#abracadazzle

[crisp-sweet-pink-lady]

I didn't notice until Sleepy Time Spell, but every episode's end credits has images at the bottom that represent that episode's plot.

[crisp-sweet-pink-lady]

The Best Parts of Abracadazzle & Show and Spell

I just noticed, Sofia has a picture of Clover with a blue ribbon on her nightstand:

-

New pajamas! Also, he isn't credited, but I'm 89% certain the scroll is voiced by James Monroe Inglehart

-

First appearance of Cedric!

Even the family wand got a redesign. It looks much more magical now

-

Miranda booping Sofia's nose

-

At last, a hug!

-

Minimus: Are you okay, Sofia? You seem nervous, and as we both know, that's my job!

-

Devin declaring himself the most magical student in the school

-

I wonder if Devin's "You've seen the rest, now watch the best" is meant to match all Miss Gigglesby's rhyming. Like he's deliberately doing it to get some bonus points or something.

-

Devin waving and blowing kisses to the other students after acing the first challenge

-

Thandi using a song to control the vines, and Devin moonwalking through the hedge

-

A variation on an old amulet power

-

-

-

A new amulet power

-

Cedric introducing himself as both The Great and Sensational

-

Camila brightly exclaiming "I knew that!"

-

All of Cedric's posturing in the classroom. He's so dramatic, but he's also such a dork. Case in point: his little giggle after making the "show and spell" pun

-

Sofia: Pepper, how would you like to take a magical ride up in the air? Pepper: That depends on how many cupcakes are up in the air with me.

While Pepper has yet to prove himself more than a second-rate Clover, I did like that line.

-

Camila brightly pointing out that Layla overdid the spell.

Camila: But it's good for your first try. Great job! Layla: It doesn't feel like a great job!

-

I'm half-and-half on Layla's song, but I do like her vocalizations on the "whoas" and "aim high"

-

The semi-callback to Stormy Lani

-

Pepper: You know what, you should think of me, Layla. (slightly smug) I make everyone happy. Sofia: Only I can understand what you're saying, Pepper. Pepper: I'm a puppercorn, Sofia. I don't need words.

-

Zane: No one should ever listen to me. It never ends well. Pepper: *shakes his head emphatically*

-

Devin and Linh covering their ears while Haruki is "playing" his trumpet

-

Mutato rubio callback

Cedric: An oldie, but a goodie

-

I just noticed the chandeliers aren't being held up by anything, but are magically floating in the air

-

Cedric: Well, if you thought that would amazing me...you are absolutely correct!

I told you, dramatic, but a dork

-

Devin getting huffy after Cedric declares Layla's magic "the best in class!"

-

It went too fast for me to really capture, but Layla whooshes by Devin, and he gets this shocked look on his face, and Linh giggles at him

-

I still maintain that using a magical object is different from performing sorcery.

[crisp-sweet-pink-lady]

General Thoughts on the first four episodes of Sofia the First Royal Magic

Overall, I enjoyed these episodes. It does feel a little weird coming off of the original series, and the artstyle is going to take a little while to get used to, especially for the characters we already know, but I think this has potential to be a worthy successor.

Individual episode thoughts under the cut:

Welcome to Charmswell - I was hoping we'd get a little more backstory before getting to the school, but when you've only got 22 minutes, you have to get right into the thick of it, I suppose. I did like the little carriage scene with Sofia and her family, especially the bit with Roland and James. The carriage race was fun, although it seems like Castle Fauna's team was forgotten about most of the time. The new characters are mostly just serviceable here, but I already love Devin, even if it seems my theory about him also having a magical amulet has been debunked. He still has reason to believe he's the most magical, so nobody better tell him about Sofia.

Speaking of, Rapunzel's appearance was a smidge lackluster, but mostly because it felt like an afterthought. Knowing she would show up, and seeing her in the trailer, I thought that the plot of this episode would center more on Sofia having trouble controlling her amulet's new powers, and Rapunzel would bolster her, give her the confidence to keep going. But I did like that she gave Sofia a frying pan, so there's that.

Abracadazzle - This is what I mean that it feels weird to have this series come after the original. This is a lesson Sofia should have already learned! But I did like seeing a variation on a power she already had, and Devin was a delight. It seems his biggest flaw (besides his ego) is making assumptions and jumping to conclusions, but a lack of thinking outside the box, as we also saw during the race in the previous episode. Also, I'm glad that Minimus still gets the best lines in the new show.

Show and Spell - Cedric in the new style looks so weird, but I'm glad he's here. Other than that, this ep was just okay. Using a magic item shouldn't count as a spell, though.

Give it a Twirl - Loved the look on Miss Nettle's face when Sofia and Layla wanted to co-lead, she knew it would end in disaster. I really liked the song in this one, and we finally got to see Zaria in action. While her deadpan feels a tad overdone, she did have some good lines.

The Tippity Tap Dance - Despite seeming like a knockoff Professor Popov, I did like Lord Primrose's energy. A good Zane ep, though I feel like it could have been better if it could have been longer. Maybe not a full 22 minutes, but as the A plot to a 22 minute episode.

Magic Mayhem - Again, we get some second series weirdness, with Camila being *so* enamored of Cedric, considering his reputation has only really gotten a boost in the past few months. I mean, it would be one thing if it was clear she was basing this off of what she knew of him from the classroom, but the girl did her research! Other than that, this was a pretty good ep. I liked the song, and it was fun to see Miss Nettle and Cedric interact. I also appreciated the callback to Substitute Cedric.

Royal Mix It Up - Again, strange for Sofia to worry about making friends. A slightly predictable ep, but I liked that most of the impetus on them being friends was for Zane's sake, and the bonding they did over their brothers.