The Spiderwick Chronicles, based on the book series by Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black, is the latest show to join the pantheon of popular books that were adapted into ill-received movies and are now getting a second life as a television series. While The Spiderwick Chronicles doesn’t have as much hype around it as Percy Jackson and the Olympians, it’s just as entertaining. It uses realistic conflict and familiar drama to tell a story full of fantastical and whimsical elements.
After a nasty divorce, Helen Grace (Joy Bryant) moves her family to her ancestral home, Spiderwick. While her mischievous son, Jared (Lyon Daniels), is grateful for the fresh start after all of the trouble he has caused his family, his twin brother, Simon (Noah Cottrell), and their older sister, Mallory (Mychala Lee), are less than thrilled. Jared’s mischievous behavior was another reason the family moved. Helen recognizes that her son needs psychological help and is scared that if he doesn’t receive it, he will follow down the same path as her Aunt Lucinda (Charlayne Woodard), who has spent most of her life in a psychiatric hospital.
Jared’s journey takes a thrilling turn when he discovers a shared ability with his great Aunt Lucinda: the ability to perceive the fairy creatures that have been a part of the Grace family’s existence for generations. Lucinda reassures Jared that he’s not losing his mind and tasks him with retrieving the pages of their family’s field guide to magical creatures before the menacing ogre, Mulgarath (Christian Slater), can seize it. Jared must rely on his cunning to outsmart the ogre, rallying his siblings and friends to safeguard the Grace family legacy and the magical creatures they encounter.
The debut season of The Spiderwick Chronicles is entertaining from beginning to end. This incarnation makes noticeable changes to the source material. Jared and Simon are teenagers, and the family is African American. The changes add more depth to the storytelling., specifically when it comes to mental health, seeing as the topic is very taboo in the African American community. A female character debates the pros and cons of wearing her natural hair, and if that will be deemed inappropriate. The characters all being teenagers helps explain their level of freedom, and again, overall adds to the story instead of hindering it.
Lyon Daniels does a fantastic job as our de facto lead, Jared. While his impulsive nature constantly results in him getting in trouble and disappointing his family, the character ultimately wants to be better and do the right thing. He’s strong, vulnerable, and eager to embrace this part of his family legacy. Cottrell and Lee bring the same talent and nuance to their roles as Jared’s put-upon siblings, Simon and Mallory. Both have their ambitions and desires and feel overshadowed by their brother’s issues. Cottrell’s Simon, in particular, carries the weight of being Jared’s twin and, thus, his constant defender even when he’s in the wrong. Simon is eager to find his independence but can’t because of his loyalty to his brother. Lee’s Mallory is an ambitious young fencer determined to be the best, but like Simon, she finds Jared’s antics grating and distracting.
The actors playing the Grace family aren’t the only young powerhouses of the series. Momona Tamada and Hunter Dillon are great as Jared’s friends/sidekicks, Emiko and Hunter. They are aware of the faerie lore surrounding the town and are eager to join Jared on his quest. Alyvia Alyn Lind’s portrayal of Calliope, whose identity has been highjacked by a sinister omen of death known as a Fetch, is deliciously deviant in her role. Jack Dylan Grazer provides the voice for Thimbletack, a fairy creature who has been part of the Grace family for generations.
The adult actors are no slouches either. Joy Brayant brings so much heart, empathy, and strength to her role as the haggard matriarch of the Grace family, Helen. She’s recently divorced and trying her best to keep her little family together. When we meet Slater’s character, Dr. Brauer, he’s a loving father trying to rescue his kidnapped daughter. Brauer is quickly dispatched by the series villain, Mulgarath, and his identity is stolen. Watching Slater flit back and forth between caring psychiatrist and sinister ogre is fun. Slater is having a ball in this role, and you can tell. To say that he’s an entertaining villain is putting it mildly. Finally, Charlayne Woodard as the heroic, but misunderstood, Aunt Lucinda is absolutely astounding. She’s determined to protect her family, and the town at large, at any cost. Her scenes with Slater are particularly memorizing because these are two powerhouse talents portraying characters who are verbally and mentally dueling each other at every turn.
The Spiderwick Chronicles is a thrilling, whimsical, and creepy show full of magic and compelling family drama. Fans of the original book series and of young adult fantasy in general will find a lot to like here.
The Spiderwick Chronicles is now streaming for free on the Roku Channel.
The Spiderwick Chronicles is a thrilling, whimsical, and creepy show full of magic and compelling family drama. Fans of the original book series and of young adult fantasy in general will find a lot to like here.
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GVN Rating 8
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User Ratings (4 Votes)
8.7
Writer. Video Essayist. Film/TV Critic. Pop Culture Enthusiast.
When he isn’t writing for Geek Vibes Nation or The Cinema Spot, Tristian can be found typing away at one of the novels or screenplays he’s been working on forever.