Drama
A Man in Full
Talent and intrigue ultimately can’t cloak the truth about this vulgar, crass and graphic drama on Netflix.
Emily Elizabeth didn’t really know what she was getting when she and her parents brought their first puppy home. All they knew was that one day they had a cute, little red dog they named Clifford, and the next day Clifford was big as a house. Literally.
So, Emily and her parents packed up their home in the city and moved out to Birdwell Island to give Clifford room to roam. These days, Clifford is doing just fine. He has a few close, normal-sized canine companions, Tucker and Bailey, and of course his closest pal of all, Emily Elizabeth.
Together, these friends spend their days reading fantastical stories, playing outside and using their imaginations for each exciting adventure on their hometown island.
In the days of old, before streaming, when all you had were a few channels, PBS reigned as the kid-friendly king. And Clifford, the Big Red Dog was one of the best shows around, in my opinion. That was in the early 2000s. Now, Amazon Prime has taken over the big, red dog and given the series a fresh look and feel. But not everyone is excited about it.
The new series, while it still features Clifford and Emily Elizabeth, has lost some memorable characters and personalities. These days, it seems like everyone on Birdwell Island is…well, too nice. There’s not much character development. And a few episodes have features a lesbian couple, as well as some fortune telling. And while that might be an issue for the millennial moms and dads that grew up with the original, that doesn’t mean that their kids mind.
This reboot still holds a lot for families of littles. Each episode is split into two, 12-minute segments that offer valuable lessons. Fun, catchy, original songs teach kids about teamwork, problem solving, patience, obedience, kindness, equality and how to overcome fear.
This show really centers on finding a story and make believing. But the latest reboot might find parents wanting the original.
Clifford is excited for the Birdwell Fun Fair, but he gets nervous to go when Emily Elizabeth reads him an unfortunate fortune. In the second part, Clifford and his friends are tasked with watching a group of goats, but lose them when they get distracted.
Emily Elizabeth pretends to tell people’s fortunes and shows kids a book she reads to learn about fortune telling. However, she later clarifies that no one can know what’s going to happen in the future.
Kristin Smith joined the Plugged In team in 2017. Formerly a Spanish and English teacher, Kristin loves reading literature and eating authentic Mexican tacos. She and her husband, Eddy, love raising their children Judah and Selah. Kristin also has a deep affection for coffee, music, her dog (Cali) and cat (Aslan).
Talent and intrigue ultimately can’t cloak the truth about this vulgar, crass and graphic drama on Netflix.
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