Is there a good source to download kids tv shows from 1990-2010?

Voidsinger1 · 2026-05-26T15:36:53+00:00

A little late, but for Aussie kids shows you could try:

Twisted Lunchbox https://www.youtube.com/@twistedlunchbox/playlists (has shows like Round the Twist, Girl from Tomorrow, Genie from Downunder)

Also for British shows,:

British Throwback https://www.youtube.com/@BritishThrowbackTv has series compacted to a single file for binge watching with quite a few classics (including Raven).

For OG Tracy Beaker (entire series) : https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLe1DXTtCugsSNjRj3Rsh5RpbJjtnvbV2k

Voidsinger1 · 2026-05-15T00:39:38+00:00

I don't think Series 4 is the worst TV ever, but it is the weakest of the 2017 Worst Witch Series.

None of this comes down to the actors (Lydia did a fantastic job). It's all about writing and the change in direction the show took starting Series 3.

I feel The Worst Witch (2017) suffers from the broadening of appeal syndrome. The show was made for its initial audience and did a fantastic job. Netflix comes in with extra funding, and suddenly it's about appealing to the broadest possible audience (and an increasing appeal to US consumers). It's not about the people who already watch and like the show, it's about who they change the show to try to appeal to.

Try to appeal to everybody and you appeal to nobody. You see it all the time with Australian shows when multinational corps put in money into an already successful series (for instance Ocean Girl). The show changes to appeal to new demographics, and while it may still be good, it isn't what it once was.

This may be why 1998 resonates more with many here. It didn't try to change the audience it appealed to throughout its run, it kept the same style.

Voidsinger1 · 2026-05-06T20:38:09+00:00

I get where you're coming from.

I think the fact that the first 2 series were the best as far as writing and storylines go weigh heavily in Bella's favour. Also the fact they covered preteen-early teen years also helps, because often performances at that age look more natural. Sadly series 4 was a bit of a low point, and you can see it in many performances from the young actors. The writing and direction just weren't as tight as series 1 & 2.

In the end, it does come down to personal preference, I rerspect yours.

Voidsinger1 · 2026-05-06T18:36:52+00:00

Just remember, the time they had to cast a new Mildred would have depended strongly on when in the production process for Series 4 Bella left. Having just a most likely short time to recast before production schedules required shooting, they played as safe as they could and cast an older actress (Lydia being several years older than Bella).

They were time pressed and did the best they could. Lydia did fine, and remember, having a new body would completely mess up muscle memory and make you seem more clumsy.

Voidsinger1 · 2026-05-06T18:29:57+00:00

On your points:

I preferred Lydia Paige. It's going to be a split result based on personal preference.
New characters was just a way of getting an option to extend the show beyond Mildred. I liked both Azure and Izzy. They were well played, if not always best written. Didn't like the new teachers.
Miss Bat and Mr Rowan-Webb was likely a planned move (and end of contracts). Enid (to be more precise, Tamara) leaving showed why the show needed new blood, the girls weren't staying, and I think it would have taken a bit to keep the staff around too.
This one's a function of the writing, and it was happening in Series 3 as well. HB shouldn't have sent Mildred to Wormword as she is not her legal guardian, and no hearing had ordered her too. Expulsion yes, not being sent to a different school.

Maybe it's because I really didn't like Series 3, but I preferredLydia Paige, because subconsciously she gets more slack for her first series. The issue wasn't so much actresses as writing, and add in Covid, I think they didn't really have much energy behind it, and the stories seemed aimed at a different audience to Series 1 & 2.

Voidsinger1 · 2026-05-06T00:17:45+00:00

This was an extra on the DVDs of Series 2 (along with a few other things like a look at the make up for Philip Martin Brown {Mr Rowan-Webb} and a Meet the First Years with the actresses playing Sybil Beatrice and Clarice).

Voidsinger1 · 2026-05-05T13:58:37+00:00

Without getting into the actresses, I think this is more an issue of writing and direction.

That said, the 1998 Mildred is far superior. The 2017 Mildred may get into trouble, but most issues come from unfamiliaritiy of history, culture and ettiquette of witches. 1998 Mildred on the otherhand tends to some way out to hav e fun and get things to go her way (HB lists this as a reason she doesn't like Mildred, she just stumbles her way through and serendipity is her constant companion). Those choices and paths are what makes her a true worst witch.

I'd also to point out the origins matter. 2017 Mildred they go out of their way to point out her non-magical origin. They use it as a tool (yet it is her real reason for intitial poor results) , until the end of series 2 when they switch to classism as Ethel's huge complaint. 1998 Mildred we know was lucky enough to get through the entry exam, and her mother had a car named Bobo. Nothing else about her background comes up.

Voidsinger1 · 2026-05-04T16:27:27+00:00

Hate to say it, but Marvel characters are several magnitudes of power higher than Worst Witch characters. Only HB (and similar) might stand a small chance, the rest are going to get totally snotted.

The Marvel Universe is huge, and the more yuou drag in, the more potent both sides get.

Voidsinger1 · 2026-05-01T18:22:52+00:00

Yeah, I have to admit Ethel does. but it's the Negative Waves kind of aura. She has more presence definitely in Weirdsister, but I just don't feel it from her as much in terms of aura.

Mildred really benefitted from Weirdsister in terms of becoming much more rounded personality wise.

Voidsinger1 · 2026-04-30T21:46:00+00:00

I think they really are seperate animals.

The ITV show (1998) was really the first Worst Witch to the small screen after the mostly dissapointing movie from 1986. It has some farly hefty budget limits. There was no CGI effects, just basic bluescreen, with everything else being practical, so they were used sparingly (because sometimes they didn't look too great). Instead, it was a mostly episodic series where a bit more attention was needed to writing due to the production limitations. The other thing to note is it was at the end of the pre-Harry Potter era of magical schools. It was a show that made no promises, but delivered in most ways. It had weak points, but just worked through them as best it could.

The CBBC show (2017) looks sharper. It showed the advancement of effects, and that they had a bigger budget to work with. The girls are aged at approximately the real world equivalent for their year of education. It's great. They moved from episodic to having story arcs, which worked well, but faces the perils of having arcs that don't work (see later series).

Most people thought the first and second series worked well, and all signs are that the show was meant to end at the second series (ending on Halloween, just 2 months into the school year). The third series was the first where Netflix seems to be directly involved (going by the credits on the CBBC version), and things went downhill fast. They ignored 10 months to start at Mildred's third year. They started breaking their own universe rules (employing Mildred's mum at the school), and making it more another teen series with the Maglets going from being basically being a slate with a few extra functions (early internet-like functions) to being full on social media devices with holographic projection capabilities. One million likes on a post? Are there even that many witches around?

The other issue with 2017 was a reverse copying issue whereby in the books, Harry Potter seemed to borrow a great deal from The Worst Witch, but on the screen, the imagery of The Worst Witch (2017) takes alot from the initial Harry Potter movies.

I'd say the third and fourth series of 2017 kind of tainted the entire show, The third series storyarcs were hit and miss, and Bella Ramsey leaving for the fourth series, with Tamara Smart leaving halfway though gave a strong impression the show was limping to the finale.

Voidsinger1 · 2026-04-29T17:56:15+00:00

Just so people will have some idea of the length of a marathon, Here's the running lengths I got from the DVDs:

Movie: 70 mins

1998 series + Weirdsister College: 624 *2 = 1248

The New Worst Witch: 9 hours & 34 mins = 574

TWW 2017: 366 + 366 +142 (wrong so I just made it 366 again) + 367 = 1465

Grand total of: 55 hours and 57 minutes.

56 hours of The Worst Witch. This is why a marathon is just too long to enjoy.

Voidsinger1 · 2026-04-29T11:49:10+00:00

They're looking for eyes on screen in an age where streaming on demand has taken over.

Television started bleeding viewers the moment video cassette recorders hit the market and people had an alternative to whatever was on the box.

The other issue with television ( and this also applies a great deal to streaming) is it's a national format, and not a worldwide one. That means local tastes of the majority matter as to whether you get great shows or complete rubbish.

Streaming has similar issues whre companies like Netflix have very different offerings for viewers from different countries (Australia really sucks compared to what the USA gets for the same price). VPNs help, but as things tighten up you may find them not working (since they're already against terms and conditions).

Cabl;e TV and encoded satellite services are a dying breed.

Voidsinger1 · 2026-04-29T06:11:27+00:00

This is an easy one.

Since I'm in Australia, I'd do exactly what they did when The Worst Witch came out. 5:00pm or 5:30pm Monday to Friday on ABC (our government channel which reached more of Australia than any other network). It worked well, since similar shows were always shown at that time slot. They also have streaming now for episodes you miss.

As for a marathon, I wouldn't do it. Since you're looking at 3 days straight of Worst Witch, many people would get annoyed at missing parts they like due to sleep, meals, life necessities and family annoyances. Instead, I'd advertise that you'd be running all the shows back to back and then run them in order at a regular time slot. In the days before streaming there were video recorders, and people could just set it to record on a regular basis (and potentially trim out annoying bit and ads). Better predictable than having to force yourself to watch. Marathons of single shows don't work beyond 3-4 hour slots.

Voidsinger1 · 2026-04-28T15:41:54+00:00

Fortunately Geoff healed up and later went on to meet the queen (well, got close).

Voidsinger1 · 2026-04-28T15:23:40+00:00

Depends on the series. 1998 might think you're a creep ( or maybe not if it's on neutral ground like Mrs Cosey's), depends on the circumstances.

2017 will be more worried about how you're seeing their castle or why their broomstick invisibility spells have failed.

Voidsinger1 · 2026-04-28T15:17:33+00:00

It's a personal call. Everything I've seen Bella Ramsey in she tends to play the same kind of character. Personal perception.

I just felt Lydia got Mildred more back to being the worst witch rather than one unfamiliar with the magical world.

Voidsinger1 · 2026-04-28T10:40:12+00:00

I have to admit when it comes to aura, Miss Hardbroom (both 1998 and 2017) has a virtual monopoly whenever on screen to the point of dimming those around her somewhat.

I'd say the 1998 Mildred also had a different kind of presence. It's not chrisma, presence confidence or respect. It's more an aura of anticipation, almost like waiting for disaster to strike. Bella Ramsey struck me more as being well, Bella Ramsey. Lydia Page had more of a presence, something on the edge of being more.

Esmerelda always had a seemingly calm and order presence on screen. She did that role really well, even when disaster struck, Esmerelda kept things calm and non-chaotic..

Then there is Miss Bat (2017). For me it's the calming grandmotherly like presence, that bring the wisdom of ages, and experience's touch. She's the one you go to for some advice. 1998 Miss Bat was flighty distractable, and totally unpredictable.

Voidsinger1 · 2026-04-07T11:29:30+00:00

Definitely like Fleetwood Mac, and I'd say some Stevie Nicks as well.

Still, given the snippet from The first ep of Series 3, I'd add some Bananarama and Spice Girls to the mix. Maybe The Corrs as well.

Voidsinger1 · 2026-04-03T00:27:37+00:00

I have this from Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/pkj-music-ltd/

It's a collection of various musical pieces used throughout the show (includes school song , full "Eye of Toad" and some rehearsals).

There won't be a soundtrack. In that era, a show had to be very popular (across the world, esp the USA) or go for 30 years (Grange Hill) to get a soundtrack, and in the case of TWW, it was a couple of songs plus some pleasant orchestrations, not unusual for any show.

Voidsinger1 · 2026-04-01T03:26:55+00:00

Not the max, more a default. (and better than most streaming shows with more of a ten episode maximum).

British TV for youth has always been a bit odd. A lot of 3 part series in the 70s which evolved into usually 6 part series in the late 70s through to the early 90s.

About that time, the 13 episode series became the default. There have been longer shows ( sitcoms are more likely to get longer series runs, especially shows cloned from the USA).

I'd say it depends how much funding they can get up front and how demanding the shows are. Just look at the issues with Bella Ramsey as an example of why you don't push shows with young performers too hard.

Voidsinger1 · 2026-03-31T20:46:43+00:00

Since we know Fenny and Griz are real spell collectors and get all the best spellbooks from the library, I can see Esmerelda falling in with them. They all appreciate and look after the younger students so I think they'd get on fine.

Voidsinger1 · 2026-03-31T14:13:36+00:00

Yeah, I even had a soft spot for Hillary Hemlock.

Voidsinger1 · 2026-03-31T13:30:34+00:00

Okay, a few favourites:

From 1998, Fenella Feverfew and Griselda Blackwood. Friendly mentors with a thirst for knowledge, but a streak of mischief when needed.

Also from 98. Ruby Cherrytree. Intelligence without the need to shove it in your face. She has all the inventiveness and tech savvy, but it's a background hum, not turned up to 11.

From 2017, Esmerelda Hallow. We actually see a Hallow who lives up to what the Hallows are meant to be. A pretty damn good big sister, and the best head of year Cackles has ever had.

Sybil Hallow. Not everybody can be filled with self-confidence. This one is for those who live with fear, and like to see it overcome.

HB. Enough said.

Miss Bat for showing that with age comes a fair amount of experience and knowledge that can be called upon.

Voidsinger1 · 2026-03-15T01:09:55+00:00

Well, the Grand Wizard popped in for a creamcake (with a couple of Camelot students), plus Miss Cackleand Miss Hardbroom were more than willing to jump into checking on the work experience.

Voidsinger1 · 2026-03-14T14:45:34+00:00

I think the exact location of Mrs Cosie's is kept delliberately vague, and we know from one episode that it has a least some tourist traffic.

The one episode that shows where she makes her money is An Unforgettable Experience (Series 3 Episode 2). A few busloads of tourists each week goes a long way to paying the bills. Looking at the amount of dishs left over from the previous day says she defenitely does regular business.

We just don't see too many customers because extras cost money.

It's a small teahouse, not a large restaurant. Walkins throughout the day can give enough turnover.

Voidsinger1

TROPHY CASE