Fall is right around the corner, which means it’ll be time to find a new show to watch after those stressful exams and projects. “Over the Garden Wall” is a cult classic. Created in 2014, it was Cartoon Network’s first independently animated miniseries and stands as one of the best choices for a chilly autumn night.
It’s paced as if it were a fantasy novel, with two chapters airing per twenty minute episode. The show makes viewers feel like they’re listening to scary stories by the campfire. It’s something you can watch with all ages: a fairytale-type story with some darker, gothic themes that an older audience can appreciate. Viewers can really dive into the tiny details sprawled throughout the series to discover the true meaning of the show.
The show follows two half-brothers, Wirt and Gregory, and Gregory’s pet frog, Kitty. They wander too far into the woods and get lost in “The Unknown.” The series follows the siblings as they try to find their way back home. This part of the woods is home to a creature referred to as “The Beast,” a shapeshifting creature that eats humans that come into its territory. Throughout the chapters, the boys meet many other odd folk in the woods. In the first chapter the brothers meet “The Woodsman,” a talking bird, and The Beast. They wander through The Unknown, getting in all sorts of trouble and tumbling upon numerous oddities along the way.
This show is a heart melter to its very core, especially for those with siblings they might not be as close to anymore. It takes the innocent story of two children getting lost and twists it into a magical adventure filled with folklore and oddities, all while the two brothers develop a closer bond. The series is inspired by a graphic novel, “The Complete Optimist.” Watching “Over the Garden Wall” is a great way to dive into autumn, especially for those who might not enjoy horror but still want that spooky October vibe to cuddle up too.
