We’ll take things one day at a time.

Amity: Hola, patata.

Luz: Did you just call me a sweet potato?

Amity: Yes, is that not a term of endearment? I’m still figuring out this human language book from Gus.

Luz: Aw, Amity, you’re the sweet potato!

These two are too adorable. By the way, Google Translate says that “patata” is just another word for “potato” (normally translated as “papa”), but I trust this show over Google.

Amity: So, did that Titan Blood ever come in handy?

Willow: Did you finish building the door?

Gus: Did you visit your mom? Does she know about high fives, too?

Camila: Promise me. When you come home, you’ll stay with me, and you’ll never go back to that place!

Luz: Haven’t used the door yet. Waiting for a good moment, you know? Later, taters!

Notably, this was not actually what her mom said last episode – she was more upset about the role she might have played in pushing Luz away, and just wanted her to promise she wouldn’t run away again, not necessarily that she never wanted Luz to return to the Boiling Isles. But this is an important distinction precisely because she remembers it differently, because that’s what she thinks she promised, and therefore what she feels she owes to her mom. Luz actually tried to make a video for her mom showing the beauty of magic and the demon realm in general (naturally, it was ruined at every turn by the demon realm just being its weird and nasty self), which only made her more despondent.

Then we get to the main event of the episode: The Coven Day Parade.

Kikimora: Mother, please…no, I’m not seeing anyone! Yes, I am standing up straight. Listen, I can’t come home! If I don’t lead this parade, Belos will end my- no, of course I miss everyone- what? I can’t choose! Hello? Mother?

And of course Luz is gonna project all of her mommy issues onto Kiki.

But first, Luz discovers Eda’s thing for Raine (and the fact that Eda had them followed after they were captured).

Eda: According to this, Raine is still working with the Emperor’s Coven, which- doesn’t make sense! They were seen as a traitor.

Luz: Maybe you can ask them about it.

Raine is supposed to be at the parade, too, and Luz feels that Kikimora might actually work with them to get Eda close to Raine.

Kikimora: And then- she said if I can’t make it back for the family reunion, I’d be banished from Palm Stings and the family home! But I’ve failed too many missions, and if I leave my job now, I’ll be banished from my life!

Luz: There you go. It’s gonna be okay. Maybe there’s a way we can help each other out.

Eda: Are you out of your mind? Kikimora nearly turned me into stone, she attacked you back in Latissa, and she didn’t blink when your girlfriend was thrown down a pit. Ooh, she is bad! And not the hot kind of bad.

Luz: But this could be your way to talk to Raine! Isn’t it worth the risk?

Eda: Maybe…but what are you getting out of this?

Luz: I’m…just a sucker for romantic reunions?

Eda makes a fair point here – Kiki’s done tons of bad stuff over the course of the show, but never to Luz directly. It seems like Luz might perceive her more as an antagonist to Hunter than anything else, and that’s outweighed at the moment by their “shared” family struggles.

Luz: Worry not, Kikimora. We’re gonna help you. By kidnapping you and Raine!

I love all of these expressions.

Anyhow, this is as good a time as any to discuss the title. “Follies” can, of course, refer to acts of foolishness (which certainly does describe some of the actions over the course of the episode), but it may also be a reference to the Ziegfeld Follies, elaborate musical productions that were a sort of precursor to Broadway shows.

Their plan would certainly qualify as an elaborate production!

Luz: When Kikimora sends off the guards to investigate, that’s when Eda and I will obscure the stage and whisk her and Raine away. The coven can’t banish Kiki if she’s missing. She’ll get the best of both worlds! She’ll set an example for us all! Um, I mean, Eda gets to talk to Raine, it’s romantic.

Eda: Oh, it’s not that romantic…

Hooty: Witch, this is peak of Mount Romance!

It’s a good thing Hooty’s here to play up the romance, otherwise someone (most likely Eda) might notice how terribly invested Luz is in Kiki’s life.

Meanwhile, Amity is getting suspicious of Luz’s story, so she visits Willow to talk it out.

Amity: Uh, hey, Willow. It’s, uh, been a while since I came here, on my own…

Willow: Yeah, I guess it has. Are you okay?

Amity: So, Luz’s been acting super weird, and I think she’s lying about her trip to the human realm, and she left her foom…von? Ugh, her thingy at school, and [scream into pillow].

Willow: You need to slow down for me.

Amity: Luz says she hasn’t been to the human realm, but I just get the feeling that she’s lying. And I can find out the truth by watching this! But I’m not gonna invade her privacy like that. Would you?

So Amity’s trying to decide whether or not to watch the video Luz just made for her mom (not that she could send it to her if she wanted to…), but Willow isn’t quick to dole out advice.

Willow: Listen, Blight. If you want my advice, there’s something you have to do for me first. Do you still know how to braid hair?

These two are still sweet together, and I’m happy they can be friends again.

Meanwhile, surprisingly, Raine and Kiki are bonding over their shared loathing of public appearances.

Raine: You know I hate these things. Talking to people. Waving to people. People. Ugh! But I’m just happy to do my part.

Kiki: You seem so much more...calm than before.

Terra: Oh, why wouldn’t they be? They were sick for a while, but thanks to me, they’re good as new.

So, it appears that Raine was only welcomed back into the fold after some intense brainwashing, courtesy of Terra, the Head Witch of the Plant Coven. Honestly, between her and Willow, plant magic might prove to be one of the most powerful tracks.

Kiki’s driving Raine’s float, so one magical smoke bomb works for both of them. And surprisingly, it all goes down rather smoothly despite a few hiccups.

But that doesn’t mean it all ends as they want it to.

Raine: Eda, what are you doing here?

Eda: I had to make sure you were okay after that fight with Darius and Eber.

Raine: What fight?

Eda: It was just a few weeks ago. I was with you.

Raine: Eda, I spent the last month sick in bed. And we…we haven’t spoken in years. Listen, I don’t know what you want with me, but I’m head of a coven now, and I can’t associate with wild witches anymore. So move aside.

Eda: No. I’m not leaving until I get through to you.

Meanwhile, Terra’s going after Kikimora, and they only escape with an assist from Amity. Evidently Willow encouraged her to just talk to Luz, which worked out well in more ways than one.

Terra: What a shame that Kikimora would disappear, and right before her promotion. All the missions she would’ve led, the shiny new badge, respect…oh well. Guess we’ll have to find someone else!

Raine: Why don’t you just leave me alone! For old time’s sake, I’ll give you one last chance. Move. Please. […] Go home. Maybe travel for a bit. Just don’t contact me again. I work for the Emperor, after all.

They let her escape, but they only seem to care about their job now (which would be, ya know, expected after brainwashing, but of course Eda hoped they’d remember her).

Luz: Isn’t it great? You can see everyone at the reunion, and when you return you can brag about your daring escape! You’re walking proof that you don’t have to choose between worlds!

Kiki: You’ve been such a help to me, human. You really are a kind person. And an utter fool! […] Palm Stings can burn for all I care! You heard Terra, they want to promote me! Me!

Amity: She could have been lying.

Kiki: That’s a risk I’m willing to take. Maybe as a thank you, I can give Belos a few gifts. A troublemaking human, and- ah, you’re the little firestarter from Eclipse Lake.

This is quite possibly the worst outcome for Luz. Not only did Kiki betray her, but she did it because she valued her ambitions above her family, which is exactly what Luz has been struggling with this whole episode. She feels like her ambition to become a witch is something her mom doesn’t want for her, so just staying in the Boiling Isles with her friends and pursuing her dream feels like betraying her family (even if that’s certainly not what her mom meant).

But they’re learning how to combine their powers and THESE TWO!

Surprisingly, Terra intervenes before the fight can get too serious.

Terra: Oh, Kiki. Try not to get ahead of yourself. The Emperor has a great many plans, but causing a riot by hurting a couple of children is not one of them.

Kiki: Terra! Shouldn’t you be babysitting the bard?

Terra: I wasn’t sent to watch over Raine. I was sent here to watch over you. The promotion is real. You just had to prove your dedication.

[…]

Kiki: So, what’s the promotion? Who’s under my command? What do I get?

Terra: You get…to live.

It’s small consolation that Kiki will just be miserable in her job, especially given the implication that Raine is so far gone, the Emperor isn’t even worried about them anymore. Speaking of…

Terra: The Emperor says he’s looking forward to meeting you, human. Until then, happy Coven Day.

Amity: Maybe…you can tell me about this? Don’t worry, I haven’t watched it. But you did finish the portal door. You did see your mom. And it looks like it didn’t go well.

Luz: I’m sorry.

Amity: I know this situation is crazy, and I’m okay taking things one day at a time. But I can’t help if I don’t know what’s going on.

Luz: You just seemed so hopeful. You were even learning Spanish! And I thought if I helped Kikimora, maybe there’d be hope for me.

Amity: Tell me what happened.

Love to see communication in a relationship!

But yeah, this was a bit of a disaster.

And the day ends with an address from Belos, which certainly wouldn’t help lighten the mood.

Belos: Thank you, everyone. Together we are perfecting the coven system, as the Titan intended. The Day of Unity will be in exactly one month, when the tide is at its lowest, and the moon obscures the sun. At that time, we will journey to the head of the isles, and then, the worthy shall inherit a utopia, free of wild magic.

Then he tops it all off by publicly unmasking for the first time (which isn’t really a shock to anyone, it mostly seems to be about garnering sympathy).

Amity: Is Belos planning something? And why did he say he’s gonna meet you again? Didn’t you already meet? What else don’t I know? What’s gonna happen?

Luz: I-I’m not sure. For now, we’ll take things one day at a time.

Until next time…