Ashlynn Johnson
The Owl House is a show created by Dana Terrace that first aired on Disney Channel in 2020. The story follows a teenage girl named Luz Noceda as she is transported to an alternate world called the Demon Realm, full of witches, wizards, fantastical creatures, and magic. Luz runs into Eda the Owl Lady who takes her under her wing and introduces her to many other colorful and unique characters. However, there is evil that threatens the Demon Realm, and it is up to Luz to save the Boiling Isles, the land that many magical inhabitants call home, as well as the Demon Realm itself.
I first heard of The Owl House when it was released in January 2020. It was an instant hit among people of all ages. Fans were drawn to its charming art style, characters, and story. So, as any lover of animation would do, I decided to see what the hoot was about.
The first episode, titled “A Lying Witch and a Warden”, drew me in from the start. I found myself immersed in the Demon Realm and constantly smiling at the screen.The show was unlike any other show I had watched-it was witty, comforting, and thrilling all at the same time. From then on, I watched every episode and waited eagerly for the next season to be released.
The Owl House is not without its flaws. While somewhat entertaining on first watch, I did not want to revisit the “filler” episodes from the first season (episodes that have very little to no impact on the story itself) when I rewatched the show later on. That is not an issue that is specific to The Owl House as many shows suffer from the same problem.
The later seasons improved on that issue. There were significantly fewer filler episodes and each installment continued to build on the story. From mid-season two and the entirety of season 3, the show hit its storytelling peak. The emotional beats and character development were expertly crafted and kindled stronger connections to the story. More than once I found myself teary-eyed while watching.
Season 3 itself is what I would consider a near-perfect season. It is intense, saddening, infuriating, heartbreaking, and heartwarming all at once. I truly believe that it is a beautiful and revealing example of what stories can achieve and the power they have to change us.
The Owl House isn’t perfect, and it isn’t for everyone. But, it’s worth giving it a chance – I’m not particularly drawn to fantasy tales, but I still watched the show and was pleasantly surprised.
Although there are currently not any more episodes to be released, there is no doubt the impact of The Owl House on viewers will remain.