The Walking Dead and GBLT Erasure - Two Awful Choices

In the latest episode of The Walking Dead, the survivors finally reached the prison – and all fans breathe a sigh of relief because we have reached the end of People Arguing On a Porch that consumed so much of the second season. And they even let T-Dog speak, I was beginning to wonder if he’d forgotten how.

But people who read The Walking Dead comics will realise already that there are some major changes between what we saw on the TV and what we saw in print –namely, the prisoners.

In the comics there are 4 surviving prisoners – and they actually do survive for some time and there’s even an attempt for them to integrate into the group without Rick feeding them to walkers. But the main change I’m going to talk about is Dexter (a character they removed from the TV show) and Andrew (the man who ran and was fed to the walkers).

In the comics, these 2 are a couple. Andrew is gay or bisexual and Dexter is engaging in prison induced situational male/male relationship. Dexter is a murderer and it’s assumed he will turn to women now he has that option – but neither he nor Andrew last very long in either case.

And I didn’t like them. I didn’t like for a very long time – until issue 67, this was the only GBLT inclusion in the comics. I didn’t like that this sole example of inclusion was so quickly killed off. I didn’t like that it was a prison relationship which is so often based on sexual abuse and rape – and GBLT people are disproportionately targeted. I didn’t like that the relationship didn’t appear to be close to affectionate, healthy or, indeed, have any praise-worthy attributes.

But I also didn’t like that they didn’t appear. I didn’t like that even this paltry and pretty offensive portrayal was erased. I don’t like that The Walking Dead is now into its third season without even a token portrayal and I don’t like that it’s just one of many among our shows.

Alphas Season Two, Episode 13: In God's Eye

Rosen is sitting on a bench and he sees a vision of Dani and realises that he is in shock.  He says that he needs to get to the hospital and she says that he cannot because they report gunshot wounds at the hospital.  Dani is insistent that what Rosen needs to be doing is tracking down Stanton Parish and he says that he has to stop the bleeding, or he will never make it. Dani asks him if he knows who can help him and Rosen responds yes. He gets up and starts to walk down the street.

Rachel announces that they have found Rosen's blood. Rachel and Nina are insistent that Rosen needs to be found and so Bill says that he will put a BOLO out for him. Rachel is not happy about this but Bill reminds her that they cannot afford to lose anymore time because their number one priority right now is to stop Parish.  Bill believes that if Rosen were there with them that he would say the same thing.

Rosen is lying on a couch and Fiona removes the bullets from his stomach.  She tells him that he needs to have surgery and Rosen reminds Fiona that he came to her. Fiona warns him that he is going to feel pain because she has to seal the major blood vessels and orders him to take a deep breath. Fiona that inserts her fingers into his wounds and when she pulls them out, there is no more blood. Fiona warns him that she did what she could but her ability isn't magic, so he has to take it easy to avoid splitting himself open again. Rosen grabs some medical tape to affix gauze and starts to stand.  Fiona is upset and tells him that if he is going anywhere that his next stop has to be the ER. Rosen looks up and sees Dani again. He replies that he knows, but that there is something important that he has to do.

Back at the office, Nina reveals that the man they questioned is nothing more than a plumber who was putting in extra bathrooms. This shocks Clay and Bill because it doesn't make sense that Parish would want his super charged alphas to be extra comfortable. Bill decides to send Nina back to questioning the other prisoners to see what else they can find out.

Hicks approaches to get some information from Kat and she is not the least bit pleased to see him.  Hicks says that he is sorry but she wasn't supposed to be on that convoy. Kat replies that Hicks let her go anyway because he figured that in a month she would forget what a "total douche" he is. Hicks says, "I did what I had to do. It wasn't about you." Kat shakes her head and storms out of the office.  Kat grabs her bag and walks by Bill, who asks her where she is going. When Kat keeps moving, Bill says, "you cannot leave. You know that this thing is about to go down and it can happen anytime within the next 24 hours." Kat turns and asks why she should care and Bill reminds her that there are 8 million people in the city alone.  Kat is not convinced and reminds Bill that she doesn't know any of them. "The only people I know are in that room (pointing to the office) and they hung me out to dry." Bill reminds her that he has not done anything wrong and that he needs her.

In the subway two men are working on a security retro fit, when a man appears from the tunnels singing a song. They are having trouble and so one of the workmen decides to hit the panel with a hammer, which causes a bright flash to go off. The three men fall to the ground and appear to be dead, but suddenly the one who was singing gets up and runs away.

Parish and  Jeff 'Dumpy' Kowalka are sitting in a park of all places, talking about global warning. Parish says that after tonight, some of them will be changed and for the rest, it will be quick and painless.  Parish gives the order to pick up Rosen and Kowalka admits to shooting Rosen last night. When Parish asks where he is, Kowalka says that Rosen took off in his car and is probably dead already.  When Parish gets upset, Kowalka says that he was just looking out for him. Parish puts a knife to Kowalka's side and orders him to make himself useful.

Gary is in a hospital talking to Nina and he tells her that he checked the ER's in the city and that 7 people were admitted with gunshot wounds but none of them were Rosen. Gary believes that this is a good sign, as long as the reason isn't because Rosen is dead. Gary says that he has to go to his mom's room because the nurse keeps calling him and Hicks asks him to keep looking.  It seems that Hicks is now feeling guilt for leaving Rosen behind. Nina reminds him that this was Rosen's call. Hicks says that all Rosen wanted was justice for Dani and now he is seeing it through. What about the fact that Rosen was obsessed with Parish long before Dani died. This is as much about his ego as anything else. Hicks thinks that he let Dani down.

When Gary walks into the hospital room, he finds that his mother his awake and immediately says hi. What he does not realise is that something is terribly wrong.

Kat, Nina and Rachel are investigating the blast site and Kat makes it clear that it was not her idea to work with them.  I am so glad that she is holding the team accountable for their actions in the last episode. Rachel tells Kat that it was a complicated situation and she is sorry that Kat got hurt. Kat will not be easily pacified and says that the lack of loyalty pisses her off. Rachel reminds Kat that she wasn't there and that it went too far. Kat snarks back, "what do you mean it went too far? If you're going to have the guts to sign up for something stupid and dangerous then at least have the balls to see it through." Ummm huh? There goes Kat as the moral center of this story. Yes she should be pissed about the ambush but hello, roture.  Kat starts to yell and Rachel shushs her and says that she can hear a heart beat. They keep walking and run into the man who was zapped by the light earlier. They ask him to them what's wrong, but when he opens his mouth a loud sound comes out and it starts to shatter lights and shake the area that they are in.

Rosen is walking down the street talking with Dani and saying that he has no idea where to look for Parish. Dani replies, "yes you do, the bastard told you through Mitchell"  We then get a flashback to Mitchell channeling Parish and saying, "I'm going to watch the world change with a God's eye view." Rosen keeps walking repeating the phrase and Dani says, "you'll figure it out, you know who you can."

Back at the site, Rachel says that the light flashed, left five men dead and the only one left alive is an Alpha.  Kat points out that he could have turned into an Alpha because he freaked out when he made that noise. Rachel sees the grid protector that the government installed to protect themselves from Parish and realises that Parish put a photo stim inside it. Kat realises that they have been played and points out that they could be all over the country.

Skylar has returned to the office to help in the belief that she is partially responsible because she built the devices. Skylar tells Bill that the device was triggered when they smashed it with a hammer. Skylar looks over the device again mentally taking it apart and announces that the device was supposed to go off at 8:18.  Skylar warns that every light in the grid will flash and that means if someone opens the fridge, they will get zapped. Bill points out that it took Parish's crew months to put these things in and so they cannot just remove them in a few hours.  Skylar says that the only thing they can do is to cut the power on the national grid until of the devices can be removed. Bill asks if it is possible to do that with the time they have left and Clay says that he will get things started. As Clay is leaving, Skylar says that it won't work in New York because the line's have dead man switches, which means they keep working no matter what.

Back at the hospital, Gary is demanding that his mother get transferred immediately. When they fail to comply, Gary says that he is a federal agent and that they have to do exactly what he says. The nurse responds that she will see what she can do to hurry things along and walks away. Rosen approaches Gary from behind wearing a medical coat. Gary tells Rosen that he needs him to get his mother transferred because Bill says that it's not safe. Rosen offers his apologies to Gary for not being there for him in his time of need but says that he was busy.  Gary concurs and adds that Rosen kidnapped someone and held them prisoner. Rosen of course wants Gary to know that he was doing what he had to, to get Stanton Parish and when Gary says kill Parish, Rosen again goes into denial. Rosen claims that he was only trying to protect people.  Gary gets upset and asks Rosen not to lie to him. Rosen justifies again and says that it was the same way that Gary was trying to protect his mother. Gary makes it clear that he knows Rosen wants to kill Parish because of Dani.  Rosen ends the conversation saying God's eye view and that he needs Gary's help to figure out what Parish meant. Gary figures out that the place in question is the Empires States Building.

Dani appears and tells Rosen to say goodbye to Gary because he is never going to see him again.  This foreshadowing nonsense is ridiculous. We all know damn well that Rosen isn't actually going to die and why writers keep introducing this schtick and expecting us to get worked up over an event that isn't going to happen is beyond me. If anything, at the end of this episode, Rosen will be turned into an Alpha. Rosen tells Gary that working with him has been wonderful and that seeing the world through his eyes has been amazing. As Rosen goes to leave, Gary says that the team is looking for him and that he should call them, as he takes out his phone. Rosen asks him not to call anyone because he wants to keep the conversation between the two of them. Rosen gets into the elevator and we can see Dani standing behind him.

Outside, Rosen is again talking to Dani wondering how he is going to stop Parish and Dani asks how he heals. Rosen says that Parish my have some enhanced neuro immune system, which must be voluntary so that he can will himself to regenerate.  Dani starts to nod her head yes. Rosen realises that if he gave Parish anti-coagulants that he wouldn't be able to heal himself, if he were injured badly enough. Yeah, we're still supposed to believe that his big plan wasn't to kill Parish. Rosen returns to the hospital to get the drugs he needs. Once back on the street, he questions what he is doing because he has never stolen anything in life. Note, how premeditated murder is not part of his thought process. Dani points out that Rosen is doing what is right and Rosen admits that he is unsure if he believes in what he is doing anymore. I guess a little thing like torture will cause one to question one's actions. Dani reminds Rosen that Parish believes in what he is doing and is not going to give up. Rosen gets on the subway to get to the Empire States Building.

At the office, Bill is looking at a video of Rosen at the hospital and points out that he is not looking so good. Bill tells Hicks that Rosen took anti-coagulants and Hicks wonders why Rosen didn't take pain killers because he is obviously hurt.  At the hospital, Gary looks at the video of Rosen stealing drugs and tells his mother that Rosen is angry about Dani dying, just like he is angry about Anna's death. Gary says that Rosen is doing bad things and then his mother turns and says, "help him." Gary says that he cannot help because he promised Rosen he wouldn't tell anyone. When his mother offers her hand, Gary takes it and says that he is going to stay there with her. She tells him to go and Gary agrees but before he leaves he says, "I'm glad that you didn't die."

Haven Sneak Peak!

We also have this fun round up of all the Stephen King references in the last episode

Review: California Demon by Julie Kenner, Book 2 in the Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom Series

 Kate is back, juggling the life of a soccer mom and now a full time demon hunter – dedicated to ridding the city of infernal monsters and keep it safe for her children. In between doing the shopping, taking her daughter to the mall, getting her 3 year old in child care and ensuring there’s a meal on the table. Add in that her husband is running for office which means she hardly ever sees him as he runs around for campaign donations – and she’s inevitably dragged into important social occasions she’s neither interested in, nor has time for. It’s hectic. It’s even more hectic when the only person who knows about her demon hunting secret is her best friend, Laura.

And the demons are certainly present – forcing her to kill one and leave its body in her daughter’s school, which is always awkward. The demons are plotting something, something that could invoke the worst of the worst demons out there – and something that may easily catch up her daughter in the process. Finding the answers and protecting her family is only complicated by messages from her ex-husband’s past, a secret she never knew, her own daughter’s curiosity – and a new hunter in town. One without the ties she’s used to – but one who knows far too much about her, and her dead husband Eric’s past.

This book is very fluffy – which makes it a fun, light read. Kate’s fumbling around her life is pretty amusing (albeit not always funny) and the contrast between fighting demons, stabbing them in the eye and having to dispose of the body on the one hand and then facing down snarly, unpleasant PTA members on the other is jarring in all the best ways. This book also added some more on to the world building with the imprisoned demons and the plot to release them which adds a level of what’s at stake and the consequences of failure. But in some ways I think the light hearted, fun nature of the book detracts from any sense of epic; it’s not heavy enough or gritty enough for the horror of the consequences to come through.

The only problem I have with the writing is probably unsolvable without damaging he book’s premise. The whole point of this series, the thing that makes it novel and unique, is that Kate is a harassed mother trying to juggle her parenting and family duties with her duties as a demon hunter. To maintain that theme, we have to see Kate through all her juggling of kids, child care, PTA dramas, volunteering etc etc and it’s not very interesting or engaging. But if you cut it, then you lose the entire theme and purpose of the book itself. But this also makes me look at the series itself and wonder at how it continues for another 5 books because the gimmick is feeling stale round the edges

The book isn’t very fast moving – I have a feeling that all of the plot was kind of shoe-horned into the end. We had some random fight scenes and lots of questions at the beginning (and lots of mummy duty) but few answers and actual progress. This is further exacerbated by some decisions that just seem to be there to fill up pages (randomly patrolling for random reasons in random areas in the vague hope that a demon will attack them – which merely seemed to cost them sleep and/or run further risk of Kate being caught by her husband).

Taken by Benedict Jacka Book 3 of the Alex Verus Series

 I'm going to say right from the beginning that I am huge fanpoodle of Benedict Jacka.  It took me longer than I would have liked to get to this book, but when I finally started, I read it from start to finish in one sitting.  Be prepared for much fanpoodling.

The days of a peaceful life running his store are over for Alex Verus.  After what happened with the Fateweaver he is now highly visible and in high demand.  When apprentices start to go missing, Alex decides to take a job hunting down the reason.  With his apprentice Luna at his side, Alex must face a force which may very well be impossible to stop.  If that were not enough Onyx, an old faux has a score he wants to settle.

Normally speaking, I don't like books with a lot of action but the interweaving of mystery and the interesting characters were absolutely gripping. Luna has finally gotten a degree of control over her power and though she will never be an equal of a mage, she is dangerous all on her own.  I love the growth that we have seen in this character from book one. Though she has a lot to learn, Luna is no longer content to wait to be saved and has become a very active part of Verus' investigations.

For the first time in this series, Jacka introduced characters of colour in this novel.  Variam is a heat mage and extremely powerful.  He has been given a raw deal by mage society and is determined to survive.  He is not easily trusting which is understandable given his history but he does in the end learn to trust Alex.  He is absolutely devoted to Anne though he does not like her but because his brother died trying to protect her.  I had a problem with this until it was revealed that Anne is a descendant of Indian mages who attacked the Jagadev - a non human of Indian descent. Jacka could have fallen into the trap of making Variam and Anne completely dependent on Verus as is often the case when the protagonist is a White male, but at the end of the day, they will have to make their own way in the world.  It means something to have a White male protagonist admit that though he has more experience, he is not as powerful as the two characters of colour.

666 Park Avenue, Season 1, Episode 4: Hero Complex

 

Things change drastically for Henry in this episode. First of all, he gets an email from the councillor (now splattered or fried) telling him that he isn’t going to get an interview. Jane is there to comfort and Gavin is there to commiserate, pushing him again to consider running for office rather than working for those who do. Still, Henry thinks he needs to concentrate on his own job first. Which Gavin accepts – but then warns him that Henry’s office is currently investigating Gavin for inside information over the Alpern deal – but makes it clear he doesn’t blame Henry nor does he expect Henry to use any influence on his behalf.

At work, Regina Wilson, the ADA, questions Henry about his relationship with Gavin. Gavin bought the Alpern development when it had a toxic waste dump next to it then sold it on for profit to Chinese investors almost overnight and before anyone had any idea about the dump. She throws out several pictures of them together and points out they’re very close socially, same parties etc etc. Henry protests and asks if he’s being followed – she replies that Gavin is, Henry just happens to be there all the time. Henry claims that nothing illegal or unethical is happening but they point out it looks bad and he will lose everything – his career, his job, his reputation, everything. Unless he co-operates and spies on Gavin for them. He refuses but they urge him to sleep on it.

Before the big party at the mayor’s house Olivia wants Henry and Jane to travel with them but Henry begs off. He tells Gavin he needs to distance himself socially from them while the investigation is ongoing. Gavin says they’re just trying to rattle him to get them to spy and to get at Gavin – and points out that Henry’s boss is on the take from ever developer in the city. Henry is shocked, he’d never heard this, Gavin didn’t want to put him in an awkward position.

But Henry is suspicious – the Dorans are so extremely nice to him and Jane, lavish gifts, high level access, invites to parties – he begins to worry (at last) that Gavin expects some quid pro quo. Gavin dismisses it, he sees talent, and he dismisses the insider knowledge – he never buys property without checking it out and that includes soil samples. Gavin offers him a drunk – but Henry turns and leaves, despite Gavin’s warnings. Olivia, who has been secretly listening, suggests it’s time to cut Henry loose – and Doran ominously suggests he will do what he has to do, when he has to do it.

Later, Henry sneaks up to Gavin’s penthouse and snoops round his computer, copying files on the Alpern development onto his thumb drive. In his haste to leave, he forgets the cap of his thumb drive.

Jane has her own little project – her suitcase she’s dragged up from the basement. The tumblers on the combination lock keep moving on their own, working their way towards open even while Jane can’t manage to force the lock. The Spooky Ghost girl repeatedly appears to express her fear of the suitcase, one time appearing and disappearing in front of Jane, freaking her out enough that she shuts the case in her cupboard and stops trying to open it (she could have put it back where she found it).

Olivia has an issue for her though – the thief in the Drake is getting out of hand and has now stolen her diamond brooch (and someone’s suitcase from the hidden room, right Jane?). Something needs to be done – a detective or something.

Speaking of the thief, Nona cleans up her flat and sets out cookies to welcome, Ingrid, her therapist. She’s disappointed that Nona’s grandmother is again missing and isn’t entirely convinced by Nona’s insistence she’s fine, peaceful and no longer needs therapy sessions – she wants a session when Nona’s grandmother is there. As Nona leads her out, she takes the opportunity to steal her sunglasses.

She goes down in the lift with Jane who compliments her on her new sunglasses. When the lift opens, she hurriedly hides the sunglasses when she sees Ingrid still in the lobby. Ingrid asks Nona if she’d seen her glasses and she denies it. Jane is introduced and asks about them because of the thefts; Ingrid describes them and Jane instantly puts 2 and 2 together.

She goes to see Nona in her flat, her grandmother is away, again (though the excuse changes) and asks if Nona has seen any of the missing items. When Nona denies it, she takes off the gloves and demands she give them back – and if she’s going to steal don’t be fool enough to wear the evidence. After threatening her with Olivia, Nona swears she doesn’t have the Jane’s necklace but she may have some of the other things – a bag of them all appears on Tony’s reception desk to be handed out to their owners.

Outside Jane ambushes Ingrid the therapist to return the sunglasses to ask some extremely unethical questions about Nona. Ingrid protests her ethics then breaks them anyway, telling Jane about Nona’s dead parents and absent grandmother. She says Nona needs someone she can trust – with a strong implication it should be Jane, complete stranger stalker lady! This therapist isn’t the best in the world, is she?

Once Upon a Time: Season 2, Episode 4: The Crocodile

 In the fairyland of the past, we see more of Rumplestiltskin’s past, before he became the Dark One, when he was ridiculed for being a coward and deserting from the army during the Ogre Wars. He returns home to fine his son, Bael, alone – his wife, Mila hasn’t returned yet. He goes looking for her and finds her in the Inn drinking with sailors who all mock him for his cowardice and weakness. When Bael comes in, Mila agrees to return home. At home we learn how miserable Mila is, how she is tired of being known as the wife of a coward and how it would have been better if he had fought – though he points out that he is still alive which is more than many of those that fought. She wants to leave the area, go somewhere they aren’t known.

Later, Rumplestiltskin receives word that he has to go to the docks, that the sailors –pirates – his wife had been drinking with had kidnapped Mila. He hurries to the dock and meets captain Killian Jones. Rumple begs, he has a son who needs his mother, he needs his wife, please release Mila. Killian claims his crew need “companionship” but offers to duel Rumple for his wife. Rumple begs further and Killian tells him to go home and tell his son that his father is a coward – and that a man who won’t fight for what he wants deserves what he gets

We move forwards in time, to when Rumplestiltskin becomes the Dark One but, in the process, has lost his son. He is in a bar meeting a Procuror, a man known for his skill at acquiring  strange objects. He is trying to interest Rumplestiltskin in a magic bean that will help him reach other worlds – he knows Rumplestiltskin’s story and knows he is looking for his son who fell through the portal. Rumpestiltskin agrees to buy the bean in exchange for the Procuror’s restored youth.

The Procuror leaves and Captain Killian enters. Rumplestiltskin decides to hang around.

When Killian leaves he bumps into Rumple disguised as a beggar and, when Cillian harases him, he takes great pleasure in revealing who he is. Killian remembers him as the man he was which allows Rumple to introduce himself as the Dark One – causing the pirates to take a hurried step backwards. He asks after Mila, Killian pretends not to know who he means. Rumple offers to drag the memory out of his brain – an unpleasant process. Memory suddenly restored, Killians tells Rumple that she died, a long time ago. Rumple decides it’s time to continue their duel he rand from so long ago – at dawn and adds that there is really no point of running.

The duel between Rumple and Killian – Rumple stealing Killian’s sword in the first few seconds, is a joyous display of Rumple’s power as he toys with the captain and easily defeats him. At the end he tells the captain that being unable to free his wife was like having his heart ripped out – something he starts to do to Killian, until Mila calls on him to stop. Yes, she’s alive and in love with Killian and was never kidnapped at all. She gets a brief moment to explain this (“tick tock dearie!”) and settle son a deal to save their lives – Rumple gets the magic bean, they get their lives.

To the pirate ship, where the procurer has been kidnapped and imprisoned. They show Rumple the bean and ask for a deal – but it’s not that easy. Doting father Rumple cannot understand how Mila could have left their son, Bael. He’s enraged at Mila as she tries to tell him why and how it hurt her – he won’t listen even as she describes her misery until she says she never loved him – and Rumple pulls out her heart. Killian grabs the bean and tells Rumple he’ll only get it over his dead body – Rumple wants him to live and suffer so just cuts off the man’s hand, with the bean clutched in his fits. In desperation, Killian tries to stab Rumplestiltskin with the first thing that comes to hand – a hook. Naturally, it does nothing against the Dark One.

But when he returns to his home, he pries open the fingers of the hand and finds… nothing. Killian had tricked him.

In Storybrooke Belle and Rumplestiltskin/Gold are having a sweet, happy time together, him giving her a necklace, planning to go out on the town. She’s so happy that he’s changing, becoming softer, gentler – when in walks Grumpy. He’s furious and wants his axe, he claims that just because Rumplestiltskin possesses something doesn’t mean it’s his – that none of the things in his shop are his – seeing Belle with him he accuses her of being with a monster and being another possession. Rumplestiltskin loses his temper and forces Grumpy back against the wall, strangling him, threatening to bury his axe in his skull. Belle begs him to stop – says it isn’t him any more – but he turns and says it always will be – “dearie”, his voice changing to match the Rumplestiltskin of fairyland and his skin gleaming golden.

Review of Hotel Transylvania

I know it's a cartoon, but it has vampires, Frankenstein, and the invisible man, how could we possibly resist?  Count Dracula builds a hotel - a retreat if you will where monsters can be safe from the threat that human pose to their existence. He builds this hotel to honour a promise to his dead wife to keep their daughter Mavis safe.  For 118 years he watches over Mavis and runs his hotel until she decides that she wants to see the real world.  Count Dracula is not at all pleased and even builds a fake town and fills it with zombies to convince Mavis that the real world is a dangerous place and that humans will suck her toes.

Both Mavis and the Count return to Hotel Transylvania, where the count his happy until her realises that a human has found his way to the hotel. Johnathon is the very first human to enter the premises and his very existence put the reputation of the hotel in danger. The Count dresses him up and asserts that he is Frankenstein's cousin.  That's right, Johnathon is introduced as being related to Frankenstein's left hand.  Even with the disguise, Johnathon's ideas make him a threat to the count and this only increases when it becomes clear that Mavis has feelings for him.  Somehow, the count must rid his hotel and keep his daughter safe from the human.

Essentially, Hotel Transylvania is the story of an over protective father, willing to do anything to keep his daughter safe - by safe, I of course mean under his control.  What is good about this is that Mavis does not stop asserting her desire to see the world.  Mavis knows what she wants out of life and is determined to get it.  For all of her inexperience, she knows that there has to be more to life than the stories her father has told her and when Johnathon tells her about the places he has been, she becomes determined to leave the hotel.

Johnathon is the sole representation of humanity in this movie and of course he is White, male, straight, cisgender and able bodied.   Nothing represents humanity like a White guy.  Now, where have I seen humanity represented as completely White before? Ah yes, The Bee movie. Complete erasure in the media, let alone cartoons, is an everyday occurrence but when it comes to cartoons, because they are targeted at children, we are not supposed to ruin their innocence and actively critique them. Heaven forbid that little White kids grow up to learn about their privilege and kids of colour learn that their erasure is wrong.  Nope, that would be a critical discussion and everyone knows that active and engaged thought is not a habit we want kids to pick up. After all, their innocence is at stake.