Narnia is a bad story.

Narnia Sucks and this is What Netflix needs to change about it in their upcoming series.

One of the most recognisable book series of all time and a major Disney movie franchise. The Chronicles of Narnia by CS. Lewis has taken the hearts and imaginations of many readers/movie goers for years now. But after rewatching the first film recently I think it’s fair to say that the story is dated and lacks depth. Okay I understand it may be seen as heresy to some to make such a bold statement about a beloved book series but just give me a few minutes of your time because I believe that I have valid criticisms of the story.

First let's address Edmund. Was he the bad guy? Or a good guy that was pushed into being bad? The story of Narnia fails to really flesh out the WHY of Edmund’s motivations. It just leaves him to look like he snaked out his entire family over a treat that is ultimately mid. Even in the movies it’s hard to NOT empathise with him. He misses his father, he’s been forcefully removed from his own home and NEITHER of his older siblings ever take the time to properly sit down and speak to him about his emotional well-being.

What I would change is to build up the moment of him taking the Turkish Delight to be far more symbolic than either the movie or books make it out to be. The Turkish delight is a symbol of what he ultimately needs, love and attention from an elder figure in his life. With his father gone, Edmund’s brother Peter should understand that he would need an elder male figure in his life but all he does is shame him for taking the Turkish delight. I would also love to see a scene in which his older siblings apologise to him for not giving the love and attention he needed and having THEM understand that he is only a kid who will make mistakes.

Speaking of his older siblings, Peter is the worst character in this entire story and that is really saying something considering one of the characters is literally just there to only cry because CS Lewis didn’t believe women were capable of actual strength (We’ll get to that). What does Peter actually do? He slays ONE wolf and we are all meant to believe that he is now capable of ruling the entire kingdom of Narnia? Anna even addresses this in the book and movie by saying ‘Look, just because some man in a red coat gave you a sword, doesn't make you a hero!’ but we’re expected to ignore her because??? He gaslights Anna THROUGHOUT the entire film. When she make makes the sensible suggestion of not crossing very unstable frozen river she tells him that she’s ‘trying to be realistic’ and his response is ‘No, you’re trying to be smart, as usual’ BUT THE LOGICAL THING TO DO IS NOT CROSS THE RIVER. Oh you don’t believe me? Peter’s idiocy leads to the near death of Susan as he stabs the ice but cannot keep a hold ofSusan to the point where she is let go in a raucous river and we're meant to forgive Peter because she miraculously didn’t die? Am I really to believe this man to be King?

He doesn’t kill the White Witch, Aslan does. He doesn’t bring Aslan back to life (oh yes I’m gonna talk about that) Susan, Anna and some old magic do. He doesn’t even save Edmund, Wolf boy and Horseman do. What does Peter actually do aside from endangering his siblings and gaslighting Edmund and Anna? However, just because Peter is useless, doesn’t mean the rest of his family is too.

It’s weird to me that everyone aside from Peter actually adds something to the story. Susan warms Mr Tumnus’ heart, Edmund is the character symbol of the crux of this story and Anna is THE original girlboss. I would want the new Netflix series to actually acknowledge Anna as the only member of the family that is actually qualified to run an entire kingdom. She gets the family to their train on time (Peter does NOTHING), she rightfully says that if they listened to her in the first place the family would be okay (a point to which to Peter has NO rebuttal) AND she is a legitimate archery specialist which means she is more weapons and military qualified than Peter, who looks at his sword like a teenage boy afraid of his first kiss. I personally think that CS Lewis simply didn’t want to put a woman in a position of power, whether it be a result of the time or the religious allegories he put into the story (likely both) it only diminishes both Anna and Peter as characters because it makes Peter look underqualified and the entire Kingdom of Narnia look sexist.

My final gripe with Narnia is Aslan. Character wise he’s actually quite cool. A Lion who only wants his kingdom restored to peace, a cause for which he is willing to die… and come back alive for? I get it, he’s meant to be Jesus who died and came back for the sins of his people ergo Aslan is willing to die for the sins of Edmund (which we’ve established isn’t really his fault to begin with) but it's his coming back alive that irks me. If it was set up prior that coming back live was a thing that can happen in this world then it would be okay, but the issue with that is that it ruins the tension of any death in the series. But the alternative of not saying anything until it’s convenient ultimately ruins the emotional weight of Aslan’s death as it feels hollow in hindsight. Aslan doesn’t even stick around for the end; he just peaces out and does his own thing, leaving Narnia in the hands of a child. My suggestion is to keep him dead. If Peter is really to becomeKing, then put him in a situation that forces him to do so. Make him kill the white witch because having Aslan do it feels like a cop out.

Yes I know most of this has been rambling on about how Peter is actually a terrible person and should have listened to his sister instead of constantly belittling the only person in this entire franchise to ever make a modicum of sense ever; but that’s the point. I’ve noticed that no one really talks about Narnia with the reverence that they do Harry Potter or The Pirates of the Caribbean, the character’s mostly feel one note and the writing is far too convenient. It’s the same issue I have with the ‘force’ in Star Wars; it's far too convenient and gets in the way of actual storytelling that carries depth as you have less and less reason to go any further. Out of the new Narnia I want to see Peter be less one dimensional and acknowledge his own flaws and I want to see Anna appreciated for the actually useful input she has. I want to see Edmund finally understood by his family and Susan can stay Susan. I don't really have any issues with her character. Also switch Turkish delights for Oreos or something actually delicious.