OTGW #1 - The Old Grist Mill

All Hail Patrick McHale

To start, Patrick McHale is a genius and this episode proves it.

We open on an array of strange and memorable images over an almost melancholy theme (Into the Unknown), ending the credits with a short but effective few lines of narration. My personal favourite of these opening scenes is the angling fish, though the ossuary is a close second (who doesn't love bones?)

We then meet Greg and Wirt and are thrown straight into frog chat. What do you call a frog you find in the woods?

This weirdness is a sign of things to come. The tone is strange, but not so much that it takes you out of the show - small children do talk a lot of nonsense, and the conversation feels like characterisation rather than overly silly writing.

Keen-eared watchers might quickly recognise Elijah Wood's voice playing Wirt. This is a welcome surprise to anyone who's heard of him. Before long, he is waxing poetic in the deep dark of the woods. As someone who was a cringy teen poet myself, this is one of Wirt's most endearing qualities, and I will be dwelling on his poems every single time as we go through the show.

Before long we are introduced to the Woodsman (wonderfully played by Christopher Lloyd, who is perfectly cast). He mutters and rambles and hums like a lunatic and it is excellent. He crouches in front of the spooky-looking Edelwood trees, who always put me in mind of Disney's The Haunted Mansion, or maybe Snow White (1937). He also throws out the ominous warning that the two boys are 'more lost than you [they] realise'. We're in ghost-story territory now, eh?

The background music throughout all this is subtle but lovely. It adds a great deal of ambience to an already gothic environment (what with all the hooting owls and the sounds of axe-hacking). Something I noticed on this latest rewatch is the little snatch of Beatrice's theme (One is a Bird) when she is introduced. As a motif enjoyer, this made my morning.

A bonus point to add is the frankly iconic outfits. We won't get any explanation for these for some time, but funnily enough I never found myself questioning it. This, for me, is a testament to how much the story grabs your attention, right from the get-go.

We soon get another lovely little snippet of poetic prose. Here it is:

‘Sometimes I feel like. I'm just like a boat. Upon a winding river. twisting towards an endless black sea. Further and further, drifting away from where I want to be, who I want to be.’

I adore these few lines, and that's all there is to say on it.

An underrated moment of hilarity occurs when Greg tests the swing of the log and vase, in preparation to brain the Woodsman (despite Wirt's desperate backtracking). The casualness of Greg's background antics adds so much to the humour. Speaking of, the first frog name comes up - Kitty - not the best, but better than nothing.

Then we meet the Dog.

The Dog is surprisingly scary for a children's TV show monster. Something about the size of the head, with its slathering jaws and bulbous eyes, in comparison to the spindly legs and body makes this creature uncanny. It also comes with its own song (You Have Beautiful Eyes) - which is plodding and sinister.

While the children flee from the Dog, we catch a glimpse of potato sacks emblazoned with bluebirds. If you know, you know. I love a small detail and this show has plenty of 'em.

What is notable in this episode is how Greg is often the one to resolve any issues. He is in control, optimistic and curious - a perfect contrast to his nervous, twitchy brother. This is explicitly called out by Lloyd's character in a scene I find particularly interesting given the target demographic. It teaches a solid lesson in a short time and opens up room for character development.

We end the episode on The Journey Begins - which sounds an awful lot like Half Moon River - a haunting tune that initially sounds like it's sung by a ghost and, in the latter, quickly turns into a really quite beautiful instrumental piece.

This is followed up by Black Train which brings us straight back to what this show really is - a My First Horror. The piano sounds almost spidery.

Overall, this episode is a banger. It sets up the atmosphere of the Unknown, our two protagonists and their supporting cast, and to some extent, the aims of the story - avoid the Beast and get out of these damn woods.

As a bonus, I'm also going to throw in some thoughts on the pilot, Tome of the Unknown, originally created in 2011. See a snapshot below.

Check out this link for a fascinating article comparing imagery from the show to vintage postcards - Weird Christmas, you are brilliant.

The animation isn't quite as smooth, but the style is still super charming. It has some absolutely inspired designs for vegetable people, and obviously the car. It also has some excellent songs in (a cover of Shine on Harvest Moon, and Can't You See I'm Lonely) which I listen to often. The tone is more that of a children's show, simpler and sillier, with less obviously gothic tendencies. Of course, there are episodes of the show later on that follow a similar vibe, but all the same the pilot does contrast with the overall image the show came to have. A final note I must add is, I adore John Crops as a character. His design is loveable, his voice acting and singing is delightful, and his story arc is very sweet. I wish he'd cropped (ha) up again later, but alas.

Anyway, as usual,

Thanks for reading,

H.E.

P.S - I strongly recommend looking for fan-art of this show - the artists are phenomenal.