Elena of Avalor S2 E16

## Plot

It looks like I wasn't the only one who wished the special could've been longer, because this episode is a continuation of plots and characters introduced in that episode. After a recap of it, we're reminded that Fiero is still a statue. Everyone is still in Nueva Vista, and Elena is practicing a new scepter power called bloom with Mateo. It's supposed to make plants grow faster. However, it doesn't work. Elena tells Mateo that it hasn't been working right since Shuriki blasted it. She rushes off when a messenger reminds her of the grand council meeting. She wants to make their friendship with the sirenas official, and plans to sign a Unity Pact with King Pescoro. Luisa and Francisco like the idea, but Naomi says that doing one nice thing doesn't erase all the bad things they've done. Yep, in a case of reality ensues, there are still humans and sirenas who don't trust each other, which causes them to do morally questionable things for what they think is "right." In reality, it's actually because they were both personally hurt by people "on the other side" and assume that everyone else is just like that, and they're letting their emotions blind them to the truth and the generalization they're doing. In this case, it's Naomi and Daria, the reef commander that only had a few lines in the previous episode. They even tell their rulers that they're making a big mistake. The difference is, Daria actively tries to sabotage the signing, whereas Naomi commits her wrongdoing through inaction, by not helping the sirenas when they need it, even when her friends go. Everyone but Naomi votes for the Unity Pact, with Esteban saying that everyone should have the chance to atone for past misdeeds. Elena agrees with her that one good thing doesn't erase the bad things they did in the past, but they have to start somewhere, and that's what the Unity Pact will do. She heads to Coronado to talk to King Pescoro. Suddenly, a strange noise comes from a clam, and she's surrounded by guards and Daria. They stand down when they see that it's her. Daria explains that the coral alarms sound off when anyone who isn't a sirena, or accompanied by a one, comes too close to Coronado. The alarms are to keep away the malandros, evil shapeshifting dolphins that want to invade the kingdom. They can't stand the sound of the alarms. Daria agrees to escort Elena, but tells her that the milagras doesn't give her permission to drop by whenever she wants. She tells Pescoro that it'll take more than a feast and a piece of paper to make everyone forget the past. Camila and Marisa want him to sign the Unity Pact. They have to start somewhere. Camila could finally reunite with her human family. Elena admits that not all humans are ready to accept them, and some of them might take longer to come around than others. Daria says that it's too soon. Marisa says that it's never too early for forgiveness. Camila forgave Pescoro for sinking her ship. He agrees to sign the Unity Pact. He orders Daria to assist Elena with preparing the feast. Marisa and Marzel come with them. They run into a problem with food, since sirenas only eat seaweed and kelp, but Elena says they can teach the chefs how to make seaweed recipes. While trying to decide on a location, Naomi comes by. Her parents told her about the shipwrecks that the sirenas caused. Daria says it's also where humans attacked innocent sirenas just last year. They both leave, saying that they should just call off the Unity Pact. Elena, Marisa, and Marzel choose a cove with pretty rocks for the location. Daria feels vindicated in her views because of Naomi, and shows her octopus Ocho a scar on her fin from a human attack. They just can't seem to forget the past and move on. Daria makes a deal with the malandros. One will shapeshift into a sirena and start singing the siren song, and the other will shapeshift into a human and accuse the sirenas of going back to their old ways. If they help her out, she'll let them have the coastline along the city. They agree, and get her to turn off the coral alarms. The boss, Saloso, tells Torpe to follow her and destroy all the turned off alarms. The next day, before Pescoro can sign the pact, everyone hears a "sirena" singing. He orders whoever is singing to stop. A "human" says that the sirenas are trying to sink the ship. Marzel goes after the "sirena." However, it's too late, and all the sailors arm themselves with nets and crossbows. Now Naomi feels vindicated, saying that she knew they couldn't be trusted. The sirenas are forced to go back to Coronado. Marisa tells her father that they can't let one sirena ruin the pact for everyone, but Pescoro says Daria was right. When they return to the palace though, they find it overtaken by malandros. They learn that they were behind the sabotage… as well as Daria, who didn't realize that they would take over the kingdom. Ocho sprays ink everywhere, and he, Daria, and Marisa are able to escape. Daria and Ocho see that all of the alarms have been destroyed, and are chased by the malandros. Marisa asks Elena and her friends for help, and explains what really happened at the signing. Naomi thinks she's lying. She admits that she's acting this way because sirenas capsized her grandfather's ship a long time ago, resulting in his death. She never got to meet him, because of the sirenas. Marisa doesn't know what to say, but Elena, Gabe, and Mateo still agree to help her. The sirenas saved them from Shuriki, and now they're going to return the favor. Marisa and Elena give the guys some milagras. Is it weird that they look hot in magic kelp? Because they look hot in magic kelp. And they're totally shirtless underneath. They don't really have a plan though. They help Daria and Ocho fight off the malandros chasing them. Daria tells them to leave, because this isn't their fight. They're only putting themselves at risk. Elena tells her that this is what friends and allies do. They protect each other. Daria tells them that she's the reason all of this happened. Elena says that it's hard to know who to trust sometimes, but now she knows. The only way to drive off the malandros is to grow more coral alarms, which would take too long. Elena can use the scepter's bloom power to make them grow faster, but it malfunctions again. Luckily, it works, and the malandros are driven out. Later on, Naomi apologizes for not going with them and thinking that Marisa was lying. She's learned that the sirenas really have changed. Elena says that some wounds take awhile to heal, but they have to start somewhere. The Unity Pact is finally signed, and this time, *everyone* celebrates. I hope the lesson in this episode is as obvious to other people, especially kids, as it was to me. Hatred, intolerance, irrational fear, and violence help no one.