The Return of Strongbow

"The Return of Strongbow" is the sixth episode of Tangled: The Series. It premiered on April 28, 2017.

Plot
Eight years prior, Flynn Rider and his partner in crime, Lance Strongbow work together with criminal kingpin, the Baron to raid a royal carriage and manage to steal several valuables. However, they are quickly double crossed by the Baron when his right-hand man, Anthony the Weasel steals everything they acquired under the Baron's orders. Flynn and Lance are left to face the guards themselves. Flynn and Lance managed to escape. In the present day, Eugene and Rapunzel are in town collecting donations to give to the orphanage, but unknown to Rapunzel, Eugene notices a mysterious figure in the crowd following them. During a brief stop back to the castle, Eugene notices the cloaked figure again, believing he is a criminal intending to kidnap Rapunzel. Eugene and Rapunzel attempt to escape, but find the figure blocking every exit. Eugene urges Rapunzel to hide while he confronts the figure, only to discover much to his surprise that it's none other than his childhood best friend and former partner in crime, Lance Strongbow who is quickly knocked unconscious when Rapunzel attacks him from behind. Returning to the castle, Lance is properly introduced to Rapunzel and Cassandra and reacquaints himself with Eugene after years apart. Lance and Eugene reveal their close friendship, revealing themselves as best friends growing up together and considers themselves the only family each other has ever had.

However, Cassandra reveals her suspicions of Lance, believing he has not reformed. While Eugene and Rapunzel defend Lance, Eugene has already realized Lance is up to no good and confronts him regarding his intentions. Lance confesses he needs Eugene's help. Lance reveals that his former cellmate, Oldie stole a great amount of treasure and hidden it away in an underground cave in Corona, but since he will be spending the remaining part of his life in jail, gave Lance a map to directions where the treasure is hidden and have it for himself. Eugene refuses to help, informing Lance his days as a thief are over and has gone back to his birth name. However, Lance manages to convince Eugene to help, claiming that getting the treasure is his chance to reform and start anew and assures it's a victimless crime since the treasure doesn't belong to anyone. Reluctantly, Eugene decides to help Lance, but on the strict condition that Lance doesn't inform anyone of their plan. Meanwhile, Cassandra reveals more of her suspicions of Lance to Rapunzel and soon Rapunzel begins to question Lance's return and intentions.

In his bedroom, Eugene is making his preparations to help Lance, but quickly hides his belongings away when Rapunzel enters his room. Nervously, Eugene manages to hide the truth from Rapunzel when she reveals Cassandra's suspicions of Lance. Rapunzel is relieved and assures she trusts Eugene, but admits her growing worries and doubts of Lance. Eugene assures Rapunzel and they share a kiss goodnight, but shortly after she leaves, Lance appears outside the window, secretly calling out to Eugene. Lance and Eugene leave to retrieve the treasure, but Eugene shows a great amount of guilt and remorse for lying to Rapunzel.

Later, Eugene and Lance arrive at the underground cave and after breaking into the entrance, Eugene discovers much to his shock it's actually a basement filled with a variety amount of treasure. Eugene is angered of Lance lying to him who confesses he lied to Eugene, knowing he'd never come along otherwise and further confesses the owner of the basement is revealed to be none other than their former criminal partner, the Baron. Overall it's revealed that Lance's true motive for the heist was to seek revenge against the Baron for double-crossing him and Eugene all those years ago and wants to settle the score by taking his own treasure from him. Lance and Eugene prepare to leave, only to find the Baron's henchmen having found their exit. Eugene and Lance manage to sneak out of the Baron's home and run off into the woods. Meanwhile back at the castle, Rapunzel goes to visit Lance, but find both him and Eugene missing and goes with Cassandra to search for them.

In the forest, Lance is delighted of the amount of treasure they managed to steal from the Baron. However, Eugene is greatly angered by Lance's actions, seeing not only Lance lied to him, but took advantage of his loyalty and decides to end their friendship after Lance's deceitful and dishonest actions. Lance is surprised as to how money has apparently truly changed him. Eugene assures he truly has changed into a better person, but corrects Lance that money had nothing to do with the change him, when infact Rapunzel helped changed for the better. However, they are interrupted when Eugene hears Rapunzel and upon noticing her and Cassandra nearby, hides away the stolen treasure.

Rapunzel and Cassandra question Eugene and Lance about their actions and while Eugene attempts to hide the truth, Cassandra becomes even more suspicious, discovering a ring from the stolen loot. Rapunzel confronts Eugene about the ring's origins, but Lance steps in and lies to Rapunzel and Cassandra, claiming it belonged to their former mother figure nanny from the orphanage they grew up. Lance further lies, claiming they hidden the ring away in an Oak tree and promised whoever found true love first would give the ring to their special someone. Rapunzel is touched and flattered, but Eugene continues to feel even more guilt of his actions and lying to Rapunzel. Returning to the castle, Rapunzel notices the crest of Corona on the ring and believes the owner must have originated from Corona. However, upon closer inspection of the ring, Eugene finally remembers the identity of it's true owner, recalling it originally belonged to Rapunzel's mother and his future mother in law, Queen Arianna.

Back at the castle in his bedroom, Eugene is summarising the events and possibilities of the recent events regarding the ring, realising once Queen Arianna sees Rapunzel wearing the ring, she will immediately learn he was responsible for the carriage robbery. Eugene also realizes that if he tries to ask Rapunzel to return the ring, she will also realize the truth that he previously lied to her. Eugene ultimately realizes that no matter the outcome, the truth will be revealed and both Rapunzel and Queen Arianna will be devastated and disappointed with him. With no other options left, Eugene decides to steal back the ring, before Rapunzel and Queen Arianna learn the truth. However, Lance refuses to help Eugene steal back the ring, but when Eugene threatens to confess the truth and turn themselves in for their past and present crimes, Lance agrees to help.

Eugene and Lance disguise themselves and sneak into Rapunzel's bedroom and managed to remove the ring, but accidentally awaken both Pascal and Rapunzel in the process. They try escape until they are stopped by Cassandra who quickly defeats Lance. Eugene attempts to sneak away until Rapunzel arrives and hits him with her frying pan and upon doing so learns the thieves to be Eugene and Lance. In Rapunzel's bedroom, Eugene and Lance have finally confessed the truth about everything, leaving Rapunzel furious. Eugene begins to apologize and begins to take full responsibility until Lance speaks up and finally owns up to his mistakes. Lance admits his wrong doings in taking advantage of both Eugene and their friendship and truly and genuinely apologizes for his actions and lies.

Eugene decides the right thing now is to confess the truth to Queen Arianna. Rapunzel begins to reprimand Eugene, revealing his actions to be deceitful and he should confess, but refuses to let him do so. Rapunzel assures her love and forgiveness to Eugene, but is unsure if her parents will forgive him and begins to devise a plan to secretly return the ring. However, refusing Rapunzel to get involved or in trouble because of his past actions, Eugene assures he isn't going to handle the situation as Flynn Rider, but as Eugene Fitzherbert, meaning he handle the situation the right way and accept the consequences of his actions no matter what they maybe.

The next day in the throne room, Eugene has confessed the truth to Queen Arianna and returns her ring. Queen Arianna is appreciative about Eugene's honesty, but admits despite the robbery being many years ago it was still quit traumatic and is unsure if she can forgive him. Eugene understands and is ready to face the full consequences of his actions, believing he maybe banished from Corona when the king learns to the truth. However, Queen Arianna decides to not involve King Fredric, seeing that Eugene has greatly changed and is no longer the same person he was in the past and refusing to separate him and Rapunzel, Arianna forgives Eugene. Shortly after, Eugene gets a new ring for Rapunzel and once again apologizes for everything, assuring hurting her is the last thing he'd ever want to do. Rapunzel and Eugene share a heartwarming embrace as Queen Arianna watches them from afar.

Cast

 * Mandy Moore as Rapunzel
 * Zachary Levi as Flynn Rider
 * Eden Espinosa as Cassandra
 * James Monroe Iglehart as Lance Strongbow
 * Clancy Brown as King Frederic
 * Julie Bowen as Queen Arianna
 * Paul F. Tompkins as Shorty
 * Sean Hayes as Pete
 * Gideon Emery as Weasel
 * Chris Sonnenburg as Percival

Trivia

 * Rapunzel's awkward sleeping position references the way Anna sleeps in Frozen.
 * The pink flower ring that Eugene gives Rapunzel - after he had given Arianna back her stolen ring - is similar to the ring that Robin Hood had given to Maid Marian.
 * Chris Sonnenburg, the executive producer of the series, voices the character Percival in this episode.

International Premieres

 * October 2, 2017 (Brazil)