The Wurzburg witch trials were a series of trials that took place in the city of Wurzburg, Germany, during the early 17th century. These trials were part of the larger European witch-hunt hysteria that occurred during this time period. The witch trials in Wurzburg were particularly brutal and extensive, lasting from 1626 to 1631. It is estimated that over 900 people, mostly women, were accused of being witches during this time. The trials were conducted by local authorities and led by the Prince-Bishop of Wurzburg, Philipp Adolf von Ehrenberg. The trials began with isolated accusations of witchcraft, but quickly escalated into a full-scale witch-hunt.
The bus we rode while in Cambridge. Notice how we almost fell off the road. Crazy.
The rest of the group emerges unscathed, throws their hands in the air, and begins a much needed stretch that turns into something resembling a dance. The Magic School bus was a defining show in my childhood and really kickstarted my love for science and my fifth grade science teacher who really was a Ms.
The trials began with isolated accusations of witchcraft, but quickly escalated into a full-scale witch-hunt. Torture was commonly used to extract confessions from the accused, and many innocent people were forced to confess to crimes they did not commit under the extreme conditions of torture. The allegations against the accused varied widely but often included accusations of devil worship, causing illness and death, and practicing black magic.
Review: The Magic School Bus Rides Again
Anyone growing up in the 90s knows of Ms. Valerie Frizzle and those “highly unusual” field trips she takes her class on. For a half hour, you would watch Ms. Frizzle’s class (and sometimes Arnold’s cousin Janet) escape all sorts of science related perils and still make it back to school in enough time to catch the bus home. “The Magic School” bus was a defining show in my childhood and really kickstarted my love for science (and my fifth grade science teacher who really was a Ms. Frizzle but without her own bus). So like any nostalgia-filled college student, you could imagine that I was really excited to find out that “The Magic School Bus” was getting a reboot and Kate McKinnon was going to help bring about the show.
On a lazy Sunday a week or two after “The Magic School Bus Rides Again” came out, I opened up Netflix and put on the first episode titled “Frizzle of the Future” and was ready to be immersed in some wacky science related adventures. The only thing I knew going into this show was that Kate McKinnon would be playing Ms. Fiona Frizzle, Valerie Frizzle’s younger sister, who would be given the keys to the bus (and Liz the Lizard).
We find out the Valerie Frizzle, voiced by Lily Tomlin, has gotten her PhD, is now a professor and is leaving her class in the care of her sister Fiona, voiced by Kate McKinnon. This causes some major upset in the class, especially for Arnold who doesn’t like change. The class refers to themselves as an “ecosystem,” since they all have specific jobs in the class, tying into the episode’s theme.
Before the class leaves on their first field trip to the Galápagos Islands, Arnold takes the ‘Special, Magical, Crazy-Growing Must-Stay-in-a-Pot Crescit Leiunium Frizzlaeia Vine,’ off of Ms. Frizzle’s desk and takes it with him. While on the island they meet Galápagos Gil, and the kids learn about the natural balance of the Galápagos Islands with glasses that show the relationships between species. Galápagos Gil and Ms. Frizzle then show the kids about invasive species by shrinking down to microscopic size and rock climb up a boot to find gypsy moth eggs. Arnold makes the jab that the new Ms. Frizzle is an invasive species and he’s trying to protect their “ecosystem” (aka his class). Remember the ‘Special, Magical, Crazy-Growing Must-Stay-in-a-Pot Crescit Leiunium Frizzlaeia Vine’ Arnold stole off Ms. Frizzle’s desk earlier? He leaves it on top of a Galápagos tortoise as the class leaves to go back to school, and as arnold leaves the pot breaks. Professor Frizzle and her new assistant Goldie, a golden tamarin monkey, have a heart-to-heart about various invasive species. They travel 30 years into the future where they learn of a crisis in the Galápagos. The ‘Special, Magical, Crazy-Growing Must-Stay-in-a-Pot Crescit Leiunium Frizzlaeia Vine’ took over the islands so the class then goes 30 years back into the past and fight a giant plant and save the island. Arnold accepts Ms. Frizzle as his teacher and Professor Frizzle and Goldie ride off into the distance with one last wahoo! The episode ends with a phone call with questions that went unanswered, just like in the original with the call to the producer.
The first thing I noticed is that the opening was the same sequence as the original but with a new animation style and a whole new cast of characters. Or so I thought. It’s the same characters from the original series but with a modern twist. So Arnold’s iconic yellow and white striped shirt? Gone. Ralphie’s ‘R’ shirt? Gonzo. Although Ralphie’s red baseball cap was saved from his spring cleaning. Even Carlos’ blue hoodie has been replaced by a new, red one. Even the class skeleton got a facelift! However, one glaring thing that was missing from the reboot was Phoebe who, as we find out in the first two minutes, went back to her old school. Which was really disappointing for me because it took her 11 episodes in the first season to finally love her new school, Walkerville Elementary. To fill her spot in the class roster is Jyoti, a tech-savvy transfer student, who so far has not uttered the phrase, “At my old school…” RIP Phoebe Terese, you never stood a chance in the reboot. Anyways I digress.
I was a huge fan of the original show and I was a little disappointed in the reboot. I wish Netflix would have gone with a whole new class, instead of redesigning the old class, since they were already getting a new Ms. Frizzle anyways. That being said, I’m a huge fan of shows that get kids interested in science (Bill Nye the Science Guy anyone?). “The Magic School Bus Rides Again” is going to get a whole new generation learning about science in an easy-to-digest way and that excites me. It’ll challenge them to take chances, make mistakes and get messy.
“The Magic School Bus Rides Again” and “The Magic School Bus” can be found on Netflix, and the books from both series can be found on Amazon or at your local library.
The trials were marked by mass hysteria and an eagerness to find and punish witches at any cost. The Wurzburg witch trials came to an end in 1631 when the city was besieged and occupied by Swedish forces during the Thirty Years' War. The Swedish soldiers put an end to the trials and released many of the accused witches from prison. The Wurzburg witch trials are remembered as one of the darkest periods in European history. They are an example of the mass hysteria and fear that can grip a community and lead to the persecution and execution of innocent people. The legacy of these trials serves as a reminder of the dangers of scapegoating and the importance of preserving justice and human rights..
Reviews for "How Public Opinion Shaped the Outcome of the Wurzburg Witch Trials"
1. John - 2/5
I found the "Wurzbug Witch Trials" to be rather underwhelming. The storyline felt disjointed and the characters lacked depth. Additionally, the pacing was inconsistent, with some parts dragging on and others feeling rushed. The ending left me with more questions than answers, and I was left feeling unsatisfied. Overall, I was disappointed with this book and wouldn't recommend it.
2. Sarah - 1/5
I couldn't even finish reading "Wurzbug Witch Trials". The writing was convoluted and confusing, making it difficult to follow the plot. The characters were unrelatable and their actions made little sense. The author seemed more focused on trying to shock the reader with gruesome details rather than building a coherent narrative. I was thoroughly disappointed and wouldn't recommend this book to anyone.
3. Alex - 2/5
While "Wurzbug Witch Trials" had an interesting premise, the execution fell flat for me. The writing style was dry and lacked emotion, making it difficult to connect with the characters. The plot seemed to drag on without any real progression, and the frequent changes in perspective made it difficult to keep track of what was happening. Overall, I found this book to be boring and unengaging.
4. Emily - 2/5
I had high hopes for "Wurzbug Witch Trials", but unfortunately, it fell short for me. The writing was overly descriptive to the point of being tedious, and the story lacked a clear direction. The characters felt one-dimensional and their motivations were unclear. The climax of the book was underwhelming, and I was left feeling like I had wasted my time reading it. I cannot recommend this book.