Star and Marco share their true feelings while confronting the Blood Moon Curse! | Wraith's Journal #53 [Curse of the Blood Moon S4E8]
Star and Marco learn the true nature of the Blood Moon Curse, and face their destiny when given the choice to break it. That's the synopsis; let's dive in!
~
Marco meets Star for a cereal date at midnight...
~I mean, look at this. Candles, special location? This is literally a date. They could have just done this in the kitchen or their room (yes, THEIR room).
...Star finishes first and departs, leaving 2 marshmallows - a red and a blue one (also Star is wearing a blue dress here) - "Now they have each other!". Marco is dumbstruck by this action and takes Star's bowl to Eclipsa.
Eclipsa is startled when Marco finds her, but is willing to help nonetheless:
Marco: It's happening again.
Eclipsa: Oh no. What is it this time?
Marco: [shows the bowl with 2 marshmallows] Marshmallows.
Eclipsa: Awww.
Marco: She paired them up so they wouldn't be lonely! It's so.. adorable! It's makin' my guts go.. [makes 'guts' noises] Bleh! And then I get warm. And then.. and then.. I-I sweat. I sweat a lot. [tearing up] And then, my.. my eyes h-have been welling up a little. Every time I think I'm over her and I like someone else, I get marshmallows.
Eclipsa proceeds to comfort Marco
Eclipsa: Feelings are worth feeling, even if they hurt.
~First, it seems Marco has been confiding in Eclipsa, so this isn't the first time this has happened. Seems Marco has still been crushing on Star. Also, Eclipsa has become the mother figure to Marco and Star it seems. I'm glad they have someone in their life who they can look up to.
~Second, this is the latest edition of the 'guts' comment. We had Marco's remarks in Starcrushed, then again with Star and Marco in Booth Buddies. Seems Marco has.. butterflies in his stomach.
Marco runs into Janna who offers to hypnotizes Marco to try and help him. This.. doesn't work, and Marco decides he needs to be direct with Star. Janna follows, ready for drama (she's like Pony, except actually likable).
Marco finds Star in her their room playing with a laser puppy and has a cuteness overload moment. Marco tells Star he needs to talk, so Star of course calls over Tom, who was playing with the rest of the laser puppies in the corner. Janna pulls up a chair and some popcorn.
Marco shows Star the bowl of cereal with marshmallows in it.
Star: My little sweet baby marshmallow friends?
Tom: [takes a marshmallow] Yoink! Delicious marshmallow friends!
Star stops him from eating it
Tom: What? There's still one more.
Starco: EXACTLY! [I/Star] didn't want that marshmallow to get lonely, so [I/she] gave her a friend! Now, it's all alone! How do you not see that?!
Marco: It's adorable!
~So this is the first time they've done the synchronized talking thing since.. the Blood Moon Ball?
Star is horrified. Tom is concerned, and Janna is just enjoying the moment.
Marco: Uhh.. Star? I'm havin' a problem... and I think it's you. I like every.. single.. thing.. about you. It's.. it's unnatural.
Tom: No, Marco. It's not unnatural. [walks toward Marco]
Marco: Look, Tom! Tom! I-I'm sorry, dude! I-I just needed to get this off my chest! [braces for impact]
Tom: [instead puts his hand on Marco's shoulder] It's supernatural. You're both cursed.
Star: What? What are you talking about?
Tom: [sighs, resigned] Remember the Blood Moon Ball?
Star: Yes...
Tom: Right. Well, its actual name is the Blood Moon Curse. The Curse chooses two souls to be eternally bound under the light of the Blood Moon. And I took you in hopes that it would choose us, but it didn't. It.. it chose you and Marco instead.
~Confession! So, hold on a minute. More than a year ago, Star and Tom had a fight and broke up. Then, Tom puts together a carriage by hand trying to be all gentlemanly, but really he had the ulterior motive of wanting to curse him and Star together?
~Even though I would argue that Tom is a much better person than he was then, this is still, uh, NOT COOL, to say the least. Let's recall what was said about the Blood Moon: "When the light of the Blood Moon drubbles down and selects two lucky souls, binding them together for eternity, in its hypnotic, ruby, brodum." In other words, you're not really getting a choice here - for more than one reason - AND, it's binding your soul to someone else FOREVER. Sure, Star went with Tom willingly (despite the circumstances), but she wasn't told about the Curse. Tom, at the ripe old age of 14, wanted to force a girl to be his literal soulmate "for eternity". Let that sink in.
Star: [anger intensifies] Wait. So we're cursed, and you knew about it?
Tom: Yeah, but I-I-I kinda thought you knew, too.
Star: [intensely petting laser puppy] No, Tom, I didn't know! How would I have known?!
Tom: Well, I thought it was pretty clear! I mean, there was that guy who explained everything. The light? Remember the light? It chose you.
~I mean, maybe tell your date where you're taking them before they go with you? Also the light didn't really choose Star; Marco grabbed her hand (intending to leave "Let's get out of here! This place is the worst!", although he did keep up the dance for a while) and the light just happened to go off - neither of them knew what it was.
Star: I thought that was a fun party light! I didn't know it was cursed!
Tom: But you know you have feelings for Marco. And I know you have feelings for Marco. I mean, where did you think that came from?
Marco: You have feelings for me?
Star: [visibly blushing] B-b-b-because of the curse!
Tom: Star, I'm sorry. I was an idiot back then. What can I do to make it up to you?
Star: How about GET RID OF THIS CURSE!
Tom: Okay, well, my grandpa Relicor was the one to tell me about the Blood Moon.
Star: Well, then, let's go talk with him. [starts dragging Tom]
Tom: No, wait-wait-wait. He's never gonna talk about it with us. But he's got a study room with books on everything, so let's start there.
Star: Fine. Let's just hurry up and break this thing. Right, Marco?
Marco looks like a mess of emotions
Star: Marco, what's wrong?
Marco: I just.. can't believe that all this has been because of some dumb curse! It.. it's just.. [sighs] ..confusing.
Star: Hey. You're my best friend, and no curse is ever gonna change that. But if this thing is messing with us, let's smash it to a billion pieces!
Marco: Yeah! Let's go destroy our feelings!
Star and Marco high-five
~This is a mess. Once again, Tom and Star prove that they can't communicate. Tom wasn't forthcoming back then about the Blood Moon; and only when confronted with it did he finally come clean.
~In Tom's defense, what is he to think when Star shows up at the Silver Bell Ball and strongly asserts that she and Marco are "not a thing", and as far as Tom can tell, Marco is no longer a part of her life? Then Star willingly (this time) enters a relationship with him again? As far as Tom might be able to tell, the Blood Moon.. didn't do anything? How could Star act of her own free will if she was actually cursed to be with Marco? How could Marco do the same - he was with Jackie? In other words, this whole time he might have been thinking that the Curse didn't do anything, and Star genuinely wanted to be with him - despite their glaring issues.
~Course, the photo booth kiss threw a wrench into things (which in and of itself begs the question how much 'influence' the Blood Moon actually HAS). AT THAT POINT, does Tom not wonder if the Blood Moon IS, in fact, forcing Star and Marco to be together? Yes, the Blood Moon showed up at the end of that episode, but only we, the viewers, actually saw that. So again, I don't blame Tom for not saying anything - he might be confused about the whole thing: Is it even real, how much is it doing if it is real, etc. Moreover, it's not easy to bring up something like that, even if it IS a big deal, given the implications surrounding Tom's intent. Although it still signals a continuing problem for him and Star - one that is only intensifying. Anyway.
~What about Marco and Star? This whole time, they've been dealing with these desynchronized feelings for each other. Star had her crush on Marco first before Marco did. So again, how much is the Blood Moon really doing here?
~I am kind of confused that Marco questioned Star having feelings for him. She literally confessed to him - perhaps Marco thought she moved on since she's been with Tom this whole time? I'll chalk it down to everyone is just very confused - for multiple reasons - and doesn't have all the information here.
Star, Marco, Tom and Janna venture to Relicor's study (which looks VERY cool, by the way - a treasure trove of knowledge). They search his computer to find that the Blood Moon Curse can be broken if the 'accursed stand at the exact spot where the curse was played at the next lunar apex'. Marco and Star get excited, only for Tom to point out that the next one isn't for 665 years "Ohhh, right. You don't live that long..." (how long will Tom - a half-Demon - live for anyway?). Marco has another moment:
I wanted to start a family... Fall in love... [sighs] What's the point if this curse is making all the decisions?
~Choices.. decisions.. destiny... Interesting little insight into Marco here, too.
Marco stumbles into what looks like a statue but is actually Relicor himself! He is agitated that Tom is in his private study, but becomes curious when Tom tells him about that he used the Blood Moon Curse on Marco and Star and "messed up their lives". Tom translates Relicor's Demon speak: "My grandpa says that I've doomed you both" (It can't be that bad! ...Can it?).
Relicor retrieves a book 'Demon's Guide to Enchanted Rocks'. Tom translates that the 'Severing Stone' might be of use. Janna reads from the book,
The Severing Stone. This enchanted rock possesses an edge so sharp that it can sever anything, be it physical, emotional, or even magical. The Stone can be found at the deepest depths of the Underworld.
Relicor offers to guide them to the Severing Stone. Relicor, who has been holding on to Marco this whole time, moves him over to a bookcase. Relicor grabs a secret switch which burns the bookcase to reveal an elevator, which the group ride into the depths of the Underworld...
Relicor gets into an argument with the elevator Demon who refused to go all the way to the bottom, so he severs the cable and makes the car fall. Star conjures a bouncy castle to save them.
The group is in a large, dark cave. They venture forth and see the Severing Stone across a rickety bridge.
~If nothing else, these 'depths of the Underworld' are really cool. I love seeing different places in this world!
Janna triggers a sigil which causes a tower to rise. Marco gives some video game RPG speech about how this is some sort of trial because the occupant of the tower (who is quietly observing Marco while he talks) has an old couch that he needs moved (which conveniently spawns nearby) and only he and Star can do it because their souls are 'bound by the Blood Moon'. The tower Demon's partner shows up, annoyed that Star and Marco's group are there. The 2 Demons argue, so the others simply move on.
~Yeah, I'm not gonna dwell on this scene too much. It feels like filler. Oh well.
Everyone crosses the bridge and Relicor communes with the Severing Stone (Relicor communicates with shrieks, the Stone with various tones). He then has Star and Marco explain to the stone why they're here.
~There's also some really cool music here that sets the tone.
Star and Marco approach. Star explains that they wish to 'sever their souls, bound by the Blood Moon'. The Stone tells Relicor who tells Tom that Star and Marco simply need to stand on the stage on which the Stone lies.
Marco and Star are determined, but Relicor cuts in front of them. He seemingly angrily demands answers from the Stone, but the Stone's answer causes him to tear up. Tom translates that Relicor used the Stone thousands of years ago to sever his soul from Tom's great-grandmother, but to do so he had to "sacrifice the memory of the moment they first fell in love. Now, he can never have that memory back. And he says he's regretted it ever since." Star suddenly looks unsure at this revelation. She looks at Marco, who nods. Star regains her resolve.
~Star's reaction is interesting here. Remember, she confessed to Marco, who left her hanging. Then she goes to date Tom. Marco drops back into her life and she makes SURE he'll be around her at all times. Then she learns (implicitly) that Marco has a crush on her, but she hasn't really said anything about that, either. I can guess that she's been grappling with her feelings for Marco all this time - even now - but it's hard to say for sure.
~Perhaps, she's just unsure about the gravity of losing any memory forever. Perhaps she senses that she could have a future with Marco, who has once again spilled his heart to her, even if it is because of the Blood Moon. Perhaps it'll rain enough in the next year to alleviate the drought we've been in here.
Star: So, we have to sacrifice the memory of the moment our souls were bonded.
Marco: When we danced.
~Compare what Relicor said to what Star said. Relicor talked about 'the memory of the moment they [he and his wife] first fell in love; Star talked about 'the memory of the moment their [her and Marco's] souls were bonded'.
~LET'S SAY Relicor met his wife and fell in love with her right away. Love at first sight, technically 'extreme' in that it happened right away. There's no mention of a Blood Moon or anything like that with them, but then he had their souls severed and lost that memory. It's also the moment they 'first fell in love'...
~I would argue that Star and Marco have never been IN LOVE. A crush is fleeting - it can come and go as we've seen. So all Star and Marco are proposing - and mind, the Severing Stone is listening for instructions - is to sacrifice the memory of the Blood Moon Ball. In Marco's words, that one dance, where Star didn't even know it was him for most of it. Think about it.
Marco and Star awkwardly start to dance, and Tom even jokes about the dance being 'for him'. Nothing seems to happen, but eventually the Stone triggers and Star and Marco are at... the Blood Moon Ball!
It's like the real Ball - outfits and everything - except everyone else is an NPC. Star thinks they're in their memory. The light turns red, and Blood Moon Waltz starts playing. Marco takes Star's hand and says "We gotta go for it!" Rather than describe it, I'll let the moment speak for itself: YouTube [Disney Channel Animation] (actual Ball scene starts after 1:00).
I only wish we could actually see Marco's face here
~It's a beautiful, beautiful moment. I can't say that enough. It makes me emotional every time I see it.
~Marco sweeps Star off her feet and they're both having the time of their lives. They're joking, enjoying being there, together. The music slows and they have a moment to themselves. I feel for Star, who is probably having the most fun she's had in months, only for her to realize that something is off...
~Destiny. Is the Blood Moon the reason they feel this way, whatever these awkward feelings are? Do they care? Does it matter? If they're happy, so what, right?
~"I like this", And Marco's subtle flinch when she held his hand just.. oh my god. And he returned the gesture. Remember what I said about Star and Marco not actually being in love? It wasn't the Blood Moon. THIS, RIGHT HERE, is the moment Star and Marco fell in love for the first time. Their friendship was only.. weeks old when the Blood Moon Ball happened. They've been through so much more since then. They've fought and made up, they've had adventures and their share of awkward teenage moments, they've almost lost each other in more ways than one, but they always found their way back to each other. They're still best friends. AND, they're something more. This is the point where they can no longer go back. I don't care if it's because of a curse, I'm happy right now and I want you to be a part of my life forever.
~And just like that, it's taken away from them. Was it ever the Blood Moon? What memory, or part of their memory, did they give up, exactly? I'll leave that to you to decide for yourself.
Marco and Star emerge from their memory, only having the vague idea that they were at the Blood Moon Ball together. Tom offers the bowl of 2 marshmallows to Marco to see how he feels - he just sees cereal. Star chimes in:
Star: What about when you look at me?
Star has a very odd look on her face
Marco: I see... my best friend.
Star: Me too!
they hug
~A lot of fans thought Star and Marco might get together this episode. On one hand, I'm disappointed things didn't move in their direction, on the other hand, I'm glad they sorted this out. Even when this episode aired, I saw this as a good moment - that by breaking the Curse, they allow themselves to figure this out on their own. Whatever they do, it will be THEIR choice. And of course, they once again affirm that they are best friends. It warms my heart.
Tom talks about things being "awkward" since the Blood Moon Ball, and that he felt "so much guilt every single day". Star just kind of off-handedly forgives him, and everything just kind of goes back to normal.
~Star forgives him just like that? After how she reacted when he finally came clean? This, after the issue they had back in Lake House Fever? I feel like, even if it was meant for Tom and Star to stay together, they should acknowledge their MANY issues (or at least the core one - the lack of communication - from which these issues all stem), deal with them, and grow from them. And they just.. don't.
Everyone is eager to leave, although Janna sneaks in a moment with the Severing Stone to 'sever her soul from itself'. Stay weird, Janna.
~
In a vacuum, the big moment - Star and Marco finally having their dance to themselves - is absolutely beautiful, one of the best moments in the show. Although overall, I'm disappointed that Tom gets off scot-free after all this. Lake House Fever was a missed opportunity to have Tom and Star confront their issues, and this is another one. I just wish SOMETHING moved forward, one way or another. Even though I still think Marco and Star's dance - even if they no longer have that memory - ends up making it so that Star and Marco can have their moment later, this episode just feels like a mixed bag.
I also wish that the episode had been dedicated to Star and Marco, and leave Tom and Janna at home. Let them experience this one on their own. It is about them, after all. Also the scene with the 2 Demons at the tower feels like killing time. I dunno.
Again, I'll take the win for Star and Marco that they showed why they're meant to be together. Curse or no Curse, their bond during the dance is undeniable. They were honest with each other, they connected with each other like no other, it was just a wholesome, beautiful moment.
Another highlight is getting to see a bit more of the Underworld, even if it's just a one-off. I like stuff like this.
And one more time, the big takeaway is that Star and Marco chose to break the Curse so that they can choose their own destiny. Choice vs. destiny is a big theme throughout the show, as far back as Star not 'getting the choice' to go to Earth back at the start of this journey. Choice matters.
Posted Oct 29, 2025, 2:31 PM UTC