#edibleyaps

So. I have a lot of thoughts about this one! I think I should start off on a more positive note, just bc I know a Lot of criticism has already been thrown out regarding this episode. and bc it makes me look slightly less deranged for the things i have to say later!

The art was great as always, though I will say they're still kinda weird about constantly switching between the two designs for Pure Vanilla . I know it was given an in lore explanation but it does feel like half the time they just don't wanna draw that complex ass design (i.e last episode where he for some reason changes back to base PV only when being dropped by smilk) . I loved how everything looked, the art never really disappoints for me. :)

I loved seeing the Avatar of Destiny again! My #1 favorite in the entire game finally having lore relevance, even if minimal, is great to see and I love that it actually contributed to the fight against Dark Enchantress. (this section seems normal but i was fangirl kicking my feet upon seeing it leave the rift with white lily <3)

I'm glad they were able to tie a lot of loose plot points together (the cookies of darkness, the dough cookies, the ultimate cookie [kinda i still have thoughts on this], the order, etc.) Though I do fear this episode continued to have the same pacing problems that White Lily / Silent Salt's episodes had, but that's something for me to bitch about later.

unfortunately most of my criticisms relate to the story :,( which while i DID enjoy watching it . felt very messy.

EVERYTHING BELOW THIS POINT IS ME BITCHING!!! VIEWER BEWARE.

I feel as though this is more so a problem with how stories are shown in CRK as a whole, rather than just this episode, but it feels like nothing really had time to breathe. The ancients can't move and then immediately GingerBrave is in the oven with the Ultimate Cookie, but now we're actually watching Espresso deal with the Cookies of Darkness, but now we're finally getting White Lily . While I do get that obviously it's a major battle it's going to be fast-paced, this has kind of been noticeable in a Lot of recent Beast Yeast episodes. I really just wish plot points had more time to establish themselves and be fleshed out.

Some things felt like they needed a lot more time to build up and be established and simply weren't. Red Velvet leaving the Cookies of Darkness for example, outside of his occasional cameo the last two episodes he has not been relevant to the main story since 2021. So while yes, as a Red Velvet fan I'm happy to see him in lore! It feels pointless. His connection to Dark Enchantress IS !!! important and him cutting ties shows a lot, but it feels very underbaked only being developed suddenly over 3 cameos in episodes that dropped almost 5 years after his last appearance.

I feel the same way about the Avatar of Destiny, though for different reasons. We only JUST got lore about it a few months ago before it become completely irrelevant, only for it to appear in this episode just to fight Dark Enchantress and die. Notably (at least to me) the Avatar of Destiny also acts nothing like it did during Premonition of Doom!! which is rather unfortunate imo.

It was shown to be capable of planning and thought, and when we first see it in the rift during the flashbacks it's capable of speech. But this episode really just reduced it down to a mindless agony amalgam that only ever roared and screeched. I get that this may have been their intentions from the start, but it feels like a major step down from its earlier portrayal.

It did, in a way, feel like they were trying to write out a lot of their loose ends. Red Velvet? One of Dark Enchantress Cookie's first followers? Left the CoD and is on his own. The Avatar of Destiny? Completely dead (which while I'm fine with i wish it was given a lot more build up to feel worth it :,( ) . The Beasts (minus smilk)? Dead . or at least heavily implied to be until proven otherwise. White Lily? Dead. because why not…

White Lily's sacrifice is just saddening. I may have misinterpreted, but it feels as though it goes against a lot of things established during her and Silent Salt's episodes. She went through so much to grow and accept all parts of herself, including the parts that Are bad, the parts that Made Dark Enchantress. But here, she just. Kills Herself. It feels like all the character development she went through was thrown away in favor of a sad scene between her and Pure Vanilla. which while yes!!! it was beautiful!! it feels. out of place. it goes against everything she had been working towards and feels like the opposite of what her entire arc had been working towards.

There's nothing wrong with tragedy in stories, I love tragedy in stories! But I think the execution here was very poorly done.