A Caravan Named Desire

Amphibia
"A Caravan Named Desire"

Season 2

Number 3B

Episode information

Production code

440A-206

Written by

Adam Colás

Storyboards by

Eleisiya Arocha
Silver Paul

Directed by

Jenn Strickland

Original airdate

July 25, 2020

*Amphibia* Episodes
Previous	Next
"Truck Stop Polly"	"Quarreler's Pass"

"A Caravan Named Desire" is the second segment of the twenty-third episode of Amphibia. It aired on July 25, 2020.

Synopsis[]

Hop Pop signs the family up to join a traveling theater troupe, hoping to realize his dream of being an actor.

Plot[]

Anne and the Plantars have entered the dry swamp, actually a desert that is home to giant sandworms. They, of course, run into one, but are rescued by a group of frogs who turn out to be an acting troupe led by the famous playwright Renee Frodgers. She introduces them to her troupe and all they have to offer. Hop Pop excitedly wants to join the troupe while Sprig and Polly become entranced with a young method actor named Francis (who calls himself Francois). Anne on the other hand refuses to take part, due to a traumatizing incident in her youth and instead opts to complete a jigsaw puzzle which throughout the episode everyone continues to disrupt her from finishing as the pieces get scattered or undone.

Hop Pop auditions for the lead role, but Renee is unimpressed. When he breaks down his reasoning for it, Renee favors his seriousness and casts him. Hop Pop and Polly meet with Francis and all the young method actors. They immediately criticize Sprig for not committing while Polly becomes favored for staying in character. The family proceed to travel with the acting troupe until Hop Pop discovers that they are actually thieves who rob towns. Renee explains that no one cares about the theater arts anymore, so they steal money to keep themselves afloat. Hop Pop decides to keep quiet about it despite Anne telling him that it is not a good idea.

As they arrive in the next town, Hop Pop performs for the audience. Sprig confronts Francis and ridicules him for his strict nature, which ironically causes Francis to finally appreciate Sprig. Hop Pop realizes that he must give up on his dreams and outs Renee to the townspeople. A chase across the dry swamp ensues as Hop Pop tries to stop Renee. A sandworm rises and knocks Renee out with Hop Pop almost catching her (he misses her completely, and she lands on her face). Renee and the troupe are arrested as Hop Pop grabs the kids and flees town when the sheriff questions their awareness of the crime.

Cast[]

Additional Voices[]

Troy Baker as Villain Actor, Blue Audience Frog
Eden Riegel as Pink Audience Frog

Song[]

"Caravaning to Our Dreams"

Trivia[]

The episode's title is a reference to the 1951 Warner Bros. film A Streetcar Named Desire.
The sandworms are most likely lifted from the movie Beetlejuice.
Previous episodes have indicated that Hop Pop was a failed actor at one point.
The Koalas of Passion puzzle resembles the famous boat tip scene from Titanic.
A poster for Phantom of the Hopera is a parody of Phantom of the Opera.
Natasha Romanoff's symbol appears in the eye patch Polly wears as part of her costume as "The Black Widow".