Elena of Avalor S2 E14

## Plot

Elena is in Cordoba with Prince Alonso and King Juan Ramón to celebrate the grand opening of the Bienvenido bridge between their two kingdoms. Yay, confirmation that the bridge is finally done! Alonso still flirts with Elena, and she's still annoyed by it. His father reminds him that he awakened the Yacalli and almost got their palace destroyed. There's even a flashback to it! The noise and vibrations caused by the activity on the bridge and the music awakens a rock creature sleeping on Cordoba's monfuego. It becomes active, and the ground shakes. The volcano has been dormant for at least a century. If it erupts, it'll destroy the bridge, and endanger innocent people. Elena says she's dealt with a rock creature before. They have to go up there and figure out why he's so angry. Yes, the rock creature is a girl. It's a love story between her and Charoca. In the meantime, they'll close the bridge. It's weird for a show and a character like Elena to just assume the gender of someone. I know that everyone has prejudices and biases, but still. Alonso wants to speak to the rock monster. His father reminds him of the Yacalli again. He tells his dad that he's changed, but he's told that actions speak louder than words. Like on Sofia the First! Elena asks for Alonso's help, so he can prove to his father that he's changed. She tells him that instead of thinking of what he'll get out of it, he should think about how to solve the problem. They go to Avalor and ask Charoca to speak to the other rock creature for them. He thought he was the last one. He may have human friends now, but he still gets lonely. He sees that the other rock creature is a girl, and they fall in love at first sight. He glows pink, which we've never seen him do before, and runs off. He tells Elena and Alonso what happened. He got so nervous around her. Alonso advises him to tell her whatever she wants to hear, but Elena advises him to be honest with her. He talks to her again. Her name is Charica. They're a lot alike. They have similar names, rock gardens, and anger management issues. They dance and sing about how they're falling in love. Charoca uses his cool down abilities to make a flower of volcanic glass for her. She asks him how he wound up on her monfuego. He wanted to talk to her about the bridge, but bringing it up makes her mad. She just wants peace and quiet. After seeing how mad it makes her, Charoca claims that he went up there because he hates the bridge too. She's happy that he feels the same way. She wants to make the monfuego erupt on purpose to destroy the bridge. He says she doesn't have to, because… he's going to shut down the bridge for her, and he heads back down. She decides to do something nice for him, and starts picking up rocks. She overhears him talking to Elena and Alonso. He told her what she wanted to hear. She's furious that he lied to her, and storms off. He wasn't honest with her because he really liked her, and didn't want to ruin it. Elena tells Alonso and Charoca that she gets why they want what they want, but lying isn't the way to do it. They head toward Charica. She's heartbroken and angry. Charoca tells her the truth. Elena and Alonso are his friends, and they're worried about their bridge, which is the real reason he came up there. He's not getting rid of it, because it's too important to them. He tells her that the way he feels about her isn't a lie. She's still mad though, and crushes the glass flower. Alonso finally gives Charoca some good advice. Actions speak louder than words. He has to show Charica how he feels. He tells her that she should be mad at him. She wants him to leave, but he refuses. She makes the monfuego erupt to get rid of him and the bridge. He diverts the lava around her house, and turns it into volcanic glass. It creates a wall that blocks out the noise, and it's beautiful. He made her angry on purpose so he could do it. She forgives him, and says she loves him. He promises to never lie to her again. He introduces her to Elena and Alonso. She's okay with the bridge now. They have a do over for the grand opening of the bridge. King Juan Ramón is proud of his son for fixing the problem. However, Alonso admits that his bad advice almost ruined everything, and Charoca deserves all the credit. Elena says that's because he followed Alonso's good advice. His father is proud of him for speaking up and being honest and humble, instead of staying silent and taking the credit for something he didn't do. He asks Elena when she and Charoca are heading back to Avalor, but she doesn't think Charoca is heading back anytime soon.

## Review

I liked this episode. Again, like the previous episode, I didn't expect a focus episode on Charoca's love life. Then again, I also didn't expect Alonso to actually undergo character development and go through an arc either, and yet here we are!