Hello! I hope you’re all having a lively day! Someone requested I make redesigning characters from shows a series so here we are with 3Below designs. 3Below is a Netflix original series created by Guillemoro Del Toro. It is the second part in a (soon to be) three part trilogy called Tales of Arcadia. It takes place in Arcadia Oaks, a fictional town where many strange things seem to be happening and it follows Krel and Aja: two aliens (excuse me, Akiridians, my apologies.) who have escaped their homeland (Akiridian 5) and ended up on the pile of dirt that is Earth. It follows the two as they struggle to return home and fit in amongst their classmates. I love 3Below. I honestly think it’s better than Troll Hunters, which isn’t saying much but y’know. Aja is absolute baby and we must protec at all costs. The alien designs are absolutely beautiful and every time Aja shouts lively! it brings a smile to my face. Despite that, I think the designs and story could use some work. So please enjoy my not-really-a-thought-process-because-this-has-just-been-simmering-in-my-mind-for-months chaotic thought process (this is mainly me just ranting (you have been warned)): I do have my gripes with the show. The way race and racial issues were handled was not amazing. For instance, in one episode we learn that Krel’s math teacher only ever gives out one A+ on any given test, for som reason. This sparks a conflict between Krel and a white boy’s dad who is a full believer in white supremacy and that sorta thing. Despite this, and Krel constantly being poked at with lines like “people like him”, we never have the conversation about race. Krel never is confused about why this conflict has arisen, despite being an alien unaware of Earth’s conflicts, and never goes to his white alien friend who’s lived on earth far longer than them and could have that conversation with him. Furthermore, when the dad challenges Krel to a math fight with his son, the teacher should have realized the blatant racism at hand and put a stop to it. Did she though? No. What happened instead, is we come to the end of this fight and Krel, being the smarter of the two boys, could win. But he doesn’t. He decides to lose to the white boy and his dad and his dad. What a horrible way to being up racial conflicts then end it by saying white people are always the winners. Don’t think I haven’t noticed there’s only one person who isn’t white in either of the two shows, and he’s an ALIEN. It would also have been nice to talk about why Mother said girls are invisible and that sort of thing but whatever. Gender is one thing, race is another, and we can easily say girls can do things too by making Aja a warrior. We already have that conflict between Varvatos Vex and Aja. In my story, both Aja and Krel are Latinx. It seems odd to have one white sibling and one latinx sibling. That’s definitely something that would draw attention to the family as a whole. The story is now less about Krel and Aja worrying about aliens trying to attack them, and more about learning about earth and the culture of it. I want to see more conversations. We’re gonna talk about racism. We’re gonna talk about sexism. And we’re gonna talk about homo/trans/bi/queer phobia. That’s a tall ticket, I know, but this is my fantasy world, one I’m writing, one I’m not pitching for a kids streaming service. Krel and Aja are going to make friends. They’re going to learn how it is to be close with someone who isn’t your family and no will support you to the end. In my story, Krel is somewhere on the nb spectrum. I’m thinking genderfluid, but I haven’t settled on an specific identity yet. Back on Akiridion 5, Krel was much more in touch with his feminine side. His body was curvier though still with the typical male form and he enjoys hanging out with Aja and doing all the typical male and female activities with her. Because of this, he is extremely uncomfortable with his human form. He hates his body and his chiseled features, and only ever wears baggy clothing. This will symbolize the disconnect between his two forms: whereas his human form wears baggy clothing, his alien form wears skintight clothing and moves much more freely and expressively. Because of this, he is much quicker to take on his alien form whenever possible. I’m thinking we can address these issues near the end at like a pool party, where all of the friends they’ve accumulated during their time there come over in their swimsuits. Aja persuades Krel to put on his bathing suit, but later on Krel admits his discomfort and Aja lends him her swim shirt. Afterwards they talk about his gender and everything. Wouldn’t it be so awesome if she asked what pronouns He wanted Her to use?? Oh my gosh that would make me so happy! Maybe after that everyone Subtly begins to use they/them pronouns for him. That is a non-binary person’s DREAM right there. That’s when he gets his ears pierced with Aja and they wear matching earrings!! Oh my gosh!
