Climbing Out of the Darkness
When we next see Hunter hiding out at Hexside, he’s nothing like the enigmatic and mysterious figure we knew as the Golden Guard. He tries to act intimidating in front of Gus, but seeing him in rags and surviving on food from trashcans makes for a pretty sad display. As much as he wants to get as far away from Belos as possible, Hunter can’t help but intervene when the Emperor’s Coven tries to draft the students into the Covens as part of Belos’ genocidal plans.
I didn’t think Hunter could get any more likable as a character, but this episode and the rapport he builds with Gus did just that. I enjoyed the brotherly dynamic the two quickly developed, and much to my amusement, it’s only gotten stronger the next time we see the pair. Furthermore, the Hexsidians help Hunter send the Emperor’s Coven packing, accepting him as one of them. This is good since he says Belos plans to kill everyone on the Boiling Isles.
Confronting Belos Again
When next we see Hunter, he’s actively helping Luz’s friends and allies to stop Belos’ mad plans, though he’s still terrified of facing his “Uncle” again. His worst fears nearly come to pass when Kikimora attempts to capture Hunter and personally bring him before Emperor Belos, only for Luz to switch places with him. As a result, the gang has no choice but to follow her, culminating in an epic showdown inside the skull of the Titan.
Despite how monstrous Belos has become, Hunter fights to protect his newfound friends, showing how far he’s come in the short period of the show. However, when Belos directly confronts and attempts to manipulate him again, Hunter still cowers in fear. It’s a textbook example of a child having to face an adult who has mentally or physically abused them, and it’s heartbreaking. No one deserves to be treated like that.
Ultimately, everything becomes a moot point as Luz and the gang are forced to flee to Earth as the Collector unleashes chaos on the Boiling Isles. Hunter also takes the big brother role seriously, as he becomes very protective of Gus when he starts crying.
Finding the Strength to Stand Up to Belos
During the montage opening to the Season Three special “Thanks to Them,” we see the Hexside Gang adjust to life on Earth (and lament the lost adventures we may never see.) And in doing so, we see Hunter embracing his true self, turning into an absolutely sweet dork who loves wolves and is a fan of the Star-Trek expy Cosmic Frontier. I felt like my heart would explode from seeing how happy Hunter was, and his obvious crush on Willow was so adorable.
Hunter finally seemed happier than he’d ever been in his life. He had Flapjack, a mother figure in Camila, and surrogate siblings in the form of Gus and Luz. However, underneath it all, Hunter was still worried about one thing: Belos. Despite seeing him seemingly die, Hunter becomes paranoid that his abuser is alive and will return. Seeing how terrified he becomes seems like a realistic portrayal of how abuse survivors can act. The one who hurt them might be gone, but they still have a hold on their minds.
As we learn, Hunter’s fears are well-founded. Not only does Belos return, but he possesses his body to kill his friends. Even more tragic, Belos, by use of Hunter’s own hands, mortally wounds Flapjack, the first friend he ever made. That proves to be a mistake, though, as all the fear Hunter had of Belos is quickly replaced by a new emotion: anger.
I cheered when I saw Hunter do what he should’ve done a long time ago and stand up to his abusive Uncle. I don’t know if many people who are abused have the strength to do that, but the moment they do is cathartic to watch. Doing so almost costs the boy his life, though. While he ultimately manages to survive, it comes at the cost of Flapjack giving his own life.
Now, Hunter is out for blood.
From Needing Help to Helping Others
When Hunter returns to the Boiling Isles with the others, there’s only one thing on his mind: finding Belos and making him pay for his crimes. It’s clear, though, that this single-minded devotion to finding the former Emperor is so he won’t have to process the fact that Flapjack’s gone. Not helping matters is the fact that Luz and Willow are going through their problems. Things eventually come to a head when Willow’s suppression of her emotions gets to the point where she loses control of her powers.
As I’ve said before, Hunter looks up to and admires Willow for her strength; it’s why HuntLow exists! Seeing her trapped in the same emotional hell he went through proves to be the catalyst for Hunter’s final transformation from the former Golden Guard into a true Witch. Seeing him help one of the people who helped him when he needed it the most shows how his journey has come full circle. In addition, despite Flapjack being dead, he lives on in Hunter, giving him access to his Palismen powers and real magic. Our boy’s growing up!
Please Don’t Let Anything Bad Happen to Hunter
From being a goofier expy of Darth Vader to essentially the next generation’s Prince Zuko, the journey of Hunter might not have been long, but it has still been worth watching. We’ve seen him grow from a typical villain and rival to the hero into a lovable character that fans would throw down their lives to protect. You’d hardly recognize him if you compared him to who he was when we first met him to who he is going into the finale, which is one of the best things about The Owl House. The cast has grown and changed so much since the show started. And I pray to heaven that nothing bad happens to Hunter in the grand finale. That boy deserves all the love in the world!
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