By Jose Anguiano
June 8th, 2023
Despite being canceled by Disney executives under Bob Chapek’s command, Dana Terrace’s “The Owl House” secured a giant following as one of the best animated shows of all time. With the final season concluded and pride month in full swing, it’s time to pick the best episodes that chronicled Luz’s journey through the Boiling Isles. Unlike the “Wander Over Yonder” countdown, this will delve into spoilers to prove why this show was amazing and did not deserve the treatment it received. So, grab your palisman and your pet king, these are the top 20 “Owl House” episodes.
20. Witches Before Wizards
Luz comes across a wizard who foretells a prophecy of the chosen one saving the Boiling Isles from Emperor Belos. However, Eda tries to convince Luz that wizards are scam artists.
The chosen one storyline has waned in popularity over the years, but all the cliches people hate about this narrative are thrown out the window as this episode introduces everything the Boiling Isles has to offer, including dangerous creatures beneath the surface when the wizard’s true identity is revealed.
The pilot episode was a great introduction to the world, but this is a great introduction to the characters and their off-kilter personalities – Luz’s curious nature, Eda’s sarcastically helpful wisdom, and King’s cynical carefree nature. Luz and King in particular bounced off each other like long lost siblings throughout the adventure. Whether it’s foretold or not, this episode is the first steppingstone in this creative series.
19. Once Upon a Swap
Luz, King and Eda swap bodies to prove who has the harder life, leading to a series of wacky situations as each character deals with new problems.
This trio already had great chemistry, but this pitted their bond to the ultimate test. Seeing them tackle unfamiliar challenges led to funny moments like King dealing with teenage angst or Eda being coddled like a baby. Their reactions were a riot, especially when the animation brilliantly conveyed these personalities in different bodies. Seeing King scamper on all fours as Luz looked like something out of “Freakazoid”. This episode also had a creepy undertone behind closed doors, along with some backstory on Eda involving an important family member.
Needless to say, this is a body swap of a good time whether you’re in danger or taking a vacation fit for a king.
18. Convention
Luz and company attend a school convention where students join one of the nine covens. While sampling the offerings, Eda comes across her sister Lilith who works for Emperor Belos while Luz and Amity face off in a witch’s duel.
This plays with the idea of being locked into one profession and how it can be limiting to people with a thirst for knowledge as demonstrated by Eda. At the same time, it shows why school is important in focusing on one’s skills and the benefits that come from collecting perks and meeting new people as all nine covens show what they can offer. It’s also the first time we get to see the rivalry between Eda and her overachieving sister Lilith as they cope with each other’s lives, resulting in some revelations that adds more mystery to Eda’s past:
What’s most bizarre when looking back on this episode is seeing Amity who started out as an antagonist compared to where the series eventually took her, almost like a grown adult looking at their high school memories. But if there’s anything this series is good at, it’s getting the viewer more immersed in the world. No matter which coven you choose, this episode has its fair share of moments for any fan.
17. The Intruder
On a dark and stormy night, Luz wants to learn magic but has to deal with a monster lurking inside the Owl House.
There are plenty of jokes in the beginning that offset the horror atmosphere by our favorite human/pet duo who become boo-boo buddies. By this point, Luz and King are strong enough to hold our attention individually or together as their thirst for knowledge is incredibly relatable. When the lights go out and the shadows takeover, it becomes a little house of horrors with the mysterious creature stalking our heroes left and right. There’s danger hidden around every corner as the two fight off the new threat or risk melting in the acid rain outside, like a mix of “Jaws” and “The Last of Us”. Not since “The Day the Ed Stood Still” has there been an amazing reveal of a monster in media.
Whether joyfully laughing or shaking in fear, this bump in the night will keep you awake until dawn.
16. Hooty’s Moving Hassle
Eda scours a black market for potions to control her curse while Luz, Willow and Gus hold a moonlight conjuring behind her back. They end up possessing the house and have to return things to normal before Eda comes back.
There are too many moments that make this eligible for the list. Obviously, an homage to Hayo Miyazaki gets points, and what they do with the house leads to some fun encounters with some brutal monster hunters. It’s also the first episode to reveal some character lore concerning Willow and Amity, which we will get to later.
But the best part is one of the funniest side villains in the series, Tibbles the Grim Hammer. A small pig with a giant brain, his scenes with Eda are some of the best as he plays with capitalism and Hexes Hold’em with a few tricks up his sleeve. He’s so good that he became a recurring villain in several episodes.
Funny, magical and maniacal, “Hooty’s Moving Hassle” is a night on the town worth taking.
15. Understanding Willow
After Amity burns Willow’s photographic memories, she and Luz venture into Willow’s mind to restore her sanity.This leads them down a rabbit hole that reveals secrets between the two ex-friends.
Willow alluded to some troubled history with Amity in “Hooty’s Moving Hassle”, but this deep dive lays all the cards on the table. The way Amity becomes a different person as the past unravels before her eyes gives her more layers than the typical bully character in animated shows. There’s genuine regret when she faces her actions head on, and a sense of change even if she and Willow don’t end up on the same page by the end. At this point in the series, Amity and Luz aren’t as close as they are in the future, so it’s nice to see their dynamic evolve from here on out. Meanwhile, Willow’s ditzy personality borderlines on kid-friendly drunk as the flames destroy her mind.
At the same time, her memories are tragic leading to one of the show’s memorable creatures, which is saying a lot given the population on the Boiling Isles. The way it interacts with the environment is fascinating when Amity reveals why she abandoned their friendship in early childhood.
Throw in a dash of representation with Willow’s parents, and this episode enlightens the audience with a new perspective.
14. Enchanting Grom Fright
Instead of celebrating prom, Hexide holds a Grom night where one student fights a monster that encompasses their worst fear. When Amity is selected as Grom Queen, Luz takes her place without knowing the consequences of her actions.
Like some of the best episodes, this starts out with amazing comedy before getting to the heart of the conflict. Some of these jokes are delightfully mean spirited like when Hooty becomes Amity’s punching bag.
But all eyes are on Luz once the switch is made and the monster kicks off one of the show’s biggest storylines:
This also evolved Amity and Luz’s friendship as they started looking out for each other culminating in a phenomenal dance sequence that silences anyone complaining about the “Cal-Arts style”. Not to mention it holds a secret revelation that influenced a lot of future character development:
Funny, gripping and enchanting, this is one Grom night that no one will ever forget.
13. Escaping Expulsion
Amity’s mother force’s Principal Bump to expel Luz and company from Hexide, which leads to a rift with her daughter.
While Amity started out as an antagonist, her mother makes her look like a puppy in comparison as one of the most despicable parents in fiction. Not only does she push her daughter into a life direction she doesn’t want to go down, but she uses every family member, including her husband, to benefit the business above everything else. It’s the kind of villain that isn’t around anymore and leads to some rich conflict, including her comeuppance when Amity takes control of her life. Seeing how bad Amity’s family turmoil is makes us appreciate how much she grew since that fateful first meeting:
On a side not, it’s hilariously heartbreaking to see Principal Bump care about the students that caused a lot of trouble in the first season.
Action packed and emotionally satisfying, “Escaping Expulsion” is an episode that will make you glad you’re still in school.
12. Agony of a Witch + Young Blood, Old Souls
These two episodes are grouped together because they form the grand season one finale when Luz tries to cure Eda’s curse by stealing the healing hat from Emperor Belos. Unfortunately, she gets caught by Lilith and used as a hostage to coax Eda into surrendering herself.
This pulls out all the stops in testing all the characters like Lilith who runs out of the emperor’s goodwill when trying to bring in her sister. Her determination at the hands of her superior is a force to be reckoned with as she tries to live up to her full potential. It also shows how much all the characters have grown closer, particularly Eda and Luz when she redefines sibling rivalry to save her protege. The animation is at its best when the two sisters clash, and Eda’s curse gets the best of her. Meanwhile, Luz gets to show off what she’s learned at Hexide against Lilith, which ends in a sad yet gripping cliffhanger:
It also the first time we see Emperor Belos after so much buildup, and he more than lives up to the hype. He’s conniving yet calm. Willing to listen yet always has a trick up his sleeve. A cunning trickster who lets his actions speak more than his words when it comes to his temper. He’s such a complex villain that even Lilith goes through an alliance change after he double crosses her:
Once the petrification ceremony starts, all eyes are glued to the screen as our heroes square off with Emperor Belos and his underlings:
The first season of any show is the hardest to stomach but the finale always delivers on its potential, and these two episodes solidified its place in Disney Television Animation with nowhere to go but up.
11. Keeping up A-Fear-Ances
Eda’s overbearing mother pays her a visit in the hope of curing her daughter’s curse. This triggers jealously from Lilith who has her own parental abandonment issues.
Being one of the first episodes of season two, this wasted no time in expanding Eda and Lilith’s backstories. It’s nice seeing them bond again after spending an entire season on opposite sides before their jealousy gets the best of them. The way they handle their overbearing parent is both relatable and sad given their different circumstances. Their mother proves a loving, albeit an overbearing parent that doesn’t look at the situation from all perspectives. Yet her arc leads to a dynamic final battle and a genuinely sweet reconciliation – the kind that only a mother can deliver.
Cinematic Bandicoot 
Leave a comment