Alyson Serena Stone's Blog, page 15
August 4, 2022
New Medium Article: Did The Secrets of Dumbledore Fix the Fantastic Beasts Franchise?
Hello everyone! I just published a new article on Medium. You can read a sneak peek below or use the link to read the full article.
Link: https://alysonserenastone.medium.com/...
Sneak Peek:
Author’s Note: This article contains spoilers for Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, The Crimes of Grindelwald, and The Secrets of Dumbledore, as well as the Harry Potter series.
Like so many other people, I grew up reading and watching Harry Potter. It was the perfect escape from the real world. I remember waiting for the next book and movie. I remember reading all of the fanfiction, which is still my guilty pleasure until this day. There were theories as to who was good, who was untrusty, who was going to die, and how the Golden Trio was going to get out of their next sticky situation. It was, and is, one of the few franchises that have ever done this to me. When I heard that we were getting a prequel series, I was excited, as well as a little nervous. After all, I was fully invested in the world and did not want it to be ruined. As I have grown older, I have come to realize that not everything is perfect.
The things you love are often the things that you are the most protective of. Taking a step back and realizing that things may be problematic has been a big growth step for me. If you love something, you must be willing to look at its flaws and expect that it is not perfect. With that being said, let us take a look at the third instalment of the Fantastic Beasts franchise, The Secrets of Dumbledore.
I am going to start with the biggest change. For those of you who don’t know, there was a casting change. Johnny Depp has been replaced by Mads Mikkelsen. I know a lot of people did enjoy Depp in the role of Grindelwald, but I did not. While I have enjoyed Depp in other roles, I felt that this character did not fit him. His acting felt forced. He was trying to give off an aura for Grindelwald that did not work. Now, I know some of you are going to blame this on the script and directing. I don’t think so though. The way that Depp portrayed Grindelwald did not fit a Wizarding World villain. He was more about the flair and styling himself as a villain, rather than playing a character who fit Wizarding World canon. J.K. Rowling’s villains are not outlandish and untouchable. They are grounded and human. We did not get this was Depp’s Grindelwald. We ended up with a typical Johnny Depp over-the-top character. Mads Mikkelsen gives us something else. He gives Grindelwald a more human and vulnerable role, similar to that of Lord Voldemort. We see Grindelwald as being this person who has a demeanour that gives us a better understanding of why people what to support his cause. Up until this point, I did not understand why so many people flocked to Grindelwald. With something as simple as a different actor, we get that. We see it in his interactions with the different characters. He gives off this aura and offers hope. You can see that he wants to build a better world. He has charm. He makes those around him feel special. This ties into the Wizarding World canon. Based on the little bit of information we get in the original Harry Potter books, I can safely say that Mikkelsen’s Grindelwald is in line with the source material. Mads Mikkelsen is Grindelwald. This casting change was what the series needed. We needed an actor who could deliver on the villain and we got that.
Another thing we got in this one was those characters’ moments that the Fantastic Beast franchise was lacking. This has been one of my biggest complaints with the Fantastic Beasts movies. While I understand that we are not going to get the Golden Trio, we still need something to latch onto. Other than Newt, I have always felt that characters were flat. There was no reason for me to care about them. While it does slow the plot down, it needed to happen. Sadly, though, we did not get this kind of character development for all of the characters.
I enjoyed the time the story took to develop Newt and Theseus’s relationship. We are first introduced to Theseus in The Crimes of Grindelwald. He comes across as your typical older brother. He is an Auror and is at the height of his career. He is well-meaning, hard-working, and responsible. At the start of the second film, we know that the brothers are at odds because Theseus is marrying Leta, who had something of a relationship with Newt. Theseus does not shut Newt out though. We see that it is through Theseus’s influence that Newt is kept out of trouble. This shows us that he is not an ill-willed character. He also shows affection toward Newt by frequently hugging him. At first, it appears that Newt wants nothing to do with his older brother. However, this all changes with Leta’s death. Rather than it pulling them apart, it brings them together. It also has shown Theseus just where Newt stands on the current world situation. Up until this point, Newt has not said if he is for or against Grindelwald, which has deeply impacted Theseus.
We see this relationship taken even further in The Secrets of Dumbledore. Theseus is now openly supporting his brother. He is involved in the plot to make sure that Grindelwald does up end up being elected as the Supreme Mugwump. He is given a tie by Dumbledore and does not understand what it is for. He does not question it though, because he believes in Newt and Dumbledore’s plan. He has put his full trust in them. They find themselves at the German Ministry of Magic. Theseus, who is attempting to do the right thing and stop Grindelwald’s supporters, finds himself being kidnapped by them and thrown into prison. Newt comes to his rescue. The brothers are almost eaten by a manticore, but neither will leave the other behind. We also see them in danger when they travel to Bhutan. There, once again, Theseus puts his complete trust in the plan. He believes in what his brother is doing-even if it does not make the most sense. There is also one final moment at the end of the movie. Newt is afraid of giving a speech on how he saves the world. He is nervous and doesn’t know how he is going to pull it off. It is not any of the other characters who comfort him. It is Theseus. This shows us that the brothers are fully supporting each other, no matter what. After all, they did nearly die for each other. It is character development like this that the Fantastic Beasts franchise needed to make the films work. While it may seem like at times that we were drifting away from the overall plot, it strengthened the bonds that we have with the characters. It gave us a reason to care about them.
Link: https://alysonserenastone.medium.com/...
Sneak Peek:
Author’s Note: This article contains spoilers for Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, The Crimes of Grindelwald, and The Secrets of Dumbledore, as well as the Harry Potter series.
Like so many other people, I grew up reading and watching Harry Potter. It was the perfect escape from the real world. I remember waiting for the next book and movie. I remember reading all of the fanfiction, which is still my guilty pleasure until this day. There were theories as to who was good, who was untrusty, who was going to die, and how the Golden Trio was going to get out of their next sticky situation. It was, and is, one of the few franchises that have ever done this to me. When I heard that we were getting a prequel series, I was excited, as well as a little nervous. After all, I was fully invested in the world and did not want it to be ruined. As I have grown older, I have come to realize that not everything is perfect.
The things you love are often the things that you are the most protective of. Taking a step back and realizing that things may be problematic has been a big growth step for me. If you love something, you must be willing to look at its flaws and expect that it is not perfect. With that being said, let us take a look at the third instalment of the Fantastic Beasts franchise, The Secrets of Dumbledore.
I am going to start with the biggest change. For those of you who don’t know, there was a casting change. Johnny Depp has been replaced by Mads Mikkelsen. I know a lot of people did enjoy Depp in the role of Grindelwald, but I did not. While I have enjoyed Depp in other roles, I felt that this character did not fit him. His acting felt forced. He was trying to give off an aura for Grindelwald that did not work. Now, I know some of you are going to blame this on the script and directing. I don’t think so though. The way that Depp portrayed Grindelwald did not fit a Wizarding World villain. He was more about the flair and styling himself as a villain, rather than playing a character who fit Wizarding World canon. J.K. Rowling’s villains are not outlandish and untouchable. They are grounded and human. We did not get this was Depp’s Grindelwald. We ended up with a typical Johnny Depp over-the-top character. Mads Mikkelsen gives us something else. He gives Grindelwald a more human and vulnerable role, similar to that of Lord Voldemort. We see Grindelwald as being this person who has a demeanour that gives us a better understanding of why people what to support his cause. Up until this point, I did not understand why so many people flocked to Grindelwald. With something as simple as a different actor, we get that. We see it in his interactions with the different characters. He gives off this aura and offers hope. You can see that he wants to build a better world. He has charm. He makes those around him feel special. This ties into the Wizarding World canon. Based on the little bit of information we get in the original Harry Potter books, I can safely say that Mikkelsen’s Grindelwald is in line with the source material. Mads Mikkelsen is Grindelwald. This casting change was what the series needed. We needed an actor who could deliver on the villain and we got that.
Another thing we got in this one was those characters’ moments that the Fantastic Beast franchise was lacking. This has been one of my biggest complaints with the Fantastic Beasts movies. While I understand that we are not going to get the Golden Trio, we still need something to latch onto. Other than Newt, I have always felt that characters were flat. There was no reason for me to care about them. While it does slow the plot down, it needed to happen. Sadly, though, we did not get this kind of character development for all of the characters.
I enjoyed the time the story took to develop Newt and Theseus’s relationship. We are first introduced to Theseus in The Crimes of Grindelwald. He comes across as your typical older brother. He is an Auror and is at the height of his career. He is well-meaning, hard-working, and responsible. At the start of the second film, we know that the brothers are at odds because Theseus is marrying Leta, who had something of a relationship with Newt. Theseus does not shut Newt out though. We see that it is through Theseus’s influence that Newt is kept out of trouble. This shows us that he is not an ill-willed character. He also shows affection toward Newt by frequently hugging him. At first, it appears that Newt wants nothing to do with his older brother. However, this all changes with Leta’s death. Rather than it pulling them apart, it brings them together. It also has shown Theseus just where Newt stands on the current world situation. Up until this point, Newt has not said if he is for or against Grindelwald, which has deeply impacted Theseus.
We see this relationship taken even further in The Secrets of Dumbledore. Theseus is now openly supporting his brother. He is involved in the plot to make sure that Grindelwald does up end up being elected as the Supreme Mugwump. He is given a tie by Dumbledore and does not understand what it is for. He does not question it though, because he believes in Newt and Dumbledore’s plan. He has put his full trust in them. They find themselves at the German Ministry of Magic. Theseus, who is attempting to do the right thing and stop Grindelwald’s supporters, finds himself being kidnapped by them and thrown into prison. Newt comes to his rescue. The brothers are almost eaten by a manticore, but neither will leave the other behind. We also see them in danger when they travel to Bhutan. There, once again, Theseus puts his complete trust in the plan. He believes in what his brother is doing-even if it does not make the most sense. There is also one final moment at the end of the movie. Newt is afraid of giving a speech on how he saves the world. He is nervous and doesn’t know how he is going to pull it off. It is not any of the other characters who comfort him. It is Theseus. This shows us that the brothers are fully supporting each other, no matter what. After all, they did nearly die for each other. It is character development like this that the Fantastic Beasts franchise needed to make the films work. While it may seem like at times that we were drifting away from the overall plot, it strengthened the bonds that we have with the characters. It gave us a reason to care about them.
July 18, 2022
Updated Social Media Links
Good evening all! I just realized that it's been a while since I have updated my social media links. You can find the updated links below.
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCicZ...
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/AlysonSeren...
Livejournal: http://serenastone.livejournal.com
Fictionpress: https://www.fictionpress.com/u/773118...
Fanfiction: https://www.fanfiction.net/u/2489110/...
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/s?i=digital-te...
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/vi...
Teacherspayteachers: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/S...
Teaching Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOpE...
Medium:
https://medium.com/@AlysonSerenaStone
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alysonseren...
Have a great night!
Serena
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCicZ...
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/AlysonSeren...
Livejournal: http://serenastone.livejournal.com
Fictionpress: https://www.fictionpress.com/u/773118...
Fanfiction: https://www.fanfiction.net/u/2489110/...
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/s?i=digital-te...
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/vi...
Teacherspayteachers: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/S...
Teaching Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOpE...
Medium:
https://medium.com/@AlysonSerenaStone
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alysonseren...
Have a great night!
Serena
July 12, 2022
New Medium Article: Why Has Mistborn Stood the Test of Time?
Hello everyone! I just posted a new article over on my Medium page. This time I am going back and writing about Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn series.
If you are interested, keep reading below for a sneak peek. You can read the full article at the link provided below.
Link: https://alysonserenastone.medium.com/...
Sneak Peek:
The original Mistborn books were published over ten years ago, they continue to delight and bring in new fantasy readers. Why is this? What is about Mistborn that has stood the test of time? Why is it that Brandon Sanderson’s Mistborn books are still popular today? What it is about Sanderson that makes him different from other fantasy writers?
Photo by Jr Korpa on Unsplash
Author’s Note: This article is based on Misrborn era one only.
Brandon Sanderson is one of the most popular fantasy authors of today. He is well known for his expansive world-building, intricate magic systems, and memorable characters. When fantasy books are published, many of them enjoy a few moments in the spotlight and, then, essentially disappear. However, Sanderson stands out. Though the original Mistborn books were published over ten years ago, they continue to delight and bring in new fantasy readers. Why is this? What is about Mistborn that has stood the test of time?
The first thing that stands out is the writing style. Sanderson’s writing style is easy to get into. As more and more readers start to make the transition from young adult fantasy to adult fantasy (or just reading fantasy for the first time), Sanderson’s writing style offers accessibility to a genre that many view as intimidating. It is this simpler writing style that oftentimes allows for these books to be marketed to young adults. Not only do we have an easy writing style, but the way that Sanderson writes also pulls you in from the first sentence. The amount of descriptive detail and action openers will quickly engage readers. It is these opening hooks that make it difficult to put his books down. Sanderson also has a very casual and contemporary writing style, which is another thing that makes his books easy to read. Not only that, but he does not use the technique known as “info-dumping,” which a lot of fantasy authors use.
It is also very clear that Sanderson is a fan of fantasy. While he does use a lot of typical fantastical elements, there is something about the way that he presents them that allows his stories to stand out. He gives readers complex plots, with lots of twists, and an ending that will leave readers on the edge of their seats. He also does something that is very difficult to do in fantasy: he gives us a world that feels real. How does he do this? He gives us a magic system that feels like it could exist in our world. Then, he throws in characters that feel and act real. By doing this, Sanderson is giving the readers what they want: a unique experience that makes them feel like they are a part of the world. In turn, this gives readers a chance to form bonds with the characters-meaning when the characters accomplish something, the reader feels that happiness. On the downside, it also means when the characters are defeated, we, as readers, feel that defeat and pain along with them. It is only a true fantasy fan who would know what a fantasy reader is looking for in a fantasy series. We love our complex characters, plot twists, and epic fantasy battles. In Mistborn, Sanderson delivers on all three.
The second thing that makes the Mistborn books stand out is the magic system. I have been reading fantasy for a while now, which means that I have been exposed to a lot of worlds and magic systems. However, none of them is like the world and magic of Mistborn. The use of the different metals and their powers is unlike anything that I have read before. Again, since Sanderson does not use “info dumps,” we have to learn about the magic system differently. This brings in our main character, Vin, who has just found out that she is a Mistborn and now has to learn about the magic system. It is through Vin’s lessons that we learn about the powers of the different metals and meet the people who can burn the metals. We learn that there are three main disciplines of magic: Allomancy, Feruchemy, and Hemalurgy-all of which give very distinct powers to their wielders. Not only do we get to experience just how great and awesome the magic can be, but we do also get to see the side effects of using too much magic, such as in the pewter drags and being overly dependent on the metal the misting is burning.
If you are interested, keep reading below for a sneak peek. You can read the full article at the link provided below.
Link: https://alysonserenastone.medium.com/...
Sneak Peek:
The original Mistborn books were published over ten years ago, they continue to delight and bring in new fantasy readers. Why is this? What is about Mistborn that has stood the test of time? Why is it that Brandon Sanderson’s Mistborn books are still popular today? What it is about Sanderson that makes him different from other fantasy writers?
Photo by Jr Korpa on Unsplash
Author’s Note: This article is based on Misrborn era one only.
Brandon Sanderson is one of the most popular fantasy authors of today. He is well known for his expansive world-building, intricate magic systems, and memorable characters. When fantasy books are published, many of them enjoy a few moments in the spotlight and, then, essentially disappear. However, Sanderson stands out. Though the original Mistborn books were published over ten years ago, they continue to delight and bring in new fantasy readers. Why is this? What is about Mistborn that has stood the test of time?
The first thing that stands out is the writing style. Sanderson’s writing style is easy to get into. As more and more readers start to make the transition from young adult fantasy to adult fantasy (or just reading fantasy for the first time), Sanderson’s writing style offers accessibility to a genre that many view as intimidating. It is this simpler writing style that oftentimes allows for these books to be marketed to young adults. Not only do we have an easy writing style, but the way that Sanderson writes also pulls you in from the first sentence. The amount of descriptive detail and action openers will quickly engage readers. It is these opening hooks that make it difficult to put his books down. Sanderson also has a very casual and contemporary writing style, which is another thing that makes his books easy to read. Not only that, but he does not use the technique known as “info-dumping,” which a lot of fantasy authors use.
It is also very clear that Sanderson is a fan of fantasy. While he does use a lot of typical fantastical elements, there is something about the way that he presents them that allows his stories to stand out. He gives readers complex plots, with lots of twists, and an ending that will leave readers on the edge of their seats. He also does something that is very difficult to do in fantasy: he gives us a world that feels real. How does he do this? He gives us a magic system that feels like it could exist in our world. Then, he throws in characters that feel and act real. By doing this, Sanderson is giving the readers what they want: a unique experience that makes them feel like they are a part of the world. In turn, this gives readers a chance to form bonds with the characters-meaning when the characters accomplish something, the reader feels that happiness. On the downside, it also means when the characters are defeated, we, as readers, feel that defeat and pain along with them. It is only a true fantasy fan who would know what a fantasy reader is looking for in a fantasy series. We love our complex characters, plot twists, and epic fantasy battles. In Mistborn, Sanderson delivers on all three.
The second thing that makes the Mistborn books stand out is the magic system. I have been reading fantasy for a while now, which means that I have been exposed to a lot of worlds and magic systems. However, none of them is like the world and magic of Mistborn. The use of the different metals and their powers is unlike anything that I have read before. Again, since Sanderson does not use “info dumps,” we have to learn about the magic system differently. This brings in our main character, Vin, who has just found out that she is a Mistborn and now has to learn about the magic system. It is through Vin’s lessons that we learn about the powers of the different metals and meet the people who can burn the metals. We learn that there are three main disciplines of magic: Allomancy, Feruchemy, and Hemalurgy-all of which give very distinct powers to their wielders. Not only do we get to experience just how great and awesome the magic can be, but we do also get to see the side effects of using too much magic, such as in the pewter drags and being overly dependent on the metal the misting is burning.
June 14, 2022
New Medium Article: Should Jake Long Have Known She Was the Huntsgirl Sooner?
Hello everyone! I just posted a new article over on my Medium page. This time I am going back and writing about Disney Channel's American Dragon: Jake Long.
If you are interested, keep reading below for a sneak peek. You can read the full article at the link provided below.
Article Link: https://alysonserenastone.medium.com/...
Sneak Peek:
Note: This article contains spoilers for Disney Channel’s American Dragon: Jake Long.
The pandemic has given me the chance to revisit some of my childhood favourites. Recently I started rewatching American Dragon: Jake Long. This Disney Channel show is one that growing up, I watched on and off. I will admit that it was something different as it isn’t the usual Disney Channel daily family and teen life show. The fantasy elements, the classic good versus evil battle, the Chinese mythology, and, of course, the idea of magical creatures existing in our world pulled in me. Not to mention the idea of having a secret that had to be kept from the rest of the world.
What made this show for me was the Huntsclan. Even when I was younger, it was the villain who made or broke the show. The Huntsclan serves as the main antagonist in the series. Right away, I was captivated by them. We have these masked villains who are out to kill our main character, Jake Long. He isn’t the only one they are after either. They seek to hunt and slay the magical creatures of New York City. Why? In their honour code, it states that is what they exist to do. The use of the honour code drives them to hunt down any magical creature they come across, who in their mind are “lesser creatures” and “unnatural.” Members of the clan have a birthmark of a dragon, called the Mark of the Clan, somewhere on their bodies. They also have a highly complex system that allows them to gather information about people born with the Mark of Clan, learn about the whereabouts of magical creatures, and gain access to weapons, unlike anything the world has seen before. There is also the fact that no one in the show seems to know the identity of the Huntsclan because they wear coverings to mask their true identity.
Is it possible for people to figure out who the members of the Huntsclan are?
As I make my way through American Dragon: Jake Long, I can’t help but wonder if Jake should have figured out who the Huntsgirl was sooner. I remember being shocked the first time I saw her without her mask on. However, now that I am watching the episodes in order and paying rather close attention to detail, I am seeing the evidence is there. As I piece together all of the details, I do think Jake could figure out who the Huntsgirl was.
Right from the start of the show, we see the Huntsgirl and Jake Long fighting each other. In the first episode, Jake and the Huntsgirl are engaged in a rather difficult fight in which her glove slips off. We see the “Mark of the Clan” on her wrist. Why is this important? Earlier in the episode, Jake notices a tattoo on his crush Rose’s arm and calls it “cool.” Rose, then, tells him that it’s not a tattoo, but a birthmark. Now, at this time, Jake did not know about the Mark of Clan and wasn’t exactly looking for it during his fight with the Huntsgirl. It can also be argued that Jake did not see the mark when her glove slipped off. After the battle, the camera zooms in on the mark and it’s not a full view of it. As the viewer, we can see that it has the same marking and style as the birthmark Jake had pointed out on Rose just a few scenes earlier. Again, in the heat of battle, it is possible that Jake did not see this mark on her and, therefore, we may be able to cut him a break for not figuring this little hint out earlier.
In the episode “Act 4, Scene 15,” we can see more hints about Rose’s true identity-ones that Jake once again did not pick up on. Again, these did take a little hinting and paying attention, but, to me, if he were paying attention he very well could have figured out who the Huntsgirl was. The episode starts with another attempt by Jake to try to win over Rose. Rose is playing Cleopatra in Shakespeare’s Antony and Cleopatra. The role of Antony hasn’t been cast yet. Jake tries out for the part and gets it. This means that he will have to spend a lot of alone time with her, which is exactly what he wanted. This brings us to the clues-clues that Jake should have been able to pick up on right away. Jake and Rose make plans to practice, which just happens to lead them to Rose’s mansion. He fails to pick up on Rose’s uneasiness about having him over, which can be dismissed as her being nervous about her uncle coming home and finding her alone with a boy.
It is in Rose’s mansion that the clues start to come out. Jake looks at the books and starts pulling them out. When he pulls one out, a wall of weapons appears and, then, disappears once he replaces the book. Jake doesn’t notice this. Why? He’s not paying attention. He’s too wrapped up in trying to make Rose his girlfriend. They get ready to practice, which leads us to another delay. Rose’s uncle comes home and she is forced to shove Jake under the table. When Rose’s uncle starts talking, we see Rose’s voice change as well. Right away, it’s clear that their voices match those of the Huntsgirl and Huntsman. We also see her uncle put on Huntsclan clothing, which from his view under the table, Jake may not see. As soon as it’s clear, Rose shoves Jake out the door. It strikes me as rather odd that Jake didn’t pick up on this. Again, it can be argued that Jake was more focused on not getting caught than paying attention to these little details.
If you are interested, keep reading below for a sneak peek. You can read the full article at the link provided below.
Article Link: https://alysonserenastone.medium.com/...
Sneak Peek:
Note: This article contains spoilers for Disney Channel’s American Dragon: Jake Long.
The pandemic has given me the chance to revisit some of my childhood favourites. Recently I started rewatching American Dragon: Jake Long. This Disney Channel show is one that growing up, I watched on and off. I will admit that it was something different as it isn’t the usual Disney Channel daily family and teen life show. The fantasy elements, the classic good versus evil battle, the Chinese mythology, and, of course, the idea of magical creatures existing in our world pulled in me. Not to mention the idea of having a secret that had to be kept from the rest of the world.
What made this show for me was the Huntsclan. Even when I was younger, it was the villain who made or broke the show. The Huntsclan serves as the main antagonist in the series. Right away, I was captivated by them. We have these masked villains who are out to kill our main character, Jake Long. He isn’t the only one they are after either. They seek to hunt and slay the magical creatures of New York City. Why? In their honour code, it states that is what they exist to do. The use of the honour code drives them to hunt down any magical creature they come across, who in their mind are “lesser creatures” and “unnatural.” Members of the clan have a birthmark of a dragon, called the Mark of the Clan, somewhere on their bodies. They also have a highly complex system that allows them to gather information about people born with the Mark of Clan, learn about the whereabouts of magical creatures, and gain access to weapons, unlike anything the world has seen before. There is also the fact that no one in the show seems to know the identity of the Huntsclan because they wear coverings to mask their true identity.
Is it possible for people to figure out who the members of the Huntsclan are?
As I make my way through American Dragon: Jake Long, I can’t help but wonder if Jake should have figured out who the Huntsgirl was sooner. I remember being shocked the first time I saw her without her mask on. However, now that I am watching the episodes in order and paying rather close attention to detail, I am seeing the evidence is there. As I piece together all of the details, I do think Jake could figure out who the Huntsgirl was.
Right from the start of the show, we see the Huntsgirl and Jake Long fighting each other. In the first episode, Jake and the Huntsgirl are engaged in a rather difficult fight in which her glove slips off. We see the “Mark of the Clan” on her wrist. Why is this important? Earlier in the episode, Jake notices a tattoo on his crush Rose’s arm and calls it “cool.” Rose, then, tells him that it’s not a tattoo, but a birthmark. Now, at this time, Jake did not know about the Mark of Clan and wasn’t exactly looking for it during his fight with the Huntsgirl. It can also be argued that Jake did not see the mark when her glove slipped off. After the battle, the camera zooms in on the mark and it’s not a full view of it. As the viewer, we can see that it has the same marking and style as the birthmark Jake had pointed out on Rose just a few scenes earlier. Again, in the heat of battle, it is possible that Jake did not see this mark on her and, therefore, we may be able to cut him a break for not figuring this little hint out earlier.
In the episode “Act 4, Scene 15,” we can see more hints about Rose’s true identity-ones that Jake once again did not pick up on. Again, these did take a little hinting and paying attention, but, to me, if he were paying attention he very well could have figured out who the Huntsgirl was. The episode starts with another attempt by Jake to try to win over Rose. Rose is playing Cleopatra in Shakespeare’s Antony and Cleopatra. The role of Antony hasn’t been cast yet. Jake tries out for the part and gets it. This means that he will have to spend a lot of alone time with her, which is exactly what he wanted. This brings us to the clues-clues that Jake should have been able to pick up on right away. Jake and Rose make plans to practice, which just happens to lead them to Rose’s mansion. He fails to pick up on Rose’s uneasiness about having him over, which can be dismissed as her being nervous about her uncle coming home and finding her alone with a boy.
It is in Rose’s mansion that the clues start to come out. Jake looks at the books and starts pulling them out. When he pulls one out, a wall of weapons appears and, then, disappears once he replaces the book. Jake doesn’t notice this. Why? He’s not paying attention. He’s too wrapped up in trying to make Rose his girlfriend. They get ready to practice, which leads us to another delay. Rose’s uncle comes home and she is forced to shove Jake under the table. When Rose’s uncle starts talking, we see Rose’s voice change as well. Right away, it’s clear that their voices match those of the Huntsgirl and Huntsman. We also see her uncle put on Huntsclan clothing, which from his view under the table, Jake may not see. As soon as it’s clear, Rose shoves Jake out the door. It strikes me as rather odd that Jake didn’t pick up on this. Again, it can be argued that Jake was more focused on not getting caught than paying attention to these little details.
June 13, 2022
Teacherspayteachers Store and Product Changes
Good afternoon all! I hope that this Monday is treating you well.
I wanted to make you aware that I have made some major changes to my products and store. When you visit my store, you will see that the number of items available for sale and download has reduced. After doing some reflection, I have decided to remove some items from my listings. These items were not selling well, in the changing learning environment no longer fit students' needs, or just need to be improved upon. While I do understand that there are teachers who use my products in their classrooms, it did not feel right to keep charging hard-working teachers for these resources.
With that being said, if there are any products that have been removed and you would like a PDF copy of said product free of charge, please . let me know. You may email me at my business account: Aphrodite-venus-u.k@hotmail.com. Please leave your name and what deleted product you would like. I will not be offering free PDF copies of current listings.
Have a great rest of your day!
I wanted to make you aware that I have made some major changes to my products and store. When you visit my store, you will see that the number of items available for sale and download has reduced. After doing some reflection, I have decided to remove some items from my listings. These items were not selling well, in the changing learning environment no longer fit students' needs, or just need to be improved upon. While I do understand that there are teachers who use my products in their classrooms, it did not feel right to keep charging hard-working teachers for these resources.
With that being said, if there are any products that have been removed and you would like a PDF copy of said product free of charge, please . let me know. You may email me at my business account: Aphrodite-venus-u.k@hotmail.com. Please leave your name and what deleted product you would like. I will not be offering free PDF copies of current listings.
Have a great rest of your day!
May 26, 2022
New Youtube Video: Vlog: Grave Creek Mound and West Virginia Penitentiary
New Youtube Video: Vlog: Grave Creek Mound and West Virginia Penitentiary
It may be a few hours before this pops up. My internet is really lagging right now.
Link: https://youtu.be/BFnqBnc0Urk
Description:
Today I am taking you along with us as we tour the Grave Creek Mound and the former West Virginia Penitentiary.
Summary:
Subject: Vlog, History,
Topic: History, Prehistory, West Virginia, Mound Builders, Prisons,
Grades: 5th-12th
Links:
Teacherspayteachers: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/S...
Teaching Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOpE...
It may be a few hours before this pops up. My internet is really lagging right now.
Link: https://youtu.be/BFnqBnc0Urk
Description:
Today I am taking you along with us as we tour the Grave Creek Mound and the former West Virginia Penitentiary.
Summary:
Subject: Vlog, History,
Topic: History, Prehistory, West Virginia, Mound Builders, Prisons,
Grades: 5th-12th
Links:
Teacherspayteachers: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/S...
Teaching Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOpE...
May 20, 2022
New Youtube Video: Primary and Secondary Sources Video Lesson
Description:
Today I am doing a short video on primary and secondary sources.
Summary:
From
Primary vs Secondary Sources | Explained with Easy Examples
Published on June 20, 2018 by Raimo Streefkerk. Revised on May 10, 2022.
A primary source gives you direct access to the subject of your research. Secondary sources provide second-hand information and commentary from other researchers. Examples include journal articles, reviews, and academic books. A secondary source describes, interprets, or synthesizes primary sources.
Subject: Research, History, Social Studies, English, Writing
Topic: Primary Sources, Secondary Sources, Research, Writing
Grades: 3rd-10th
Links:
Teacherspayteachers: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/S...
Teaching Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOpE...
Today I am doing a short video on primary and secondary sources.
Summary:
From
Primary vs Secondary Sources | Explained with Easy Examples
Published on June 20, 2018 by Raimo Streefkerk. Revised on May 10, 2022.
A primary source gives you direct access to the subject of your research. Secondary sources provide second-hand information and commentary from other researchers. Examples include journal articles, reviews, and academic books. A secondary source describes, interprets, or synthesizes primary sources.
Subject: Research, History, Social Studies, English, Writing
Topic: Primary Sources, Secondary Sources, Research, Writing
Grades: 3rd-10th
Links:
Teacherspayteachers: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/S...
Teaching Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOpE...
May 1, 2022
Teacherspayteachers Sale!
Happy Sunday everyone!
I just wanted to pop on here and let you know that all items in my teacherspayteachers store will be 20% off on May 3, 2022, and May 4, 2022! I will be adding new items soon, so check back.
Link to my store is down below.
Link: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/S...
Enjoy your day!
Serena
I just wanted to pop on here and let you know that all items in my teacherspayteachers store will be 20% off on May 3, 2022, and May 4, 2022! I will be adding new items soon, so check back.
Link to my store is down below.
Link: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/S...
Enjoy your day!
Serena
April 30, 2022
New Medium Article: Prince Zuko: From Banished Prince to Fire Lord
My latest article is now up on Medium!
Nickelodeon’s hit television show Avatar: The Last Airbender is a host of great characters, a great plot, and an amazing magic system. The show has also given us one of the best redemption arcs of all time. The recent rise in popularity and rediscovery allowed for many people to experience, or, in many instances, reexperience, Prince Zuko’s redemption arc. Why does this redemption arc work while so many fail? What makes this redemption arc work? What it is about Zuko’s character that makes this arc work?
This article takes a look into the original Avatar: The Last Airbender show. Through careful research of known character canon, I offer an in-depth look into Zuko’s character, personality, and backstory-all of which gave us a great redemption arc. This article follows Zuko’s character throughout the show and explores the moments that led him to eventually join Team Avatar. I explore how his redemption arc is not linear and offer suggestions as to why this is what makes his redemption arc work.
Below is a sneak peek of my post:
Avatar: The Last Airbender has given us several great characters and, in return, great character arcs. Each character is unique with many having messy backstories. One such example is found in Prince Zuko’s arc. Throughout the series, we see Zuko transform from banished prince to fire lord, giving us one of the greatest redemption arcs of all time. For this article, I will only be focusing on Zuko’s character arc from the aminated show.
We first meet Zuko in “The Boy in the Iceberg.” He has been banished by his father and has spent the last two years hunting the Avatar, who has not been seen in a hundred years. When we first meet him, we are introduced to a cool and unlikable teenage prince, who will do anything to achieve his goal. We also see that he is bitter and impatient, as well as a bit impulsive.
Zuko also has layers and a complex past. In “The Storm,” we learn the real reason why Zuko acts the way he does. Told in a series of flashbacks, we learn that his scar was given to him by his father. It starts with a Fire Nation War Room, to which we see Iroh deny Zuko access. Zuko claims that if he wants to be a good Fire Lord one day that he must learn and understand what a good Fire Lord is. Upon hearing this, Iroh lets Zuko in, warning him that he must not say anything. From here, things go wrong for Zuko. Zuko learns of a plan to send a group of new and inexperienced recruits to the front lines, which will allow the rest of the army to attack from the rear. When Zuko hears this, he speaks up, claiming that it would be a betrayal to sacrifice loyal Fire Nation soldiers in this manner. This hints, despite his outward demeanor, that he does not view people as expendable and thinks that it is wrong to kill able-bodied people as just a means of clearing the way for others. Fire Lord Ozai calls him out on this, claiming that he has shown the generals disrespect, and the only to set it right is through an Agni Kai. Zuko agrees and starts to prepare to fight a general in front of a group of people. However, at the Agni Kai, he learns that he will not be fighting a general, but his father. Zuko begs his father for mercy, claiming that he only has the Fire Nation’s interests at heart, and even goes as far as to apologize for his actions. His father attempts to goad him into fighting, claiming that it is the only way for him to restore his honor. Zuko doesn’t and, instead, with tears running down his face, places himself at his father’s feet, showing that he is a loyal son. Ozai, then, tells him that he has to learn respect and that suffering will be his teacher. He scars his son. It is these events that set off Zuko’s hunt for Aang. To him, finding the Avatar is the only way that he can restore his honor.
The full article can be found at the link below.
Link: https://alysonserenastone.medium.com/...
Serena
Nickelodeon’s hit television show Avatar: The Last Airbender is a host of great characters, a great plot, and an amazing magic system. The show has also given us one of the best redemption arcs of all time. The recent rise in popularity and rediscovery allowed for many people to experience, or, in many instances, reexperience, Prince Zuko’s redemption arc. Why does this redemption arc work while so many fail? What makes this redemption arc work? What it is about Zuko’s character that makes this arc work?
This article takes a look into the original Avatar: The Last Airbender show. Through careful research of known character canon, I offer an in-depth look into Zuko’s character, personality, and backstory-all of which gave us a great redemption arc. This article follows Zuko’s character throughout the show and explores the moments that led him to eventually join Team Avatar. I explore how his redemption arc is not linear and offer suggestions as to why this is what makes his redemption arc work.
Below is a sneak peek of my post:
Avatar: The Last Airbender has given us several great characters and, in return, great character arcs. Each character is unique with many having messy backstories. One such example is found in Prince Zuko’s arc. Throughout the series, we see Zuko transform from banished prince to fire lord, giving us one of the greatest redemption arcs of all time. For this article, I will only be focusing on Zuko’s character arc from the aminated show.
We first meet Zuko in “The Boy in the Iceberg.” He has been banished by his father and has spent the last two years hunting the Avatar, who has not been seen in a hundred years. When we first meet him, we are introduced to a cool and unlikable teenage prince, who will do anything to achieve his goal. We also see that he is bitter and impatient, as well as a bit impulsive.
Zuko also has layers and a complex past. In “The Storm,” we learn the real reason why Zuko acts the way he does. Told in a series of flashbacks, we learn that his scar was given to him by his father. It starts with a Fire Nation War Room, to which we see Iroh deny Zuko access. Zuko claims that if he wants to be a good Fire Lord one day that he must learn and understand what a good Fire Lord is. Upon hearing this, Iroh lets Zuko in, warning him that he must not say anything. From here, things go wrong for Zuko. Zuko learns of a plan to send a group of new and inexperienced recruits to the front lines, which will allow the rest of the army to attack from the rear. When Zuko hears this, he speaks up, claiming that it would be a betrayal to sacrifice loyal Fire Nation soldiers in this manner. This hints, despite his outward demeanor, that he does not view people as expendable and thinks that it is wrong to kill able-bodied people as just a means of clearing the way for others. Fire Lord Ozai calls him out on this, claiming that he has shown the generals disrespect, and the only to set it right is through an Agni Kai. Zuko agrees and starts to prepare to fight a general in front of a group of people. However, at the Agni Kai, he learns that he will not be fighting a general, but his father. Zuko begs his father for mercy, claiming that he only has the Fire Nation’s interests at heart, and even goes as far as to apologize for his actions. His father attempts to goad him into fighting, claiming that it is the only way for him to restore his honor. Zuko doesn’t and, instead, with tears running down his face, places himself at his father’s feet, showing that he is a loyal son. Ozai, then, tells him that he has to learn respect and that suffering will be his teacher. He scars his son. It is these events that set off Zuko’s hunt for Aang. To him, finding the Avatar is the only way that he can restore his honor.
The full article can be found at the link below.
Link: https://alysonserenastone.medium.com/...
Serena
April 3, 2022
New Youtube Video: The Very Hungry Caterpillar Read Aloud
New Youtube Video: Read Aloud: The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
It may be a few hours before this pops up. My internet is really lagging right now.
Link: https://youtu.be/v4IW__CVwj0
Description:
Today I am doing a read aloud of The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle!
Summary:
THE all-time classic story, from generation to generation, sold somewhere in the world every 30 seconds! Have you shared it with a child or grandchild in your life?
One sunny Sunday, the caterpillar was hatched out of a tiny egg. He was very hungry. On Monday, he ate through one apple; on Tuesday, he ate through three plums--and still he was hungry. When full at last, he made a cocoon around himself and went to sleep, to wake up a few weeks later wonderfully transformed into a butterfly!
The brilliantly innovative Eric Carle has dramatized the story of one of Nature's commonest yet loveliest marvels, the metamorphosis of the butterfly.
Subject: Reading, Children’s Literature, Literature
Topic: Reading, Read Aloud, Children’s Literatures, Animals, Night
Grades: PreK-5th
Links:
Teacherspayteachers: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/S...
Teaching Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOpE...
It may be a few hours before this pops up. My internet is really lagging right now.
Link: https://youtu.be/v4IW__CVwj0
Description:
Today I am doing a read aloud of The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle!
Summary:
THE all-time classic story, from generation to generation, sold somewhere in the world every 30 seconds! Have you shared it with a child or grandchild in your life?
One sunny Sunday, the caterpillar was hatched out of a tiny egg. He was very hungry. On Monday, he ate through one apple; on Tuesday, he ate through three plums--and still he was hungry. When full at last, he made a cocoon around himself and went to sleep, to wake up a few weeks later wonderfully transformed into a butterfly!
The brilliantly innovative Eric Carle has dramatized the story of one of Nature's commonest yet loveliest marvels, the metamorphosis of the butterfly.
Subject: Reading, Children’s Literature, Literature
Topic: Reading, Read Aloud, Children’s Literatures, Animals, Night
Grades: PreK-5th
Links:
Teacherspayteachers: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/S...
Teaching Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOpE...
