Saturday, September 19, 2015

Star vs. The Forces of Evil Review: Interdimensional Field Trip / Marco Grows a Beard



Hey, Stargazers!
Welcome to the second to-last review of Star vs. The Forces of Evil’s first season. And boy has it been a big whirlwind for everyone watching (me included with these reviews). There was so much to take in by saying so much about it, but I can’t mention this here.

This episode was a whirlwind of emotion, especially from Episode B--most of it.
First, Star (literally) leads everyone in a fantastical field trip through the dimensions. Wonder, amazement, danger, sentient string and (most importantly) hilarity will ensue in “Interdimensional Field Trip”.
And, Marco has grown facial hair. But when Jackie Lynn takes some interest in a guy with a full beard, he tries his best to have the same--or actually Star sneaks in one. More hilarity ensues in “Marco Grows a Beard”.

But first, here is…

In it, Star leads a class field trip to a museum in another dimension and puts the entire class in danger.

When I first heard of this episode, I was pretty excited about it. Seeing Star bring her friends to another dimension would make for a great plot. Not bold or expanding, but pretty great nonetheless. And the plot of taking the role of leader in something, along with the responsibility with it, was, while used a lot, was used pretty well here. Star does show a great deal of responsibility, and it’s very good to see her exhibit a lot of concern for her friends/classmates, even if she does begin to cause it by telling them to do whatever they want in a another dimension, which should be a red flag from the start. And that they get themselves in danger

I had a debate with myself wondering whether the kids were really foolish enough to do all of these things . But to a consensus, I say “sorta”. It’s not really their fault for doing anything they did, because Star told them to.
Although they should’ve had the sense to read the signs telling them not to touch the stuff, or at least had the hindsight to think about what they want to touch or walk over or ride on, because doing that would've save them from--sorry, going ahead of myself.
For goodness sakes, Francis touched jumped down a hole and multiplied by four, Sabrina walked across the Escher stairs and Justin was close to electrocuting himself by touching a device capable of doing so. That's just dumb.

One thing I just fine “Meh” was Marco and Jackie’s texting session with each other. I found it a little pretentious, but it wasn’t all bad. And it was cute too. But to be honest, it was one of the parts I wouldn’t remember that much from this episode.
I did find it great that their relationship is moving quite nicely, even though it’s kinda slow.
And it’s the second to last episode. But, hey.

The yarn monster was...interesting. He was pretty scary, but not truly menacing. The encounter was pretty quick--but hey, the entire episode is 11 minutes, so that explains it. Still wrapped up well.

And another thing: how awesome was Miss Skullnick? Thanks to her newfound knowledge of the lifespan of trolls, their bravery and amazing super-human strength, she uses it to protect her students from the Yarn Monster by just doing the running in-the-maze bit to unravel it’s monster form and brought it back to its normal form. That was super cool. And it makes her more of a good character to me. I hope to see her like this again sometime next season.

Favorite Lines:
"I will live to be 300? And I thought I was going through the big change! Turns out I'm a teenager again!" -Ms. Skullnick
--Did Ms Skullnick just allude to Menopause in that line?
If so...Bravo, writers. Bravo for making that leap.
-"Awww. A-maaa-zing. What is it?" -Star
"It's a paper clip." -Marco
-“Let's go to a morgue!” -Janna
In fact, I like Janna a lot in this one. She comes off as a girl who like dark, morbid things--like going to morgues and vampire fangs and wants to be friends with a sentient skeleton.
http://rad-star.tumblr.com/post/129115107427/janna-is-awesome

That’s really funny. So funny, it’s kinda awesome. It’s forced to some people, but I find it kinda charming too.
It’s like she’s a cartoon version of Jade West, except without the dark clothing, the jaded personality and the fact that she isn’t a mean, conniving psycho-witch.

I found this a good and entertaining episode. Some parts were better than others, but I definitely enjoyed it. I really like the concept--Star taking her Earth friends on a trip to another dimension thanks to a dare from Skullnick. It isn’t a strong plot or story, but it’s still good to watch in its execution.

Random Thoughts:

-Star acting excited marveling at a paper clip will never not be funny and cute.
-Janna being morbid will never not be funny and cute.

-Jackie Lynn riding on a flying manta will never not be funny and cute.
-Alfonzo and Ferguson as a man/horse hybrid will never not be funny. It’s not cute, though.
-Ms Skullnick fighting off a Yarn Monster will never not be funny and/or cute. And awesome.

This was a fine episode, and an enjoyable. Not one of the best this season, but enjoyable, nonetheless.

And now, the episode all female fans (and some male fans) have waited for…

Star’s giving Marco a beard was pretty… slick. But you gotta agree with her intention. Even if Marc told her he wanted the face hair to grow on its own, it was sweet for her to help out that way, even if the outcome came out that way.

My favorite part was when Star receives an epiphany from one of the Laser Puppies, telling her that she has fought monsters since an infant without her Wand, and can find a way to save Marco. It was both sweet, and funny. And what do you know, she does, first using the Laser Puppy to free her from the tangled hair
(And yes, I don’t have to tell you--Star is super adorable as a child.)

Ludo’s flashback was...interesting. Getting tickled by a hairy monster is a strange thing, but can cause fear. I can believe a phobia of hair; people can have that. And it did make out for a perfect exposition.

And with that, the episode ends with Ludo, heartbroken that his minions AND evil advisor have turned against him, kneeling at the door of his now former castle. Damn it, that’s just heartbreaking. Even if you hate him, you really have to feel for him to just lose everything. And then...it ends. Wow. Just like Buff Frog in “Mewnipendence Day”, Ludo will now have to do what he never thought he’d done--go to Earth, and go to Star; possibly to beg for forgiveness, and ask to team up with her and Marco to take down Toffee and his Possibly Not-So-Useless Minions. Who knows?

Toffee certainly continues to be a despicable asshole/super cunning genius.
If his plan of getting rid of Buff Frog in the last episode was detestable, then turning Ludo’s henchmen against him--their LEADER--and gaining their vote as their new leader was just reprehensible. Brilliant, but reprehensible.
And...he did have some good points. All throughout this season, Ludo made his henchmen fight Starco while he just stands there, and gets the credit for the (two) times he actually got the Wand. But when they (always) lose, he brutally criticizes them like he’s their college basketball coach or abusive parent. (By the way, has anyone noticed that when he punishes them, he sounds like their dad who scolds them for wrecking the family car after a night out, and takes away privileges like the TV or making them do extra chores and stuff? Maybe just me)
And then, when he came into the picture, he acted like the perfect advisor to Ludo, helping him bolden and perfect his plans to steal the Wand. But, under the surface.
And most especially, thanks to a bad trip to his past involving a tickling monster, he came so close to the Wand, but moved away thanks to his giggly reminiscing, causing it to be his fault for losing the Wand again.

And now, since Ludo has been overthrown by his number two, and kicked out of his castle by his own (ex-)henchmen, Toffee now has a big arsenal behind. And i can’t help but feel that the Useless Minions...won’t seem so useless anymore.

Another thing, I was on Tumblr the some time ago, and I looked at this post based on the concept art of the first and last episodes of the first season, "Star Comes to Earth" and "Storm the Castle". And it tells a lot.


Trust me when I say that there will be a huge heartbreaking battle between Starco (especially Star) and Toffee coming ahead. And it WON’T be pleasant to watch.

Also, she has Marco's hoodie. What the hell could that mean?!?!

And now, to end this review on a lighter note, here are my Favorite Lines from this episode:
http://the-mad-march-hare42.tumblr.com/post/129349682474

-Star and Talking Dream Laser Puppy

http://the-mad-march-hare42.tumblr.com/post/129349366784/lorddarker-life-lessons-from-kids-shows

-Talking Dream Laser Puppy

http://the-mad-march-hare42.tumblr.com/post/129349688989/ninonisanoctopus-s1e12-marco-grows-a-beard

-Star

http://the-mad-march-hare42.tumblr.com/post/129349813339

-Star

And if the end of this episode is any indication, we're in for a big shocker coming next week.
Because next week is the first season finale of Star vs. the Forces of Evil.
And there are so much to ask:
What will Toffee's final tier in his grand scheme play out in his mission for Star's Wand?
Will Star break? Will we finally see a villain use the Wand for pure evil? Will Star and Marco still be friends--or be more than just that? Will many side characters return? n


If there was a m

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