Elena of Avalor, the brave and adventurous princess, has captivated audiences with her captivating story and strong leadership. However, there is a hidden aspect to Elena that sets her apart from other princesses - her connection to the magical depths of her kingdom. Throughout the series, Elena of Avalor has consistently displayed her magical abilities, showcasing her deep understanding and connection with the enchanting elements that lie within her realm. From the very beginning, Elena was chosen to wear the magical amulet of Avalor, a powerful artifact that grants her the ability to communicate with animals and access the hidden powers within her. This connection to the magical depths of her kingdom is not merely a superficial gift; it is a representation of Elena's inner strength, courage, and determination. Through her travels and experiences, Elena learns to embrace her magical abilities, understanding that they are not only a part of her identity but also a means to protect and serve her people.
Through her travels and experiences, Elena learns to embrace her magical abilities, understanding that they are not only a part of her identity but also a means to protect and serve her people. As Elena delves deeper into her magical depths, she discovers new spells, abilities, and even forms of magic that were previously unknown. This exploration of her magical capabilities signifies Elena's growth and her willingness to step outside of her comfort zone.
Elena of Avalor – The Scepter of Light
The last couple of episodes of Elena of Avalor have been pretty awesome. A Day to Remember was one of the most heartwarming episodes of children’s television I’ve seen in a while, and Royal Retreat tackled sexism in a very family friendly way. But Scepter of Light does something entirely different. I think the term “Game Changer” is a good description for this episode. For weeks I’ve been clamoring on this blog, always hoping for the main story to start progressing. Ever since episode 1 when Elena’s staff began to glow in her hand, despite the fact that it had never done that before, I’ve wanted to see more of her ‘powers’ come to the forefront. Scepter of Light did just that and more by introducing a whole new aspect of Elena, a great villain and a whole bunch of new mysteries to unravel. Let’s GLOW some light on this episode, shall we?
Why yes Elena and Isabel, you CAN expect that sort of pun induced humor for the entirety of the article. I can see you’re quite excited about it.
A solar eclipse takes the stage as Elena accidentally sets fire to her pillows when she uses the word Blaze while holding her scepter. It turns out that her scepter comes from an ancient race of people. The same ancient race that she and her friends were investigating a few episodes yet. There’s a really cool underlying mythos to this show and I want to know all of it! Anyway, my favorite character Zuzo shows up to give us the rundown on this ancient scepter in a scene that actually made me laugh out loud. “Okay, I’ll go dig up some information. Wait here.” One second later. “Okay I’m back.” Essentially this scepter has some pretty cool powers if you can channel the essence of a word like Blaze or Glow into it. For the record, this caused my partner and I to scream “GLOW!” at each other for the rest of our lives.
If your scepter continues to glow for more than four hours, consult your local spirit guide for instruction.
It turns out that Elena can trigger this magic because of her connection to the spirit world which she got from being trapped in the amulet for far too long. Talk about side effects! However, no great superpower comes without a weakness. To use the scepter requires physical energy and the more she puts into the staff, the more it wears her out. This adds a really interesting depth to this magical power. I think to make it so that she can just use it whenever is a little too easy. But in this way, she’s going to have to not only learn new spells, but also learn how to control it so that she doesn’t have to take a two day nap after fighting a villain. And oh my gosh do we need to talk about this villian!
I’m fairly certain Orizaba was bitten by a radio active Jennifer Lopez when she was young, causing her to have super powered hips that refuse to quit.
Orizaba is one of the most fabulous villains I’ve seen in a while. She really embodies the flamboyant, over the top nature of Disney villains like Izma or Ursula and I say that as a good thing. From the moment she appears from the spirit world, it’s as though she is doing a little dance and no one can stop her. Seriously, her hips NEVER STOP! I actually was sad to see her defeated because she is just so excellent as a character. Voiced by the lovely Eden Espinosa, Orizaba is here to bring eternal night. A moth fairy, she’s been hiding in wait in the spirit world, just waiting for a solar eclipse. This provides a nice backdrop for Elena to learn about her new powers but also provides the best guest appearance of a character this season. With a wonderful song and animation that rivals Zuzo as my favorite, Orizaba is a character I wouldn’t mind returning. Or she could just get a spin off. A video game? ANYTHING!
Umm, do you guys want to tell her that she can play with hamsters even if it’s daytime or should I?
I wouldn’t be able to talk about Elena of Avalor without gushing over the technical aspects of the show. Sure, the story is top-notch and the characters are absolutely delightful to watch every week, but what keeps me coming back is that the animators consistently manage to top themselves every episode. I swear the textures and movements look smoother and more up to par with Disney animated films every single week. The facial expressions of Zuzo, Orizaba and a Fuego the horse, who takes after the likes Maximus from Tangled, are all excellent and bring these characters to life in fantastic ways. I say this every episode that Mateo is in, but I love seeing him use his magic as it is very different from how we typically think of wizards.
Alright, let’s take a look at the Elena checklist. We talked about great animation, story and characters. We talked about the Orizaba’s fierce hips. What’s left?
Something that struck me in this episode was the closing moment between Mateo and Elena. I strongly appreciate that we get to watch this boy and girl build a FRIENDSHIP. You see how I capitalized that? That’s because boys and girls can be FRIENDS and don’t always have to always have stories of romance or falling in love. They can also have these wonderful FRIENDSHIPS that deserve just as much growth and learning. Yet, modern media seems to put these in the backseat while love stories get all the attention. I love watching these two grow as friends because they still get to have the heart warming moments that are usually reserved for the love story of the show. Seeing Elena remind Mateo of their friendship in such a kind way was heartwarming without having to have a deeper, unrequited meaning.
Fuego’s Face: Really? This guy?
It may seem odd that of all the shows out there from Disney, Elena is the only one I regularly cover, but for good reason. I often think that Elena of Avalor somehow understands this hidden secret that other animated shows haven’t discovered. Female characters can be strong and bold. They can be confident and powerful. Friendships can be the center of a story, even those between opposite genders. Learning to lead is much more interesting a tale than how one got into the position of leadership. This show continues to impress me every week and I can tell that the creators are constantly stretching, taking a small cable kid’s show budget and doing everything in their power to make it feel like a Grade A animated film. This week changed the game with Elena’s mystical powers and I am very excited to see what happens to her in a couple of weeks in the made-for-TV movie, The Secret of Avalor, which we will of course talk about in great length here. Until then, I’ll keep ringing my internet bell and telling you to watch this fantastic show.
YOU HAVE TO WATCH IT.
Check out the trailer for Secret of Avalor below!
Alright, let’s take a look at the Elena checklist. We talked about great animation, story and characters. We talked about the Orizaba’s fierce hips. What’s left?
In doing so, she gains a greater understanding of the responsibility that comes with her powers. Furthermore, Elena's connection to the magical depths of her kingdom allows her to forge alliances, learn from ancient beings, and seek guidance from the spirits that reside within her realm. This connection serves as a reminder that Elena is not alone in her struggles; she has a wealth of support and wisdom at her disposal. In conclusion, Elena of Avalor's ability to delve into her magical depths is not just a fantastical aspect of her character; it is a representation of her inner strength, growth, and connection to her kingdom. As she continues on her journey, Elena learns to embrace her magical abilities, channeling them for the greater good of her people. Her exploration of the magical depths serves as a reminder that with great power comes great responsibility..
Reviews for "Elena of Avalor's Magical Journey: From Ancient Ruins to Modern Marvel"
1. Mary - 2/5 stars - I was really disappointed with "Elena of Avalor Delving into Her Magical Depths". The storyline felt rushed and lacking depth. The characters' actions and decisions didn't make sense, and it was hard to connect with any of them. Additionally, the animation quality seemed subpar compared to previous episodes. Overall, it felt like a filler episode that didn't add much to the overall plot.
2. John - 1/5 stars - I found "Elena of Avalor Delving into Her Magical Depths" to be a boring and uninteresting episode. The plot felt forced and predictable, lacking any surprises or twists. The dialogue was cheesy and the voice acting didn't help either. It felt like the writers ran out of ideas and decided to just throw some random magical elements in to try and make it more exciting. Unfortunately, it fell flat and was a waste of time.
3. Sarah - 2/5 stars - "Elena of Avalor Delving into Her Magical Depths" was a forgettable episode for me. The storyline was unremarkable and felt like a rehash of previous episodes. The character development was lacking, and it didn't give us any new insight into Elena or her world. It felt like a missed opportunity to explore deeper themes and introduce new interesting characters. Overall, it was a mediocre episode that didn't leave a lasting impression.