Article contributed by Erin Fagan
Fans of Star Vs. the Forces of Evil or Gravity Falls, get ready! Owl House is a new hit and a bright spot in this crazy year. This wholesome, imaginative Disney show follows the adventure of Luz Noceda, a young human that stumbles into the Boiling Isles, a magical world of demons and witchcraft. She decides to stay and learn magic from the rebellious witch, Eda the Owl Lady, and her adorable demon roommate King. Along the way she makes new friends, lives out her fantasy dreams, and gets into trouble as the only human in this realm. The magic in the world often turns normal fantasy tropes on their heads and though darker than other Disney shows, Owl House is an overall delight. If I haven’t convinced you yet, here are eight more reasons why you should watch!
1. Our Hero, Luz Noceda
You couldn’t ask for a better protagonist to follow into the world of the Boiling Isle. Luz, voiced by Sarah-Nicole Robles, is inquisitive, enthusiastic, and 100% authentically herself. She is a bisexual Dominican-American teen that represents so many of us who grew up wishing that we could do magic like the characters we read about. For being a human that shouldn’t be able to physically do magic, she is determined to find another way, which is incredibly inspiring.
2. Memorable Characters
A show would be nothing without a great ensemble of characters and this show does not disappoint! They are all incredibly quirky and easy to fall in love with. Eda is a great snarky mentor, that loves to boast about her independence and the bounty on her head. King is a demon that wants to be a tyrant but is also too adorable to be taken seriously. Gus and Willow are such wholesome friends that are definitely more powerful than they let on, and Amity is more than just your average perfectionist mean girl. We also meet Eda’s sister Lilith, a straight-laced member of the Emperor’s coven, the most powerful coven that upholds the laws at any cost. They have a great dynamic and a sibling rivalry that is extra dangerous when you consider how powerful and hotheaded both of them can get. Everyone is more than the archetypes they fit into on first glance, and even the side characters have interesting plots and can capture your attention with a one-liner.
3. Unique World Building
From skin eating fairies to a spooky night market, the Boiling Isles is an incredibly fascinating land that turns the magical stories we know on their head. It’s dangerous but beautiful, with depths we’ve only just begun to delve into and creatures that are extremely imaginative and sometimes very creepy in the best way. Even common objects like watches have demonic versions. It’s such a direct contradiction to the human world and the Reality Check camp that Luz is supposed to go to. The systems of government are complex and hint towards larger systematic commentary later on in the series. The lore is hinted to get even more complicated, exciting, and darker as the series goes on.
4. So Much Magic
Fan of Harry Potter? We’ve got you. Magic is naturally wild and a force of nature on the Boiling Isles, yet it is regulated as everyone cultivates one track of magic at Hexside Academy, a Hogwarts-like school. Instead of four houses, there are different magical tracks like plant magic or illusion magic that eventually lead to a coven and the only magic you’ll practice for life. Every display of magic, from the smallest light spell to the weirdest body swap spell, is a rich display of power and imagination. The whole structure also brings up the essential question that hatstalls in Harry Potter face (with higher stakes)– what do you do if you feel like you’re in the wrong track or want to learn multiple kinds of magic? And are there other ways of doing magic?
5. Queer Representation
It’s official, Disney has its first canon bisexual protagonist! After years of creators fighting for any representation in animation, executives have started to come around. Owl House not only provides queer subtext but makes it very overt with intimate moments and clear attraction. They do not hold back! Dana Terrance confirmed that Luz was bi and even that Amity is a lesbian, but that did not come as a shock to anyone watching. There are some very nice moments of crushing and gay panic that are incredibly relatable. The relationship doesn’t overwhelm the plot but enhances just another part of their lives and relationships to explore. It is just a part of their story and it will be exciting to see where they take those characters in future seasons!
6. The Relationships
You’ve got found family, you’ve got tense family dynamics, you’ve got longtime rifts to mend! Each relationship has a fresh dynamic that pulls something different out of each other. Each character are weirdos in their own ways but they take care of each other and push each other to be their best selves. They each have a lot of skeletons in their closets but Eda adopting Luz, and by extension, her friends, creates something like the traditional covens but wild, accepting, filled with all kinds of magic, and are incredibly powerful.
7. The Beautiful Animation
The animation style is definitely up there with shows like Steven Universe and Gravity Falls. The whole world comes alive in bright colours and memorable 2D designs. Every movement is so fluid and detailed, especially in the different action sequences. There is one dance sequence late in the season, in particular, that is beautiful and worth re-watching over and over again. The characters’ designs are all unique and the different creatures are unlike anything I’ve seen before.
8. The Fandom
The fandom is incredibly active and enthusiastic. From coming up with theories to making fan art, people have gotten very involved. Fans have even adopted an anthem! After an animated video of Luz and Amity was released to the song “Little Miss Perfect” by Joriah Kwamé, it quickly blew up. Even though the song was originally released as a 13 Reasons Why song in a contest, the lyrics seemed to fit Amity in particular so well. People were so engaged that Joriah Kwamé wrote another song called “Ordinary” as a sequel from Luz’s point of view that was dedicated to the Owl House fandom. Both songs are super cute, especially in relation to each other, and the enthusiasm really represents the passion of the fandom.
Owl House is a great balance of humour and emotional depth and the first season really kicked off with a bang. It has some great messages about staying true to yourself, and that even if your dreams seem impossible, there still might be a way to get there. With a clever plot, and so much still unanswered, this show still provides plenty to explore and mull over. As fans wait patiently for season 2, you can check this show out on Disney Plus now!
