A Thin Line Between Love & Ape

"A Thin Line Between Love & Ape" is the twenty-sixth episode of the Donkey Kong Country television series and the thirteenth and final episode of season two. It was the twenty-fourth episode to air in North America. The title is a pun on "A Thin Line Between Love and Hate."

Plot synopsis
The episode starts out with Candy Kong and Bluster Kong flying over the White Mountains in the Barrel Copter, lost because Bluster is flirting with Candy, distracting her. She becomes irritated and reminds him that she is already Donkey Kong's girlfriend and Kongo Bongo's future queen. Bluster gets annoyed and wants to know why Candy is so infatuated with DK. This nearly causes them to crash into the mountains, but Bluster manages to steer them away and get them back to the Barrel Factory.

DK then shows up with Diddy Kong, gloating about another victory against King K. Rool, and invites Candy out on a picnic with them, to which she accepts. Bluster, who becomes annoyed once Candy leaves with them, knows that although the Crystal Coconut made Donkey Kong the future king of the island, it never said that Candy would be the island's queen, but is frustrated knowing that his chances with her are unlikely. He then decides to go ask the Crystal Coconut what he can do to make it happen.

Bluster then goes over to Cranky Kong and tells him that Donkey Kong and Candy Kong are picnicking in the Orchid Fields, which are very poisonous during that time of year. Cranky runs off to rescue them, leaving Bluster to guard the coconut. With Cranky gone, Bluster asks the coconut how to make Candy fall in love with him. The coconut gives him the ingredients for a love potion.

Meanwhile, Cranky, while running frantically to rescue DK and Candy, notices shortly before arriving that Donkey Kong, Candy, and Diddy Kong are not there, as they already knew about it being dangerous to go there at that time of year. Figuring Bluster must be up to something, they dash back to Cranky's Cabin, only to discover Bluster is still there, guarding the coconut.

After being interrogated by Cranky, Bluster insists he thought the Orchid Fields is where they said they were going and storms off. He then begins to make a love potion from the ingredients that were given to him by the coconut. Meanwhile, King K. Rool barges in with Krusha and General Klump. After Bluster tells him his intentions, K. Rool steals the potion spray and has Krusha trap Bluster in a barrel. K. Rool initially tests the potion on Klump, who falls deeply in love with him. K. Rool answers by having Krusha send him flying. Following these events, K. Rool notices Candy nearby and sprays her in the face with the potion. She falls right into his arms, madly in love with him. He then invites her to dinner at his lair.

Meanwhile, back at the Treehouse, although it seems Bluster did nothing, Cranky, DK, and Diddy are still wondering what he was up to. They decide to ask the coconut if he asked it for anything. The coconut reveals that it gave him the ingredients for the love potion. Donkey Kong immediately realizes what is happening, and bursts through the door, sprinting frantically while yelling, "Bluster!"

At King K. Rool's lair, General Klump returns, with the potion's effects having worn off on him. Knowing he only has a small period of time, K. Rool asks Candy for a little favor, to apprehend the Crystal Coconut for him. He then asks her approximately how long said mission would take her. She responds, "before your heart breaks for me." He then asks her to be more specific, so she tells him around 22 minutes. Knowing the effects of the potion are only temporary, he ponders how long it lasted on Klump. He comes to the conclusion that he will have just the right amount of time.

Meanwhile, Donkey Kong barges in on Bluster, who is still trapped in a barrel. DK snaps at Bluster and confronts him about trying to take Candy from him, which he denies. When DK asks what he did to Candy he claims he did nothing but had heard King K. Rool mention her. Worried that she was taken by K. Rool, DK dashes to K. Rool's lair, leaving Bluster still trapped. Diddy appears from the factory and follows DK. DK tells him to go to Cranky and tell him what happened while he goes to rescue Candy. Bluster, now out of the barrel, declares that he will be the one to save her, and with the help of his love potion, he states, "I'll finally get the girl!"

At Cranky's house, Candy enters in as Cranky is digging around in his chest. Oblivious that she is under the love potion's spell, he tells her what Bluster was up to and about the potion. Candy giggles, telling him that she is in love with King K. Rool, not Bluster. She then pushes him into the chest while he is bending over, and locks him inside. Cranky shouts, "Hey! Whadda ya doing?" shortly before he realizes what is going on as Candy goes off with the coconut, just as Diddy arrives.

By this time, Candy has reached King K. Rool and given him the coconut. K. Rool considers it his finest hour to finally have the Crystal Coconut. Shortly after Candy hands it to him, Donkey Kong bursts in. He demands K. Rool hand over the coconut, only to be sprayed in the face by the potion, causing him to fall in love with the king.

A while later, Candy's spell wears off, and she attempts to attack King K. Rool, who responds by spraying her with the potion again. Much to his surprise, rather than Candy falling in love with him again, her eyes get red, and she attacks him in a fit of rage. As Diddy and Cranky arrive at the lair, Cranky finishes explaining that the second dose causes a complete turnaround, causing the person who was sprayed to completely hate whoever sprayed the potion, the reason being that "there is only a thin line between love and hate". K. Rool sprays Candy a third time and she falls in love with him again, but Klump is also affected by the potion, making him hate King K. Rool. Chaos ensues, with everyone either in love with one another or hating one another.

Eventually, the spray bottle becomes empty, and it winds up Klump and Krusha have hateful rage at their king, who they chase. Bluster then shows up with a fresh batch of the potion and says to Donkey Kong as he runs out of K. Rool's lair, "I'll get Candy yet, Donkey Kong!". Candy then knocks Bluster out with a barrel, and the fresh love potion brew lands on his head. Bluster, looking straight at a nearby mirror, falls in love with his reflection. The coconut is now safe, and Bluster parades himself in front of mirrors, with Donkey Kong and his friends having a good laugh about it.

Lyrics
''I've mixed up a potion, and soon Candy'll realize That all she ever wanted was to be dear Bluster's bride To finally be together is a dream that will come true Flying off into the sunset in a copter built for two!
 * "" (Sung by Bluster Kong)

''Some say I'm dishonest, but I'm really truly fondest Of a girl that I can take home to meet Mom!

''One pinch of banana root sent straight from my heart Two drops of berry juice and we will never part Three flower petals, oh, if Candy only knew! Being together forever, shooby-dooby-doo!

''I see us in a treehouse With a white-barreled fence You bringing me my slippers Oh, it all makes so much sense!

''One pinch of banana root sent straight from my heart Two drops of berry juice and we will never part Three flower petals, this potion I've made for you Being together forever! Oooo-oooh!

''I've dreamt about this moment for such a long time! Donkey Kong at my feet, and the crystal is mine! How sublime!
 * "" (Sung by King K. Rool)

''Everything I've ever wanted but been tragically denied Oh, this feeling's overwhelming, so much joy I cannot hide! Not a notion 'bout this potion or the love and the devotion I've got the coconut, and it's causing a commotion! Proclaim it from the highest peaks and shout over the ocean! I've got it all!

''I have never been so happy, oh, I feel I've been reborn Dress me up in regal colours, blow the bugles, sound the horns! Not a notion 'bout this potion or the love and the devotion I've got the coconut, and it's causing a commotion! Proclaim it from the highest peaks and shout over the ocean! I've got it all!