Ultra Violet & Black Scorpion S1 E5

## Plot

Violet asks her family why they're having pancakes on a Monday. They claim that it's because today is the day if they'll find out whether or not she made the volleyball team, and they know the answer is yes. She realizes that it's actually because they're trying to make her feel better because they don't think she'll make the team. I tried out for the volleyball team during the first two days of 7th grade. I didn't make the cut. I only made the swimming team because they accept everyone, and because my sister and mom pressured me into it. I hated it. By that point my period was becoming heavier and more regular. I was also one of the worst swimmers. Having asthma (or any pre-existing condition) sucks. This was around a decade ago, in 2012. I did make the soccer team, but that was probably because only a little over the minimum amount of people needed for a full team tried out, and the coach hated cutting people, plus he needed subs. One time I didn't play for a whole game. The only other person who didn't play at all that day was really short and had arrived late. I did score my first goal during one of the games though, and we went undefeated, which was, admittedly, a regular occurrence for the girls' team, but not so much for the boys. Being the goalie was usually pretty boring, but also really relaxing. Anyway, Violet said she'd make the team if she had an ounce of Tiago's talent, but he tells her that she's already great. Their mascot *is* a hornet! Let me guess, they call themselves the Huerta Hornets. Even Maya doesn't think she'll make the team. She doesn't. The coach, Evelyn Park, is grumpy and pessimistic. Maya gives Violet a cookie to comfort her, but Luis bumps into her, causing her to drop it, and he writes her up for littering. Interestingly, there's no intro this time. It just shows the logo. Whenever this happened during season 2 of *The Owl House*, it meant that they needed the extra time for something else instead. The thing is, this show's intro is only 20 seconds long at most. That night, Black Scorpion tells Violet that they have a hostage situation, and there are five guards. He takes care of them, but then the hostage is revealed to be another masked luchador superhero that he's met before, Duplico. He has the power to duplicate himself, and he loves pranking people. His real name is Julio. He was passing through L.A. on his way to Oaxaca, Mexico. He tells Violet that she's the youngest super luchadora he's ever seen. She thought that Black Scorpion and herself were the only ones with magical super lucha masks. He hasn't told her the titular Legend of the Twelve Masks. Violet asks him why he didn't tell her, and he says she wasn't ready. Duplico only knows five. Black Scorpion only knows four others. Okay, but are they also counting themselves and Violet? Nina is upset that Violet didn't make the volleyball team, and wants to use her power as principal to order Coach Park to add her to the team, even if only as an alternate or a bench warmer. Juan points out that would be an abuse of power. In the gym, Cruz reluctantly tells Violet about the masks. Each one has its own specific power. No one knows where they come from, but each is the ultimate expression of the person wearing it. They're not all superheroes. Some are rudos. There are good guys, bad guys, and everything in between. It's like a lucha libre contest of cosmic proportions. This is why Cruz has been training Violet so hard. Because one day, she *will* meet them, and when that day comes, she needs to be ready. He didn't tell her because he was trying to protect her. Duplico isn't a rudo, he's just annoying. Later on at home, Maya hasn't found anything online about other masked people with powers. They're a lot better at hiding themselves. Violet suddenly hears a rattling noise outside, which is weird, because she thought everyone was already home. It's just Tiago. He claims that he was at Gabe's house studying, and he's sneaking in because he didn't want to wake anyone up. He heads upstairs to go to bed. She tries to shut a door, and it's revealed that this is where Tiago keeps all of his sports gear. Before she can yell at him to stop doing that, she notices that one of the items is a hockey mask. She remembers that a mask can choose anyone, and now she thinks that's why Tiago is so good at everything. He must have a magical super lucha mask too. Maya points out that he can't wear a mask for everything… unless there are also other magical clothing items that grant superpowers. All Violet knows for sure is that the one thing she has that makes her special isn't special anymore. She can't just ask Tiago outright, because then she'd have to tell him that she's Ultra Violet. It's revealed that Maya doesn't know that Black Scorpion is also her uncle Cruz. Oh. Before this, I just assumed that she did know, even if one of the rules is that no one can know who you are, since Violet thought that the rules were optional for a bit. I guess she was just respecting Cruz's wishes and his privacy. Maya points out that the world is filled with talented people who don't have superpowers. Violet wants to catch Tiago using his mask, so they're going to watch him. I love the shot when he's doing laundry and Maya and Violet suddenly appear on the staircase in the background. Cinematography is an underappreciated art form. Maya tells Violet that maybe Tiago is good at everything because he works so hard at it. Violet is trying to compete with someone who isn't competing with her. Coach Park agrees to put Violet on the volleyball team, but only if Nina can give her a free sixth period. Duplico painted Black Scorpion's van and added unnecessary features. Oh. Maybe Cruz sleeps in the van? I always just assumed that he used his shadow travel offscreen to get around the city and slept in his office in the gym. Is it technically still squatting if you own the place? Then again, maybe he pays rent for it every month? Duplico reveals that he's been tracking a gang that recently escaped from prison: Los Chapos Guapos. Black Scorpion knows that crew. He took them down with Duplico the last time they were in Oaxaca. They're looking to score tech weapons from some local heavy hitters. Duplico asks for his help taking them down. He doesn't have Cruz's tactical sense, super strength, or glowing blue fist. Cruz says he'll think about it, but he's tired of always carrying Duplico, who promises that this time will be different. Violet searches Tiago's room and finds a lucha mask. Before that though, she also opens a drawer and finds drawings of luchador designs. Tiago enters and asks her why she's in his room and going through his stuff. He puts on the mask, but nothing happens. He got it the last time they went to a lucha match. She asks him why he came home late last night, and if it has something to do with the drawings, which he takes. He agrees to tell her the truth, but it has to stay between them. The fashion institute downtown is having an open house, and fashion is something he might be into. He started sketching some lucha costumes, and then he started designing some other stuff. Violet is exasperated that he's really this good at everything, even fashion. He thought she would be more supportive, and has her leave. Nina tells Juan about what Coach Park wanted. To get her a free sixth period, she asked Mr. Wright to swap his from sixth to fourth, but he'd only do that if she transferred Luis León out of his social studies class, but there's nowhere to transfer him because no one is willing to take him. Juan tells her that they have to let Violet succeed or fail on her own. She'd feel awful if she knew that she only made the team because her mom is the principal. Violet gets a call from an "Unknown Caller". It's Duplico, who tells her about the gang. Black Scorpion isn't answering his calls. He and the other Duplicos are surrounded, and they need help. She gets Cruz and they head there. He thinks it's another prank. It's not. Ultra Violet takes all of their guns. One guy grabs another one and tries to shoot Black Scorpion, but he dodges the blasts, goes under a table, and then uses his shadow ability to get up to him and throw him onto the ground, although he lands on something first, so it's not a deadly fall. Ultra Violet also fights some guys. Duplico can't believe that Black Scorpion blew him off, and Cruz tells him to think about that the next time he tries to prank him. Violet tells them to stop tearing each other down, because they're not the enemy. Duplico says she makes a good point, and Black Scorpion agrees, but he also says that she's not his partner. They defeat all of the bad guys and do a superhero group pose. Cruz apologizes for blowing off Duplico's call. They're still not friends, but Duplico is a great warrior that he'd go into battle with any time. Later on, Violet apologizes to Tiago for ransacking his room and gives him some fashion magazines. She feels like she's in an imaginary competition with him sometimes. Tiago says she's not in a competition with him. So far, he's good at everything, but he's sure that there's something out there that he's bad at. He just hasn't found it yet. The episode ends as he gives her some pointers on her pass so she can make the volleyball team next year. I'm really glad that this episode didn't use the overdone "hero tries to selfishly use abilities to be good at a sport and make the team or win something" kind of plot.