Nov
12th
2022
Owl House · 11:07pm Nov 12th, 2022
I started watching Owl House. Maybe like 15 episodes in? Luz just got permission to study all classes at the school by the shockingly-chill principal.
It's really good. Everywhere, every part. Especially Eda. But Sweet Celestia in merciful Equestria they use, abuse, chew, spit in a wrapper and save for later, then chew again cringy miscommunication as a plot device. Good guys lying to their friends, hiding the truth, ignoring explanations, misinterpreting directions, or just straight-up holding the idiot ball drives literally almost every episode's conflict.
Does that get any better?
I can confirm it does get better. In fact, next episode is famous in the fandom for very fun reasons.
I still need to start watching this show. Especially now that it's only got two more specials to go to wrap itself up. I was hesitant for a while, mostly because social media was emphasising the LGBTQ+ so strongly to the point that, contrary to the base premise and fun art style, you'd think the rest of the show wasn't much of anything. Or that it swamped its other strengths.
The over-reliance on miscommunication as a plot device in the early going sounds alarming, but if ShadowLDrago is right in it getting better, and the strengths folks have spoken of hold true, I can weather that in the early goings. There's worse "writers-settling-with-the-groove" casualties to befall a 1st season, after all.
I'd say most of TOH's present-day fandom started manifesting in late-Season 1. Don't get me wrong, the stuff before that absolutely has no shortage of good moments, but yeah, there is some Early Installment Weirdness and miscellaneous stylistic soul-searching you've gotta sift through along the way.
You've already gotten past "Once Upon a Swap" (which, FYI, the fandom generally considers "That one episode everybody clowns on so much that it's become passé to clown on it"), and you should more or less be in the clear once you're done with "Really Small Problems". There are some communication-based dramas afterwards, but IMO, they're generally handled in ways that are less cringe-inducing (or, at the very least, more narratively compelling).
Hope you enjoy it!
5697594
If Dan just got finished with the "chill principal" episode (which I'm assuming is "The First Day"), then they've still gotta get through "Really Small Problems" and "Understanding Willow" first. The former probably falls victim to those miscommunication issues, but things should start ramping up from there.
5697598
Yeah, the LGBTQ+ stuff is one of the more mainstream selling points, but personally speaking, I've found the dynamic between the main trio — particularly Luz and King* — and their circles of friends just as enthralling, if not more so. There's some great drama, too, for that matter, but I'm probably not the best at explaining it. Point being, would recommend!
*I might be biased, though; they can get kinda similar to late-series Twilight & Spike in quite a few regards, and you probably already know I've got an affinity for that sort of thing. :P
5697602
True. So not next episode, but it's about to ramp up speedyquick.
5697602
You know, I mixed my order, the shrink episode was the last one I saw. Which did cover approximately all of the listed concerns and was not great to end a binge on. Even "The First Day" involved a hissy-fit because the detention student overheard others say Luz... complained about detention. It's just episode after episode with that, and I'm glad that period is ending.
Funny enough I really enjoyed the body-swap episode. The main trigger wasn't misunderstanding but Eda being an impulsive harpy, and from start-to-finish it was a delightfully open riff on body-swap stories in general. Predictable, but a lot of fun.
5697598
Others be watching for the gay Harry Potter fanfiction, I be watching for terrible harpy cougar bird lady being just the best.
I recently watched it. Yes it gets better to a degree but some characters are always playing games with the truth. Do like the plot line Lilith goes through though.
5697609
I daresay much of the internet watches for the same reason.
Best concise tagline for Eda, by the way.
I don't know that I'd describe Principal Bump as "chill," but yes Owl House is pretty great.
5697644
I would. Especially after what he does later for his students.
This is a great show, Dan, and I hope you continue to watch. The bad news is the series finale is in sight. The good news is you'll be able to catch up and be with the rest of us for the final two super-sized episodes.
She badly needs her own spin-off.