Over the Garden Wall: An Autumnal Journey to the Afterlife

"Over the Garden Wall" is a short cartoon series created by Cartoon Network. Unlike traditional kids' shows, it delves into themes such as the afterlife, fear, appearances, and even the changing of life. Cartoon Network is known for airing 2D animated cartoons that appeal to teenagers who are questioning life. One of their autumn-themed series, "Over the Garden Wall" explores mature themes like the others, particularly those related to life and death. Warning for any who has not watched this series but is curious and wants to find a good autumnal series to watch, this post will contain spoilers.

Photo byOver the Garden Wall courtesy of Cartoon Network

The Season of Fall

The months of September, October, and November celebrate fall as a sign of passing and harvest. It is described as a mellow season and treated as a time for pumpkin-spice beverages, fall recipes, and great stories. When it comes to finding a good series or movie to watch for the season, Halloween films are the first to be suggested. While it is not an issue for some, others don't want to watch something scary because not everyone is in the horror spirit.

Fall is the cozy season, where the weather gets colder and they get to dress in warm, comfortable clothes. It's not just Thanksgiving and Halloween, but also nature showing signs that it will soon be resting as winter gets closer. Cartoon Network's Over the Garden Wall perfectly depicts the fall through the story of two brothers, Wirt and Greg.

Over the Garden Wall

Wirt and Greg set off traveling through the woods where the Beast resides. They meet various characters that are odd or haunted in some way, the woodsman, a talking bluebird, a teacher, a rich couple, and at some points visit different places with their own rules. There are nine episodes of this strange world, with the tenth and final episode showing reality. The creators of Over the Garden Wall, Patrick McHale and Katie Krentz, created the dark fantasy miniseries in 2014 with much inspiration and references to Dante's Inferno. There are also lots of theory videos on YouTube that notice many hidden easter eggs in each of the episodes, finding references to other events, stories, or concepts.

The video titled 'Why Over the Garden Wall is GENIUS Storytelling' by the YouTube channel FiveDollarFilms has managed to track down a lot of easter eggs, including "The Mclaughlin Bros". It might be another good film to watch after Over the Garden Wall, for those who want a thorough explanation of all the themes and references alluding to how the boys were dying. The video observes the small references in each scene, each character they meet or place they go to, and how they each tie into a theme of death, while also playing out the same way a dream would.

The Afterlife

People typically associate autumn with themes of slowing down to rest or the poetic ending of life, especially since it is the season when some plants begin to wilt and eventually die during winter. Over the Garden Wall uniquely explores these themes in some episodes. The subject of death in the episodes is through various people. From pumpkin people being skeletons that were dug up and put into costumes to learning of the woodcutter whose daughter's soul is thought to be in a lamp. The two brothers in the show manage to escape death a few times, with the most major survival being when they get out of the river.

Whether you are a person of science or religion, everyone wonders what happens after death. Is there a place we get sorted into or does the cycle of living repeat through reincarnation? No one fully knows, and that could explain why Wirt and Greg seem lost yet aren't freaking out about their encounters. They are experiencing their version of the afterlife while taking detours and meeting others along the way. Each character they meet reacts differently to learn they are lost. Some act as though they do belong in the forest while others warn the brothers that they need to stay away or quickly leave.

Conclusion

Over the Garden Wall is the most fitting to watch on a cozy autumn evening. It fits all the wants that autumn lovers may have, from eerie scenes revolving around death to main characters on a calm journey with multiple stops and ambiance in each episode. Over the Garden Wall gives many clues that the boys are nearing the afterlife, and unlike other horror movies, it has a more impactful haunting feeling right at the end with the reveal. With a cryptic beginning and haunting end, it is a promising miniseries for one to spend their autumn break watching in their nest of blankets and pillows.

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Originally Written by Ashley Yin.