Ep 23. Flipper: Re-Educating Rita

Flipper: Re-Educating Rita is the twenty-third episode of the fourth season of the original Flipper TV series. The show centers around the adventures of a friendly bottlenose dolphin named Flipper and his friends, the Ricks family, in and around the coastal waters of Florida.

In this episode, Flipper is enlisted to help a troubled teenager named Rita, who has been sent to the Coral Key Marine Institute by her parents. Rita is rebellious and defiant, constantly getting into trouble with the law and causing problems for her family. The Institute hopes that a program of marine education and interaction with dolphins will help her straighten out and learn responsibility.

At first, Rita is reluctant to participate in the program and shows little interest in learning about marine life or interacting with Flipper. She is distracted by thoughts of running away and getting into more trouble. However, as she spends more time with Flipper and the Institute staff, she begins to open up and show a genuine interest in the dolphins and the environment they live in.

One of Rita's major breakthroughs comes when she helps a baby dolphin that becomes stranded in a shallow bay. With the help of Flipper and the Institute staff, they are able to nurse the dolphin back to health and release it back into the wild. This experience helps Rita see the importance of marine conservation and the impact that human actions can have on wildlife.

Throughout the episode, we see the close bond between Flipper and the humans who care for him. The Ricks family and the Institute staff work together to provide the best care possible for Flipper and the other dolphins under their care. They also work to educate the public about the importance of marine conservation and the need to protect our oceans and the creatures that live in them.

As the episode comes to a close, Rita has made great strides in her character development and shows a newfound respect for marine life and the importance of protecting the environment. Her parents are proud of the progress she has made and are hopeful for her future. Flipper, as always, remains a beloved and trusted member of the community, bringing joy and wonder to all who encounter him.

Overall, Flipper: Re-Educating Rita is a heartwarming and educational episode of the classic TV series. It showcases the beauty of marine life and the importance of environmental conservation, while also demonstrating the power of education and positive reinforcement in helping troubled youth turn their lives around. Fans of the original Flipper series will not be disappointed by this episode, which continues to inspire and entertain audiences of all ages.