MOVIE REVIEW- Peter Rabbit

I’ve been kinda sick this past week, so I’ve been vegging out in my bed since like Thursday. Today, I was feeling a little better (at least, I didn’t feel like my chest was on fire and my head was going to explode) and I felt like getting out of the apartment. I decided to head to the cheap theater near my apartment and check out Peter Rabbit.

I’ll be honest, when I first saw the trailer for this, I was like “oh, it’s gonna be one of those movies.” You know, high in slapstick, not a lot of plot, aimed directly at kids with a lot of stupid jokes (butt/fart jokes, “modern lingo”, etc.), and more focus on high-paced action/animation to get the kids’s attention than anything else. I was definitely getting like Garfield and Alvin and the Chipmunks vibes from the trailer. Despite my initial analysis, I still kind of wanted to check it out eventually. I certainly didn’t want to pay full price and I wasn’t even sure if I’d see in in the cheap theater. I just figured I’d get around to it one day. (The one thing I am truly ashamed of is that I am seeing this movie before Black Panther! What have I become?)

Well, today was that day. So, was it the total throwaway kids film I initially thought it would be?

Well... yes and no. 

It definitely had a lot of slapstick and a very simple plot with a sort of convoluted moral and lots of cliches (very “kids movie”-like). However, the jokes were actually a lot more solid than I expected. I wouldn’t quite call them all “sophisticated”, but there were actually some pretty well thought-out jokes in there. They didn’t blindly go for the butt jokes or toilet humor. There were hardly any “modern” references in an effort to “be cool” and “make a connection” with the young crowd. In other words, it wasn’t cringey and dating itself. There were a couple pop culture references, but not a ton and nothing all that cringey or over the top.

To be honest, I expected to chuckle a bit, roll my eyes a lot, and smirk at other parts, then just maybe get one big laugh at one or two points. To my surprise, I was laughing through the majority of it. Like, legitimately laughing out loud (it was really kicking up my cough in the theater). It was definitely on my level of humor (and when I say that, I mean my immature side). It may have been a personal preference, because I’ve always enjoyed slapstick, but the thing with slapstick is that it’s shockingly difficult to get right. It’s more than just falling on your rear and making a funny face, it’s all about  perfect timing and reactions. 

A lot of kids films go for slapstick because its the “easy” humor that most people find funny. But the thing is, they never quite get it right; it’s always so standard and it feels like something is off. It’s just never that funny. 

However, I think that this movie really hit the nail on the head with its physical humor. It really got back to the basics, but they were done in just the right way that it got me almost every time. On the downside, quite often the joke would be repeated so many times that it would stop being funny (for example, Mr. McGregor gets shocked by the electric fence and it's actually really funny, but then it happens again and again and again; and with each time, it sort of looses its humor and gets tiring.)

But as I said earlier, it was more than just the slapstick; a lot of the jokes were legitimately funny. I kept cracking up at the running joke with the rooster crowing in the morning (that was probably my favorite joke in the movie). I also really liked, the other running joke about Mr. McGregor always coming back to life. The thing is with most of the jokes was that you would see a lot of them coming, but they were still funny. 

I also appreciated the little fourth wall breaks where the characters would criticize proper story writing and character development (but that’s just me because that’s what I study).

Of course, there were some dumb moments too, don’t get me wrong, but overall, I found it legitimately hilarious.

But enough on the humor. Was there anything else of merit? Well, it was very aesthetically pleasing. I loved the color pallet of the entire movie. Not to mention the costumes and the sets. I just really liked the look of the film. It makes me want to go to the English countryside now.
I have to talk about how realistic the animation on the rabbits were too. I don't really have much to say except for I was impressed. They weren't super cartoony or anything, they looked like actual anthropomorphic rabbits.

I also thought that the characters were surprisingly well written. The plot was a little convoluted and cliche at times, but I really liked how the characters were written. I liked that the antagonist wasn’t really a “bad guy”, he was just pushed to his limit and did bad things. Then Peter and his friends all had their issues that they had to work through which clashed with Mr. McGregor. They all remained very consistent too which isn’t always seen in kids movies where often times they’ll do weird things out of character in order to fit the plot. I applaud this movie for simple, but still enjoyable characters. 
I really appreciated that the human characters weren't glossed over and one-dimensional like they tend to be in these types of movies. They were actually quite interesting and at times, I was almost more invested in them than the rabbits. I thought Domhnall Gleeson in particular actually did a very good job with his character. He did more than just react to the whacky stuff going on around him, but actually made him interesting (although, why did he hate rabbits so much? It was never really answered.)

Granted, there were a few strange things. Like what was the moral? “Lying and manipulating your loved ones is wrong”? “You need to share your love with others even if you don’t like them”? “Don’t be selfish”? I’m not really sure. 

It had a “liar reveal” story which is always a drag if not done well (and I don’t think it really was here. It wasn’t done badly, but just the fact that it was there was a drag.). 

And could the rabbits talk? If they couldn’t actually talk, then why could they do all those crazy things and understand the humans? I don’t know. It got a little weird and confusing at times, but whatever.

Also, it got really dark at some points. Like SUPER dark. I mean (kinda SPOILER alert? but I think its in the book), you see the old Mr. McGregor straight up murder their dad with a hoe and put him in a pie. Like, dang! And that's not the only moment, there were a couple parts scattered throughout that are just a sudden 180 on the tone of the movie and you're like "holy geez! What am I watching?"

So to sum up, the movie surprised me with how funny it was, I found it quite enjoyable, it was moderately written, there were some weird parts, but overall I thought it was a good watch. It certainly exceeded my expectations (though, to be fair, they were not very high). I don’t regret seeing it and I wouldn’t mind seeing it again (though I probably wouldn’t pay money for it). I could see it becoming one of my guilty pleasure movies like Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs. Kind of stupid and weird, but I find it endearing and hilarious (also based on one of my childhood books). 

In the end, I’d give it a 6.5/10.

TRAILER

Zuko: A Honorable Redemption

I cannot believe it’s taken me this long to talk about Avatar: The Last Airbender because it is seriously one of the best shows ever written. I am not even exaggerating. I have read a lot of books, seen a lot of TV shows, watched a lot of movies, but I have rarely seen a story so flawlessly executed with characters so well-developed, and such extraordinary world-building. Now, the only things I can think of that come close are Harry Potter, Star Wars, and Lord of the Rings, but all three of these things fall short in some category. Lord of the Rings excels at world-building with all the different cultures, legends, magic, government, even entirely new languages; but it is not exceedingly strong with all its characters (that is to say, some characters get more attention than others and there are just SO MANY that you tend to lose track). Star Wars has excellent world-building and character development, but it tends to be a little inconsistent sometimes and there’s a lot open to interpretation. Harry Potter, in my opinion, is the closest to perfection I have seen when it comes to world-building, character-development, and satisfying conclusions to buildup. It falters slightly at some points when it comes to plot; there are a few things left open or unsatisfied.

However, I have to say that Avatar: The Last Airbender has got to be even better than Harry Potter when it comes to all those things. Now, I am not necessarily saying that it is better than all those books/shows I listed above (because they are all different genres and styles and everyone has their own taste), but I am saying it is a near perfect story with a flawless execution and characters.

I was debating on what exactly I should focus on for this post-- the show as a whole, a specific character, an episode, a particular aspect of the show such as bending-- but then it became very clear. There are lots of interesting and post-worthy things in the show, but easily the most standout thing has to be the character Prince Zuko. If you have seen the show, you’ll know exactly why I’ve decided to focus on him. He is universally agreed upon to be the most compelling character in the series. I have NEVER seen a character arc so amazingly executed as his. I intend to explain why he is so fascinating and how other writers should take note.

First, briefly, for those who are unfamiliar with the show, I will give a quick overview of the plot:

It takes place in a world that revolves around the four elements: water, earth, fire, and air; different nations/tribes/kingdoms are built around each of them. Certain people can control the elements, they’re known as “benders.” But there is only one person in the entire world who can bend all four elements who is known as the Avatar. It is the Avatar’s job to maintain peace, harmony, and balance in the world. Whenever the Avatar dies, they are reborn into the next nation in the cycle (so if they were a water bender, they would become an earth bender next).

The show begins when the Fire Nation attacks the rest of the world and basically dominates every nation in a Nazi-like regime. The Avatar is the only one who can stop them, but he has disappeared.

One day, two kids from the Southern Water Tribe discovers a kid frozen in an ice burg, an air bender, and realize that he is the Avatar. He has been frozen there for the past 100 years. They accompany him around the world as he masters the other elements-- water, earth, and fire-- while avoiding the Fire Nation army who wants to capture him, particularly one banished prince who is out to regain his honor.

And that is just the tip of the ice burg (no pun intended). 

I guess at this point I should put up a SPOILER WARNING if anyone hasn’t seen the show and intends to. Believe me, it is a super intense and well-done show. At first it seems kind of average, but by the time you get like 3/4 through the first season, you’ll realize that there’s a lot more to it than you realized. And it just gets better and better with each episode. The second season is awesome, and the third and final season is just plain EPIC!!!

Anyways, you have been warned, proceed at your own risk.

Prince Zuko of the Fire Nation

I mentioned in the summary above a banished prince from the Fire Nation. That is Zuko. He is by far the most compelling character in the show (and, in my opinion, one of the most compelling characters ever written). I intend to dive into why this is.

A summation of why I think he is so interesting is that he discovers his own honor and respect of everyone around him through great trial and tribulation. He at first thinks that honor is something that can be given to him when in fact that it is something that is earned. Throughout the entire series, beginning with the very first episode, he is on a journey of self-discovery. To add to this, he is very complex and contradicting. On one hand, he is antagonizing towards the heroes of the story, but he also has many attributes that make him sympathetic and relatable, definitely more so than the other antagonists. At the core, he is not evil. His goals simply clash with the protagonists.

He is both a round character and a dynamic character. I have been writing a report for a class about dynamic and round characters, so I’ve been doing a lot of research on the subject. A dynamic character is someone who goes through a major change through the story. This could be a change in his/her personality, a change in his/her outlook on life, a change in his/her overall nature, or they could learn something about themselves, other people, or the world they live in. Dynamic is not the same as round. A rounded character is anyone who has a complex and interesting personality. Round characters are often portrayed as conflicted and contradictory. Even the most minor characters can be round. However, usually the central characters are the dynamic ones because they are most affected by the resolving conflict of the story.

Zuko is both. He has a fleshed-out, fascinating, contradicting personality (in other words, he is a round character). He is also very changed by the story, each choice he makes, everything that happens to him ultimately affects the person he becomes in the end. He is not the same person at the beginning of the series as he is at the end. Most of the main characters in the show are dynamic as well, but none go through such a drastic change as Zuko does. It is such a gradual, natural change too. Every step and every choice he makes is perfect logical and fits his character in that moment.

From the very beginning, he was never a “bad” person, simply misguided and confused. He wants only one thing out of life: to be accepted and to regain his honor. By seeking honor, he is seeking respect. The very definition of honor as defined by Merriam-Webster is “usually merited respect.” This is not a bad thing to want like unlimited power, ruling the world, or any of the other things the other antagonists in the show want. He simply goes about it in the wrong way and is not sure how to actually obtain that “honor.”

By dividing his life into sections, his journey of self-discovery becomes more evident.

1) The Innocent

Zuko was the oldest child and only son of Firelord Ozai, the ruler of the Fire Nation and current instigator of the Hundred Years War throughout the world. As seen in the episode "Zuko Alone" Zuko had a fairly happy childhood with the exception of his sister’s bullying. He was mostly unaware of the extent of his nation’s negative impact on the rest of the world thanks to his mother’s sheltering. He knew there was a war and that his nation was the cause, but he did not know how truly awful it was. Because of this, he grew up happy and even gentle. Then, as a result of this, his father looked down on him next to his much more aggressive sister who was naturally talented at fire bending and strategizing. 

At this time period, the Fire Benders used anger and rage as their primary source of bending and since Zuko was more gentle and caring, bending came as more of a challenge to him. However, as he notes later in life, the fact that he had to struggle made him stronger. It made him a fighter and he never gave up. “I don't need luck, though. I don't want it. I've always had to struggle and fight and that's made me strong. It's made me who I am” (episode "The Siege of the North, Part 2"). This is part of what makes him so interesting; he constantly gets knocked down, but he always gets back up again.

2) The Fall

After he lost his mother, things began to change. He began to see the world as it really was, but never so clearly as the day when he first entered the war council room as seen in the episode "The Storm." As he entered his teenage years, he decided that as heir to the throne, he needed to know more about the war. His uncle reluctantly allowed him to participate which ultimately led to his fall from grace. While inside, Zuko was outraged by the War General’s plan to use Fire Nation recruits as bait, basically lambs to slaughter, and spoke out against him. 

This disgraceful act led to Zuko being challenged to an Agni Kai (a fire duel). Zuko accepted, assuming he would face the War General. However, as he entered the ring, he found he was facing his father, the Firelord. Shocked and horrified, Zuko begged for forgiveness and mercy, but his father would have none of it. After reprimanding him for his disrespect, weakness, and cowardice, he burned half his face off and then banished him.

This important moment in Zuko’s life shows his humility and love for a cold, cruel father. It also displays what an honorable core he actually has with his gesture of refusing to fight in an effort to pacify his father. However, Zuko is still thinking a little selfishly here because he wants to remain in his comfortable home and not get cast out. 
Of course, the fall is key in any great journey.

3) The Antagonist

The series picks up three years after Zuko’s banishment. He has been tasked with capturing the Avatar and only then will he be accepted back into his father’s court. An impossible task it seems at first until suddenly, Aang (the Avatar) appears out of nowhere in the South Pole. Zuko immediately becomes obsessed with catching him and pursues him all over the world, constantly foiling their plans and getting in the way.

He is completely obsessed with the idea that if he brings back the Avatar, his father will give him back his honor. He has a very mixed up notion that honor is something that can be given and taken away. He feels so disgraced after what happened during the Agni Kai with the Firelord and he thinks his father somehow took away his honor in that moment. Now he believes that only his father can give it back to him; so by doing his will and pleasing him, that is how he can gain it back. Therefore, he is not necessarily trying to be evil or bad, he is only trying to fulfill his own goal so that things can go back to normal. He just wants to be happy again like when he was the Innocent. 

He becomes a very angry and brooding person, living in his own delusion that his father will accept him back and things can go back to normal. His firebending skills grow because of all his growing anger and he becomes an ever-threatening presence to the Avatar and his friends. 

However, underneath all the rage, he is still the same good-hearted, gentle person he was as a youth. This is displayed in a moment when he confronts another fire bender, Commander Zhao in an Agni Kai in the episode "The Southern Air Temple." Zuko defeats him, but spares his life. This shows how determined he is and how much he has grown through the years. He used to struggle with firebending, but has managed to defeat a war general. Also, by sparing his life, it shows how he still values human life and has compassion even on his enemies.

Then, despite Zuko’s mercy, in a fit of anger, Zhao attacks him while his back is turned, but Zuko is saved by his Uncle Iroh. Iroh states plainly “my nephew is more honorable than you.” This quote is a first clue to Zuko’s true personality. He comes across as angsty and antagonizing, but deep down, he has a good heart.

Even later, when he fights with Zhao again in the Northern Water Tribe during the episode "The Siege of the North, Part 2" and Zhao is suddenly attacked by the Ocean Spirit, Zuko forgets the duel and tries to save his life. Throughout the entire season, Zhao has been an even worse antagonist to the heroes than Zuko and has even been an antagonist to Zuko himself (hence why they’re dueling in that moment). He has be grasping for power, cheating, killing without cause, threatening torture, boasting, stealing, and so much more. However, despite all this, Zuko still tries to save his life. This further iterates the point that at the core, Zuko is not a bad person.

4) The Refugee

After Zuko has time and time again failed to capture the Avatar combined with his uncle’s treasonous behavior, Zuko and Iroh become wanted men. Throughout this time, they travel through the Earth Kingdom undercover with other people who have been forced from their homes by the Fire Nation, ultimately settling in Ba Sing Se, the mightiest Earth city. During this time, Zuko goes through a great transformation that is key to the rest of his development.

While living as a refugee, Zuko sees firsthand what his nation’s cruelty has been inflicting upon the rest of the world. Up until this point, he has only been on the one side, seeing from the Fire Nation’s perspective. He also has only had one goal in mind: capture the Avatar. Now he has a secondary goal: avoid the Fire Nation. His humanity really starts to shine through during this time period.

A particular moment is when, for a brief time, he breaks away from his uncle to live on his own in the episode "Zuko Alone." He spends time in an Earth Kingdom town protecting a family from some bully soldiers and bonding with their young son. He nobly stands up against the soldiers and even fights them when they kidnap the boy to “join” the army. However, despite all this, he is instantly rejected once his identity is revealed. All this is important not just to display his sympathetic and human side, but it also gives Zuko a chance to see the great prejudice against the Fire Nation.

Another moment where Zuko’s more tender side is displayed is in the episode "The Tales of Ba Sing Se" when he and his uncle have settled in Ba Sing Se and a girl asks Zuko on a date. He is forced by his uncle to go and she takes him to her “favorite place”, a fountain where lanterns shine in the water. However, when they get there, the lanterns aren’t lit and she gets really disappointed. Even though he’s supposed to be undercover and in hiding, Zuko takes this opportunity to use his bending to light all the lanterns just to make her happy. If that doesn’t show what a good-hearted person he is deep down, I don’t know what does. It’s just a small thing, but the small things really matter.

Now, for the big important moment. In the episode "Lake Laogai" Zuko is presented with the chance to steal Aang’s flying bison and use it as leverage to capture him. However, with his uncle’s prodding, he decides to set him free instead. This choice comes into such conflict with everything he has stood for for so long that he actually goes through a severe physical reaction as seen in "The Earth King." For so long, the Fire Nation’s morals have been his morals. The Fire Nation would take whatever they could and wiped out entire nations without thought. Even though Zuko was banished from the Fire Nation, up until this point in his life, he still lived a very Fire Nation-like lifestyle. Now, suddenly when confronted with a very critical choice, he made a decision that went against his traditional morals. 

His uncle described this reaction as a metamorphosis. He would emerge a new man; which he does. After he recovers from the sickness, he appears much happier and more content with his new lifestyle. He has gone through a moral transformation, free of his original morality forced upon him by the Fire Nation and his father, now more aware of suffering around him and what true wickedness looks like.

5) The Return

It was not to last though. Even though he went through a moral transformation, he still had to make a transformation of ideals. In the episode "The Crossroads of Destiny" he is tempted by his sister Azula’s offer to return home because he still has the idea that his father can return his honor to him. This is the idea he has been obsessing over since the very first episode (and even before that). He has not yet realized that honor is something you earn for yourself. Thus, he accepts her offer, betrays his uncle, and attacks Aang.

Despite this choice, his moral transformation remains key to the remainder of his character arc. He returns home a different person than when he left. He becomes even more moody and brooding than ever before, nothing ever satisfying him and always feeling restless and uneasy. Even though he gets everything he ever wanted and more-- he is crown prince once again, his father actually talks to him and reveres him as the killer of the Avatar, he has a girlfriend, he fights side-by-side with his sister-- he feels dissatisfied and angry.  

"I'm angry at MYSELF!!!"

It all comes to a head in the episode “The Beach” when his sister and her friends confront him about his moody behavior and ask specifically who he is angry at. It’s not his father, not his uncle, not Azula. He finally breaks down and admits that he is angry at himself. This is an eyeopening moment not just for the audience, but for Zuko. It shows his inner turmoil. He looks at all the mistakes he has made in his life, especially recently, and is tormented by them. He doesn’t know what’s right or wrong anymore and he starts to question everything he thought he knew. It is the moment he really starts to reevaluate his ideals.

To add on to that is when he discovers the truth about his ancestry in the episode "The Avatar and the Firelord"; how he descends from both Firelord Sozin and Avatar Roku. (As a short summary, Firelord Sozin was the Firelord who began the war and Avatar Roku was the Avatar before Aang who tried to stop it, but was killed by Sozin.) 

As Uncle Iroh says of Zuko's lineage, understanding the struggle between his two great-grandfathers can help him better understand the struggle within himself. Evil and good has always been at war inside of him, it is his legacy. It is literally his destiny to find the balance and cleanse the struggle of his ancestors. This further cements his bond to Avatar Aang. Thus, he is further propelled towards joining forces with him. 

6) The Redemption

Then, comes Zuko’s big moment when he finally comes to terms with himself and the world around him. In the episode "The Day of the Black Sun, Part 2" he goes and confronts his father on the day of the solar eclipse (the day when firebending is impossible) and tells him off for basically everything; the war, his abuse of Zuko as a child, his unjust banishment, his warped god complex, and everything. By giving this speech, it is made clear that Zuko has a complete understanding of his past and how it has shaped him into who he is and what he must do. He tells his father that he intends to join the Avatar and help him bring down the Firelord. 

When asked why he doesn’t just kill the Firelord in that moment, Zuko again displays his full understanding of his place in the world by answering that he “knows [his] own destiny.” It is the Avatar’s destiny to kill the Firelord, not Zuko’s. If Zuko were to take out the Firelord, it would be viewed by the world as a son grappling for his father’s power; but if the Avatar were to do it, then it would truly accomplish peace since it is the Avatar’s duty to maintain balance in the world.

Zuko does join the Avatar and after some trial and error concerning trust issues, becomes a valuable ally. However, because of his great transition, his fire bending skills are suddenly shoddy as seen in the episode "The Firebending Masters." Since for so many years, the firebenders have been using hate and rage as the source of their power, Zuko finds himself at a loss for a source of his bending since he is no longer filled with constant anger. This leads to another important moment where he goes with Aang to discover the original source of fire bending. He discovers that fire is not always about destruction and death, but is energy and life. He discovers the true and more powerful source of fire bending which is life within the self. This is such an important moment not just for Zuko, but for the entire Fire Nation. He grows closer to his ultimate destiny to help Aang bring balance back into the world and help get his nation back on the right track.
He helps teach Aang firebending (the last element he has to learn before mastering all the elements) and provides lots of valuable information about the Fire Nation’s inner workings. He does his best to make up for his past mistakes. He finally discovers his own destiny and what role he is supposed to play in the world. He finally understands that he has to earn his own honor and it is not something that is simply given to him. So he does everything in his power to earn everyone’s respect by being the best person he can be.

The last person’s respect he worries about getting is his uncle’s. The one person who stood by him from the very beginning; who loved him and supported him no matter what... And Zuko repaid all that kindness and guidance with a knife in his back. When he finally reunites with him in the episode "Sozin's Comet, Part 2", he expects get rejected, he thinks that his uncle will be angry with him for turning his back on him and making so many wrong choices. However, instead, his uncle forgives him without question. He says that he was never angry with him, but was sad because he thought he had lost his way. Uncle Iroh speaks the audience’s mind when he says he is so proud of Zuko for finding his way all on his own. 

Zuko’s story is so satisfying because it comes into full circle. He ultimately becomes Firelord after his father is defeated in "Sozin's Comet, Part 4." This makes so much sense not just because he is heir to the throne, but because of how much he has learned. He must take charge to mend a broken country and a broken world, scarred after a war that has lasted a hundred years; broken and confused just like he was. By becoming Firelord, he earns the respect of the entire world, in other words he gains honor in the sight of the world. Allow me to reiterate: he is seen as honorable not just by his nation, but the entire world. He goes from disgraced prince at the beginning of the series to revered Firelord by the end. This is everything he ever wanted and more. 

And this is why Zuko is so compelling. He goes through so many ups and downs. He is tempted and tried and even makes a lot of wrong choices, but in the end, he manages to find his way and come out on top. He was confused and lost, but through a long journey of self-discovery, he becomes a better person. A lot of redemption stories have the bad guy start out as legitimately bad with evil intentions, but Zuko is not that at all. He is an antagonist, sure, because he is always getting in the way of the protagonists’s own goals, but his intent is not purely evil. He was never a bad person to begin with; just lost and confused. And aren’t we all like that at some point? I think Zuko is a good example of what we all should be: a fighter. Never give up! Our trials and even our bad decisions will ultimately shape us into who we are meant to be as long as we keep trying to find our way: a great and honorable person.

Tangled: The Series- Thoughts and Opinions

People often frown upon animated shows because they're "for kids", and yes, a large majority of them are. However, let me tell you something, some of the best movies/shows I have ever watched have been animated. A lot of them are really intense, have amazing character development, really smart humor, and intricate plots. 

Tangled: The Series really surprised me with all of these things. Tangled (the movie) has always been one of my favorite Disney movies, so when I heard that they were making a TV show, I was sold immediately. I didn’t care if it was going to be some silly little show for kids, I just wanted to watch these characters interact with each other some more. I completely expected a lot of fluffy princess stuff, feel-good cheesiness, over-the-top teaching moments without any real character development, and all the typical kid show cliches. But, to my surprise, it wasn’t that at all!

It definitely had a lot of fluff and filler episodes with some cheesiness and preachy moments, I won’t deny it (but even those were extremely well done and still fun to watch). However, the over-arching plot of the season was super intense and extremely compelling. It was a really good blend of mystery, drama, action, adventure, and fantasy. I was seriously impressed. 

It stays true to the original source material while expounding upon the world and the characters from the movie. New characters are added to the mix who are all just as lovable and fun to watch as the original ones and the originals are delved into even more. I cannot even express how well all the characters and their relationships are handled! In particular, Eugene and Rapunzel’s relationship is fantastic! (Everyone needs a boyfriend like Eugene for realsies.) And then there’s a new character, Varian; I won’t go into detail, but his character development is handled so well! I also love all the mythology and lore in the kingdom, it's like it's a real place where magic exists, but it's rare. It doesn't just dive into "magic is everywhere" like a kid's show might, because Tangled established that it is hard to find which was why Rapunzel was imprisoned in the first place.

The humor is not really dumbed down or "kid-ified" either. A lot of it is actually really smart and genuinely funny. I wouldn't say it goes into "adult" humor with innuendos or anything. There's just a lot of though-out jokes and quick, witty dialogue. 

I love the animation style as well. It’s so pretty and flowing. Some might be annoyed that it doesn’t match the original CGI animation, but let me say that I kinda prefer this animation. I almost wish that the original movie was done in this animation style, it’s so amazing. 

Now I HAVE to mention the music/songs. There aren’t a ton of songs; mostly in the longer/special episodes. However, they are all composed by the master himself, Disney legend, Alan Menken. He sticks to the same sort of 60’s rock style that he composed for the original film. I seriously love all the new songs! They range from cute and fun to inspiring and powerful. To add to this, Broadway singers are involved in the cast which just makes you go “YUSSSSS!!!” as they sing those high notes. Not to mention the original cast is back to reprise their roles (Mandy Moore and Zachary Levi). 

I thought of my mom when I heard the guy who plays Varian sing. He’s got one of those really clear Broadway voices that she really likes (kinda Aaron Tveit-esqe). Also, a girl who played Elphaba after Idina Menzel plays another new character, Cassandra. 

Rapunzel, Varian, and Cassandra

The show's biggest flaw is probably those filler episodes. There are quite a few of them, probably 3/4 of the season is devoted to the "fun" episodes. As I said above, they are still very enjoyable and fun to watch, but I do think that more time should have been spent on developing the plot. Believe me though, when the plot does come it's like "Whoo!" Now, there are small details often contained in the filler episodes and they do a good job of setting up the world, lore, and character relationships for future episodes, but I still wouldn't call the episodes 100% necessary.

Anyways, I felt the urge to express my feelings on this show. It is shockingly enjoyable. It’s probably not for everybody, but if you’re into Disney you’ll definitely like it. Yes, there is a reason why Rapunzel's hair is long again. It's not just because or for looks. It is actually involved in the plot and it gets really interesting. I am eagerly awaiting season 2.

Song: "Let Me Make You Proud"- sung by Varian

Song: "Wind In My Hair"- sung by Rapunzel

Reylo: Romance or Related?

Introduction

Star Wars is always a hot topic especially when a new movie comes out. People always have conflicting and very passionate opinions about every little thing. Recently, Episode VIII: The Last Jedi came out sparking lots more controversy over so many subjects; the main one being if it was actually good or if it was trash. However, that is not what this essay is about. Instead, I am going to delve into one of the other hot topics of controversy: Reylo (also known as Rey and Kylo Ren). 

Despite the new information that has been given in The Last Jedi, there is still some controversy over the future of these two characters. Through this contemplative essay, I intend to get to the bottom of this dispute; what is the future relationship going to be between Rey and Kylo Ren? Specifically, are they related or are they future romantic partners? Personally, I believe all the evidence leans towards romance and allow me to explain why. There are so many more reasons and much more evidence for why this is the case than simply “I want this to be so.” I have taken a close look at The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi for proof to back up my theory.

Yin/Yang

“yinyang- a process of harmonization ensuring a constant, dynamic balance of all things.”

Yin/Yang is a Chinese philosophy that describes how seemingly opposite forces might actually be complementary or interconnected, even dependent on each other (such as dark/light, water/fire, etc.).

From their very first meeting in The Force Awakens, it has been apparent that Rey and Kylo Ren have a connection akin to the Yin/Yang philosophy. They are both equals in the Force (Luke comments on Rey’s abilities, referring to Kylo: “I’ve seen this raw strength only once before”, and later while Rey and Kylo are fighting over Anakin/Luke’s lightsaber, it breaks while they are both exerting their Force strength upon it because neither can pull it from the other). Despite this fact, they are on different sides. Snoke even blatantly says to Kylo that as he grows stronger with the Dark Side, his equal would rise in the Light. 

Allow me to further explain the evidence leaning towards their future as romantic partners rather than family: as I said above, there is an obvious connection between them even in The Force Awakens. At that point it is nothing romantic, but it is a clear link. Kylo is unable to Force-read her mind and she is able to look into his. It is a very tense scene with a lot of vibes going around. It is the moment when they realize they are both strong with the Force. From that moment on, they are connected. This is why I question Snoke claiming to have created the bond between them in The Last Jedi. Did he really create it? Or did he just manipulate it? I believe that there was always a connection from the moment they met; Snoke merely discovered it and attempted to use it to his advantage. Even if Snoke did create it as he claimed, their bond was so strong that they remained connected even after Snoke’s death (they still had a “Force-Skype” moment as fans are calling it right at the end after Snoke was gone).

Bringing Balance

Something the Jedi failed to understand was that in order to fully understand the Force and completely utilize it, one must sort of embrace both sides of it. I am not claiming that the Dark Side is good or anything, but think about it. In Return of the Jedi, Luke only managed to get the upper hand in his battle with Vader by letting out his anger, which is a trait of the Dark Side. Now, of course, he calmed himself down and claimed he would never turn to the Dark Side. However, there is still something that can be had from the Dark. The Jedi completely missed it during their height and glory. Having some emotion might actually be alright because it fuels people and pushes them. This is just me talking, but I think that although the Dark Side is overall a bad thing, in order to have true balance, the Dark and the Light must be brought together. By completely ignoring the Dark Side to the point of barely talking about it and living in fear of it leads to unbalance. 

Throughout all of Star Wars, everyone is talking about “bringing balance to the Force.” What does that mean? In order to have balance, there must be “an even distribution of weight enabling someone or something to remain upright and steady” (Oxford Dictionary). In the Prequels, there was an intense focus on the Light Side of the Force, thus it was unbalanced. In the Original Trilogy, the Sith ruled, so there was an intense focus on the Dark Side, thus it was unbalanced. As Luke said in The Last Jedi, there was peace for some years until Ben Solo disrupted it.

As I said before, one of the most common problems brought up throughout Star Wars is trying to find that balance. I believe this is what is attempting to get resolved through Rey and Kylo Ren’s story. In this scenario, Rey represents the Light Side of the Force and Kylo represents the Dark. They must be brought together in order to bring balance.

Romantic Drama

It could be argued again that these two characters are merely brought together as simple allies or even siblings. However, there is more evidence that they will be more than that. From a storyteller/movie-maker standpoint, their story is a love/hate relationship from the get go. A love/hate relationship is one of the most commonly used tropes in most romantic movies/novels; the two love interests start out disliking, even hating each other, but over time as they are constantly forced together, they begin to see each other in a different light and slowly fall in love. Some famous examples of this are Pride and Prejudice, Beauty and the Beast, A Walk to Remember, Anne of Green Gables, 10 Things I Hate About You, Much Ado About Nothing, and Shrek. The structure of a love/hate story is as follows: there’s always the first meeting which goes horribly wrong and ends with them disliking one another, the first half where they banter and yell at each other, the second half where they start to warm up to each other, some sort of separation where it seems like they won’t get together after all, and then a reunion if it’s not a tragedy. 

So far with Rey and Kylo’s story we’ve had the first meeting that went badly and ended with a poor first impression (the interrogation scene); then their next couple meetings involved conflict between the two (in one scene they actually engaged in a lightsaber duel; another Rey attempted to shoot him and called him a “monster” and “murderous snake”); after that, they began to warm up to each other and trust the other, realizing they might not be so bad (the hand-touching scene, Kylo killing Snoke); currently they are at the separation where it seems like they might not get together after all (where Rey turned down Kylo’s offer to join him and they went their separate ways). Thus the question remains, will there be a reunion?

People could still argue that they are connected through the Force and have this special bond because of their family relations, similar to Luke/Vader or Luke/Leia. I picked up on some things, at least on Rey’s side, that she is definitely attracted to Kylo. For one thing, she gets uncomfortable when she sees him shirtless. Why? If she were unaffected by him, she could simply ignore it. Obviously she finds him attractive and does not like the fact that she thinks this since at that point in the movie, she still dislikes him as a person. Therefore, she averts her eyes and asks him to cover up so that she is not distracted by her physical attraction. The only other reason she would be uncomfortable would be if he were hideously ugly, which he is not. 

Another example is when she goes to see him in an attempt to “turn” him, she changes her clothes. When going to see a guy they like, girls always change their clothes and look their best. It’s just a fact. Now, this could have merely been a random wardrobe choice from the director, wardrobe department, or whoever to change up her style or something, but I think it was intentional to get in her mindset. Rian Johnson (the director) intentionally changed Luke’s appearance for Kylo Ren at the end not just because it looked cooler or anything, but for a purpose. “[Luke] is basically tailoring this projection to have maximum effect on Kylo. He knows that Kylo’s Achilles heel is his rage, and so that’s why he kind of makes himself look younger, the way Kylo would’ve last seen him in their confrontation at the temple,” Rian Johnson explains. Therefore, I do not think Rey’s outfit change is a fluke. She definitely changed for a purpose. 

Kylo Ren was a little harder to spot any serious signs of attraction because he was pretty stoic through most of the movie. However, knowing his over-emotional behavior, the way he attempts to distance himself from his family/past and the way he is constantly attempting to prove himself, I would say it is still pretty apparent. He allows Rey to constantly call him “Ben” which I think would normally upset him or at least affect him negatively somehow. Also, throughout the film, there are fleeting glimpses where he looks at her with wonder. I did say before that he is mostly stoic through most of the movie, but in his scenes with Rey, he definitely softens and looks at her with what can only be defined as tenderness.  

He is a very emotional person and while he is obviously trying to remain controlled and resigned to his position, his true feelings do break through whenever he is around Rey. His pure joy when he looks at her after he kills Snoke and she grabs the lightsaber is so apparent on his face. I believe it is the first time the audience has ever seen any semblance of happiness in his manner before (it’s why “Emo Kylo Ren” is a thing). He also is very resigned and emotionless through most of the movie until after Rey rejects him and he reverts back to his old dramatic and over-emotional self. Clearly her rejection affected him. 

Related?

While defending the argument that they are related, the argument has been made that sexual tension has been created between them in order to be reminiscent of Luke and Leia in the Original Trilogy. I have one good reason why that is not so: it is an awful idea. If the writers know anything about Star Wars’s past and its fans, it is that most people view the Luke/Leia dynamic as super awkward. People remember watching them flirt/kiss and all the while hoping for them to get together without having any idea that they were twins; then they felt super awkward after it was revealed and wondered how they could have ever wanted them together in the first place. So I ask, why would the writers want to repeat that feeling of discomfort and embarrassment in the audience?

Rey’s background and parentage is still a little bit of a mystery. The Last Jedi was pretty upfront about it saying that she “came from nothing” and that her parents were “filthy junk traders” who “sold [her] off for drinking money.” However, people have been doubting if that is actually all true or not. I think Rey’s background is still up in the air, but I do not think that Kylo lied to her. Looking back at The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi, Kylo Ren never lies in order to get what he wants. He is not manipulative like Snoke. He might be misinterpreted and he might be a little bit vague, but he never flat-out lies. He is power-hungry, melodramatic, and emotional, but he is not inherently evil. Therefore, the point I am trying to make is that he at least believes what he tells Rey about her parents. There is a chance, though, that he could be misinterpreting what he saw or that there was more to the vision, so I think that her background is still open for interpretation.

Symbolism

Going off of what I was saying earlier about the Light and the Dark Side of the Force coming together and Rey and Kylo being that representation, there is more proof of that than my mere speculation. There are innuendos all through The Last Jedi not just through the story and dialogue, but in physical imagery, subtle references, and background. I apologize if this makes anyone uncomfortable, but a lot of them are literal sex innuendos. The media has turned sex into a sort of pornographic, fun, nonchalant sort of activity where in actuality it is a form of bringing two people together physically and spiritually. Now, I am not saying that Rey and Kylo Ren are going to literally have sex (let’s face it, it’s Disney now), but there are plenty of references throughout The Last Jedi and even The Force Awakens that imply that they will be “brought together.”

I will bring up only one example to demonstrate my point of physical imagery; the island Luke has isolated himself to. It has a tree with the ancient texts of the Jedi, which represents the Light. Rey falls into a cave which represents the Dark. An open cave and an erect tree, I will leave it there. However, I keep saying that in order for balance to exist, the Dark and the Light must be brought together. 

There is one scene in particular that Reylo shippers (those who believe that Rey and Kylo belong together romantically) love to watch and dissect; the hand-touching scene. They claim that it is a stand-in for a sex scene. In actuality, they are not too far off. Shippers often get very emotional and cling to little things like that and instantly label it as “sex” because they wish that it was. However, in this case, they are pretty close to the mark. The scene is a very tender, emotional, and ground-breaking scene; very important to both the characters. It is the moment (going back to the idea of a love/hate relationship) that they truly see each other in a new light. The turnaround first began when Kylo told Rey about why he turned on Luke and now their perspectives are truly altering. I don’t know if I would label it quite as a “stand-in for sex”, but maybe a stand-in for a first kiss. It is a soft, tender moment that is ground-breaking for them not just as individuals, but as a couple.  

Romantic Tropes

There have been complaints that Disney is forcing their romantic tropes into Star Wars with the whole Reylo story. I do agree with this partially. Disney is definitely known for their romantic storytelling with fairytales, romances, and family-centered genres. However, Star Wars is not that much different from this; even before it was bought out by Disney it had similar themes. The overarching trope that dominates the Star Wars story is the monomyth or the Hero’s Journey. In a nutshell, it is a narrating technique that dates back to basically the beginning of time. It involves a hero going on some sort of adventure, winning a victory in some sort of crisis, and then coming home transformed. Most great tales− ancient myths, fairytales, and even modern stories− follow this pattern. 

Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker) described Star Wars as a fairytale or a ”romantic fantasy” as he put it. Star Wars has always been a retelling of tropes, mythology, and other stories. Now, they are tackling the star-crossed lovers idea. two very different people who meet, fall in love, but are thwarted by outside forces. This is not a new concept. The most famous one being Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, but there are many others. Some examples include Lancelot and Guinevere from the King Arthur stories, Rose DeWitt Bukater and Jack Dawson from Titanic, and Rose Tyler and the Doctor from Doctor Who. It was even already done in the prequels with Anakin and Padmé. My reason for explaining all this is that I do not think Disney is forcing any sort of romantic tropes into this story. Sure, the company is known for its romance, but that’s because both Disney and Star Wars are known for retelling mythology and old stories. Now, Star Wars is focusing on a more romantic side that Disney is simply famous for.

Prediction

Now for my prediction of what will come in Episode IX. I believe that Reylo will definitely play a major part in the story. I do not want to make too specific and too detailed of predictions because in all honesty, with the directors changing again, it could go in a completely different direction than The Last Jedi was setting it up as. I do think that J.J. Abrams will do his best to follow in Rian Johnson’s wake and keep things consistent. What I think will happen in Episode IX is that there will be a little bit of a time jump; Kylo Ren’s status will be somewhere between Darth Vader and the Emperor as far as fear/control over the galaxy (he is still the new Supreme Leader). Rey, meanwhile, is his counterbalance as the new Jedi leader/master. She might be teaching others about the Force (that could be the reason for showing that little boy at the end of The Last Jedi. Also, she has the ancient Jedi texts in the Millennium Falcon) or she could still be working on mastering her own abilities and growing stronger. Their differing opinions forces them further and further apart and yet their belief that they can “turn” the other keeps them coming back. 

Eventually, some great conflict brings them together and they are forced to face each other. They will probably face off in a lightsaber battle like before, but since they are equals in the Force and in strength, it is a draw and leading nowhere. From this point, I really cannot say how it will end. Since it is Disney and they are all about happy endings, dark turning to good, etc. most likely Kylo Ren will revert back to Ben Solo and they will be rekindled and live happily ever after, hooray! However, since this new trilogy is following the star-crossed lovers pattern, it is entirely possible for it to end on a more tragic note. I do believe that Rey and Kylo will be brought together in order to bring balance to the Force like everything is implying, but there could be a death or something shortly after that happens (perhaps similar to how Darth Vader sacrificed himself to save Luke and reverted back to Anakin Skywalker). I could easily see Rey and Kylo coming together somehow, then seeing that the First Order was about to destroy the Resistance/Rebels for good and the only way to save them was for Kylo (now Ben Solo once again) to sacrifice himself. However, that is an out-of-the-ballpark speculation. I have no real proof of any of that and I am not really leaning towards the idea because of the next reason I have below.

As for movies beyond this (which, with Disney, I could easily see a whole other trilogy happening). There could be more descendants, Jedi, etc. Star Wars will last forever, I am convinced of this. From the very beginning, Star Wars’s core has been about the Skywalkers and their family drama. At the moment, the last Skywalker alive is Kylo Ren/Ben Solo (since Carrie Fisher is no longer around to play Leia and reports say that she will have no role in Episode IX). If Disney understands this concept of Star Wars’s heart and core story, they have to continue the legacy of the Skywalkers. How does that happen? Through children of course; and since Ben Solo is the last Skywalker, he is the one burdened with carrying on the name.

Conclusion

To wrap up, I do not know for sure what the future of Rey and Kylo Ren’s story will be, but I am pretty confident that they are not related and they are, instead, future romantic partners. There is no denying they are equals in the Force and have a bond through it. Their Yin/Yang connection is infallible. If they end up being related, I will be completely floored because the stack evidence leading up to them becoming lovers is so high. The only reason I could comprehend all this evidence of them being teased as romantic partners is if the writers were trying to set up a Luke/Leia scenario, but as I said, I think that would be a tremendously bad idea. Rey and Kylo Ren have a connection and are clearly affected by one another. Call it attraction or call it something else, there is no denying their bond. I, personally, call it attraction and wait in eager anticipation for Episode IX to see how their story will wrap up.