Monday, September 28, 2020

A Lying Witch and a Warden - (The Owl House Season 1 Episode 1) - 'Toon Reviews 42

If you like this review and want to stay updated for what else I have in store, become a follower of this blog, click here to like the official Facebook page, and click here to follow me on TwitterNow on with today's review:

As much as I enjoy exploring great animated series of the past, I also see benefit in showing awareness to quality works of modern times.  That’s why in between the current slate of reviews of past shows, you’ll be getting reviews of two modern animated highlights.  In fact, I personally believe they’re both destined to become the next big thing in TV animation.  As a bonus, these shows showcase the talents and imagination of the world leader in quality animation, Disney.  This review set looks into the first season of one of these shows:

The Owl House (Season 1)


Basic Premise

It's not often that I jump into reviewing a very recent animated series so quickly, but in the interest of staying up to date with trends in cartoons, why not take the opportunity?  In my time of reviewing, I have every reason to believe that The Owl House will attract the most attention of animation fans.  It’s got a clearly imaginative fantasy world with the promise for deep mysteries all the way, which seems to be the best way for animation to get people of all ages invested.  However, even more potential lies within the characters living through the world and its mysteries.  The series follows an eccentric fantasy-obsessed girl named Luz who stumbles into a magical world that seems to fit her interests known as the Boiling Isles.  She’s taken in by a resident witch with an owl gimmick named Eda, and spends her time learning to be a witch to ultimately find somewhere to fit in.  Along the way, Luz explores many other characters and places of the Boiling Isles that enlighten her not just with magic and acceptance, but beneficial life lessons.

With such a premise like this, one can only imagine that this show is destined to get the masses attracted to it after many others have run their course.  I mean, creative worlds experienced by a cast of various personalities are practically a winning setup for animated series, particularly nowadays.  Not to mention, being backed by an animation company like Disney is sure to bring out the best in everyone.  If you ask me, that's probably why they've endured as a force in the entertainment field for so long.  If you need another reason to think this show will live up to its potential, it's from the mind of Dana Terrace, whose credits include the acclaimed shows, Gravity Falls and the DuckTales reboot.  In other words, the pieces are in place for The Owl House to stand as a major crowd-pleaser and revered animation highlight, especially for this new decade.

Of course, the only way to know for sure is to go through all the episodes of the first season as they come and analyze just how good everything truly is.  That’s just what this blog is here to do. So hop aboard a flying staff and join Luz and the Boiling Isles gang on an immersive fantasy adventure that may be destined to define a new animation generation.

Now on With the Reviews:

A Lying Witch and a Warden

For a series like this, the most fitting things to expect from a premiere are formal introductions to the setup, the tone, and even the characters.  In that regard, this first episode really delivers. 

It starts with a few scenes to introduce our main protagonist, Luz, who immediately demonstrates solid appeal.  In addition to delighting with great spunk, charisma, and a nice touch of cuteness personality-wise, Luz is very relatable.  She’s a devoted fan of a series of fantasy graphic novels about the good witch Azura, and more than that, uses what she reads to really express herself in assignments and activities.  That can easily connect to anyone with unique passions and also inspire others to go all out when showing their true selves.  There are problems though as Luz’s touches of fantasy in her life constantly get her into trouble with her school and mother.  The fact that they leave kids scared and even cause chaos from spiders and snakes running loose definitely show that something needs to be done.  However, the fix the others have in mind of sending Luz to a bland business-oriented summer camp and pushing her to throw away her graphic novel is not the answer. No one should be stripped of their passion.  In my opinion, the thing to do is to have both parties work together to create a healthy balance between what one enjoys and necessary life skills.  I can only hope that's the conclusion all sides will come to in the long run.  This being said, it’s here where one can't help but notice that while the opening scene tells what’s necessary, it goes by too quickly.  Certain decisions end up feeling rash and Luz’s background doesn’t feel as fleshed out as it could be.  Thankfully, it’s made up for with the following direction. 


As Luz is about to retrieve her Azura book from the trash, a small owl grabs it and she chases it through a portal to a fantasy world called the Boiling Isles.  It’s certainly big on imagination with a variety of designs of its demon inhabitants and overall atmosphere.  Still, while this is right up Luz’s ally, her fantasy obsession is nicely balanced with believable fear of being in somewhere so unpredictable, making her feel more human.  Everything picks up when she meets Eda, a smart-talking witch specializing in selling junk from the human world and is on the run from the law, being a wanted criminal.  


Eda ultimately brings out her own charisma as her calm attitude towards the weird nature of the Boiling Isles contrasts with Luz’s fears, making for solid chemistry.  Said chemistry builds even more when stopping at Eda’s home, the Owl House, introduces another major player, a puppy demon with a decaying scull named King.  He’s said to have once been king of all demons and even acts powerful and mighty despite his cute and childish appearance, resulting in hilariously adorable coddling from Luz. 

Eda then reveals that, King’s powers come from a crown that was stolen from him by a figure named Warden Wrath.  To get it back, they need a human like Luz, giving her a chance at a real fantasy quest.  In spite of the promise of a big jailbreak and magical occurrences, the quest turns out to be much less exciting than Luz anticipates.  King’s crown is just a simple paper crown that grants him no powers and leaves him as a childish interpretation of a king of demons as opposed to legit thing.  Out of this though comes heart showing that for all her shadiness, Eda does have a caring side, especially when it comes to her roommate.  Even if his crown is just a toy, she’ll risk everything for it because it’s important to him.  While this does show layers to her character, it also shows another drawback to the episode; preachiness of its lesson. 

However, it’s more blatant in an earlier scene when Luz meets a trio of prisoners who are in for simple harmless behaviors that don’t conform with societal norms.  Their practices are creative as well as their designs, including a tiny egg-shaped creature with a big nose that self inserts creator Dana Terrace. The issue is they’re all just figureheads for the constantly repeated message that there’s nothing wrong with being weird, and their differences should be embraced.  Now, I strongly agree with this message, but having it hammered in this much is unwarranted.  Also with how much the message is brought up, coming with soapbox speeches and overblown mentions of the prisoners’ practices, some concerns are drawn about Luz.  She’s weird like them, but unlike the prisoners, her weirdness has caused actual problems.  That seems ignored with how hammered in the idea of being proud of being weird ends up being.  It’s true that abandoning her passions like others suggest is not the answer, but to act like there’s no problem with her actions is just wrong.


Issues aside, there’s still good fun to be had in the climax when Warden Wrath blows the cover.  There are a few amusing moments out of the encounter like Eda getting her head cut off, but still being fine, and a twist of Warden Wrath wanting to date her.  Upon Eda refusing, the action picks up with Warden Wrath attacking to fluid animated beauty, more so than the rest of the episode, suggesting a stylized break from the norm.  The final encounter featuring the main trio and the released prisoners against Warden Wrath does bring more preachiness, but ends the climax well.  

Afterwards, the rest of the series are put into place where even though Luz is able to go back home, she chooses to stay on the Boiling Isles with Eda and King.  That’s a solid twist to the usual setup of a human trapped in a strange world.  Instead of being desperate to escape and go home, Luz feels like she belongs in this world, and her weird passions will be much more accepted through her learning to be a witch like Eda.  There’s certainly proof to her point with how great a team she and the other residents of the Owl House make.

Really, in addition to the imagination and world-building, it’s clear that this character chemistry is going to be a major driving force for the show going forward.  While that allows the episode to give solid first impressions of the series, it’s still held back by preachy messages and seeming to ignore that areas of Luz’s passions need help.  The good news is that both issues will easily be rectified in the episodes to come…

B+

The next Owl House review almost immediately introduces Luz to the complexities of living in a fantasy world with very relatable challenges.
Next time on MC Toon Reviews is the series premiere for another great Disney animated TV series, Amphibia.
If you would like to check out other Owl House reviews on this blog, click here for the guide made especially for them.

No comments:

Post a Comment