Alright! Today I'm reviewing the Cartoon Network limited series Over the Garden Wall, which is about two brothers who navigate a scary land while being chased by a mysterious and terrifying beast. Airing for ten episodes back in 2014, Over the Garden Wall is the quintessential Halloween series, with its dark atmosphere, mysterious tone, and disturbing characters all being perfect for the beloved spooky season. Additionally, it's safe viewing for the whole family (TV-PG) but carries enough dark imagery and themes to be engaging and memorable for older audiences.
The best thing about Over the Garden Wall is, by a wide margin, the character of Greg. Greg is they younger of the two brothers, a tiny and hilarious angel with a pot on his head who looks at like through a simple childlike lens, treating others with kindness while also being completely oblivious to his terrifying surroundings. He's also absolutely adorable, with a distinct voice that adds to the charm. He has an aloofness and unpredictable quality that makes him the funniest character on the show, and his small adorableness makes you instantly invested in the show. You can never predict Greg.
The other brother, Wirt, is a hilarious depiction of a responsible older brother who's still a child. He has motivations that are selfish, but he also recognizes he has a duty to protect and educate his younger brother. He's also voiced by Frodo, so kudos on that. The main villain of the show, the Woodsman/the Beast, is also fantastically creepy and effective as a main villain, sinister and tragic and occasionally kind in the cold and dark world the characters inhabit.
I can't recall the last time a kid's show premiered with a giant wolf being squished Saruman-style and his black guts spewing out, but hot dog does set the tone (And, again, I swear this is watchable by children). The first in a series of encounters with the inhabitants of the place over the garden wall, Greg and Wirt come into contact with a pumpkin civilization, school children, possessed young women, talking horses, and a talking bird (The last of which was the only piece of the puzzle that never worked as well as I would have liked).
The atmosphere of Over the Garden Wall is completely Halloween-coded. Both in the fact that it takes place on Halloween, the timeless nature, outfits, and adventures the children go on, and the spooky atmosphere created by the dark forest. The world is a character on its own, the inhabitants and visual flair adding personality and flair to the fourth lead. It's always present and foreboding; the path less taken makes all the difference here. It's isolatory and deeply saddening, the dark and visceral nature of the series bordering on perturbing... but there's always that light at the end of the tunnel, the brotherly bond that saves them in every adventure. It's as uplifting as it is offputting.
Another great thing about Over the Garden Wall was the runtimes. While most shows struggle with eleven-minute episodes, Over the Garden Wall created so much atmosphere and unique terror in each and every one of the episodes that it never felt like too much or too little. While I would have loved to have spent more time with Greg and Writ, the time spent was perfectly executed and paced, so I can't really complain. Additionally, the entire series takes less than two hours to watch, so it's not a strenuous watch by any means.
Like Infinity Train, Over the Garden Wall shows Cartoon Network at the pinnacle of its storytelling. Unique and memorable characters abound, the atmosphere is downright tangible, and the animation is beautiful and terrifying. Additionally, it's hilarious through the efforts of Greg and easy to watch! It's the perfect Halloween binge, one sure to captivate audiences everywhere.
Overall, I give Over the Garden Wall a 10/10. "Greg is an icon."
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