Network: Disney Channel
Running Time: 30 minutes
Episode Name: Matchmaker Alex
Targeted Age Group/General Show Overview: Alex, Justin, and Max Russo are just typical New York City kids, with the addition of burgeoning wizarding abilities! The live in Greenwich Village on Waverly Place and assist their former-wizard father and non-wizard mother run the Waverly Sub-Shop while learning to hone their powers, and prepare to do without them, in preparation for the wizard competition, as upon completion of their training, only one Russo will be able to keep their powers for life. Justin’s a brainiac, Alex is sassy and super self-confident, and Max is rather “blond.” While they may not always agree, the magical bonds of family and love are always stressed in the end.
Plot: In this episode Alex tries to use the “sparks fly” spell to make Zeke and Harper like one another. When it backfires, she discovers that there’s no substitute for the sparks of real attraction and that some things are best left alone when it comes to magic. Justin creates a water powered engine, but is beat in the science fair by Max’s creation of “life” (with a little help from Alex’s reversal of the spell) in a barbeque grill full of “all the gooey brown stuff” from under his bed.
Personal Thoughts: The show is in its 4th season. Many tweens have become teens right along with the Russos, and it is still quite enjoyable by the 7 and up crowd. Alex is always on the cutting edge of fashion without trying to grow up too fast. Tween love is dealt with realistically and delicately, never pushing the envelope too far for any age group. This is a great “sit down with the kids” show enjoyed by the whole family.
Educational Tie Ins/Learning Activity: Libraries could incorporate this show into a whole series of programming on magic, wizards, and fantasy. It’s a great show to introduce “fantasy reluctant” readers into this genre without being to sci-fi heavy.
