The Owl House: Thanks to Them

Name: The Owl House: Thanks to Them - Christian Parent's Review
Item: The Owl House: Thanks to Them
Rating: 1
Author: StoryScanner

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General Review

Parent's Guide to The Owl House: Thanks to Them

The Owl House: Thanks to Them is a 46-minute animated special that serves as the season three premiere of Disney's The Owl House series. This fantasy-comedy installment follows Luz Noceda and her friends as they navigate the human realm for several months after the events of the season two finale, attempting to find a way back to the magical Demon Realm. The group also races against the main antagonist, Emperor Belos, who has managed to follow them. The special delves into mature themes such as grief, self-blame, and trauma, particularly through Luz's depression and Hunter's psychological distress from Belos's abusive influence. It continues the series' established narrative of magic, found family, and confronting evil, while also deepening character relationships and personal struggles. The content is generally suitable for older children and tweens, engaging them with a blend of adventurous plot and emotional depth.

Things to Consider

High4

LGBTQ & Gender Identity

The special prominently features LGBTQ+ representation through several main and supporting characters. Luz Noceda comes out as bisexual to her mother, solidifying her identity. Her relationship with Amity Blight, a lesbian character, continues to be a central and openly depicted romantic plotline. Additionally, the non-binary character Masha is introduced with clear indicators of their gender identity.

Luz Noceda explicitly comes out as bisexual to her mother, Camila, during the special. A promotional video also showed Luz wearing a bisexual flag pin. The romantic relationship between Luz and Amity, known as 'Lumity,' is visually celebrated in a scrapbook montage depicting their shared moments, including hearts colored in pride flag colors. The character Masha, introduced as the curator of the Gravesfield Historical Society, is confirmed as non-binary, indicated by a nameplate reading 'MASHA (they/them)' and their nails painted in the non-binary pride flag colors.

Violence

The special contains intense sequences of physical and psychological violence. The main antagonist, Belos, engages in abusive possession of a protagonist, leading to a traumatic physical act and a character death. Combat scenes are fluid and impactful, escalating the stakes for the characters.

Belos possesses Hunter, forcing him to fight his friends. During this possession, Belos uses Hunter's body to mortally wound Flapjack, Hunter's palisman. Hunter is depicted as being 'fully conscious of Belos's control and what he was making him do, but was completely powerless' during this traumatic event. The Hexsquad also engages in direct combat with Belos, whose transformed state is described as monstrous, during a climactic confrontation in a graveyard.

Witchcraft & Occult

Witchcraft and occult themes are fundamental to the entire series, including this special. The narrative is set in a 'Demon Realm' where magic is a primary force, practiced by witches and used by various creatures. Spells, glyphs, and demonic entities are central to the plot and world-building.

The entire premise involves Luz Noceda learning magic and becoming a witch in the 'Boiling Isles,' part of the 'Demon Realm'. Characters frequently use glyphs (light, ice, plants, fire) and various spells as their means of interaction and conflict resolution. The antagonist, Belos, is a powerful figure deeply connected to dark magic and the occult history of the two realms, consistently referred to as a witch hunter who attempts to destroy magical beings.

Scary & Intense Content

The special features high levels of scary and intense content, including psychological horror elements like possession, a traumatic character death, and deep themes of guilt and depression. The antagonist's actions and presence are menacing, contributing to a suspenseful and emotionally charged atmosphere.

Hunter experiences psychological distress and paranoia from Belos's continued influence, culminating in a scene where Belos possesses Hunter, forcing him to act against his will. This possession leads to the death of Flapjack, Hunter's palisman, an emotionally impactful and traumatic event for the character. Luz grapples with severe guilt and depression, believing she is responsible for the ongoing danger, reaching 'her lowest point' emotionally. The story of the Wittebane brothers, the origin of the antagonist Belos, is told as a disturbing 'scary story' that genuinely horrifies the Hexsquad.

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Medium3

Romance and Sexual ContentDisrespect & RebellionAnti-Christian Themes

Low2

ProfanitySubstance Use

Additional Context

Best For Ages

Ages 10+ due to mature themes of grief, trauma, psychological intensity, and explicit LGBTQ+ representation. While animated, the emotional depth and some intense scenes may be overwhelming for younger viewers.

Good to Know

The runtime of 'Thanks to Them' is approximately 46 minutes. As a TV special, it does not have an MPAA rating. The overall series has been rated TV-Y7, but this special, like later installments, contains themes and emotional intensity that push beyond typical younger children's content. Parents should be aware of the escalated emotional stakes and the explicit representation of LGBTQ+ characters and relationships, which are integral to the plot and character development.

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