Saving Me - The Emplifier (S2E6)
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.
| Runtime (min) | 22 |
|---|---|
| Air Date | 2023-03-05 |
| Genres | Animation, Comedy, Family, Sci-Fi & Fantasy |
| TV Rating | TV-G |
| Network(s) | BYU Television |
Storyline
In this episode of Saving Me, Young Bennett and Old Bennett team up to solve a familiar teenage problem: Liam's crush on Jessica isn't being reciprocated because she doesn't seem to notice him. The two Bennetts engineer a solution in the form of the Emplifier, a device designed to amplify Liam's appeal and make Jessica take notice. Their invention works exactly as planned—at first.
The Emplifier quickly proves to be far more powerful than intended. Instead of simply catching Jessica's attention, the device transforms everyone it encounters into obsessive Liam fans. What begins as a confidence boost for Liam spirals into chaos as more and more people become fixated on him. Young and Old Bennett must work together to reverse the effects of their invention before the situation gets completely out of hand, learning that shortcuts to popularity come with unexpected consequences.
What kids learn
This episode offers children a meaningful lesson about the difference between genuine connection and artificial popularity. Liam's initial desire for Jessica to notice him is relatable, but the Emplifier's effects demonstrate that forcing someone's attention or admiration doesn't create real relationships. Kids can see that authentic friendships and romantic interest must be built on who you truly are, not on manipulation or technological tricks.
The episode also explores the theme of unintended consequences. Young and Old Bennett create the Emplifier with good intentions, wanting to help Liam feel more confident and noticed. However, their invention spirals out of control, affecting far more people than they anticipated. Children learn that quick fixes and shortcuts often backfire, and that solving problems requires thinking through potential outcomes before acting.
Finally, the story reinforces the value of teamwork and problem-solving under pressure. When the Emplifier creates chaos, the Bennetts must collaborate to undo the damage they've caused. Kids see that taking responsibility for mistakes and working together to fix them is more important than avoiding problems in the first place.
Parents' top 5 questions
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is the romantic crush storyline age-appropriate for my child? | The crush between Liam and Jessica is handled in an age-appropriate, innocent manner typical of middle-grade programming. The focus is on Liam wanting to be noticed rather than on any physical or mature romantic content. The episode uses the crush as a vehicle to explore themes of authenticity and self-confidence, making it suitable for the show's target audience of children aged eight to twelve. |
| What does this episode teach about using technology to solve social problems? | The episode clearly illustrates that using technology or shortcuts to manipulate social situations backfires. The Emplifier creates obsessive fans rather than genuine connections, demonstrating to children that real relationships cannot be engineered or forced. By the end, Liam and the Bennetts learn that authentic interaction, despite being harder and slower, is the only path to meaningful friendships and respect. |
| Does the episode show characters taking responsibility for their mistakes? | Yes, Young and Old Bennett recognize that their invention has caused unintended harm and work together to reverse its effects. The episode models accountability by showing the characters actively trying to fix the problem they created rather than ignoring it or blaming others. This reinforces the importance of owning up to mistakes and making things right, even when the consequences are embarrassing or difficult. |
| Will my child understand the difference between popularity and genuine friendship after watching? | The episode makes this distinction clear through Liam's experience. While the Emplifier gives him instant popularity, the obsessive attention he receives is uncomfortable and hollow compared to real friendship. Children can see that being liked for artificial reasons feels empty, and that true connection requires being yourself. The contrast between forced admiration and authentic relationships is central to the story's resolution. |
| Are there any scary or intense moments when the device malfunctions? | The episode treats the Emplifier malfunction as comedic chaos rather than frightening. People becoming obsessed fans of Liam is played for humor and absurdity, not danger or threat. The tone remains light and age-appropriate throughout, with the focus on the social awkwardness and inconvenience of too much attention rather than any physical peril. Sensitive children should find the episode entertaining rather than distressing. |
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. |
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