Ep 3. The Dancing Princesses

In a far-off kingdom, a king has twelve beautiful daughters who disappear every night. Confounded by their mysterious absences, the king offers a reward to anyone who can discover the reason. However, all the suitors who attempt to solve the mystery either fail or never return. Finally, a noble gardener who loves the youngest princess offers to solve the riddle. He meticulously follows the princesses into an underground world where they dance the night away with handsome princes.

In this episode of Faerie Tale Theatre, The Dancing Princesses is a delightful adaptation of the famous German fairytale by the Brothers Grimm. The sixth installment of season six series was directed by Paul Bogart and stars Peter Weller as The Gardener, Lesley Ann Warren as the youngest Princess, and Helen Mirren as the Fairy Queen.

The episode begins with a captivating animation sequence that tells the story of the king's twelve daughters, who lead a fascinating double life. The mystery lies in the fact that each morning, their slippers are worn out, and no one knows where they go. The king becomes increasingly worried and offers a grand prize for anyone who can solve the mystery and bring the culprits to justice. Many suitors try to earn the prize, but they either fail, disappear or don't return.

The young gardener who works in the palace falls in love with the youngest and most lovable of the twelve sisters. He decides to follow the princesses on their nightly outings. However, he must remain unnoticed by the princesses, or they will be banished from their magical world forever. He cleverly spreads a magical sleeping elixir on the floor where the princesses dance, and they fall asleep.

When the gardener shows the proof to the king and queen, he is offered half their kingdom and permission to marry the princess of his choice. However, the young man refuses to accept any prize, saying he only wants to win the hand of his true love.

The beautifully crafted and well-executed production, with its enchanting music and superb performances, makes this episode a must-watch. As usual, the producers and scriptwriters have done an excellent job of adapting the classic tale to the screen. The sets and costumes are gorgeous; in particular, the underground world of the fairy kingdom is awe-inspiring. The dialogues are witty and well-crafted, and the episode is fast-paced, with no dull moments.

In conclusion, The Dancing Princesses, with its engaging plot, excellent performances, clever direction and production quality, lives up to the high standards set by the rest of the Faerie Tale Theatre series. It's a magical, entertaining, and heartwarming present-day retelling of a timeless classic fairytale that will delight viewers of all ages.