Elena of Avalor S1 E18

## Plot

Elena is super excited, because Naomi is spending the week at the palace. Her parents are away for something. Esteban introduces Countess Dolores and her sister, Lady Yolanda. Doña Paloma is also there. He's having a formal dinner party with them that night. It's revealed that Doña Paloma wanted a seat on the grand council, and is mad that Naomi, "a child", was chosen instead. Naomi tells her that she's fifteen, and she'll be turning sixteen on Saturday. Birthdays aren't a big deal in her family, so she doesn't mind that her parents won't be there for it. She could never have a party because she spent most of them out at sea. Doña Paloma mocks her for having never had a quinceañera. Naomi wishes she could've had one, but she didn't live in Avalor during that time and isn't Avaloran anyway. Elena says that she might not have been born an Avaloran, but she is one at heart. She decides to throw Naomi a royal quinceañera at the palace. Countess Dolores, Lady Yolanda, and Doña Paloma point out that Naomi is turning sixteen, so Elena says that it will be a quinceañera plus one. Esteban points out that it takes lots of planning, so Elena decides to put him in charge of it. Esteban refuses at first, until Doña Paloma thinks that he'd fail in getting Miss Turner ready for the party. He takes that as a challenge and a personal insult, so he changes his mind. He intends to give Naomi the fanciest party ever, and train her personally. Normally, the birthday girl picks seven boys and seven girls to be on her court. Naomi doesn't know any of those people though, because they're all royalty. She just wants her friends on her court. So, just Elena, Mateo, and Gabe. That's a very small court. They have to practice a waltz together. Yes, I know that Gabe and Elena dance with each other. Elena also dances with Mateo, and Naomi. They consistently switch partners during the waltz. Esteban agrees to it, but only if Naomi promises to do everything else his way. Naomi's tomboy ways are really played up here. She can't make a good royal entrance, apparently has a rasp to her voice, doesn't enunciate her words properly, etc. Naomi may be a tomboy, but she's not clueless when it comes to anything formal. Anyway, Esteban is ready to quit when Doña Paloma stops by again. A taunt from her gives him an idea. He decides to have Naomi train by pretending that she's on a ship, so it feels as natural as possible. It works, but she also becomes more selfish and conceited. She wants Elena to wear an ugly and difficult to move in dress. She criticizes Gabe and Mateo's dancing while practicing the waltz. It gets so bad that she agrees with Esteban when he suggests to replace them with professional dancers. Gabe and Mateo are offended, so they quit her court and leave. Elena tries to talk some sense into her, but it doesn't work. She quits too, and also leaves. She feels hurt that Naomi doesn't even try to stop her. Naomi does feel bad about it, but is convinced that she's worked too hard for a "perfect party" to have it ruined. The next night, Doña Paloma, Lady Yolanda, and Countess Dolores are amazed at Naomi's transformation. Esteban tells Francisco and Luisa about Naomi replacing her friends for professional dancers. Luisa decides to set Naomi's senses straight and fix it. Meanwhile, Mateo, Gabe, and Elena are elsewhere in the palace, and wonder if Naomi even cares that they're not there. Luisa makes a speech about how a quinceañera is a time to celebrate the birthday girl, but also her family and friends. This makes Naomi realize how awful she's been, and she leaves to go look for them. She apologizes for her behavior and asks them to be on her court again. She dances the waltz with them, and almost everyone has a fun time, barring Doña Paloma, Lady Yolanda, and Countess Dolores of course. Elena also reveals her birthday present: Her parents, back home in time to celebrate with her after all. Naomi thanks Elena for being a truly great friend to her.

## Review

From now on, Naomi has a slightly different design. This was done to match her 2D design better. I have no idea why this was changed in the middle of the season though. Even the theme song is changed to reflect this. I don't like her new design. Remember how I said the hair was better here than on Sofia the First? Well, now it looks like Naomi has an Elena of Avalor character model with a yellow octopus/squid blob or mop for hair. Also, her hair is still pretty short, so I really doubt that she'd be able to have an up do. Then again, Sofia can put her hair in a ponytail, and Elena is somehow able to turn that massive side ponytail into a manageable bun, so, yeah. Ironically, I think that Naomi looks the most like her old self *while* her hair is in that impossible style. You do get used to the change though.