Why Over the Garden Wall is GENIUS Storytelling

Over the Garden Wall has quickly become one of my absolute favorite short series. Its quirky and random humor works because of the medium and circumstances, and only on the third, fourth, fifth watch do you really start to see all that the animators left for you to find.
If you HAVEN'T seen this show already, stop watching this video! This is for people who have already seen the show! :)
Verse of the Video:
"Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”"
~ Genesis 3:1
*Footage and soundtrack are not my own; I do not claim any bearing on them; but I am grateful for the opportunity to create a derivative work.
#FDF #FiveDollarFilms #overthegardenwall

[@FiveDollarFilms]

Consider subscribing for more content like this! :D

[@xd_joe]

9 months later 😅

[@Nd_normalDumby]

I like This my sis cried at it

[@lukewoempner1804]

In the ringing of the bells you mention that you felt the mentioning of her sister Adelaide being somewhat redundant. But she is called Auntie whispers, and maybe suggesting her niece would be the daughter of the evil Adelaide and the evil spirit within? Whispers taking lorna to prevent her from being an agent of the beast or rather the spirit bound to the bell, like the beast bound to the lantern.

[@user-nl8xo2xq4w]

In many cultures people used to believe cats guide people to the afterlife or that cats are able to interact with both the living and dead. Maybe that's why it's a cat.

[@TheDudeRides38]

I like this perspective 👍🏻

[@erikaburris4349]

Also the name Enoch is from the book of Enoch, he judges souls

[@Practicallypreposterous]

@@erikaburris4349 interestingly, it is said in I believe Dante's Paradiso or smth that animals serve as unbiased judges serving God. Considering the Unknown seems to be loosely inspired by Dante's Divine Comedy's depiction of Hell, Enoch being a cat might be directly inspired by this concept and have been conflated with the Biblical character of Enoch. Animals seem removed from the humans in the Unknown. They are autonomous fishermen, creatures that have their own routine in the ecosystem like the frogs, or a talking horse without a care in the world. Humans in the Unknown are each clearly fighting their own demons, while animals never more than get dragged into their affairs. This is also probably why Beatrice wants to turn her family back into humans: birds are animals, without soul. Without a soul but still human in essence, her family cannot truly move on or assimilate. When they finally turn back human, they literally find a home in the Unknown

[@nuttynutsnutstache]

The universal cat distribution system also involves purgatory I guess

[@Jazmine.star17]

​@@nuttynutsnutstache people do generally see cats as untrustworthy cause of the eyes and face

[@chocovampire]

In regards to episode 7 and Auntie Whispers warning them about her sister, I think that since we already know Adelaide is evil, her warning statement hits even harder. This initially terrifying woman ends up being more concerned for their safety than Beatrice who Wirt grew to trust, cementing her betrayal and the hopelessness of their scenario even further into Wirt's head. It's like another punch to the gut for Wirt who's confidence is already waning, leading into him giving up completely. You can see this on his face when he reacts.

[@chocovampire]

Also yes, I do believe that the Queen in episode 8 is the beast. As you mentioned, the queen is bird themed to reference the favor Beatrice says she'll grant Greg, which I believe also proves that she is not trustworthy, as Beatrice ended up betraying the boys.

[@saikoujikan]

Anyone else jump to the comments to make this exact point, and then found it put here so eloquently?

[@chrissi975]

Wow way to spoiler, Ben :(

[@alexyordanov6250]

She also eat the black turtles the Beast was using to stalk it's victims . She knows of the Beast and how he manipulates her sister's mind. Adelaide herself was talking about how the Beast was the one commanding her to do all this. She so much depended on the Beast that she could survive the night's air.

[@BobbinRobbin777]

@@chrissi975 why were you here, if you hadn't seen it fully?

[@TheYit1]

Details of note: Beatrice is the name of Dante’s guide through purgatory and heaven the the Divine Comedy. Enoch the patriarch is tasked with watching over the dead in the Old Testament. No person other than Greg eats until the last episode when Wirt eats dirt. Greg rings the bell inside the frog in the hospital after they return. Wirt and Greg need two pennies to take the ferry across the river to the pasture, just like the dead in Greek mythology.

[@yunamchill9169]

Technically, Dante's guide in purgatory was Virgil but Beatrice is his guide in heaven

[@TheYit1]

@@yunamchill9169 yeah you’re right. Beatrice only shows up near the end of purgatory

[@cutiepie120048]

Cool ✨

[@debodatta7398]

They need drachmas in greek mythology which are worth significantly more than a penny in comparison Itt's more be akin to a $100 coin

[@Jojo_binks]

would greg throwing away the coins also then symbolize their refusal to die?

[@leonfire99]

We just going to skip over how Beatrice was trying to get them kicked off the boat throughout the episode because by that point she'd fully decided she didn't want to bring them to adalaide.

[@infectedpotato117]

yeah, no one ever points that out

[@ollie2850]

I think it’s also nice that Greg isn’t a super “deep” character. I mean he’s a little 5 year old boy. They are meant to be innocent and not filled with the need to “change / grow” as a person. (Besides physically lol) I like how Greg is almost oblivious to the seriousness of certain situations. Just like an actual little kid. Because of the drastic personality and mental capacity differences. It also makes Wirt that much more of a relatable teenager. A lot of situations are out of his hands! (Like Greg’s dad marrying Wirts mom) Making the responsibilities Wirt does that much more overwhelming for him. Like taking responsibility for his new little brother.

[@CodeeXD]

Just wanna point out wirts mom is also Greg's mom. They're half brothers which also adds to wirts anger toward him and partially why he always blames Greg

[@zoetomase]

I don't think this was mentioned, so if it's was I'm sorry my memory is awful, but I love the detail of how it slowly begins to get colder and how it seems to change seasons. Obviously, the boys didn't spend months in the lake as they would have drowned but I always felt the snow represented how they all slowly getting colder and closer to death.

[@Emma__O]

I hear they were originally gonna be lost in the real world until winter but I'm not sure on that

[@starbunny7301]

I never thought of that!! That's very clever!

[@zoetomase]

​@Emma__O I heard that too, apparently they were originally meant to come back at around Christmas

[@Squonka]

@@zoetomaseon my initial watch through that’s what I thought would happen once I reached Into the Unknown and there would be a scene at the end of them coming home after months of being missing

[@SilyaBeeodess]

I've seen some discussions of the queen being the Beast in disguise, and the more I rewatch the episode the more accurate that seems to be for a few reasons. First is the audio and visual clues. The queen's pattern of speech matches the Beast's: Both speak in the same, luring tone. Then, when Greg is talking to her, we get this creepy camera shot looking up at her face, almost as if she's looming over us as the audience, which gives an eerie vibe despite the brighter colors and her gentle features. Secondly, when Greg first enters Cloud City, we see a black turtle travelling beside him with the rest of the animals that welcome him in, which we already suspect to be tied to the Beast or at least the darker aspects of the Unknown. Lastly and most glaring is the line, "Anything is possible if you set your mind to it." Greg said these words to the queen, and the Beast later throws these same words at Greg in the last episode of the show when forcing him to run impossible tasks. I think this reflects a lot not just on Greg's innocence and the Beast's deception as characters, but also fits with the idea of the Beast standing in as a Devil figure. Most see the Devil as a man with horns and a pitchfork while, Biblically, he's described as having been one of the most beautiful of God's angels, compared to a morning star. Evil can take a seemingly beautiful form to decieve, and that seems to be what the Beast was doing.

[@cutiepie120048]

I love that 😍✨😍✨😍✨

[@lorenpeterson5255]

Such a genius show

[@RionCaughman]

Ok, that made my day.

[@Scarshadow666]

Ooooh, I haven't thought of that! I had assumed she was an antithesis of the Beast, but your theory makes more sense!

[@Ratigan2]

Beautifully put

[@marshadirocca2550]

I actually like how auntie whispers warns about Adelaide after they’ve met. It’s like a bittersweet moment, an ‘if only I knew earlier’ moment, but not only that, the sweet innocent looking bird wirt chose to trust betrays him, but the evil sounding witchy one is the one who actually cares. And I love how they sum up this whole lesson by Greg saying hey it just goes to show you stuff. They don’t fully say ‘lol YOU THOUGHT’ but they do imply that they wanted you to realise that things aren’t always what they seem - which is the lesson that is seen in every episode

[@marcusblackwell2372]

One thing you didn't mention: this show has one of Cartoon Network's best soundtracks

[@BriManeely]

Thank you "The blasting company" (formerly "The Petrojvic Blasting Company". LOOK. THEM. UP.)

[@hunterwhitworth1271]

@@BriManeelyand Patrick mchales music too !

[@cheezkibbles1626]

That's a rock fact

[@skyiuuz5124]

REAL

[@popatochisps1198]

I don’t think the turtles do anything out of pure malice so I wouldn’t call them demons. I believe that the official artbook more or less calls them sins. And it says that the reason Auntie Whispers is so messed up is because the sins she eats and thereby removes from the world have ravaged her body.

[@BobbinRobbin777]

yet compared to, say, Beatrice's dog or (arguably) Woodsman's daughter, she managed to somehow negate the wicked effects of the little dudes upon digestion. maybe she just has a strong enough will to not let the malice get to her head? (aka, make her go nuts like the other examples)

[@nico9457]

i think the turtles have nothing to do with the appearance of Auntie Whispers. i think she just looked that way. however, i do agree that the turtles may represent ‘sins,’ for the fact that Lorna, upon meeting Wirt and Greg, lied for the first time with Auntie Whispers. when she called them “my turtles,” it may represent them as her sins committed against her Aunt.

[@mcalcock2241]

Thus making her a literal sin-eater.

[@Scarshadow666]

@@nico9457 I've also wondered if Lorna's possessed/"wicked" part of her originally came from her trying to eat the turtles like Auntie Whispers did, so that she could be closer to her as part of her family. However, Lorna probably didn't have the same inner fortitude to handle the turtle-sins the same way Auntie Whispers does.

[@user-ws2kb7zh3w]

@@BobbinRobbin777 that makes sense

[@StabbedPerson]

I think episode 7 did try to convey an answer to the whole "why didn't she ever think to just do what Wirt did" point, just not super well. Each episode deals with facing the unknown in some regard. I think the episode was trying to say that, like Wirt had after being betrayed by Beatrice, Auntie Wispers has problems with fear of abandonment/betrayal, or fearing the unknown of what someone's inner thoughts truly are. She didn't do what Wirt did because she feared Laurna would abandon her if her curse was completely lifted. She needed Wirt, an outside force, to get it done and make her face that unknown by force.

[@R.444-]

Exactly. Perhaps this was her “lantern to bear.” The unknown shows us so many stories of how people deal with fear, and how much of that fear comes from them being unable to face their own personal demons, as it were. The people in the tavern keep the story of The Beast alive to serve as a warning for one another, and “he who carries the lantern must be The Beast.” This idea of “don’t go into the woods alone at night, you don’t know what you’ll find there” is a very old tale, a very old fear. Even Miss Langtree and her father face fear - beyond that of Jimmy in a gorilla costume - her that Jimmy has left her and that her father will disapprove of how she’s running the school, and her father that he’ll be unable to keep the school afloat and their dreams will come crashing down. Endicott is entranced and horrified by Margueritte in turn, and if he wasn’t pushed to face the “ghost” of her again, they would have lived in these connected houses in awe and terror, together yet apart, haunted rather than in love. Auntie Whispers keeps Lorna locked away and constantly working out of the fear of harm she could do to others, as well that if she wasn’t needed, Lorna would leave her. They have each other but are kept lonely on some levels, because Auntie Whispers doesn’t know that Lorna would stay with her out of love rather than necessity, and Lorna is unable to have friendships with other children. Even Beatrice tries to hold off and procrastinate the inevitable reveal of her lie, the consequence of Adelaide possibly harming Wirt and Greg when they meet, even if they’re kept alive in bondage. And Beatrice is driven to making the choice of seeking out two lost children as this sacrifice, who she grows to care for, out of the fear that she will never be able to fix her mistake and face her family again as humans, that she will remain the reason why they are cursed in these forms. The Woodsman, of course, also fears losing his daughter, of being the reason her light is snuffed out forever. And by being unable to face that fear, The Beast is given power to live on. The ironic tragedy is that she was waiting at home for him all this time, if he’d only had the strength to return alone, instead he himself haunts the woods, trapped in his limbo of grief. Wirt and Greg are constantly facing The Unknown, facing fear throughout their journey. It is only through Wirt standing up to terror, not giving in to despair, that he is able to bring him and his brother home. If he had given in, he and Greg would have remained there forever. The only way out of The Unknown, is through.

[@samuraitadpole5459]

She made it obvious she feared being left behind, I'm surprised people didn't know

[@spenserdavis788]

I actually took the episode's ending to mean that Auntie Whispers hadn't attempted it because, in the back of her mind, she feared that Lorna regaining health would lead to her own abandonment. So she focused less on "curing" Lorna and more on maintaining the status quo, even if it required her niece to remain ill... which is similar to a LOT of relationships, actually.

[@CodeeXD]

​@@spenserdavis788 she literally says that's why, when she starts crying and says Lorna will leave her now because she is better and doesn't need aunty whispers anymore

[@fingolfin897]

Don't you guys think Auntie Whispers HAD to know how powerful her Bell was? That leads to a few theories of mine. Firstly, Auntie may have just decided not to banish the spirit because she thought it meant she would lose Lorna. With Adelaide being her sister and a servant of the Beast, I think it's very possible Auntie Whispers may also be in his employ, and the fact that Lorna is possessed and kills kids is what keeps the Beast convinced that she isn't trying to save the kids from Lorna. It could also be possible that Auntie wasn't able to banish the spirit herself, and Wirt somehow was able to?

[@duck1590]

I think she says something about how she didn't want Lorna to go away and that if she'd been free she'd just not need her anymore. Yeah, super toxic, I know.

[@jessefulton8841]

pretty sure she essentially admitted that after wirt used the bell.

[@qwmx]

@@duck1590 Yeah. It's messed up. Though, considering Lorna stayed and seemed happy, I don't think she initially meant harm. She just really wanted Lorna to stay (though asking her to visit or stay to help take care of her would be the decent way to do things).

[@amandajohnson3531]

I'm not sure, just because Auntie Whispers never acted maliciously. It could be that, to her, using the bell seemed too easy. The world runs a bit on fairytale logic, see using certain scissors to cut your wings to become human again. In other words, the answers to magic, curses, and demons are usually convoluted. She might have just convinced herself, "surely the demon possessing sweet Lorna wouldn't make it that easy to rid her of them. Best to just keep her busy while I figure it out."

[@sarahferguson2364]

I’m pretty sure it has to do with the lumberjack. The fact the answer was so simple to take away Lorna’s curse but Auntie whispers didn’t want to is a clear parallel with the lumberjack. All he had to do was blow out the lantern but he held on because he was scared of losing his daughter forever. I think the writers were using foreshadowing while also giving Wirt the idea that the answer to getting rid of the beast was a simple one

[@Dreadmonkey1]

For reference to some of the slightly odd voice acting of Auntie Whispers, she's voiced by none other than Tim Curry... right after he had a rather hefty stroke. Seriously this was like the first thing he did after nearly dying. It sounds like he's doing better (he's done some other stuff since), but this was what he could do at the time for this character

[@Zarastro54]

I thought it was intentionally odd because it’s weird and funny.

[@CodeeXD]

Its also exactly what they wanted. Auntie whispers never raises her voice above a whisper after all

[@revytwohands9595]

It’s honestly amazing, it’s horrible but it legitimately works really well

[@Tulemasin]

I think that Aunty Whispers warning the boys about Adelaide was important because Wirt realizes that Beatrice was tricked by her and she wasn't to blame. I think this helps along with him giving up hope because he realized that he was in the wrong for abandoning their friend and stealing those scissors to punish her.

[@CodeeXD]

Beatrice was never tricked though. She was willingly traded them knowing what she had planned she just didnt care until she got to know them

[@zombinary3138]

@@CodeeXDthis isn’t true, Beatrice actually says that she thought Adelaide just wanted yard work done or something, and was horrified when she realized what Adelaide really wanted.

[@jvukovic4]

11:41 Just a little note, Wirt's comment on the French Rococo style clashing with Endicotts sensibility is referencing the fact that Endicott didn't build this part of the manor at all, they're in the part of the giant manor where the "ghost" women built it, hence the more french leaning

[@shadowwolf6868]

I'm so glad you brought up the Queen of Cloud City being the Beast, bc it's a thought I'd had since I'd first watched the show. To me, it's especially clear just bc of the way they talk; they both have a very similar cadence in speech, and the whole dream just feels like something planted *by* the Beast in order to trick/break down Greg into submitting as well. It really feeds into the whole manipulation and deceit that the Beast is willing to do in order to achieve his goals, and he did it in a way that was most familiar to Greg; using cute animals and silly situations that would most entice and interest a child. It's especially note-worthy bc of the art style; it's *very* cartoony, not unlike Disney's Silly Symphonies, which are probably the cartoons that Greg would've been watching at the time. The Beast took this information and presented it in a way that was understandable to Greg in order to manipulate him.

[@R.444-]

I do find the idea of The Beast constantly interweaving what is soothing and pleasant with what is horrifying and full of despair to be interesting. A lantern which keeps the light of your daughter’s soul alive, so long as you keep it lit. The oil it takes to do so, the sacrifice of so many other children, you never knowing, and that the lantern you keep is of The Beast himself. A cartoonish dream scape, like something out of old Disney, to lull you to sleep as the earth freezes around you. Even how music is used, his song being bold and booming, an operatic bass, while a children’s chorus calls you to sleep. Like a lullaby. One *demanding* you submit, the other gently convincing you it would be better. Aren’t you so tired? Aren’t your eyelids getting heavy? Aren’t your limbs dragging with the weight? Why don’t you lie down and sleep for awhile, here in this bed of snow.

[@shadowwolf6868]

@@R.444- YES all of this yes! The way he talks is very soothing, and he even takes the things Greg says ("you can do anything if you set your mind to it, after all") in order to make his oblivion feel more comfortable and appealing. To me, this is why Greg's dreamscape feels so much like something the Beast planted in order to manipulate him. One way or another, he would get a soul to feed the fire, and the despair it caused would've practically guaranteed the other brother submitted as well

[@TheOddityFair]

Personally, when it comes to Auntie Whispers, I think this was another moment that shows everything is not as it seems in the Unknown. Adelaide is described as “the good woman of the woods” by Beatrice. This sets her up as someone who can help, & even being called ‘Adelaide of the pasture’ adds to this. A pasture is a wide, open plain, implying that there is nothing to hide w/ Adelaide, & the word itself is made up of all soft & gentle sounds. We & the boys are being pulled into a false sense of security long before we ever meet this woman, & in ways we probably didn’t realize. So later, when we’re shown Auntie Whispers who looks like an evil witch, although we should’ve learned our lesson by now, we are immediately on guard. We think she’s keeping Lorna as a slave by controlling her w/ the bell. But, as it turns out, Auntie Whispers is just a kind, lonely old woman who was trying to help. Granted it was selfish of her to not banish the evil spirit out of fear of loosing Lorna, but I can forgive that. As social creatures, the fear of being alone is real for people. As for her being in league w/ the Beast, I don’t think so. The black turtles are seen everywhere, & it’s implied that they are the Beasts eyes & ears. Auntie Whispers has baskets full of these turtles to eat, & she’s mostly unharmed afterwards. We’ve seen what happens when a normal creature eats those turtles. It’s horrifying. I like to think that AW is sacrificing herself to keep others safe. It’s also why she warned the boys about Adelaide. She cared more for the safety of two strangers than most others would, & she wasn’t afraid to expose her sister for what she really was to keep them safe. (I also think it’s a nice little bit about found family being important. AW clearly loves Lorna more than anything, & while she still calls Adelaide her sister, she doesn’t seem happy doing so.)

[@fractalgem]

Meanwhile, anyone who's aware of how dangerous the summer fae court can be...well...that was enough to raise some alarm bells when i watched the episode.

[@TheOddityFair]

@@fractalgem True. I hadn’t even considered that angle.

[@Mel-jr5cz]

really enjoyed reading this. Just wanted to say.

[@enman702]

It's true McHale said the turtles were left vague intentionally as a "black thread" but I think they have something to do with sin of sorts. They tend to show up when someone has done something wrong, (i.e. the mill where Beatrice threw a rock at the blue bluebird) and in Auntie Whisper's house (where lots of people got ate) there's a whole basket. She also feeds into the folk character of a sin eater. So that makes sense as well.

[@xtentasticx]

Again with the turtles! Why is it always turtles!!!

[@Felix-kt1iq]

My personal thoughts on why Auntie Whispers "never thought" to fix the problem with the bell that way is that... well she did, but like she says, she was selfish and worried that Lorna would leave her if she "didn't need her" anymore. Therefore, even if she knew how to banish the evil spirit, she wouldn't because she was scared of being alone.

[@Poultrygiest]

I remember watching this while high and thinking that Wert and Greg make a good example of the self you put forward to others and your inner child or inner self. Greg being a stand in for your inner child who just wants to have fun with everything around them and Wert being the anxious part of your brain that wants to look good in front of others no matter what.

[@manicpixiefangirl4189]

Funny, both my sister and I have compared our brains to Wirt and Greg. One side is random goofiness and the other as this nervous perfectionism. It’s a tossup as to which side is in charge from moment to moment.

[@olebeans6992]

I’m wondering how I’ve never noticed that the “garden” was the cemetery. It just never clicked until now. Gave me chills.

[@aghilton8531]

The algorithm gods have really been blessing me with all of these Over the Garden Wall analyses lately. I love that this series continues to draw people in. The more I live with it and hear different people’s thoughts on its themes and details, the more I appreciate it. A very nice analysis, this one. Thanks for sharing with us!

[@matiassanchez1362]

Same here! If you haven't watched it, see Jhonnytwocellos' video. It's really good and actually gave a lot of new information to me

[@juliusnepos6013]

Same

[@jenk4545]

Auntie Whispers warning the boys about her sister is all part of the fact that AW and Adelaide are almost certainly a reference to Spirited Away. Auntie Whispers resmebles the witch Yubaba, who has a sister that's a good witch. But in OTGW, the scary looking witch turns out to be good and the good witch turns out to be bad.

[@jamesgabrielmartin9568]

This crossed my mind too, glad someone else spotted it!

[@lucillesvarovski2961]

I thought the same thing

[@ireeener]

it was the first thing i thought when i saw auntie whispers! and then when she mentioned that adelaide was her sister i just reassured it

[@jenk4545]

I don't know if the Cloud Queen is The Beast, but I think Wirtt was able to free himself from the tree when he woke up either because The Beast was distracted by Greg and not paying attention to Wirt, or because Greg made a deal with The Beast to take Wirt's place. I'm sure The Beast would get Wirt as soon as Greg was dead anyway, but Greg wouldn't know that. He's innocent enough to think The Beast would stick to the deal.

[@n00ji]

In episode 8 when Greg asked for a wish from the lady i've always assumed it was him wishing for the beast to take him instead of Wirt. The lady says nothing can be done to save Wirt so Greg chose to sacrifice himself to the beast to save his brother, which is probably why the lady seems very hesitant to grant Greg's wish and even asks him "Are you sure?"

[@halloweenallyearround4889]

Auntie Whispers warns them about Adelaide when it's too late as comedic relief. It's like real life. Like when people have a horrible breakup with a friend who turns out was exploiting or backstabbing them the whole time. And then a common acquaintance or a stranger warns them about that person because they also had a terrible experience with them. It's the bitterness and absurdity of life's ironies. It's amusing and you end up just going "hmmm, this might have been useful 5 years ago, at least they are out of my life and of the life of this other human" and shrug.

[@taryncruz1490]

I've been obsessed with OTGW for YEARS and I share it with all my closest friends. It's just unbelievable how good it is and a timeless rewatch.

[@ncstunts1223]

The thing that really gives this show an even bigger air of mystery is in the final episode while they’re in the hospital Greg shakes the frog around and you can see the frogs belly lighting up because of the bell which means that everything was real somehow.

[@HeathsHarleyQuinn]

A few things you didn't mention: from the beginning in the intro you can hear the sound of the train. The closing song implies that none of the characters had a happy ending and everything we saw is what we simply wish it to be.

[@josephm1762]

This is also kinda expanded on in the soundtrack where you get the extended version of the Old Black Train song from episode 9. The lyrics of that song heavily imply that they were actually hit by the train 😬

[@RosebudSymphony]

I love how Over the Garden Wall takes place on Halloween. The day when the worlds of the living and the dead are closest. And that throughout the show they are constantly having to blend into the people in with the people of the unknown. The whole reason we wear costumes on Halloween is this. Love me some folklore.

[@ThatGuacamolyGuy]

The number one mark of a good show is being able to get more out of it each time you watch it.

[@carolinesweredrawn]

I think that with episode 7 it also made Wirt feel more hopeless because he initially thought he had a connection of sorts with Lorna, and he was deceived again, almost confirming that he could never know who to trust, and that Beatrice wasn’t a fluke.

[@ay2257]

10:02 that's not Fred, that's the dog in the tavern who lies in front of the door

[@ellie-mt4rf]

I always thought that figure looked an awful lot like a Fullmetal Alchemist character, but the dog from the tavern makes WAY more sense!

[@Muszy]

My theory on the turtles are they are just elements of evil in the unknown. I don’t know if they’re connected to the beast, but they transform the dog into something that looks similar especially where you compare the beasts eyes in the last episode to the dog’s eyes in the first. I think the fact that Auntie Whispers eats them and nothing happens to her shows that’s her sort of power as a witch in the Unknown. She doesn’t turn evil when she eats them so she’s ultimately doing good for the world by collecting and getting rid of them before other people or animals eat them and turn into monsters. Me and my girlfriend watched this and she loved the turtles and she yelled “No!” when Whispers ate one. Perhaps that helps the symbolism of them as evil, they are so slow, small, and innocent looking, but nothing should be trusted just by it’s appearance. I think I saw an interview with Patrick McHale though about the show and he said the turtles were sort of a plot hole that even they didn’t really figure out though too which is pretty funny to me.

[@xtentasticx]

Could have been a connection to infinity train Lorna is voiced by the same person as Amelia from infinity train Amelia plagued by turtles Again with the turtles! Why is it always turtles!!!

[@zoetomase]

I always thought of them as representing sins. They transform the dog into something evil(and the dog even turned back to normal after it spit it out), they were with Lorna who had an evil spirit in her, and in Greg's dream there was a black turtle who greeted him with the other animals (if the lady turned out to be the beast, it would make even more sense as the sins would be following the beast). Plus, if the turtles are following them it could be them getting judged for their sins or it could show how they're being followed by the Beast.

[@Muszy]

@@zoetomase That's really interesting! I like that idea and how it can be something more specific like sin. I wonder what the sins of Wurt and Greg would be judged for...

[@barwn6111]

I've watched this show more times than I care to admit, and even I only discovered things I didn't know watching this video.

[@Smooshy_Smoosh]

This is the best over the garden wall video I’ve seen, I’ve been a fan of this show since it released, even though I was like 8 and it scared my shitless you discussed details I didn’t even know after all the rewatches. I like that you didn’t nitpick every single little details that was “off” but instead you suggested new ideas of what it could be, you even stated facts that were so interesting, keep up the good work :)

[@kaazimsheikh9034]

I saw this show on cartoon Network at my grandparent's home. I didn't understand anything though, since it was all in Arabic. I just remember how frightening and strange it all was.

[@kalkxx]

im so glad that people are finally starting to recognize this show and how good it is, i found out about it 1-2 years ago and its been my comfort show ever since. the soundtrack is amazing, the character designs and just the characters themselves are all so cute (besides the beast and the witch and stuff lol), literally just the general aesthetic of the show is so good i love it so much :))

[@dumpartble8196]

I watched Over the Garden Wall more than 5 years ago when it was streaming in Cartoon Network and I loved it, still do and I'm so happy people are still discovering and appreciating the series nowadays, truly a work of art

[@abbireber]

21:00 I have 2 half siblings, 2 step siblings, and 1 fully biological sister. My half siblings are 9 and 11 years younger than I, so at first getting used to having 2 siblings that much younger took a lot to get used to and was pretty difficult, especially for me. I got used to them over time, thankfully, but I would say Wirt and Greg's dynamic was very faithfully portrayed especially including the large age gap between them! At the end when they are both in the hospital and the first thing Wirt did was ask where Greg was made me tear up, it was so heartwarming

[@staticzerotv6683]

I don't know why but cloud city was more than a fever dream to me. What I initially thought that it was heaven. Greg could have possible ascended to heaven and died for a brief second due to hypothermia. Which is why he was taken to the cloud kingdom. Like how the fairytale little match girl died from the cold and her dead Grandmother visited her and they both went to heaven. The cloud queen represents an angel they couldn't save Wirt because he lost faith and hope and succumb to the beast in which Greg sacrifices himself in order to save him.

[@auridisavan1886]

This show is almost disgustingly amazing. Unfortunately, because of a lot of people's preconceived biases on the quality and maturity of animation as a medium, especially when family-friendly, it's very difficult to convince people to watch it, despite how incredible it is. I firmly believe it's not the medium of the story, or even necessarily minute details such as its maturity rating that really determine quality, despite what many people may think; it's how you tell a story, and emotional resonance of it, that really matters. And too many people are blind to that. Because if you can say that you didn't cry like a baby at the final scene in this show, you're either lying through your teeth due to preconceived notions about crying, or you're heartless, an idiot who can't absorb emotionally impactful stories, or, most likely, both.

[@tevineleven11]

9:13 it's not Greg eating the food, he's giving it to the horse. That's why the horse has marks on his mouth

[@TheDragonsong12]

Oooh! Another fantastic entry to add to my ever-growing playlist of Over the Garden Wall video essays! Thank you! You touched on pretty much everything I love so much about the series. I don't have any solid answers for your questions (which I honestly think makes the series better!) but here are a couple of my thoughts... Regarding the black turtles, the series creator has referred to the black turtles as "an imperfect stitch in the quilt" basically something that was added at an early stage to solve a story problem and then they just kept adding them all over the series for funsies. But that doesn't mean that no thought was given to their use. For example, the art book refers to Auntie Whispers as a "sin eater" and the only thing we see her eat is the black turtles. What this means specifically I couldn't say, but I have theories, and now I bet you do too, haha! You're probably right that her appearance is due to eating them, much like the dog, but unlike the dog she seems to be able to hold up a bit better. I totally agree regarding Adelaide, it is my one major complaint with the series (I agree about the thing with the bell too, but it bothers me much less). It might make you feel better to know that more was planned for Adelaide. She's "Adelaide of the pasture" because she lived in an actual pasture and I think her plan was to turn the boys into sheep to be part of her flock. The series, unfortunately, had its budget slashed during production and went from 19 episodes to 10, so a LOT had to be cut out and you can still see the seams from these cuts throughout the series, most notably with Adelaide. I'm assuming that whatever the full story was with Adelaide was deemed less important to the themes than the episodes that remained, but it's still a bit unsatisfying. I DO like them giving her the black widow motif over the shepherd one, though.

[@mcalcock2241]

A thought on the turtles that my wife pointed out--the Black Turtle/Tortoise in Chinese mythology is associated with winter, and the show uses the progression from fall to winter as its central metaphor for death.

[@localscissors4036]

I know a bunch of people probably already answered, but the deal Greg makes with the queen is to trade places with Wirt. She couldn’t help him herself, because his soul was falling under the Beast’s will already, and so Greg told her that he would take his brother’s place. That’s why Greg walks away with the Beast and Wirt can pull off the roots so easily. And it’s also why Wirt feels guilty afterward, because Greg almost died directly because of Wirt’s lack of will to live. I don’t think she works for the Beast. I think she would’ve let Greg home if he wished, but just couldn’t do the same for Wirt because of his state of mind.

[@phosphorific]

I think the dream sequence is definitely the Beats doing. He manipulated what Greg was seeing to claim his soul but had to make a deal as much as the devil would do. Thus the reason why Wurt woke up. The Beast may have thought Wurt was a lost cause therefore took that risk, but Wurt proved him wrong in saving Greg. As for Aunty Whispers, this could have been the same fate. The Beast convinced her otherwise that the only way to be with her daughter was to feed the evil soul within her. Therefore never using the bell in fear that she would lose her daughter outright. The Beast is evil and manipulates how you perceive your situation. Similar to how he convinced the Huntsman that the only way to keep his daughter alive was to fuel the lantern, which actually was fueling the Beast himself. Damn I love this show. It's so good!!

[@lucilab.andrada9676]

Did you ever notice the frame in which Greg and Wirt are hiding at the cemetery in episode 9 where it's telling how they got lost in the first place, and while they're hidden behind a tombstone the tombstone says the name of Quincy Endicott (that rich old man)? 😮 turns out they were both ghosts after all... both the old man and the lady he believed was a ghost :o

[@faithfulimagination226]

Love this video so much! Here are a few notes I have. 1st The episode with Antie Whispis was actually intended to be the first episode so that's why she tells the boys to be careful of her sister. The episode was too scary so they changed it to be later in the series. (This is discussed in the concept art book) 2nd I think that Auntie Whispis didn't banish the spirit because she doesn't want to lose Laurena. This is her evil and why she can eat the turtles without turning into a beast. Her and her sister are already corrupt.

[@catserver8577]

I'm working on a thread in my head that just as the children stumbled upon the harvest festival, which would be them arriving to soon for their deaths, also the loss of the pennies is a play on the "don't pay the ferryman until he gets you to the other side", which is why they place two pennies on the eyes of the dead in some funereal ceremonies. They again come upon a way to the "other side" before their times. Sorry for the run on sentence, it's kind of how it sounds in my head.

[@jonesthemoblin1400]

I read the moment where Auntie Whispers said to beware Adalade as more of a moment to finally break Wurt's resolve. He had been betrayed by Beatrice, and only found out later that others knew about Adelaide. It was like Auntie Whispers shined a light on his own failures. Same kinda goes for why she never used the bell to banish the spirit. She never thought of using the bell to banish the spirit because she was afraid that if she did Lorna would no longer need her. Her fear of losing Lorna stopped her from thinking of the simple thing that would help Lorna for good.

[@madeleinep.828]

I adored this show. A big regret of mine is that it came out when I was in 5th grade, back when I watched Cartoon Network all the time, but I had never watched it until literally a week ago. I was also getting into Gravity Falls at the time, so I definitely would've loved a show like this, but better late than never.

[@datalysjr3339]

I’m so glad this show is still being spoken about for being 9 years old! I was just watching this with my younger brother from start to finish and god this show was so enjoyable to watch let alone the moments I saw the twist but even until then it was to late, GOD I LUV THIS SHOW

[@phrogmcstuffins7101]

and in the songs of the dark lantern, the Tavern Keeper says, "He who holds the Dark Lantern, must be The Beast!" and Wirt, just a few seconds later, picks up a lanterns, foreshadowing the Beast's ultimatum

[@Gudsur]

"We're here to burgle your turts" 😂❤ That's my favorite line in the show

[@eudstersgamersquad6738]

I did not expect this to be the only video on your channel. You are so good at this and I really, really hope you do more!

[@sebastianolaru1413]

In episode 8 Greg makes the wish to take his brothers place. Before going to sleep Wirt told Greg that he doesn't have a plan and now he's the one in charge, so he sacrifices himself to save his brother, that's why Wirt can just wake up from the Adelwood Tree.

[@MrShoggs]

Auntie Whispers and Adelaide really remind me of Spirited Away’s Yubaba and Zeniba to the point that I saw the warning that “my sister is evil” as a direct reference to Spirited Away. Auntie Whispers’ design is very reminiscent to that of the twin witches from Spirited Away, with her large face and eyes.

[@gerarddominus35]

You could really feel the love and care and effort put into this video. That has earned you another subscriber, I look forward to your future works

[@zombiepauli]

About Enoch and why he is a cat: cats, especially black ones, are seen as bringers or sensors of death. There are so many stories about cats in elderly homes laying with the people who will die soon or cats owned by elderly people sensing that their owner dies soon. Apparently there is also some science behind it that people who are very close to their death have a certain smell and that cats can smell it and react to it too, because they 'know what it means' (besides their owner turning into their dinner). Some nurses in elderly homes claimed to also be able to smell this 'death sent'. I don't know any science behind it though, but this is my theory as to why Enoch is a black cat.

[@ezzeyzzz]

This is really a great series! My teacher had me analyze my this show and it is really very interesting when you deep dive into it.

[@kurobinson9158]

My thoughts are them adding that line by Aunty whisper mentioning how not to trust her sister was more in line with the emotion of the betrayal not actually warning them. Because the episode was a nice getaway for wirts sake. For a split second he forgot about the betrayal, and that’s why he looked so sad when he was mentioned of it. It was more of a sting than anything else, sorta like subbing salt into the wound

[@Dinklechad]

I was super late to this party, but after finally getting invited, I'm envious I didn't get that invitation earlier... This show was absolutely incredible, whimsical, emotionally resonant, and by far one of my favorite pieces of film media I've ever had the pleasure of enjoying.

[@joerello-jh1kq]

Ever since I heard the idea years ago that Greg already knew everything before it would happen, I can’t watch without noticing this. He knows everything. He knows when the danger is real, and when it’s not.

[@syntheticat-3]

I think in episode 7, Auntie Whispers implicitly states why she never banished the demon with the bell. She was worried Lorna wouldn't want to live with her/keep her company anymore if Lorna wasn't dependent on her for anything. She also seems like she was pretty attached to the role of Lorna's guardian and protector. It reminds me of a parent who's hesitant to cut the metaphorical apron strings.

[@timaeusdelpueblosecretodel6801]

I unitonically almost chocked from auntie Whispers telling Greg and Wert to beware Adelaide

[@tenejdavidovic9952]

I’ve seen lots of videos discussing otgw but this one… so many details i would never notice ob my own. Makes me appreciate the show so much more, thank you!!

[@PabloIgnacioGarciaMartin-ts9yd]

You did an essay that is as long as 25% of the series. Speaks a lot about it.

[@ThisIsWizardsHandle]

Hey! Fantastic video! I did have a few things I felt that you should have touched on, one being Gregg’s rock, I know you mentioned it here and there a bit, but I personally feel this could have been Gregg’s burden to bear instead of naming the frog, since when he thinks he’s going to die that’s the one thing he has to admit to. Also I noticed you approached your points as if the whole thing was a dream? Which the bell in Gregg’s frog at the end of the last episode plus Quincy’s tombstone seems to show that the events did actually happen, which would obviously give a reason for the entire show to exist, it just being a dream makes the whole thing seem pointless and that there’s nothing to take away, while the theory that the unknown is where you go when you die but can’t go into the afterlife yet because you have an unsolved burden that you haven’t faced or come to terms with yet, would make perfect sense when you look at each character individually and their specific “burden”. Of course as I said that theory would seem to tie the whole show up nicely and give a fitting ending to each individual character arc and storyline. Other than that I think you covered most of the shows points and Easter eggs pretty well and I really enjoyed the video! Great work and God bless ❤

[@allanahleahy544]

My lil niece and I loved saying ‘I’m the Highway man’ 😂

[@FreelyFooled]

It's worth noting that the Beast can claim you if you fall ill, not just giving up. Greg never gave up, being in the snow made him ill and began turning him into an Adelwood, the Beast even suggesting that Greg sit in the snow and wait for the sun to set after Greg solves his puzzle.

[@shamwow1893]

Well done! You caught a lot of things I never noticed. Welcome to YT, 5$F. I'll def be looking for more of your reviews!

[@Night_Visionz]

There’s no way it’s been 9 YEARS since OTGW came out pleaseee 😭😭😭😭

[@user-lt8lm1vv9v]

You are right - Fred is a Highwayman's horse, but the doll next to him is the doll of a tavern dog! In the official comics we get a little more of Fred's backstory and how he became the Highwayman's horse. 16:49 The comics do play with this idea of Wirt's and Greg's perspectives often being completely different! Also comics have a Woodsman's daughter backstory, and more fun adventures for our trio! Really recommend!

[@nocturnalnikkole3448]

I got to see it! One of my favorite kids shows growing up was David the Gnome so I know I may like this one.

[@arsonistnpc]

man, when i was younger my dad always got me comics from the store he worked at, and one of the series he always picked up for me was the over the garden wall series. i didn't even know there was a show until about a year ago- until then all the little conversations about it i came across i thought were talking about the comics. I should really go and watch the show, i remember being so enthralled with the comics in a way i wasn't with my little pony or spongebob or whatever else i was getting at the time! plus i dont think i ever got the "final" comic or whatever cuz i cant recall how it ended. I've rambled enough, this is a great video and may the algorithm bless you lmao

[@MrMisuma]

I’m from 1976, my autistic son introduced me to this series and I love it.

[@tipjrjr326]

I think Auntie Whispers couldn't use the bell against the spirit because it intentionally leads kids away before revealing itself, which to me means the bell only works while the spirit active, i.e. in it's warped/twisted form (just a thought)

[@Canev821]

She said she didn’t want to use it because Lorna would leave

[@VVelcome2THEVOID]

I miss this show honestly man this was amazing

[@wariolandgoldpiramid]

This was a really good retrospective.

[@InkAnimates]

This was and always will be my fav series

[@homielander5924]

Just finished the show it’s really good!

[@toast5630]

I remember watching it every night the week it came out episode by episode. To this day my favorite cartoon network special. When my dad died, I watched it the night before his funeral. It's a comfort show if I've ever known one.

[@UllrT]

"It's kinda a fever dream" ROFL. I was thinking that the entire time up until episode 9.

[@Moon525]

Fantastic observations! I love listening to people talk about this show because I get to learn about things other people found that I missed!

[@relaxationnapz2444]

this show is sooo asthectically pleasing to the creepy vibe it’s trying to give man i loved it

[@ucproductions5810]

The "wedding day song" was my favorite part of this whole miniseries. It's hilarious. I laughed my guts out when I first heard it. I can picture Wirt now, wearing a sparkling tuxedo with a high silk top hat, standing next to Sara in a platinum white wedding dress. Ha ha. Too bad the events of the show, in theory, never actually happened. It was only a dream.

[@13leafclover86]

I know this is an old comment, but in the end of the last episode you can see the bell lighting up in the frog's stomach still, so it's more or less confirmed that the events of the show did happen

[@MichaelTaylor-qp2xf]

I watch Over the Garden Wall every first day of Fall and then again every Halloween since I first saw it. It's brilliantly written and tight. Your video helped me notice for the first time that the Woodsman tells Wirt that he's responsible for what happens to himself and Greg in Episode 1 and then Wirt accepts that responsibility at the end of episode 9, finally acting like the heroic older brother at the end of the series.

[@magnuschristiansen7075]

Wow, the theory about the Queen being the beast really resonated with me for some reason 😅🤘 Other than that, the cat which is Enoch can be seen in the intro riding on the turkeys into Pottsfield 🤯

[@eyesack6845]

Nothing else has made me feel the way I felt when watching this show. It's more of an experience.

[@eldino1504]

Dude over the garden wall is critically underrated-

[@manuelamendes5766]

Not to mention the soundtrack. Extremely well done and fits the vibe of the show perfectly

[@slipperytummy5532]

So, I took the queen as being actually good. I think a lot of OTGW's messaging rides around being courageous and hopeful (two traits Wirt lacks) so I don't know how much sense it would make thematically for Greg's courage to lead him into the path of the beast. To me the scene was just a soul exchange. Wirt was lost (had the trees around him already) but greg pulled him out in exchange, and got pulled in by the beast in his place.

[@catmom9427]

The architecture line that Wirt gives in episode 5 is connected to later episodes! In the episode where he's getting dressed in his to take his tape to Sara (9 I think?), if you look at the books on the floor of his room, one is about architecture!

[@ShaneSmithDesign]

jason funderberker is singing about frogs croaking in a pond, not just about wirt. we can see this in the lines 'a single soul sets his voice singing' indicating the frog that starts croaking; then 'a song rises over the lilies' talking about the other frogs joining in sitting on lily pads, 'and over the bullrushes swaying' (bullrushes are at the edge of a body of water' and 'round the shimmering pond of our joining in song' tells us they are indeed in a pond. Also, i think auntie whispers warning the boys about adelaide after they had met her was a good thing for the plot, because wirt had forgetten about beatrices betrayal after his encounter with lorna and auntie whispers, and that reminder by her pushed the thought back to his mind, thus pushing his spirits even lower to the point he becomes a near victim to the beast.

[@cherie..cherry]

wow, this is your first video?? bravo! As someone who watched this show a few years after the original airing, when I was just younger than Wurt's age, I reallyyy enjoyed it. I loved this analysis on it and can't wait to see more videos from you :D

[@michikomanalang6733]

The bell thing is actually really clever if you zoom out. How many times over the centuries have people wanted the best for those who were ill or unwell, but thought that the best way to deal with things was to suppress them? And it seems nobody is all-knowing in the Unknown. Also I think it was worth it to mention Adelaide-Whispers doesn’t know Adelaide is dead. She doesn’t know everything her sister gets up to, only that she’s turned evil. And it brings up the betrayal one more time so that Beatrice doesn’t just randomly appear again later-we know Wirt is thinking about her. That’s just me tho

[@roadkilloctopus4020]

One of the best Over the Garden Wall analyses I’ve seen. Its so well executed!

[@justinsahl1188]

Love this show! Glad to see you cover it.

[@crispy1519]

I just watched (and immediately rewatched hehe) Over the Garden Wall and it's so interesting how you pointed out that there is some imagery of the boys' sinking in every episode. I caught onto a lot of little details and foreshadowing on my rewatch but somehow I missed that one so thanks for pointing that out! Also this was such a great video!