Never Try the Cider

Never Try the Cider
Season	2
Episode	8
Overall	18
Broadcast Information
Airdate	April 10, 2025
Episode Guide
Previous	Always Ask for Backstory
Next	Always or Never Make Wishes

Never Try the Cider is the eighth episode of Gremlins: The Wild Batch, and the eighteenth episode overall.

Synopsis

To reach their destination, our heroes pass through the resting place for all of the west's wildest tall tales and legends.

Plot

Sam, Chang, Gizmo and Elle are being led by Bass Reeves through the desert to Purple Mountain Majesties, though Reeves has trouble recalling where it is. Elle has trouble with her horse, whom she has nicknamed Satan. Gizmo is still haunted by his increasing number of evil mood swings. Then they run into another ghost; Johnny Appleseed. He shows the group the secret entrance to Purple Mountain Majesties, which besides a train station also features a huge casino where spirits of several North-American legends reside, as well as some other supernatural creatures. These spirits include the native American Geronimo (who constantly bickers with Johnny about how the white people stole the land from the natives), Calamity Jane, and John Henry.

Since they have 5 more hours till the train between worlds is due to arrive, Chang, Sam and Gizmo check out the casino, while Elle stays with Bass Reeves. Chang joins a game of poker and wins big time. His price includes a torch that can shoot fireballs. However, the other gamblers find out Chang was cheating, starting an argument. Meanwhile, Gizmo wanders off and ends up in the trickers lounge of the casino, where a group of talking animals, including a jackalope, are sitting. They encourage Gizmo to try the apple cider, which triggers his evil side again.

Meanwhile, on board the train between worlds, Noggin has tied up the Wings, but Grandpa claims he is curious to learn more about the Mogwai and asks Noggin to have a talk over a cup of tea. Noggin agrees and frees him.

Back at Purple Mountain Majesties, Bass Reeves is giving Elle horse riding lessons. After a rough start, she finally manages. Then a loud explosion from inside the casino draws their attention. Not too far from the casino, Gizmo wakes up, back to his old self. He notices he is lying on the train tracks, with no memory of how he got there. Sam and Chang are also there, and have been tied to the train tracks with Calamity Jane’s unbreakable whip. Gizmo cannot free them, and the train is due in 15 minutes. Sam urges Gizmo to get John Henry’s hammer, as it’s the only thing that might be able to break the whip.

On board the train, Grandpa Wing and Noggin seem to get along, but after finishing his tea, Noggin begins to feel drowsy. Turns out Grandpa Wing drugged the tea. He tries to ask Noggin if he knows what is causing Gizmo’s evil mood swings, but Noggin passes out before giving an answer.

Gizmo hurries back to the now deserted casino. The place is a mess, and while Gizmo fanatically searches for the hammer, memories of what he did during his last evil episode begin to resurface. He recalls how he and the tricksters started a huge brawl during which Sam and Chang got knocked unconscious. Then Gizmo saw a movie poster about a woman being tied to the train tracks, and decided to reenact the scene with the unconscious Sam and Chang. The realization that it was him who doomed his friends to this fate horrifies Gizmo.

Elle and Reeves find Gizmo in the casino and learn from him about Sam and Chang’s plight. Gizmo finally finds the hammer. Elle wants to take him to Sam and Chang, but when they leave the casino they are confronted by the spirits of the legends, who are still mad at Gizmo. Bass Reeves keeps them busy while Elle puts her new horse riding skills to use to try and reach Sam and Chang. Despite their best efforts, they arrive too late and for a moment fear that Sam and Chang have been killed by the train. Fortunately, it turns out Chang still had the torch in his back pocket and managed to free himself and Sam with it at the last moment.

The group boards the train, and are surprised to find The Wings there. Both sides quickly catch up to what has happened. As they talk, none of them notices how Gizmo, who considers himself a monster after what he did to Sam and Chang, sneaks out of the wagon and jumps off the train. Only Noggin, who had recovered from the drug, sees Gizmo and follows him. On board the train, Grandpa Wing tries to convince Sam that freeing Kung Kung is too dangerous. But then Chang draws his torch and threatens the others into continuing with the plan.

Cast

• Keith David as Bass Reeves
• Gabrielle Green as Elle
• James Hong as Grandpa
• Simu Liu as Chang
• A. J. LoCascio as Gizmo
• Timothy Olyphant as Johnny Appleseed
• George Takei as Noggin
• Izaac Wang as Sam Wing
• Ming-Na Wen as Fong Wing
• BD Wong as Hon Wing
• Michael Greyeyes as Geronimo
• Peyton Crim as Jackalope
• Alex Hernandez as Chupacabra
• Gary Anthony Williams as John Henry
• Robin Weigert as Calamity Jane

Trivia

• In Purple Mountain Majesties, there are a roadrunner and a coyote who strongly resemble the famous Looney Tunes duo Wile E. Coyote and the Road Runner.
• Elle is a fan about the west and horses.
• Chang is revealed to cheat in games.

Revelations and significant events

• Chang reveals he is not above turning on his friends to get his wish.
• Sam’s sixth worst fear is being late for a train.
• Gizmo is trying to resist his evil mogwai side.
• Gizmo feels so bad about hurting his friends he decides to leave the group for their safety; however Noggin follow him to get his revenge.