"The Land of the Gupins" represents the eighth installment within the first season of the animated series, Ewoks. This episode, penned by Bob Carrau and brought to life by director Raymond Jafelice, was initially broadcasted on ABC during October 26, 1985.
The episode commences with Paploo traversing a river, where he encounters three Ewok youngsters, namely Wicket Warrick, Teebo, and Kneesaa a Jari Kintaka, engaged in play with a quadrupedal creature. Paploo attempts to frighten the animal, but the children respond with laughter, clarifying that it is Mring-Mring, the monarch of the Gupins. Subsequently, Mring-Mring reverts to his bipedal form. Annoyed at being deceived, Paploo questions whether they perceive him as a "lurdo." The brown Ewok child assures him that such a thought would never cross their minds.
Paploo challenges Mring-Mring to transform once more. He transforms into a colossal bird, which rapidly deflates, resembling a hot air balloon, before plummeting into the forest. The Ewoks swiftly move to locate Mring-Mring, only to find him ensnared within a Reap's web. Driven by urgency, Paploo and Wicket rush to rescue Mring-Mring, but they themselves become trapped by several Reaps, who proceed to envelop them in webbing. Displaying ingenuity, Teebo and Kneesaa utilize a branch to disentangle the web, effectively catapulting Mring-Mring, Wicket, and Paploo out of the reaps' lair. Teebo and Kneesaa then make their escape, reuniting with the other Ewoks and the Gupin, who have landed on a bush.
The group further discovers that they have liberated Oobel, Mring-Mring's sibling. The brothers share a heartfelt embrace. Mring-Mring introduces Oobel to Teebo, Kneesaa, Wicket, and Paploo. Oobel expresses his gratitude for their rescue but soon loses control mid-air and crashes to the ground. He reveals to Mring-Mring and the Ewoks that his flying abilities have been diminishing lately, resulting in his accidental entry into the Reap's nest.
Mring-Mring reminds Oobel that he has yet to truly master his wings and is thus considered an outcast. Oobel pleads with his brother to accompany him back home, but Mring-Mring remains convinced of his own inadequacy. Oobel informs Mring-Mring that the renewal ceremony is imminent. Upon the Ewoks' inquiry about the renewal ceremony and the Juniper Chest, Oobel elucidates that the Juniper Chest serves as the epicenter of Gupin existence, housing the energy that empowers their flight and shape-shifting abilities.
Oobel attempts to transform into a bat but struggles to maintain control. Mring-Mring explains that when the chest is open, their Gupin powers are refreshed. Oobel cautions that this time there may not be a ceremony since Uncle Mef has succeeded their Father as ruler. However, their cousin Punt has proclaimed himself as King.
Oobel recounts that following Punt's ascension to the throne, the Gupins faced an assault from the Grass Trekkers, who breached the Gupin fortress. Overwhelmed by fear, Punt surrendered the key to the Juniper Chest to the Trekkers. Oobel laments that this act spells doom for the Gupins, as they risk losing their powers if they cannot access the Juniper Chest. Oobel expresses his fear of their vulnerability and urges Mring-Mring to return.
Mring-Mring asserts that his lack of wings renders him incapable of confronting an entire tribe of Grass Trekkers. Oobel reminds him of an ancient Gupin prophecy, which Mring-Mring dismisses as mere folklore. When Wicket inquires about the prophecy, Oobel reveals that it foretells the emergence of a Gupin who can unlock the Juniper Chest without the aid of a key, and that this individual will become their greatest King.
Despite his skepticism, Mring-Mring consents to return and retrieve the key. The Ewoks offer their assistance, but Mring-Mring hesitates to involve them. Wicket reminds Mring-Mring that he saved his father Deej Warrick's life and that is good to repay his kindness. Paploo affirms their friendship with Mring-Mring. Teebo suggests consulting the elders beforehand.
The Ewoks embark on a river journey aboard two canoes, guided by Master Logray, who assures them that the river will lead them to the grasslands. Kneesaa probes Oobel's belief in the legend of the Gupin who can unlock the Juniper Chest without a key and ascend to become the greatest king. When Paploo inquires about the potential consequences of opening the chest, Mring-Mring explains that he can become King of the Gupins. Paploo is enticed by the prospect of kingship but inadvertently drops his oar. Paploo is forced to swim back to retrieve the oar much to the laughter of the other Ewoks.
Shortly thereafter, the travelers approach a waterfall. The Ewoks and Gupins tried to row backwards but the water current is too strong. Mring-Mring and Oobel save the Ewoks from danger by transforming into giant blankets which ferry the canoes to safety. They land the canoes in a grassy plain inhabited by long-necked grassland beasts.
Paploo complains about traversing the Endorian grasslands. However, Mring-Mring is impressed by their beauty. Before they can travel farther, they hear the movement of Grass Trekkers. They hide behind a bush and watched the massive beasts lumber by. The Ewoks are alarmed by the massive size of those creatures.
Teebo utilizes his whistling prowess to enlist the aid of several insectoid Makants, whom he persuades to assist them in reaching the Gupin stronghold. Teebo invites the Ewoks and Gupin to ride on the Makants. The Makants are able to leap across the plain. They eventually reach a ditch. Across the ditch lies the Gupin stronghold and the Grass Trekker shrine, where the key lies. Mring-Mring, Wicket and Kneesaa travel with their Makant to warn the Gupins while Oobel, Paploo and Teboo head to the Grass Trekker nest to retrieve the key.
Teebo devises a plan to camouflage their Makant with grass, disguising him as a Grass Trekker. The disguised Makant, Ewoks, and Oobel approach the Grass Trekker shrine. Oobel dismounts and distracts the Grass Trekkers guarding the shrine. As several Grass Trekkers converge on him, he leads them on a chase. Oobel and Teebo enter the shrine.
Meanwhile, Mring-Mring travels with the other Ewoks on their Makant mount to the Gupin stronghold. Mring-Mring explains that since his Father has died, they have lacked a strong leader. Meanwhile, Oobel and Teebo reach the heart of the nest, where they find the nest at the end of several tunnels.
Elsewhere, Paploo is surrounded by several Grass Trekkers. However, a horn blows and the Grass Trekkers scatter. Inside the shrine, Oobel finds the key chained to a stone. He breaks it with a stone and carries Teebo out. They find Paploo outside the shrine. The group realize that the Grass Trekkers are heading to the Gupin fortress. Oobel tells the Ewoks he knows a way that they can pass them unseen.
They travel through a canyon while the Grass Trekkers advance on the forests. Meanwhile the other Ewoks and Oobel reach the gate of the fortress. After thanking the Makant, Kneesaa tells Mring-Mring that she and Wicket feel that a Gupin hero does exist. Wicket adds that if he can just believe in himself, Mring-Mring will find a way to save his people. Mring-Mring is impressed by their faith in him but doubts that he can live up to their expectations.
Just then, the Grass Trekkers approach the Gupin stronghold. Mring-Mring calls on the guards to open the doors. Meanwhile, Oobel and the other Ewoks return with the key. The guards refuse to left Mring-Mring in, claiming that Punt the Magnificent has barred all entrance. The guards tell them to leave since the renewal ceremony approaches.
Kneesaa introduces herself as a Princess and says that she has come to save them from the Grass Trekkers. Mring-Mring adds that they have retrieved the key to the Juniper Chest. The guard orders that the doors be unlocked. The Gupins and Ewoks managed to enter before the Grass Trekkers can enter the fortress. Teebo is impressed by the lush beauty of the Gupin fortress.
Punt the Magnificent demands the key from Mring-Mring. Mring-Mring hands Punt the key. Punt takes the key and tells Mring-Mring to go away, calling him an outcast. Oobel tells Punt that he was never meant to use the key. Mring-Mring convinced Oobel to calm down, telling him that every Gupin has the right to use the key.
The Grass Trekkers begin banging on the gate of the stronghold. Paploo convinces the other Ewoks to find logs to reinforce the barricades. Punt the Magnificent climbs the steps to the Juniper Chest, claiming he is the rightful king. As the Grass Trekkers batter the gate, the Ewok add logs to the barricades.
Punt tries to unlock the Juniper Chest but is unable to unlock the Juniper Chest. With the Grass Trekkers battering on the gate, Oobel urges Mring-Mring to have a go at unlocking the Chest. While trying to force the key through the lock, Punt drops it, causing it to crash to the ground and shatter. Just then, the Grass Trekkers storm the fortress and begin tearing down tree houses and terrorizing the Gupins.
Oobel carries his brother Mring-Mring up to the altar. Mring-Mring decides to try and uses his hand to unlock the Juniper Chest. The Chest opens, renewing Mring-Mring and causing him to sprout wings. The Chest also allows the Gupins to shapeshift into fearsome winged and four legged creatures which expel the Grass Trekkers from the stronghold.
Wicket comments that the Gupins don't have to worry about the Grass Trekkers anymore. Oobel and the Gupins welcome Mring-Mring as their new leader, telling him that he is a born leader. Mring-Mring demotes Punt to third-in-command next to Oobel for his greed and ambition. Punt relinquishes his crown to Mring-Mring, who invites the Ewok to celebrate with them. Even Punt joins the celebration