Tangled: The Series S1 E17

## Plot

In the previous episode, it turns out that when the machine turned on and was causing everything to break, something escaped from a sort of sealing symbol thing. Great, yet another thing that Rapunzel can feel guilty about. Whatever it is, it has a connection to Zhan Tiri, that evil warlock from the legend. Frederic surprises Rapunzel with an art gallery that he built. Ever since the storm and the good judgment she showed during it, he's been trying to incorporate more of her good ideas. For artistic expression, the artists of Corona are being asked to submit their own work as well. He also wants her to paint a mural for it. However, she just can't put a brush to a canvas. Ever since the storm, she can't make what she feels are major decisions. She's constantly worried that she'd make the wrong choice. She has the titular painter's block. As a writer, I sympathize heavily. Rapunzel watches other citizens paint, but she still can't do it. A creepy old woman called Mrs. Sugarby is clearly the spirit or whatever that broke out during the storm. She approaches Rapunzel and claims that she's an art teacher who can help her. Cass is given another assignment from her dad. Feldspar the cobbler went missing. It's unusual because he hasn't missed a day of work in a decade. He wasn't at his shop or his home. He's being controlled by Sugarby into painting a creepy tree. She needs four other artists. She chooses her victims from those in her painting class. Lance is in it to sell art for a quick buck. Sugarby advises Rapunzel to just paint the tree the way it looks and not put her own spin on it. She does so, but it's really boring. A handmaiden that looks like Cass from the back also goes missing. Cass checks her room and finds the same painting of the tree that Lance and Rapunzel made. Sugarby kidnaps Lance over his greediness. Xavier hears her. Rapunzel is the only one left in the class. Sugarby hypnotizes/brainwashes/mind controls her and tells her that the fear of making difficult choices is a part of life. Cass learns that Ulf, the mime from the movie, and from the painting class, also went missing, and painted the same tree. Eugene notices Rapunzel's strange behavior during one of their boat dates. She's late, she's wearing shoes, etc. She's been acting off ever since the storm. She's afraid to take chances. It's like she's afraid to be herself. He tells her that queen or not, making difficult choices is a part of life. Rapunzel snaps at him for the first time *ever.* She asks him if turning her back on Varian, deciding if Pascal should risk his life, and putting the fate of Corona in the hands of a fairytale are parts of life. Then she storms off. Yikes. Eugene goes to see Cass to talk to her about it. He notices the paintings and confuses it for Rapunzel's tree. They realize that the missing people were all in the painting class. In the tent, they discover that Xavier has been tied up for discovering Sugarby's plans. She's a spirit and a disciple of Zhan Tiri, and plans to free him with a ritual. Cass and Eugene race towards where the ceremony is being held. All five artists painting the tree will somehow show allegiance to Zhan Tiri, which will somehow magically open a portal to free him from his prison. I'm just gonna roll with it. Sugarby assures Rapunzel that by freeing him, she won't have to make difficult decisions anymore. Yeah, cause she'll most likely be dead! Cass and Eugene arrive, but they're no match for a witch's magic. Her real name is Sugracha the Eternal. Rapunzel is able to snap out of it when she threatens to send Eugene and Cass over a cliff. She says that she'll spare them if Rapunzel finishes the painting. She tries to tempt her with a world with no more self doubt, regret, or difficult choices. However, Rapunzel says that difficult choices are what make us who we are. She ruins the painting, which destroys the tree. A horse that Max has a crush on, Fidella, kicks Sugarby into the portal, imprisoning her too. Rapunzel uses her hair to save Cass and Eugene, and the horses help. Rapunzel finally knows what the mural should be, and leaves to paint it. It's a heart with R+E written on the inside. Aw! It's also a huge collaborative piece of a tree that all of the other artists are helping her paint.