A Delightful Dead End

It's a solid start and I'm looking forwards to hopefully getting more in the future.

Social Justice Resources:
-
-

Personal Links:

[jaysmall]

Some folks are trying to redefine pug breeding standards to make them healthier! They're breeding 'retro pugs' designed to look like the standard before the brachycephalic look came into fashion, and they're generally better proportioned, with longer limbs and snouts that dramatically reduce their health issues. I hope they become the new standard!

[verinha]

As a trans woman, it was the first time I'd ever seen myself and my problems as a trans person on screen. When Barney flat out said he's trans in the second episode and how that affects his decision to move out and resent his parents, I FELT THAT!

[revanius]

Norma is one of my favorite canon autistic characters in media, she's intelligent without being a super genius, socially awkward and loves talking about her special interests, also her way of remembering people by occupation was something I loved since I also can't remember names.

One thing I'm hoping for in season 2 is seeing more of Norma's home life, in season 1 we saw some of Barney's but not much of Norma's beside her mother being supportive and a little overprotective. If we see her sister in season 2 we might see the more negative side of being autistic and living with neurotypicals.

[sabinasabino]

God, the thing with Barney and his grandmother hits hard.
Potentially triggering recounting of life experiences ahead.
I’ve had a similar situation, my mom loves me and accepts me, my aunt did, she recently passed, but my grandmother like — no disrespect to sex work, but she has stated several times loud and clear that because I am a trans woman I’ll inevitably turn to prostitution because no one will hire me, and therefore she must fix me before she dies. She also hates the fact that I am a lesbian because... god, her reasoning is also awful. And you know, my mother can’t stand up to her. When I had a mental breakdown because of my grandmother, my mom actually apologized to my grandmother for me having a fairly understandable breakdown due to a barrage of transphobia. She apologized to her. Later on, after many a fight and sobbing discussion, my mom recognized how messed up that had been, and I forgave her because my grandmother is abusive, and also did quite a number on my mom when she was growing. She was actually genuinely afraid my grandmother would physically assault me. My mom and me have been talking strategies, if I ask to leave, we leave, no questions asked. If she missgenders me, correct her. Things like that. And I no longer obliged to see her.
God, sorry for the rant it’s been hard.

[RokkTheRock]

norma being shown as that obsessed with pauline was great (': it made me feel less ""cringy"" for also being obsessed with this one character. i buy fan made items and official ones of them, i love talking about them, i even just love doodling them, theyve basically become the default thing i draw

[lolzerous]

You were right to distrust Netflix, I'm still so mad they cancelled the show

[jackriver]

I love how the show addressed Norma's feelings about her special interest falling apart, after learning that Pauline is an awful person. I used to have a special interest in Harry Potter and I felt a very similar betrayal when JKR came out as a raging transphobe. It's a very difficult thing to go through and I love that this show actually addresses it.

[joelsytairo]

As an ugly person with fetal alcohol syndrome and several other facial deformities, I totally get the obnoxious “out of your league” rhetoric that comes with wanting to be with conventionally attractive people. I do however think there’s something to be said about not letting us set our expectations too high or give us false feedback about our own appearance.

[WastedYouthr]

This was a really surprising show. For so many progressive concepts, it felt realistic and subtle enough to treat the concepts with respect while still being a genuinely good, spooky, silly show.

[jackriver]

I've seen my 5 yo son watch this and it makes me so happy and emotional that he is able to see people like me, his parent, on screen!! Also the fact that I am Autistic and he likely is too, and he is able to see characters he can relate to, such as Norma.

I'm really happy with it and I look forward to season 2!

Edit: also, I cried when I found out that Norma is canonically Autistic! Like you say, our existence is so often ignored that I thought I could only headcanon her as such.

[cardboardcreatur]

i was thinking that pauline turning out to be evil seemed to be similar to all the stuff with HP just before you said it. those books were my special interest for all of childhood and middleschool, so finding out the creator hated my existence was really hard to reconcile with.

[eonstar]

"The moment they allowed their son to be verbally abused right in front of them, they rightfully lost his trust" this line was something I couldn't put into words about why I was so angry at family that had technically done nothing to me. Not the same situation as this character, but thank you for putting this into words.

[unripelemon]

I'm also trans and Autistic, and have been struggling with my weight all my life. Literally when I saw Barney when starting this show with my sibling, I yelledd 'Oh my God he's fat!' Because I was so happy

[erika-paigehutch]

I'm not trans but I understood Barney's struggle with his parents, I grew up with my mum constantly telling me that I needed to be grateful when she was giving the bare minimum and when I wasn't I would get yelled at and it was all very emotionally damaging, while it wasn't the same situation I could understand some of Barney's feeling and that was nice, also norma having anxiety was so relatable it made me happy

[hellohumans]

As someone who falls somewhere in neurodivergent scale, I adored Norma so much, me and my trans brother would jokingly say Norma and Barney was literally just us, that was the first I ever saw someone struggle the way I did on TV, it made me so happy finnalt seeing someone else who hates touch, hates eye contact, and has social anxiety just like me

[peggsnbacon]

I have to say, Dead End is basically everything I've been looking for as a Gravity Falls fan, and that's not even including the amazing rep we're getting with it too! I sooo can't wait for the next seasons

[sworddragonsliege]

I see that I definitely need to watch this show now. I've had two of my favourite YouTubers recommend it.
Also, I'm trans and probably autistic, so it'll be cool to see that in the show.

[SpottyLotti]

Is great to have well done representation once in a while. I’m really excited for the second season that coming October 13th as well, and I hope you will like it too!

[TheyCallMeIce]

Another thing about Barney's grandmother, her... attitude is hinted even before the fears episode. In ep 2 "The Tunnel". When chasing down Pugsley, Barney yells out something along the lines of "why cant you be the Pugsly I knew" or "why cant you be my Pugsly", to which he replies by stating Barney "sounds like gam gam".

That's a little detail I thought was neat. How sometimes we dont even notice how our hateful family affects us.

Also; Norma is a MIRROR AND I LOVE HER.
Also word play. Norma =/= normal

Edit: HOW COULD I FORGET!? Ep. 1: "The Job" and Barney asking his mother if she told his grand mother "that BARNEY would be there".

[joaovitorfarinabraga]

5:28 oh I liked it, it’s such a realistic thing that I’m surprised it’s not portrait in media more often, like I’m not out to my parents yet but I know that it would be like that, the “fake acceptance”, of superficially showing that they are supporting to see me happy but deeply wishing that I was straight and not standing up for me in times of discriminating, I had no idea this show existed but now I’m glad to know, thanks man.