A funeral for Glossaryck; Star meets Eclipsa! - Wraith's Journal #36 [S3E5/6 - Scent of a Hoodie through Stranger Danger]
Journal #35 pt. 1 pt. 2 [BFM parts 3 & 4]
Right, it's time to get into Season 3 proper! Marco's going home after staying on Mewni to help fix the kingdom but Star keeps something of his. It's Lekmet's funeral, but Glossaryck keeps manifesting himself to Star! Tom and Star keep avoiding each other at the Silver Bell Ball. And an old queen makes her appearance... New season, new storylines!
~
Star is very upset about Marco going back to Earth. She physically doesn't want to let him go and they do an awkward little dance around the portal before Marco and Star do, finally, part ways.
~I can't with this scene. Why did the music have to be emotional? 😭 Also Moon and River watched this interaction and totally knew what's going on with their daughter and her best friend.
Star sadly resigns herself to her bedroom where she reminisces on memories with Marco with the Scent of a Hoodie from the hoodie she still has of his. Pony arrives and, in a weird moment of being the rational one, throws the hoodie down the laundry chute. Star goes down to the laundry room and meets Sir Lavabo, Knight of the Wash, who insists the hoodie needs to be washed.
Star spends the rest of the day chasing down Lavabo, but eventually realizes she was being kind of crazy. She finally lets Lavabo wash the hoodie, and is pleasantly surprised that it still "stinks like Marco". Star admits that she and Marco will "always be friends" and mails the hoodie back to him using one of her spells.
Marco receives the hoodie and remarks that it kind of "smells like Star".
~It's a cute but very sad episode, this. Marco and Star just found each other again at the end of the last episode, and now they're back to living their normal lives. Their bond transcends dimensions though. The multiverse can't keep them apart forever!
~
It's Lekmet's funeral, but Star "sees" Glossaryck in the punch bowl and tries to get to him. Moon writes this off as Star being upset about Lekmet, and tries to get her to 'let things go'.
Star keeps seeing Glossaryck all over the place - in a door knob, as a lamp, as a cloud... Star calls Janna of all people, who thinks Star is being haunted and that she needs to bury his 'remains' (a fragment of the destroyed Book of Spells which Star got) in a "sacred place" lest he haunt her forever.
~I'm not sure how Janna's Earthly knowledge of witchcraft and ghosts and what not applies to Glossaryck, but here we are.
Star goes to the Magic Sanctuary, where she sees Glossaryck once again in the (now restored) Well of Magic. She deposits the Book of Spells fragment but Glossaryck doesn't disappear.
Star goes on a rant about Glossaryck being weird and mysterious, including a bit about needing to "fix the kingdom", before finally settling into a softer tone:
You know, Glossaryck, you never made it easy learning from you. Maybe that was the point. You did always trust me to figure things out on my own. And you were still always there for me. And no one else was really always there for me. Teacher.. friend.. weird book guy. Whatever you were, you were super important to me. Thank you, Glossaryck. Thank you for everything.
Star turns back to find Glossaryck, finally, gone. "I hope you find your big bowl of pudding. Baloo-balee, baloo-balow. I let you go, I let you go." Rest in Pudding, then.
Star goes to leave, but there's a small earthquake and the Well of Magic overflows, also leaving Star with the Book of Spells fragment. There's a flash of light...
Star goes to her parents in the morning, excited. Glossaryck came back!
~Glossaryck is weird. But why haunt Star? It's almost like he needed her to go through all this to bring him back or something... Is it to do with the fragment of the Book of Spells? Is Glossaryck tied to it or something? It did seem like he disappeared for good before. Even when Star ran into him in the 'stew room', I guess he just stayed there? If so, what was he doing this whole time?
~Yeah, I have many questions. Was Glossaryck a manifestation of Star's mind, or was he doing what he was doing on his own? And what exactly caused Glossaryck to come back? Star 'let him go'. Maybe the bit about 'needing someone to be there for her' was a thing? What is magic? How does any of this work?
~I've never thought about this episode this much before. It's a solid episode. Glossaryck is back and just as weird as ever. Star had a nice moment with him. I like that the focus was on just their two characters. And who or what is "Globgor"? On to the next.
~
It's the annual Silver Bell Ball - the celebration of the alliance between the kingdoms: Butterfly, Johansen, Lucitor, Pony Head, Pigeon, Waterfolk, Jaggs, Spiderbite. Star is in a bit of a mood since Tom is late and she has to deal with Pony Head wanting "drama".
The Ball is for each heir to dance with all the other heirs as a show of unity. Tom eventually shows up and Star's mood intensifies. The Ball starts, and Tom refuses to even look at Star. Star takes this very personally and they both avoid each other all night. Tom is happily chatting up the others while Star becomes increasingly more annoyed.
Eventually the only two who haven't danced are... Star and Tom. Star walks up to him and asks to dance with.. Manfred! Tom looks very sad as he walks outside, leading Star to finally confront him.
Star: "I have been through a lot lately, and what I really need is a friend!" Tom tells Star he heard Star's Song Day song about her and Marco and wanted to give her "space". Also Tom: "I finally realized you're not into me."
Star cuts him off strongly declaring that she and Marco are "not a thing!" Their argument continues. Tom catches on fire and Star summons Cloudy, who is a storm cloud (nice little detail). Their fight is broken up by a chair flying through the window - their respective dads are fighting, too, arguing that their respective child was getting Club Snubbed by the other.
Tom angrily asks Tom to dance, and he angrily accepts. They start hate-dancing, but quickly evolve into a beautiful routine of fire and pink butterflies. They finish their dance staring into each other's eyes for a very long time before Tom and Moon's bell gets Star to snap out of it.
Moon declares the Ball over and everyone is happy. Star compliments Tom's dancing; Tom invites Star for a corn shake (are those good?).
~Yeah, I'm a Starco guy. Credit where it's due, that was a beautiful dance. Although I will say as a former Pokémon Master player, fire and bugs don't mix.
~Couple questions: How old is the Silver Bell Ball? Is it as old as the kingdoms or more recent? And does Star just kind of get feelings for whomever she dances with? Marco swept her off her feet at the Blood Moon Ball, now this.
~Anyway, Star and Tom are getting along it seems. Critically, though, I'll zero in on lines from their argument. Star's "what I really need is a friend" is key. Marco is - as far as Star can tell - not interested in her romantically and went back to live his life on Earth. Star seems to like having someone around her whom she can bounce off of. Is Tom really that friend though? And then Tom even acknowledges that Star "isn't into [him]" - this, after months and multiple occasions of her kind of blowing him off and wanting nothing to do with him. Is this really the right way to start a new, budding romance? It is what it is. I guess Pony gets her drama after all.
~
Star tries to feed Glossaryck who is behaving like a child.. or a dog. Glossaryck gets free and conveniently leads Star out to the garden where they meet a nice lady...
The lady manages to calm down Glossaryck. She and Star talk and laugh for a bit. Star invites her to dinner, but she says she has "other plans". Star jokes if it's a "hot date" and the lady says "Something like that."
Moon and the MHC BURST into the room and detain the woman. Stranger Danger! Moon is in an absolute panic wondering if Star is okay. Star is confused, so Moon explains that the woman is Eclipsa(-Eclipsa).
~It's Eclipsa! She seems.. normal? Like, what's the big deal about her, exactly? If I didn't know this person I'd just think they were.. a person. I mean I guess everyone has their secrets, but like, I've worked in customer service and I know a disproportionate reaction when I see one.
The MHC take Star away for various 'tests' to determine if she's 'evil' after her encounter with Eclipsa (yes, I, too, would be worried about becoming evil after trying to setup dinner arrangements). Moon explains that Eclipsa abandoned the kingdom to run off with a Monster (so, the tapestry was accurate), that she didn't "respect the natural order", and meddled with dark magic.
~I know people who talk about "natural order" when really they're just disapproving of others' lifestyle choices.
Star asks if anyone has actually read Eclipsa's chapter, which Moon denies. The MHC then list off several dubious accusations like double-dipping at a buffet (this actually is evil). Star starts an argument with her mom, and Moon surprisingly strikes a softer tone.. before telling Star that Eclipsa is going to be re-crystalized. Moon leaves, but Star is having none of this.
Star goes to rescue her Wand (which was also under going 'tests') which is accompanied by Glossaryck. He (again) conveniently runs off with the Wand to get Star to follow him. Star catches up, and summons Cloudy to overtake Moon and the MHC on the way to Eclipsa's cell.
Star stops Rhombulus from crystalizing Eclipsa. Everyone is mad at Star, but she still stands up for Eclipsa: "Crystallizing people is a serious punishment, and so far, no one has been able to convince me that Eclipsa deserves it." Star also points out Moon's hypocrisy in reneging on her deal with Eclipsa, but Moon sadly points out:
M: But Star, look what her spell did to me.
removes glove to show heavily corrupted hand
M: When I performed that spell, I could feel the darkness. Eclipsa is evil, Star. I know you don't believe it now, but if you wait to find out the truth for yourself, it'll be too late.
S: Okay, fine. If she is as bad as you say she is, then put her in a crystal. But she at least deserves to have a fair trial.
M: Oh, for goodness sake, fine! We'll have a trial.
S: Ah, yes! dances Due process, due process!
M: But I'm only allowing this because I want there to be no doubt amongst anyone in Mewni - I'm looking at you, Star - that Eclipsa is evil and deserves her fate.
~Yeah, the MHC and Moon seem to more have personal disagreements with Eclipsa, although some of what they're saying about her (abandoning the kingdom; messing with dark magic) is fair. Does that really mean Eclipsa is "evil", though? It's also worth pointing out that Star - the chaotic good "rebel princess" - advocated for a 'fair trial' to Moon - the lawful neutral 'upholder of order' of all people.
Star also wants better accommodations for Eclipsa. Eclipsa suggests her old room - the tower overlooking the garden (the garden where Star found Eclipsa to begin with).
Later on, Star goes to talk to Eclipsa (her room is also heavily guarded). Star initially interrogates Eclipsa:
S: Did you or did you not mess with dark magic?
E: Well.. I did what I had to do for me. If the Magic High Commission and your mother think that's evil, call me a villainess.
~I love this line from Eclipsa. This is why I'm doing this journal. It's not for upvotes or heavy engagement, I'm just doing it to have fun and share that fun with whoever wants to read it. It's kind of like the Book of Spells. That knowledge and the stories within are there for future readers so they can learn something and have an adventure. Do what feels right for you.
Eventually, though, they get along. Star remarks that she still doesn't trust Eclipsa, but wants Eclipsa treated fairly nonetheless. Eclipsa then shows Star the view of the garden.
"Wow! This view is incredible!"
"Isn't it?"
~What is evil? That is the big question of this story right now. We've had villains that subvert 'traditional' evil tropes. Ludo's a runt who is obsessed with power but was manipulated by a greater villain. Toffee is cool, calm and collected, but also immortal. What did Eclipsa do? She abandoned the kingdom (I mean, some people just leave office because it's 'their time'); she messed with dark magic (What is 'dark magic', even? Only Eclipsa's 'immortal destroyer' spell actually left the dark marks.. stuff like the All-seeing eye didn't); and she was allegedly "double-dipping" at a buffet. Is that really evil? What do we know or not know about Eclipsa at this point? She doesn't seem so evil...
~I'm just fascinated by the mystery of this show. We're supposed to keep questioning everything, and then question it some more even if we think we have an answer. Also, I've come to appreciate this arc of the show the more I watch it. Before, I thought it was kind of slow, with not a lot of action toward a specific goal, but there's a lot of cool stuff developing. The introduction of Eclipsa and her relationship with the MHC and Moon is very interesting. We'll have to see where it goes. Who's really the bad guy here?
~
Another set of episodes in the books. Like I said, this is just the start of something new, something bigger. We defeated Toffee, but Star still has a lot to learn about magic - more than just her spells. Meanwhile relationships are ebbing and flowing. Perhaps Eclipsa's 'doing what one has to do for oneself' can have greater meaning than just her own actions? We'll see where things go next time!
Posted Jul 1, 2025, 8:46 PM UTC