Disney is calling out all of the Hogwarts fans, as this fantasy teen sitcom is all about magic. Another file on the list of must-watch series is no other than The Wizards of Waverly Place.
The story of the show is a unique concept of fantasy, comedy, and teen values. A high school student Alex Russo is a wizard-in-training – alongside her older brother Justin, and her younger brother Max. They live in Manhattan Greenwich Village with their dad – Jerry, who is a former wizard – and their mom, Teresa.
They are under the training supervision of their dad – whom they also got their magical abilities. For Alex, wizardry is difficult, especially if you are a high school student and not allowed to use magic in public. As young wizards, the three siblings are still irresponsible with using their magical abilities. Throughout the show, they tend to use magic in some rather not appropriate situations.
In the earlier season of Alex and her siblings focus on training their abilities, honing their skills to compete with each other. Competing with your siblings might sometimes sound like a burden for others, but in this case, they are required to compete with each other to determine who would be the family’s Official Wizard – because only one wizard each family is allowed in the rules of wizardry.
In season four, it shows a more matured version of the siblings, and they have improved a lot. Alex then becomes the family’s Official Wizard, and Justin becomes a professor at Wiztech. At the same time, Max enjoys his simple life as an average person – and doing crazy things during the show.
Each event in this series is fantastic, and it will surely bring a smile on your face.
The TV series became popular, especially to teens, since the first episode. Due to its success, it slowly gained recognition outside the US. As a part of the show’s growing success, Disney released various merchandise, including soundtracks, DVDs, and its very own video game.
Above all these, the TV series was nominated and won several awards throughout its airtime. The show was nominated for a total of fifty-five times and won an award for a total of twenty-one times.
Inarguably this show is one of Disney’s finest works.
The Wizards of Waverly Place Characters:
Alex Russo (Selena Gomez)
Alex is the primary star of the show. She practices the art of wizardry under the supervision of her father to become the family’s official wizard. She is a lazy, slouchy, cold high school student who is not allowed to use magic in public – a rule which tends to be broken a couple of times.
Justin Russo (David Henrie)
Justin is the oldest among the Russo siblings. He has a brilliant and nerdy character. He is doing great in academics, as well as in his wizardry training. In the latter part of the series, Justin became a professor of wizardry at Wiztech.
Max Russo (Jake Austin)
Max is the youngest brother of Alex. His magical abilities are not that convincing compared to Alex’s and Justin’s. Most of the time, he uses his power on silly things, like making a sandwich. Besides being an immature kid, he still manages to train hard and improve his abilities.
Harper Finkle (Jennifer Stone)
The best friend of Alex. Harper is seen most of the time having googly eyes with Justin. She is a typical girl and more mature compared to Alex.
Theresa Russo (Maria Barrera)
She is the mother of the Russo siblings, and a mortal unlike any of her children. She is a caring, loving, and sometimes embarrassing when it comes to her family.
Jerry Russo (David Deluise)
Jerry is the husband of Theresa and the father of Alex and her brothers. He is also the co-owner of the Waverly Sub Station. Jerry is a former wizard due to breaking a forbidden rule of marrying a mortal. With the knowledge and experience he has, he takes responsibility for training his children to use their abilities properly.
Interesting Facts about The Wizards of Waverly Place
- A three-way crossover was made featuring three Disney series giants – The Wizards of Waverly Place, The Suite Life on Deck, and Hannah Montana. The show was called Wizards on Deck with Hannah Montana and was aired on July 17, 2009.
- Alex Russo was originally going to be Julia O’Malley.
- In the original concept, Alex and Justin were twins.
- Wizards of Waverly place is Disney’s longest-running show, with a total of 106 episodes in four seasons.
- Waverly Place is an actual street in Greenwich Village, New York City.