No, no, no, no, no, no, no. This was one of the most painful smiles to see. This is the happy family before the murderer arrives. This is the family party before you’re sent to the “dark place”. This is Phineas and Ferb, just before they ask, “Where’s Perry?”

YOU KNOW what is happening next, and to show this poor girl, experiencing happiness, and letting down just a small portion of her guard, is a recipe for disaster. It just makes you want to yell, “RUN!” and double the guards at the gate.

God…that was such a powerful scene and smile, and yet it’s so painful to watch. I saw that and said, out loud, “NO!!!” because letting down your guard is when the pain comes. And it’s this reaction, and involvement in the lives of the characters is why ND is a studio with master storytellers. I haven’t seen Ellie for a few years, and yet she was an old friend that I was ever so happy to see, and immediately wanted to protect her from harm. That isn’t easy for a studio to achieve, and yet ND does it like no other.

Don’t smile, Ellie. That’s when the pain comes…