Bravo! It's the first word that comes to mind! Millie Bobby Brown delivered an incredible, empathetic, determined, and simultaneously vigilante-esque performance as Elodie. The interplay, especially with the relationships between the Stepmother, Floria, Elodie, and her father make the film both bittersweet and grounding. If I could watch this movie with the same awe and wonder as I did the first time, I would, because it was absolutely breathtaking.
In terms of morals of the story, of course, while it is a blatant twist on the classic "damsel-in-distress", it perpetuates a much more nuanced motif that can resonate with any viewer: "It is just as bad to let an injustice occur as it is to perpetuate it". Elodie takes a stand, and in doing so, bravely bears the burdens of other women who were too late to save themselves from a cycle of torture, corruption, and grief.
Regarding specific scenes that completed the film, the glowworms were an integral element of the plotline, as their existence provided a redemption arc for both Elodie and the dragon. Had she simply slain the beast, she would have been no better than the initial King of Aurea, who began the gruesome tradition unprovoked with the murder of the dragon hatchlings. However, in recognizing the true web of deceit constructed by the royal family, she can help others in her journey, including the dragon, which is an incredibly wholesome message.
While the movie seemed to move at a slower pace midway through the film, the expression and genuine rawness conveyed by Brown completed the character development of Elodie and facilitated the audience's immersion into this fantastical realm.
If you have not seen "Damsel" already, do check it out! It's worth the watch!