"Just One of the Princes" is the first episode of the first season of the Disney Jr. animated series Sofia the First, serving as the series premiere after the Pilot movie. It premiered on January 11, 2013.[1]
Overview
After seeing a flying derby race, Sofia decides to try out for Royal Prep's flying derby team. But everyone tells her that flying derby isn't a "princess thing". However, Sofia is determined to become the first princess on the team. But it isn't easy, especially with Prince Hugo, the best rider in Royal Prep, making fun of her. With the help of her mother, she overcomes the doubts that a princess cannot be on the school's flying derby team.
Plot
The Royal Family of Enchancia go to watch a Flying Derby race. Sofia states that Flying Derby is her favorite sport in the Kingdom, with her mother adding how Sofia used to pretend to race using their old mop as her flying horse. During the race, James reveals that Royal Prep has its own Flying Derby Team, and Sofia agrees to be there for the tryouts. The next day at Royal Prep, Sofia reveals she's actually there to try out for the team instead of watching, to everyone's shock. Prince Hugo and Amber, through a song, tell her it's not a princess thing since it's traditionally a prince-only thing. At Enchancia Castle, a depressed Sofia tells her animal friends what Hugo and Amber said. They encourage her to go for it because it means a lot to her and she agrees. At dinner, she announces she's going to try out for the Flying Derby team to mixed reactions: Her parents and Baileywick are supportive, but Amber and James aren't. Amber still insists that princesses shouldn't be flying derby racers, while James is just worried that his little sister will make him a laughing stock. When James points out that Sofia doesn't even know how to ride a horse, much less about being a flying derby racer, Roland tells him to show her the ropes and has Baileywick make her riding clothes.
The next day, Sofia is ready to get a horse of her own and ends up with the one horse nobody wants: Minimus. Unfortunately, Sofia has trouble from the very start and is mocked by Hugo. James helps her get the hang of it and shows her the ropes. He then teaches Sofia how to race, but she can't get through the steeple, the last hurdle on the course. That night, Amber once again tries to discourage Sofia from racing, stating she almost crashed after failing to get through the steeple and she doesn't want her to get hurt. Sofia's animal friends encourage her to get an early start at practice tomorrow.
The next day, Sofia practices on the course. Through a song, Sofia voices her determination to make the team. However, she still can't make it through the steeple. Hugo appears and tells her that there's no point starting a race you can't finish and she should just go back where she belongs: with the other princesses. When she gets home, Miranda tells her not to give up because she knows she can make the team. She also reveals that she and Roland are coming to the tryout race. Sofia wonders if she can make the team, and Miranda says that what Sofia herself thinks is what's important.
On the day of the race, lots of people show up to see if a princess can make the team. Sofia starts in last place, but quickly makes progress, which makes Hugo decide he needs to take Sofia out of the race. He brings his horse to a sudden halt and causes Sofia to fall off her horse, to the shock of Amber and the crowd. Furious, Amber closes her fan and boos Hugo. Sofia almost decides to give up, stating that she blew it, but James helps Sofia back on her horse, stating that he's not finishing the race without her, and they catch up to Hugo, with Sofia finally making it through the steeple. Hugo is distracted by this and he almost crashes into a tree. Afterwards, Sofia and James pass Hugo and win the race and their spot on the team. Sofia thanks James, who states that he would have never made the team if he didn't practice with her. They are then provided official team jerseys by Sir Gillium. Roland and Miranda arrive and are just as proud. Amber, who no longer likes Hugo after what he did, walks past him and admits that she was wrong to Sofia about Flying Derby being a prince-only thing. Amber also gives her Derby tiara to Sofia, as she is her biggest fan.
Cast
- Ariel Winter as Princess Sofia
- Sara Ramirez as Queen Miranda
- Wayne Brady as Clover
- Tim Gunn as Baileywick
- Darcy Rose Byrnes as Princess Amber
- Zach Callison as Prince James
- Coco Grayson as Princess Hildegard
- Travis Willingham as King Roland II
- Jess Harnell as Sir Gillium
- Ashley Eckstein as Mia
- Meghan Strange as Robin
- Eric Stonestreet as Minimus
- Colin Ford as Prince Hugo
- Aaron Daniel Jacob as Hugo's singing voice
- Barbara Dirickson as Flora
- Russi Taylor as Fauna
Videos
Gallery
Trivia
- Viewership: This episode was watched by 2.73 million viewers on its premiere. As a result, the series became the number one preschool series launch in cable TV history in girls 2-5 and adults and women 18-49, and the number two weekday preschool cable TV launch in twelve years in total viewers (since August 14, 2000, when Dora the Explorer premiered on Nickelodeon), behind only Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. In kids 2-5, the series tied Doc McStuffins as the network's number one weekday series launch ever.[2]
- Production on this episode started in May 2011.
- The title of the episode is a reference to the saying "Just one of the guys".
- This episode is the first of two bonus episodes included in the Walmart-exclusive DVD release of Sofia the First: Once Upon a Princess.
- The song "Anything" is the first instance of Sofia singing offscreen.
- Prince Hugo is voiced by Colin Ford only for this episode, as Ford is replaced by Grayson Hunter Goss in future episodes. Ford would go on to voice Hugo's older brother, Prince Axel.
- Although this episode premiered in 2013, it was produced in 2012 according to the credits.
- Before the premiere, a preview of this episode was made available on January 4 via Disney Channel SVOD, WATCH Disney Junior, and on iTunes. The premiere was simulcast on WATCH Disney Channel and mobile providers AT&T and Sprint TV. After the premiere, throughout January, new episodes were made available on Disney Channel SVOD and WATCH Disney Channel a week before their respective television premieres.[1]
- Leading up to this episode's premiere, from January 7-11, Disney Channel aired movies featuring members of the Disney Princess franchise, as part of an event called "Princess Movie Week". The movies that aired were Mulan, Pocahontas, Cinderella II: Dreams Come True, Cinderella III: A Twist in Time, and Tangled.
- Moral: You can do anything you set your mind to if you never give up.
Goofs
- Shortly before Princess Things starts, James is shown in his flying derby uniform. When the princesses and princes march around as the song begins, James is wearing his regular clothes.
- After Princess Things, Sofia is shown barefoot, but a few frames later, she is shown wearing her slippers.
- When Prince Hugo gets down from his horse at the end of the episode, his helmet mysteriously disappears.
- Jess Harnell is mistakenly credited as voicing Cedric the Sorcerer instead of Sir Gillium.
Transcript
The transcript for Just One of the Princes may be viewed here.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Bibel, Sara (November 27, 2012). New Animated Series 'Sofia the First' to Premiere Friday, January 11 on Disney Channel & Disney Junior. TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on August 30, 2013. Retrieved August 1, 2024.
- ↑ Kondolojy, Amanda (January 14, 2013). Disney Junior's 'Sofia the First' is the #1 Preschool Series Launch in Cable TV History in Girls 2-5, Adults 18-49 and Women 18-49. TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on January 16, 2013. Retrieved February 7, 2024.