Chapter 32: Grom: The Musical (Part 1)
Art by Crash X Fusion: The event of the season is just about here.
Grom has arrived and everyone is getting ready. But it's the Grom queen that must prepare for battle...
Tropes that appear in this Chapter:
- Agony of the Feet: Because Luz chose to train for Grom barefoot, she accidentally steps on a tack while examining a guitar, which leads to her dropping an animation glyph on said guitar that becomes Rocky.
- Almost Kiss: A flashback shows Lilith and Odalia about to share a kiss before hearing the announcement that the former is Grom queen.
- Animate Inanimate Object: Rocky, the magic guitar Luz accidentally brings to life.
- The Bus Came Back: Dolly Tempus returns for the first time since "Changes".
- Call-Back: The Weird Sisters bring up the major points of Luz and Amity's relationship: their first meeting, their encounter years later, Amity becoming Luz's tutor, them discovering their feelings for each other, their first kiss and the beginning of their private relationship.
- Amity recounts her facing the Inner Demon in her session with Ms. Traveler.
- Luz and Boscha's duel in Chapters 21 & 22 is brought up.
- Viney remembers the advice Luz gave her last chapter before she says yes to being Emira's Grom date.
- The Cameo:
- The Weird sisters appear at the beginning of the story retelling Luz and Amity's history.
- Julia briefly appears having started Amity's counseling sessions.
- Steve makes a quick call to Lilith to update her on what's been happening with the Emperor's Coven.
- Alador only appears during the Flashbacks along with Darius, Raine and Odalia's brother Geist.
- Warden Wrath and his ex-prisoners appear during "The Witch is Back".
- Hooty makes a (shockingly) silent cameo, only appearing to open the door when Luz and Amity arrive at the Owl House.
- Continuity Nod:
- Willow and Amity's relationship is mentioned to be slowly getting better since "Understanding Amity". "Giraffe" movies are mentioned again.
- Luz's breakout at the conformatorium is shown during "The Witch is Back". After the song ends, she mentions facing giant plant monsters in "Double Double, Tutor and Trouble".
- Before Eda asked Raine to Grom, Raine's telling her to return Miss Jenkinmeyer's teeth.
- Boscha's twitch in her third eye returns.
- Amity brings up the monster fighting business Luz recently ran just to pay her back.
- Dark and Troubled Past: Lilith was Grom queen in her youth and it seems it didn't go well for her.
- Death Glare: Odalia shoots one at Nicole for mocking Amity. She also shot one at Geist in a flashback.
- The Dreaded: Amity notes how scary Eda can be when she's pissed, and Luz nods in agreement.
- Drench Celebration: Discussed. After the announcement for Grom queen Luz, seeing everyone staring at her, questions if it requires her getting pig blood dumped on her.
- Embarrassing Nickname: Geist calls Odalia "Dally-O", which annoys her. He also calls Darius "Dairy".
- Everyone Has Standards: Boscha may hate Luz, but she won't accept help in getting revenge on her. She's especially aware of what could happen if Luz fails to defeat Grom, showing disgust that Nicole doesn't notice.
- Evil Is Petty: Nicole nominates Luz for Grom queen to exact the vengeance Boscha couldn't.
- Flashback B-Plot: The Clawthorne sisters' buildup to Grom is shown.
- Foreshadowing: Principal Bump mentions something called the "Lost Generations".
- The basement of the Owl House is introduced during these events rather than in Season 2's "Knock, Knock, Knocking on Hooty's Door".
- The Ghost: Dipper is mentioned at one point.
- Given Name Reveal: Odalia's brother is revealed to be named Geist Grunhar.
- Hate Sink: Nicole begins to show her spiteful colors by mocking Amity for needing counseling to deal with her trauma and nominating Luz as Grom Queen without caring what would happen to everyone starting with the students of Hexside, including her own daughter, so long as she gets Boscha's revenge for her.
- Insistent Terminology: Boscha did not lose to Luz in the exams: it was a draw, says Nicole.
- Internal Reveal:
- Luz, Gus and Amity are or have been informed about Willow and Skara going to Grom together.
- Viney finally learns Emira's her secret admirer.
- Amity learns about her mother and Lilith having been a couple in their youth.
- Kick the Dog: Nicole not only nominates Luz as Grom queen believing she'll fail to defeat Grom and let it terrorize the Boiling Isles, she has the gall to mock Amity for being "fragile" enough to need counseling to Odalia's fury.
- Luminescent Blush:
- Willow has a slight flush on her face when she tells Luz she's going with Skara to Grom as friends.
- Luz does this after singing a song to Amity using Rocky.
- Meaningful Name: Rocky's full name, "Ragnarock", which is the event of Norse mythology detailing the end of the world.
- Mix-and-Match Critters: Colo Colos, lizard rats that suck out saliva from sleeping people until they die of dehydration.
- Multi-Part Episode: This is the first part of two chapters covering "Enchanting Grom Fright".
- Musical Episode: Up until now songs have been included in the story, but this chapter and the next will be full musical chapters with several song parodies and covers.
- The Nicknamer: Geist is shown to give a nickname to everyone he meets, such as "Aladorino".
- Noodle Incident: Apparently, Luz wrestled the school mascot. The outcome was not revealed but given how tough the mascot is implied to be... she probably won.
- On another note, she also took on the Manotaurs, goblins, and closet monsters that used to scare Dipper.
- An Offer You Can't Refuse: Dolly tries to offer Boscha help in getting revenge on Luz, but she refuses. Dolly isn't fazed, saying she'll have to come around.
- Only Known by Their Nickname: Rocky's short for "Ragnarock".
- Point of Divergence: Luz is chosen to be Grom queen while Amity takes her place, whereas it was the other way around in "Enchanting Grom Fright".
- Pop-Cultural Osmosis Failure: Luz mixes up Barry White with Chuck Berry. She also doesn't know who Boy George is.
- Precision F-Strike:
- Boscha tells Dolly to "fuck off" to the above mentioned offer.
- While venting to Puck about what can happen if Luz fights Grom, Amity says it's complete bull.
- Reasonable Authority Figure: Due to Amity's recent traumatic experiences, Odalia, Principal Bump and the Parent Creature Association agree it's best that she not be picked for Grom Queen. They also decide to give the title to Luz because of her fighting skills.
- The Reveal:
- Odalia's brother, Geist, is an Illusionist. They also split the inheritance their parents left them when they died around the time of their graduation.
- Emira first met and became attracted to Viney while having to clean out the Beast Keeping pens as punishment for skipping class.
- Despite her distaste for fluff, Eda asked Raine to Grom and they accepted.
- Lilith and Odalia ended their relationship because of their careers leaving no time to see each other. Odalia also named Lilith Amity's godmother so they'd have the connections to get Amity into the Emperor's Coven and so she'd have someone to take her in should something happen to Odalia and Alador.
- Odalia looked after Alador due to his parents neglecting him.
- Edric really does have a boyfriend and they've been dating in secret.
- Revenge Before Reason: Nicole doesn't care about Grom potentially escaping and wreaking havoc on the other students and worse as long as it means Luz takes the fall for letting it happen and is disgraced. Boscha couldn't be more disgusted with her for nominating Luz at all.
- Ring-Ring-CRUNCH!: Lilith smashes her alarm clock upon waking up.
- The Rival: Alador and Darius are established to be this to each other since their Hexside days.
- Rousing Speech: Eda's speech to Lilith on facing Grom.Eda: I've heard what your teachers say about you behind your back. They think that you're one of the brightest pupils that they've ever had and that you may even be able to teach them a thing or two. You're incredible, Lily... and I have faith in you. You may not know it yet, but I do. One day you're going to be the most powerful witch in the Boiling Isles. [...] This is a chance for you to show everyone at Hexside what you're capable of. Show them that you're not the top of your class for nothing, sis.Lilith: (smiling) Do you really think that?Eda: (nodding) And I mean every word of it.
- Secret Relationship: Two couples are dating in secret.
- First, there's the already established Luz and Amity, who are wondering whether or not they should attend Grom as dates or as friends. Luz doesn't really care and Amity is no longer worried about the school finding out but is still concerned about her mother. Regardless, a part of her doesn't want to have to hide it anymore.
- Then there's Edric and whoever he's dating. They've been discreet at the other guy's request but Ed wants them to attend Grom and go public so he can show his sisters he does have someone like they do. With the promise to attend if he's got an opening in his schedule, the guy agrees.
- Serenade Your Lover: Luz serenades Amity when she tests out Rocky for the first time after he's repaired.
- Serious Business: Eda, King and Amity's concerns about Luz facing Grom are due to Grom being able to use her memories of the slayground incident against her. The latter and the girl in question also realize how bad it is that Eda's chaperoning and Luz can't use her alternate form without revealing it to her mom.
- Shout-Out:
- The witches from the opening scene are the Weird Sisters (the Maiden, the Mother and the Crone) from Shakespeare's Macbeth.
- Amity sings "Distant Shore" from Steven Universe during her counseling session.
- Luz mentions that she once fought closet monsters who used to scare Dipper, a nod to Monsters, Inc..
- Rocky (short for Ragnarock) was carved by Apollo, struck by the lightning of Thor, and immortalized by the king himself, Elvis Presley.
- Luz performs Barry White's "You're My First, My Last, My Everything" while testing Rocky out.
- Smug Snake: Nicole establishes herself as one, seeing as she nominated Luz for Grom Queen believing she'll fail and cause the beast to escape.
- Song Parody:
- Age of Grometheus" of Age of Aquarius by The 5th Dimension/Hair the Musical.
- "The Witch is Back" of "The Bitch is Back" by Sir Elton John.
- Twitchy Eye: Boscha's third eye does it again from frustration after Nicole boasts that Luz failing at Grom will doom the Isles, which she doesn't care about so long as Luz fails.
- The Un-Reveal: Two facts are left in the shadows: What happened to Lilith at Grom and the identity of Edric's mystery beau.
- Violently Protective Girlfriend: Amity decides to take Luz's place as Grom queen, even though it means she'll have to face her own inner demons again as long as it means Luz won't face hers or risk Eda learning of her condition.
- Wham Episode: Luz is chosen to be Grom queen leading Amity to take her place, the story behind Lilith's godparenthood is revealed, Viney learns Emira is her secret admirer and agrees to go to Grom with her, Edric's boyfriend is Real After All, and Rocky is added to the mix.
- You Are Better Than You Think You Are: In the past, Eda encouraged Lilith to face Grom and prove she can join the Emperor's Coven with Eda following her lead.
