Final Assignment: Over the Garden Wall Revisions
The Unknown. Something that exists outside of our world of understanding. And no piece of media exemplifies this better than the Emmy Award-winning show, “Over the Garden Wall,” a mystery/horror show created by Patrick Mchale. This show was released on Cartoon Network over the span of a week in November of 2014 (The 3rd-7th), and has become a common piece of media to watch during Halloween and Autumn. The depiction of Fall in the show is a character of its own, as some lyrics in the beginning song states, “Our long bygone burdens, Mere echoes of the spring.” As the seasons change, we, as humans, have to adapt and change along with the seasons. And I feel that Over the Garden Wall exemplifies this perfectly, as my sister and I, over the course of nearly 10 years, have grown and changed, but we still find a way to watch this show together, even as she now lives far away in Colorado. It is something that connects us and is something we can spend many hours discussing. The bonds of siblinghood are another essential part of this show, and it is depicted through two beloved characters, Wirt and Greg. With the help of a bluebird named Beatrice, Wirt and Greg navigate the Unknown, full of different time periods, which include a tavern from the 18th century and some modern day settings, full of Halloween themes. They also meet many fantastic creatures, ranging from a schoolhouse full of animals to the horrors of the Beast, a character made up of absolute darkness. With its underbelly of haunting topics like morality and the art of manipulation, this show boasts a level of maturity unparalleled in children’s media and is a cultural masterpiece. As it depicts different eras, it brings forth allusions to classic folktales and is chock full of nostalgic appeal. How does Over the Garden Wall analyze the nostalgic beauty of the past and the changing of the seasons, and how humans have to adapt to them, and why is siblinghood such a huge factor of this show?
As Summer turns to Fall, humans and animals have to change our regular routine. The days grow shorter, the nights grow longer, and we have to head back to the humdrumness of school. Over the Garden Wall and Patrick Mchale does a great job of showcasing this, as we see, in the beautiful imagery of the series, the descent of the warm summer into the beauty of Autumn, and then, towards the end, Autumn into the darkness and bleakness of Winter, as the Beast begins to take control of Greg. The warm vibrant colors presented in the show help illustrate the drowsy, yet beautiful nature of autumn, and help us leave the bright colors of summer and drift off into a drowsy autumnal setting. The nostalgic beauty plays a huge part in depicting the seasons as well, as many of the episodes take place in settings that are relevant to Fall. One such example that I discussed previously includes a schoolhouse in the turn of the 18th century, as it relates to kids going back to school and learning once again.
Siblinghood is a major aspect of Over the Garden Wall, as we see two brothers, older brother Wirt, and younger brother, Greg. The brothers overcome many perils as they journey through the unknown, which range from manual labor in the 2nd episode to defeating the Beast, a creature made up of pure darkness, in the series finale. The challenges laid before them in previous episodes culminate in the penultimate episode of the series, as we see the backstory of how they ended up in the unknown. We see Wirt trying to ask a girl, Sarah, out, and Greg attempting to help, but Wirt manages to mess it up and blame his misfortunes on his younger brother. The trials and tribulations they go through in the unknown help Wirt grow to love his brother and fully appreciate him and his frog, Jason Funderberker. This shows the love of siblings and even though it may seem like Wirt is annoyed by Greg sometimes, I feel that children with siblings are more ready to face the world we live in today, as we learn to compromise and gain wisdom and knowledge from each other.
Over the Garden Wall still holds up nearly 10 years later, and it does so by using everyday experiences and anxiety’s we all have through a cute, fall-like setting. We see character development, common interests, and even love that hooks us into the show. These common human experiences are what help us connect to the show, and that is why it is still so relevant all these years later. Having shows like Steven Universe, Gravity Falls, and even My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic existing at the same time brought more attention to cartoons and introduced many people to these spectacular pieces of media, even if they are, simply put, children’s cartoons. All in all, many factors played into Over the Garden Wall becoming a major hit and the reason it is still popular to this day.
Shows like Over the Garden Wall depict the true resolve of the human spirit, and that is why they are still so necessary to continue to be made. It is important to show brothers growing to love each other, showing how we can be one with nature, and why, in even the darkest of times, we can find the light, whether that be by a lantern, or by the light of true human connection. Humans are resilient and we go through a lot, but we always find a way to turn things around, even if it seems dark at times. The trials and tribulations that humans go through on a regular basis are presented in dazzling fashion in this short 10-episode cartoon, and as my sister says, “If we didn’t have shows like this, we truly would be devoid of life and creativity,” and I couldn’t agree more. Over the Garden Wall, as a show, presents us with the complexities of humanity, and shows us that even though things may be scary or unknown, we have each other to rely on, whether it be siblings, parents, roommates, and even professors, and that is so important to this day. In its entirety, Over the Garden Wall is a show full of mystery, adventure, and fun, while showing adult themes in a children’s cartoon, which was pretty revolutionary for its time.