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The Nisse
Although the previous episode felt like an appropriate end to
Hilda’s main arc, this is not where the season ends.
The last two episodes tie up the loose ends of other topics. This doesn’t make for the grandest finish,
but they’re both good as they are. That
said, this episode does have a fair share of flaws mostly with how it feels
like different stories all at once.
We
have the Sparrow Scouts having an end of the year camping trip while Hilda and
David lament over Frida not showing up for a long time. There are strong implications that if this is
the end of the year, a lot of time must have passed since their falling out. It’s kind of much for being over a
few minor shortcomings Frida’s overreacting towards. Apparently, she’s befriended an older girl,
Kelly, who does not seem like Frida’s type and suspiciously keeps showing up
behind her by surprise. However, Frida putting
up with Kelly does bring a relatable instance of falling into the wrong crowd
after a life-shattering event. As
interesting as this seems, this part doesn’t stand out as much when another
subplot to give the episode its name appears.
While preparing for the camping trip, Hilda meets a creature called a
nisse. They’re house spirits who live in
worlds composed of small spaces people can’t reach that apparently every home
has. With this one all alone, Johana
suspects that this nisse was thrown out for doing something bad. She does so rather harshly and is quick to
shoot down Hilda’s sympathy for him which isn’t a good fit for what we’ve seen
of her. Hilda still wants to help the
nisse, named Tontu, especially upon learning he was thrown out for something he
didn’t do. She offers him a place in her
home which he’s wary of since a nisse living there won’t like. This makes Hilda seem very naïve.
She’s dealing with a creature she knows nothing about and her mother clearly
wants nothing to do with Tontu. While
her actions bring a cute look at a nisse’s usual space in a house, they cause a
fight between nisses that messes Hilda’s house up, and Hilda faces scorn for
it.
At least the mood is lightened
somewhat as Hilda is dropped off for her camping trip. There, the radically different subplots make
a good attempt to go together. Hilda and
David find Tontu in the woods where they agree to find his real house and clear
his name. It also comes with boneheaded
moves when they stray from the campsite to talk with him. Couldn’t they have invited Tontu to their
tent to discuss things so they won't get into trouble?
Ultimately, Tontu becomes nothing but a plot devise, when checking on him gives Hilda
and David a reason to sneak out and find out the truth about Frida’s new friend. Kelly is part of the team of marras, and
their magic starts working on Frida as she’s illuminated by the nightmares they
share. As Hilda and David uncover the
group, they gloat about how Frida, based on what she’s been through, will be
one of them some day. Out of this is one
of David’s biggest showings of backbone since overcoming a marra himself,
daring to call them cowards who give other people nightmares to hide their
insecurities. It’s great build-up to a
shocking end when they’re spotted by a creature mentioned all through the
episode, the Black Hound, setting up what’s to come.
While that builds up future events well, the
episode is still held back by a few concerning character moments and feeling
cluttered by telling two different stories at once. Even with that, there’s a good amount of
creativity and good intentions from everyone working in its favor.
B+
The Ranking
- The House in the Woods
- The Nightmare Spirit
- The Tide Mice
- The Bird Parade
- The Midnight Giant
- The Hidden People
- The Storm
- The Troll Rock
- The Lost Clan
- The Sparrow Scouts
- The Nisse
- The Ghost
The next Hilda review is the last one for Season 1, following up on the appearance of the Black Hound.
Next time on MC Toon Reviews, it's "Scent of a Hoodie" and "Rest in Pudding" from Star vs the Forces of Evil.
If you would like to check out other Hilda reviews on this blog, click here for the guide made especially for them.
I kinda think the Marras were conspiring to recruit Frida
ReplyDeleteI agree, this and the next episode feel like different stories tied together.
ReplyDeleteMaybe something rushed the season's production
Delete