Review: Tangled “The Return of Strongbow”

Time to get strong with Tangled.

Spoilers Below

“The Return of Strongbow” opens eight years ago in a snowy scene that excellently pins down the storybook image the series is trying to give off. In the first few seconds, the music jolts into a high, dramatic note over an unmoving body. It’s a simple move that is one of the most effective moments of Tangled’s new medium so far. The feature film gave the story of Rapunzel a modern treatment. Here, it really clicks that the animation style of the series is calling back to the timelessness of Beauty and the Beast, even the experimental and truncated nature of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. Its more frivolous episodes don’t achieve this effect; the immediate dark tone of this episode, snowy cliffs and darkly shaded evergreens in the background employ it wonderfully.

However, the seemingly lifeless body was just a ruse for something sinister yet to come – a highway robbery. The sequence is fun and frightening at the same time. It’s a perfect prologue to examining Eugene’s past (and possible future) as a thief.

“The Return of Strongbow” is subtle in its approach, reminding us that Eugene grew up as an unguided orphan, leading him to a life of crime. He’s reformed himself now and finds meaning in helping others, but he can’t seem to completely escape his dark past. Eugene’s old thieving friend, Lance Strongbow, menacingly backs him into a corner to catch up with him.

Strongbow wants Eugene’s help in what he calls a victimless crime, stealing treasure buried by Strongbow’s old prison mate. Eugene reluctantly agrees. In the other room, Rapunzel is excited for Eugene to have a friend but Cassandra is concerned.

This show sure tackles some strikingly mature circumstances – nothing you would find on a “very special episode”, but complex social situations that a child rarely has the need or forethought to think about. Rapunzel is naive as ever and cautiously trusting when she confronts Eugene about Strongbow’s motivations. Eugene’s loyalty is then caught between his longest standing friend/pseudo family member and the love of his life who brought him out of darkness. In his heart, he knows it’s wrong, but he lies to Rapunzel.

The thing is, it’s hard not to go back to your old life. It’s comfortable, sometimes it’s all you’ve ever known, and if, like Eugene, your self-esteem is weak, it can feel like you don’t deserve this better life you’ve graduated to. This all comes through with Eugene’s simple, tortured reluctance.

Of course, Strongbow lied, and this is a bonafide robbery. When Eugene says he doesn’t steal anymore, Strongbow replies, “Great, want a medal?”. It’s another micro-interaction that reveals a huge deal of the character beneath the surface. Strongbow keeps insulting Eugene because he feels inferior next to Eugene’s newfound moral high ground. But a life of thievery is all Strongbow knows and he isn’t yet strong enough to aspire to something better. So to feel better about himself, he tries to bring Eugene back down to his level.

Eugene and Strongbow are chased out of the building by guards in another beautiful sequence that plays off colors and shadows. Meanwhile, in the castle, Rapunzel figures out the two are missing. In contrast, her scene stands out as playing it safe. Stylistically, the usual bright colors and lighthearted music don’t bring the same magnificence that the other scenes of the episode have built up.

For instance, out in the moody, violet-tinged woods, Eugene spills his heart out to Strongbow. I wouldn’t know, but I’ve been told that guys do not actually do this. Regardless of realism, Eugene is very in-touch with his principles.

“I am a different person, a better person, but money had nothing to do with it,” he says. Rapunzel and Cassandra interrupt the bro-moment.

In this scene, Cassandra makes me laugh for what I believe is the first time. “Hey, ladies. Looks like one of you ladies dropped your lady’s ring. Your valuable lady’s ring.” Infuriatingly, Eugene keeps up the lie when Rapunzel confronts him. His silence speaks loudly to how inferior he feels next to Rapunzel’s lifelong virtuousness.

It takes a big leap into coincidence to believe that this “lady’s ring” is the very same ring Eugene stole from the Queen, Rapunzel’s mother, eight years ago. Rather than reveal his betrayal to Rapunzel, Eugene corrupts himself further and tries to steal the ring back again. Of course, it doesn’t work.

Though, Strongbow has been affected by the day’s events. He tells the truth and takes the blame. Eugene also takes this time to accept the consequences, which involves facing Rapunzel’s parents. That’s a scary act, but even scarier, Flynn apologizes to Rapunzel, the person he’s been hiding from this whole time.

“I am really sorry I hurt you, Rapunzel,” he says, in a perfect model of an apology that you’d want kids to see and learn from.

I absolutely love when children’s shows make it a point to include three-dimensional characters who are allowed to grow. Kids grow at the fastest rate of anyone. It hurts to see most of their media portraying single-sided, stagnant personalities.

As you can tell from the length of this review, I got a lot of value from this episode. But I’m an adult, with experience in situations that require trust and communication, bravery and growth. While I’m a huge fan of subtlety, this episode may have been a little too subdued for kids to enjoy.

Similar to last week (but less on the nose), “The Return of Strongbow” explores yet another path that the Tangled story can take on with this new format. This episode was a choppy wave of blandness and beauty. I have a feeling the series will get even better as it explores and gets a firm handle on what really works.