'Toon Reviews 2: Over the Garden Wall Episode 4

Songs of the Dark Lantern

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In a more plot-oriented episode, we learn a lot more about elements of The Unknown as well as the Beast, and the way to this information is highly entertaining.  Our heroes end up in a tavern where the patrons frequently break into song when they hear what people who come across them are up to.  This is exactly what Wirt discovers as he explains to the patrons of his search for the woman who can help him and Greg find their way home, Adelaide.  The comedy comes from the patrons misinterpreting what Wirt says and make up songs about random things, mainly how Wirt is trying to win this Adelaide woman over as his bride.  Then, like any great work of fiction, the light and fun moments (which by the way also include humorous moments of Beatrice talking to a horse) are balanced out with dark and threatening moments.  Wirt mentions the Beast, and through song, the patrons explain more deep information about him.  The reason to beware the Beast is that he’ll turn you into a tree to make oil to light his lantern.  Since the Woodsman, the first inhabitant of The Unknown we came across, had a lantern, this is where we start to question if he’s a character our heroes should be trusting.  There’s a great moment of bravery for Wirt when he sets off to track the Woodsman down and nearly destroys his lantern.  However, as soon as he leaves, we begin to see even more depth to the Woodsman as he talks to the Beast about how the flame in the lantern is the only thing keeping his daughter’s spirit alive and that the Woodsman doesn’t want any harm to come to the brothers.  This scene really pulls you into the show’s world and gets you to want to learn more about this character as well as all the others.  Plus in addition to all the fun moments in the tavern, and how those moments are well balanced with the dark stuff towards the end, this episode is easily a strong point of this mini-series. 10/10

Ranking

1)      Songs of the Dark Lantern

2)      Hard Times at the Huskin’ Bee

3)      The Old Grist Mill

4)      Schooltown Follies

Be sure to stay tuned for the review of the next episode of the series, "Mad Love."