This is technically Iago’s fault up to a certain point, but Aladdin needs to make smarter life decisions.

Seriously he’s such a smug little shit in this episode.

Inside they go. It’s about as safe as you know it’s going to be when Iago’s the one assuring them it’ll be fine.

And at first Aladdin comes to his senses. This place IS dangerous! But Iago lays on the compliments again and gets him right back to overestimating his own abilities. Especially since he hasn’t done anything so far. Genie and the Carpet have.

“BUT YOU JUST SAID IT WAS DANGEROUS.”

Do you see what I mean by how Aladdin is pretty much going to deserve everything bad that happens to him in this episode? Wait. It gets better.

A few observations

First of all, Iago looks pretty much how I feel when people make me go out in the snow to “have fun.”

Second, Genie’s costume here may be the most painfully 90s thing I have ever seen.

Iago sees the palace of the “Mighty Ice Ifrit” and he knows that’s what it is. This is never explained. We can assume Jafar knew this was out here, I guess, because that seems to be where MOST of Iago’s knowledge of magic and magical things comes from. Maybe it’s where he got a piece of the Scarab Medallion. When Prince Ali said he was from much further away than he’s ever traveled he seemed to strongly hint the boy had no fucking idea what he was getting into. It’s not impossible if he hitched a ride with the right people.

Of course he thinks they should go looking because potential treasure. And then this happens:

“It’s one thing to find treasure, but another thing to steal it!”

YOU shut the fuck up, Aladdin. We spent the first ten minutes of Return of Jafar watching you steal looted goods and then not give them back to the people they were stolen from.

Of course Iago butters him up by talking about how brave and awesome he is, and because Aladdin is a very gullible teenage boy with an enormous ego, this works. Inside they go. (Iago also assures them that the Ice Ifrit has been gone for a long time. The only way he could have thought this was true is if he’d been here before. Likely with Jafar.)

Conclusion – Seriously Aladdin the guy has a job

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Razoul is more than happy to let Fizal keep up his end of the deal once Aladdin wins the bet. He’s not a sore loser – surprising given his general portrayal – he just needs Aladdin to let up because his soldiers have jobs to do that don’t involve climbing trees and picking fruit for the monkey. I kind of liked that it ended on this note. Probably because before this I don’t think I expect Razoul has any reason to try to explain how things work for the palace guards to Aladdin. You get little moments like this in the series where the two seem willing to foster some understanding between each other.

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Baby birds can cry. Didn’t you know?

And apparently this makes monkeys sad.

Regardless, Iago’s done enough listening to know about the inside-out spell and apparently he’s forgotten how completely sad and pathetic Abis Mal was the last time they faced him. Especially since, again, Iago single-handedly won that fight.

So he gets loud, and someone hears him.

Abis Mal has lost the spell, however.

Haroud is so done.