Oh, no, is everyone going to magically have musical talent again? I hope not.
Some of the girls are putting up posters for Musa's concert tomorrow. Stella is fitting some clothing on Bloom. Does she make clothes? That's cool. Bloom is fretting because Sky hasn't texted back. She's apologized for yesterday (so this is the day after the previous ep) many times. Tecna calculates the odds of him forgiving her at 35 to 1. Which really isn't fair, because she was spelled. It's not like she was really Bloom.
Musa appears, visibly upset. An agent is coming to her concert and will sign her if it goes well. So she basically has stage fright. This new Musa is so different from the original. I'm not sure I like it, since her primary characterization so far has really just been to be vulnerable.
Stella magics new clothes for everyone. Then she grabs Bloom's phone to text Sky, asking for help setting up the stage. If he says yes, he's forgiven her. Tecna starts to say "And if he says no," but Flora covers her mouth. She had an amusing line earlier that I skipped, but she said they needed to work on Tecna's ability to read the room. Sky replies that he's happy to help and will bring the other boys.
The next day, the boys are working on the stage. Tecna corrects something Timmy says, then takes his tablet to optimize his schematics. He's impressed. Stella takes charge of lighting and flirts with Brandon. Flora decorates the stage with a bunch of plants. Not sure plants scream rock and roll but sure.
Bloom and Musa discuss how they did promotion, while Brandon tells Riven they can start with the heavy stuff. He rolls away whatever Musa was leaning on with a grunt or two and avoided eye contact. Yeah, I might act the same way, considering how she acted a couple eps ago. Bloom keeps talking about something else and we are never going to get Musa and Riven backstory, are we? Ugh.
Bloom inquires about Sky. He's not coming. He's taken Diaspro out to brunch for their "everyversary." Ha! I love Riven's delivery on that. I think he's going to be my favorite guy. He's not an asshole anymore.
Musa says she had a dream about the song she and Bloom wrote and wants to run changes by her. Musa plays her guitar, while Riven watches wide-eyed from the back. He sets down a box and walks off. Musa wonders why he even bothered to come since it's obvious he doesn't like her. Ah, so new Musa is stupid.
A very obvious Vexius approaches. Apparently, he's the agent. He offers to take a walk with Bloom so Musa can focus, but Bloom says she promised to stay by Musa's side.
The Trix are watching, unimpressed by Vexius's inability to get Bloom alone.
Musa and Bloom put up some more posters. Bloom asks how Musa met Vexius and she says he DMed her. Bloom says he can be very persistent. At least one of them thinks he's suspicious. Sigh.
A couple girls say they're coming to Musa's concert. I love the one in the blue sweater. She's unusual-looking but I really like her design.
Bloom asks what Musa will do if she gets famous. She doesn't want her to leave Alfea. Musa says she just wants to have a hit album to support her dad. Her mother was a famous singer on their world and her dad hasn't been the same since she died. Ah, there's the Musa vulnerability I can understand more.
Suddenly, Riven walks by and the girls decide this is the most suspicious thing EVER. Bloom says he's moody and not always fun to be around. Wow, Bloom. Very nice. But she says he's basically a good guy. Musa isn't so sure and decides to tail him. They find him in a music store, playing Musa's song on guitar. Yeah, he's suuuuuuuuuuch a bad guy. Sigh. The store owner asks what they're doing and they say they were just looking for their friend. The owner says Riven is an excellent guitar player but he's very private, so he likely wouldn't appreciate being spied on. The girls leave. Musa wonders why Riven would be playing her song and Bloom says he must like it and not know how to tell her. Stormy appears, mocking their boy troubles. Darcy casts a neat spell that apparently blocks them from outside view and keeps them from escaping. Nice. Icy shoots ice at them, of course. Icy's powers are kinda boring like Flora's. I feel like there's much more that could be done with both, but the writers have always been too afraid to really explore them. Icy freezes their feet as Stormy prepares an electric blast, but Bloom melts the ice and they dodge. Musa prepares to attack but Icy encloses her in ice. No cry of ice coffin, but it's ice coffin. I did at least like the name of that spell. Riven comes out of the shop, sees dark magic and walks right through it. So Darcy's spell works how exactly? He sees Musa trapped in ice, gets his magic uniform on, tells Bloom to get Musa, and knocks Stormy down. Go, Riven! That might be cooler than anything he ever did before. Darcy is also down and now Musa is free. The three run off, while Icy says Vexius must never find out about this. Bloom thanks Riven for his help and he gives the Specialist "it's our duty to help" speech, but nicely. Musa still cannot say a word. Sigh.
At the concert, Musa still looks sad. Girl, get the f over it. I want to like her. I really do. But this defeated, afraid personality is not it. Flora and Stella provide some magical ambience. Tecna starts the music but Musa is terrified. Riven hoverboards out and apparently he can also play keytar. He winks at her, jumps off the board and continues to play. That's what it takes to conquer her stage fright. It's a cute enough song.
In the crowd, Diaspro holds up her hand. Was there a ring on that finger before? Bloom leaves. Bloom, WTF. You were supposed to support Musa, not be bothered by stupid Diaspro. Oh, right, she's got to be alone so Vexius can grab her. Of course. He says he was meant to have that power and blasts her with a spell, drawing the dragonflame out. But halfway to him, it switches directions, goes back into Bloom, and blasts him away. He says there must be something blocking his magic-stealing spell and he'll find out what it is and destroy it.
STELLA: The only thing getting destroyed is your reputation, because you, sir, are a terrible agent.
MUSA: I don't think he's an agent at all, Stella.
Ah, Stella.
The girls transform and the boys suit up. At first, I thought Vexius was going to flee, but no, he takes out the boys. Stella knocks him to the ground, but then he uses Aisha's water balls (seriously) to douse Bloom's flames. Flora's vines do nothing, while he deflects Stella's solar flare to take out Flora. He uses Tecna's spell to capture Musa's, which looked pretty awesome, and then knock all the Winx away. He prepares to end this, but here come the headmistresses. Naturally, they appear with their backs to Vexius, who disappears. They say they sensed a dark energy and came to investigate. The girls tell them a man posing as a music agent was trying to steal Bloom's powers. Musa says he was just using her to get to Bloom and the concert was a trick.
RIVEN: Maybe he lied to you, but the concert is real. You were amazing out there.
Whoa. Good Riven is what's amazing.
Bloom and Flora point out that the audience...the poor, very confused audience...is still out there. Including Sky who could have helped. WTF, Sky.
Musa says they're going to try something new. Oh, no.
Oh, yes.
Everyone spontaneously has musical talent.
SIGH.
Bloom is singing. Because of course she is.
Aisha on drums. Tecna on keytar. Everyone else has a guitar.
THERE'S A CHOREOGRAPHED DANCE NUMBER.
I don't hate it for what it is, but I always hate when they just make everyone have talent out of seemingly nowhere. I didn't mind with Riven, because it adds to his character and gives him something in common with Musa. But for the Winx to suddenly perform this, with Musa not in the lead, with Tecna somehow being okay with this? Ughhhh.
FG and Griffin walk away after the show. FG says the forces after Bloom are becoming more bold. FG says maybe it's time to tell Bloom that she has the dragonflame.
When they're breaking down after the concert, Sky makes up with Bloom. She compliments Diaspro's ring and says something like she must have loved when you gave it to her. Sky explains that Diaspro buys her own jewelry. Bloom is like "So the ring doesn't mean anything?" and Sky says "Not to me." While the others look on approvingly. Come on, girls. Okay, Diaspro sucks, but can we at least pretend that Bloom breaking them up isn't the greatest look for her?
In the Trix lair, they're chilling and listening to music. I like that the new Trix are more like regular teens. They're not single-minded villains. Vexius arrives and Icy mocks him, so he binds the Trix together and rants annoyingly.
END
Wow, okay, what a ride.
I went back and forth with Musa's character a lot. She hasn't had much development, so for a lot of it to be her being defeated and weak was annoying. I also don't like this unexplained thing with her and Riven. Just one or two lines of backstory would have helped that out a lot. He's come across as interested in her before and now he still seems that way, but the way she treats him is unexplained and that's bad writing. He appears to have won her over, but I'd like to know why she was hesitant in the first place. Just her general insecurity or did he do something? I think she's going to come out with me liking her more in the future, as long as she continues to grow and doesn't just stay negative about herself all the time.
Riven though. Best part of the episode. Hands down my favorite boy. So much more depth and excellence than his entire previous existence. I can get behind them as a couple now.
I like that this episode explored Bloom and Musa's friendship. They seem to be the closest pair except maybe her and Flora.
Faves order!
Tecna, Stormy, Darcy, Riven, Flora, Bloom, Musa, Stella, Aisha, Icy.
