Where princess are powerful comes a new chapter filled with all the spell-biding magic and fantasy fans of Mattel’s hit doll line Ever After High love.
Over the past few years we have seen Raven Queen rebel against her pre-written destiny as the next generation’s Evil Queen and forge her own path. But questioning her destiny was only the start of an even more interesting path that is still being written. More so now with unexpected twist and turns appearing in this ever growing and evolving world known as Ever After.
From the introductory webisodes that went live on “Ever After High’s” YouTube channel back in 2013 we have gotten to see the struggle between choosing to re-write destiny and follow a path one themselves creates, and the desire and even pressure- in some instances- to be royal and loyal to fate. Despite most of the core story following that of Raven’s rebellion and Apple –Snow White’s daughter- as they try and find themselves as well as a way to live their stories (sometimes even their own way), we have gotten to see other characters and how they grow.
Yet it is not only the characters themselves we have seen change over the past –going on- three years. Their story has greatly changed as time has marched on. What started as a simple question of “do I follow what is expected of me? Or do I find myself and my own happily ever after?” has evolved greatly. Since I have written about Ever After High beforehand and covered the major bases of the series, the need to re-cap and re-con what has happened probably is not necessary.
Despite a few short webisodes fans of “Ever After High” have not had a great deal of new narrative from Ever After High since back in August where the previous special made way to streaming service Netflix, Way Too Wonderland. And Way Too Wonderland… it was interesting in the sense that it shifted things greatly.
Fairy warning for anyone who has yet to see the previous special, Way Too Wonderland, spoilers. Major ones at that.
If you might re-call the end of Way Too Wonderland not only re-united our main fairy-teens with the true Storybook of Legends that had been thrown down a magical well by Briar and sent to Wonderland. With their backs against a wall and a power-hungry Courtly Jester charged with powers and her eyes on Lizzie Heart’s destiny, Raven does the only thing she can do to stop Courtly, save her friends and even her world- she signs the Storybook of Legends. Thus granting her full powers and officially making her the next Evil Queen- the very thing she had spent so long refusing to be.
But the newly developed powers start to over-power that of Raven’s own good nature and pure heart and hint at her starting down a dark and dangerous path that is resented of her mother. If not for Apple’s words reminding Raven how strong and good she is prevents Raven from losing herself.
It is because of that instance alone that makes Apple realize just how dangerous The Storybook of Legends is and leads to Raven and herself deciding the best choice for everyone is to have the choice to follow a destiny they wish and allowing the book to be destroyed.
After months of waiting we finally get to see the true aftermath of such a changing act with the new special titled Dragon Games. According to official summaries the special is as followed:
In their most epic adventure yet, the teenage sons and daughters of the most famous fairytales ever see the return of dragons to Ever After High — and the return of the most amazing sport ever after, Dragon Games! But all is not fun and games when the Evil Queen joins in, especially because she has magically transformed herself to look like a student.
As I had said in my review of Way Too Wonderland is it interesting to see how things are going to go from here; moreover just how Ever After High is going to make itself stand out against other series (yes I mean the likes of Disney’s Descendants). By more or less ending the royal and rebel issue the core foundation of the story has changed, or at least it seemed that way. Going off the trailers and videos that have been published online on official accounts it is clear that Apple is still very much so driven by destiny and longs for her day as the next Snow White.
Even if it means doing anything to get there.
Much like other “Ever After Hig”h specials Dragon Games looks to be another interesting tale that will once more take what we believed about fairy-tales and spin it in a new light as we see this new generation find their own destinies.
Be sure to stream “Ever After High’s Dragon Games” this Friday, January 29th only on Netflix. And the seventh special, Epic Winter, is slated to arrive in August. Be sure to check out our news on that as it gets closer.
Join the conversation: Are you ready for Dragon Games? Is the royal or rebel affair settled? What comes next for the students? Sound off in the comments.