Why A Young Hatter Madigan Animated Series Could Be The Next "Avatar: The Last Airbender"

I don’t know what has happened but in the past five to ten years the popularity of anime has exploded. While you could argue that anime was always massive, it was more of a subculture consisting of those kids who Naruto-ran in P.E. and those who watched anime but didn’t talk about it because they didn’t want to be grouped in with the Naruto-runners. What was once nerd culture is now popular culture. And I’m here for it.

I’ll let you in on a little secret, too; I was always here for it. No, I was not a Naruto runner, but when Cartoon Network switched to Toonami came on, I was locked in. (Specifically, I liked Bleach.) I knew I was about to watch something different from what I had ever seen before. Everything was new and exciting - the art style, world-building, action, and the themes that were being tackled. Before I had seen anime it never occurred to me that cartoon characters could bleed if the artist wanted them to. It was mind-blowing, it still is. When I’m in a creative rut I’ll find an anime series I’ve never seen before because the creativity is so different. It’s like a factory reset for me.

A still image from the anime TV series "Naruto" featuring Naruto Uzumaki rearing back to throw a Rasengan.

In America, the most popular anime genre is shōnen. Shōnen is manga/anime with a target audience of 12 to 18-year-old boys (girls obviously love it as well because it wouldn’t be as popular without them). Some of the most popular anime shows that have ever existed fall into this genre, Naruto, Dragonball Z, Bleach, Attack on Titan, Full Metal Alchemist, One Piece, and Hunter X Hunter. I want to keep going because I’m afraid I will miss your favorite show and you will leave an angry comment I won’t read but I’ve already mentioned enough shows.

A common trope in anime is taking a known thing, be it a historical event, fictional universe, and/or real or fictional characters, and tailoring them to the author's vision. Take the character Franken Stein from Soul Eater for example. In the show, he is an amalgamation of both Victor Frankenstein and his monster and uses electricity-centric attacks. Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is obviously the inspiration yet, in the show, Franken Stein is wholly unique. Taking characters, IPs, or historical events and using them as a jumping-off point to create your own story isn’t uniquely Japanese. A perfect example of that is in Frank Beddor’s The Looking Glass Wars series and the Hatter M graphic novels. Frank took Lewis Carroll’s world and characters and created a unique realm. This is why I think The Looking Glass Wars would be perfect for a “Western anime” adaptation. Specifically, an animated series following his Mad Hatter character, the Master Milliner and Royal Bodyguard Hatter Madigan.

Full cover art illustration from the graphic novel "Hatter M: Mad with Wonder" by artist Tae Young Choi

Frank Beddor’s Hatter Madigan is not your tea-sipping, seat-swapping Hatter of old. He is a badass blade-slinging, hat-throwing, supersoldier. His story is perfect for an animated adaptation. In Frank Beddor’s The Looking Glass Wars series, Hatter Madigan is introduced as the royal bodyguard for Princess Alyss and her family. The Hatter M graphic novel spinoff series follows Hatter on his wild and action-packed adventures around the world in search of the missing Princess Alyss. This alone is enough for a show but the world of Wonderland that Frank created is so much larger than this. We haven’t even gotten into the Suit families and their political battles, card soldiers, the mysterious and powerful skills of Dark and Light Imagination, creative tinkerers, looking-glass transportation, and the Crystal Continuum. The world that Frank Beddor built is massive, unique, and detailed. To have this world brought to life through animation would blow everyone away.

The show would follow the young Hatter who was orphaned at four after his parents’ disappearance during a Millinery mission, Hatter and his older brother Dalton lived at the Millinery academy for years before Hatter was allowed to attend the school himself. Burdened by the shadows cast by his talented older brother and his parent's reputation, Hatter strives to be the best. Did someone say training arc? The Millinery is the secretive military force of Wonderland, where the best Milliners are tasked with safeguarding the Queen and her family. Hatter is determined to succeed at the academy and make a name for himself in his own right.

Cover art illustration from the middle-grade novel "Hatter Madigan: Ghost in the H.A.T.B.O.X." by Frank Beddor and Adrienne Kress, featuring a young Hatter Madigan battling a Jabberwock.

What specifically would make this show a “Western anime?” Or for that matter, what even is a “Western anime?” The term itself doesn’t mean that much on its own because a “Western anime” is just a cartoon. But, there is one specific show that I and many others agree is specifically a “Western anime” and not just a cartoon. That show is Avatar: The Last Airbender.

Along with its Japanese-inspired art style, Avatar also did something that not many other Western cartoons aimed at young adults. The show’s themes and stakes were serious. Characters got injured, were in peril, and had to make truly difficult choices. The show had depth, which is much more common in anime compared to Western cartoons. So, while there is no such thing as a “Western anime,” an animated series about Hatter Madigan could sit beside Avatar: The Last Airbender and become a show that people call a “Western anime.”

There are things about the Hatter Madigan series as well as The Looking Glass Wars that are reminiscent of anime already. Starting on the surface, let’s look at the weapons. Specific weapons and tools are a common trope in anime. Gon from Hunter x Hunter has his fishing rod, Mitsuri Kanroji’s whip sword in Demon Slayer, and the Death Note in Death Note. The reason for these cool, unique, and unorthodox weapons in anime is that they allow the viewer to gain a sense of who a character is just by glancing at them. Milliners are known for their signature hats. While stylish, they are sentient, deadly, thrown weapons. Along with their hats, Milliners also utilize many other weapons, from belt buckles with a series of J-shaped sabers to backpacks that seem to provide an unending supply of different blades. A vast majority of these weapons are imbued with magical thread made of caterpillar silk to make them even more powerful.

There is something “weird” about anime. Now, when I say “weird” (and I’m going to say it a few times) I don’t mean that in a bad way. I would argue the “weirdness” is a drawing point for many of the viewers. The “weirdness” is originality. Even when a show is an adaptation, there is always some form of “weirdness” that takes something we all know and turns it on its head. When one takes a step back, it is easy to see that weirdness isn’t unique to anime. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland is weird and Frank’s adaptations are weird as well. Again, weirdness is not a bad thing, it just means that it’s something that has not been seen before or is an original take on something familiar. The Hatter animated series would have the perfect amount of weirdness, attracting audiences and keeping them locked in. Weapons imbued with caterpillar thread are weird and awesome. If you want to zoom out more, turning Lewis Carroll’s Wonderland into this amazing sci-fi/fantasy world is weird…and awesome.

Full cover art for the graphic novel "Hatter M: Zen of Wonder" by artist Vincent Proce

Finally, there are the stakes. As I mentioned before, Avatar: The Last Airbender is accepted as a “Western anime” not because of its art style but for its themes. The main character, Aang, is the last Airbender due to the Fire Nation’s genocide of the airbenders. In The Looking Glass Wars trilogy and the Hatter M graphic novel series people get hurt, people die, and characters have to make difficult moral choices. This, of course, would translate to the show. Hatter Madigan is an orphan who grew up in the Wonderland version of Westpoint before attending said school. While I’m sure he would have some happy memories of his childhood, that does not make it a happy childhood. The show, of course, will have its fair share of fun and lighthearted moments, but these will be balanced with the drama. It feels as though in animated shows, it is often forgotten that kids can handle a lot more than just the happy or silly moments.

A Hatter animated show needs to be made. There has been a massive vacuum left by The Last Airbender that has yet to be filled. Given the rise of anime, it’s obvious that people want more and they are going elsewhere to get it. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland is one of the most recognizable and successful IPs in history. People can’t get enough of Alice. So let’s give them what they want.

Meet the Author

Jared Hoffman graduated from the American Film Institute with a degree in screenwriting. A Los Angeles native, his brand of comedy is satire stemming from the many different personalities and egos he has encountered throughout his life. As a lover of all things comedy, Jared is always working out new material and trying to make those around him laugh. His therapist claims this is a coping mechanism, but what does she know?

Amazing Alice in Wonderland Pumpkin Carving Ideas for 2024

Halloween, aka the Met Gala for people with Jack Skellington tattoos, is right around the corner. With the 31st fast approaching, we must prepare a few things. First, we single folks need to come up with the PERFECT costume. Personally, I believe in striking a balance between funny and attractive. If you lean too hard on either side, you look like you’re trying far too hard, and the opposite actually happens. That’s right, going as any character portrayed by Johnny Depp is uninspired, and we all know you did it just to be hot.

Second, you must get candy for the kids lest you suffer the wrath of an egging. I guess egging houses doesn’t really happen anymore. I blame TikTok for stealing the joy of ovum-based vigilante vandalism from our youth. Without egging, how will houses that hand out fruit learn to stop pushing their hippy ways? Finally, and most importantly, you have to decorate your house. Whether you like to go all out and create a full haunted house or prefer the minimalist approach, there is one decoration that will always appear: the jack-o-lantern.

Frank allows me the privilege of coming out of his basement on one condition. I carve the pumpkins. Naturally, since we are talking about our glorious leader, Frank wants his jack-o-lanterns to be Alice in Wonderland-themed. If the designs please Frank, he allows me the privilege of eating those fibrous sodium bombs known as pumpkin seeds that everyone shoves in their faces around this time. This year, I wanted to show you all my favorite Alice-themed jack-o-lanterns I found while researching designs for Frank. These designs may inspire your pumpkin carving as well.

Card Suits

Maybe you want to be subtle with your Alice in Wonderland jack-o-lanterns. You love Alice and want to show the world, but you only want people in the know to recognize your Alice-related easter eggs. Or maybe you don’t have the best pumpkin carving skills and want something easy. Either way, this first pumpkin is perfect for those who prefer subtly, and it’s easy enough for an Alice-obsessed kid to make. The card suits are a trope that has been in every Alice iteration from the very beginning. Why not give the card soldiers the love they deserve?

Card Suits Plus

No, Card Suits Plus is not a streaming service for poker. Well, it actually might be. But as you can plainly see in the accompanying picture, this is the upgraded version of the card suit jack-o-lantern previously shown. This jack-o-lantern has the four card suits, but what’s so cool about it is that poking out of each suit is a giant Alice holding the “Drink Me” bottle. I love that the person who made this took a simple idea and elevated it.

Here Kitty, Kitty, Kitty!

Pspspspspspspspsps. Those who have owned cats know what this means. While researching Alice in Wonderland-inspired jack-o-lanterns, I was inundated with Cheshire Cat designs. This makes a lot of sense, as cats, specifically the black variety, are synonymous with Halloween. The design can be simple enough for most people to pull off, and the idea of the Cheshire Cat is actually a little spooky. Eyes and a mouth surrounded by darkness is a horror trope that has been used for as long as the genre has existed. I pulled some of my favorites I found online.

A photograph of a pumpkin carved to depict the Cheshire Cat from "Alice in Wonderland".

Of course, we have the Disney Cheshire Cat jack-o-lantern. Cartoons are naturally quite easy to execute in the art of pumpkin carving due to the necessity of the designs being simple enough to be hand drawn repeatedly.

Okay, now let’s make it scary; it’s Halloween, after all. Adding jagged teeth to the traditional Cheshire cat’s smile amps this pumpkin to a new level.

Now, this one is actually a twofer. We’ve got the March hare from the Alice in Wonderland Disney cartoon, which is incredibly detailed and executed perfectly, and we’ve got a more realistic-looking Cheshire cat’s smile. If you want to take a crack at a more complex design, this one seems like a fun project.

A photograph of a pumpkin carved to depict the White Rabbit and the Cheshire Cat from "Alice in Wonderland".

Off With Your Head!

Of course, the Red Queen would make it onto a pumpkin. The decapitation-obsessed matriarch is perfect for Halloween. I wonder if she is friends with Ichabod Crane. Well, I guess they wouldn’t be friends since Ichabod was a recipient of the head removal that the Red Queen is so crazy about. But I digress.

A photograph of a pumpkin carved to depict Helen Bonham Carter as Iracebeth/Red Queen from Tim Burton's 2010 film "Alice in Wonderland".

Though this design is quite complex, the person who carved it gets an A+ from me. I didn’t know you could do shading on a pumpkin.

Since the previous design was complex, I wanted to add something that might be a bit easier, though it’s also not technically a jack-o-lantern.

A multi-pumpkin art installation depicting the Queen of Hearts from "Alice in Wonderland".

This gourd sculpture of the Red Queen from the Disney movie is perfect for an Alice-themed Halloween decoration for two reasons. First, it’s obviously the Red Queen, so there is the Alice portion. Second, it kind of scares me, especially the weird gourd arms.

A photograph of a pumpkin carved to depict the Doorknob and the "Drink Me" bottle from "Alice in Wonderland".

Doorknobs and Drink Me

I’ve been struggling to come up with a fun title for these jack-o-lanterns, so if the title is not as inspired as the rest, it means I gave up, and the placeholder is now the title. But, just because my creative energy is lacking here does not mean these designs are.

I especially like the "Drink Me" pumpkin because there is something inherently spooky about a potion bottle with no description that reads “Drink me.”

A photograph of a pumpkin carved to depict a scene from "Alice in Wonderland" with the quote "We're all mad here."

Alice, Cheshire Cat, the March Hare, and the Blue Caterpillar, on a Pumpkin

This pumpkin is one of my favorites. It’s the perfect Alice in Wonderland jack-o-lantern. It’s straightforward and executed perfectly. Plus, it’s got the famous quote, “We’re all mad here,” carved into it.

An image of an orange, yellow, and black pumpkin carving template depicting the Royal Suit Families insignia from Frank Beddor's "The Looking Glass Wars".

The Jack-o-Lanterning Glass Wars

If I did not include some jack-o-lantern designs inspired by Frank Beddor’s Looking Glass Wars novels, I would be forced to sit in the mistake box. So, here are two blueprints (Orangeprints?) inspired by The Looking Glass Wars and the Hatter M graphic novels.

We’ve got this simple yet elegant design of the Looking Glass Wars logo. It features the four card suits that, if done correctly, would look like a stained-glass window on a jack-o-lantern.

And now we’ve got a design that, at first, was a bit confusing to me because if you follow the directions as written, the part you cut out would also have the design on it, and that wouldn’t really work because you would just have a hat-shaped hole in your pumpkin.

BUT, I realized if you place the hat cut out back into the whole with the scraped rind, then you would have a really cool outline of Hatter Madigan’s top hat.

A photograph of a pumpkin carved to depict a Alice speaking to the Caterpillar from "Alice in Wonderland".

Ok…So…This is Just Art…

Do you fancy yourself a pumpkin artist? Do you walk around on Halloween scoffing at the amateur jack-o-lanterns these plebeians proudly display because they don’t know any better? Do you understand the “rule of thirds?” Well, then, do I have the Alice designs for you. This jack-o-lantern is carved in the original art style from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. So much detail is carved into it, including the blue, well in this case orange, caterpillar.

Hey, I’m Not Good at Carving Pumpkins, but I Love Alice in Wonderland and Halloween

If the previous jack-o-lantern made you doubt your skills or made you want to give up because you’re carving your first pumpkin, worry not, for I have the simplest Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland jack-o-lantern that literally anyone can make.

A photograph of a pumpkin with a circular hole carved into it.

Step One: Cut a circle into a pumpkin.

Step Two: It’s a rabbit hole.

I hope this collection of Alice in Wonderland jack-o-lanterns inspires some whimsical creativity at your next pumpkin carving party. Happy Halloween, everybody, and for those who were not born on October 31st, Happy Unbirthday!

Five Maddest Mad Hatter Moments

Of all the articles I have written for Frank, I have always had the most fun writing about the Mad Hatter and his many different versions. From the original Hatter to the Disney cartoon to Frank’s badass Hatter Madigan, the adaptations of Hatter always seem to be a crowd favorite. So much in fact that October 6 is actually National Mad Hatter Day. Mad Hatter Day is a bit of a free-for-all for those who like to be silly. It’s quite easy to celebrate, you can wear a silly hat, watch a silly movie, throw a tea party, eat some mercury, or just be authentically silly. When I was let out of Franks's basement to write this blog, I was told it should be “…pretty light and leave a lot of room for comedy.” Which I have interpreted as “Be as weird as you want Jared.” To which I say, “Your funeral.” So, I have gathered a collection of my top five Maddest Mad Hatter Moments for you to enjoy.

5. Tea down the neck, through the shirt, and out the sleeve - Disney’s Alice in Wonderland.

Starting off this list is arguably the most recognizable version of the Mad Hatter. Voiced by Ed Wynn, the 1951 Disney Mad Hatter was probably most people's first introduction to the wild character. While he has many funny and whimsical moments in the movie, I chose this slick maneuver as the first “maddest” moment. You really would have to be suffering from mercury poisoning to pour tea down the collar of your shirt and out your sleeve and not be screaming from the beverage singeing your skin. I know it’s a cartoon, but it’s still mad.

4. Martin Short’s Mad Hatter Haunting My Dreams - Alice in Wonderland TV Movie

I had to see it and now so do you! Martin Short is awesome, the comedian is beloved by many. But he has a dark secret. You see when he isn’t solving crimes with Selena Gomez and Steve Martin, Martin Short is busy haunting my dreams. Specifically, his performance as the Mad Hatter in the 1980s nightmare fuel Alice in Wonderland TV movie. First is his laugh, a high pitch truly crazy laugh that sends a chill down my spine. On top of that is the fact that his head is MASSIVE. I know this was an attempt to make him look more like the cartoon but instead, it made him look like a terrifying Steve Madden shoes ad. I have included the full tea party scene so you can have nightmares as well.

3. The Mad Hatter’s Pin Cushion - Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland

Some would argue that Tim Burton’s adaptation of the Mad Hatter made the manic milliner even more famous than before. A part of this, of course, can be attributed to the fantastic performance of Johnny Depp, who brought his signature flare into the role. This specific performance is arguably the most cosplayed version of the Mad Hatter due to the costume, hair, and makeup being exceptionally striking. Also probably because Depp is a sex symbol and if you're going to cosplay, might as well be cosplaying that. Don’t believe me? Well, the video I found was titled “Tarrant Hightopp being sexy af for 5 1/2 minutes straight” Don’t get me wrong, Johnny Depp is a good-looking guy but…I mean…to each their own I guess. I need a shower.

Depp’s Hatter has many great moments but the maddest moment of all is when he is fighting the Knave of Hearts. During the sword fight, the Mad Hatter uses a pin from his pincushion to poke the eye of the Knave gaining the upper hand in the fight. This is truly mad because I never expected to see something so violent from the Hatter. But hey, all is fair in love and war.

2. Human Chess - Batman: The Animated Series, “As Mad as a Hatter”

The Mad Hatter isn’t just limited to the collection of Alice movies. He was also a less popular Batman villain who made his first appearance in the 1950s comics. The version of the Mad Hatter portrayed in the comics and cartoons has nothing to do with Alice and I’ll prove it to you. First, his hats are mind-control devices. Second, he’s in love with a woman named Alice. Finally, in one of the comics, he had a monkey called Carroll Lewis. Completely different. In Batman: The Animated Series, there is a scene where the Mad Hatter has placed mind control devices on people and Batman has to figure out how to fight through them while on a giant chess board. The queen on the chessboard even says, “Off with his head.”

1. Mad Hatter Bot - Futurama, Insane in the Mainframe

This is only a quick moment but as a massive Futurama fan, I had to mention it. In this episode, an error happens in Fry’s sentencing for a crime and he is sentenced to the Hal Institute for Criminally Insane Robots. While in a group session, the Mad Hatter Bot, whose hat tag reads 5/3 instead of 10/6 (probably because a robot would do the math on the fraction) periodically makes the other robots change places, causing the therapy robot to end up as a patient, thus receiving “treatment” in the form of a hammer. Is this one of his maddest moments? Well, he is in an insane asylum.

I have more moments and decided in the spirit of Mad Hatter Day, traditional listicle numbering be damned.

0. The Mad Hatter is Mad - Saturday Night Live

This time, the Hatter is portrayed by Steve Buscemi, who, side note, would make an amazing Mad Hatter outside of a skit. In the sketch, Alice, the March Hare, the Dormouse, and the Mad Hatter have a mad-off to show Alice who is the most “mad.” It starts off quite whimsical but when it gets to the Mad Hatter, he seems to actually be insane, claiming to wash his hands over one hundred times a day to wash off the smell of his mother, making toy cars out of his poo, and eventually flipping the table and being placed in a straight jacket. He was both the winner and the loser of the contest.

Illustration of Hatter Madigan on an 18th-century London street at night by artist Tae Young Choi, from the cover of the graphic novel "Hatter M: Mad With Wonder".

-1. Special Guest Bonus Moment

*AIRHORNS* That’s right, before wrapping up this list, I wanted to bring in the author of The Looking Glass Wars. You know his name because it’s humbly the name of this website. He’s the man who kindly allows me to see the light of day once a month. My boss, Frank Beddor.

So, Frank, I have purposely left out any moments of your version of the Mad Hatter, Hatter Madigan because I wanted to hear what was your favorite mad moment that you came up with. I didn’t leave it out to make you mad. I definitely don’t want that. The Disappointment Box is so small and dark. But yes, what is your favorite Hatter Madigan moment?

SPACE FOR FRANK’S ANSWER

*Response to Franks's answer has been pre-written and will not be edited as the author of the blog kept calling it “censorship”:

Hahaha, I couldn’t agree more. Or if the answer requires it, Hahaha, I disagree completely.

Well, there you have it, my list of the Mad Hatter's Maddest Moments. Before I reach the finish and am forced back into Franks's basement until another blog is needed, I wanted to mention one more quick, “mad” Mad Hatter moment I thought needed to be mentioned.

-2. Frank Beddor vs. Tim Burton: The Trial of the Century

I guess it's not so much a moment but a snippet from a trailer. In the trailer for Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland, we see the Mad Hatter throwing his hat. This is early similar to Frank Beddor’s very own Hatter Madigan, who famously uses his hat as a weapon. While it is legally distinct, the Hatter throwing his hat was first conceptualized by Frank Beddor. What, or should I say, who, is so mad about this? Well, Frank Beddor of course. IP theft is no joke and as Frank Beddor’s official lawyer-

(The rest of this sentence has been deleted. It must be stated that Jared Hoffman is not, has not, and never will be, the legal council of Frank Beddor or those associated with Frank Beddor. Frank Beddor loves Tim Burton’s adaptation of “Alice in Wonderland” and does not believe there has been any theft of IP. Additionally, there is no Disappointment Box and Jared Hoffman can leave the basement any time he likes, he just chooses to stay there.)

Battle of the IPs: Alice in Wonderland vs. The Chronicles of Narnia

It’s been a while since I’ve written this style of blog. Only so many IPs can even get close to the weight class of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. This time, I think I’ve found a good contender to face off against the rabid Jabberwock that is Lewis Carroll’s creation. So, without further ado, allow me to introduce our contender. In the red corner, with a combined total of seven books, we have, The Chronicles of Narnia.

Oh, wait a second, what’s this? It turns out that The Chronicles of Narnia isn’t going into this bout alone. No, it seems as though Narnia has brought the (religion-dependent) son of God himself, Jesus Christ, to help with the battle. While I’m not too sure about the legality of this, I’ve been told by many bumper stickers and people with megaphones on the street that having Jesus in your corner is a good thing. You’re in for a good one today folks, it’s Lion vs. Cheshire Cat, Witch vs. The Red Queen, Wardrobe vs. Dormouse, allegories for the Bible vs. allegories for the absurdities of Victorian society. Will Alice, our raining champion add another win to its belt or will Jesus be enough to sway the judges? We will find out below.

Still image of Alice and the Singing Flowers from the 1951 Disney animated film "Alice in Wonderland".

Worldwide Cultural Impact

In this first round of our showdown, we’ll examine the global impact of these two massive franchises. Both have made a good case for themselves, but only one can be victorious.

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland: Spanning literature, film, art, and fashion. Wonderland's timeless allure transcends cultural boundaries, making it a seemingly immortal component of global literary and artistic culture.
The Chronicles of Narnia: C.S. Lewis' The Chronicles of Narnia series, beginning with The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, has also left a significant cultural footprint. The allegorical Christian themes, epic battles between good and evil, and the fantastical world of Narnia have resonated with readers worldwide, making it a beloved series for generations.

Verdict: Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland - We have a clear winner. While Alice and Narnia both have had a profound cultural impact, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland has influenced various artistic mediums and has become a symbol of whimsy and imagination. Whereas The Chronicles of Narnia, which has deeply impacted readers with its allegorical themes and expansive fantasy world, has not shaped the culture of the world in as meaningful a way. Some may argue that spreading Christian values is more meaningful, but I’m not “some.”

Still image from the 2005 high fantasy film "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" featuring Georgie Henley, Anna Popplewell with a bow and arrows on her back, and William Moseley holding a sword.

Critical Appeal

In this category, let's delve into the critical acclaim of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and The Chronicles of Narnia.

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland: Carroll’s novel is loved by critics for its original narrative, surreal elements, and thought-provoking absurdity. It has been celebrated for its unique blend of fantasy and satire, which cleverly critiques the norms of Victorian society. Its innovative approach to storytelling has cemented its place as a classic in the literary canon, influencing generations of writers and artists.
The Chronicles of Narnia: C.S. Lewis' series has been praised for its rich allegorical storytelling, moral themes, and the depth of its world-building. The Chronicles of Narnia has been a staple in children's literature and continues to be studied for its religious and philosophical undertones.

Verdict: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland - Alice is the clear winner here. While both works have received critical acclaim, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland wins based on pure originality alone. Another reason Alice takes this round is some critics don’t like religious undertones. There are plenty of reviews one can find ripping into Chronicles of Narnia because of this. While others will inherently love this book due to the religious bent, the divisiveness of a religiously themed children’s story hurt Narnia’s chances.

A gif from the 1951 Disney animated film "Alice in Wonderland" featuring the Cheshire Cat disappearing into a smile.

Influences on Language

Let’s talk about language. Both franchises have left linguistic marks with unique phrases and terminology.

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland: Carroll’s work introduced a variety of whimsical phrases into everyday language. Expressions like "down the rabbit hole" and "mad as a hatter" have become common idioms, embodying the book’s playful and eccentric spirit. Moreover, Carroll’s inventive use of language gave birth to entirely new words, such as "chortle," which have since been integrated into the English lexicon.
The Chronicles of Narnia: While Narnia introduced memorable names and terms, such as "Aslan," "Turkish delight," and "Narnian," it hasn't quite had the same impact on everyday language as Carroll's work.

Verdict: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland - Really, are we surprised here? Off the top of my head, I don’t believe Alice has ever lost this section in past blogs. I mean, Aslan is a cool name but it’s just that, a name. It’s not a new word and I definitely haven’t used it recently. Turkish delight is a real thing and introducing the perfume-y treat to children is a disservice. And I’ll be honest, I didn’t even remember that the people of Narnia were called, “Narnians”.

Still image from the 2005 high fantasy film "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" featuring Georgie Henley and James McAvoy as Mr. Tumnus the fawn.

Controversy

It's worth noting that both Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and The Chronicles of Narnia have faced controversies related to their content and themes.

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland: Over the years, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland has sparked various discussions about its surreal and often puzzling nature. Some critics have debated the suitability of its abstract themes for younger audiences, while others have questioned its deeper meanings and implications. Despite these debates, the story has remained a beloved classic that continues to intrigue and entertain readers.
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Chronicles of Narnia has faced controversy over its Christian allegory and perceived sexism and racism in some of its portrayals. The overt religious themes have sparked debates about the appropriateness of the series for secular audiences.

Verdict: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland - Oof…Are we going to have a sweep here? Look I know I’m biased because I’m paid to write about Alice and I’m the only judge here but…C’mon. Debating the appropriateness of abstract themes for younger audiences is dumb. I would argue teaching kids to think abstractly allows them to experience the world for more than what is immediately visible on the surface level. It’s a dumb debate. I really had to scrape to find controversy relating to Alice. Whereas the Chronicles of Narnia: The Racist, The Sexist, and The Indoctrination over here…Do I need to get into this?

Still image from the 2010 Tim Burton film "Alice in Wonderland" featuring Johnny Depp as Tarrant Hightopp/Mad Hatter.

Books Published

Now, let's turn to book sales and the impact of the printed word.

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland: Lewis Carroll's literary classic has sold over 100 million copies worldwide and has been translated into more than 100 languages. The book's enduring popularity is reflected in the vast number of editions and adaptations that continue to captivate readers of all ages.
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Chronicles of Narnia series, comprising seven books, has sold over 100 million copies worldwide and has been translated into 47 languages. The series remains one of the most popular and enduring works of children's literature.

Verdict: Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland - No, it’s not a tie and I can prove it with my incredibly limited grasp of mathematics. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, a single (1) book, has sold over 100 million copies. The Chronicles of Narnia series, which is seven (7) books, has sold over 100 million copies. It’s just less. Even if we just compared the Narnia series’ best-selling installment, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (85 million copies sold), with Alice, Narnia still falls short.

Still image from the 2005 high fantasy film "The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian" featuring Skandar Keynes, William Moseley, Ben Barnes, and Anna Popplewell.

Box Office Success

Next, we compare the box office success of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and The Chronicles of Narnia.

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland: Various film adaptations of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland have enjoyed considerable box office success. There have been far too many and I think it would be unfair to add their box office success. So I will choose the highest-grossing adaptation. Disney's 2010 adaptation directed by Tim Burton grossed over $1 billion worldwide, cementing Alice’s status as a beloved cultural icon in the 21st century.
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Chronicles of Narnia films, beginning with The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (2005), have also seen considerable box office success, with the first three films grossing over $1.5 billion worldwide collectively.

Verdict: Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland - In terms of total box office earnings, The Chronicles of Narnia edges out Tim Burton’s Alice adaptation. But, I evened the playing field for Narnia, so it’s got to even the playing field for Alice. The first film in the Narnia series grossed $745 million. And, 2005 was the first time Narnia graced the silver screen, whereas Alice was first put on film in 1903. What I’m saying here is that more people came to see a movie that has been adapted multiple times more than a first-time adaptation. Alice wins here.

Still image from Tim Burton's 2010 film "Alice in Wonderland" featuring Johnny Depp as Tarrant Hightopp/Mad Hatter and Mia Wasikowska as Alice Kingsleigh with the Bandersnatch in the background.

Theme Park Rides

Finally, we explore theme park experiences inspired by these beloved franchises.

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland: The enchanting world of Wonderland has been brought to life in various theme park rides, particularly in Disney parks. These attractions allow visitors to journey through Wonderland, encountering the iconic characters and scenes that have made the story a timeless favorite.
The Chronicles of Narnia: While The Chronicles of Narnia has inspired various interactive experiences and exhibitions, it has not led to dedicated theme park rides on the same scale as Alice.

Verdict: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland - While I’ve made my hatred of the teacups known in past blogs, that torture device disguised as a theme park ride did not hurt Alice’s chances here. I think sweeping a category is a fitting way to end a sweep of a competition here.

Photograph of the Mad Tea Party spinning tea cup ride at Disneyland theme park in Anaheim, California.

Pre Conclusion Note

Okay, I just want to say a couple of things before I get to my conclusion. I know it seems like I just ripped on The Chronicles of Narnia for a while and was handing points to Alice. But, I actively tried to find a way to have Narnia be closer. And look, when I rip into Narnia for its Christian values, I know, it’s low-hanging fruit. From what I remember, most of those values are not bad. Christian values aren’t bad or worse than other religions’ values. It’s the Christians pushing them onto non-Christians that give Christian values a bad name.

Normally, I don’t go into explaining my reasoning on why Alice won because, duh, we’re on an Alice-related website. But, I do have a soft spot for The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe movie specifically. My family friend Alejandro took me to see the movie on its opening day, December 9th, 2005. Four days before this, my father had passed away. Going to the theater and watching this movie allowed me to have some fun at a time that was, for lack of better phrasing, not fun. Due to this, I will award The Chronicles of Narnia a point in this contest. I’m not a massive fan of the books and I don’t really care about the film franchise but at the time, the movie took me somewhere else and that was nice. Ok, back to me being rude.

Still image from the 2005 high fantasy film "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" featuring a CGI render of Aslan and Skandar Keynes standing on a rocky outcropping on the side of a hill.

Conclusion

In all this excitement of seeing a sweep, I blacked out for a second. Wait… What’s this? The Chronicles of Narnia scored a point? What for? Making a sad kid happy? I would assume Alice has done this more than Narnia. Whatever, the judges were obviously bribed. I guess Alice does not get a sweep but it does still come out on top as the WORLD CHAMPION. I hope you enjoyed the fight. If you agree, disagree, liked, or disliked any of the judge’s rulings let me know.

The 5 Best Alice in Wonderland Themed Airbnbs!

While I’m generally skeptical of the benefits of apps, I used to like Airbnb a lot. The original concept of renting out either a room or house through an app was actually quite useful for an eighteen-year-old who could not afford a hotel room and, in some cases, was not able to check in due to my age. Of course, every app eventually becomes terrible, but instead of Airbnb becoming terrible due to corporate greed like Uber, it was the hosts that got greedy. They started demanding insane prices, often exceeding hotels in similar areas and adding “cleaning fees” that would sometimes double or triple the cost of your rooms. Just like that, I started using hotels again, and I will say hotels are better in almost every conceivable way. Daily housekeeping and better amenities, and statistically, you are less likely to be recorded by a hidden camera in your room. But, there is one thing that Airbnb has over hotels. I'm talking, of course, about curated, themed stays.

Some hotels might offer curated rooms, but generally, when I imagine a “themed” hotel room, I imagine a motel room with a heart-shaped bath in the middle of the room, which, of course, is completely carpeted. It’s a very 80’s, terrible, mold-filled disaster. Then there’s the Clown House from The Good Place. Both are the stuff of nightmares, and I would assume the food is terrible. Themed Airbnb’s are completely different. Usually, the Airbnb host is a fan of the theme and puts a lot of effort into creating a special space. On top of this, popular themes for Airbnbs are incredibly competitive. If the theming is weak, another better-themed Airbnb will take your customers. Interestingly, the attention to detail of the theming does not mean less competition because if there are only two options for a specific theme, unless the price difference is massive, the prospective renters will choose the better one.

This brings us to today's topic: Alice in Wonderland-themed Airbnbs. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland is in no way a niche interest, which means the competition is fierce. There are some fantastic options out there all over the world. I’m bringing you five Alice-themed Airbnbs that I think are the creme de la creme. I honestly never thought I would use the one year I studied beer hospitality in college for one of these blogs, but here we are.

A living room with a red couch, flower-themed rug, purple armchair, and black-and-white striped wallpaper from the Alice's Palace Airbnb in St. Augustine, Florida.

A kitchen and dining room with black-and-white wallpaper, white table, and black cabinets from the Alice's Palace Airbnb in St. Augustine, Florida.

1. Alice’s Palace, Alice in Wonderland - St Augustine, Florida

Kicking off this list is Alice’s Palace, a beautifully designed condo in St Augustine, Florida. “A sophisticated twist” on the Madhatter’s tea party, this one-bedroom, one-bathroom oasis is eccentric yet subtle in its theming. To explain what I mean by the previously stated oxymoron, if you wanted to stay at an Alice-themed Airbnb and someone you were going with didn’t want that, this place would be a perfect balance. The colors and furniture are fun without screaming, "Alice!" But if one were to look closer, they would find little details all around them. With many different rabbit statuettes, a flamingo sculpture, and checkerboard patterns, those who know Wonderland will feel right at home. My favorite bit is the Dormouse’s door, which leads to a drawing of a keyhole. If I were going to St Augustine, I would definitely want to check this place out.

A living room and kitchen with wood-paneled walls and ceiling, a tree trunk-themed fireplace, and a neon sign reading "We're All Mad Here" from the Mad Hatter Cottage Airbnb in Mineral Bluff, Georgia.

2. Mad Hatter Cottage - Mineral Bluff, Georgia

If the first one was subtle, the Mad Hatter Cottage is loud. With cloud lights, a tree-shaped fireplace, a plant-covered wall, mushrooms everywhere, a giant chessboard, and a neon sign that reads, “We’re All Mad Here,” it’s pretty obvious where the inspiration for this cabin comes from. This one was my girlfriend's favorite because it’s a grown-up twist on Alice. And I mean grown up. On the listing, the host makes a point to say, “Our home is NOT suitable for children. The terrain can be dangerous and there are adult motifs present throughout the home.” While I understand the difficult terrain to an extent, I haven’t seen any blatantly adult motifs that I wouldn’t be comfortable with a child seeing. But I don’t have a child or live in Georgia, so my sensibilities might be different. That being said, if you have a slightly older Alice fan in your life that you want to take on a vacation, they will not forget it; this is the one. Plus, it’s in the middle of a forest on a river. Honestly, the space is beautiful.

A playroom featuring an air hockey table, a large pink and white playhouse, and a blue and green landscape mural painted on the wall from the Alice in Wonderland Airbnb in Ozark, Missouri.

A screening room with black leather chairs, a nighttime forest-themed mural, and a projection screen from the Alice in Wonderland Airbnb in Ozark, Missouri.

A bedroom with red wallpaper and curtains, card suit-themed decorations, and a blue and white diamond rug and comforter from the Alice in Wonderland Airbnb in Ozark, Missouri.

3. Alice in Wonderland - Ozark, Missouri

Okay, what if you want loud but have children? Well, Alice in Wonderland in the Ozark Mountains is 100% the spot you need to rent. This nine-guest, three-bedroom, two-bathroom house instantly takes you down a kid-friendly rabbit hole to a wonderland they will never forget. With Alice quotes everywhere you look, a massive game room painted to look like Wonderland, and, to top it all off, a home theater, your Alice-loving kids will truly feel like they are living in Wonderland. Each room has a different Alice theme, ranging from the Cheshire Cat to the Red Queen. Look, I’m a grown-ish person. I have a beard, pay taxes incorrectly, and my back hurts for no discernible reason, but when someone puts a SLIDE inside their house, I’m sold. If you or a loved one loves Alice or you have kids, stay here.

The front of a small, black house with red trim and Queen of Hearts decorations from the Alice's Queen Cottage Airbnb in Hayesville, North Carolina.

Backyard with a green lawn set against the woods featuring a large black and white chess set from the Alice's Queen Cottage Airbnb in Hayesville, North Carolina.

4. Alice’s Queen Cottage - Hayesville, North Carolina

This wouldn’t be a proper Airbnb listicle without a tiny home. Nestled in Hayesville, North Carolina, Alice’s Queen Cottage will make you feel like the Red Queen. Intricately designed and painted, everywhere you look, there is a heart, mushroom, flower, or other Alice motif to remind you that while the house is tiny, you are the queen. This Airbnb actually shares a lot with many other Alice-inspired stays, including Alice’s White Bunny Cottage, Mad Hatter RV, Dormouse RV, Cheshire Cat RV, Caterpillar RV, and March Hare RV. (There are also some Harry Potter stays on the campground, but that’s not what you’re here for.) Not only are the stays here fantastic, but the grounds include a Fairy Garden, a Wonderland fire pit, and a hot tub. Go and get lost in the Magical Mountain Resorts Enchanted Forest.

Living room featuring yellow, green, and black-and-white checked wallpaper and a "Have I Gone Mad?" sign above the fireplace from The Wonderland Townhouse in Bath, England.

A dining room featuring a wood dining table, flower-themed wallpaper, and a plant installation hanging over the table from The Wonderland Townhouse in Bath, England.

Bedroom with a red rose-themed rug, red and white striped wallpaper, and heart decorations from The Wonderland Townhouse in Bath, England.

5. The Wonderland Townhouse - Bath, England

Allow me to paint a picture in your mind. You and your family/friends want to go to the United Kingdom to see Alice's homeland. Maybe there are sixteen or more of you. Unfortunately, there are only so many Alice-themed stays all over the world, and you don’t want to end up in a bad one. Well worry not, for the massive Wonderland Townhouse in Bath and North East Somerset sports eight bedrooms. Its theming is intricate yet tasteful. The British really know what they are doing. It’s posh yet whimsical. Take, for example, the dining room. Strip away the faux garden of silk flowers coming out of the ceiling and the room still works. This house will never fail to remind you that you are in Wonderland.

As you can see, there is an Alice-themed Airbnb stay for every kind of Alice fan. Of course, I only listed five here, but there are many, many more personal wonderlands scattered all across the globe. All one has to do is go down the rabbit hole that is Airbnb. As with all my blogs, please let me know if you liked what you saw and if you have any Alice-themed Airbnbs you want to stay at. Also, if you have stayed at an Alice-themed Airbnb, I would love to hear how it was.

The Four Best Alice in Wonderland Themed Botanical Gardens

If you are like me, you probably only leave your apartment when you have to. I’m not an introvert or severely depressed (just the normal amount of writer depressed). I just like being at my place. My cat and television aren’t outside. Also, if I’m outside, I’m not writing blogs, so Frank does not allow me to go outside. Unfortunately, according to my therapist, not leaving my apartment is “unhealthy,” and I should “stop being a nerd and touch some grass.” So, I decided to look around for things to do outside. Since I live in a city, if I want to touch some grass, I have to work for it.

When I was little, I was almost always outside, so I thought back to when I was a kid, and for some reason, I used to spend a lot of time running around botanical gardens. While I lack a green thumb and suffer from hay fever, I used to enjoy botanical gardens quite a bit. Perhaps it was because they became parks where I could play pretend with friends in different flora than I was used to. Regardless of the case, I remember them being fun. So, I decided to go to one. Of course, as with any outing, I would have to get approval from Frank before I left the blog sweatshop. I prepared a proposal for some time outside and pitched it to my supreme and glorious leader, and to my surprise, he agreed on one condition. I must first write a blog about Alice in Wonderland-themed botanical gardens.

A small pool with lily pads surrounded by greenery featuring an "Alice in Wonderland" statue from the Wonderland: Curious Nature installation at the New York Botanical Garden.

1. Wonderland: Curious Nature - New York Botanical Garden

I was not surprised to find that there have been hundreds, if not thousands, of Alice-inspired botanical garden exhibitions all around the world. But the one that is all over Google at the moment is the Wonderland: Curious Nature event at the New York Botanical Garden. Established in 1891, 26 years after Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland was first published, the New York Botanical Garden, located in Bronx Park, has over one million living plants contained in its sprawling 250-acre footprint and is visited by over one million people annually.

An Alice-themed botanical garden event makes perfect sense. Plants play many important roles in every adaptation of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. From the card soldiers painting the roses red to the roaring lion-faced “Dandelions” to the giant mushrooms (I know mushrooms are not plants, but they are a part of nature), the whimsical flora is one of the many things that make Wonderland, Wonderland. The landscapers and florists who were tasked with creating the exhibit at the New York Botanical Garden succeeded in creating a Wonderland that everyone can enjoy.

A large topiary White Rabbit in the middle of a park from the Wonderland: Curious Nature installation at the New York Botanical Garden.

Some highlights of the Wonderland: Curious Nature event include a giant White Rabbit made entirely out of flowers, a sprawling topiary garden (a favorite in the Victorian age) with a whimsical twist, and a Victorian garden modeled after the garden that the real Alice Liddell used to play in. This, of course, is not all; art installations are seamlessly mixed throughout the botanical garden to transform the grounds into a real-life Wonderland.

Topiary card soldiers and pawns with topiary hearts and roses on a grass chessboard from the Imaginary Worlds: Alice's Wonderland Returns at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens.

2. Imaginary Worlds: Alice's Wonderland Returns - Atlanta Botanical Gardens

If New York is too far for you, worry not. Due to plants being a constant theme throughout Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Alice’s consistent popularity throughout time, botanical gardens all over the world have thrown and/or most likely will host an Alice-inspired botanical garden experience. Some examples include the Imaginary Worlds: Alice’s Wonderland Returns at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens, which features many topiaries of our favorite Alice characters, including card soldiers, the Cheshire Cat, and the White Rabbit (which is also a fountain). This event has already happened, but since it was the second time it has taken place, it’s a safe bet that due to its popularity, it will return.

Life-sized statues of Alice, the Mad Hatter, and the March Hare at the Mad Hatter's Tea Party from the Storybook Garden installation at the Hunter Valley Gardens in Sydney, Australia.

3. Storybook Garden - Hunter Valley Gardens, Sydney, Australia

All the way on the other side of the world, at the Hunter Valley Gardens in Sydney, Australia, there is a permanent installation called the Storybook Garden. There are statues of the many whimsical scenes of Wonderland, including an interactive Mad Hatter’s Tea Party. Along with this is some giant furniture to simulate being shrunk down by the “Drink Me” potion. This one focuses more on children, but I think any Alice fan on that side of the planet will love this installation.

An LED lighting exhibit featuring the White Rabbit, a tree, flowers, and a multi-colored tunnel from the Garden of Lights - Alice in Wonderland at the Botanical Garden of Bucharest.

4. Garden of Lights - Alice in Wonderland - Botanical Garden of Bucharest

For our European friends, there are many botanical garden experiences. Still, the one that stuck out to me was the Garden of Lights - Alice In Wonderland event at the University of Bucharest’s Botanical Gardens in Romania. This event occurs at night when the garden is transformed by lights. It has the Red Queen’s castle, the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party, and Europe's longest LED tunnel, featuring over 320,000 LED lights. I’m guessing this tunnel would be a fantastic rabbit hole entrance into the Wonderland that was created for guests.

Unfortunately, these events have already happened. But, as I’ve said previously, plants have always been a constant theme in every adaptation of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. This means that if you can keep an eye out, a botanical garden near you will most likely throw an Alice-themed event in the future. But, if you can’t wait for one to come to you, you can make your way to New York, where the Wonderland: Curious Nature event is happening until October 27th. As a fan of botanical gardens, this one really does seem to be worth the trip.

I hope you all enjoyed this blog as much as I enjoyed writing it. It honestly reminded me of how much I enjoyed botanical gardens as a kid, and I’m actually now planning a date with my girlfriend to visit our local botanical garden. Have you been to an Alice-themed botanical garden event before? If you have I would love to hear about it. Also, which of the past botanical garden Wonderlands that I featured seems like the most fun to you?

A Royal Affair: The Suit Families Who Rule Wonderland

In Frank Beddor’s The Looking Glass Wars trilogy, he reimagines the iconic characters from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Whimsical, silly, nonsense characters become fantastical warriors, fierce creatures, and politically savage families grasping for power. I’m just scratching the surface but here are my favorite examples: Hatter Madigan is Beddor’s reimagined Mad Hatter. Instead of a caffeine-addicted crazy person, he is a multiple-blade-wielding bodyguard for Princess Alyss. General Doppelgänger, who is based on Tweedledee and Tweedledum, is a fierce general who can split into two separate entities. And, of course, there is the Cat. Frank Beddor’s take on the Cheshire Cat, the Cat is Queen Red’s faithful assassin. Frank expanded and transformed the already rich world Carroll created into his own. This is most obvious when it comes to the different suit families.

The suit families in The Looking Glass Wars are the rulers of Wonderland. Every royal in Wonderland is allied with one of the four suits: Hearts, Diamonds, Spades, and Clubs. With each suit family, there is a unique culture, skillset, and card soldier fighting force. Instead of simply stating each family's culture and such, I think it would be fun to compare the suit families with other families from media and history.

An illustration by artist Vance Kovacs of the Heart royal family from Frank Beddor's "The Looking Glass Wars" universe.

Still image from the HBO fantasy series "Game of Thrones" featuring Sophie Turner as Sansa Stark, Maisie Williams as Arya Stark, and Isaac Hempstead Wright as Bran Stark.

Let's start with the Hearts. The Hearts are the oldest suit family in Wonderland. They are the ruling house, where the matriarch rules as the Queen of Wonderland. Due to the family's deep history, they value loyalty above all else. Another fictional family that shares a lot of similarities with the Hearts is the Stark family from George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire and its TV adaptation, Game of Thrones. The Stark family, much like every family in Game of Thrones, is put through the wringer, especially after that whole "Red Wedding" debacle. No matter what happens to them though, they are always there for each other. This is just like the Heart family. In The Looking Glass Wars, there is a coup that can be compared to the Red Wedding. The family leader, Queen Genevieve, is killed, leaving Princess Alyss Heart on her own, forcing her on a long arduous, journey towards becoming a warrior princess, much like Arya Stark in Game of Thrones.

An illustration by artist Vance Kovacs of the Spade noble family from Frank Beddor's "The Looking Glass Wars" universe.

Promotional image from the Showtime series "The Borgias" featuring Francois Arnaud as Cesare Borgia, Holliday Grainger as Lucrezia Borgia, and Jeremy Irons as Rodrigo Borgia.

Next up are the Spades. The Spade family today are known for their stealth and wild technology. Their cities are so technologically advanced they look similar to central Tokyo in our world. The Spades are essentially addicted to technology, so much so that mad scientists carry out forbidden experiments in dark towers and castles on the outskirts of Spade cities. The Spades have the bloodiest history of all the suits. Originally slaves, they managed to stage a successful rebellion against their rulers. Due to their past enslavement, the Spades are a tight-knit group who are wary of outsiders. The Spades have fought for their power and will do anything to keep it. A great comparison for the Spades is the Borgia family. The Borgias were a power-hungry Spanish noble house active in Italy during the Renaissance. The Borgia family murdered, bribed, and stole their way to the top of the Catholic Church then did some more murdering, bribing, and stealing to maintain control of the Vatican. In fact, we still are feeling these effects today. I want you to close your eyes. Now I want you to open your eyes because I realized you won’t be able to read this. But imagine Jesus in your mind's eye. You see that blonde-haired, blue-eyed guy, right? Well, that’s Cesare Borgia, SON of POPE Alexander VI. That’s a golden calf if I’ve ever seen one. While some may refute this, many other smarter people don’t. This is the type of power the Borgias had and if I’m comparing them to the ruthless Spades…I’ll let you figure out the rest.

An illustration by artist Vance Kovacs of the Club noble family from Frank Beddor's "The Looking Glass Wars" universe.

Illustration of Orks bearing weapons inspired by the miniature wargame "Warhammer 40,000".

Alright, now we are onto the Clubs. The Clubs came from explorers and wandering outcasts, rebellious against authority and valuing freedom above all else. I’m stuck between two different options for comparisons. The first are the Orks from Warhammer 40,000. These are not your Tolkien-esque orcs of yesteryear. No, these Orks are extremely aggressive semi-psychic space fungi who are most happy bashing heads on the battlefield. Okay, extremely aggressive semi-psychic space fungi might not sound like the Clubs at first but allow me to persuade you. Like the Clubs, Orks are broken into different clans (tribes). They value absolute freedom (on the battlefield to kill whoever they want), are fantastic warriors, and are green which is the regimental color of the Club military. Right, so that’s option one for the comparison. My second comparison for the clubs is the United States. Actually, if you switch out Orks with the U.S., it has the same sentiment, so I’m going to say it’s both.

An illustration by artist Vance Kovacs of the Diamond noble family from Frank Beddor's "The Looking Glass Wars" universe.

Still image of Stellan Skarsgard as Baron Vladimir Harkonnen from Denis Villeneuve's epic sci-fi film "Dune".

Finally, there are the Diamonds. The Diamonds are descendants of merchants and traders and have an insatiable lust for acquiring wealth. The Diamonds, much like their literal gemstone counterparts, enjoy flaunting their wealth. Their desire for financial gain makes them exceptionally cunning in their political schemes. A great comparison is House Harkonnen from Frank Herbert’s Dune. For those of you who only saw the movies that came out recently, Dave Bautista and Austin Butler were members of House Harkonnen. While Dave and Austin’s characters were extremely volatile, Baron Harkonnen, who was played by Stellan Skarsgård, embodies the Diamonds the most. He wanted acquisition at all costs, manipulated politics into his favor using “spice” and the money he made with it, and was extremely opulent. Those black goo baths had to be expensive, no one else partook in them.

While these comparisons are not exactly apples to apples, I wanted to show those who have not had the pleasure of reading The Looking Glass Wars what the different suit households of Wonderland were like in a very digestible form. Comparing one intellectual property to another can sometimes be a bit reductive. The suit families are more complex than the descriptions I used just as the other IPs are more complex. That being said, I’m remaining hopeful that one day in the future an underpaid writer will create a blog comparing their boss's characters to other IPs and use something from The Looking Glass Wars TV show as an example.

Mushrooms and Rabbit Holes: "The Super Mario Bros. Movie" and "Alice in Wonderland"

Ba da dun da dun dah dun! For those of you who can hear the melody in my head, you already know what this blog is about. For those of you who lack ESP skills, we’re talking about the Super Mario movies, yes movies as in two, and how they relate to Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. A bit of back story on why I’m so excited for this blog. I’m going to take you back to the year 2002. My family is packing for a flight to Canada. Little five-year-old me was probably passing time in my room by solving complex equations on string theory as part of my fellowship with Harvard. Well, that day, my mother came into my room with a surprise for me. The surprise was an original Gameboy and two game cartridges. One was a port of a Russian block stacking game but the other was Super Mario Land. The game was already thirteen years old but to little five-year-old me it was the greatest thing I had ever seen. With one flick of the switch, the little green and black screen came to life and I was transported to the Mushroom Kingdom. I could only get to the fourth level before I died but my dad told me tales of a seventh level with spiders that he only reached once. To reach such heights, I knew what I must do, I put down my scientific calculator and told Harvard, “To hell with your fellowship.” From now on the only string theory I was interested in was…I don’t know…I played a lot of video games and now I’m not as smart as I could have been. I still have that same game cart and every now and then I pick it up. The game is only about 45 minutes from start to finish but I still remember the feeling the first time I beat it.

Cover image from the 1989 Nintendo Game Boy game "Super Mario Land" featuring Mario and various images including Peach, a Sphinx, pyramids, and the Easter Island Heads.

Mario is an instantly recognizable character and there’s good reason for it. When the Nintendo Entertainment System was released, it came with the game Super Mario Bros. It’s synonymous with Nintendo. The games are simple and well-made. Go from left to right and don’t let the enemies touch you. With how popular these Mario games were, it seemed only natural that Hollywood would want to get in on some of the action. In 1993, they did, and people HATED it. But not all people. There was one person who when given a VHS of the Mario movie, sat down and ate it up. That person was me.

Look, I’m aware Super Mario Bros. is not “good” but I was Mario-obsessed and just wanted to see how they would create the Mushroom Kingdom in a movie. I was not expecting the Mushroom Kingdom to be a Blade Runner-esque dystopian society in an alternate universe where instead of primates evolving as the dominant species, it was dinosaurs that evolved into humans. That being said, I accepted it for what it was and locked myself in for the ride. The weird story and setting aside, the casting was sick. The movie starred Bob Hoskins as the titular Mario and John Leguizamo as Luigi and they really looked the part. One short and “rounder” and one tall and skinnier. The person who didn’t look the part was Dennis Hopper, who played the famous antagonist Bowser. While Dennis Hopper is awesome, Bowser was just, like, a guy. Also, I just remembered, Mario is both Mario’s first and last name. So, the Mario brothers’ full names are actually Mario Mario and Luigi Mario.

Still image from the 1993 fantasy adventure film "Super Mario Bros." featuring John Leguizamo as Luigi and Bob Hoskins as Mario.

The movie is pretty much a mess, but apparently, it was even messier during production. John Leguizamo and Bob Hoskins would deal with the troublesome production by drinking between takes. This drinking led to Bob Hoskins breaking his hand. Bob was also stabbed four times, electrocuted, and almost drowned. Needless to say, the movie was considered a failure. Such a failure in fact that Nintendo basically closed its doors to Hollywood for thirty years.

In those thirty years, Hollywood changed, the studios basically stopped making anything original for fear of failure (which in itself is setting themselves up for failure since people are growing bored of remakes) and seems to have cracked the code for adapting popular non-film franchises into films. I’m not too sure how it happened but a Mario movie was green lit by Nintendo. If you don’t know, The Super Mario Bros. Movie was a massive hit, raking in over 1.3 billion gold coins at the box office. Chris Pratt was the controversial choice for the voice of Mario, Charlie Day voiced Luigi, and the true saving grace of the film, Jack Black, voiced Bowser. Except for Bowser, I did not like this movie. I know I’m a “grown-up” and the movie was “made for kids” but I don’t accept that as an excuse for the surface-level film they put out. One year before, Puss in Boots: The Last Wish came out and that was incredible. That movie was made for kids. So is every Studio Ghibli movie. All are incredibly deep and original kids' movies, so what’s Mario’s excuse?

Image from the 2023 animated adventure comedy film "The Super Mario Bros. Movie" featuring Mario, Princess Peach, and Toad.

Both Mario movies start with the Mario brothers living in New York, doing their normal jobs, and living their normal lives. In both movies, they end up going through some kind of tunnel, a "rabbit hole" if you like, to the Mushroom Kingdom. In the 1993 film, it's like a portal or something that looks like a rock, and in the 2023 movie, it’s a classic warp pipe from the video game. Regardless of what the method is for their transport to the Mushroom Kingdom, both movies start pretty much the same way as, you guessed it, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Regarding story similarities, in both Mario movies as well as Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland the protagonists have to learn the “rules” of the wild lands in which they have found themselves and a moment where they use things they learned from their outside world in the current “Wonderland.”

The similarities don’t end there though. Going back to the video games, when Mario gets a red mushroom, he gets bigger. When he gets a purple one, he gets smaller. Seems an awful lot like “Eat Me” and “Drink Me” from Alice in Wonderland. A weird thing both IPs have in common is drugs. Alice has become an unofficial mascot for LSD. People claim the movie perfectly encapsulates an acid trip and while the story does lack a scene of Alice panicking while inside a music festival porta potty, I can see where that argument comes from. Being sucked into a new world, learning how it works, not being at the wheel of the journey, having to roll with the punches. It makes sense. But when LSD is mentioned, its more natural cousin is always right around the corner. I’m of course talking about psilocybin mushrooms. See where I’m going here? Since the beginning of Mario, people have pointed out that a guy eating mushrooms and stepping on monsters sounds a whole lot like a mushroom trip. I do want to point out that talking to someone who played a Mario game for the first time is much better than talking to someone who did mushrooms for the first time because instead of misquoting headlines from internet articles about psilocybin therapy, they will talk about how they defeated Bowser and saved Princess Peach.

Image from the 2023 animated adventure comedy film "The Super Mario Bros. Movie" featuring Mario and Toad in a multi-colored mushroom forest.

From similar beginnings in their stories to similarities in how people perceived them in popular culture, the parallels between Mario and Alice are not hard to see once you know where to look. Like I’ve said in previous articles, if you examine popular franchises across all forms of media, you’ll find that many of them have a lot in common with Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Which of course means that, whether they knew it or not, the creators drew inspiration from Alice. It makes sense. Alice was groundbreaking, it changed storytelling forever. This is Alice’s Wonderland and we are just living in it.

RADIATION AND RABBITS: THE PARALLELS BETWEEN “FALLOUT” AND “ALICE IN WONDERLAND"

Promotional image from the Bethesda video game "Fallout: New Vegas" featuring a damaged "Las Vegas" sign and a man in armor and gas mask holding a revolver.

Remember when video games were good? I know good games come out all the time but take my blanket statement at face value for a second. Recently it feels like every triple-A developer is just rehashing old games and not taking any risks. I remember a better time, a time when big studio games felt like a labor of love and not a cash grab. For me, there is no better example of a game studio that used to be amazing but has fallen from grace recently than Bethesda. Their Fallout series is a perfect example of this, Fallout 3, Fallout: New Vegas, and Fallout 4 were amazing games, probably some of my favorite games of all time. It seemed like they could do no wrong. But everything changed when the micro-transactions attacked… Today, Bethesda is run by greedy little piggies who have no idea what their player base wants and just continually re-releases their rapidly aging catalog of hit games with minor graphical updates so they can continue to charge the consumer full price for ten-plus-year-old games. At one point, many moons ago, they created and released fun and creative games, and the Fallout series, for me, was their peak.

For those of you who have never played any of the Fallout games, it’s a first-person and/or third-person role-playing game set in an alternate, retro-future timeline of America. In this timeline, EVERYTHING is nuclear-powered, and I mean everything. Televisions, microwaves, cars, robots, and there is even a soda called “Nuka-Cola” which is radioactive. Well, when everything is nuclear-powered, it’s pretty easy to assume that every single country in the world would probably have a sizable stockpile of nuclear missiles as well. That assumption is correct, and unfortunately, those countries decide to nuke the shit out of each other. I guess we only see that America was nuked but I’m going to assume that we responded before we were reduced to radioactive dust. Isn’t mutually assured destruction wonderful? The thing is, some people were prepared for this nuclear armageddon, they had “insurance.” The insurance was that they had paid to be locked into giant underground vaults. These vaults were built to ensure the survival of the human race in the event of nuclear war and they are set to open once the surface is habitable again.

Still image from the Amazon post-apocalyptic drama series "Fallout" featuring Ella Purnell as Lucy MacLean wearing a blue and gold jumpsuit.

In the Fallout games, you play as a “vault dweller” who, for one tragic reason or another, has decided to leave their vaults and enter into the unknown surface above. The exception to this case is Fallout: New Vegas where you actually play as, what is essentially, a vengeful mailman. Regardless, while one would assume that the surface is a barren landscape after the nukes, that is anything but the case, people survived, but they did not thrive. The surface is full of mutants (both human and animal), raiders, religious knights in power armor, mad scientists, and much more, all battling for control of the wasteland in an attempt to fill the power vacuum that was left behind when every government ever fell. From there, what’s left of the world is your oyster.

That overstuffed paragraph is a brief overview of the world of Fallout. I’m honestly barely scratching the surface here. With a story that rich, it’s only natural that after the massive success of HBO’s The Last of Us T.V. adaptation, other studios would want to cash in on the video game television show hype. I’m sure we won’t get tired of it… Well, Amazon adapted Fallout into a television show, and let me tell you, it’s awesome. The Fallout show follows three different characters whose paths intersect but for the sake of this blog, I’m mostly going to focus on Lucy MacLean played by Ella Purnell. Lucy is a vault dweller whose family has lived in the vaults for many generations. Well, something happens that I don’t want to spoil and she has to leave the vault. There she faces the wild world of the radioactive wasteland that was once Los Angeles.

Promotional image from the Amazon post-apocalyptic drama series "Fallout" featuring Ella Purnell as Lucy MacLean wearing a blue and gold jumpsuit with the wasteland in the background.

If you haven’t figured out why I’m writing about this show on an Alice in Wonderland-themed website by now, it’s time to realize you might not be as smart as you think. I’ll put it in terms you can understand. Woman lives in a world where things make sense to her, goes in a hole, and enters a world where everyone is crazy and must learn rules to keep her head. Fallout is Alice in Wonderland. Replace a rabbit hole with a vault door, the whimsical nature of Wonderland with the wildness of the Wasteland, and the Jabberwocks with Deathclaws, and boom it’s the same story. People even lose their heads in the show too. Now, you might not be completely sold on this fact but lend me your ears, or I guess eyes in this case, and by the end of this blog, I will have you shoving this fact down people's throats too.

I’ve already given an overview of the Alice character, Lucy, but I want to go a bit deeper before tackling the other characters. Okay, I said there wouldn’t be spoilers but I lied skip to the next paragraph if you don’t want any… One.. Two… Three… Spoilers, the first person Lucy meets perfectly sets the stage for my argument that she and Alice are the same character. Lucy meets a person living on the surface who is trying to use a machine that will extract water from whatever is put in it. This person is struggling to use said machine because when he puts sand in the hopper, only sand comes out. Which is a problem we have all had. In his mind, the machine is broken, but to Lucy’s logical mind, dry sand can’t be turned into water. Their interaction mirrors many of the interactions Alice has in Wonderland. Where Alice explains that something a Wonderlander is doing is “illogical” to her but the Wonderlander finds it perfectly logical. After Lucy and the Wastelander’s brief interaction, the Wastelander asks Lucy if she wants to marry him because she gave him water. Not in a hyperbolic way, he means it. He even shows all the great stuff he has to offer, like his sand. In his mind, this is a perfectly reasonable question to ask.

Still image from the Amazon post-apocalyptic drama series "Fallout" featuring Aaron Moten as Maximus standing behind Knight Titus in silver armor holding a machine gun.

I lied about the spoilers ending here, go to the next paragraph to truly skip the spoilers… Another example of the Wasteland essentially being Mad Max: Wonderland is in a scene where another character, Maximus played by Aaron Clifton Moten, saves a man who is about to be killed by another person. On the surface, it seems as though the would-be killer is a crazy person. It turns out that the victim he had rescued, who claims to be a “scientist” was having biblical relations with the “aggressors” chickens. Killing someone for fraternizing with poultry is pretty logical. There is a choking the chicken double entendre joke opportunity here but that’s too blue for me to say… Hey, don’t get mad at me, you’re the one who came up with it in your filthy minds… How is this Alice in Wonderland related? Well, I would argue that this scene is meant to establish the madhouse that is the Wasteland and those who inhabit it. The man who was trying to protect his birds even says the fact with an air of exhaustion in his voice, as if this isn’t the first time this has happened and probably won’t be the last. It’s just the world he lives in. Maximus has grown up on essentially an army base his whole life so the wilds of the wasteland to him are just like the wilds of Wonderland for Alice. Things just are the way they are because that’s how they are.

The Fallout television show doesn’t just share a lot of similarities with Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, it also has characters eerily similar to other Alice-related IPs. Take Cooper Howard a.k.a. “The Ghoul” played by Walton Goggins. First, because I have to, a “Ghoul” in the Fallout universe is a human who has been exposed to high levels of radiation, causing their flesh to melt. Due to their appearance, they are essentially second-class citizens. The terrible hand they have been dealt is compounded due to the radiation affecting their minds as well, all ghouls are slowly going feral and without constant medication will eventually become essentially human-shaped animals that kill and eat anything that moves. Well, Cooper Howard is a bit of an antihero in this show. He’s survived in the Wasteland for hundreds of years and knows the rules of this world and how to navigate it. He’s a badass bounty hunter who’s honed his fighting skills living in a harsh environment. Nothing surprises him and his gruff exterior shields a tormented past. He instantly reminded me of a character created from the mind of my overseer, Frank Beddor. That character is Hatter Madigan, Frank’s version of the Mad Hatter. While Hatter Madigan is an elite member of the Millinery, in the Looking Glass Wars novels, he wanders the globe looking for Alice. Wherever he goes, tales of his epic deeds follow. Much like The Ghoul. Plus they both wear long coats.

Promotional image from the Amazon post-apocalyptic drama series "Fallout" featuring Walton Goggins as The Ghoul/Cooper Howard and a German Shepherd dog with the town of Filly in the background.

If I haven’t sold you on the fact that the Wasteland is Wonderland, Lucy is Alice, and that Fallout, whether the writers of the games knew it or not, is quite similar to Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, I have one final thing to drive my point home. Let's look at the mysterious antagonist of the Fallout T.V. show, Lee Moldaver. I haven’t finished the show yet and my internet is down at the moment, but from what I’ve gained from the six episodes I have seen, she is a powerful woman whose name alone strikes fear into the hearts of those who live in the Wasteland. Just like the Red Queen/Queen Redd does in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.

When a piece of media is so popular and transformative to storytelling as Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland was, it’s not hard to notice similarities in all the media that comes after it. The basic premise of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland is the perfect foundation for a fantastic story. If done correctly, like the Fallout series, it’s a recipe for success. Due to this, it’s easy to see why Alice has endured for as long as it has.

"Percy Jackson" and "Shogun": Disney and Hulu Have Gone Down the Rabbit Hole

If you have been outside in Los Angeles within the past couple of months you may have noticed billboards advertising that Hulu is on Disney Plus. The ads are quite simple and smart, they consist of a Disney quote that in some way is related to a character from a show on Hulu along with a picture of said character. Some of them are quite good like this one. Where the full title of the show helps complete the quote. Like this ad using a song from The Jungle Book and The Bear (Fun fact: The Jungle Book character who delivers that line/lyric is actually a bear).

Disney Plus and Hulu billboard featuring Jeremy Allen White as Carmy Berzatto from the Hulu comedy-drama series "The Bear".

Some of them are okay. This Lilo and Stitch-Family Guy ad isn't the best but it gets the point across:

Disney Plus and Hulu billboard featuring Peter Griffin from the Fox animated comedy series "Family Guy".

And some of them feel like they really ran out of ideas. I mean Darth Vader's quote from Star Wars and American Dad relate enough, I guess, but it feels like a rough draft that somehow ended up getting approved. I imagine some Disney exec being like, “We need a Star Wars quote on the ad to remind people we own everything. I don’t care if it actually is a good ad.”

Disney Plus and Hulu billboard featuring Stan Smith and Klaus Heisler from the TBS animated comedy series "American Dad".

But there was one that inspired this whole blog, involving the cast of Only Murders in the Building, and, you guessed it, an Alice in Wonderland quote:

Disney Plus and Hulu billboard featuring Martin Short, Selena Gomez, and Steve Martin from the Hulu mystery comedy-drama series "Only Murders in the Building".

So, what am I getting at here? Why did I feel the need to write a whole blog about ads? Well, I didn’t. But I’ll be honest, I’m struggling with coming up with a segue to my main point here…so…something something, down the rabbit hole of the television renaissance. Yeah, that works.

Television has been pretty awesome recently. I mean, these four billboards are all shows I watch or have watched in the past. Family Guy is a staple of adult animation. It is a member of the holy trinity, which as we all know is: The Simpsons, South Park, and Family Guy. Seth McFarlane's other hit show American Dad is, in my opinion, his best show to date. I almost named my cat after Roger the costume-wearing alien who lives in their attic but my girlfriend was worried since Roger is not a good “person”, my cat would be bad. We settled on naming him Archer, after the world's greatest secret agent Archer, from the FX series Archer. She agreed on the name since she had never watched the show.

Still image from the FXX animated comedy series "Archer", featuring Sterling Archer holding his finger up and drinking from a liquor bottle.

Of the live-action shows featured in the ads, as an ex-line cook with a panic disorder, The Bear really does nail the mayhem of a kitchen and the insane people destroying their bodies to make the delicious food we all love. I genuinely love this show. My only critique is, every now and then, it becomes a montage of Chicago intercut with food porn. Only Murders in the Building is a fantastic spin on a whodunit starring two comedy gods, Steve Martin and Martin Short.

While I could make the argument that all these shows have aspects of Alice sprinkled throughout them, I’ve got something better for you. Not just one Disney Plus/Hulu show, but two, truly do parallel Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. The first is Percy Jackson and the Olympians, the show based on the extremely popular young adult fiction series of the same name. The second show is a bit out of left field, but trust me, it’s got Alice in its DNA. Before you read what it is, I want to give you a second to guess. That is, of course, if this blog's title does not give away what the surprise is. Okay, you got one? Good. You’re wrong, it’s Shogun. While you ponder on this, I’m going to talk about Percy Jackson.

Still image of Walker Scobell as Percy Jackson holding a sword, from the Disney Plus fantasy series "Percy Jackson and the Olympians", based on the book series of the same name by Rick Riordan.

The fantasy series follows twelve-year-old Percy Jackson, who has always struggled to fit in and learns the reason for his inability to integrate into twelve-year-old society is that while his mother is a normal human, his father is the Greek god Poseidon. Alright, so what does that have to do with Alice? Well, Percy, like Alice is thrown into a new world, one with unfamiliar and sometimes absurd rules that he must learn. Along with this, there are fantastical creatures and trials he must overcome. Gods are trying to kill him, but since Greek gods are more like a giant royal family on top of a mountain, one could make the argument that it’s like Alice's trial with the Red Queen screaming, “Off with her head!” At the show's beginning, Percy follows Pegasus to the roof of his school, which is not dissimilar to Alice following the White Rabbit down the rabbit hole.

Alright, now let’s get after Shogun. First off, let me just say, this show is amazing. It is truly peak television. It’s a fictional story based on historical events that happened in 1600s Japan. The show was developed in 2015 but came out just this year. While I could make a point about studios not jumping on this sooner and wasting their time, I will instead mention that if this is the direction we are headed regarding television, we’re in pretty good shape.

Still image of Cosmo Jarvis as Anjin/John Blackthorne, from the Hulu historical drama miniseries "Shogun".

Shogun follows John Blackthorne, an English pilot (navigator) of a ship who ends up stranded in Japan. In this new world, John ends up being a bargaining chip/key for success between the five political rivals who are sharing power until the underage emperor reaches sixteen. Besides being about an English person, at first glance, this show does not share a lot with Alice. But when you truly dive in, there are many parallels. The most obvious is a person ending up in a new world with completely different rules and practices. John does not speak Japanese, leading to many times when he is confused as to why something is happening. In Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Alice has to accept that something is happening because it is simply the way it is done in Wonderland. Due to John being taken prisoner and used as a bargaining chip, there are many moments where he has no choice but to do what his captors/hosts instruct him to do. For many portions of the show, he is just along for the ride. Forced to experience the good and the bad of a new culture he truly knows nothing about, like Alice who, every now and then, just must do as she is told. When she questions what is happening or tries to do things as she has been taught, there are consequences, such as with the Red Queen.

Another thing that is not a parallel per-say but I do want to point out is that Alice has to worry about the threat of decapitation from the Red Queen. Many of the people in early 17^th century Japan also had to worry about losing their heads. I think in the first episode of Shogun alone, three people are decapitated. One of which being from seppuku. The biggest difference in character between John and Alice is that John wants to get home to England almost immediately, whereas Alice wants to go home at the end. I guess that’s not the biggest difference between the two characters. We could start with the basic difference of John being a grown man whereas Alice is a young girl… Look, all I’m trying to say here is that Lewis Carroll’s writing has influenced modern storytelling so much that it’s almost imperceivable anymore. I don’t think the original writers of Shogun even realized there are remnants of Alice sprinkled throughout their series. Same with Rick Riordan when he wrote the Percy Jackson series. Alice is just modern storytelling. It was the first to start these tropes and I don’t think we will ever see them go away because, as you can see, the tropes seem to be a winning formula.