A Review of ‘Wizards Beyond Waverly Place’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

David Henrie, Janice Leann Brown, and Max Matenko as Justin Russo, Billie, and Milo Russo in Disney’s ‘Wizards Beyond Waverly Place’. (Photo Courtesy of Lara Solanki/Disney.)

There was a time in television history, where what lie ahead for our favorite fictional characters, resided within our imagination once a series we adored came to a close. For the series finale of a show was indeed the end all, be all, farewell to the series, and that world would never be visited ever again. Which was tough to swallow. Because sometimes, a show ended without proper resolution, and we wanted there to be a complete ending to the story, or a character’s journey simply wasn’t wrapped up for a host of reasons. But alas, all one could do was deal with the reality; that was that. But thankfully… that all changed with the explosion of peak television.
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Because supply and demand came into play and creatives saw an opportunity to return to classic stories and expand upon them and explore what some of the characters might be up to years later, much to everyone’s joy. For at last, it was happening, and we were getting more, and it just so happens… that Disney+, and the Disney Channel are home to a follow-up to a beloved series that we absolutely wanted more of in Wizards Beyond Waverly Place. Which returns us to this magical world in a manner that is both satisfying and stunning, in all the right ways. Courtesy in large part to its unique plot. One that steps into present day to help us to catch up with Justin Russo after all these years. 

Wherein we learn that Justin has left magic behind, mostly, and has opted to live a normal life with his beloved wife Giada, and his sons, Roman and Milo, and well… it would seem that all is well for Justin, and he is truly is in a happy place, free from magic. But the arrival of a magical outcast named Billie by way of a blast from Justin’s past… pulls him back into the world of magic. For poor Billie is a wizard that so many believe is a lost cause and will never amount to anything in the Wizard World. But Justin believes otherwise and believes he can bring out the best in her, and that brings about a new chapter for this story… one that is genuinely magical in every sense of the word.

In large part because… it recaptures the overall vibe of the original show. So that sense of fun, and awe and wonder are present here, and that’s huge. Because it does make this a natural extension of the original show, one that takes the time to explore new territory for the franchise, by way of some seriously impressive themes. Since this story is grounded deeply in wonderful themes regarding the power of family, the importance of communication and the nature of the second chance. Giving real depth to this series and investing us deeply in the journey, and well… it makes sense as to why this series is such a wonderful blend of adult themes and the impish joy of our youth.

For David Henrie, who portrayed Justin in the original series, is back to play the adult version of him and he serves as an executive producer on the show and knows full well the importance of staying true to what came before while shepherding the series into a new era and a new chapter. In fact, here is what David said to NTG in a recent press conference, regarding that storytelling mission.

David Henrie: It- it- meaningful is the word. Um, and it’s such a treat to get to watch, like, I see myself in a lot of these kids—to get to watch them go through what I went through- before the show comes out, I’m like “You guys have no idea what’s about to happen.” It’s just- it’s fun to- it’s fun to watch them, um, uh, get ready for this moment. But, um, you know, for me particularly, I take very seriously kind of my- my dual role as I see it in my head to be a shepherd of, um, the spirit of the original show, but also the- the culture on set and the atmosphere I seek to create. I’ve been doing this for 26 years now. I’ve seen the good, the bad, and the ugly of, um, of this business, and I really seek to bring forward all the best experiences that I’ve- that I’ve had to try to create the most positive, um, culture on set that allows for everyone’s success.
 
And- and, you know, by the grace of God, it’s been going really well. I’ve seen all of these young actors continue to mature and take ownership over their characters. They- the talent level was already very high coming in. But now I’m really seeing everyone settle into their characters and make it their own, and that has been just such a joy to get to witness now from a different position kind of as a producer, ’cause I remember doing it as a kid as one thing—you’re kind of just in it and you’re doing it and you don’t- you’re so focused on what you’re doing that you don’t- you don’t see the growth yourself. But I get to see it now from this perspective and that is such a- such a joy to witness and continue to help, uh, encourage in all these young actors.

Which truly does inform us… that this is a labor of love, and a chance to do something genuinely special, and that is why the end result is a magnificent new chapter in the series. One that truly gives the fans what they want, while also moving this franchise into a bold new chapter. Courtesy of a story that explores the magic of what it means to be human, and we hope you give this series a look as quick as you can. Because it really is a wondrous follow-up to an iconic series and it will stand as the perfect companion piece, thanks to the heart present in this charming tale.

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