A Little Story for You

Hello everybody, this is George Harvey (aka The Autistic Blogger). I’m still working on my next Are They Autistic? post. So in the meantime, I’d like to share a little story with you. Did you know I used to be part of a comic strip series? A Disney comic strip series? A Disney comic strip series for a girls’ magazine? No? Well, I was. And for a brief time, my sister and I were somewhat famous. Let me explain.

I don’t remember how it started exactly. One day my mum told my sister and me we were going on a train ride. It’d be a very long journey, and we probably wouldn’t make it back until night-time. She was right. I can’t tell you how many hours we sat on that train – or multiple trains. We must’ve been going up to Manchester or somewhere. If I didn’t have my Game Boy on me, I would’ve been bored out of my wits. Anyway, when we arrived, we were outside a large BBC headquarters building – the BBC were the magazine’s distributor. We passed through long hallways, and I saw various CBBC character stickers. But my sister and I were taken into a plain white boardroom. There were other children there, too, and we all had our pictures taken. But other than that, I don’t remember the audition process. It’s faded from my mind after all these years. What I do remember is a few days later – or maybe a couple of weeks – my sister and I were told we’d been successful. Now we’d be part of the new Disney Girl magazine.

And so it began. Every month or so, a camera crew would come to our house and take pictures. Sometimes we’d go to other places for location shooting. Plus, we’d be joined by other people who were supporting characters. Once the crew had all the photos they needed, they’d print them into the magazine along with speech bubbles. Then, a few weeks later, that magazine would be available to buy at your local newsagents.

I should clarify it was my sister who was the comic strip’s main star. She played a girl called Molly, who was friends with Tinker Bell. A special friend only she could see. Molly would have everyday adventures, like sleepovers, sports days, and doing maths problems, and Tinker Bell would help her in some way. I played Molly’s younger brother, Charlie – although we were twins in real life – and I’d occasionally cause mischief or be the catalyst for the story. Even our mum got to appear as Molly and Charlie’s mother.

Admittedly, it wasn’t like we were celebrities; the magazine wasn’t that well-known. But it did feel thrilling to be part of something almost anyone could buy. There were times I saw people reading it, and I was sorely tempted to say something. Even before the shooting began, I had a friend who said he couldn’t believe he knew somebody who might be famous. It made me feel proud.

The photoshoots continued over the next couple of years. We must have contributed to at least 20 issues of Disney Girl. One day, however, it all unexpectedly came to an end. We picked up the latest issue from our local newsagents. Only to discover we weren’t part of it. The Tinker Bell stories were continuing, but they’d hired a new girl to replace my sister as the best friend. It was a surprise to all of us.

So what exactly happened? To be honest, I don’t know. Maybe it was because our contract had expired. Maybe my sister and I were getting older. Or perhaps they just wanted to give opportunities to other children. Whatever the reason, nobody told us we were being replaced. And just as quickly as our time in the spotlight had come, it was gone. Not that we held any grudges, of course. By this point, my sister and I were on the verge of starting secondary school. So we had other things to focus on. We soon forgot about it and moved ahead with our lives. And look where we are now.

So there you have it. I hope you enjoyed this little trip down memory lane with me. I’ll be releasing that new instalment of Are They Autistic? very shortly. So until then, stay safe and stay tuned.

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P.S. I have a question for you. I uploaded this post on April 1st. So was the story I just told you real, or was it an elaborate April Fool’s joke? I’ll leave you to decide.

Equestria Girls: Magical Movie Night Review

(Review begins where text is all italic.)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I think that’s enough rambling now.

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

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

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

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

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

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:

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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.)

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

My Little Pony: Lesson Zero and Autism (Part 2)

(Continued from Part 1: https://georgeharvey2015.wordpress.com/2016/10/22/my-little-pony-lesson-zero-and-autism-part-1/)

From here onwards, the episode focuses on Twilight trying to cope with the stress of potentially missing her deadline. Many people go through this situation, of course. But it’s important to note how Twilight is reacting. And why. Because she thinks very highly of Celestia, she feels it’s necessary to push herself – if she’s not perfect, it’s not meeting her tutor’s standards. I had this same problem in university. Because I took Creative Writing at Greenwich, one of London’s top colleges, every assignment felt like it had to be precise or else I’d fail my course. This goes back to what I said before about problems feeling bigger than they actually are. No one expects perfection – not even royalty. But if you’re used to being a model pupil, it’s easy to stress over small details and imagine all the negative outcomes.

Thinking she’ll be sent back to magic kindergarten if she fails, Twilight decides to find a friendship problem and solve it by the end of the day. Unfortunately, she doesn’t have much luck. Every time she runs into one of her friends they look like they’re in trouble. But it turns out to be a misunderstanding, leaving her crushed.

Yes, Twilight is actually hoping her friends are suffering so she’ll have something to fix and write about. When you’re stressing over a deadline, it’s hard to concern yourself with anything else.

With no friendship problems in sight, Twilight curls up on a park bench trying to comfort herself. However, the pressure is clearly getting her. She’s stroking her tail, her mane is frazzled, she starts crying and arguing with herself (Gollum-style.) She even has hallucinations of younger ponies (fillies) laughing at her.

You might think this behaviour is a bit exaggerated or comical. But I can tell you, from personal experience, that it’s realistic. There were times in university when I’d curl up in fear. Or I’d cry and talk to my reflection. Sometimes I even had nervous twitches that made me throw up in the morning. The point is, stress can cause you to act the way Twilight does. And I’m glad Meghan McCarthy and the animators gave us such an accurate portrayal here.

Spike tells Twilight she needs to calm down because he’s worried about her. He suggests they go to the picnic so she can relax. But Twilight sees this as another chance to find a friendship problem.

Again, this is realistic behaviour from Twilight. When you have short deadlines, it feels like you can’t afford to take breaks. If you do, you’ll just have less time to finish your tasks, which makes the situation more stressful.

Arriving at the picnic, Twilight tells her friends she desperately needs their help. They seem eager to lend a hoof until she explains she’s late for an assignment. At which point, they brush off the problem and go back to their picnic. Twilight insists her whole life depends on this. But her friends just say she’s getting all worked up over nothing – some even laugh and call her a drama queen. This infuriates Twilight, and she runs off in frustration.

This is a very pivotal moment in the episode. Not only does it affect everything that happens afterwards, but it ultimately leads us to the moral of the story.

Also, this situation is something I feel very personal about.

To be fair, Twilight’s friends aren’t being hurtful on purpose – they do show regret after she runs off. But if I were in her position, I’d be mad too. There have been times when I’ve gone to people for help, and all they’ve done is tell me my problems aren’t worth stressing over. I  do understand why they say this. But it doesn’t do anything to help me, and I almost hate them for it.

It’s the same with Twilight.

Yes, she is overreacting – that much is obvious. But she wouldn’t be panicking if she didn’t feel she had a reason to. Her friends don’t see what’s so stressful because they’re not the ones with the problem. So they think the obvious solution is to stop worrying about it. But this is the worst thing you can say to somebody in Twilight’s predicament.

People do prefer not to feel negative emotions. But they can’t stop feeling how they are just because someone tells them to. If you were punched in the face, you wouldn’t forgive the person who did it just because they said it was a joke. You wouldn’t immediately cheer up if you were told your mother died. And you wouldn’t stop worrying about something just because another person said they would. Telling someone they’re overreacting, without offering a proper solution to their problem, just makes that person think you’re being insensitive. Or worse, poking fun at their misery. This is the sort of thing that ruins relationships.

Twilight’s friends don’t realise the severity of their actions – or lack of them. And it’s what leads us to the episode’s climax.

We cut back to Twilight, who’s watching the sun set from her bedroom. By this point, her mind has officially snapped, and she’s descending into madness.

Seriously, go on YouTube, type Crazy Twilight Sparkle and click the first video that comes up. This scene alone proves why My Little Pony isn’t just for girls anymore.

With seemingly no other option, Twilight decides if she can’t find a friendship problem, she’ll make one.

I’ve been through this scenario once too often; the pressure of meeting a deadline can be so overwhelming you resort to taking shortcuts. The stress means you can’t think straight and you’re so focused on finishing the task you don’t care if it’s done well or not.

Twilight goes outside, with a sadistic grin on her face (see image link below), and comes across Applebloom, Sweetiebelle and Scootaloo (the Cutie Mark Crusaders). She shows the fillies her Smarty Pants doll and gives it to them, hoping they’ll fight over it. When they don’t, she casts a “Want It/Need It” spell, which forces them to fight. Twilight tries to teach the girls about sharing but quickly realises the spell is too powerful. Then more ponies fall under her spell until nearly everyone in Ponyville is fighting over the doll. Twilight finds her friends and admits she messed up, just as the sun sets over the horizon.

By the way, I should mention the sun has been setting in a rather unique way. Along with a ‘ticking’ windmill, it’s been jolting across the sky like the hours on a clock face. I love how the animators did this because it emphasises how Twilight is feeling about her time pressure.

Just when it looks like things can’t get any worse, a voice cries out “TWILIGHT SPARKLE!” It’s Princess Celestia. She casts a spell which removes the enchantment from the doll, returning every pony to normal. She then approaches Twilight and says to meet her in the library. Believing she knows what this means, Twilight says a sad goodbye to her friends and walks away – it’s only then they realise how big Twilight’s problem might’ve been.

However, it turns out Celestia isn’t mad. She tells Twilight she’s a wonderful student, and she doesn’t need to get a letter from her every week to know that.

This is further proof that Twilight set the letter deadline herself. She was just pushing herself, unnecessarily, to impress her teacher.

Suddenly, Twilight’s friends burst in and beg Celestia not to punish her. They insist it was their fault for what happened because they didn’t take Twilight’s feelings seriously before. If they did, they could’ve done more to help her, and she wouldn’t have caused all the chaos.

I’m so glad Megan McCarthy included this scene. The episode could’ve ended with Twilight learning her lesson, and that would’ve been enough. But she makes it clear that Twilight wasn’t the only pony at fault. Her friends share equal blame for not taking the right course of action. To quote a line from an old Sonic Underground episode: “You’re part of the problem if you’re not helping solve them.”

Celestia seems impressed that every pony has learnt from the day’s experience. So she makes a deal with them. She’ll forget the fiasco if, from now on, all six of them write her letters on their lessons of friendship – when, and only when, they discover them.

This solution is perfect for two reasons: A) it takes some much-needed pressure off of Twilight, and B) it solves a problem many critics had with the first season. You see, because Twilight was the only pony who could write Celestia letters, she had to be shoehorned into every single episode – even when she wasn’t the primary focus. With this new set-up, however, the writers could keep the spotlight on other characters, without squeezing Twilight in if they didn’t need her.

Before Celestia leaves, Twilight finds out it was Spike who told her she was in trouble and needed some guidance.

I love how Spike was written in this episode. He’s the only character (other than Celestia) who did the right thing. Twilight was too busy panicking to contact the one pony who could’ve assured her nothing was wrong. So, like a true friend, he did it for her. It’s better to express your fears to the person you’re answering to rather than worrying about what they might say or think.

The episode ends with everyone working together to write Celestia a letter. Twilight has learnt not to let her fears get the better of her, or let a small problem turn into something bigger. Her friends have learnt it’s important to listen to others, and consider their feelings when they come to you with a problem. Spike tries writing how great he is and how he didn’t need to learn a lesson but realises he should cross it out. Everyone laughs as the screen fades to black.

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Overall, Lesson Zero is one of my favourite Friendship is Magic episodes. There have been better ones since it aired like Magical Mystery Cure (S3, Ep13), Slice of Life (S5, Ep9) and Crusaders of the Lost Mark (S5, Ep18). But I enjoy how relatable it is.

I don’t think I would’ve done anything differently to Twilight in this episode. In fact, one of the lessons it teaches has had a profound impact on my writing.

When I first started this blog, I tried to write something for it every week. Unfortunately, this proved too stressful because I had other things going on in my life. And I couldn’t always come up with ideas. So I decided to take Princess Celestia’s advice. Now, like Twilight and her friends, I only write when there’s a significant topic I want to discuss, and when I’m able to devote enough time and effort to it. This has allowed me to produce much better content, with the quality and high standards that my readers deserve.

I could tell you more about what Lesson Zero has done for my life. But I can’t do it justice just by talking about it. If you have Autism, or you care for somebody with the condition, then I would seriously recommend giving this episode a watch. Who’s knows, you might like it so much you end up becoming a brony/pegasister yourself, and watch all six seasons of Friendship is Magic – plus the four Equestria Girls movies.

That’s all I have to say for now. I’m sorry it’s taken me forever to finish this post – it’ll probably be a while before there’s another one – but I try to make sure I have the right blend of quality and quantity in my work. If you have any questions, please leave me a comment. I’ll be happy to answer them. And, as always, stay tuned.

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

(Twilight’s sadistic grin: http://orig11.deviantart.net/8150/f/2012/193/1/9/twilight_sparkle___crazy_by_pyschedelicskooma-d56ymme.png)