Lego Monkie Kid Rewatch: Season 3

Lego Monkie Kid Rewatch: Season 3

Episode 8, Benched

Through my rewatch, I've been trying to pay attention to the smaller details and people in the show, so I can really appreciate the world.

Thank you animators, for taking the time to draw this disgruntled birb getting poofed by snow. There's no big reason here for the bird besides illustrating that its snowy now, which background scenery is already showing us. But nope! The show went the extra centimeter to include this lil birb, giving this world a little bit more depth and vitality.

"I didn't like how any of them turned out, though."

It's the circles isn't it. Circles are hard.

I love this city's design here so much!

The lanterns, snow, warm glowing signs. Look at that crane! Or the lotus! And those lantern kites! I love their mix of modern with traditional architecture! Please tell me they made a lego set of this city! And look at the people! I want every single one of these lego figures in that picture. Cute coats, cute hairs, cute winter accessories! And the toy monkey! I love it!

… ah…

Don't get me wrong. If I saw this before the show I would have thought it was a cool shopping district. But when compared to the ambiance the show gives and the background characters designs… It's just… sigh.

Monkey King casually throwing someone else' property and or merchandise like he oh so carefully threw the ring probably. Looked like a steam bun basket… ah! I bet there were some delicious baozi in there!!!

Love the accessories! So fitting that MK got a cute Monkey King stuffy. And Mei's lantern bag is the best 10/10 I would buy please give me.

I'm trying to figure out what accessories Monkey King got. I see the pin, but what are the patches on his hoodie?

Did…. Did Wukong buy a sticker pad and instead of pealing the stickers out, he pealed the whole backside and thwacked it to his clothes randomly?

Please say yes! That would be hilarious!

I'm crying again. Just look. LOOK!

Look at the way this image makes you feel. Grand. Warm. Dazzled. Festive. Cozy. Green, gold, and red all incorporated perfectly together to make a stunning block pallet! This is what we could have had! I want a set that makes me feel this!

"Can't read?"

MK. Don't just call someone out like that! You gotta ask these things delicately, in private, with a show of compassion so they don't feel judged and are more likely to be honest with you.

Sandy has to wear glasses to read?!!!! How did I miss that the first time! Sandy, I've failed you.

"But none of us have any talents! There's no way we can win!"

Ouch. MK. What is up buddy? Why are you so carelessly hurting everyone's feelings today?

And now, compilation of Monkey King freaking out. Because we all need this in our lives. I guarantee you can relate to at least on of these expressions.

"You're benching me?" "Mm, pretty much."

MK!!!! Stop hurting people's feelings! Honesty doesn't mean you have to be brutally blunt about it!

This here is a gungzheng, and it is amazing! Sadly the show doesn't do it nearly enough justice, though I am thrilled about its inclusion.

If you want to here it for yourself, here's some links to two of my favourite songs with a gungzheng!

These are my favourite nuisances. I love this family.

Tang: I feel hurt, like no one takes me seriously and I don't matter in this friend group. But since I'm a mature and rational adult I know exactly how to handle these big feelings.

Tang: By stealing!

"I'm not useless!"

Tang, dear, don't cry! You matter! They care about you, I promise! Just don't jump off that roof!

My baby!

At first I was kind of miffed that Macaque didn't just get the ring while the others were distracted. Like, come on Macaque. You're smarter than that. Wasn't he supposed to stop pulling his punches after LBD latest threats of complete deletion of his self?

But then I had a thought. Why does his shadow magic originate from under Tang? Does… does he need a living beings shadow to hop around? Was he unable to get up there unless someone else was there? That would be super cool mechanic of his powers!

"It's the guy sitting in the wings while his friend are busy having fun without him."

Ah, maybe this is where MK gets his 'bluntly saying the very thing that makes people feel bad right to their face' trait.

I love that Tang doesn't even respond to Macaque's goading. Yeah, you can see the shadow's words hurt him. But Tang sees the bigger picture, and that's getting the ring before LBD's henchman gets it!

Knowing what I do now about the Journey to the West and the encounter Macaque and Tang Sanzang had with one another… makes this fight between them way more intense and impactful.

Familiar faces bringing up some bad memories there, eh Macaque?

Once again, Macaque is blinded by his flawed perspective. His whole speech is about Wukong. No mention of MK, the main hero. Or Pigsy, the sensible one. Or Sandy, the caretaker. Or Mei, the passion. Macaque is acting like Wukong is the only opinion that matters in the team. As if the other's don't even exist. But a team is not a single player, it is defined and strengthened by all of its parts.

And this is Macaques greatest flaw. He does not look past Wukong's shadow or his own past.

"I know that my place is along side my friends. One day, I will become someone they can depend on, the way that I can always depend on them!"

Tang reminding us that we don't need power or wealth to matter, our true friends and family care for us because its 'us.' They are people we trust and look up to and who inspire us to become the best versions of ourselves.

Thank you for this message, lmk. Its important.

Love that Pigsy's singing overstimulates Macaque. The show finally remembers his full name, the Six Eared Macaque.

"I will grant you my aid."

Yeah… Doesn't look like Macaque wants it. Can he send it back?

NOOOOOO! Lantern City!!!!!

The cozy ambiance! The festive atmosphere! The cute winter apparel! All gone!!!!

really when you think about it, how amazing is it that we have the privilege of reading God’s written and spoken word

I've been trying to explain, or put my finger on why Sun's praise feels so hollow, and I think I've got it. He says what he thinks he should say.

Everything Sun Wukong says, it's stuff you're supposed to say. It's never about MK, or his feelings- it's just the general fluff phrases that teachers use to students with no personalization or flair. You're doing great. I believe in you. You got this.

Then, when we get into battle, Wukong shows a different side. One that isn't sure if MK is doing great. One that doesn't know if he's got this. One that might tell him to take to the side lines bc of spiders or not tell him about creepy white haired ladies. It's just to get MK's ego up- it's rarely something he earnestly feels.

I'm not saying he doesn't believe in MK, because he does. It just feels like he's constantly trying to puff him full'a hot air and get him more confident. It feels fake.

Before the internet, librarians were the gatekeeper of knowledge. For your reading pleasure, the New York Public Library released a cache of queries and conundrums called in from the 1940s to the 1980s.

More... https://imgur.com/gallery/100MhvX

I am utterly captivated by this video series that Taryn Delanie and friends have been making on TikTok