[Image Description: A close-up or head shot of Eda Clawthrone from "The Owl House", Episode 1 of Season 1 (A Lying Witch and a Warden). She has white skin and amber eyes, with black winged eyeliner and black eyebrows. She is smiling (mouth closed) with red lipstick and a white fang on the left side. She has pointed ears with circular. golden earrings. She has gray and silver hair that is big, with a rounded shape at the back and spiked somewhat at the top of her head. Her right arm is extended out and the collar of her red dress is visible.]
(Note: This article will contain spoilers from season one and the first half of season two of "The Owl House")
The Owl House is a show on Disney channel following Luz Noceda, a 14-year-old who ends up in the Demon Realm at the Boiling Isles. Luz stays at the Owl House with King, Hooty, and Eda, a witch who self-describes herself as the “most powerful witch on the Boiling Isles”.
[Image Description: The first time Eda is seen as the Owl Beast, Episode 4, Season 1 "The Intruder'. Beast is a creature with dark gray wings (tucked in), big gray hair that looks like Eda, with all black, wide eyes. The Owl Beast has a wide smile showing a lot of fangs. There are large, white ears that are pointed out and up. The body s gray with white arms. In the center of the chest is a oval jewel that is all black.]
We learn early on (in episode 4: "The Intruder") that Eda has a curse, one that turns her into an Owl Beast when she does not take an elixer. She says she was cursed when she was a teenager and has been dealing with it ever since, with no known cure. Saying that "No one likes having a curse, but if you take the right steps, it's manageable".
For mental and chronic illnesses, people also often have the plan to prevent and lower the harm from the illness with the knowledge that often a cure is not possible. It's no fun, but the best thing one can do is figure out how to manage it the best they can.
The idea of having no cure is explored in "Keeping Up A-Fear-Ances" when Eda's mom comes and tries to cure the curse with dubious methods.
The methods mirror the suggestions often made to "cure" mental and chronic illnesses, people selling dietary supplements, essential oils, and other quack methods.
[Image Description: Image is of Luz, Eda, and Eda's Mom, Gwendolyn Clawthrone from Episode 4, Season 2 "Keeping Up A-Fear-Ances". The background is the area around the Owl House, with pink-ish pine trees, some grey rocks, and orange ground/grass, with sand appearing ground where Eda and her Mom stands, right near the door of the Owl House. From left to right: Luz, a young teen with brown skin and dark brown hair, with round ears that have circular, black earrings, and brown eyes. She has a neutral looking face. She is wearing a shirt that is purple at the top (including a purple hood that is not pulled on at this time) and white on the bottom half. She is wearing jean shorts over black leggings with white slip-on sneakers. ; Eda, a witch with white skin, big gray and silver hair rounded at the back with some spikes at the top of her head, with pointed ears. She is frowning, with red lipstick and a fang sticking out. She is wearing a red dress, with a darker red at the top and making up her 3/4 sleeves, with the bodice and below a brighter red. h top part includes an oval jewel that is all black. The bottom part is unevenly ripped, with the back of the skirt being longer than the front. She is wearing some gray tights and black, heeled boots ; Gwendolyn, who is or is entering elderly age, is shorter than Eda, with short gray and silver hair (does not hand down from her head) that is rounded with some spikes. She has white skin and pointed ears with round, bronze earrings. She is smiling (open mouthed) and has purple lipstick and has wrinkles around her mouth. She has green eyes and glasses that are rounded with only the bottom half. She has a necklace that is a brown,wooden circle with a symbol carved in it. She is wearing a purple, short sleeve dress that falls to her feet, with some gray-ish fur on the top part to the beginning of the skirt. Her black shoes stick out some. Eda and Luz are facing Gwendolyn and Gwendolyn is directly facing Eda.]
The discussion of Eda letting her mom know that 1) the "cures" don't work and won't work so 2) taking the elixir is the best solution. Psychiatric medication can be looked down on with people arguing "it changes you" and believe that medication should be temporary. However, for a lot of people, medication is necessary to stay balanced and taking medication preventively is important. The issue with families and dealing with some "curse" or illness resonated and the lesson given, that curing isn't always possible and the person knows themself best, is one that is important for well-meaning family members to know.
Finally, in "Knock, Knock, Knocking on Hooty's Door", we see memories of Eda when she was younger. There is a moment when a happy moment ends badly as Eda's curse comes out. This looks similar to how panic attacks or flashbacks can cause a great shift or how fatigue and pain also halts the moment. This is a scary thing to go through, especially in thinking of Eda's reaction as a panic attack that was out of her control.
The moment that matched Eda's curse more closely to mental illness is her interaction with Raine. Granted, chronic or mental illness can be isolating and may be hard to discuss so saying "I'm fine" seems easier. But the avoidance and current Eda telling past Eda to just let Raine help her feels more in line with the internal dialogue related to mental illness instead of chronic illness.
[Image Description: Image of Yound Eda and Young Raine from Episode 8, Season 2 "Knock, Knock, Knockin' On Hooty'S Door. The background is of a daytime sky, likely approaching sunset (purple to pink ombre) with a cloud. There are bone spikes sticking up in the background (belonging to the bones of the Titan on which the Boiling Isles resides on). They are sitting on a grassy hill. Young Eda is in the background, with orange hair that is in a pony tail, still big. She has white skin and pointed ears with golden, circular earrings. She has amber eyes with eyeliner and black eyebrows. She has red lipstick with a fang sticking out, with a regretful or apologetic expression. She is wearing a short sleeve red dress with a curved neckline. Part of a oval jewel on her chest can be seen and it is golden/yellow. She has her hands behind her back and is sitting on her knees. In the foreground is Young Raine Whispers. They have short, light blue hair (does not hang done) that has spiked edges. They have brown skin and ponited ears, with their right ear having a gray/silver tassel looking earring. They have round glasses and green eyes. They have a sad or disappointed expression. They are wearing a white, collared shirt.]
The curse, of course, is not 100% applicable in the real world (no half owl beast, half person, magic restricted or destructive, etc). However, the experiences of Eda and her curse has resonated with lots of fans who can see themselves in her experience and feel heard with the lessons taught in regards to Eda's curse.
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