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The Lost
Clan
The concept of elves is interesting, but also a tad overly
complex. It’s creative that people have
to sign paperwork to see them. However, they often bring up the details of
paperwork so much it doesn’t fit the optimistic fantasy tone of the
series. At least the details are explained
through a cute supporting character like Alfur.
This adventure develops elf culture, and by extension the lore of the
series, but the aforementioned complexities and other issues don’t make it the
most investing watch.
It all begins with
Hilda, Frida, and David going for a Sparrow Scout badge on picking plants. Initially picking up weeds, David recalls a
rare flower near a place where he heard ghosts.
Hilda recognizes these “ghosts” as elves which neither Frida nor David
can see without signing the proper contracts.
Like the clan of elves in the series premiere, this clan attacks the
larger people for intruding and stepping on their houses. It’s somewhat humorous that they do so with
small weapons that are more of a nuisance than an immediate threat, and charge
in on rabbits. Still, they show they
mean business when they capture David.
Their friend in trouble, Hilda and Frida learn about the situation from
Alfur. While the backstory of the clan
he shares has some complex details, the point is still easy to get. His own clan and the hidden clan formed a
real estate contract about what to do about a plot of land that would become
the present elf village. The hidden clan
isn’t a part of it because they enraged the king by not showing enough
signatures. The section of the plot they
would have gotten was later named “no elf’s land” just to mark their
shame. This is very harsh, but Alfur charmingly
states that the rules are much fairer now.
This issue can be easily fixed since the lost clan is found and someone
from there can sign the needed signature.
However, the hidden clan is too enraged by the past to do anything with
paperwork. Their feelings are a bit
justified, but with things improving and promise for a better life in front of
them, there’s no real reason to not play along.
To be fair, if not for this direction, we wouldn’t get creative
additions to this world as Hilda, Frida, and Alfur set off to find a loophole
in the contract. Hilda finds one saying
that contracts will be null and void if burned by a lindworm. It’s said that lindworms are too rare, but
it’s hard to believe because they find out where one lives with a quick trip to
the library and get there with an easily summoned water spirit. Nevertheless, it’s a nice creative occurrence
when they do meet the spirit, as well as the lindworm itself.
Its debut appearance is handled cleverly
looking like part of a garden before catching the audience by surprise. Also, while Hilda and the others plan to have
it unknowingly burn the contract, it backfires when she wakes up enraged of being used in her sleep. However, they make good use of the weeds by exchanging
them for the burn. The lindworm itself
is also an entertaining character with an understandable frustration of people
using her services and being easily swayed by plants.
Thanks to this creature, the hidden elf clan
is now free to own its section. However, in a believable turn of events,
they’re so comfortable in where they settled that they don’t want no elf's land anymore. This can make their problems with the elf
culture unwarranted, but they do let David go and seem to be on better terms
with Alfur’s clan anyway, so it’s all good.
This episode isn’t perfect with a few complexities, irrational moments,
and confusing lore. Ultimately though, it’s successful through the undeniably
strong creativity and character moments.
A-
The Ranking
- The Nightmare Spirit
- The Bird Parade
- The Midnight Giant
- The Hidden People
- The Troll Rock
- The Lost Clan
- The Sparrow Scouts
The next Hilda review covers a supernatural endeavor where Hilda makes her friends dreams come true with a frightening cost.
Next time on MC Toon Reviews, you'll meet "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. McDuck" in DuckTales.
If you would like to check out other Hilda reviews on this blog, click here for the guide made especially for them.
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