"Hooty's Moving Hassle" is probably the episode that has the least to talk about so far. I wouldn't call it filler or anything, especially since there's some good character development and world-building to be had, but compared to the five outings preceding this which all introduced at least one huge component of the series, anything we get here feels relatively insignificant in the grand scheme of things.
That doesn't by any means make for a bad viewing experience, for reasons described further downward, but to put it simply, the story wasn't the most enthralling to me. The A-plot is a general 'secret sleepover despite guardians' lack of consent' setup, which isn't told badly or anything; in fact, the focus being mostly on the current heat of the moment elevates it pretty significantly. But most of the actual beats feel fairly standard, and even kind of underwhelming at times. The B-plot is of Eda trying in vain to collect more elixir from a shady vendor, with an addiction of a card game called Hexus Hold-Em coming into play. Even this proves relatively dull in the grand scheme of things, with anything that could prove interesting being pushed on the side. Both of these certainly have plenty of stakes, with the kids almost dying off a cliff and Eda sold off to the Emperor's Coven, but they are too underplayed to leave the dramatic impact they should.
But despite all that, the characters propel the episode enough to make it an enjoyable watch from start to finish anyway. Luz crosses some clear moral boundaries in places, but they make it known it's because she doesn't want to let her new friends down. Multiple times, she even tries to put a halt on it, but Willow's desires ultimately overpower her conscience. As stated before, she can be reckless, but she's not stupid. Speaking of Willow and Gus, this is probably the first time they really get to come into their own. Willow's arc is about her doubting her value as a witch due to her history with Amity and not getting invited to a Moonlight Conjuring, hence her wanting to take advantage of the conjured house despite obvious repercussions. It's not a deep dive, and a little familiar to her first appearance, but I think this has the edge because it devotes time for her to show genuine remorse over her motivations and actions, and even actively make things right in the end. And Gus is just as excitable and charming as ever, while also showing a little more attitude this time, especially when in the face of danger, showing just how much he values his friendships.
Rough Draft Korea's animation proves about as strong as it was in "Witches Before Wizards". They aren't given as many opportunities to really show its biggest strengths as the former episode, but that's only so much of a negative when they have such a fantastic handle on the characters. Willow and Gus are already the best they've looked so far on RDK's first time handling them, and everyone altogether consistently has a very cute look that still lends itself to more flexibility than Sugarcube. On the whole, I'd probably put "Hooty's Moving Hassle" on the bottom of the episode list so far, but the fact the least ep of the six so far is still a good 7 out of 10 should say a lot about this show's overall quality.
5 seconds in, and already we have a Luz that's pretty simplistic but is drawn in the cutest way possible. We get a lot of this with Rough Draft's episodes.
The idea of a card game involving one side eating the other is kind of cool. I just wish we got more insight as to how the game is actually played; the most specific we get is a running mention of a wild card. As is, it's pretty uninteresting.
I don't know what to think of this sight gag. Apparently the Boiling Isles uses newly-hatched giant eggs like a bus... like, how are they able to predict when they come? And why even use that as a means of transportation? But at the same time, it's definitely meant to be absurdist humor, and it's... certainly out-there.
It's also followed by another odd joke, where this vendor, named Morton, is feeling ill due to 'poison testing'. It's definitely funny in how backwards it is, but it feels weird for someone who works with magical liquids for a living to say.
For some reason, some scenes make Willow's glasses a lot more circular than normal. But honestly, I think this just makes her cuter.
Mention must also be made of the conversation here:
"Like a slumber party! We have those!"
"Then you bring something to life with moon magic!"
beat
"Like a weird slumber party!"
It's already great as written, but the confidence in the expressions and how they hold on them only elevate the humor further.
Luz finds it weird that Gus is seeking a moonlight conjuring in his bucket list, but it's probably the least unusual thing here. What exactly is he aiming to do with that tunnel under Hexisde?
This moon is constantly spotlighted to signify a sort of 'ticking clock' for the A-plot, a pretty good way of keeping it abstract and vague enough where we don't question the plot choices.
Luz hiding in her kitty hoodie always puts a smile on my face.
But it's not as cute as Eda letting King hang on her neck like a baby. Her soft voice as she describes this only cements this.
"I've got leaves in my pants! ...And I like it." Okay, let's just move on here...
I definitely would've preferred to see these flowers get enchanted over a manly d̶o̶l̶l̶ figurine, but at least we get this sympathetic Gus face out of it. Plus there's the great line, "A real man never takes accountability!"
This is a very wholesome little glow effect the three have going on here. Willow assumes it's the power of friendship before figuring out it's the moon magic, but screw it, I prefer her explanation because it's so befitting of them.
The Night Market. Check out the ominous red glows coming out of all the skulls and stands.
This episode is Boscha's first appearance, whose role later in the show will mostly involve Amity, but here she primarily serves to bully Willow (and by extension, Luz and Gus). Also she talks to her mother using a crow, kind of odd since they have social media through a simple magical spell.
Just look at how much Gus is relishing the chance to bite back at Boscha and tell me you're not enjoying it with him.
I find it neat that Penstogram is displayed through this mystical scroll, playing into the pseudo-medieval motif. And yeah, the fact that Amity randomly decided to spite Luz with "#HumansCanBiteIt" is a pretty good way to motivate Luz to act a little more irrationally herself.
I like the design of Tibbles, the vendor who overcharges Eda (leading to the great, if rather ironic line "Capitalism, where everyone wins! ...Except you"). Despite his friendly-looking appearance and initial demeanor, that barbed, red tail tip is enough to give away he's not actually up to any good.
"Did the house stop moving?" "No, my insides didn't."
I forgot how many great Gus moments came out of this one episode, dang.
In fact, we get another one right after. "Is this really what you wanna be doing with your life - tossing kids from cliffs?"
It doesn't work, of course, but you gotta give him props for trying to reason his way out in such an earnest way.
Willow describing her past relationship with Amity seemed a little out-of-place considering they're hanging for their life (Gus even brings this up, which I appreciated), but the way she actually explains it does indeed make for a good, emotional moment.
"Oof, that was painful to watch." Yeah, too bad we didn't get to see it...
I honestly am intrigued by the idea of someone competent and cunning trying to lure Eda in by carrying her elixir and making her fight for it. But unfortunately, I just don't think Tibbles leaves a strong enough impression to seem like as big a threat as the episode wants me to. He makes another appearance later in the season, and I barely remember how he was portrayed there as well.
It was really only fitting for Willow to end up leading the charge. Plus it provides both a very attractive and empowering image. I think the stars behind them are really what tie it together.
I enjoy the green guy here. While he's trying to kill off the trio, he talks about it just like someone would with any regular line of work, saying throwing them over a cliff was his dream since he was a boy and bragging about what he did when he thinks they're done for. It's yet more of the kind of dark humor this show excels at.
The fact both plots converge in conjured Hooty squashing Tibbles' stand, allowing Eda to escape with the elixir, is definitely my favorite thing about the story here. This is partly because Tibbles deserves it for how much he cheated Eda out of everything, and partly so Eda has reason to be easier on Luz at the end.
A) How exactly did Eda and King make it behind Hooty without anyone noticing?
B) What's up with her right eye?
There's really not much to say about Amity's role in this story, it's very much a tertiary role, but we do get her giving this really elegant, iconic pose of her staring out her window. Spoiler alert, this is not going to be the only time she does this.
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