On The S.I.D.E.

Elsewhere and ElseWHAT

*Warning: MAJOR MAJOR MAJOR Owl House spoilers, definitely don't read if you haven't seen Elsewhere and Elsewhen*

So...

Last week's episode was a doozy. Stuff happened, none of which I expected.

THIS week's episode shocked me so bad that I threw up. I'm not even joking. It could've been stress, but I DON'T THINK IT WAS.

Because

Because

BECAUSE

IT. IS. CANON.

It is all but ACTUALLY STATED that Philip and Belos are one and the same. This is huge.

So LET US RECAP. Because I am BEYOND hyped.

First off, can we just appreciate how sweet it was that Steve showed up to Lilith's party? He just wants to support his bestie! And the Dora reference was unexpected but pretty hilarious, though I'm more interested in Steve.

And LILY'S WEARING GLASSES AGAIN! AND HER HAIR'S BECOMING CURLY! SHE'S SO CUTE!

She is a cool aunt, I swear. She's a nerd and she's a cutie and she is the coolest aunt. And canonically aroace to boot. (Also, no wonder her Palisman stayed on her staff for the entirety of season 1, he's super derpy. Adorable, but derpy.)

I absolutely adore how she and Luz are for-real bonding, especially over history stuff. It's always really cool to discover more lore in any show, and it's doubly better when it comes with characters connecting.

Eda still feels bad about hurting her dad noooooooo

(That Lilith impression rocked, though. And it was really nice to see Gwen again.)

For the "Savage" ages, the Deadwardian era seems... charming. Like, really charming. Everyone's just so friendly and willing to help out—I mean, it's obvious that the Isles pre-Belos weren't all doom-and-gloom, but even I expected more danger involved.

And... okay.

Philip has a... beard.

Dana, you promised us a twink. What is this bullshit? Did they not have razors back then? I mean, they clearly have them now, since Belos is totally clean-shaven, but still. He could've just had scruff to indicate descent-into-madness. Of course, without the beard, I'm pretty sure Luz and Lilith would've seen that he was Belos at first glance.

Jokes aside, though... he looks kinda like Dell.

Are the Wittebanes and Clawthornes related somehow? Did Philip's brother meet a Ye Olde Clawthorne and start a family with them? Is that why the portal was buried just outside of the Clawthorne home?

Yeesh. This is confusing.

I'm surprised that neither Luz nor Lilith heard Philip speak and went "Belos," because their voices are nearly identical. To be fair, Philip's voice isn't made robotic by a mask, but still.

And... I wasn't expecting him to be so... cold.

I mean, I knew it was coming. At some point, the happy-go-lucky guy we all thought Philip was had to have transformed into the calculating emperor we all love to hate and hate to love. But I guess when we meet him in this episode, he's already gone through so many years trapped and so much shit, so it's not that surprising that he's already started to break.

Also, we haven't even met the Collector yet, and he's already giving off "cute little psycho" vibes. Like Double Trouble from She-Ra or Alex Fierro from Magnus Chase (also Ollie from the webcomic Shiloh, but I doubt anyone here has read that). I can't wait to meet him and see him interact with Philip/Belos.

(I might have a ship but it depends on what the future holds)

PHILIP CALLED THE DISK A "ROUND BOY"

THIS IS PROOF

HE WAS A DORKLORD WHO JUST WENT CRAZY

And LILITH. You absolute queen. I can't fucking believe she's responsible for Belos's nose. I mean, I'm holding off on saying that she's responsible for the scar, unless whatever's happening to Philip just caused it to go muddy, but still. What a badass. I love her.

Oh, god, do you think Belos remembers that? Is that why he was such a dick to her?

Anyways...

I think that scene with Eda and Dell legit broke my heart. And everything we found out—the fact that the Clawthornes carve Palismen for a living, the fact that Dell helped Eda carve Owlbert, the fact that he used to live in the Owl House (or at least in the tower)—was so beautifully soul-crushing. And he gave her a Palistrom seed oh my god don't mind me I'm crying

ALSO

LUZ CALLED PHILIP A JERKWEED

A JERKWEED

YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT IS THREE LETTERS AWAY FROM WHAT HUNTER CALLS BELOS IN CHANGELING WITCH

I think you can guess what those other three letters are, but D*sney probably wouldn't allow that, so.

And finally...

The confirmation.

Yes, we've been theorizing about this ever since Belos was introduced. The diary added to it, his face reveal added to it, the info in Yesterday's Lie added to it, Lilith remembering how familiar Philip's smooth-talking "kindness" was added to it...

But that moment with the Palisman.

That, RIGHT THERE, proves it.

Belos and Philip are the same person. There's no denying it. There's no way of saying "oh he's probably just a descendant of him—" No. Philip became Belos, and I, for one, cannot wait to see the full story of how this happened.

BRING ON THE WITTEPAIN, BABY!

*checks schedule*

Wait, what? Hollow Mind isn't until... *squints* April 23rd?

Ah, well, guess I'll have to wait.

Seriously, though, I really really hope that the new information that we learn won't totally kill Changeling Witch. There are things that I am relying on in order for it to work, which is risky, but still.

Though... the Collector might be able to make things work...

I've said too much. *hides back under my rock* We'll continue this discussion next week.