What is the Goosebumps TV show about?
The new Disney series, Goosebumps, is based on the classic R.L. Stine book series. The 2023 TV show takes many of the old Goosebumps books and works them into individual episodes that are all connected to a larger storyline.
For instance, the first 3 episodes of the Disney series are:
- “Say Cheese and Die!”
- “The Haunted Mask”
- “The Cuckoo Clock of Doom”
Check out these classic Goosebump books:
The episode titles and storylines are heavily based on books from the classic spooky book series. The show has an overarching storyline that follows the same group of characters as they deal with various spooky happenings in their town. Still, each episode relies heavily on bringing a piece of a Goosebumps book to life.
The basics of the Goosebumps show:
- It incorporates the classic Goosebumps books into a larger, new storyline.
- Many of the objects, curses, monsters, and haunts featured in the classic book series make an appearance throughout the episodes.
- Each episode (so far) is named after one of the Goosebumps books and features parts of the storyline from the Goosebumps books.
- Each episode presents some entertaining spooky elements but tends to resolve in a happy ending by the end of the episode.
- The episodes also end on some sort of cliffhanger to set up the next Goosebumps storyline.
- The larger storyline follows a group of teenagers and a decades-old mystery that they need to solve in order to hopefully be safe.
- There isn’t a lot of gore, but there are other elements of a scary story like creepy acting, goo, creepy-crawlies, goblins, and generally spooky supernatural stuff.
Check out these classic Goosebumps book sets
The bigger story
The Disney show isn’t just retelling the Goosebumps books as stand-alone episodes. Rather, there’s a bigger storyline, and each episode incorporates the elements of a particular Goosebumps book into that episode’s storyline.
The bigger storyline follows a couple of paths. First, a man we know as Mr. Bratt (Justin Long) moves into a newly inherited house. Mr. Bratt is excited to have a large home in this new town as he takes on a position as an English teacher at the local high school.
Secondly, we are introduced to a group of teenagers who happen to go to the high school where Mr. Bratt will soon be teaching. The group of friends are looking for a new venue for a Halloween party, and they decide on the long-vacant house with a dark history. The perfect location for a spooktacular party, right?
Well, it would be. If it wasn’t for the fact that the house they chose for their party is no longer vacant thanks to Mr. Bratt. But more importantly, the house’s dark history includes a selection of cursed objects, like… a haunted mask and a cursed cuckoo clock.
The Halloween party sets the stage for all of the other spooky events throughout the show.
Is the Disney Goosebumps show scary?
If you’re like 5, yeah it’s probably pretty scary.
If you’re 10 it’s pretty spooky.
If you’re older than that, it’s spooky enough to be entertaining but probably not nightmare-inducing.
If you’re a parent wondering if Disney’s Goosebumps show is appropriate for your kid:
If your kid is on the younger side, maybe watch the first episode with them. If you’ve got a kid that likes spooky stuff, they’ll probably like this show.
If you’re an adult who grew up with Goosebumps, should you watch the new Goosebumps show?
Disney has made a creepy book series for kids into a creepy TV show for those kids who have grown up and for the new generation of Goosebumps fans. It’s not a horror show, but it has enough creep factor to connect any horror-loving adults to their early love of spooky things.
In other words, it’s a great show for all those who have always been… Spooky At Heart.
Watch the Goosebumps TV show if you like:
- The original Goosebumps book series
- Nostalgic recreations of things from your childhood (if Goosebumps was part of your childhood)
- Creepy TV shows and movies that don’t rely on gore
- Scooby-Doo style who-dun-its where a group of teenagers try solving spooky mysteries