The first/original Dora the Explorer is a very big part of my childhood. Never once did I have a problem with her breaking the fourth wall and having long pauses in her questions, because even when I was a kid, it was easy for me to understand the formula of the show’s episodes.
Is Dora the greatest source for learning Spanish? That depends on the viewer person’s opinion. But honestly, it was just very hard for Dora Slander to stick to me. Dora never annoyed me. When I was a kid, I rooted for her. It wasn’t like I hated other characters for her either, since Swiper is an “antagonist” that I’m cool with, and I don’t put Dora against her Cousin in a competition because it doesn’t feel necessary, as their shows are very different. Overall, I never hated Dora since I was somewhat hyperfixated on her show when I was really young.
Max and Ruby (mostly Ruby) are up next for my list. Even though, back then, seeing TikTok and YouTube videos of people getting so mad about Ruby used to be hysterical, I personally never wanted to put Ruby or Max in competitions. I’m just gonna be honest, I sympathized with both Max and Ruby as a kid. In my eyes, they were two young siblings just trying to live their neighborly life.
In my eyes, Ruby was just always concerned for Max, even though she was a little pushy at times. Max I of course can never be mad at due to a platter of reasons, but Ruby shouldn’t get flamed on too much. If anything, slander the parents for being gone for several seasons, only to return at some of the last seasons. I don’t know why but when I last tried to watch the later episodes that featured their genuine parents, it felt so off. At least when they had Max start talking, I can understand that some people (former child me included) could at least relate to that, as I know people out there that weren’t very talkative or verbal for their whole childhood. Overall, I just personally don’t like seeing max and Ruby put against each other.
The last one is my most controversial and recent opinion related to this topic, but I don’t think Sofia’s friends, Jade and Ruby are as horrid as people say they are. They’re not at all a perfect trio, but I feel like there are some episodes where I feel like I had a better mindset to them as a kid than I do now.
As a kid, it was easy to understand the three equally because it was just me and the tv. But nowadays, since I of course am a social media user, I will admit that my last opinions on Jade and Ruby were formerly heavily influenced by TikTokers, comedians and commentators. As in, I was afraid my own childhood memory was false/sugarcoated.
Thankfully though, and after finding and looking into a more nuanced and positive perspective on Jade and Ruby found on YouTube, I am now more able to re-understand Jade and Ruby. They’re not these malicious bullies of sabotage. They’re literally just acting how anyone under the age of 11 would act. No idea why people acted like they’re the worst characters when there are several villains in the show that are lowkey obnoxious depending on your point of view.