Shadows House (Season 1) Review

Hello everybody, this is George Harvey (aka The Autistic Blogger). I know it’s been a long time since I’ve posted anything significant on this site. I’ve just been very, very busy. My hours at work were extended, I’ve been managing my YouTube Channel (https://www.youtube.com/@geostarentertainment90068), and I’ve been rehearsing for a show which ended up getting cancelled and then rescheduled on short notice. I have very little free time anymore. That being said, I don’t want you to think I’ve forgotten any of you. So, in the time that I’ve had, I’ve written a review on another of my favourite animes. I hope you enjoy it.

***

Every once in a while, there’ll be a particular anime studio that garners my attention. You have famous ones like Studio Ghibli, Toei Animation, or even American-based companies like Crunchyroll. But the one I’ve taken a keen interest in lately has been CloverWorks. I’ve noticed, in recent years, they’ve produced several anime series that became instant hits upon their release. These include My Dress Up Darling (2022), Spy x Family (2022), and – most notably for me – The Promised Neverland (2019-2021). Admittedly, they don’t have a perfect track record with their adaptations. But when they get the formula right, they captivate audiences with stories pertaining to both fantasy and realism. This winning formula is what drew me to Shadows House.  

I discovered this anime by chance when I found a random clip of the English dub on YouTube. It was only 4 minutes long, but I was astounded by what I saw; the characters and setting showed me exactly why the series was so unique. After watching more clips, I knew I had to experience the series myself. I even read the manga before watching the second season – something I’ve never done before. But when looking at the anime’s initial debut, did CloverWorks turn it into a masterpiece of writing and animation? Or did they drop the ball with it like The Promised Neverland (Season 2)? Let’s start with the story. 

In a world where the sky is shrouded by soot, a colossal mansion stands isolated in the mountains. Within its walls are the Shadows Family, faceless black beings who conduct themselves as higher-class nobles. Attending to them are Living Dolls, human-like servants created in their masters’ image. One of these servants, a lively and optimistic doll named Emilico, is assigned to serve a young shadow named Kate. Although the two are practically opposites, she works hard to please her mistress, and they form a close friendship over time. However, as Kate’s “debut” approaches, she and her doll wonder about the house’s secrets and if life in the manor truly is as blissful as they’ve been led to believe. 

When it comes to the fantasy genre, CloverWorks has excellent success presenting darker tales like The Promised Neverland (Season 1). As the name suggests, dark fantasy enhances a story with make-believe elements so that it feels more unsettling. It’s not necessarily scary. But it does make us glad such things don’t exist in real life. For example, a story about orphaned children being adopted by wicked people is dark enough. But what if their orphanage was a human farm, and those people were flesh-eating demons (The Promised Neverland)? It adds another layer of dread that realism couldn’t achieve alone. 

Shadows House takes a similar approach with its world-building. The atmosphere is initially unsettling because we know so little about the mansion. Episode 1 begins with a montage of the house and its residents. However, the sheer vagueness of it all sends waves of questions rushing through our minds. And, like a good mystery, it doesn’t give us all the answers straight away. Instead, they’re revealed gradually through the lead characters’ perspectives. For example, in the first episode, Emilico awakens from her doll box and begins her life serving Kate. Through them, we learn the roles of a shadow and a doll and why they have to form a bond. Then, once we’re familiar with them, the story expands beyond Kate’s room to the rest of the mansion (Ep.2). Emilico meets other Living Dolls – some friendlier than others – and is exposed to many new curiosities: veiled dolls, scorches, phantoms, sealed off areas of the mansion, and (perhaps most concerning of all) the mindset of her peers.  

A common saying among the dolls is that they “[shouldn’t] fret over trivial matters“, and working hard for the Shadows Family will bring them true happiness. They even have a song, which, despite its merry tune, enforces unwavering loyalty regardless of working conditions (Eps.2/11/13). By this point, it’s evident that the dolls’ smiles are masking a harsher reality. And soon, one fact becomes undeniable. 

Compared to their masters, Living Dolls are treated horribly – almost to the point where the series is a commentary on slavery and social class. Whereas shadows have large rooms, wear fine clothes and enjoy exquisite food, dolls are given the bare minimum of everything: cramped living quarters, long working hours, insufficient food and rest, and strict orders to remain silent in public. Also, younger shadows are taught not to view their dolls as individuals but as extensions of themselves: a face to be seen and nothing more. This viewpoint causes some masters to mistreat or even abuse their dolls (Ep.5), an act made crueller when it’s revealed how Living Dolls are created and what their fates will be once their masters become adults (Eps.10-11). Some shadows reject these principles, like Kate. But the consensus seems to be that dolls are of lower class. They must obey their masters, fend for themselves, and cast aside any notions of friendship.  

However, a shadow’s life isn’t so rosy either. When the narrative focuses on Kate, we see how she leads a solemn and miserable existence. Unlike Emilico, she’s forbidden to leave her room or interact with others. Also, shadows release soot from their bodies whenever they sleep or experience negative emotions, making everything they touch filthy. Additionally, there’s immense pressure on them to pass their debuts since failure will mean being “disposed of.” However, arguably, the most tragic part of a shadow’s existence is never feeling like a complete being. Because they don’t have faces, shadows rely on their dolls to express their emotions. Emilico isn’t just Kate’s servant; she’s also meant to be her identity. That’s why they must act as one, so Kate can feel somewhat whole. Couple this with how shadows often refer to themselves in the third person, and you get the sense that they feel disconnected from who they are. Whether it’s manual labour, peer pressure, or a severe identity crisis, dolls and shadows suffer many hardships in the children’s wing.  

On that note, let’s discuss the mansion itself. As I said earlier, Episode 1 takes place in only a few rooms, so everything initially feels confined. However, once Emilico is summoned to clean outside, that’s when the enormous scale of the mansion is revealed. It’s like an entire functioning community, with hundreds of rooms, gritty ironworks and long corridors that stretch into darkness. There’s even a separate wing for the adults, with grand halls for special events and a large garden with a hedge maze. Plus, there are more rooms and gardens we don’t see. As for the overall design, while the anime isn’t set during a specific period, the clothing and furniture seem to reflect the late Victorian era. So, although it’s not a modern setting, it’s still a time most audiences will be familiar with.  

My only nitpicks with the visuals are some of the textures. In certain scenes, there are noticeable scratch marks over things like plants and wood – almost as if they were painted separately with watercolours and then added digitally. The result causes some environments to look flat while the characters stick out with their solid forms. The markings also substitute for shading and smoke effects, which often don’t look convincing. Other scenes fix this problem with better lighting and colours. 

Then there are the character designs. There’s not much to say about the Living Dolls because they resemble human beings so closely. They don’t have porcelain skin, visible joints, or distinctive doll features. Plus, they’re shown to eat, sleep, and even bleed like real people (Ep.10). We only know they’re dolls because the series says so. 

On the other hand, shadows are the ones who stand out with their designs. These are living silhouettes with entirely black bodies and no visible features. Yet they move and speak like humans. For the animators, creating a shadow is relatively simple. All they have to do is take the character model of a doll, colour it in black, and then replace the drab clothing with fancier attire. Plus, they don’t have to worry about lip-syncing most of the time – since a shadow’s mouth is only visible from the side. 

But even if they’re easier to animate, that doesn’t mean the shadows don’t come with a challenge. Technically, there’s more pressure on the voice actors to express their feelings because they can’t rely on the animators to show it for them. The only exception is when the dolls stand alongside their masters as their faces. A good example is the scene when Kate and Emilico first meet Sarah and Mia (Ep.2). The doll (Mia) shows a variety of expressions and perfectly copies the movements of her master (Sarah). Yet, despite a voice being heard, Mia never moves her mouth – except when miming laughter. We know it’s actually Sarah who’s talking, but it feels surreal because we can’t see it. 

Furthermore, the shadows’ unique designs are only achievable through 2D animation. If someone tried adapting the series into live-action, it would be almost impossible to replicate the shadows convincingly. Even if they could find a way with CGI, it would be difficult and expensive to do so on such a large and consistent scale. It’s one of the reasons why this anime limits its CGI to things like water, smoke, or giving soot creatures other-worldly appearances. Shadows House was tailor-made for animation. 

The last topic of discussion is the characters themselves – a mammoth task, considering nearly everyone has a counterpart. Beginning with the main pairing, Kate is a reserved shadow who initially struggles with even looking people in the eye. She detests her filthiness and longs to escape her isolation (Eps.1-2). Even when her doll arrives, she’s not entirely sure what to do with her. In contrast, Emilico is bursting with positivity. She’s eager to get along with everyone and will always help those in need, even if it’s seen as trivial. She does have sombre moments, like questioning her usefulness. But she often bounces back with an infectious smile – brought on by something as simple as eating bread (Ep.1). Kate grows fond of her doll’s optimism and wants Emilico to stay as she is rather than become like her. It’s why she gives her a unique name (Ep.1) instead of one similar to hers – which is usually customary. Adding to this is that Kate (Emi Lo) and Emilico (Dani Chambers) are the only duo not to share the same voice actor. 

There are also Kate’s fellow debutants: John, Louise, Patrick and Shirley, who each share a different relationship with their doll. 

John is quite an eccentric shadow who tries to be friendly with everyone. Although, he can be impulsive and overconfident at times. Much like Kate, John treats his doll, Shaun, better than most masters would. He even wears non-prescribed glasses to compensate for his doll’s poor eyesight (Ep.5). Shaun, however, is more resistant to his master’s orders if he disagrees with them. As such, he acts more like a parental figure to John’s less-than-mature personality. It extends to his work outside the rooms as well. He is conscious of obeying the house’s rules. But he will look after other dolls like a big brother. 

Louise is best described as narcissistic. She takes pride in the appearance of her doll, Lou, and loves making her pretty. However, she tends to forget there’s a body attached to the face and ends up mistreating her unintentionally. Not that Lou minds very much. She’s a naturally quiet doll and prefers being told what to do rather than making decisions herself. Although, she does later form a relationship with Ricky – Patrick’s Living Doll. 

Speaking of which, Patrick and Ricky are the most similar in terms of personality. They have an air of smug confidence to them and look down on those they see as inferior. It’s easy to view them as antagonists, not unlike Draco Malfoy (Harry Potter). However, they’re both nicer than they appear. Ricky will do anything for his master’s well-being, even if it means swallowing his pride and begging a rival for help (Ep.9). And Patrick is extremely sensitive. When a situation gets too intense for him, Emilico is the one who comes to his aid and comforts him (Ep.7). Patrick sees dolls in a different light from that day onwards.

Finally, there’s Shirley, who has no personality whatsoever. And I don’t mean that as a criticism – her whole character is that she never fully developed as a shadow. It’s the reason she can’t talk or produce any soot. Consequently, it leaves her self-named doll, Rum, in a difficult position. With no way of communicating, Rum can’t tell how Shirley feels. Nor can she perform her duty as her face. Working outside the rooms is no better either because she’s a clumsy cleaner and always being yelled at (Ep.4). Nobody seemed to care about her until Emilico arrived. But by that point, she’d already already given up on herself. It’s hard not to feel sorry for this soft-spoken girl who’s always on the verge of tears, especially when it’s revealed she has a sharp mind and photographic memory (Ep.7). Unfortunately, none of that matters if she can’t pass her debut. Of all the characters we want to succeed, Rum is arguably the highest on our list. 

As for the other child characters, they don’t feature as much. But a handful do stand out with their personalities. For example, Mia and Rosemary are the senior members of Emilico’s cleaning team; they act like big sisters and mentors to her during her early days outside the rooms (Eps.2-4). Rosemary’s shadow master, a flamboyant tomboy named Maryrose, is happy to welcome and teach the newcomers (Eps.10/13). However, Mia’s master is the complete opposite. Sarah only cares about raising her social status and expects her doll to do nothing but make her shine. Worse still, she’s ungodly cruel to Mia if she steps out of line – trashing her room and even physically beating her on occasion (Eps.2-5). It feels like a subplot is being developed with them. Unfortunately, the series never follows through on it. 

Then you have the authority figures. The first is Barbie, a Star-Bearer who maintains order among the Dolls. One look at her scowling face, mangled hair, and shark-like teeth is enough to tell you how ruthless she is. She’s constantly in a foul mood, barking out orders, spouting insults and bullying weaker dolls she sees as dimwits (Eps.3-4). Very few have the nerve to stand up to her.  

There’s also Barbie’s shadow master (Barbara) and the other Star-Bearers. However, they’re not featured nearly enough for us to appreciate their characters’ significance. The same can be said for the adults. They each have a distinguishing trait that makes them unlikable, but there’s little we know about them besides that trait. Even the Lord Grandfather, who’s supposed to be the all-mighty ruler of Shadows House, is shrouded in mystery along with his goals. 

The only adult who seems to have clear motivations is Edward, a “Special Living Doll” charged with judging Kate and the other shadows on their debut. He wants nothing more than to rise through the ranks and stand alongside Lord Grandfather. It doesn’t matter who he has to crush along the way. So long as he snuffs out the weaker shadows and dolls and entertains the higher-ups, he can be satisfied with his work. And if things don’t go his way, he’ll force them to by any means necessary. 

So, with all that said, how do I personally feel about Shadows House as an anime? It’s honestly one of the most engaging series I’ve seen in recent years. It takes the basic idea of shadows following their hosts and flips it on its head. It then expands on this new concept to such a creative degree that it builds an entire dystopian world with its own rules and lore. I love the commentary it presents on social class, especially since we relate more with the lower-class dolls because of their familiar appearances. The central characters all have memorable personalities – save one. Plus, it’s interesting to see different relationships between dolls and shadows based on their similarities or dissimilarities. It makes for a lot of heartfelt scenes in later episodes. 

However, the anime also doesn’t shy away from its darker elements. As stated before, there’s a prominent theme of slavery and mistreatment. Children experience many hardships in the manor, including physical threats from scorches and phantoms or psychological terrors brought on by authority figures. For Kate, Emilico and others, it’s about challenging the status quo and deciding what’s morally correct over what’s traditionally expected.  

I also love the music. The series mainly uses classical instruments, like violins and pianos, to fit the historical setting. They do a fine job adding eeriness to scenes with tension. The opening and end credits are particular highlights, with the former being almost purely instrumental and both accompanying some breathtaking animation. 

My favourite aspects, though, are the mysteries. Nearly every episode feels like it’s revealing more information about the manor and its residents. Each revelation is more unsettling than the last, plus the answers usually lead to more questions. Some are easier to work out than others, like those surrounding the dolls. However, some mysteries remain unsolved. Kate, for instance, knows much about the mansion for someone who’s supposedly never left her room. She’s even aware of things younger shadows shouldn’t be, like how Living Dolls are created (Ep.11). Additionally, Kate keeps mentioning there’s something she needs to do (Eps.4-5) and that she wants to tell Emilico all of her secrets (Ep.10). The manga has revealed these secrets already (Ch.106-115). But the anime has yet to reach this point after two seasons.

Speaking of which, the anime is adapted very well from the manga’s pages. Often, the scenes are literal one-to-one recreations of the illustrations. Also, besides removing one central character and a single irrelevant chapter (9), the changes made are fairly minimal – just some minor scenes being rearranged, added or removed. However, I will say that these changes do impact how certain characters are introduced; some benefit from the alterations, like Emilico, Kate and Mia (Eps.1-2), but others don’t feel as mysterious or significant. For example, the adults and Kate’s fellow debutants are introduced through brief scenes across several early episodes (3-5). In the manga, they weren’t seen until the debut arc, making each of their arrivals feel like a new mystery to solve. 

Another criticism I have is with the debut itself – it drags on far too long. I understand it’s a significant event, and we get some great character development from it. However, there are better ways of building chemistry than having your characters wander through a maze for nearly half the season (Eps.6-10). All the mysteries and world-building feel like they’re put on hold while this test plays out. On the positive side, though, the ending reveals some of the darkest and most shocking secrets the series has to offer. Plus, it leads into a thrilling season climax. 

The most significant change from the manga, by far, is the last three episodes. Without spoiling too much, they deviate from the source material and instead present an original story involving a rescue mission. Doing something like this is always risky in an anime adaptation – especially for CloverWorks after their disastrous reception with The Promised Neverland (Season 2). However, I’d argue they made the right call here. Had the series continued adapting the manga until Episode 13, the season would’ve ended partway through a major story arc – and there were no guarantees there’d be a second season. The new ending provides a satisfactory conclusion and strengthens many characters’ relationships. Fans of the manga will even notice references to events in later chapters, including a small creature wearing a bow, a locked cabinet emitting soot, and Kate disguising herself as a veiled doll (Ep.12). 

As a quick side note, if you ever want to read this anime’s manga counterpart, I’d highly recommend finding a copy that’s in colour. It makes the shadows easier to identify and allows us to fully appreciate the attention to detail on the drawings. Little things like shading and depth make all the difference.

In conclusion, Shadows House is a defining example of dark fantasy. Its make-believe elements present a creatively engaging story that’s heartfelt and intimidating. Not to mention, it looks visually stunning.  

It’s been rumoured that CloverWorks ended their production of The Promised Neverland so they could focus on this series instead. Whether that’s true or not, Shadows House does feel like a spiritual successor. It’s a story about children in a supernatural world, trying to stand up to a repressive system to achieve better lives for everyone. It’s an empowering message that even young audiences can relate to and understand. 

I recommend this anime to anyone looking for a mature spin on fantasy but not something scary or overly complicated like horror or epic fantasy. Also, if you like mysteries, this series will keep you guessing throughout. The manga is still being written, and new questions and answers are presented regularly. There are many secrets yet to be uncovered within Shadows House. 

That’s all I have to say for this anime’s first season. If Season 2 gets released on Blu-Ray, I’ll also consider reviewing that one too. But until then, stay tuned.

Image courtesy of: https://medium.com/anitay-official/veiled-in-darkness-shadows-house-is-this-seasons-hidden-gem-cd62ecdb8811

Are They Autistic? – Reggie Abbott (Twelve Forever) – Part 3

Continued from Parts 1 and 2.

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

Are They Autistic? – Reggie Abbot (Twelve Forever) – Part 2 | The Autistic Blogger (wordpress.com)

When I first started writing this article, I intended to analyse Twelve Forever so I could determine whether Reggie, the main character, was Autistic or not. While doing so, however, I came to admire the series for something else: its true intention. The longer I watched the episodes, the more it became clear they were written with a preteen audience in mind. They didn’t teach lessons, exactly, but rather experiences. They were the sort of moments everyone goes through in life, and the stories were guides to handling them. I’ve already explained how Episode 1 teaches us to let go of the past while valuing our memories. But there are other examples throughout the series. Episode 3, for instance, teaches us the challenges of making and accepting new friends. 

You may’ve noticed (in the last parts) I haven’t mentioned Reggie’s other friend, Esther, all that much. That’s because they don’t officially become friends until the third episode. And the process isn’t as straightforward as you might think. 

When Esther is introduced, she’s shown to be a grade-A student. She’s passionate about many things, like reading and learning, and is determined to be the best she can be. Unfortunately, nobody at school shares her mindset. Her classmates – including Reggie and Todd – think she’s too analytical about everything, and her book reports are long and tedious. Even the teacher seems to belittle her for it. As a result, Esther always feels like she’s always messing up and that her efforts will never be appreciated.

I can personally relate to this feeling. Sometimes I spend weeks or months working on a single project because I have limited spare time outside my job. I sacrifice a lot to ensure it’s made to the best of my ability. However, that doesn’t always mean it’ll be successful. Sometimes people aren’t interested in everything I say, so my piece doesn’t get the attention or views I hoped for. It’s tough whenever you put so much effort into something only to get so little in return. It makes you wonder if the time you spent was worth it. Or if you were better off doing something else. Now imagine someone like Esther going through that daily. She’d have confidence issues for sure. That’s why it’s necessary to let off steam somewhere.

One day, Reggie and Todd skip detention to go to Endless. However, they’re shocked to find Esther is there too. As it turns out, she has a homemade flute which lets her visit the island – much like Reggie and Todd’s keys. Because she often feels pressured by her parents’ expectations, she needs a place to refresh her mentality. Todd is fascinated that other people can visit Endless. But Reggie is annoyed. She doesn’t like the idea of “book report girl” stepping in on her special place and acts very territorial. It’s another example of how much Reggie despises even the slightest change in her life. Esther insists she’s not there to cause trouble. But Reggie is determined to ditch her. Until she gets caught in quicksand, that is. Esther uses her Endless powers to save Reggie, and the latter realises she’s not as dull as she thought.

Deciding whether to be someone’s friend can feel like a challenge in and of itself. You never know how long a relationship will last, and things like having different ages, religions or personal interests could be considered obstacles. However, the only important question to ask yourself is if you want to befriend that person. Even two significantly different people can find enough common ground to form a friendship. Or at least be happy spending more time together. As demonstrated by Reggie, she doesn’t mind being called Esther’s friend.

Todd also has his series highlights. In the fourth episode, his brother, Aron, goes to college, leaving him as the oldest sibling in the house. As such, his parents rely on him more than ever to look after his younger sisters. He seems to manage just fine. But then he’s seen creating new friends on Endless from his brother’s old things. Reggie has no clue what’s going on. But Esther picks up that Todd is angry. He’s always been very close to his brother, so he feels betrayed by his leaving. Rather than talk about it, though, Todd wants to make a replacement for Aron to fill the void in his life – even though no one can ever truly replace his brother. Esther and Reggie assure Todd that even if Aron isn’t around anymore, he still has them to confide in with his problems. Plus, his family show how much they appreciate his hard work.

So the three main characters are all very relatable; their experiences are common to almost any twelve-year-old watching. However, even when the storylines aren’t familiar, they still add a sense of realism to the series. 

For example, in one episode (20), Reggie and her friends plan to spend a week on Endless for Spring Break. However, Reggie starts to feel unwell. She thinks it’s a stomach ache. But then she suddenly vomits and passes out. Why? Because it’s revealed her appendix has burst, and she needs to spend time in the hospital. It’s a scary moment that reminds us how human these characters are.

In another episode (14), Reggie finds a box of her dad’s old things. She acts like it doesn’t bother her so much. But then her inner feelings manifest as a storm monster on Endless, which forces her to open up. It leads to an emotional scene where she tearfully consults her mom and learns the harsh reality of why her dad left. 

The series can be nonsensical and funny at times with its fantasy elements. But when the episodes want to be serious, nothing gets sugarcoated. Instead, the characters speak to each other like real people going through emotional conflicts. If there’s one thing Twelve Forever excels at, it’s communicating its morals.

Another praiseworthy aspect is the series’ depiction of LGTBQ+. Several characters are shown to have affectionate feelings for those of the same gender. Episode 7, for example, centres around Mack and Beefhouse (two male wrestlers) expressing their love for being the other’s partner. Another Endless resident (Galaxander) has a house date with a male shark and admits to having an ex-boyfriend (ep13). It’s even implied that Reggie, herself, might be gay. Halfway through the series, an older girl named Conelly is introduced. She’s an aspiring filmmaker and admires Reggie for her creativity. She even invites her to hang out with her and her friends so they can work on projects together. Afterwards, Reggie gets flustered whenever she’s around Conelly – as if she’s trying to suppress feelings she doesn’t fully understand.

I love how the series approaches LGTBQ+ so causally. Too often in media, creators state how they’ve included gay, transgender or bisexual characters in their products to show they’re all-inclusive. However, drawing attention to them this way implies those sorts of people are out of the ordinary. There are films, series and documentaries where they’re meant to be the main focus. But when they’re not, it can feel like their sexuality is being exploited for marketing. I think the best way to represent LGTBQ+ characters is to present them as regular people in society. As same-gender relationships become more commonplace and widely accepted, why should they be portrayed any differently in media?

Reggie’s main appeal isn’t that she’s potentially gay. It’s that she’s a character we can all see ourselves in. She represents a phase in our lives we all inevitably go through. And we have to overcome it because it’s essential to our future.

On that note, let me tell you what this series’ fantasy setting represents. As much as Endless gets presented as this fun-filled sunny paradise where kids can escape their worries and live out their dreams, it doesn’t want to give the wrong idea that it’s a permanent solution to Reggie’s troubles. It’s not trying to say that if you don’t want to grow up, you can stay a carefree, unresponsible child forever. Instead, the island is meant to relieve kids of stress so they can work through their problems and be better prepared for the real world. Even in episodes like the one involving Reggie’s dad, it’s clarified there are some things she can’t run away from on Endless.

Another way this message is delivered is by showing the audience how dangerous the island can be. There are physical threats such as the Butt Witch, the various monsters and a genuine risk of injury. However, the most disturbing aspect is the island’s residents. Throughout the series, they occasionally mention living in the real world before coming to the island. It sounds odd at first. But then we get to episode 20. 

While Reggie recovers in the hospital, she insists that Todd and Esther should spend Spring Break on Endless – just like they planned. But they have to call her daily so she knows what’s happening. Todd and Esther agree. But they slowly begin to forget Reggie, and the real world, the longer they spend on Endless. Moreover, because the time of day never changes on the island, they lose track of how long they’ve been there, and soon five whole days have passed. By the time Reggie returns, she’s shocked to find her friends are on the verge of insanity and are morphing into disfigured creatures. The only thing that saves them is Reggie bringing them back to the real world so they can regain their senses.

Seeing what happens when you’re exposed to too much magic is disturbing. But Todd and Esther were lucky enough to escape. The series’ darkest moment comes when the three friends meet Captain Elmer (episode 23), a mysterious visitor who looks like a young boy. Initially, they’re convinced he’s a travelling collector because he owns a giant sea creature filled with treasure. However, it’s later revealed he’s a master thief, and they catch him red-handed. After apprehending him, though, they discover a photograph which tells the whole story.

Elmer was a boy from the 1950s who came to Endless wanting to escape his misery. His mother had died of illness, and he lived in an orphanage. So much had already been taken from him that he wanted to regain his happiness in any way he could. Endless allowed him to take whatever he wanted without consequences. So he vowed never to return to his dismal real-world life. However, staying on Endless all those years caused him to transform into a doll with detachable limbs. Now he’s stuck in this world forever because he’s lost his humanity.

Endless isn’t meant to be a scary or evil place. But like everything in life, too much of something can be devastating. In this case, the story emphasises why the island’s magic is only beneficial in moderation. Additionally, it shows how pain and misfortune can corrupt a young child’s mind, causing them to develop into unsavoury people. Their problems must be identified early on, so others can give them the help and support they need. Otherwise, they’ll be led down a path they’ll never return from.

Unfortunately, despite the moral of this cautionary tale being plain for everyone to see, the episode ends on a worrying note. Because although Todd, Esther and the audience realise how horrifying Elmer’s fate is, the one person who doesn’t grasp it is the person who needs to learn from it the most: Reggie. Not only does the tragedy go over her head, but she thinks Elmer staying a kid forever is cool and wants to be like him. Worse still, now that she knows Endless is broader than she imagined, it’s given her a terrible plan for the future. When she’s old enough to leave home, she’ll live on Endless permanently and spend the rest of her life exploring its other islands. We know this is an awful idea because we’ve seen the consequences. But Reggie doesn’t care. She thinks she’ll be luckier than everyone else and handle things better. Sadly, this is the biggest flaw with Reggie’s character; when she sets her mind to something, she can be extremely stubborn and selfish.

Looking at the relationship between the three friends, they generally get along very well. However, Reggie often takes the lead in saying what they’ll do and when. She hardly listens to reason and doesn’t like being told no. Also, going back to what I said about her being possessive, she seems to think all of Endless is meant to revolve around her. There’s an episode (13) where the group sees into the homes of the island’s residents, and Reggie is shocked that they have lives outside of playing with her. The point where everything hits a fever pitch, though, is when Todd starts falling in love.

It begins with the three friends attending a school dance (ep21). Todd spends some time with a girl named Gwen – who he’s been seeing outside of school lately – and even Esther finds somebody to dance with. Reggie is left all alone to observe how mature both her friends look. Conelly then arrives with her friends. But Reggie panics and wants to leave. Todd refuses to go. So Reggie forcibly drags Esther away from her partner – ruining a special moment between them. Ultimately, Esther feels heartbroken and decides to go home – leaving Reggie by herself again.

Reggie’s inability to read a situation, or consider other people’s feelings, is harmful to both her and her friends. Nowhere is this better shown than in the series’ penultimate episode (24).

For Todd’s thirteenth birthday, Reggie plans a celebration for him on Endless. He’s excited to go, but then he mentions he’s planning to bring Gwen along – who’s now officially his girlfriend. Reggie is outraged at the idea and refuses to allow it – even though she’s brought others to Endless before too. They get into a heated argument until Todd refuses to attend the party. Reggie then goes on a rampage, destroying everything she prepared out of rage. Esther tries calming her down by reminding her of when they first became friends – maybe they can warm up to Gwen too. But Reggie is having none of it. She enjoys her life with just the three of them and doesn’t want Todd to give in to real-world temptations. It’s a moment that exposes Reggie’s insecurities and how stuck she is in the present. Unfortunately, things quickly go from bad to worse.

Todd comes to Endless, intending to apologise. But he hits a breaking point when he sees what Reggie has done to the party. He’s tired of her acting so selfish and immature whenever something doesn’t go her way. Even if she set up the party for him, she still destroyed it because she didn’t want there to be an extra guest. He’s also mad at Esther for never standing up to Reggie, and Esther doesn’t appreciate him putting words in her mouth. Things get so out of hand that the friends start attacking one another until Reggie screams at them to “get off [her] island!” Todd and Esther leave in a bitter rage, and Reggie is left broken and miserable. It’s the most harrowing scene of the whole series.

Now, eventually, the friends do reconcile (ep25). And they even work together to save Endless from its deadliest threat yet. However, it’s clear Reggie still has a lot to learn. After all, we never hear her apologise to Todd or Esther; we only assume that happened off-screen. 

But although Reggie lacks the qualities of a good role model, that doesn’t mean she’s a terrible person. There are moments throughout the series where she’s been willing to try new things. She watches TV shows and plays board games for older audiences (eps16/19). She offers to babysit, despite having no experience (ep15). And she even takes responsibility for residents on Endless, like building new homes for newcomers (ep14). The opportunities for Reggie to grow as a person are there. It’s just that she needs the confidence to take those next steps. Like starting a babysitting business (as her mom suggested), becoming friends with Conelly, or taking the latter’s advice and using her creativity to become an art director. Sometimes it takes encouragement from the right people to provide that much-needed confidence. 

***

Now, at this point, I have to address the reader on something. You might’ve spent this whole time reading and had one question on your mind. Wasn’t this article supposed to be about whether Reggie was Autistic or not? Well, that is true. I have been procrastinating on the subject. However, there’s a good reason for it. I had very different intentions when I wrote Part 1 of this article. I thought it would be like the other instalments of Are They Autistic? where I would look over a piece of media, pick out specific details and use those to determine whether the character was on the spectrum. However, that’s not what I ended up doing. As I sat down to watch this series, I realised it was much more than I ever expected. There were so many enlightening moments with the stories, morals and characters that I had to give them the attention they deserved – even if that meant writing for a few more weeks and making the title slightly misleading.

With that said, though, I still need to answer the all-important question. Is Reggie Abbott, the main protagonist, Autistic? Well, you might be disappointed to hear this, but to tell the truth, I don’t know. 

As I mentioned before, in Part 1, Reggie and I have many similarities. The most significant is that she’s reluctant to change and has a creative mind. I even found other comparisons throughout the series, like her habit of collecting strange things (ep11) – which I had when I was younger – and loving anime music (ep21). However, despite these findings, they weren’t enough to convince me that no other explanation was possible. There was no defining moment where I thought, for sure, that Reggie had to be Autistic. For Haruhi Suzumiya, it was when she wore her hair a specific way each day of the week (The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya). For Beth Rivers, it was eating everything on her plate in one particular order (Rose Rivers). But for Reggie Abbott, her interests and issues were common to many children with or without neurological disabilities. Plus, any supporting evidence I did find was few and far between. And they didn’t connect in the way I was hoping.

All things considered, though, I don’t want to claim that Reggie isn’t Autistic. If somebody watched Twelve Forever and told me they thought she was on the spectrum, I wouldn’t argue against it. There certainly is evidence supporting that claim. But there wasn’t enough for me to give a definite answer.

Besides, looking at the series overall, it’s clear that presenting Reggie as Autistic was never the intention. Instead, she and the other characters are meant to be as all-inclusive as possible so different audiences can connect with the series. It’s their personalities and experiences that make them so relatable.

Twelve Forever had a lot of potential going for it. More than likely, it could’ve been a long-running series with multiple seasons. Unfortunately, though, that’s now unlikely to happen. I won’t go into details here, but things were discovered about the series’ creator that would make anyone hesitant to work with her again – especially on something aimed at children. 

However, it takes more than one person to bring a project to life. And judging by how it turned out, Twelve Forever had many passionate people working on it: animators, writers, storyboarders, and even voice actors. In particular, there was Reggie’s voice actor: Kelsy Abbott. It’s no coincidence they share the same surname. If you look closely at some of the episodes’ credits, you’ll see Kelsy lent a hand in writing them. That’s right; a voice actor had the chance to write stories for her own character. It’s a rarity that you see that kind of commitment. But finding a series that far surpasses its expectations is rarer.

I would highly recommend this series to anyone in Reggie’s age group. If you’ve ever felt on edge about growing up, changing who you are or taking the next steps in life, Twelve Forever can be very informative. But even if you’re nowhere near her age, the series still offers morals and experiences that all ages can learn from. Believe me when I say I haven’t touched on half of them.

Anyway, that’s all I have to say for Twelve Forever and Reggie Abbott. If you’ve taken the time to read all three parts of this extensive review, then I want to thank you personally for your patience. If you have any questions, please comment below – I’ll happily answer them. And, until next time, stay tuned.

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

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.

***

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

Love and Autism

Hello everybody, this is George Harvey (aka The Autistic Blogger). Today I’m taking a break from writing analytical pieces to share something personal with you. Three years ago today, something remarkable happened to me. It was a moment I thought may never happen because of my Autism. But it did. And I can honestly say I’m a more sociable person because of it. It’s even helped me to get out of the house and do things I never would’ve considered. What do I mean? It was three years ago today that I began devoting myself to another person. July 23rd is the anniversary of when I first met my girlfriend.

Before I go into details, let me rewind the clock a few years. 

I’ve sometimes wondered when it is somebody first starts thinking about love. Of course, when you’re younger, you have the love from your family, your school friends, and other adults who care for your wellbeing. But I mean romantic love. The feelings you get when you want to be with someone forever. Or show them they’re more than just a friend to you. Primary School, in most cases, seems too early. You’re still experiencing the basics of life, and romance can feel as far off as driving a car or getting a job. There are exceptions, of course. True love can blossom almost anywhere. But the most you get from younger children is pretending to be in love or having imaginary weddings. It’s not something they usually take so seriously. 

Early Secondary School – or late Primary – is when things start changing. At this stage, you’re more aware of what life offers you outside of school. Admittedly, some parts can be stressful; schoolwork is challenging, daily routines are busier, and you have to take on many new responsibilities. However, there’s also a sense of pride that comes with it. Reaching this stage in your life proves you’ve worked hard to get there. You realise you’re closer to adulthood and want to experience its benefits. These include choosing a career, being more independent, and, of course, falling in love.

When it comes to romantic feelings, your first time can be something simple. Maybe there’s someone in your school you like because they’re attractive. Or there’s a celebrity you admire because of their wealth and success. In these cases, though, you’re missing the essential component of a relationship: compatibility. Two people need to have something in common for a relationship to work. It could be a hobby, an interest or something more personal. But there has to be common ground: something that makes you want to keep meeting and talking with that person. If you just like somebody for their appearance, then – as the old saying goes – “take a picture, it will last longer.” There’s also nothing wrong with admiring celebrities. Just so long as you remember, there’s a difference between loving someone and idolising them. Realistically, someone like a celebrity is beyond your reach. Even if you spent years building yourself up to their status, they’d likely already be taken by that point. Plus, setting your standards too high will cause you to miss opportunities in your younger years. There could be someone perfect for you right under your nose, and you’d never notice because you’re busy obsessing over a hopeless fantasy. It’s harsh, but it’s true.

Another harsh reality is that everyone looking to find love will inevitably experience heartbreak. Finding the right match can be tricky. And, along the way, you will end up loving the wrong person – someone who won’t always love you back or for the right reasons. Regardless, it’s essential to keep searching and persevere. A day will come when your efforts will pay off. Trust me, I know.

My first experience of “young love” was back in Primary School. My mum was close friends with someone whose daughter was in the same year group as my sister and me. We’d spend time together outside of school, and she became one of our closest friends. I don’t know when it started exactly, but I liked this girl enough that I began fantasising we were boyfriend and girlfriend. It never turned into anything genuine, though. It was similar to when I imagined meeting my favourite TV characters in the playground at breaktimes. It was just words and make-believe. I knew nothing about romance at that age. And even if I did, I wouldn’t have known how I’d make our relationship into a serious one. After Primary School, we started seeing each other less and less. At which point, I knew it was time to move on.

In Secondary School, I took things more seriously. Not just in terms of romance, though. Starting a new school felt very intimidating to me because everything was unfamiliar. I also knew schoolwork and punishments could be harsher if you stepped out of line. I had it in my head that if I kept misbehaving as I did in Primary School, I would never survive this stage in my life. So while everyone else became louder and more rebellious, I was determined to become the best model pupil I could be. 

Anyway, throughout Secondary School, there was a girl in my year I couldn’t help admiring. She wasn’t as boisterous as my other classmates and generally seemed like a nice person. However, I didn’t know anything about her besides that. Also, rather shamefully, I admit that I liked her because she looked like my pretend girlfriend from Primary School. Part of me wanted to know her better. But I was always too nervous to talk to her. Usually, it was better just admiring her from afar. It wasn’t until a week before graduating that I finally found the courage to confess my secret crush on her. She was okay with it. And I was glad I told her. But by that point, of course, it was too little too late.

So now let’s talk about when my life changed for the better; that moment when I met the perfect girl three years ago.

Since leaving Secondary School, I’d never made much effort to find a girlfriend. But I had gotten better at talking to people. I’d made some close friends in college, where I graduated with professional and creative writing degrees. I’d gotten my driver’s licence. I had a well-paid job and a stable living. I was interacting with more people as part of a drama society, and I even managed to rent my first property and move out of my mum’s house. However, despite all of that, I knew something was missing. Because aside from meeting with family members or talking to colleagues at work or drama, I rarely got out and did anything. There was no one to share my life experiences with or encourage me to try new things. I knew if this didn’t change, I would spend the rest of my life alone. Even my mum realised this and told me I had to start looking for a girlfriend. Unfortunately, with no experience in dating and all those years of missed opportunities, I had no idea where to begin. I did create a profile on PlentyOfFish.com. And I also downloaded an app which showed suggestions of people’s names, ages and appearances. But before I got into those too deeply, fate unexpectedly smiled on me.

One afternoon, I was visiting my dad and stepmom. They both knew I was looking for a girlfriend. But I never expected how helpful they’d be. My stepmom told me she knew somebody who knew someone whose relative was a lot like me: being Autistic as well. She also said that if I was interested, she could put me in contact with this girl by giving me her phone number. Part of me was hesitant about diving into this head-first. But I decided to take the chance anyway. After a few days of putting it off (due to nerves), I sent this girl a text message introducing myself. A day or so later, she replied to me, saying she’d be happy to get to know me too. For several weeks, we exchanged texts back and forth, learning more about each other and what we were doing. I was a little thrown off when I found out she was nine years older than me. But as the old saying goes, “age is just a number.” And by the time we met properly, the difference was hardly noticeable. 

Speaking of which, I still remember the first day we met. It was around the time when Disney’s The Lion King (2019) was playing at cinemas. Since we both enjoyed Disney, we arranged to meet and go and see it together. That afternoon, I waited outside Cineworld between some giant movie posters. I sent her a text saying where I was and what I’d be wearing. After several minutes, I saw someone crossing the road towards me. And I knew it had to be her. I wasn’t sure how to think or feel at that moment. Here I was, somebody who’d never been on a date in his life, meeting a girl he’d never seen or spoken to (except through text messages), and now we’d be spending the next few hours together. As it turned out, though, I needn’t have worried. Because when we spoke for the first time, it was clear that she was just as nervous about meeting me. Being on equal footing like this was reassuring to both of us. 

After a friendly exchange, we went inside and talked some more before the movie started. I was astonished by how much we had in common. It wasn’t just our Autism; many of our tastes and interests were similar. We talked about old TV shows we’d seen, what some of our experiences in education were like, and the kinds of jobs we’d had. She also told me how one of her favourite dinners was a burger and chips, with nothing in the burger except the meat and some ketchup. I couldn’t believe it – that was exactly how I enjoyed that meal too. When the movie was over, we had a couple of drinks at a local bar – where I learned she didn’t care for alcohol either – we said our goodbyes and agreed to stay in touch.

Overall, I felt the evening had gone very well. This girl was certainly easy to talk to, and she didn’t seem to have any negative traits. I didn’t know if our relationship would be permanent yet. But I was more than happy to meet with her again. And so we did, several times. Whether walking through the park, going to a bowling alley, eating dinner or just shopping together, we tried to do something different every time we met. Slowly but surely, our relationship developed. I met with her family; she met with mine, and our feelings for one another grew. There was even a moment when I decided to kiss her – instead of hugging as we always did. It was only meant to be on the cheek. But then she leaned forward, and we shared a passionate kiss on the lips. It was then I knew for sure we’d become boyfriend and girlfriend. 

Another memorable day was when my mum met her. After getting to know her, she took me aside and told me how much she liked her. She even said she thought she was the perfect girl for me. And, in all honesty, I had to agree. My girlfriend and I understood each other’s needs and desires. We had that common ground that made us want to keep meeting and doing new things together. Above all else, though, I loved how understanding she could be. Admittedly, I haven’t always been the best boyfriend to her. Sometimes I’ve had to call off our meetings due to work commitments. Sometimes I don’t compliment her enough on her appearance. Even when we’re talking, I sometimes miss parts of what she says because my mind wanders off. I feel ashamed when this happens. So one time, I spoke to her in the car. I told her that if there was anything about me she thought I needed to work on, she should let me know straight away. I wanted our relationship to work out. However, she told me I didn’t need to improve anything. She accepted me for who I was, including my flaws. Plus, she admired my honesty. She’d never had anything like that with her previous boyfriends. It was then that she told me, in her own words, that I was “the best thing that’s ever happened to [her].” Coming from someone who was nine years older and had more experience with romance, that meant a lot to me.

They say that true love is when you have someone in your life you can’t bear to live without. I didn’t know if I felt that way about my girlfriend. But a rather scary situation convinced me otherwise. One evening in 2020, I was home alone when I received the most dreadful news: my girlfriend (and her mum) had caught Covid-19. A wave of concern rushed over me. I knew how deadly the virus could be if you had medical issues. And my girlfriend once told me she’d had problems with asthma, which would put her at greater risk. After everything we’d been through together, all the memories we’d made, and the experiences we’d shared, I didn’t know what I would do if the worst happened. How could I ever find somebody else as perfect as her? Every day I video-called her to see how she was doing. She stayed in high spirits, despite her coughing fits. And I did my best to reassure her. Finally, after two weeks, her (and her mum’s) condition improved, and it was clear she was going to be alright. Since then, I’ve never doubted how much I genuinely love her.

So there you have it: a brief history of this Autistic Blogger’s love life. I hope you’ve enjoyed reading and that I’ve given you some reassurance for the future. The road to finding true love is never easy. It’s full of trial and error. But never let the hardships deter you. It doesn’t matter how old you are, what condition you may have, or if you’ve never had experience with love or dating. There’s somebody out there for everyone. You don’t even need to do what everyone else does, like go on dating sites. Sometimes it’s just a case of taking a chance with the right person at the right time. You never know if that moment will change your life forever.

That’s all I have to say for now. If you have any questions, please leave them in the comments below – I’ll be more than happy to answer them. And, to that special girl I met three years ago today, I just wanted to say, I love you to the moon and back. Happy Anniversary!

See also:

GeoStar The Autistic Vlogger – YouTube

Autistic Blogger Creates – Creative Works by The Autistic Blogger (wordpress.com)

The Promised Neverland Review

Before you ask: no, this series has nothing to do with Peter Pan or anything J. M. Barrie-related. The closest comparison you can make is both stories heavily feature children, and that’s all. As for how it relates to any bible tales – I’ll talk about that when I get to it. There isn’t too much that ties in.

Every once in a while, there comes along an anime which gets everyone’s attention. Opinions may vary, but there’s no denying the incredible success it has. The manga sells like wildfire, YouTubers react to the whole series, and you even get live-action adaptions made in both Japan and other countries. There have been many mainstream animes like this in recent years: Death Note, Attack on Titan and Sword Art Online, to name a few. But then there was 2019. And everyone agreed the masterpiece of that year was The Promised Neverland. Initially released as a manga in Weekly Shounen Jump, the anime adaption became highly praised within the otaku community. It won two Crunchyroll Awards in 2020 and is widely considered one of the best animes of the 2010s. How did it earn that moniker? Let’s take a look.

Before we start, I should warn you: the first episode contains a major plot-twist. It’s one of the highlights of the series if you don’t know what’s coming. So if you’d rather not be spoiled, I’d recommend at least watching episode 1 before you continue. If you’ve already seen it – or you don’t care that much – I’ll carry on.

In the year 2045, three bright young kids: Emma, Norman and Ray, grow up in the Grace Field Orphanage – alongside 35 other siblings. For the children living there, Grace Field is a paradise. They have warm beds, delicious food, a loving caretaker who acts as their mother. And aside from the occasional schooling, they’re free to roam the big forest and fields and play to their hearts’ content. Putting it simply: their lives couldn’t be happier. However, nothing is as it seems. One night when one of the younger girls is adopted, Emma and Norman realise she left her toy bunny behind. They go to the gate to try and return it. Only to discover the horrifying truth. The outside world is full of demons! Giant, hideous, flesh-eating monsters. Worst still, their orphanage is no orphanage. It’s a farm! Kids who’re adopted get slaughtered and sold as human meat! And it’s their mother, Isabella, who’s selling them off. Desperate not to lose any more family, Emma and Norman join forces with Ray. Now they have to come up with a plan to escape with their siblings before the next shipment.

As you probably guessed, the big plot-twist is the revelation of the demons. What makes it so shocking is how utterly unexpected it is. Nothing ever hints at their existence. The opening credits don’t show them; the promotional trailers don’t reference them; not even the DVD/Blu-Ray case implies anything – unless you notice it says horror next to the rating. Another reason it works so well is how it drastically alters the episode’s tone. Beforehand, everything we see shows the kids living happy, joyous lives. It tricks us into a false sense of security, making us feel as they do. There are some hints that something more is going on – most noticeably the ID numbers on the kids’ necks. But until we see the first victim’s corpse, nothing prepares us for the horrors to come. The fact they kill off Conny – the sweetest most innocent girl – shows us they’re not messing around. The Promised Neverland is a dark fantasy.

Perhaps more impactful than the twist, though, is what it represents: a loss of innocence. These kids have spent their whole lives in a safe, warm environment where nothing can hurt them. They’re ignorant of the outside world, believing it’s a place where they can live out their hopes and dreams – a promised land if you will. However, nothing is ever so simple. As you get older, you realise how dangerously unforgiving life is if you’re not prepared for it. In the case of these children, their fantasies are slaughtered the moment they step outside. It’s even worse for Emma. After witnessing Conny’s death, her child-like spirit is broken. She tries denying what she saw; desperate to believe her siblings aren’t dead and her mom isn’t evil. But as reality sets in, she’s overwhelmed by grief – letting out a horrifying scream. From then on, she has to be the grown-up; forcing herself to smile and be brave for her siblings. Emma can never go back to those blissful days – no matter how much she wants to.

Do you know what’s impressive? Everything I’ve brought up so far only takes place in the first episode. The rest of the series is just as mindblowing. There are cliffhangers, red herrings, moments of pure joy or hopelessness, and a whole abundance of information. The more that’s revealed, the more you want to rewatch the series to pick up on everything it foreshadows. The episodes know how to keep their audience engaged. Especially with their characters.

Firstly there’s Emma, an amply optimistic girl who’s the most physically-skilled of the kids. Before discovering the truth, she was the life and soul at Grace Field; caring for the little ones and playing in a lively manner. She loves her family and can’t bear the thought of anyone dying. Additionally, she’s a fast learner and adapts quickly to situations. She even comes up with ideas to rival her friends’ intellect. What I love most about Emma, though, is her diversity. She’s mature for her age but still has vulnerable moments. She tries to stay positive but will occasionally cry. And although she gets along with most people, she can show aggression or hatred towards them. Emma is a multilayered individual – which is what I admire in a female lead.

You also have Ray, the strategist of the group who tends to think more rationally. Although he has a somewhat distant nature, it’s evident he’s been friends with Emma and Norman for years. He’s on board with helping them escape, but he tends to clash with some of their ideas. Particularly, Emma’s insistence on saving everyone. He knows the more kids who try to run, the harder it’ll be. Plus, they have to consider how they’ll all survive once they’re free. It’s not that he’s selfish. He’s just considerate of his best friends – they mean the world to him. I could elaborate more on Ray’s character, but that would be going into spoiler territory. Instead, I’ll say we never learn his full story until the very end.

Then you have Norman, who’s arguably the smartest of the three. He comes up with most of the escape plans and knows what to do if things go wrong. He even outwits Emma and Ray sometimes. Furthermore, he’s the middle ground between them. He loves his siblings as much as Emma, but he understands Ray’s point about there being too many. Regardless, he often takes Emma’s side. Partly because she’s morally correct, and partly because he has feeling for her. It’s her determination that keeps him going most of the time.

In summary, Emma, Ray and Norman are very close, very intellectual characters. You could argue they seem too smart for 11-year-olds. But it’s established early on why that is. Plus, their loyalty and friendship are what makes them so believable. Together, they’re a formidable threat to their enemy. And who is their enemy? The one they thought cared about them for years – the mother of Grace Field: Isabella.

What makes Isabella so intimidating is she appears so trustworthy. On the surface, she’s a soft-spoken, affectionate young lady, who loves all the Grace Field kids as if they were her own. But behind her warm smile lies something sinister: a cunning, manipulative woman who cares only about profit. Everything she does is to ensure her kids grow up healthy and happy, with rich and developed brains. That way they’ll be tastier for her masters. She may claim to love her children. But when it comes time for shipping, they’re nothing but products.

This kind of emotional detachment brings something to mind. Think about how we run our farms today. We do our best to make sure all animals are treated humanely; giving them free-range, plenty of food and a life without suffering. Yet we still cage and slaughter them. And all because we’re the dominant species and like the taste of their meat. Is this honestly much different from Isabella? Could there be a social commentary here about animal cruelty? I digress.

It doesn’t take Isabella long to realise somebody knows the secret. So she implants new measures to keep things under control. These include hiring an assistant (Sister Krone) and revealing to the kids (indirectly) they have trackers. Her actions cause Emma and the others to rethink their plans and ask questions. What’s the best time to escape? How do they deal with the extra security? Should they tell the other kids what’s happening? Would they believe them? What if one of them is a spy? How do they work out who it is? It becomes like a mental game of chess, with both sides vying to outwit their opponent. On top of that are some of the characters’ more drastic actions. I won’t reveal anything here, but it’s honestly shocking to see just how far they’re willing to go to succeed – even if it’s inhuman.

Now, at this point, you may be wondering about the other Grace Field kids. Unfortunately, they don’t feature very much. Not that we don’t see them all the time. It’s just they don’t have any influence on the main plot. They’re mostly just there to remind us how grand the scale of escape is. There are, however, two notable exceptions.

Partway through the series, Emma and her friends recruit Don and Gilda (two ten-year-olds) into their plans. Don is a headstrong boy, who’s somewhat impulsive. And Gilda is a sensitive girl, who helps with the little ones. What’s significant about their involvement is how it changes the others’ mentality. You see, initially, Emma, Ray and Norman don’t reveal the whole truth to them. Instead, they claim their siblings were sold through human trafficking. They know Don and Gilda have emotional weaknesses. So they stay quiet about the demons. However, the two find out they’ve been lied to – which leads to friction within the group. It’s groundbreaking because it shows how Emma and the others had little faith in their siblings. They need to start seeing them as allies rather than burdens.

Another game-changing character is Sister Krone. Before anything else, I have to address the elephant in the room. There are going to be people who find this character offensive. Why? Because of her design. She’s a dark-skinned, big-lipped woman, who’s always wearing an apron. Plus, she cares for mostly white-skinned children. Does that sound familiar? If not, I’ll tell you: she’s reminiscent of the now-racist mammy stereotype. What makes it worse is how she’s portrayed. Aside from being borderline crazy, she pulls countless disturbing faces, is shown to be monstrously violent – though never towards anyone – and occasionally invites children into her room. She is not the sort of person you’d want working in an orphanage.

Controversy aside, though, Krone brings an essential dynamic to the series: her ego. It’s quickly established she has a tense relationship with Isabella. She hates her belittling and wants to replace her as the mother of Grace Field. Krone will do anything for the position, even if it means allying herself with the kids. Emma and the others don’t trust her, of course. But they know she’s a valuable source of information. At the same time, Krone believes they could provide the evidence she needs to bring Isabella down. All three parties have powerful yet understanding motives. And it’s a testament to this series how well it manages them.

However, The Promised Neverland isn’t just written well. It’s also visually stunning. I don’t usually mention the animation in my reviews. But I’d be remiss if I didn’t give CloverWorks credit. They take every opportunity they can to showcase their abilities. Not everything comes out perfect; there are some lacklustre character designs and meme-worthy faces. However, for the most part, they know how to present things both creatively and symbolically. Let me give you some examples.

First of all, there’s the layout. Usually, everything is presented in the traditional format: 2D characters in a 2D environment. However, once in a while, the background switches to 3D, giving us more depth and scale to the scene. They’re also not afraid to experiment with the camera. Sometimes it swings back and forth, like a pendulum. Other times it rotates 360 degrees. And sometimes it gives us POV shots or follows along with the characters. Each time it’s meant to draw attention to someone’s feelings and build tension.

The camera also works in symbolic ways. Remember what I said about foreshadowing? The earliest example of this is in episode 1. The opening shot shows a young Emma looking through some bars, saying she’s “never been outside” – it’s the first indication she’s actually inside a cage. Another example is episode 6: several shots are made to look like somebody is spying on the kids – which it’s later revealed there is. It’s even debatable if the series has religious symbolism. All the kids wear pure white clothing, except for when they’re adopted – the black outfit they dawn could symbolise death. And when it comes to the actual escape plan, the parallels with the Book of Exodus are uncanny. There’s so much to take from these episodes if you know where to look.

In conclusion, The Promised Neverland is a suspenseful, well-crafted series, that keeps its audience on edge. With its three-dimensional characters, creative animation, and a plot that knows when to give or hold back information, it’s easy to see why it rose to prominence. I don’t say this a lot, but I would honestly recommend this series to anyone who’s old enough to watch it. Even if you’re not a big fan of anime, chances are you’ll be drawn in by the story and characters. How do I know? Because I did a test before writing this review. I showed the first episode to my dad and step-mom – two people who were notorious for disliking anime. And what happened? They were so captivated by what they saw, they insisted on watching the rest of the series with me. If that doesn’t prove how grand The Promised Neverland is, I don’t know what will.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this review. Be sure to check out the series for yourself. And I hope you’ll look forward to the second season. Stay tuned.

(Image courtesy of: Hello! Never met a Somali who watches anything other than mainstream anime, are any of you avid Anime fans? : XSomalian (reddit.com))

My Little Pony: Rock Solid Autism (Part 2)

(Continued from Part 1: https://georgeharvey2015.wordpress.com/2019/02/01/my-little-pony-rock-solid-autism-part-1/)

Spying on Maud and Starlight’s kite-flying, Pinkie worries the two of them aren’t bonding quickly enough. And that Maud could still choose to live in Ghastly Gorge rather than Ponyville. She decides to intervene. Under the pretence of delivering a pizza, she asks them how things are going and suggests now might be a good time to start talking about each other’s feelings. This makes Maud and Starlight rather uncomfortable, as Maud isn’t good with feelings and Starlight worries it could bring up her evil past again.

Being Aspergic myself, I’ve often dealt with this scenario. People ask me how I’m feeling in everyday situations, like just after work or meeting with friends. Sometimes I don’t really know how I feel. I’m just the same relaxed way I always am, with little to no change. Even when my mood is different, there has to be something significant to it. Or I feel it’s not worth mentioning. For example, maybe my day was eventful because I discovered a fake £20 note. Or a new colleague started at work that afternoon. If it were just a regular day, I’d describe it as one. Even so, people still expect me to give long, detailed answers every time. Which is why I often say things like “I’m good” or “fine” to end the conversation. It might seem rude or unengaging, but it’s because I genuinely have nothing more to say on the subject – and I don’t want to be pushed into giving details that aren’t there. In this case, Pinkie is pressuring Maud and Starlight to become closer friends when they’re only just starting to know each other.

In a cunning move, Maud finds a way to ditch her sister so she and Starlight can spend more time alone together. She then takes Starlight to the Ponyville gem cave, where she explains why she finds rocks so fascinating. Each one has its own unique story to tell if you look closely enough. For instance, the line-markings on her pet rock, Boulder, tells Maud he’s over 2000-years-old. Another reason she likes rocks is “they don’t exclude you if you’re…different, from other ponies.”

Exclusion is a serious matter for people with Autism. It can affect their self-esteem and how they choose to interact with others. It can also harm their self-confidence. As I mentioned before (Part 1), Maud is one of the few ponies the Mane 6 couldn’t make friends with initially. They didn’t exclude her from their activities, but they also couldn’t work around her limited interests. Her obsession with rocks just wasn’t something they were used to dealing with. Other ponies have likely felt the same way, but worse; not wanting to get involved with Maud because they can’t grasp her unusual personality. It’s a setback she’s probably faced for years.

However, it’s not always other people’s fault. I’ll admit, when I was younger, I may have put up social barriers myself. When I first learned I had Autism, I started feeling a lot more self-conscious – like there was something about me that alienated me from other people. I would often sit by myself, watching others socialise and think about joining in with them. However, I never did so in the end. Because I was worried they wouldn’t be interested in what I had to say. Fear of rejection might be why Maud has never tried making friends before now.

Fortunately, Starlight isn’t the sort of pony to turn a blind-eye so quickly. After hearing what Maud has to say about rocks, she sees they’re “beautiful and strong, but they don’t judge you or make you feel less than in any way.” Rocks are a nice hobby to have if you don’t want anyone dwelling on your past. It’s at this point she says, “I think I’m starting to like rocks, too.” And then something incredible happens: Maud smiles!

Now, I’m not saying Autistic people never smile – that would be unfair. And this isn’t even the first time Maud has smiled onscreen. However, you need to understand how significant something like this is for her. Keep in mind, Maud rarely shows any emotion. Even when talking about her interests, she maintains a neutral expression and talks as if they’re no big deal. For her to show happiness so openly, it almost feels out of character for her. So whenever she does smile, you know you’ve done something special. And this is a special moment. Not only has she found somepony to share her love of rocks with (outside her family), but she also likes Starlight’s kite-flying hobby, and Starlight likes her for not judging who she used to be. For the first time since Pinkie suggested it, Maud believes a friendship with this pony could actually work out.

As they continue exploring the cave, Starlight finds a wall made of hallow granite. Breaking through it, they make an impressive discovery: a vast underground cavern, full of crystals, with a large waterfall and stream running through it. Maud admits she’s never seen anything like it – which is “highly unusual, for [her].” It’s definitely a sight to behold. But then Pinkie shows up. She satirises the moment by taking a picture and saying how she can’t wait for the two of them to be “old, and eating pistachios together, and telling their grand-foals about this.”

Again, Pinkie is overstepping her boundaries here. She doesn’t realise Maud and Starlight are bonding organically, and they don’t need her trying to speed up the process. In fact; Pinkie is so desperate that she sets off an explosion in the cave, trapping them all inside. She hopes it will give them time to bond. But Maud uses Boulder to break through the sandstone ceiling. Starlight is so impressed that she even compliments Boulder on his actions as though he’s alive – showing how much she understands Maud’s mindset towards him.

Free from the cave, Pinkie tries to keep an eye on Maud and Starlight again. But Starlight finds another way to ditch her, which makes Maud smile – thus making her the first pony to achieve this feat twice in one episode.

Later on, as Maud and Pinkie are going to bed, Pinkie says she’ll be there every step of the way to help make Starlight Maud’s new best friend. She’s even made plans for the next 17 days! However, it’s clear that Maud is becoming frustrated with Pinkie’s actions. She can’t bond with Starlight properly because her sister keeps interfering. And it’s starting to feel like she’s doing this because she has to, not because she wants to. Unfortunately, Maud struggles to tell her sister this because she’s not good with words. And with Pinkie too overexcited to listen anyway, she eventually just gives up.

This is another familiar scenario for me. Sometimes I do want to make conversation with people. But getting my words out can be a challenge. Everybody is so focused on talking to each other that they don’t always notice when I’m trying to speak. And chances to make myself heard (e.g. pauses in speech) are few and far between. I suppose it often comes down to people’s expectations of me. Since they know I don’t talk much anyway, they just assume I won’t have anything to say throughout. But that’s not necessarily true. I might want to comment on something, but it’s tricky getting my words in edgewise. As Maud does with Pinkie.

Maud’s other problem is finding the right way to express herself. She wants to tell Pinkie she needs to stop helping so much, but she’s isn’t much of a talker. As such, she can’t find the words or tone of voice to make her understand. In recent years, I’ve noticed something similar with my own speech. Whenever I try explaining things without thinking, my thoughts often get jumbled up in my head. I start tripping over my words, repeating myself or even stopping and starting over again – which is really embarrassing. The same can be said for my writing skills. For years, I just wanted to get things done as quickly as possible. But because I never structured my paragraphs, ideas would continuously change, and I’d spend more time editing my pieces than actually finishing them. Consequently, they’d take me forever to complete and they rarely turned out how I wanted.

For Autistic people, getting their points across can sometimes take planning and pre-thought. Which is why they often prefer writing down their feelings as opposed to speaking them. So that’s what Maud does. The next morning she leaves Pinkie a goodbye note, thanking her for her efforts. Not wanting to hurt her feelings, though, she doesn’t mention the trouble her sister caused. Instead, she claims her decision needs to be rock-based, and that she probably won’t have time for friends. Which is crushing to hear, as we know how much she really wants to be friends with Starlight. With her note delivered, Maud departs for Ghastly Gorge.

Distraught over her sister leaving, Pinkie goes to Starlight to tell her what’s happened. Interestingly, she takes the news better than her – almost as if she were expecting Maud to make this decision based on what would be most comfortable for her. Pinkie then asks why the two of them couldn’t just be friends, causing Starlight to realise how ignorant she is. She tells Pinkie she does like Maud. “She’s weird [but] in a good way. She sees the world in a totally different way than any pony [she’s] ever met. She accepts her for who [she is], she taught [her] that a rock is never just a rock, and she can make anything funny.” They never had to say it, but they “got” each other. Pinkie was just getting in the way too much.

Everything Starlight says here is right on the money. Particularly the part about Maud seeing the world differently. What many people mistake for strangeness in Autistic people is actually their habit of noticing what others tend not to. It might seem trivial to focus on things like the markings on a rock. Yet it’s this attention to detail that makes Autistic people such experts in unique fields. Without Satoshi Tariji’s love of bug-collecting as a boy, Pokemon would never have existed. If Einstien hadn’t been obsessed with numbers, he wouldn’t have become a famous scientist. And if Maud weren’t so fascinated by rocks and their properties, she wouldn’t have become a professor. Just because something seems irrelevant, doesn’t mean expertise on it won’t be considered valuable one day.

Realising her mistakes, Pinkie goes to Ghastly Gorge to find her sister. She arrives just in time to save Maud from being eaten by a Giant Mountain Eel – yes, this world has those. A fact Maud is almost oblivious to, as she’s autistically distracted by an emerald jasper.

As they escape, Maud claims Pinkie “didn’t need to come. [She’s] having a great time on her own [and] even made a new friend.” This, however, is a flat-out lie. Before Pinkie showed up, Maud was miserably gathering rock samples with only Boulder around for company. Although she was doing what she loved, the isolation was clearly getting to her and making her depressed. It just goes to show no matter what you strive for in life, it’s important to have somebody to share it with. Otherwise, it can all feel meaningless.

Maud continues by saying she “[doesn’t] belong in Ponyville. It only proves [she’s] better off all by herself, like she always has been.” But Pinkie tells her not to think like that. Everything was her fault. She forced Maud into making friends her way, but her way isn’t Maud’s way. She didn’t even realise what her sister was going through.

This might be the most important lesson to take from this episode. I said before (in Part 1) that Pinkie wanted Maud to live near her so they could spend more time together. But also so she could look after her. Pinkie cares very deeply for Maud and understands her condition better than any pony. However, she thought her Autism would prevent her from making friends on her own or living independently. Hence why she tried taking charge of the process and putting extra work into it. However, this only succeeded in stressing Maud out. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to help somebody. As long as you support them in a way that’s comfortable for them.

I know just how Maud feels. Back when I was looking for a new job, I would be asked on a daily basis what positions I’d applied for. Or what I’d done to improve my CV. It got to the point where I felt like I was being pressured to devote all my spare time to this task, which made me hate it even more. I actually started hating the people who were asking me, too. They didn’t understand I needed to go at my own pace. That way, I could feel I was doing this for my own sake – not their’s.

Pinkie shamefully admits she underestimated Maud and didn’t take her feelings into account. Maud understands she did it out of love. And after reconciling, she agrees to give Ponyville another chance. With Pinkie promising to give her some space.

Back in Ponyville, Maud is seen flying a homemade kite alongside Starlight – the latter’s hobby having rubbed off on her. They’ve officially decided to become friends, but agree they don’t have to talk about feelings if they don’t want to. Maud then shows Starlight her new home: the carven they discovered, with added furnishing. Pinkie appears one more time to say how happy she is that Maud has moved to Ponyville. But then she swiftly exits, remembering her promise.

*

And that was Rock Solid Friendship. Quite possibly one of the best-written stories Hasbro has produced. There was just so much this episode got right about Autism; Maud’s unusual interests, her difficulty speaking, her struggles with independence, her insensitivity, her literal way of thinking, her imagination, her desire to make friends, feeling pressured, wanting to be understood, getting distracted, and so much more. Add in the relatable situations, and Pinkie less-than-helpful actions, and it paints a clear picture of what life with Autism can feel like.

The best part is, Maud’s journey didn’t end with this episode. Towards the conclusion of Season 7 (Uncommon Bond), we were given an update on her relationship with Starlight. Although they still don’t talk about anything personal, they’re happy being in each other’s company. And Maud is well-acquainted with Starlight’s other friends, Sunburst and Trixie. So, all in all, their friendship has remained healthy. Also, Maud continues moving forward in life. In Season 8 (Maud Couple), it’s revealed she actually has a boyfriend: Mud Briar. He’s just as Autistic as she is and they share much in common. He’s a very literal pony, has specific interests, rarely shows any emotion, and even has a pet stick (Twiggy) – just as Maud has Boulder. His personality can be a bit annoying at times, especially when he’s always saying “technically” and correcting others. But it’s clear he and Maud are perfect for each other. Plus, he makes her smile more than any other pony in the series.

In conclusion, Rock Solid Friendship is another example of why this series is so beloved. My Little Pony still has a stigma against it, given how girly it used to be. But if people took the time to watch Friendship is Magic, they’d realise how far the brand has evolved and why its fanbase extends across all ages and genders. If you’re looking for a piece of media that perfectly represents Autism and the people involved with it, then this is definitely for you. Rock Solid Friendship will inspire those who have the condition and enlighten those who wish to learn from it.

And that’s all I have to say for this review. I’m glad I posted it when I did. Because in less than a week, the final season of Friendship is Magic will begin (April 6th, 2019). It’s sad to see the show end. But its legacy will live on through the lessons it’s taught and the people who’ve been inspired by them.

If you have any questions, then please leave me a comment – I’ll be more than happy to answer them. And if you enjoyed this review, please check out the episode itself, and join me for the end of an era this year. Until next time, stay tuned.

(Image courtesy of: http://www.mylittlepony.it/2017/05/05/rock-solid-friendship-commenti-dal-blog/)

Two Special Messages

Hello everybody, this is George Harvey (aka The Autistic Blogger). I’ve recently started work on my next big project, but it probably won’t be finished until after the New Year. This is because I’m currently rehearsing for my latest stage performance (A Christmas Carol) and December will be a hectic time for someone who works in retail. In the meantime, I’d like to share a couple of messages with you.

Over the years, I’ve been in contact with numerous people who’ve had a profound influence on my professional career. Whether it’s about something I’ve written or something I hope to do, their messages have inspired me to keep working towards my dreams – even when they seem a long way off. The first of these came just over five years ago.

Before I started working on this blog and raising awareness of Autism, my biggest ambition in life was to become a published author. And it still is to some extent. There are magazine articles and books out there with my name on them, but they’ve always been collaborations with other people. One day I hope to publish something that’s all my own, and that it can help raise awareness of disadvantaged people and their problems.

The most ambitious project I’ve had is a children’s book series. The idea first came to me during my first year of college, when we were asked to write a series of short stories to promote a fictional product called Chunky Monkey. I got so into the task that I wanted to use what I’d learnt to create my own series, which would teach readers about the joys and hardships of childhood. I had a pretty good idea of what I wanted, but there was just one problem: I didn’t really know how to write a children’s book, let alone a series of them. Fortunately, I knew somebody who did.

Out of all the authors I’ve admired over the years, Jacqueline Wilson has been the most influential on me. Her stories not only address real-world issues, but they do so in a way that’s relatable to children. You could literally pick up any one of her books and believe it was inspired by a true story. I knew that if anyone could understand what I was trying to achieve with my writing, then it would be Jacqueline Wilson. So, on October 18th 2013, I sent her this email:

Dear Miss Jacqueline Wilson
My name is George Harvey. I am 19-years-old, and I am an inspiring writer. I work in an ASDA’s store in Swanley and whenever I see one of your books on our shelves I just know the story is spectacular, without even having to read it – especially your latest book Diamond. Your illustrator, Nick Sharratt does a wonderful job with his cover art, too.
I am writing because I recently read something you said in an interview once. You said: “I want to write to every age group, in a way that can prepare them for what happens in the real world, and raise the awareness levels of many life-changing situations. I want to be a friend, really.” These words captured my heart because this is almost precisely what I want to do with my own writing.
As an Asperger’s sufferer, I have experience of what life can be like for someone who has a personal life problem or condition. I also know that if these issues are misunderstood, they can cause troubles for those who suffer from them. This is why I want to use my writing skills to raise awareness of not only autism but other personal issues so that readers can understand them better and more people would be treated fairly in the future.
Also, while my intended audience is children, I want my stories and characters to appeal to as broad an audience as possible, so that readers, young and old, can understand my intentions. (Would this be commercial or literary fiction?)
Anyway, I have been taking a professional writing course at my college for two years now. And ever since my first year, I’ve had an idea for a children’s book series called ‘The Adventures of Nicky Dream‘. I won’t bore you with details as I know you’re very busy and you get a lot more fan-mail than mine. But the basic idea is that Nicky Dream is a 10-year-old girl who lives alone in a large house, and she has a large number of friends who she shares “adventures” with. The twist is that each of her friends has a personal issue about them (e.g. one friend is childish and represents immaturity, one has damaged vocal chords and is partially mute, one is a bully turned friend, etc.) and the adventures not only focus on their individual characteristics, but also advises readers on how such issues should be treated, and how those with similar problems can overcome them. (Sorry if that is too much detail.)
I am confident this is a good idea, but my trouble is making it work. Whilst ‘Adventure’ and ‘Slice of Life’ are two genres I would use to describe my vision for this series, I have a lot of story and character ideas that might crossover with their limitations, and I sometimes wonder whether or not even I, myself, know exactly how I want to write this series – I’ve often imagined it as a TV series in book form. (Did you ever have a story idea without knowing exactly what genre it was going to be?)
My question to you is when you write about such personal issues as abuse, grief, foster care, etc. how do you do it in a way that’s entertaining for all audiences to read, while keeping the focus on raising awareness, and avoiding anything that could be hurtful or insulting? Also, with your book series’, did you intend them to be series’ when you first started writing the original books or was it down to their popularity that you wrote sequels? Any other advice you could give me would be very helpful, too.
I have written to you because I think you are the one author who can truly understand my feelings and ambitions for writing. I hope I can hear from you soon.

Yours Faithfully
George B. Harvey

(P.S. I’m very sorry that this is a long letter/email. I tend to over-write things a lot.)

Now, to be honest, I wasn’t really expecting a reply. As I mentioned in the message, I knew how busy Jacqueline Wilson was. And she probably received thousands of fan letters a day. It didn’t seem likely that mine would be one she’d personally respond to.

But then, twelve days later, I discovered this in my inbox:

Dear George
Thank you so much for your long and interesting email. I’m so pleased you’ve enjoyed my books. It’s good to know that you give them a favourable glance when you’re at work! It’s great that you’ve studied writing and now want to create your own children’s book series. Your Asperger’s condition will give you a true understanding of Nicky Dream and her friends, and I think the series could have great potential, helping to raise awareness of young people’s problems.
I don’t think you necessarily need to fixate on whether your stories are going to be ‘adventure‘ or ‘slice of life‘. It’s possibly a bit overwhelming too, to think of a whole series of books at this stage.
If I were you, I’d concentrate hard on your characters first, thinking about them in detail until they become absolutely real to you. Then get started on your story and try to imagine it’s happening inside your head. Describe it as if it’s really happening with as much emotion and detail as you can manage. Think yourself down to a child level and write from their point of view, and that way you should naturally be able to avoid anything too hurtful or insulting.
Good luck. I really admire your determination and ambition.

Very best wishes,
Jacqueline Wilson

I have treasured this email ever since. To think, the Jacqueline Wilson had taken the time to read my message and given me advice on my writing. Needless to say, I took her words to heart. Now, whenever I can, I plan my series to the smallest detail: mind-mapping locations; thinking of ways to develop it; and most importantly, writing character bibles which detail every aspect of the characters from their favourite colour to how they became the people they are. It’s an arduous process, but I know it will benefit me in the long-run. As Jacqueline Wilson said, the world I’ve created now feels real to me.

This second message was sent to me just a few months ago.

Since starting my blog, my pieces have lead to many professional opportunities for me. One of the earliest came from a lady who ran an after-school club for Autistic children. She read my ‘Diagnosis‘ post and asked if I could come in and present my life story to her members. She then offered me the chance to become a volunteer supervisor there, which I readily accepted. I, unfortunately, had to resign from the post after two years, due to work commitments, but the time I spent there was invaluable. Interacting with Autistic children, relating to their problems, and helping them make a difference in their lives, made me realise just how much I wanted to do for this for a living too. Hence I started to pursue a new ambition: becoming a teaching assistant.

While my current job makes it difficult to apply for anything permanent, I do occasionally take online courses in Special Educational Needs. I’ve also had the chance to present my life story in primary schools, and I spent the day as a teaching assistant in one of them. Sometimes people will even come to me for advice. Following one of my recent posts, a secondary school TA asked me how to help one of her students prepare for their GCSEs. For privacy reasons, I won’t reveal names. But this is what she had to say:

Hi George,
I wanted to ask you for some advice. I wondered if you completed your GCSE English exams or how you managed them. I am supporting someone with ASD and, after reading your story, I sensed some similarities. They are also a perfectionist which is causing great difficulty when practising for her GCSE’s next year. I wonder if you have any tips that may help us? Thanks for sharing your story and your work it really does make a difference.
Thanks.

After thinking long and hard about my answers, I sent her this response:

Thank you for your message. It’s not often I get comments on any of my posts, so it’s nice to speak to the people who read them. In regards to your question, I was able to pass my GCSE English exam, but I think it took me three tries to get the grade I wanted. The literature part was easy enough, but language has always been a challenge for me. I’m always second-guessing myself on whether I’ve used the right punctuation marks, or if my sentences are too long, etc. So it does take me a while to write the pieces you see. Even so, I try to learn from my experiences and I do have some tips that could help your student.
First of all, before anything else, make sure she spends 5-10mins planning what she’ll write. It’s very tempting to start straight away – especially if you’re conscious of the time. But if you go into anything without a clear plan, you’ll end up stopping, thinking and rethinking as you go – which will waste more time than if you lay everything out in the beginning. What I do is highlight everything I need/want to talk about in each of my paragraphs. I do this by making subheadings (e.g. Introduction, Dogs, Cats, Why Dogs Hate Cats, Conclusion/Summary) and then bullet-pointing two or more things I could say in each paragraph. By doing this, you’ll never be lost for what to write, and you might even work out a definite order for everything. For example:

Introduction
Why do dogs hate cats? (attention-grabbing, opening sentence)
– If a dog sees a cat, it will give chase? Why?
– How the cat looks at them? The way they smell? Why would the dog want to get rid of the cat?
– Let’s look at both these animals and find out.

Dogs
– Nature – friendly, cuddly, protective
– Confined to home, unless taken for a walk
– Territorial – bark at new things and mark their territory

Cats
– Nature – friendly, cuddly, adventurous
– Able to roam anywhere freely and still return home
– Not territorial, but will return to a place they like and defend themselves fiercely if provoked.
– Why dogs hate cats
– Are dogs protective of their territory when cats turn up?
– Are they scared to see something new?
– Are they annoyed when they keep returning?

Conclusion/Summary
– Easy to see why dogs would hate cats – protective of their territory, thinks cat is invading, constantly returning, could feel threatened.
– Maybe there just needs to be better trust between animals (concluding sentence)
– I also think about how to end and begin each of my paragraphs so they can lead into one another seamlessly.

The second tip is one I’m sure you already know. But it’s resisting perfection. Once your student has come up with a plan, make sure she sticks to it. It’s common to suddenly have an idea you think is better than what you’re writing. But it’s better to make a mental note of it and return to it later. If you try correcting things then and there, you could spend ages “fixing” it, and you probably won’t make it to the end of your piece. The quicker you finish it, the faster you can improve things at the end. This is helpful for two reasons. It prevents your student from going off-track and undoing all their planning work. And it stops them from making unnecessary changes. I’ve often found that the way I’ve written something the first time is better than what it ends up being after all the edits. Trust your initial thoughts and then you’ll have less fix at the end.
Finally, my last tip concerns reading work back. Sometimes you’ll want to check over your paragraphs to make sure they’re written well. But if you do this after every sentence or paragraph, your perfectionism will take over – you’ll keep spotting more and more things to “fix” and lose momentum for writing. Only read through the work once you’ve finished the final paragraph. If your student has made a good plan, she’ll be able to look back on it, and it should help her get moving again if she’s stuck. It’s better to trust your instincts than second-guessing yourself.
That’s all I have to say. I hope these tips have been helpful to you. And I hope your student does well in her GCSEs. If you have any other questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me.
Best of regards
George B. Harvey (aka the Autistic Blogger).

P.S. I’m sorry for not replying sooner. I wanted to make sure these tips were perfect for you.

Admittedly, my reply may have been a bit long. But I wanted to make sure that whatever I sent was the best advice possible. Plus, if it was shared with anyone else, then anyone could benefit from it just as much as the TA. It’s incredible to think that five years ago I was asking Jacqueline Wilson for advice, and now people are asking for mine on Autism. It makes me proud to know my blog is making a positive impact and helping others to do good in their community.

That’s all I have to say for now. I hope these messages have given you an idea of how far I’ve come, and where I hope to be in the future. I’d also like to give a special shout-out to anautismobserver.wordpress.com, who were generous enough to list my website (The Autistic Blogger) on their own, so more people could find and enjoy it. Be sure to check them out and some of the other Autistic bloggers they have listed.

If you have any questions, please leave me a comment – I’ll be more than happy to answer them. And, until the New Year, stay tuned.

Are You Autistic? Review (3rd Anniversary Special)

Hello everybody, this is George Harvey (aka the Autistic Blogger), and today is the 3-Year Anniversary of my blog. I never imagined I’d still be doing this after all that time. So before I begin, I’d just like to say a massive thank you to everyone who continues reading my posts. Currently, my site has been viewed over 4000 times by people in more than 70 different countries. If you’re a regularly reader, or just happen across my pieces by chance, then I still appreciate every single one of you. You’re the reason I keep pushing myself to create meaningful content.
Anyway, for this anniversary, I decided to focus on something a little bit different. It’s not something long or well-known, like my Life, Animated review. It’s actually something most of you won’t have heard about. It’s a documentary which aired in the UK just over two months ago, called Are You Autistic? Why this my may ask. Well, it’s for two reasons. First of all, it contains a very powerful message about diagnosis, which I think it’s a shame most people will never get to experience personally. And second, I had a small hand in this programme’s creation. Let me explain.
For those of you who don’t know, I used to be a Youth Patron for Ambitious about Autism. During my time there, I was fortunate enough to take part in many of their life-changing projects. These included the Employ Autism campaign, where I gave presentations to local MPs, and Know Your Normal where I took part in panel discussions. I also had the opportunity to contribute my writing skills, and attend several meetings that would ultimately shape the UK into a more Autism-friendly community. During one such meeting, we met with the commissioning editor of Channel 4. At the time, she was planning a documentary called How Autistic are You?, which would’ve gathered information on Autistic traits, and expressed how many people are being left undiagnosed. However, Ambitious was concerned with some of her creative decisions. Not only did the title wrongly suggest that every person had some form of Autism, but we felt the surveys would’ve produced insufficient results had they used their intended questions. For the good of those on the spectrum, we agreed that certain changes needed to be made. Changes which Channel 4 graciously accepted. I, unfortunately, wasn’t able to contribute much beyond this meeting, but with the passion and hard work of my fellow Youth Patrons they turned the documentary into what I’m about to review. Is it something worth remembering? Let’s find out.

*

As a whole, Are you Autistic? has two primary goals: to explain the effects of Autism to those unfamiliar with it; and to follow the journey of two grown adults, who believe they have the condition, but were never diagnosed. It starts off by giving us some general information about Autism itself, i.e. how it’s one of the world’s least understood conditions and that “cases are at an all-time high in the UK.” It also presents a brief history of its representation. For example, the (1988) film Rain Man was the first to feature an Autistic character. Back then, the condition was thought to be rare, but now an estimated 700,000 people are said to have it in the UK alone. Plus, we now know it’s a mixture of different traits, not just one specifically. Straight away we can tell this documentary isn’t beating around the bush. It lets us know just what the subject is and how it’s going to be examined. Not to mention why our knowledge of it is paramount. I also give it praise for referencing such modern Autistic characters as Sheldon Cooper (The Big Bang Theory), so even the most casual of viewers will be drawn in by its content. In fact, they could’ve gone one better by mentioning further examples; Jason Haynes from BBC’s Holby City, Maud Pie from the My Little Pony franchise, and Billy Cranston – the first Autistic superhero – from Power Rangers (2017).
Of course, information is worth nothing without the right hosts. And Channel 4 made some brilliant choices here. Taking centre stage are Georgia Harper and Sam Ahern – two Patrons I’ve had the greatest pleasure working with in the past. Being openly Autistic themselves, they assure viewers that they’re experts on the condition and display great confidence in their delivery. Even when things get technical, they incorporate visual diagrams and comments from other Patrons to help keep everything clear. A big hats-off to Jack Whitfield, Jack Welch, Sadie Jaffey, Ollie Marchant and Georgia Ellin for their contributions.
However, the documentary knows it’s also important to have somebody general audiences can relate to, which is why there’s a third host: “the lovely, but non-Autistic” Anna Richardson. Her role is to ask the questions that most people want the answers to, so they can fully grasp what it means to be Autistic. Through experts like Professor Liz Pellicano (UCL) and Francesca Happe (King’s College), she learns some truly enlightening points. Autism is “not an illness.” Autism is a “neurological condition” made up of various traits since birth. It doesn’t mean the person is “faulty, or damaged or broken in any way”, it just means their brain is “wired differently.” For anyone new to Autism this would be reassuring information. It clarifies how people on the spectrum are not so different from those who aren’t. You merely have to understand their mindsets, like the different parts of a machine. Sometimes it’s the simplest metaphors that are most effective.
Then we come to the heart of this programme: the lost generation. As our knowledge of Autism grows, so too does the way we define it. As a result, more and more people are found to have the condition – with a large percentage of them being adults. Worse still, there could be thousands left unidentified, given the major diagnosis crisis we have in the UK. You see, getting a diagnosis isn’t as simple as getting a check-up. Collecting the relevant data can be a long and arduous process. Realistically, it shouldn’t take more than three months. But recent studies have shown the actual waiting time can be as long as two years. Consequently, these people are not receiving the support they need quickly enough. Fortunately, significant changes are being made to speed up the process.
Between segments on social masking, early learning and women with Autism – which are highlights all their own – Anna joins 38-year-old musician, JP, and mother of three, Jo, who both think they’re part of the lost generation. Rather than spend two years on a waiting list, however, they’ve agreed to take part in a brand new in-depth study. Headed by leading scientists, they’re both put through a series of tests which focus on three main areas: social interaction, senses and organisation. As expressed by Sam and Georgia; “you can’t be a little bit Autistic.” You need to show symptoms in all three areas to be considered for diagnosis.
First, there’s social interaction. People on the spectrum tend to avoid conversations because specific topics don’t interest them or they feel awkward pretending to – Jo has experienced this numerous times in the company of friends. Also, their minds prefer sorting things into black and white areas, so anything like sarcasm, white lies or irony can be difficult to process. For the test, JP and Jo watch two actors performing scenes with mixed emotions. Then they’re asked why those actors said certain things, and what they’d do next in their situation. These are called Strange Story tests. Having taken them myself, they’re a surefire way of telling if someone can pick up on others’ feelings. For JP and Jo, their answers are straight-forward, un-sugar-coated, and show little reading into the actors’ minds.
The next area is senses. People with Autism are said to have heightened senses – which means they take in more than the average person. Everyday things like bright lights, loud noises and strong smells can be so overwhelming that it causes them stress, anxiety or even physical pain (sensory overload). To put it simply, it’s like “being tuned into 40 different TV channels all at once.” JP and Jo have experienced these symptoms too. JP has strengthened hearing, which allows him to hear buzzing electricity. And Jo has trouble with bright lights. However, this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Doctor Anna Remington (UCL) explains that heightened senses can offer people an advantage if they focus them on a single task, e.g. picking out specific sounds from a range of similar ones. All brains are made to process information. But Autistic ones have a much larger capacity.
Then there’s the final area, organisation. 90% of all British people follow the same routine every day. As such, they have very strict timetables and don’t appreciate having to make unexpected changes to them. For their last test, JP and Jo are asked to prepare lunch for five different customers in ten minutes. However, one order gets changed part-way through, and they have to amend it. The results are the same both times: JP and Jo are thrown off by the sudden changes and barely complete the task – JP actually fails altogether. This outcome is common for people with Autism. Once their minds are set on a job, it can be difficult for them to stop and start again on something new. Their initial momentum is gone, and they almost never get back into the right frame of mind. Preparation, multi-tasking and flexibility are all challenges for them.
With the tests now complete, it’s clear both JP and Jo have Autistic traits. But this doesn’t confirm whether they’re on the spectrum. Many people can have these traits without being Autistic, while others misinterpret the signs. A common mistake is confusing Autism for shyness. Francesca Happe explains the difference to Anna Richardson. Shyness is worrying about how others perceive you (social anxiety); Autism is not regarding what others think or feel in general. People with Autism do want to talk and have friends, but figuring out how can be difficult.
The only way for JP and Jo to get an official answer is to get a diagnosis. Fortunately, they don’t have to wait very long. Soon after the tests, they’re both invited to Cambridge University to meet Professor Simon Baron-Cohen, a leading world expert in Autism. While there, they speak to him about other experiences they’ve had so he can officially diagnose them. It’s interesting to hear what they have to say. Jo left college early because she felt intimidated by how big and unstructured it was. Also, she prefers being by herself since she doesn’t have to play roles in front of other people. JP has had social problems, too. In secondary school, he wanted to interact with the other students. But the more he tried, the more he came off as desperate. Plus, rejections took so long to recover from that he eventually decided it wasn’t worth the effort. By this point, I was thoroughly convinced that both JP and Jo were on the spectrum. I’ve personally been through all these experiences myself, and I think most of the Patrons at Ambitious have as well – the only difference is none of us dropped out of college due to stress. This documentary has done a brilliant job of building character. And the payoff is just as grand. By the end of the meeting, it’s officially confirmed that both JP and Jo are, indeed, Autistic.
However, the documentary itself doesn’t end there. Sam and Georgia sit down with the NAS’s Tim Nickels – the man behind the report on slow diagnosis. He explains how not getting support early can lead to strains within families and cause many younger children to wait longer for a diagnosis. On top of that, Autism is one of the most costly conditions in the UK; at around £32 Billion, the government spends more on it than heart disease, high blood pressure or even cancer. If changes were made to the diagnosis procedures, it would save more people and money.
Fortunately, bigger steps are being taken than ever before. In addition to diagnosing JP and Jo, Professor Baron-Cohen started the largest online study for Autism in 2018. By completing four short questionnaires, 750,000 people helped capture the way Autistic traits are spread across the UK. Of those who weren’t diagnosed, 87,000 of them scored above the cut off – meaning they were more than likely Autistic – with 47,000 of them being women. Professor Baron-Cohen hopes that by taking these surveys more undiagnosed people will find the answers they’ve been seeking and live happier, stronger lives.
With the future looking bright, Sam and Georgia finish the programme with some meaningful words. “Autistic people aren’t broken or weird or anything to be scared of; we’re just ordinary people, but our brains are wired very differently, that’s all.” Autistic people can be any age, sex or colour. And you could be one of them. It’s not too late to find out. And even if you are, it’s not the end of the world. Join the club.
In conclusion, Are You Autistic? perfectly encompasses Channel 4’s “changing perspectives” tagline. Not only does it explain every aspect of Autism, but it does so in a way that’s appealing to all audiences. With mainstream references and hosts of different ages and experience, there’s something relatable for everyone. Additionally, knowing how much influence Ambitious had on the final product makes me wish I’d contributed more to it than I did. That being said, no programme is flawless. For instance, although Autism is a worldwide issue, the documentary only focuses on the statistics relevant to Great Britain. Also, the condition’s effects aren’t shown to us as much as they’re talked about. However, I might’ve had something to do with that. You see, during our meeting with the editor, I expressed how programmes needed to be careful when presenting people on the spectrum. There was a scene in Channel 4’s The Undateables that did it poorly once, and it felt like a stab to the chest. It could be they decided to avoid anything sensitive and focus more on providing helpful information. Either way, I’m proud of how this documentary turned out, and it makes me glad I was a part of Ambitious. If anything, it gives me hope for the future of those yet to be diagnosed.

*

And that’s all I’ve got to say for this review. Once again, I’d like to thank everyone who continues reading my posts and I hope to bring you even more great content in the future. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to leave me a comment – I’ll be happy to answer them. And, as always, stay tuned. Happy Anniversary!

 

(Image courtesy of: https://www.ambitiousaboutautism.org.uk/understanding-autism/ambitious-about-autism-s-youth-council-speak-out-for-young-people-with-autism)

Life, Animated Review (2nd Anniversary Special – Part 4)

(Continued from Part 3: https://georgeharvey2015.wordpress.com/2017/11/01/life-animated-2nd-anniversary-special-part-3/)

As Owen prepares for his graduation, he has The Little Mermaid (1989) playing in the background. Specifically, the ending where Sebastian says: “children got to be free to lead their own lives.” Once again, a Disney film parallels Owen’s life. Like Ariel stepping out of the sea, he’s leaving school to become independent. It’s a proud day for Cornelia, too, seeing her son on stage. It’s incredible to think how far he’s come from being the quiet little boy she thought would never talk again. Let alone graduate.

Following the ceremony, Owen and his family begin the process of moving him to his new apartment. Before they do, however, Owen insists on watching a few scenes of Dumbo (1941) to celebrate. This notion seems to imply that he understands his condition in this situation. He needs to watch those scenes to be in the right frame of mind, or it could impact him both mentally and emotionally. In fact, we get to witness this Autistic stress first-hand.

Just as the family is about to leave, Owen suddenly realises he’s lost the charm on the necklace Emily gave him. He gets very upset about it and starts behaving erratically (i.e. trying to ‘sniff it out‘ and moaning like a child). His dad suggests they can simply buy another one, but Owen won’t hear of it. Although he knows Emily didn’t make the charm herself, she did buy it for him out of love. So it’s special in a way his dad can’t understand.

To be honest, I do get how Owen feels. I’m something of a hoarder myself. I know it makes sense to get rid of old things and make room for the new. But doing so never feels right to me. It doesn’t matter if its school work, holiday souvenirs or a scarf my Nan gave me before she died; they all have unique memories attached to them. Throwing them away would feel like throwing away part of myself. Perhaps that’s why Owen holds so tightly to his Disney films.

Eventually, Cornelia finds the missing charm, and everyone makes their way to Owen’s new place. His apartment is in an assisted living community, around 75 miles from his parents’ house. Owen is excited to be moving in at first and eagerly helps to unpack. However, once Ron and Cornelia leave, the reality of the situation slowly starts to sink in: he really is all by himself. His feelings are expressed through yet another Disney film. This time it’s Bambi (1942). The first scene shows Bambi’s mother warning him about the dangers of the meadow; it’s wide and open, and they’re unprotected on it. Then, following the infamous shooting scene, the fawn is shown calling out for his mother – which is just before his father shows up, telling him she can’t be with him anymore. In a way, Owen is going through Bambi’s predicament right now. The world can be a dangerous place sometimes, and now he has to face it without the usual protection of his parents.

As time goes by, Owen gradually adjusts to his new life. He struggles with some basic things, like opening the right mailbox. But as it’s an assisted living community, there are always people around to help him. They show him how to cook, how to pay bills and when to take his medication. They also assist him in looking for a job, and we actually get to see him going for an interview at his local cinema. It’s interesting to note the type of role he’s going for too since it involves interacting with many unfamiliar people. And as all we know, this sort of thing tends to make him nervous. It’s good to see him fighting his own insecurities.

Around this time, we also delve more into Owen’s relationship with Emily. And some of its issues. You see, although they do enjoy each other’s company, there appears to be very little chemistry between them. One night when she comes over, they just spend the evening watching Disney’s Aladdin (1992). And other than some light conversation over food, there’s nothing but awkward silence throughout. Reality-wise it’s not the healthiest relationship. Other people notice as well.

While playing miniature golf together, Walter speaks to Owen about possibly moving forward with his relationship. Owen, however, doesn’t seem to grasp what the next stage is. For example, when asked what people use other than their mouths when they kiss, he replies “feelings.” But of course, the real answer is tongues. The problem is, Owen only knows about romance from what he’s seen in Disney films; through couples like Eric and Ariel, Hercules and Meg, Belle and the Beast, etc. It’s challenging for Walter to work around that since Disney films don’t usually explore relationships beyond the Happily Ever After kiss. He even jokingly says the only way he might get his brother into sex is by showing him Disney p###. Sadly, it never comes to that. Because not long after this, something goes horribly, horribly wrong.

At his home in Washington DC, Walter gets a phone call from the assisted living community. After looking distraught for a moment, he tells us the sad news. Emily has broken up with Owen. Apparently, there was a meeting with caseworkers where she expressed concerns about him getting “too close” and that she needed personal space. Owen takes the news very badly. Keep in mind, breakups are practically unheard of in Disney films; the fact that he’s lost his Happily Ever After isn’t something his mind can fully comprehend. It’s the first time he’s ever experienced such as a hard dose of reality. Trying to make sense of it all, he calls his mom and asks her why life is “so full of unfair pain and tragedy?” She replies it’s just the way life is sometimes. There are joyous and relaxing times, but also sad and painful ones. What’s important is to accept they’ve happened, move on and trust things will get better in the end. Unfortunately, Owen can’t seem to do that. Not only does he still wear Emily’s necklace, but he has a picture of her next to his bed. Plus, he’s seen watching a sad clip from The Little Mermaid where Ariel is crying over Eric getting married to the Sea Witch. Eventually, a councillor has to step in to try and explain the situation. But Owen won’t listen to reason. He’s too emotionally unstable and even starts shouting in frustration.

It is painful to watch. But once again, I think it’s an essential scene. It shows how sensitive Autistic people can be under challenging circumstances. I should know, I’ve been there myself. During my last year of University, I was succeeding well in terms of grades. But I was also under a lot of stress. The sheer volume of work and tight deadlines were so intimidating to me that I never wanted to stop working. If I did, I feared my condition would slow me down and then I’d never finish on time. As a result, I devoted practically every second I had to my assignments. Which gravely affected my health and mentality. It got to the point where I was literally crying myself to sleep and waking up in the morning vomiting with anxiety. It didn’t matter what other people said to me; they weren’t the ones with Autism. They couldn’t understand what battling through my learning/focus difficulties was like. So whenever they said I was stressing over nothing, or they’d been through worse, it didn’t reassure me. It just made me resent them.

Anyway, back onto Owen; he tries to cope by channelling his emotions into his creative work again. For instance, he creates the villain Fuzzbutch for his Land of the Lost Sidekicks story. A creature that blows fog inside people’s heads and makes the world look like a sad, scary place. Clearly, it’s how he sees it right now. But that’s not all.

Soon after, his mom calls with some exciting news. He’s been invited to an Autism conference at the Rennes University in France. They want him to give a speech about Autistic people, and how they use their passions to make sense of the world – as Owen does with Disney. Owen agrees to go, but he struggles with a lot leading up to it. He finds it challenging to write his speech, he doesn’t know how to do up a tie (despite being 23-years-old), and when he’s on stage it looks like he won’t talk at all – he’s never spoken to such a large audience of strangers before. Eventually, though, he does find his voice.

He starts off talking about the very specific interests he and some of his Autistic friends have; animated films, superheroes, and the history of all actors and comedians who are Jewish. He then addresses the false notion that Autistic people don’t want to be around other people. The truth is, they want what everyone else wants. But sometimes they’re misguided and don’t know how to connect with others. He, himself, used to be afraid of growing up and watched the world go by like the Hunchback of Notre Dame. He explains that Quasimodo didn’t get the girl in the end, but was happily welcomed into society after a long and hard journey of being an outcast.

I hung on every word of the speech because it’s 100% true, especially the parts comparing Owen to The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Here’s the interesting thing about that movie – and by the way, I am quoting a review by Animat here. Not only is the tone more adult for a Disney film, but it touches on many dark and realistic themes that most animated features wouldn’t dare to. These include religion; the mistreatment of gipsies (which can be seen as a social commentary on immigration); lust; and most importantly, dealing with a heartbreak. The reason the latter stands out is that it’s a moment in life everyone goes through. Sure, eventually, you will settle down and find true love. But along the way, you will end up loving the wrong person – someone who doesn’t love you back. And you will learn this the hard way. It’s definitely sad when Quasimodo sees Esmeralda kissing Phoebus. But it’s essential to the plot because it reminds him of his true goal. Which isn’t to fall in love, but to be socially accepted. And when it comes down to it, that’s the primary goal for any Autistic person.

Following the conference, Owen finally comes to terms his break up. He takes off Emily’s necklace and shows Walter a message he sent her over the weekend. It says he’s now accepted their relationship is over, but he hopes they can still be friends – they know each other too well not to. It seems to have worked; Owen and Emily do cross paths at one point, and they appear to be on good speaking terms.

As the documentary comes to an end, we see Owen at his new job in the movie theatre. He tells us once more how worried he was about losing his Disney films when he grew up. But he never did. Although his childhood is over, he’s glad to be moving forward, while still cherishing what he holds most dear.

And I think that’s an important message. It’s good to want to change yourself. But it’s also essential to keep a part of your old self too. If you change just for other’s benefit, then you’ll lose sight of who you really are, and maybe even hate yourself for it. Nothing is more important in development than happiness.

The final scene shows Owen sitting in a dark movie theatre, mumbling his usual Disney dialogue, while a montage of Disney clips plays – the last one being Simba’s roar atop Pride Rock.

*

And that’s Life, Animated. Simply put, it’s one of the best documentaries I’ve ever seen. Not only does it perfectly represent Autism in such an open and honest way, but it shows exactly how the condition affects everyone, not just the person who’s diagnosed. On top of that, the comparisons made between Owen’s life and Disney mean it’s both relatable and inspiring to anyone who watches it.

As for me, I felt a genuine connection to the story. In many ways, Owen and I are the same; we both have trouble socialising, we both like being creative and we both mumble things that stick in our heads. At the same time though, we’re also very different. I got my first job when I was only 18-years-old. And while Owen has already experienced moving out and having a girlfriend, I’ve yet to accomplish either. It just goes to show how diverse the condition is for each individual person.

I cannot stress this enough. If you have Autism, or you know somebody who does, then this is an absolute must-watch documentary. Nowhere will you find a more perfect guide to the condition, and what you can do to assist it. If you see it for sale, just buy it yourself and be inspired by a masterpiece.

And with that, my 2nd Anniversary Special is done. I never imagined it would take me a year and four parts to finish. But now I can start debating on what to release for the 3rd Anniversary. 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 http://www.tulsakids.com/Web-2016/Life-Animated-at-Circle-Cinema/)

Sword Art Online II: Part 4 Review

There’s something I want to share with you all: this piece which I uploaded on Amazon not too long ago. It may seem like a random review of a random DVD. But to me, it’s the culmination of nearly three months hard work. That’s right, I said three months. Some of you may find that shocking. Which is why I want to discuss things here and now, rather than wait forever to talk about it on my other blog: https://autisticbloggerreviews.wordpress.com. Hopefully, when I’m done, you’ll understand why one of my favourite hobbies is also one of my biggest drawbacks. Let me explain.

For those of you who don’t know, I like writing Amazon reviews in my spare time. They help me practise my creative skills when I’m not working on documents like articles or cover letters. Since 2014, I’ve posted more than 50 of them, with over 85 helpful votes between them. I’m even listed as one of the site’s Top Reviewers. However, few people realise the amount of time and effort that goes into one of these pieces.

Sometimes it’s easy. If I know the product well and plan what to say in advance, then it only takes me a couple of weeks to write the review – depending on how much spare time I have. But sometimes the process takes A LOT longer. If there are dozens of points I want to make, for instance, I usually skip the planning stage and try writing the piece as quickly as possible. This is never a good idea. Knowing what to say and how to say it are two different things.

Without a proper layout, I don’t know when best to bring up certain points. Do I mention them straight away? Or save some for later? Which would be better for the reader? Also, how long should I talk about these points? Should I go into detail? Or can they be summed up in a sentence or two? Do they even need mentioning? Writing on instinct can only take you so far.

Plus, given how much my Autism makes me a perfectionist, I’m constantly revising my thoughts. Here’s a peek into my autistic mind:

Should I add this word here or does it work better there? Is this sentence too long or too short? Does it lead into this sentence okay? Am I using this word too much? Can I get rid of this sentence? Will the paragraph make sense without it? When should I start a new paragraph? Do I use a comma here or a dash? What about a bracket? A colon? A semi-colon? Should I change this word? Or this sentence? Or this paragraph? Should I just start over again?

All these questions – and more – constantly nag me as I write. That’s why I spend more time editing my work than actually finishing it.

In my last update, I said there were numerous reasons why I hadn’t been posting new content on my blog: work, job searching, drama rehearsals, etc. But the main reason was this review. I didn’t want to start anything else before finishing it, in case it stressed me out even more. That being said, focusing solely on the review didn’t help either. It was exhausting reading the same words over and over again. I couldn’t focus my thoughts properly. And I began losing all sorts of things; time, patience, motivation, even my own sanity. It was getting to the point where I would literally spend a whole week on one paragraph, then another week on the next and so on. Until eventually three months had gone by. As you can imagine, it was a huge relief when I finally clicked the submit button on Amazon.

It does concern me how long I take to write things sometimes. Especially as my dream is to become a children’s author one day. How can I hope to write books if I can’t even manage a 2000-word piece in less than two weeks? It doesn’t seem possible, does it?

The sad thing is I know how to prevent myself running into these sorts of writing problems. I just didn’t apply that knowledge here because I thought the review would take me longer to finish if I did. Ironic, isn’t it?

I’m sure many of you would say I’m just overthinking things. Or my time would be better spent on more important projects. I do agree with you 100%. But old habits die hard as they say.

Completing this review was a real eye-opener for me. It helped me realise I need to be more organised. Not just with writing, but my life in general. If I took my time planning what to do, when to do it and how long for, it would make things much easier on me.

All of that aside, I am glad how this review turned out. My dedication and determination made it one of the best I’ve written to date. So please take a look and let me know what you think of it. The other parts are available on my Amazon profile, where you can vote if they’re helpful or not (https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/profile/amzn1.account.AHNGEVB42MLFVOSAZTJJKBFBACEQ?ie=UTF8&preview=true).

I know this isn’t like my usual posts. But given how vast Amazon is, and how much I had to sacrifice for this review, I couldn’t bear the thought of nobody seeing it. Enjoy:

*

Before I begin, I just want to say this: I am a HUGE fan of Asuna. I know Kirito is meant to be the main protagonist of SAO. But whenever I watch animes, I always find myself more attracted to the female leads; simply because of how much potential I think they have. You see, back in college, I was taught there were only 18 specific roles a woman could fulfil – compared to the 43 taken by men. But I disagree. I believe women can outshine men in almost any role, as long as there is enough passion behind the character.
When I see Asuna, I see the embodiment of a well-written female lead. Not only is she a resilient fighter, with a charming personality, but the story also explores the deeper aspects of her life (e.g. her flaws, motives and insecurities), making her one of the most fleshed-out characters in the series. I’ve always felt it’s because of her we have other well-developed heroines like Leafa and Sinon. And, if given the opportunity, she could carry the series just as well as Kirito does. Naturally, when I found out Season 2‘s last story-arc would feature Asuna as the main protagonist I was eagerly anticipating it. So does Part 4 live up to her character? Let’s start with the story.
Continuing where Part 3 left off; Yuuki introduces Asuna to the Sleeping Knights, a group of players who will soon be disbanding because of commitments they have in the real world. Before they do, however, they want to achieve a monumental task. Specifically, clear a high-level boss with only their guild! Asuna doubts it’s possible. But she agrees to join the group so they might stand a better chance. Over the next few days, she grows immensely fond of her new friends and wants to know them in real-life, too. But when she offers to meet them, they all seem uneasy about something. Even Yuuki – who’s been calling Asuna “Sis” for some reason – says it’s best if she forgets them after clearing the boss. Confused, Asuna decides to investigate. It turns out her teammates have been hiding an unfortunate secret. And when she finds the real Yuuki, she’s determined to stay by her side her until the end.
Meanwhile, Asuna’s home life isn’t much better. Her mother keeps pressuring her to transfer schools and give up gaming – almost to the point of being hostile. Asuna has strength in the virtual world. But she’s helpless when it comes to reality. Now she has to find a way to stand up for herself or risk losing the friends she loves.
From the synopsis alone, you can tell just how dedicated the writers were to making this Asuna’s story-arc; Kirito hardly appears, the subplot focuses heavily on her personal life, and she even gets the chance to be a leader again. It’s pleasing to see her in the spotlight like this. Especially considering how she’s been undervalued in recent volumes. Let me explain.
During the first half of Season 1, Asuna was as much the lead character as Kirito. Her sword skills and strategic mind made her a powerful warrior, while her feelings gave her a more loving persona. All in all, she was a solid 3-Dimensional character with tremendous audience appeal. 
Then came the later arcs. 
Alfhiem had the terrible idea of turning Asuna into a damsel in distress. Seeing her wait to be rescued felt insulting because it diminished her prowess and made her look weak. The Extra Edition (OVA) did restore some of her credibility, but only enough to make her a side character. Phantom Bullet also struggled to maintain her relevance. In my opinion, the closest she’s come to showing her full potential again was in the Calibur arc, where she and her skills were featured as prominently as the other characters’.
So what about Mother’s Rosario? 
Starting with the main plot, its set-up allows Asuna to become the centre of our attention. Being the only Sleeping Knight we recognise, we expect her to raise her game and stand out as the group’s leader. Does she do that? Absolutely! Using her old boss-raid knowledge, she comes up with unique battle strategies, and fights alongside her teammates, with all the heart and determination she had during Season 1. Her actions remind us exactly why she was second-in-command of KBO (Knights of the Blood Oath).
The subplot is handled well, too. For the first time, we get to experience Asuna’s home life and just how deeply it contrasts her virtual one. This is largely thanks to the presence of her mother.
Whenever Kyouko is onscreen, we can see why Asuna feels intimidated by her. It’s not just her design – or the animation’s use of dim lighting – but her aggressive, overbearing personality. She’s so strict about Asuna’s future that she frequently decides her life for her. She even tries forcing her into relationships, knowing full-well she has a boyfriend (Part 3). What’s more, if Asuna opposes her judgement, or even considers leading a different life, Kyouko makes it clear she won’t tolerate it. Just like she won’t tolerate her socialising with lower-class people.
Although it was tense watching the scenes between Asuna and her mother, I wish there’d been more focus on their relationship. The main plot is engaging with its action and diverse characters. But their conflict felt like the stronger story to me. Not only does it perfectly emphasise the harsh realities gamers face after logging out, but it shows a side of Asuna we’ve rarely seen before. By exposing her vulnerabilities, and what she’s desperate to hide, it adds significant depth to her character – making her more relatable to the audience. I’ve often compared her problems to those I’ve had with my own mother.
If executed right, this subplot could’ve been groundbreaking for the series. Unfortunately, despite its incredible build up (episodes 1 and 19), the writers chose not to tackle things head on. Instead, they padded out the conflict by giving more screen-time to the Sleeping Knights and almost casually mentioning a solution. It’s a bit underwhelming how easily they resolved the matter. But to be fair, the payoff does work. When Asuna finally confronts her mother, she settles their issues in a way that’s both touching and unique.
Another criticism I have is the story’s pacing. Given how short the arc is – and how much it focuses on Asuna – the narrative barely has time to develop its side characters. Even when it tries, their scenes often feel rushed; like they’re trying to reach the next plot point as soon as possible. In other words, Mother’s Rosario has the same pacing problems as Season 1. Consequently, we don’t learn much about the individual Sleeping Knights, and they can come off as being one-dimensional. 
The only member worth mentioning is Yuuki.
Also known as Zekkon, Yuuki is the cheerful, free-spirited swordswoman, who admires Asuna for her gaming experience. In the beginning, her role seems straight-forward enough. Like Leafa and Sinon, she acts as a mentor/ally to the main lead; teaching Asuna to fight for her future, while also forming a close bond with her. As the episodes progress, however, we find out there’s more to Yuuki than meets the eye. In fact, she has one of the saddest backstories the series has ever produced. I can’t reveal too much, or else it will spoil the last three episodes. But when her secret is uncovered, everything suddenly makes sense: why she and the Knights had to defeat the boss solo; why she’s always in such high spirits; and why she doesn’t want Asuna getting too close to her. In case you’re wondering, it’s not because they’re related – it’s just a coincidence they have Yuuki in both their names. The real twist is far more tragic. To put it simply; the Knights are disbanding because Yuuki is leaving, and she knows for a fact she’ll never see them again. Her send-off is so beautiful I almost cried.
Now, some of you may be wondering about Kirito. Where does he fit into all this? As I mentioned before, he’s hardly seen in this volume because Asuna is the main lead. He’s mostly there to provide information and support, like the other side characters. Even so, the story doesn’t forget to highlight everything he’s accomplished throughout the season. During one battle scene, for instance, he uses the Holy Sword of Excalibur (obtained in Calibur) and cuts down high-speed spells with a skill he learnt in (Phantom Bullet). Plus, the virtual device he’s been working on plays a vital role in the last two episodes. Hardcore fans may be disappointed by his lack of action. But I think it’s smart whenever a series shifts focus to another character; it keeps things fresh and allows the latter to develop as much as their co-stars.
As for the other recurring characters (Klien, Silica, Lisbeth, Yui, Leafa, Sinon, etc.), they only make cameos here. The most we see them is during a montage (episode 24) where they interact with the Sleeping Knights, and other familiar faces. Which, I will admit, is very nostalgic.
In conclusion, Part 4 is a satisfying end to SAO2. The plot wasn’t taken in the direction I would’ve hoped. But the writers did a fantastic job making Asuna feel like a real heroine again. She remains centre-stage throughout, her abilities were used to their fullest potential, and she was given some much-needed character growth. On top of that, the volume touches on numerous real-world issues; such as AIDS, peer pressure and family conflict. So much so, you feel a personal connection with each of the victims. For a series heavily based around virtual gaming, it’s admirable how much relatability the episodes push for.
And that concludes my reviews of SAO2. Is it on par with the first season? For the most part, I’d say yes. It had a bit of a shaky start with its raunchy humour and slow pacing (Part 1). But it quickly made up for it with complex characters, engrossing storylines and a tone that enabled it to stand out from its predecessor. Additionally, the attention to detail shows how committed the writers were to maintaining the series’ success.
I would recommend this volume, and the rest of SAO2, to any fans of anime. Specifically, those who enjoy video games and/or realistic scenarios. The episodes provide just the right nostalgia for returning fans, while also incorporating new aspects which leave lasting impressions – even on late-comers.
At the time I’m writing this, there haven’t been any plans to make a third season of SAO just yet. But there is the 2017 movie, Ordinal Scale. If they decide to release an English Dub on Blu-Ray or DVD, I may consider reviewing it. Until then, stay tuned.
(P.S. I apologise how long it’s taken me to post this review; please let me know if it was helpful or not.)

*

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