By the time I release this post, it will be the New Year. And with a new year comes changes. An old WWE promo with Mankind is going through my head. I’m sure there will be plenty of changes for me this coming year. I really hope I get to make some advancements with my writing. But today I want to talk about a time in my life when things really started to change for me. A time when I started school and my Autism really started to affect me. Now I’m thinking of an Equestria Girls special where the human characters become ponies. I just corrected a spelling error there. Although my iPad doesn’t recognise it. Now I’m typing with both hands instead of just Intel – ‘one‘, not ‘Intel‘, auto-correct! I watched Channel 4‘s adaption of The Tiger Who Came to Tea earlier. I think they unintentionally made the tiger quite scary. Anyway, I don’t remember much of what happened between the time we moved to our new house in Welling, Kent and school. I somewhat remember going upstairs to explore and see if there was anybody up there. I do remember I was terrified of being on my own. I’d always get scared at night and had trouble sleeping in my own room. I didn’t even like being downstairs on my own when everyone else was upstairs or vice-versa. I remember when my sister and I started nursery at Hook Land Primary School I was very shy. Every day they would select one of the children to welcome the parents inside to pick up their kids, and I could barely look at them without being embarrassed. There was a boy like that in an after-school club I volunteered for later in later in my life. Nursery was the only time my sister and I were ever in the same classroom. There was never another point in primary or secondary school where we shared a class or even a homeroom. I think schools prefer to keep twins and siblings separate. But there was another pair of twins in our primary school who were almost always in the same classes. Anyway, now I’m thinking of the opening to Jimmy Neutron (the movie) and The Fairly Odd Parents. I still remember the name of my nursery teacher: Mrs Swane. And I think her classroom assistant was called Miss Doettey – or something like that. I also remember there was a girl in our class who was constantly disruptive. I think her name was Michele or Rachel, and she was always getting into trouble for doing things like crawling under tables. I don’t think I ever remember her talking. I do, however, remember she had to leave our class for some reason and she kissed everyone goodbye. It was the most behaved I’d ever seen her. Now that I think about it, I wonder if she might’ve been Autistic too. There are other things I vividly recall; like some of the songs we sang, the games we played, the stories we heard, the activities we did, the Christmas tree we decorated. There was always a bigger one put up in the school hall, which every student helped decorate. And in the rare times it was snowing outside in the field or playground, they would actually stop class to let us go out and play in it. Anyway, I think it was when I moved into reception that my Autism started to gravely effect my behaviour. The teachers must’ve known I had it because this was the earliest time I remember having TA support. I’d have several teaching assistants over the years, but the one who stayed with me consistently was a lady called Sue – I don’t know if I ever leaned her surname. Sorry for the pause – I’m recalling the end of Disney Pixar’s Cars when they’re watching car parodies of older Pixar films. Specifically, the one on Monsters Inc. called Monster Trucks Inc. There was also Toy Cars Story. My earliest memories of reception was working on a project based around our field trip to a farm. I wanted to use certain pens for my drawing, but the felt-tips were only for the teacher to use. I think I was so worked-up about it that I wasted all my time complaining and just didn’t draw at all. But it gets worse. Apparently, I was so easily distracted back then I’d sometimes notice a pigeon outside and try to go out after it. In later years, I spat, scratched, was very spiteful, and one time I punched another boy some many times he started bleeding. I set the fire alarm off once – though it wasn’t completely intentional. I’d pee outside behind some bushes – where no one could see me – because I was afraid of going into the boys’ toilets. And then there’s my worst primary school memory. Every now and again the teachers would put on a video for the infants in the school hallway. We’d already watched the whole thing once – I think I might have been an episode of Thundercats – but for some reason they put it on again. And then they stopped it halfway through and I wasn’t happy. In fact, I got so angry that I got up from the floor, ran down the hallway screaming, through some double-doors to the centre of the school, almost ran into some people and then ran back. I’d made such a scene that my parents were called, and I had to be collected from school and taken home. As you can tell, I was a little nightmare. Hang on, I’m thinking of Disney’s Sleeping Beauty and Bambi. And Arthur Christmas. Looking back on it now, I am rather ashamed of how I acted. My Autism just magnified my emotions and made it difficult to read certain situations. There were even cases where my Autism resulted in me getting in trouble at swimming and gym lessons. I will say, though, my teachers had a very good method for teaching me about my bad behaviour; I wasn’t just sent to the head teacher all of the time. If I misbehaved too much in class, they’d write my name on the board. If it got written up there three times then I wouldn’t be allowed to play on my computer at home – which was my favourite thing to do. You might think doing something like this is a little extreme or humiliating. After all – hang on, I’m remembering Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer: The Movie. After all, writing a child’s name up for the whole class to see how naughty they are might be considered singling them out. But to be honest, I didn’t take much notice of what others thought. All I was worried about was making sure I didn’t get three names up there and lose my chance to do what I loved. True, I did lie to my mum somethings about how many names I got. And maybe there were one or two loopholes I found – I couldn’t use the computer, but I still had my Game Boy. However, this method did help me immensely with improving my behaviour over the years. I think later on in the juniors, I might’ve stopped getting names on the board because I was improving so well. I’m thinking of Disney’s The Little Mermaid II – a direct-to-video sequel they released. I also remember one year the Year 6s took on the teachers in a football match. Now I’m thinking of episodes of Mona the Vampire. Anyway, I think if you want to help a young child with Autism improve in school, a method like the one I was given really helps them to think about their actions. Plus, I had mostly the same teaching assistants help me through my many years of primary school. If they have something familiar to latch onto and see them through the major changes in their lives they’ll feel more confident in moving forward. I think what triggered some of my early Autistic outbursts was that everything around me was changing so much. And there were many things I couldn’t wrap my head around. Simple things like having one-to-one support can make all the difference. I wouldn’t say all of my problems were immediately solved. There were still others I had to deal with like bullying, playing and working by myself, and continued bad behaviour. But I would’ve been a lot worse off if it wasn’t for what my teachers did for me. I’m only just realising how much I’ve written at this point. I’ve been very focused on what I’m saying without many thoughts interrupting. Although, saying that I’m now thinking of Disney’s Hercules. I’m almost at 1500 words now. So I’ll continue talking about my later primary school years in a later post. Until then I hope you have a wonderful New Year. Wow – exactly 1500 words!
Tag: Time
Into my Autistic Mind: Show Week Looms
I had wanted to write something else for this month. But work and rehearsals have kept me constantly busy. So here’s another edition of Into My Autistic Mind. This one shows my unfiltered thoughts before one of my rehearsals.
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Let’s see what I can write in an hour. I typed ‘u’ instead of ‘I’. Now I’m thinking of the Pink Panther movie with Steve Martin and Wreck-It Ralph – which I watched last night. I’m planning on watching the sequel soon because I bought it recently. I’m thinking of some ‘Equestria Girls’ animations now. But I’m not talking about the topic I want to. What I want to talk about is how I’m feeling about my upcoming show at the Orchard Theatre: Footloose. I play Lyle; one of Chuck Cranston’s cronies. I got to write my own actor’s profile for the program. This will be the first time I’ve performed at the Orchard Theatre in a while. I’m still thinking of Wreck-It Ralph and Equestria Girls. Anyway, I’ve been doing shows at Heathfield Hall in Dartford for a while and they’ve been fine. I even got to play Bob Cratchit in A Christmas Carol. Now I’m thinking of An All Dogs Christmas Carol. I’ve got to be honest, though, I’m not feeling very confident about this show. I feel this way whenever show week approaches. I don’t know, for whatever reason I’m not as invested as I normally am. Don’t get me wrong, I’m excited to be in Footloose and I love performing. It’s just this one feels different. Maybe it’s because I haven’t seen the movie. Or because I don’t get to do a lot of acting. Or because the dance numbers are some of the most complex I’ve had to remember. But for whatever – hang on I’m repeating myself. And I’ve just had to add a word I missed out in a previous sentence. It’s been tricky learning the dance numbers. I’ve got that Celebration song in my head because it was in Wreck-It Ralph. “Celebrate good times, come on!” Footloose by name, footloose by nature. I know all the moves in the dance numbers, it’s just executing them right. And timing things perfectly. And remembering to sing the right lyrics while doing so. Specifically, there are two numbers I’m struggling with. The first is The Girl Gets Around because we haven’t had a chance to practise it with everyone a lot – absences cause major problems like this. The second is Still Rockin‘ because there’s a lot of precise choreography and singing. It’s a lot to take in for an Autistic mind like mine. For some reason I’m remembering a random Nickelodeon advert where they’re advertising two episodes of Mr. Bean back to back every day. I’ve just corrected some spelling mistakes. As I’m typing this my dinner is in the oven: sausages. I need to turn them over and put some pasta on, too. Then I have to eat it in time to leave and get to the hall. We’re having our first full run-through tonight and some of us like to get there early to practise and get our props ready. I’m randomly thinking of scenes from Elf. I’m sure things will come together in the end. It always does whenever I do a show. Maybe not everything goes exactly well. But you know what they say: “nothing can go wrong as long as it’s live.” If you make a mistake when it’s live, you meant to do that. It was WWE Chairman Vince McMahon who said those words. I’m thinking of a random wrestling segment now. I’d rather not say what it is. I’d also rather not repeat myself with some these sentences and their wording. The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie video game is going through my head now, and an episode of the show, and an old advert for the breakfast cereal Sporties. I’d still like things to go well with the show. I just took a little break there. I always say to myself when things aren’t going well in rehearsals that “we’ll get there” – like Michael Jackson did when rehearsing This Is It. We always do in the end. It seemed like yesterday we had four months to go before show week. Now it’s less than three weeks and I still don’t feel entirely ready. I also haven’t been able to rehearse in my own time as much as I’d like. Maybe it’s because I thought I’d have more time or wanted to finish something else sooner. Or maybe I’ve just gotten lazy. In any case things haven’t come together like they usually do. Not helping is the fact that I’m constantly working 7-10 hour shifts. Sometimes I finish work and go directly to rehearsals. It adds up to around 12+ hours of working a day and I just want a chance to relax. But instead I’m rushing to bed because I’ve got to get up early for work the next day. As you can imagine it’s difficult finding time to rehearse when you’re already run down. For some reason I’m thinking of old episode of ‘Pingu’. My mum used to love watching that with its claymation style. There have been many famous claymation movies like The Adventures of Mark Twain – the only film that’s made of 100% clay. And then there’s that controversial scene with the Mysterious Stranger. Look it up on YouTube if you want to see what I mean. More distractions are coming into my head, but I’m going to choose to ignore them. My dinner smells like its coming along nicely. It doesn’t help when I want to rehearse but I’m tired. And if I work multiple days and long hours it’s even harder. This week I’m working for five days. Today was only 6 hours long. But the others will be 14:00-23:00 Tuesday and Wednesday, and 10:00-19:00 Friday and Saturday. I can’t rehearse all day on Thursday either because I’ll be introducing someone to my sister in the late afternoon. I’ll have to see where my performance goes in Footloose. I’m sure I’ll be able to fix things up in the two numbers, and more, in time. We’ve even been given some extra rehearsal dates. I’m sorry I’ve had to do another one of these. I had wanted to write an article or review in this 2-month period, but I just haven’t been able to with everything else that’s been going on. Hopefully, I’ll have something better next time. Speak to you all again soon.
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.)
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.
*
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)
Update January 24th: A Great New Year so Far
Hello everybody, this is George Harvey (aka ‘The Autistic Blogger), with my first update of the new year.
2016 has been going great for me so far. I haven’t managed to find a full-time job just yet, but my part-time work at ASDA has been earning me enough money to keep me going. Plus, I’m doing all sorts of writing in my spare time in addition to this blog.
Last week HighlightNation uploaded another of my wrestling articles to their website, which talks about WWE’s latest ‘Royal Rumble’ pay-per-view (2016). If you’re interested in seeing it all you have to do is visit HighlightNation.com and search ‘George Harvey’. There you’ll be able to read all the articles I’ve written for them so far. The people behind HighlightNation are really dedicated to music and wrestling, and they’ve even been generous enough to post a link to this blog in the past, so definitely check them out.
Something else I’ve been writing a lot of lately are Amazon reviews. For the past two years, I’ve written all sorts of customer reviews for animes, books, DVDs and games. There’s even a couple I’ve rewritten slightly and uploaded to this blog – ‘Lily Alone’ and ‘Kiki’s Delivery Service’. Very soon now I’ll be reaching an impressive milestone when I post my 50th Amazon review overall. This could mark the beginning of a change for me because, although I enjoy writing reviews, I often spend too long on them and I never have the time to write more important things. It’s hard for me to accept, but I’ve come to realise I can’t review everything I see – if I do I’ll never be able to move forward. I’m thinking once I’ve uploaded my 50th review I’ll post a link to my Amazon profile, so you can all see some of the work I’ve done over the last two years. After that, I’ll only occasionally review Jacqueline Wilson books, the rest of the ‘Dork Diaries’ series and anything else I think has significant meaning to it. I may also go back to my original idea of creating a separate blog to post my reviews on, but we’ll just have to wait and see.
Speaking of reviews, I should hopefully have another one on this blog very soon. I’ve been saying for a while now that I’ve wanted to review Jacqueline Wilson’s book, ‘Lola Rose’ (2003). After much delay, I’ve finally gotten round to reading it and I’m already starting to make some notes. I just need time to finish the book, write up the review and edit it before I can upload it to this site – and Amazon. It should be an interesting book to talk about since it touches on personal issues like domestic violence and cancer. I’m also planning a couple more reviews to write in the future including an anime movie, part of an anime series and an episode of a TV show – the latter of which, I think, touches on Autism.
One last thing I want to mention is the work I’ve been doing for ‘Ambitious about Autism’. I didn’t get the chance to mention this before, but early last December I had the opportunity to visit the Palace of Westminster and talk to local MPs about Autism and unemployment. I even gave part of a presentation which talked about some of my personal experiences and raised my concerns about careers guidance. The day was a great success and now on February 2nd we’re hosting an event called ‘Employ Autism’ (11:00am: Santander UK plc. Registered Office: 2 Triton Square, Regent’s Place, London, NW1 3AN). Our aim is to create discussions between employers and people with Autism so more of the latter will have a better chance of finding employment. It should be a very beneficial day.
That’s it for this update. If you have any questions then please leave me a comment – I’ll be happy to answer them for you. And, as always, keep an eye out for the next post. Stay tuned.
College Years (Part 2)
When I first found out I’d been accepted onto the Professional Writing course, I felt really proud of myself.
My parents were proud, too. They’d been told for years that I’d never be able to attend College, because of the severity of my Autism. Even the people who diagnosed me thought it would be impossible. However, those same people thought I’d never attend public school either. Yet I spent 8 years at Hook Lane Primary – not in a private school.
My sister and I were the first in our family to attend College at 18, and I was eager to prove myself. But I knew getting into North (West) Kent was just the beginning.
My first real taste of College life came when I went to register my personal details at the campus. On that day I was both nervous and hopeful; nervous because I had to fill out important information about myself without any help, but hopeful because I’d be meeting my fellow students for the first time.
I’ve said before that my later years in Secondary School weren’t the best of my life. I felt depressed and isolated because I didn’t have many friends, and I rarely socialised with anybody. To me, College was about more than just improving my writing skills. I also saw it as an opportunity to make a fresh start. I really hoped that the course would allow me to make new friends – ones who I could relate to.
When I first met my fellow writing students I was a bit surprised. I’d forgotten College wasn’t just for Secondary School graduates, so I expected everyone to be the same age as me. But it turned out I was the youngest in a group that ranged from 18-year-olds to over 50s. This concerned me at first, because I thought it would cause social barriers. Fortunately, this wasn’t the case. Being a small group, it was a lot easier to get acquainted with everyone. And before long we were speaking to each other about our dreams and aspirations as if age didn’t matter.
Everyone had their own backgrounds, but one thing we all shared in common was a passion for writing. Over the next two years, we became a lot closer through helping each other with assignments. We even had our own Facebook page so we could always stay in touch. Having such a close bond proved to be very beneficial for all of us. There were times when someone would suffer personal problems and consider quitting the course, but everyone else would offer their support and convince that person otherwise.
Being a part of this small group proved especially beneficial to me and my social skills. In Secondary School I’d never been to a friend’s house or done anything with them outside a classroom. In College however, not only was I talking a lot more, I was meeting people for lunch, doing Secret Santas with them, attending birthdays, visiting friends houses to watch wrestling, etc.
But my friends weren’t the only ones that made College life more bearable. I also had my tutors.
In my first year, I had two tutors: Neil Nixon who taught ‘Creative Non-fiction’, ‘Research for Writers’, and other subjects on Mondays and Wednesdays; and Michael Ellis who taught ‘Forms of Writing’ on Thursdays.
Neil was an experienced author who’d published a book called ‘How to Get a Break as a Writer’ (2011). He taught me that there was more to being an author than just writing something and trying to find a publisher for it. You also had to find your own writer’s identity and obtain recognition from the right sorts of people (e.g. agents, charities, publishers, libraries, etc). It’s because of him that I discovered my writer’s identity was being an Autism advocate; by writing about my personal experiences with the condition, I could raise awareness of it’s effects and help make a difference in other people’s lives. It’s also what encouraged me to become a volunteer book-picker at the Dartford Library.
Mike Ellis was a bit different from Neil. He had experience in many fields of writing including books, screenplays and TV adverts. He taught me there always needs to be a strong meaning/metaphor behind your writing. Every line you write, or scene you show, has to contribute to a much deeper story than the one your audience sees/reads. For instance, the film ‘Misery’ (1990) might seem like another horror movie, but the screenplay actually explores the idea: ‘What if’ someone couldn’t trust their mother. Ever since then, I’ve always thought of ‘Implicit Messages’ to go along with my story ideas. I’ve also used other techniques such as ‘Internal Dynamics’ and ‘Motifs’, which have made my fiction writing a lot easier.
In the second year I was taught by two more tutors in addition to Mike and Neil. They were: Andy Sayers, who taught ‘Electronic Applications’, and Graham Gladin, who taught ‘The Art of the Novel’ – both on Tuesdays.
Andy was experienced in IT and occasionally hosted Miskin Radio – North Kent College’s radio station. From him, I learnt how new technology was changing the way writers got their work recognised (e.g. podcasts, blogs, social media, online articles, etc). I also learnt how different it was to write something you read to yourself and something you read aloud to other people. Almost every week my classmates and I would research the local news, write a script and then speak about it on Miskin Radio the next day. It’s partly thanks to Andy that I have this blog and why I’m so good with presentations / public speaking.
As for Graham, he taught me things the other tutors didn’t, like the workings of a graphic novel and how fictional accounts could have an impact on society. This encouraged me to continue my dream of becoming a novelist – my writer’s identity could be used in this field too.
One thing was for sure. Whether I had two tutors or four, I knew I could always rely on them. They understood my Autism caused me problems sometimes, so they were on hand to help me if I was struggling – having your tutor’s email address is always an advantage if you want to avoid feeling stress or pressure in College. All of my tutors were friendly and memorable in their own way. I especially remember Mike and Neil, because Mike was known for liking Jaffa Cakes, and he and Neil had their own catchphrases: “one more time for luck,” and “it’s been emotional,” respectively.
By the end of my second year I felt so close to my tutors and fellow students that I decided to make our group photo the header of this blog (see above). From left to right the people photographed are Emily Bennet (out of shot, see Home Page version); Emma Cooper; Jane Stevenson; Lianna Magnus (crouched); Harpinda Thind; Graham Gladin (crouched); Katherine Kane (pictured); me; Neil Nixon; Thomas Lander (crouched); Scott Barker and Paul Davis.
Overall, my experiences in College were rather mixed: I didn’t have to live on campus – like I thought I would – but I still had to wake up early and travel in on two different buses; I was only in three days a week, but the amount of work I had to do kept me busy almost every day; I understood my assignments most of the time, but I’d always get stressed if I thought I was doing something wrong; my perfectionism allowed me to do well in tasks, but it always took me longer to complete them – especially when I had travelling, driving lessons and other work experience alongside my studies. It was a big problem when my tasks had to be done within a week or a couple of days.
In the beginning, I honestly wasn’t sure if I could handle the pressures of College. Mike noticed me felling this way and asked if I was happy doing the course – I hesitated when I answered, yes. But as time went on, I learnt to deal with things a lot better. And, by staying on the course, I achieved many things I never would have by myself. An article I’d written on Autism was published in an NAS magazine (my first ever publication); I contributed to a book called ‘Successful Studying’ (2013); one of my tasks inspired me to write a children’s book series and I even got advice from Jacqueline Wilson (via email). Plus, our Professional Writing group was the first where none of the students quit the course before finishing and our grades were higher than any of the previous years.
When the second year was done we had an ‘End of Year Show’ where everybody presented something to express how much they’d learnt. Much like this blog, I decided to put together a presentation telling everybody about what I’d been through since Primary School and what my hopes were for the future – it was very well-received.
Little did I know the end of College meant the beginning of a new life at Greenwich University – the most stressful, yet rewarding 24 weeks of my life.
(To Be Continued)
I hope you enjoyed this post. If so then please feel free to check out some of the other material I’ve written for this blog – especially the previous parts on my Primary and Secondary School experiences. If you have any questions then leave me a comment – I’ll be happy to answer them. And, as always, keep an eye out for the next post. Stay tuned.
Update September 8th: A new posting schedule (again)
Hello Internet, this is George Harvey (aka ‘The Autistic Blogger’), here with another quick update to my blog.
Things have been quite hectic for me this past month. It’s been one thing after another to the point where I’m starting to feel like I’m back at University again. I don’t officially graduate until October, but that hasn’t stopped me being busy. I’ve had overtime at work, a car to maintain, appointments to arrange, and writing tasks to completed for other people – you may’ve noticed some of my recent posts are copies of those tasks. Not to mention I’ve got things coming up like a holiday, and a trip to the Houses of Parliament with ‘Ambitious about Autism’ – where we’ll be discussing Autism and employability with MPs.
Anyway, because I have a lot on my mind these days, it feels like I barely have the time to focus on any of my personal writing projects. I always want to do a good job with my writing (including my blog posts), but sometimes everything else makes me tired and I produce sloppier results than I’d like to. I’ve also been reminded there are certain things I need to prioritise in my life more than others – like finding a full-time job. It’s hard to accept, but I know it’s all a part of moving forward.
Since I want this blog to be the best it can be, with quality material (and not just multiple instalments of ‘Into my Autistic Mind’), I’ve decided to change my posting schedule, yet again.
For the time being at least, I will only upload posts when I’m able to complete them. I think this is the best course of action for now, because it will allow me time to write to the best of my ability and I won’t need to upload something bad, just because I need something new every week. This will also give me time to think of new ideas for this blog, before the ones I have now run out. Hey, it could happen.
So just to make it clear: this is NOT a hiatus. I will still be posting regularly. It’s just that it probably won’t be once a week anymore. Once my life is less disorganised, I’ll be able to come up with a better timetable. Also, I will still post updates on Facebook and LinkedIn, so you know when something new is up. I just feel that everyone who visits my blog should receive the best of my writing abilities and that’s exactly what I intend to achieve with my new schedule. I hope you will continue to support me and everyone else I’ve mentioned in previous posts, who work hard to raising awareness of Autism. Stay tuned.
Into My Autistic Mind 3
This is my third instalment of ‘Into My Autistic Mind’. Enjoy.
Gosh what a day. What a week. I hope my viewers don’t mind me doing another ‘Into My Autistic Mind’. I wanted to write something else today, but so many things happened that I just couldn’t find the time to do it. Let’s just say I’m job-searching and I’m getting a lot call-backs. It’s almost too much to handle. Of course I want to get a job – who doesn’t. But the closer I get to having the jobs I apply for, the more nervous I get for some reason. I never know how much time it’s going to take me to do everything. There have been times in my life when … well how about that, of all the things to come into my mind right now it’s a scene from ‘My Little Pony’. I actually watched the first ‘Equestria Girls’ movie today. It was quite good. I don’t know why so many Bronies hate it. Well I do, but I don’t see anything seriously wrong with it. The song in the cafeteria scene was so good I kept playing it again and again. I’m also thinking of the direct to video sequel to Disney’s ‘The Little Mermaid’ – the one with Ariel’s daughter. You know, this is why I like my Autistic mind working the way it does sometimes; there are times when things come into my head and I worry so much about them, but remembering the things I love helps calm me. I wasn’t able to do it a lot while I was in university, because my assignments were always on my mind and focusing on them all the time made me sick. Word of advice to everyone: no matter how busy you are, always give yourself time to rest or it will drive you crazy. I’m still thinking of ‘The Little Mermaid 2’. I’m in the living room, right now. Sitting on my brown sofa and I’m still thinking about the song from ‘Equestria Girls’ – you have no idea how hard it is to spell ‘Equestria’ or other words without getting it wrong the first time. Maybe I really shouldn’t have watched the movie this morning. Maybe … Sorry, the ‘Secret Escapes’ hotel advert was on and I heard the creepy whispering it does at the end. Anyway, maybe I should have left ‘Equestia Girls’ for another day, then I could have written at least part of what I wanted to write for my blog today. Oh well, there’s always next week. It’s hard to keep to weekly deadlines. I just really hate having so little time to do things. Even a week isn’t enough sometimes. Back in school, college and university … sorry my stepdad just came home and he’s playing with our dog, Bertie. My mum’s on the other sofa doing school work. She probably gets more tired than me. I have no idea how much my time is going to be taken up in the near future. How will I ever become an author if I never have the time to work on any of my personal writing projects. I have so many ideas in my head, but I just have to get them down on paper. I’m thinking of ‘Spongebob Squarepants’ for some reason – and other Nickelodeon shows. I just checked to see if ‘Nickelodeon’ was a real word – apparently it is. Mum’s still typing on her laptop and I’m thinking of the Disney Channel show ‘Recess’ now. And now the popular ‘Phineas and Ferb’. This may not be the right spelling, but I’m not too fussed right now. The door to our large garden is open to my left and I’m hearing birds. My sister is sitting beside me looking at her phone. I sent off my provisional driving licence today. I’ve past my test and tommorow – excuse me, ‘tomorrow’ – I’m going to be looking on Auto-Trader and GoComapare.com. Or at least I hope I will. I don’t want anything else popping up out of nowhere like it did today. The TV is turned on to the channel ‘More 4’, but I don’t know the name of the programme. I rubbed my hands for a moment there and I just can’t get ‘Equestria Girls’ out of my head. Isn’t it funny how you always have one persisting thought that keeps coming into your head over and over. I do think of other things. I see a fly on the floor not too far from where my foot is. Now I’m thinking of a ‘Doctor Who’ episode where Sarah-Jane Smith (Elizabeth Sladen) and K-9 came back. I can’t seem to remember the name of the man who played Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart. One problem I have with typing on my iPad is instead of hitting ‘m’ I sometimes it hit ‘,’ – the key beside it. Hey, now I’m thinking of really old CBBC shows like ‘William Wish Wellingtons’, ‘Oakey Doke’, ‘Bodger and Badger’, ‘Super Ted’, ‘Banana Man’ and more. But as I was trying to say earlier, when I was in school, college and university I felt I always needed at least two weeks to do any task. Then I knew I could do it in time. One of my biggest fears is never having the time to do everything. Time management is hard sometimes, especially if you have more than one job and a blog. I really hope everyone is enjoying my posts as much as I like writing them. The ‘m’ and ‘,’ problem just happened again. I don’t know why I feel I should let everyone know I enjoy reading Rachel Renee Russell’s ‘Dork Diaries’ series. I just find it to be very funny and entertaining. I hope the books I write one day will be best-sellers like hers. I probably shouldn’t write for too long, otherwise I’m going to have too many tags to attach. I’m glad this blog post didn’t end up sounding negative like I worried it would. I’m thinking of one more scene from ‘Doctor Who’ with Tom Baker offering a skull a Jelly Baby. “Would you like a Jelly Baby?” he says. “No, I don’t suppose you would.” I’m sure I’ll have what I wanted to write this week up next week.
If you enjoyed this very long paragraph of my unfiltered Autistic thoughts, then check out my other instalments of ‘Into my Autistic Mind’. Also have a look at some of the other things I’ve written for this blog. Leave me a comment if you have any questions – I’ll be happy to answer them – and, as always, keep an eye out for the next post. Stay tuned.
The Autistic Blogger 
