The Nightmare Stone (episode)

The Nightmare Stone is the 1st episode of the second season of The Dreamstone (and the 14th of the show overall). It first aired in the UK the 22nd of January 1992.

Synopsis
The Land of Dreams is celebrating their victory against Zordrak with the neutralized Urpneys, unaware the overlord survived and discovered an evil and powerful opposite to The Dreamstone, The Nightmare Stone. Blob, Urpgor, Frizz and Nug, who escaped defeat previously, manage to break the brainwashing spell on the Urpneys and Argorribles and fly them back to Viltheed. They begin to argue over the now empty position of ruler of Viltheed, until Zordrak returns, revealing his new possession. He then went off to test it out, whilst the Urpneys help to rebuild his throne.

That night, the Noops are given an unwelcome surprise, the Urpneys have disappeared and something has repelled the Dreamstone's power to let the Argorrible's nightmares. The Dream Maker immediate deduces Zordrak has indeed found the Nightmare Stone. The heroes concoct a plan, the civilians will pose as an army and distract the Urpneys with an assault while the Noops will sneak in and take the Nightmare Stone. Meanwhile Zordrak's throne is reassembled. He then fires Urpgor, for no longer needing his inventions to collect the Dreamstone, for now pocessing the Nightmare Stone. As Urpgor disassembles his lab, he vows revenge.

As the diversion took place, Zordrak however was wary to this trick and had the Urpneys capture the Noops in time and send them into a cell. However he fails to notice Urpgor steal the stone instead, vehement on getting rid of it and reclaiming his position. The imprisoned Noops are almost left without hope until the clumsiness of both Urpgor and Rufus leaves them free and with the stone in their possession. They take it home and give it to The Dream Maker, who sends it into space from where it came from. The mortified Zordrak sends back Urpgor, who coyly accepts his old job, while Zordrak vows to get both stones back and turn the Land of Dreams to rubble for thwarting him.

That Zordrak's got such a temper!

Trivia

 * This is the first episode co written by John Antrobus.
 * This is the first appearance of the Nightmare Stone.
 * This marks (supposedly) the third time Zordrak succeeds in mass spreading nightmares onto the Land of Dreams.
 * From this episode onwards the series is animated by Moving Images Studios (though clips of the Fil Cartoons animated Megattack appear).
 * From this episode onwards Gary Martin voices the narrator (replacing Peter Craze).

Goofs

 * Amberley lacks her blue irises throughout this episode.