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Lloyd of the Flies - Crabbie Spindles (S1E39)
When a crab spider parachutes into his life, Lloyd decides to raise her as a vegetarian and single-handedly change fly-spider relationships.
| Runtime (min) | 11 |
|---|---|
| Air Date | 2023-01-25 |
| Genres | Kids, Animation |
| TV Rating | TV-G |
| Network(s) | CITV |
Storyline
When a crab spider unexpectedly parachutes into Lloyd's world, the young fly sees an opportunity to challenge the age-old predator-prey dynamic between flies and spiders. Rather than fleeing or accepting the natural order, Lloyd makes the bold decision to adopt the spider and raise her as a vegetarian. He names her Crabbie Spindles and sets out to prove that flies and spiders can coexist peacefully, reimagining their relationship from one of fear and survival to one of friendship and mutual respect.
Lloyd's experiment in interspecies harmony quickly tests his optimism and determination. Raising a carnivorous spider on a plant-based diet presents practical challenges, and Lloyd must navigate the skepticism of his friends and family who question whether he can truly change Crabbie's natural instincts. The episode explores Lloyd's commitment to his idealistic vision and whether compassion and nurture can overcome biology, all while maintaining the show's signature blend of humor and heart as Lloyd learns what it really means to care for someone fundamentally different from himself.
What kids learn
This episode offers children a thoughtful exploration of empathy and the courage it takes to challenge assumptions. Lloyd's decision to befriend Crabbie Spindles rather than fear her demonstrates that prejudice and stereotypes can be overcome when we choose to see individuals rather than categories. Children learn that extending kindness to someone different, even someone traditionally seen as an enemy, requires bravery and an open mind. Lloyd's willingness to question the status quo encourages young viewers to think critically about inherited beliefs and consider whether old conflicts must continue simply because they always have.
The episode also teaches important lessons about responsibility and the complexities of caring for others. Lloyd discovers that good intentions alone aren't enough—raising Crabbie as a vegetarian means understanding her needs, making sacrifices, and accepting that changing someone's nature is far more difficult than he imagined. Children see that real compassion involves commitment, patience, and sometimes accepting limitations. The story gently introduces the idea that while we can build bridges across differences, we must also respect the fundamental nature of others, finding a balance between idealism and reality in our relationships.
Parents' top 5 questions
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is this episode scary for young children who might be afraid of spiders? | The episode presents Crabbie Spindles as a character rather than a frightening creature, with the show's animation style keeping her appearance cartoonish and non-threatening. Lloyd treats her with affection and curiosity, which helps frame the spider in a positive light. The focus remains on friendship and Lloyd's idealistic project rather than any predatory behavior or scary moments, making it appropriate for children who might otherwise be anxious about spiders. |
| What does Lloyd learn about trying to change someone's fundamental nature? | Lloyd discovers that his plan to raise Crabbie as a vegetarian is more complicated than he anticipated, as he confronts the reality that spiders have natural instincts and dietary needs. The episode gently explores the tension between Lloyd's idealistic vision and the practical challenges of going against nature. Through his experience with Crabbie, Lloyd learns that while friendship across differences is possible, it requires understanding and respecting who someone truly is rather than trying to remake them entirely. |
| How does the episode handle the predator-prey relationship between flies and spiders? | The episode uses Lloyd's unconventional friendship with Crabbie to examine whether traditional enemies can find common ground. Rather than ignoring the natural dynamic, the story acknowledges it while allowing Lloyd to explore whether compassion and individual choice can create new possibilities. The treatment is age-appropriate and thoughtful, using the fly-spider relationship as a metaphor for overcoming prejudice and fear, while still recognizing that some differences are rooted in biology and survival. |
| Does Lloyd's family support his decision to befriend a spider? | Lloyd faces skepticism from those around him who question whether his idealistic experiment can succeed. This doubt creates conflict that helps drive the story, as Lloyd must defend his choices and prove his commitment to caring for Crabbie. The reactions of his friends and family reflect realistic concerns about safety and the natural order, giving children a chance to see how Lloyd navigates disagreement while staying true to his values and learning from the challenges that arise. |
| What message does this episode send about accepting others who are different? | The episode champions the idea that individuals shouldn't be judged solely by their group identity or reputation. Lloyd's friendship with Crabbie demonstrates that getting to know someone personally can break down barriers built on fear and assumption. Children learn that reaching across divides requires courage, open-mindedness, and genuine effort. The story celebrates Lloyd's willingness to see past stereotypes while also teaching that acceptance involves understanding real differences, not pretending they don't exist. |
Writing
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Directing
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| Season # | Episode # | Episode Name |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Lloyd and Abacus finally find a quiet place to play their favourite board game, but forget about the 'small' issue of gravity. |
| 1 | 2 | Lloyd has an unexpected windfall of crumbs and sets out to buy happiness. But he soon learns that true contentment is found in his friends and family. |
| 1 | 3 | Lloyd is left to maggotsit but he underestimates how hard a job that can be. |
| 1 | 4 | Lloyd adopts a tardigrade as a pet and discovers how indestructible they truly are. |
| 1 | 5 | Lloyd volunteers to work in the ant colony to prove what a hard worker he can be, but the ant colony is unprepared for Lloyd's particular brand of "hard work". |
| 1 | 6 | Lloyd tries to educate PB about the danger of spiders by introducing her to a real one...and finds that some spiders may not be all that bad afterall. |
| 1 | 7 | Lloyd finds himself spinning an elaborate series of lies about moving into a giant luxury mango, just to prove he's as mature as Berry. |
| 1 | 8 | Lloyd wants to prove he can manage without Abacus but he ends up getting chased by hungry carpet beetles...and desperately needs his friend's help to escape. |
| 1 | 9 | After being invited to Cornea's home for dinner, Lloyd and his family can't stomach her unique cooking and so try to hide the food without offending their host. |
| 1 | 10 | Lloyd and Berry compete to prove who is the most caring by helping the poor injured flies who don't know what a window is. |
| 1 | 11 | After an encounter with the vacuum cleaner Lloyd, PB and Abacus find themselves trapped in a dusty grey void that may or may not be the afterlife. |
| 1 | 12 | Lloyd, Abacus and Berry venture into the fridge for some mouth-watering delicacies but are unprepared for the cold and the impending closure of the door. |
| 1 | 13 | On an outing to a spooky new attraction Lloyd tries - unconvincingly - to show everyone he is not scared of anything. |
| 1 | 14 | Lloyd and Abacus' friendship is tested when they start communicating with a chrysalis, but is it one knock for 'yes', or one knock for 'no'? |
| 1 | 15 | When Bob's best friend Gummy goes missing it is up to Lloyd and Abacus to find him - which is only right as they are the ones who lost him. |
| 1 | 16 | PB persuades Malcolm and Gena to allow Julie the Spider to come round for dinner, but Lloyd is afraid that the dinner will be them. |
| 1 | 17 | PB drags Lloyd along to see Caterpillar World, where she hopes to finally learn the gory details of what happens inside a chrysalis. |
| 1 | 18 | Faced with prospect of missing out on a rare blob of peanut butter, Lloyd decides to take his maggotsitting duties with him. |
| 1 | 19 | Marvin was frozen in an ice cube until Lloyd rescued him and now he has a life debt to repay, whether Lloyd likes it or not. |
| 1 | 20 | Having not been invited to Berry's party Lloyd decides to have his own party with far more guests (if he can just sneak them away from Berry's party...) |
| 1 | 21 | Lloyd gets his head wedged between the two panes of a double-glazed window, only Berry is small enough to rescue him but Lloyd is having none of it. |
| 1 | 22 | After PB sets him up in a fight with a little ladybird's big brother, Lloyd worries he'll win too easily - until he meets the big brother. |
| 1 | 23 | When Lloyd is mistakenly declared a hero for defeating a bloodthirsty spider, he finds himself spinning a web of elaborate lies. |
| 1 | 24 | When a big sweetie that Lloyd nabbed fair and square is stolen by wasp, Lloyd gathers a team and stages a sweet-retrieving heist. |
| 1 | 25 | Lloyd must rely on nothing but his wits to talk his way out of the web he is trapped in, alongside a very hungry spider. |
| 1 | 26 | A new comic, 'Llerd the Fly', is a big success and everyone loves it - except for Lloyd when he discovers it's based on HIM. |
| 1 | 27 | Malcolm has a new 'home theatre' - a literal small theatre run by a troupe of flea actors - but Lloyd 'breaks' it when he offends one of the actors. |
| 1 | 28 | When Lloyd disproves a myth by meeting a real head louse called Titchy, he's torn between proving her existence or returning her to Biggo's head. |
| 1 | 29 | When Malcolm and Gena's oldest son - who is also called Lloyd - comes home for a visit - Big Lloyd soon threatens to stay for good with Little Lloyd. |
| 1 | 30 | Against her better judgement, Queen Libby accepts Lloyd's offer to find a pest that has taken food from the colony and left the larvae hungry. |
| 1 | 31 | When Abacus' attendance at his dad's party is put in doubt when he moults early, Lloyd promises to look after Abacus in his vulnerable state. |
| 1 | 32 | Against her better judgement, Queen Libby accepts Lloyd's offer to find a pest that has taken food from the colony and left the larvae hungry. |
| 1 | 33 | Lloyd's insistence that 'hotter' equals 'happier' is put to the test when Biggo puts a pizza on that causes a heatwave behind the oven. |
| 1 | 34 | When Lloyd starts behaving very oddly, his family start to suspect that something may be wrong with his senses. |
| 1 | 35 | When a bird on the loose indoors sends everyone into hiding, Lloyd gets separated from Abacus and finds it hard to do nothing and just wait it out. |
| 1 | 36 | When Lloyd sprains his wing at the far side of the Biggo house, it proves a very long journey back for Abacus as he is there to walk Lloyd through it. |
| 1 | 37 | When Lloyd is trapped in an upside-down glass by Biggo with Ricotta the wasp and Julie the spider, both of Lloyd's fellow captives soon get hungry. |
| 1 | 38 | Having had enough of chores, Lloyd moves in with Abacus, but living with his best friend is not the life of endless fun that Lloyd imagined. |
| 1 | 39 | When a crab spider parachutes into his life, Lloyd decides to raise her as a vegetarian and single-handedly change fly-spider relationships. |
| 1 | 40 | There is an exciting new Ghost Coaster inside the sofa, but when Lloyd, PB and Abacus are too short to go on it, Lloyd devises a plan to get them on. |
| 1 | 41 | As an anniversary treat, Gena has booked a private performance by Malcolm's favourite actor, but the star proves more demanding than expected. |
| 1 | 42 | After he causes a mid-flight collision, Lloyd must attend a 'flight awareness' course run by Molly - if he refuses, he risks being grounded. |
| 1 | 43 | Having written a book on the subject, Gena agrees to train Lloyd in how to survive outdoors, but Lloyd is disappointed to discover that all the training is to take place indoors. |
| 1 | 44 | When Abacus is targeted by The Louse Hunter - a ruthless louse spider who loves the thrill of the hunt - Lloyd steps up to protect his best friend. |
| 1 | 45 | After staying up all night playing Bluebottle Battle, Lloyd is unable to sleep when Molly and Polly's house-sitter - a cricket called Buddy - starts making music next door. |
| 1 | 46 | Lloyd and Berry get locked into a game of escalating dares, but when Berry dares Lloyd to land on Biggo's hand, the stakes get higher than either of them are ready for. |
| 1 | 47 | When Mr Wiggley runs out of ideas for a list of fun things to do before he becomes a butterfly, Lloyd is happy to help and join in with it. |
| 1 | 48 | Lloyd tries to hang out with PB and her friends Dotty and Freckles while Abacus is on holiday, but he finds them less willing to do as he wants. |
| 1 | 49 | Lloyd feels surprisingly good after drinking some bin juice and tries to promote it as a new health-giving elixir, but things get out of hand quickly. |
| 1 | 50 | Lloyd thinks he's developed a very vocal conscience after accidentally swallowing a dust mite named Alvi, but the truth is quite different. |
| 1 | 51 | When Nutbum the tardigrade turns up making frantic efforts to get Lloyd to do something, Lloyd does whatever he can to translate what he's saying. |
| 1 | 52 | Excitement turns to sadness when Lloyd discovers that his family's move to a whole new Biggo house means that he'll never see Abacus again. |
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