[7.6/10] This is basically one big third act action sequence. That fits, given the tripartite structure of the “Avalon” arc, but it leaves the episode a little overloaded with fights and magical battles at times.
Still, I liked it! I particularly liked the story of Magus. His unrequited love for Princess Katherine tearing him up inside, ultimately fighting to save her and the gargoyles’ children for a measure of redemption, makes him a far more endearing character than I’d ever suspected.
I’ll confess that the romance between Princess Katherine and Tom seems pretty weird to me given the age difference. It has that Anakin/Padme vibe of a kid courting his babysitter, but whatever. Magus feeling spurned but standing steadfast anyway out of penance for his spell on the gargoyles gives him a strong motivation. The limitations of his magic without the grimorum also introduce unique limitations for him. So when he’s fighting the Weird Sister (a good match-up), the draining effect magic use has on him sets up his sacrifice nicely.
The rest of the fights are hit or miss, but have their moments. I expected the sleeping king to be Oberon himself, so it turning out to be King Arthur was a little bit of a letdown. That said, watching King Arthur fight macBeth is the sort of loony inter-history matchup that I got a kick out of for sheer novelty purposes, even if it doesn’t really go anywhere.
Likewise, the rest of the crew (sans Goliath) fighting Demona has some spark. There’s the urgency of our heroes protecting the remaining, many-wounded egg clan. I particularly like the idea that Katherine has a motherly relationship to those Gargoyles and will put herself in harm’s way to stop Demona, their actual mother. On the other side of the eldger, I like that one of the few things that snaps Demona out of her spell is the realization that these are her children, even if she can’t withstand the Weird Sisters’ hold on her for long.
The battle between Goliath and the Archmage is more for spectacle purposes than story purposes, but it largely works on those terms. Goliath breaking through the ice to man-handle (gargoyle-handle?) the archmage is visually exciting. I particularly liked the notion fo the Archmage being hoisted by his own petard, with Goliath taking away the Eye of Odin, and the Archmage no longer being able to stand the power he absorbed from the Grimorum without it. The imagery of him melting and disintegrating was fairly shocking for a kids show, but I dug it.
THe resolution to this one doesn’t make much sesne, in truth. The various deals for who’ll free whom, and where people are allowed to go, and who’s leaving and who’s staying seem to serve more “Wha stories would be cool down the road?” purposes than “What would even semi-logical characters do in this stiatuon?” But I’m apt to give the show my willing suspension fo disbelief on that point.
Overall, this is Gargoyles going for the epic and magical with a rolicking finale to the Avalon arc. While I didn’t like it quite as much as the City of Stone arc, I appreciate the way this one expands the cope fo the gargoyles’ world yet again, and gives us more details and backstory on a number fo major players in their orbit, both past and present.
Review by Andrew BloomVIP 9BlockedParentSpoilers2021-07-22T21:39:31Z
[7.6/10] This is basically one big third act action sequence. That fits, given the tripartite structure of the “Avalon” arc, but it leaves the episode a little overloaded with fights and magical battles at times.
Still, I liked it! I particularly liked the story of Magus. His unrequited love for Princess Katherine tearing him up inside, ultimately fighting to save her and the gargoyles’ children for a measure of redemption, makes him a far more endearing character than I’d ever suspected.
I’ll confess that the romance between Princess Katherine and Tom seems pretty weird to me given the age difference. It has that Anakin/Padme vibe of a kid courting his babysitter, but whatever. Magus feeling spurned but standing steadfast anyway out of penance for his spell on the gargoyles gives him a strong motivation. The limitations of his magic without the grimorum also introduce unique limitations for him. So when he’s fighting the Weird Sister (a good match-up), the draining effect magic use has on him sets up his sacrifice nicely.
The rest of the fights are hit or miss, but have their moments. I expected the sleeping king to be Oberon himself, so it turning out to be King Arthur was a little bit of a letdown. That said, watching King Arthur fight macBeth is the sort of loony inter-history matchup that I got a kick out of for sheer novelty purposes, even if it doesn’t really go anywhere.
Likewise, the rest of the crew (sans Goliath) fighting Demona has some spark. There’s the urgency of our heroes protecting the remaining, many-wounded egg clan. I particularly like the idea that Katherine has a motherly relationship to those Gargoyles and will put herself in harm’s way to stop Demona, their actual mother. On the other side of the eldger, I like that one of the few things that snaps Demona out of her spell is the realization that these are her children, even if she can’t withstand the Weird Sisters’ hold on her for long.
The battle between Goliath and the Archmage is more for spectacle purposes than story purposes, but it largely works on those terms. Goliath breaking through the ice to man-handle (gargoyle-handle?) the archmage is visually exciting. I particularly liked the notion fo the Archmage being hoisted by his own petard, with Goliath taking away the Eye of Odin, and the Archmage no longer being able to stand the power he absorbed from the Grimorum without it. The imagery of him melting and disintegrating was fairly shocking for a kids show, but I dug it.
THe resolution to this one doesn’t make much sesne, in truth. The various deals for who’ll free whom, and where people are allowed to go, and who’s leaving and who’s staying seem to serve more “Wha stories would be cool down the road?” purposes than “What would even semi-logical characters do in this stiatuon?” But I’m apt to give the show my willing suspension fo disbelief on that point.
Overall, this is Gargoyles going for the epic and magical with a rolicking finale to the Avalon arc. While I didn’t like it quite as much as the City of Stone arc, I appreciate the way this one expands the cope fo the gargoyles’ world yet again, and gives us more details and backstory on a number fo major players in their orbit, both past and present.