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Primos Was Okay (And That's Okay!)

On Thursday, after over a year of controversy, delays, and pushback from the general public, Primos finally premiered on Disney Channel, to a surprisingly stable reception.

First of all, congratulations to the cast and crew for the premiere! For a show that was on such unstable waters just a year back, it's great to see that Primos has seen the light of day and not simply became a tax write-off.

As anyone involved in the animation community in June 2023 may recall, Primos' initial response was not great in the slightest, and for good reason. Based on solely the theme song alone, the show featured grammatical errors, unintentionally insensitive names, and was dismissed by others as Disney's cheap copy of The Casagrandes. Comments from cast members such as Tater's voice actor herself only added fuel to the fire. The show, initially set to drop in the fall of that same year, was delayed to January, then June as a precursor to the Big City Greens movie, and finally, July of 2024.

I personally didn't care for the Primos drama too much. Sure, I liked the theme song's beat and for a while it became an earworm, but I wasn't looking too closely at being a consistent viewer on the show. I was mixed on the artstyle, the characters, and the plot, which, while not awful by any means, weren't anything amazing as well.

But, with nothing else to do, I ultimately decided to view the first episode of Primos on YouTube the day after the big debut.

And, the show was serviceable.

The characters weren't annoying, and there were some moments that made me chuckle a bit. The songs were serviceable, and the themes on self-discovery are unique. But, ultimately, I don't see myself with any reason to really engage with this show outside of just watching a few episodes. The story of Primos is all there, but on its own, it's just there.

If there's any character I truly hated, it was Tater and Nellie's mother, Bibi. Knowing fully well she didn't have the time or effort to efficiently take care of twelve kids on top of her two daughters and baby son, yet inviting then over anyways for the sake of 'memories' instead of listening to her kids. No wonder they address her by her first name.

As for characters I liked, I honestly enjoyed the three most 'normal' Primos in my opinion: Lita, Scooter, and Lucita. They get along well and have acceptable personalities. I can especially relate to Scooter and his anxiety, as a person who gets quite nervous themselves sometimes. Also, shout-out to Lucita, who's deaf and actually communicates through ASL on the occasion. Deaf representation is lacking in media, and I love how this show is helping us move one step further in that regard.

I also enjoyed Nellie as a character as well; it is admittedly a but weird how she's an eight-year-old with a Luisa-deep voice but her chemistry with Tater is great.

As for Tater herself, she's okay. She server her purpose as the disgruntled almost ten-year-old trying to find herself. Nothing too much or too little. I can relate to her in the sense of needing peace and quiet away from cousins; my cousins actually moved into my own house temporarily last year for a few months,

i talk about characters a lot in this show, because I believe that it's Primos' best achievement. In a way, each of the characters work off of Tater in their own way, keeping the show fresh and upbeat, but not being afraid to scale things back when needed. I thought that the Primos would act as nothing but plot devices whose only merit is to ruin Tater's life, but, thankfully, that's not the case.

Now, what about this show being mediocre? It can't be all that good, right?

Well, like I said before, the animation and art designs are not my favorites. I can't push back too much since the rough, earthy tone translate into the series as a whole, but personal preference is also a factor. The music and songs, while good for what they are, don't add anything too much to the series and I personally would have preferred if this show wasn't a musical al all; Disney Channel admittedly has plenty of those nowadays.

And, that essentially encapsulates my feelings on Primos as a while. On its own, it works for what it has, but compared to shows with similar plots such as The Loud House, it only holds a candle compared to the latter's sun.

And, you know what? That's okay. If anything, it's a miracle that a show detested so much by the general public during its initial preview became nothing but a mediocre addon at worst.

Maybe I'll tune into a few more episodes to fully solidify my thoughts on this show. But, for now, I'll only be an occasional onlooker exploring the world of Tater Ramirez Humphrey and company. I'm okay with that, and I'm sure you'll be okay too.

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I wrote about this on my other blog fairly recently: https://www.tumblr.com/tumblydovereviews/758452534959636480/in-defense-of-caillou?source=share

TL;DR: Caillou ain't all that bad once you look at the bigger picture.

Okay. I do NOT understand why everyone (except me) hates Caillou so much. I mean, I used to watch this show as a little kid, and I STILL love it. Is it because Caillou is a spoiled brat? Is it because it's teaching kids to throw temper tantrums? Seriously, am I the only one who LOVES THIS SHOW??? I don't understand why the heck does it get SO MUCH HATE!

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Wow, a hit post!

I'm happy to see that the rest of Tumblr still enjoys this song as much as I do!

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Hamilton: Why it Worked

"Ladies and gentlemen, this is your king, George III. Welcome, to Hamilton."

I've been in a Hamiton funk lately. In fact, while writing this post I was actually watching the Disney+ recording of the musical!

It's not just because today is the Fourth of July and Alexander Hamilton ultimately played a major role in helping America become what it is today. It's not just because Moana 2 is dropping in a couple of months, which Lin Manuel-Miranda won't be a part of, and I'm coping by listening to his music and work. I've always been a Hamilton fan, and while I haven't had the time nor the money to actually go out and see it myself, I have enjoyed it via listening to the soundtrack, reading the giant book I have on it, and generally appreciating the work itself.

A concept like Hamilton was fairly unique at the time of it coming out- after all, who has ever heard of an idea as abnormal as a sung-and-rapped musical about one of the Founding Fathers? In a way, though, Alexander Hamilton himself held many characteristics of a perfect protagonist for a show with this concept; he was restless, impulsive, and always moving, just as the show is paced to be. Lin Manuel-Miranda got the idea for the entire musical by reading a Hamilton biography. He was inspired by Hamilton's personality and compared it to that of a rapper; namely, Tupac Shakur, joining the past and the present together to form a new creation.

Any great musical would need to be propelled by music totally, and Hamilton is no exception; in fact, the musical holds a unique advantage over other generic shows- as mentioned before, it's a sung-and-rapped through musical. The majority, if not all, of the show is sung-through. Not only does this allow for a unique point-of-view inside of the personal issues of the characters, but it also allows the musical to be highly accessible. As I mentioned before, I haven't actually watched Hamilton in-person; my main way of consuming Hamilton media is by 'watching' the musical via its array of songs. Unlike other musicals, I didn't need to worry about gaps in the narrative not being able to be sealed by dialogue or body language.

And, speaking of the songs, they're great as well! In a variety of genres, such as rap, jazz, and pop, there's a Hamilton song for everyone, really. Lin, Leslie, Renee, and the rest of the class are amazing singers, and the orchestra and sound department also aids in elevating the play's most dramatic moments. Some are my personal favorites are the opening song, Alexander Hamilton, What'd I Miss, You'll be Back, and The Schuyler Sisters.

But, perhaps the main factor in the wide appeal of Hamilton was how well the writing and casting managed to humanize people that seemed so far away from our time, people who we'd usually think as being foreign to our modern-day issues. The cast of Hamilton are diverse in race, ranging from Hispanic to Black to Asian, and are given personalities that can relate to what people nowadays are like. Hamilton is ambitious and prideful, while Burr is more introverted but vengeful to a fault. Instead of random historical names, the two men, and all of the other characters in the play, become real. There's a reason that people of all ages, from young teenagers to fully-grown adults, have all managed to grow captivated by these characters. They are human. They are us. Hamilton is us.

And, ultimately, this is why Hamilton has become such a big success, in my opinion. Hamilton works because it doesn't just act as a play; instead, think of it as a river, using music, characters, and comedy to connect two oceans together- the past and the present. What started off as a random idea that was scorned down upon by others has ultimately become a global phenomenon, and with the feats mentioned above, it's no wonder that Hamilton managed to become such a success both on and off Broadway. To this day, the play still sells out tickets regularly, and is viewed, listened, and acted to by millions all around not just the USA, but the entire globe.

So, this fourth of July, you don't need to bolt out the national anthem while wearing red, white, and blue and bursting out oodles of fireworks everywhere you go. Instead, if you have the ability to, I'd highly recommend watching or listening to the soundtrack of Hamilton. Because, no matter the holiday or the country you lie in, there's something for everyone in this musical.

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New blog tomorrow!

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After eons of waiting, I can finally confirm a new blog is dropping tomorrow (for REAL this time).

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Why The Fairly Oddparents Will Never Die

In May of 2024, Nickelodeon dropped the newest iteration in the Fairly Oddparents franchise - A New Wish. Instead of focusing on Timmy Turner, this series revolves around Hazel Wells, a young girl who has just moved to the city and is feeling a bit low, especially since her older brother has moved out to college. Needing a new companion, Hazel confides in her weird neighbors, Cosmo and Wanda, who are actually her fairy godparents in disguise, ready to grant any of her heart's desires.

A New Wish is not the first time Nickelodeon has attempted to revive the Fairly Oddparents; in 2022, The Fairly Oddparents: Fairly Odder, a live-action show focusing on Timmy's cousins Viv receiving a new step-sibling in Roy and inheriting Cosmo and Wanda as a result. That show received extremely negative reception, from both critics and fans alike, condemning the show's cringy, outdated humor, cursed animation, and weird plot holes. Even though it managed to win Best Kids Show at the 2023 Kids Choice Awards, as a result of its bad reviews, the series was quietly removed from Paramount Plus and other digital downloading services, and wiped from existence.

Yet, a little over a year later, Nick still felt obliged to release another revival of The Fairly Oddparents, even after the bomb that was 2022's reboot. Luckily though, this series has received a much more positive reception from the general public than its sister show. But, even despite the growing popularity, a question still remains to be answered: why, exactly, did Nickelodeon revive the Fairly Oddparents again, instead of letting the franchise rest in flawed peace after its last major bomb?

The Fairly Oddparents is one of Nickelodeon's most beloved and longest-lasting franchises of all time, at one point even rivaling Spongebob in ratings. A revival of the series was inevitable, especially in the wake of nostalgia-banking. The show is among one of the easiest series to reboot and revive over and over, just because of how timeless and basic the concept is. If one iteration fails, than another can be made with a new child and new wishes. What kid hasn't wanted to watch a show about fairies who can give you ice cream for breakfast? Or can make that one annoying teacher disappear into the abyss?

However, with this comes some setbacks- it's easy to give godparents to a child who doesn't deserve them at all, or make the child have no personality whatsoever other than having Cosmo and Wanda, both sins Fairly Odder fell prey to. Viv has little-to-no personality outside of the main premise, and compared to having a literally evil babysitter, a teacher who hates you. and neglectful parents, receiving a new step-sibling is nothing worth needing godparents for.

Not only does the series have appeal towards its main target audience (kids) but also towards adults and caretakers as well. The simplistic plot brings them back to the days of being a kid, where the smallest of problems could be solved by simply waving a wand, and the comedy of the series contains small, but noticeable jabs that fly over kids' heads and only adults can understand.

With a constantly revived franchise comes a constantly milked cash cow. Nickelodeon likes money, and the Fairly Oddparents is a money-making franchise. As mentioned before, at one point, the show had enough credentials on its belt to rival other Nickelodeon greats such as Spongebob Squarepants and Avatar: The Last Airbender. With video games, movies in both animated and live action form, and even its own theme park attraction, the Fairly Odd Coaster, which opened in 2004 and still operates to this day.

Cosmo and Wanda themselves have become pop-culture icons. As a person who still attends school, during Spirit Weeks and dress up days, I can still see students dressed up as the pink and green dynamic duo regularly! This status allows for generations to be able to be seamlessly introduced to Cosmo and Wanda with ease. Other members of the memorable cast include Jorgen, Vicky, Poof, Mr. Crocker, Timmy's parents, and even Timmy's friends such as AJ and Chester. A New Wish particularly has done a great job re-introducing these characters and giving them creative epilogues and climaxes to their stories.

The Fairly Oddparents managed to create a stable base with its simplistic but creative plot, memorable characters, and merchandising. Because of this base, the series has become unbreakable, even in the midst of the eons of cringy and bad content any long-running show is doomed to have. The Fairly Oddparents may end one day, with no new content being produced, but I doubt that we will be seeing the show's impact or popularity die in our lifetime, or anytime soon for that matter.

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Diabetes In Media: The Good, the Bad, and the Stacey

November is National Diabetes Awareness Month in the United States, and to commemorate the month, today's blog is going to analyze three diabetic characters and how good, bad, or mid their handling is.

The unfortunate reality is that diabetes representation in the media is far from perfect. As a diabetic myself, I crave proper representation of people like me, but I've had to come to terms with the fact that we as a society still have a long way to go in those terms.

So, without further ado, let's get into three notable (whether for good or bad reasons) examples of diabetes in the media!

The Good: Sonia (Silly Sundays)

This piece of representation is as entertaining as it is vital. It's important to teach preschoolers about managing conditions and treating others with medical conditions well at a young age, and Silly Sundays does a commendable job in the process.

I've been waiting to talk about Silly Sundays for a while now; only recently did the show start airing episodes here in the States. The series focuses on three kids: Hugo and sisters Sonia and Mel. The three of them are cousins and go on adventures every Sunday when their family comes together, hence the show's title. Sonia, the middle cousin, happens to be diabetic, and wears a CGM and insulin pump. According to this interview, the idea for Sonia to be diabetic wasn't floated around until one of the staff member's sons was diagnosed and realized there weren't many characters with his condition on TV for him to see. This isn't touched on much in the show, with the exception being in the episode Sit Still Sonia where Sonia has a low blood sugar episode but struggles to relax and sit still. I love Silly Sundays' take on diabetes since it incorporates the condition into its plotlines in a way that feels realistic. Sonia's diabetes isn't the main focus of the episode, but it does tie into her everyday life in a way that manages to not hinder the main plot but educate on the condition at the same time.

I also love how Sonia's character isn't portrayed as 'perfect,' per say. She's still a little kid- she's impulsive, loud, and makes mistakes. It's so easy to feel pity for a chronically ill character and force them into a Mary-Sue persona, but Silly Sundays doesn't do that at all. Sonia may be diabetic, but at her core, she's an ordinary person, just like we all are.

The Bad: Oliver (Hannah Montana)

If you're at all familiar with Disney sitcoms you've most likely heard of Hannah Montana and her friend Oliver. However, most people fail to realize that Oliver has type 1 diabetes, and for good reason as well- the condition is mentioned once in a 'very special episode' and never again in the series' run. This would have been okay if it weren't for how badly the show fumbled in writing an episode about Type 1 diabetes in the first place. In fact, this episode, 'No Sugar, Sugar,' was temporarily pulled from Disney Channel and had to be reworked into a whole new episode just to be re-broadcasted again.

Oliver's type of diabetes is not specified, creating a sense of confusion as to why he's so desperate to eat sugar in the original cut. If Oliver had Type 1, he'd simply have to take insulin before having a sweet treat; as a type 2 diabetic myself, I can still have treats from time to time as long ad I check in with my body via my own CGM. Oliver can't do that for whatever reason.

Instead of focusing on the actual diagnosis itself, the episode is hyper focused on sugar. Not only is the stigma against diabetics and sugar so overplayed, but this stereotype is made even worse when considering that Hannah Montana is a show for children. You need to be extra careful when making content for little kids since they're so impressionable and can be sucked into conspiracies easily. Spreading blatant misinformation like Hannah Montana did is unacceptable.

While the episode was eventually refurbished and remade, the point still remains that the mere fact that the episode managed to get so far in production to be published out to the public is crazy in itself.

The Stacey: Stacey McGill (The Babysitters Club)

Stacey is arguably the most notable example of the three that I'm covering in this article. She gets her own section because there are multiple depictions of her in various mediums, and each of them are varying in their quality levels. None of the representations are bad, per say, but some are definitely better than others.

The original book series did an okay job, for a series that began in 1986. We got multiple books focusing on Stacey's condition, from one with her telling her friends about it to her ending up in the hospital. However, my problem comes with the fact that even in books where diabetes isn't even relevant, Stacey's condition is still shoved into our throats, and I'm saying that as a diabetic myself. I don't need to hear that Stacey has diabetes every ten seconds.

One scene that bothered me a lot was in a book where Stacey was babysitting a little girl named Charlotte whose parents were away. Charlotte was sick and didn't want to take her medicine, so Stacey showed the girl how she is forced to take insulin every day and that she should be grateful she only has to take cold medicine every so often. While I can understand where Stacey is coming from, swaying someone over because of a condition you have is not the best way to go in that regard.

The graphic novels and the 2020 Netflix series top the original books by a landslide, but I specifically want to discuss the latter example since it's the one I felt has had a more profound impact on the general population. Unlike the main books, Stacey's condition isn't thrown into every introduction of her character. Instead, there are a handful of episodes focused on the diagnosis, and all subsequent mentions are displayed via subtle signs, such as her insulin pump and her ability to drink a juice box when her sugar is low. Outside of her condition, Stacey is a New-Yorker fashionista, and unlike the books, the show doesn't neglect Stacey in that regard at all. Her diabetes is a part of her; it isn't just her.

While no new Babysitters Club content is currently being made, I can only hope that future iterations of the series, if they ever do happen, do as exceptional of a job in portraying diabetes as the 2020 series did. It's a shame that the series was cancelled so prematurely.

So there it is! Those are three examples of diabetes and how the portrayal of the condition has evolved over time. we've discussed all types of representation, from good to mediocre to god-awful. But, in the end, the effort to portray such a marginalized group is appreciated, even in the final result is less than stellar. Now that more research and is being conducted and awareness is growing, I'm confident that the way we see this disease will only continue to get better and better as time goes on.

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The Sign: Bluey's Magnum Opus

This was originally scheduled to be a four-part review but I have something even bigger coming up and, ultimately, I found myself with more ideas for a sole post on what is now one of my favorite episodes of the series and wanted to do a much deeper dive into it.

Magnum opus. Defined as the greatest achievement of a particular person or work, while a magnum opus isn't always the best in quality, it more often than not represents an amazing feat in the series' history. And, the Bluey 28-minute special "The Sign," is no different. With praise and acclaim from both critics and casual viewers, and currently holding the highest rating of any Bluey episode on IMDb, it's safe to say that this episode is one of, if not the best that Bluey has ever had to offer.

Bluey's array into long-form content didn't start from this special, though. In 2020, a new play titled, appropriately, Bluey's Big Play, was released to audiences with positive reviews from all demographics. Needless to say, Bluey long-form content was desired more than ever, and The Sign only delivered in that aspect.

The Sign focuses on Bluey and Bingo learning about their family's plans to move out of Brisbane and into the city, where Bandit has received a new job. Bluey is heartbroken, while Bingo takes the news oddly well. At the same time, the Heelers are also preparing for Frisky and Radley's wedding, which will be hosted at the house before the big move. The Heeler girls, along with Muffin and Socks, derive a plan to get Frisky to move the big "FOR SALE," sign out of the driveway so nobody will buy the house, but plans are changed with Frisky ends up in an argument with Rad and calls the wedding off, leaving Chilli and the Heeler cousins on a road trip to find her, save the wedding, and (possibly), the house as well.

Despite being four times longer than the average episode, The Sign's pacing didn't feel slowed down compared to a regular episode; instead, enough plot has been packed inside of the special to account for the longer runtime. Not once did I feel like the special was dragging on or moving too fast. The pacing was perfect. The animation was great, and the lighting in certain scenes was amazing, especially during the dance party at the reception.

Bluey's growth as a character also stood out tremendously. This Reddit post sums everything up amazingly. Bluey is getting older; she can sit in the front seat, she can listen in to conversations she'd initially be ushered out of for being 'too young,' and she spends more time hanging out with Chili and Frisky during the search than with her sister and cousins. By now in the series, enough time has passed for Brandy to be noticeably pregnant and for Rad and Frisky to develop their relationship, so Bluey is at least 7.5 years old now. Seeing such noticeable growth in her character is a wonderful thing.

The small details in the special as well are amazing! Seeing Grandpa Bob again, Frisky's family, and Brandy finally getting pregnant! Honey gets her first speaking role since Season 2! Pretzel has two mums! Socks is speaking in full sentences and has her biggest role in possibly the whole series!

But, perhaps the best part of The Sign was it's use of the butterfly effect, a reaction in which something seemingly mundane has a much larger impact and leads to a chain reaction. Each event has a purpose, whether we see its need immediately or not. Muffin jams the coin in the wrong spot of the binoculars, but the coin is used by the sheepdogs to discover Winton's house for sale and decide to move there over to the Heelers' house instead, which ends up being the final straw in Bandit's decision to keep the home. The motif of the Ulysses butterfly, first seen in Slide, as a reference to good luck only fuels the butterfly effect in the special.

My favorite scene in this special would have to be the ending, featuring Lazarus Drug in the background. The sheer anger on Bandit's face as he throws the sign onto the grass. Chilli diving onto him and sobbing, her shoulders shaking with the weight of her emotions. The girls running towards their parents, elated on the revelation. The Heelers, enjoying a dinner of fish and chips, the house almost completely empty as we pan up to the sky and the end of the special. This scene struck a chord with me that I had only felt during Bluey's saddest moments, and I had to admit, I shed a few small, but significant tears.

Bluey's The Sign not only teaches us about the sheer impact of the decisions we make everyday, but it also shows us how, even when life takes us in directions that we can barely respect, everything will always work out in our favor. Life gives us enough bad things to anticipate, that maybe anticipating isn't the best thing after all. Maybe, we should just say, "We'll see," and hope for the ultimate best.

This is why I believe that The Sign is not only one of Bluey's best episodes, but its magnum opus, Joe Brumm and Ludo Studios' greatest achievement to date. Not many preschool shows can expand to thirty minutes while still keeping audiences of all demographics engaged. Not many pieces of media in general can be both realistic and fun like Bluey can. Not many shows can show to us, the audience, the little moments in life that leave to big lessons as well as Bluey is able to. The Sign not only encapsulates the show's mission but goes well beyond of the barriers that children's TV is forced to be in the best way possible.

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What Failing NaNoWriMo Taught Me

This is a change in subject from the usual media posts, but I wanted to try and broad out the scope of my writing a bit.

If you are even remotely familiar with the online writing community, you will probably know what NaNoWriMo is. Every November, writers from all around the world scramble to start an all-new story and to finish that very story by the last day of the month. And, did I mention that this novel needs to be 50,000 words at the least?

Being the bored person I am, I decided to take a risk and try the challenge out. And thus, half my October was spent forming a new world with new characters and a unique plot. On November 1st, I gathered up my supplies, booted up my laptop and started the grand journey into the wild west that is NaNo season.

Obviously, if you read the title of this article, you would know how that went.

I wrote only approximately 29,000 words for my novel. That's it. Out of the 50,000 words I was planning on writing, I barely made it half-way through.

But yet, despite my technical failure, I don't think competing in NaNoWriMo was a complete waste. I learned quite a few lessons from the journey, both writing and non-writing related, and I'm here to share them with you.

Hydrate, hydrate, HYDRATE: Like many others, I have trouble keeping a consistent amount of water in my daily diet. Somedays, I'll hardly drink any at all and on others, chugging down is all that I'll do. A few years ago, my lack of hydration actually landed me in the ER on an IV. Most of the time, we are taught only to drink water to keep our bodies going. But, I learned that when I was sufficiently hydrated while writing, I could go on for much longer periods of time compared to when I was thirsty. As it turns out, drinking water and fluids can also have a positive impact on our brain function!

Create goals based off your personal style: I'm not too bad of a chronic procrastinator. Like all of us have, occasionally I'll put projects aside towards the last minute, but for the most part, I'm a pretty good worker. My problem is working consistently- I concentrate much better in controlled bursts of time than in a long session, but at the same time, I don't like leaving work unfinished. If I start a chapter, I'm going to finish it no matter what, for better or for worse. For NaNoWriMo, I decided to aim on finishing at least one chapter of my story per day. That way, I would have a manageable amount of work while still staying productive in the process.

At the same time, life is WAY more important than writing: Throughout November, Thanksgiving, school, and the start of the holidays in general impeded my ability to write as much as I could have. And that's okay! Writing is just one part of my life, not my entire well-being. I try to divide the different aspects of my life into certain 'parts,' from my academic part to my author part for tumblydovereviews. This helps me to throw away any worries I mayhave about another 'part,' and instead focus my whole self onto one part at a time.

Grow a closer bond with your characters: I loved my characters. I thought about them throughout the day and as I wrote. I came up with their favorite activities, movies, and foods, and imagined scenarios for them in my head. In a way, this made writing them easier as I knew more about how they would react and why.

And, if no matter what you try, you still fail NaNoWriMo...: That's okay! Remember, the entire point of this challenge is to have fun while also completing a story in the process. No matter what happens, I'm proud of you for trying. You're doing great!

Will I decide to complete NaNoWriMo again next year? It remains to be seen. But one thing remains clear: even through my failure, I still love to write. I still love to read. I still want to create stories and worlds and essays. And, nothing will stop me from doing that.

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A Very Carl the Collector Thanksgiving

Well, Thanksgiving is here, and I'm grateful for a lot of things this year. I'm grateful to still be alive after my hospital scare (IYKYK), I'm very thankful for my family, friends, and good grades, but topically, I'm grateful for the fact that Carl the Collector managed to turn out to be much, much better than I thought it would be.

Before we start the official look into Carl, I just want to preface by saying that I am not autistic. I was tested, but never diagnosed or suspected to be, and I personally don't identify as autistic either. When writing this review, I knew deep down that my perspective on this show would be different from those who can relate to characters such as Carl and Lotta respectively, and I wanted to note that beforehand to prevent any confusion or contempt.

That being said, when I first heard the theme song for Carl the Collector, I was unimpressed to say the least. While the song wasn't bad per say, it wasn't necessarily all that great either, at least in regard to the standards that other PBS Kids shows have cemented. This outlook ultimately caused me to lose a tad bit of hype for the show. I was still looking forward to it, but not necessarily bouncing off the walls for it either.

On November 14th, Carl the Collector dropped on the PBS Kids Video app. I watched an episode or two, and I was pleasantly surprised.

The show has a different vibe from most other PBS Kids, and to an extent, most modern preschool shows, and that's a good thing. It's much more laid-back and calmer; the show is relaxing in the sense that it's not too slow and not too fast either, giving 2000s vibes in some sort of way. The plotlines of each episode are paced in the sense that they're not overly condensed with conflict but not too bare boned either.

Carl and Lotta may be autistic, but they aren't ostracized or treated as different. Carl's special interest in collections isn't necessarily a magical thing or an awful detriment- it's just a natural part of him. I especially love that the collections aren't always the center of the plot and occasionally just act as a catalyst. In 'The Fake Mustache Collection,' for instance, Carl's several collections are used to try and create differences between Nico and Arugula and serve as the contrast needed to help Carl's other friends tell the difference between the two identical twins.

The characters in general are easy to root for. Their motivations are apparent, and the reasonings for their actions are as well. Through their bond, themes of identity, belonging, and friendship are all displayed. The morals of the show that the narrative tries to convey aren't shoved into your face. It's honestly a good break from the more 'preachy' PBS Kids shows like Rosie's Rules. Those type of shows aren't bad but it's a tad bit exhausting to watch the same lessons being stated over and over again like a broken record.

This is a fairly short review for a variety of reasons. I wanted to get something out for Thanksgiving, and I genuinely want you to take a moment and watch the show yourself. A single segment is just 11 minutes long, and if you're in the United States or any other territories, you can watch the entire show and clips for free (as of November 28th, 2024) on the PBS Kids website or app. The cast and crew of this show have all done a commendable job in shaping Carl into the great creation that it is, and in a world where the future of American public broadcasting is becoming more and more uncertain, the importance of supporting your favorite shows has just become more significant.

So this Thanksgiving, in the midst of all the hustle and bustle, if you have the time, who not watch an episode of Carl the Collector? It's sweet, calming, and the perfect watch if you want to relax and just enjoy the moment.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

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Tim Burton's Corpse Bride - Does it Still Hold Up?

Well, it's the Halloween season, and what better way to celebrate than reviewing one of Tim Burton's iconic, spooky stop-motion movies- The Nightmare Before Christmas Corpse Bride! Never before has an animated movie managed to make the concept of death so freakin' hot, but that's another story.

Corpse Bride was released in 2005, so while not as old as the previous installment in our little series, A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving, it is on the older side of films at almost 20 years old.

The film follows Victor van Dort and Victoria Everglot, whose parents have arranged for them to be married at their own economic and societal gain. Victor becomes so enamored with Victoria that he stumbles over his vows anytime he tries to recite them, ruining a key wedding rehearsal. Embarrassed and ashamed, Victor runs away, where he is now finally able to cite his vows out loud without Victoria witnessing. However, this results in him accidentally attracting Emily, a 'corpse bride' who has been waiting in the forest for years for her love to return. She mistakenly believes this lover is Victor, and now the poor guy is caught in a love triangle between a rich, lovely women and a literal dead body.

First of all, let's address the elephant in the room- the beautiful craftmanship. At times, you forget the movie is even stop-motion because of how lively the props, character movements, and soundtrack all are. I find it ironic that I just called a movie about death lively, but that's the truth.

While I'm not exactly sure the movie has the same level of grandeur as one like The Nightmare Before Christmas has, it doesn't have to. The simplicity of Corpse Bride is what makes the movie beautiful. With a relatively short runtime of only 77 minutes, the movie has little time to express the plots and themes it needs to in order to be successful. Yet, at no point in the movie's run do you think that a scene felt too rushed, or a moment went too slow. The ratio of pacing to plot is perfect.

Both Victor and Emily are ridden by a sense of restlessness as a result of their need for love. Victor is bothered by his ability to love someone 'properly,' while Emily has waited for seemingly years for her lost love to return to her. In marrying Victor, Emily realizes that while she now has her happiness, she has taken the sense of love away from another victim, Victoria. Emily's regret is only cemented when she realizes Victor wasn't the man she's been waiting for all these years; this man is actually a suitor Victoria marries in replace of Victor. At the end of the movie, when Emily transforms into a swarm of butterflies and leaves for good, she's not only departing from Victor's life, but also her sense of sorrow permanently. Emily is never portrayed as a villain, and she isn't; her desire for love is justified based on her patience and desperation. She realize later on that it just wasn't meant to be.

To make this movie even better, Corpse Bride also happens to be a musical, with at least three songs in the movie. My personal favorite song was Remains of the Day. Once again, a movie about mortality is less than dead in its presentation. Danny Elfman does an amazing job with the songs and soundtrack in the movie, one that deserves as much acclaim as the movie ultimately ended up receiving.

Upon it release, Corpse Bride was a commercial and critical success. The movie made 112 million dollars, almost triple that of its budget of 40 million dollars. The movie is currently certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes with a score of 84% on a critical scale and 77% with audiences. Yet the question still stands- does the movie hold up even after almost two decades?

Yes. Yes it does.

Corpse Bride is a simplistic, but magnificent story demonstrating how deep the bonds of love can fall. Through its detailed, intricate plot, handmade backgrounds and props, and great songs, the movie's message on life, love, and loss is not forgotten. This movie is a must-watch for the Halloween season, and even outside of the spooky season, it doesn't lose its charm and signifigance.

Happy Halloween, everyone!

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Little Bill: Nick Jr's Worst Best Show

The name of disgraced comedian Bill Cosby has, for the most part, been wiped out of existence. The Cosby Show, once a cult classic, is barely mentioned to this day. Fat Albert's movie was both a commercial and critical disappointment. Cosby himself has faded into obscurity, his last media stunt taking place in 2021, when he was released from prison. But perhaps the most forgotten about Bill Cosby creation would have to be the 1999 Little Bill preschool series and, to an extent, the franchise as a whole.

Contrary to popular belief, Willam Glover Jr's adventures did not originally start animated. Instead, Little Bill originated as a series of books meant for children slightly over the show's target audience of preschoolers. The books, written by Cosby himself, focused on a then-older Little Bill navigating everyday childhood experiences such as going to the hospital, dealing with bullies, and even grief. The series received critical acclaim from critics for the nuanced and lack of sugar coating when explaining to children these tough topics. Karen MacPherson says it best- the Little Bill books were, simply, "candid."

In 1997, it was announced that Nickelodeon would be developing the Little Bill books into three separate specials. These plans were later expanded to a full-fledged series, focusing on a now preschool-aged Little Bill exploring life in the same way he did in book form. And finally, after little over a year of anticipation from both production and fans, Little Bill officially made its broadcast debut on November 28th, 1999.

Little Bill ran for two seasons and fifty-two episodes. It received an uproar of positive praise, was nominated and awarded with both Emmy and Peabody awards during the show's five-year run, and managed to live on through reruns for almost a decade, airing on CBS, Noggin, and Nick Jr throughout its time on television.

However, in 2014, after allegations of Bill Cosby sexually assaulting dozens of women during his peak in fame surfaced, all of Little Bill's acclaim suddenly accumulated towards nothing. The preschool series was pulled off the air. Little Bill books were removed off of library shelves. To this day, the series is still unable to stream on Paramount Plus, only being available through digital purchases and old recordings. Little Bill has practically disappeared, all for good reason.

The problem with celebrity preschool shows not aging well has not ended, unfortunately. Little Ellen, a show based off comedian and former talk show host Ellen DeGeneres, was cancelled and removed from HBO Max as a tax write-off, the show's third season never seeing the light of day. The popular British children's show Tweenies was pulled off the air for a considerable amount of time after an episode featured a parody of sexual predator game show host Jimmy Saville.

However, after actually taking a moment to sit down and watch Little Bill specifically, I can't help but find it sad how such an amazing show for kids can suddenly wither because the show's creator was a shitty guy. Yes, Bill Cosby's actions were absolutely unacceptable and he fully deserves his career's falling. Separating the art from the artist is very hard when one realizes that Little Bill himself was based off the lives of Bill and his deceased son Ennis.

At the same time, in an alternate universe where Bill Cosby was never involved with the series whatsoever, I feel as if Little Bill's impact would be much more appreciated to this day.

The series contained some of the best representation I personally have seen in a preschool series produced in its time. Bill himself was a black boy, not smarter or wittier than he had to be. The adultification of children, especially Black ones, has become such an issue in today's society and it is refreshing to finally see a series that doesn't make Bill more mature than he needs to be. The show's cast spotlighted people of all races, from Black to Latino to Asian and White and even had a recurring character with cerebral palsy. Each character is carefully crafted with depth.

Little Bill never failed to 'keep it real." Bill himself is no saint and frequently makes mistakes and/or displays bratty behavior typical of a five year old. In fact, Little Bill's habit of messing up has caused him to earn the 'affectionate' title of "Black Caillou." While the nickname is funny, I, however, have to disagree with this notion in the grand scheme of things.

The problem with Caillou wasn't completely his bad behavior- Caillou's main issue is the show's lack of actual 'characters.' Caillou and the people that populate his world contain little to no personality. Caillou is just "the toddler." Rosie is just "the annoying little sister." Mommy and Daddy are "the parents," and Leo and Clementine are "the friends." Caillou doesn't have any defining traits that may cause the viewer to tolerate him more than they do.

Contrast that with Little Bill, where each character has their own distinct traits and profile. Little Bill is imaginative and isn't always the biggest fan of change and new experiences get him nervous. As the youngest of three he occasionally feels left out and ignored, trying to channel a leadership like role into his play so he can feel fulfilled. Not only does this hand-crafted personality reside with Bill but his friends and family as well. The characters, world, and stories of Little Bill are beyond the limitations of a stereotype- they are detailed and delicate.

The reason Little Bill is one of, if not Nick Jr.'s best show also happens to be the reason that it is Nick Jr's worst show. Little Bill was cared for. From the creative art style to the stellar voice acting to the research done in forming good examples of representation, a vast amount of real, tangible effort was put into making Bill an amazing show. At the same time, the very hands that formed Little Bill into what the show is today also happened to be the hands of a sexual predator, a horrible man who committed the most awful of acts.

Willam Glover's reputation may have bene tainted at the hands of his creator, but the show that he starred in has never gotten old for me.

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In Defense of Caillou

Growing up, my family was one of the very few who weren't avid members of the Caillou hate wagon. It was, and still is, one of my dad's favorite shows that I watched as a kid, and he was genuinely surprised when I revealed to him all the hate the show has managed to amass. I watched plenty of Caillou as a kid, and I'm happy to report that I came out perfectly normal, if not a bit energetic for my age.

Yes, Caillou is not a perfect show by any means. With the characters having little-to-no personality outside of existing in this hairless child's kingdom, annoying voices, and the infamous tantrum scenes, it's no wonder why this show has become so hated, and still is to this day. But I don't think I'm being too generous when I say that Caillou has some merit to it that I feel is overlooked by the general public.

Contrary to public belief, Caillou isn't actually a lonely cancer patient or an alopecia victim- he is actually based off a French book series that originally depicted him as a baby rather than a toddler. To make sure kids could still recognize him even with the age increase, it was decided that Caillou would remain bald. In my personal opinion, I think the creators made the right call. Young kids are still learning how to recognize differences, and chances are if Caillou did have hair, the sudden change in appearance would be overwhelming. It may be weird to us older people, but to kids, keeping Caillou as recognizable as possible was a serviceable move.

A lot of people tend to forget that Caillou is a four-year-old, which is surprising considering that it is established in the literal first line of the theme song (I'm just a kid whose four.) Being four, Caillou is destined to have tantrums, moments where he acts bratty and less than a saint. The real issue comes with the lack of emphasis on condemning the behavior and instead focusing on solving rather than learning. Caillou's parents are the original permissive parents, and one could compare them to the overly gentle parents that exist on TikTok. They rarely call out their son when he does act out and instead dismiss his behavior to the side. The 2020s revival series does a much better job at balancing gentle fairness with firmness. When Caillou or Rosie misbehave, they are scolded for it while also steered in the right direction in an imaginative way, arguably more creative than Boris or Doris' tactics in the original show ever amounted up to being.

Caillou has surprisingly great representation for a preschool show in the 90s, especially in terms of disability and other medical conditions. The show features episodes spotlighting deafness, Down syndrome, autism, wheelchair usage, and even Type 1 diabetes. The episodes in particular talk mainly about how the chronically ill/disabled character is still able to function perfectly normally, even with the condition they have. As a diabetic myself, the episode Emma's Extra Snacks always stood out to be, even before I was officially diagnosed. Diabetes representation and the stigma surrounding it is an issue that not many pieces of media discuss, and I'm happy that Caillou has the courage to tackle a subject that can and has been botched so easily.

And let's not forget the puppet segments, arguably the best part of Caillou. These puppet segments focused on three of Caillou's furry companions: Gilbert the cat, Rexy the T-Rex, and Teddy the teddy bear as they go on miscellaneous adventures around Caillou's house. My personal favorite of the trio was Gilbert and his 'odes.' The segments, while on the more basic side, provide a good enough distraction from Caillou's escapades, even if only for five minutes, before we were forced to go back to the bald boy's basic ballads.

While writing this post, I came up a post online asking if people would rather have their kids watch Caillou or Skidibl Toilet. If faced with a decision like this in real life, I'd turn on Caillou in an instant. Caillou has done a lot of bad, but deep down, we can't forget that the show's main intention, no matter how botched it ended up turning out, was to teach kids about life. I would much rather live in a world with mildly annoying preschool shows than brain rot which serves no purpose but to gradually disintegrate a person's cognitive functions.

He's just a kid who's four, and each day he grows some more, so I think that we need to start growing on him, just a smidge more.

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A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving- Does it Still Hold Up?

Ah, the American Thanksgiving. The one day of the year where it is socially acceptable to eat as many carbs as possible and watch as much football known to man.

A typical Thanksgiving for my family and I includes tuning in to the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and gawking at the specially crafted floats, eating as much mashed potatoes, jollof rice, and pie as possible, and, sometime in-between the hustle and bustle, snuggling up and watching A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving.

The Peanuts have always held a special place in my heart. Ever since I was younger, I've been reading the books, laughing at the comics and watching all the specials like a die-hard fan. For a while, I considered The Peanuts Movie to be my all-time favorite movie, to the point where I even purchased a DVD of it. And, although my interest in Charlie Brown and Snoopy's escapades isn't as strong as it once was, I'm still happy to have considered these group of friends a crucial part of my childhood.

But enough about me. Is this special itself actually good? Outside of the rose-colored glasses everyone views childhood with, does A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving still manage to be the timeless classic critics consider it fifty years later?

A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving revolves around our titular, block-headed, down-on-his-luck guy who finds himself needing to host an impromptu Thanksgiving dinner for his friends after Peppermint Patty invites herself to his house, expecting a giant feast and party. Unfortunately, Charlie Brown and his family won't be in town for the festivities- they will be at their grandmother's house for the holiday. But not wanting to disappoint Peppermint Patty, Charlie Brown, his friend Linus, Snoopy, and Woodstock all work together to create as good as a Thanksgiving dinner as possible for both Patty and the two friends she's invited with her- Marcie and Franklin.

Charlie Brown's concept of a Thanksgiving dinner- buttered toast with popcorn, milkshakes and jellybeans on the side- offer only the simplicities that a child could. For Charlie Brown, Thanksgiving isn't all about the flourish and festivities- it's about spending time with his companions and making them happy. “I don’t feel bad for myself." He once says during the special. "I just feel bad because I’ve ruined everyone’s Thanksgiving."

Contrast that with Peppermint Patty, a more traditional type who believes in saying a prayer before the meal- which must consist of turkey, mashed potatoes, and pumpkin pie. Upon realizing that Charlie Brown's Thanksgiving feast contains none of those things, she berates 'Chuck' and leaves him in a state of regret.

Marcie, Peppermint Patty's wise and knowledgeable best friend, acts as a mediator to this conflict. While comforting Charlie Brown, she also explains that Peppermint Patty's harsh words didn't come from a place of malice but a place of love for him. Marcie goes on to explain how even if his life seems horrible at the moment, Charlie brown still has something to be thankful for- just being together with his friends.

"Thanksgiving is more than eating, Chuck. You heard what Linus was saying out there. Those early Pilgrims were thankful for what had happened to them, and we should be thankful, too. We should just be thankful for being together. I think that’s what they mean by ‘Thanksgiving,’ Charlie Brown.”

Nowadays, society is so focused on promoting wealth and consumerism that some have seem to forgotten the value of the holiday. According to Relevant Magazine, in 2014 alone, over half of the money Americans donated to churches in an entire year was used on Black Friday alone.

A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving challenges the stereotype of the 'perfect' holiday. Despite the limited food and the small amount of guests, after Patty warms up and apologizes to Charlie Brown, the kids are still able to enjoy the holiday, even singing on their way over to Charlie Brown's grandmother's house. The kids didn't need all the good food and items to have a good day- all they needed was the companionship of each other.

Not only does this special teach an especially relevant moral to this day, but it also contains a good amount of humor. The subtle nods to Charlie and Patty's relationship ("He's all yours, Priscilla!",) Snoopy casually creating an entire meal in a chef's outfit, and Woodstock and him eating pumpkin pie during the closing credits, this special still manages to put a smile on my face, even despite all of these years.

This year, Thanksgiving didn't go as planned for me. An unexpected event ended up derailing all of the plans my family had to celebrate, and although I wasn't too upset, a wave of inevitable, mild disappointment still washed over me. This special reminded me that novelty is better than monetary gain, which allowed me to still enjoy the holiday even despite the interruptions.

So, let's answer our question: does A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving still hold up? Yes, yes it does. In fact, the special's message has even managed to age better in the modern day. I'd highly recommend watching it if you are looking for a short, but fun watch to celebrate the holiday season.

Happy (belated) Thanksgiving, everyone!

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Sorry for the lack of content lately! The new school year has begun and I'm re-doing my schedule for the year. Another new blog will be here next week!