After being privileged to go on so many adventures, Hilda is
facing discipline for the first time as the events of the previous episode
leave her grounded. It’s a striking blow
to a natural born adventurer which is why she doesn’t take it well. However, even with limitations, this episode
shows that adventure can still arise when you least expect it.
As for the background of her punishment, it really shows that
Hilda isn’t used to a lot of things. She
doesn’t seem to understand how harmful her lies were to her mother, so when
Johanna says grounding her is for her own good, Hilda literally can’t believe
it. Technically, Hilda seems like a brat
here, but at the same time, this behavior makes sense for someone so used to going
on dangerous adventures without objections.
In addition, a claim that Hilda needs to learn that ‘actions have consequences’ plays right into the adventure she ends up having anyway.
From her bedroom window, she sees her neighbor, a former
background character Mr. Ostenfeld, suddenly disappearing into a void. Her interests piqued, Hilda goes to his door
to investigate, claiming to honor her punishment by not actually leaving the
building. The creative aspect of the
episode unfolds as she finds a package of magazines which in turn causes her to
violate postal regulations as she uncovers them by opening the package. When opening the magazine though, Hilda is
transported to her street 50 years ago with everything from the buildings,
clothes, and transport demonstrating a retro class. There’s also a big procession of Mr.
Ostenfelds for her to follow, and in addition to raising intrigue and mystery,
they lead Hilda to a memory that brings the ensuing action.
At a local dance hall, the young Mr. Ostenfeld meets a
charming young woman, and as most could guess, they dance and fall in love with
each other. Simple and predictable as it
is, the execution makes it so endearing, especially with the retro class,
mainly expressed through the background music.
Hilda, seeing the charm of dance, can easily tell they’re meant for each
other. Then come various catches for
venturing to the past.
After watching the memory, the many versions of Mr. Ostenfeld
catch her and chase her. During the chase, she finds one of the magazines and
gets back to her own time where she meets the real Mr. Ostenfeld. She learns from him that the nature of these
magazines are so he can go back in time and relive that memory. The thing is, he loved that woman, but
couldn’t get the courage to find her again, so watching the dance the way he’s
been is the best alternative. Hilda,
wanting true love to happen, suggests he go back and do something
different.
She and Mr. Ostenfeld go back to that memory, only this time
Hilda convinces the past Mr. Ostenfeld to go after that woman and say his true
feelings. It all seems harmless, helpful
even, but then Hilda’s intercepted by different versions of herself that
try to warn her of something. It all
relates to attacks from a giant worm that straight up devours the different
incarnations of both Hilda and Mr. Ostenfeld.
Consider this another instance of the new season upping the stakes. The moment also starts opening up Hilda’s
eyes to the legit heavy effects of her adventures. When both versions of her are left, one
is very aggressive in getting the other to listen to her, her words mirroring
the earlier message of actions having consequences.
What’s more, when there’s only one Hilda left, she and Mr.
Ostenfeld are transported back to their time with that worm still giving chase
through Trolberg. There, Hilda sees
another eye-opener regarding the weight of her adventuring as Johanna laments
with worry if her punishing her daughter is the right thing to do. As this is before Hilda’s time traveling
began, she technically isn’t back where she came from. However, regarding what she sees of her
mother and that echoing claim of actions to consequences, Hilda is certainly
all set to learn a necessary lesson for development purposes.
Investigations from the actions of that worm get her to
realize that the identity of Mr. Ostenfeld’s lover is her neighbor, the old
woman knowledgeable of witchcraft, Tildy.
It’s through her where the nature of the worm is revealed; it’s getting
rid of all past incarnations of Hilda and Mr. Ostenfeld to fit the changes
Hilda made to the timeline. She also
shows the effects of Hilda’s changes with a showing of versions of her and Mr.
Ostenfeld meeting and following through with a relationship. While it’s certainly charming and worth supporting,
it’s clear that it’s not worth the destruction.
So, for the greater good, these versions of them agree to
take Hilda’s place as the worm’s target by destroying the original magazine
that started everything. They may be
eaten by the worm, but through great maturity, they accept that this is how
they’re meant to be together.
Ultimately, in spite of bittersweet if slightly morbid implications, there
are some significant accomplishments.
Mr. Ostenfeld is content with finally knowing the identity of his past
lover, and Hilda has a better understanding of where people in her life are
coming from. Some happiness is achieved
and lessons are learned…even if the characters did have to see themselves die several times.
Through journeying into the past, much is done for developing
the world of the series, allowing the characters to mature, and the adventures
to broaden in tone.
A+
Series Ranking
1.
The House in the Woods
2.
The Nightmare Spirit
3.
The Tide Mice
4.
The
Old Bells of Trolberg
5.
The Fifty Year Night
6.
The Witch
7.
The Bird Parade
8.
The Midnight Giant
9.
The Beast of Cauldron Island
10. The Eternal Warriors
11. The Windmill
12. The Troll Circle
13. The Hidden People
14. The Storm
15. The
Draugen
16. The Black Hound
17. The Troll Rock
18. The Lost Clan
19. The Sparrow Scouts
20. The Nisse
21.
The Ghost
Ooh I'm looking forward to the next review! Best episode, no contest!
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