Zorro the Chronicles episode 16 The Plot

We present Zorro the Chronicles episode 16 The Plot  — plot summary, our subjective review, the episode itself and the list of creators. Don’t forget about the next episode! You’ll find a link to it at the bottom of the page.

Zorro the Chronicles episode 16 The Plot — plot summary

The Chronicles of Zorro episode 16 “The Plot” is another episode where Malapensa plays the biggest role together with Isabella Verdugo. Don Rodrigo throws another party at the hacienda. The reason is to celebrate his new acquisition. He has now 125 acres (over 50 hectares) of land and 1,000 head of cattle. Monasterio congratulates him and boasts about the safest neighborhood in all of California. Diego’s little remark about Zorro causes the officer to severely choke on his wine.

Don Parasol comforts him, which turns into a lively exchange of views. Don Luis promises to build schools and a hospital when he becomes the alcalde. He is opposed by the commandant, who believes that the alcalde isn’t needed at the pueblo at all. He confronts his opinion with the governor, who clearly doesn’t want to choose a side. The embarrassed don Parasol is saved from trouble by Diego, who fantasizes about being mayor in a truly artistic way, which lightens the mood.

(Almost) nobody notices Sergeant Garcia, who shows exceptional sneaking skills while pilfering all the treats from the plates.

Dona Isabella, seemingly eager to see a 100-year-old tree on the property, leads Malapensa outside. On the patio, they are to talk in private, without the risk of being overheard. The power-hungry woman makes an offer he cannot refuse. Don Rodrigo is to help her discredit the captain, and then her husband will have an open path to the office. In case of the senor’s success, she promises him to increase the acreage of the property.

Zorro kidnaps dona Isabella

In the pueblo, Inez and Isabella do shopping together. The de la Vega heirless bargains with the seller, and her companion marvels at these skills Inez acquired while working on the ranch. Diego and Bernardo join them, and the conversation turns to books that didn’t arrive on time. Dona Isabella goes to the next booth while the governor and the sergeant join the group. The idyllic mood of the day is interrupted by Zorro riding into the market at full gallop. The bandit kidnaps senora Verdugo, who calls loudly for help, but her facial expression shows that it’s a staged attack. They disappear before anyone can react.

In the barracks, the captain receives a severe reprimand from Don Parasol, who is more worried about his own safety than the kidnapped woman. However, he threatens that if the senora isn’t found and released by the next day, the entire garrison will go to the salt mine. Gonzales and Garcia are most concerned about this perspective. They’re planning a manhunt, which is also joined by Antonio Ramirez de la Poterna, the fencing master.

Meanwhile, in front of the garrison, don Luis and his friends try to understand the situation. He still thinks his wife to be innocent and fragile, a victim of kidnapping by the man who previously saved senor Verdugo. Inez tries to console him, and Bernardo goes to the toll bar to check the hoof marks. The trail goes all the way to the canyon.

Hunt for Zorro

Monasterio asks volunteers for help with the manhunt. Nobody’s surprised when the missing woman’s husband reports first. Don Alejandro, don Luis Villalonga, Bernardo and Inez also join him. Other inhabitants start to raise their hands, too, and also… Diego! However, half a day passes until they set off. Of course, the sergeant, who takes a last minute snack from the tavern, spends the longest time preparing. He hides it behind his back, and Gonzales’ horse doesn’t hesitate to steal the apple.

The manhunt seems like a sightseeing tour, so Diego and Inez pretend to see a puff of dust at the side of the track, raised by an unknown rider. Everyone thinks it’s worth exploring this area more closely. They split into 4 divisions. Diego lines up next to Garcia and digs his heels into the sides of his horse. As a result, the young man falls from the saddle, and he also drags the sergeant to the ground. A severe shoulder injury will prevent him from playing the guitar for a week, let alone looking for kidnapped Isabella. He returns to the hacienda alone.

Monasterio explores the canyon even after dark. He feels watched and is right because they’re followed by an animal. But the sounds of nature, the shadows in the ravine, and the realization that Zorro is lurking here somewhere really works on the sergeant’s imagination. Don Parasol, who’s in the second group with Ramirez and two soldiers, has similar feelings. But Gonzalez and the fencing master are fearless. Captain’s group hides in an ambush and attacks an oncoming Zorro, who turns out to be the governor. The vision of hard work in the salt mine becomes more and more real.

Dentist, the true kidnapper

Malapensa, who’s in the group with don Luis Villalonga and don Alejandro, goes in the rear, unnoticed. He disconnects from them at the very beginning and goes to the hut, where dona Isabella and Dentist, who previously played the role of the renegade, are waiting for him. After dismissing his subordinate, don Rodrigo assures the senora that the manhunt goes in circles in the desert. He offers her hospitality in his hacienda, which is certainly more comfortable than the hut. The black suit remains inside, draped over the chair.

What they don’t know is that Zorro has followed the kidnapper as directed by Bernardo, and is now watching the hut. He’s surprised to discover their collaboration, and plans a small rendezvous with the searching team.

The soldiers ride, dozing off in their saddles. Garcia’s the last one, so the renegade quietly rides over to him and talks to the sergeant, claiming they’ve taken the wrong direction. Sleepy Garcia continues the conversation until he realizes the identity of the other rider. He almost falls off his horse in awe! 🙂 More precious minutes pass before Monasterio realizes what’s happening, and everyone manages to turn their mounts. The chase continues, but Tornado is far ahead. On the way, Inez, Bernardo and senor Verdugo also join the chase. Zorro leads them straight to the Malapensa hacienda.

Villain or innocent hero?

Dona Isabella plans to hide for a few days and then return and announce that she has escaped. This will certainly not improve the captain’s image, who will be forced to resign from his post. Then don Luis will be able to assume power in Los Angeles with the blessing of governor. However, the toast of the conspirators doesn’t last long, because at the same time Zorro breaks into the building. Unnoticed, he sits down on the couch and doubts the kidnapping aloud. Malapensa summons his subordinates. Unfortunately, one clever dodge from the renegade causes the Dentist and La Rana to collapse unconscious into each other’s arms.

At this point, the soldiers arrive, led by Monasterio and Don Luis. Don Rodrigo and dona Isabella are so surprised that they drop their glasses. They compose themselves enough to go outside. The “kidnapped” senora falls into her husband’s embrace, claiming that Malapensa freed her from the renegade’s hands. Zorro questions the entire plot, and the enraged Verdugo and the host burst into the house with their swords bared. Monasterio would have joined them too, but someone (someone in black clothes) closed the door in his face. The duel ends in a bullfight after a while, and both caballeros land unconscious at the bottom of the basement stairs.

One against all with a little help from the sister

In this moment, the soldiers break down the door, but most of the squad is stuck in the entrance. Only Garcia, the corporal and the captain manage to get inside. Ramirez also wants to join the action, but Bernardo trips him up. Ramirez runs into Don Parasol, the governor runs into the soldiers, and the lancers… unblock the gates. Inez knocks the sword master and two soldiers out with a saddlebag and a well-aimed blow to the back of the head. Bernardo, who enters the hacienda, almost falls victim to it. Another person, don Parasol, is less fortunate.

Zorro’s playing with his opponents like a bullfighter again. Quick exchange of blows ends with disarming Monasterio and the fall of the fighters. Only the sergeant remains on the battlefield. He crawls under the table with a sad face, but the renegade cannot stop himself from decorating his pants with a wide “Z”. The corporal rises up from the floor, but falls down the stairs, and Ramirez takes his place. Meanwhile, the captain and Garcia are looking for a sword. The sergeant is surprised to find Ramirez’s weapon, which has just landed next to him. He picks it up, looks at it, and throws it away, because the commandant ordered to find his sword, after all.

Don Rodrigo and don Luis come out of the basement, and the “Z-signed” Malapensa falls over onto Isabella. The retreating Zorro also throws Garcia on the floor, who, in a horizontal position, finally notices the sword he was looking for on the candelabra.

It was supposed to be quite the opposite!

Next day, a glamorous celebration takes place in the pueblo. The governor gives Monasterio the Condor Medal for freeing dona Isabella and don Rodrigo. The rescued woman profusely thanks her savior. However, after leaving the podium, she promises her partner in crime that this isn’t the end of her intrigues. She speaks completely differently, though, when confiding lovingly to her husband. Diego, who’s standing next to her, sympathizes with her adventure. However, senor Verdugo believes more in a disguise than the lack of Zorro’s honor.

Zorro the Chronicles episode 16 The Plot — review

Episode 16 The Plot serves us motifs we know either from previous episodes of Zorro the Chronicles, or other adaptations of Zorro’s adventures. However, they are spiced up with fresh ideas that make this episode interesting.

Villain turned victim

In the previous episode, Monasterio already looked a bit weak next to Isabella. However, here he was transferred from the role of the villain to the position of… a victim. The cunning senora teams up with Malapensa against the captain. By arranging the woman’s kidnapping by fake Zorro, they want to prove that it isn’t safe in Los Angeles at all, and thus discredit the commander. Isabella hopes that by then nothing will stop her husband from being appointed the alcalde. A hired criminal disguising himself as Zorro is a well-known theme. However, it was very interestingly used by the creators not to ruin the reputation of the renegade, but his enemy.

Hard life of the commandante

I truly feel sorry for Monasterio! He can’t catch Zorro, but do they really have to rub it in like that? 😉 By the way, a very realistic situation: everyone knows that there’s an elusive renegade in a black mask. But only when he kidnaps an eminent citizen and makes the governor afraid, said governor begins to threaten Monasterio and the soldiers that they’ll be sent to the mine. Before that, there was no problem, right? Only when the situation begins to concern him in any way, the governor reacts. The mines also threaten the captain when he’s surprised by don Parasol during his search in the dark. Well, the commandant reacts like an exemplary soldier – he is trying to attack! And what does he get as a reward? A threat to send him to the mine, of course. It’s not easy being in command of Los Angeles!

Triumph, but whose?

Fortunately, the ending makes up for the wrongs done to Monasterio! But despite the captain being triumphant with his pretty order, this episode belongs to women again. Firstly, to dona Isabella, who managed not to arouse anyone’s suspicions except Zorro’s. By the way, she’s also showed her power already at the party. Garcia was cheekily eating from everyone, but only she managed to steal a snack from Garcia! And secondly, to Ines, who knocked out Don Parasol with an accurate (albeit accidental) blow with her purse. As a result, she’s shown the cowardly, vain governor what I think of him.

Zorro the Chronicles episode 16 The plot — YouTube

World premiere: 10.01.2016

Production: Cyber Group Studios
Directed by Olivier Lelardoux, Pierre Sissman
Animation: Nicolas Davoust, Yann Martinat

Voices:
Don Diego/Zorro: Johnny Yong Bosch, Valéry Schatz
Ines: Dorothy Elias-Fahn, Sandra Lou
Monasterio: Jamieson Price, Paul Borne
Demetrio Garcia: Kirk Thornton
Ignacio Gonzalez: Fabrice Fara
Other voices: R. Martin Klein, Kyle McCarley, Colleen O’Shaughnessey, Joe Ochman, Alan Shearman, Keith Silverstein, Anne Yatco, Michel Bedetti, Martin Billany, Bernard Bollet, Lucien Dodge, Richard Epcar, Pascal Casanova, Melora Harte, Vincent de Bouard, Marie-Christine Darah, Jean-Christophe Dollé, Bubba Kuchow, Patrice Dozier, Joey Latsko, Dave Mallow, Karine Foviau, Stéphanie Hédin, Tony Joudrier, Juan Llorca, Patrick Messe, Michel Voletti.