Just Add Magic (JAM) is a popular children's television series that follows the lives of three best friends, Kelly, Darbie, and Hannah, as they discover a magical cookbook in Kelly's attic. The cookbook, which once belonged to Kelly's grandmother, reveals a world of secret recipes and spells that have mysterious and sometimes dangerous effects. One particular spell in the cookbook, called "Just Add Time Travel," allows the girls to travel back in time and witness events from the past. This spell becomes a central theme throughout the series as the girls use it to uncover the secrets behind the magical cookbook and their own family history. As the girls continue their magical adventures, they encounter various challenges and learn important life lessons along the way. The show emphasizes the value of friendship, teamwork, and integrity, as the girls work together to solve problems and navigate the complexities of the magical world.
"Onward, ever striving onward, Proudly on our brooms we fly. Straight and true above the treetops Shadows on the moonlit sky." The strains of the school song can be heard echoing through the vaulted halls of the converted Gothic castle, which is Cackle's Academy. The young witches fly in on their broomsticks across the dark wooded slopes and over the school gates for the start of another year. Miss Hardbroom is taking a register of the first years as they arrive. She is very pleased to see Ethel Hallow come flying in and make a perfect landing, but has to inform Miss Cackle that Mildred Hubble hasn't yet arrived. Miss Cackle wonders if Walker's Gate can be left open a little longer, but Hardbroom is a stickler for discipline and insists that it be closed on time. Mildred Hubble arrives breathless, at the other side of the gate. As she searches for the handle the door slams shut and the key is turned. Mildred is about to call out, but stops herself in time as she reads the notice on the door - "Latecomers will report to the back entrance where they will stand and wait until they are dealt with by me." signed C. Hardbroom. Inside the courtyard, Miss Cackle is making a speech of welcome to the girls. At that moment Mildred, in full flight, dangling dangerously from her broomstick, rises up over the gates. Miss Cackle, Miss Hardbroom and the new girls watch, transfixed, as Mildred hanging on for dear life dives down, swoops along the courtyard and crashes straight into the school dustbins, breaking her broomstick in half. Mildred hasn't gotten off to a good start. Everyone has a laugh at her expense, but Maud Moonshine comes to her rescue with some parcel tape. Mildred's broomstick will never fly perfectly again. The next few days are full of madness and mystery as Mildred comes to terms with all the rules and age-old traditions of Cackle's Academy. What an odd place it is! There is no electricity in the school, there are bats in her bedroom, and a cold north wind whistles through twelve-inch thick ever-open glass-free windows. The first two weeks are devoted to broomstick flying. If you don't make the grade, you don't stay for the course. After all, who's ever heard of a witch who can't fly a broomstick? There's no real need for it anymore, but Cackle's is a very traditional establishment, unfortunately for Mildred, who is afraid of heights. Ethel and her friend Drusilla Paddock think this is a great joke. Mildred is warned that, though she may a scholarship girl, if she doesn't pass her Broomstick Aptitude Test, Miss Cackle will be forced to ask her to leave. It looks like Mildred Hubble is going to be out of the school before she's hardly begun. But when the time comes, with a little bit of magic from somewhere unexpected, she stays the course and manages to perform some extraordinary manoeuveres.
Mildred is warned that, though she may a scholarship girl, if she doesn t pass her Broomstick Aptitude Test, Miss Cackle will be forced to ask her to leave. Miss Cackle uses the opportunity to give them a lecture on the finer details of shape-changing hats are easy because a witch s hat is already magic, but suppose you wanted to make cheese, for instance - and off she goes in a trance dreaming of all the wonderful things she s missing by restricting herself to school food.
The show emphasizes the value of friendship, teamwork, and integrity, as the girls work together to solve problems and navigate the complexities of the magical world. In addition to its entertaining storyline, Just Add Magic incorporates valuable educational elements. Each episode features a recipe that the girls must decipher from the cookbook, teaching young viewers about cooking and the importance of following instructions.
Episode list
"Onward, ever striving onward, Proudly on our brooms we fly. Straight and true above the treetops Shadows on the moonlit sky." The strains of the school song can be heard echoing through the vaulted halls of the converted Gothic castle, which is Cackle's Academy. The young witches fly in on their broomsticks across the dark wooded slopes and over the school gates for the start of another year. Miss Hardbroom is taking a register of the first years as they arrive. She is very pleased to see Ethel Hallow come flying in and make a perfect landing, but has to inform Miss Cackle that Mildred Hubble hasn't yet arrived. Miss Cackle wonders if Walker's Gate can be left open a little longer, but Hardbroom is a stickler for discipline and insists that it be closed on time. Mildred Hubble arrives breathless, at the other side of the gate. As she searches for the handle the door slams shut and the key is turned. Mildred is about to call out, but stops herself in time as she reads the notice on the door - "Latecomers will report to the back entrance where they will stand and wait until they are dealt with by me." signed C. Hardbroom. Inside the courtyard, Miss Cackle is making a speech of welcome to the girls. At that moment Mildred, in full flight, dangling dangerously from her broomstick, rises up over the gates. Miss Cackle, Miss Hardbroom and the new girls watch, transfixed, as Mildred hanging on for dear life dives down, swoops along the courtyard and crashes straight into the school dustbins, breaking her broomstick in half. Mildred hasn't gotten off to a good start. Everyone has a laugh at her expense, but Maud Moonshine comes to her rescue with some parcel tape. Mildred's broomstick will never fly perfectly again. The next few days are full of madness and mystery as Mildred comes to terms with all the rules and age-old traditions of Cackle's Academy. What an odd place it is! There is no electricity in the school, there are bats in her bedroom, and a cold north wind whistles through twelve-inch thick ever-open glass-free windows. The first two weeks are devoted to broomstick flying. If you don't make the grade, you don't stay for the course. After all, who's ever heard of a witch who can't fly a broomstick? There's no real need for it anymore, but Cackle's is a very traditional establishment, unfortunately for Mildred, who is afraid of heights. Ethel and her friend Drusilla Paddock think this is a great joke. Mildred is warned that, though she may a scholarship girl, if she doesn't pass her Broomstick Aptitude Test, Miss Cackle will be forced to ask her to leave. It looks like Mildred Hubble is going to be out of the school before she's hardly begun. But when the time comes, with a little bit of magic from somewhere unexpected, she stays the course and manages to perform some extraordinary manoeuveres.
S1.E2 ∙ When We Feast at the Midnight Hour
Thu, Oct 29, 1998
Mildred Hubble and Maud Moonshine are now best of friends and, often to be found in their company, are Ruby and Jadu. Ethel and Drusilla however, are always trying to stir up trouble between them, taunting Maud Moonshine by calling her "Moonface" and delighting in telling Mildred how hopeless she is. Now that they are a few weeks into the term, homesickness is taking its toll of the first years. Miss Hardbroom makes everyone write a letter home, telling their parents that they are well and doing fine, which only makes everyone feel worse - apart from Ethel and Drusilla, who apparently have no room for public sentiment. Part of their problem is the food - liver in cold, greasy gravy, fish with gazing eyes and lumpy milk puddings. As a result they've resorted to eating too many sweets. There's a disgraceful scene in the Great Hall when Ethel "accidentally " trips Mildred and her plate of stew lands all over Miss Hardbroom. Miss Cackle decides that the only answer is to set an example by eating exactly the same food as the girls - for the whole week. "If it's good enough for the headmistress it's good enough for them!" Meanwhile, the warm and motherly school cook, Mrs. Tapioca, comes to Mildred's rescue and invites her down to the kitchen to sample her fresh pasta and pizzas. Mildred spots an extraordinary contraption, which Frank Blossom has created for catching mice. It's ridiculously large and complicated for such a small task. She also notices an interesting cupboard, which Mrs. Tapioca tells her is where the staff keeps their own food. Mildred has an idea and later she suggests to the others that they have a midnight feast. This gets an enthusiastic response from all but Ethel. Miss Cackle takes a class in simple shape-changing, and their hats are magicked into an amusing range of headgear. The girls are really enjoying themselves. Miss Cackle uses the opportunity to give them a lecture on the finer details of shape-changing: hats are easy because a witch's hat is already magic, but "suppose you wanted to make cheese, for instance" - and off she goes in a trance dreaming of all the wonderful things she's missing by restricting herself to school food. Miss Cackle also tells them the legend of Sir Walter's Wet Week. Centuries ago, Baron Overblow refused to give shelter to Sir Walter one wild and stormy night and left him in the rain to die. As a result every year it rains for a week and the water, like tears of pity, flows down the walls. On the last night of the week there's always a big storm and Sir Walter walks the corridors, looking for revenge! Ethel and Drusilla hatch a plan to scare Mildred's lot by pretending to be the ghost of Sir Walter but the tables are turned and they get more that they bargained for thanks to Miss Cackle and to Frank's amazing cheese protector! Miss Cackle has proved her point over the school food but agrees to change the rules and declares Saturdays to be pizza days, much to everyone's delight!
S1.E2 ∙ When We Feast at the Midnight Hour
The show also explores themes such as perseverance, responsibility, and the consequences of one's actions. Just Add Magic has garnered a dedicated fanbase and has received positive reviews for its engaging storytelling, strong performances, and relatable characters. It has also inspired a spin-off series called Just Add Magic: Mystery City, which follows a new group of friends who discover their own magical cookbook. Overall, Just Add Magic is a captivating and educational television series that combines elements of fantasy, adventure, and friendship. It has become a favorite among children and families alike, providing entertainment and valuable life lessons in equal measure..
Reviews for "The Enchanting World of Magical Anti-Aging Spells"
1. Sarah - 2/5 - I had high hopes for "Just Add Magic: Age Atin" as a fan of the original series, but unfortunately, it fell flat for me. The plot felt rushed and lacking depth, and the new characters introduced were not as interesting or well-developed as the original trio. The magical elements that made the original series so captivating were greatly reduced in this spin-off, making it feel like a completely different show. Overall, I was disappointed with this version and would not recommend it to fellow fans of the original series.
2. John - 1/5 - As a fan of the original "Just Add Magic," I was excited to watch the spin-off "Just Add Magic: Age Atin," but it completely missed the mark for me. The storyline seemed forced and the character development was lacking. The addition of new characters did not enhance the show, and it felt like the writers were struggling to fill the void left by the absence of the original characters. The recipes, which were a key aspect of the original series, were also poorly executed and lacked the magic that made them special. Overall, I found "Just Add Magic: Age Atin" to be a disappointing continuation of a once-great series.
3. Emily - 2/5 - "Just Add Magic: Age Atin" was a letdown for me. The original series had a great balance between the magical elements, mystery, and character relationships, but this spin-off seemed to prioritize a more mundane storyline. The characters didn't have the same chemistry as in the original series, and the new additions felt out of place. The pace of the show was also slow, and I found myself losing interest quickly. Unfortunately, I wouldn't recommend this spin-off to fans of the original series.