The Land of Make Believe, and Why No.
I think Fred Rogers of “Mr Rogers neighborhood was the real deal. He taught kids stuff that their parents couldn’t ( or wouldn’t) -and all while entertaining and doing it with kindness and positivity, and unending encouragement.
The Land of Make-Believe was probably my favorite part. There were some very strange characters there. Lady Elaine Fairchild was and IS deeply disturbing. But I think King Friday bothered me the most. He was almost always wrong (or at least a little off ), although his heart seemed in the right place, and he needed guidance towards the proper conclusion - no matter how seemingly obvious the situation.
Regardless of how backward he was, neither the human nor the puppet denizens of the Land would ever contradict him. They would instead guide him with gentle persuasion and tactile trepidation, carefully and above all -respectfully, but it felt so patronizing, and I always sensed that there was a reason outside of mere ‘respect for one’s elders’ or for that of the authority of the office of the King.
I felt like the visitors to the Land of Make-Believe ( the Humans more so than the puppets) were petrified of offending and thus enraging King Friday. He would likely have military reserves stationed and waiting to seize those who offended the Crown. (Although they remained out of sight) And I believe they could pursue fugitives past the boundaries of Make Believe, through the trolley’s darkened tunnel, spilling out into Fred’s home and then into the unsuspecting neighborhood beyond.
He may not have impaled the treasonous the way Dracula did, but Friday no doubt embraces Lèse-majesté laws and concepts such as Divine right and ‘jus primae noctis’.
