Hi everyone and thanks for tuning in to #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-03-08
I'm going to livetweet VeggieTales "Esther: The Girl Who Became Queen" (2000) #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YdxwvjHg2hc …—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-03-08
We start out with Mr. Lunt waking up Vashti in the middle of the night bc the king wants her to make a sandwich #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-03-08
Vashti: "Well I'm the queen! And the king can make his own sandwich!" #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-03-08
Mr Lunt kicks out Vashti. King (Nezzar) is like "don't you think that might have been a little harsh?" #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-03-08
omg these peas riding the "subway" #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-03-08
Esther is talking to Mordecai (Pa Grape) about how she doesn't know what to say to her friend who stole an apple. #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-03-08
Mordecai: "You never need to be afraid to do what's right." #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-03-08
Wait wait wait you guys, you need to see Haman's car #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales pic.twitter.com/fQC9NErdC5—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-03-08
Instead of tires, there are 4 (sentient) peas carrying it #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-03-08
@pnumber628 Now THAT'S a cool litter!—Ahab (@Ahab_Of_Gilead) 2018-03-08
Mordecai hides from Haman. Esther is left standing there on the street. #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-03-08
wowoowwwwww so shady. Haman wants the women to just get in his shady wagon.—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-03-08
All the women except Esther are very excited about it. #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales
Haman is gathering young women bc the king needs a new queen. Esther doesn't want to come but Mordecai tells her to go. #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-03-08
Haman: "You know, we both work for the king, but compared to me, you are a g-nat."—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-03-08
#PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales
At the palace. Mordecai sneaks in to visit Esther. He explains that Haman hates their family & she can't tell anyone what family she is from. #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-03-08
Esther says she doesn't want to be there. Mordecai says maybe God has a reason. #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-03-08
OH MY GOD THE PUPPIES SONGGGGGGG #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales pic.twitter.com/5KyYktK85T—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-03-08
"I'd give a home to all the lost puppies, if ever one day I were QUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEN! ARF!" #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-03-08
King: "What am I gonna do with all those dogs?" #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-03-08
King is selecting his queen through a sort of Miss America contest. They have to sing a song. #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-03-08
It's Esther's turn (she is Miss Babylon) and she's like "what am I supposed to do?" This is quite weird. #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-03-08
Esther sings the song her grandma used to sing about God protecting us #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-03-08
When I was a little kid, i always thought it was so weird how she nods her head to cue the music- like, she hadn't planned what song to sing, how does she have music lined up? #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-03-08
Mordecai: "You're the queen of all ... Poisia"—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-03-08
i think he is from NYC #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales
Esther isn't really excited about being queen. Mordecai says there must be a reason. #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-03-08
King: "Do you think she's gonna like me?"—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-03-08
Haman: "Oh yes, you're the king, everybody likes you. Under penalty of death." #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales
Larry the Cucumber is taking notes on everything the king does #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-03-08
A pea showed up to give the king a cake. But it's a trap! There is a piano hanging above it. #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-03-08
"You can only appreciate the full beauty of this confectionary masterpiece in the proper light" oh this movie is so good #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-03-08
Haman figures out that the "chef" isn't really the chef. He and the king go back and forth about the cake, until Mordecai points out the piano to Esther and she yells "stop, it's a trap!" #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-03-08
Esther & Mordecai saved the king's life #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-03-08
"Why is there a piano on my cake?" #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-03-08
the 2 peas who tried to kill the king will be banished to The Island Of Perpetual Tickling #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales pic.twitter.com/8OXY5ZxPAR—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-03-08
The narrator explains that you're not allowed to appear before the king uninvited #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-03-08
Haman is jealous of Mordecai. He sings a villain song about how the king is in danger. #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-03-08
ie he is trying to convince the king that Mordecai's family is a threat #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-03-08
Haman: "The law must be adjusted. There are those who can't be trusted. A sneaky little family who do sneaky little things..." #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-03-08
"A zucchini-shaped sarcophagus is where you'll sleep." #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-03-08
The king is convinced & willing to sign whatever law Haman puts in front of him #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-03-08
The law says Mordecai's family will be banished to The Island of Perpetual Tickling #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-03-08
When the king stamped the law, Haman covered the part with a picture of Mordecai- the idea is that the king doesn't really know what the law is #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-03-08
Mordecai comes and tells Esther about this new law. He says Esther needs to go to the king and ask for help. #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-03-08
Esther says NO. She didn't even want to be queen! It's against the law to show up before the king uninvited! She was too scared to even confront her apple-stealing friend! #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-03-08
Mordecai says maybe this is the reason God put her there. And then he says: "I'll pray for you." OHHH wow those of us who speak Christianese know how passive-aggressive that is. #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-03-08
Esther sings her song about asking God what to do, and then sings her grandmother's song about God protecting us #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-03-08
"There is nothing I can't face when God is at my side." #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-03-08
Esther is going in to see the king. #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-03-08
King is surprised to see her.—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-03-08
Haman: "Hey, who invited the queen?" #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales
They realize nobody invited her. But the king says "But that's okay! Come on over here queenie-poo. I don't know if anybody told you, but popping up uninvited is generally discouraged around here." #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-03-08
King says he'll give her whatever she wants. Esther is super nervous, seems like she doesn't know what to say, like she's chickening out and inviting them for dinner instead. #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-03-08
At dinner, Esther is like "the real reason I asked you over here was........." and then stammering nervously, then invites them for dinner again tomorrow. #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-03-08
HER FACE THOUGH both times after she invites them for dinner & they happily say yes #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-03-08
Haman meets Mordecai on his way home from dinner. Haman wants Mordecai to bow. Mordecai says he's a fool, this makes Haman really mad, he wants to get Mordecai banished TONIGHT. #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-03-08
Meanwhile, king is in bed, and Larry is reading from the scroll, records from the king's life. They get to the part where Mordecai saves the king's life. #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-03-08
King wants to know if they ever did something to thank Mordecai. Maybe send him a card? #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-03-08
Just then, Haman shows up, & king asks for ideas abt how to thank a very special guy. Haman thinks it's about him! Suggests a parade. #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-03-08
"And one of your most noble princes should lead this man through the city, shouting, 'This is a really great guy! The king really likes him! He's brave, and has rugged good looks!'" #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-03-08
King is like, great idea, do all those things for Mordecai. Haman is really angry. #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-03-08
Now we are at the dinner with Esther, king, & Haman (who just came from Mordecai's parade) #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-03-08
Esther finally gets the courage to tell the king "the real reason" she wants to talk to him #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-03-08
She says Haman wants to banish her family! She pulls out a copy of the law. It has Mordecai's picture! King is like "YOU HAD ME BANISH THE MAN WHO SAVED MY LIFE, AND MY QUEEN?" #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-03-08
King is really mad & banishes Haman to The Island of Perpetual Tickling. Yay Esther's people are saved. #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-03-08
Narrator says Esther was just a regular girl, and God had such big plans, and she got to be a part of that #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-03-08
Okay that's the end, I guess there's no "what we learned today" wrap-up for this VeggieTales episode #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-03-08
@pnumber628 This one was written during the height of their financial over-reach. :(—Christian Janeway (@XianJaneway) 2018-03-08
@pnumber628 I have Phil Vischer's book here *sonewhere*, & it's actually pretty powerful. It's the antithesis of Typical Christian Culture.™—Christian Janeway (@XianJaneway) 2018-03-08
He actually learned his lesson, & tried to pass it on to others.
@XianJaneway oooooh i might be interested in that—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-03-08
So, first of all, I want to talk about how throughout this story (in the VeggieTales telling of it), Esther seems to be just stumbling through, no planning, doesn't even want to be there #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-03-08
at the song contest to become queen- it's her turn to go on stage, and instead she's asking the emcee "what am I supposed to do" & "I guess I wasn't expecting to get this far" & then just completely wings it with the 1st song that comes to mind #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-03-08
I don't know why this bothers me so much- maybe because in Christian culture, ambition is seen as bad, so when you're successful you have to pretend that you didn't really try, it just kind of happened #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-03-08
Let's compare this to the real story of Esther. Probably she didn't have a choice about "auditioning" to be queen, but once she was there, i would say she did make an effort to win #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-03-08
So when I was tweeting about this, I didn't get into the sketchy issues about consent and how unhealthy Esther's marriage was.Though, ahem, in the real story, the "contestants" have sex with the king #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-03-08
First of all, in the real story, the women just had to join the king's harem and didn't have a choice about it. And the way the bible is written, it's like it never even occurred to anyone that women should have a choice in who they marry or whether they have sex.
And second, how come all the times I heard this story in church, nobody ever pointed out how Esther and the king's marriage is very much NOT a model of a healthy marriage? Like, she's not allowed to talk to him unless he calls for her first- like, you do realize that healthy relationships are built on COMMUNICATION, right? And they had such a GIANT power imbalance. Like why didn't anyone ever point out that, if the main obstacle in your story is a woman can't talk to her husband without fearing he'll have her killed, maybe their marriage is kind of fucked up?
Later, in the VeggieTales story, it seems like Esther is asking the king to dinner bc she's chickening out & she was supposed to be telling him about her family being in danger #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-03-08
It's presented like she tried to tell the king 3 times, failed the 1st 2, finally on the 3rd try she was able to say it. #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-03-08
But in the real story, Esther has a plan. She invites the king for dinner to get him in a good mood & more likely to listen to her. #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-03-08
Actually, the narrator did say that some believe if you're doing the right thing, you don't need to be nervous or plan so much what you're going to say. #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-03-08
I think for this story, they were trying to emphasize Esther overcoming her fear of talking to the king, so that's why they made it like inviting him for dinner was a failure, instead of part of her MASTER PLAN #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-03-08
They were emphasizing her conflicted emotions abt whether or not she had the "courage" to do what's right. Whereas in the real story, she made a plan, knew it was risky, but stuck to it. #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-03-08
Another thing I want to talk about: umm, it's almost like this VeggieTales movie shows Esther being nervous to talk to the king bc of her social anxiety, rather than fear of death if he reacts badly #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-03-08
That's quite weird. #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-03-08
Like, let me all tell you, when I was a little kid, talking to people was SO HARD #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-03-08
When I was little, I used to never call people by their names (except for close family) because I had this fear that I was remembering their name wrong & that would be so embarrassing #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-03-08
When I wanted to get someone's attention to tell them something, I just kind of stood in front of them until they looked at me to find out what was up #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-03-08
And then that moment when they know I want to say something but they don't know what it's about & they're trying to figure it out & i'm trying to tell them but i'm not explaining it fast enough & they are looking at me confused #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-03-08
it was SO HARD for little-kid Perfect Number to talk to people #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-03-08
And now I work as an engineer & people are like "wow that's so hard, I could never do that" & i just feel like, i could never do a job that involved TALKING TO PEOPLE, i'll just be over here writing C++ #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-03-08
Seriously, I remember i used to pray, tell God I would do ANYTHING for him, even if it was hard, even if it was something really really hard like talking to people #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-03-08
i'm much better at talking to people now, by the way. i guess in college it got a lot better bc everyone shows up as a freshman not knowing anyone & wants to be friendly, so i just acted like the friendly ppl #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-03-08
Anyway, I'm watching this VeggieTales telling of the story of Esther, and she is EXACTLY like little-kid Perfect Number who is so nervous abt bringing up a new topic in conversation bc... like i don't even know why, but SO NERVOUS #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-03-08
Like... uh... do you realize Esther is not supposed to be a story about social anxiety? #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-03-08
In the real story, Esther initially didn't want to go to the king bc there was a very real possibility he might have her killed. #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-03-08
Like, I think it's incredibly weird that the issue in this telling of Esther is 'she's just so nervous she can't get the words out', rather than 'there is a very real danger of being executed' #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-03-08
And Esther & Mordecai talked abt how it's a similar situation to how she was too scared to confront her apple-stealing friend #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-03-08
like.... i feel like that's not the same? #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-03-08
like the issue with the apple-stealing friend really is just social anxiety, worry about what the friend will think, maybe she won't want to be friends with Esther anymore #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-03-08
Talking to the king was a delicate political situation where she could have been killed #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-03-08
All right what else can we discuss about VeggieTales "Esther"? #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-03-08
As always, the jokes, songs, and characters in VeggieTales are FANTASTIC #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-03-08
The bit where Haman has to do the parade for Mordecai is so good, just fantastic storytelling. (happened the same way in the bible story as in the VeggieTales story) #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-03-08
Oh right, we have to talk about genocide in the Esther story. #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-03-08
So, does anyone think it's a bit odd that the king signs the law that says one demographic will be killed, & then later realizes it was a bad idea because "oh no, the queen is a member of that family"? #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-03-08
Like..... maybe it's bad because genocide is bad? #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-03-08
@pnumber628 The author of the Biblical Esther story didn't realize this either. If I remember correctly, Mordecai and his people then massacred all the members of their enemy groups (including innocents) after winning the king's favor.—Ahab (@Ahab_Of_Gilead) 2018-03-08
Also, every time we learned the story of Esther in Sunday school, they conveniently didn't read to the end, where the Jews kill the people that were threatening them #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-03-08
Yeah, in the version of Esther we learned in Sunday school, the ending is "Haman is killed & the Jews are saved, the end" #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-03-08
the actual ending of Esther is much more, uh, morally questionable #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-03-08
All right let's get to the main lesson that VeggieTales "Esther" was trying to teach: God has a plan, God may put you in some situation & you don't know why, but then there's a chance to do smth big & important #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-03-08
My first thought is, i think this was fine, the way VeggieTales did it. I personally don't agree with that "God has a plan" stuff, but eh, whatever, some ppl believe that, it's not necessarily a terrible belief. #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-03-08
I think "God has a plan" ideology becomes unhealthy when ppl believe they're not able/allowed to make their own decisions in their own life #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-03-08
Also, "God has a plan" ideology becomes bad when smth bad happens & we're supposed to pretend it's not *actually* bad bc "God must have had a reason" #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-03-08
And yeah, the Esther story kind of got close to both of those unhealthy interpretations- the way Esther's portrayed as just stumbling into becoming queen & not actually trying...—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-03-08
#PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales
... & how Mordecai says SO MANY TIMES that yeah Esther doesn't like the situation she's in, but God must have a reason for it. #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-03-08
I mean, i'm not really gonna criticize it that much- I very much believe "God has a plan" can be a very unhealthy belief, but in VeggieTales "Esther" it didn't come across as unhealthy, so, whatever. #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-03-08
All right apparently that's all I have to say about VeggieTales "Esther"~ hope you all enjoyed my analysis #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-03-08
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To see all my VeggieTales reviews: Perfect Number Watches VeggieTales (Master Post)
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