#fun fact this is the scene that made me watch amphibia

[the5n00k]

"Y'know I've always wondered, can you miss someone you never actually knew? ... Heh, that's silly... I mean of course you can't—"

If Scratch tells Molly about Adia in a way anything like this scene y'all can find me in the hospital I will not be okay for several weeks

[mdhwrites]

Boscha Ask: If people like seeing bullies slowly not be jerks, why not allow Boscha to have an arc? It could have been really compelling.

(I accidentally posted this ask when I meant to queue it. Wanted to post it later so sorry the full ask isn't here. I've included the main thrust and relevant parts of the ask for my response.) You're absolutely right that it can be extremely satisfying and worthwhile to watch a bully become a better person. To see them let their guard down and see the worth in others. For them to go from defensive and worried about any weakness to being able to open up.

TOH had one of those already and her name was Amity and we all saw how that worked out right? And she was a genuine, primary member of the cast. THAT'S why I argue that the show in S2 actually used Boscha well. She appeared for a couple gags when it was the right time to do so and otherwise vanished. Her role was after all as a small time antagonist and a marker for Amity's progression. She is not Sasha who has a deep, personal tie to both Anne and who Anne was before Amphibia and that is the point of her existence. That's why I say that after Winging it Like Witches, she has no reason to be here anymore because Amity is past Boscha, past most of Hexide, and this ISN'T Amity's story.

Or hell, how about a different character who after their main narrative use was up decided to stick around, albeit briefly: Lilith. She got mistreated AWFULLY by the show because she got in the way of Hunter's narrative purpose. She couldn't continue to be a character for the sake of the new villain. She could only be a joke. And while Boscha is just the romantic interest's old bestie, this is arguably the second main character of the show's SISTER and the PRIMARY ANTAGONIST of the first season.

Just covering a proper redemption for Amity and letting the fallout of S1 actually have an effect on the show, including what should have been Lilith's rage at Belos, could have easily taken up the main plot of at least half a season. Hell, in the show we got, Lumity IS the focus effectively for S2A plotwise with how little movement is in that half season. S1 sets up threads with just those two, ignoring Eda, Luz and Hunter, that are connected to the world building and drama of the world and plot itself that evaluating it... Making someone who is almost a one off in S1 and a supporting member of a supporting cast member seemed like the wrong move to me even when I was writing her before S2 came out.

And here's the ultimate rub: I AGREE. There IS a story there. I wrote a fuck ton of it with The Power of Love. Little Miss Rich Witch flips main character's perspective over to Amity, not Luz, and makes it her story in an original context. And do you know the part of TOH's identity that story focuses primarily on? The school drama, where a school bully can be a primary, ongoing member of the cast. TOH wants instead to have a plot that's grand fantasy and that's NOT where Boscha lies, even if she would have made sense as a member of the EC eventually.

Which, tangent, for as much fun as Sport in a Storm's scene is with her, I did one off for it at one point, it also creates the problem that Boscha didn't see Hunter and try to sign up for the EC despite having no reason to not want the power that would give her.

The problem with your position is a problem with a part of modern ship culture. You love a character so OF COURSE including them as a main character would have been great for the story overall because you'd get more of them. But... Is that actually true? I love Boscha. I think she had a lot of narrative potential that was never tapped into but that was for the best because this isn't a romantic school drama.

It's an adventure, fantasy comedy and the fact that we got Boscha at all out of that is almost condemnatory of the series as much as it is praising it. Sorry.

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I have a public Discord for any and all who want to join!

I also have an Amazon page for all of my original works in various forms of character focused romances from cute, teenage romance to erotica series of my past. I have an Ao3 for my fanfiction projects as well if that catches your fancy instead. If you want to hang out with me, I stream from time to time and love to chat with chat.

A Twitter you can follow too

And a Kofi if you like what I do and want to help out with the fact that disability doesn’t pay much.

[justaself-shipper]

Marcy x RichGirl!Reader- I Like Me Better

A/N: Request by @Jenny_RHTMT (from Wattpad). An alternate universe where Marcy, Anne and Sasha never went to Amphibia. Warning: This book has bullying and mentions of homophobia and very bad angst.

Marcy looked up at the music box inside the antique shop, then back to the picture of the same box on her phone. Scowling at the picture, she deleted it. “Yeah, right.” She muttered, gloomily walking away from the antique shop. “Stupid book.” “Promise us you’ll text everyday, ok?” Anne said, hugging Marcy one last time. Sasha stood to the side, her arms crossed as she watched Anne and Marcy’s goodbye with a hurt expression. “Of course, Anne. I’ll try my best.” She said, hugging her best friend close. Glancing over to Sasha, she smiled warmly. “C’mere Sash, we need one last photo together.” Anne said, taking out her phone. Walking over, Sasha wrapped her arm around Marcy’s shoulder. “Ok nerds. One last photo shoot!” She said, holding up her own prepared phone. Marcy chuckled. Hearing the beep of her parents horn, her smile faded. They were ready to leave. Pulling her besties in close one last time, she held in her tears. “We’ll try and meet up over the holidays, ok guys?” “Sure Mar-mar.” “Of course dude. Just be careful out there, ok?” “I’ll try my best Anna-banana.” (A few weeks later) Marcy looked up at the tall school building in front of her, gut twisting and turning with anxiety. “Ok…deep breaths Marcy….new school, new possibilities.” She whispered. She jumped when a car horn blared. Looking over her shoulder, she noticed a…very fancy looking car pull up. Stopping in front of the school, Marcy moved into a crowd of students so as not to be seen. The car door opened, revealing a girl with H/L, H/C hair, wearing the same school uniform as Marcy and the other students. The other students stared in wonder and fear. Marcy pursed her lips. “Ooooh boy.” She muttered to herself. “There are rich snobs here…”

Standing in front of her school locker, Marcy stared down in glee at her mobile game, oblivious to her surroundings. All of a sudden, her locker door flew into her face, causing her to stumble for a moment. Giggles erupted from the other side, and Marcy closed her locker properly. A bunch of girls stood on the other side, giggling away as they glanced back at Marcy. One of them was the girl that pulled up in the fancy car that morning. She wasn’t smiling, but she didn’t show any sympathy, either. Not wanting confrontation, Marcy just picked up her backpack, walking away from the still cackling teens on her way to her last two classes that day. (Y/N’s POV) Sienna pointed to the opened locker door in front of us. Mobile game noises sounded from the other side, and the person hadn’t noticed anyone approaching. “Hey, check out this weirdo.” She sneered. Before any of us could react, she swung the locker door full force toward the oblivious person. Hearing a small yelp, everyone started laughing. I just rolled my eyes. As the person closed the locker door, holding her cheek as she glanced toward us, my heart skipped a beat. It was a girl, with short, black hair held back by a green clip, with beautiful hazel eyes. She must be new here. I looked away before she could catch me staring. The girl eventually walked away, hunched over as my friend’s laughter sounded throughout the corridor. Sienna snickered. “Looks like we’ve just found our knew target. What do you say guys?” She smirked. Everyone nodded. I just watched the new girl disappear around the corner. Maybe I can talk to her later?

(End POV) In the cafeteria, Marcy sat by herself. Glancing around at the other tables, she pulled out her lunch, taking a bite as she started to play on her phone once again. “Hey you! What do you think you’re doing?” Marcy looked up. It was the same group of girls as before. The leader glared down at her. “This is our table. Move it.” Marcy stood up, collecting her things quickly. “Right, I’m sorry.” She gushed. She heard one of the other members, the one who didn’t laugh earlier, say something, but she didn’t quite pick up what it was. Was it “It’s not even our seat”? The leader smirked down at her. “Oh no, you’re not going to get away with it.” Without warning, she grabbed Marcy’s bag. “Hey-!” “What’s this?” She cooed, pulling out Marcy’s notebook. “A diary? Wonder what it says~” Tossing the bag to the other girls, Marcy could only watch in horror as the other girls rummaged through her bag and the gang leader went through her notebook. “Oooh! This is juicy! Maybe I should read it out to the rest of the cafeteria~” she grinned. Marcy panicked. “WAIT-NO! Give it back, please!” She begged, reaching over to grab it. One of the other girls noticed, tripping her as she stepped forward. Falling to the ground, tears pricked her eyes as her face turned red from embarrassment. Y/N watched all this go down. She felt anger boiling up inside her as she watched her so called “friends” bully this poor girl for no reason. When Sienna started reading from the diary, gaining attention from the other students in the cafeteria, Y/N finally snapped. “Check it out everyone! The new girl has a diary! And look at this-her sick little mind believes she’s bisex-“

Marcy covered her face, when loud gasps sounded throughout the room. Removing her hands, she realised the H/C-haired girl in the group had her notebook, holding it close to her as the leader stared at her in disbelief. “Y/N, what the heck is wrong with you-“ “No Sienna! What the heck is wrong with you?!” She snapped. The cafeteria went silent, watching the spectacle. Y/N’s face was red with anger as she stood face to face to Sienna. “Picking on an innocent person, going to read her diary, then calling her sick in the head! I’ve had it! The only one sick in the head is you! Picking on someone for what gender they prefer is the most disgusting thing you’ve ever done! Now-“ she pushed the diary back into Sienna’s hands, and pointed to Marcy still lying on the floor. “Say you're sorry, otherwise I’ll have my parents involved.” She growled. Sienna’s face went pale, so Marcy assumed her parents must be bosses of something big. The leader walked over to the now kneeling Marcy, dropping the book on the ground. “Fine. Sorry.” She muttered. Walking back out, Sienna glared at Y/N. “You’ve made an enemy today, Y/N.” She hissed, disappearing out the cafeteria doors with her gang. Everyone went back to their own business. Marcy collected her bag and belongings, clutching her notebook tightly against her chest. “Hey I’m…really sorry about everything.” A voice mumbled. Glancing up, Marcy realised it was Y/N. The H/C held out her hand. Marcy gladly took it, allowing the girl to help her to her feet. “Uhm…th-thanks for standing up for me.” Marcy said, holding the notebook over her face to hide her pink-tinted cheeks. “It was very brave of you, seeing she was your friend and all…” Y/N rubbed the back of her neck. “Y-yeah well, I couldn’t let her pick on you. People like us have to stick up for each other in a world like this.” She chuckled nervously. Marcy smiled behind her book. “Well, I’m Marcy. Marcy Wu.” She said, holding out her hand. Y/N smiled as well, shaking her hand. “Y/N L/N. You wanna have lunch with me?” “Of course!”

Bonus: Marcy: So…why was Sienna so terrified of you when you mentioned your parents? Y/N: Oh! Uh…my dad may or may not be a mafia boss… *starts sweating* Marcy: Ooh…has he killed people? Y/N: MARCY NO-

Fun fact: while writing this, I had another idea in mind! Let me know if I should do the other version! (Still kinda involves bullying, but no homophobia as far as I’d thought lol. Mostly just a snooty reader being mean toward marcy for a certain reason) note: i also was gonna continue with a prom scene and Sienna was being a beach, but i might leave that for a second part if anyone wants it (it's horrible btw)

AND HEY HAVE YA'LL SEEN THE LATEST OWL HOUSE EPISODE?? I'M BROKEN INSIDE, AND VEE IS AN ABSOLUTE SWEETHEART!

I ALSO HADN'T REALISED HOW MUCH GUILT I HAD AS I MADE THIS STORY SO YEAH....SORRY ABOUT THE CAPS GUYS

[iwantescapism13]

Ask Game by @iamthelordoftime​​ Ooooh~ this is fun~ I’ll answer them myself (since I’m not popular enough to have anyone ask me ahaha)

1. Favorite Episode?

Best episode in the entire series for me was ‘Marcy At The Gates’. Other than being the episode that introduces one of the best characters in the series (for me), it’s also the first episode to ever introduce Marcanne moments that made me question whether there’s actually something going on. I was a Sashanne shipper initially, but watching the episode made me excited to see the rest of the show for Marcanne hints. XD

2. Least favorite episode?

’Girl Time’. Hands down. Actually, it’s not even a “least favorite”. I HATE it because I personally didn’t like how Anne sounded in this episode. Yes, yes, she learned not to be so judgmental of what Polly wanted to do, even if it wasn’t “gender conforming”, but I just hate that she had the initial idea of “you’re a girl, you should be doing girl things”. I... I really hate that. It made me so uncomfortable.

3. Favorite character?

Sasha Waybright. But Marcy is super close. Like, the difference between them is 0.05%.

4. How did you start watching the show?

It all started from... The Owl House. After I finished watching 2A, people all over the internet recommended to watch Amphibia. I wasn’t interested at first, but then I saw this video and I got curious. I didn’t like it, at first, but I continued the show because I saw spoilers on Youtube saying something about Marcy getting stabbed. I want to see how that will come about and... yup... the rest is history.

5. Funniest moment?

General Yunan’s speech and the fact that she kept repeating it “because it helps to keep it stick”. Close second is her slapping the shit out of Marcy to wake her up in ‘Olivia & Yunan’.

6. Moment that made you cry?

Didn’t really cry, but it did made me feel the most feels: Marcy’s possession in ‘Olivia & Yunan’. That was... just so painful and sad.

7. If you could change one thing in the show, what would it be?

Show the (mis)adventures of Sasha and Marcy in Toad Tower and Newtopia respectively instead of knowing more about the frogs (that we probably wouldn’t care about in the long run).

8. Do you have any theories and were they correct?

I don’t know if this is a theory but, I posted something in the past where I said that the first scene in ‘Olivia & Yunan’ would probably be a flashback and it’ll show that scene in 3A trailer where Marcy was in crutches. And yup, I was right. The rest of my theories remain theories - they didn’t come true. :(

9. Headcanon on the girls’ gender / orientation?

Um... I don’t have anything specific. To me, they’re cisgender but homosexual (lesbian for Anne and Marcy, bisexual for Sasha).

10. Do you think that the show will actually confirm any of the girls’ ships?

I said it before: with the many hints they showed for Marcanne and Sashanne, I’d be really disappointed if either of them don’t become endgame. BUT... I’d understand too if they don’t.

11. Episodes / Moments that you think are underrated?

I’d say ‘Spider Sprig’. I’ve seen a lot of people dislike it (probably because it’s right before ‘Olivia & Yunan’) but I feel like it’s a genuinely good episode. Then again, it might be because it’s the very first Amphibia episode where I didn’t expect anything at all (like, I never looked at spoilers, etc.).

12. Characters that you think are underrated?

I’d say... Ivy. 

13. Would you want the show to have a movie?

No. I don’t know how the show will end, but I feel like it should stop right there. Whatever it may be - dissatisfying or otherwise.

14. Would you want the show to have a video game?

Yes! It’ll actually be pretty cool! (It’ll be super, super, SUUUUUPER DOPE if they have a romantic subplot XD) Would I play it? If there’s a romantic subplot, THEN YES! XDD

15. Something that you’d like to say to Matt and the Amphibicrew?

Sir Matt Braly, all I wanna say is thank you so much for such an amazing show! The Amphibicrew as well! You all did an amazing job with the whole story, and I wish you all the best in your next projects!

16. Favorite fanfic/s?

Oooooh~ I had probably read the first 10 pages of the most kudo’ed fanfics in AO3 and I’d say each have their own unique styles in writing. I love them all, honestly. People are so damn talented, I couldn’t decide on any in particular.

17. Favorite fanart/s?

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: all fanarts drawn by this person are the best. Hands down.

18. Favorite blog/s or content creator/s?

For blog, it’ll be @borkthemork​. Such a cool and awesome dude. Content creator... hmm... I don’t really have anyone in mind.

19. Has the show changed your life in any way and how?

Watching this show introduced me to this lovely fandom, and seeing the diverse types of LGBTQ+ people in here interacting and accepting everybody else as if all this is a normal thing made me accept my sexuality (lesbian) and made me want to be the person I really want to be. I’m currently taking small steps to doing things I didn’t think I’d do, and I’m just really thankful for this community. Being a part of this makes me so happy. :D

20. Do you consider yourself to be more Anne, Sasha, or Marcy?

I’d say Marcy. I like video games, and if I have something I really, really like, I annoy my girlfriend by infodumping stuff. But I’m also Anne... at least in terms of sporty-ness, since I’m into badminton and I did self-defense classes before.

21. Favorite Wartwoodian?

I’d say Wally. I like his backstory and he’s overall a funny frog.

22. Favorite season / mid-season so far?

Season 2. I like that the show finally delves into plot-related stuff (and more Sasha and Marcy content).

23. How much do you think about the show each day?

I’m currently busy with work stuff, but I think about this show as much as I can. I’m THAT obsessed. I think about theories and possible scenarios and I like a lot of fanart on Instagram and Twitter.

24. Most important lesson of the show, in your opinion?

That escapism can lead to unintended consequences to yourself and to others.

25. Where would Amphibia go on a ranking of your favorite shows?

Hmm... it’d probably be in the Top 5. It won’t be the top FOR SURE because I didn’t really like the first season. So... yeah.

[inkist]

Some info on your Amphibia OC, Van, please?

Can do!

I'm v tired, and I don't do a lot with Van so he's a lil underdeveloped compared to my other ocs, so things may change if I have reason to use him and develop him more. but here's what I have for him on my discord server:

more disco ramblings

human

emo fucker, cool kid

trans dude

like 14 during show canon, but in my mind, he won't really make an appearance until after canon so like when he's 17ish and anne's 16 but shhhhh that doesn't matter rn

he/they

Demiromantic

deadname: vanessa

name: van

ends up dating anne and they’re a power couple as fuck

because i s2g as much as i love anne x sasha x marcy that shit is toxic

Van is tall ™

Van has pet frogs.

Because I can lol

He has poison dart frogs

And he is v fascinated by sprig lowkey because dude wtf

Anne tells him about amphibia and he kinda just takes it in stride

And like Anne’s like “I know I sound crazy”

And he shrugs and “I mean, even if you made all of that up, which like no idea how you could but if you did— that doesn’t change the fact that you feel like it happened. Either way, you’re still dealing with the effects of it and that sucks. And like I’m not gonna tell you to not feel hurt or upset about something because like feelings are weird and stuff…” and he trails off before opening his arms and “I can however over hugs and cuddles and as many kisses as you want.”

And van never dismisses Anne’s feelings but he’s never quite 100% on if amphibia was real or fake or what until he meets human sized talking frogs or sees the videos Anne took in amphibia then he believes her even more and tries to comfort her even more. like he just wants to take care of her but also support her in all that she does lmao

So Van has 2 moms and 2 sisters. He’s the middle child lmao

my idea is that both the sisters are super super girly. i mean regina george lookin.

pink, pink, pink. skirts, heels, glitter, pastels. etc etc

one is dirty blonde leaning brunette, the other has black hair. because ~van doesnt dye his hair~

the eldest looked up how to do emo/scene/goth make up looks to help van learn how to do his make up

the youngest sees things that are black / skulls and takes photos and sends them to van with ‘this made me think of u’

The sisters will sit on the couch with van in the middle, and watch him play a video game

the youngest: “can’t you make friends with them?”

“no, they’re the enemy.”

“yeah, but like, you’re killing them! can’t you-”

“Not how the game works.”

“Well it should be”

“Then you should make a game.”

“maybe i will.”

And now the youngest wants to become a video game designer simply to make a game where you’re supposed to befriend enemies instead of kill them

the eldest just sat there, looking up secrets about the video game so they could make fun of things that van missed.

Both moms are also very ‘normal’ and they’re both lipstick lesbians lmao

and they both just smile and pat van’s head and hand him a new black skull shirt

they be cool moms

the whole family sees van’s gothic nature and goes ‘how can we help?’

also van’s been out since he was like in 2nd grade

its never been a question, and his family had no issue

and they started calling him 'van’ cause he didnt like his deadname

and it kinda just stuck

theyre v healthy !!

i think i mentioned it but van also has pet poison dart frogs

hes v attached to them lmao

van is v thrown off when he sees sprig tho because jesus christ giant poison frog

[ordinaryschmuck]

Why I (Want To) Love Amphibia

Salutations random people on the internet who probably won't read this. I am an Ordinary Schmuck. I write stories and reviews and draw comics and cartoons. If you've been paying attention to my posts, you would have known that I made a top twenty list of the best-animated series of the 2010s. And if you read my Honorable Mentions list, you would have known that I consider Amphibia one of those shows that, while I like it, I wouldn't go so far as to say that it's one of the best. Don't get me wrong. It's good. But there are issues that I have with Amphibia, and I can't recommend it without being hesitant. I still like it fine, but I doubt some people will be as forgiving as me. So I'm going to explain the quality and faults that the show has, while still being considerate to those who do love it. Because unlike some people who would make a two-hour-long video essay about how much they hate something, I can at least acknowledge that while something doesn't entirely work for me, that doesn't mean it won't work for everyone else. Because there is a reason why this show has such a following...I don't think it's earned, but I won't knock people down when they love something I find passable. And I hope that respect goes both ways as I explain why I (want to) love Amphibia.

Also, this review is going to contain spoilers for the entire series. So if you haven't checked it out yet, I recommend you do it to form your own opinion. Season one is on Disney+, and you're on your own for season two. And I suggest you find a legal way to watch it if you can, because I'm not going to leave a link to a pirating website filled with every animated series and movie you can find. And I'm definitely not going to insert that link into a random letter in this review with the thought that if you have to pirate something, then you might as well work for it. Because that would be crazy.

...

Stop being crazy.

....

Anywho, let's start with:

WHAT I LIKE

The Comedy: Let it be known that this show is funny. Like, really funny. I wouldn't go so far as to say that it's funnier than Gravity Falls, which got me chuckling with every episode, but Amphibia definitely hits more than it misses. There are occasions when the jokes aren't really character-oriented and could be said by anybody in the Plantar Family, but if they're still funny, then who am I to complain. Although there is one issue that I have with the comedy. But I'll save that for when I talk about what I don't like. For now, I can assure you that if you're hoping for some laughs, Amphibia has plenty to offer.

Warnings Against Toxic Relationships: But even the best comedies know when to offer some substance. Because I won't lie, when Anne described what is clearly a toxic friendship in the second episode, I was hooked. I love it when kids shows breach topics that can be important for children down the line. And for the most part, I think Amphibia does it well. There are so many instances that the writers' point out the several red flags that a person should avoid when it comes to a friendship and when it's time to either cut that person from your life and stand up for yourself. One of my favorite episodes is "Prison Break," where Sasha explains how she manipulates people and shows zero remorse for it. Then there's the episode "The Sleepover to End All Sleepovers" that shows how a person's influence can affect others and how much it changes perception as Anne and Marcy still believe they need someone like Sasha in their lives...At least I hope that's what the intention is. Because if the writers are trying to say that Anne and Marcy really need someone like Sasha...Well, I'll save that for my dislikes. Because even though it could use a little polishing, warning kids about toxic relationships is what keeps me hooked into seeing what happens next in this series.

It’s Not Afraid to go Dark: On top of breaking borders with morals intended for kids, I just gotta respect a show for playing around with what's considered "too dark." Especially if that show is on the Disney Channel!

The writers are not afraid to imply that death happens in the world of Amphibia, primarily because it is like a swamp ecosystem filled with predators and food chains. And I feel like because the characters are mostly amphibians, the writers can get away with an entire cave filled with the bones of victims as long as they're not humans. But frogs? No one gives a crap about them. There's a reason they're the ones who get dissected in schools.

Plus, a good majority of the monsters that Anne and the Plantars face are pretty horrifying at times. The crew who work on the show do a great job balancing the line of making these creatures look scary, but never go too far that they'll scar kids for life. Except in the Halloween special...How the f**k did they get away with the monsters in the Halloween special? And while they don't ever show what these monsters do, the implications honestly make things much worse, which again, I kind of respect. It's good to have shows like Amphibia that can scare kids a little bit. Getting through something fictitiously dark helps make kids feel braver and prepare them for the real horrors in the world. Especially since most of these creatures are just exaggerated versions of real-life predators...google them.

The Season One Finale: It was "Reunion" that made me realize that Amphibia has the potential to be amazing...it's also the last episode of season one, so let that sink in.

Joking aside, I honestly do love this episode. It's funny, it brings in elements from other episodes, nearly everybody does something useful, and it all ends with a satisfying and equally gut-wrenching climax. A climax, by the way, that is so perfect that I'm going to do a scene breakdown for why it's so good...so, you know, add that to the to-do list (I have so much s**t to make -_-). "Reunion" has so many elements about what makes a season finale so good that I feel like future writers should take notes for their own series that they plan to make. While I wish every episode of Amphibia had this level of quality, the writers know that the last impression is one of the most important. Because I will defend this show if this is the episode people use to trash it.

Marcy: I will also defend this show if someone trashes Marcy. Trust me, the best way to tell that someone is just hating on Amphibia for little to no reason is if they utter the word, "Marcy is a bad character." That is not true. Marcy is a great character, and I'd go so far as to say she's the best character in the series. She's sweet, adorable, and has a story ten times more interesting than Anne's. Anne learns what a sincere relationship is like through the Plantars, where Marcy falls victim to another manipulative relationship through King Andreas. It's her co-dependency that has the chance to get fleshed out more, and I can't wait to see if she has a moment to break out and form her own path.

Also, in the mass expanse of the multiverse, there exists a world where Amphibia is about the adventures that Marcy had in Newtopia as she uses Dungeons and Dragons logic to get by. And I want to see that universe! Because this clumsy nerd is already a blast to watch with the briefest of cameos. Imagine how much fun she would be if she had her own series!

Sprig: I don't know how much love Sprig gets within the fandom, but I got a feeling that it's not enough. He's funny without being annoying (most of the time), there's a whole lot of heart and sincerity to his actions, and above all else, he's the best friend that Anne needed. When Anne explained her very flawed views about friendship in "Best Fronds," it is clear how essential someone like Sprig is as he teaches Anne what friendship really means. It means caring for each other, supporting each other, making equal sacrifices for one another, and just being on the same page as each other. It is genuinely sweet seeing their friendship bloom, and I honestly hope the Amphibia fandom gives Sprig the amount of appreciation he deserves. Sure, he can be annoying sometimes, but for the most part, he's easily up there as one of my favorite characters.

Wally: Same with Wally! Who would have guessed that a character who appears as an dumb source of comic relief has a level of depth and lovability to him? "Wally and Anne" shows that while he is a nonsensical goofball, he doesn't really care what the frogs of Wartwood think of him. What matters is what he thinks of him. And that is just an incredible lesson to teach kids that just makes me love Wally more. 

(It also helps that he's probably the funniest character in the show. I know I said that he's dumb, but when he works, he works.)

Kermit the Frog Cameo: ...It's Kermit the Frog, y'all. I physically can't hate him. Especially since this is the perfect show for him to make a cameo in!

WHAT I DON’T LIKE

Anne’s Character: I don't have a problem with Anne. I think she's a serviceable protagonist, and I love the fact that she's Thai, offering a form of Asian representation other than Chinese, Japanese, or Korean. But here's the problem with Anne: After a season and a half, I still don't know what her character is. If you were to ask me to describe a Disney show protagonist within one sentence, I could do it effortlessly. Watch:

Star Butterfly: An adrenaline junky of a warrior princess who slowly learns to be responsible with each passing season.

Luz Noceda: A generous nerd that obsesses about fantasy and fiction, who still understands when to take a step in reality when the moment calls for it.

Scrooge McDuck: An old Scottish miser who has the heart of adventure and is a duck that almost loves his family as he loves his money.

For Anne, I don't know where to start because her personality is so inconsistent. Sometimes she makes friends with others without even trying, and other times, she gets on others' nerves easily. Sometimes she's a thrillseeker with the heart of adventure, and other times, she's a person who prefers to hang back and avoid doing work. And sometimes she's the only sane character with logical advice, and other times she's the most insane character who needs advice. Now, you could argue that these are all character traits that make Anne multidimensional. But if you ask me, it seems like her personality is dependent on what the writers want her to be for the episode. Someone like Luz going back and forth between two traits only works if there is a dominant personality trait that takes over the other. If Luz spends an entire episode being angry and serious, it proves that there's more to her than just a character that's nerdy and optimistic. But it's clear she is still that lovable nerd by having her say a corny line like, "Talk to the glyphs, Witch!" But because Anne has so many personality traits, it's hard to tell which is the norm and what is out of character. Case in point: Having Anne obsess over hang-gliding in one episode and doing a puzzle in the next is off as neither correlates with each other. Nor do they tell me who Anne is, other than the fact that she's clearly a character lacking a singular identity. And seeing how she's the main character, the one audiences are supposed to root for and identify with, it's probably not a good thing.

The Story: For the record, I have no problems with the story itself...the way it's written, however...

First off, there's too much filler. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, as filler episodes have the potential to be fun when written well. The problem is that relying on filler instead of telling your story can leave some people (me) uninterested and angry. And the thing is, there is a perfect way to avoid filler that doesn't involve telling the overarching narrative: Introduce personal plotlines. Look at The Owl House, for example. There are several character-oriented narrative threads that get introduced within the first few episodes. Such as Luz learning magic, Eda's curse, her relationship with Lilith, and Amity's redemption. Therefore, The Owl House avoids any filler episodes just as long as it focuses on any of these plotlines and even introduces new ones. Amphibia has the plotlines, but it rarely focuses on them. Especially since the story takes way too long to develop. 

Every time I think the show is finally going to start moving forward and we can continue the story, there are like ten more filler episodes where everything comes to a screeching halt. Now, to be fair, there is an explanation why we're forced to wait for the story to move forward, and it's because the characters are forced to wait as well. But, even then, there could have been better ways to pad out that waiting than just adding filler. For example, I may not have been forced into an alternate universe where nearly everything wants to kill me, but if I was, I WOULD SPEND EVERY WAKING MINUTE I HAVE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT A WAY BACK! In the first season, how many episodes does Anne spend trying to figure out the mystery of how she got there and how to go home? Two. There are two whole episodes, out of thirty-nine, where Anne tries to figure things out...That is insane to me. But to be fair, season two is doing a much better job at moving things along...but it doesn't change the fact that the writers are kind of bad at telling their own story.

There are two episodes, "Anne Vs. Wild" and "Lost in Newtopia," where the story continues, but it's only in the last few minutes. The problem is that if you take those endings out, the episodes themselves do not change a bit. BUT because those are significant and essential moments for the plot, you can't take them out. Resulting in scenes that, while intriguing, come across as awkward in the long run. So now, my question is why. Why is the story handled so poorly? And I have one theory.

It Feels Like the Writers Can’t Decide What they Want the Show to be: Sometimes it seems like Amphibia is written as a pure slice of life series like Big City Greens. However, there are times when the show seems like it's intended to mix slice of life with fantasy like Gravity Falls. Now here's the problem: Big City Greens and Gravity Falls are two very different shows in terms of storytelling, tone, and character work. Big City Greens is an episodic comedy series where character development is unimportant, and the adventures rarely go beyond just being wacky. As for Gravity Falls, it is a show that is semi-serialized where the character development is constant, and the fantasy-adventures are always prevalent in every episode. And there are several episodes of Amphibia that could be a part of either show. Episodes like "Stakeout," "Lily Pad Thai," and "Little Frog Town" have plots that I can see being in Big City Greens. Then there are episodes like "The Domino Effect," "Toad Tax," and "Marcy at the Gates" that I could see being in Gravity Falls. These two groups of episodes are vastly different from one another that it causes Amphibia to feel disjointed in the process. Usually, I'm a fan when a series mixes different genres together, but do you want to know why something like Gravity Falls does such a great job at mixing slice of life with fantasy-adventure? Because, as I said, fantasy-adventures are always present in every episode. "Dipper vs. Manliness," "Boss Mabel," and "Roadside Attraction" each have the most basic slice of life plots of the show, but there is always a fantasy element or a monster to fight. There are entire episodes of Amphibia where there is no monster, and even when there is, it doesn't have the same amount of tension and weight that the creatures in Gravity Falls have weekly. A show like Big City Greens doesn't have to worry about monsters or evil villains every week because it doesn't need to. It's a show about the wacky adventures of a family of farmers adjusting to city life. Why would they have to worry about a monster every week when they just have to worry about each other. If Amphibia was the same way then there would be no issue. But because if it wants to be a mix of slice of life with fantasy, then it does need to worry about a monster every week. I usually try to defend shows that try to play both sides, but this show has to be the one occasion where I have to say pick one or the other. Because the writers tried hard to be both, and personally, I don't think they did a good job.

Characters Don’t. Stop. SCREAMING!: It's here we move on from what's objectively wrong with Amphibia to the things that just bother me personally...and this is one of those things. I get it. An over-the-top reaction to something minimal can be funny on occasion...but it's never "on occasion" with this show. Nearly every episode has characters screaming to get a laugh, and most of the time, it's more annoying than it is funny. It's Hop Pop who does this the most, and I just feel so bad for Bill Farmer. That voice already seems like it's hard to do, so being forced to scream and yell with it for the sake of comedy can't do him any favors. Other shows, especially ones on the Disney Channel, have characters overreact for the sake of humor, but it's Amphibia that I feel like it relies on this the most. I'm sure some people aren't bothered by this, but I am, and this is my review, so I'm mentioning it.

Poly: Speaking of things that probably don't bother other people...I feel like I'm making some enemies with this one. Because, boy, do I not like Polly. Her voice is annoying, she mostly causes problems for the family, and to me, her entire character seems pointless. No, really. Think about it. Anne is the main character, Sprigs acts as her emotional support, and Hop Pop acts as the voice of reason. What's Polly's purpose? Because all she adds are unnecessary jokes, character traits that could have gone to anybody, and acting more as a plot device than an actual character. The only justification for her that I can think of is that she adds gender balance to the main cast. Which would be more than acceptable if there was a point to her existence. But I think it's pretty evident with her exclusion from the original pilot pitch for the program that Polly's personality is practically pointless...that is most likely the only alliteration I'll ever do for a review, so you have better appreciated it.

If you like Polly, then more power to you. For me, I just don't enjoy her.

Sasha: Oh, nelly. I can already see the hateful messages I'm gonna get from this.

Now, as a character, I actually do like Sasha. I think her personality is interesting enough to dissect, and I think she acts as a perfect antagonist to Anne, the Plantars, and even Marcy if you want to get into it. My problem relies on how much the fanbase is already jumping on the "Forgive Sasha" train. Because, "Aw, she's just like Catra and Amity! So sweet, tortured, shippable with the main character, and--" STOP IT! Stop it right now...and think. With Catra and Amity, you see the environment they grew up in, you feel the abuse they deal with, you understand the reasoning of their actions, and you come to forgive them for who they are...At least for Amity, you can. For Catra, it requires more of an argument. But Sasha? Did we see the same cruel mistreatment to her friends? Did we hear the same coldness in her voice as she describes how to manipulate people? Did we witness the same damage she's done to Anne and Marcy in how they perceive healthy relationships? Apparently not! Because while everyone else is already on the same page that Sasha deserves redemption, I'm sitting here thinking that maybe it's for the best to be a little more hesitant. So far, we have yet to see any way to understand her reasoning and have yet to see how she deserves forgiveness. Sure, Sasha was willing to sacrifice herself for Anne, but did Sasha really earn that? It works as a sudden realization that Anne deserves better, but Sasha has yet to do anything that proves she can be better. Especially since the next time we see her, she's trying to help a fascist ruler get back up on his feet...THINK ABOUT THAT!

But, sure, she's meant to be forgiven. That can work. Because while Sasha shows kids the type of people they should avoid, she can also work as a warning for what kids should avoid becoming. That is a great thing to teach...but it can also be potentially dangerous. Because if incorrectly interpreted, Sasha can show kids that every person who seems toxic just needs a chance to change. And that is the last thing you want to teach, given how very few toxic people actually change. You want to know why The Owl House gets away with an equally dangerous lesson about how not every bully is awful? It's because it shows two sides of the spectrum by proving why someone like Amity did the things she's done while also saying that characters like Boscha and Mattholomule are just a-holes for the sake of being a-holes. Sasha has no one to compare to. Sure, there's King Andreas, but he's a government figure. They're built to be manipulative. Sasha needs someone that's on her level of cruelty to prove that while some people can change and have reason to do so, others don't. And seeing how I don't think she deserves to change, at least not yet, that is an issue. It's the biggest issue out of all the issues I have with this show.

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So, yeah, I think it's pretty evident how I feel about Amphibia when I can write paragraphs about the stuff I don't like while barely being able to talk about the things I do like. Because I do enjoy this show. It's funny, most of the characters are enjoyable, and its discussion on toxic relationships still has me hooked to see what happens next. My issue lies with inconsistency. The main protagonist, storytelling, genre, and thematic purposes are all inconsistent. I'm interested enough to watch more, and who knows, maybe I'll make a final verdict review once the series comes to an end. For now, if you had to ask me what I’m excited to make a return, I don't know if I'll be willing to hop to it by saying Amphibia.

(Also, if you're still looking for that link for that pirating website I mentioned, now would probably be a good time to tell you that I really never did put one in. I told you, that would be crazy...That should teach you to try to break the law.)

[0poole]

God, recent cartoons are/will be dope.

Just binged Twelve Forever in 3 days (because I wanted to prolong the experience, but failed quickly) and like, even though it’s not the best thing ever it’s super fun and cute. The fact that it’s on Netflix, not only meaning I can watch it without a second thought, but also meaning that they can slip in actual talk about puberty and shit instead of clearly alluding to it while simultaneously sweeping it under the rug, and even bringing up straight-up non-straight relationships, makes it more interesting to watch. Especially with that last one, because without the episode blurbs they totally could’ve slipped Reggie’s crush on Conelly under the rug. I mean, Mack and Beefhouse would still be there, but still.

I was super hopeful that that episode was going to be more like a generic cartoon crush episode, except with a girl-to-girl crush, but maybe something like that will end up in an inevitable Season 2. It’s weird, because usually when I hear about “progressiveness” in cartoons it kind of has a weird aftertaste, where I’m overtly okay with it but have some terrible gut feeling about it for some reason, but this time like 90% of me breaking me trying to prolong the experience was fueled by that episode. I was so excited!

And the Butt Witch is the classic part of most cartoons that make some part of it super creepy and dark. It’s funny, the fact that she has a male voice was fitting somehow, even outside of the obvious lore reason. Plus, you can never pass up a lady with multiple arms~ It’s also weird how, despite clearly being super sexualized, they managed to make her butt the sort of funny-haha-cartoon butt instead of the this-is-a-sexy-cartoon butt. There was a scene of her crawling on her knees for a second, and her but was seriously drawn like it was porn. Trust me, I should know. It was strange, considering the TV-Y7-ness of the show.

It’s not nice to play favorites, obviously, but I definitely think my favorite of the native islanders is Galaxander. First of all, his name is perfect. Second, I die for any kind of star-motif. It’s like he was made for/by me. That bit where he was showing a family photo album, except all the photos were of galaxies and planets, was genuinely the best joke in the entire show. I love it/him. Also, Ester’s nonspecific Saturn powers are really cool, as well as her vaguely retro-futuristic look. Oh, and Pretty Please? It’s always the rabbits. ALWAYS.

Really, the one thing that can sell me on any cartoon is just great art/animation/character design. Without that, I probably would’ve passed this show off as one of those “haha lol xd so ramdom111!!!1!!!” shows. Hell, even something so simple as the thumbnail for the pilot short sold me. Reggie and Shane (may he rest in peace) looked practically identical to a duo dynamic of my own creation (gung-ho long haired ginger and darker, medium-lengthed hair male friend) and that really caught my eye. It’s even funnier, because those two characters also ended up being too similar in concept to Inside Out, meaning I had to change them from that, so I guess they’re just a really “normal” character concept.

Apart from Twelve Forever, we got Mao Mao, Heroes of Pure Heart, also readily accessible via the Cartoon Network website. I love their set up for that, where you just need to log in with a network provider as proof you could’ve watched the episodes live if you wanted to. Anyway, Mao Mao has the same deal as I just mentioned: Mao Mao himself looks super dope. Plus, the overall concept of “Edgy warrior protects innocent town from evil monsters” Is what sold me in the first place. Not only do I get a fair dose of action, but I also get a fair dose of cuteness. Also, the concept of Orangusnake (had to rewatch the first episode with subtitles to figure that name out) is just stupid enough that it works. Also also, Mao Mao’s family clearly being set up as either appearing later as actual, professional warriors or as dopey losers that he thought were just cool is making me super invested. 

Then, Infinity Train. The show with the balls to kill of some random nobody in the first episode. Also, what’s the trend with every lead character in these cartoons having parental issues? Either way, everything seen is dope (even if pointy-chin pilot Tulip is superior) and it’s hard not to want more.

I also just bought the first season of Amphibia so I’ll check back on that, like, tomorrow maybe. Waiting is for the birds. I will say that the giant evil insect designs are amazing so far, from the first episode.

But, Owl House has the potential to overtake ALL of these. Oh my god, who knew that adding a little lip onto a character would instantly make their cuteness skyrocket? Luz (hopefully pronounced “Looz” because that’s how my mind is saying it) is actually one of the cutest characters I’ve ever seen. Plus, she has a tiny pet Cubone! And also the potential for creepy monster designs, amazing stories... The potential is high here. 

That’s not even talking about that “Curse of Molly Mcgee” that we’ve only seen a poster for. It’s like its the era of cute girls. I’m dying here.

I’ve also heard Victor and Valentino is pretty good, with true-to-culture Mexican supernatural stuff. Sounds pretty cool, but due to the lack of cute girls on the poster I’ll wait until I’m bored. I have seen a cute goth girl inside of it, though, so I’ll have to watch to see where she fits in. I’m a sucker for thick eye liner and eyelashes(?) that are only visible on the lower half of the eye. 

That’s not even it, either. There’s bound to be something I’m forgetting. OK KO Is also dope but I’ve been watching that for a while, and Hilda’s pretty sweet, but is also old news (until we get another season). Like, so many modern cartoons are so great. Who needs anime?