Over the Garden Wall
by Ava Fineza
Over the Garden Wall is a show I wish I had seen earlier in my life. The miniseries is charming, eerie, hilarious, insightful, and the show seems to exude autumn - if that’s even possible. At first glance, the series looks like a kid’s show. It very much is, but Over the Garden Wall is something that can be appreciated by all ages - maybe even more so by older viewers as there are subtle messages that might be hard for younger audiences to grasp. The writing is incredible and gets you hooked on the two brothers immediately, and the world-building in this series is wonderful. Each episode is a different delight that introduces a whole new world to the viewer and by the end of each ten-minute journey, you’ll be sad to leave one place but eager to see the next. The tone of the series is layered. While the dialogue and humor give a light-hearted feeling, there is a perpetual creepiness, and an everlasting sense of dread for the brothers is established shortly into the first episode. Over the Garden Wall gives me nostalgia for something I haven’t even experienced. Maybe it’s the beautiful hand-painted scenery and animation that reminds me of old Disney. Or possibly the gorgeous soundtrack that crafts the tone and carries each episode along(listen to it here). Or maybe the show just has its own magic - one that feeds your imagination, fuels your dreams, and invites you to stumble into the Unknown. Will you take a peek?
Logline: Two brothers encounter strange people and places on their journey home through the mysterious Unknown.
Fun Fact: Over the Garden Wall was based on the short film Tome of the Unknown(also created by Patrick McHale and produced at Cartoon Network), and has been adapted as a comic series.
My Favorite Character:
Collin Dean as Greg - GREG! Gregory! He is the best character, hands down. A teapot-wearing all-star. Greg is absolutely adorable and the best jokes on the show are most likely due to his wonderfully blatant honesty. Greg is the essence of childhood innocence and his quirks are what make this show so charming, imo. Also, did I mention he’s a beloved songwriter?
Number of Seasons: 1 - it’s a limited series.
Where to Watch: Hulu with subscription, YouTube, Google Play, and Amazon Prime Video for purchase.
Rating: TV-PG for some frightening & intense scenes.