26 Years Later, Disney’s So Weird Still Needs Its Real Finale

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The X-Files was a hugely popular and important show, helping to bring serious science fiction to a wider audience on television. It clearly inspired many other shows and movies, even some aimed at children. Surprisingly, one of the best examples of this influence was a show on the Disney Channel.

Disney’s So Weird was a surprisingly dark show for its time, and it could have been even more intense. While the third season was a little less spooky than earlier episodes, that wasn’t the initial intention. With almost thirty years having passed since its debut, now is the ideal moment to revisit the series and finally give it the conclusion it deserves on Disney+.

So Weird Was the Best Kids Version of The X-Files

I totally remember being obsessed with those spooky kids’ shows in the 90s! There were so many with a sci-fi or supernatural twist, like Are You Afraid of the Dark? which was based on R.L. Stine’s books. A lot of the others seemed brand new, but you could definitely see how The X-Files inspired them all. Disney didn’t want to be left out, though, so they jumped on the bandwagon right as the new millennium was starting!

I was such a big fan of So Weird when it was on – it really stood out! It aired from 1999 to 2001, and honestly, it felt way more modern than most kids’ shows even today. The story followed Fiona, whose mom, Molly, was a musician getting back into her career after a tough time with her husband passing away. Fi traveled with her mom, her brother Jack, and the tour managers, Ned and Irene – it was a really cool show about family and figuring things out.

Clu (Erik von Detten), the son of Ned and Irene, was originally part of the show’s cast, but when he went to college, his older brother Carey (Eric Lively) took over the role. Throughout the series, Fi and her family traveled to different towns and experienced various strange and unexplainable events. Fi was fascinated by the paranormal and actively investigated these occurrences, even creating a website—essentially an early blog—to share her discoveries. This made the show remarkably forward-thinking for its time.

Jack often found himself in strange situations, but that didn’t stop an Irish spirit named Bricriu from taking control of him. These unusual events included two encounters with beings from another world (one of which gave the people in a town psychic abilities), using a computer to try and reach a comatose girl, and a heartbreaking story about Molly’s friend Rebecca from when they were children.

One of the most fascinating things about the character of Molly was that she essentially didn’t age, having lived for centuries. It was a bittersweet existence, though, because her condition also meant she couldn’t really have a normal family or lasting relationships. And honestly, despite being a show aimed at younger viewers, So Weird wasn’t afraid to tackle some really heavy stuff. They often referenced the death of Molly’s husband, and those details would resurface throughout the series in unexpected ways. It was cool how they wove things together – like when Rebecca showed up, we’d already heard a song about her, sung by Molly, earlier in the show. It gave the whole series a really nice, connected feel, musically and thematically.

Tad Raxall, a brilliant but forgetful character, repeatedly tries to clumsily win Molly’s affection. Meanwhile, the singer also becomes possessed by a ghostly spirit when Bricriu reappears. Sadly, the show’s final season lost its spark, made significant changes, and ended in a disappointing way.

The Darkest Disney Show Almost Went to Hell — Literally

The third season of So Weird looked quite different because Cara DeLizia, the show’s main star, left to focus on other projects. Without her character, Fi, many of the planned storylines for the new season had to be changed or dropped, even before Season 3 began airing. The show quickly wrapped up Fiona’s story arc involving her father in the final episode of Season 2.

Okay, so at the start of Season 3, my favorite character, Fi, moved in with her aunt and it felt like she just… disappeared from the main story. It was weird! They brought in a new lead, Annie, played by Alexz Johnson, who was a friend of Molly’s and also musically gifted. The biggest change, though, was the tone. Fi was always looking for trouble, for the supernatural stuff, but Annie just stumbled into it. And honestly, the episodes were way lighter and not nearly as spooky or intense as the first two seasons. It felt like a totally different show, and I missed the darkness!

Understandably, some fans were upset by these changes, especially since the final episode was mostly just a collection of old clips and didn’t really finish the story. Before the show recast Fi with Annie, the plans for Season 3 of So Weird were nearly ready to be filmed. One scrapped storyline involved Molly and Carey struggling with alcoholism, but the other idea that never made it to air was even more serious and dealt with mature themes.

As a huge fan, I was really fascinated to learn what Season 3 could have been! Apparently, it would have focused on Fiona basically venturing into the afterlife to rescue her father’s soul. He wasn’t supposed to die when he did, and while they probably wouldn’t have called it Hell, the idea was pretty clear. It all makes sense when you think back to the first time we met Bricriu – he hinted that the spirits on the other side were already annoyed with Fiona constantly interfering with the supernatural world. It felt like they were setting up this storyline way back then!

Early plans for the show also involved a surprising backstory for Jack Phillips: the idea that he was the reincarnation of a knight. He supposedly chose to be Fiona’s brother in a new life specifically to protect her. However, when the lead actress left and Disney asked for a lighter tone, this storyline, along with many others, was ultimately dropped.

The show finished its run with episode 65, a typical length for series back then. It concluded almost 25 years ago, and Disney has largely ignored it since. Now that it’s available on Disney+, there’s a chance for a proper ending to the story.

How Disney+ and Nostalgia Could Deliver a Classic Show’s True Final Season

Disney+ offers a wide range of Disney shows and movies, including both classic favorites and new releases. The service has increasingly revisited existing franchises, with some follow-up shows being created. For example, the recent Willow series didn’t quite live up to the beloved 1980s film, demonstrating Disney’s willingness to revive older properties, even if those revivals don’t always last. This pattern suggests similar approaches could be taken with other titles.

As a lifelong fan of So Weird, I’ve always dreamed of a continuation, and I think a miniseries on Disney+ is the perfect way to do it. Imagine finally getting that Season 3 we were promised! It would be amazing to see Fiona, played by Cara DeLizia of course, all grown up and still investigating the supernatural, maybe even finally uncovering the truth about what happened to her dad. And it wouldn’t just be Fi – we could catch up with Molly, perhaps as a successful musician, and even bring Annie back, maybe making her the heart of the show’s music. Because it’s streaming, they could really lean into the darker, more mature themes that were planned for that lost season. Honestly, with the original fans now being adults, maybe even with kids of their own, it’s the ideal time to revisit this show and share it with a new generation.

With the current trend of older shows being revisited, there’s a good opportunity for a revival of So Weird. Releasing it around Halloween on Disney+ would be ideal, as it aligns with the spooky season and offers a surprising dose of nostalgia for viewers. This approach could also prevent criticism of simply relying on nostalgia for profit.

Most importantly, finishing the story now would give the characters a satisfying conclusion – something the Season 3 finale didn’t quite deliver. Even though the show originally aired decades ago, completing it now would make it even more meaningful for fans of So Weird.

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2025-10-27 02:08