"When You Witch Upon a Star" was one of the few 'The 13 Ghosts of Scooby Doo' episodes to not do much for me when first watching the show at 12 years old as part of Boomerang's Scooby Doo Summer. It just struck me as very dull, forgettable and the witch characters annoying, while liking Marcella and Vincent's subplot. Remember the first time watching it close after "Reflections in a Ghoulish Eye" after following on from four episodes considered by me great at the time and very nearly gave up on the show because of those two episodes.
As of now, "When You Witch Upon a Star" is a little better now than it was when a lot younger due to getting a little more out of it (while also finding a few more problems). It is still one of my least favourite episodes of 'The 13 Ghosts of Scooby Doo' and my issues with the episode are quite similar. It is a case of the underused subplot being a lot better than the main plot, and an example of a great villain deserving a much better overall story. It is a shame that my feelings are indifferent towards it with it following on from one of the show's best episodes, and that it was a waste of a promising set up.
Of course, "When You Witch Upon a Star" has good things. The animation is well done, especially the scenery at the beginning accompanying Vincent's opening voice over, the character animation of Marcella (generally in mist form) and the truly creepy Evil Zone. The music is typically great, particularly in the climax, and the theme tune has a great Gothic horror vibe. The voice acting from the regulars is faultless, especially from Vincent Price, and BJ Ward is inspired sinister casting for Marcella and has seldom sounded this scary.
Marcella is a very creepy and uniquely designed (in mist and true forms) antagonist and just wish her role was bigger. Her and Vincent's subplot is interesting and has the mysteriousness and suspense that is missing in the main plot. Idesvig is adorable and felt sorry for him. There are a few amusing moments, such as the Brewski Sisters wanting Scooby for their spells and the posing as salesmen scene. The episode does start intriguingly when setting up the story and the climax is very exciting, the closest the episode gets to that.
However, the main plot for "When You Witch Upon a Star" sadly didn't live up to the promising opening five minutes or so. A big problem is that there is far too much of the Brewski Sisters and sadly they are not interesting or remotely funny. Actually have always found them very irritating in a rare occurance of supporting characters managing to out-annoy Flim Flam (who is still annoying), basically a female version of The Three Stooges except a lot more inept and a lot less funny. The story is very thin and feels dull from taking too long to get going and for feeling padded.
A few of the gang's antics are amusing, but some of it is very repetitive and doesn't add much to the story, the Paris encounter is pretty stereotypical. Tonally, and this is something picked up more when older, "When You Witch Upon a Star" feels out of place within the show. It is much too goofy, 'The 13 Ghosts of Scooby Doo' did have goofy antics throughout but none of the other episode had this much goof overload. It really sticks out in a show that can be quite spooky, only in the Evil Zone scenes and the beginning (as well as some of the climax) is where the episode is loyal to the show's overall tone. Apart from Ward, the support cast voice acting is below par, Gay Autterson's abrasive voice work for Wanda is ear bleeding.
Overall, watchable but one of my least favourite episodes. 5/10.
As of now, "When You Witch Upon a Star" is a little better now than it was when a lot younger due to getting a little more out of it (while also finding a few more problems). It is still one of my least favourite episodes of 'The 13 Ghosts of Scooby Doo' and my issues with the episode are quite similar. It is a case of the underused subplot being a lot better than the main plot, and an example of a great villain deserving a much better overall story. It is a shame that my feelings are indifferent towards it with it following on from one of the show's best episodes, and that it was a waste of a promising set up.
Of course, "When You Witch Upon a Star" has good things. The animation is well done, especially the scenery at the beginning accompanying Vincent's opening voice over, the character animation of Marcella (generally in mist form) and the truly creepy Evil Zone. The music is typically great, particularly in the climax, and the theme tune has a great Gothic horror vibe. The voice acting from the regulars is faultless, especially from Vincent Price, and BJ Ward is inspired sinister casting for Marcella and has seldom sounded this scary.
Marcella is a very creepy and uniquely designed (in mist and true forms) antagonist and just wish her role was bigger. Her and Vincent's subplot is interesting and has the mysteriousness and suspense that is missing in the main plot. Idesvig is adorable and felt sorry for him. There are a few amusing moments, such as the Brewski Sisters wanting Scooby for their spells and the posing as salesmen scene. The episode does start intriguingly when setting up the story and the climax is very exciting, the closest the episode gets to that.
However, the main plot for "When You Witch Upon a Star" sadly didn't live up to the promising opening five minutes or so. A big problem is that there is far too much of the Brewski Sisters and sadly they are not interesting or remotely funny. Actually have always found them very irritating in a rare occurance of supporting characters managing to out-annoy Flim Flam (who is still annoying), basically a female version of The Three Stooges except a lot more inept and a lot less funny. The story is very thin and feels dull from taking too long to get going and for feeling padded.
A few of the gang's antics are amusing, but some of it is very repetitive and doesn't add much to the story, the Paris encounter is pretty stereotypical. Tonally, and this is something picked up more when older, "When You Witch Upon a Star" feels out of place within the show. It is much too goofy, 'The 13 Ghosts of Scooby Doo' did have goofy antics throughout but none of the other episode had this much goof overload. It really sticks out in a show that can be quite spooky, only in the Evil Zone scenes and the beginning (as well as some of the climax) is where the episode is loyal to the show's overall tone. Apart from Ward, the support cast voice acting is below par, Gay Autterson's abrasive voice work for Wanda is ear bleeding.
Overall, watchable but one of my least favourite episodes. 5/10.
