Princess Hanna's real identity is finally revealed, as are three more Mermicornos! In Mermicorno: Starfall season 2 episodes 7 and 8, our heroes finally arrive to the Mermicorno kingdom, where they recall the day of the starfall.
But while they discover more about their past, Ika Inkblot sets his sights on Octokyo.
Mermicorno: Starfall episode 7 recap: Memories of a Mermicorno
Our group of heroes have reunited and finally found the Mermicorno kingdom, or what's left of it. Upon their arrival, our Mermicornos all recall the day Ika Inkblot arrived, wanting the gateway to the stars to absorb their power and destroy all creativity.
It is here that we are introduced to three new Mermicornos: Rip Tide, Sunsprite, and Valentina, and learn that Mermicornos were created by the Pisces and Pegasus constellations. Perhaps the biggest reveal is that Astra was Princess Hanna the entire time!
Astra has a hard time processing this, unable to accept the truth, which triggers her creative force to bring a statue of her likeness to life. The statue, meant to protect the kingdom, attacks the group.
After the statue is defeated, we have another flashback where Astra tries to use the orbs to create a powerful pearl while the other Mermicornos fend off Ika and his Squidians. But Astra keeps messing up, feeling rushed, and ultimately fails when she and the others are captured, allowing Ika to enter the gateway.
Returning to the present, Gwen and Astra have a heartfelt conversation about the reality of the situation. Gwen reminds Astra of her strength and capabilities, just in time for the statue to put itself back together.
While hiding from it, they receive a call from Royal Mother Pearl about Ika's attack on Octokyo. Upon another flashback, Sawtooth, a Sharkicorno, saves the group, and together they enter the gateway.
Ika is in the process of absorbing the star's power but cannot contain it. Using all of their creative forces, Astra creates a powerful pearl that defeats Ika and creates baby Pearl Girl.
Pearl Girl is revealed to be the ultimate talisman. The blast destroys the gateway.
Using her newfound confidence, Astra defeats the statue by creating and using a robot. The Mermicornos new mission is to find the other three Mermicornos.
As for Dark Pearl, she has been reduced to Ika's power source as he continues his reign of terror. She just wants to be free to be as evilly creative as possible, which Ika refuses to allow.
Mermicorno: Starfall episode 8 recap: No Place Like Home
While Astra wants to find Rip Tide, Sunsprite, and Valentina, Gwen reminds her that they should search for Sawtooth too. Astra, however, wants to avoid finding him.
Sawtooth, meanwhile, has been with Ika's Squidians attacking Octokyo, seemingly unhappy and uncertain about the destruction of creativity. This is the perfect opportunity for Dark Pearl to create quakes, creating a new fissure heading towards our unsuspecting Mermicornos.
Luckily for our heroes, the search for three other Mermicornos starts well as Valentina has been hiding within the kingdom's library. She's a red and pink Mermicorno who loves the read and write, has three book nooks, cocoa, and hasn't left the library in two years because she's terrified of the ocean...(would it be wrong for me to say I relate to her? Valentina might be my spirit animal).
As writing is her creative force (same), Astra and her friends want to hear her stories, however, they are far from imaginative or creative as she hasn't left the library. In order to help her overcome her fear, they agree to write books inspired by their own adventures but withholding things that would scare her.
Gwen disagrees with this approach, but each Mermicorno has their turn, starting with Nautique, who uses his experience getting kicked out of the library with Kameko to inspire a noir mystery of who jammed the books. But as things start to get good, Astra interrupts, noting how scared Valentina was becoming.
Gwen gets frustrated with Astra again, wanting to be honest with Valentina about the dangers in the ocean. Squishella tells her story next of a spoiled and fabulous royal princess who has butlers but can also protect her people against a sea beast.
Astra interrupts again, enabling Kameko to go next, telling her story of a superhero who defends Octokyo from Sawtooth. At this point, Gwen has had enough and spills the beans to Valentina.
Upset, Valentina transports them outside the library, where the constant quakes created by Dark Pearl begin to rumble throughout the kingdom. Worried about Valentina, they enter the library finding it on the verge of collapsing.
Valentina, still too afraid to leave, finds her strength by writing down how they escape. Together, they escape through a portal to the courtyard.
Now, braver than ever before Valentina is ready to leave with the Mermicornos.
Mermicorno: Starfall season 2 episodes 7 and 8 review
Yay, more Mermicornos have arrived! I'm very excited to see what Rip Tide and Sunsprite are like!
First impressions of Valentina are that I like her, while also realizing she's a lot like me. I still see myself in Astra, but Valentina is a much closer match.
I thought it was incredibly sweet that the Mermicornos were persistent in helping her overcome her fears, even if they disagreed on how to go about it. The dilemma is understandable as it teaches the importance of facing your fears, but sometimes it's easier to do when you have someone to do it with you.
Backtracking a bit, I loved that we finally got more answers as to what happened to the Mermicorno kingdom, who Princess Hanna was, and how Pearl Girl was created. As a mother of two little ones, Pearl Girl's birth really tugged at my heartstrings.
So far, these were my favorite episodes of season 2, as we learned so much about the lore of Mermicornos and started off with timid and introverted Valentina. I am practically screaming at the screen for Sawtooth to finally ditch Ika and join the Mermicornos.
But realistically, Ika is getting awfully close to the final star from the starfall, and I'm worried about what it could mean for Royal Mother Pearl, Barb, and the sea citizens. Mermicorno: Starfall hasn't shied away from the villains seizing victory, but at the same time, I can't see something worse occurring.
Stream Mermicorno: Starfall season 2 on HBO MAX.