Finally got around to giving Harmonious a watch via the Disney Parks Blog. I haven't read everyone's comments on the show, but based on the page or two I did read, I completely agree with much of the criticism it's receiving. Harmonious is pretty dang bad--it's not a "Nighttime Spectacular," it's a "Nighttime Disaster."
Here's the thing: Harmonious' problems don't stem from the inclusion of Disney IP. Would I prefer an old-school EPCOT Center-style show in the vein of ROE? Sure. With that said, IP isn't inherently bad, and if added tastefully can enhance a project--yes, even in EPCOT. The real problem with the show is the disjointed presentation and lack of connective tissue tying the whole thing together.
For starters, where is Harmonious' original theme music? Remember when, at the D23 Expo 2019, Bob Chapek introduced the new EPCOT Anthem by proclaiming that EPCOT has a "unique musical voice?" Whoever it is that wrote Chapek's introduction clearly understands the importance of music at EPCOT, so how is it that the Imagineers tasked with creating attractions don't? The show's disjointed nature and haphazard production would feel far more streamlined were an original theme written for Harmonious and played throughout. Shoot, if theme music exclusive to Harmonious is somehow cost inhibitive (I can't imagine that it is) then USE THE EPCOT ANTHEM INTRODUCED IN 2019! It's a good anthem. It would serve the purpose fine and tie the show to the park it's being presented in.
And if for some reason, every single inch of Harmonious must be drenched in Disney IP, then use Coco's "The World Es Mi Familia" as the through-line theme.
"For this music is my language and the world es mi familia."
^^The lyric was practically written for a show that takes place on World Showcase Lagoon! How did they miss this?
In addition to a main theme, there really should be some form of narration throughout; something that emphasizes the importance of individuals coming together as one to make the world a better place--something that urges viewers to:
"Add your voice to the song of humankind, and make our world HARMONIOUS."
^^I'm sorry, but this really isn't hard. I'm literally sitting at a work computer during my lunchbreak coming up with this stuff, and (if I may be so bold) I honestly believe it's better than the garbage that debuted last night. Today's world is in desperate need of a little bit of corny, sentimental, old-school Disney inspiration, and EPCOT is the perfect place for them to give it to us. How do you miss that opportunity? How do you miss the chance to ask your audience to be a little better?
The next bit of criticism I have for Harmonious? The movies represented in the show could have been chosen at random. It's almost as though Imagineers hung a bunch of classic Disney movie posters on a wall and then threw darts at them while blindfolded to decide which movies would be featured. That might work okay at MK or DHS, but EPCOT has a very specific theme and purpose (a fact that Zach Riddley constantly reminds us of in his Instagram posts
). If IP is going to be used at a park, it should further the park's theme and enhance the message that the park attempts to convey. Harmonious could have done this by highlighting one Disney IP per World Showcase Pavilion...Coco for Mexico; Frozen for Norway; Mulan for China; Tangled for Germany; Luca for Italy, etc. Give the selection of IP purpose and use it to tell a story.
My final criticism of Harmonious? The barges are just so grotesque. Even during the show, as they flash colored lights and shoot streams of water into the air, the barges simply aren't much to look at. They look like they belong backstage at a pop concert. Once upon a time, Disney used to hide the equipment that makes magic happen; the company prided itself on show quality and atmosphere. Today? "Welp, I guess we can plop a giant ring that looks like it's made of a recycled oil rig in the middle of World Showcase Lagoon. Guests are either too stupid to notice or too addicted to our Pixie Dust to care."
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