"The Problematic Project"



"The Problematic Project" is the fourth episode of the first season of Spylights and the fourth episode overall. The episode follows Link and Navi as they travel to the planet Tucana in order to do research for a school project. Things go amiss however, when the native population of the planet become curious about the pair.

Synopsis
Link willingly offers to help Navi get an A on her next project for school. Unfamiliar with the concept of school entirely, Navi decides the perfect subject is a planet inhabited with thousands of curious natives who take a keen interest in the pairing.

Plot
The episode opens with Link and Navi's teacher handing back the most recent history exam. Navi expresses her excitement, telling Link how her plan to study two minutes before the test started is foolproof. Much to her shock however, she receives a D, squashing her mood in an instant. She asks Link about his grade to which he reports that he got an A+ giving Navi a cocky smirk.

Their conversation is caught short when their teacher Miss Lynch announces their next research project, explaining that it counts for a hefty percentage of their grade point average in the class. Link turns to Navi, suggesting that this could be an opportunity to bring her grade up. Navi is skeptical as the project is focused around another culture outside of their own and because Earth is already a different culture to her, it's out of the question. Link reassures her, giving her the idea to travel to a different planet in order to complete the project. He offers to help her, stating that because she's his best friend it's "only natural that he help her". Once back at home, Link and Navi explore some of Navi's records from Taurus in order to find out which planet they should do the project on. Navi begins listing off some planets as Link brings another book over to her. Flipping through the pages, he comes across a planet called Tucana, with plentiful rainforests, rough terrain, and, of course, plenty of toucans. Navi immediately hops on board. When she goes to search for the Galaxy Orb, she finds that she's misplaced it and starts to panic. In typical Navi fashion, she starts to chuck things across the room in desperation. In order to calm her down, Link suggests they try to get to Tucana by a different means. This gives Navi an idea to contact Bellatrix.

Bellatrix, who had been hiding in a closet, is startled into answering Navi's call, immediately assuming the rebellious super spy has caused some sort of trouble. Navi denies this and explains the situation to Bellatrix. Hesitant at first, Bellatrix clarifies the circumstances as being purely educational, which Navi confirms. Expressing immediate regret over this, Bellatrix reluctantly hands over a spare Galaxy Orb for Link and Navi to use for the project. Before Navi hangs up on her abruptly, Bellatrix attempts to warn her about the planet which Navi ignores. Upon arrival to Tucana, Link and Navi finds themselves in a humid, rainforest, blanketed in fog. Navi is immediately won over by the planet and begins to take notes immediately. As usual, Link gets an uneasy feeling, especially when Navi points out the lack of intelligent life anywhere in sight. A twig snap startles an already anxious Link, causing him to jump back in surprise. He crashes into Navi and they both lose their footing, falling to the ground.

Link, having landed on top of Navi, pushes himself up to find that he and Navi are inches apart. Stumbling to his feet, Link stammers out an apology for knocking them over. For a moment, Navi doesn't respond, only furthering the awkwardness of the situation. She finds herself momentarily taken by Link before snapping out of it, stating that it was an accident though both she and Link smile and blush. All of a sudden, a net snatches them both up, carrying them up into the treetops. Quivering with fear, Link looks over to find Navi still taking notes. They catch a glimpse of their captors, a group of anthropomorphic toucans, dressed in an almost tribal style. Completely oblivious to the potential danger stirred by the spears the group of natives holds up to them, Navi addresses them cordially, much to Link's horror. The situation only escalates when they're both cut down from the tree and carried off. Link demands to know how Navi can focus on taking notes when they could be thrown into a stewpot. Navi simply responds by explaining that the project is of the utmost importance, regardless of their current predicament. Minutes later, Link and Navi find themselves tied up back to back above an offering of tree trunks. The toucan people begin celebrating below them, something that Navi once again, notes in her research. Link, growing increasingly frustrated with his best friend, shouts Navi to focus on getting them out of their unfortunate situation. Finally noting Link's fear, Navi responds by firing her ray gun at the rope holding them up. They come crashing to the ground, drawing attention on themselves once again. It's at this point, as the natives surround them, that Navi comments on their almost hostile actions towards them. Link cracks, shouting at Navi that they've been nothing but hostile the entire time. Just as they close in, Navi pulls Link to her and grapples them onto a tree branch. Worried for her and Link's safety, Navi somehow summons rain and thunder with her mere presence. Much to her and Link's surprise, the toucans seem to become almost curious with the two and cordially bow to them. Link leans over to Navi, asking her what they're intentions are. Navi observes how they're culture must be tied to nature and that when she summoned the rain, they saw it as a peaceful offering to the land. Reaching an epiphany of sorts, adrenaline courses through Navi as she excitedly tells Link that her project is complete. On the day of project presentations, Navi presents her findings on the culture of Tucana to the rest of the class, garnering immense applause from the class and Miss Lynch. Her presentation awards her an A+ which she and Link celebrate at their seats. The moment is short lived however, when Miss Lynch calls Link up to do his presentation...which he failed to complete due to helping Navi with hers. Navi laughs at Link's expression, joking that history comes easily to her, mimicking his comment from the beginning of the episode.

Cast
Amy McDonald as Navi Callisto

Quinn Dzieginski as Link Cornell

Mo Augello as Celeste

Erin Shukis as Bellatrix

Trivia

 * "Tucana" is named after the constellation Tucana which is in the shape of a toucan.
 * While doing research for the project, Navi lists of Jakku, Tatooine, and Hoth as possible subjects, all of which, are Star Wars planets as Link points out.
 * The original concept art for the episode showed the rainforests on Tucana as being green. This was later changed to distinguish Tucana from Earth by giving it more unique coloring.