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Staff Picks: Favorite Halloween episodes

Graphic by Audrey Garcia

It’s common for people to discuss their favorite Halloween movies, but television episodes don’t typically get the same love. The Scout staff has created a list of its favorite spooky episodes from a variety of shows, including live-action and animated picks.

“Abbott Elementary”: “Candy Zombies” (Season 2, Episode 6) – Anaiah Davis

Since premiering at the end of 2021, “Abbott Elementary” has entertained audiences in four back-to-back seasons, so there are several Halloween episodes to date, but this one takes the cake. 

If Quinta Brunson’s character Janine dressing up as NBA player James Harden wasn’t funny enough, “Candy Zombies” also features a student dressing up as the janitor, Mr. Johnson, pop culture references and perfectly-timed thunderclaps. Already a classic. 

“Modern Family”: “Halloween” (Season 2, Episode 6) – Madalyn Mirallegro

“Halloween” is by far the best Halloween episode in the entire series of “Modern Family,” and it is all thanks to Jesse Tyler Ferguson. The sequence of Fergusons’ character Mitchell getting stuck in a bathroom stall at his job while wearing a Spiderman costume never fails to make me laugh.

This episode is a good warning for everyone to always double-check with multiple co-workers before dressing up for Halloween. 

“SpongeBob SquarePants”: “Scaredy Pants” (Season 1, Episode 13) – Rome Tews

If you’re looking for something quick and silly this Halloween, the 11-minute “SpongeBob” episode “Scaredy Pants” is for you. Quirky friends SpongeBob and Patrick are determined to make SpongeBob a scary ghost this year, instead of the laughingstock of the town.

As it turns out, SpongeBob is much scarier than any costume could make him. The episode carries an important message about sticking to who you are rather than who people want you to be. 

“The Suite Life of Zack and Cody”: “The Ghost in Suite 613” (Season 1, Episode 19) – Emmily Scumaci

As someone who has never been a huge fan of horror, I tend to steer clear of anything that might make it harder for me to sleep at night. Disney Channel was typically a safe bet in terms of horror factor, but even for an eight year old, some episodes got pretty scary. 

This episode included the paranormal, which was a surefire way to scare me growing up, but now it holds a certain sense of nostalgia that I attempt to relive every year through rewatches. 

“The Owl House”: “Thanks to Them” (Season 3, Episode 1) – Cassie Maxwell 

As a series, “The Owl House” had been building to a climax that would have resolved ongoing tensions since season one, but because Disney canceled it, suddenly a season’s worth of content had to be squeezed into three measly episodes. 

“Thanks to Them” was the first of these three episodes. Despite having nothing to do with Halloween until the very end, the episode features the protagonists fighting in their Halloween costumes against the built-up ‘big bad’ character of the entire series. The beautiful autumn aesthetic and suspense make this a perfect episode to rewatch for those who prefer comedy and action over horror.

“Adventure Time”: “The Creeps” (Season 3, Episode 12) – Elliot Krippelz

This is one of those episodes that I watched once over a decade ago, and it still haunts me. “Adventure Time” is a creative and lighthearted show that I heavily recommend; however, “The Creeps” scared me so much as a child it took me years to rewatch it for the second time. 

It is not necessarily a typical Halloween episode, but I think the unusual scare factor that “Adventure Time” isn’t known for is what makes it so good. 

“Kickin’ It”: “Boo Gi Nights” (Season 1, Episode 12) – Latif Love

“Kickin’ It” is one of the most underrated children/pre-teen shows ever. The series is a low-stakes, feel-good masterpiece. “Boo Gi Nights” is one of a few Halloween episodes, but this one stands out. 

In this episode, the group throws a Halloween party that is crashed when the rival dojo, The Black Dragons, discover that Jack is scared of clowns. At the climax of the episode, the two dojos fight in their Halloween costumes, making for one of the best action scenes in the show’s history.

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