#lumity analysis

[sepublic]

Fascinating to me how in the pilot, Luz found the Boiling Isles because of AMITY... Because she's trying to return this exchange student's passport to her. She chases a bus on foot the entire way just to repay her kindness. And so she follows her through the door.

I think the final version works just as well, considering it emphasizes Luz's connection to Eda and King, as well as her relationship with her mother. But there's also something special about how in the pilot, Luz's pretty obvious crush, and hopes of finding a friend in someone who unwittingly showed her kindness (though she doesn't realize it was unintentional) is what leads her into the Boiling Isles. It's what begins everything, it's what starts her journey and helps her find the place and people where she belongs.

There's just kind of a parallel between Luz trying to return the passport, and Luz wanting to hold onto the book, her father's last gift to her representing their mutual weirdness and kinship with one another. And there would’ve been another Lumity in parallel in them being students of two worlds. The crush vibes are so much more explicit and present from the start, it's like the queer aspect of Luz and the show is intertwined, since the beginning, since the very inciting incident, with the weirdness of our cast and their found family dynamics and everything. Like you can't discuss the weirdness without mentioning the queerness, without acknowledging it as just as much the foundation to the story and Luz.

Plus there's Amity rejecting the drawing from Luz, only for it to be appreciated by Eda unknowingly... Once again, someone, unwittingly, is kind to Luz. But in this case Eda is more explicit about encouraging and welcoming Luz, and it makes me wonder if Amity necessarily dismissed the drawing as much, or only did so because she was around her peers? She's much more of a traditional, popular girl prep in the pilot. But then she DOES throw away the drawing, and her seeing Luz later could represent the shift in attitude, her reconsideration.

It's just. You have the mother figure. You have the love interest. And they bring and affirm Luz's ties to the Boiling Isles respectively. Luz doesn't get the approval she was initially looking for, but her quest for it leads her to find approval from someone else; And obviously, her chances with Amity aren't entirely off of the table! Her girlfriend brought her here. She lit up Luz's life in a way, as the final version had Luz barge into Amity's life and light up hers without meaning to.

Plus Eda not being the friend Luz expected or was looking for -they cross paths by pure coincidence- but being the one she truly starts off with in the end. Like how in the final show Luz doesn't quite get what she's looking for, but she finds something else just as great and beautiful. Luz braces herself to be mocked through her drawing by Eda only to be supported and encouraged! All three of these characters are cut from the same cloth, tied together. I love it.

#the owl house #lumity #the owl house pilot #luz noceda #amity blight #eda clawthorne #edalyn clawthorne #analysis #meta

[loosescrewslefty]

I've seen a few people misinterpreting this scene, and thinking that Willow is saying that she WOULD invade Luz's privacy if it were her, and it's frustrated me to the point where I feel the need to say something, because that is 100% NOT what this scene is about.

Willow is NOT telling Amity to snoop in Luz's phone, or saying she would if it were her. Willow is setting healthy boundaries with Amity.

Willow is concerned about Amity here. And she understand why Amity is worried, and why Amity is tempted to snoop (because she IS tempted. They would not be having this conversation if Amity wasn't) but while she might not intend to do so, Amity is trying to push Willow into being her moral compass, to make a difficult choice FOR Amity, so Amity doesn't have to.

And instead of just telling Amity what SHE would do in her shoes, and taking the burden of deciding if it's right or wrong to look through Luz's phone off of Amity's shoulders, Willow goes for the neural ground. Not judging, not deciding for, but listening to and talking with Amity, so Amity can make HER decision about HER relationship with HER girlfriend, without Willow getting dragged into it more than she is comfortable with. This is the best thing someone could do for Amity at this stage, as she is a recovering abuse victim who still isn't used to deciding things for herself instead of following a predetermined path. Setting a boundary here keeps Amity from slipping into a bad habit and putting an unhealthy expectation on Willow as her friend. Because this is NOT Willow's circus, and these are NOT her monkeys.

This isn't the only time we see them show Willow's character possessing a strong interpersonal intelligence, either. We also see a few examples of Willow showing a keen ability of knowing when it's necessary for her to step in and help because someone she cares about is over their heads and spiraling or bit off more than they could chew;

And when she needs to step back, either to give others space to deal with their emotions or to let them manage things on their own, even if she wants to jump in and help.

This is an extremely difficult balance to strike in a character, but they manage it really well with Willow, making her one of the most level headed characters in the show who is willing and capable of helping others without compromising her own happiness and well being or taking on burdens that she should not be expected to bare.

#the owl house #toh #willow park #amity blight #lumity #luz noceda #character analysis #relationship analysis #healthy boundaries #friendships #abuse tw

[mayhasopinions]

OKAY this is my first owl house post in months but i just thunked something amazing. in any other show, luz, the quirky main character, would have gotten with hunter, the typical bad boy archetype. amity would have remained a stereotypical mean girl and willow would be stuck being the nerdy, sweet chubby friend of the main character. but the owl house didn't do that.

instead, the quirky main character ended up with the 'mean girl' instead of the 'bad boy' with the i-can-fix-him mentality, and it turns out the 'bad boy' was never bad-turned redeemed but still with that edge. no. he became an utter soft boy, losing most of his edge that would usually appeal the main character to him, because he's happier. instead of dating her, he forms a close sibling relationship with the main character. the 'mean girl' turned out to be the sad girl who needed a hug and someone to lean on, and the main character became that person to her, helping her become the best version of herself and doing the same for her in return. and the chubby friend became strong, sporty and confident in herself but never lost her kindness (or her glasses!! she didn't need to take them off to be beautiful because she already was!!), and the supposed 'bad boy' of the show became embarassingly and obviously smitten with her, instead choosing her to be with rather than the main character.

this has all probably been said before but the thing i adore about the owl house is how it flips the typical character sterotypes, archetypes and dynamics we've become accustomed to in american media and completely flips them on it's head and subverts them. god, this show.

#sorry i'll probably not talk about toh again for ages i just had this big brain moment my bad *slithers back into goodomens + moomin hole* #the owl house #lumity #huntlow #luz noceda #amity blight #toh hunter #willow park #analysis

[jubileemon]

Lumity Analysis: Why They're Perfect

"Lumity" refers to the ship between Luz Noceda and Amity Blight from the Disney animated series "The Owl House." Disney has made strides in LGBTQ+ representation in recent years. Historically, the company has been criticized for a lack of diversity in its characters, but there have been notable developments toward inclusivity.

Their Introduction

In the first season of "The Owl House," Luz Noceda and Amity Blight are initially introduced as classmates at Hexside School of Magic and Demonics. Amity is a skilled and popular student, while Luz is an enthusiastic human girl who lacks magical abilities. Their relationship starts with Amity being dismissive and condescending towards Luz, especially due to Luz's unconventional approach to magic.

As the season progresses, particularly in episodes like "Understanding Willow" and "Enchanting Grom Fright," their dynamic begins to shift. Luz learns more about Amity's struggles and challenges, and Amity starts to see Luz in a different light. The development of their friendship and eventual romantic undertones forms a significant part of the first season.

Understanding Amity Blight

Amity Blight is portrayed as a prodigious young witch attending Hexside School of Magic and Demonics. Initially portrayed as a competitive and dismissive character, the show explores the reasons behind her behavior, delving into her struggles with family expectations and her own desire to fit in. Instead of sticking to a one-dimensional "mean girl" persona, Amity's relationships with other characters, especially with Luz and Willow, showcase a more nuanced personality.

She once had a close friendship with Willow Park, but due to peer pressure and her desire to fit into her family's expectations, Amity distances herself from Willow. This storyline is explored in the episode "Understanding Willow," shedding light on the complexities of Amity's character.

Family Life and Abuse

Her parents, Odalia and Alador Blight, are portrayed as strict and demanding figures, particularly her mother, Odalia. The show hints at emotional abuse from her mother, adding layers to Amity's internal conflicts. Amity has older siblings, twins named Emira and Edric Blight. They play a significant role in the series, as they really love their little sister and occasionally offer advice to her. While they share the Blight family ambition, they also display a more carefree and rebellious attitude compared to Amity.

Being the more overtly abusive parent, Odalia sets unrealistic expectations for Amity by pressuring her to conform to the Blight family's high standards. This constant pressure to excel and meet these expectations contributes to Amity's initial behavior as an arrogant rival and her internal struggles. Odalia's emotional manipulation and criticism shape Amity's sense of self-worth and contribute to her insecurities. The fear of disappointing her mother and the desire for approval become driving forces in Amity's life, affecting her interactions with others, including her peers like Luz.

On the other hand, Alador's neglect also plays a role in Amity's development. His lack of active involvement in her life might leave Amity feeling overlooked and contribute to a sense of loneliness. The absence of positive attention from a parental figure could impact her emotional well-being and contribute to her seeking validation elsewhere, whether through academic achievements or conforming to societal expectations.

Early Behavior

At the beginning of "The Owl House," Amity was introduced as an arrogant rival and a bit of a bully. Driven by her desire to excel academically and meet her family's expectations, she initially sees Luz as a threat and behaves dismissively and competitively.

One example of this was when she almost got Luz dissected by Principal Bump, mistaking her for an abomination. This incident shows her willingness to use any means to maintain her status, even if it means putting Luz in danger. This showcases the extent of her dedication to conforming to her family's standards.

Similarly, in the episode "Covention," Amity's actions, like stepping on King's cupcake, illustrate her inclination to follow the expectations set by her peers and her mother. These instances lay the groundwork for her eventual realization and character development as she begins to question the values she once upheld and develops a more authentic sense of self.

Why Luz Is A Positive Influence?

Amity's transformation into a better and more compassionate person was strongly influenced by her friendship with Luz Noceda. When Luz entered Amity's life, she challenged the rigid expectations set by Amity's family and offered genuine friendship. Luz's positive influence on Amity stems from her acceptance and encouragement. Since Luz doesn't judge Amity based on her family background or talents, this acceptance allows Amity to gradually break free from the toxic influences of her parents. Through various adventures and shared experiences, Luz helps Amity rediscover her own values and passions.

As their friendship evolves into a romantic relationship, Amity learns the importance of authenticity and staying true to herself. Luz's influence empowers Amity to challenge societal norms and expectations, fostering a sense of independence and self-discovery.

Her Friendship With Willow

"Understanding Willow" is a pivotal episode in "The Owl House" where Amity confronts the regrets and pain she caused Willow due to her past actions and toxic friendships. In this episode, viewers witness the depth of Amity's character as she reflects on her role in distancing herself from Willow and succumbing to the toxic influence of her friend group, particularly Boscha and Skara.

This episode also marked a turning point for Amity as she decided to make amends with Willow. This act of vulnerability and apology demonstrates her willingness to break free from the toxic patterns in her life, thanks to Luz. It sets the stage for Amity's broader character development, paving the way for her eventual growth into a more better person.

Luz Is Amity's First Crush

Amity's revelation of her attraction to women, particularly her crush on Luz, in "Enchanting Grom Fright" can be relatable to many teenagers discovering their own sexuality.

Amity's realization and expression of her feelings for Luz capture the uncertainty and excitement that often accompany one's first crush. When Grom attacks her, and Amity's worst fear is seen as being romantically rejected by someone unspecified, shown by Grom tearing up a note, Amity was seen throughout the episode. Luz reassures her it's alright and offers to go to Grom with her instead, as that's what friends do.

Amity and Luz then team up and fight Grom by dancing together, where they are portrayed to be extremely close while doing so. After their dance, it is revealed to the audience that it was Luz who Amity had been planning to ask out to Grom but didn't out of her fear of rejection.

Certainly, the intensity of Amity's feelings for Luz has been a notable and recurring theme in both Season 1 and Season 2 of "The Owl House." The blushing moments between Amity and Luz serve as visual cues to emphasize the romantic undertones of their relationship.

How They Fell In Love?

At first, Amity sees Luz as a rival and is dismissive of her unconventional approach to magic. Amity's uptightness and desire to maintain her status as the top student clash with Luz's spontaneous and chaotic nature. Despite their differences, Luz's persistence and kindness slowly break down Amity's initial resistance.

As Amity and Luz spend more time together, they begin to form a genuine connection. Amity starts to appreciate Luz's unique perspective and adventurous spirit, which contrasts with her own practical and regimented approach to magic. Throughout their adventures, these experiences deepen their bond and allow Amity to see Luz in a new light. As their friendship evolved, Amity began to realize her feelings for Luz. Despite her initial resistance and the societal expectations placed upon her, Amity embraces her love for Luz, recognizing that their differences complement each other. Ultimately, it's Luz's uniqueness, kindness, and unwavering support that lead Amity to fall in love with her.

Will They, Won't They?

The show subverted the common "Will They, Won't They" trope by providing a more nuanced and progressive approach to the development of romantic relationships, particularly the central one between Luz and Amity. Rather than drawing out the tension over multiple seasons, the show addresses Amity's feelings for Luz relatively early in the series. This allows for a more extended exploration of their relationship beyond the initial stage of uncertainty.

The show also doesn't rely heavily on misunderstandings or miscommunication between Luz and Amity to create drama. Instead, it focuses on their genuine connection, allowing the relationship to progress organically. This subverts the common trope of prolonged miscommunication, leading to unnecessary tension.

While the romantic aspect is crucial, the foundation of Luz and Amity's relationship is built on a strong and supportive friendship.

Becoming An Official Couple

In the episode "Knock, Knock, Knockin' On Hooty's Door ", the Tunnel of Love scene shows the depth of their characters and the relatable challenges they face in expressing their feelings.

Luz's Perspective: Luz's awkwardness and reluctance in the Tunnel of Love stem from her past experiences of being mocked for her unconventional behavior. This fear of rejection has likely been exacerbated by instances where her crushes didn't reciprocate her feelings, making her cautious and hesitant in expressing herself romantically.

Luz's attempt to stop the ride and dismantle the romantic setting reflects her desire to show Amity a grand and unique romantic gesture. She may feel that Amity deserves something more extraordinary than what the Tunnel of Love provides, inadvertently overlooking the fact that Amity finds the gesture charming.

Amity's Perspective: On the other hand, Amity was seeking confirmation that Luz reciprocates her feelings. The romantic setting of the Tunnel of Love, despite its cheesiness, is a sign to Amity that Luz might share her romantic interest. Amity's genuine flattery and blushing indicate that she appreciates the gesture, but Luz's reaction misleads her. Amity's fear of rejection, rooted in past experiences such as Grom taking Luz's form and tearing her note, resurfaces. Luz's destructive response triggers Amity's trauma, as she believes Luz is rejecting her. The heartbroken expression mirrors the pain of potential rejection.

The episode hints at Luz's past experiences of bullying on Earth, likely due to her neurodivergence and inability to conform to societal norms. Amity's socially inept behavior is a result of her strict upbringing, making both characters relatable to those who have faced similar challenges.

Their First Kiss

The first kiss between Luz and Amity in "Clouds on the Horizon" is a heartfelt moment in their relationship. Amity's vulnerability, coupled with Luz's genuine concern, sets the stage for a deepening emotional connection when Luz used vines to climb to Amity's room and the privacy provided by Amity's siblings leaving emphasize the intimacy of the moment.

Amity's uncertainty about Luz's safety adds a layer of tension that is beautifully resolved when they run to each other with joy upon realizing they are both safe. Luz's promise to take Amity on a real date showcases her commitment and care for Amity beyond the immediate circumstances. The unexpected kiss between Amity and Luz is a culmination of their growing feelings for each other. The blushing aftermath reflects the natural and tender awkwardness of two characters navigating new romantic territory.

Amity's decision to defend Luz against Odalia's dismissal is a powerful declaration of their relationship, marking a turning point in Amity's willingness to stand up for her feelings and challenge familial expectations.

Conclusion

Finally, in the series finale, "Watching and Dreaming," Luz and Amity's love for each other shines through as they confront their greatest challenges yet. From supporting each other in the dream realm to sharing a heartfelt reunion after the final battle, their bond remains unbreakable. The tender moments they share, including a kiss on the cheek and their affectionate embrace, affirm the depth of their feelings and the enduring nature of their relationship.

From their initial interactions marked by misunderstandings to the development of a deep and supportive connection, Lumity stands out for its positive representation.

#owl house #toh #toh meta #the owl house #toh analysis #toh amity #toh luz #toh lumity #lumity #luz x amity #luz and amity #amity blight #luz noceda #shipping #lgbtq #lgbtqia #bisexual #disney #character writing #female characters

[royal-they]

I feel like a lot of people don’t realize how important it is for people to see ships like lumity and huntlow coming from a brand like disney that’s known for having ships that really is known to enforce a lot of beauty standards on to kids. 

lumity is definitely not “on brand” with disney but i feel like so much of the appeal in it comes from that fact. luz doesn’t fit disneys standards for an attractive girl at all. (she is very pretty tho don’t get me wrong) whereas amity is definitely seen by a lot of fans to be very attractive and i think that makes the ship even more powerful. luz doesn’t fall for amity first, amity falls for luz. 

i don’t think i can even explain how much this meant to me as a poc. like omg the hot gay witch that everyone thinks is super hot falls for the dorky brown girl??? that alone makes me love the ship 1000x more. its amazing that kids get to grow up with a ship like that that really flips tropes and cliches and is still so fun and cute to watch. it really teaches young bisexuals and pocs that; hey! you can totally find a super loving healthy relationship where the other person respects you :) ive mentioned in the past that i used to feel really self conscious of my lips but luz helped my overcome that. it’s a small but very important thing to me. i also used to always be worried about how partners would take me being bi, again luz was so helpful in overcoming that fear. 

huntlow is another ship that i feel is incredibly important for reasons similar to lumity. a lot of people are probably going to hate me for saying that lmao but idk i still think it’s very likely to become canon. again like lumity the character the fandom finds to be the most attractive falls first

some people say that willow fell first but I feel like given the fact that hunters been the only one who blushes a lot more people are gonna go “oh hunter likes willow” rather than “willow likes hunter” (i mean i think willow likes hunter but it’s not as obvious so im not gonna talk about that aspect of this ship and it’s not relevant to the point im trying to get across.) 

a lot of people have also said that huntlow parallels lumity in how lot in how their interactions are written and i really agree with that. hunter has from the minute his face was revealed always been seen as attractive by the fandom. i feel like people only really started saying the same about willow when hunter started showing signs of having a crush on her. 

willow like luz isn’t the conventionally attractive disney princess type. she’s larger, east asian, and more quiet. still through hunters perspective we’re able to see these aspects of her along with how she can still be confident and an incredibly powerful witch. 

just like with lumity the show allows people to stop and be like huh luz is actually really pretty and super cute or huh willow is actually really gorgeous and talented. we’re able to see these characters from the perspective of the people who are in love with them. 

at first amity and hunter both don’t really understand why willow and luz are the way they are. hunter and amity have been raised with the perspective of having to be better than everyone all the time so when they meet luz and willow - two very powerful witches - they dont understand why they’re approaching things with the perspective they have. but slowly they’re able to see a different side of them which in turn allows the viewer to also understand luz and willow more. 

we see hunter and amity have this moment of realization; huh it’s actually okay to let people see a more friendly side of myself that’s more open with people and that doesn’t take anything away from how powerful i have the capability of being. 

I think that just the fact alone that luz is able bring out the best side of amity and the fact that willow is able to bring out the best side of hunter is really cute and admirable. these two standoffish teens with self hatred issues are just are suddenly super soft around these two super sweet cute girls. idk i just really like these two ships. 

#toh #the owl house #toh spoilers #lumity #huntlow #willow park #luz noceda #amity blight #hunter toh #lumity toh #huntlow toh #winter toh #character analysis #god this is like a really unprofessional essay lol #oh well

[sparklestwi]

this is so funny, they act just like me and my brother help 😭😭

i love them

#the owl house #luz noceda #king clawthorne #titanlights #toh art #the owl house art #toh king #luz the human #eda clawthorne #eda the owl lady #beta luz #lumity #toh au #toh analysis #dana terrace

[chriscdcase95]

Someone in The Owl House fandom: “Wait, so homo/trans phobia and racism isn’t a thing on the Boiling Isles ? How does that happen when they have a literal puritan tyrant ruling over them for fifty years ?”

Me: “Well...it makes sense from a backwards sort of way. 

Yes, Belos/Philip Wittebane is a puritan, and given the time and culture he grew up, no doubt having those prejudices and biases ingrained into his mind. It’s just he was thrust into a world full of demons, witches and magic. It’s a world full of what he sees as sin and evil, and a world he intends to destroy.

If Philip were a Calvinist, he would probably see the Boiling Isles as an example of total depravity. Sure, he could try to impose his religious, puritanical beliefs onto the Boiling Isles populations...but that would risk converting them to Christianity and (by his standards and beliefs) saving them.

But Philip doesn’t want that. He wants them to burn. Let them practice witchcraft. Let them (literally) Be Gay and Do Crimes. Let the populations wallow in what he sees as depravity and sin, it’s just more fuel for the fire he plans to light. As far as Philip is concerned, he’s the only pure thing in this world.

In Philip’s eyes, his place in the place is all but assured; he will be like God’s favorite and most perfect angel.

Philip will ascend to heaven; Philip will raise his throne above the stars of God; Philip will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain. Philip will ascend above the tops of the clouds; Philip will make himself like the Most High; while the Boiling Isles will be brought down to the pit, to the realm of the dead.

Which makes the irony all the more delicious; since Amphibia and The Owl House’s shared universe is all but confirmed, the actual god of that universe picked Anne Boonchuy as it’s heir (which on another level would have shot Philip’s religious beliefs in the foot) - someone that a person like Philip would associate with Luz, and other such sinners.

As for racism ? Well, there was a whole second part of this essay that would have covered what racist believes Philip could/would of had, but it felt like that was opening a whole different can of worms. The short of it is, while Phillip could have held racist views of his time, it would have more to do with ones “breeding” than actual skin color. But in the Boling Isles, such a thing it wouldn’t matter; a POC Witch is a witch all the same to Philip.

Besides, and while I did wonder if his Coven System would count as a form of segregation, but I came to the conclusion that it’s more of a classism thing. And as we see with the Blights, classism is a form of bigotry on the Boiling Isles.”

#the owl house #the owl house analysis #amphibia #owlphibia #luz noceda #amity blight #lumity #philip wittebane #belos #eda clawthorne #lilith clawthorne #hooty #king clawthorne #hunter toh #gus porter #willow park #caleb wittebane #anne boonchuy #sasha waybright #marcy wu #sashannarcy

[that-ari-blogger]

On Grim Spectacle and Greatest Fears

There's a reason Enchanting Grom Fright is beloved by fans of the Owl House, not only is it just a plain old good story, it's also a phenomenal queer story.

But why is that so, and what makes it so important? That's what this post is about.

And if you're wondering whether I'm going to talk about @moringmark in this post, you bet I am.

Let me explain.

SPOILERS AHEAD

If you look at online discourse, there is a lot of discussion about "good representation" and that is certainly an interesting discussion, but I don't think there is much explanation as to why representation is important in the first place. It is a good thing, we all know this, but why?

One word: Normalisation. Representation of varying identities, cultures, and ethnicities is important because it takes apart the implicit bias inherent in society.

The generic individual in western society is white, male, and straight, and while there is nothing wrong with these character traits, this means that anything added to that template becomes a statement. It becomes an important metaphor for the story which doesn't get applied to someone with the three characteristics I mentioned earlier.

For example, there is a question in analysis of what a character being gay does for a story, where a character being perceived as straight doesn't get that level of scrutiny.

This is a problem for a number of reasons, most notably it abnormalizes certain traits that a large proportion of society (myself included) exhibit, effectively othering those people as a result.

Representation does the opposite of this, it allows real people who are not the generic individual to be treated with the same level of respect and for audience members who don't usually see themselves in media to find characters like themselves, to see their own stories reflected in fiction.

I think the best reason for representation actually comes from Ordinary, by Joriah Kwame, the sequel to Little Miss Perfect. This song, written explicitly from Luz Noceda's perspective, says this:

"The characters I read never act or look like me I can't depend on them to lead me through the right door"

Stories are a way of learning about the world and yourself, and in stories with extremely low representation for marginalised people, that lesson is pretty clear.

@jameswoodall has a video essay on YouTube titled How Much Representation Is Enough. In it Woodall discusses the benefits of representation through a queer lens, and argues about the end goal thusly:

"It's not about achieving a certain percentage. It's about making that percentage stop mattering. When queer representation is no longer noteworthy. When queer inclusion is so naturally assumed that nobody feels the need to count anymore. When even if we did put queer rep in every story, nobody would bat an eyelid. Because we have just as much right to be there as anyone else."

So, let's talk about Grom.

Meromorphic is a channel with a two-hour long video about The Owl House as a whole, and while there is a lot in that video that I disagree with (as is the nature of media analysis) it is comprehensive and fascinating, and I would recommend giving it a watch.

However, I am not bringing up that video to talk about its points, instead, I would like to shamelessly steal borrow a term from it: Magic Literalism. In this context, it means when a piece of media uses magic to make physical an intangible concept. In this case, it turns fear into a monster, that being Grom.

When Grom looks into Luz, she sees Luz's mother, and she sees Luz's fear of disappointment. She sees that Luz has a secret that she hasn't told her mother in case she breaks her heart. It's literally about the Boiling Isles, but there's something written between the lines here.

It is possible to read this as Luz's fear of coming out to her mother, and by "it's possible", I mean that this is how I read this.

Coming out is terrifying, even if you have supportive parents, it's still asking people to accept a part of you, and that comes with risk, because if they don't accept you, what do you do?

That's what I think Luz is afraid of.

Amity, on the other hand, is afraid of getting rejected in a similar way, although hers is more direct. Amity is scared of falling in love and not being loved back.

As a side not, I think it's a really cool detail that of Odalia's many flaws, homophobia isn't one. As in, Amity isn't afraid of coming out to her parents, and when she makes passing remarks about having a girlfriend to her mother and father, their surprise is that it's with Luz, not with another girl. Bellos kind of keeps this going, and the message with that is clear. Homophobia is too low, even for these villains.

Anyway, Amity's experience with Grom is the other side of being queer, the romantic part. I am aware that romance isn't something everyone experiences, but when you do, especially when you are queer, confessing your feelings for someone is terrifying.

So, Amity avoids the question and doesn't really confront it directly at all. Even at the end of the episode, she has everything thrust upon her and still doesn't confess. Luz does the same thing with her mother. Fear is a powerful force, and I would argue that the best time to deal with it is when you are ready, not before.

I really like the scene in the forest. The light gives the two a feeling of warmth and safety, and it wards of the night. Once again, it's Luz giving hope to those around her, and here it is in a more personal sense. Light, do not falter.

The colour palate of the scene (that warm light) conveys that these two people are comfortable in each other's presence and can talk freely around each other. They are already in love; someone just needs to say it.

However, there is another side to Grometheus that also factors into being queer. When Amity explains the event, the art style changes into this style that I want to call classical, even though it probably isn't (art nerds, rise up in the replies and tell me what this is please). But she also directly calls the Grom event a tradition.

"Every year it tries to break out and a student has to defeat it before it invades town. Ever the optimist, Bump holds a party and calls it tradition."

Perhaps tradition, at least in the Boiling Isles, isn't all that it's cracked up to be. Perhaps there is an issue with seeing a problem and instead of trying to fix it, stalling it and making a spectacle out of achieving nothing. Maybe there is an issue with willingly putting children in danger for the drama of it. Maybe the fact that certain sports are just the audience enjoying people getting life threatening injuries might be an issue. I'm just throwing ideas out at this point.

If we link Grom with fear, there is the idea that fear spreads from schools and it is the role of the students, as decreed by the adults, to contain it. See the plot of Footloose for an example of this, or certain places in the real world today, where fear of the other (mainly bigotry) takes the form of arguments about schoolbooks.

This is a valid reading, but I'd like to go a bit wild with my interpretation and talk about @moringmark's comics.

Chapter three of A Little Hint of Blue is a brilliant piece of storytelling that actually characterises Bosha a ton. It carries the theme of fear over to both Skara and Bosha, but it shows them in real time. Skara is scared that Bosha won't let her spend time with... (*checks notes*)... Fledermaus?

She has good reason for this, Bosha is overprotective to the point of toxicity and runs on her own fear. Bosha's hierarchical worldview comes from a place of fear as well, she's afraid of being out of control, and a really subtle thing that gets done in this comic is the association of Bosha with fire.

It doesn't really get done in the original series, but Bosha and fire are such a neat thematic paring. They both consume, they both try to reach out, and fire is heavily associated with strong emotions, like anger and fear.

Bosha tries to control everything in the same way she controls her flames, but as it turns out, people aren't fire. People, when they are free, don't immediately destroy things, and a lot of people actually benefit from that freedom. Most notably, artists and musicians, like Skara.

Grom Factor also deals with the subject matter, but from a slightly different perspective.

First up, the most obvious, at least to me. Enna saves the town but it outcast in the process because what she is scares people, despite her heroism, she is not accepted. The metaphor isn't perfect and reading it as a one-to-one analogy is a detriment to the story. For example, the reason for Enna being outcast is because of a curse, and queer people are generally not magically cursed to be queer, they are born that way.

But, there is also the idea of Luz's fear as an adult being the exact same as when she was a child. She is scared of disappointing people, specifically her family and her daughter. This means that she is acutely aware of Ayzee's own mirror of that, and this line is spectacular:

"Make yourself proud"

It's ok to be afraid of what others think, that's part of being human (or a witch, or a demon. It's part of being sentient), but in the end, the only person who you have to make proud, is yourself.

Final Thoughts

I've been dying to talk about the Moringmark comics, and I do plan on talking about them more, but that will happen when I get there. I will do more gushing about their serious artistic and storytelling skill when that happens, so buckle up.

Enchanting Grom Fright is one of my favourite episodes of the series as a whole, and its a testament to the writing of it that there is more that I am yet to cover, and more that I am discovering as I watch it. For example, the storyline with Gus and King is a big part of the episode, but I didn't mention it because it wasn't really relevant to my main point, and the whole thing with the dance is stellar.

Next week, I am looking at Wing It Like Witches, so stick around if that interests you.

Previous - Next

#rants #literary analysis #literature analysis #character analysis #what's so special about...? #the owl house #toh #toh luz #toh lumity #toh amity #the owl house luz #the owl house lumity #the owl house amity #moringmark #lgbtq #lgbtqia #queer community #queer

[anthurak]

So as an impromptu follow-up to my rambling little TOH post on how Luz and Hunter aren't really the 'siblings' that the fandom likes to paint them as and how it's really Hunter's friendships with Willow and Gus that are the more meaningful/consequential...

Consider this:

Luz and Hunter are more cousins than they are siblings.

They're good friends and sort of related thematically but also aren't as close as they are with their found/adoptive family; Luz with King, Amity or Eda, Hunter with Gus, Willow or Darius.

#toh #the owl house #toh rambling #toh analysis #Luz Noceda #toh hunter #hunter deamonne #King Clawthorne #gus porter #Amity Blight #willow park #lumity #huntlow #eda clawthorne #darius deamonne #analyzing toh character dynamics #i feel like this fandom has REALLY overplayed the whole idea that 'luz and hunter are siblings' #hunter is WAY more of an older brother to GUS than he is to luz

[lumitytakes]

AMITY'S WARMING UP TO LUZ ISN'T RUSHED OR FORCED AT ALL. (Part 2)

3. Lost in Language,

In that episode, Edric and Emira bully Amity by stalking her to know her secret hideaway, trespassing her privacy, and taking her diary away to revenge her. And when Amity looks upset and runs away, they just continue to laugh and dismiss Amity's feelings and even blame her for ‘killing the fun.” Worse, they let their sister leave and don't even bother to follow her, instead they just go away to have fun. Edric and Emira are Amity's siblings, they're related by blood, they grow up together for many years. They have conflicts but there were moments they still cared for each other. Yet, in that episode, they don't treat her as well as Luz, a stranger from another realm who doesn't know much about Amity, not to mention they had conflicts.

- Hypothetically, Luz could just have her revenge by allowing the twins to take Amity's diary. But no, she tries to get the diary back, refuses the twins’ invitation and goes after Amity to clear things up.

- Luz risks herself to save Amity from Otabin instead of leaving her behind. Luz also gives Amity hope and keeps trying to escape Otabin when Amity says they'll be stuck forever.

- And when Amity looks sad, Luz comes closer and gives her a smile to cheer her up.

- Luz acknowledges her mistake of seeing Amity's diary even though it's accidentally. She even offers to lend Amity her favorite book.

So from just two episodes, we can conclude that:

- Luz is the only one caring about Amity more than her family, her mentor, and self-claimed number one fans.

- Luz is the only one who cares for Amity despite Amity's harsh attitude at first.

- Luz is the only one who sympathizes with Amity when she's at her worst.

- Luz never gives up on Amity despite how many times Amity pushes her away.

- When the whole world turns against Amity, even Amity herself, Luz is the only one who tries to help her.

Do you think everything Luz does in just those 2 short episodes is enough to get Amity to warm up?

For me, it is.

#the owl house #toh #lumity #amity blight #luz noceda #it's just 2 episodes #Luz is the best girl #analysis #and some people still think Amity gets on good terms with Luz too soon

[sepublic]

The Owl House Pilot Leak!!!

            Oh my titan.

            The Owl House’s original pilot episode (basically a bunch of voiced-over storyboards) just got leaked and OMT. Watching it felt like experiencing the original magic of the show all over again… Reminding me what it was like to fall in love the first time!!! The hype and rush, the excitement to type down my thoughts after a new episode, analyzing and gushing over both big and small moments, the details!!! The pilot has reiterated all over to me again why I love these characters, from Luz's powerful earnestness, to Eda's chaotic demeanor! It’s like having the whole show open ahead of me, the possibilities endless when knowing this is just the beginning and we could go anywhere from here!

            What’s interesting is that Luz’s conflict with Camila doesn’t really exist here; In fact Camila isn’t present or mentioned at all! What brings Luz to the isles is Amity, who’s been learning in the human world, under the guise of being a human by disguising her ears! It’s alluded to that Odalia and Alador made her do it, though we don’t know why…

            But WOW that must’ve been so meta, doing S3 with Amity stuck in the human world with Luz, hiding her ears! It must’ve been a fun way to bring back the older concepts in new form! And indeed, we see a couple of stuff we’ve already gotten glimpses of, such as the storyboards of Luz offering her friendship art to Amity! I love that we get to see the actual scenario of how Amity accidentally defended Luz in the first place, since we heard that but didn’t get to see how it turned out.

            It’s interesting that Lumity is basically the inciting incident of the story, though I can see why the final version opted instead to emphasize Luz’s conflict with her mother. Especially with how she chooses to stay in the isles in the final draft, which leads to guilt over lying to her mom, having her ‘coming out’ moment that eventually occurs in Yesterday’s Lie, etc. So more agency when it comes to Luz losing her access to the human world. Plus in the pilot, there isn't the same emphasis on Luz trying to live out her dreams of being a witch, and her obsession with stories that ties back to Manny and forms the basis for a lot of other themes and arcs.

            That said, I also appreciate what this alternate take offers, and how Lumity helps tie everything together, it really is the queerness that is such a foundational part of the ‘weirdness’ theme that the show is about, and it’s intertwined with the pilot! God Luz being heartbroken when Amity dismisses the drawing… And then crying when Eda compliments it without realizing who it’s about! Or maybe she did, she could’ve recognized Luz there and figured out a way to stealthily make Luz feel better…!

            I love Luz routinely lock-picking her locker because she presumably forgot the combination! And it’s interesting that we have a setup of there being multiple dimensions that the Boiling Isles has access to, and not just the human world and Demon Realm. That plays a role in the climax, more on that later. Given we have what is basically an airport for different dimensions, I wonder if we would’ve seen Luz find her way back home much earlier on, under much less intense circumstances, in a S1A episode?

            The ‘Emperor’ is also alluded to in the pilot, which we didn’t get actual mention of until the fifth episode in the final show. He apparently dislikes humans and wants Luz brought over to him, is this still operating off of the ‘Pupa’ version of the character who claimed to speak on behalf of the true ruler, trapped in their metamorphosis by him? So maybe he wasn’t always human, or maybe this is Belos’ hypocritical way of ‘protecting’ humans by keeping them away and in blissful ignorance of the demon realm.

            We also establish Hexside much earlier! IIRC Hexside was always part of the show, but executives pushed for it to have more emphasis, which the crew continued to follow through on in S2 onwards because that had already been set up. Lilith is the principal, and I recognize the storyboards of her, including her bat transformation! We get a Tinella Nosa cameo, we see Amity, and there’s also a brief cameo of Willow too! Nice way to set her up before her proper debut.

            The ‘barrier’ containing King’s crown turns out to just be a regular human locker, which makes me wonder if the writers updated the final draft to make it a force field that only allows humans through, because of the whole Belos twist. Which makes me wonder if in this draft, Belos is Pupa, who never was human, or maybe they realized the opportunity to insert foreshadowing into a big twist regarding the main villain. Makes me wonder if the house we see Amity enter in the pilot, which is on sale, would've had any significance like in the final show. Love how Tinella Nosa is a student at Hexside, and also Dana having to occasionally insert lines for Wendie Malick and others was great.

            Lilith is a lot more openly adversarial, which is different compared to how her actual debut provides a softer side to her; I imagine this would’ve been apparent in a later episode of the ‘Pilot AU’, and her transformation has me curious; Was she originally the one with the curse, but then the writers changed it to Eda? Or did they both have a curse? Eda also has an owl form she can summon and control at Will, maybe all Clawthornes have a beast mode that’s less of a curse and more of a talent. Lilith ends up trapped in another dimension, which makes me wonder if she’d have a temporary replacement –possibly Pilot Bump- or if she’d return offscreen. We see the portal key get destroyed under much more casual circumstances, though it’s less as big of a deal for this and the established ‘dimension port’ we saw before.

            (Also, Amity recognizing Luz in the hallway… Everything to me!!!)

            Warden Wrath doesn’t exist and neither does the Conformatorium, it’s Lilith and Hexside. With her as principal and Amity as student, I wonder if we would’ve gotten more of their relationship in the pilot AU, if Covention was a way of carrying over that former connection since Amity would be a teacher’s pet in either version of the story. And speaking of ties to Covention, it’s interesting is that Eda’s chest gem seems to be linked to the Emperor’s Coven, as ‘Pilot Kikimora’ uses it to control her. Curiously, we have a scene at the end mirroring what we got with Lilith in the final draft of the show!

            I feel it implies that Eda DID join the Emperor’s Coven with Lilith, if only for a brief moment, but then defected; But the chest gem is basically the pilot version of the Emperor’s sigil, except with the explicit function of being a shock collar. I find it interesting that Eda still has the mirror to contact the EC with, instead of just getting rid of the thing. Is she a rogue agent who hasn’t totally cut ties, because she can’t? Won’t?

And the fact that Pilot Kikimora can just shock Eda at will makes me wonder if the Emperor is low-key just letting Eda roam around, which makes me wonder if he’s aware of the familial connection, is using Eda to find Luz, already knows about her doing that because of the time loop, etc. We’d of course have gotten an episode where Luz finds out about Eda’s connection and helps her deal with the gem… I realize now that Luz learning Eda also wanted to join the EC with Lilith is a carryover of this idea.

I can see the ups and downs between both versions; The final draft sets up Luz’s conflict with Camila and the reality camp, which is foundational to her character arc throughout the whole show. Her pain over being ‘sent away’ is just so vital that I appreciate its inclusion in the first episode. But I also like the inclusion of Lumity and the earnest desire to be friends with someone who showed her, unwittingly, any kindness at all! We get explicit bullying from Luz’s peers in the pilot, but in the final draft we also get her thoughtlessness that plays a big part in her S1 arc. And Luz’s arrival in the isles is more intertwined with Eda and King in the final version, which also feels right; The show is about these three in particular!

All in all, this was wonderful to watch! The magic was experienced all over again, not just in watching an episode, but also commentating on one that was just ‘released’ as well? I thought the last time I’d do anything like this was with the series finale Watching and Dreaming… But as Luz said, it really comes full circle with watching the first episode all over again! So maybe we have other stuff to still look forward to after all… At the very least, we have an eternal anticipation with an unexplored universe ahead of us, that will never reach completion; So it's like our ever-lasting final gift from TOH, and a good last one. So until next time: BBBBBYYYYYEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!

#the owl house #luz noceda #amity blight #lumity #eda clawthorne #edalyn clawthorne #lilith clawthorne #analysis

[blehblarghblah]

okay but considering what you've gone off about with Lilith, Bump, and Gus and Willow, I GOTTA know what you think about Alador now???

Alador Blight was such a good highlight to this episode. Fan theory can spout off as much as they want about abusive elements, manipulation, arranged marriage, Alador/Darius, etc. A lot of those notions hit on the money, some are just speculation. In the end, I appreciate the journey. I wanna talk about his characterization and portrayal. I'd like to preface with that this is just me talking, no fact or fiction, just interpretation from a nerd.

In Escaping Expulsion, he stops Odalia because he recognizes Amity's growth. Her power and strength, and he notes that that type of drive is what the Emperor's Coven looks for. Because he thinks that's what she wants, and he sees the silver lining for both their sakes.

He looks back on his childhood with fondness, but also has a sense of pride/embarrassment at how openly in awe Amity is of his past. She states that she wants to be like him, and how she finds excitement in that. He downplays it for her sake because he wants better for her (or at the very least, in the way Odalia does). Thinking for as fun as it was, that's not what Amity---the Amity he knew as a child---would've wanted.

But the important takeaway in the end is that he's out of touch. He's realizing he doesn't know a thing about his kids. He feels confused. Like he wasn't sure how or when it all changed. His youngest daughter has a girlfriend, she's complaining about her hair colour and not wanting to join a coven anymore. But mainly? She's complaining that he doesn't know anything.

But he admits something he observed. Something he knows. For everything he doesn't know, for all that he's out of the loop in, he breaches a topic he knows for certain and it happens to be the very thing Amity can be glad about.

But when he goes for a hug and she responds with a boundary, he's disappointed. He respects it, but is disappointed and surprised. He's out of touch with his kids and the closest display of physical affection him---a father---is allowed to breach, is a handshake. And she says it's a start. Him confronting his wife, her mother, is a step closer to redemption in his daughter's eyes.

Stress, confusion, and doubt wracking his brain, he vents. He confesses to be overworked. That he's built off a life's work toward project like this, the very thing his family strived toward, but he still feels torn (heh bc the bag). His pride and joy was achieved, right? Yet he feels like nothing makes sense, nothing is right anymore.

But then when he hears King never met his dad, he realizes his substitution for his kids. Have they really met him? Has he really met them? In how long? How long have they spent "never really meeting" their dad despite his proximity? His absence created a rift between his true greatest creations and---

---he feels regret. So he declares a change. That he's gonna do something.

He confronts Odalia, he challenges her at every notion and every opportunity. (side note, it's cute that Amity gets her red angry face from her dad). And even stands against what Odalia thinks is best for the Blights, and resolutely destroy's his life's work. Without hesitation, he destroys his entire factory. Within seconds.

They're finished. Their "marriage", their "work relationship", their "co-parenting"---in every sense it's done. He stood up to her, even admitting how terrifying it was, for the sake of his daughters and son. He's done with being distracted. Done with being forced to be distracted. A new chapter, if you will. (Also this shot is so freaking cool).

Here, it's minor, but him openly stating something like this, it's just a neat way of showing he's paying attention. Setting aside what he knows is at stake and all the dangers, it's a way of showing he's valuing what his daughter sees important. It's not just that he can stop all the Abomatons at the head. But that he knows they're after "Hunter". He knows Amity's intentions, and all her friends' intentions, and states it. He's proclaiming a boundary, "You're going to do this. And I am aware of it. And I'm coming with you."

Knowing that in Reaching Out, the mere action of confronting Odalia outright or simply on her own stances is something Amity appreciates. So Alador makes a point to confront "Luz" outright and disregards whatever Odalia said (even though this is Hunter). As if to breach another boundary for Amity, that though he's been slow on catching up, he's willing to let Amity feel more comfortable and safe in her home. The sentiment is what matters here.

This is such a good telling of a father working out of---for the simplest of terms---a toxic relationship for the sake of his family. He recognizes his faults, the faults that led him to where he was, and the priorities of his kids. In the end, he's willing to throw it all down in one instant for their sake. Even if it's terrifying for him. Even if he doesn't know or understand everything. Even if he dedicated countless hours to build everything that brought them where they were today.

He does it for Amity, Edric, and Emira.

And that's all that matters.

(oh and I guess for the sake of the Isles because all Hell is about to break loose).

#ask bleh #anon asks #asks #toh #the owl house #toh spoilers #the owl house spoilers #escaping expulsion #reaching out #reaching out toh #clouds on the horizon #alador blight #lumity #amity blight #luz noceda #odalia blight #edric blight #emira blight #toh analysis #he's trying #and that's what matters

[pk2317]

On shipping "erasure" in fanwork

Might as well throw some of my thoughts together here, for easy reference later. For all 5 people who may read this. Right off the bat I'm going to admit that there will be a lot of caveats included, as opposed to absolute "truths". Also I'll be using the term "queer" to encompass LGBTQIA+, if that term is something that bothers you then just be aware of that. And “straight” (in quotes) generally refers to “straight-presenting”. I'll primarily be referencing The Owl House, just because it's a point of reference that I'm very familiar with the source material and the fandom.

I want to come out right from the beginning and state clearly that *ARTISTS HAVE THE RIGHT TO CREATE WHATEVER ARTWORK THEY WANT, AND INDIVIDUALS HAVE THE RIGHT TO CONSUME WHATEVER ARTWORK THEY WANT*. Fan art, fan fiction, whatever. This is NOT an attempt to police what others do or enjoy, or an invitation to harass anyone.

With that being said, when someone makes artwork, they make decisions on what to include, or not include, and it's not unreasonable to analyze these decisions and question why they were made. Especially when those decisions are counter to established "canon" aspects of the character(s).

Shipping is one of the biggest examples of this. When you boil it down, "shipping" is focusing two (or more) characters and their relationSHIP to each other. Generally, this is going to be a romantic (and/or physical) relationship, which may (or may not) be "canon". Shipping has always existed within fandom, and it's not an inherently bad thing. It's a form of character analysis - based on what we know about Character A and Character B, how might they interact in this specific situation, or what would it be like if they were attracted to each other?

In a largely heteronormative media landscape, this can (and often is) a vehicle to explore queer relationships that otherwise aren't (or at least aren't likely to be) depicted in the source material. But, as we (finally) start to get some explicitly, canonically queer characters, we start running into the issues of "erasure". This will *usually* come in the form of canonically lesbian characters being shipped with guys (for some reason, gay men being shipped with women doesn't seem to come up nearly as often - there's a whole tangent about sexism and misogyny there that I'm not even going into right now).

For a specific example, I'll go with Amity from TOH, who (not infrequently) gets shipped with Hunter. Now, I'm sure there are some people who are genuinely interested in this pairing, and their character arcs do have similarities that could provoke some interesting interactions. But - Amity is explicitly, canonically a lesbian, and (canonically) in a relationship with Luz (another woman). So, the majority of time when I see this pairing, the reasoning behind it usually boils down to one of three things:

Outright homophobia, to reject the canon, same-sex relationship between Luz and Amity (just because they don’t like seeing two women together)

Outright homophobia, to insist that Amity "should be with a man, instead"

Trolling, because it'll "trigger the snowflakes" (which is just homophobia with extra steps)

Of course, all of them will (conveniently) hide behind the excuse of it being "just an interesting pairing". (Some of the same issues arise with "Lunter" (Luz / Hunter), except that considering Luz is canonically bi, it actually is a more logical pairing. So that gets tied up in biphobia, which is {once again} an entirely separate tangent that I'm not addressing here.)

The other excuse that gets trotted out time and time again is "Everyone has always changed canonically straight characters into gay ones for shipping, and that isn't a problem, so why is this?" Which might sound "reasonable" on the surface, but is a near perfect example of a false equivalence for two reasons:

There are no "canonically straight" characters. I mean, *maybe*, but 99.99% of the time when a character has a canonically establish sexuality, it's not "straight". Just because someone may be visibly/textually attracted to just one or more people of the opposite sex, that doesn't in any way preclude them from being bisexual or pansexual. It's a very obvious display of heteronormativity to just assume everyone is straight by “default”, and no, it's not "just the same".

Even if it were, queer characters are *VASTLY* underrepresented in media. Yes, things are improving. Yes, we have more overtly, outwardly, explicitly, canonically queer characters (and relationships) being portrayed in all forms of media that we ever had historically, but it's still considerably outnumbered by "straight" (or at least straight-presenting) characters and relationships. When some shows (not all) have the "token gay character", that means that your average show is basically 0-1 queer characters. Not really great numbers. So let's say there's a show with 10 main characters, one of whom is queer and the rest are "straight". If we reimagine another one to be queer so we can ship them, there are still 80% "straight" characters on just this one show alone. Whereas if you reimagine the one queer character to be straight...it's not hard to see why a queer person might take offense at those decisions.

Let's take a look at The Owl House. This is one of the queerest shows targeted at a wide family audience. Most of the "main cast" (series regulars - I'll define this as being featured in the opening credits sequence) is queer in one form or another, either canonically or implied (in the show or by the crew). But let's take a look at the relationships of the characters. Among our main characters, there are three "canon" (explict or heavily implied) relationships:

Luz / Amity (queer F/F)

Eda / Raine (queer F/NB)

Hunter / Willow ("straight" M/F)

Yes, I know that neither character in the last one is straight, but their relationship is "straight", or straight-presenting. Still, 2/3 is good, right?

Now, let's extend it to all named characters that we see in a visible relationship, with a named partner, in the show:

Vee / Masha (queer F/NB)

Harvey / Gilbert Park (queer M/M)

Alador / Odalia Blight ("straight" M/F)

Dell / Gwendolyn Clawthorne ("straight" M/F)

Manny / Camila Noceda ("straight" M/F)

So, one of the queerest shows on television doesn't even break 50% of relationships being visibly queer. And this is the exception, not the rule, for visible representation. Most shows are vastly more skewed to straight, or straight-presenting, characters and relationships.

So, no, it's not "just the same". And that's why it's not at all unreasonable to see queer people be offended when, out of a plethora of "straight" characters and relationships to choose from, they feel the need to take one of the few visibly queer ones and make it "straight".

I do want to reiterate my first statement again, just to be extra clear. I do *NOT* believe in trying to police what people create, or consume. I will fervently defend artists to have that right, no matter how objectionable I may find their content (as long as it's appropriately tagged/categorized/labeled/etc.). Yes, this even applies to even more "problematic" ships (another tangent I won't go into here). I would like people to do some self-examination and make sure they are being honest with *why* they may be creating/consuming that content, and I absolutely expect it to be clearly labeled, but in no way am I going to try and prevent them from doing so on an individual level.

TL;DR - Make/consume whatever artwork you want, but be conscious of your motivations behind doing so, don't be surprised when it offends people, and don't try to rationalize it as being "the same" as putting "straight" characters into queer ships.

#shipping #erasure #analysis #the owl house #toh #lumity #raeda #huntlow #long post #sorry for the rant #seriously don’t harass artists #if you don’t want to see something then YOU block it #I’ll probably regret posting this #oh well #fanart #fanfic

[yardsards]

when i first watched eclipse lake i saw this scene

and i originally interpreted her arc in this episode as like. amity struggling with feeling worthless due to being abused/neglected for so long. and feeling the need to make up for her (imagined) inherent lack of worth by excelling at things or by being useful to others. (which is a strong parallel to luz's whole character arc)

i took her speech up there to mean "i used to feel worthless. but forming healthy bonds with people who valued me unconditionally helped me realize my own inherent value"

which, i think that theme *is* there to a degree, but i don't think it's quite the *main* theme of the episode

look at this:

when hunter insinuates that luz is threatening to break up with her if she doesn't come back with results, amity tries to rebut this by saying that *she* is good enough. that *she* is an awesome girlfriend. that *her* value and *her* actions are the reason that luz won't leave her

but what makes her start to doubt her statement is when hunter says

i don't know if it was intentional, but i find it noteworthy that luz is the subject of the sentence here. it's not a statement that only makes amity doubt herself; it's not "are you really?" or "have you proven that?". rather, it's a statement that casts more doubt on luz than on amity

and THAT is what finally sways amity, makes her start doubting luz and her's relationship

and then. we get through the episode, and king shows amity that luz wasn't threatening to break up with her, that she was just complimenting her and worrying about her safety. and amity says

the subject of the statement is luz. amity's worthiness or supposed lack thereof is not mentioned. the focus is on luz being a nice person. you could interpret the statement to mean either "of course, luz thinks i am worthy no matter what" or as "of course, luz is a kind person and would never treat anyone like that". the first one is how i interpreted it on my first watch of the episode. but the second one feels more like the main meaning (tho i think they're both being implied, to a degree) to me now

amity's doubts about the relationship were less about her own worthiness (but i think it was a little about that too) and more about how she expected *luz* to treat her, how she expected to be treated.

amity hadn't had a healthy relationship of any kind since she was a little kid, and those (willow and arguably her father) got yanked away from her. her mother abused her and was willing to punish her at any time. her father had abandoned her in a way (which, you could split hairs about, but at the very least she felt abandoned by him which is what matters here). her friends (boscha especially) were probably fully willing to mock or ditch her if she didn't act the way they wanted her to

not to mention, her being the child of an abusive marriage. being continuously exposed to her father (whom she identified with somewhat) being abused by his romantic partner. that feels extra relevant when you think about how her anxious need to prove herself only came out in this intense form after their friendship became a romantic partnership

eclipse lake is about an abused girl learning to expect treatment from her girlfriend that isn't abuse, learning that she can trust some people not to punish or abandon her (or punish her BY abandoning her), accepting that abuse is not the norm and doesn't have to be *her* norm either.

#eliot posts #toh #the owl house #toh meta #toh analysis #amity blight #luz noceda #hunter toh #lumity #eclipse lake #abuse mention #listen i know i already went on a rant about this episode a few days ago #but i have More Things To Say and i gotta get em out bc i am feelin Incredibly Autistic on this fine friday morning #and i gotta overanalyze and infodump or else i shall surely perish #queueing this bc posting this rant at 4 am in a bout of insomnia feels a little TOO on-the-nose with unhingedness

[lightlavenders]

bla bla bla something about how luz is so motivated by guilt... about what happened to her dad, about not being the daughter she thinks her mom wants, about all her slip-ups with amity, about eda’s curse, about roping her friends into this, about helping phillip, about wanting to hurt belos...

but when she dies, and papa titan offers to revive her... he asks her *not* to feel guilt. he asks her to choose herself, to continue her amazing life, to fight for herself so she can fight for her friends

screaming crying

#luz #the owl house #watching and dreaming #papa titan #luz noceda #toh #toh analysis #lumity #eda the owl lady #camila noceda

[drbtinglecannon]

Anyone else think about how Amity was the only kid who didn't make some special connection to the human realm?

Willow took up photography and made a scrapbook full of precious memories with her friends. From intimate moments like Amity & Luz on their human world date to silly moments like Hunter getting chased by bees, she took pictures of every moment, labeled each photo, and lovingly framed them with stickers & pressed flowers.

Gus became obsessed with Cosmic Frontier, a sci-fi book series that related to his struggles with being far away from home. He rambled on about it to Hunter and after lending him the book, the two of them became so obsessed with it they raided Camila & Manny's closet for cosplays for Halloween. Gus also made contact with the giraffes, something he listed as a life goal he wanted to accomplish that got him his palisman.

Hunter had an existing interest in sewing that only grew once Camila showed him how to use a sewing machine. He practiced more and more, from making a variety of modifications to people's clothes to making costumes for himself & Gus, and developed pride in his abilities. He also started watching anime (according to Zeno) and he grew such a fascination with wolves he made his own shirt design of them.

Vee leaned hard into learning Spanish and all other kinds of human culture. Sure it started as a necessity to blend in but after her secrets were revealed to Camila she kept at them. Vee happily showed the other kids how to use basic human equipment, kept them safe from harm, and was the star student in their group Spanish lessons.

Meanwhile Amity... Didn't seem to find any special outlets or grow any particular attachments. She was the one that pushed they go exploring on their own, she was so confused with how human realm libraries worked that she accidentally embarrassed herself at one (suggesting she didn't go exploring the library earlier despite how much the one at home means to her), and she didn't showcase any new/existing hobbies that got screentime like the other kids did.

Considering how excited she once was to visit the human realm with Luz, it's interesting that the entire time they were stuck there she was the only one that didn't find something uniquely from there to pass the time with.

#toh #toh spoilers #toh analysis #willow park #gus porter #toh hunter #hunter toh #vee noceda #amity blight #in a way it was like amity didnt like being in the human realm at all. i think it was partially due to her finally reconnecting w her dad & #cutting out her mom only to lose it all right after. she also had to leave her dad behind during the fight -- something gus nor willow had #to do. yeah hunter had to leave darius behind but he & luz have been trying to act like they arent as homesick/worried as the others #plus i love dadrius but i know their bond is much newer & more awkward than the deep love amity has for her dad #thanks to them #the owl house season 3 #lumity #tc posts