Adulthood in the Owl House

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the way this show lets kids evaluate "good and bad" characters by making sympathetic, realistic representation of combinations of behaviors, beliefs, experience, and attributes... it feels like a step in the right direction for family media. as said, some of the redeemed character behaviors were NOT ok. but they can grow into better people, that change is also great to see exemplified. and the broad number of ways in which adults are shown to be bad, manipulative, inconsiderate, or otherwise fail... it seems like many spend their adulthoods coming to terms with their experiences with all kinds of shitty adult figures, so seeing flawed adults represented has felt very therapeutic for me, it makes me think it will be good for kids to see too.

One of my favorite jokes in the entire series -- and one of the moments I knew I was gonna love this show -- is a joke about being an adult right in the first episode. Eda's head is cut off and she goes "Oh, this just happens when you get older." Luz gets a horrified look and asks seriously "Does it??!??" The joke was so absurd and yet simultaneously so realistic and I couldn't help but crack up.

One thing i love about The Owl House is how it never played the "oh god im becoming my mother/father" joke kid shows love to do. In fact, with Camilla in season 3 specifically, the show goes out of its way to show how the similarities you may share with your parents doesn't have to be something to be embarassed or ashamed about.

Well, I loved how Papa Titan was characterized while also showing how he even made mistakes while also helping Luz by not only giving perspective on Phillip's delusions and vices but also giving her the choice of using his power to be revived and save the Boiling Isles. It was so awesome and powerful and I can't help but love him as a parent shown as a person despite how short he appeared.

This essay was top notch. Your line, "misconstruing outrage for morality" knocked me on my ass. I had never heard it put that way, but it is a very tempting misconception to run with if you're not careful. It carries a lot of energy and self righteousness. Additionally, the idea that adult children need comfort from their elderly parents too and how humanizing it is to show that. That it's ok to need comfort from the people who were once your authority figures. You never grow out of needing comfort or not knowing exactly what to do. Thanks again for this. it made my morning.

Bump's definitely one of my favorites! He was really refreshing as a principal character

The way I cheered when Steve was mentioned

Thank you for your commentary on Darius, it always grinds my gears whenever people overlook everything Darius has done just because he's suddenly nice to Hunter, as if that means his past actions should be handwaved away

I love how TOH handled adults. So many shows like this dont show much from the adult's yet here they do and make them just as important as the kids

As someone at this "transitional" age of becoming an adult, hearing other people say this is wonderful. That there should be no stopping to learning. That regardless of age, people are still...people. with lives, goals, everything. With no close examples of adults in my life that continued who they were, seeing people talk about and express it, saying there is no right way to adulthood, its great

Honestly I loved how in episode one we were made to see Camilla as a parent who wants to push her ideals onto her daughter thinking it’s what’s best, but later when luz finally sees her mom and meets Vee it shows us that Camilla worries about something happening too luz, and in season 3 ep 2 it was revealed she was bullied in the past for being different and ridiculed for it causing us to realize she just wanted to make sure that what she suffered through doesn’t happen too Luz.

Really love the thoughts about adulthood as defined in the "traditional" sense, plus how there is most certainly more than one way to be an adult. Watching this got me to: 1) fondly remember how much screentime was dedicated to the Clawthorne sisters' interactions with Gwendolyn, 2) be impressed all over again with just how many shades of unhealthy adults are painted and explored in the show. Thank you also for highlighting those heady Mommy Persona power trips that can even reach Discord servers as the relevance of that can't be understated in the online world

I do love how you can tell there is a history and nuance to the adult relationships, especially Raine and Eda, that the younger characters just would not have yet. I think it is the very strongest part of Owl House's story telling.

Bump was very much a refreshing surprise when it came to characters that are pricinpal, his strict, yet understanding and compassionate towards his students most especially to Eda Luzz shenanigans

On intergenerational friendship, I'd say the internet helps a lot with that. As a teen during vanilla wow I played a lot with older people, as in people well above twice my own age at the time. I'm still friends with some of them 18 years later. And now, as a 36 year old woman I take on the role of the adult myself as I frequent different groups related to different cartoons. Common interests transcends generational barriers.

Alador is a. . . complicated character. He's introduced in a flashback that REALLY paints him in a bad light, and even when we do get to meet him in the flesh; I was really not sold on him being as aloof as he seemed. To me; he came across as an adult that saw eye to eye with Odalia in their view of potential for their family, which allowed him to so quickly change her mind on Amity's actions. But; we definitely missed out on potentially more to allow him to show what he was like as a father, outside of his work. I feel like his arc is just another victim of the Disney cancellation;. Its also especially sad; because there's so much potential with the background information of Alador, Odalia, and Darius. There's a goldmine there lol

I loved especially that the show took the adults seriously and actually gave them arcs and something to do!

At my last job I was in my very early 20's and worked with three women in their early 40s, early 50's, and 60's respectively. The bond I made with them over six years is unbreakable. We are a genuine family and it was fascinating to share all of our perspectives in life, as well as learning new things that we hadn't considered before. So when I binged this show it really hit home to see not only a narrative for the teen characters but for the adults as well. You don't stop growing just because you're an adult and I appreciate the show for acknowledging that in the best possible way.

nice essay, I think we should see more adult representation (especially adults older than the young adult, 18-35 age) in shows not marketed exclusively to them!