While under a disguise potion cooked up by Shuriki, Carla infiltrates the castle to try and steal Elena's mother's tiara while Elena and company make preparations for the Jaquin Festival. But when she ruins Naomi's plans to supplant her from her duty to bring the Golden Jaquin out of the treasure room to get close to the tiara, Naomi becomes suspicious about her behavior, which causes a rift between her and Elena. Meanwhile, Migs worries that the trio's act won't impress his children.
Tropes in this episode include:
- An Aesop:
- Don't be so quick to trust people you've just met, no matter how much they claim to be your friend or related to you in some way.
- Do your best for someone you love so you don't let them down.
- Bitch in Sheep's Clothing: Carla, while in disguise as Rita, pretends to be a Naïve Newcomer Nice Girl and secretly sabotages Naomi's work to make herself look good to her and Elena to get more time and sneak into the treasury unguarded. Everything goes smoothly and she manages to earn everyone's trust. However, copycatting Naomi did not do her any favors and nearly blew her cover.
- Bittersweet Ending: Elena and Naomi make up and the Jaquin Festival goes as planned, but Carla fails to take the tiara and is forced to flee for the time being, and the heroes are still unaware she’s waiting for the right moment to strike. In addition, Victor warns her the shapeshifting potion won't last forever.
- Blatant Lies: Shuriki tells Carla to claim that Rita is a distant relative of Armando, who isn't exactly the brightest bulb at the palace. Upon introduction, Armando immediately accepts her and so does the rest of the palace.
- Boastful Rap: "Don't Look Now".
- "Eureka!" Moment: When Carla asks Armando if she can enter the treasury, Armando says no, and absolutely no one is allowed inside, except when Naomi is to bring the Golden Jaquin out for the festival. This gives Carla the idea to supplant Naomi's job so she can take the tiara.
- Evil Plan: Carla's plan to get the tiara is this. Sneak into the castle undercover and win everyone's trust; but since the Treasury only opens once for Naomi to get the Goldin Jaquin out, to supplant Naomi's position by ruining her plans and derailing the preparations.
- Eye Color Change: Carla's eyes change from violet to brown as part of her disguise.
- Freudian Excuse: Constantly being on the move with her father meant that Carla was left without any sense of home or friends and why she's so loyal to her father.
- From Nobody to Nightmare: What Victor and Carla want to be, hoping to become malvagos and take the crown for themselves.
- Green-Eyed Monster: Elena accuses Naomi of being this towards the newcomer Rita.
- I Just Want to Have Friends: Subverted. Though Carla did feel lonely as a child, she's not in the least interested in befriending Elena and co. while undercover. Clearly, they are that annoying to her.
- The Mirror Shows Your True Self: Invoked. Whenever Carla/Rita looks in the mirror, the reflection always shows her true form—which is why Carla must avoid mirrors.
- Near-Villain Victory: Carla manages to get to the treasure room and finds the tiara, but right when she is about to grab it, she is interrupted by Naomi coming in to apologize and Rico comes back with the guard she asked him to get to help bring the Golden Jaquin statue. Naomi then invites Carla to the festival, thus her plans are ruined for now and she is forced to go with her.
- No-Respect Guy: Victor felt this way as a young boy, and ended up dragging Carla into this mentality about them.
- Paper-Thin Disguise: Carla's disguise as Rita fools Elena and company completely.
- The Reveal: Why were the Delgados interested in Queen Lucia's Carnaval tiara? The core jewel was magical, something not even Elena knew.
- Right for the Wrong Reasons: Naomi eventually comes to regard Rita with suspicion, but this is because she thinks she's trying to replace her rather than being a hidden villain. She begins to suspect the latter in "Rise of the Sorceress".
- Secret Identity: Carla has to keep her scheme to get the tiara a secret from everyone.
- Sequel Hook: Even though the festival goes off without any trouble and all is well, Carla is warned her disguise won't last forever and begins scheming behind Elena's back, with her still none the wiser to her appearance.
- Shout-Out: "Don't Look Now" sounds like it came straight out of Hamilton.
- Slasher Smile: The episode closes on one, courtesy of a disguised Carla as Elena and Naomi are not looking.
- Subverted Suspicion Aesop: Naomi is right to suspect Rita (albeit perhaps for the wrong reason), but Rita manages to put up a convincing act and Elena convinces Naomi that Rita just means well.
- Transformation Sequence: Carla has one as Shuriki's potion changes her appearance.
- Unknown Rival: Elena and her friends are completely unaware that "Rita" is really Carla in disguise.
- Valley Girl: Carla speaks like this when in disguise as Rita, especially when Elena and her friends are around. She drops it once she's alone.
- Villain Episode: This episode largely focuses on Carla as she enters the castle undercover to try and steal the tiara.
- Villain Song: Victor and Carla sing "Don't Look Now" while Shuriki brews the potion.
