You can have your own opinion on the Trolls movies (whether you love it or hate it) but something that I adore about them is how they handle Branch’s trauma and how it affects his relationships with others.
Sure, he is in a WAY better mental state now, but he still struggles. It’s mostly shown in the TV shows because shows have more time to develop things, but also in the movies he is still struggling.
In the first holiday special, he struggles with learning how to smile (and he truly doesn’t have a good smile until he is being genuine) and is shown to follow Poppy’s lead and when he tries to give his opinion and she says something else he just gives into her. I love how they also address his lack of social cues, especially when instead of telling Poppy that she ignored Bridget’s feelings, he treated Poppy how she treated Bridget.
Now, In the second movie, he doesn’t trust others easily and is always on the defense. He has a backup plan for everything and is shown to struggle with admitting his emotions (involving his crush on Poppy and mostly following her around and being there for her even if he doesn’t agree and it results in him and her having a fight) he sings and dances and all but he is still learning how to adjust to being a happy Troll again.
In the second Holiday special when he gets Poppy he freaks out because he doesn’t want to disappoint her (abandonment issues, anyone?) and, again, his lack of social cues, ESPECIALLY when he goes to measure Poppy’s hair and how seeing Poppy’s gift for him got him spiraling, which resulted in him thinking that he had to go BIGGER for Poppy, and when it ended up backfiring and making a scrapbook, he thought it was ‘lame’, which caused Poppy to calm him down, and while he was panicking about the clouds snowing, Poppy decided that they should both go on a balloon ride with no multitasking, making him happy. I love how Poppy knows how to calm him down and that while he’s struggling, she’s always there to help him.
Now onto the third movie *cracks knuckles* here we go!
Now, let’s get to the ‘Abandonment Issues’ Elephant In The Room. His bitterness about his brothers leaving him is something that he makes obvious, but mostly puts it away until his brothers say that they will be going their separate ways. Throughout the movie he slowly allows himself to enjoy being with them, but when that revelation comes up, everything comes flooding back, his resentment and anger and bitterness that he has had for the past twenty years. He then leaves them, telling them that he doesn’t need them, and when Poppy follows him, he lets his insecurities get the best of him, telling Poppy that she will leave him eventually, that everyone else does.
Poppy, being the best girlfriend that she is, reassures him that they have been by each others sides and that she isn’t going anywhere. He apologizes, but she doesn’t hold it against him. I love how much Poppy has changed, especially when in the second movie she made his doubts about Hickory about herself, and seeing how hurt he is, she comforts him and doesn’t excuse his brothers actions, agreeing to help him save Floyd.
I love how at the end of the movie, when he is surrounded by everyone that he loves, he is at his most happy, in my opinion. Now, I can imagine him still struggling, but he’s in a much better place, and while I’m positive he will still struggle in the future movies (after all, twenty years of not having any help for his trauma is something that won’t go away anytime soon) he has his brothers and his girlfriend.
I love how they still address his issues, they address the fact that not everything will get resolved immediately, and that while in the first movie he gains his True Colors™️ again, his colors fluctuate between being more gray to being more blue. For a movie for kids, I love how they ACTUALLY show Branch healing! Showing him having doubts, and how the movies show that while he has those to help him, it also shows how strong he is by continuously improving himself.
Of course, there’s still some issues (mostly in the TV Shows) in which they could delve more into it, but compared to other children’s media, the fact that they are showing Branch being happy while also showing that he is still recovering is something that I love about the Trolls franchise.
TL;DR I’m so glad that movies and shows for kids are discussing more serious topics, and I love how the Trolls franchise show the effects of trauma and that while Branch is still struggling, they show that with people to help you, you can end up in a better place. Of course he isn’t going to be immediately okay, but he’s slowly getting there, and that’s such a beautiful thing to see, especially in a movie like Trolls, where Trolls fart glitter and hug every hour and with the Pop Trolls being so happy almost all the time! I love how much care they put into characterizing Branch!
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im watching the third trolls movie after watching the second and GAJFJOPPH i cant do this. floyd: when you miss me, wear this. *gives branch the green outfit that present day branch wears all the time* me: GAH HE'S WEARING IT ALL THE TIME NO!!!!!!
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james corden wasn't actually annoying in the second trolls movie, he was just fine. goes to show what happens if you actually know how to write your characters
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i am loving the trollsposting <3 look at them go
every troll is different . lookat them go. wow i like them all )the trolls)
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