At long last, I’ve done it!

I finally settled on a list of top episodes. As per usual, this is more about personal preference than anything (hence the abundance of Lumity and Edaine). In chronological order, and may include spoilers (but, as always, I’ll try to avoid them).

Covention

Say it! Say you’re not a witch!

While the first four episodes combine to form a decent introduction to the series, it’s this one that really opens up the world and gives you a taste of what The Owl House really has to offer – that is, a thoughtful response to Harry Potter, and tons of witch drama! It also includes the first real witch’s duel, and sets up the relationships of both Amity and Luz and Eda and Lilith (at least for the rest of the season).

Enchanting Grom Fright

Honestly, I’m kind of amazed with how fearless you are.

Because this one HAD to be here! Amity finally allows herself to act on her feelings for Luz, and it is adorable. It also features Luz seriously using her magic to fight for the first time, and borrowing a concept from HP (but utilizing it much better).

Agony of a Witch

Luz, thank you for being in my life.

This episode is more Eda-centric, focusing mainly on her relationships with Luz and Lilith. It features an epic fight, and the ending is just devastating. It sets up Luz’s character arc for the rest of the series, and really hammers home the threat that Belos represents, arguably better than the next episode where he features more prominently.

Hunting Palismen

Right. I didn’t think this through.

While I think Huntlow is adorable, I tend to be more interested in the friendship Luz develops with Hunter (and of course his relationship with Flapjack, which also starts here). At their best, they encourage growth in each other, as here, where they interrogate one another’s modus operandi when they team up.

Knock Knock Knockin on Hooty’s Door

Everything is so crazy right now, and I have no idea what my future holds, but it would be so cool if you were in it.

This episode succeeds at developing all three of the main characters (in very different ways), basically because Hooty got bored. It jumps around from funny to dramatic to painfully awkward and back again, and it is wonderful.

Eclipse Lake

There are people out there who won’t make you feel worthless. You just have to let yourself meet them.

This episode is mostly just fun, with Luz mostly sidelined for the episode, but Amity replaces her so earnestly that I can’t help but love it. This is also a rare Hunter episode that’s more lighthearted (mainly because both Eda and Kikimora are there to tease him), but the final battle is surprisingly intense.

Reaching Out

I have a problem, and it could distract us all day.

This episode nicely fleshes out Amity’s family (at least the family that matters to her) while also giving us a glimpse of Luz’s family situation. It’s sweet, despite Luz making many bad decisions, because the two of them manage to communicate in the end!

Them’s the Breaks, Kid

I don’t know who you are, but you are a riot.

This is the closest we ever get to a full backstory episode for Eda, it’s about how she first met Raine, what more can you ask for?

Hollow Mind

I wouldn’t be so judgmental, if were you.

While the twists in this episode aren’t all that surprising (the big one for Luz was actually dropped a few episodes back), the episode does succeed at throwing Luz and Hunter into the same boat, for better and for worse.

Clouds on the Horizon

 I got to decide what my future looked like when I chose to be a witch, and I want them to have that option, too.

This is the deep breath before the plunge. While Impending Doom looms just over the horizon, Luz takes the opportunity to have one last (relatively) light adventure that takes a darker turn, setting up the season finale brilliantly.

King’s Tide

I’m not like you!

This episode manages to set up the apocalyptic conflicts as more personal, with Luz finally seeing Belos for who he is, and King beginning to see The Collector as he is. and that ending gets me every time

Thanks to Them

I just want to make sure everyone’s safe.

While I’m still bummed about the abridged season, after a few years, I’ve settled on this one as my favorite, mainly because it has the most streamlined narrative (the other two are far more disjointed). It focuses primarily on Luz and Hunter (with some long-overdue development for Camila to round it out). Once again, this episode benefits from a gut-wrenching ending. I love the ending of the series, too, but the last episode is kinda all over the place and a little long, so this one wins.

I don’t doubt I’ll write about TOH again (especially since HP has stubbornly refused to die), and I’ve already written an article or two about it on TDF.

Until next time, when we get back to our regularly scheduled programming…