Tangled: The Series- Thoughts and Opinions

People often frown upon animated shows because they're "for kids", and yes, a large majority of them are. However, let me tell you something, some of the best movies/shows I have ever watched have been animated. A lot of them are really intense, have amazing character development, really smart humor, and intricate plots. 

Tangled: The Series really surprised me with all of these things. Tangled (the movie) has always been one of my favorite Disney movies, so when I heard that they were making a TV show, I was sold immediately. I didn’t care if it was going to be some silly little show for kids, I just wanted to watch these characters interact with each other some more. I completely expected a lot of fluffy princess stuff, feel-good cheesiness, over-the-top teaching moments without any real character development, and all the typical kid show cliches. But, to my surprise, it wasn’t that at all!

It definitely had a lot of fluff and filler episodes with some cheesiness and preachy moments, I won’t deny it (but even those were extremely well done and still fun to watch). However, the over-arching plot of the season was super intense and extremely compelling. It was a really good blend of mystery, drama, action, adventure, and fantasy. I was seriously impressed. 

It stays true to the original source material while expounding upon the world and the characters from the movie. New characters are added to the mix who are all just as lovable and fun to watch as the original ones and the originals are delved into even more. I cannot even express how well all the characters and their relationships are handled! In particular, Eugene and Rapunzel’s relationship is fantastic! (Everyone needs a boyfriend like Eugene for realsies.) And then there’s a new character, Varian; I won’t go into detail, but his character development is handled so well! I also love all the mythology and lore in the kingdom, it's like it's a real place where magic exists, but it's rare. It doesn't just dive into "magic is everywhere" like a kid's show might, because Tangled established that it is hard to find which was why Rapunzel was imprisoned in the first place.

The humor is not really dumbed down or "kid-ified" either. A lot of it is actually really smart and genuinely funny. I wouldn't say it goes into "adult" humor with innuendos or anything. There's just a lot of though-out jokes and quick, witty dialogue. 

I love the animation style as well. It’s so pretty and flowing. Some might be annoyed that it doesn’t match the original CGI animation, but let me say that I kinda prefer this animation. I almost wish that the original movie was done in this animation style, it’s so amazing. 

Now I HAVE to mention the music/songs. There aren’t a ton of songs; mostly in the longer/special episodes. However, they are all composed by the master himself, Disney legend, Alan Menken. He sticks to the same sort of 60’s rock style that he composed for the original film. I seriously love all the new songs! They range from cute and fun to inspiring and powerful. To add to this, Broadway singers are involved in the cast which just makes you go “YUSSSSS!!!” as they sing those high notes. Not to mention the original cast is back to reprise their roles (Mandy Moore and Zachary Levi). 

I thought of my mom when I heard the guy who plays Varian sing. He’s got one of those really clear Broadway voices that she really likes (kinda Aaron Tveit-esqe). Also, a girl who played Elphaba after Idina Menzel plays another new character, Cassandra. 

Rapunzel, Varian, and Cassandra

The show's biggest flaw is probably those filler episodes. There are quite a few of them, probably 3/4 of the season is devoted to the "fun" episodes. As I said above, they are still very enjoyable and fun to watch, but I do think that more time should have been spent on developing the plot. Believe me though, when the plot does come it's like "Whoo!" Now, there are small details often contained in the filler episodes and they do a good job of setting up the world, lore, and character relationships for future episodes, but I still wouldn't call the episodes 100% necessary.

Anyways, I felt the urge to express my feelings on this show. It is shockingly enjoyable. It’s probably not for everybody, but if you’re into Disney you’ll definitely like it. Yes, there is a reason why Rapunzel's hair is long again. It's not just because or for looks. It is actually involved in the plot and it gets really interesting. I am eagerly awaiting season 2.

Song: "Let Me Make You Proud"- sung by Varian

Song: "Wind In My Hair"- sung by Rapunzel