Disney Channel - My impressions of three Halloween specials
Remember when they used to make us shake in our boots?
Calling all the monsters to the Fort! I’m about to make popcorn and get some candy, feel free to take the remote and switch the Disney Channel on. Today, we are gonna talk about some of my favourite shows that used to air on it; more specifically, about their Halloween episodes. Anyone who wants to join in is more than welcome to!
Spoilers for the episodes mentioned, ahead
Halloween – Wizards of Waverly Place
In the second episode of season three, the Russo family is getting ready to open the Waverly Substation haunted house, just like every Halloween. The problem is – it’s never been scary. This is confirmed by the Waverly Place Merchant Association, which tells them that if they don’t make it scary this year, they will lose the ability to open it. The responsibility falls on Alex to go to the Ghost World and recruit a few of its terrifying residents to help them save the attraction.
I have to say, I really like the premise of this episode. A Halloween special centred around ghosts isn’t anything new, but one of my favourite things about Wizards are the creature feature episodes: the ones that expand upon the Wizarding World and introduce us to its numerous magical beings – thus I loved seeing the Ghost World and how it worked. Another thing which I absolutely loved is Theresa being supportive of magic. Her inclusion made the whole family work together to resolve the issue. It also put an emphasis on the love they have for the haunted house, restaurant, and each other.
The Ghost World has to be my favourite setting of the whole episode. It’s the perfect little pocket of the Wizarding World, giving kids so much material to daydream about, yet leaving them with enough questions and freedom to build upon. I used to be one of those kids, now I’m one of those adults. No matter your age, it provides an escape from the mundane world into a more whimsical one.
Located underneath a cemetery, the Ghost World is designed as a square. It’s complete with nets, cobwebs, fog, and a bunch of doors which ghosts use to train to go trick-or-treating on Halloween. It’s established that ghosts collect as much candy as possible on this day, because it is all they can eat. This is another area where this show shines; the comedy built upon traditional beliefs and folklore. Another example of this would be the way Alex and Harper get to the Ghost World; they dig a grave and jump through it.
The special effects in this episode are of the time, though it only serves to add to the campiness. My favourite ghost is Ms. Chenowith who knits with her fingers. The important detail is that she doesn’t have any flesh on her hands, only bones. This is one of the practical effects in the episode and it’s incredibly done.
While I do really like the elements I’ve just listed, I have to say that this episode felt a bit underwhelming. The plot of the Russos saving the haunted house attraction seems to come out of nowhere. It is never mentioned or hinted at before this episode. As such, losing it doesn’t feel important. It would have made a bigger impact had the whole Substation been in danger, or maybe the Layer or the portal to the Wizarding World. The ghosts also feel out of place. I like the addition of them, just not the way in which they were used. It felt like the minute they began to matter, they were gone. I would have preferred to see them on screen a bit longer, in a more active role.
The family doing their best to build a haunted house before Alex comes back was a great idea and it was very heartwarming to see. Harper leading the tour, Jerry trying to tell people’s fortune with a head of lettuce, Theresa trying to scare people by looking gorgeous as Cher, and Max being the most charming French-looking ghost ever – is wonderful to see and it made me happy. But why is Justin Just-sitting on the stairs? This subplot felt rushed, as well. Maybe this would have done better as a two-part episode. It seems like it was built on good ideas, but not given enough time to execute them properly.
The ending, however, is one of my favourites. The attendees of the haunted house end up being so scared that it gets closed forever. Alex points out that even though they have failed, they still gave it their all and worked together. They failed together while fighting their hardest and that’s something to be proud of. It’s a great lesson to include in the episode and to teach the viewer.
Overall, compared to the other Wizards episodes featuring monsters, this one feels average to me. However, the goofy ghost lore and the show’s ability to be cosy and comforting still make for this one a good Halloween watch.
Don’t Have a Cow – That’s So Raven
Raven and Chelsea are the only people in their school not invited to a Halloween party. Instead, they spend the night digging through a trunk full of supernatural tools in Raven’s home. After a wishing spell helps them get the invitation they want, they use it to have all eyes on them at the party. What happens when, instead of having the best costumes, they end up sprouting cow ears?
I caught only a handful of “That’s So Raven” rerun episodes while I was a kid, and one of them was this one. Rewatching it now only makes me want to watch the show in its entirety. I love the premise of two kids messing around with magic, only to end up getting what they wished for, though not in the way they envisioned. Also, adding a sprinkle of magic into an otherwise realistic series is magnificent – or should I say, fantastical.
Since I watched the episode, Chelsea’s poem about apologising to a cow for accidentally eating a burger made with its meat hasn’t left my head. It makes me laugh at the most random times, and so does Raven’s response to it.
Do I even need to say that this episode is hilarious? It’s “That’s So Raven” – of course it would be. From the first moment of the transformation, when Raven and Chelsea start sprouting cow ears and tails, it goes off the rails in the best way possible. Their reactions and banter with each other once the spell starts working, are what lets the viewer know that they are in for an amazing time. I loved watching them freak out over their newfound cow ears. The part where Chelsea correctly guesses that Raven is worried about growing a tail might be my favourite from this sequence. It shows their bond as best friends, and, even if you have never seen the show, establishes their goofy, yet loyal relationship. This only becomes more evident as the plot goes on.
As new cow parts start replacing their facial features and hands, Raven and Chelsea arrive at the Halloween party in an attempt to get the book of spells, which their friend had borrowed, back. This is yet another high point of the episode. We get to see everyone act a fool – in full cow mode. There’s people eating straw hats, licking their face to clean it, and a pair of cows in wigs. It’s pure nonsense and joy.
There is a sublot which focuses on Raven’s brother – Corey, and their father. This year Corey wants to go out trick-or-treating with his friend William, without his dad. The dad takes the time to listen to his son, validate his wishes and he respects them. He’s letting his kid grow up. Later, they end up going together anyway, but it’s because both of them want to and admit to miss each other. This is a great example of a parent and a kid communicating their feelings openly, as well as listening to each other.
It wouldn’t be a Disney Channel episode without some adult humour. There is one case where this is disturbing, however. Cory’s friend is dressed as a functional TV remote. The thing is – instead of turning the TV on, he sets off car alarms with the buttons on his costume. Near the end of the episode, Cory tells him he can join him and his father trick-or-treating if he doesn’t touch himself… Both of these kids are about 11 or 12. This joke wouldn’t fly today, and for the better. Besides that, I caught one more adult joke, though it is made by adult characters about adult characters, so it doesn’t feel as creepy.
While the ending of the episode is formatted as a “dream”, to nullify any effect it would have had on the universe, it doesn’t necessarily hurt it. Instead of an actual dream, it turns out the whole plot happened in one of Raven’s visions, which makes it fit the format of the show. There’s even a skit at the end between her and Chelsea which wraps the episode up nicely.
I feel bad for not being able to tell you, in detail, what the best parts of this special episode are, but that’s because it is full of such great moments. I definitely would recommend you watch it. If you are looking for something that will make you feel cosy and warm, while keeping you laughing, this is the episode for you.
mutANT Farm – A. N. T. Farm
Episode 14 of the first season of A.N.T. Farm is the show’s first Halloween episode. In a parallel universe, Webster High School is home to a program which allows mutants, a.k.a. monsters, to enrol in a predominantly human school. In an attempt to bring both sides together, a buddy system is set up between them to prepare the gym for the Halloween dance. This is a chance to see if monsters and humans can actually get along.
This special is a parody of the first episode of the show where younger gifted kids have skipped a few grades to enrol in a high school and are disliked by the other students. In this universe, the monsters are disliked by the human students, but because the latter fear them. This flips the usual power dynamic of the younger kids being bullied because of their age, on its head. Whoever had the idea to do this deserved a raise. It’s amazing.
Onto something which I didn’t like. In this universe, Chyna is a gorgon – a creature with snakes for hair that turns people to stone with her gaze. In the first few moments of the episode, her human brother, Cameron, calls her creepy and is openly discriminatory towards her. While her father initially stands up for her, later he admits to letting her do whatever she wants because she has snakes for hair and he is scared of her.
As for how he stood up for her at the beginning; the father stated it’s not Chyna’s fault she’s a monster, but that it is Cameron’s and her mother’s fault. Apparently he didn’t know she was a monster until after they were married. He follows it up by making a misogynistic remark about most men having this problem. While Cameron learns his lesson by the end of the episode, the father is never shown doing the same or getting reprimanded for his actions. It makes me wonder how he treats his daughter just because she is different.
This is a show from the early 2010s, there’s bound to be problematic elements in it. Actually, I would argue that most media from this period and the 00s has them. Being one of the few disabled people to go to my primary school, these moments hit close to home. My classmates were accepting and I was never bullied, but I did grow up feeling alienated for being different. It’s important to talk about these instances because there are people who can still be hurt by them. The more we talk, the less they appear in contemporary media. Such is the case with this show itself, with its more recent specials being less and less problematic.
Onto the positive aspects of the episode. The set design has the same feel as does the “Wizards of Waverly Place” episode from earlier, but taken up to 11. It’s unapologetically cheesy, leaning into the tropes of the horror genre and folklore. This is the amount of camp and self-awareness that makes the Disney Channel Halloween specials unique. It feels like a fantasy enthusiast dreamt it up while on a sugar rush. It’s wonderful.
I also really liked some of the mutants’ makeup and costumes. Chyna’s look jumps out as a definite favourite, down to the scaly details on her face. Olive’s is a close second. Her brain looked pretty well-done, along with her mad scientist outfit. Also, can we appreciate the fact that a gorgon is included in the main cast? Her snakes don’t look real at all, but the fact that such an underrated creature is leading the episode is incredible to a mythology nerd like myself.
The humour is actually one of my favourite parts of the special, excluding the aforementioned attempts. One of my favourite recurring gags is Paisley’s brain being transferred to a duck’s body. I just hope the duck consented, too. It definitely made me chuckle whenever she popped up on the screen. Paisley is such a precious character. From what I remember of the show, she’s never wished anyone harm and is a character with no prejudice against monsters in the special. I love her, and seeing her interact with the mutants really warmed my heart.
Another running joke which I loved was Angus eating people, while everyone calmly reacts to it. Yes, Lexi complains about it once it happens to her prom date, but she doesn’t run away screaming, nor does she bring it up later. Since we’re talking about how funny this show is, we cannot overlook Fletcher and his iconic evil laugh. Honestly, watch this episode just for that if not for anything else.
Chyna’s character is my favourite out of the entire main cast. Her usual A.N.T. Farm character works incredibly well in this scenario. Her lines feel natural, her observational humour blends perfectly with the bizarre world. Although she is new to a human high school setting, she is never clueless nor is she seen as weak. In fact, it proves to be an advantage. Because of her not being accustomed to the usual way the school divides mutants and humans, she is the only one to suggest they try to get to know one another, which sets the whole plot in motion.
At the dance she turns the mutants into humans, so that they may see how we are all the same on the inside. While this is a good message, it pales in comparison to what happens in the next few scenes. As the DJ booth is destroyed, Chyna picks the microphone up and gives the world one of the most popular Disney Channel songs – Calling All the Monsters! I mean, what to say? This song is iconic! It’s forever on my Halloween playlist!
Watching this episode felt like coming home. Yes, it has questionable parts, but at least they were learned from. I absolutely adore the characters, the setting, and – of course – the song. At the end of the day, it’s endearing, joyful, and spooky. If you can get past the mistakes, I would most definitely recommend giving it a chance.
This concludes our visit to the spooky, not-so-scary, skeletons of Disney Channel. I had so much fun, and way too much sugar. Isn’t that what Halloween is about? Anyway, thank you for visiting the Fort and revisiting my childhood series with me. If you’d like to stay and chat, let’s do so in the comments. Otherwise, hope to see you soon. Byee.
Dorian
The blog’s header and the drawing featured atop this post were made by @ambybun on Instagram
The DVD cover featured on the drawing was made by me