By Ben Wright (@iamzavagno | www.xgeeks.co.uk)
This review is spoiler-free.
After what felt like an annual helping of tales from Xadia, we’ve had to wait several years for a fourth instalment of The Dragon Prince. So, was it worth the wait?
In terms of the story, this feels more ‘coming of age’ regarding the tone. It is more mature and darker at times, which makes sense, given that as the age of our characters increases, the world around them matures too. The central story feels a lot more focused than in previous seasons, which works in the show’s favour. There are some pacing issues that let the narrative down at times, but for the most part, the main story, subplots and character development elements are primarily positive.
Despite there being a more mature feel to the show, the warmth and humour that made The Dragon Prince so utterly charming in the first place remains. Our characters have undergone so much change and growth. Some relationships have blossomed, others have fractured and it’s how the story addresses these things that is one of the season’s real strong points.
The animation continues in the same style, however, everything just looks slightly better – more polished. As for the soundtrack, the score is once again first-class and works in perfect harmony with the visual elements. The Dragon Prince continues to look and sound great.
As an audience, you will feel a change in the viewing experience, albeit a subtle one. The show is trying to grow beyond the first few seasons and try new things. I can’t fault the ambition, especially when they succeeded, more often than not. Season 4 is very much about growth and healing, and less so the more traditional ‘heroes journey’ trope.
Overall, I think this was very much the case of the show highlighting its intentions for the future and they did it while still being highly entertaining and engaging. The formula is changed, not broken, and for this, I feel fans will appreciate the changes made, while still holding true to the elements we all know and love.
The Dragon Prince comes of age in its fourth season, offering a more focused and mature story, whilst still holding on to all the elements that made us fall in love with the show in the first place.
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