Elena of Avalor S2 E19

## Plot

Everyone is back in the part of Avalor that we're all familiar with, and just in time for Navidad. Elena has another beautiful holiday dress. Isabel, Luisa, and Francisco are going to Cristina's village to drop her gift off, and they assure Elena that they'll be back in time for Noche Buena. After everything that's happened this year, Elena just wants to be home with her family. She hears a knock on the door after they leave, and thinks they changed their minds. However, it's just Mateo and Naomi dropping off some gifts for them and Gabe. It feels weird not having him there. He's still chasing after the Delgados, after asking Elena if he could assemble a team to do so in the previous episode. He, Migs, Andres, and Miguel are right behind Victor, Carla, Cruz, and Vestia. They fly over the Bienvenido bridge into Cordoba. Victor tells Cruz and Vestia to fly faster. They point out that they have names, and the guards are after Victor and Carla, not them. Victor conjures a snowstorm. The guards can't see anything, so they land and go on foot. The snowstorm spreads to the rest of Avalor. This means that Naomi and Mateo might not make it home in time for Noche Buena, and Esteban worries about how the rest of the family will get back. Elena tries to cheer them up by suggesting they have a snowball fight, but Mateo says it's too cold for that. She makes them Ponche Navideno to warm them up, but Esteban says he only drinks it with Luisa's tamales. Elena says they'll make them as soon as they get back, but Esteban wants to know when they're coming back. She tries to cheer him up by planning a Navidad treasure hunt with presents. She hides one and gives them a riddle: "In this meeting place, the ends don't meet. A novel approach will reveal your treat." Naomi figures out that it's hidden in the grand council chamber room. The table there is a semi-circle, and she finds candy behind a book. However, it makes them sad, because it reminds them of their families. Elena suggests they decorate the parlor. They hear a knock on the door, but it's just Luna with apples for them. The wind is too strong for her to go back to Vallestrella. She suggests that Mateo make a spell to stop the snowstorm. He finds a spell in the Codex, but it's a double hit spell, so he has to bang his tamborita twice. Also, Elena has a beautiful coat, even if it's not practical for snowy weather. Mateo's spell makes the snowstorm worse. Gabe, the guards, and the jaquins have to take shelter in a cave. Now the storm catches up to Victor and Carla. Cruz and Vestia have had enough of them, and they throw them off. They try to walk the rest of the way, but Carla hurts her foot, so Victor carries her. They see the old house they used to stay in. A fire is already going, which means that someone has been living there. The guards are upset that they won't be home for Navidad, but Gabe points out that they can still celebrate. Elena, Esteban, Naomi, and Mateo try to make tamales, but they accidentally get dough all over Elena. Everyone blames each other, and Esteban says it's her fault. Elena points out that she's been trying to cheer them up all day, and they didn't even notice. She leaves, and Esteban blames everyone else for ruining her Navidad. The others point out that he's been grouchier and bossier than ever, and rushing them all day. They accuse him of only caring about himself, but he says he cares about his family. He's been worried about Isabel and his grandparents since the storm hit. He admits that he lost his parents in a storm just like this one. They went on a voyage across the Great Ocean when he was eight. He begged them not to go because he had a bad feeling, but they didn't listen. A sudden blizzard over the Northern Seas caused their ship to go down with no survivors. Now his grandparents and Isabel are out there, and they're all the family he has left. The others apologize, and Luna points out that he still has family in the palace, but none of them have been treating her right. They plan a treasure hunt for Elena to lift her holiday spirit. It references the time when Elena made Mateo the royal wizard, when Naomi turned into a snob during her birthday party, and when Elena made Esteban soup when he was sick. It leads her to the throne room, the music room, and finally, the kitchen, where the others are making tamales. Esteban apologizes for being so anxious and rushing everyone. His words make Mateo realize what went wrong with his spell. He's supposed to hit his tamborita after each word, but he went too fast. This time, the storm disappears, and Elena finally hugs Mateo! Yes! She's a little sad that the others have to leave, but they say they're not in that big of a rush. Esteban decides to invite their families to the palace to celebrate. Gabe and the other guards head out again to see if they can pick up Victor and Carla's trail. Francisco, Luisa, and Isabel finally get back. A woman returns to the old house with firewood. She has a tamborita, but lowers it and lifts her hood when she recognizes Victor and Carla. She's Victor's wife, and Carla's mother. Wow. I did not see that coming. That does explain why the two wanted to be malvagos so badly though.