Butterfly Follies (Star vs the Forces of Evil Season 4 Episode 1) - 'Toon Reviews 38

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It’s going to get a little weird and a little wild for what may be the last time in one of the most influential Disney animated TV shows of recent years:

Star vs the Forces of Evil (Season 4)

Basic Premise

When it was first airing, I couldn’t really consider myself an avid viewer of Star vs the Forces of Evil.  I could recognize it when I saw or heard a piece of it and I could see appeal in the look of it, but it was only when I decided to review Season 1 when I finally became attached to it.  Now, it should be noted that I can’t really consider it one of the best shows ever.  The biggest reason for that is how it constantly fluctuates in quality.  Sometimes it can pull off impressive plot points and character arcs, but other times they offer noticeably faultily executed subplots that tend to lower character likability.  It has great potential to be truly spectacular, but it almost always gets close but never quite there and through viewing it more often, I’ve noticed it more now more than ever.

Now even if it is short of the best, it’s still pretty great as it is and viewing it more often has me recognize its true high points.  While I personally feel like the light-hearted stories in the name of fun are mostly overly frivolous, the show is at its most interesting when acting on drama and world-building.  This makes for engaging backstories, legitimate threats, and consistently likable characters such as the character formally introduced in the last season, Queen Eclipsa.  Speaking of the last season, its grand scope has left a lot to follow up on in this season with changes in monarchy, new ways of honing magic powers, disappearing mothers, and more.  This being the last season there’s no doubt that it has a lot to live up to. I’m more ready to look into it to see if it meets said potential than ever now that I watch the show regularly.

So stay tuned for one more season’s worth of reviews on the adventures of everyone’s favorite interdimensional Disney princess.

Now on with the reviews

Butterfly Follies

Right away this season knows to follow-up on the lingering plot threads of the previous season.  In doing so, it leaves explanations for a few key details out.  The very first scene shows that Star can do magic with just her hands.  This may not be much different from her butterfly form, but an explanation for how this is possible when not in that form would have been appropriate.  Maybe there is an explanation in an official spell book available online and at real world book stores, but it’s kind of inconsiderate for the show to believe everyone can or will buy it. 

Back on topic, it’s very fitting that the opening scene is in the name of Star, Marco, and River tracking down Moon who disappeared in the Season 3 finale.  Adding the fact that she’s lost her memory from being in the Realm of Magic for so long and they’ve already triple-checked everywhere in Mewni, the desperation is real.  It really makes the stakes more engaging and Star feel more sympathetic than ever, even if she can get irrational. 

However, this episode isn’t all engaging due to the attitudes of the Mewmans.  They’re unhappy with Star giving the throne to Eclipsa while she was acting queen and that monsters are now permitted into the kingdom.  Yes, Eclipsa’s been notorious for ages, but are they seriously so dense that they just ignore that Eclipsa saved them when their souls were drained?  Also, what reason do they have to think that life is bad now that monsters are allowed in?  They’re clearly perfectly friendly without any ulterior motives at all.  The worst part of it is in a play at a carnival held by people called the Pie Folk featuring Star and River as total dunces who don’t know how to run a kingdom.  It can be seen as funny parody material, but in the context of what the Butterfly family has been through, the lack of respect is disgusting.  At least one part of it works on an emotional level when they think they find Moon, but it just turns out to be an actor who’s good at doing her voice. 

In addition, when Star and Marco decide to rest up at the new castle, the old monster temple, the tone becomes much more pleasing when Eclipsa appears.  Even though she’s loved by monsters and unjustly detested by Mewmans, she’s perfectly content as she goes about life and acts very hospitable to Star and Marco.  She’s also a capable family person tending to adorable baby Meteora who only acts monstrous around Marco, and sparing no expense at freeing her monster husband Globgor.  Above all, Eclipsa is considerate over Star’s concerns over failing to find Moon, knowing she may have to be told that the worst may have happened. 

Interestingly, there’s one legit thing that keeps Star going, giving context to a photo of her and Marco at the beach which has been seen a lot even if the actual event hasn’t.  It’s actually a photo of the future given to her by Father Time, and she knows she can’t be this happy if her mom isn’t found.  In addition to being creative background to that object, it’s a believable reason for everyone to keep up this hopeless search.  However, an even bigger lead is found in the crust of one of the Pie Folks’ pies which Star recognizes as the work of Moon.  This is also a sloppy way to reveal things unless you have that tie-in book, but from an emotional stance, it’s a welcome bit of hope after everything. 

While it’s held back by unbelievable denseness and out-of-nowhere reveals, the follow-ups with the main characters and creative backgrounds make this a pretty solid start.

B+

Be sure to stay tuned for the review of the next episode that takes Star and the gang to Pie Island for an endearingly creative break in the search for Moon.

If you would like to check out other Star vs the Forces of Evil reviews on this blog, click here for the guide made especially for them.