Jareth was always there...

I love finding deeper stories, easter eggs, and hidden gems in movies and TV shows. I love to pause things when they show computer screens, documents, or anything that would take time to read. Sometimes, the easter eggs can add a whole new layer of understanding, humor, or depth to a story that you wouldn't have realized during first viewing.

While watching Labyrinth recently, something caught my eye and it started me down this rabbit hole trying to find out more of what I saw, and learn about the tragically misunderstood Goblin King Jareth (Masterfully portrayed by David Bowie).

I know there was always some controversy associated with Labyrinth due to the age difference between the main characters and the romanticized portrayal of Jareth's pursuit of Sarah. While I acknowledge that there always going to be critics and naysayers, I am NOT here to indulge that line of thinking. Its a wonderful fantasy movie that many of us love.

So, please suspend your prejudice, and enjoy these easter eggs...

This rock sculpture of Jareth is only visible when viewed from the right angle. It was an invention of Jim Henson and Debbie the Roboteer for the movie.

This is actually not the first, OR the only time you see Jareth's face presented throughout the movie. You've heard about "hidden mickeys", right? Well, let me introduce you to "Hidden Jareths".

Let's explore the movie with a "Where's Waldo" mindset.

First - in this wide shot, we see Sarah and Hoggle getting familiar with the Labyrinth walls. Can you find Jareth?

Fun Fact from IMDB: Sarah makes the mistake by picking the direction of going "right." When she first enters the labyrinth, she turns right. Then the worm tells her to go "right" when she passes through the wall. She later goes through the "right" door with the Blue Shield Goblins and falls down through shaft of "helping" hands. "Right" again when she chooses the door with the knocker with ring in mouth (door with forest of the Firese.)

Jareth is "watching" Hoggle after he ditched Sarah and ran away due to his self affirmed cowardice. (Interesting how he went left?)

I like to think this is how Jareth knew Hoggle was alone and could confront Hoggle and command him to give Sarah the poisoned peach.

After escaping the "slashing machine", Hoggle and Sarah have to climb a ladder to escape the tunnels.
(NOTE - There is no "hidden Jareth" in this shot, this is just to show where we are in the movie, as the next hidden Jareth is subtle & difficult to pick out)

While climbing the ladder to get out of the tunnels, one of the rungs breaks away under Hoggle, and he looks back down as the wood plank falls.
Jareth is there, watching As The World Falls Down"
(see what I did there? Diehards will get it)

Fun Fact from IMDB: The original script ended with Sarah punching Jareth and berating him into submission, at which point his appearance reverts to that of a small goblin who runs away.

Ah, the Bog of Eternal Stench...here we get a double dose of Jareth in quick succession. Sarah and Hoggle narrowly escape setting a fall into the bog as Jareth watches on.

Fun Fact from IMDB: Whenever someone says "Piece of cake," something bad happens.

As they are walking along the ledge above the B.O.E.S., some of the footing falls away from under them. Once again, Jareth is there.

You could argue it is the same Jareth face, but I am splitting them up as they are two different shots in the same scene. No other hidden Jareth is in more than one shot.
Fun Fact: Throughout the movie there is a black crow. When Sarah crosses the bog, it's perched watching her. It's also in the junkyard. Again when her group of friends and her enter the Goblin City.

Chronologically in the movie, this is the first time we see a hidden Jareth. This is right after the worm says "If she'd have kept on going down that way...she'd have gone straight to the castle!"

Fun Fact from IMDB: The little creatures that appear from beneath the tiles in the Labyrinth are called "Tilekeepers."

This is the hidden Jareth that caught my eye and starting this whole....thing.

I loved this one.

Welp, there it is....That's it!

Take from it what you will.
I have my own thoughts on what it all means, and I like to think it was simply a genius in the art department's way of adding another layer to the story.

Maybe that Jareth IS the Labyrinth...or at the very least that he is always watching, always there.

I hope you enjoyed!

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