WesternAnimation Review and Overview of the Series.
When the show was first announced in Comic-Con 2014, one of the first things that caught my interest was the opening, I found the theme song catchy and the setup was interesting; a Magical Girl and Slice-of-Life wacky comedy.
When the show finally premiered on March 2015, I wasn't impressed but I still wanted to give the series a shot. However, after some episodes (maybe like 6 or 8) the series stopped for months and I lost interest.
I started to watch the show again after season 2 premiered and I was impressed. The animation was less cheap (the first season used flash while the later seasons used digitally-drawn animation), a Myth Arc was introduced and there was more emphasis on the setting and the characters rather than wacky adventures with Queen Moon (Star's mother) being given a very interesting sideplot and I was hooked with the season finale.
I believe myself that the second season was when the series expanded in popularity and really developed its loyal fanbase thanks to the improved storytelling, characters and setting.
With the increase in popularity, the crew of the show started promising many things for season 3 including an hour-long TV movie that would wrap-up the second season's storyline leading up to the real plot of season three and that Mewni (Star's homeworld) would be explored in more detail.
The Battle for Mewni TV movie was a fun, if uneventful movie that wasn't the promised epic battle between Star and Toffee that the fanbase was told it would get but it got the ball rolling with its final scene where Queen Eclipsa; a past Mewman Queen that was crystalized for practicing dark magic and eloping with a dreaded monster, being implied that she eventually was going to escape her crystal prison.
The rest of Season 3, when it finally premiered, was a mixed bag thanks to its unfocused storyline that ignored the Myth Arc in favor of wacky adventures or shipping drama episodes but it had some world-changing twists and some funny conclusions of some season two plots and a action-packed season finale that left many things unanswered and the characters feeling uncertain about the future.
It was in season three that the eponimous "Forces of Evil" of the show's title was in reference to racism in a big allegory for post-colonialism with the monster races being an allegory for misplaced, oppressed and hated native people with the Mewmans being an allegory for post-colonial North America and the British Empire who stole their lands and systematically killed, oppressed and misplaced them for more land without any guilt.
After a year, Season Four premiered and many people had a year to theorize where the story was going. Similarly to season three, it suffered from the same problems with emphasis on wacky adventures or shipping drama to toy with "Starco" shippers' emotions, but this time the fans started to really rally against the shipping drama episodes since it was announced that season four would be the final season of the series. Many things happen in season 4, none of them were close to the popular theories before its premiere, something that really angered some fans, I myself felt that the show wasn't focused on exploring the possibilities of the show's characters or setting as much as season two but still had some good episodes and some good twists with the characters including reveals, reunions and betrayals and a very intense final arc that unfortunately failed to properly end the series without feeling rushed and esoteric.
The ending of the show itself it's own can of worms thanks to its forced finality to the story without exploring the consequences of the characters' actions.
WesternAnimation Great first three seasons but drops the ball. (Spoilers for the whole series)
I love seasons 1, 2, and 3 of this show but season 4 is not so great. First, what I enjoy. SVTFOE starts as a fun, magical show that gets some serious plots later on. There are funny, serious, awesome, and heartwarming moments, all wrapped up in interesting and unique worlds populated by fun characters. The St. Olga episode caught my interest and the show kept the mix of comedy and seriousness going from then on (until Season 4.) SVTFOE balances slice of life and dramatic plots very well. It can be lighthearted without being annoying, and serious without getting grim-dark. It also paces its Myth Arc very well (again, until Season 4). The Ludo-Toffee and Eclipsa arcs are some of the best I've seen in animation. Now what, in my opinion, played a major role in the show's drop in quality: the Romantic Plot Tumor(s). While it's realistic for people to date other people, the way it's set up makes it feel like characters and relationships only exist to delay Starco's arrival. Starco happening was practically confirmed, so it felt like other relationships only existed to fill runtime that should have been used to show Starco being a couple. Not to mention the way Marco and Star acted with their partners made me want them to break up. Long story short: Tom, Jackie, and Kelly deserve people who do not prioritize others over them- and that's putting Starco's behavior lightly. Speaking of priorities, Star and Marco prioritize each other and their personal happiness way too much, especially in the finale. There's worrying about your GF/BF, and there's doing that to the point where Starco blatantly ignore the bigger picture and are only concerned they might not see each other again. Star and Marco sadly fall into the latter category in the last season. By the time Starco happened, it was too little, too late. I felt nothing but exhaustion and annoyance. Why was so much time spent on doomed pairings instead of the endgame couple? Why was shipping prioritized over plot when so little time was left? That, combined with the other issues with the finale (rushed, Inferred Holocaust, Esoteric Happy Ending, Designated Hero, Unintentionally Unsympathetic) left a bitter taste in my mouth. SVTFOE changed from a story about the adventures of a magical princess from another dimension into Shipping Drama to Delay Starco: the Series. I won't say it soured my love of the series as a whole but I can't say it's one of my favorites anymore. Please do not misunderstand this review and think I dislike the show. I genuinely love the first three seasons, but the last one is a downgrade that prioritizes shipping over plot and characters. I'd say watch the first three seasons and ignore a majority of the fourth unless you enjoy romance-drama.
WesternAnimation Mr Candle Cares review
When it comes to Disney cartoons such as Star vs The Forces of Evil and Gravity Falls I am now reminded of the final quote from the joker when Batman was about to leave Arkham Asylum in Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth, "parting is such sweet sorrow, dearest. Still, you can't say we didn't show you a good time. Enjoy yourself out there . . . in the asylum. Just don't forget — if it ever gets too tough . . . there's always a place for you here"
I think that quote applies to this show now because the show is now starting to become slowly more dramatic because this episode has been about Marco and Star making a choice, Marco making the choice of his own future career and the latter confronting the fear of a future being planned for her. This episode still had its random humour that the show is known for and Marco is now aware the famous ship name for the pair "starco" (BTW I knew that the smooch buddies scene from the trailer was a prank because its too soon and the creator couldn't get rid of their main selling point for the show).
Both episodes (this episode and Red Belt) are now connected in some way because in season one episode would have only one story plot that was dramatic while the other would be weird and random. Not that theres anything wrong with that but dramatic stories are more memorable and have heavier impacts whereas weird and random plots can be memorable but they wouldn't be as good as drama.
Overall I would say that this episode was ok but not the best episode however it is a sign that the show is slowly becoming more serious because it is dealing with a real life subject... choosing your future and the fear of wasting your life. If you have watched the series and Mr Candle Cares then you know that they have gotten rid of one of the antagonists from season one (albeit one of the lesser known ones and he is in the intro) probably because he wasn't a serious enough threat and was interpreted as a spanner in the works when it comes to the shippers for Starco however I'd have to say that Candle Cares is a bit too similar to Into the Bunker from Gravity Falls because they had the same running aesop.
In conclusion, this episode is ok at best but it's a start of drama for the series because it's handling an adult subject (probably for the first time).
WesternAnimation Season 1
All episodes ranked from my least to most favorite:
Weak
- The Other Exchange Student: A predictable, clichéd, and awkwardly contrived story.
- Pixtopia: Some interesting setup is overtaken by an obnoxious character and subplot.
Mediocre/Mixed/Meh.
- Sleep Spells: Interesting character development is negated by an absurd plot development.
- Royal Pain: A weakly executed premise and a brand of weird humor that doesn't really work.
- Brittney's Party: The visuals are somewhat fun, but it's impaired by a weak antagonist and unamusing gross-out.
Decent/Okay
- The Banagic Incident: Somewhat engaging, but the story is insubstantial and the jokes mostly don't score.
- Lobster Claws: A basic story with interesting new ideas and growth for a main character.
- Monster Arm: A bizarre, nightmarish premise with mixed but decently entertaining results.
Good!
- Matchmaker: A basic plot supplemented by entertaining surrounding aspects.
- Party With a Pony: Questionable character notwithstanding, it has good humor and mature messages.
- Diaz Family Vacation: A gruesome yet interesting, heartwarming story.
- Quest Buy: A straightforward yet engaging adventure.
- Marco Grows a Beard: An exotic conflict with a shocking new development.
- Blood Moon Ball: The Aesop is arguably not presented perfectly, but it's a demonically entertaining event nonetheless.
- Freeze Day: A refreshingly slow-paced episode that deftly mixes comedy and drama.
- School Spirit: Absolutely hysterical. And a cool fight scene.
- Interdimensional Field Trip: A humorous escapade with welcome development and characterization for multiple characters.
Great!!
- Cheer Up, Star: Effectively explores the emotional and heartwarming aspects of the series more deeply.
- St. Olga's School for Wayward Princesses: Dark, eerie, and mysterious, this episode brings a new flavor of intrigue.
- Star Comes to Earth: Energetically introduces the show, and has a fun and hilarious time doing it.
- Fortune Cookies: Hilarious jokes, cool action, and an insidious new villain...
- Mewberty: Decidedly proves just how dramatic the series can get.
Awesome!!!
- Mewnipendence Day: Dramatically explores mature themes and turns the narrative perspective in a groundbreaking new direction.
- Storm the Castle: Emotional and suspenseful with a lethally formidable villain, this is a suitably epic season finale.
Overall, this is a really good first season and a very fun show.
WesternAnimation Potencial to be great but with issues that limit it.
I, just like a lot of people, was interested on this show ever since the intro leaked from Comic Con and I did have hopes for this show.
I watched the first two episode and even though I didn't think those where amazing, I do feel a lot of potential for a great show, the fact that they foreshadow a lot of things help.
However, after those two episodes, the show started to feel... kinda slow. Of course, it was just starting.
Lets talk about the characters, at first I was not very fan of Star for her bline interaction of the world and I prefered Marco for been more close to reality, but as the show move on Star no only grow on me, I think she got better as a character, she was still the same fun girl as always but I really like her development, especially in the episodes St. Olga's Reform School for Wayward Princesses and Storm the Castle where I really like her as a character.
I can't said the same for the other characters, Marco was developed very nicely but the other characters not that much.
I have mixed thoughts for the animation, in some parts like the first two episode was great, but because the animators where full, the show was forced to change and it really show, is not bad, but disappointing, considering that Wander over Yonder got the same problem and it find a way to still looks great. I do hope Season 2 don't have this problem.
The show have introduced a new plot with the character Toffe and Miss Heinous, it seems promising, but because of the laq of development I don't know if it's going to feel genuine or something like Loonatics Unleashed. I'm just going to wait and see.
What's my problem with this show? it's the pacing, all have potencial to be great, but because they try to do to much with just 11 minutes the plots feels rushed, I don't mind if the plots are a little cliche or ridiculous, execution is what really matters and that's my issue here. Probably if the show was 22 minutes or focus on one plot point it would not be a problem, considering that the two specials feel more complet. Also the show need to fix the laq of background music.
So far I still think is a good and fun show, just fix those two issues and I'm sure it could be great.
WesternAnimation Season One Review (tl;dr 8/10)
Star Vs has been gathering potential energy on a roller coaster for the last ten or so months, and I have a good feeling that it's going to explode in the next season.
Because this is a season review, I'm going to be talking about my three favorite episodes, and my three least favorite. I'll start with the least good: "Royal Pain," "The Other Exchange Student," and "Sleep Spells." The first two have good jokes here and there, but they fall victim to extremely predictable plots, one of Star Vs' weakest aspects. TOES in particular - I managed to predict the plot twist, and then the plot twist to the plot twist a few minutes later. On the other hand, my least favorite ("Sleep Spells") does a complete 180 halfway through, and then drops the issue of Star's sleeplessness and mother issues to never be mentioned again. But these episodes are still Star Vs episodes, and therefore better than the best of some other cartoons out there.
My three favorites: Diaz Family Vacation, Blood Moon Ball, and Storm the Castle. This is more fun to talk about, so I'll go over them individually. Diaz Family Vacation includes some great comedy and really sweet moments between Star, Marco, and their family (families- the King is in this one too!) This is actually kind of tied with Mewberty and the pilot, also excellent episodes, but I gave this spot to DFV. Blood Moon Ball has Tom and he's the best part, no questions asked. I was looking forward to seeing him since the moment I saw him in the theme song, and he lived up to my expectations. Also, the climax is great - Star and Marco are hypnotizing, and the red lighting is like something out of Steven Universe.
Storm the Castle came out yesterday and it's already my favorite. The epic levels were upped unbelievably high. Toffee is a fantastic villain even going beyond Star Vs. What's his deal? What are his end goals? What's happened with the wand?????
The best qualities of Star Vs are the characters, the animation, the creativity, and the heart. Unfortunately, it's frequently squeezed into uncreative plots that puppet the characters along. Also, it has difficulties with pacing and comedic timing. But with the recent change of status quo, I think we can expect some great things. Awesome season, and looking forward to the next one!
WesternAnimation Star Vs The Forces of Evil
After watching the first episode I just could not stop watching it.
Star Vs The Forces of Evil looks like Disney is parodying itself like the company is aware of the stereotype we think of when you hear the word Disney.
The characters have good interactions with each other with Star being the optimistic hedonist while Marco is cautious but a thrill seeker. While the series is aimed at making jokes, it does highlight relatable problems like Marco and his pursuit to date his crush (Jackie Lyn Thomas) in Freeze Day.
Shipping is something you can't really avoid when this series is mentioned. Starco (Star x Marco) was there since the first episode and I believe that they are better as friends. Ever since Blood Moon Ball Starco has only been increased among the shipping community due to Stars reaction to being separated from Marco in St Olgas Reform School for Wayward Princesses such as begging for Pony Heads help in saving him (which was a different tone when mentioning Pony Head at the start of the episode), agreeing that Marco is her "Best Bestie" before Pony Head corrected herself by adding "on earth" (it wasn't answered when she asked "I'm still your best bestie overall right?") and finally Star summoned one of the scariest creatures she created with her wand to attack the headmistress in order to save Marco.
The series is slightly turning more serious with St Olgas Reform School for Wayward Princesses and Fortune Cookies with Toffee. and I have to say these characters don't mess around. Toffee almost getting the wand for Ludo and Miss heinous torturing princesses who were most likely early teenagers.
Overall this is a good series but the fans should really tone it down on the whole "Starco" ship. I know I wrote more about the shipping than the story but like I said it's something that can't really be avoided and are better off as friends.
WesternAnimation Between brilliance and mediocrity...
Don't let the title of the review mislead you. Star VS The Forces of Evil is overall a very good show. It's energetic, it's funny, it's endearing...and it can also be predictable and inconsistent in some aspects. So far there are very good things and a lot of potential, but there's still room for improvement.
First, the writing. Again, it's funny, and while random at times it never becomes too bothersome. Star is a great lead. She's hyperactive and impulsive, being the source of many problems herself. But she's also kindhearted and adventurous. Flawed enough to be believable yet well intended enough to be likable. Marco is not bad either. He complements Star dynamically with his safety obsession and the fact he can fight avoids making him mere luggage yet also has his own shortcomings where Star does make the difference to give hims push. That is one great dynamic duo.
Bonus points for the music. It's actually impressive how for a western cartoon there are several pieces of music that aren't the opening or ending themes(nor their different renditions) that are memorable and encompass a scene flawlessly.
At times, however, the series feels like it goes by the motions of past action packed modern cartoons. Ludo, while clearly meant as a Butt Monkey, is so unthreatening even for those standards it puts Team Rocket to shame and so far seems to be there just to provide the fight of the week when he appears. Hopefully with the introduction of new villains like Ms. Heinous things will even out. Another thing is the animation. It's never bad per se but it's style and quality move back and forth constantly(never too much but can't be ignored by hard die animation fans).
And now...the nightmare of every fandom: shipping. Thankfully there's no much of it and the relationship between Star and Marco flows naturally as the friendship the series initially introduced, but when the shipping is inevitably addressed it's too blatant. Blood Moon Ball, you're so unsubtle is not even funny(good episode, but raised some concerns on my person).
I repeat, this is a good show. It's packed with funny moments and just the right amount of character development and world building to be watchable even out of order. It's just a tad rough over the edges in certain aspects and would benefit from slowing down in others.
WesternAnimation Nothing spectacular, but it's enjoyable.
There has been a lot of hype surrounding SVTFOE since its intro was leaked back in August 2014. I was hyped myself as I thought the premise was pretty interesting. Also, Shipping (I regret nothing).
When the show finally premiered... it was different than I expected, but still OK. The writing seems kinda weak so far, but it has its moments and I can't really think of anything offensive or particularly bad about it; it's enjoyable, but nothing groundbreaking. The animation is very high-quality though.
What I really like about the show are the two main characters: Star and Marco have an engaging chemistry and definitely make the show work. They're your typical Savvy Guy, Energetic Girl duo but both have their quirks and both can be really funny.
There's a lot of potential here but so far, as I said, it's nothing particularly spectacular. However, I'm still really enjoying it.
WesternAnimation Season Finale Moral: Being Different is Dangerous and Wrong *Spoilers*
I really wanted to the final season of Star Vs The Forces Of Evil. While I definitely had some issues with the severing of plot points involving the Blood Moon Curse, Marco's monster arm, and the hints of a possible monster war being entirely cut off, I can understand that they cut off these plot points in order to ensure consistency with the plot involving the integration between monsters and Mewmans. Where this all goes wrong is the season finale in which Star reverts to her season one personality to do something reckless and causes a body count without measure.
Star destroys all magic. She gets justifiably mad at her mom for causing the creation of an unstoppable army bent on genocide, before getting the absolutist idea that all magic should be destroyed. She doesn't think about the consequences for even a minute upon doing this. The only thing that bugs her is that she will never see Marco as a consequence. Never mind there are any number of creatures that are made of magic and even more that depend on magic to survive. That ice wraith sword that held that fire beast back in "Ransomgram". Magical. The spell that gave Miss. Skullnick a new lease on life. Magical. The only way Tom meets with Star and the rest of the group is through magical transportation. The show implies that only Mewni fused with Earth, which means Tom is separated from his family for eternity.
Her spells are also dead. These spells were sentient and had episodes dedicated to them serving Star and interacting with each other. Its not like Star is unaware either. She hugs Cloudy in "Face the Music" and thanks Spider in a Top Hat for saving her and Marco in his titular episode. All of those episodes that built their characters and they aren't even given a second thought of their fate when magic disappears.
Magic is dangerous. But so are knives, so are cars, so is electricity, but none of these things we take for granted are condemned. Its all about application, something Star never realizes. Eclipsa had spells that could have been used to rebuild her kingdom, feed starving families, replace the homes Mewmans had to give back to the monsters, but these things are never done because the story has hammer in this ham-handed storyline about why magic is wrong. Without magic, Star would have never met any of her friends. She would be a close-minded obedient daughter, because that's the only life she would have been exposed to.
Star could have resolved the problems of Season 4, if she had started Eclipsa's reign by turning all the monsters into Mewmans. Mewmans' fear monsters because they have claws, fangs, inhumanly large muscles that they make them dangerous, and without those things, Mewmans' would no longer have to fear them. But she didn't do that because that would be destroying their identity, their culture, their lifestyle. Instead she chose to destroy these traits for hundreds of magic users across the Multiverse. To stop an extremist army. Instead of simply teleporting them though a portal to a lifeless wasteland. Or the bottom of the ocean. Or into a volcano. Star applied a brute force solution with a tool with infinite uses and possibilities and that is incredibly disappointing.
I really liked a lot of episodes of season 4. Star's chemistry with Eclipsa was really witty and fun, and it was interesting to see her draw on all the experience she gained over the course of the show. Plenty of shows have heirs learning to be better rulers for the sake of their countries. Almost none involve the main character trying to teach someone else, for completely selfless reasons. I like SVOTE in general because its not afraid to tell jokes that Steven Universe is too sensitive to tell, its more creative with its action than Adventure Time, it has more lore than Gravity Falls. But this final episode will always be a weight around its neck that brings down the quality of the show with its tone-deaf moralizing and thoughtless execution.