Are They Autistic? – Reggie Abbot (Twelve Forever) – Part 2

Continued from Part 1 (Are They Autistic? – Reggie Abbot (Twelve Forever) – Part 1 | The Autistic Blogger (wordpress.com))

Before I begin, I need to give you all some context. I started writing Part 1 of this article before watching any episodes of Twelve Forever. The rest of it was written after I’d finished the series. I did things this way because I wanted to make a point about first impressions. 

When you’re introduced to something for the first time, there’s little information to go on. All you have is what you see on the surface, like a TV trailer or someone’s appearance. It’s easy to draw conclusions from this simple information – perhaps because you’ve been taught the most likely outcomes. However, the crucial thing to remember about first impressions is they often turn out wrong. Maybe not entirely false. But there’s always more to something than what you initially perceived. It’s like judging a book by its cover. The title, blub and artwork can give you an idea of what to expect inside. But until you experience what’s written yourself, you’ll never understand what makes the book unique.

The same can be applied to people. Too often, those with Autism have their behaviours misidentified. Struggling to process information, for example, could be viewed as laziness or having hearing problems. It results in those people not getting the proper help they need. And all because the observing party didn’t understand the individual. It can work in reverse as well. Sometimes it’s easy to tell if someone is Autistic. Like when they’re obsessed with doing something a specific way, even if it appears strange to everyone else. But in most cases, it takes time and careful observation to determine whether someone is on the spectrum. That was the mindset I had going into Twelve Forever.

I wasn’t sure how long it would take me to work out if Reggie was Autistic or not. As explained in Part 1, I had many things in common with her character. But these similarities weren’t enough to be definitive proof. I needed to see something that would leave no doubt it was anything other than Autism.

So what did I learn from watching this series’ 25 episodes? Well, more than I was expecting. But also not what I expected at all. Let’s take a look.

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Firstly, I’d like to acknowledge the series’ art direction. It uses a simplified style that appeals to both kids and young adults. When looking at the human characters, for example, some of their features do have realistic proportions. However, others use basic shapes, like circles and squares, to give them a slightly exaggerated appearance. As for the residents of Endless, their designs are certainly creative. But they’re not overly complex. You could believe they were imagined by a 12-year-old or younger (as the series implies they are). 

Furthermore, the series has two distinct colour pallets. In the real world (for whatever reason), it’s always snowy where the main characters live – even during Spring time. So there are always dull, boring colours everywhere, like whites, browns and greys. In contrast, Endless is a sunny paradise, forever bursting with warm, brighter colours. 

I think balancing these different aesthetics was essential for the series. Not only does it reflect how Reggie views both worlds, but it visually attracts the right sort of audience. Remember that the series’ primary goal is to show the characters’ growing maturity. So it makes sense to have an art style that draws in younger viewers but still emphasises the show’s coming-of-age themes. Speaking of which, let’s observe how Twelve Forever presents some of these themes through its stories. A good example is the first episode.

Episode 1 begins with Reggie celebrating her Twelfth birthday. It’s a simple party with only three guests: her mother, Judy; her brother, Dustin; and her best friend, Todd. The first time we see Reggie, she’s sitting at the table playing with an action figure. She and Todd are having a blast. But Judy and Dustin’s expressions show how they feel about this juvenile behaviour. Then Reggie gets given her birthday presents. However, aside from a music CD and a used gift card, they mostly turn out to be clothes or hygiene products. Reggie tries to act grateful. But she ultimately feels depressed at not getting anything she asked for. Her mother then reminds her they talked about her birthday being different this year; she won’t need so many toys now that she’s older. Besides, what she’s been given can be fun too. It’s just fun in a different way.

An opening scene can tell a lot about a series and its direction. In this case, it does a fine job of setting the tone and establishing the characters’ personalities. As mentioned above, the cold weather and muted colours contrast the happy celebration. Also, the party takes place in a small kitchen without decorations, and even the presents don’t have the fanciest wrapping paper. It makes our introduction to Endless feel more appealing later. 

As for the characters, the series wastes no time showcasing Reggie’s immaturity. Besides playing with toys, her first line of dialogue is, “Come on, mom, I’m not that grown-up.” So she’s instantly dismissive of her age. Plus, we see how tormented she is by her gifts. Making room in her life for these mature things doesn’t excite her one bit. And her mother’s words do nothing to change that. It seems her birthday has become less of a celebration and more of a reminder that she’s losing the best years of her life.

The scene isn’t entirely depressing, though. Todd is a welcomed presence because he provides comic relief whenever necessary. More importantly, though, he’s shown to be close friends with Reggie. He indulges in her childish ways, and she appreciates his company. However, given Todd is her only friend at the party, it’s an early indication of how few she has.

As for Dustin and Judy, they each represent what I despise and love about the sub-characters in this series respectively. 

Dustin, you see, is portrayed as a stereotypical teenager; someone who’s laidback, bitter, and puts little care or effort into anything – he’s the one who gave Reggie the used gift card. Not to mention he’s later revealed to be a conspiracy theorist and has a blog dedicated to spreading crazy stories (ep6). Unfortunately, several other human characters in the series have these generic personalities. Sometimes you get teen bands trying too hard to act cool (ep22) or teachers who’re overly timid or unprofessional (ep9). They’re just feeble attempts at comedy that weaken the series’ credibility. Fortunately, though, they aren’t featured too often. And they do nothing to harm the series’ more serious aspects. There’s even an episode where Reggie reconnects with her estranged brother over something they made when they were younger (ep6).

On the other hand, Judy is one of the series’ most down-to-earth characters; she embodies every parent who worries about their child’s natural growth. Truthfully, it shouldn’t be an issue that Reggie has particular interests. Or they’re so different from her mother’s when she was younger. But it’s sad for Judy knowing they have nothing in common – especially when she seems to relate more to other girls Reggie’s age (ep8). Also, since her daughter is reluctant to try new things, Judy worries that Reggie won’t move forward with her life and will struggle with adulthood. 

Parental figures are a delicate aspect of children’s media. If a series is more comedy-based, it’s natural to portray them as goofy or eccentric. Their roles aren’t meant to be taken seriously there. However, for a series like Twelve Forever, the writers knew it was important for Judy to be as believable as possible. Sometimes the episodes needed someone to ground them in reality to convey their messages. And it works exceedingly well here. Any time Judy is onscreen, we feel the stress she’s under to be a good mother. She has to put her foot down when Reggie acts too immaturely sometimes (ep8). But she also doesn’t want to upset or peer pressure her. Growing up is a stressful process. So whenever she has to talk to Reggie about it, she uses a soft-spoken tone and looks for ways of making the transition smoother. The first episode demonstrates this approach quite well.

While preparing for a garage sale, Judy finds a box of Reggie’s old things. Since her daughter hasn’t touched it in years, she decides to sell it. However, Reggie is adamant about the idea. The box is filled with remnants of her childhood, and she can’t bear the thought of parting with them. It’s frustrating for Judy at first. But she comes up with a compromise. She gives Reggie until the end of the day to go through her stuff and decide what she can’t live without – anything else has to go. It seems like a good plan. But Reggie is too emotionally attached and feels she can’t get rid of any of it. 

Personally speaking, I can understand Reggie’s feelings. Usually, in hoarding situations, you have to ask yourself logical questions. For example, what’s the difference in not owning something if you never use it anymore? Maybe you could argue you’ll use it eventually. But are you more likely to use something else when the time comes? Is the item as valuable to you as other things you own? Does it make any significant difference in your life? When you ask yourself these questions, the choice of whether to keep something becomes easier to decide. 

However, just because something isn’t useful doesn’t mean it has no sentimental value. For example, I own a teddy bear that I’ve had since the day I was born. I don’t sleep with it anymore, of course. But I still hold onto it because it was given to me by my late grandmother. Throwing it away would be like throwing away a part of her and the connection we had. 

Reggie feels the same about her old toys and sketches. Precious memories are attached to them, and she doesn’t want to risk forgetting. So instead of throwing them out, she decides she’ll keep them in her special place. Somewhere no adult can reach them.

Surprisingly, it’s revealed that Reggie and Todd already have the power to go to Endless. And they’ve been visiting the island for some time now. It’s not until later in the series that we learn how everything started. 

About a year ago (episode 17), Reggie didn’t fit in well at school; her fantasies made her seem weird to other kids, and even her family looked down on her. One day, during art class, she made a key out of modelling clay, telling her teacher she wanted it to take her away from her boring town forever. Following another conflict at home, Reggie wished with all her might to go someplace where she could just be herself. Her desire granted the key its magic and whisked her away to Endless. Initially, she was freaked out by what happened (episode 18); especially when meeting the strange, abstract creatures who inhabited the island. However, she soon realised Endless was everything she’d ever hoped for. The residents admire her fun-loving attitude. She can do whatever she wants without consequence. And there are so many activities to discover that the only limit is her imagination. It’s a perfect child’s paradise. 

Shortly afterwards, Reggie met Todd – the only person at school who seemed interested in her abnormalities. While spending time with him, she learned he was also stressed about getting older; he’s always having to look after his boisterous younger siblings, among other new responsibilities. Sensing Todd’s need for escapism, Reggie showed him the way to Endless. And they’ve been sharing adventures there ever since.

From a writer’s perspective, this backstory does everything it’s meant to. It establishes the main characters’ personalities and motivations. It also sets up their ordinary world before introducing the new one with its different rules. However, my only objection is that it comes too late in the series. It would’ve been better to have it as the opening episode so we could’ve followed the characters’ development from the beginning. Also, given Reggie and Todd are very familiar with Endless (in episode 1), and the audience isn’t, there’s a bit of disconnection. Sometimes they need to learn things along with the characters to form an emotional bond.

That being said, when the series does teach moral lessons, they’re some of the most personal I’ve ever experienced. They’re not simple run-of-the-mill lessons or even widely-appealing ones; they’re specifically chosen to guide viewers in Reggie and Todd’s age group. Preteen problems take centre stage in Twelve Forever.

For instance, going back to episode 1, Reggie takes the box of her old things to Endless and buries it in the sand. Surprisingly, it brings all of her toys and sketches to life. It also turns a label-maker into a monster which Reggie and Todd defeat with their superpowers. After things quiet down, though, we learn something intriguing. According to Reggie, once something is brought to Endless, it can never return to the real world. So even though she has some new friends on Endlesss, things will never be the same back home. It’s symbolic because the island represents Reggie’s childhood. By leaving her old things here, she’s essentially letting go of a piece of her past. However, that doesn’t mean she has to forget the positive memories they’ve left her. Plus, she can revisit them anytime she needs a break from her stressful life.

The series is very clever in how it teaches things metaphorically like this. In Part 3, I’ll give you some more examples. As well as answer the all-important question: is Reggie Autistic? Stay tuned.

Image courtesy of: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8009622/?ref_=tt_mv_close

7th Anniversary Special – A New YouTube Channel and my First Blind Reaction

Hello everybody, this is George Harvey (aka The Autistic Blogger). I know it’s a couple of days late, but I’ve finally finished my 7th Anniversary Special. I’ve wanted to try something like this for a while now, so I hope you’ll forgive me if it’s a bit different.

In the past, I’ve talked about how much I admire films and TV series like My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. What you may not know, however, is that I also admire people who share their initial reactions (blind reactors). Seeing someone else watch something for the first time adds a new layer of entertainment to your viewing experience. However, it can also form a connection between you and the reactor. Maybe you laughed and cried in the same places they did. Maybe you agreed with a comment they made. Or perhaps they noticed something you didn’t, giving you a new perspective on the film or series. It can feel very relatable if your reactions are similar. 

Considering how much I want to reach out to other people, I’ve decided to try making these videos myself. However, I also don’t want to run into any more copyright issues as I did before. So that’s why I won’t be posting anything here. 

Below is a link to my new YouTube channel: GeoStar The Autistic Vlogger. By following it, you can view my first ever blind reaction to the My Little Pony: A New Generation movie – or just its highlights. I’m hoping this will start a new venture where I can make videos based on my interests and express how influential they are. Of course, I will still be writing for this blog. But it might mean I have to limit my posts to once every 2 to 3 months – my shifts at work tend to keep me busy most evenings.

With all that said, I want to thank everyone who’s continued supporting me these last seven years. It’s been reassuring to know you all still enjoy my work even when it’s not put out too frequently. I’ll be sure to bring you more written content in the future. So, until then, stay tuned.

My new YouTube channel – GeoStar The Autistic Vlogger – YouTube

Equestria Girls: Magical Movie Night Review

(Review begins where text is all italic.)

Hello everybody, this is George Harvey, aka the Autistic Blogger. Some of you may remember earlier this year I posted a random review of a random DVD (Sword Art Online II: Part 4). Today, I’m posting another one, for similar reasons.

Below is my analysis of Dance-, Movie– and Mirror-Magic; the three Equestria Girls specials that were released this past summer. For those of you who don’t know, Equestria Girls is a spin-off brand of My Little Pony, where all the characters are re-imagined as humans. I’ve reviewed each of the movies before, so it made sense to write one on the specials, too – especially as they were said to be the beginning of a series. While I am happy with the finished piece, posting it here feels bittersweet for me. Let me explain.

Usually, when I write a review, I submit it to Amazon.co.uk. There, people can read my analysis and let me know whether it’s helpful or not. This time, though, I wasn’t able to do that. Because, for whatever reason, these specials aren’t available on DVD outside of America. I’ve checked the US version of the site. But apparently, you need to spend at least $50 to post a review there – which would be costly to me. So, with very few options, I posted the review here just to get it online.

However, I would’ve done the same even without the uploading problem.

You see, much like my SAO analysis, I was worried nobody would find this review on Amazon – it’s easy to miss on such a vast site. The thought of that happening was too unbearable, considering how long I’d slaved away over it. I’m not exaggerating either. You wouldn’t believe what I’ve suffered through just to get this done. To give you an idea, let’s look back at my SAO review. When I uploaded that piece, I discussed beforehand how difficult writing was for me sometimes. How my Autism affects my thought process and makes me a perfectionist, which cause me to edit for weeks on end. Since then, I’m afraid to say very little has improved. In fact, it’s worse than before. I began writing this review around early July. It’s now New Year’s Eve! You can do the math for yourself.

To be fair, I haven’t spent every waking moment of my life working on this piece. There have been days, even weeks, where I’ve taken breaks to focus on more important things; like work, drama and online courses. These projects have kept me motivated, and I haven’t stressed over the review as much as I usually do. However, given it’s still taken me this long to finish, I’m honestly having concerns about my future. My dream is to become a children’s author one day. If I can’t write a review within three weeks, what chance do I have finishing a book? It doesn’t seem likely, does it?

With all this in mind, I’ve decided it’s well and truly, seriously time for me to sort out my writing problems. And I think I know how.

I’ve always said my biggest regret was not taking A-Levels in English. If I had, perhaps writing wouldn’t be so complicated now, and I’d have a firmer grasp of its rules. It also would’ve made University a lot easier.

I think what I need to do is go back to the basics. If I can refresh my memory and learn to be confident in my abilities, then it’ll help me avoid the problems I keep encountering. In theory, this should also stop me second-guessing myself, and I can finish things quicker and more professionally. To help me do this, I’ve purchased some GCSE revision guides on Language and Literature. Plus, I still have my old college textbooks and computer programs such as Grammarly. It’s going to be a challenge, but I’m determined to make 2018 my best writing year yet.

I think that’s enough rambling now.

I understand this review may not appeal to everyone. But I do hope you’ll take time to read it and appreciate all the effort that’s put in. This piece could be the last time I write something of this length and quality. It’ll be interesting to see if anything has improved within in a year’s time.

Happy New Year, and enjoy the review. (Be warned: it’s quite long.)

*

If there’s one word I can use to describe Equestria Girls lately, it’s independent. Back when Hasbro first commissioned this brand, it was intended to be a loose tie-in with their Friendship is Magic series. Specifically, it featured Twilight Sparkle visiting the human world and protecting it from various magical threats. It also featured other ponies from the show as high school students, creating a unique blend of fantasy and teenage drama. While this concept was successful, there was only so much it could achieve as an extension of the show – especially as the high school clichés gave it limited creative potential. Fortunately, Hasbro had a solution. In 2015, their movies began focusing solely on their human characters and had little to no connection with the series. They even created their own version of Twilight (Sci-Twi) and pushed her into the lead role alongside Sunset Shimmer, a former antagonist. These changes, along with the new magic girl aspects, gave the brand its own identity, allowing it to appeal to a broader audience.
With its newfound popularity, Hasbro wanted to try making Equestria Girls into its own TV series. All they needed was the right opportunity to present one. That opportunity came in 2017. Due to the release of My Little Pony: The Movie, the studio decided not to make a fifth Equestria Girls film. Instead, they produced three half-hour specials that would air on TV as backdoor pilots. If they were successful, it would assure them that releasing two series a year would be worth their time and money.
So now that Sunset and the gang have episode-length adventures are they good enough to warrant a full series? Let’s take a look.
The first special, Dance Magic, takes place sometime after the fourth film. With Camp Everfree still needing repairs, the Hu-Mane Seven are trying to raise money for it. Unfortunately, they’ve only gathered half the funds, and the deadline is next week. That’s when Rarity has an idea. If they can win Canterlot Mall’s Chance to Prance competition, they’ll earn prize money worth more than double what they need. Everyone likes the idea. But it soon becomes apparent they aren’t the best dancers. Plus, some old rivals return from Crystal Prep. And when they steal Rarity’s video concept, she wishes she hadn’t spent the pre-earned money on costumes.
First of all, I love how this story focuses on someone other than Twilight or Sunset for a change. One of the core issues with the Hu-Mane Seven, lately, has been their limited screen time. This has led to them having diminished film roles and almost flanderized personalities. Fortunately, that’s the advantage of shorter stories: they provide individual character development, without tediously dragging out the plot. In this case, the spotlight is on Rarity.
For the most part, Rarity is still her typical fashion-obsessed self, who’s more concerned with appearance than practicality. But we also get to see her creative side and just how passionate she is towards her work. She’s so devoted that she won’t be satisfied unless she’s perfected every detail – even if it means cancelling rehearsals to fix torn clothes. It’s this determination that brings out the best in her character and makes her an ideal director. Additionally, she adopts some of pony-Rarity’s quirks for good measure (e.g. her fainting couch, her running mascara, and eating ice cream when she’s miserable). Most importantly, though, she keeps her other self’s generosity, which plays a significant role in the climax.
Another interesting note is that this story features the return of the Shadow Bolts (Sugarcoat, Sour Sweet, Lemon Zest and Sunny Flare). I actually made a mistake in my Friendship Games review when I said these girls didn’t have individual personalities. In fact, they’re supposed to represent darker versions of the Hu-Mane Seven. Sugarcoat is honest (like Applejack), but she’s also harsh with her words and never sugarcoats anything. Sour Sweet is nice (like Fluttershy), but she’s prone to mood swings and often follows her compliments with sour remarks. In Dance Magic, they retain these traits, along with their highly competitive nature. Which I found unusual at first; until I realised it was done for realism. You see, too often in My Little Pony, villains are reformed after a single good deed. Which isn’t entirely plausible. The best-reformed characters are those who’re given time to reflect on their actions and then progressively make amends for them. That’s how Sunset became the brand’s most well-developed character. The Shadow Bolts are similar in a way; it’s revealed they had good intentions for winning, but they lost sight of them in the heat of competition. It takes Rarity to show them that.
Aside from the video itself, which is lyrically appealing – despite containing a rap number – there’s nothing else to say except Dance Magic delivers. It may not be anything epic or magical, but it’s a solid example of a character-focused story, which every good series needs.
The second special, Movie Magic, sees the girls visiting a film studio. One of its directors is an alumnus of Camp Everfree and has graciously invited them to the set of Daring Do. Unfortunately, production of the feature is in turmoil; costumes have been lost, set pieces are falling apart, the lead actress is threatening to quit. And when some valuable props are stolen, the Hu-Mane Seven begin to suspect there’s sabotage at work. Now they have to find the culprit and save the film before it’s cancelled.
If I can be honest, this feels like the weakest of the three specials to me. I do give it credit for being the most like a TV episode, but there’s a constant sense that it’s trying to be something it’s not. Let me explain. Going by the set-up, you can tell the writer took a lot of inspiration from the classic Scooby Doo cartoons. You’ve got the group of teenagers who stumble across a mystery, a talking dog who’s obsessed with finding food, comical yet pointless chase scenes, a girl in glasses who explains the villain’s scheme after they’ve caught them, the list goes on. It’s not a bad idea. But having a more comedic tone does affect the story’s quality. Some scenes try so hard to be funny that they abandon all sense of logic and realism. Consequently, the tension feels downplayed and it’s hard to take anything seriously. Even the villain’s motives are board-line ridiculous. It works fine for a Scooby Doo cartoon. But because Equestria Girls also teaches important morals, their stories need to balance out humour with serious moments, or they won’t get these messages across. On top of that, the mystery itself isn’t that engaging. Why? Because it’s too obvious who the culprit is! I won’t give away any spoilers. But if you pay attention to all the not-so-subtle hints, and realise there are only two potential suspects, you can work things out within the first 10mins. It doesn’t help either that the characters blatantly try to mislead us.
Overall, Movie Magic isn’t on par with episodes like Rarity Investigates or MMMystery on the Friendship Express. But that doesn’t mean it’s all bad. In fact, there were quite a few elements it handled quite well. For one thing, all the Hu-Mane Seven share the same amount of screen time. And while their intelligence is questionable at times, they do stay perfectly in character throughout. Twilight and Rainbow Dash are especially memorable because they’re portrayed as fan-girls – something that’s been shown numerous times in the series, but never in Equestria Girls. It’s also good to see the girls using their geode powers for the first time since Legend of Everfree (e.g. Rainbow Dash’s super speed and Twilight’s telekinesis). However, certain flaws with these abilities do get addressed as well. Namely how they’re overpowered and could resolve problems too easily. Because of this, limitations had to be established, such as the girls needing to wear their geodes to use them. It’s a bit dull to hear the old we forgot to bring them excuse, but just having the powers adds some much-needed fantasy to an otherwise standard comedic mystery.
Another aspect worth mentioning is two of the new characters they introduce. The first is Juniper Montage. She’s the director’s niece and production assistant, who’s also a big Daring Do fan. She plays a more prominent role in the third story – so I won’t go into details here. But the plot does well to establish her character and sets everything up perfectly for her appearance later on. The other new face is Chestnut Magnifico, who – I have to say – I don’t particularly like as Daring Do. I get that she’s an actress and not the real thing, but it bothers me she’s even associated with the character. In the series, Daring Do is a wise-cracking tomboy, who’s a mixture of Rainbow Dash and Indiana Jones. Chestnut Magnifico is a generic movie diva, who’s loud, obnoxious and always in a bad mood. Even when filming, she barely looks or sounds anything like her counterpart. If the writer wanted to reinvent a fan-favourite character for Equestria Girls, they only succeeded in tarnishing it.
Perhaps the best part of Movie Magic though, is its pop-culture references. Taking place in a film studio, there are various nods to movies like Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, directors Steven Spielberg and Ron Howard, and even episodes of Friendship is Magic, One of my personal favourites is when the girls end up on a superhero set, dressed as the Power Ponies (Season 4) – with Sunset Shimmer hilariously typecast as the Mane-iac.
So all in all, there are parts of Movie Magic that do work. It’s just a shame that most of them aren’t well-presented.
And then you have the third special, Mirror Magic. I have just one thing to say: Sunset Shimmer meets Starlight Glimmer! This is the scenario fans have been dreaming about for ages. I don’t know what it is about 2017, but it seems to be the year of wish fulfilment for the fandom. There’s this, My Little Pony: The Movie, and the majority of episodes in Season 7. But anyway, let me explain how this meeting of two worlds came to be.
While spending time at Canterlot Mall, Sunset Shimmer tries to write a message to Princess Twilight. Only for her magic journal to suddenly run out of pages. Just then, she gets a reply from her mentor, asking her to come to her castle. That’s right, Sunset Shimmer goes back to Equestria! And, we see her in pony-form for the first time in years! Anyway, upon arrival, she’s greeted by Starlight, who gives her a new journal as Twilight and her friends were unexpectedly called away. Sunset can’t help feeling a bit disappointed. Just as she’s about to leave, however, Starlight becomes curious of the human world and asks if she can see it for herself. Sunset agrees, as long as they keep a low profile. That’s right, Starlight Glimmer in the human world! Meanwhile, an old adversary has returned and imprisons the Hu-Mane Seven. And when Sunset is caught too, it’s up to Starlight to save the day.
Admittedly, when I first heard there was going to be a Starlight in this special, I wasn’t too keen on the idea. I was concerned a human version would overshadow Sunset, and the latter would lose significance as a brand-exclusive character. The individual brands work so well, in my opinion, because they have two different ponies as their seventh lead. Fortunately, Sunset wasn’t undermined. Because, rather than creating their own version of Starlight, the writer merely borrows the one from the series. Knowing this, we’re assured she’ll return to Equestria and Sunset will remain the face of Equestria Girls.
However, I’m not saying Starlight’s inclusion here was a bad thing. In fact, by the end of it, I was hoping she’d become a semi-recurring character. This is mainly due to her relationship with Sunset. The chemistry between these two is just perfect; they’re charming together, they have similar backgrounds, and they’re able to help with each other’s problems. Starlight offers Sunset advice on the rogue magic that’s loose in her world, while she gives Starlight a chance prove herself as Twilight’s pupil. Additionally, they’re both incredibly funny characters. In one scene, Sunset forgets to walk on all fours and use magic in Equestria. Then, Starlight behaves like a pony in the human world. It’s definitely a treat seeing them play off each other, and it never feels like one is upstaging the other.
Of course, Starlight and Sunset aren’t the only stars. As mentioned before, this story also features Juniper Montage. Following on from Movie Magic, she’s now a theatre usher and has developed a hatred towards the Hu-Mane Seven. One day, while slacking off, she finds a mirror infected with Equestrian magic. It seems harmless at first, showing her reflection as a famous movie star. But then she discovers it can also banish people she hates to a mirror-dimension. Eventually, she’s so overcome by its power that she transforms into a giant, delusional monster – one only Starlight can subdue.
I have to say, regarding Equestria Girls villains, Juniper might be my favourite character to date. She’s a perfect example of how the brand can create its own characters, rather than relying on those from the series. True, she comes off as being a spoiled brat. But thanks to Movie Magic we understand why. Like any girl her age, Juniper had strong ambitions for the future. She dreamed of becoming an actress and was fortunate enough to have an uncle in the film industry. If she’d bided her time as his assistant, it could’ve led to many great opportunities for her. Now, because of a mistake she made, she’s lost that dream position and ended up in a job she feels is beneath her. On top of that, she’s constantly reminded of her enemies’ success, which only causes her to lash out. With this in mind, it’s natural that she’d become infatuated with the mirror’s reflection and allow herself to be corrupted. I’m not saying this justifies her actions, but the narrative does make us feel sorry for her. Deep down, all she really wants is friendship.
I suppose my only complaint about Mirror Magic is the runtime. Given Starlight’s presence and the depth of Juniper’s character, the story really could’ve been expanded into a full-length movie. It’s especially troubling for Juniper since it makes her development feel rushed and forced. If they’d held back on her return, she could’ve become a recurring villain for the brand. Now it seems she’ll just fade into obscurity like Diamond Tiara did. Nonetheless, the special is of movie-quality standards, and many agree it’s the best of the three.
So how well do these stories hold up collectively? As backdoor pilots, I’d say very well. Although each of them varies in focus and quality, they all share a common desire to present Equestria Girls as a plausible series. They have on-screen credits, similar to Friendship is Magic and theirs; an original – albeit short – opening theme, and even individually designed title cards. They also do a good job tying-in with each other, as well as the movies. Dance Magic refers to the Friendship Games and Legend of Everfree; Movie Magic features a character seen briefly at the end of the fourth film (i.e. the director); and, Mirror Magic has both Juniper Montage and the Dance Magic music video.
In conclusion, there’s no reason Hasbro shouldn’t make Equestria Girls into a full-length series. The fandom wants it, they’re capable of doing it, and the brand has proven countless times it can support itself with fleshed-out characters, evocative storylines and limited MLP nostalgia. The best part is, a series seems closer now than ever before (in 2017). Not long after these specials aired, Hasbro released the Summertime Shorts. These segments continued the Hu-Mane Seven‘s adventures, but also expanded their universe; showing us some of their hobbies, where they lived and even where they worked – that’s right, they have jobs this world! The shorts were so popular that within weeks Hasbro announced they’d be releasing a digital series on YouTube. This, unfortunately, turned out to be more shorts, but their quality and world-building remained. Plus, extended episodes could be on the horizon, given that a fifth film is rumoured to be in the works.
If you love Equestria Girls, and want to experience the brand in series-form, then these specials are an absolute must-watch for you. If you’re not a fan, but you still want to get into them, then I’d recommend at least watching Legend of Everfree first. Once you’ve seen where a series started taking shape, you’ll be eager as a brony to see more.
That’s all I have to say for now. So until next time, stay tuned.

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If you have any questions, please leave me a comment – I’ll be happy to answer them. And, until next time, stay tuned.

(Image courtesy of: https://mylittlepony.hasbro.com/en-us/characters/meet/equestriagirls)

My Little Pony: Lesson Zero and Autism (Part 1)

Hello, everybody, this is George Harvey (aka the Autistic Blogger). And today I’m going to be looking into something I’ve wanted to for quite some time now.

If you’ve read some of my earlier posts, you’ll know I’m a big fan of the series My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. I could write on and on about why I support the fandom, and why I think the show appeals to all audiences – not just young girls – but that’s something for another time. What I want to do, instead, is focus on one episode in particular, and discuss how I think it’s significant to people with Autism.

But before I do, allow me to give an overview of the series.

Friendship is Magic takes place in the land of Equestria, a magical world inhabited by Unicorns, Pegasi and Earth Ponies – as well as other mythical creatures such as Dragons and Alicorns (winged unicorns). In the beginning, the main character is Twilight Sparkle, a unicorn who studies magic under the tutelage of Princess Celestia, the alicorn monarch of the land. Twilight is a model pupil, and she seems content with her life. But she always spends her free time studying. As a result, she never socialises with anybody other than Spike; a young, flightless dragon, who acts as her personal assistant. This concerns Celestia.

One day, the princess sends them both to Ponyvile to help with the Summer Sun Festival. As they explore the village, Twilight encounters five other ponies. Applejack; a hard-working farm pony. Fluttershy; who loves animals and gets scared easily. Pinkie Pie; who’s full of energy and loves parties. Rarity; who dreams of opening fashion boutiques all over Equestria. And Rainbow Dash; who thinks she’s the coolest flyer around and plans on joining the Wonderbolts aerial team. At first, Twilight wants nothing to do with these ponies. Even when they join her on a quest to stop the evil alicorn, Nightmare Moon. As they journey to the villain’s lair, however, Twilight realises her companions represent the Elements of Harmony – honesty (Applejack), kindness (Fluttershy), laughter (Pinkie Pie), generosity (Rarity) and loyalty (Rainbow Dash). More importantly, though, they’re her friends! Together with Twilight’s own element of magic, they defeat Nightmare Moon and restore her to her true form; Princess Luna. After the festival, Celestia allows Twilight to stay in Ponyville so she can learn more about the magic of friendship.

Now the premise might sound cheesy, I know. But you’d be surprised how seriously Friendship is Magic takes itself. Unlike previous generations of My Little Pony, the show doesn’t appeal to audiences by being over-the-top and girly. Instead, it focuses on teaching universal morals that everyone can relate to. These morals include: being open about your problems, discovering your purpose in life, and staying true to yourself no matter what tries to sway you. Some episodes even touch on deeper subjects like depression, racism and civil war.

Additionally, the show has run for over six seasons because its characters are always developing. Fluttershy is now braver and more assertive, Rarity and Rainbow Dash have achieved their dreams in fashion and flying, and Twilight herself has become an alicorn princess with a student all her own.

But I don’t want to ramble for too long.

The episode I’m going to discuss is called Lesson Zero (S2, Ep3). Admittedly, this is one of the older stories in the series, now. But it’s significant to me for various reasons. Not only was it the first episode of ‘Friendship is Magic’ I ever saw, but after watching it again, I realised something familiar about Twilight’s behaviour. Specifically, she showcases many autistic traits throughout the story. For a brand that used to be all Happy Rainbow Butterfly Pony Flowers (Animat, 2012), I think it was admirable of the writers to take My Little Pony in this direction.

Just for the record, I don’t think Twilight is autistic – there’s plenty of evidence to suggest that she’s not. But I do see a lot of myself in her. Even her friendship experiences are similar to mine. For example, if you listen to the extended version of the Friendship is Magic theme song, Twilight sings:

“When I was young I was too busy to make any friends. Such silliness did not seem worth the effort it expends. But my little ponies, you opened up my eyes. And now the truth is crystal clear as splendid summer skies. And it’s such a wonderful surprise.”

This is my life in a nutshell.

Also, I’m not the only one to make a connection between Twilight and Autism. Many parents have watched this episode, and they agree the writer (Meghan McCarthy) must’ve had some experience with the condition. If you want to know more, I’d recommend watching Bronies: The Extremely Unexpected Adult Fans of My Little Pony. For now, though, let’s take a look at Lesson Zero.

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The episode begins with Twilight and Spike making a list of everything she needs to accomplish by the end of the day. Item 1: create said checklist.

Straight away this relates to Autism. A lot of people write lists to remind them of things. But it’s especially helpful if you have trouble processing large quantities of information. When I have multiple thoughts on my mind, it’s difficult keeping track of them all – sometimes I focus too much on certain tasks and forget about doing others. That’s why I write checklists/timetables. If I know when, and how long, to work on something I feel more in control. And it keeps me from stressing out. The only downside is I literally have to note down everything – to the smallest detail.

This is sort of what Twilight does. Her first task is to create the checklist she’s writing; mine is to wake up in the morning. Her last item is to triple-check her list to make sure she didn’t miss anything when she double-checked it; mine is to get to bed by a certain hour. Twilight is definitely a well-organised pony who enjoys doing things by the book. We even see she has a list of materials needed to make a checklist (quills, parchment, ink, etc.).

Back onto the story; Twilight gets ahead of schedule, so she and Spike go to Sugarcube Corner. There, they collect some cupcakes for an afternoon picnic with her friends. When she opens the box, however, there are thirteen cupcakes instead of twelve. The store owner, Mrs Cake, says she had one extra, so she made it a “baker’s dozen”. Twilight appreciates the thought, but she’s concerned that icing from the thirteenth cupcake is getting over the one next to it – thus making them uneven. She tries to balance things out. But ends up removing all but a drop of icing from each cupcake.

I have to say, this might be the most memorable moment of the entire series for me. Twilight is acting more Autistic/OCD here than she ever has in the show’s history (i.e. letting a small change throw her off and trying to fix something that’s not a problem).

Technically, yes, there’s nothing wrong with the cupcakes. But for Twilight, there’s a major issue. She doesn’t want her friends to think she’s valuing some ponies over others by giving them more icing. You might say this is overreacting a bit, but it’s easy to see a small problem as something bigger – especially when you’re autistic. Plus, Twilight feeling this way isn’t unreasonable. In a previous episode, she couldn’t decide which friend to take with her to a party, and it caused some friction within the group (S1, Ep3).

It’s also established that Twilight is a perfectionist and prefers doing things exactly right. However, being this way 24/7 has its drawbacks. In some cases, you end up making a problem worse rather than fixing it. Case in point: me and my writing.

If I were in Twilight’s predicament, my problem wouldn’t be with the icing, but rather the number of cupcakes. Since you can’t divide thirteen by six (evenly), I’d want to get rid of that extra cupcake. It probably wouldn’t even occur to me to just save it or give it to Spike – which I’m surprised Twilight didn’t think of.

It turns out, though, this scene only foreshadows a greater problem to come.

With the cupcakes in tow, Twilight and Spike head home. Spike has a “claw-cramp” after holding the checklist all day and says he’s glad they don’t have anything to report to the Princess this week.

Before I go on, let me explain.

At this point in the series, Twilight would write letters to Princess Celestia at the end of every episode. The letters would express the moral of the story and what lessons she learnt about friendship – you know, typical kid’s show stuff. Here’s the thing, though; Celestia never said this was a weekly assignment. You could assume she mentioned it off-screen. But it makes more sense to think that Twilight decided this deadline herself. We know she takes pride in being Celestia’s student and is determined to prove her worthiness. So it’s natural she’d want to set herself personal goals.

As we find out, though, trying to do too much too soon can have disastrous consequences.

Twilight looks over her journal and discovers it’s been almost seven days since she sent her last letter. Which means, if she doesn’t send one by sundown, she’ll be late for the assignment – something that’s never happened before. Spike tells her not to worry because he’s sure the princess will forgive her for missing one little deadline. But Twilight doesn’t want to take the risk. In fact, she’s concerned what might happen if Celestia thinks she’s slacking off.

Remember that greater problem I mentioned earlier? This is it.

(Continued in Part 2: https://georgeharvey2015.wordpress.com/2016/10/22/my-little-pony-lesson-zero-and-autism-part-2/)

(Image courtesy of http://www.brony.com/brony-facts-faq/my-little-pony-cast/)

‘The A Word’ (Autism in the Media)

Hello everybody, this is George Harvey (aka The Autistic Blogger).

The views I’m about to express are specifically my own, although they may also be yours too – depending on how much you agree with me.

On March 22nd (2016), BBC One aired its first episode of a new drama series called The A Word. The story follows a dysfunctional Lake District family and their five-year-old son (Joe) who’s Autistic. From his initial diagnosis to the parents’ reactions, the series attempts to show us the effects of Autism, common misunderstandings about it and, most importantly, how to cope.

As the drama is heavily focused around my condition, I decided this would be a perfect opportunity to talk about Autism and its portrayal in the media. Like many real-word issues, there’s no better way of raising awareness than through TV, social media and other forms of mass communication. When it comes to disabilities and conditions, however, it’s important to represent them correctly. Both the benefits and set-backs should be addressed. If one mood overshadows the other, audiences could get the wrong idea about disadvantaged people and unintentionally mistreat them.

Over the years, different mediums have attempted to communicate Autism. Some better than others.

I hate Channel 4‘s The Undateables because it feels too negative. I understand the people taking part agreed to have their lives filmed. But all we’re show are the struggles they face and how disabilities prevent them finding love. There’s nothing to suggest Autism has any good points to it. In fact, people watching the show might feel worse about themselves. I know I did when I saw two grown men with Autism playing Yu-Gi-Oh cards.

The Autistic Gardener communicates things more positively. It still talks about the difficulties people face (e.g. prioritising and social communication), but it also highlights the benefits of having the condition; a creative mind, good organisation skills and perfectionism. More importantly, it shows how they use these traits to make unique contributions to the world of work. In other words, The Autistic Gardener helps Autistic people find employment – it doesn’t ruin their chances at love because their condition supposedly classifies them as Undateable.

Books and stage plays also do their part to raise awareness. Not only are there helpful guidebooks (e.g. The Asperkids Secret Book of Social Rules), but some stories allow us to see exactly what goes on in the Autistic mind. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime is a good example of this. I’ve not read the book myself. But the stage adaption really does Autism justice. The actors and visuals show us everything we need to know – without even naming the condition once.

When creating Autistic characters, it’s important to get their portrayals right or else people will take offence. Holby City recently featured a side character with Autism. I think the actor did an amazing job, because his dialogue was well-written and everything about his performance – from the way he talks to the way he behaves – feels believable. It makes me proud when the media represents Autism so accurately.

With all that being said; what are my thoughts on The A Word?

To make sure I don’t spoil the series too much, I’m only going to talk about what happens in the first episode – and maybe a bit of the second.

The episode begins with Joe walking alone, listening and singing to music on his headphones. This immediately defines his character. Throughout the series it’s made abundantly clear that Joe is obsessed with music. He refuses to talk or co-operate with anyone, unless it’s song-related.

When you’re Autistic it’s very easy to become obsessed with the things you love. They become your source of comfort and you never want to be without them. The series shows us why this can be a problem. Because Joe is so absorbed in his music, it’s nearly impossible to get his attention. That’s why he struggles to follow simple instructions and barely takes notice of the people around him.

There’s no doubt Joe’s music is an issue. Especially as his headphones are the perfect tool for blocking out reality. But one thing I really praise the series for is showing the benefits of his obsession, too. Because he listens to music all day, he’s memorised the lyrics of every song he’s ever heard. Plus, he can tell you a song’s title, the artist, who wrote it and what year it was released. Keep in mind he’s five-years-old! (I’m almost 22; I could never have this kind of encyclopaedia-like knowledge.) Furthermore, it’s mentioned that Joe does well in school and is smarter than most kids his age. These small details are essential. They make it clear to the audience that having Autism doesn’t mean you’re stupid or inferior. It just means you’re gifted in some areas and need additional help in others. Two people who don’t seem realise this are Joe’s parents (Paul and Alison Hughes).

Going back to the episode: it’s Joe’s birthday. And mum and dad are throwing him party. They try to get him involved, but it’s clear he’d rather be listening to music. He even makes a fuss whenever the stereo is turned off.

After the party, the whole family is gathered. Among them is Nicola – the partner of Paul’s brother, Eddie. She asks the parents if they think Joe’s behaviour is because he has something. Almost immediately they lash out. Paul excuses his son’s behaviour as being normal for five-year-olds. Whilst Alison is furious Nicola would suggest such a thing.

This scene is important. It highlights the most common feelings parents have when they first consider Autism: fear and denial. Paul and Alison obviously love Joe with all their hearts and want him to have the best chance in life. Just the thought of there being something wrong with him is frightening, because they know it means he won’t grow up like normal children. Worst still, they think he won’t grow up happy at all – which of course is completely wrong.

Not wanting to face the possibility of Autism, they try to continue their lives as normal. But Joe’s symptoms soon become overwhelming. Eventually, his grandad (Maurice) can’t stand the lack of action and takes Joe for a medical assessment – without Paul or Alison’s knowledge.

By the way I have to say this quickly. I just love that Christopher Eccleston plays Maurice in the series. What can I say, I’m a sucker for any actor who used to be in Doctor Who. Anyway…

The Hughes are, understandably, upset by Maurice’s actions and tell him to stay away. However, it turns out the assessment was a good thing, because it’s confirmed that Joe does have Autism. Mum and dad are still doubtful, but they listen to the doctor’s prognosis.

This might be the highlight of the whole episode for me. Everything that’s described about Autism here is very accurate. The doctor mentions how it’s not just one condition, but a series of conditions that affect different people in different ways. She also talks about prioritising, repetitive behaviour and how it’s difficult for these people to process what they hear. I felt a genuine connection to the series after this, because it sounded like she was describing me. Many other Autistic people can also relate. (If there’s any scene worth watching in the episode it’s this one.)

Following Joe’s diagnosis, the reality is almost too much for Paul and Alison. They think there’s obviously been some mistake and want to get a second opinion. Even Maurice is sceptical.

“He talks, he laughs, he looks you in the eye, he smiles; how is he Autistic? I don’t understand.”

This sums up the main problem people have with Autism. Because everybody is effected differently, it’s near-impossible to pin-down specific behaviours. They think if someone doesn’t act a certain way it’s proof they don’t have Autism – which isn’t necessarily true.

Maurice then asks if there’s a cure. To which Alison immediately (and correctly) responds: “It’s not a disease!”

The point of Autism isn’t to cure it, but to understand its effects on someone. Once you do, you’ll be able to come up with a plan – specifically tailored to that individual – which gives them the exact help and encouragement they need.

However, there’s a right and wrong way to handle Autism. And Alison, unfortunately, chooses the latter. She’s so afraid of “labelling” Joe, she thinks the best course of action is to make sure nobody else finds out about his Autism – she doesn’t even want the word mentioned in her house.

This is the absolute worst thing she can do. When somebody is Autistic, nothing is more important than letting others know about it. Many parents don’t understand this. They think if they hide their child’s problems, their son or daughter will be able to live a normal life. Quite the opposite. They’re allowing a small issue to grow into an even bigger one.

Let’s put things into perspective.

If people don’t know a child has Autism, they’ll think he or she is acting strange on purpose and want to avoid them. Maybe even bully them. If teachers don’t know, they can’t give that child the support they need in lessons. They’ll blame bad grades on lack of effort – rather than learning difficulties – making the child feel stressed and miserable about themselves.

To put it simply, refusing to acknowledge someone’s Autism, actually prevents them from living a normal life.

On the other hand, if people are made aware of the Autism – and they’re given a proper explanation of it – it will help them to understand why the child behaves the way they do. They’ll learn to accept it and be more willing to engage with them. Plus, if the child is given support in school, they’ll learn to get better overtime and eventually not need it anymore.

Eddie tries telling Alison the first step is honesty. But she ignores him, saying he doesn’t know anything. (Newsflash mum: neither do you!)

The episode ends and the preview suggests Alison is going to handle things a lot worse; she’s thinking of home-schooling Joe and taking away his music.

So do I think The A Word is a good series? Absolutely. There are just so many things it gets right about Autism. And a lot people agree with me. The episodes have been praised numerous times on social media for their subject matter and quality acting. I don’t know if Max Vento (Joe’s actor) has Autism in real life, but his performance is right on the money.

There are many things I share in common with Joe. When he sings, he sings loudly and doesn’t consider he might be disturbing nearby people. I sort of do the same thing when I’m listening to YouTube videos. Also, Joe wanders the playground, allows the smallest things to distract him and occasionally references lines from movies like Toy Story – all things I’ve done in my life at some point.

However, there are differences between me and Joe, too. When I was younger, I never had problems making friends and I was always invited to birthday parties. I also did a lot of outrageous things, but it never got to the point where I slapped anybody or broke something in frustration. (I think Joe is portrayed as having a slightly higher form of Autism than mine.)

Another thing I love about the series is its sub-plots. We see Joe’s sister feeling like she’s invisible; Eddie and Nicola having relationship problems; Maurice getting stalked by his music instructor, etc. Each one is believable and adds something different to the drama (e.g. humour or tension). It really shows how Autism effects not only the person diagnosed, but the people around them.

In conclusion, The A Word is a beautifully crafted masterpiece and I highly recommend it to everyone. The series may not tell us everything about Autism. And Joe shouldn’t be used as a template for all Autistic children. But it’s an essential piece to watch if we aim to make this world a more inclusive place.

That’s it for this post/review. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.
Please remember that April is Autism Awareness Month. Do whatever you can to show your support on social media.

#EmployAutism (Ambitious about Autism)

#TheAWord (The A Word)

Be sure to check out the other material I’ve written for this blog and Autistic Blogger Reviews (https://autisticbloggerreviews.wordpress.com). If you have any questions, leave me a comment – I’ll be happy to answer them. And as always, keep an eye out for the next post. Stay tuned.

(Image courtesy of http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2015/the-a-word)