Gargoyles: Gateway Drug for Young Geek

The current “geek nostalgia” arc of my favorite podcast, Galactic Watercooler, included a discussion about films and movies that influenced the development of a  “geek” sense of self. This got me thinking about one of my personal nostalgic favorites: the animated Disney series Gargoyles.

Whenever I hear someone describe a television show they watched during childhood as having had a major influence on who they became as an adult, I usually share my love of Gargoyles with them.

When Gargoyles premiered on the Disney Afternoon on October 24th, 1994, just a few days before my 11th birthday, I had no idea the impact it would have on the course of my life. I just showed up for the action, adventure, and the promise of some pretty cool toys. Today, however, I recognize the effect the show truly had on me. Because of Gargoyles, I’m a history teacher, a sci-fi/fantasy geek, and someone who read Shakespeare’s “MacBeth” because they wanted to, not because they were forced to in English class. Gargoyles literally opened up a world of possibilities for me and avenues of interest I may never have discovered otherwise.

For me, Gargoyles was a gateway drug that led to a whole host of future addictions.

This portion of my blog will have a dual purpose. First, my posts will be a retrospective of the show and an introspective look at the impact it had on my life. I fully intend to share my encyclopedic store of Gargoyles trivia with you, as well as some specific examples of moments in the series that had a major impact on my life. Second, this blog will follow the on-going rewatch of the series happening over on the Galactic Watercooler Forum. I hope to relay some of the comments from members of the GWC community as they rediscover the show or experience it for the first time.

Stay tuned for updates as I move through the series, starting at the beginning. Click the forum link above to follow along!