden halt, taking Minimus by surprise and causing Sofia to fall off him much to the crowd's shock especially Amber, who realizes that Hugo had done it on purpose and boos him. Sofia almost decides to finally give up, but James appears and says he's not crossing the finish line without her. After helping her get back on her horse, the two of them catch up to Hugo and are soon at the steeple. Sofia and Minimus finally manage to go through it, and both Sofia and James get past Hugo, winning the race.

The two of them are given Royal Prep's team jerseys and congratulated by their parents. Amber, who no longer likes Hugo because of what he'd done to Sofia, also admits that perhaps racing could be a princess thing after all, and gives Sofia her derby tiara to go with the jersey.

Songs

 * Princess Things
 * Anything

Trivia

 * How Sofia speaks in this episode starts slight improving.
 * This is the first episode to feature two songs.

Goofs

 * Shortly before Princess Things starts, James is shown in his flying derby uniform. When the princesses and princes march around as the song begins, James is wearing his regular clothes.

Cast

 * Ariel Winter as Sofia
 * Sara Ramirez as Queen Miranda
 * Wayne Brady as Clover
 * Tim Gunn as Baileywick
 * Darcy Rose Byrnes as Princess Amber
 * Zach Callison as Prince James
 * Travis Willingham as King Roland II
 * Ashley Eckstein as Mia
 * Meghan Strange as Robin
 * Eric Stonestreet as Minimus
 * Colin Ford as Prince Hugo