Wizards Beyond Waverly Place Season 1, Episode 5 Review: ‘Wizards Just Wanna Have Fun’

Growing up, there was always a lesson to be learned when watching a television show. I think that a lot of the time there is still a lesson to be learned from every television show or movie. Then again, maybe that’s because I spend a lot of time watching television and I feel like I can spin anything.

But it’s not always about spinning. Sometimes there’s just something to be seen in a television show and it is a straightforward lesson.

In the 5th episode of Wizards Beyond Waverly Place, there are a lot of ways to see the lesson. Though it seems easy – don’t use magic irresponsibly – relating that to a simple, mortal life may feel a little different.

In 24 minutes of a television show, you rarely find the time to laugh, cringe, tear up (figuratively), and laugh some more. It’s also rare that a writer finds a way to wrap it up and make it feel like it truly is wrapped up. That’s part of the reason that I love shows like Wizards Beyond Waverly Place. I don’t feel overwhelmed at the end of the episode or am left wondering what is happening.

Instead, I take it for what it is – an episode of television that is meant to just be an escape. You don’t have to watch every episode to figure out what is going on. You just know that there is a lesson.

And Billie is definitely learning her lesson.

She has a tendency to do magic first and ask questions later. Justin has taken her wand and told her that she will get it back when she does start taking it seriously. I think we can all agree that is a sign that something is going to go wrong, but that’s also okay. Why? Because we all know that is the norm for shows like this one.

Well, that and Justin has an important moment happening in his life. He’s interviewing for the position of Principal. That is something that he has wanted for such a long time. So when Billie says that she’s sending him a “stink” box, she presses the “shrink” box, and Justin shrinks right before his interview.

Billie steps up and wants to help him and realizes that she doesn’t have her wand, so the ways that she can help are limited. But she tries.

Now, I love that she’s doing everything that she can to help, but I am also wondering why she’s not in class. Justin, this is bad guardianship and principalship. That all being said, part of what makes it good is that you see that there is a bond between Billie and Jordan. She cares what Justin thinks of her and she looks up to him.

By Billie’s actions, you can tell that she wants Justin to have everything he wants because he has never given up on her, so she’s not going to give up on him. When the principal drops by the house to make sure that Justin knows he didn’t get the job, Billie talks him into giving Justin another chance.

Another interview.

And when he does end up getting the job, Justin isn’t mad at Billie. Instead, he feels that she’s learned her lesson and gives her wand back to her.

Billie may not understand just how powerful she is, but I do believe that she gets that she’s found a place where she can be at home. I do believe that she’s found a place that she considers home at the Russos.

In other things happening here, Roman Russo is having a day. He’s having a day because it’s dodgeball day and there are bullies that make it miserable for him. He also decides to use magic in order to try and make the bullies leave him alone.

A muscle shirt… what could go wrong? Well, everything.

He does an amazing job at dodgeball and makes the bullies wish they had not messed with him. Only, he – like Billie – needs to know magic can’t solve all his problems. Winter wants him to get rid of the magic shirt and he doesn’t want to do it. But she does manage to make him take it off and yes, the bullies get revenge. However, that may not be the worst thing in the world, because Roman learns that magic can’t solve everything.

I guess it’s a lesson Wizards and mortals can both learn.