I got a little worried about this series going on hiatus, but for only one week off air, I already started missing it…

Hooty’s Moving Hassle

First off, let me express how grateful I am that this show follows a weekly airing schedule rather than dumping episodes in blocks for us to binge. I feel like I have something to look forward to after a long week and it gives me something to write about regularly. With that said, there was a lot worth looking forward to in this episode.

This one is centered around a Boiling Isles custom called “The Moonlight Conjuring”, an astrological event where witches come together and take advantage of the moon’s unique aperture in the sky to fuel their spells. Here it takes the form of a slumber party, which Luz and her friends are all too excited to partake in. However, Eda’s curse has begun to resurface and she neglected to refill her stock of potions. Needing to sneak off to the shady “Night Market” she forbids Luz from inviting her friends over, which doesn’t do much to dissuade her.

In the ensuing party, our trio inadvertently uses the lunar magic to animate the entire Owl House itself, causing it to grow a pair of Baba Yaga style legs and strut around the Bone Burroughs. Naturally, they take advantage of this to play childish pranks on their teenaged rivals. Meanwhile, Eda scours the Night Market for a figure ominously named Grimhammer…who turns out to be another inexplicably cutesy demon. I’m starting to think there might be something to my pet theory (see the previous review).

Unfortunately, it appears that Grimhammer, or “Mr. Tibbles” is an extortionist and charges an exorbitant price for her potion. Then, Eda notices he takes a fancy to a card game called “Hexes Hold’em”. It appears she’s cursed with the gambling bug as well as being a Were-owl, as she promptly bets King’s freedom and loses.

Luz: “Oh boy! Cards…! The paper rectangles old people think are fun!” *hides deck of Chaotic trading cards* S-s-shut up, Luz!

Fortunately, Luz and Co.’s shenanigans end up trashing Mr. Tibbles’ stall and releasing the pair before he can turn Eda over to the Emperor for a sizable bounty.

That’s part of what I like about this episode. There’s something there tying it to the overarching plot even though it’s just a fun, filler type episode. Things take a bit of a dark turn, however, when the trio’s moonlight mischief catches the attention of a gang of demon hunters. This ruthless band attempts to capture the Owl House and sell the “House Demon” lurking within as a popular food item. What’s worse they literally try to kill Luz and her friends by pushing them off a cliff!

Let me go on a tangent here by saying I’m not usually impressed when animated shows take dark turns like this one. Injecting gloom or violence into a narrative doesn’t automatically make it more “mature” in my book, as much of the industry seems to think nowadays. Back to the topic at hand, I don’t think that’s what’s going on here. It’s just these grizzled, hardened punks doing what they naturally would. They even play it for laughs, oddly enough.

Gus: “Wait! Is this really what you want to be doing with your life? Tossing kids from cliffs? Demon Hunter: “Actually, yes. It’s been my dream since I was a boy!… (quiet stares) …I was a strange child. (pushes them over cliff) Wheee!”

Luckily they get snagged on a tree-root before they plummet to their demise, wherein Willow’s gifts with plant magic save the day. They manage to get Hooty home just before the magic wears off, but not in time to prevent Eda from finding out about their little jaunt. She seems miffed and impressed in equal measure, noting it would take a prodigious amount of magical power to pull off such a feat. We know Willow certainly has the potential. Gus? Maybe…But Luz? Could she have some hidden power despite being human? I guess we’ll find out in future episodes. I can’t wait!