As a fun activity to do during Halloween, my friends and I decided that we would watch "Over the Garden Wall." "Over the Garden Wall" is a ten episode miniseries that can be found on YouTube or Cartoon Network, and each episode is about thirteen minutes long. It is a fantastical story about two brothers, Greg, and Writ, and their journey through a forest called the Unknown, and the adventures they have there. I thoroughly enjoyed the series and I recommend it to anyone who is looking to gather with friends and watch a somewhat creepy story about brotherhood. Although it is best watched around Halloween, "Over the Garden Wall" can also be appreciated at any time. Here are the top five reasons you should watch this miniseries.
5. “Potatoes and Molasses”
This is a song that is first heard in episode three of the series and it sets up the theme of the entire series quite well. It is a cute song lead by the youngest brother, Greg. It is a fun song about improving a rather bland lunch and it will get stuck in your head for hours. A lot of the episodes have fun songs that are entertaining to watch and are important to the show. These songs not only add to the action and theme of Over the Garden Wall, but they are also often important to the plot and add foreshadowing to the story.
4. Real World
A gratifying element of Over the Garden Wall is its close connection to the real world. The two brothers are not used to the fantastical world they find themselves in and are not easily acclimated to their surroundings. Furthermore, as the brothers progress through the world they are still surprised at the various things they discover. Watching the brother’s realistic reactions to things such as talking animals is gratifying when so many stories show children immediately coming to terms with strange surroundings. This show manages to keep the journey of the brothers a surprising and eventful romp that remains fun to the end.
3. The Dark Story
Part of the allure of Over the Garden Wall is the creepy themes and undertones found throughout the series. The entire show is partly set around a sinister mystery that the brothers become entangled in. Rather than being off-putting, these dark themes are what make the story work. They keep Over the Garden Wall interesting and refreshing and keep the air of mystery alive. Furthermore, while the story is at times sad, it never becomes so dark as to become too frightening or distressing. In other words, while the story can tackle very dark elements it always remains engaging and never becomes violent, gory, or otherwise upsetting.
2. The Interconnectedness
This is a point that is not fully appreciated until the entirety of the show has been watched, but it is important and thrilling all the same. Realizing the full connection of all the characters and story lines is an extremely gratifying experience. Watching through Over the Garden Wall again and finding the connections that you missed the first time around is an enjoyable experience that I recommend to everyone who watches the series. Even the first time around, the interconnectedness of the world of Over the Garden Wall remains enticing as the intro that precedes every episode adds insight and intriguing to the events that transpire in every episode.
1. The Message
The final, and best, reason why you should watch Over the Garden Wall relates to its message. While there are morals in every episode, reminiscent of the way traditional fairy tales are presented, the overall story of Over the Garden Wall has a message that, while sometimes right on the nose, is in the end altogether gratifying.
While I was skeptical of Over the Garden Wall at first, it quickly became a show that I appreciated and thoroughly enjoyed. It is a show best watched all at once, at night, and surrounded by friends. I would recommend this story of boyhood, the bond of brotherhood, and the journey through life to anyone who wants to be enchanted, awed, and surprised.
