Disenchantment season 1, episode 14 recap: The Lonely Heart Is a Hunter

In episode 114 of Disenchantment, Bean is haunted by a music box and her mother.  Also, King Zøg falls in love with an animal woman.

Previously on Disenchantment, Princess Bean (Abbi Jacobson) got a mixed reception from her father, King Zøg (John DiMaggio), upon returning to Dreamland. Also, Zøg’s lastest ex-wife, Oona (Tress MacNeille), found a new purpose aboard a pirate ship and Leavo the Elf (Maurice LaMarche) unfroze Dreamland with his magic elf blood.

This episode begins with Princess Bean having a cryptic dream of her mother, the deviant Queen Dagmar (Sharon Horgan), complemented with the sounds of a creepy music box. As Bean explores this mystery, King Zøg burns his black book, declaring himself done with women. However, Odval (Maurice LaMarche) has a bunch of women for him, intending to get him back on the market.

Now that Elfo (Nat Faxon) has been resurrected, he heads to Elf Alley. After being slapped around by a few errant elves, he happens to meet Kissy the Elf (Jeny Batten). Interestingly, though, she becomes more interested in Luci (Eric Andre), Bean’s personal demon. Meanwhile, in a nearby enchanted forest, Zøg hunts after a deer who stole his crown.

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Embarrassingly, Zøg also shoots himself in the foot with an arrow. Soon he encounters a strange bear woman, who attacks him. Her name is Ursula (Jeny Batten), a variation on the shapeshifting selkie. When her bearskin is removed, she becomes considerably more human, and Zøg and Ursula promptly put their differences aside and approximate falling in love (though Odval says she’s not up to royal standards due to her uncouth behavior),

Ursula stunted; Bean haunted

The creepy music box is still making Bean restless, and things get stranger when Dagmar seemingly wakes her up (Dagmar appeared to have died earlier in season 1 of Disenchantment, but may very well be alive). Bean also notices a weird message on the wall above the fireplace after Zøg burns portrait of Dagmar. On top of that, Bean uncovers another message while rubbing her back against pillar (inspired by Ursula’s bear-like behavior). She finds a secret passageway, then later throws that pesky music box into the ocean.

Meanwhile, Zøg is decidedly less troubled than his daughter, although he puts Ursula’s bearskin into a treasure chest and hides it (not wanting to lose her if she becomes a wild bear again). Zøg almost proposes to Ursula but returns the bearskin, which she quickly dons and runs off into the wild. Finally, although Luci wants to be in love, Kissy ultimately leaves him, much as Elfo predicted. Was she merely trying to make Elfo jealous?

What are your thoughts on this Disenchantment episode? Let us know in the comments!