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Out of
Business
Since
this is the last season, it makes sense for certain principal elements of the
series to go out with dignity. It’s hard
to believe that one such element is an interdimensional shopping center called
Quest Buy. It’s been the backdrop of at
least one episode every season, and each time has consisted of one big
adventure. Now as the end is near for
this show, it’s reported to be going out of business. The adventure from this news is a pretty good
sendoff for the place, but it’s also disjointed from anything major which is a
problem when a show has a huge underlying story.
Quest Buy closing goes both ways when it
comes to how certain characters react to it, both of which are understandable. Marco is relieved that the store is closing
considering that all the times he’s been there have been near disasters. Star, however, is saddened about this given
how all the times at the store have brought her and Marco closer as friends. Ultimately, they decide to go to the out of
business sale, which is beneficial for Marco who’s under the impression that he
needs a lot more high-security wallets.
Also of major note is how Janna suddenly shows up on Mewni to join them,
and considering that she’s one of the more enjoyable Echo Creek characters,
this is pleasing. Even more pleasing is
that later on, we get a creative reason for how she suddenly shows up here.
For now, this episode merely becomes a lot of
antics that stem from Quest Buy’s out of business sale. Putting Janna’s unpredictable and sometimes
strange nature to good use, she manages to successfully pose as one of Quest
Buy’s employees. For that, she leads
Star and Marco to the storage room where the antics do at least get creative. All the shelves appear to be empty, but all
everyone has to do is think of what they want, and the shelves magically fill
up just like that. Marco gets his
wallets, but that’s not all. Star’s
desired items consist of sweet innocent things like unicorn cake, a singing toy
of an Alvin and the Chipmunks knockoff, and lots of new hair styles. Janna’s desires are far more out there,
consisting of monsters, shrunken heads, and most interesting and cute of all, a
baby Marco with wheels for hands.
It’s
all great fun to see, but the episode mostly amounts to just the three of these
characters goofing around. Even the
warning sign of a catch to all this is ineffective. Because the worker who spots them is a sloth,
his warning that Star, Marco, and Janna’s brains will turn to goo because of
their imagining feels very drawn out.
The story tries to give his warning legitimacy with cages of people who
actually have gone crazy with desires, but it ultimately doesn’t matter. These guys really are strong enough to not
give into their desires and simply leave making the warning meaningless. I suppose it does allow for a change in heart
for Marco. Since some of the desires are
sentient life, he can’t bear to leave them behind. In fact, just as he purchases the wallets he
came for, it’s kind of sad when they, along with all of Quest Buy, disappear
into thin air shortly afterwards.
Despite that, you’re still left questioning what just happened when the
episode is over. It was just about a
going out of business sale, Star, Marco, and Janna mess around, and get what
they want and leave. It’s nothing more
than a simple fun escapade that comes and goes without anything significant
happening. At least the likable and
strong characterizations make the episode enjoyable if you just want something
fun to watch.
B
Kelly’s
World
While
I didn’t find Marco and Kelly bonding interesting or substantial when it first
became a thing, Season 4 does give them a few moments together that start
convincing me otherwise. Not only that,
this episode also stands out for getting creative on where Kelly comes from in
a dimension that’s completely dominated by wool or long hair.
Marco shows up to her place honoring a
promise to show her how to make tortas which he didn’t get to make as part of
The Ponyhead Show. Just as something’s
about to come of that though, Kelly reveals to him that she’s still being
annoyed by her ex-boyfriend Tad. This is
just as frustrating to the audience as it is to her. Tad now seems like his attachment to Kelly is
the only thing that defines who he is.
Those are really not the makings of a likable character. He just seems pathetic and hypocritical where
every time it seems like he’s doing the right thing and moving on, he just goes
back to his unhealthy obsession.
Thankfully for Kelly, she soon gets another matter to think about
regarding something out of her love life.
She has to return a library book to avoid paying a huge fine. Now, this doesn’t seem too pressing, but when
relationship building is factored in, even the simplest of matters become quite
pleasing. Marco comes along with Kelly
which makes for a lot of that as well as more creative world building to
Kelly’s home. She happens to have a big
wig of hair for Marco to use so he can fit in with the rest of the
dimension. Heck, some creatures’ hair is
so long, they make up entire homes. The
mannerisms are of special note too and attribute to Kelly’s knowledge of
swordsmanship. People have to punch and
fight each other as forms of payment, showing little to no need for actual
money around here.
These are all
inventive ways to stand out from the norm, but of course the best parts of the
experience are what Marco and Kelly get up to.
They have wholesome conversations with plenty of support for emotional
problems, express how much they enjoy just being together, and bond over the
contents of Kelly’s book. It’s nice
moments like this that leave a lot of potential for them as a couple. In fact, they bond so much, they’re almost late
to the library. However, it doesn’t
matter because the book was a whole day late anyway. The fine is especially big for Kelly who has
to cut her hair as a result. The only
way out of this is a battle with the librarian.
Selling Kelly and Marco’s power as a couple is that they successfully
pull off a fight move that requires both players to be in complete sync,
securing victory and saving Kelly’s hair.
Finally, they have another thing to bond over as Kelly reveals that for
how frustrating Tad is, she can’t fully let him go, and Marco says he’s the
same way with Star. Subsequent blushes
and hand holds that end the episode show a lot of promise for them
together.
While Marco and Kelly do work
well as a couple based on this episode, it makes what becomes of them later all
the more unfortunate and this entire concept pointless. The factor will be discussed in depth at a
later time, but knowing its existence makes all the good coming from this
episode’s moments a sorry sight. At
least it’s one of the show’s most charming if you take it out of context.
B+
The Ranking
1. Escape from the Pie Folk
2. Swim Suit
3. Yadda Yadda Berries
4. Moon Remembers
5. Ransomgram
6. Butterfly Follies
7. Kelly’s World
8. Surviving the Spiderbites
9. Down By the River
10. Out of Business
11. Lake House Fever
12. The Ponyhead Show
Be sure to stay tuned for the review of the next episode where Star and Marco learn the truth behind their dance at the Blood Moon Ball, or do they?
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