Top 10 Darkest Disney Channel Episodes
#10: “Battle for Mewni: Toffee” “Star vs the Forces of Evil” (2015-19)
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When the term “forces of evil” appears in the title, some darkness is to be expected. One example is when Star goes to reform school to save the princesses from being brainwashed and tortured into being ladylike. But this episode is a standout. In “Battle for Mewni: Toffee”, we see an oily immortal being trap Star in an endless void, and watch her struggle to fight her way out. But as far as Star’s loved ones know, Toffee killed her. Ultimately, it all turns out alright, but everything from Star struggling to break free from the void, to her friends and family grieving, to the graphic imagery itself is all quite disturbing.
#9: “Wizards Exposed” “Wizards of Waverly Place” (2007-12)
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In this episode, the Russos, and the entire Wizard World are put in jeopardy when the government captures the Russos in an attempt to finally learn their secret. Though this show has its fair share of deeper storylines, this one is particularly intense. Upon abducting the Russos, the government tortures them for information. They go so far as to trick Justin into thinking aliens are attacking to get him to talk. Worst of all, the episode ends on a cliffhanger that leaves us still not knowing what will become of the Russos and the Wizard World.
#8: “Cookie Monster/ The New Girls” “Andi Mack” (2017-19)
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Most kid-centric TV shows would probably stray away from telling this kind of story. In fact, it seems well beyond Disney Channel’s usual scope. But, in a two part episode, “Andi Mack” tells a story about one of the biggest issues in America today, gun safety. When TJ’s friends pressure him and Cyrus to use a gun stolen from their parents for what they see as just fun and games, Cyrus does not find the situation funny at all. He walks away and tries to convince TJ to leave too. Understanding the severity of the matter, Cyrus doesn’t succumb to peer pressure, taking things into his own hands and going to the police.
#7: “Phineas and Ferb Get Busted” “Phineas and Ferb” (2007-15)
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Phineas and Ferb are infamous for their fun and crazy antics. It’s their creativity and inventiveness that make them exactly who they are. So it’s difficult to watch this episode, where they get sent to a special military school boot camp designed to strip them of their individuality. Phineas and Ferb and all of the other kids are more like prisoners than they are students. The curriculum includes a fair amount of brainwashing to turn them into mindless pod people. The whole thing is quite disturbing. It’s a powerful commentary on institutionalized conformity. You know things must be bad when Candace comes to their rescue.
#6: “Inner Beauty” “Lizzie McGuire” (2001-04)
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Lizzy and friends were always there to help us through the pitfalls of growing up, but they kicked things up a notch with this profound episode. As Lizzy and Miranda are planning on shooting a music video for a project, Gordo makes some jovial comments about Miranda's eating habits. She becomes extremely self conscious about her weight and goes on a crazy crash diet. She goes so far she starts having dizzy spells, and Lizzie and Gordo have to intervene before she hurts herself. Though this show is mostly a comedy, it ditches a lot of the jokes to deliver an important message to kids about body image and self-acceptance.
#5: “Time and Punishment” “Darkwing Duck” (1991-92)
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It’s almost surprising that this episode didn’t get banned. During a fight with a couple of time-hopping villains, Darkwing Duck loses his daughter, Gosalyn, who’s sent into the future along with them. The future she sees is one where, as a result of losing her, Darkwing Duck has also lost himself. He goes from crime fighting vigilante to iron fisted tyrant. Under his new warped sense of justice, the punishment for every crime is death. He even almost ends up killing Gosalyn when she tries to stop him. Thankfully, she manages to save him just in the nick of time, but it is hard to watch just how dark and demented Darkwing becomes.
#4: “The Box” “Recess” (1997-2001)
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Whose idea was it to make this episode? It’s a great one, but so creepy. In a rare moment where Finster actually gets a win, she finally finds the ultimate punishment for TJ Detwiler. Rather than throw him in detention again, she places him in a small square she drew on the playground that he’s not allowed to step out of. The longer he spends in there, the crazier he goes. He imagines walls sprouting up around him, and the square sinking into the ground so he can't escape. It’s like solitary confinement for children.
#3: “The Ghost in Suite 613” “The Suite Life of Zack and Cody” (2005-08)
During this spooky Halloween episode, Zack gets a kick out of scaring and pranking all of his friends. So when London tells the twins a ghost story about a haunted suite in the hotel, naturally, Zack is on board for a real scare. Zack, Cody, London, Maddie, and Esteban all spend the night in the haunted suite. After performing a seance, the Tipton gang summon a ghost, who torments them and slowly starts picking them off one by one. Thankfully, the whole thing turns out to be an elaborate prank on Zack as payback for all the scaring. They had us scared, too.
#2: “Girl Meets Rileytown” “Girl Meets World” (2014-17)
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Just like its predecessor, this show uses humor to discuss serious issues that we all face growing up. However, this episode omits the levity and gets real to deliver a message about the severity of bullying. Riley falls into a pit of depression when someone has been harassing her at school. She hides it from her friends and family for as long as she can, but eventually the truth comes out and everyone has different ways of trying to help Riley with her pain. Everything works out for the best, but it is difficult to watch Riley suffer the way she does. The scene where Riley tells Maya what’s been happening to her is gut wrenching. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions: “The Other Bin of Scrooge McDuck” “DuckTales” (2017-) “Girl Meets the Great Lady of New York” “Girl Meets World” (2014-17) “Black Cube” “Wander Over Yonder” (2013-16) “Weirdmaggedon” “Gravity Falls” (2012-16) “Northwest Mansion Mystery” “Gravity Falls” (2012-16)
#1: “True Colors” “That’s So Raven” (2003-07)
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Raven’s visions are often not what they appear to be, but there was no mistaking this one. She sees that the reason she didn't get a job, but Chelsea did, is that the manager doesn't hire black people. Eddie also tells his own troubling story about a white childhood friend that was banned from ever seeing him because he’s black. The three team up, take a stand, and take down the racist manager. This isn’t the only time Raven and friends have taken a stand on an important and ever-relevant issue. Let’s not forget when Raven stole the show at a fashion event by modelling her own dress, even though she didn’t have “the look”.
