Perfect Halloween Pick: Why You Should Watch Over the Garden Wall
by Ting Gao
The pandemic has changed everything. Every aspect of our lives, from how we shop to how we hold meetings to where we’re allowed to sit, has been altered, for better or for worse, and it’s no surprise that it’s changing how we’ll be celebrating Halloween 2020. Trick-or-treating and large, loud parties will be out of the question this year, thanks to COVID-19.
What should you do instead to get into the Halloween spirit? Why, watch Over the Garden Wall, of course.
Over the Garden Wall is an animated mini-series about two half-brothers, Wirt and Greg, trying to get home after finding themselves lost in a mysterious place called the Unknown. Airing on Cartoon Network in 2014, it was released to critical acclaim, winning an Emmy for “Outstanding Animated Program” and getting an average Rotten Tomatoes rating of 92%. While the series is aimed primarily towards children, there’s no reason adults can’t enjoy it, too.
To begin, it features a stellar cast and crew. The creator of the show, Patrick McHale, previously worked on the Cartoon Network hit Adventure Time, and he brings the same sense of whimsy and depth of storyline to the production.
Acclaimed actors like Elijah Wood, Christopher Lloyd, and Beatrice Neuwirth then bring that story to life with their incredible voice work. Wood, who most famously played Frodo Baggins in the Lord of the Rings films, plays the main character, Wirt, and his impression of a nervous, awkward teen is spot on. Listening to some of his acting will give you fond memories of how weird you were back in the day.
In addition to its star power, the show also features fantastic visuals and a wonderful aesthetic. Simply looking at some of the art, inspired by vintage trade cards and postcards (The Dot and Line), will evoke a perfect sense of autumn, and the cute, simple animation makes for easy watching. The soundtrack also adds a lot to the ambience of the show, with folk songs like “Patient is the Night” and “Like Ships” making for lovely listening.
Lastly, the series manages to explore deep topics in its ten short episodes. While the show maintains a PG rating throughout its entirety, it gives a good dose of psychological horror and lives up to its roots in Dante’s Inferno. Watch until the end, and the plot twist will radically change how you view the entire series.
Overall, this short yet poignant series is the perfect thing to binge this Halloween. Whether you want to indulge in nostalgia, have a good scare, or watch something fun with your younger siblings, this series is sure to deliver. And, for whatever reason you watch it, enjoy your journey into the Unknown!
