Descendants 3 2019

Let’s start by showing y’all the trailers, shall we?

🖤 In Memory Of Cameron Boyce Before diving into the chaos, the music, and the magical showdown, let’s take a moment to honor Cameron Boyce. He tragically passed away in July 2019, just days before this film premiered. He was only 20 years old. Known for his charm, humor, and dance moves that defied physics, Cameron brought joy to millions, and his portrayal of Carlos became a standout part of the Descendants legacy. The film ends with a tribute, and it still stings every time. Rest easy, Cameron.

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Non-Spoiler Plot Overview In the third and final film, Mal and the gang return to Auradon for one last hurrah. The VKs are invited back to recruit more villain kids from the Isle—but when a new threat rises, Mal must decide who she really is and what kind of future she wants to build. Also, there’s a magical barrier. Again. And trust issues. Again. But this time, stakes are higher. The villain? A very green and very angry girl with dad issues. And no, we’re not talking about She-Hulk.

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Character Rundown

Mal (Dove Cameron) – Daughter of Maleficent, now Queen of Auradon and wielding more pressure than ever. Her hair’s shorter, but her stress level is taller.

Evie (Sofia Carson) – Daughter of the Evil Queen, fashion mogul, still the voice of reason, and emotional glue of the group.

Jay (Booboo Stewart) – Son of Jafar, now playing nice and acting like the group’s big brother.

Carlos (Cameron Boyce) – Son of Cruella de Vil. Still sweet, still techy, and honestly the heart of the team.

Ben (Mitchell Hope) – Son of Belle and Beast. Now engaged to Mal and doing his best not to be a background character.

Audrey (Sarah Jeffery) – Daughter of Aurora and Prince Phillip. Our main villain this time, she goes full Dark Barbie.

Hades (Cheyenne Jackson) – Mal’s absentee dad. Moody, blue-flamed, and way more entertaining than the plot deserves.

Uma (China Anne McClain) – Daughter of Ursula. Still rocking the sea witch vibes and forming an uneasy truce with Mal.

Gil (Dylan Playfair) – Son of Gaston. Dumb but delightful.

Harry Hook (Thomas Doherty) – Son of Captain Hook. Flirty, chaotic, and really into eyeliner.

Also appearing briefly:

Jafar (Maz Jobrani) – Blink and you’ll miss him.

Cruella de Vil (Wendy Raquel Robinson) – Still iconic.

Evil Queen (Kathy Najimy) – Brief but fabulous.

Maleficent – Turned into a lizard and still MIA.

Beast & Belle – Still ruling and still oblivious to everything until it’s too late.

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Pacing / Episode Flow Descendants 3 wastes no time jumping into plot drama, musical numbers, and sparkly outfits. The first half is fast-paced with a good mix of action and character moments, but the middle does start to sag a bit—mainly due to too many magic rule changes and that whole “barrier again” subplot. The third act rebounds nicely and ends with a satisfying, emotional climax.

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Pros

Emotional send-off for Cameron Boyce

Strong musical numbers (especially from Hades, Audrey, and Uma)

Mal and Uma’s evolving dynamic is actually mature and well-handled

Cheyenne Jackson as Hades? Inspired casting

Tighter stakes and better action than Descendants 1 or 2

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Cons

Audrey’s villain arc starts strong but fizzles a little near the end

Ben continues to be the least interesting character in his own kingdom

Some background characters are criminally underused

The final resolution feels too neat considering how dark things got

Hades is underused in the climax and could’ve had a bigger payoff

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🎵 Favorite Songs List

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Final Thoughts Descendants 3 closes the trilogy on a surprisingly emotional note. It’s not perfect—the villain arc has cracks, the pacing can get muddy—but there’s heart. The farewell to Cameron Boyce hangs heavy over the film, adding unexpected weight. The songs are fire, the performances passionate, and the message about unity and growth lands. For a Disney Channel Original Movie, it aimed big.

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Final Rating: 10/10

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⚠️ Spoiler Warning: What follows contains MAJOR SPOILERS for Descendants 3. Proceed at your own risk.

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Spoilers So Audrey goes full wicked after not being chosen as queen. She steals the queen’s crown and Maleficent’s scepter. Ambitious! She puts the whole kingdom to sleep (Sleeping Beauty jokes abound), and it’s up to Mal and the gang to stop her. Meanwhile, Mal lies to everyone about permanently closing the barrier to the Isle—classic trust issues.

Audrey eventually ends up injured after misusing the scepter’s power. Hades (revealed to be Mal’s dad) arrives and revives her, showing that even villains have layers.

Mal admits her mistake and proposes that the barrier be torn down for good—no more dividing Auradon and the Isle. The gates are opened, and the villain kids and palace guards come together in song and dance. Carlos, Jay, Evie, and Mal finally get their happy endings (even if we know Cameron’s fate makes that hard to watch).