Ep 9. Starstruck

In this episode of The Worst Witch season 3, titled "Starstruck," we see Mildred Hubble, a young witch attending Miss Cackle's Academy for Witches, battle with her self-confidence as she prepares for the school's annual talent show. Mildred is an underdog and has a long history of bad luck. She's often the target of bullies and struggles to prove herself to her teachers.

Her struggles are exacerbated as she learns that the talent show will include a prestigious guest judge, the famous witch singer and actress Celeste Shine. Mildred has always idolized Celeste and dreams of impressing her with her talents. However, as she tries to prepare for the show, she finds herself constantly comparing herself to her talented classmates and feels like she can never measure up.

Meanwhile, Ethel Hallow, Mildred's arch-nemesis, is also preparing for the talent show and is determined to win at any cost. Ethel's mother, Drusilla Paddock, a wealthy and influential witch, pulls some strings to ensure that Ethel's performance is the best one yet. She even hires a professional backing band to accompany Ethel's song, much to the frustration of the other contestants who have to rely on the school's limited resources.

As the talent show draws near, tensions rise, and the pressure to perform becomes more intense. Some of the other contestants, including shy and timid Tabby, begin to doubt themselves and feel like they don't belong in the competition. Mildred tries to encourage them and reassure them that everyone has their own unique talents.

Despite the setbacks and obstacles she faces, Mildred works hard to prepare for her performance. She even gets some unexpected help from a mysterious new student, Esmerelda Hallow, who offers to be her backup singer.

On the day of the talent show, the contestants are nervous but determined to do their best. Celeste Shine arrives and takes her place on the judging panel. The performances vary from the comical to the impressive, with Ethel's performance as the clear standout. Mildred is up next and is so nervous that she almost forgets the words to her song. However, she manages to pull herself together and delivers a heartfelt performance that brings tears to the judges' eyes.

The judges deliberate, and in the end, they announce the results. Ethel is declared the winner, but Celeste Shine surprises everyone by awarding Mildred a special prize for her courage and spirit. Mildred is overjoyed, and her confidence is boosted, knowing that she has finally found something she is good at.

As the episode draws to a close, Mildred reflects on her experience and realizes that she shouldn't have been comparing herself to her classmates all along. Instead, she should have been celebrating her own unique talents and qualities. She resolves to work harder and show everyone what she's capable of in the future.