A Wrinkle In Time- Spoilers Galore

This will not be a spoiler free review. There is no way in the world I could write one. Meg’s journey in this story is also mine. Every obstacle she faces, and the final battle that she must confront is the exact story that I have lived. 

Meg Murry is a character after my own heart. She’s insecure and cynical, but she is also loyal and brave. And smart. Incredibly smart. Using the laws of physics and her own inner strength, Meg braves the journey to find her father alongside her brother Charles Wallace, and the boy next door Calvin with the astral travelers Mrs Who, Mrs Which and Mrs Whatsit. 

Her character growth makes this film, and that’s why it spoke to me. 

Before Meg begins her journey, Mrs Who gives her an important quote. “ The wound is the place where the light enters you.” - Rumi. 

Meg must face her own faults to battle the darkness. She doesn’t travel well, while everyone else is just fine. She is closed off to her own brilliance and what makes her special. 

Her first real test in the film is trusting The Happy Medium, who allows her to find the balance within to open her heart to her father in order to find him. 

She finds a memory, the memory of the exact moment she last saw her father, before he disappeared. That memory leads her to Camaztoz, the evil planet where her father is trapped. A planet run by an evil mind known as the IT. 

As the planet changes into obstacle after obstacle, Meg and Calvin are separated from Charles Wallace. And after a harsh battle with the darkness, Calvin gives Meg one of the best lines that any insecure person could be given, “You don’t know how incredible you are.” 

After they find Charles Wallace, they face a strange encounter with a red eyed man who claims to know Meg’s father. Calvin and Charles trust him, but Meg is not so sure. She listens to her instinct and focuses on her goal. 

They had traveled to  Camaztoz, to find her father, but the IT wants something too, Charles Wallace and his brilliant mind. 

Meg watches her brother fall to darkness and enters a realm where the path is no longer visible. Still, she is determined to find her father, and uses her will, and the gift of the unseen (given by Mrs. Who) to climb the impossible staircase leading to her father. 

When she finds him, she finally lets herself cry, allowing all the grief to wash away, but the battle isn’t over. The IT has her brother, Charles Wallace, and only Meg can save him. 

While her father and Calvin manage to get away, Meg refuses to go with them. She would never leave her brother. 

I will not lie, the final battle in this version of the story is brutal. The IT speaks harsh words through Charles Wallace, and tosses Meg like a rag doll. 

But Meg is determined to save her brother. 

What does she have that the IT doesn’t? What can she do to save her brother?

She loves him. 

As the IT continues to use her brother against her, Meg screams at him, “You love me Charles Wallace, and I deserve to be loved!” 

It is that declaration that brings her brother back, and destroys the IT entirely. Charles rushes to his sister as the evil mind bursts into light. 

Mrs. Who, Mrs Which and Mrs Whatsit return, and they congratulate Meg on her success. She knows her own brilliance now, and she is able to lead them with no pain. She has become a warrior. 

She returns home, and brings her father to her mother, and thanks Calvin for taking the journey with her. 

 As she watches the happy scene of her family reunited she whispers, “Thank you” to the universe. 

So how did I react to this story? With my entire heart. 

I have been fighting a battle with darkness for a long time. My brother’s Autism.

We all have fights with siblings, and we get angry at them. We tell them that they hurt us. Autistic siblings don’t always understand this, and that has been a struggle for me my whole life. Meltdowns, harsh words and lack of empathy. 

Confused and lost, I shut myself away from others. 

I was like Meg, closed off, sad and angry. And yes, I was bullied like Meg was too. 

So many kids are mistreated in school, and that can scar them for life. I hope they all draw inspiration from Meg in this film. 

There are times when I must remember, the Autism is not my brother. He doesn’t always understand. And yes, I love him. I love him deeply, and I would never leave him behind. But I have a right to speak up for myself too. 

I was with Meg on that battlefield screaming those words, and I left the movie theatre with a newfound strength. I had become a warrior.  

The Murrys are a wonderful family, and not without their faults. But faults can save us. Meg’s faults saved her. 

While the IT told her all that was wrong with her, Meg proudly stated that she was all that and more. 

The Murrys all possess a powerful love for each other that transcends time and space. Love is the frequency that binds them together, no matter where they are. 

My family and I have been told how amazing it is that we stick together. We do because we have that love. 

There is no book on Autism, and there is no direct type of Autism. It is still a mystery, but that mystery is just a part of my family and my life. 

We all have the ability to love beyond faults. We all have the ability to see beyond labels.  

I don’t care what the critics say about this movie. I thought it was beautiful. The diverse cast was amazing and most importantly, the message hit home. 

It’s all about the power of love, and how it reaches no matter where you are. It’s universal and beautiful. Love can overcome anything. 

I could rate this movie, but I have a personal bias that ties me to it. 

All I can do, is look up at the stars, and whisper “Thank you” to the universe. 

Tacos and Emotions: A Girl Meets World Theory

(Disclaimer: I have a slight bias here- because I can personally relate to this) 

Before I begin this theory, I have to explain a throw back to season 4 episode 5 of Boy Meets World. In this episode, Cory and Topanga fight about what it means to be a parent. Cory wants a taco, and Topanga wants to talk. 

Cory let Billy, the kid they were babysitting, stay up all night. 

Topanga tells him, "You'd rather be pals with our kids than a strong, responsible role model." 

Cory blows off the accusation, continuing to focus on the taco. 

Topanga says, "If that taco is more important to you than our child, then this family has dysfunction written all over it." 

Well guess what? 

Tacos, man. Lots of them. 

We only get glimpses of Riley's childhood in flashbacks throughout the show. 

Before Maya meets Riley, she is alone, sitting by herself and waiting for someone to sit and talk with her. She has a baby monitor in her room: Cory's way of supervising her. 

In Girl Meets Bear, we learn why Barry is so important to Riley. Topanga and Cory give the teddy bear to her on the way out the door. So let's look at that teddy bear again. 

Clearly the bear represents love, and the face represents Cory and Topanga, but wait. It has no face now. Why? 

Remember when Auggie bit the face off?  He was trying to get Riley and Maya's attention. But this action symbolizes a truth that Cory and Topanga have denied for a long time. They may not even be aware of it. 

Riley has been emotionally neglected. She never got her parents' attention and care the way Auggie has. 

Need some proof? Girl Meets Friendship is a good start. 

Take a look at Cory's response to Riley's Princess Campaign: 

Then Topanga's response to Ava, right in front of Riley:

Riley also says something in this episode that reveals another truth: 

Okay, so what does this mean? Riley was a very lonely child who would do anything to get people's attention. And she was told by her parents over and over again that she has to be happy. More proof?

Girl Meets Yearbook.

 Topanga's response to Morotia M Black.

 It may appear funny on the surface with Maya and Topanga trying to make Riley smile and be happy again, but Riley's fighting it, because she feels it. She's sad. She's angry. She's stuffed her negative emotions away to be the "Smiley" Riley that everyone wants her to be. The Riley that everyone accepts. So, now we know that Riley hides and doesn't acknowledge negative emotions. 

Okay so that's Riley's side of the story, what about Cory and Topanga? 

Well, this is a common occurrence of parenthood for new, young parents. The oldest child is the experiment, and the younger child gets the experienced and more balanced approach to parenting.  

Let's talk about Auggie for a moment, and how Cory and Topanga react to him. 

We'll go basic here: Cory is the fun parent, and Topanga is the strong responsible rolemodel. 

Auggie's childhood involves a similar dilemma to Riley. He has a Cory and Topanga complex as well, but he's living their story: so far, anyway. 

Topanga gives Auggie constant affection, emotional support and guidance. Cory cheers Auggie on.

 

But what about Riley? What is their response? 

Yowch! >_<

But wait! Cory is also Riley's teacher. Remember Girl Meets Rah Rah? 

Cory was at war with himself. His two sides, the responsible teacher and the fun loving parent. 

We also know that Cory is very overprotective of Riley. But he says something in this episode that stood out to me. 

Cory the father doesn't want Riley to be herself? While Cory the teacher wants her to learn. 

Okay, what about Topanga? 

When Topanga does involve herself with Riley, she can be inspiring, and supportive. But wait . . . who is she usually supportive to? Maya. 

Starting to make sense? 

How could Riley feel accepted and loved in this situation? 

We know that Cory and Topanga aren't perfect, but they do love their child, they just don't show it very often. But Riley loves them, and she idolizes them too. Remember Girl Meets Cory and Topanga?

Okay, so why is Riley so focused on being a "princess" and having a "Prince Charming"? 

If we look at psychological research, emotionally neglected children can grow into "love addicts". This means that they obsess over and imagine what an ideal relationship would be. 

Riley's that way, isn't she? Let's look at the fantasy she had in Ski Lodge again. 

Riley thinks that because everyone has someone, they are all happy and in love. Because they are not alone anymore. Love must be the solution to loneliness right? 

But wait? Why was she trying to be Maya? Why Princess Fairy Nut Job?  Why Morotia? Why The Purple Cat? Jexica? 

Because Riley believes that no one will like who she truly is. She's convinced that she has to "play the part" to be accepted. 

Riley is running from reality, because she doesn't want to handle it. She doesn't think she'll be accepted, loved and appreciated. 

 

But how aware is she of reality? 

I think subconsciously, Riley knows that not all is how it appears to be. This is why she and Farkle passed the science experiment in Girl Meets Stem. Because Riley, the real Riley, the Riley that she allows to come out behind that mask is smart, observant and kind. 

Why? Because she knows what it's like. This is why it was so easy for Riley to recognize what was going on with Farkle. 

Okay, but why can't she see him now? 

Let's talk about Farkle, and how Riley reacts to him. 

When they first meet, Farkle saves Riley's life. She thanks him, clearly impressed. 

When Farkle promises to love both Riley and Maya the same, Riley asks him "What if you love one of us more. What if you marry one of us?" 

Farkle continues to say that he'll love both Riley and Maya the same. What's more, he calls Riley day and Maya night. Riley wants to be accepted and appreciated right? So she's going to be whatever people want her to be. 

Farkle thinks that she's "day", so she'll be that. Farkle cares for Maya, so she'll be Maya. 

What does Maya do? Maya rejects Farkle, so Riley will reject Farkle, despite how she actually feels. 

Which brings us to Lucas, the pilot episode and Maya's influence. 

From the pilot episode, we are told that Riley wants to be Maya. Maya pushes her toward Lucas. So that's her destiny right? That's what Riley needs to do to be loved and accepted. She needs to find her Cory and Topanga story. That's why she's so caught up in the fantasy. It's what she believes will get her parents' attention and support. 

But she just needs to be herself. Riley's one obstacle from "taking on the world" is her confidence in who she really is. 

Bonus: Someone already loves her for who she is. 

.