Winx Club Review: Shrine of the Green Dragon

Episode Review of Winx Club Season 06 Episode 09: Shrine of the Green Dragon



Rating:

Summary

After renting (stealing) those hot air balloons in Egypt, the Winx and the others are flying over the Great Wall of China. I still say it's illogical to fly all the way there in hot air balloons to China from Egypt. I mean, yes, you technically can but it will take several weeks, and they could have just used magic to make the balloons go faster, but wouldn't teleporting be easier? I mean if you're fairies using magic to make your balloons travel thousands of miles faster, you're going to be freezing cold, especially wearing those dessert outfits! In any case, the Pixies are messing around on Daphne's balloon, causing it to shake. A sudden gust of wind hits them, causing her balloon to shake and bump into the disguided Trix's balloons. Daphne managed to stabilized them with a water spell. Seriously? How does that even work? Shouldn't it be a wind/air spell? You're in the air in hot air balloons! How is water related? And don't say that there's water molecules in the air because Daphne used the same thing back in Egypt, and considering how hot it is there, I doubt there's much water molecules around!

Anyway, Bloom reads through the diary, whom they found out belongs to the fairy godmother, Eldora, and finds something about the "Shrine of the Green Dragon." They try to go higher to get a better view, but it got colder. So Stella decided to give them all hot-air-balloons-inspired jackets. Either this is another attempt of poor comedy when it comes to the dangerous Stella couture, or Nickbow is trying to show parents that the Winx are not skinny. After another fashion fixed, they landed in a nearby town close to the Great Wall.

The Trix are getting sick of playing sweet little fairies accompanying the Winx, but Icy tells her sisters to suck it up until they get the diary. They enter a local restaurant and Daphne tries to ask the waiter/chef about the shrine, but he ignores her need and thought her and the others as customers instead. Stella doesn't mind because that means she gets another chance to eat and the others decided to join her for some lunch before they continue their search. Oh, look parents! The Winx are eating instead of watching their skinny weights! While it does make me hungry, I will tell you guys that I am literally sick of eating Chinese food after my tour trip to New York and the East Coast last week. I swear, I will never eat Chinese, American, Italian, or pretty much anything else, save for a very boring and simple mean, for a few months.

But, unbeknownst to the Winx, the Trix spiked their dumplings with a sleeping spell...and no other customers in the restaurant notice?! Eldora's diary is now free for the taking! Fortunately, the Pixies were outside watching over the balloons before the delicious smell enticed them to go inside. They caught the "freshman fairies" in the act and Piff, being the Pixie of Sweet Dreams, countered the spell while the others brawled against the Trix. The Winx woke up and we could have had another great battle, but get this...the Trix turned tail and retreat. Wait, what?!

The Winx continued their search. Thankful for saving his restaurant, the chef showed them where Lu Wei, the last Dragon Tamer of China, lives. He must have known Eldora since she mentioned him a few times in her diary so the Winx went up to his mountain to speak, but Lu Wei (voiced by Sam Riegel) doesn't want to talk to them! Sweet. And no, the Oblivious Prattler isn't the only one who thinks that Lu Wei doesn't look Chinese. He does looked a bit like Codatorta. C'mon, Rainbow. You made some of those people in Egypt looked Egyptians and that Chinese restaurant owner Chinese...why not Lu Wei?

Back at Cloud Tower, Icy bitches about Stormy blowing their cover and not defeating the Winx. Icy, Stormy may have blown your covers, but it was you who suggested that you retreat before even battling the Winx! But Darcy reminds her that they know where the Winx are going and ordered Selina to summon more creatures. This time, she summoned the Green Dragons of China! Daphne is surprised, seeing that Chinese dragons are supposed to be friendly. Good job, Nickbow, you've done your research. Unlike western dragons which are often predicted as evil creatures that hoards treasures, pillage kingdoms, and kidnap princesses, Asian cultures viewed dragons as the opposite. To them, dragons are symbols of luck, power, and even royalty! They brought rain to the people and are wise, powerful, and benevolent creatures. But like the TreeAnts, Selina twisted them to do her evil bidding. The Winx transformed, but their spells miss because these creatures are too fast! Daphne tells them to slow the dragons down. Oh, sure! Like I couldn't have thought of that! But we do get to see Aisha trapping one in a Morphix Net and Flora snagging on in vines. Unfortunately, it didn't last long because you can't tie Chinese dragons down with such mortal methods!

Lu Wei shows up, riding on a red dragon. Unfortunately, we don't get to see him do much of anything except getting knocked off and saved by the Pixies. He noticed that these dragons are missing the Pearls of Restraint in their collars. Without them, they can't be tamed...okay...with that, the battle turned into a scavenger hunt and a pretty easy one. Oh, c'mon! I want to see more action! Last time Bloom has faced one, she barely survived. These guys are kinda easy to beat. But it wasn't that bad. I guess I'm glad to see Bloom unable to control Chinese Dragons since they're a bit different than the kinds that breaths fire like Bloom's power.

They tamed the dragons and unlike other creatures in Selina's book, they don't disappear or go back to where they came from. A nice change in story. Lu Wei thanks the Winx and apologized for not trusting them earlier. Unfortunately, he has no idea where Eldora is now, but gave them a flower and tells them that Eldora retired to a place surrounded by it. But even Flora is stumped on what kind of flower this is. Time to go back to Alfea and do some research. The episode closed with the Winx and Lu Wei looking on at the happy four dragons dancing in the sky above their heads.

Overall Thought

Overall, I kinda liked this episode. I’ve already been to China a few years ago. I climbed the Great Wall near Beijing, ate some dumplings (which were too oily and greasy for me that I had to drink 5 cups of tea to wash it all down). I was born in the Year of the Dragon as well (which made my little brother jealous since he loves dragons)…so yes, this episode was a treat for me. Like Egypt, I like seeing the Winx learning about Earth’s cultures other than their own. I didn’t really mind the pearl hunt that much, and the design of these Chinese dragons were awesome. I’m glad that they did get the part about “Chinese dragons are man’s friends” correct. In my culture, dragons are revered as emperors and great celestial beings, not destructive demons. I could probably forgive Bloom for not being able to tame these dragons. I’m sorry but Asian dragons DON’T breathe fire…that’s just westerners’ misconception so these dragons would naturally have no affiliation or any connection with Bloom’s Dragon Fire. Asian dragons are mostly water creatures as they are connected to rain and agriculture for farmers. (But it would be cool if they could breath water and fire.)

While the episode wasn't bad, and I thought it was a little bit better than the previous, it still wasn't great. I think it could have been a lot better, but so many potentials wasted. I mean, c'mon! The Trix could have handled the Winx right then and there but Icy decided to retreat. Seriously?! What happened to the powerful and scary Trix in season one? I agree with Tecna in that "It's not like them to run without a fight". The dialogues weren't terrible, but I wished they stop making the Winx recapping. We've seen the previous episodes. We know that you're looking for Eldora in order to learn how to lock the Legendarium. We don't need you to remind us every episodes!

Overall, a fun episode with great nods to Chinese culture, but could have been a lot better. I'll take Chinese dragons over mummies any day!


Stray Observation

The Pixies are playing Tarzan and George of the Jungle on the balloons. LOL

How is the element of Water in associate with protecting you in the air?!

"A big adventure for freshmen"? Aisha, your friends had bigger adventures when they were in freshmen year!

Okay, the Trix trying their best to smile at the Winx is hilarious. I swear, Stormy/Carol is about to twitch an eye!

Bloom, you practically abandoned all of your friends on Earth to go to Alfea!

Oh look, parents! The Winx ARE EATING! No, I'm not letting it go.

Wait...is that Dee Bradley Baker as the chef?!

Seriously? Nobody else in the restaurant notice the sleeping fairies and three girls hovering over them?!

A storm on storm battle between Stormy and Cherie? Cool.

What the hell?! The Trix just left? Oh, c'mon! Where's the season one Trix?

Wait, the chef has heard of Lu Wei but never heard of the Shrine of the Green Dragon, the place where Lu Wei lives?

Enough with the recap, just get going!

Even Stella's charm can't stop Le Wui from slamming the door in their faces.

Icy, Stormy may have blown your covers, but you were the one who told them to retreat!

Okay, the design of the Green Dragons is pretty cool!

Daphne: "According to Chinese traditions, they're [dragons] said to be friendly creatures!" Bravo, Rainbow, you've done your research!

Aisha's Morphix Net and Tecna's Organic Cube are pretty cool.

Seriously? Lu Wei, the dragon tamer gets easily knocked off by dragons? Wait...how did Bloom not recognized him earlier? There was a picture of him in Eldora's diary!

Congrats, Winx, you've become dragon tamers...by placing pearls on their collars? Well, that was easy.

Glad to see that Bloom can't control these dragons since Chinese dragons are different than the ones that Bloom represents.

The flower's green leaves make it look like a weed instead of a flower.