Dogs in Space - Stay (S1E7)

Dogs in Space – Season 1 - Episode 7 – Stay

Love hurts. Garbage and the team stumble on a world that seems to be populated by their beloved owners. But what are these odd shape-shifters hiding?

Runtime (min)	22
TMDB Rating	10.0 (2 votes)
Air Date	2021-11-18
Genres	Comedy, Animation, Action & Adventure, Family, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Kids
TV Rating	TV-Y7
Network(s)	Netflix

Storyline

In this episode, Garbage and the crew discover a planet that appears to be inhabited by their human owners—the very people they've been searching for across the galaxy. The dogs are overjoyed at what seems like a miraculous reunion, but something feels off about the situation. As they interact with these familiar figures, subtle inconsistencies begin to emerge that suggest these aren't actually their beloved humans.

The team soon realizes they're dealing with shape-shifting aliens who have taken on the appearance of the dogs' owners by reading their memories and emotions. The aliens' motivations become a central mystery as Garbage and the others must confront the painful gap between what they desperately want to be true and what actually is. The episode explores themes of longing, deception, and the difficulty of letting go of hope, even when faced with uncomfortable truths. The dogs must decide whether to accept a comforting illusion or face reality and continue their mission.

What kids learn

This episode teaches children about the importance of critical thinking and trusting their instincts when something doesn't feel right, even when they want very badly to believe it. Garbage and the team model how to look past surface appearances and question situations that seem too good to be true, demonstrating that wishful thinking can sometimes cloud judgment. Kids learn that it's okay to feel disappointed when reality doesn't match their hopes, and that facing the truth—however painful—is ultimately healthier than clinging to illusions.

The episode also explores themes of grief and longing in an age-appropriate way. The dogs' deep attachment to their owners and their willingness to be deceived shows children that missing someone is natural and powerful, but that we can't let that longing make us vulnerable to manipulation. Young viewers see that it's possible to acknowledge difficult emotions while still making smart, self-protective choices.

Additionally, the story reinforces the value of teamwork and mutual support during emotionally challenging times. The dogs help each other recognize the deception and process their disappointment together, showing children that friends can provide perspective and strength when individual judgment is compromised by strong feelings.

Parents' top 5 questions

Question	Answer
Is the scene where the dogs meet their 'owners' emotionally intense for young children?	The reunion scene carries emotional weight as the dogs experience joy followed by growing unease and eventual disappointment. While the episode handles these feelings in a way appropriate for the show's target audience, sensitive children might feel the dogs' sadness when they realize the truth. The resolution emphasizes resilience and moving forward, which helps provide emotional closure, but parents may want to discuss feelings of disappointment and how to handle them afterward.
How scary are the shape-shifting aliens in this episode?	The shape-shifters aren't presented as traditional monsters or villains. Their deception is psychological rather than physically threatening, and the reveal happens gradually rather than through jump scares. The focus remains on the emotional manipulation rather than scary visuals. Most children who are comfortable with the show's general tone should handle this episode fine, though the concept of beings impersonating loved ones might be unsettling for some younger or more anxious viewers.
Does this episode teach my child that they can't trust people who seem familiar?	The episode's message is more nuanced than simple distrust. It emphasizes paying attention to inconsistencies and trusting your instincts when something feels wrong, rather than promoting general suspicion of familiar people. The dogs notice specific behaviors that don't match their owners' true personalities. Parents can use this as an opportunity to discuss the difference between healthy caution and paranoia, and how to recognize when someone's behavior doesn't align with who they claim to be.
How does the episode handle the dogs' disappointment about not finding their real owners?	The episode acknowledges the dogs' sadness and disappointment without dwelling in despair. While the team experiences genuine grief over the false hope, they ultimately support each other and recommit to their mission. The storytelling validates their feelings while showing that it's possible to be disappointed and still move forward. This provides a healthy model for processing letdowns, though parents might want to check in with children who strongly identify with the characters' emotional journey.
What are the shape-shifters' motivations for impersonating the dogs' owners?	The episode explores the aliens' reasons for the deception as part of the mystery the dogs must unravel. Without revealing specific plot details, the aliens' motivations become clearer as the story progresses, and their actions aren't portrayed as purely malicious. The resolution provides context for their behavior that adds complexity to the situation. This creates an opportunity to discuss with children how people's actions can be driven by various needs and circumstances, not just good versus evil.

Writing

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Directing

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Season

Season #	Episode #	Episode Name
1	1	Fetch Who let the dogs out — into space? Garbage can't help but disobey after an alien negotiation goes sideways. Yet the next planet looks so promising.
1	2	Here, Girl! On the planet, Garbage and the crew try to save an angry, capable canine who's gone feral. But who will rescue the rescuers with the Pluto gone?
1	3	Spin Taming the beast can be tough. Kira faces her great fear: brunch. Meanwhile, Garbage must jump through the hoops of Penelope's training scenarios.
1	4	Who's a Good Boy? Unleashed, the Pluto team explores a planet that might be perfect for humanity. But something — or someone — stinks. Also, Loaf must take the lead.
1	5	Settle Down Awww-some and then some: The cute ― and chaos ― factor rockets out of control when Stella discovers that her crewmates have turned into puppies.
1	6	Speak Which comes first: a seed or a world? Dogs or humans? After failing to talk an alien into handing over planet-saving seed, the crew attempts a heist.
1	7	Stay Love hurts. Garbage and the team stumble on a world that seems to be populated by their beloved owners. But what are these odd shape-shifters hiding?
1	8	Watch Me In it to win it. Eager to compete in a mech war, Chonies looks to Garbage for help. But he's been pulled into Kira's plan to change canine minds.
1	9	Leave It Opposites attract... or not. Garbage and Happy must work together if they want to avoid disaster on a magnetic planet. Elsewhere, Kira goes on the run.
1	10	Drop It Dogfight! When a pooch goes rogue, two rival crews battle as one. They must fight to get back to the base, save the mission ― and more.

Season #	Episode #	Episode Name
2	1	Galactic Tactics Captain Stella makes her first big call by choosing a new tactical officer. But when the crew embarks on its next mission, there's a stowaway on board.
2	2	Who's a Tea Boy? Garbage takes a job at a tea shop, where the day-to-day isn't nearly as exciting as fighting aliens and pulling evasive maneuvers... until it is.
2	3	Who Wants a Treaty? An extra-large planet checks lots of boxes for the team — but only if they can successfully negotiate to share it with an alien species.
2	4	Paws & Rewind Pepper builds a high-tech simulator to predict the crew's behavior in any scenario. But is it really paws-sible to predict the future?
2	5	Mistaken IdEDity Ed's bad habit of pinning his crimes on unsuspecting crew mates catches up with him when Chonies is wrongfully kidnapped by an alien thief.
2	6	Let There Be Loaf When space pirates threaten the M-Bark, it's up to an anxious Loaf — the least likely dog to be a hero — to step up, face his fears and save the day.
2	7	Freeze Out During an icy rescue mission on a distant planet, a series of flashbacks reveal that longtime enemies Happy and Garbage actually used to be friends.
2	8	Garbage's Horrorscope Garbage's former mentor has the power to win Garbage his captain's badge back by taking it away from Stella — but that isn't what Garbage wants!
2	9	No Good Seed Goes Unpunished A guilt-ridden Garbage comes clean to Stella, unaware that plantlike aliens are plotting revenge on dogs and humans for past wrongs.
2	10	Barking Up the Wrong Tree The fate of the human race is hanging in the balance, and Earth's not gonna save itself. Time for a good old-fashioned dogfight!

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