Badger (Farthing Wood)
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| Name: | Badger |
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| Species: | Eurasian Badger |
| Seasons: | 1, 2 |
| First Appearance: | The Wood In Danger (1x01) |
| Last Appearance: | Shadows (2x10) |
| Mate: | None |
| Offspring: | None |
Badger is a fictional character from the animated children's television series The Animals of Farthing Wood, based upon the books of the same name by author Colin Dann.
Although Badger died in the animated series, he lived throughout the course of the books. He is voiced by Ron Moody.
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[edit] TV Series
[edit] Season 1
Badger was one of the more respected members of the group and was relied upon by Fox, several times. He managed to keep everyone from running away from the fire while they awaited the stranglers, and made the difficult decision to move on before Fox and Toad returned.
Badger took nominal command after the incident at river crossing, He was greatly criticized by Owl for his inability as a leader, and felt something of this himself after the disaster with the baby mice and the butcher bird. However, he successfully kept the group moving on until Fox rejoined them in episode 8. He again proved himself capable as a leader in the poisoned land, when Fox was again separated from the group. On this occasion, he refused to allow the animals to eat the cabbages, erring on the side of caution, despite Weasel's assertion that as leader he should try eating first to check for poison.
Badger and Mole had a very close relationship, Mole spending the majority of the journey to White Deer Park upon the back of Badger. On the few occasions that Mole did venture away from Badger, Badger would inevitably be called upon to aid Mole in some form of crisis. When fleeing the church in Pandemonium, Mole ends up on Vixen instead and Badger and Weasel become separated from the group.
Having fled the church in Pandemonium, Weasel and Badger end up separated from the main group and run through the streets of the town, until they hide in the a pub cellar. They become trapped together and Weasel finds the situation funny, which infuriates Badger. Weasel becomes drunk and slurs happily to Badger how he is her "besht friend". The humans then unload barrels into the cellar and these narrowly miss Badger, but appear to hit Weasel, causing unnecessary concern for Badger, until he finds her safe and drinking again. Owl finds them and Badger carries Weasel back to the others.
[edit] Season 2
After reaching White Deer Park in Season 2, Badger and Mole are the first to encounter Lady Blue when she warns them to stay of her mate's land. He is then among those who go to see the Stag following initial problems with the locals.
Badger kept a low profile except on two occasions: the first when he was injured and had to be cared for by the Warden; the second when he went alone against Scarface to try and negotiate Fox's release (fortunately this was unnecessary). As a result of his injury, Badger was able to spend a large part of the harsh winter warm inside the warden's house and, although initially keen to leave, he was reluctant to depart once he had recovered. The other animals (Mole, Fox, Vixen, Kestrel and Hare) kept up a constant search for Badger, although Owl decided he had died early on and gave up. Badger eventually persuaded the warden's Cat to go and tell his friends where he was.
On his return to the wild, Badger is annoyed that no one has come to welcome him. He takes this out first on Mole, then reveals his anger at Kestrel for attacking the Cat. He then goes to Fox and suggests that all the animals move into the Warden's cottage. This idea is ridiculed by Hare, Owl and Kestrel, though Fox is more sympathetic. Annoyed by his reception, Badger tries to return to the Warden's house, but is turned away. Kestrel, who had followed Badger, is then attacked by the Cat and it is this that convinces Badger who his friends really are. He saves Kestrel's life and is welcomed back warmly by all his Farthing Wood friends.
After his return, Badger comes up with the better idea of scavenging outside the Park (and therefore not on Scarface's land) for food. He is later seen in Fox and Vixen's den when Owl brings news of the Warden's departure. He begins to show signs of old age as winter begins to end. First he falls asleep on watch and has to be woken by Vixen. Then, while the other animals are busy carrying out Fox's plan for getting rid of the poachers, he becomes concerned about Mole's absence.
Sadly old age caught up with Badger before the conflict against Scarface came to an end.
[edit] Trivia
- Badger is the only character to appear in all 8 Farthing Wood books (although he is known as "Young Badger" in Farthing Wood - the Adventure Begins).
