#also its worth mentioning that luz and amity are also involved in this

[lollytea]

Huntlow thought - Hunter and Willow going out of their way to make sure Gus never feels like a third wheel. I really love that all three of them are close, because Willow and Gus’ relationship is clearly very important to them and nothing sucks quite like having a romantic interest get in the way of a friendship. Willow especially, having gone through what she did with Amity and knowing how it feels to have your best friend push you away, would take special care to see that they still did one-on-one hangouts, and that Gus never feels like he’s intruding. (She doesn’t really have have time to worry when it’s the three of them, though, because when Hunter and Gus are in the same room she immediately becomes The Braincell.)

Just, like, the two of them being friends first and dating second.

YEAH YEAH MY GOD YEAH YOURE SO RIGHT

I cannot imagine the three of them ever having a problem like this, it just feels so out of character.

As you said, Willow has had her terrible experience with Amity, and she and Gus were each others' only friend for the longest time. Their bond is so special and completely unbreakable. It would be so unlike Willow to ever neglect that.

And likewise, Gus knows Willow loves him. He has complete faith and confidence in this. He knows how loving she is and he's been through so much with her. This is not the kind of relationship that easily sows insecurity.

Meanwhile, Hunter has never had friends before so now that he does, there is no way in hell he is ever going to take them for granted. I don't think he would ever consider either romance or friendship to be superior to one another. They're both just different forms of love to him and Hunter had been without love for so long, that he needs to cherish all that he currently has in his life.

It's so important how all of the trio have established dynamics with eachother that are all unique and special in their own way. Willow and Gus have this unconditional love and years of history and have been each others only support during their darkest times. Hunter and Willow have this sweet soft friendship that is built on respect and admiration. And Hunter and Gus seem to exist in their own boyish bubble. Hunter looks out for Gus and Gus makes Hunter laugh.

But the three of them TOGETHER is a dynamic in its own right and its just as special. I also love this idea of total comfort in their relationships with eachother that even if Hunter and Willow ARE off having alone time, Gus doesn't feel even remotely weird that they're off doing stuff without him. Like all of the trio are able to hang out as duos without the third person feeling left out because they all understand how deeply they care about each other.

Like sometimes Hunter and Willow WILL be hanging out alone at her place and after a few hours they'll be like "I miss Gus. We should ask Gus to come over."

And then he bursts in like "HELLO LOVEBIRDS YOUR FAVOURITE BOY IN THE WORLD IS HERE." And he's fucking RIGHT he IS their favourite boy in the world

[silverblood5]

LunterWeek 2021 Day 6: Soulmates

Characters: Luz, Eda, King, Hunter, plus mentions of various others

Pairings: Luz x Hunter, a hint of Gus x Mattholomule Some mother/daughter bond between Luz and Eda

Wordcount: 2634

I wrote about 3 different drafts before I got an idea for this one and ran with it. Majority of it's worldbuilding, I'm afraid, but I liked making this concept so much, I'm gonna use it again someday. Soulmate AUs are not my strength, but I did enjoy this one. Hope you do too, thank you!

@lunterweek

Soul Day.

A day when the magic concerning souls is at its thinnest, and people across the Isles are granted a glimpse of the souls connected to theirs and what each bond means for the people involved.

Soulmates, essentially.

Luz had heard the term before, obviously, but the Human version she knew best was a little different to the definition they had in the Demon Realm.

Firstly, there were different kinds of soulmates, and everyone had more than one. And almost all of them were the ones you created yourself. Family, friends, people you had a strong connection too. On Soul Day, the bonds you’d created were visible.

Her friends had described it as a coloured tether that joined two people, one that flickered in and out of view and was impossible to hold. Despite not being tangible, however, people had described a tugging sensation on this day, that would pull them towards each other in times of joined emotion. Her Oracle teacher had described it as ‘the souls resonating with one another and longing to be closer’.

The tethers were only visible to those joined, and no one could see a bond they weren’t a part of.

In addition, each tether was a different colour, determined by whatever bond the soulmates had.

There were the three most common, and the simplest to explain. Purple meant familial, blood or not. Yellow meant friendship. And pink, meant romance.

Then there were other colours, that were a bit more specific.

Orange, a colour generally seen between guides and their charges. It can be between a parent and a child, or a mentor and a student. If you view someone as a role model, or someone to look to in your life, and they in turn view you as someone worth cherishing, with a desire to help nurture you through growth, then orange is the colour your bond will have.

Green is for the kinds of bonds that don’t have a specific name. They can be found in all kinds of people, but it was a somewhat rare colour to have. People had described it as being, ‘unconditional love’, or ‘love in its purest form’. It’s found in the kinds of people who have formed a lifelong bond, the kind that can’t be broken easily, and the kind that meant those joined would always be together through everything.

Blue was for the kinds of bonds that were based on trust, support, and loyalty. People with a blue bond might not always be close, but their love shines through when it matters the most. If you have a blue bond, it means you trust each other, and will always have each other’s backs, even if you argue or don’t get along all the time. It’s common in families, siblings especially, and can also be found in close friends.

And then there were some neutrals.

Brown meant that you cared about each other. You might not love, or even like each other, but if you have a brown bond, you have a connection, and you don’t want to see each other hurt. It’s seen by distant family members or old friends you still care for.

Grey is for particularly weak bonds, it can be seen by either, people who have a strained or fading relationship, or people whose bond is just beginning and thus, undefined.

People often had more than one coloured tether between the same soulmates, but it was possible for some tethers to change or fluctuate between colours if the bond wasn’t 100% sure what it should be.

Willow had said that her and Amity had had a bond that fluctuated between brown and grey for years, and both were worried to see what colour they would have this year.

All this talk of tethers between people had reminded Luz of the ‘red string of fate’ story from her own realm, something she’d explained to her Oracle class when the topic had come up. Her teacher had told her that the story must have come from the Demon Realm, because they did have a red tether that could be seen on Soul Day, but the red one was completely different from all the others.

Unlike the other colours, which form based on the connections people built themselves, a red tether is the only one that can be seen without a connection, even before the people meet. It was thicker, and brighter, and it never changed. It was also the most rare and could be seen at a much further distance than all the others appeared at.

A lot of people described this tether as, ‘A True Soul Bond’.

It was said these bonds were found in people who had been bonded since before they existed. People who were destined to meet and had the capability of forming a bond unlike any other. Their souls were opposites, mirrors of one another, the true definition of a soulmate.

These people could be anything, family, friends, lovers. Even enemies. It didn’t matter what kind of bond formed, only that if you were one of the rare few who shared a red bond, then that person was the other half of your soul.

Luz was enamoured with the entire ordeal, but deep down was a fear that she wouldn’t have her own tethers. She didn’t know if ‘Soul Day’ would work on humans, and she desperately did not want to be left out of something so magical.

The night before Soul Day, she struggled to fall asleep, fear keeping her awake.

By the time it was morning, Eda had to wake her up, as she’d slept through her alarms.

“Luz. Wake up.” Her mentor’s voice was soft and quite clearly holding back a lot of emotion.

Luz groaned as she slowly woke up, “Eda?” Her voice was rough with sleep as she blinked up at the witch. Eda had a wide smile and glassy eyes as she looked at the human. Luz slowly registered the unshed tears, but before she could ask what was wrong, Eda spoke again in that same tone of voice.

“Can you see the tethers?”

There was a moment of silence as Luz remembered what day it was, then she sat up with a gasp, wide awake and casting her eyes about.

Erupting form her chest were tendrils of colours that seemed to wave about in the air, popping in and out of focus before her eyes. She followed the tethers that connected her to Eda and her own eyes glassed over as she recognised what the colours meant.

Purple, yellow, orange, green and blue.

She launched herself at Eda, and for once, Eda squeezed back just as tight. Laughter and tears filled the first moments of morning and was the first thing King saw when he entered the human’s room.

“Luz?” He asked cautiously, and when Luz pulled back and saw the tethers joining her and the little demon, she opened her arms for him to join.

Purple, yellow, green, and blue.

From then, Luz continued about her day full of excitement. She got a thrill whenever she saw the colours connecting her to all the people in her life.

Hooty and Owlbert had purple, yellow and blue

Willow, Gus, and Amity were yellow, green, and blue

There were yellow bonds between her and several students she considered friends and was beyond overjoyed that they felt the same. There were also orange bonds between her and all her favourite teachers.

Willow and Amity were overjoyed at the return of their yellow tether, and Gus had noted a barely there string of pink connecting him and Mattholomule halfway through that the three girls had been teasing him about since he shyly mentioned it.

There were even thin grey tethers between her and Boscha, and her group of friends!

The day had been amazing, and Luz was hesitant to go back to her room after dinner because she didn’t want to see the tethers fade from the distance to the rest of the Owl House residents. But Eda had convinced her to get some sleep after one more group hug.

Deciding to document the occasion, Luz pulled out her phone and made another video for her mother, describing Soul Day and the connections she’d been able to visibly see. As always, it hadn’t gone through.

Luz decided to stay up a little longer, sitting on the roof outside her window and looking at the stars.

It was about half an hour later when it happened.

A light appeared on her chest. Having gotten used to the sudden lights throughout the day, Luz didn’t pay attention at first, and just thought one of the others had gotten close enough to activate the tethers.

But then she noticed the red glow.

Luz gasped as she looked down. Sprouting from her chest, a red tendril of light grew, thicker and brighter than all the others. It moved outward, arcing across the sky and into the woods surrounding the Owl House. Luz felt breathless as she watched the beautiful colour, waving through the air in a hypnotising motion. When she realised what the colour meant, she bolted to her feet.

Jumping inside her window just long enough to grab her cloak and a handful of glyphs, Luz took a running leap off the roof, using a plant glyph to catch her fall and deposit her on the ground.

She began running, faster than she ever had, determined to find whoever was on the other side of the tether. Luz knew that red tethers could reach distances much further than all the others, but she didn’t know exactly how far they could go. So, she ran, like her life depended on it. Everything her Oracle teacher had said about red tethers running on a loop in her brain.

She wondered what kind of bond they’d have, if they’d get along as well as her Oracle teacher had said. The way she described it made it sound like something out of a fairy-tale, or almost every Soulmate AU she’d ever read. Luz grinned at the possibilities and couldn’t help a euphoric giggle. Whoever was on the other end of this tether was the other half of her soul. Even on the Boiling Isles, finding something like this was incredibly rare.

Realising it was late at night, and she still wasn’t any closer to her ‘True Soul Bond’, Luz picked up the pace. She could not miss this opportunity!

She raced through trees, under branches and over roots. She passed startled animals and the occasional demon. She moved faster than she could ever remember moving and she did not stop.

Just as she was starting to think she should have risked grabbing Owlbert for the journey, another colour lit up her chest. This one was a lot dimmer in comparison to the red one, and the colour and position of it came as a shock to Luz. A grey tether, wrapping itself around the red one, as a symbol that it was a connection for the same person.

Luz had learned everything she could about tethers since the moment she learned about Soul Day, and she knew that you couldn’t have any colour but red for someone you hadn’t met yet. Therefore, this meant, that she had already met the person she was searching for, and they already had an undefined bond.

This also meant, that they must be close by.

With her heart racing, Luz slowed her steps and came to rest against a tree. Through trying to catch her breath, she heard someone else doing the same as their footsteps slowed. Her heart now beating for another reason, she saw the red tether reach through the tree she was leaning against, and a feeling like she was being gently tugged in that direction, and knew it was directly leading to the person on the other side.

The person who had run here same as she had. The person who seemed just as breathless as her. The person who was leaning against the exact same tree she was.

Swallowing down her nerves, Luz let out a single breathless word.

“Hi.”

…

“Hi.” The answering voice was just as breathless as her own. It was deeper than hers, masculine, giddy and familiar.

Reminded of the grey tether, proof that they’d already met, Luz swallowed again, trying to wet her parched throat, and stood tall. Self-consciously patting her hair in place, Luz took slow steps around the tree. A crack of twigs across from her told her that he was doing the same, and anticipation rose in her throat.

Clearing the last few steps, Luz saw magenta-coloured eyes, pale skin with a pink scar on one cheek, and windblown ash blonde hair.

Blinking in pure shock, Luz’s mouth fell open.

“Hunter?”

They both stared at each other, too shocked to move and still a little out of breath. After several long moments, Luz’s eyes fell to the coloured strings of light that connected their chests. Bright pulsing red, and thin grey wrapped around it.

Two people whose souls were bound long before they met. Two people who formed a basic connection when they did meet, one that was still undefined. Two halves of the same soul. Two strangers who barely knew each other.

It might not have been what she was expecting, but Luz was… satisfied. It felt right that it was Hunter.

She sagged against the tree and met his eyes again. “You know, I’m not surprised.”

Hunter stared at her, seeming wary, “You’re… not?”

Luz shook her head, a smile on her face. “No. I thought we were similar in Latissa. And I definitely got the impression we could become friends if we got to know each other.”

This made Hunter relax as well. Both of them now had shoulders pressed against the tree trunk as they looked at each other.

Hunter gave her a small smirk. “Friends, huh?”

Luz blushed in response, her smile widening as she ducked her head, “Or whatever.” He was her type after all. “I would like to get to know you though. Maybe we could turn this grey tether into something else before the end of the night.” She raised an eyebrow at him as she waved her fingers over and through the light, waiting for his response.

Soulmates or not, he was still a part of the Emperor’s Coven. And he hadn’t been interested in sharing personal information the last time they met.

After a moment, he slid down the trunk and sat at the base of the tree, patting the spot next to him. “What would you like to know?”

Luz grinned, plonking down next to him far less gracefully than he had. “What’s your favourite colour?” She asked excitedly.

He raised an eyebrow at her. “Seriously?”

Luz shrugged. “What? I figured we’d start small, and I do want to know.”

He sighed, sitting back as he thought. “I don’t know exactly. Maybe purple? or green? I do like red.” He waved a hand. “One of those, I guess. It changes.” He looked at her curiously, “You?”

“Purple.” She answered instantly. “Sometimes pink, but purple’s my number one.” She looked at him. “You get next question.”

Hunter floundered for a moment, clearly unsure, but she waited him out. “Favourite book?” He asked.

Luz grinned. He may regret asking her that question, especially so early on, but if he wanted to know anything about her, he had to know of her love for Good Witch Azura.

They carried on like that for hours, even after their tethers faded, signalling the end of Soul Day. But their conversation continued, promising the beginning of something new.

Especially since, before the tethers faded, their grey one had lightened to yellow.

[sepublic]

A Palisman from a Grom Tree?

��          I’ve heard speculation about Luz and Amity’s Grom Tree being used to create their Palismans respectively… And this is a charming concept, I like it! I’m also partial to the idea of Luz adopting one of the discarded Palismans that the Bat Queen is guarding, as I feel it just makes a lot of sense for her character and ties into her themes and motifs; But at the same time, I can’t deny the appeal of Luz and Amity getting their Palismans from a symbol of their sapphic love! And if not Luz, at least Amity could carve her Palisman from the tree…

           Though, it does raise the question- If Plant Magic can create Palisman Trees, then why is it such a dwindling resource? Is Belos actively regulating and restricting the growth of these trees, and hunting down those who break his law? I wouldn’t put it past him… And I have to wonder if a magical staff can be a potential workaround to Belos’ coven bindings, as Luz lacked a bile sac, but was able to cast spells through both the Training Wand and Owlbert. I also have to wonder how a Training Wand functions, for that matter- Amity’s seems to be wooden and it apparently has to be recharged. Are these wands carved from a weaker form of wood, or at least use less of it? Are wands that need recharging the result of this dwindling resource, and witches being forced to make more from less?

           How do you recharge a Training Wand? I’ve speculated in the past about the idea of Bile transfusions… Is this a way? Do some witches donate magic bile that can be used to recharge a wand- And it works, because that wand is made of magical wood that can actually process that bile into spells? Perhaps Palisman Wood, or at least the material for wands, is like a botanical version of the organs that process bile and convert it into actual magic… It needs bile to actually work with and function, just as Eda’s hands can still cast circles, ideally- But her bile sac has been drained, so what it does produce is powerless. A drained wand being reminiscent of Eda’s current condition would be an interesting parallel, actually, and maybe further recontextualize Eda making a point of Luz needing to learn Glyphs; Especially since it’s helpful to have Glyphs AND a Palisman anyway, not to mention that magical bile could be used for others without access to glyphs.

           But, I digress… It’s worth noting that the magic doesn’t seem to come from JUST the wood itself, as Belos cracks open a palisman like an eggshell to harvest its bile within. Is the wood inherently magical, or just able to process magic? Maybe both- Maybe the wood produces magic and then turns it into spells. Regardless, back to my point… I wouldn’t put it past Belos to restrict the creation of palisman trees if staffs could be a workaround to his bindings. Perhaps that’s why we see so few of them- Only one from Eda a wild witch, another from Lilith, who likely has privilege as Head of the Emperor’s Coven (the way members of that group lack coven bindings)… And we hear of one of Willow’s dads having a staff, though we technically don’t know if his has a Palisman on the end, either; Or if it’s basically just a bigger Training Wand in function.

           Dana refers to the resource for palismans as dwindling, so maybe Belos is involved, who knows? Regardless of why those trees are becoming rarer, there leaves the question of why they can’t be replenished… And perhaps regular Plant Magic can’t grow them, period? At least Plant Magic generated from bile… If magic ultimately comes from nature and the Titan’s own body, then perhaps only nature can spawn these trees, naturally; Attempts to spawn them from bile-magic comes from an individual witch and not the Titan itself, and so they end in failure. But Luz… Well, Luz uses Glyphs- The earliest form of Magic, taught by the Titan itself! And Glyphs directly interact with, interface, and manipulate the nature around the user; AKA, the very body and flesh of the Titan!

           So perhaps Glyphs have a more innate connection to nature and the Titan itself, and through this connection, Luz’s Plant Glyph was able to spawn a genuine Palisman Tree from the Titan’s body by triggering its production/growth! If so, then does Bump or anyone else recognize this is as a Palisman Tree? Did Eda, or were the characters not simply paying enough attention? It’d be interesting if the characters find out later that the Grom Tree is made up of Palisman wood… If so, is owning this tree illegal? Or is Bump allowed to do it, in addition to not caring much for the law anyway… It’d be neat to see Luz and/or Amity carve a Palisman from the tree, and then let Bump use the rest to help other students create Palismans!

           And instead of cutting down the entire tree, harvesting it all at once for instant power and gratification the way Belos probably would- Hexside lets the tree flourish, and has Plant Witches –Willow and Jerbo likely among them- regularly tend to it… Clippings and branches are removed, but enough of the tree itself is preserved so it can heal, regenerate, and continue providing palisman wood for future generations! It’d be a nice message about environmentalism, about preserving nature so others after you can benefit from it… And the value of temperance, doing things in moderation to keep in mind the needs of others. It’d contrast with Belos, who seems associated with mechanical industry, which tends to completely devour resources immediately for itself, leaving nothing behind to grow and supply for others, all for that short-term profit… And really, that seems pretty in line with how the Coven System functions and what this show has to say.

           Overall- I don’t know if Luz will specifically make her own Palisman from that tree, much less what kind of Palisman it’d be… Maybe Amity, and even a bunch of other students from Hexside, could get in on the fun! I’d like to see Willow make one for herself, given her connection to plants- And maybe Jerbo, as he is older, and he’s well-versed in Plant-Abomination magic, which was basically what was used to create the Grom Tree… Actually, the discussion of the Grom Tree could be a neat segue into bringing Jerbo back into the picture, but I can also see the writers not doing that either. Even if Luz doesn’t use the tree, it’s totally in-character for her to provide opportunities for others in this way; And it’d be a neat opportunity to discuss the nature and origins of Palismans and the resources that go into them, as well as how the Emperor’s Coven might react and its stance on Palismans.

          We know that witches typically get their staffs after graduating and make them at school, which suggests they’re legal… So, maybe they aren’t a workaround to Coven Bindings, or they’re a privilege only for particularly skilled witches. Maybe the Emperor’s Coven will try to confiscate the Grom Tree, hoo knows? This does remind me of how in Escape of the Palisman, we see the Bat Queen fly off to a particularly massive tree in the background. Perhaps this tree is where Palismans are carved from- It’d make sense given how she and other palismans gather nearby, and maybe it has something to do with how the Bat Queen made her own kids! Imagine that, a Palisman creating Palismans… Maybe THAT tree will be utilized, maybe it’s the Grom Tree- Maybe it’s both, because the more trees, the merrier!

[jeremys-blogs]

The Owl House: Top 10 Episodes

The Owl House's first season was made up on nineteen great episodes, but as with any show there were some I loved more than others. And here's my top ten of them.

10 - Witches Before Wizards: The first episode might have done a great job of establishing both the main cast and the world they're having their stories in, but it was really the show's second outing that truly cemented that this wasn't going to be a typical children's fantasy tale. Luz, overwhelmed by her years of wanting the perfect escapist fantasy, is seemingly given exactly what she wants and, with her current mentor looking like something of a disappointment, goes along with it right into a trap. This episode's clear message is that, whatever ideas Luz and the audience have of epic adventures in other worlds needs to be jettisoned right here and now, as such thinking simply leads to those like Luz being taken advantage of. It also helped to establish Eda, both as an unconventional type of mentor, but also as someone who genuinely cares for Luz's well-being. It's a story that firmly tells us that, if good things are to happen to us, we need to make them happen instead of waiting for others to hand such things to us, and that even a place that comes off as creepy and horrifying can have its appeal when looked at the right way. A fine episode that does well at helping to acclimatise us to the world of the Boiling Isles.

9 - Something Ventured, Someone Framed: Gus didn't really have that many standout moments in the show in the same way that Willow did, but I can safely say that his first (and thus far only) spotlight episode was a good one. Most of the time he's used either as "the supportive friend" or as comic relief, but here we got to see other sides to him, like his insecurities at being the youngest among his peers, or the fears he feels over losing even the small position he has among them. It was also a good show of how Luz isn't the only one who's going to be causing problems at Hexside, as Gus was very much responsible for the shenanigans this time, but he does win points for taking the blame and accepting the consequences of it. Also, special mention must also go to Eda for her subplot of trying to get Luz into the school. It really went to show how much she cared for the girl, since she was willing to make nice with a place she personally loathed because she knew how good it would be for her apprentice. Between Gus and Eda, this was a good little Hexside story with some good development for its two prominent players.

8 - The Intruder: This episode marked an important moment of development for all three of the main characters. For Luz it was her first real step in learning how to use magic in this world, as well as showing just how quick she is to be able to use it in an immediate situation. For King we got to see a softer side to him than we'd been seeing up to this point, and just how much he values Luz as a friend and someone to teach. And for Eda, this was the moment we came to realise just why she's separate from the rest of the Boiling Isles' society. Her curse, which is portrayed in much the same way as something akin to a chronic illness that real-world people would have to deal with, is clearly a bother to her and something that would play a pivotal part of later stories. And the horror aesthetic is of course a good framing device for all of this, giving our characters a desperate situation to not only show of what they can do, but also reveal secrets like Eda's condition. It was a dark, intense and very character-driven story that served as a massive wake-up call to the fact that danger can very much be right at their doorstep in this series.

7 - I was a Teenage Abomination: Here we got our big introduction to Hexside, a location that would provide a great many other great stories and serve as an important place for Luz. In addition, the episode also gave us a number of supporting characters, like soon-to-be friends Willow and Gus, and perhaps one of the show's most complicated characters, Amity. Luz's first arrival onto the scene, both for this school and its students, would prove to be her first real impact on this world, which would of course have consequences aplenty further down the line. Now of course, schools for magic are no stranger to works of fantasy, but this show does well in making Hexside its own thing, with its own feel distinct from other such institutions in fiction. And of course we once again have Eda utterly stealing the show with her early-season disdain for the place and her horror at the thought of Luz wanting to go there, though she admittedly does at least soften to the friends she makes in her brief encounter. Overall, a fun and enjoyable introduction to one of the most important places in the show, as well as giving Luz her first taste of a place that would come to mean a great deal to her later on.

6 - Covention: Like with our introduction to Hexside, this episode gives us a lot of information about the world of the witches and how things typically work here. We're told of the coven system, the magical authority that governs magic, as well as why Eda specifically is opposed to them, but at the same time we have Luz, who despite respecting her teach is open-minded enough to want to learn more and make her own decision on the matter, which was a nice touch as far as I'm concerned as it showed she wasn't just blindly obedient. And speaking of Luz, we get her next step in her relationship to Amity here, as we once more have the two at odds, but with that conflict eventually changing into one where Amity understands Luz more and where we learn that there's more shades to Amity than simply being a school rival. Eda too gets growth as a character, as we have our big introduction to her sister and the knowledge that the two don't have the best of relationships, culminating in one of the show's thus-far best pieces of animation when the two eventually duel, which would of course serve only as a prelude to a fight that came later. Overall, Covention had a lot packed in, and it was executed nearly flawlessly.

5 - Adventures in the Elements: Fun fact, I'd sort of debated with myself over whether this or Lost in Language would be included here, since both episodes share a lot in common. Both feature Luz learning more while also taking action that puts her in a bad light with Amity and both heavily involve Edric and Emira. In the end though I decided that I enjoyed this one more, and what's more it served as another important milestone in Luz's education, since it's really the first time Eda actively goes out of her way to teach her about magic. Additionally, we get some hints as to the true nature of magic in this world, something that Luz comes to know more than even her own teacher. We get hints that Luz's ways are something that the oldest witches did back in the day but has since been forgotten, as Esa herself seems to only vaguely know how that ancient power was used. Also, it's another case of Amity warming up to Luz, to the point where I'd officially call this the moment where the two became friends. And of course Edric and Emira were far more hilarious and likeable here than they were in Lost in Language, so there's that too.

4 - Enchanting Grom Fright: Let me get the obvious stuff out of the way first. Yes, the Lumity shipping moments are adorable and a great milestone for Disney. And yes, that dance sequence was brilliantly animated and easily worth the thousand-plus times I've gone back and watched it. But as good as all that stuff is, what really makes this episode work for me is Luz. Not only do we get another example of her well-meaning nature getting her into trouble, which is something of a recurring theme in this show, but it's also the episode that really addresses her decision to leave her world and be in the Boiling Isles. Throughout the story she's shown to be worried about both her mother back home and what the latter might think if she knew what Luz had really been doing these past few weeks. It's an understandable fear that she's been avoiding for, quite possibly, the entirety of her time in the show, and by the time the episode ends she's fully accepted that she needs to speak to her mother far more than she'd been doing. That, alongside great stuff from other characters, Like Amity's own fears and King struggling to find an audience, made this episode a truly special watch for me.

3 - Wing it Like Witches: In terms of pure entertainment value, as in just sheer fun, this episode easily makes it to my personal top. However, given that the remaining episodes all did more in terms of character and story, I felt it wouldn't really be right to have this one be any higher. But, it's still a hugely enjoyable outing for the show, and one that I've re-watched several times over since it first aired. And it's surprising that that's the case, given that sports movies (or even parodies of them) aren't something I usually enjoy, and this episode has it as both its A and B plots. But I guess that's a testament to the episode if I managed to be delighted by the story in the face of that. The character of Boscha proved a good "love to hate" antagonist that Luz, Willow and Amity must overcome, and it's especially satisfying to finally see Amity in particular break away from that kind of toxic crowd for good. But, not one to be one-upped, Eda herself gets a similar trouble to face when she challenges her sister to the same game, and much like with Luz it's very good to see her come out on top. In terms of how much the characters are developed, this one probably isn't winning any awards, but in terms of just how much fun it was for me, it's easily one of the best The Owl House has to offer.

2 - Agony of a Witch: Disney have had plenty of moments where the episodes prior to the finale are among the darkest and most serious stuff they make, and Owl House, it appears, has one more to add to that collection. Agony is, without question, the most intense story of the entire first season. A darkest hour that I haven't seen from Disney TV for quite some time. It's a level of seriousness and danger that we all probably knew was coming, but likely weren't ready for when it finally came. Our main villain is revealed, the truth behind Eda's curse comes to light, and by the time it was all over it seemed as though all hope was lost. It was a real punch to the gut, and went to show just how much these characters had come to mean to me, given how distraught I felt at seeing them hurt like this. If I had one complaint, and this is no fault of this episode specifically, it's that the follow-up, the actual finale, never managed to capture the same feeling of intensity. But that's a very small criticism, and as I said, this was one hugely impressive episode that brought the stakes up to eleven and showed that this show had more than earned the right to do so.

1 - Understanding Willow: I'll admit upfront that I have some bias on this one, as Willow has consistently been one of my favourite characters in the show. So an episode devoted to delving into her backstory was pretty much guaranteed to get my interest. But credit where it's due, it actually impressed far more than just that initial hook, as we get our long-awaited explanation as to the reasons why she and Amity stopped being friends way back when, a point that was hinted at quite a few episodes back. It's one of those things I like about shows like this, where small bits of dialogue can come back and take centre stage in big ways like this. And of course, we have Luz coming into her own as the responsible one, taking charge and doing what she can for her friend. And it's great that this isn't a problem that she was directly responsible for, unless you count her flipping a photo over as her being the cause of all this. Amity gets plenty of growth as well as a truly gut-punching reveal as to what motivated her actions, and the remaining cast, like Eda and Gus, all have a pretty entertaining side-story of their own. All-in-all, this might seem like an odd choice, but to me Understanding Willow is just the complete package in terms of what I like about this show.

And that's my list. Hope you all enjoy these episodes as much as I do 🥰

[lollytea]

headcanon: i don't buy that Hunter doesn't know or at least hasn't heard about crushes or other romance aspects of life. He had a big position in the Emperor's Coven, with lots of tasks to do outside the castle like. He goes outside. He touches grass. He likes to study and observe the world around him. There is no doubt that he hasn't at least seen two lovebirds being all gooey while he was one of his missions.

But the funny thing is, since he was so far away removed from that type of relationships, he only knows those things in theory. He doesn't realize that he has a crush at first, he just. Assumes that everybody feels that way about her because... Cmon. Its Willow we are talking about.

I can already see the whole thing: him, Luz, Gus and Amity watching a rom-com of some sort and Hunter is just scoffing at the whole deal, saying that he doesn't have time for something like that. Then Willow walks in and he gets all flustered and starts tripping in his own words, and as soon as she walks out, Luz states that he clearly doesn't know what a crush is, and proceeds to describe to him all the things he feels but he's all like "Yeah? What's your point? You don't feel that too?"

"No??? Why would we??"

"Because?? It's Willow??" he is completely shocked at this point. "She's cool, and strong, and kind, and smart and pretty, and oh my titan I have a crush on her."

On another note, Willow goes completely batshit crazy when she realizes she likes Hunter. He could draw out a simple smile and she goes completely nuts. He drives her nuts. She goes full on Meilin Lee mode, doing little doodles of him in secret, going all "hubba hubba" and stomping her foot on the ground like that rabbit from Bambi, and coming up with the most insane romantic scenarios with him. Eventually, while her friends are teasing about her denial, she finally caves in and admits very loudly that yes, she does have a big fat crush on him, and she does wants to nibble all over his cute hot face, only to die of embarrasment when she finds out he was just outside in the hall and heard the whole thing.

(I realize that I way have gone a little too overboard on my rambling scenarios, and for that you have my most sincere apologies)

I've been staring at this ask for like an hour because I love it SO much that I hardly know how to respond.

Firstly YEAH. I keep talking about this but Hunter is a lot less socially clueless than people presume. He's shown in Eclipse Lake to know what a girlfriend is. He's not confused, he doesn't ask any questions and he knows enough about romantic relationships to understand that it means "someone who thinks you're special" Like he gets it in theory. He's never been involved with the whole thing but it's pretty straightforward as far as he's concerned.

And like yeah he's absolutely been out and about during missions and has explored the Boiling Isles and has probably interacted with plenty of people to get a get a halfway decent social understanding. But it's also worth mentioning that before he became Golden Guard, Hunter was a scout. Scouts seem to operate mostly in groups of two or more and are shown to be pretty much regular people who have casual conversations with each other. Plus judging from Hunter's interactions with Steve, he's on a pretty friendly basis with at least some if not most scouts. So like. Hunter was absolutely grouped in with other scouts during his childhood to preteen years and he listened to them chitchat about crushes and the like. He thought it was annoying and gross and probably made fun of them for it but from a developmental sense it helped him a lot in the long run.

But yeah he has completely detached himself from all that romantic stuff cuz at some point he decided it's only for foolish spacecases.

So he will not recognize his crush on Willow for like the longest time. Like he absolutely doesn't recognize it right now in the show itself. He knows deep down. Like deep deep down but he's so good at Not Thinking About Stuff that he doesn't want to think about. Hunter is brilliant at mental gymnastics. So he's come up with his own reasonable conclusions over why he acts so weird with her. Like. She is undeniably the single most cool powerful witch he has ever met in his life. He's never known anybody like Willow. And this mind-blowingly awesome girl is his FRIEND?? HOLY FUCK. Like OF COURSE he's on edge around her. Of course he wants to impress her. Of course he wants to keep her in his life. Being so jittery and in awe that she exists just makes sense to him. His brain is chanting "don't fuck this up, don't fuck this up, don't fuck this up, don't fuck this up," at all times. He's also convinced himself that someone being insanely pretty is like a normal reason to want to to be their totally platonic friend. Like bro???

And its obvious he likes her. Like so obvious and it probably would only take something tiny for him to realize it like Luz tipping him off and he's like WAIT!!! HOLD UP!!! HOLY FUCK YOURE RIGHT!!! And then he's going insane wondering how he managed to NOT notice that he had a huge crush all this time. Like he can acknowledge NOW that it was obvious so hes just pacing back and forth and gripping at his hair like "how'd I miss that? The fuck is wrong with me?"

AND OH MY GOD FUCKING FERAL CARTOONY LOVESTRUCK WILLOW IS SO FUNNY IM OBSESSED WITH IT!!! I fully support this little girl's Titan given right to be cringe on main. Like PLEASE she is a loser in my heart. The way you describe this is hilarious to me. THE FUCKING RABBIT FROM BAMBI, I SEE IT, I SEE YOUR VISION HERE

I mean in my head she's definitely very good at keeping it to a minimum when Hunter is around, yknow? Like she definitely blushes and smiles a little too much and giggles for no reason and its probably noticeable to anyone observant enough but she's not quite as pathetically obvious as Hunter is. But like. There's a fucking riot inside her head whenever he smiles. Kicking and screaming and biting and setting shit on fire. She is unhinged but very good at not letting it show. Unless he laughs. Then she might have to leave the room for a moment to have a gay little meltdown. MAYBE.

God the idea of her climbing under her bed where nobody can see her and doodling him in her notebook. SO TRUE. On all levels except physical, Hunter is a member of a grossly saccharine boyband from the 90s and Willow is lovingly cutting his face out of magazines and making a collage of him on the inside of her closet door. I don't take constructive criticism on this take.

The idea of her miraculously managing to keep this to herself and not be a complete mess in public over it but then it just keeps building and building and Hunter just becomes way too much and he starts smiling and laughing more and more frequently and eventually Willow explodes in front of Luz and Amity.

"YES I HAVE A CRUSH ON THE WEIRD PRETTY BOY!!! YES I WANNA KISS HIS DUMB HOT FACE!!! YES I WANNA HOLD HIS STUPID SWEATY HAND!!!! YES I WANT TO SCOOP HIM UP AND SPIN HIM AROUND!!!!! ARE YOU HAPPY NOW??? IS THAT WHAT YOU WANT TO HEAR???"

Yes girl go apeshit. I am a HUGE fan of Willow loser behavior. Thank you so much for this ask. The images it put in my head are unmatched.

[ordinaryschmuck]

What I Thought About “Separate Tides” from The Owl House

Salutations, random people on the internet who most likely won’t read this! I am an Ordinary Schmuck. I write stories and reviews and draw comics and cartoons.

...>A-hem< F**KING CALLED IT!

I said that the earliest that The Owl House would return would be late June and early July. And some of YYYOOOUUU sons of witches doubted me by saying it would be fall or winter. Well, guess what! "Separate Tides'' has come and gone, the show is back and better than ever, and we are all happy about it! You see how it pays to be optimistic, you persistent PACK OF PESSIMISTS!

...Sorry. Got a little hot there. I'm just so happy it's BACK!

10 MONTHS! It's been nearly 10 months since this show began its hiatus, large in part because of the pandemic. It was painful. BOY, was it painful. But I can already tell that the new season is going to be well worth the wait just by this episode alone.

But beware you mangey sea dogs! Thar be spoilers ahead when discussing such a premier.

And I swear to you that it's only spoilers for "Separate Tides." I haven't seen "Escaping Expulsion" either, and I promise you will be safe from anybody ruining it for you. But maybe don't read any responses from this post. Thar may be d**ks in these waters. So let's review, shall we!

WHAT I LIKE

Mirroring Season One’s Opening Scene: First off, this is a neat callback to what is the perfect first impression of the series. That scene perfectly introduces us to the type of show The Owl House is, while this one acts as a reintroduction to the world we left for way too long.

Second, this is also a well-hidden character moment. Luz is finally living the life she dreamed of, but it isn't exactly all that she expected. It's a great showcase that despite literally running away to a fantasy world, Luz is still getting a regular dose of reality. And I still love the irony in all of that.

(Plus, King eating the bounty is just funny).

The Recap Recording: This is a smart way to recap events from the season finale. It might be weird that Luz says things that the audience already knows, but she's not talking to us. She's talking to her mom. So she's going to explain all that she can in a way for Camila to fully understand. Besides, not every fan had repeatedly watched The Owl House Season One over and over again like a bunch of frickin' lunatics...You know who you are.

Plus, as an upside, Luz gets to explain new events and concepts for how she and the rest of the Owl House are making a living. In no way does it feel like forced exposition because, again, she's trying to describe as much as she can to her mother. It's a reasonable and natural way to talk to the audience in order to catch them up while also showing what's been happening since we've last left this show.

Luz Can’t Send Texts to Her Mom: ...Well, Texts to Home, it was fun while it lasted, but the current canon has decided that you're done. I'll miss you and appreciate all that you've done for me, but, yeah, this is the end. Sorry.

Alright, now that I got my jokes out of the way, allow me to explain how this is really a heartbreaking moment. Because the fact that Luz is forever cut off from her mother, even through texts, is an idea that just twists the knife in your heart when you really sit down to think about it. Luz's little goodbye at the end of her video does nothing but makes it worse.

On the upside, we get some solid character development as Luz doesn't even hesitate to send the video to Camila, learning her lesson from "Enchanted Grom Fright" about being more honest. She finally faced her fear, even if it was a fruitless effort.

They’re Doing Odd Jobs Now: This is a smart workaround for how the Owl House residents are making money. Some fans guessed that maybe Eda had so much junk piled up that they wouldn’t worry, but this seems more of a logical direction. Even if Eda had enough garbage to sell, she’ll can and will eventually run out at some point, meaning that they will all have to take the odd jobs anyway. So I appreciate the writers used that plot point sooner rather than later, as a fun romp as bounty hunters is something you want to do early in the season instead of later on. Especially with how Dana Terrace confirmed that s**t’s gonna go down in the future.

Lilith: ...I'm still willing to hold off--What the f**k did I say his name was? *looks up past review* Frederick Ulis--Frederick Ulisinsburg!

I am willing to hold off Frederick Ulisinsburg, for now, because Lilith is...sort of on the right track. I mean, I don't like how quick she was to playfully mock Eda or rudely yell at Hooty. But I do think that there is potential for her character. She feels genuine guilt for what she's done, and there's a chance that the new season will explore that further if the writers are smart (which they are). On top of that, there's a possibility that every time Lilith tries to act cocky or full of herself, she will be treated as a proverbial punching bag because of it. Like how her poster got burned down after boasting how impressive she looks. Or how Golden Guard's poster magically sealed itself to her face when Lilith tried to throw it away. It's the latter that primarily got me cackling like a madman due to how deservingly hilarious it was.

And, well...she happily clapped like a schoolgirl! Which was adorable! I can't hate characters who have the potential to be adorable! It's not in my nature!

So, while I am a little hesitant in liking her, I think there's a chance for improvement in her character in the future that I look forward to. We just have to wait and see if the writers pull it off.

(By the way, to the person that came up with Lilith wearing a "battery low" shirt...you're a genius in visual gags/storytelling.)

Greg’s List: Have I ever mentioned that this show is funny?

Who's Greg? Why does he organize a list of perfect bounties?

I don't know, but the idea of some random person in the Boiling Isles is putting it on himself to set up a list to make bounties...I'm sorry, but that's funny to me. It's also probably for how Craig's List was made, but when you really think about it, Craig's List is a funny idea as well.

Eda Isn’t Feared Anymore: I sort of guessed that this would happen, but seeing it is a whole different level of sympathy to feel for the character. Eda's main schtick was being the most powerful witch on the Isles, and that's gone now. She's forced to adapt to this new normal, which she's quick to do, but still. Tt's got to be a rough kick to the ego now that no one even cares about who she is anymore.

It's a low moment for her character that hopefully sets up her own arc for the rest of the season.

Luz Feels Like She’s a Burden: I will demolish her with love and kindness if she even CONSIDERS talking so poorly about herself again! Because Luz is not a burden. She is a beam of light that literally brightens up the lives of nearly everyone she meets. Eda already explains how her life is better because of Luz (through a heart-tugging speech that almost got to me, by the way), but it's not just Eda.

King now has his first real friend who admires him and treats him like the king he wants to be.

Willow has become much more confident and cheerful because Luz was always in her corner.

Gus learns more about the humans he appreciates with his whole heart while also having a friend that treats him like an equal rather than a kid.

And do I even have to say ANYTHING about Amity?

The Boiling Isles wouldn't be better off without Luz. It's better because of her. And shame on this girl for thinking otherwise...even though I fully understand where she's coming from.

I'm about to get personal for a second, so strap in. Because I am a twenty-somthing-year-old who is currently living with his mom. It's as pathetic as it sounds. But it's because I'm still attending college, and she says school comes first and jobs and apartments come second. Despite that, I feel like trash for just...living here as she still takes care of me and pays for the food I can't afford. She says that I shouldn't worry about it, but I still wait for the day I can finally pay her back for everything. Not some things, but everything. And that's Luz's mentality in this episode. The overwhelming guilt she's feeling for thinking she's inconveniencing Eda's life is something that hits really hard for me. It doesn't matter if it's true, but that she believes it's true. It's a heartbreaking character arc she's forced into for this episode that also adds more to why she's one of the many characters I heavily relate to.

Lulu and Hootstipher: Whoever thought of this idea...I f**king love you.

This is similar to when Noah and Owen became friends in Total Drama World Tour. Seemingly one-sided at first, you see a cute friendship that you would have never expected, but it works! Hooty is this happy and naive character who hardly understands what's going on half the time, and Lilith is...Lilith. Their chemistry is instantly fun as their dynamic is quick to understand.

This also shines with potential for character growth, for it could give Lilith a chance to be more caring and Hooty a chance to be more than just the comic relief. If you were to tell me that this is what was going to happen when the season premiered, I would have thought you were crazy. But now, after seeing it in action, I'm genuinely excited to see where this cute friendship between these two goes.

(As long as it doesn't involve fans shipping them. Because Hooty can do better)

Luz Getting Better with Her Magic: Our little bisexual princess is growing up! And, man, is it awesome to see. Luz going from just barely knowing how to do magic to full-on using her spells like second nature just warms my heart with all the character growth it presents. Now, some people might want an explanation for how she's able to do said spells, to which I say: "Who the f**k cares?"

If you ask me, Luz's magic is one of those things that doesn't need a direct answer because it doesn't matter as much. But if you're going to be a baby about it, here's what I can offer: As far as I can tell, it's equal parts having the glyph and mentally picturing what the spell should do. It's much like how Willow draws a spell circle and can either make giant jungle vines or a patch of flowers to land on. Luz's glyphs are her own spell circles. As long as she concentrates hard enough, she can make the glyph do whatever she wants it to.

There. You have your explanation. Now let's just all appreciate the fact that Luz can now throw fireballs and make vine whips like the superpowered teenager she most likely fantasized of being. Ok? Ok.

A Pirate Losing His Head...Literally: ...And I'm gonna go ahead and add that to the list.

I mean, for f**k's sake, WE SEE BONE! He puts his head back on, but we still see the bone!

Eda in a Pirate Outfit: ...That is all.

The Golden Guard: This guy shows up for only a few minutes, and I'm already beginning to like him. He seems just as threatening as Belos while also coming across as a guy who loves his job and being a ton of fun to watch because of it. I adore villains that find that balance of being funny and terrifying. The result is a character who makes me laugh on top of making me scared of what they could do to our protagonists. So far, that's the Golden Guard in a nutshell, and I can't wait to see what the rest of the season has in store with him. Whether it involves seeing him play with food as he did with Eda and Luz in this episode or seeing him getting kicked in the crotch like a little punk like him deserves, I am all for it.

(Bonus points if it's Amity who does the crotch kicking if he ever makes an advancement on Luz)

Eda Wanting to Protect the Selkidomus: I love this. It plays into the idea that Eda cares about things being wild and free and despises how Emperor Belos would want to control everything, including the most insignificant of animals. It shows just how kind Eda really is rather than someone motivated by greed...even if she does end up filthy rich in the end.

Emperor Belos’ Brief Cameo: Yup, still terrifying!

And if it turns out that Belos can see the Scrying Potion that Lilith made...we're going to have some problems.

Much like the actual problems that I have with this episode!

(Like that transition?)

WHAT I DISLIKE

King Being Stupid: King has two different personalities in this series. Either he's a pathetic wannabe ruler who seems intelligent or an idiotic Disney comedic sidekick. That latter version of King is what we get in "Separate Tides," and I don't like it (obviously). I don't care how cute it is to see him cling onto Luz's leg and exclaim how he won't let her leave. The same character who helped Luz break into a prison to save Eda shouldn't be the same one who falls asleep when a sheet covers him like a dumbass parrot! King's at his best when he's as intelligent as the rest of the characters. And not as dumb as someone like Hooty.

Eda Being Too Nice Around Lilith: This one bothers me the most. After being cursed for thirty years and having her life ruined by the person she thought she could trust the most, Eda is still all smiley and jokey when talking to Lilith. Yeah, sorry, but I don't buy that. No one in their right mind would be that cool with a person who did all of what Lilith did. It's a major misstep that squanders what could have been a fantastic overarching story of Eda learning to forgive her sister and Lilith trying to earn it. We'll at least get Lilith's guilt, but as is, I feel Eda showing genuine anger towards her would elevate that story by a lot.

IN CONCLUSION

But that's about all the bad things I have to say about "Separate Tides." As is, it is a well-earned, solid A of a season premiere. It introduces new concepts and characters I can't wait to see more of, continues old storylines and character development instead of ignoring them, and still proves that The Owl House is as charming and funny as it always was. Maybe the rest of the season could continue to be great, or maybe things might get worse. Time can only tell. For now, all I can tell you is that "Separate Tides" is a great and fun episode that makes me excited as we set sail to this new season.

(And Scared. Mostly scared)

[sepublic]

You know, I've seen plenty of great ideas for Amphibia x TOH swaps, but there's one thing I haven't seen anyone point out yet. If Luz takes Anne's place and goes to Amphibia, then she gets something she's always wanted at the start of TOH: Being part of a prophecy.

           …That is, a VERY interesting concept, not gonna lie!

           The thing about Luz’s fundamental issues prior to meeting Eda was… She really had a problem with distinguishing fantasy from reality, learning to set the boundaries between the two, and fully respect said boundaries. She wasn’t malicious of course, but regardless…

           This is an interesting ask because we don’t know yet how the prophecy will unfold and be revealed within the show, or even its exact nature! But regardless, this is making me imagine Luz meeting the Plantars, and… Really, I can see Hop Pop’s more down-to-earth nature helping Luz learn to distinguish fantasy from reality, to an extent. Especially since Hop Pop himself is lowkey like Luz in that they’re very unorthodox heroes who don’t quite save the day the way they expected to; But their methods are –usually- valid. Such as Hop Pop accidentally inspiring a revolution among the Frogs, or that time he served as a martyr for those tiny frogs, with his mistreatment by the Hasslebacks being the final injustice that pushes them to fight back and defend themselves, without having to rely on any outsiders to do the work for them. Then there’s him projecting a Noir Film onto his search for Sal, to the point where he straight-up kills an innocent man…

           And, that’s making me imagine Luz and Hop Pop kind of bonding over this (not the murder though), especially with Hop Pop’s failed dreams of becoming an actor. I can see Luz being pretty sympathetic and a lot more involved in Hop Pop’s stint with Renee Frodgers, a lot more than Anne did- And considering we see her try out for Romeo and Juliet at one point, maybe she also has a taste for theater herself! Not to mention, all of this discussion of confusing fantasy with reality is just reminding me of Marcy… Specifically, the speculation of Marcy low-key seeing her time in Amphibia as more like a videogame with its tropes, to a potentially harmful extent as she might not treat this situation as a very real one with actual stakes and living, breathing people.

           Of course, the thing to remember is- Luz takes a lot of initiative in her own character development, too! She’s a receptive person and self-reflects. I feel like even if she never met Eda, it wouldn’t have been out of the question for Luz to still resolve her own issues… It’d have just been a much more difficult and tedious journey, especially if Luz had to go through that Reality Camp. But regardless, when you remember that Hop Pop also goes through similar character development, albeit more around the Season 2 timeframe… With Hop Pop making the conscious decision on his own to call out Renee on her thievery, without Anne nor any circumstances goading him into it, because he’s a very moral character at heart…

           Maybe Luz could have issues like Marcy. It’s worth considering if Andrias is manipulating and feeding into Marcy’s dreams. But regardless, I see Luz and Hop Pop working together, mutually, to get past their own issues, well before the prophecy is revealed- And we still don’t know when that’s going to happen! Maybe Luz and Hop Pop could be a duo reminiscent to Luz and King during Sense and Insensitivity. I can’t say for sure if Luz’s character development will be as potent by the prophecy’s reveal, as she is as of the Season Finale in HER show… I think Eda is ultimately a wiser character than Hop Pop, and characters like Willow and Amity serve as neat narrative contrasts/foils to Luz’s own antics. Though, I can imagine Luz getting caught up in shipping Sprig and Ivy, and possibly the fallout of this leading to a lesson or two…

           But in the end, as I said- Luz has a good heart, and she goes around to do the right thing, in the end. She’s like Hop Pop in that regard, and of course there’s also the existence of Sprig and Polly, not to mention what a fellow weirdo like One-Eyed Wally might have to say, here or there. I guess a lot of it depends on the exact context of how this prophecy is revealed, and how it even works… But I see Luz as being grounded by the more down-to-earth Wartwood, well before she gets to Newtopia. This does raise the interesting idea of her possibly backtracking on her character development, especially with Marcy’s influence and Andrias’ potential manipulations…

           And yet, I can see Luz still turning around to do the right in the end, just as Hop Pop did; Even when his dreams DID come true, and he became a renowned actor! I think Luz would come to the conclusion that even being ‘chosen’ by some divine force doesn’t really make her any better than anyone else… Not to mention that the people and world she’s saving is still very much its own thing, not beholden to her. So I see Luz accepting the mantle of being a hero, if only because she’s a good person and of course she’s not going to let something bad happen… And I can imagine the Plantars helping to gently nudge and remind Luz of her past lessons, to not get confused with fantasy and reality again. The prophecy would definitely be a twist antithetical and contradictory to Luz’s character development, given how she’s being transplanted into a different show with different themes, originally intended for a different protagonist…

           But, if Marcy is going to learn her lesson and get past her own issues –assuming those specific issues ARE a thing of course- then I can see Luz being a guiding light and force for her… Maybe the two mutually navigate past potential delusions together, who knows? I’ve speculated in the past how Luz would handle the revelation of having powerful magical heritage... How Luz would truly show off her character development by rejecting even this seemingly objective, tangible cosmic reason for her being special, and still asserting her equal standing with everyone else. Even when placed on top of the hierarchy, Luz rejects it, showing how much her lessons mean to her. I can see Andrias trying to set Luz up to agree with his hierarchy under that concept of divinely-ordained ‘specialness’, and how it’d all just tie into Luz working to abolish the caste system with Hop Pop.

           I can see it being a contrast to Sasha and Grime, who want to topple the current Newt Hierarchy… More than likely, so they can switch it around with Toads on the top. Not exactly the most helpful change, in the end… Luz decides that instead of reversing the roles, it’s best to just get rid of the roles entirely. It could play into a discussion of privilege, and it’d be interesting to see how Luz, Marcy, and Sasha would all bounce off of one another- Sasha low-key has her issues with dismissing the people of Amphibia, and once talked about ‘having fun’ there. Obviously her respect for Grime has changed this a lot… But there’s still that willingness to conquer what she fully recognizes now as an actual civilization of people. She would certainly take the revelation of a prophecy as full justification that she was never wrong about anything, and that Sasha is of course entitled to taking over Amphibia- Especially if Grime feeds into this both out of genuine support and his own desires.

           Then there’s that idea of Sasha and Grime enabling one another to be worse, even if they also still go through a little bit of positive character development… And as for Marcy and Andrias, I can’t quite say because the latter is still quite the enigma. Either way, Luz has to serve as a grounding force for the other girls with Hop Pop’s help… And really, it sounds like the set-up for total chaos, a battle royal, a complete free-for-all with every Amphibian and Human for themselves as they navigate one another amidst the backdrop of this prophecy. If we want to apply Luz’s motif and themes of being a guiding light for other characters in her own show, I can see her forcing Sasha and Marcy to confront the reality of what they’re doing… And I think interactions between her and Grime would be fascinating, as she’d be VERY much in favor of toppling the monarchy- But specifically to undo the hierarchy entirely, instead of switching it around to the Toads’ favor. If Sasha and Grime enable one another, perhaps Luz will have to act as a voice of reason and buffer between the two- And again, it depends on how Sasha and Grime’s character development goes.

           Overall, this sounds like QUITE the debacle, and I’m kind of fascinated, imagining how these different characters with different motifs, meant to be compatible with narrative parallels and contrasts, amidst the themes of their particular show; And how they’d adapt and fit into another show’s cast and themes! Anne taking Luz’s place in the Boiling Isles would be interesting, given how Anne has clearly internalized Sasha’s idea of ‘knowing what’s best for someone you care about’, and how this seems to be a recurring trend amongst people like Emira and Edric toward Amity, Lilith with Eda, etc. And, I guess I could go into a whole ‘nother discussion of how Eda has to help Anne recover from this low-key abuse and toxicity, and Anne having a similar moment of standing up to Sasha with those characters, possibly citing her own experiences… But, that’s probably a discussion for another time, I think. I guess it depends if I have the time and energy for it, and my cyclical focus aligns just right…

[sepublic]

Luz and the Winds of Change

            For Season 2, I’d LOVE to see Luz find a Wind/Air Glyph, because... The thing I’ve noticed with Luz Noceda is that she is very much an active force of change; That she brings about the winds of change to people’s lives! Obviously part of the reason for this is Plot, but at the same time… People like Eda make a point about how their lives felt stagnant, meaningless even, until Luz arrived. Emperor Belos himself even acknowledges this, saying that Eda’s life to him was meaningless, until Luz showed up…

           Without Luz’s appearance, a lot of characters were set on a certain trajectory; Eda was going to keep being a loner and an outcast and eventually succumb to her curse. Lilith would’ve been more desperate for Belos’ approval, King would be both lonely and a bit selfish, Willow would’ve succumbed to self-loathing and shyness… Amity would become even colder and more miserable, the Twins wouldn’t bother self-reflecting, Boscha would continue to be a bully without ever considering her relationship with her friends, etc.

           But then comes Luz; Like the winds of change, she changes the trajectory and paths of these characters. She’s like a sudden gust that allows a ship to change course, or a ball to change its path mid-flight. Her mere presence alone inspires people to be better, and not from a preachy and judgmental “I think I can do better and tell you why” sort of way like Belos is, a way that tells people there’s something inherently wrong with them. No, Luz is someone who respects boundaries and wants to see others be the best they can be… That she’ll let others approach her instead of forcing herself onto them, do things at their own pace!

           I think part of what makes Luz so compelling is that her kindness and giving nature is so unconditional; That it’s not out of a sense of obligation like she HAS to take care of people, but simply because it makes her happy to see other people happy! That nobody asked Luz or implied she needed to do things for them, she was just allowed to be herself (which is what the Boiling Isles does in general for her), and that means Luz can self-actualize as a person who wants to help OTHERS self-actualize as well!

           It’s about learning to be yourself, and to Luz, this is something that means a lot to her considering she never got that chance for so long! And obviously, it isn’t like helping people is the only thing she can do, nor does she place all of her self-worth into this concept as a role/duty she’s bound to… Luz is still allowed to be a kid, still allowed to have her own desires and wants, such as wanting to learn magic, be a powerful Witch like Azura, etc.! She’s in an environment where she can flourish!

           Not to mention, Luz has some personal stake in a lot of people’s issues as well; Like with Viney and the Detention Kids, fixing their problems is also fixing HER issues with the school system as well! Or in Understanding Willow, how helping Willow and Amity be better friends also helps Luz, because those are her friends and them being happy makes her happy as well!

           Obviously episodes like Wing it like Witches also remind Luz not to vicariously live out her fantasies and issues, nor project them, through her friends, and to set a fine line between that and helping people… But it’s not a draining relationship. Contrary to what some characters believe, they’re not takers and they don’t need to provide more, nor compensate and justify their friendship; That what they’re already doing and got going on… is pretty good.

           In general, Luz is someone who inspires others to make a change. That her illuminating Light allows those such as Principal Bump to make an active choice on what road they’re going down, now that they can see what’s ahead… And to choose differently. Luz is somebody who reinvigorates, who re-instills passion into existence as someone who is VERY passionate over things as part of her ADHD hyperfixations, which is also another beautiful thing to see for a neurodivergent viewer…

           It’s funny, really; Many characters were set down paths that could’ve easily led to a LOT more misery, or at the very least towards them not truly feeling fulfilled like they are now. But Luz changedthat, she makes a difference because she’s different as a foreigner and an outsider, but not an invader the way Belos possibly is…

          And I also love how it’s such a different take on the White Savior trope in that our Dominican, dark-skinned protagonist is the one who helps enlighten the European-inspired culture… In a way that is VERY respective of others’ boundaries while still allowing her to have her own personal desires and be her own person, and NOT be defined by what she does for others in a co-dependent sense.

          Like the show makes it clear Luz isnotresponsible for these people, tying into the idea that many characters also still have their own personal guilt in wrong actions and how they DO acknowledge this and make a change… That Luz offers help but it’s also on people to take personal initiative and accept this help as well, that she’s not a bad person if she doesn’t fix EVERY person she comes across!

          She isn’t your personal caretaker, she’s a kid and the show focuses on how adults are responsible for the impact they have on children and ensuring the best for them, hence the emphasis on Eda as a motherly figure and what she does for Luz, it’s why Luz chooses to stay in the first place! Like a lot of adults are compelled to be better at their responsibility to care for the young generation, like the Bat Queen not projecting her trauma onto Owlbert, or Principal Bump letting kids study in multiple tracks! But at the same time Luz doesn’t feel entitled either, like the world or people owe her something…

          Luz being an outsider means that she’s another perspective, and THAT makes people ask themselves; What does my situation, and/or the way I treat others, look like to an outsider? Is this who I am, is this who I’ll be? Reflections are made of Light, and Luz can provide a mirror, without that being her only identity of course; She’s a FUNKY mirror all right!

          But, yeah… Luz really DOES represent the Winds of Change! She’s a new opportunity not just for people but for the Boiling Isles, and in a darker sense she’s a new opportunity for someone like Belos given the implications of her arrival and how she got there… But regardless. Luz is someone who is antithetical to the idea of stagnation, she helps flourish and inspire growth in characters like plant-motif Willow, while changing the destructive and hurting Fire of Amity into one that provides warmth and nourishment!

          She is energy, which relates well to her ADHD-coding, as well as movement… And THAT all feeds back into the idea of Luz being Wind as well as Light, as someone who compels others to move but not in a forceful way, simply giving them a well-needed push to change their current course and trajectory. Belos’ reign is recent, and not solid… But up until now it was on a trajectory towards becoming more powerful, more dictatorial, and more controlling. But then comes Luz, and she helps people realize that NO, this system is messed up, that we CAN make a change…

          And this ties back into how the moral is not, “I can fix this,” nor “You can fix this,” it’s “We can fix this together!” Luz brings people together, just as the winds bring things together! And honestly, an Air-motif makes sense, given Luz’s own relation to Owls, and how those are creatures who are very sensitive and dependent on the air currents, in the paths of the wind, and use it to propel themselves! While at the same time teaching others –usually their own children- how to use that wind to fly, soar, and find a different place and home… A way to leave an unpleasant situation and go somewhere safer.

          Obviously Luz isn’t perfect, and she’s not meant to be the fix-all solution for others to rely on. She’s got her past issues that she’s worked upon, and I think she can be overly-critical of herself when it comes to hurting people, as someone who’s been hurt; Which makes Luz’s relationship with Amity, who is ALSO self-critical, very fascinating! But in the end, Luz is still a fundamentally good person.

          Luz helps reinvigorate others, giving them a ‘Second Wind’ which also ties back to Wing it like Witches and its Sports tropes… And THAT episode also involved Amity, who has a flashback of being overly-critical of herself for hurting others, telling Luz not to do the same; That she doesn’t have to single-handedly shoulder the burden of the forfeit, even if Luz DID mess up by hurting Willow and Gus by accident, that she shouldn’t over-compensate for her failings and feel like she has to! Not when Luz taught Amity the same…!

          Wind is the antithesis to stagnation in that it’s defined as something that moves, and Luz is SUCH a dynamic character in the way she interacts with others! Wind can only be seen by how it moves others… Clearly there’s more to Luz than just that, she has more emphasis on a Light motif for a reason. But the way Luz changes others and compels them to take a different path is VERY obvious and visible, and one can best notice Luz’s bright personality through her effects on people; That, and because Luz is just such an utter goober as well! Like, even the audience is affected towards and endeared by her!

          Wind is not something you hold onto, and it’s not something that is itself when it’s in a box. It’s meant to be free, flying, soaring… Which represents how Luz is a character not to be stifled by a system nor conformity, that her Light is meant to shine and be seen by others, and help illuminate the path… But mainly so SHE can shine for herself, and be her own person! Air is associated with Freedom, which given this show’s themes of anti-authority, is VERY appropriate too…!

[sepublic]

Covention Revelations!

Okay, so the biggest thing that sticks out to me is that Witches are essentially encouraged, if not outright required by society to join a coven. A coven is essentially a ‘club’ where you gain membership and a sense of belonging, but in return you get restricted to only a particular type of magic and have to specialize in it.

(Jeez, now Willow’s predicament in her debut is worse knowing that once she reaches a certain age, she’d have no longer been able to perform plant magic. Thank goodness for Luz!)

These rules are enforced by the Emperor, who has his own personal coven of witches that can use all forms of magic, but just so happen to report directly to him. What a surprise...

From a world-building perspective, I can see why this is a rule. If everyone had access to every form of magic... Well, I could see certain people viewing that as chaotic and a society impossible to control. And anyone with the title of Emperor presumably is used to having a LOT of power and authority over people’s lives. It certainly re-contextualizes what Eda (or should I say, Edaline... Edalyn?) had to say about her disdain of magic school. How schools teach you to do it a ‘proper’ way, but in her eye it’s wild, uncontrollable, unpredictable. It’s literally a system that -maybe even permanently- dictates exactly what you can do with magic. 

If I had to compare it to another show, it’s like Homeworld from Steven Universe. Everybody has to have a set role, because every society has specific requirements (some more important than others... sorry Tiny Cat Coven). Everyone having access to every form of magic is chaotic and hard to control. Ergo, establish a school system that encourages people to focus on a particular subset of magic, the one they happen to be the best at, and then have that witch focus on that single role for the rest of their lives. That way, everyone who’s doing a certain job in society happens to be the best one most suited towards it.

(At least ideally- Willow was pressured to be in the Abomination track despite her skill with plant magic. Luckily, Principal Bump recognized her talent, but it makes me wonder if there are ever shortages of witches for certain covens? Could this lead to pressure from parents to want their children to seize an open opportunity for an established role in society?)

Also, I like Lilith (Yes it’s one L, I checked the end credits)! Yeah, she’s mean, but she’s not heartless, and her and Eda’s conflict is like Stan and Ford’s, namely one is a troublemaker who’s unorthodox while the other is very proper and all about being the best at something. They’re at odds, but not to an extreme degree- They’ll squabble and get in trouble with one another but they don’t seem to seriously want the other one hurt. 

There are many moments where Lilith is genuinely excited to invite Eda to the Emperor’s Coven, and her stopping her attack for Eda’s curse shows a bit. And despite being required to arrest Eda, she never once makes any moves to do so- She even goes against this mission by removing the Wanted Posters for the sake of the duel. And not once in said duels does she ever dictate a term of having Eda turn herself in. We know at the end that Lilith is tasked with arresting Eda... but in all seriousness, for whatever antagonism the two siblings have with one another, it seems that Lilith is low-key complicit in Eda’s continued escapes from the law.

Also worth noting;

-Willow and Gus! I didn’t expect to see them here but I love it! Also Gus is confirmed to specialize in illusions!

-That pen given to King by the... Scrying Coven, was it? It was a Coven involved with telling the future... We didn’t see it do anything. While it could just be a joke that she SAYS it’ll do something but she’s just lying and trying to dump merch onto him, it does make me wonder...

-We see the Abomination Teacher at the coliseum, as well as the Snaggleback! The teacher is missing his abomination and the Snaggleback either got back his shell or grew a new one, I can’t tell which.

-Amity Blight! I’m sure others saw it coming as well, but it’s neat to see that she’s a person who’s clearly very concerned about proving one’s worth, and while that means she can use her hard work and progress as a justification for looking down on others, it’s not a double standard either. If she fails, then as far as Amity is concerned, she deserved to fail. I wonder if she wants to be in the Emperor’s Coven so she can practice all magic, or simply because it’s for the best- Maybe both. Either way I liked that neat foreshadowing of Amity being surprised at her Abomination’s size in the duel, hinting at Lilith adding the power amplifier.

-Also, I love how Eda and Lilith at first look like they may have a serious feud... But then quickly it just dissolves into petty, immature jabs and it’s clear that their antagonism isn’t legitimately serious. At least, not for now- Pressure by the emperor may cause Lilith to act more seriously, perhaps.

-I still can’t tell if King is lying or not about the whole ‘King of Demons’ backstory. It was part of his official description but now it seems like it’s just a fanciful lie he likes to make up? It’d be hilarious if later on it’s revealed that, yes, he really WAS the King of Demons and everyone is surprised because they thought he was making that up. Or maybe only Luz is surprise, who knows? Top-tier, late-game casual reveal would be King mentioning he was once called Bill Cipher.

-DANA GOING SUPER SAIYAN

-I know just yesterday I was gushing about Willuz, but honestly Luzity has gained its canon appeal. I love how Luz, after seeing how upset Amity was, didn’t just ignore her predicament but actively went out of her way to make sure she was okay. It was sweet to see Luz acknowledge that, yeah, she didn’t mean to embarrass Amity back in Episode 3 and felt bad about it (as I speculated earlier). Obviously neither party is at fault here, no one really is... But I love to see Luz’s compassionate nature resonate from her looking at things from other points of view. And seeing Amity willing to give Luz some pointers on Magic was just so sweet...

-Small and obvious joke, but Luz invoking Azura’s challenge to Hecate happening at the Bog of “Immediate Regret” was too funny to me.

-I love how they’re now lampshading Eda’s mysterious past and she’s just all for it. Teasing Luz about it. In general I just love Eda’s troll-ish nature. When she brought up her curse at the end of the duel I wasn’t sure at first if she was being genuine or just faking out Lilith. I love her.