Magic is messy. Usually, in the world of the Russos, it's "accidentally turn your brother into a guinea pig" messy. But back in 2013, Disney Channel decided to take that messiness and turn it into a full-blown identity crisis.
The Wizards Return: Alex vs. Alex wasn't just another TV movie. It was a weird, ambitious, and surprisingly dark standalone special that aired about a year after the series finale. Most fans remember it for the CGI battle on top of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Others remember it as the moment Selena Gomez proved she could play a villain just as well as she played a sarcastic teen.
But if you look closer, this special actually tackled something most sitcoms are too scared to touch: the fact that you can't just "spell away" the parts of yourself you don't like.
What Actually Happens in The Wizards Return Alex vs. Alex?
Okay, let’s set the stage. Alex Russo is officially the Family Wizard. She’s got the full power, the robes, the whole deal. But she’s still, well, Alex. She’s lazy. She uses magic to skip the line. Her parents, Jerry and Theresa, are still riding her back about being "responsible."
Enter Italy.
The family heads to Tuscany for a reunion. Alex, trying to prove she’s mature, meets a charming (read: suspicious) wizard named Dominic. He’s the nephew of Gorog, the big bad from the series finale. Dominic gets in her head. He tells her she should just get rid of the "bad" parts of her personality so everyone will finally respect her.
Alex listens. Bad move.
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She performs a spell that literally splits her in two. On one side, you have Good Alex—sweet, helpful, and honestly a little boring. On the other side, you have Evil Alex. This isn't just Alex with a bad attitude; this is a reflection of every selfish impulse she’s ever had, cranked up to eleven.
The Conflict of Self
The core of The Wizards Return Alex vs. Alex is this literal battle between the person Alex wants to be and the person she actually is.
Evil Alex isn't just hanging out eating gelato. She teams up with Dominic to trap the rest of the mortal world in tiny beads. Why? Because she can. It’s the ultimate expression of Alex’s "me first" attitude without any of her conscience to hold it back.
The stakes get high fast. Mason (the werewolf boyfriend) gets caught in the crossfire. Harper (the mortal best friend) is stuck trying to navigate a world where her best friend is literally fighting herself.
Why the Special Hits Differently Today
Watching this in 2026 feels a lot different than it did in 2013. Back then, it was just a cool special with better-than-average effects. Now, it feels like a bridge. With the release of Wizards Beyond Waverly Place, we see an Alex who is a member of the Wizard Tribunal and a mother.
In The Wizards Return Alex vs. Alex, we are seeing the "middle" Alex. She’s no longer the kid who doesn't want to study, but she’s not yet the leader who sacrifices herself to save the wizarding world.
The special highlights a massive truth: you can't be "good" by deleting your flaws. You're only good because you choose to do the right thing despite having those flaws. When Alex finally defeats her evil twin, she doesn't do it by being more powerful. She does it by accepting that "Evil Alex" is a part of her.
Breaking Down the Production
It’s worth noting that David Henrie (Justin Russo) was noticeably absent from this special. He was busy filming other projects at the time, though the show explained it away by saying Justin was busy over at WizTech.
- Filming: Despite the Italian setting, most of the special was shot in California. The "Italy" you see is a mix of clever sets and some background plates.
- The Cast: Selena Gomez pulled double duty, and honestly, her performance as Evil Alex is some of her most underrated work. She leaned into the campy, Disney-villain energy perfectly.
- Ratings: It pulled in about 5.9 million viewers on its premiere night. For a post-series special, that’s huge. It proved the audience wasn't ready to let go of the Russos.
Is It Canon?
Yes. Absolutely. While some fans treat it like a "what if" story, the events of this special are frequently cited in deep-lore discussions. It establishes that Alex is arguably the most powerful wizard of her generation, even if she’s the most reluctant one.
Actionable Insights for Fans Re-watching
If you’re planning a re-watch of the entire franchise, don't skip this one. It’s the connective tissue between the teen Alex we grew up with and the adult Alex we see in the revival.
- Watch for the subtle cues: Notice how Selena Gomez changes her posture and tone between the two Alexes. It’s a masterclass in subtle character acting for a Disney show.
- Contextualize the ending: When Alex gives up her magic (temporarily) to save her family, it mirrors the sacrifices she makes later in life. It shows that her core value was never magic—it was always the people she loved.
- Check the visuals: For a 2013 TV movie, the final battle in the sky is actually pretty decent. It set a new standard for what Disney Channel could do with a budget.
The real takeaway from The Wizards Return Alex vs. Alex is pretty simple. We spend so much time trying to be "perfect" and cutting out our "bad" parts. But Alex shows us that those bad parts—the sass, the selfishness, the edge—are part of what makes us strong enough to save the world when it actually counts.
Go back and watch the battle on the Jumbotron. It's ridiculous, it's over-the-top, and it's exactly what Wizards of Waverly Place was always about. Family, mistakes, and a whole lot of magic.