"The Beyonder" is the sixth episode of the Disney Channel and Marvel Animation series Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur.
Synopsis[]
The Beyonder gloms onto Lunella to learn about humanity, just as she’s struggling to win a big science competition.
Plot[]
Lunella and Devil are battling a villain named Stiletto when they begin to pick up on a voice narrating over their battle. Despite this, they manage to capture the villain. At school the next day, a science fair is announced with the winner spending a day at the Wakanda Outreach Program. Unfortunately for Lunella, she is paired up with Eduardo whom she does not see as being very bright. She and Casey return to the lab where she is shocked to find her family there. This turns out to be an illusion created by the Beyonder whose voice Lunella heard earlier. Beyonder explains through song that he came to earth at the behest of his species to study humans. Lunella wants nothing to do with him, despite his ability to do whatever he wants, as she wants to prep for the science fair.
Lunella plans to make a device that will recreate a fuel efficient energy source, but Eduardo wants to make what is essentially a sound machine. Beyonder continues to peak into Lunella's life demanding that she give him answers about humanity, but she refuses. After Eduardo makes an incomprehensible sound machine, Lunella calls him useless. Beyonder then reveals the true reason he is studying humans; he wants to see if they are worthy of existing and now believes they are not. Lunella tries to reason with him and Beyonder challenges her to win the competition with Eduardo and he will reconsider. While Casey distracts Beyonder, Lunella builds her machine. Eduardo finds out and feels dejected admitting that he considered her smart enough to see his idea through.
At the science fair, Beyonder reveals that he knows Lunella did not do the project with Eduardo and turns her machine into pickles. Lunella admits to Casey that she was wrong for turning Eduardo away, but he arrives with his machine parts. After hearing his idea through, Lunella helps him build it, but when they present it to the judges, it falls apart. Beyonder then proceeds to fulfill his promise and tears apart earth, leaving only Lunella and Devil. However, this too turns out to be an illusion with Beyonder admitting that he liked what she and Eduardo made and realizes that humans are far more complicated than he realized and decided to let them live. He promises that he will return one day. Brooklyn and Geri win the contest while Lunella and Eduardo win honorable mention trophies.
Cast[]
- Diamond White as Lunella Lafayette/Moon Girl
- Fred Tatasciore as Devil Dinosaur
- Sasheer Zamata as Adria Lafayette
- Jermaine Fowler as James Lafayette Jr.
- Libe Barer as Casey Calderon
- Alfre Woodard as Mimi Lafayette
- Gary Anthony Williams as James "Pops" Lafayette Sr.
- Laurence Fishburne as The Beyonder
- Michael Cimino as Eduardo
- Utkarsh Ambudkar as Anand
- Indya Moore as Brooklyn
- Tajinae Turner as Geri
- Craig Robinson as Principal Nelson
- Kari Wahlgren as Linh Pham/Stiletto
Song[]
Trivia[]
- Morals:
- There's more to people than you think. Give them a chance, and they may just surprise you.
- There are many different kinds of brilliance. Someone who's weak in one area might be a genius in another.
- On February 15, 2023, the episode was released early on Disney+.
- This episode reveals that the voice of the Backstory Man from the previous episodes belongs to the Beyonder.
- This episode introduces a villainess named Stiletto. While there are two villains in the comic who operate under that name, both are men, and neither of their abilities utilize any shoe apparel. Rather, she shares similarities to Lady Stilt-Man.
- Wakanda is mentioned several times in the episode with the silhouettes of Black Panther, Shuri and Okoye making cameos. The “Wakanda Forever” arm cross is also seen.
- At one point, Beyonder makes a comment about remakes and adds that the "animated version is better". This is most likely a reference to the divisive reaction towards the Disney Remakes line.
- When the Beyonder brings out his music sheet to delete humanity, the piece is labeled “Symphony No. 616 in B minor”. The number is the designation for the Earth that main Marvel comic book universe takes place in.
International premieres[]
- April 5, 2023 (United Kingdom, Ireland; Disney+)
- April 8, 2023 (Spain, Portugal)
