Even though I have spoken enthusiastically about Star vs. The Forces of Evil in the past, I think we can all agree that it could have done some things better. However, if there’s one thing that I think was a missed opportunity, it was the Blood Moon Ball. Some Starco shippers saw it as the moment that decided that the two were meant for each other. Then Season Four’s “Curse of the Blood Moon” seemed to kill it for good. Only, not only did they end up together anyway, but the Blood Moon had nothing to do with it.
While I personally didn’t want Starco to happen because of some soul-binding, I see why some fans would be upset. The show doesn’t even explain how it’s a “curse” that well, making it even more of a letdown. However, a fan going by Blackwolfwrites decided to explore the potential of the blood moon in his own writing. The result is a trio of compelling stories that explore what could have been. This is what I like to call The Blood Moon Trilogy.
Minor Spoiler Warning, though
Sign of the Moon
Author: Blackwolfwrites
Type of Fanfic: AU/Shipping/Drama
First Published: Dec. 31, 2017
Status: Complete (Redux in progress)
Synopsis
Following the events of the first half of Season Three, Star Butterfly’s life is a mess. Her attempts to bring Mewman-Monster equality have stalled, her relationship with Tom is becoming strained, and she just found out that one of her worst enemies may be related to her! Through all these trials, though, she’s had her loyal best friend, Marco, by her side. Their bond, forged through countless adventures, has always been strong, in spite of feelings left unrequited and issues left unsolved.
Then, one fateful mission brings them back to the site of the Blood Moon Ball, and what they experience affirms what they already knew from the start: they’re meant for each other. Finally acknowledging their feelings for each other, the two best friends vow to be together, no matter what Mewni may think of them. They’ve overcome monsters, the Neverzone, St. Olga’s, Toffee, and more; what are some scheming nobles compared to that?
Little do the two realize, there’s a dark conspiracy in play that could decide to the future of Mewni itself…
The Dance of the Stars
First Published: May 21st, 2018
Status: Complete (REDUX to Come)
Synopsis
Two years have passed since the events of Sign of the Moon. Two years since Star and Marco defeated Eclipsa and Meteora and Star became Queen with Marco as her King. In that time, they’ve struggled to change Mewni for the better while dealing with those who seek to maintain the backwards, status quo. Despite everything, though, the pair’s love remains as strong as ever, and it’s about to get even stronger. They’re going to be parents!
Becoming parents is a challenge in and of itself, but to do so while ruling a kingdom at the age of 18 filled with scheming, self-centered nobles trying to block their progress at every chance? That seems like a nightmare. To make things worse, the forces of evil gather in the distance, determined to tear down what the young rulers are working for. Yet Star, Marco, and their friends have faced impossible odds before and come out on top, and with their friends by their side, they vow to do so again: together.
The Dawn of the Sun
First Published: September 8, 2019
Status: Ongoing
Synopsis
Fourteen years have passed since Star and Marco saved Mewni from one of the greatest threats it’s ever faced. Thanks to the efforts of them and their friends, all of Mewni now prospers. Earth and Mewni are now permanently linked, Monsters are no longer treated as outcasts, and most of the backwards traditions of old have been done away with. They’re pretty much the most popular monarchs in Mewni’s history.
Despite all their success, though, the two’s focus remains on being the best parents they can. Now the day’s come for Star to pass on her wand to her oldest children, Andromeda and Orion. With the wand comes the ability to have great fun, but also great responsibility. Andromeda and Orion will have to rely on each other and their family as they begin to lead the next generation of Mewni.
All’s not well, though. Members of the old guard of Mewni stubbornly cling to the past, and deep in the Underworld, dark forces stir. A centuries old promise between Mewni and the Underworld has been broken, and forces from the past threaten to destroy everything Star’s built. It’s up to the original heroes and the next generation to save Mewni from a threat not even the Blood Moon can stop.
Review
In a nutshell, Blackwolf’s Blood Moon trilogy takes Star vs. and injects it with the themes and level of drama found in Game of Thrones. The comedy remains there, but Blackwolf uses the show’s shift to drama and overarching plots to build on what Daron Nefcy made. As a result, he’s able to deal with themes that the show couldn’t dive into as thoroughly, either due to time constraints or the fact that it’s a Disney cartoon.
As themes go, there are three major ones that I’ve found throughout the stories: being able to choose your path and who you love, building on the lore of the show, and the youths challenging the status quo. These each interweave into each other, and only manage to get better as the story progresses.
Each of the show’s cast has to go through a lot of trials and tribulations in order to get what they want. The characters go through plenty of dangerous events that test their resolve. Several times, they almost falter, only to reaffirm the strength they gain from each other. It’s cliche, I know, but it works. Plus, seeing them stick it to the backwards-thinking elites of Mewni is the kind of thing I enjoy seeing. By Dawn, they’ve largely won, but now look poised to deal with a last gasp from the old guard. And the fact that Blackwolf doesn’t guarantee the survival of the main cast worries me!
As for lore, I’m impressed by how creative Blackwolf got with the origin and purpose of the Blood Moon. He comes up with a millenium old mythology surrounding it that connects the entire story together. Given how he had so little to go on makes this even more impressive.
While I do have a few problems with the focus of each story and the choice in villains, I can’t deny that Blackwolf gets better as he goes. As a whole, I think his story’s pretty solid and ties into the show’s history fairly well. I recommend it if you want to see what the show could have been like.
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Categories
Animation, Blog Posts, Fan Works, Star vs. The Forces of Evil, TV Shows