The Worst Witch

As has been said in other intelligent reviews, The Worst Witch book series significantly pre-dates Harry Potter.

Since JK Rowling was 9 years old when the first Worst Witch book was written, we might well assume there was some early influencing going on. The similarities exist, as those who don't know about the books and think THIS is the rip-off like to point out. However, any similarities would work the other way around. Did she intentionally plagiarize? Probably not. How many of us remember everything we read as children?

This series is a remake of a series that came from a movie that came out in the 1980s (from the book written in 1974). There has already also been a reboot: The NEW Worst Witch.

As with all the others, this is a relatively low budget production, but seems quite cute and would likely be very enjoyable to children, and to those who would like to know the original inspiration for the world of Harry Potter.

This show got me hooked at the very beginning. There is something different about it but at the same time exciting. Kept me glued to the TV wanting more. The plot is very interesting and different from anything on TV right now. The characters do a great job there extremely diverse. The acting is surprising considering this show as mostly kids in it but they do a great job of being the characters. I wanted more and felt like the show could even get even better.

The Worst Witch. The book series by Jill Murphy was first published in 1974 and continues through to 2013 at least.

Harry Potter. The book series by JK Rowling was first published by 1997 and continued through to 2007, with more stories rumored on their way.

The Worst Witch. The first film adaptation came out in 1986 starring Fairuza Balk and Tim Curry. A television series then ran from 1998 to 2001.

Harry Potter. The first film adaptation came out in 2001 starring everyone you could ever want and more, and the series culminated in 2011. A prequel film then was released in 2016.

I love Harry Potter, but I'm old enough to have watched the Worst Witch and remembered it. The overlap and obvious repetitions between the two stories kept me from enjoying HP until much later, but today I have a healthy love for both stories, as they really do tell two different stories despite all the similarities.

British boarding schools, especially to American viewers who are by and large unfamiliar with boarding schools as a concept, may mistake normal behaviors for particularities unique to one universe or the other.

Now that we have THAT out of the way, this is a fun version of the misadventures of Mildred, the Worst Witch. Magic takes a backseat to telling a rather mundane, but poignant story about friendship, fitting in, and hard decisions.

It is perhaps a simpler story than Rowling's work, leaving out so much of the backdrop of the past that conveyed the breathing magical world of Harry Potter. The Worst Witch instead skips over the hidden world and takes on perhaps a more mythical sense. The cheaper effects are highly charming, and the children give solid performances.

This is a great series for kids perhaps not quite old enough for the darker Harry Potter world, but ready to embrace a magical school.

I am so tempted to just rate this a 10/10 since it's basically how much enjoyement I get out of it but since it's not (unironically) that good I'm not going to do that.

But yeah, this show is fun as hell. One of the most entertaining things I've ever seen. The weirdly comedic and bizarre writing, the endearing yet nonsensical characters, and my favorite, the sort of cringy but also charming acting make it a fantastic experience and a delight to watch.

...season 4 kinda sucks though, not just because they replaced Mildred's actress (which, the new actress does a great job as well but the chaotic energy is just not there you know), but also because the writing starts to kinda feel a bit tiresome and lazy.

Sorry not sorry bye.

I just felt the need to say, The Worst Witch stories came out in the 90's, well BEFORE Harry Potter. Before anyone claims The Worst Witch is a rip-off from Harry Potter.. it is actually the other way around.

Additionally, I've actually never read The Worst Witch or seen the shows from the 90's, but I felt addicted to this reboot series. The acting was very good, some special effects were cheaply done, but overall, the story line was well written.