W.I.T.C.H. S2 E15

## Plot

**Content Warning:** Mention of a male character possibly being the victim of r••e. The guards on Meridian learn that Nerissa is posing as the Mage. They attempt to capture her, but naturally fail. She says that she's been the only Mage for years. The real one was her friend, who took her in and tried to rehabilitate her after a stray portal freed her from Mount Thanos. She claims that they never would've beaten Phobos without her. She has a personal history with Julian, reminding him about what happened at Magenzian Falls, and that numbers don't lie. Then she leaves. Meanwhile, Irma is organizing a concert for superstar Vance Michael Justin and the rights to broadcast it on the school's radio station. There's her, the other girls, Martin, and the other members of the station. She's under a lot of pressure and is incredibly bossy to everyone else. She continually threatens to pull their backstage passes, until they get sick of her and quit. Irma can't do all the work by herself. She's about to beg them to come back… but then they show up ready to work for her again after not being able to get last minute tickets. Caleb and Julian go to Magenzian Falls. There, they find the real Mage. Or rather, her grave. She's been dead for eighteen years. But seventeen years ago, she and Julian fell in love and had Caleb. But the Mage isn't Caleb's mother. Like Nerissa said, numbers don't lie. Nerissa is Caleb's mother. So did Julian know who she really was at the time, or did he only figure it out at the end of the previous episode or the beginning of this one? Because if he didn't know, I'm pretty sure that counts as rape. Caleb has Blunk take him to Mount Thanos to confront Nerissa. She wants Caleb to join her in her quest for universal peace by conquering every world. He says yes, but it was only to get the Heart of Meridian back. Nerissa just zaps it back into her hand though. Blunk heads to Earth to get the girls. Martin loses it at Irma because she's been nice to him all day, and he thinks it's pity. Actually, Irma feels guilty after what happened between them in episode 12, and she has a crush on Vance, but she knows that Martin also has a crush on her. Martin understands and the two go back to their previous relationship. During the concert, they're not broadcasting because the mic onstage isn't plugged in. Irma has to do it herself. She does, and gets noticed by Vance, who invites her to dance onstage. She's starstruck and ends up thanking Vance instead of her friends. The girls have to leave to save Caleb. Nerissa is about to kill him, but Julian arrives and says she won't hurt him, knowing that there must have been some good in her once if she was able to give birth to someone like Caleb. She lets them both live, but warns them that she won't be so merciful next time. She leaves, but not before torturing Ember after she questions her orders. Caleb wants to be left alone after this revelation and heads back to Meridian. Julian tells Cornelia that he just needs time. Despite this, he still appears in the next three episodes, with no qualms or hangups about fighting his own mother, and only then does he actually disappear for the next three (with Matt taking his place as the main male character), and then he reappears for the final five episodes. Irma sets things right by telling Vance that the set up was a team effort.

## Review

I liked this episode. I loved the continuity and realism from Irma referencing what happened between her and Martin last time, and the fact that no, things won't immediately go back to the status quo. Also, Nerissa having a personal history with Caleb and Julian was foreshadowed all the way back in episode 6. Stuff like this is why I like season 2 more than season 1. More things matter and are explored, it's not just rebel stuff on Meridian or fighting in Heatherfield. The only way it could've been even better was if Cornelia and especially Irma used their other powers more often, and if we finally got an answer about why Will reacts to that writing. And maybe a future episode where we got to see all the girls as adults, maybe even with kids of their own. I like the similarities and juxtaposition between Nerissa and our heroes. They can occasionally be selfish, narcissistic, obsessive, bossy, etc. (just like real life, hormonal, rebellious teenagers sometimes act), and put what they want above others' needs and wants, but unlike Nerissa, the girls always learn their lesson in the end.