"Home Again" is the eighth episode of the first season of the Apple TV+ series Time Bandits. It was released on August 14, 2024 alongside the seventh episode, "Ice Age."
Plot[]
Kevin and Saffron return to Bingley...but it's 1996 and their parents are children. Fianna continues her chase and crashes a goth party.
Summary[]
Time folds[]
The Time Bandits are still in the Ice Age at the site of where the latest portal is supposed to be. Kevin complains that it's not there and Widgit says that either the Map is wrong or the land is wrong. "Or you're wrong" adds Penelope and Widgit admits this might be the case. "Maybe something's written underneath here," suggests Widgit, as the portal materializes behind them. It seems to appear each time he opens the Map. Penelope suggests they'll just wait and it's pointed out they could die of the cold.
Kevin asks what they're going to do when they get there and Penelope says that he and Saffron must not meet their past selves. When they ask why, however, Bittelig tells them that won't do anything more than just wreak havoc with their self-image. Widgit opens a flap on the map and the portal appears. Kevin asks how long they will have to save their parents and Widgit tells him it's only thirty minutes. He explains they're going back to the nigtt it happened and both Kevin and Penelope are incredulous, Penelope asking if they can't choose another time. Alto protests that Fianna and the Supreme Being were both there that night and Widgit agrees there are risks involved. Saffron races forward and Penelope shouts for her to wait. Kevin races after as well, despite the others' protests. Penelope tells him that they still don't even know if they can change the past. "I do," insists Kevin, holding up his Historical Figures book. The two of them emerge... from inside a refrigerator, into a home where a goth party is being held. "Where are we?" asks Saffron, asking if it's the black-and-white times. Kevin tells her it's a party and she asks how he would even know. As they argue back and forth about it, Saffron points out that they only have half an hour. He asks one of the Goths if this is Bingley. "Yeah, unfortunately," she agrees. Saffron tells Kevin they need a central landmark and they ask for the nearest shopping center. They exit the house to find that it's daylight and they realize the time may be off, as it was supposed to be night.
In the Ice Age, Alto protests that they can't do it. Penelope says they have to go, but Widgit admits to having second thoughts. Penelope says they should discuss it more. Suddenly, Penelope's voice shouts from the portal. It tells them to stop discussing it and go now. They stare at themselves from the portal, though for some reason, Bittelig isn't there. The alternate Penelope tells them that Kevin and Saffron are in danger. Alto says he's scared, but the alternate Alto tells him he's brave and that his personal contribution is important. Widgit asks how they opened the portal they're talking to them through and he tells him that "time folds." The alternate Penelope tells them they have to go now. And so they do.
Retro[]
As Kevin and Saffron traverse the streets of Bingley, Saffron comments that it's even more grim than normal and that everyone is dressed in retro. Kevin admits he's not really up to date with fashion. They find themselves at a sign of top ten music hits and Saffron complains that even the music is retro. "Uh oh," comments Kevin, staring at the sign, which reads "Top Hits 1996 Sept." The music isn't retro, they're in 1996. Saffron asks if Widgit would really make such a huge mistake and Kevin tells her it's actually the closest he's been so far. Saffron tells him that the house they were in was actually their house before it became their house, that their street doesn't exist yet. "We don't live yet," she says. She says she thought she was going to see their parents. "Me too," agrees Kevin, saying that they'll try again, come back another time. Saffron rises, saying that they can find them, that they're alive now. Kevin points out that they don't know them. "But we know them," insists Saffron, saying she wants to hug her mother. Kevin protests that they could do something wrong and stop themselves from existing, but Saffron rationalizes that if they did that, then they wouldn't exist to stop themselves from existing. They split up - Saffron to see their mother and Kevin to see their father.
The Time Bandits emerge from the refrigerator at the goth party. "We're too late, his family are already ghosts," comments Alto and Penelope asks if it's the Fortress of Darkness. Widgit tells them it is indeed the right place and they all wonder about the comments of their future selves. They run into a goth woman who looks a lot like Fianna. Kevin arrives at the childhood home of his father, who introduces himself as "Mikey," also getting a look at his grandfather. He introduces himself as "Kevin Haddaway" and Mikey quips that he had a way with his mum, not realizing just how right he is. He tells him that his dad told him he needed to play outside and he outsmarted him, showing Kevin a Game Boy. Kevin sits down next to him atop a car, as Mikey explains he sold his bike to buy the Game Boy. As the two play it, a cat shows Pure Evil a vision of the scene. "He holds the Map," comments Pure Evil, his words seemingly confirmed by Kevin and Mikey having a conversation about "the map," not realizing they're talking about something in the game. "Hide it, he'll see it," comments Mikey and Pure Evil says that it's too late, that he already has. He calls for Fianna and eyes appear in a rock there in 1996.
At the party, Penelope laments the bossiness of her portal self. They seek Kevin's parents at the party, not realizing when they are. Alto asks some goths if they know the people who live there, as Fianna emerges outside. One of them comments that there were some kids playing in the refrigerator and commented about a demon in a shopping center. Fianna enters the party and the lookalike asks if she wants to dance. She stares at her, eyes glowing. "Cool," comments the lookalike, as Fianna blasts the backdoor of the home open. Meanwhile, Saffron arrives at the home of her mother and is greeted by her grandmother. She spins a story about having just moved to the local area and is meeting people there. Her mother arrives and clutches her grandmother. "Where's your mum, love?" asks the grandmother and Saffron says that she passed away, even as she stares at the child form of her own mother. "You must miss her" comments the grandmother and Saffron agrees that she does, that she wishes she could tell her she was sorry. The grandmother says it's okay, that they all have things they regret. She invites Saffron in to get cleaned up. In the Ice Age, the original Fianna enters the portal.
Virtual Insanity[]
The Time Bandits discover the damage caused by the Fianna there in 1996, Penelope saying that they have to find Kevin and Saffron before she does. Meanwhile, the other Fianna emerges from the refrigerator. The lookalike comments that she's back, saying that she'll forgive her for breaking the door if she dances with her. Fianna blasts her against the wall. Saffron comments to her grandmother that it's nice to meet her, that she never did get to meet her. She says she hasn't seen her reflection for years and that she's older, that she's been brushing her teeth with sticks. The grandmother suggests she and Lisa play while she makes a phone call. Meanwhile, Kevin and Mikey dance to the song "Virtual Insanity." Mikey tells Kevin that the song is about how the future will be insane and they'll have flying cars by the 2020s. Kevin tells him it won't happen, that the concept of flying cars is almost as old as cars themselves. Mikey is impressed at his knowledge. Grandpa Haddock shouts for them to keep it down and Mikey protests that they're chilling. "Sorry, Granddad" comments Kevin and Grandpa Haddock asks just who he is. He confiscates Mikey's Game Boy and when Kevin calls him Granddad again, he protests that he's only 32.
Mikey, thinking that he is giving his father cheek, calls Kevin "knowledgeable and rebellious." He says he's so cool and Kevin says he's always wanted to hear him say that, then amends that he's always wanted to hear someone say that and that it's pretty cool it's him. He asks what Kevin's father is like. Kevin tells him that he's a lot better to him than his father was to him and that he thinks he'd like to know that, that he loves him. The two Fiannas stalk the streets of Bingley, passing within feet of each other. Meanwhile, Saffron is apologizing to Lisa. She tells her that she's' sorry for always answering back and for using her phone to buy things off the Internet. "What?!" asks Lisa, confused. Lisa tells the grandmother that they're playing "Babies and Mummies" and she's the mummy. The Time Bandits search the shops of Bingley, trying to find Kevin, but confused because many of the boys are sporting hairstyles like his. Bittelig, troubled by his absence from the group from the future, tells Penelope that he can't die now, that he hasn't done anything except making shrubs and stealing a few vases. She tells him he's obsessing and she can't lose him. She says it's not bossy, but sensitive, with good advice. She tells him to go find the kids. Alto asks a couple if they've seen any scruffy kids and is told scruffy kids are there all the time.
Kevin and Mikey play a game of catch with each other. Kevin calls it a great moment, when suddenly Fianna appears. "I led her here," he realizes. He runs over to Mikey, telling him it's been the best day of his life. He says they'll hang out again, and Kevin agrees that they will, but he won't see him as much. He tells him he loves him. "Who the hell is that?" he asks and Kevin tells him it's a demon and that he needs to go inside. "She's after me and my friends. Remember her," he warns and shouts for him to duck as Fianna blasts her eye beams, burning a sheet hanging on a clothesline. "Remember!" shouts Kevin. "Be afraid! Remember!" He runs away. In the shopping center, Alto spots the other Fianna. He pushes a ball cart, distracting her, and she comes face-to-face with Bittelig. He asks if it when he dies. "Yeah, probably," she agrees.
A double-meaning[]
"Sorry for practicing graffiti on the bathroom wall and lounge wall. Sorry for calling Mrs. Fitzroy the B word and saying I learned it from you. Even though I did learn it from you," Saffron tells Lisa. Outside, the grandmother greets a man and a woman from Social Services. She spots Kevin waving to her and when the grandmother and Social Services enter, they find both her and Lisa gone. Outside, Kevin asks her just what she's doing. She tells Kevin she wants to bring Lisa with them. "You can't," protests Kevin, telling her that she has to live her life or else they might not be born. The grandmother and Social Services tell her that she wouldn't want Lisa to lose her mummy. Saffron asks to give her a hug and they hug. "I'll see you once, when I'm a baby," Kevin tells her, taking off. They run away, only to be confronted by Fianna breaking through the fence. "Remember me?" asks Saffron and Kevin pulls her away as she shoots her beams of fire, destroying a swingset. The Social Services people take off running, as the other Fianna creates devastation at the shopping center. Bittelig runs away and she shouts after Widgit. She tells him he has something she wants. He tells her they're over. "The Map," she specifies. He tells her she can't have it.
Kevin and Saffron appear, running from the other Fianna. "There's t--" realizes Widgit, shouting that they need to get out of there now. Bittelig declares that he's going to fight her, that he wants to do something important and that maybe this is it. He stands between the two Fiannas, shouting at them to go. "Bring it!" he declares, but the two Fiannas seem more interested in each other. The rest of the Time Bandits arrive back at the goth party. Fianna asks Kevin if they saved their parents and he explains that they were just kids. "You brought us to the wrong time, genius!" Saffron tells Widgit. Penelope says they have to leave before the Fiannas catch up. "Fianna!" shouts Alto, but it's only the lookalike. Widgit tells Penelope they have to warn themselves.
Widgit realizes that "time folds" is a double meaning, that can open portal from a fold in the Map. He does so and they have the have the conversation with themselves from the past. As they finish, Saffron shouts out, seeing Fianna, or rather, the lookalike. "Why deos everybody keep doing that?" she asks. Widgit shouts that she looks like his ex. "Lucky man," she tells him. Bittelig shows up and they are all relieved to see he is alive. He tells Widgit that his ex-girlfriend is a great fighter, but then the two Fiannas started arguing with each other and he gave them the slip. He tells them he went to the shopping center and got a book on how to care for injuries. They escape through the portal, the two Fiannas now discussing calmly that something about time has changed for the two of them to meet. They open the refrigerator, but see only empty beer cans.
Pure Evil's demand[]
In the Ice Age, Bittelig succeeds in treating Twonicorn, using the knowledge from his medical book. Penelope says that she failed again, telling Kevin there's so many things they don't know about the universe. She continues that they don't know if it's possible to stop the big things like death from happening, that they've tried. "We tried to save Susan," agrees Widgit. Saffron asks what happened and Bittelig tells her that she fell off a cliff and was crushed by a giant boulder. Penelope explains that they tried to get there before it happened, but always arrived too late. Kevin opens his bag. "They're not in here," he tells them, asking if they changed history. Suddenly, the saber-toothed tiger appears. "It's after me!" shouts Penelope, but suddenly it freezes in mid-air while lunging forward. "Hello, can you hear me?" asks the voice of Pure Evil. He says he's tracked them down, the Time Bandits, the Time Bandits and their leader Kevin.
Pure Evil declares that they have something he wants, the Map, and he has something they want. Next comes the voice of Kevin and Saffron's parents. Kevin says he thought they were dead, that they were dead. "Not dead," reply the parents. "We saved them," says Kevin and they say that they did, Mr. Haddock explaining that he had recurring nightmares about Fianna since childhood. Mrs. Haddock explains that she had training in hostage situations, having been nearly kidnapped by the feral orphan girl. A flashback shows that when Fianna arrived, they recognized her and simply surrendered.
Pure Evil calls it a nice family catchup, but that if they ever want to see their parents again, they need to bring the map to the Fortress of Eternal Darkness. Kevin is thrilled their parents are alive and that they need to find the Fortress of Darkness. Alto protests that it's in the time of legends, Widgit agreeing that they're not allowed to go there. "And your parents aren't that great," continues Penelope. Meanwhile, in the Fortress, Pure Evil asks Mr. and Mrs. Haddock what Kevin meant by them being dead. They tell him that they don't know, that it's not their experience. John suggests that they changed something while traveling through time. Pure Evil tells him to shut up, that it's not possible, then blasts him to bits. "Oh, no, it is possible," realizes Pure Evil, seeing to recall that this isn't the first time he's killed John. "It's entirely possible." In the Ice Age, Bittelig tells the Neanderthals to take off Twonicorn's cast in six weeks and to give him pain pills if needed. The Chieftain tells Penelope that he and Kaga are together now. He asks if she's jealous, but she says she isn't. He insists she is. Kaga asks if he's using her. Saffron bids her goodbyes to her Neanderthal friends, telling them she has to save her other family, again. She tells Widgit to show them how to get to the Fortress of Darkness. "It's right here," he says, but then turns the Map to show that there's a corner missing. "Then we need to find that corner," declares Kevin.
Quotes[]
"We're too late, his family are already ghosts."
- Alto, arriving at the goth party
"Sorry for using your phone to buy things off the Internet."
"What?!"
- Saffron and Lisa
"Sorry for practicing graffiti on the bathroom wall and lounge wall. Sorry for calling Mrs. Fitzroy the B word and saying I learned it from you. Even though I did learn it from you."
- Saffron to Lisa
"I wanna bring her with us."
"You can't. She has to live her life, or we might not be born."
- Saffron and Kevin, regarding Lisa
"Yeah, it's me, Pure Evil. I've tracked you down. The Time Bandits and their leader, the one they call..."
"Penelope."
"Kevin."
"Oh. Actually, no. We don't really have a leader, per se. But actually, I..."
- Pure Evil and Penelope
Cast[]
Starring[]
- Lisa Kudrow as Penelope
- Kal-El Tuck as Kevin Haddock
- Tadhg Murphy as Alto
- Roger Jean Nsengiyumva as Widgit
- Rune Temte as Bittelig
- Rachel House as Fianna
- Kiera Thompson as Saffron Haddock
Special Guest Star[]
Guest starring[]
- James Dryden as Mike Haddock and Grandpa Haddock
- Felicity Ward as Lisa Haddock and Lisa's Mother
Co-Starring[]
- Johnny Brugh as Damon
- Ben Fransham as John
- Mike Minogue as Headface
- Karen O'Leary as Stomachface
- Shane Rangi as Demon
- Marley MacKrill as "Mikey" (young Mike Haddock)
- Coco White as Lisa (young Lisa Haddock)
- Ava Diakhaby as Ms. Samantha Field
- David Woods as Mr. Chris Willock
- Natalie Medlock as Goth Suzie
- Robert Hartley as Goth Andrew
- Jackson Tozer as Goth Robert
- Jimeoin McKeown as Sidney
- Irene Skillington as Elise
- Alan McElroy as Aggro Albert
- Paul Waggott as Chieftain
- Richard Chapman as Howler
- Abby Damen as Faza
- Matty Rockel as Grunt
- Byron Coll as Loduest Voice
- Bryony Skillington as Kaga
- Jesse Griffin as Tooth Tooth
- Sophie Hambleton as Meatgirl
Gallery[]
Still images[]
Trivia[]
- This is the first episode to feature a real-life song during the closing credits instead of the show's instrumental theme tune. The song played is "Virtual Insanity" from 1996 by the band Jamiroquai. The song is also heard in the episode itself.
- Widgit at one point misnames Kevin's sister Saffron as "Sauron." This may be a reference to Sauron, the demonic main antagonist of the The Lord of the Rings franchise.