| “ | Welcome to our world: the Land of Snowflakes, the Land of Flowers, and the Land of Sweets. But in the fourth realm, this is where our troubles began. Mother Ginger started this war.... I hope you'll be the one to finish it. | „ |
| ~ Sugarplum greeting Clara in the Four Realms. |
Sugarplum is the main antagonist of the 2018 Disney film The Nutcracker and the Four Realms. She is the manipulative and arrogant ruler of the Land of Sweets who plotted to take over all Four Realms with a massive army of Tin Soldiers at her command. She is also Clara's archenemy and the former toy and friend of Clara's mother Marie.
She was portrayed by Keira Knightley, who also played Domino Harvey in Domino.
Personality[]
| “ | Sugarplum: Soldiers... attention. Report! Prepare to march on the Fourth Realm! Clara: March on the fourth- I thought this army was to defend us! Sugarplum: Well, attack is the best form of defense, my dear. Clara: My mother wouldn't have wanted this! Sugarplum: I don't care what your mother wanted, she's not here. Clara: I... I order you to stop. Sugarplum: You... order me? Well, well, well... finally ready to play queen, are we? Too late! I only needed you to bring me the key, and now that I have it, I have no more use of you. Seize them!! |
„ |
| ~ Sugarplum revealing her true colors to Clara after creating her Tin Soldier army. |
As her name suggests, Sugarplum was presumed to be a sweet and innocent fairy, even showing concern over the safety of the Four Realms. However, this is nothing more than a facade to hide her true nature: a vindictive, ruthless, bitter and manipulative person who desires power in the Four Realms above all else, even with no compassion for anyone else. She is also shown to be highly charismatic and dishonest, as she successfully managed to manipulate Clara and the others into falsely believing that Mother Ginger was the evil tyrant who desired to conquer the Four Realms, despite the fact that Sugarplum herself is the real evil tyrant. She is also proven to be a homicidal killer, as she is willing to kill those to get what she wants; this was proven when she callously turned one of her loyal guards into a lifeless toy as an example against those who would defy her and intended to do the same for the other regents.
However, this sinister nature is only due to Marie's departure from the Four Realms, which left Sugarplum very embittered as she considered Marie to be a mother figure. This may imply that Sugarplum is somewhat insecure in nature as she felt hurt over Marie's supposed abandonment, despite the fact that Marie entrusted her and the other regents to take full control of their realms. In spite of this, Sugarplum took Marie's departure too deep in heart and decided that the only way to rectify that it was to recreate the Four Realms in her own image (which was unreasonable); even willing to imprison Clara and the other regents out of spite against Marie. However, Sugarplum's arrogance proved to be her downfall as she failed to understand the importance of compassion, something which Clara took advantage to turn Sugarplum back into a lifeless doll as punishment for her crimes.
Biography[]
Beginnings[]
The Sugar Plum Fairy started off as a lifeless porcelain doll owned by Marie Stahlbaum when she was a child, but was later brought to life after Marie created the Four Realms as its first Queen. Sugarplum was assigned by Marie to rule over the Land of Sweets while three others were assigned to rule the remaining realms: Mother Ginger was given control of the Land of Amusements, Hawthorne was given the Land of Flowers, and Shivers was given the Land of Snowflakes.
However, as the years went by as Marie grows up, she decided to leave the Four Realms to raise a family, so she left the four regents in complete charge of the Four Realms. Though Ginger and the Male regeants accepted this new change in leadership and took control of their realms as agreed, Sugarplum secretly disapproved this as she felt betrayed and abandoned by Marie. She then decided that it was time to take over the Four Realms as its new Queen and rebuild them in her own image, something no ruler is ever meant to do.
Following Marie's departure, Sugarplum soon learned that Marie created a machine called the Engine, which is capable of converting toys into living objects (presumably the same one that brought her to life) and plotted to use the Engine to create and bring life to an army of Tin Soldiers to accomplish her goal. However, Ginger learned of Sugarplum's plot and tried to stop her, but Sugarplum anticipated this by framing Ginger for trying to incite the plot to make sure that she doesn't get in the way for the moment, resulting Ginger's banishment within her own realm and a war against the other three realms. Despite the setback, Sugarplum is distraught to learn that a certain key that can activate the Engine is lost within the Realms.
Meeting Clara[]
On Christmas Eve following Marie's death, Marie's husband Benjamin gives their children Christmas presents as Marie's final request. Her youngest daughter Clara receives a handcrafted egg-shaped box and is told by her godfather Drosselmeyer that Marie created it for her. After getting into an argument with Benjamin at the ballroom, Clara finds a string signifying her gift, which leads her into the Four Realms. There, Clara spots the key hanging on a tree, but a mouse steals it for Ginger, much to her dismay.
Clara approaches the Nutcracker known as Captain Philip Hoffman, who takes her over to see Sugarplum, Hawthorne and Shivers, who are all delighted to see the daughter of their former queen. Sugarplum explains to Clara that her mother Marie created the Four Realms and that they are at war with Ginger. Sugarplum also explains the Engine that can convert toys into living objects and that she and the other regents want to use it to defend their realms against Ginger and her forces. Sugarplum then sends over Hoffman and several soldiers to aid Clara in confronting Ginger and successfully stealing back the key, but Clara is annoyed to find out that the key can also unlock the egg, which turns out to be a music box.
True Colors[]
With the key finally in her possession, Sugarplum activates the Engine and uses it to bring the Tin Soldiers to life. Satisfied by this, Sugarplum reveals her true colors by ordering several of her Tin Soldiers to seize both Clara and Hoffman, admitting that she framed Mother Ginger and that she herself intends to use her new army to take over the other realms as its new queen. She also confesses over her grief of Marie's departure and that the Engine can also revert any person living in the Realm back into a toy and that she plans to use it on those who would defy her new reign. Seeing that she got what she wanted, Sugarplum imprisons Clara, Hoffman and the other regents.
Having taken over of the Lands of Sweets, Snowflakes and Flowers to herself, Sugarplum initiates her next move in having her Tin Soldier army to invade the Land of Amusements and capture Ginger in order to gain full control of all Four Realms. To that end, she allows several of the Tin Soldiers free reign over the Engine to create more of themselves. However, Clara and the others escape while Hoffman convinces Ginger and her minions to help them foil Sugarplum's plot. As Sugarplum directs her vast Tin Soldier army to invade the Land of Amusements, Hoffman and Ginger's minions fight against several of the Tin Soldiers. In the meantime, Clara successfully enters the Engine's room and shuts it down, causing the palace's water wheels to cease rotating and catching Sugarplum's attention.
Death[]
When an arriving Mother Ginger fights off several Tin Soldiers to buy Clara more time, an angry Sugarplum summons more Tin Soldiers to trap both of them. Ginger and Clara tried to reason with Sugarplum by admitting that they understood how she felt about Marie's departure, but Sugarplum refused their pleas before attempting to zap Ginger into a toy with the Engine to ensure that her plot will succeed. However, anticipating that Sugarplum would refuse her pleas, Clara revealed that she has already reprogrammed the Engine into zapping Sugarplum into a toy instead as punishment for her crimes, who is turned back into a lifeless porcelain doll. With Sugarplum dead, all the Tin Soldiers became lifeless as they fall down in defeat. Despite her treachery and cruel actions, Clara quietly mourns for the lifeless Sugarplum out of empathy, knowing that she was not only her mother's toy, but also her protector and friend.
With Sugarplum and the Tin Soldiers defeated, the Four Realms are finally at peace, and Clara is returned back to her family, where she reconciles with Benjamin, leaving Sugarplum's plans for conquest in vain. Since it is unknown what happened to the lifeless body of the Sugar Plum Fairy, she will probably return if no one destroyed her.
Quotes[]
| “ | Sugarplum: Your mother created our world. Clara: My mother made all of this? Sugarplum: She was our queen. |
„ |
| ~ Sugarplum explaining to Clara about the origins of the Four Realms. |
| “ | Sugarplum: You see, once we were lifeless toys, mere playthings for children. Then your mother arrived and changed everything. She gave us life. Clara: How? Sugarplum: With this... the Engine. Clara: This is my mother's invention. Sugarplum: Yes... the Engine made us real, and now we have feelings just like you have: happiness, sadness, anger and love..... fear. |
„ |
| ~ Sugarplum explaining about the Engine that brought her and the others in the Realms to life. |
| “ | Sugarplum: They won't listen to you, I gave them life, so they'll only listen to me. Hoffman: TRAITOR!!! Clara: Why are you doing this?! Sugarplum: Your mother abandoned us. And then.... she just expects us to carry on and play nice. WELL, I DON'T WANT TO PLAY NICE!! Clara: Mother Ginger didn't do anything wrong, did she? You lied to me.... to everyone! Sugarplum: But I have a very special plan for Mother Ginger and the other regents. |
„ |
| ~ Sugarplum revealing that the Tin Soldiers only answer to her, and her true motivation of her betrayal and goals to take over all the Realms. |
| “ | Sugarplum: You see there's a funny little perk to your mother's invention: it works both ways. Clara: You are horrible! Sugarplum: HOW DARE YOU SPEAK TO YOUR QUEEN THAT WAY!! GUARDS!! Lock them up! |
„ |
| ~ Sugarplum revealing what she plans to do to the other regents with the Engine before having Clara, Hoffman and the other regents locked away. |
| “ | This is more like it: a proper army.. to create discipline, order, control. Boys in uniforms with weapons sends a quiver right through me. | „ |
| ~ Sugarplum taking delight that she finally gotten control of the first Three Realms with her Tin Soldier army. |
| “ | That's more like it: out with the old, in with the new. Gather at the gate! Wait for my command! Jog on, boys! | „ |
| ~ Sugarplum ordering his Tin Soldier army to prepare an invasion on the Land of Amusements and complete her takeover of all Four Realms. |
| “ | Forget those ludicrous clowns! I want MOTHER GINGER!!! | „ |
| ~ Sugarplum ordering several of her Tin Soldiers to focus their attack on Mother Ginger's giant robot instead of Ginger's minions. |
| “ | Sugarplum: Victory is ours!! COME OUT, MOTHER GINGER!! (Hoffman comes out instead) The Nutcracker?! Hoffman: Well, you expected someone else?! Sugarplum: WHERE IS SHE?!! |
„ |
| ~ Sugarplum getting her Tin Soldiers to take down Mother Ginger's giant robot, only to find out that Hoffman was controlling it to distract her. |
| “ | DESTROY HIM!!! | „ |
| ~ Sugarplum ordering her Tin Soldiers to kill Hoffman. |
| “ | Sugarplum: You just had to interfere again, didn't you? Ginger: I stopped you once before, remember? Sugarplum: You merely delayed the inevitable. The princess... where is she? Ginger: She's gone! She fled the Realms, she's safe from you! Sugarplum: Then I'm the queen of the castle, and you're a dirty rascal! Ginger: This is MADNESS, Sugarplum! It has to stop! Sugarplum: Put her on the platform! Ginger: Sugarplum, I know you miss Marie! We all do! But this isn't gonna make you feel any better! Sugarplum: Banishing you to the Fourth Realm made me feel just... delicious. But this... this is going to be... exquisite. Adieu... farewell... goodbye!! |
„ |
| ~ Sugarplum capturing Ginger before attempting to turn her into a doll. |
| “ | SEIZE HER!! | „ |
| ~ Sugarplum getting two of her Tin Soldiers to capture Clara. |
| “ | Sugarplum: You, of all people, should understand, Clara. She left you alone, too! Clara: No! She left everything I need! I'm not alone... Sugarplum, we are not alone. Sugarplum: You're right... I have a big beautiful army to protect me. No one will hurt me ever again. Clara: I know you're angry... but you can still do the right thing. Ginger: Sugarplum, listen to her. This isn't what Marie wanted for us. Sugarplum: For us?! A true queen does what's best... FOR HERSELF!! *starts the Engine which points at Ginger* Clara: No... a true queen does what's best for her people. And you were right, I'm every inch of my mother's daughter. [The Engine instead starts pointing at Sugarplum] Sugarplum: CLARA... WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!! *looks and screams in horror as the Engine fires at her, and her screams are silenced as the engine turns her back into a lifeless doll* |
„ |
| ~ Sugarplum’s last words before the Engine turns her back into a lifeless toy. |
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- The Sugar Plum Fairy started off as a minor, but pivotal character in the original story and play, while the Mouse King took on the role as the villain. However, in this film, it is the other way around: she is given a much more sinister role as its true villain, while the Mouse King is portrayed as a loyal servant to Ginger.
- At first, Ginger was presumed to be the main antagonist, but Sugarplum is the real villain as she had bigger plans than anyone else, even framing Ginger for her plot.
- In the original ballet, she was Russian, and in the original story, she was possibly German. In this version, she is either Belgian, French or Swiss based on the occasional French phrases that she says and her accent.
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