Review: The Barbarian and the Troll “The Queen Is Back”

Overview (Spoilers Below):
Brendar’s brother Kendar has delivered Axe to the demon Alvin. She and the questers will have to do the unthinkable to get their friend back.

Our Take:
The last leg of every quest is always challenging, and this one is no different. The previous episode ended with a cliffhanger that saw Alvin promising Kendar that she would leave him and Brendar alone if he brought her Axe. This episode continued where it left off with Kendar delivering Axe to Alvin so that she’ll leave them in peace. However, it was later revealed that Alvin placed Axe in a dungeon to be melted. As Brendar suggested, demons always lie.

This was one of the clear signs that we’re nearing the endgame, with the other sign being Brendar having to suck it up and ask her mortal enemy for help. Yes, my friends, Brendar is seeking Queen Shimmereen’s assistance to find Axe and Alvin. But little do they know that this so-called “queen” is hiding a deadly secret. In the “Ice Ice Baby” episode, we all knew that Shimmereen is up to no good because she sent General Skelly to defeat Brendar. So it’s no surprise that she winds up tricking our heroes near the end of the episode. This obvious twist was later followed by a huge surprise, which shows that Queen Shimmereen is Alvin all along. Insert gasp noise here.

While those elements were pretty easy for me to point out before they happen, the episode still thrives in its comedy and practical effects. It also continued to show Brendar’s loyalty to her friends as she’s willing to do whatever it takes to rescue Axe, including singing the princess anthem even though she hates it. Sure, the result wasn’t what she had in mind, but it still represents the show’s ability to showcase Brendar as more than just a fearless barbarian. The sequences involving Axe and the two bearded prisoners declaring war against each other were some of the humor that got several chuckles out of me. They prove once again that the lesser-known side characters can be just as funny as the main characters. Shimmereen’s musical number at the end of the episode was also nicely executed regarding the visuals and lyrics.

Overall, the “Queen Is Back” episode marks a solid beginning of the end with its humor, practical effects, and story. The Queen’s reveal wasn’t a huge shocker for me, considering her dark side in the show’s ninth episode. Fortunately, it didn’t stop me from enjoying it. This show has had a pretty consistent run in its first season in terms of quality, so let’s see if it can finish off strong in next week’s epic finale.