The people need someone they can trust. Someone who can offer a long-term solution, someone they look up to.
— Rapunzel
Rapunzel and her friends are still in Vardaros, which is now in danger of being taken over by other bad guys after the Baron was defeated in the last episode. Rapunzel wants to help the people of Vardaros get a good leader, and when she hears of the legend of Quaid—who was once a loyal and brave leader of Vardaros but disappeared—she's determined to find him.
This episode provides examples of:
- Actor Allusion: Lance is revealed to have a theatre background, just like his voice actor. Though his acting is more along the lines of Stylistic Suck.
- Becoming the Mask: In pretending to be be inspired by Quaid's "heroism" set up by Rapunzel, Vex ends up truly changing and acting the part when she witnesses his actual heroic deeds. They end the episode as partners.
- Best shown during the montage. In the beginning, Rapunzel has to make her pay attention to what Quaid is doing. By the end, Vex herself is excitedly tugging Rapunzel to get a closer look.
- Bee Afraid: Massive amounts of bees go after Maximus after he accidentally dips his nose in bee pheromone, and he tries to run as fast as he can to get away from them. Downplayed in that though Maximus reacts afraid of them, they are never seen to hurt him. Later played more straight when a villain really gets attacked by the bees.
- Brutal Honesty: When Rapunzel wonders why the people of Vardaros don't care that she's trying to help them, Vex explains they don't like her in a brutally direct way.Rapunzel: Why won't these people let me help them?Vex: Because you're an outsider. Also, you're a naive princess who insists the glass is half full even when it's obviously bone-dry. That's a really annoying trait, especially here. You're basically everything this city despises.Rapunzel: You... could have stopped at "outsider", but O.k., I get it.
- Changed My Mind, Kid: After realizing Rapunzel tricked him, Quaid seems to give up completely, leaving the heroes to fight the Weasel and his thugs alone. But when all seems lost, he shows up at the last second to run him out of town for good.
- Chekhov's Skill: Quaid is shown to be a bee keeper early on. First this is just played for laughs for some comic scenes with Maximus, but later this skill of his is what helps him ultimately defeat the bad guys.
- Chronic Hero Syndrome: Even if they have an important journey ahead, Rapunzel refuses to leave anyone helpless behind, even if they don't want it.
- Cynicism Catalyst: Everyone thinks Quaid gave up when he was finally defeated by an unstoppable mercenary called "the Collector." As it turns out, while he did lose he didn't really care. What actually made him lose heart was the way the townspeople gave up after seeing him lose, to the point where they didn't join him to fight against the Baron and let criminals take over the town, leaving him believing inspiring people was impossible. In the present, he sees the fact that Vex (who was born after Quaid's heyday) has grown to be an unabashed cynic as a sign that he was right all along, which is why Rapunzel uses her to try and change his mind.
- Determinator: Rapunzel is determined to save Vardaros by bringing back Quaid, even though even her own friends don't believe she can.Cassandra: [About the possibility of Rapunzel's plan regarding Vardaros to succeed] If we say "Not in a million years", would it change your mind?Rapunzel: Probably not.
- Engineered Heroics: A rare example of the heroes doing this. Rapunzel tricks Quaid into looking like a hero with a fake villain (played by Lance) both to make the townspeople look up to him again and make Quaid himself believe he can make a difference again. Quaid figures out the deception, and it almost fails, but it all works out in the end.
- Evil Power Vacuum: With The Baron defeated, his underling Anthony "The Weasel" is poised to take over Vardaros in his stead. Eugene notes that the Weasel might actually be worse in the long run, so the heroes set out to do something about him.
- Friend on the Force: Eugene and Lance got in trouble with Quaid many times, and mention that he's started to see them like family in later encounters. It ends up being subverted in that Quaid acts very hostile when he sees them again, making Eugene an Unreliable Narrator.
- Gilligan Cut: After Rapunzel gives a passionate, rousing speech to rally the people of Vardaros, the camera directly cuts to show not one of them shows up or cares.Rapunzel: I can't believe we couldn't inspire one person.
- He's Back!: Quaid, at the end of the episode.
- Heel–Face Turn: Continuing her role from the previous episode, Vex begins the episode nastily scoffing at Rapunzel's optimism and only helps them for cash. However, after being paid to follow Quaid around for a day, she legitimately starts believing in doing the right thing. To the point where even though the whole thing falls apart, she still leads the final battle because he made her his deputy.
- Knight in Sour Armor: When Quaid realized Rapunzel staged his return to heroism, he (briefly) gives up, and despite having no reason to Vex ends up taking up the sword for him. She's not at all happy about what she's gotten herself into.Vex: I can't believe I'm doing this. I feel like an idiot!Eugene: Yeah, kid. Becoming one of the good guys will do that.
- Not Your Problem: When Rapunzel wants to help the people of Vardaros by reuniting them with Quaid, both parties involved—and Rapunzel's own friends—initially tell her it's none of her business and she really should butt out.
- Rousing Speech: Rapunzel gives a very passionate speech to inspire her friends and the residents of Vardaros. Unfortunately it falls flat on the recipients, but that's not for lack of determinedness on Rapunzel's part.Rapunzel: I say, we go out there, go door-to-door if we have to, and rally these people to take a stand; because we can inspire one person, just one person, then the battle is half won!
- Silly Rabbit, Idealism Is for Kids!: Ever since the day Quaid suffered the worst defeat, the people feel like hope is but a fleeting dream, and all that matters is looking out for number one. The people even go as far as to tell the princess that she is but an idealistic moron.
- Tasty Gold: Vex takes a bite of one of the gold coins Rapunzel gives her.
