Shezow: A Podcast Follow-Up

So in this weeks podcast we discussed the Cartoon Kids Show that small Cable TV Network The Hub has just picked up. Why weren't the only ones however, American talk-shows, News outlets, and the rest of the internet was also focusing on this would be innocuous pick up of a kids show. Now there is no mystery as to why when you look at it on paper. Shezow appears to challenge patriarchal norms, conservative norms, gender norms etc. Basically, it challenges "the norm". It is the first show I can think of where the premise, or rather, the singular joke is. "This guy is dressed as a girl".

Click to enlarge if you can't read it. It is a vague plot summary.

So yeah, the reason I'm covering this again quickly even though we covered it pretty well in the aforementioned podcast is that I actually went and watched some....

Eh.

Yeah, I don't think anyone else did either. Shezow isn't some trans-gender character, the news blew this out of proportion entirely. Guy (the character) stays a guy, he is wearing a dress and tiger leggings. It doesn't try and dissect anything, not even in a subtle Adventure Time way. Speaking of which, this is nowhere near as good as say, Adventure Time, or the new Mystery Incorporated. It has none of the subtle humour, intelligence, quiet references, or hidden meanings. 

This is just after the kid in yellow made that same "She-arious" joke from the first pictures spiel. Yeah, that basically sums up the writing on this one.

From what I say, all that the creators wanted to make was a vehicle that they could write lots of "she" puns into. That is not to say I'm slating the quality of the show. It is fine, I'd rate it probably around the later episodes of Sponge Bob Squarepants in watchability...that is, pretty cringe worthy, but harmless, briefly entertaining.

But revolutionary satire this is not, and that terms this from an issue to just brute force reaction from the Republican Right, which is kind've tragic really. Though equally, I don't think the concern Simon raised of, it being terrible and a new slur added to the lexicon of your average, already way too bigoted youth. At least you won't be hearing the androgynous boy or girl in school being tormented by calls of "Shezow".

If nothing else then the rise of She Zow cosplay might be fun.

So yeah, I don't think this will last, once people actually watch it, hopefully everyone will lose the very slim amounts of credibility that they had to talk about this to begin with.

However, that being said. I do support Shezow in theory. It challenges norms, I like that, norms suck. A guy wearing pink is refreshing and not often done, and that is silly. Equally he has to wear high heels, which is pretty funny. (Seriously, have you tried walking in those things, you could make a show based around how painful it must be to fight crime in those). Which is another point, it parodies quite nicely the "Woman Superhero Attire", he has a purse, and a lipstick lightsaber. All of which is silly.

But it is silly when a woman has it also, and yet we don't judge that, but hopefully, now kids might.

And there you have it, I watched some She Zow, and I've called the people who haven't watched it stupid, though in terms of recommendation, only watch this if you are interested in the debate around it, if you want a quality TV show, ask and I'll give you one of way too many for someone of my age to know. And hey, I finally did some semi-serious cartoon analysis...Finally.