The sundrop isn't the flower anymore... It's Rapunzel!
— Varian
Rapunzel returns to the castle (directly after the events in the previous episode), hurt and upset about her father lying to her about the black rocks. The scroll she found in the Graphtyc shows the Sundrop Flower, but its significance isn't clear yet. Desperate to find the answers she seeks, Rapunzel accepts help from Varian to find the Sundrop Flower that is the origin of her magical hair, in order to save her kingdom from imminent danger. She goes against the Kingdom of Corona's rules doing so.
Meanwhile, Eugene and Cassandra notice something is causing everyone to tell only the truth, and there is more to it than what meets the eye...
This episode provides examples of:
- All for Nothing: Varian went all out to find the magical flower, only to find out it's useless. Turns out, its magic has been transferred to Rapunzel.
- Berserk Button: Rapunzel tries talking down Varian from stealing the flower, and it almost seems to be working until she says 'I promise', upsetting the alchemist who then makes off with the Sundrop.
- Bitch in Sheep's Clothing: Varian, this time around. He keeps the facade of his former eager-to-help personality, but if what Rapunzel dreamed is anything to go by, his betrayal of her was inevitable.
- Broken Pedestal: While Varian originally looked up to Rapunzel, he now despises her for leaving Quirin trapped in amber and sees the princess as a liar who can't be trusted to keep her word.Rapunzel: Give me the flower, Varian. We can find a way to fix all of this. The rocks, your dad, everything. I promise you, I promise. Just, this is not the way. Please.
Varian: Sorry princess, but I know firsthand how well you keep promises. - Brutal Honesty: The cookies laced with the truth serum cause those who eat them to compulsively speak the truth.
- Call-Back:
- Rapunzel uses Herz der Sonne's journal from "Under Raps" to access Corona's underground tunnels
- The portrait of King Frederic Rapunzel sees when stealing the aforementioned journal is the same one Frederic wanted to show Rapunzel in "The Wrath of Ruthless Ruth"
- Calling the Old Man Out: At the beginning of the episode, Rapunzel calls Frederic out for his deceit and his orders in the previous episode, even going as far as to compare him to Gothel.Rapunzel: You know, you are not the first person to lie to me and tell me I am not ready for the real world.
- Captain Obvious: When the walls are closing in on Rapunzel and him, Varian utters the totally obvious "We're gonna get squished!". It is already totally obvious from the visuals alone what is happening, though.
- Continuity Nod:
- This episode continues from where the last episode left off, when Rapunzel is angry at her dad for lying to her. This episode is also a continuation of the "mystery of the black rocks" Story Arc.
- For those who were shocked at Varian's Break the Cutie moment at the end of "Queen for a Day", this episode fully confirms he's gone From Nobody to Nightmare and becomes the Arc Villain for the remainder of the season.
- Remember Cassandra’s description about Varian in "What the Hair?!" that he "isn't good" and some say he's "dangerous"? It turns out the rumors were true after all, and it is proven by the climax.
- Cliffhanger: Rapunzel is hurt by Varian's betrayal and knows this wasn't the last she'll be seeing him. Meanwhile, Varian realizes the flower has lost all its magic, and it now exists inside Rapunzel.
- Create Your Own Villain: The reason why Varian turns against Rapunzel was simply because she couldn't come to help him in his time of need during Zhan Tiri's blizzard.
- Didn't Think This Through: Rapunzel is hesitant to go behind her father's back and help Varian steal the Sundrop Flower, regarding it as treason, even though it shouldn't matter to her since not only is she the princess, but heir to the throne. She also considers the idea of using it afterwards a matter of saving either Quirin or Corona, when both are facing the same problem of the black rocks and her father's rulership.
- Did You Actually Believe...?: Varian gives this speech to Rapunzel when it came to his concern for the welfare of Corona.
- Easily Forgiven: Subverted. Rapunzel apologizes to Varian for her inability to help him during the events of "Queen for a Day". Varian pretends to forgive her in order to trick her into helping him steal the Sundrop.
- Et Tu, Brute?: At the climax of the episode, Varian reveals his true colors and betrays Rapunzel by taking the flower and leaving Corona to its fate as revenge.
- Evil Gloating: Varian throws it in when he explains how he made a truth serum to get the location of the flower and how he used Rapunzel, before giving his "The Reason You Suck" Speech.
- Eye Awaken: Rapunzel has one when she wakes up from her nightmare about Varian and finds her hair glowing and waving all over the place.
- Foreshadowing:
- Varian's sinister words to Rapunzel in her nightmare warn her of what she's about to face.
- Varian tells Rapunzel she doesn't have to worry, because the guards all have their hands full...and how can he possibly know that? Turns out he deliberately caused that with his truth serum.
- Varian accidentally lets it slip that he isn't concerned about saving Corona, alarming Rapunzel and indicating to her that he no longer has the kingdom's best interests at heart.
- It's subtle, but when Rapunzel hugs Varian, he remains still and doesn't hug her back. This hints that, despite his friendly demeanor, Varian resents the Princess for not saving his father.
- Gave Up Too Soon: Had Rapunzel taken a closer look at the flower, and had she known the flower no longer has its magic properties, she wouldn't have had to worry about letting Varian take it.
- Hope Spot: Looks like everything is going to be fine between Varian and Rapunzel after what happened during "Queen for a Day", as they work together and are trying to help each other, right? Nope.
- I Did What I Had to Do: Inverted by Varian as a call-back to the events of "Queen for a Day", when Rapunzel reluctantly turned him away. Though while he says it, he doesn't actually believe it.Rapunzel: Varian, I am so sorry, I had no id—
Varian: You had to save the kingdom, you did what you had to, but you can help me now, Rapunzel. - I Lied: Varian convinces Rapunzel to break into the vault and obtain the sun drop flower that could save Corona and rescue Quirin from being trapped in amber. By the time he takes the sun drop flower, a flagon which contained Xavier's mood potion which Varian modified into his own formula falls out of his satchel.
- It Was with You All Along: In the final scene, Varian realizes the Sundrop Flower has no more magic, and all of it has been transferred to Rapunzel. In other words, he had it the entire time, he just didn't know it yet.
- It's All My Fault: Rapunzel says this near the end:Rapunzel: I let the most powerful object in all of the land fall into the hands of...I don't even know what he is anymore! But I know we haven't seen the last of him...
- Last-Second Chance: Rapunzel gives one to Varian, pleading with him to give her the flower so they can find a solution together. Though he briefly considers trusting her once more, Varian ultimately refuses. After all, she broke her promise once; why should he believe her this time?
- Mood Whiplash: Like the past two episodes, there's a rather shocking ending scene, and then it cuts to the cheery end credits.
- Never Trust a Trailer: In the promo, in the scene of Rapunzel’s nightmare when she runs to Cassandra and Eugene as they are imprisoned within the rocks, her hair is glowing; in the actual episode, it isn't.
- "Not So Different" Remark: Rapunzel compares King Frederic to Gothel.
- Plot Hole: Rapunzel somehow knew the name of Varian's raccoon Rudiger, despite not having met him in past episodes nor did Varian tell her his name.note
- Rapid-Fire "No!": Varian gives one when the Sundrop flower's magic fails to free his father, leading to the ultimate realization below.
- Redemption Rejection: Varian reveals he's no longer on Corona's side and has been manipulating Rapunzel to obtain the Sundrop the entire episode. Rapunzel then pleads for him to return the flower and promises she'll solve all their problems if he just cooperates. Unfortunately, this presses a major Berserk Button for Varian as he no longer believes the princess can be trusted, and he promptly escapes with the flower.
- Schmuck Bait: The castle staff readily accept cookies being distributed by someone hiding in a bush asking for classified information. This results in Varian successfully drugging nearly everyone with truth serum.
- "Shaggy Dog" Story: Rapunzel and Varian went through a lot of trouble trying to get the Sundrop Flower that saved the Queen, which Rapunzel needs to save Corona, and Varian needs to save his dad. The flower turns out not to have its magic anymore, so all the questionable things they did were for nothing. Unfortunately, Rapunzel doesn't know that. Plus, the flower's magic now exists inside Rapunzel, so it also means Varian is going to come back for her...
- Skewed Priorities: Eugene and Cassandra interrogate Pete in order to figure out what's causing the palace staff to blurt out the truth at random. Unfortunately, when asked to recall what he did that day, he gives them a rundown in excruciating detail and believes his recipe for scones is more important than his encounter with a man hiding in a bush while giving out cookies and asking for classified intel.Eugene: Let's try this. Can you recall anything out the ordinary? Maybe something that isn't soul-crushingly boring?
Pete: Well, I did find the man hiding in a bush who gave me purple cookies a bit peculiar.
Cassandra: You think you might have lead with that?! - Slasher Smile: Varian gives Rapunzel an evil, rather frightening smile as he betrays her, solidifying his From Nobody to Nightmare status.
- Something Only They Would Say: Pete tells Cassandra and Eugene that a man hiding in a bush gave him purple cookies, which they realize contained some sort of truth serum. They then learn the person had a squeaky voice and was asking about the Sundrop, allowing them to realize Varian is the culprit.
- Supreme Chef: Varian turns out to be an excellent baker, and in order to drug the palace staff with truth serum, he bakes it into a batch of cookies so good he gets almost everyone snacking on it.
- "The Reason You Suck" Speech: Varian gives one to Rapunzel about how he came to her for help, she and her people turned their backs on him, and worst of all, adds in how badly she keeps her promises.
- Truth Serums: Varian found what was left of Xavier's potion, and reverse engineered a truth serum that he placed in cookies and distributed them to every servant, guard and high-ranking official to get the location of the Sundrop Flower.
- Unexpectedly Dark Episode: One of the few darker episodes (after "Queen for a Day" and "The Quest for Varian", though on bigger terms) within the generally more lighthearted series, and it ends with Varian callously betraying Rapunzel.
- Villain: Exit, Stage Left: Varian makes off with the Sundrop Flower by throwing a smoke bomb and disappearing in the confusion, despite being in close quarters with Cassandra, Eugene and Rapunzel who could have grabbed him at any time.
- Wham Line: "The Sundrop isn't the flower anymore... it's Rapunzel."
- Wham Shot: The flacon for the attitude-reversing potion falling out of Varian's bag, causing Rapunzel to realize why her Dad told the truth on her.
- What the Hell, Hero?: Rapunzel doesn't mince her words telling Varian how they both committed treason for stealing the Sundrop Flower.
- Yank the Dog's Chain: A pretty brutal one at that; just as Rapunzel was starting to have real hope for Corona, she finds out Varian betrays her and steals the Sundrop Flower for himself. Needless to say, Rapunzel's faith in whom to trust and her self-confidence take a beating. It's pretty brutal for Varian too; the Sundrop Flower he thought would save his dad is useless because it hasn't had any magic since Rapunzel was born. They both went through a lot of trouble for a useless MacGuffin trying to accomplish something important to them. However, it's revealed in the final scene that the flower's magic has been transferred to Rapunzel.
