Cartoon Network has always
been uniquely able to bring me into a new world of whimsy and fantasy, and they
do not fall short in their miniseries Over the Garden Wall. Created by
Katie Krenz, who has developed numerous shows for Cartoon Network over the
years including Steven Universe, and Patrick McHale, a writer for Adventure Time
and Flapjack, this miniseries is a gorgeous adventure in growing up and
coming to terms with the world. Across the 10 episodes, at 11 minutes each this
is a quick watch that will leave you breathless.
Wirt (Elijah Wood) and
his brother Greg (Collin Dean) are travelling through The Unknown, a deep and dense
forest trying to find their way home. The Unknown is a dangerous place, stalked
by a beast (Samuel Ramey) who searches for the souls of lost children to add to
his forest. The Woodsman (Christopher Lloyd) chops down these trees to make oil
for his lantern, which he must keep lit at all costs. The darker aspects of the
plot are mixed into the magical, whimsical and largely inconsequential subplots
of the individual episodes. Lullaby in Frogland is perhaps the best example of
this, where the gang travels on a boat piloted by frogs which sit around
smoking bubble pipes, playing music and dancing. The gorgeous animation and the
songs that run throughout the series further serve to set the tone of the show
as fun, but with morose underpinnings.
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| Image Courtesy of Cartoon Network |
The show deals with
themes of growing up, and accepting responsibility. Wirt is the elder child,
but has a hard time taking responsibility for his brother. He is often unable
to take decisive action when it matters most, and his uncertainty in his own
abilities leads them into more trouble than anything else. Beatrice the bird’s
(Melanie Lynskey) arc follows a similar path, as she is running from something
as well. The Unknown can serve as a metaphor for life that the characters must
navigate, and find solutions to their problems.
Creativity in these
solutions is also crucial to survival in the Unknown. For example, the Beast tells
the Woodsman that keeping the lantern lit is the only way, the only thing he
can do. Wirt and Greg continue to march through the woods because that is the
only thing they can do. The message becomes in order to navigate the complexities
and the unknowns in life, you have to be able to find alternative solutions to
your problems.
This show is also about
maintaining joy in the face of the unknown. Once a traveler succumbs to despair
the woods claims them. Only by finding or creating some meaning or purpose in
their journey are the characters able to survive.
As this is a very dense
show, containing many twists and turns there is too much to mention in this
review without giving away the twists and turns of the story that you should
experience yourself. Watch this series, rewatch it, and then do some digging
online. There are many videos and articles out there explaining the hidden moments
and connections that are littered throughout the miniseries. The mysteries are
there for you to discover during these 31 days of hell.
-Patrick Bernas