Review: The Barbarian and the Troll “Mapmaker, Mapmaker, Make Me a Map”

 

Overview (Spoilers Below):
Brendar and the group need a map to search for Alvin’s lair. So they attempt to host a dinner party to convince the only mapmaker of Gothmoria to create one for them. But, unfortunately, everything starts to fall apart quickly.

Our Take:
In every quest, a warrior needs to know the direction they’re going to reach their destination. That’s why it’s always essential for them to require a map. But, of course, it’s not an easy task to accomplish, especially when the only mapmaker in the world is a complete snob.
After getting the dragon’s tears for Axe, the gang moves on to the next step of their ultimate quest: hosting a dinner party. You might be wondering why a dinner party is important. Well, they’re hosting it for a mapmaking unicorn named Kristoff, who appears every hundred full moons. This mapmaker is unique because he can create magical maps that help the readers find their locations. Unfortunately, they only got one shot of impressing him, or they’ll have to wait for a hundred more full moons for them to try again. The only problem with Kristoff was that he’s a snobby gentleman who’s not easy to please.
The episode once again combined a filler storyline with one that serves as a continuation of the season’s central plot, resulting in an enjoyable piece of dinner theater. The story did fall into some predictable trappings from time to time, but the charm still thrives with its comedy and absurd shenanigans. The shenanigans that happened include the apparent death of the famous squid comedian named Squint Caesar and a blob-like monster that was created when the gang neglected to stir Kyle’s pudding. The moment that got me laughing the most was Evan not knowing that he’s hanging out with Squint’s corpse. The payoff that happened when he found out the truth was downright priceless. It’s the little things that describe Evan’s endearing personality. He may be gullible sometimes, but he’s a gullible troll with a good heart.
This was also the episode where Kyle, the tavern’s bartender, gets more screen time as he helps Brendar and the others impress Kristoff. Kyle’s got some decent moments in some of the previous episodes despite his small role, and his presence here gave him a chance to provide more of that. Unsurprisingly, it paid off well thanks to James Murray’s vocal performance.
Overall, the “Mapmaker” episode kept itself from being a complete disaster, unlike Brendar’s dinner party plan. Its formulaic plot does make it a small step down from last week’s episode. However, there’s still plenty of laughs to be had from this performance, with most of them provided by the one and only Squint Caesar. It’s not a perfect performance like our heroes intended it to be, but it’s enough for them to earn their reward. With the map in their possession, it’s now time to find Alvin and rescue Brendar’s brother from his evil clutches.