It’s been established before that Eda is known as the Owl Lady by everyone in the Boiling Isles, but the reason why this was the case was left a mystery for some time. A first-time viewer would naturally assume that it’s because she lives in the titular Owl House, but even then, it was only an assumption.
With ‘The Intruder’, we actually get the concrete answer, and it’s one that both fills in a piece of Eda’s backstory and leaves enough unanswered questions to keep viewers coming back to learn more. On top of that, the episode itself manages to be a surprisingly tense, wickedly funny, and very heartwarming in equal measure, making it a standout for season 1.
The dynamic at the center is that of Luz and King, and the episode develops their relationship effectively, both in terms of the comedy and the characters themselves. The banter they have with each other is hilarious, with both their personalities playing off each other in spectacular fashion. Luz’s eagerness to learn how to do magic and King’s desire to teach her about demons manage to go hand-in-hand as they come to an understanding with each other.
Both Luz and King have their own unique and offbeat behavior, and so both suffer from the same problem: nobody taking them seriously when they need to be. While the moment is brief, it tells us a lot about who these characters are as people. Luz is fully aware that her being weird makes people laugh at her, and while she may enjoy embracing her quirky side, it’s clear that its effect on others hurts her more than she lets on. It gives all the more credence as to why she decided to stay in the Boiling Isles. Not only is it a chance for her to be as weird as she wants while having it be treated as normal, but once she becomes a witch, she feels she can make something of herself and prove that she’s not just a clown. Her sharing this with King only lasts a few seconds, but it adds so much.
Meanwhile, we know by this point that King isn’t taken seriously by others. The way Eda treats him is often condescending(albeit in a loving way), and Luz is often focused on how adorable he is. It’s here that this mindset of his is really brought to the forefront. Given his status as a demon and wanting to teach others about their culture(as well as potentially learn more about it himself), it’s clear that he wants to be seen as more than just a cute face. He wants to offer knowledge and wisdom to others, all while sharing his passion with the world.
Seeing both these characters come to an understanding and work together against the titular intruder is made all the more heartwarming thanks to all that info, and it’s another showcase for why the show’s storytelling is so damn good. Amidst all the episodic adventures, it’s able to sprinkle in fascinating tidbits about the characters that entice you to want to learn more about them. The fact that the characters themselves are so damn entertaining on their own only helps in that department.
I’d also be remiss if I didn’t talk about Eda, which also factors in the character tidbit-sprinkling. As this episode reveals, her Owl Lady moniker isn’t due to where she lives, but because of a curse, one that’s been with her for almost her entire life. She can’t remember who did it to her, but with how tight-lipped she is about it to Luz and King, it’s clear that it affects her deeply. Sure, she’s able to keep it at bay with the elixirs, but not knowing the person that did it is eating her up inside, haunting her dreams. It’s quite a shock to have this normally cocky and confident woman have these inner demons, and the questions it leaves unanswered leave the door open for an effective reveal later on.
As for her owl form, the episode expertly shows off how terrifying it is. Before we even get a clear look at it, we see how much damage she’s able to do with it, uncaring as to who gets in the way of it, and when we do see it, it makes it all the scarier. This is the kind of episode that shows that “The Owl House” can do legit horror, and it pulls it off with excellent sound design and animation. Not to mention, that creature design is just amazing.
’The Intruder’ is the episode I can pinpoint as the one that officially hooked me into the show. You can watch it as its own thing and love it on those merits, of course. But with all the mystery, intrigue and weight added onto the story and the characters, it’s also one that will encourage you to watch the rest of the show all the way to the end.
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