Saving Me - The Shoes Make the Man (S1E7)
Old Bennett convinces his younger self to take up Boot Ball, his mom's favorite sport. Things quickly get out of hand when Young Bennett tricks out his Boot Ball boots with artificial intelligence.
| Runtime (min) | 22 |
|---|---|
| Air Date | 2021-10-01 |
| Genres | Animation, Comedy, Family, Sci-Fi & Fantasy |
| TV Rating | TV-G |
| Network(s) | BYU Television |
Storyline
In this episode, Old Bennett travels back in time to convince his younger self to take up Boot Ball, a sport that holds special significance because it was Young Bennett's mother's favorite. Eager to connect with his mom's interests and perhaps impress her, Young Bennett agrees to give the sport a try. What begins as a well-intentioned effort to bond over a shared activity quickly takes an unexpected turn.
Young Bennett decides to gain an edge in Boot Ball by outfitting his boots with artificial intelligence technology. The AI-enhanced footwear gives him abilities beyond what the sport was designed for, and the situation spirals as the technology takes on a life of its own. The episode explores the consequences of Young Bennett's shortcut, examining how his desire to excel—and perhaps to make his mom proud—leads him to rely on technology rather than genuine effort and practice.
What kids learn
This episode offers children a meaningful lesson about the difference between authentic achievement and taking shortcuts. Young Bennett's decision to use artificial intelligence in his boots demonstrates how technology, while powerful, can undermine the true purpose of learning a new skill. Kids see that real growth comes from practice, effort, and perseverance, not from letting machines do the work for them.
The episode also touches on the importance of honoring the people we love in genuine ways. Young Bennett wants to connect with his mother through her favorite sport, which is a beautiful impulse. However, children learn that the best way to show respect and love is through sincere effort rather than artificial enhancement. His mother would likely value his honest attempt and gradual improvement more than flashy, technology-driven success.
Additionally, the story illustrates how seemingly small decisions can escalate into larger problems. When Young Bennett tricks out his boots, things get out of hand, teaching kids to think through the potential consequences of their choices before acting on impulse.
Parents' top 5 questions
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What is Boot Ball and why is it important to Bennett's mom? | Boot Ball is presented as a sport that Bennett's mother loved and presumably played or followed closely. Old Bennett remembers this connection and encourages his younger self to take it up as a way to bond with her and share in something she's passionate about. The sport serves as a bridge between mother and son, representing shared interests and quality time together. |
| How does the artificial intelligence in the boots cause problems? | Young Bennett enhances his Boot Ball boots with AI technology to gain an unfair advantage in the sport. The AI takes over functions that Bennett should be learning himself, and the situation escalates beyond his control. The episode shows how relying on technology as a shortcut rather than developing real skills can backfire and create complications that are difficult to manage. |
| What should I tell my child about using technology to get ahead? | Use this episode to discuss the difference between technology as a helpful tool and technology as a replacement for genuine effort. Talk about situations where your child might be tempted to take shortcuts—whether through apps, calculators, or other aids—and help them understand that real learning and growth come from doing the work themselves, even when it's challenging. |
| Does Young Bennett learn his lesson by the end? | The episode focuses on the consequences of Young Bennett's decision to enhance his boots with AI, showing how things get out of hand when he tries to take shortcuts. The story structure suggests that Bennett faces the results of his choices, which typically leads to reflection and growth in this series' format about learning from mistakes across time. |
| How can I use this episode to talk about honoring family interests? | This episode provides a great opportunity to discuss how we show love and respect for family members by taking interest in what they care about. Talk with your child about the difference between genuinely engaging with a parent's or sibling's hobby versus just going through the motions or finding ways to make it easier without truly participating. |
Writing
Directing
| Season # | Episode # | Episode Name |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Old Bennett goes back in time to persuade his younger self to be kinder to his sister, Sophie. But Young and Old Bennett's attempt to make things right turns Sophie into a fearless crime fighter...and puts her in danger! |
| 1 | 2 | After consulting the Unicorn Commandos, Old and Young Bennett build a life-size animatronic moose ninja for Liam's gaming videos. But chaos ensues when the robot moose ninja goes on a terror spree through Star City! |
| 1 | 3 | Bennett invents a device that gives his new pet dog super intelligence. Things go haywire when the dog becomes a talking criminal mastermind! |
| 1 | 4 | Young Bennett risks losing his friends when he upstages them during a TV quiz show. Young and Old Bennett construct a snow cone-making robot to help win his friends back, but the robot malfunctions and causes the blizzard of the century! |
| 1 | 5 | Young Bennett accidentally unleashes an army of sasquatches when he visits his father's shampoo factory. |
| 1 | 6 | Robber Boss uses Young Bennett's Engineer Club to devise a break Momma Robber out of jail. Old Bennett builds a headband that turns people's criticisms into compliments. |
| 1 | 7 | Old Bennett convinces his younger self to take up Boot Ball, his mom's favorite sport. Things quickly get out of hand when Young Bennett tricks out his Boot Ball boots with artificial intelligence. |
| 1 | 8 | Sophie and Liam try to top each other's Mother Day gifts. Old and Young Bennett take a trip down Memory Lane. |
| 1 | 9 | Snodgrass eyes Young Bennett's robot Edee for military purposes, while Young Bennett and Penelope must work together to fend off an alien crystal. |
| 1 | 10 | Snodgrass creates a giant vampire-dentist-robot to capture the Guardian. Young Bennett, Sophie and Liam try to find the Guardian, but get wrangled into a showdown with Robber Boss. |
| Season # | Episode # | Episode Name |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | 1 | To bypass being grounded, Young Bennett builds a body-swapping device and trades places with Nira. Meanwhile, the DGS stages a fake commercial to convince Star City that the Mystery Soldier was just a publicity stunt. |
| 2 | 2 | With Old Bennett's help, Young Bennett makes a unique music instrument for Sophie that catches the attention of an evil pop star named Trill. |
| 2 | 3 | When a mayoral candidate proposes to make the school day longer, Bennett uses AI to create an opponent named Abraham Trutherman to run against her. |
| 2 | 4 | The annual Bramble fishing trip goes haywire when Bennett's newest invention turns aquatic animals into giants. |
| 2 | 5 | Bennett's ego gets the better of him when he takes over his sister Sophie's Unicorn Commandos fan film. Meanwhile, Inspector Gorgana of the Galactic Alliance meets with the DGS. |
| 2 | 6 | Young and Old Bennett build a device called the Emplifier to get Jessica, Liam's latest crush, to notice him. But the Emplifier works too well and turns everyone it encounters into obsessed Liam fans. |
| 2 | 7 | The Bramble kids spend too much time on their digital devices. Robber Mama returns and kidnaps Young Bennett. |
| 2 | 8 | Bennett devises a get-rich-quick scheme to earn money for a Unicorn Commandos remote controlled monster truck toy. But Young Bennett's actions affects Old Bennett's timeline. |
| 2 | 9 | Bennett creates a "sleeping cap" to curtail his grumpiness. But when Bennett's dad Mark uses the cap, the fragile agreement between Earth and the Intergalactic Alliance is jeopardized. |
| 2 | 10 | Old Bennett must intervene when both Young Bennett and Snodgrass discover the entrance to the secret elevator. |
This product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB.