10. "Rainy Day Memories" Episode Review (GREAT)
"You wanna help your dad. You wanna see if you can save the Fairy Woods together. I get as much of it as I can. You can't hide this from a friend." - Parsley, talking to Thyme at the beginning of the episode
"I have stuff to do too! But unlike some people, I don't feel the need to announce it!" - Amaryllis, wanting Snapdragon's attention by (hypocritically) announcing her intention of leaving
"Imagine, sad Sage, all her embarrassing memories of wearing dumb hats and being boring and stuff - I don't know - are out in the open. Who will she confide to but the friend who knows her best?" - Amaryllis, manipulating Rosemary into accepting her plan
"Ok, yes! It looks bad! If anyone asks, it was just homework!" - Amaryllis, after the memory spell backfires on her and Rosemary
What could have been my least favorite episode of the show is actually not. In fact, it is my absolute favorite of the series.
The color palette of "Rainy Day Memories" is darker, to tell a darker story, much like a certain Lolirock episode; and the weather reflects the dark period of time between, or among the girls. Despite how different the episode is from the rest of the show, it maintains the show's identity very well.
Every element of the plot falls into place due to the events of previous episodes. Having a strong adherence to continuity, these include Amaryllis losing Zinnia as her roommate, Thyme attempting to contact her father about the healing waters, and most importantly, the rift between Rosemary and Sage.
It also has the best cold opening of the series. Aside from establishing the B plot while introducing the A plot; Rosemary, and by extension, her voice actress, is good at spooky storytelling. This sets up the atmosphere of the B plot.
As for the A plot, Amaryllis is the deuteragonist, despite previously being either a secondary character or an antagonist. By doing this, the episode is all the more unique; and it doesn't stop there. Slimeboy and Parnelle are also important to the plot as they help her and Rosemary with their plan.
Amaryllis is already an entertaining character, and because this is her most significant episode in the series, she has more screentime here. If she is one of your favorite characters, then I highly recommend this episode.
Despite her' bad intentions, she is ironically helpful to Rosemary; albeit by manipulating her into using a memory spell on Sage. However, because Rosemary refuses to go along with her plan, at the last second, the spell backfires on them. Funnily enough, this causes all of their most embarrassing memories to leak out to the school.
Their hijink goes completely wrong, and as Parnelle says, it is "poetic justice." While the other students are laughing hysterically at them, Amaryllis and Rosemary have to capture their memories and seal them in bottles.
When a memory of young Rosemary runs off crying, Sage finds her, as well as Rosemary herself. Sympathizing with young Rose, Sage finally listens to Rosemary apologize to her. Afterwards, they reconcile; and funnily enough, Amaryllis' plan technically worked out in the end while simultaneously keeping Sage safe. Amaryllis herself reconciles with Snapdragon.
As for the B plot, it is good in its own right. Thyme seeks to contact her father about the healing waters in order to save the Fairy Woods. Unlike her mother, he is the one parent that she respects.
This is best seen in the flashback, which also shows who Thyme was when she was younger. Her eagerness to go to the archery course exemplifies her innocence, as well as how energetic she was. She was much happier than she is in the present, and difference between her younger and older self is striking, but fascinating.
Despite Parsley volunteering to help her, Thyme only considers her a roommate, and not a friend. Parsley however, tags along with her anyways and risks death in order to help her out. This is another reason why she is my favorite character of the show.
When Thyme inadvertently destroys the salt circle, they end up in a fight against the demon and it is tense. While she failed to contact her father, she and Parsley at least work together to kill it. In the process, they become closer as roommates, in the same vain as Rosemary and Sage.
There are only three issues I have with the episode. Even though Rosemary and her group use bottles to "capture" their memories, this is actually unnecessary. It would be easier, and more entertaining if Rosemary and Amaryllis smashed all memories. After all, Olive throws her book at young Rosemary and she disappears.
My other gripe is a considerable gap of time between Thyme summoning the demon and when the demon attacks. It gives the impression that she and Parsley were standing and waiting for him to move. This is due to the A plot going on for too long.
Rosemary also should not have been the one to apologize. Even though she bravely went after Olive in the previous episode, Sage holds a grudge against her for two weeks.
And one minor issue is how the demon, who is part mist, bleeds when Thyme shoots an arrow at him. The blood looks bad, and I must also mention that Parsley uses her hammer to slice his arm off, which should not happen unless she had an axe.
But overall, I love how everything about the show coalesces into one good episode that will leave you entertained. If you haven't seen the rain, you're missing out.
Have you ever seen the rain?
previous episode review: Festival of Fall
next episode review: Scypith