Review: Tangled: The Series “Under Raps”

Let’s rap this up, shall we?

Spoilers Below

At the end of the previous episode, Tangled: The Series threatened to bring out a plot development. Before we get there, “Under Raps” is going to go backward into a history lesson. Maybe it will be just the exposition we need to get things going.

A long time ago, someone dug tunnels under the kingdom of Corona. (Has anyone pointed out that Corona is kind of a weird name for the kingdom?) There was a vicious war and long battle over the maps to the tunnel. Finally, the two kingdom leaders realized they were really just in love.

The best part of this story is that the King of Corona created a book of top secret tunnel maps and then drew a picture of himself and the girl he secretly loved in the back.

Now, every year, Corona celebrates the occasion by inviting everyone who is in love to sign the book. Everyone is really into the “Day of Hearts” except Cassandra. Alright, where’s Varian? Rapunzel thinks Cass is sad because she’s single, but that hasn’t been proven to be the case. Anyway, it’s another excuse to show off Rapunzel’ssingular personality trait in the show. She excessively tries to help but always misses the mark.

Cassandra says she’s dealing with some stuff. It’s stuff she’s not ready to share. That’s my favorite kind of stuff. It’s Rapunzel’s favorite too, apparently, and she sneaks around the castle at night, following Cassandra.

A paper lantern floats up to Cassandra and a big burly dude who is DEFINITELY not Varian walks up and puts a flower in her hair. Rapunzel looks on in glee, because as cute as Varian is, this guy is Varian leveled up by about 1000. (She doesn’t say that, I added that in.) This guy’s name is Andrew and he has a beard and a man bun. He rescues alpacas. Cassandra, get it girl, end of episode.

There is actually more episode as Rapunzel tries to figure out what Cass and Andrew are up to. She spies on them with help from Eugene. He’s a little jealous because Andrew is Eugene leveled up by about 750.

Rapunzel wants to go on a double date but Cassandra “isn’t at a place” where she wants “to go public”. I am unsure of the point of secret relationships, but I will respect Cassandra’s choice. Really though, Andrew is the most compelling thing to happen to this show for a while. But they aren’t that serious, so they settle on a candlelit dinner.

Pascal seriously shreds on the classical guitar while Eugene grills Andrew about his intentions. Okay, Andrew is a little cocky. That’s not really a shock. I’m back on team Varian. But Andrew does save Alpacas and love books – he came to Corona to study the Book of Hearts on its one day it’s displayed to the public. It seems a little fishy. But not as strange as the fact that Cassandra is hiding her true self to try to impress him. He didn’t even know she’s a fighter. Come on, Cassandra, don’t change who you are for this man bun.

Then Andrew gives them all a ride in his hot air balloon, so okay, he’s kind of impressive. Cassandra explains to Rapunzel that they’re embarrassing her. She wants Andrew to see “a different side” of her. Then Eugene and Rapunzel throw Andrew’s heirloom necklace out of the balloon, so the leave to go find it.

Cassandra and Andrew enjoy a beautiful moonlit night in the hot air balloon and almost kiss before hitting the ground. Cassandra offers Andrew a private look at the Book of Hearts which is totally not code for banging.

While Rapunzel is getting the broken necklace fixed, she learns it’s really the seal of Corona’s enemy kingdom. This show is certainly consistent with it’s plot lines.

What I did not see coming is that while Cassandra goes to sign the book, Andrew takes out a sword and tries to behead her! Cass blocks the blade with her own. She reveals she knew his true motives the whole time.

I’m glad she noticed this guy is kind of a jerk.

He ends up cuffing both Rapunzel and Cassandra to the podium and running off. The two girls fight because Rapunzel can’t keep her mouth shut. The fight lasts about thirty seconds before they reach an understanding. Eugene rescues them both, then Cassandra rescues the stolen book with some help from Rapunzel and her hair. It’s been a while since the hair’s been in play!

At least this one was interesting. Andrew and Cass’ relationship is a dynamic one, whether its traitorous or not. It’s too bad it takes the introduction of more love interests to make Tangled: The Series worth its runtime. Maybe someday we’ll get the plot development they keep hinting at.