Few Disney Channel shows were as successful as Wizards of Waverly Place. The series won multiple Emmy awards for Outstanding Children’s Program, and was the most-watched series finale in Disney Channel history. Following the Russo siblings, Alex, Justin, and Max, the three wizards-in-training used magic to create havoc and save the world. But for such a successful series, Wizards of Waverly Place had its plot holes like any other show. Some details did not match what had already been explained at an earlier point in time, and additional information didn’t make clear things up. Here are 10 Things About Wizards of Waverly Place That Don’t Make Sense.
RULES ABOUT QUALIFYING FOR THE WIZARD COMPETITION
The first time the family wizard competition is brought up is in Season 1. It is made to sound like when the day comes, Alex, Justin, and Max will compete to determine which of the three will keep their powers. However, in “Monster Hunter,” the rules diverge when it is stated that Justin has completed his basic wizard classes and is moving up to independent study. The rules also get confusing in “Alex Tells The World” when Professor Crumbs declares that Alex and Justin are each to revert to level one while Max stays a level three. This punishment brings up the question of how Alex and Justin could once again be involved in the competition. Up until the beginning of Season 4, the series had never mentioned such a rule.
GOROG BROUGHT JULIET BACK
Mason and Juliet’s fight in “Wizards vs. Werewolves” taught more about werewolf and vampire mythology within the series. However, in “Wizards Unleashed,” the episode is devoted to figuring out how to bring Mason back to a human form rather than appearing as part-werewolf or a wolf forever. Juliet does not get the same courtesy. Juliet’s return in “Wizards vs. Everything” is unexpected and shocking, but with no explanation of how Gorog managed to accomplish it. Instead, the series carries on without the significance of the moment being brought up again.
MASON’S ABILITY TO AGE
The romantic history between Mason and Juliet had been a surprising detail to the show, and it does bring up a few questions about the former. As a vampire, Juliet keeps looking the same forever, but it is unclear how old Mason is. Given they recognize each other quite quickly, it is to be assumed that Mason had looked relatively the same for the last three hundred years. Although there are references to wizards having a very long life as well, the mythology in the show never clears up how long it would take for Mason to age.
ZEKE’S NAME
Dan Benson first appeared on Wizards of Waverly Place as Zack Rosenblatt, an excitable older student at Tribeca Prep. Initially, he was included in Justin’s group of older friends during “Movies.” However, he later appears in “Report Card,” and from then on as Zeke Beakerman. The change in name is never explained, but his age seems to have changed to match Justin’s as they continue school and graduate together. In “Zeke Finds Out,” Zeke directly mentions the events of “Movies,” making the occurrence more confusing as to why his identity was changed.
THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN WIZARD COMPETITIONS
Between Wizards of Waverly Place and Wizards of Waverly Place: The Movie, there are two viewed wizard competitions and others mentioned in conversation. In the film, the competition is a quick battle of wits to determine who can achieve the most with the least, using only the four elements. In “Who Will Be The Family Wizard,” the competition is focused on various uses of magic, including spell trivia questions, potion-making, and a maze. However, Jerry mentions his competition included a written portion. The finale also deviates from “The Good, The Bad, and The Alex” when Stevie’s brother, Warren, explains that there was a separate ceremony for the full power transfer, but in “Who Will Be The Family Wizard,” Alex and Justin receive their magic on the spot.
JUSTIN AND ZEKE DIDN’T GO TO COLLEGE
Justin and Zeke were both academically bright students with a list of extracurricular activities. They should not have had a hard time getting into college. Justin’s love of school and learning was constant, and his declaration at the end of “Delinquent Justin” that he would attend medical school fit in with his character. But his higher education never came to fruition as he focused on getting back into the wizard competition. Zeke did not have the same distraction from school, and yet makes an appearance at Tribeca Prep as a crossing guard rather than mentioning college. Although college is not for everyone, it’s odd for Justin and Zeke not to follow through on higher education.
MAX’S WISE MOMENTS WERE DISREGARDED
Max was not the smartest character on the series. However, as few and far between they may have been, he did have some wise moments. Max is the only character to listen to Mason when he explains werewolves are impulsive. Max is also good at understanding how the substation works, bringing in more money through opening a wizard world side of the business.
When Alex and Justin are in danger of disappearing into a black hole in Alex’s apartment, Max suggests opening another black hole in the lair so that he can jump through it, reach his siblings, and the three of them can travel through the black hole and arrive back at the lair. Unfortunately, these are ignored by his family until it is too late, or the show does not mention the moments again.
JUSTIN WAS NOT DISQUALIFIED
In “Wizard of the Year,” Alex gets the coveted award. The achievement for Alex is a devastating blow to Justin, and he never hides it. Justin makes many comments about how Alex did not deserve the honor that should have been his. Unfortunately, his anger is not only taken out on his family, but Justin decides that recording his frustration for the ceremony is a decent way to deal with it. He only chooses to fix it when he learns good sportsmanship in his video may get him back into his family competition.
Instead, the hologram outs Justin on his worst traits, even though he attempts to hide the recording. Justin’s statements insult the wizard council in front of everyone, and it is unclear why he was not punished for both insulting the board and his lousy sportsmanship towards his sister’s success.
UNRESOLVED QUESTIONS
“Future Harper” asks a variety of mysteries the series never gets a chance to answer. After reading H.J. Darling’s novels, the Russos discover the person behind the name is Harper from the future, and she had traveled to the past with the help of a powerful wizard. The biggest reveal Harper shares with the siblings is that one of them exposed wizardry to the world, which was why writing about wizards earlier in time was more interesting. The series ends before this revelation comes true, still leaving the unanswered question of which Russo exposed magic to the mortal world.
THE NEED FOR A WIZARD COMPETITION
The wizard competition is the most significant event for the Russo family. Alex, Justin, and Max had waited years to find out which one of them would keep their powers. The concept is intriguing to watch as it tests their abilities as wizards in addition to testing them as a family, something that had first become relevant during “Retest.”
Unfortunately, no one explains why it is believed that only one wizard from each family could be trusted with magic or why there is a wizard competition at all. Instead, it has the bizarre effect of making Stevie’s resolution to destroy the power transfer system seem reasonable. Although she is meant to be the villain and her way of ending the wizard competition is not the most legal course of action, it still presents the argument that all wizards should be able to keep their powers forever.
