Elena of Avalor S2 E3

## Plot

At the palace, Elena assembles the royal guard to announce that their captain, Antonio Sandoval, is retiring. Since he embodies Avalor's best values of courage, selflessness, and honor, he will nominate four guards as his potential replacement. He chooses Rico Villalobos, from the first season olaball episode. Yes! I knew he was a guard! He also picks Miguel Leon, Andres Sosa, and Gabe. Elena says that the four of them will take part in a skills competition that begins later that day. The first two to finish will face off again tomorrow, and the winner will be named the new captain of the guard. Afterwards, Elena takes Gabe aside to congratulate him. As his friend, she hopes that he wins, but as Crown Princess, she has to remain impartial. The other guards see this, and back at the locker room, Rico says that if Gabe is made captain, it will only be because he's Elena's friend. Gabe says that if he's made captain, it'll be because he earned it. Rico says that the captain of the guard has always come from a distinguished military family, like his own, whereas Gabe is just a baker's son. Rico shows off his father's sword, which is incredibly fancy. He continues to make fun of Gabe for coming from a family of bakers. The two spar with their swords. Gabe loses, but only because he was distracted. Elena and Professor Mendoza arrive. Yay! I love it when they bring back old characters! She needs a package delivered to the museum of archaeology. Gabe volunteers, and she tells him to go directly there, don't open it, and guard it with his life. Gabe rides off on Fuego, his horse, to deliver it. I love Fuego. He has a personality of his own. Gabe sings about how he wants to be captain of the guard. After one too many jumps, the package falls out, which reveals that it's a fancy sword like Rico's. Gabe decides to "borrow" it for the competition so he can win. When he picks it up though, something magical happens, and he's possessed by someone calling themselves El Guapo. Gabe shows up at the competition, acting very strange, to everyone's confusion, especially his. He trips up Rico on purpose and refuses to help him up, even though Gabe wants to. Elena, Naomi, and Mateo are watching. Also, guapo is Spanish for handsome. Rico and Gabe will face off again the next day. El Guapo is making Gabe act like a jerk, and not captain of the guard material. Elena goes to talk to him. The sword magically flies back to Gabe's hand. El Guapo explains that the sword is enchanted with his spirit. Gabe attempts to get rid of the sword, but nothing works. Elena wants to talk to him, but he leaves to go put the sword in the museum. He does, and rides back. Along the way, he runs into Professor Mendoza, who explains the sword to him. It once belonged to a vain, aggressive general named El Guapo. Anyone who picks it up will start acting like him. And once the sword finds a new owner, it won't leave their side. As far as she knows, there's no way to break the curse. And sure enough, the sword flies back into Gabe's hand. Gabe finally decides to tell Mateo to see if he can help. Mateo can brew a potion, but it'll take hours to make, and even then it might not work. Gabe is willing to try anything though. The next day, Mateo gives Gabe the potion, and tells him that after he drinks it, he can't pick up the sword again. Gabe is upset to learn that he can't just get rid of Guapo and keep the sword. He's worried that if he doesn't use the sword, he won't become captain of the guard. Mateo says that if that's really so important to him, then maybe he should stay El Guapo, and that the choice is his. He gives him the potion. While in the locker room, Gabe's locker opens to reveal that Rico stuffed it full of empanadas, and wrote a mean spirited note. While riding Fuego, presumably to the competition, he runs into Elena. She asks him why he's acting the way he is. She tells him that the captain of her father's royal guard used to say that the guard is a brotherhood, and whenever one guard falls, another must pick him up. Gabe tells her why he hasn't been acting like himself lately. She asks him why he even took the sword in the first place. He wanted to prove that the son of a baker could be captain of the guard, but he thought he couldn't win unless he had a great sword. Elena tells him that the soldier makes the sword, not the other way around. He decides to drink the potion, but El Guapo stops him. Elena tricks El Guapo into getting his sword stuck in a crate. Gabe drinks the potion and is himself again. Now he can finally let go of the sword. At the competition, Rico is ahead until he falls and hurts his ankle. Gabe runs past him, but eventually goes back and helps him. When Rico asks him why, he quotes what Elena said to him. The two cross the finish line together. Normally, this would mean that Elena and Captain Sandoval would have to pick between the two, but Rico volunteers Gabe for the promotion, saying that he is a man of honor because he came back for him instead of using the opportunity to win. Captain Sandoval decides that Gabe will be the new captain of the guard. Rico congratulates Gabe and apologizes for making fun of him. *Captain* Gabe receives his fancy captain's sword, and thanks Elena for reminding him that the sword doesn't make the soldier. The soldier makes the sword.

## Review

This was an okay episode. It focused on Gabe, which is fine. I thought his song was okay. I wonder if his role will change now that he's captain? It does not. He just gives orders to the other guards. El Guapo was voiced by David DeSantos! Squee! The situation between Gabe and El Guapo reminded me of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. I really need to read that book sometime. I also loved that this episode featured other returning characters, like Professor Mendoza and Rico, and Carmen and Julio were in the audience.