15 Reasons You Should Watch The Owl House

What if we told you that a Disney Channel cartoon is one of the best fantasy shows on TV, with some of the best LGBTQ+ representation, and most compelling character-driven storytelling? Well, it is, and the show in question is The Owl House.

Created by Dana Terrace, The Owl House follows Luz Noceda, an excitable and passionate 14-year-old girl who stumbles upon a portal to a world of witches and demons called the Boiling Isles. There she meets the notorious Owl Lady, Eda Clawthorne, and goes on the adventure of her fantasy fangirl dreams.

If you don’t normally seek out animated shows or don’t have kids that watch Disney Channel, it’s possible that The Owl House flew under your radar. That’s ok, though, now is the perfect time to catch up on this fabulous show, and we’ve got 15 reasons to convince you why you should.

1. A Fantastic Protagonist

Every good adventure starts with a good protagonist, and The Owl House has a great one in Luz Noceda. From the first scene of the first episode, it’s impossible not to root for her.

Luz is an aspirational hero for all the oddballs of the world. The kids who march to their own beat and don’t quite fit in. She’s a hero for everyone in search of their place in a world that doesn’t exactly get them, which is to say most of us.

She is fiercely loyal, fun, kind, and brave. Luz is an idealist who brings out the best in those around her, sometimes despite themselves. 

Luz isn’t perfect. Like any good protagonist, she has flaws. What makes Luz so interesting, though, is — as with most people — her strengths can sometimes be her flaws, depending on the situation.

The same exuberance that gives her the resilience to thrive in a strange land can lead her to make rash decisions that get her and her friends into trouble. 

That complexity makes Luz more than just a lovable goofball. It’s what makes her relatable as she matures and learns from her mistakes. 

Ultimately, Luz’s heart is the show’s heart. Her warmth and excitement set the tone for everything else. She is what makes The Owl House the joyful adventure that it is.

2. The Worldbuilding

One of the most fun things about watching The Owl House is exploring the world of the Boiling Isles. There is so much to learn about this realm, from its geography to the rules of its society, to the different kinds of magic and how they work. 

Each episode reveals something new that makes everything more vibrant and expansive. The thought and imagination put into all the different details give the Boiling Isles a distinct personality that makes it another character on the show.

There are plenty of opportunities to go deep into the show’s mythology for the fans who like to get into the weeds of worldbuilding. But, even for fans not looking to understand every intricate detail of the covens vs. wild magic, the world’s fullness creates a sense of wonder and makes the adventure feel grander. 

It allows viewers to immerse themselves in the magic and gives them a fantastic escape into a world of witches, demons, and weirdos. 

3. Hexside

Speaking of worldbuilding, a frequent location used during Season 1 is Hexside. Hexside is one of four magic schools on the Boiling Isles, and who doesn’t love a good magic school, right?

Hexside is a whole world of its own. It has hidden passages, underground fear monsters, and of course, like any other high school, its own hierarchy of cliques and politics. 

Part of what makes Hexside such a fun location are the opportunities for pop culture references and parody. Some of the funniest, of course, poke at that other famous magic school some kid named Harry attended.

Hexside is also an opportunity to see Luz interact with this magical world away from The Owl House. This gives us a chance to see different sides of her that don’t come out in her dynamic with Eda and King. 

It’s the place during Season 1 where we get to know most of the supporting characters like Gus, Willow, and of course, Amity. Many of these characters’ biggest moments take place at Hexside, and they are some of the first season’s best episodes.

4. An Engaging Fantasy Mystery

In addition to the more general worldbuilding of the Boiling Isles, The Owl House also has an exciting fantasy mystery for viewers to unravel. Half the experience of watching The Owl House is figuring out the puzzle and theorizing about what each new clue might mean. 

And there are plenty of clues and connections to be scrutinized. Sometimes the clues are big reveals that answer one question but raise three more. Season 2, in particular, has moved the plot along at a fast pace, with almost every episode dropping bombshells that send fans scrambling to re-assess all their theories. 

Other times the clues are more subtle. A name or an image that might not register on initial viewing but ends up being an important piece of the puzzle that was hiding in plain sight all along. 

Particularly engaged viewers can also find a code hidden in the background of each episode that, when decoded and put together, reveals a secret message about the season. That’s not even the only secret message the creators build into each episode for fans to discover.

In addition to the message from the hidden code words, the first letter of each episode title spells out another clue that fans can ponder and dissect as they get new information each week. 

Between the big twists, cryptic clues, and hidden messages, The Owl House isn’t meant to be a passive experience. It’s a chance for viewers to play along with the characters and figure out the secrets of the Boiling Isles together.

5. LGBTQ+ Representation

The Owl House is a fun adventure and an engaging fantasy story, but it’s also more than that. The Owl House is an important addition to the rapidly evolving landscape of LGBTQ+ representation in children and family programming.

Some of the ways that show up are in small choices, like the fact that Luz’s friend, Willow, has two dads. Eagle-eyed viewers may even spot bi-flags and colors in the background of some scenes.

These small details help create a world where heteronormativity isn’t an assumption. They aren’t, however, the reason The Owl House has earned such high praise for its LGBTQ+ representation. 

What makes The Owl House stand out is that Luz herself is bisexual. An explicitly bisexual lead character — and a Latinx one at that — on a show targeted at younger audiences, especially on a channel like Disney, is rare. 

Given the long history of bi-erasure in media, the importance of something like that can’t be underestimated. 

Luz’s bisexuality is established early in the series, as is her relationship with Amity Blight (an important addition to LGBTQ+ representation in her own right).

Viewers get to watch these two queer characters’ relationship grow and develop as they take center stage in the show’s main adventure. It’s a big step forward from what was possible for so many shows that came before it. 

More recently, The Owl House added to its LGBTQ+ representation when it introduced a non-binary character named Raine Whispers. 

Whether it’s Luz, Amity, Raine, or any of the small details, The Owl House casually incorporates queer characters as part of the fabric of the show.

It normalizes it as an important but unexceptional part of its world. It’s exactly that unexceptional characterization that makes the show’s LGBTQ+ representation so exceptional.

6. Friends and Found Family 

One of The Owl House’s core themes is finding your place and finding your people. It isn’t surprising, then, that The Owl House has some wonderful relationships for viewers to invest in.

Luz is the main protagonist, so of course, some of the best relationships on the show are hers. Two of those relationships, with Amity and Eda, are on this list and discussed more below.

In addition to Amity and Eda, we could talk about her sweet relationship with King, her supportive bond with Willow and Gus, or even her relationships with some of the villains. 

It’s not just Luz’s relationships that are important to the show, though. The relationships between the different supporting characters are equally lovely and unique. Some are complicated, some are unexpected, and some are just fun, but all of them leave viewers excited to see more of those characters together.

The dynamics between the different characters are specific to them, but they share a common foundation. All of these characters are, in some way or another, misfits.

In finding each other, they create a place of connection and belonging that celebrates the weirdos and the outsiders. It’s a sentiment that runs through the whole series and defines this found family.

7. Eda and Luz

There are several wonderful relationships on The Owl House, but the show’s core is the relationship between Luz and Eda.

At first glance, Eda and Luz’s relationship is the classic cynical but wise mentor and a bright-eyed, idealistic mentee. Luz and Eda certainly embody some of those dynamics. 

During Season 1, Luz can be impatient and doesn’t always understand Eda’s methods (to be fair, Eda does kind of wing it most of the time). Like any good Mentor/Mentee relationship, Luz has unexpected things to teach Eda too. 

But that explanation of Luz and Eda’s relationship is incomplete. More than a mentor and her mentee, Luz and Eda are kindred spirits. They don’t fit in with their own world and chafe under the expectations of their communities. 

Eda and Luz understand each other despite being from different worlds and offer the support and acceptance they each need to grow into the best versions of themselves.

Their relationship as mentor and mentee is constantly evolving and shifting on the series, but that foundation of understanding and love never waivers.

8. Lumity

We already touched on Luz and Amity’s relationship — or as it’s known by its ship name Lumity — as an important and wonderful example of queer representation.

Indeed, Lumity’s contribution to queer representation is part of what makes them such a special couple. Still, this adorable ship is a reason to watch The Owl House because it’s one of the most swoon-worthy ships on TV, full stop. 

The creators capture so perfectly all the butterflies and awkwardness of a young crush and a first romance. Their nervous, flustered interactions are sweet. They speak to how scary and exciting big new feelings like that can be, and they highlight a defining theme of Luz and Amity’s relationship, be brave. 

Every moment of development for their relationship is marked by one of them being brave. Sometimes that means literally fighting to protect each other, but just as often –especially for Amity — it means embracing the things that make them feel vulnerable.

Watching Luz and Amity find their courage and figure out their feelings is one of the most touching parts of The Owl House. It’s bound to melt your heart almost as often as Luz and Amity blush when they’re together.

9. King

Except for maybe Luz, the character that most viewers fall in love with the fastest on The Owl House is King. King, Eda’s demonic charge and the latest in a line of adorable animated would-be rulers, is one of the funniest characters on the show.

He is always there with a perfectly timed quip or getting into shenanigans to make you laugh.

King’s visions of grandeur come from a belief that before he met Eda, he was the mighty King of Demons, somehow reduced to a huggable ball of cuteness. At first, this all seems like an extended game of make-believe and is a source of a lot of Season 1’s humor. 

But as with so many things on The Owl House, King is more than meets the eye, even if it’s not exactly in the way that he thinks. As we learn more about King, what was primarily played for laughs in Season 1, becomes one of the most heartfelt storylines in Season 2.

King might not want to admit it, but he is a big softy. He loves his people deeply and wears his heart on his sleeve. As funny as he is, ultimately, it’s that big heart that makes King so beloved by The Owl House fans.

10. It’s Really Funny

The Owl House is very funny. The humor is the first thing that draws you in and makes you take notice of the characters. Before we have a chance to get to know Luz, Eda, King, or the rest of The Owl House gang, they make us laugh and want to spend more time with them. 

The Owl House has a little something for everyone. Some of the humor is broad and silly, meant for all ages. Other times, as is the case with so many cartoons, The Owl House’s humor is for the adults watching the show. There are jokes about internet trolls and fan culture, parodies of movie tropes, and tons of pop culture references.

Having humor aimed at the adults watching what is ostensibly a kids’ show isn’t new, but The Owl House is especially good at it. With sharp wit and an irreverent tone, if what you need is something to make you laugh, The Owl House has got you covered, no matter your age.

11. Amazing Animation

The animation of The Owl House is incredibly cool. It starts with the aesthetic of The Boiling Isles, which combines elements of horror and the grotesque with color, warmth, and beauty.

It all works together to create a captivating landscape that evokes a sense of boundless possibility and the unexpected.

From the start, the series’ character design and action sequences have been particular strengths for the show that, in addition to the general aesthetic of the world, made it a visual treat. You can especially see the animators’ creativity in the diverse background characters that populate the demon realm.

While the animation has always been stellar, Season 2 has really leveled up. Some sequences from The Owl House’s Season 2 can only be described as exquisite. These stand-out moments amplify emotions and capture imaginations. It is visual storytelling at its absolute best.

12. The Voice Acting

The Owl House wouldn’t be The Owl House without the fantastic voice actors that bring the characters to life.

The cast takes what is on the page and elevates it. Their comic timing makes the jokes funnier, and their sensitive performances add richness to their characters that strengthen their connection with viewers.

Their work hasn’t gone unnoticed either, most recently with Sarah-Nicole Robles earning an Image Award best voice actor nomination for her work as Luz.

The voice acting talent isn’t limited to the main cast. The Owl House has had a handful of fun guest and recurring voice actors, including Felicia Day, Matthew Rhys, Harvey Guillén, and Isabella Rossellini. Creator Dana Terrace even voices a character that is a caricature of herself, named Tiny Nose.

The energy and care every cast member bring to show is an indispensable part of its personality and lively spirit.

13. Character Development

If you don’t keep up with the world of animation, it’s easy to dismiss the idea of a cartoon having robust ongoing character development, at least for shows that fall into the children and family programming category.

But the truth is, animation — including children and family programming — is often much more sophisticated than many give it credit for. The Owl House is the perfect example of this.

None of the major characters are the same people they were when we first met them. Luz, of course, has grown and changed during her time in the Boiling Isles bus so have all the supporting characters.

There is nothing more satisfying than taking a journey with characters you care about and watching them face their fears, evolve, or find redemption. The Owl House gives viewers all that in ways that are complex, moving, and relatable.

14. Great Villains

The Owl House has villains that never fail to grab your attention or leave an impression. Most are more than they seem, and even when they’re not, they are the kind of characters you love to hate. There are a whole host of villains on The Owl House, each with their own agenda and each fascinating in their own right.

Some are foils that facilitate growth for our heroes. Others take complicated paths that reveal unseen layers and make us question who we actually consider a villain and who we don’t.

You can’t talk about the villains of The Owl House, though, without talking about Emperor Belos. Belos is the main big bad of the series and everything you could want in a fantasy villain.

We don’t meet Belos right away, but we hear about him. The series slowly builds to his introduction in Season 1, creating an air of mystery and intrigue that stays even after his formal debut.

Belos casts a long ominous shadow that creates the tension that drives the story forward. He creates the high stakes of the show and is more formidable than any of the monsters Luz might have dreamed up in her imagination.

15. Eda’s Curse

Early on during The Owl House Season 1, we learn that Eda has a curse. Throughout the first season, Eda’s curse and, more specifically, how she became cursed is one of the major ongoing plotlines.

The curse can easily be read as a metaphor for mental health or even chronic illness, depending on what context you bring to it. As the series has progressed, that connection to mental health or chronic illness has become a bigger part of Eda’s character development.

Eda’s curse has gone from a storyline with subtle allusions to real-world themes — that mostly drove the plot forward — to arguably the series most poignant storyline.

Dana Terrace and her team handle Eda’s curse with sensitivity and compassion. They give the most important scenes involving the curse a gravitas that underscore its larger importance and meaning.

These scenes exemplify the unique ability animation has to express difficult emotions and the brilliant artistry of this exceptional show.

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Do you plan on checking out The Owl House, or are you already a fan? Let us know in the comments below!

The Owl House is available to stream on Disney+. New episodes will air on Disney Channel when it returns from its midseason break.

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