The cooler, wetter weather has caused us to move much of our sibling rivalry fighting indoors. There are plenty of indoor toys, let alone game screens, to argue over, but our latest, loudest feuding has been over Netflix.
Buster likes Star Wars shows, especially those that combine the franchise with LEGOs. What could go wrong when the two most awesome things in his world are combined? These programs may not be very entertaining for adults, but at least they are not fingernails-on-chalkboard painful like his second favorite: Power Rangers. There are many different incarnations of Power Rangers, and some stab at my brainstem less brutally than others. The most plentiful episodes, though, seem to have been produced by a Junior High A/V class under a substitute teacher.
Even Big Brother’s eight-year-old sense of production values is offended by this Public Access Channel version of Power Rangers.
Buster’s greatest Netflix adversary is Big Man, with his weakness for talking dogs.
Big Man loves puppies, a group that includes all dogs, regardless of age. He likes the baby puppies best, but even the old puppies are good. There are lots of tolerable dogs in cartoons, but Big Man doesn’t care for cartoons. He likes live-action movies. While it seems quite natural for Scooby-Doo to talk, I get a little freaked out when I hear Don Knotts’ voice come out of a real dog. Don Knotts’ voice was unsettling enough when it came out of Don Knotts.
Will the real Deputy Fife please stand up?
There are more movies featuring talking puppies than you probably imagine. As a parent who has now watched a good many of them, this makes me sad. The only thing that makes me sadder is that somehow there aren’t enough movies featuring talking puppies.
I’ve learned not to lament the discovery of another talking dog movie. Finding another talking dog movie is a minor miracle. A new talking dog movie gives us a 90 minute reprieve from having to watch the old talking dog movie one more time. That’s something to be thankful for.
Buster might not mind the dog movies if they didn’t take away from his Star Wars/Power Rangers time. As soon as he sees the first hint of closing credits, he’s on the remote. Big Man’s movie is over and it’s his turn to choose. It’s only fair, except that when a Power Rangers episode ends, the next episode starts automatically. This may be the single greatest cruelty anyone has ever done to me. I call it the loop of agony.
Go! Go! Power Rangers! Go! Go! Unplug the TV before the next episode starts!
You might think this would be the perfect time for me to go out into the peaceful, cold rain and read a book. I would be content with that, but the kid who’s not watching his choice isn’t about to let me go where there be mud puddles without sloshing along beside me. Besides, everyone else in my family is counting on me to convince Buster that Power Rangers is really over before the next episode auto-starts.
Snoozing on the Sofa 
We’ve been through a Power Rangers phase… it was a really long phase. An ultra mega long phase. Possibly a super ultra mega long phase.
They tend to get that way.
Three words that will change your life: Noise canceling headphones. The kids might go all Lord of the Flies but you’ll get some peace and quiet.
And I get no warning when someone is about to leap onto my midsection. I need all my senses fully functioning when taking on these ninjas.
Power Rangers is never over… just different actors. Just ask my two boys. 😀
Oh joy!
😀
Now I know why we were not allowed to watch TV when we were kids. And regardless the weather except pouring rain, we were outside. Oh the long suffering of parents …. thank goodness I only have cats. LOL 🙂
Yeah, the cats probably aren’t addicted to the talking dog movies.
That they are not! LOL
My kitten loves cooking shows but at least he’s not that proficient with the remote.
That’s the problem with my kids: they have opposable thumbs.
Opposable thumbs and a more up to date tech knowledge too I’ll bet. 🙂
Sounds like you need a double scotch..
You are a very intuitive reader.
Why thank you!
Credit where credit is due.
Tinking scotch glasses. Is tinking a word? Who cares cuz scotch.
You say tinking; I say clinking. TomAto; Tomaato. Let’s have another scotch.
Sounds good to me!
I guess the thing with the kids and their favorite shows is that you not only have the pleasure to watch it once. But twice. Actually three times… wait, what did they say? Kids can watch it 15 times before they get bored…. noooooo
15 is a pretty conservative estimate.
I think so too… 😬
I stopped at a store to buy Power Ranger dolls for my 2 year old 8 hours after giving birth to her new sister. Power Rangers is still the single most important thing in her 23 year old life. Its a long phase.
Have mercy!