Finally outside the kingdom's walls, Rapunzel begins her long journey following the path of the black rocks. However, Eugene's presence in their first city puts him in the cross-hairs of an old foe from the past.
Tropes in this episode:
- And Now You Must Marry Me: Stalyan and her father force Flynn to marry her by poisoning his friend Lance and refusing to give him the antidote under any other compromise.
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Broken Aesop: Hookfoot, Lance, and Stalyan all call out Eugene for planning to propose to Rapunzel, since she is in the free life for the first time in her life and isn't ready to settle down. However, not only is Eugene responsible for her freedom from the tower in the first place, marriage doesn't necessarily constitute a lack of freedom, especially if it's a healthy marriage and the couple can help each other fulfill their dreams. What's more, Rapunzel and Eugene would've only been engaged, not married. - Brought Down to Badass: While Rapunzel's hair is still blonde and indestructible, we find out that she no longer affects the black rocks, as seen when it refused to activate when she tries exploiting it at the wedding.
- Covered in Mud: Eugene and Rapunzel end up in mud when they're running around together at the beginning of the episode.
- Distant Duet: Rapunzel and Eugene sing a love song, but they're apart when they do so, since Rapunzel is in her trailer and Eugene is kept in prison by the Baron.
- Distressed Dude: Eugene is tied up and forced to marry The Baron's daughter. To ensure he goes through with it, Lance is poisoned by a spider and will only be given the cure once he marries her.
- Easily Forgiven: Despite Rapunzel and especially Cassandra's unreasonable and unprovoked hostility towards her, Adira doesn't hold it against them.
- Fond Memories That Could Have Been: "If I Could Take That Moment Back," the Distant Duet sung by Rapunzel and Eugene when he is about to marry Stalyan, has the lines:Now there's no more love, just echoes of / A life we should have led
- Green-Eyed Monster: Rapunzel exhibits a downplayed version of this throughout the episode. Rapunzel may be a princess who knows what constitutes good taste, but there are subtle hints of her being just a tad jealous of Stalyan. She takes the time to criticize her name and choice of wedding decor, making everyone just stare at her.
- Irony: Eugene and Cassandra tell Rapunzel to keep a low profile, fearing that people would get wound up if they knew a princess were in town. Instead, it's "Flynn Rider" that gets them all excited.
- Jerkass Has a Point: Stalyan isn't exactly the nicest person in the world, and she may be pointing this out just so he can marry HER, but Stalyan remarks that Eugene is being somewhat selfish to want Rapunzel to settle down with him. Not only does she have her whole life ahead of her, but she has only just tasted true freedom after spending a majority of her lifetime locked in a tower and wants to live a little first. This makes Eugene realize he's willing to wait until Rapunzel is ready to settle down.
- Like Cannot Cut Like: Adira's sword may be able to cut the supposedly indestructible black rocks with ease, but it can't cut Rapunzel's hair. This surprises her.
- Love at First Sight: Lance is instantly infatuated with Adira.
- Lover Tug of War: Eugene gets caught in one with Rapunzel and Stalyan fighting over him; physically yanking him back and forth. Today was his lucky day.
- Never My Fault: Stalyan insists Eugene is meant to be with her, instead of Rapunzel. Rapunzel points out that having to poison his friend as incentive to get him to marry her is solid proof that he does not love her. Stalyan retorts that was her dad's idea.
- The One Thing I Don't Hate About You: Cassandra confess this to Rapunzel (but not to Eugene):Cassandra: Rapunzel, we all know that Eugene and I don't always agree on everything but over the last year or so I've noticed something that makes him less detestable: He loves you, Rapunzel, more than anyone has ever loved anybody.
- The Reveal:
- Quirin is from a place known as the Dark Kingdom, and it's also where the black rocks originated from. They were powered by some kind of gem in a meteorite that were seeking the Sundrop, leading Quirin to where he is now.
- We finally see The Baron in person, and Eugene skipping town before marrying Stalyan is why the Baron has it out for the former thief.
- Sadistic Choice: The Baron gives one to Flynn: Either Flynn marries his daughter Stalyan, or he, Lance and Shorty will die painful deaths, starting with Lance being painfully infected with spider venom. Fortunately, Rapunzel helps him Take a Third Option.
- "Setting Off" Song: “Next Stop, Anywhere”, Sung by Rapunzel and Eugene as they follow the path left by the black rocks to her destiny.
- Shotgun Wedding: Eugene being blackmailed into marrying Stalyan. Rapunzel, in a subtle jealous fit, criticizes how tacky it is.
- Spanner in the Works: As the Baron pins Eugene to the ground and prepares to release the spider to attack him, Shorty stumbles and unwittingly bumps against the Baron's back, causing the spider to skitter up the Baron's clothes and bite him instead!
- Taking You with Me: The Baron attempts to invoke this on Eugene once he gets infected with the venom, only for Rapunzel to knock him out instead.
- Triumphant Reprise: “Next Stop, Anywhere” returns at the end, as Rapunzel and crew continue to follow the black rocks as Adira watches them happily.
- Underestimating Badassery: Cassandra makes the mistake of starting a pointless fight with Adira, even ignoring Rapunzel's plea not to. Adira came in peace until Cassandra kept pressing her buttons. She finally warns the arrogant girl that this is her last chance to resolve this as civil-minded as possible. Cassandra instead dares her to try something, confident she could take this strange woman on. She was dead wrong, and Adira wipes the floor with her and Rapunzel.
- Violently Protective Girlfriend: Rapunzel's face when Cass suggests leaving without Eugene is absolutely terrifying. Even Cass herself is scared and takes back her suggestion. Then there are her threats to the girl who taunts her about what happened to him. She has the girl by her collar demanding answers.
- Wedding Smashers: The climax has Rapunzel crash a thug wedding and tear it apart to get Eugene back.
- Wretched Hive: Vardaros was once a town of fun and games, now mostly abandoned and become a home for ne'er-do-well vagrants, thieves and thugs.
