S05E23 - Golden Again
"Golden Again" is the twenty-third episode of Season 5 of We Can Fix Pawbert.
Synopsis
Three months after the crisis, Zootopia rebuilds. Gazelle performs at the Rebuild Reptile Ravine Relief Concert while Gary tours the restored community. Mayor Winddancer announces a relief initiative for Vladifrostok with Volkov as coordinator. Both couples propose on the same weekend without knowing, leading to a double wedding.
Plot
Three months after the Icener crisis, a split-screen cold open shows the city's renewal. At the Tree of Life Theater, Gazelle performs at the Rebuild Reptile Ravine Relief Concert, her voice filling a packed house with Fru Fru on Koslov's shoulder and Clawhauser weeping in the crowd. Simultaneously, Gary slithers through the restored Reptile Ravine, marveling at the rebuilt scale-patterned rooftops, thriving gecko window boxes, and new residents carrying on the community. He pauses at Agnes De'Snake's bronze statue and whispers that they succeeded—they're still here. He greets Dominga Perón, the tegu matriarch of a three-generation family now living in the Ravine.
At City Hall, Mayor Winddancer delivers a landmark press address. He acknowledges that Icener's attack was born from desperation—Vladifrostok has been dying for decades with failing climate systems—and that Zootopia's past refusal to help contributed to the conditions that created him. He announces a relief assistance initiative providing climate technology and engineering support to Vladifrostok. Yuri Volkov takes the podium and speaks about his dying city's need for help rather than war, pledging to ensure the aid reaches those who need it most as he returns home as coordinator. Winddancer closes with the declaration that Zootopia is done just surviving: together, Zoogether.
In Los Zangeles on the last morning of vacation, Nick and Judy share an intimate morning in their hotel suite. Afterward, they reflect on how far they've come—from the Nighthowler case to Pawbert nearly killing them to Pawbert becoming family. Nick observes that most of the best things shouldn't work. His paws shaking, he retrieves a small box from his suitcase and kneels beside the bed. He tells Judy she is the most stubborn, optimistic, infuriatingly determined mammal he's ever met—that she made him a cop, which he's still not sure he's forgiven her for—and asks her to marry him. Judy tackles him to the floor, crying and laughing, and accepts. The ring is a purple amethyst in silver; Fru Fru helped him determine her size months ago. Judy tells him she's been a Wilde for years—she just didn't have the paperwork.
Back in Zootopia, Pawbert counsels a young ocelot at Zootopia Reentry Services, a hostile teenager whose file reads like Pawbert's own past. Pawbert shares his history openly—prison, testifying against his family, believing he didn't deserve to exist—and tells the ocelot that broken mammals can be rebuilt into something that can hold weight again. Leaving work early after Sorrel covers his appointments, Pawbert returns to the mansion to find fairy lights strung along the porch railing. Inside, the foyer has been transformed with more lights, candles, flowers, and a handwritten note in Luther's script: "Turn around." Luther is kneeling behind him with a velvet box. Luther tells Pawbert he walked into his life as an assignment and became everything—that he spent his whole life being a weapon and thought that was strength, but it was just lonely. Pawbert showed him the difference between surviving and living. He asks Pawbert to marry him. Pawbert collapses to his knees and says yes, forever, yes. The ring is silver with an engraving on the inside band: "Stay"—the word that has defined their relationship since Pawbert tried to push Luther away and Luther refused to leave. Luther admits to maintaining a Pinfurrest board for planning the proposal.
Two days later at the harbor, Nick and Judy arrive home from Los Zangeles. Both couples intend to surprise the other with their engagement news. Judy spots Pawbert's ring first; then Luther notices Judy's. Stunned silence gives way to Nick's disbelief that they proposed on the exact same weekend without either couple knowing. He immediately insists on a double wedding. Luther agrees with a characteristic "fine" that Nick declares is basically a declaration of love. At the mansion, the pack opens the wine from Luther's proposal night and discusses logistics—whether Nick and Judy should move out now that everyone is getting married. Both couples admit they don't want to leave. Judy says the mansion isn't just a house anymore; it's home. They toast to the pack.
A three-month wedding planning montage follows in split screen. The pack visits the Zootopia World Celebration Gardens and selects it as the venue. Guest list negotiations consume the dining room table, with Nick advocating for the entire Nine-Nine and Judy vetoing her 275 siblings. Clawhauser arrives with three binders—"WILDEHOPPS OPTIONS," "PAWTHORNE OPTIONS," and "COMBINED VISION BOARD (CRYING EDITION)"—and cries through every presentation. On a video call, Jake and Nick argue about incorporating all three heists into the best mammal speech while Amy and Judy exchange knowing looks. Dress and suit fittings proceed: Judy in white, Pawbert in deep green, Nick in something sleek, and Luther in black that Nick calls funeral attire. The night before the wedding, both couples lie in bed. Luther tells Pawbert it will be perfect because he'll be there; everything else is decoration. Pawbert thanks Luther for staying; Luther answers: always. Down the hall, Nick reassures Judy that nothing changes them, while Judy worries about her parents' opinions and Nick's fear of her father measuring him for a grave. They fall asleep with rings glinting in the moonlight. At dawn, the World Celebration Gardens are prepared—white chairs in rows, the arch with climbing roses and lavender ribbons, the city spread out behind. Somewhere in the mansion, four mammals wake up to the best day of their lives.
Key Moments
- Gazelle performs at the Rebuild Reptile Ravine Relief Concert
- Gary tours the restored Ravine and speaks to Agnes's statue
- Winddancer announces the Vladifrostok relief initiative, acknowledging Zootopia's past failure
- Volkov returns home as aid coordinator
- Pawbert counsels a young ocelot at ZRS, sharing his own history
- Nick proposes to Judy in Los Zangeles with an amethyst ring
- Luther proposes to Pawbert at the fairy-lit mansion with a ring engraved "Stay"
- Both couples discover the dual proposals at the harbor pickup
- Nick insists on a double wedding
- The pack decides to continue living together at the mansion
- Three-month wedding planning montage with Clawhauser's three binders
- Jake and Nick argue about the best mammal speech on video call
- Both couples share quiet moments the night before the wedding
- Dawn breaks over the World Celebration Gardens
Key Lines
| Line | Speaker | Context |
|---|---|---|
| "We succeeded, great-grandma. We're still here." | Gary | At Agnes's statue in the restored Ravine |
| "We cannot undo the past. But we can choose our future." | Winddancer | Announcing the Vladifrostok relief initiative |
| "Together. Zoogether." | Winddancer | Closing the press address |
| "Most of the best things shouldn't work." | Nick | Reflecting on the pack, on inter-species love |
| "You are the most stubborn, optimistic, infuriatingly determined mammal I've ever met." | Nick | Proposal speech |
| "You made me a cop, which I'm still not sure I've forgiven you for." | Nick | Classic Nick during proposal |
| "Marry me." | Nick | Proposal |
| "Yes. Yes, you ridiculous fox, yes." | Judy | Acceptance |
| "I've been a Wilde for years. I just didn't have the paperwork." | Judy | Response to the proposal |
| "Broken mammals can be rebuilt. Into something that can hold weight again." | Pawbert | Counseling the ocelot at ZRS |
| "Every day with you is a special occasion." | Luther | Explaining why he didn't wait |
| "You walked into my life as an assignment... And you became everything." | Luther | Proposal speech |
| "I spent my whole life being a weapon... It wasn't. It was just lonely." | Luther | Reflecting on his old self |
| "You showed me that there's a difference between surviving and living. You made me want to LIVE, Paw." | Luther | Proposal using Pawbert's nickname |
| "Will you marry me?" | Luther | Proposal |
| "Yes. Yes, forever, yes." | Pawbert | Acceptance |
| "Stay." | Ring engraving | Luther's promise made permanent |
| "For you, I made a Pinfurrest board." | Luther | Romantic revelation |
| "WE PROPOSED ON THE SAME WEEKEND? THE EXACT SAME WEEKEND?" | Nick | Discovering the coincidence |
| "DOUBLE WEDDING! WE'RE DOING A DOUBLE WEDDING!" | Nick | Immediate decision |
| "A LUTHER 'FINE' IS BASICALLY A DECLARATION OF LOVE!" | Nick | Interpreting Luther's agreement |
| "This isn't just a house anymore. It's home. You're home." | Judy | Confirming the pack stays together |
| "To the pack." | All | Unified toast |
| "It will be perfect because you'll be there. Everything else is decoration." | Luther | Night before the wedding |
| "Thank you. For staying." / "Always." | Pawbert / Luther | Bedtime exchange anchoring the series |
Characters Introduced
| Character | Species | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Dominga PerĂłn | Tegu | Reptile Ravine matriarch |
Locations
- Tree of Life Theater - Gazelle's relief concert
- Reptile Ravine - Restored community; Agnes's statue; PerĂłn family
- City Hall - Press room; Winddancer's Vladifrostok announcement
- Los Zangeles - Beachfront hotel; Nick's proposal
- Zootopia Reentry Services - Pawbert's counseling office
- Pawthorne Mansion - Luther's proposal; pack living room; night before the wedding
- Zootopia Harbor - Passenger terminal; dual engagement discovery
- Zootopia World Celebration Gardens - Wedding venue; dawn preparation in tag
Items
- Judy's engagement ring — Purple amethyst in silver, flanked by tiny diamonds; Fru Fru helped Nick determine her size
- Pawbert's engagement ring — Silver, elegant; engraved "Stay" on the inside band
- Clawhauser's three wedding binders — "WILDEHOPPS OPTIONS," "PAWTHORNE OPTIONS," and "COMBINED VISION BOARD (CRYING EDITION)"
- Luther's Pinfurrest board — Flowers and fairy lights research for the proposal; existence denied
- Fairy lights — Strung through the mansion for Luther's proposal
Featured Song
"I'll Stand By You" (Originally The Pretenders; performed by Shakira at Hope For Haiti Now)
Gazelle's performance of "I'll Stand By You" at the Rebuild Reptile Ravine relief concert directly parallels Shakira—Gazelle's real-world voice actress—performing the same song at the Hope for Haiti Now telethon in January 2010. Both performances feature a pop star using their platform to support disaster relief. In the episode, the screen splits between Gazelle's performance and Gary De'Snake touring the restored neighborhood, creating visual counterpoint: the promise of support through music and the proof it worked through the rebuilt community. The song's message of solidarity—"I won't abandon you"—matches the city's recovery theme perfectly.
End Credit Song
"I See the Light" (From 'Tangled'), Mandy Moore & Zachary Levi
The double proposal episode demanded a romantic duet, and "I See the Light" captures the wonder of finally seeing clearly after years of searching. Both couples propose on the same weekend without knowing the other planned the same thing—Luther to Pawbert under fairy lights at the mansion, Nick to Judy on a Los Zangeles rooftop. The song's signature phrase—"at last I see the light"—speaks to couples who have been together for years, through prison sentences and terrorism and near-death experiences, finally arriving at the obvious next step. The Tangled connection runs deeper: Rapunzel spent years trapped, believing she didn't deserve freedom, before Eugene showed her she was worth fighting for. Pawbert's journey from Milton's victim to Luther's husband mirrors that arc.
Notes
- The episode title mirrors the season premiere "Golden Age," completing the thematic arc from golden age through crisis and back to gold again.
- Luther's ring engraving "Stay" references the word's significance throughout the series—from Pawbert's plea to Luther's promise—made permanent in silver.
- The dual proposals on the same weekend, with neither couple aware, is both comedically perfect and thematically resonant: the pack thinks alike even when apart.
- Volkov returning to Vladifrostok as aid coordinator resolves the season's moral question about Zootopia's responsibility for the conditions that created Icener.
- Pawbert's counseling of the ocelot demonstrates the completion of his arc from traumatized victim to licensed social worker helping others through the same journey.
- The Pinfurrest board becomes a running joke through the rest of the episode, revealing Luther's secret romantic side beneath his tactical exterior.
- The Zootopia World Celebration Gardens, where the wedding venue is booked, is named after the Disney Fairytale Weddings venue at EPCOT's World Celebration area.