I'm imagining episodes for if Tangled had continued but they started doing basic sitcom plots for episodes instead. [If this gets enough notes I might just write a bunch of fanfics based on these *hint hint*] Consider:
Season premiere begins with a Eugene narration explaining that this is after happily ever after, Raps and Eugene have been married just a couple months, and everything would be going back to normal, except that their friends are anything but normal. It cuts to Rapunzel's paintings of Pascal and Max trying to retrieve the rings like in the tangled short, Lance, Kiera, and Catalina trying to decorate the wedding cake, and Varian and Ruddiger having firework antics. Then it cuts to Raps' room, which has much of Eugene's stuff in it now, and he's saying how much better this is than his old room and whatnot. Faith is introduced as Rapunzel's handmaiden for real this time, even though we don't see her for the next few episodes and she only shows up when it's relevant to the plot. This epsiode will be a full half hour, meaning they only air it when that's convenient, but it will feature Rapunzel and Eugene trying to figure out how to balance their differing ideals, work responsibilities, and love for each other. However, Raps and Eugene will actually be a B plot- the main focus in this episode will be on Lance learning how to parent and Varian working on some important project.
A "class president" type episode where Rapunzel, Eugene, and the King and Queen go away for a few days but don't actually leave anyone in charge, so Varian and Lance run for "Ruler for the weekend" or something meanwhile something chaotic is going on with Euegne trying to impress Frederick and whatnot. The episode ends with Kiera and Catalina counting the ballots and either there's some big lesson about friendship and they either lead together OR the royal fam gets back before they can lead OR Shorty somehow got elected and there's some callback to the Piggy Bank from Pascal's episode.
An episode where there's this little girl (whose working name is Hensu) that Rapunzel meets who wears goggles and pigtails and has a red stripe in her hair and a dress that looks similar to Varian's apron and she's his biggest fan and Raps introduces her to him and he's like "uh okay but Rapunzel I'm not good with kids!" but Rapunzel's already gone by then. Gradually through the episode, Varian realizes she's an evil mastermind but no one believes him because she's so adorable! Ya know, until she tries to use Varian's inventions to take over Corona. Then they get it. Hensu also has an animal sidekick who Ruddiger falls for in a comical animal way, and it's unknown if the other animal had similar feelings or was just going along for deception's sake.
A basic shop class episode- Varian's failing at only one of the classes that he has, and he has to learn to accept failure. I hate these epsiodes, but I guess Disney loves them (see for example: Smart Guy, Suite Life, and Even Stevens.) Nonetheless, this episode won't even rank above Freebirds in my book unless VERY well done. I should also point out that this is the only episode where Varian is ever mentioned to be in school, and that Hensu is also a student in his class and is passing with flying colors. There is no mention of why she is no longer seen as a villain and is almost just a side character now.
An episode where Rapunzel and Catalina see Angry and Varian sneaking around and Rapunzel gets their entire friend group convinced that they like each other, which doesn't make Catalina as excited as she could be. In the end, we find out they were simply planning Catalina's birthday party. Catalina can't say why she would've been sad if Rapunzel was right about them, but then she smiles at Varian and he smiles at her as fanservice to the Catalarian shippers, and as a potential for a future plot they'll never use. Faith appears once or twice in this episode, and she and Catalina form a close bond.
An epsiode where Rapunzel sets up the ultimate team for a sport (herself, Eugene, Varian Lance, Kiera, and Catalina.) but then finds out the opposing team is Stalyan, Brock Thunderstrike, Hensu, and three random people specifically made up for this episode, or maybe a previous side character who just has two daughters that parallel Kiera and Catalina. It's an intense rivalry, but in the end, I guess it ends like every sports movie ever and they learn friendship is more important than winning any day. This one gets a fun musical number that's the two teams singing about how they'll absolutely crush each other. Also the animal companions get in on it. Pascal, Max, Ruddiger, and Hemuel are ready to win, until they find themselves up against Hulk Lightningclaw, Axel, whatever Hensu's animal sidekick is, and some bird of some kind specifically created for this episode. This will also involve everyone using their unique skills to their advantage- the four former theives use stealth as well as teamwork, Varian uses alchemy to his advantage, and Catalina even uses her wolf powers a little bit.
A sequel mystery episode to the one with Monty and Attlia, and Faith proves to actually be a good mystery solver.
Cassandra returns home for a Christmas episode, but her friendship with Rapunzel makes Faith feel a little left out. Then, they have a secret santa gift exchange following the following list (brought to you by Rapunzel's HAT invention from the lost treasure of Herz De Sonne):
Rapunzel gives a gift to Faith
Faith gives a gift to Cassandra
Cassandra gives a gift to Eugene
Eugene gives a gift Lance
Lance gives a gift to Rapunzel
Catalina gives a gift to Varian
Varian gives a gift to Angry
Angry gives a gift to Catalina
In that episode, Faith is at first a little annoyed with Cass' popularity among the group, and after she gets a present for Cass she either hides it away or destroys it, and doesn't show up for the gift exchange, and everyone goes looking for her. Cass finds her a heartfelt conversation that has a lot to do with feeling like waiting in the wings. Then Rapunzel and the rest of the gang find her, and Rapunzel gives Faith a really sweet gift that's a painting of them together or something, and then Faith does give her gift to Cassandra.
I've mentioned this before, but a father-child bakeoff, in which Lance and Catalina make some amazing thing because they've been cooking together since before she got adopted, Varian and his dad also make something pretty great (baking is just alchemy with extra steps anyways,) Rapunzel and her dad make something that involves fried eggs, ext. The main point of the episode is bonding between Eugene and his dad, because Eugene is bound and determined to win, but his dad is just so chaotic that there's a lot of fighting, but in the end they have a good time, I guess. Kiera and Arianna commentate the event together, since neither of them are allowed to judge due to partiality.
The obligitory seasonal "Animals get character development episode" is one in which they need to solve some kind of mystery together.
An episode where Eugene makes Lance and Varian his deputies and they have to learn to work together despite their differences.
Kiera is peer pressured into throwing a party in the tree house while Lance is away, despite much dismay from Catalina over it. At some point Catalina goes outside to just bs by herself and Varian happens to be stopping by to drop off a book he borrowed from them, and Catalina explains to him her left out feelings and whatnot and it essentially it strengthens her friendship with him and with her sister.
It's Corona Day, where they celebrate the founders of Corona, and as Xavier tells the legend of the founding of Corona, they picture themselves in the settlers' shoes- with flashback-esque scenes of old-timey them in an imaginary reenactment.
Everyone in the gang is cast in a play. While no official plot is discernable or ever stated, it seems to contain dialogue, props, scenery, and costuming from every Disney princess movie in existence except Tangled (though it contains lines from one or two other Disney movies, and their existence in the script makes the fans unofficially cast those movies as Official Disney Princess Lore.) Varian gets cast as the lead, and when Faith literally breaks a leg partway through, Catalina is pressured to take the stage as Varian's leading lady.
An episode where Quirin keeps asking Varian to help him with the harvest and chores and whatnot and Varian keeps brushing him off and doing other important things, until Varian realizes some angst about his mom and the amber and stuff and that his dad just wants to spend more time with him, and in the end they do spend more time together.
Two parter crossover episode with The Owl House. I've never seen Owl House so idk what would happen, but I know the fanbase has overlap, so the studio execs assume the fans would go nuts over it.
Rapunzel and Eugene get into their first real arguement as a married couple which annoys them both because they love each other but are mad at each other still. Their friends try their best to help them, but eventually they start taking sides themselves and everyone gets mad at each other. In the end though, everyone makes up and is happy friends again.
An episode where Varian gives Ruddiger the ability to sing just so they can sing duets together and for reasons I need Ruddiger to be voiced by Ben Fankhauser.
Catalina gets two tickets to a sold out concert or something that both Varian and Kiera want to go to and accidentally promises a ticket to both of them, and then in the end Catalina lets them both go without her and Rapunzel's like "sis, I'm the princess of Corona, I can score you an extra ticket," and then all three of them get to go.
