Ep 1. What the Hair?!

Rapunzel is back in action! Tangled: The Series begins with "What the Hair?!", which revisits all of our favorite characters from the movie, Tangled. Set after the events of the film, this new series starts with Rapunzel officially settled back into Corona, now ruling alongside Eugene and her parents, King Frederic and Queen Arianna.

The episode begins with Rapunzel attempting to put together a scrapbook of her recent adventures, but something is missing. Flynn, now known as Eugene, suggests that they go on a new adventure to add to her collection. The couple sets off into the forest to gather supplies when they come across a strange individual hanging upside down from a tree. It is promptly revealed to be a young girl named Cassandra, who is revealed to be the daughter of the head of the guards, and has recently been named the new lady-in-waiting to the princess.

Cassandra is nothing like the bubbly and joyful Rapunzel; she is a strong, tough-skinned, and determined fighter with a keen eye for weapons. When they reach a new clearing, Cassandra can't help but notice that Rapunzel seems to be lacking in the "practical skills" department. Rapunzel has to rely on her friend and new mentor's to teach her. In the meantime, mysterious things start happening in the forest, wolves running wild, mist shrouding some areas and strange noises come from nowhere everyone seems to be confused.

The three soon discover the source of the mystifying occurrences: an ancient, magical tree that houses the spirit of the moon. In order to right the wrongs committing havoc in the forest, Rapunzel, Cassandra, and Eugene embark on a mission to retrieve a flower from the top of the tree. Along the way, they are attacked by large wolves, but Rapunzel shows her newfound strength and courage by fighting them off with a frying pan. When they reach the top, the flower is guarded by a mysterious figure shrouded in shadows, making for a tense and thrilling battle scene.

Once they obtain the flower they get ambushed by the new foes and they steal the mysterious flower, to use it for some nefarious purpose. Failing to retrieve the flower and protect the magical tree spirit leaves our heroes feeling quite dejected. Rapunzel, however, does not give up so easily. She and Eugene return to Castle Corona with an alternative plan-- to plant the flower to grow their flower garden and spur on regrowth to heal the forest, thereby allowing the land to flourish.

The episode ends with the successful planting of the flower, and Rapunzel regaining some confidence in herself after learning some new skills. The new, tougher, Cassandra begins to open up to Rapunzel as well, and it's clear that both women will be indispensable allies as the series continues.

What the Hair?! is a great introduction for the series, and it's clear from the first episode that the writers have put a ton of attention to small details and creating a rich visual environment. The music, characters, and animation are all beautifully done. The plot twists and action provide enough excitement to keep anyone engaged. The show's arrival allows viewers to spend more time with their beloved characters, while at the same time providing the opportunity to meet some new faces. Fans of Tangled should not miss out on this brand new series.