History Recap / WanderOverYonderS1E9TheHeroTheBirthdayBoy

* {{Deconstruction}}: The story feels like a deconstructed take on "[[Franchise/SuperMarioBros Super Mario]]" plotlines. You have "the Hero" (Brad Starlight) who is trying to save the Princess (Demura) from the monster (King Draykor) who wants to marry said-princess. Oh where to begin? For one, King Draykor is [[GoodAllAlong a nice dragon]] and Demura [[BeastAndBeauty genuinely loves Draykor]]. So our Mario stand-in is no more a hero than he is a party-crashing nuisance wants to rescue the Princess on the grounds that he's "[[EntitledToHaveYou prophecied]]" to [[DesignatedLoveInterest have her]]. Not to mention that as a legitimate groom, [[SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome Draykor is stressed out]] over the prospect that some delusional wedding-crasher is trying to destroy his wedding to the woman he mutually loves. The cherry on top is when Brad [[IgnoredEpiphany shrugs off]] his [[LastSecondChance final chance at redemption]], obstinate at fulfilling his "[[ItsAllAboutMe prophecy]]" rather than recognize it's getting in the way of [[IWantMyBelovedToBeHappy Demura and Draykor's happiness together]].

** There were two paths to the castle, the DeathCourse that Brad drags Wander through and a pleasant looking path he insists must be a trap but Sylvia walks through it and remarks that it was very pleasant and even had a lemonade stand. The second path was for the invited wedding guests whereas the first was to keeps Brad out.

%% * GettingCrapPastThe Radar: Due to overwhelming and persistent misuse, GCPTR is on-page examples only until 01 June 2021. If you are reading this in the future, please check the trope page to make sure your example fits the current definition.

** One of Wander's methods of dodging obstacles in the Labyrinth of Delusion is doing a spinning jump over a lava pit like how Mario does in ''VideoGame/SuperMarioBros''.

* The DeathCourse they have to walk through to get to the castle is called "The Labyrinth of Delusion" because it was set up by Demurra and Draykor to keep her delusional stalker from ruining their wedding.

* {{Deconstruction}}: The story feels like a deconstructed take on "[[Franchise/SuperMarioBros Super Mario]]" plotlines. You have "the Hero" (Brad Starlight) who is trying to save the Princess (Demura) from a monster (King Draykor) who wants to marry said-princess. Oh where to begin? For one, King Draykor is [[GoodAllAlong a nice dragon]] and Demura [[BeastAndBeauty genuinely loves Draykor]]. So our Mario stand-in is no more a hero than he is a party-crashing nuisance wants to rescue the Princess on the grounds that he's "[[EntitledToHaveYou prophecied]]" to [[DesignatedLoveInterest have her]]. Not to mention that as a legitimate groom, [[SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome Draykor is stressed out]] over the prospect that some delusional wedding-crasher is trying to destroy his wedding to the woman he mutually loves. The cherry on top is when Brad [[IgnoredEpiphany shrugs off]] his [[LastSecondChance final chance at redemption]], obstinate at fulfilling his "[[ItsAllAboutMe prophecy]]" rather than recognize it's getting in the way of [[IWantMyBelovedToBeHappy Demura and Draykor's happiness together]].

* SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome:
** Basically the premise of the episode. Brad learns the '''hard way''' that everything that happens in fairy tales does ''not'' apply in real life. The main highlight of this trope is when the episode reveals that Draykor being an evil king who kidnapped Princess Demurra to wed her is just made up by Brad: Draykor turns out to be a genuinely NiceGuy and it turns out that he and Demurra are genuinely in love and Demurra actually wants to marry Draykor.
** When Wander concludes at Demurra and Drake's wedding that they lived happily ever after, the pair [[LampshadeHanging point out]] that while that's their intention, ''real'' relationships take a lot of work. But before they can get into the [[OverlyLongGag finer details]] of what it takes to make a relationship work (communication, understanding, sensitivity to the other's needs), Wander interrupts them at this point and insists they lived happily ever after.

* SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome: Basically the premise of the episode. Brad learns the '''hard way''' that everything that happens in fairy tales does ''not'' apply in real life. The main highlight of this trope is when the episode reveals that Draykor being an evil king who kidnapped Princess Demurra to wed her is just made up by Brad: Draykor turns out to be a genuinely NiceGuy and it turns out that he and Demurra are genuinely in love and Demurra actually wants to marry Draykor.

* BaitAndSwitch: When Demurra offers that they can remain friends despite his attempts to crash hers and King Draykor's wedding. For a moment, Brad gives a contemplative smile, as though considering for a moment that a life where Demurra's not married to him is possible. ...and instead turns down his redemption with a definite, frowning "No!"

* PlotTwist: Draykor is actually nice, and he and Demurra are genuinely in love with each other. Brad is also not the hero as mentioned in the legend; ''Wander'' was.

* WeddingFinale: Wander and Sylvia discover that Draykor and Demurra (aside from being genuinely in love with each other) are engaged, with their wedding coming up very soon--the episode ultimately ends with the couple finally getting married.

* IronicEcho: Whatever Wander wants to do is the complete opposite of Lord Hater's ideas. There's even a scene where Wander explains his goal which is in the same intonation as Hater's, complete with the same close-ups, zooms, and similar background music.

* ActorAllusion: Princess Demurra is voiced by Creator/JenniferHale, who also voices ''WesternAnimation/{{Cinderella}}'' in modern appearances. The fact that she is surrounded by [[FriendToAllLivingThings animal helpers]] like Cinderella only further enforces the connection.

** Anyone can be a hero, no matter their [[HorrifyingHero shape]], [[PintSizedPowerhouse size]], [[GenderIsNoObject gender]]. or [[IdiotHero personality]].
*** Alternatively, it's not always enough to want to be "the hero". A real hero also needs to be willing to do the right thing, regardless of whether or not they get what they want.

** More to the point, no one is entitled to a relationship with anyone else.
** Most importantly, life isn't a fairytale. Things can't always go your way or according to plan.

* BatmanGambit: There is one safe path through the maze, and one dangerous trap. Demurra and Draykor knew that Brad would be so egotistical he would never take what looks like SchmuckBait. The only this fool-proof plan failed was because Wander and Sylvia were there to ultimately save him from the traps that were supposed to foil him.

* {{Deconstruction}}: The story feels like a deconstructed take on "[[Franchise/SuperMarioBros Super Mario]]" plotlines. You have "the Hero" (Brad Starlight) who is trying to save the Princess (Demura) from a monster (King Draykor) who wants to marry said-princess. Oh where to begin? For one, King Draykor is [[GoodAllAlong a nice dragon]] and Demura [[BeastAndBeauty actually likes Draykor]]. So our Mario stand-in is no more a hero than he is a party-crashing nuisance wants to rescue the Princess on the grounds that he's "[[EntitledToHaveYou prophecied]]" to [[DesignatedLoveInterest have her]]. Not to mention that as a legitimate groom, [[SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome Draykor is stressed out]] over the prospect that some delusional wedding-crasher is trying to destroy his wedding to the woman he mutually loves. The cherry on top is when Brad [[IgnoredEpiphany shrugs off]] his [[LastSecondChance final chance at redemption]], obstinate at fulfilling his "[[ItsAllAboutMe prophecy]]" rather than recognize it's getting in the way of [[IWantMyBelovedToBeHappy Demura and Draykor's happiness together]].
* DragonsVersusKnights: The setup has a wandering knight questing to slay a fearsome dragon and rescue his captive, although it eventually turns out that the knight is a pompous jerkass who views himself as a hero when he's really a DirtyCoward and his noble quest exists mostly in his own mind.

** A minor example. The prophecy says only the hero can pull out the Sword of Destiny; Brad is unable to pull it out while Wander can. This hints that Brad is not the hero as his prophecy told him, but Wander is the true hero. But ultimately subverted: while Wander is the ''protagonist'', neither are the hero. [[{{Fauxshadowing}} Demurra is]].
** The "prophecy" sounds a little too specific, as opposed to the traditional [[TheProphecy prophecies]] that are like cryptic riddles. This may hint that Bradley made it all up himself.
* GoodAllAlong: It turns out Draykor's not evil as Brad predicted; he's very friendly and he and Demurra are genuinely in love (in fact, they're actually engaged to get married).

* MoodWhiplash: Every time Brad's dramatic attempts at being a hero are interrupted. Also, Demurra goes from sweetly talking to Draykor (her fiancé) to snapping "This again?!" at Brad in an annoyed tone.

* PlotTwist: Draykor is actually nice, and he and Demurra are in love with each other. Brad is also not the hero as mentioned in the legend; ''Wander'' was.

* ShmuckBait: Subverted; the bright and cheery path through the Labyrinth of Delusion looks like an obvious trap, but as it turns out, it really is perfectly safe (and, according to Wander and Sylvia, there was even a lemonade stand).

** The Dragon King's name can be spelt as either "Drakor" or "Draykor", the latter appearing in the closed-captions. Neither of these are mentioned in the credits, as he is simply credited as "Dragon King."

* SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome: Basically the premise of the episode. Brad learns the '''hard way''' that everything that happens in fairy tales does ''not'' apply in real life. The main highlight of this trope is when the episode reveals that Draykor being an evil king who kidnapped Princess Demurra to wed her is just made up by Brad: Draykor turns out to be a genuinely NiceGuy and it turns out that he and Demurra are genuinely in love and Demurra willingly/truly wants to marry Draykor.

* TeethClenchedTeamwork: Sylvia is ''not'' happy about working with Brad, who treats her as a dumb steed, only going along with the quest because she's "helping a sister out".

* WeddingFinale: The episode ends with Demurra and Draykor's wedding.
* WhamLine: Princess Demurra referring to ''Draykor'' as her "beloved."

* BatmanGambit: There is one safe path through the maze, and one dangerous trap. Demurra and Draykor knew that Brad is so egotistical he would never take what looks like SchmuckBait. They're surprised that Wander navigated the area with ease