Stranger Things! MLP!
Oct. 29th, 2017 07:59 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
sgatazmy I saw the first episode of Stranger Things!
I liked it but it didn't make it super excited yet. We'll have to see how the plot develops over time and how it differentiates itself from the first season. I liked seeing El living with the Sheriff. I have mixed feelings about the psychiatrist being untrustworthy. I guess I'm not sure what to think yet? It does feel nice and 80s which is half of what I loved about the first season. I wonder if the way episodes are released will keep me from being able to discuss this well. I like to watch one episode a week instead of binge watch.
You may find this interesting even if you don't watch MLP. It's about how MLP deals with disabilities and with LGBTQ+ issues:
I started reading the MLP comics and books and I'm starting to see how much they enrich the series! More development of the backstory and villains definitely helps make the world more tangible. It seems a lot of the character fall out shows up in the books and comics as well. They are "canon until they're not" which makes the world a bit confusing when they are later contradicted. I can't think of another fandom I've been in that had such a rich backstory or so much material to work with.
One of the book series is made for about 7-8 year olds and is a sort of Nancy Drew like series revolving around 3 of the fillies we know well in the series. One of the 3, it has long been believed (and writers have often said), has a disability. Scootaloo is a Pegasus that flies so poorly she can't make it up to Cloudsdale (home of the Pegasi) on her own. In early seasons she is often made fun of for it. The original intent was to make her disability clear in the series and have a three arc episode where she learned not to focus on what she can't do but to focus on what she can do. HASBRO said no to the idea because they thought it didn't belong in a kids' show. (Grrrrrr.....)
So in the series, Scootaloo slowly becomes a stronger flyer but never a good enough flyer. I asked my daughter about her and she quickly said, "Yeah, she can't fly well. There is something wrong with her wings. So she uses a wagon to help." Which means, whether HASBRO likes it or not, the kids do pick up on Scootaloo's issues and receive the original intent of the message. Which I think is awesome.
I just want to know why it's not okay to just come out and do the story arc for her? How many kids would that help? It could only make the world better. However, I love how it isn't mentioned but kids pick up on it and by this season no one is making fun of Scootaloo anymore. Even Diamond Tiara, the bully until about season 5 and now reformed, has come to learn that Scootaloo is an amazing pony with or without her working wings. The message is there for everyone to see and it's kind of beautiful.
So this is where the books come in. See we also assumed Scootaloo is an orphan. When I asked my kids, they had no doubt that Scootaloo did not have parents. In the book, however, it turns out she does have parents. She has two parents that work all the time (supposedly in Cloudsdale) and never have any time for her. (In the series she makes it clear she doesn't feel they love her or are proud of her.) . Since her parents are gone all the time, she is babysat by her aunt and auntie. The writer confirms that this is a lesbian couple that watches over her, giving her the love and support her parents won't.
Cue all the arguments this is awesome and this is not awesome. Personally, I love the idea that the show is helping to normalize different types of relationships for the kids. Of course, this is exactly why so many are also against this. I can see why they chose to leave this to the books and not put it on the show, but I wish they would put it on the show if they could do a decent job of everything. For me, I love that it is her aunties that provide the love that her own parents seem incapable of providing. I also love that Rainbow Dash adopts her as a little sister to also take care of her and give her the encouragements and love she needs.
The more I think about this, the more I love Scootaloo's character. She has a disability, lacks parental support, but is loved by so many and shines throughout the series as a capable and kind filly with an adventurous heart.
I liked it but it didn't make it super excited yet. We'll have to see how the plot develops over time and how it differentiates itself from the first season. I liked seeing El living with the Sheriff. I have mixed feelings about the psychiatrist being untrustworthy. I guess I'm not sure what to think yet? It does feel nice and 80s which is half of what I loved about the first season. I wonder if the way episodes are released will keep me from being able to discuss this well. I like to watch one episode a week instead of binge watch.
You may find this interesting even if you don't watch MLP. It's about how MLP deals with disabilities and with LGBTQ+ issues:
I started reading the MLP comics and books and I'm starting to see how much they enrich the series! More development of the backstory and villains definitely helps make the world more tangible. It seems a lot of the character fall out shows up in the books and comics as well. They are "canon until they're not" which makes the world a bit confusing when they are later contradicted. I can't think of another fandom I've been in that had such a rich backstory or so much material to work with.
One of the book series is made for about 7-8 year olds and is a sort of Nancy Drew like series revolving around 3 of the fillies we know well in the series. One of the 3, it has long been believed (and writers have often said), has a disability. Scootaloo is a Pegasus that flies so poorly she can't make it up to Cloudsdale (home of the Pegasi) on her own. In early seasons she is often made fun of for it. The original intent was to make her disability clear in the series and have a three arc episode where she learned not to focus on what she can't do but to focus on what she can do. HASBRO said no to the idea because they thought it didn't belong in a kids' show. (Grrrrrr.....)
So in the series, Scootaloo slowly becomes a stronger flyer but never a good enough flyer. I asked my daughter about her and she quickly said, "Yeah, she can't fly well. There is something wrong with her wings. So she uses a wagon to help." Which means, whether HASBRO likes it or not, the kids do pick up on Scootaloo's issues and receive the original intent of the message. Which I think is awesome.
I just want to know why it's not okay to just come out and do the story arc for her? How many kids would that help? It could only make the world better. However, I love how it isn't mentioned but kids pick up on it and by this season no one is making fun of Scootaloo anymore. Even Diamond Tiara, the bully until about season 5 and now reformed, has come to learn that Scootaloo is an amazing pony with or without her working wings. The message is there for everyone to see and it's kind of beautiful.
So this is where the books come in. See we also assumed Scootaloo is an orphan. When I asked my kids, they had no doubt that Scootaloo did not have parents. In the book, however, it turns out she does have parents. She has two parents that work all the time (supposedly in Cloudsdale) and never have any time for her. (In the series she makes it clear she doesn't feel they love her or are proud of her.) . Since her parents are gone all the time, she is babysat by her aunt and auntie. The writer confirms that this is a lesbian couple that watches over her, giving her the love and support her parents won't.
Cue all the arguments this is awesome and this is not awesome. Personally, I love the idea that the show is helping to normalize different types of relationships for the kids. Of course, this is exactly why so many are also against this. I can see why they chose to leave this to the books and not put it on the show, but I wish they would put it on the show if they could do a decent job of everything. For me, I love that it is her aunties that provide the love that her own parents seem incapable of providing. I also love that Rainbow Dash adopts her as a little sister to also take care of her and give her the encouragements and love she needs.
The more I think about this, the more I love Scootaloo's character. She has a disability, lacks parental support, but is loved by so many and shines throughout the series as a capable and kind filly with an adventurous heart.
