Enchanting Grom Fright

"Enchanting Grom Fright" is the sixteenth episode of the first season of the American animated television series The Owl House, created by Dana Terrace and produced by Disney Television Animation. The episode was written by Molly Ostertag from a story co-written with Terrace and Rachel Vine, while Stu Livingston directed the episode.

"Enchanting Grom Fright"
The Owl House episode
Episode no.Season 1
Episode 16
Directed byStu Livingston
Story by
Teleplay by
  • Molly Ostertag
Production code116
Original air dateAugust 8, 2020
Running time22 minutes

The episode was noted by several critics for its reveal that secondary character Amity Blight has a crush on Luz Noceda, with many seeing it as a major step for LGBT representation in Disney media. Terrace, who is bisexual, said that she has wanted to include a bisexual character in the series, but initially struggled to get approval from Disney executives, through Disney eventually approved it.

Plot

While learning to make a Plant spell, Luz receives a text from her mother, Camila, asking how she is. Luz panics, as her mother believes that she's in a summer camp and is unaware that she's in another world learning how to be a witch, and responds that she is fine. After going to magic school Hexside, Luz discovers from friends Willow and Gus that a ceremony named "Grom", which somewhat resembles a prom, is coming to the school. Luz's other friend, Amity Blight, is selected as the Grom Queen, much to Luz's joy. However, Amity is sad about being chosen. While checking on the decorations for the Grom, Luz finds weapons, to which Amity reveals to her that the Grom Queen has to fight against Grometheus, a monster living below the school that takes the form of into anybody's worst fears, to prevent it from escaping and consuming the Boiling Isles. Seeing how Amity is reluctant to do, Luz suggests talking to Principal Bump out of it.

Upon returning to the Owl House, Luz learns that her mentor, Eda, will be a chaperone at the Grom, while their roommate, King, will be the dance's emcee with Gus. Later, while walking through the forest, she finds Amity, who reveals that she will only be no longer Grom Queen if she can find a replacement, to which Luz offers herself. The next day, Amity and her siblings, Edric and Emira, help Luz prepare to fight Grometheus by creating illusions of her worst fears. That night, during the Grom dance, King is revealed to have stage fright and struggles to work as an emcee. Later, Luz's duel starts, and initially manages to hold off against Grometheus, until it takes the form of her greatest fear: Her mother learning of her witch training. Terrified, Luz runs from the school, causing everyone to panic, until King overcomes his stage fright and calms them down, directing the students towards the fight.

As Luz tries to run from Grometheus, Eda appears to hold it on so she can run. However, Amity shows up and apologizes to Luz for having her fight Grometheus instead of doing it herself. As Amity faces Grometheus, the monster manifests Amity's greatest fear, which is revealed to be rejection from an unknown individual whom she wanted to be ask to Grom as her date, by taking the individual's physical appearance and tearing Amity's invitation letter in half. Upon watching it, Luz comforts Amity and offers to accompany her instead. Luz and Amity then dance-fight against Grometheus and manages to defeat it. As everyone celebrates their victory, Luz asks whom Amity wanted to be her date, but Amity dismisses the subject and throws her letter away. The letter is then revealed to be addressed towards Luz.

Back in the Owl House, Luz finally sends a text to her mother about her experiences, albeit keeping it vague enough for her to remaim unaware of the Boiling Isles. Camila then responds by saying that she loves Luz's letters, which Luz believes means her texts. However, it is revealed that someone has been sending her mother letters while claiming to be Luz.

Production

"Enchanting Grom Fright" was written by Molly Ostertag under a story from Ostertag, series creator Dana Terrace, and Rachel Vine, with storyboards by Charlie Bryant, Emmy Cicierega, Cat Harman-Mitchell, Hayley Foster, Madeleine Flores, Chris Pianka, and Spencer Wan. The episode was directed by Stu Livingston.

Terrace has wanted to create an episode for the series centered on a prom-like concept ever since starting development on the show.[1] She has also wanted to feature main LGBT characters in the series, as she is bisexual herself.[2] However, while the idea has been "extremely supported" by executives at Disney, it was initially unapproved by "a certain Disney leadership", but was eventually approved.[3][2] Wan, who storyboarded the dance sequence in the episode with Foster, referred to it as "the gay thing", and said that it was the first opportunity he had to storyboard "anything even remotely queer".[4][5]

Early drafts for the episode had a different prom-like concept, in which "P.R.O.M." were the initials for "Perennial Ritual Offering Maiden", but was later changed during production.[1]

Reception

The episode received universally positive reviews. Several critics highlighted the episode due to its confirmation of Amity's crush towards Luz. Several news outlets, such as Variety[6] and NY Post[7] said that the episode "made history" for including Disney's first main bisexual character. At the same time, Marcelo Garcia of CBR said that the episode was "a tremendous step in the right direction for Disney, a company that has struggled with LGBTQ+ representation in recent years."[8] Other critics also reviewed the episode positively. For instance, Palmer Harsch of Insider wrote that the episode "helped Disney Channel make a major step forward in terms of LGBTQ representation", and hoped the episode could serve as "a harbinger of further LGBTQ stories to come on Disney Channel."[9] Similarly, Kirby Beaton of Buzzfeed argued that "queer content on the Disney Channel is a huge stride in queer representation"[10] while Matt Tracy of Gay City News stated that the series' portrayal of LGBT characters is "a refreshing development considering the lack of queer representation in animated television during recent years."[11] Additionally, Petrana Radulovic of Polygon praised the dance sequence between Luz and Amity as "ADORABLE and beautifully animated."[12] At the same time, some argued that the show's LGBTQ representation falls on the shoulders of the writers and creators of The Owl House instead of Disney[13] while Michele Kirichanskaya of The Mary Sue wrote that shows like The Owl House, in tandem with She-Ra and the Princesses of Power, and The Prom, it breaks down "old heteronormative traditions" of prom itself.[14]

PFLAG praised the series for its LGBTQ+ visibility, while GLAAD similarly praised it for having an "inclusive, fair, accurate, and age-appropriate world through the representation of its characters".[15][16] Doc McStuffins creator Chris Nee praised the series' inclusivity towards LGBTQ+ characters, while also noting how she struggled with including a multiracial lesbian couple in the Doc McStuffins episode "The Emergency Plan".[17][18] Similarly, The Owl House voice actor Alex Hirsch thanked Terrace and the production team for including LGBT characters, while noting how he was forbidden to include LGBT characters in his own show, Gravity Falls.[19] Hirsch also commented how the dancing sequence would be considered "inappropriate" by Disney in 2012, saying that Disney "did good" by allowing the scene to be featured.[20] Also, Noelle Stevenson, creator of She-Ra and the Princesses of Power, invited her wife and the episode's co-writer Molly Ostertag to Grom, sharing their "Grom experience" with their followers.[21]

References
  1. Terrace, Dana [@DanaTerrace] (August 8, 2020). "When I was first developing Owl House I always wanted to do a prom episode to make up for my own experiences. Back then PROM was an anagram for "Perennial Ritual Offering Maiden". I'm so INCREDIBLY grateful for the crew working to make this episode so badass" (Tweet). Archived from the original on September 6, 2020. Retrieved September 5, 2020 – via Twitter.
  2. Terrace, Dana [@DanaTerrace] (August 9, 2020). "In dev I was very open about my intention to put queer kids in the main cast. I'm a horrible liar so sneaking it in would've been hard haha. When we were greenlit I was told by certain Disney leadership that I could NOT represent any form of bi or gay relationship on the Channel" (Tweet). Archived from the original on August 9, 2020. Retrieved August 9, 2020 – via Twitter.
  3. Terrace, Dana [@DanaTerrace] (August 14, 2020). "However, like my tweet states, I have since been extremely supported by my execs and am excited for future shows. But I guess that doesn't make as snappy as a headline. :)" (Tweet). Archived from the original on August 14, 2020. Retrieved August 14, 2020 – via Twitter.
  4. Wan, Spencer [@SpencerWan] (August 8, 2020). "I'll post about the gay thing later. Maybe tomorrow" (Tweet). Archived from the original on August 9, 2020. Retrieved August 9, 2020 – via Twitter.
  5. Wan, Spencer [@SpencerWan] (August 9, 2020). "The storyboards for the dance. This was a collaboration between Hayley Foster and myself. At some point I got carried away and timed it to Veo Lu Sluice by Kumi Tanioka. This was my first time getting to do anything even remotely queer, and I've never been prouder of any board" (Tweet). Archived from the original on August 9, 2020. Retrieved August 10, 2020 – via Twitter.
  6. Beaton, Kirby (August 15, 2020). "'The Owl House' Makes History With Disney's First Bisexual Lead Character". Variety. Archived from the original on August 17, 2020. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  7. Brown, Lee (August 16, 2020). "'The Owl House' becomes Disney's first show with bisexual lead character". NY Post. Archived from the original on August 16, 2020. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  8. Garcia, Marcelo (August 14, 2020). "Why Owl House's Queer Rep Is Game-Changing for Kids". CBR. Archived from the original on September 6, 2020. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  9. Harsch, Palmer (August 10, 2020). "Disney Channel's 'The Owl House' featured a beautiful, LGBTQ moment in its latest episode. It's a major step forward for the channel". Insider. Archived from the original on September 5, 2020. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  10. Beaton, Kirby (August 21, 2020). "Disney Announced Its First Bisexual Lead In A TV Show And I'm Cuffing My Jeans In Excitement". BuzzFeed. Archived from the original on August 18, 2020. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  11. Tracy, Matt (August 31, 2020). ""The Owl House" Brings Disney's First Bisexual Lead Character". Gay City News. Archived from the original on September 6, 2020. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  12. Radulovic, Petrana (August 31, 2020). "The Witches, Bill and Ted, and the best things we watched this weekend". Polygon. Archived from the original on September 1, 2020. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  13. Keller, Caitlin (August 31, 2020). "'The Owl House' is historic bisexual representation, but don't be so quick to praise Disney". The Daily Californian. Archived from the original on September 2, 2020. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  14. Kirichanskaya, Michele (September 4, 2020). "How Musical The Prom, The Owl House, and She-Ra Are Reinventing an Age-Old Heterosexual Tradition". The Mary Sue. Archived from the original on September 6, 2020. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  15. PFLAG [@PFLAG] (August 9, 2020). "#VisibilityMatters. And we love hearing this about our friends at @Disney. Also #Lumity. That episode. Yes. ❤️" (Tweet). Archived from the original on August 10, 2020. Retrieved August 9, 2020 – via Twitter.
  16. GLAAD [@GLAAD] (August 9, 2020). "We're excited about the LGBTQ-inclusive storytelling in Disney Channel's new animated series #TheOwlHouse, which is portraying an inclusive, fair, accurate, and age-appropriate world through the representation of its characters" (Tweet). Archived from the original on August 10, 2020. Retrieved August 9, 2020 – via Twitter.
  17. Nee, Chris [@chrisdocnee] (August 9, 2020). "Love it. I had to go to the mat to get my two mom episode of Doc. So happy to see the line keep moving" (Tweet). Archived from the original on August 9, 2020. Retrieved August 9, 2020 – via Twitter.
  18. Valens, Ana (August 7, 2017). "Disney breaks ground, introduces interracial lesbian parents". The Daily Dot. Archived from the original on June 15, 2020. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
  19. Hirsch, Alex [@_AlexHirsch] (August 9, 2020). "Back when I made GF Disney FORBADE me from any explicit LGBTQ+ rep. Apparently "happiest place on earth" meant "straightest" But as of today, thanks to @DanaTerrace & team there are explicitly queer ANIMATED MAIN CHARACTERS on DISNEY TV. I'm so proud & happy to say that #OwlHouse" (Tweet). Archived from the original on August 9, 2020. Retrieved August 9, 2020 – via Twitter.
  20. Hirsch, Alex [@_AlexHirsch] (August 9, 2020). "In 2012 the Disney censor note on this image would have been: "inappropriate for channel, please revise, call to discuss" (to avoid a paper trail) [.] Now in 2020- there's no note at all. Props where props are due! This time, Disney- you did good" (Tweet). Archived from the original on August 15, 2020. Retrieved August 14, 2020 – via Twitter.
  21. Hakim, Nicole (August 9, 2020). "She-Ra's Noelle Stevenson Invites Her Wife, Owl House Writer Molly Ostertag, to Grom". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on August 9, 2020. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
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