Trying to engage with TOH fandom can be a chore sometimes. While I ABSOLUTELY LOVE LOVE LOVE the latest episode “Any Sport In A Storm” for having Willow in the spotlight in full, bringing back fan-beloved characters like Viney and Skara, and making me truly appreciate Hunter’s character and his role in an episode for the first time, and I would like to go into any of these at length… it seems like most of the fandom is more joyous over getting food for their Huntlow/Winter ship.
None of that is the least bit surprising, though, especially in a fandom that loves shipping. (And so do I! Shipping is my life and blood, just… not this ship in particular :p) I’m happy for all y’all Winter shippers, I truly am. But like before, I still find the discourse I have with my peers irl much more engaging and thought provoking than the ones I encounter online.
In the meantime, here’s where my brain’s at rn:
Sooooooo, do we have a ship name for Viney x Skara yet, or is it just me? ^^;
I know we say this every week but that was honestly one of my favorite episodes! Top 5!
Finally, a proper Gus episode with no Lumity to overshadow him. Seeing Gus and Willow’s origin was so sweet, how she helped him calm down melted my heart!
Geez Amity pissed me off this episode. Willow may have been timid and shy before but she’s gotten so much stronger, physically and mentally! I know Amity is trying to be a good friend, but she still hasn’t met the real Willow yet.
At least he’s safe for now. And is that his Emerald Entrail jersey!?
I never expected Matt long ass name to join a second coven, let alone the illusion track. Nevertheless, I love it! Also the twins look great! If you listen closely you can hear Odalia’s blood boiling.
Gus is so strong and talented! To see an illusion from that far away and be able to counter it from the Head Witch of the track no less! Not to mention the illusions he creates. In season 1, he struggled with creating messages for Luz and in season 2, my boy is covering schools and graveyards with illusions!
This is a friendship I never saw coming, but I’m not complaining! Gus helping Hunter breathe and trying to talk to him while at the same time respecting his privacy. God this show is just so freaking great!
Bump and the Illusions professor definitely had Dumbledore and Mcgonagall vibes this episode. I’ve always liked Bump but after this episode and “Them’s the Break, Kid” I’ve only come to enjoy him more!
Strike a pose!
This episode was stellar everyone! Gus once again overcoming his insecurities and proving how strong he is, Hunter rebelling against Belos and revealing his plans, Willow and Amity continuing to mend their friendship, Bump being awesome, and showing everyone how dangerous illusions can be!
Three episodes left of season two and we are going in blind. We have that screenshot of King and Steve but that’s it. Can’t wait for next week!
So a thought occurred to me of some interesting character parallels between the students and Coven Heads.
Willow is the first of the Hexsquad we met
She’s nurturing, kind, a good leader, and physically strong. She’s insanely powerful despite appearances and impressed Bump to the point she got to transfer to the plant track no questions asked. She’s loyal to her friends to the very end and was a huge catalyst in Belos ultimately being defeated.
Terra is the first Coven Head Eda & Raine met as kids
She’s manipulative, cruel, a devote follower, and frail looking. She’s insanely powerful despite appearances and it terrifies others to be around her to the point they try to abort missions when they realize she’s around. She’s loyal to Belos to the very end and was a huge catalyst in the Draining Spell ultimately happening.
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Amity is the second of the Hexsquad we met
At first she was an antagonist, a classic bully archetype, but throughout S1&2 we see she’s actually a good kid and actively becomes a better person and valuable ally. She becomes incredibly important to the main plotline, uses abomination magic in an unconventional way, her hair is abomination colored, and without hesitation she ran from the only exit to try to save Luz & King.
Darius is the second Coven Head (excluding EC) we met
At first he was an antagonist, a classic queer-coded villain archetype, but throughout S2 we see he’s actually a rebel and is actively involved in the fight against the main villain and is a valuable ally. He becomes incredibly important to the rebellion sub-plotline, uses abomination magic in a VERY unconventional way, his hair is literally abomination, and without hesitation he surrendered to save Eber.
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Gus is the last of the Hexsquad we met
He’s a prodigy in his field and younger than his peers but he makes up for it with his excessive wit, creativity, and talent. He’s likeable and considerate, and despite being an illusionist values honesty and and being upfront. Him revealing Belos’ deepest memories is what triggered the final confrontation between Belos & Hunter, as well as ultimately confirming Belos killed his brother Caleb and Flapjack was Caleb’s palisman.
Adrian is the last Coven Heads that got a focused episode & voiced
He’s the Head of his field and appears to be younger than his peers, yet he has no trace of creativity nor talent to his craft and relies on an enhancer tool. He’s self-absorbed and hated by his underlings, and uses illusions to manipulate and lie. Him revealing Eda is what triggered the fight between the Coven Heads & Rebels, as well as ultimately getting the Draining Spell to activate properly which almost killed everyone.
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But it doesn’t stop there folks! Now getting into more peripheral students to the story!
SkaraandViney are students we met in weird circumstances
Skara appeared to be a ‘shallow mean girl’ but later grows into a thoughtful friend, is a strategic genius, and was the first to attack when the Emerald Entrails got captured. She’s good at grudgby (and flyer derby), apparently enjoys puns, and loves making plans.
Viney appeared to be a 'delinquent’ but is actually an earnest, friendly kid that loves to learn, is hyper protective of her friends, and helped set the course for multi-track learning. She mixes beastkeeping with healing magic in what’s considered an unconventional combination, and seems to only have one beast tamed.
RaineandEberwolf are Coven Heads met in weird circumstances
Raine was openly a rebel but later got 'brainwashed’, is a genius at bard magic, and was the first to openly denounce Belos and be captured out of the rebels. They’re good at grudgby, enjoy puns and making team names, and is heavily involved in all the plan making of the rebellion.
Eber appeared to be a 'villain’ but is actually a rebel that loves those dear to him, is always ready to attack to protect, and helped set the course for the rebellion. He’s a beast demon beastkeeper in an ironic combination, and summons a variety of beasts he’s tamed.
Mattholomule started as a joke character/bully, but later becomes a helpful ally, close friends with one of the main characters, and has family (that for time constraint reasons he and Steve didn’t get to interact on screen) within the Emperor’s Coven that also decided to fight for the rebellion.
Mason started as a joke character/background detail, but later becomes a Coven Head and massive loyalist. In a scrapped storyboard about him he has kids but decided to fight for Belos anyway (possibly like Odalia in a sense of 'saving my family screw everyone else’)
Boscha is an extremely toxic friend
Vitimir literally breathes poison
(ok that last one had no thought put into it but it still fits lmao)
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The three “bad kids” turned friends (Amity,Skara,Viney) lining up with the three secret rebels (Darius,Raine,Eber)
The two best friends of Luz (Willow,Gus) paralleling the two villains that exposed Eda (Terra,Adrian)
Matty(& Steve) choosing the rebellion vs Mason(& his family) choosing loyalty
AndBoschaandVitimir both spew toxicity!
I’m not sure how much of this all was intentional, but how interesting is it to see the main students the show interacts with from each track have so many parallels in all of personality, introductions, and plot twists as their respective Coven Head counterparts!
