Hailey's On It! - Road Trippin' (S1E8)
Kristine feels like the third wheel after she unexpectedly joins Scott and Hailey on a road trip.
| Runtime (min) | 11 |
|---|---|
| Air Date | 2023-06-24 |
| Genres | Animation, Family, Comedy, Sci-Fi & Fantasy |
| TV Rating | TV-Y7 |
| Network(s) | Disney Channel |
Storyline
When Scott and Hailey plan a road trip together, Kristine unexpectedly tags along, creating an awkward dynamic that none of them anticipated. What was supposed to be a straightforward journey becomes complicated as Kristine increasingly feels like she doesn't belong, watching her two best friends share inside jokes and easy conversation while she sits in the backseat. The episode explores the uncomfortable reality of being the third wheel, as Kristine struggles with feeling left out even though Scott and Hailey aren't intentionally excluding her.
The road trip setting amplifies these social tensions, trapping the trio in close quarters where every interaction is magnified. As the miles pass, Kristine must decide whether to voice her feelings or continue pretending everything is fine. The episode examines how friendships shift when romantic interests enter the picture and how honest communication becomes essential to maintaining those bonds, even when the conversations feel difficult to start.
What kids learn
This episode offers children valuable lessons about navigating changing friendships and the importance of speaking up when something bothers them. Kristine's experience demonstrates that feeling like a third wheel is a normal, relatable emotion that many kids will encounter as their friend groups evolve and dynamics shift. Rather than bottling up uncomfortable feelings, children learn that addressing them directly—even when it feels scary—is healthier than suffering in silence or letting resentment build.
The episode also teaches empathy from multiple perspectives. Kids can understand Kristine's loneliness while also recognizing that Scott and Hailey likely aren't trying to hurt her feelings. This helps children develop the emotional intelligence to see situations from different viewpoints and understand that sometimes people unintentionally make others feel excluded. The road trip setting reinforces how physical proximity doesn't always equal emotional connection, teaching kids to be mindful of including everyone in group settings.
Additionally, the episode models how to handle social awkwardness with grace and how friendships require ongoing effort and adjustment as people grow and relationships evolve. Children learn that it's okay for friendships to change shape and that open communication is the foundation for keeping those relationships strong.
Parents' top 5 questions
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| How should I talk to my child if they feel like a third wheel with their friends? | Validate their feelings first by acknowledging that being left out hurts, even when it's unintentional. Help them identify whether they want to address it with their friends or find additional friend groups. Encourage them to use specific examples when expressing how they feel, such as particular moments when they felt excluded. Role-play potential conversations so they feel prepared to speak up calmly and clearly about their needs. |
| Is it normal for my child's friendships to change when romantic interests develop? | Absolutely. As children grow, friendships naturally evolve when new interests—including crushes—enter the picture. This episode reflects a common developmental stage where kids begin balancing different types of relationships. Help your child understand that friendships shifting doesn't mean they're ending, but rather adapting. Encourage them to communicate openly with friends about making time for everyone and to develop multiple friendships so they're not overly dependent on one social circle. |
| What if my child is the one unintentionally excluding a friend? | Use this episode to open a conversation about awareness and inclusion. Ask your child to think about how their friend might be feeling when left out of conversations or activities. Encourage them to actively include everyone in group settings by asking questions, making eye contact with all friends, and being mindful of inside jokes. Teach them that being excited about a new friendship or interest doesn't require neglecting existing friends. |
| Should I intervene if my child is struggling with third-wheel feelings? | Start by listening and offering emotional support rather than immediately intervening. Give your child tools to handle the situation themselves first, as this builds resilience and communication skills. If the situation persists or escalates to exclusion or bullying, then consider reaching out to other parents or teachers. Often, kids can resolve these issues with guidance, and doing so builds their confidence in managing future social challenges independently. |
| How can this episode help my child develop better communication skills? | The episode demonstrates that uncomfortable feelings don't resolve themselves without honest conversation. Use Kristine's situation as a springboard to discuss how your child can express feelings without blaming others. Practice using statements like 'I feel left out when' instead of 'You always ignore me.' Emphasize that good friends want to know when they've hurt someone's feelings, and that speaking up respectfully strengthens relationships rather than damaging them. |
Writing
Directing
| Season # | Episode # | Episode Name |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | On New Year's Eve, 14-year old Hailey decides to make a list of all the big things she wants to do but the real-world challenges she gives herself suddenly have huge stakes when a crazed Professor arrives from the future and tells Hailey the fate of the world depends on her. |
| 1 | 2 | Hailey and Scott set sail to catch the legendary Blue Ono so they can win the top prize at the Fish Taco Festival. |
| 1 | 3 | After becoming ‘Sheriff for a Day’ at a western reenactment town, Hailey uses her newfound authority to rid the town of an invading dirt bike crew. |
| 1 | 4 | Hailey and her dad enter Oceanside’s Sandcastle Building Contest, but a cheating A.C. goads her into a small-scale medieval war of epic proportions. |
| 1 | 5 | When the star of the school musical injures herself in the middle of the show, Hailey must overcome her fear of performing in front of an audience. |
| 1 | 6 | When Hailey’s plan to build an owl habitat is derailed, she learns the value of sacrifice for the good of a friend. |
| 1 | 7 | When Hailey, Scott and Beta discover that they’ve been scammed at a Hero Force cosplay event, Hailey finds the hero within her to stand up to the bullies. |
| 1 | 8 | Kristine feels like the third wheel after she unexpectedly joins Scott and Hailey on a road trip. |
| 1 | 9 | Hailey must lead her friends out of an Egyptian-themed escape room that chaos bots have rigged to crush. |
| 1 | 10 | Hailey secretly adopts a smelly, old flamingo and quickly realizes she’s bitten off more than she can chew. |
| 1 | 11 | Hailey must decide between perfection and fun in order to win a local music festival. |
| 1 | 12 | Hailey vows to fix the ill-fated Oceanside Lighthouse before her mom can sell it. |
| 1 | 13 | When Hailey takes on the list item “Get the Top Score at Mega Dance Hero,” she discovers a breakdancing secret from her mom’s past. |
| 1 | 14 | Kristine’s dad takes over her quinceañera and replaces Scott as her waltz partner. |
| 1 | 15 | Hailey must reunite an estranged childhood singing duo, but begins to worry about her and Scott’s relationship and future. |
| 1 | 16 | Hailey joins the cheerleading squad when she needs to earn an “easy” varsity letter but quickly realizes she’s underestimated the skill and spirit it takes to cheerlead. |
| 1 | 17 | Hailey must defeat a chaos bot that has infiltrated her school while simultaneously winning the school’s Crab Queen Pageant. |
| 1 | 18 | Hailey befriends Scott’s little sister, but their friendship is tested by two escaped wild cats. |
| 1 | 19 | Hailey races to find her little brothers, Dwayne and Johnson, after she loses them at a K-pop concert. |
| 1 | 20 | After a mishap with Hailey’s list, secret government agents nab Beta thinking he’s a U.F.O. |
| 1 | 21 | Hailey brings Scott to Catalina Island to get him out of an uncharacteristically mopey funk. |
| 1 | 22 | When Hailey throws a party, she sees an opportunity to kiss Scott as part of a harmless game. |
| 1 | 23 | Hailey ditches Scott at a dinosaur show to build a mystery gadget from The Professor. |
| 1 | 24 | Becker schemes to ride a condemned alpine slide but must endure her school rival, Kennedy. |
| 1 | 25 | Hailey finds a leather jacket that brings out her rebellious side. |
| 1 | 26 | When Hailey gets distracted by her list item instead of babysitting the school mascot, she lands herself in hot water. |
| 1 | 27 | When Scott has an awesome idea for a social media filter, A.C. claims the idea as his own. |
| 1 | 28 | After Hailey reads an online rumor about Dingles Chips, she, Scott and Beta go to the factory to expose the truth. |
| 1 | 29 | Beta suspects Alphred, a cleaning robot, is a chaos bot spy, but Hailey and Scott aren’t so sure. |
| 1 | 30 | Hailey and Beta ditch Scott to complete a complicated corn maze on their own. |
| 1 | 31 | When Hailey's sleepover prank goes awry, she must choose to lie or come clean. |
| 1 | 32 | Hailey faces her fears of trampolining (and sweating in public) in a film noir-style Trampoline Town. |
| 1 | 33 | In a competition where the winner has a sandwich named after them, Hailey is pitted against Scott. |
| 1 | 34 | When Hailey must be truthful for a day, she ends up delivering a comedy roast. |
| 1 | 35 | Hailey enters Frank into a bird show where they run into his former mean trainer. |
| 1 | 36 | Expert bowler Hailey struggles with a list item that requires her to lose to her dad at bowling. |
| 1 | 37 | When Hailey loses a mini-reindeer, causing Christmas to not exist in the future, she must "Throw the Best Oceanside Christmas Festival Ever" to save all future Christmases. |
| 1 | 38 | Hailey's attempt to find the Oceanside Mermaid leads to a shocking discovery. |
| 1 | 39 | When the Denogas move in with the Banks family, Hailey and Scott try to speed up the process. |
| 1 | 40 | Hailey goes to great lengths to catch a foul ball at a Barnacles game. |
| 1 | 41 | When a popular magician's tricks are exposed, Hailey must find the perpetrator. |
| 1 | 42 | Scott gets into an exclusive club at school thanks to an amazing hair gel but quickly regrets ignoring the gel's side effects. |
| 1 | 43 | Hailey throws her parents a dream wedding. |
| 1 | 44 | Hailey and Scott get thrown into detention. |
| 1 | 45 | After Hailey accidentally inspires her dad to go on strike, she struggles to make his famous fried rice for a school event. |
| 1 | 46 | Hailey causes an infestation of a wild, futuristic critter. |
| 1 | 47 | Hailey and Scott work at A.C.'s family shop while A.C. shoots a commercial. |
| 1 | 48 | A hypnotized Scott inadvertently provokes Rowdy Ronnie, who forces Scott to wrestle him. |
| 1 | 49 | Hailey's attempts to save a whale are interrupted by her talkative next-door neighbors. |
| 1 | 50 | Kristine and Hailey go to a local spa where Kristine has a goat-induced revelation. |
| 1 | 51 | Hailey hides proof of her crush on Scott in a book that the school gossip manages to find. |
| 1 | 52 | Hailey pulls out all the stops to be named Student of the Week. |
| 1 | 53 | When Hailey and Scott go "Running with the Goats" for a list item, Hailey tries to keep her meddling mom away. |
| 1 | 54 | Scott receives an invitation to a prestigious luge academy. |
| 1 | 55 | Hailey lives the life of her favorite pop star but finds out it's all work and no play. |
| 1 | 56 | Hailey's plan to tell Scott her feelings at the school dance are thrown into disarray when a compatibility app says they might not be meant for each other. |
This product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB.