Citadel of Shadow

After rescuing an important ring, the kids take refuge in a cave. Sheila wakes to hear a girl pleading for help. Finding Karina trapped in a prison bubble, Sheila frees her-triggering a reaction from Venger that no one expected. The kids now have a chance to return home, but they need a second ring.

At this point, the show has undeniably taken a darker turn. It's clear they chose to wrap up the series with a tone that's as far from the early, lighter episodes as possible. There's a real depth to this episode, and it delivers yet another classic in this final series.

There's something about Sheila's new friend that doesn't sit right. She may look like a Disney princess, but is her sweetness just skin deep?

Then there's Dungeon Master. I can't fully buy into him as a force for good. He's a little too shady, and his riddles always seem to put the kids in danger. I like that he remains an ambiguous ally, though-it adds a lot of mystery. I wish they'd balanced it out by showing Venger committing a good deed, just to muddy the waters a little.

The revelation about Karina was fantastic, and it tells us as much about Venger as it does her. The show was definitely moving into bolder territory at this point, and Karina's transformation was a standout moment.

Once again, the animation is top-notch. The house at the end of the road looks stunning-beautifully creative and very much in the Disney mould.

8/10.