I started watching Wizards Beyond Waverly Place, and as a fan it feels like coming home...except for one thing

If you know me, you know I like it Wizards of Waverly Place. When I heard that the new sequel series, Wizards beyond Waverly Place, would be part of the TV program 2024I knew I had to be first in line to see it.

Let me preface this by saying that I have always loved the original show. I’m part of the Disney generation that grew up with great Disney Channel shows like Hannah Montana, Sonny with a Chance, Shake It Up and of course Wizards of Waverly Place. To this day I still stand by the fact that Wizards of Waverly Place is still good as an adultand I once stated that it was time for a restart.

My calls were answered because the sequel series has finally premiered. While new episodes air every week on Disney Channel, the first nine are now available to stream — and I decided to binge watch all nine, even though I had seen a few in advance when I got the chance to meet the cast interview. Let me say that this show really and truly make me feel like I’m coming home as someone who has a old fan of this series. But… there is one thing I must emphasize. So let’s look at the praise – and the criticism.

Salina Gomez looks unsure in the trailer for Wizards Beyond Waverly Place — (Image credit: Disney)

First of all, Selena Gomez and David Henrie fell straight back into Alex and Justin

I’ve always known that Selena Gomez and David Henrie were the best brother-sister combination on any Disney show. Their chemistry is off the charts, and so are you to believe they are related from watching the show.

Obviously since the original series ended in 2012, both have had their own careers. Henrie played some acting roles, but mainly stayed behind the scenes and had his own family. Gomez has become a bigger actress than ever, including a leading role in the Only murders in the building cast, among others. She also has a pretty decent music career And a super successful make-up and skin care line.

Both have done and achieved a lot, but let me say they have sunk So quickly return to their role. It was as if they never left. While I know Gomez won’t have as big a role as Henrie (since she’s a recurring guest star), seeing them together was like seeing family for the first time in years. They just had it, and it’s something I really enjoyed watching.

Milo and Roman talk to Billie at Wizards Beyond Waverly Place.

(Image credit: The Disney Channel)

Justin’s kids are crazy cute and have that sibling dynamic – and I love his family

Since the series will span several years in the future, it would only make sense that Alex or Justin (or even Max) would have a family of their own — and let’s face it, Justin is the most likely candidate.

And you know what? I love them all. I love the kids and their personalities. Roman feels like a mini Justin, but his little brother, Milo, is all over the place and a bit of a wild card – almost more so than Max, but we’ll see how crazy he gets as the series progresses.

And then there’s Giada, Justin’s wife. In defense of this sweet, mortal girl, I know everyone was wondering, ‘Where’s Harper? Where is Juliette?” and all that jazz. But look, Bridget Mendler is going to save the world and turn into a female tech icon, and Jennifer Stone is an active nurse at a hospital – although she still talks about the show on a podcast, so who knows? Maybe she’ll show up.

Either way, neither of them is that active as an actor anymore, and it makes sense that they would choose someone who is actress now. Besides, how many high school relationships are really geared toward having kids and lasting? Giada and Justin, if you keep watching the series, it makes sense. They’re married, but they’re also best friends, and that’s really the kind of love you want.

His whole family is lovely, and I won’t let anyone go against them, especially if that’s the case child actors were so nervous at first about living up to the hype of the original series.

The main character, Billie, in Wizards Beyond Waverly Place.

(Image credit: Disney+)

Billie is like a mini Alex, but still has her own sweet personality

I know a lot of people will have that a lot of to say about Billie, but I don’t want to hear any of it. When it comes to starring in a Disney Channel series, especially as a young actress, it is a lot of of unnecessary pressure being put on them, and I don’t want to play any part in that.

Instead, I’m just going to say that Billie is absolutely adorable, and she reminds me of Alex in all the best ways. She’s brilliant in a smart way, knows her way around things and definitely learned how to ask for help as the episodes progressed. But she’s also different: she’s a lot more vulnerable, almost sweeter in a way, and willing to ask for advice, even if she can be sarcastic about it.

Billie is just like Alex, but that’s not true to have to be, if that makes sense. She’s a better copy of her, and I can only imagine how she and Janice LeeAnn Brown will evolve as the series progresses. Watching this show reminds me of the advice that Gomez gave Brown prior to the show – not to let anyone step into her light, and I completely agree with that.

Billie, Alex and Justin in the old lair in Wizards Beyond Waverly Place.

(Image credit: Disney+)

And I must say that the comedy is very reminiscent of the first series

When I say this series really felt like we had moved forward ten years and nothing had changed, I mean it. The humor is so similar, which really makes sense since both Henrie and Gomez are executive producers. I mean, original series creator Todd J. Greenwald even came back for this sequel. That’s how serious they took it.

And it shows. The comedic moments are well timed. The chemistry is there in the children. The children’s timing matches that of the parents. Everything is there. Sure, this is aimed at children so there are a few jokes in here that are childish but as a 26 year old woman I can relate easy I can see myself enjoying this with a child, even if I wasn’t a fan yet.

There are some growing pains in the first few episodes (as is always the case with any new series), but once the cast gets the hang of it, it becomes Real gets to work.

Alex stands next to an interesting looking monster with orange eyes in Wizards Beyond Waverly Place.

(Image credit: The Disney Channel)

However, some effects and props could be better

To me this show seems slightly lower in budget. Granted, I don’t have any numbers, so I don’t really know, but that’s what it felt like to me.

Maybe when I was a kid there were things that I thought looked crazy when actually they weren’t, but if you look at this now you can clearly see if something is a dummy or not. You can see the strange puppetry effects. Or you can visibly see how fake something looks. It certainly doesn’t seem like it magic as it once was.

Then again, maybe I’m just an adult and overanalyzing each kind of special effect now that we have the world of Marvel movies and all these other CGI fests. Anyway, that’s really the only negative I have.

David Henrie talks to Selena Gomez at Wizards Beyond Waverly Place.

(Image credit: Disney+)

Overall, this series feels like coming home

Effects aside, I have to admit that this series feels like I’m coming home. When I got the chance to interview the cast, Henrie said the series was meant to feel like they were giving the original fans a “big hug.” And that’s exactly how I felt.

I loved the original show. It was the first TV series that I actually cried when it was finished. As someone who grew up watching all of them best fantasy movies and the Harry Potter movies over and over againI loved the idea of magic. Then I had a series with a blended family, where a Latina girl was the lead, and her name was Alex, just like mine – I fell in love quickly.

Now it almost feels like I’m passing my love for the show on to the next generation. While Alex and Justin are now the lead adults – and they are crazy to think about – I can only imagine how kids might feel right now seeing a young girl named Billie headlining a big show like this, as they delve into the world of magic.

I sincerely hope this show continues. I know the idea of giving a sequel series can be scary and even nerve-wracking at times, but I can insurance you that this show is one of the better ones. Blood, sweat, heart and soul have been poured into it Wizards Beyond Waverly Place – and I have a feeling it will only get better.