Pup Academy - The Thing with King (S1E12)
Pup Academy celebrates a special day of student reviews, Charlie shares a meaningful gift with Morgan, and King's dark past comes to light.
| Runtime (min) | 45 |
|---|---|
| Air Date | 2019-09-19 |
| Genres | Kids, Comedy |
| TV Rating | TV-Y7-FV |
| Network(s) | Disney Channel |
Storyline
Pup Academy holds its annual student review day, a milestone event where the young dogs demonstrate what they've learned and receive feedback on their progress. The atmosphere is celebratory but also tinged with anticipation as each pup prepares to showcase their skills and growth. Charlie takes a meaningful step in his friendship with Morgan by sharing a special gift that reflects their bond and the trust they've built throughout their time together at the academy.
The episode takes a dramatic turn when King's hidden past is finally revealed to the other characters. Secrets that King has kept buried come to light, forcing both the pups and their human companions to confront difficult truths about his history. This revelation adds emotional weight to the student review day and challenges the community to grapple with forgiveness, understanding, and the complexity of King's character beyond what they previously knew.
What kids learn
This episode teaches children about the importance of acknowledging growth and celebrating progress. The student review day demonstrates that learning is an ongoing process where reflection and feedback help us understand how far we've come and where we can still improve. Children see that milestones matter and that recognizing achievements, both big and small, is an essential part of any educational journey.
The revelation of King's past offers a powerful lesson about empathy and the complexity of people's histories. Children learn that everyone carries experiences that shape who they are, and that understanding someone's background can help explain their behavior without necessarily excusing it. The episode encourages young viewers to look beyond surface judgments and consider the fuller picture of a person's story.
Charlie's gesture of sharing a meaningful gift with Morgan models how thoughtful actions strengthen friendships. Children observe that the most important gifts aren't necessarily expensive or elaborate, but rather those that show genuine care and understanding of what matters to someone else. The episode reinforces that true friendship involves recognizing and honoring the bonds we share.
Parents' top 5 questions
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What happens during the student review day at Pup Academy? | The student review day is an annual event where the young dogs at Pup Academy demonstrate the skills and lessons they've learned. It serves as both a celebration of their progress and an opportunity for instructors to provide feedback. The event creates a supportive environment where achievements are recognized and areas for continued growth are identified, modeling positive educational practices for young viewers. |
| What kind of gift does Charlie give Morgan? | Charlie shares a meaningful gift with Morgan that reflects their friendship and the bond they've developed at Pup Academy. The gift represents the trust and understanding between them, showing that Charlie values their relationship. The gesture is significant not for its material value but for what it symbolizes about their connection and Charlie's thoughtfulness in choosing something personally meaningful to Morgan. |
| What is revealed about King's past in this episode? | King's dark past comes to light during this episode, revealing secrets he has kept hidden from the other characters. The revelation forces everyone at Pup Academy to confront difficult truths about King's history and reconsider what they thought they knew about him. This disclosure adds emotional complexity to his character and challenges the community to navigate questions of forgiveness and understanding. |
| How should I talk to my child about characters with complicated pasts? | Use King's storyline as an opportunity to discuss how everyone has a history that shapes them. Explain that understanding someone's background helps us see why they act certain ways, while also reinforcing that past difficulties don't excuse harmful behavior. Encourage your child to practice empathy while maintaining healthy boundaries, and emphasize that people can grow and change when they're willing to confront their past honestly. |
| Is this episode more serious than typical Pup Academy episodes? | This episode balances the celebratory tone of student review day with the more serious revelation about King's past, creating emotional depth alongside the usual lighthearted academy activities. While the show maintains its family-friendly approach, the exploration of King's backstory introduces weightier themes about secrets, trust, and redemption. The combination makes this a good episode for discussing how communities handle difficult truths together. |
Writing
Directing
| Season # | Episode # | Episode Name |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Class is officially in session after the wise D.O.G. recruits a new group of canine classmates. Elsewhere, young human Morgan learns about the academy. |
| 1 | 2 | When the pups share stories about their owners, Spark struggles with her shortcomings. But can she fake it to impress her professors and classmates? |
| 1 | 3 | Morgan's schedule gets messy when he's asked to support the academy and his own school duties. Also, the pups take a pop quiz. Let the chaos begin! |
| 1 | 4 | Corazon lands in an im-paws-ible situation when he tells a lie to impress his crush, Pom Pom. Will he come clean before the Pup Academy talent show? |
| 1 | 5 | It's a ruff day for Corazon when a surprise guest follows in his footsteps and challenges the rules. Meanwhile, Morgan tries some new gadgets. |
| 1 | 6 | A new day dawns on Wolfehead as Spark encounters King. At the academy, the pups learn about baby talk ... and try to understand why humans love it. |
| 1 | 7 | As Izzy grows suspicious of Corazon's daily routine, Charlie takes D.O.G. out for the day — and leaves Morgan with a long list of responsibilities. |
| 1 | 8 | Ready for a purr-fect rivalry? Whiz, Corazon, Spark and the rest of the pups learn how to coexist with nature's enemies: cats. |
| 1 | 9 | The pups pair off and partner up for an academy-wide scavenger hunt. But when Morgan and Spark stray from the path, things take an eerie turn. |
| 1 | 10 | While Corazon struggles with an awkward accessory, Morgan and Izzy make a major mistake that threatens the fantastic future of Pup Academy. |
| 1 | 11 | A sick day for Morgan means an adventurous day for his friendly fill-in! Meanwhile, the pups get playful with a collection of creative pranks. |
| 1 | 12 | Pup Academy celebrates a special day of student reviews, Charlie shares a meaningful gift with Morgan, and King's dark past comes to light. |
| 1 | 13 | The greatest friendship on earth is at risk when the constellation that powers Pup Academy fades out and humans no longer want dogs as best buds. |
| 1 | 14 | Spark explains her side of the story after leaving the Academy, but Corazon and Whiz soon find out it was all part of Professor Fitz's sinister plans. |
| 1 | 15 | Everyone thinks Spark is the Chosen One according to school prophecy. But since Spark spent her life as a stray, she's not used to special treatment. |
| 1 | 16 | Some uninvited guests look to stink up this year's Howlathon during the harvest moon. But Corazon has a smelly secret weapon to stop them. |
| 1 | 17 | The pups need all the extra paws they can get to help break King out of Animal Control when he's snatched up after his hideout is suddenly raided. |
| 1 | 18 | It's the Howlers vs. the Growlers on the fetchball field. Will Spark be the first stray to win the MVP trophy, or will Bite take the title once again? |
| 1 | 19 | The guard dogs haven't seen a sign of Wolf in weeks, but D.O.G. can't shake the feeling that something wicked will try to ruin the pups' Graduation Day. |
| Season # | Episode # | Episode Name |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | 1 | The greatest friendship on earth is at risk when the constellation that powers Pup Academy fades out and humans no longer want dogs as best buds. |
| 2 | 2 | Spark explains her side of the story after leaving the Academy, but Corazon and Whiz soon find out it was all part of Professor Fitz's sinister plans. |
| 2 | 3 | Everyone thinks Spark is the Chosen One according to school prophecy. But since Spark spent her life as a stray, she's not used to special treatment. |
| 2 | 4 | Some uninvited guests look to stink up this year's Howlathon during the harvest moon. But Corazon has a smelly secret weapon to stop them. |
| 2 | 5 | The pups need all the extra paws they can get to help break King out of Animal Control when he's snatched up after his hideout is suddenly raided. |
| 2 | 6 | It's the Howlers vs. the Growlers on the fetchball field. Will Spark be the first stray to win the MVP trophy, or will Bite take the title once again? |
| 2 | 7 | The guard dogs haven't seen a sign of Wolf in weeks, but D.O.G. can't shake the feeling that something wicked will try to ruin the pups' Graduation Day. |
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