MEL IS AN AWFUL MOM! Coraline Explained - Scene 17 | The Fangirl Scene-ic Saturdays

I am so annoyed with Mel Jones and her behavior in this scene. She has every chance to bond with Coraline and just refuses to at every turn!
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#TheFangirl #coraline #filmstudies #movietheory #videoessay

[@annacharest1958]

I honestly think Mel is stressed, I know she’s short with Coraline but her behavior comes across like someone who’s burnt out rather than someone unloving

[@ovilla4]

The fridge looks like what someone's fridge would look like if they died and no one cleaned out their apartment yet 😢

[@bekadavisstudios]

This was something of a therapy session for me. It warms my heart to hear someone holding a parent responsible for failing their child. Mel is a lot like my mom, but mine had a temper. Everyone knew but no one seemed to care. Thank you for caring about kids, even fictional ones. The children in all of us are listening.

[@mikaylawilliams7213]

Exactly!👍

[@denisejeffries2675]

My take away from this week is that you are a kind hearted loving mother. Not all mothers are.

[@a.t.m873]

I think you're kinda right that if they're not in a limbo pink palace, then the other world must be somehow influencing the real world to be worse to get Coraline to want to return and stay FOREVER.

[@karlalaney8845]

Okay, how did the other mother know about the gloves? My thing is when coraline and Mel get home after shopping coraline says “oh like the gloves” and she said it in the house!!! So I think the other mother was listening either through the doll or something else

[@nationalinstituteofcheese3012]

Maybe Coraline mentions it off screen around the dolls or by the door like she’s complaining to the doll

[@prodbyquick]

14:57 if youve ever seen the deleted scene with her drawing the weird clouds that even appear at night before she goes to the other world (when a spider appears and gets tossed into mel's coffee) that shows up throughout the movie, thats the same drawing.

[@KnightofLillies]

The drawing on the fridge is from a deleted scene where, while Coraline talks about meeting Wybie, Mel suggests drawing something

[@van.not.can_8822]

i don’t know if you’ve seen this, but there’s a cut scene that shows coraline drawing the swirl sketch on the fridge. mel drinks from her mug, and a bug escapes the mug when she puts it down. i believe that the bug was getting dna for the other mother so she could replicate mel’s appearance.

[@caramel_macchiato-art8442]

My big sis was so afraid of this movie when we were little that until this day she can't watch Coraline. I would play the soundtrack just to mess with her.

[@marlaantonellagomezcarrill4890]

@TheFangirl I wholeheartedly believe that the "Redhaired Woman" who was spotted smoking outside of the shop and seemed to be tremendously responsive or at the very least terrifyingly attentive to the sight of Coraline and Mel speaking in the interior of the shop was the Beldam in disguise as she posesses similar physical characteristics that seem unnerving, such as her elongated fingers with the slightly claw-like almond-shaped nails, a highly sharpened nose that is somewhat similar to Mel and Coraline's profiles and the sullen or dull eyes which look visually lifeless. I think that it is also interesting to point out that she is sporting both Miss Spink and Miss Forcible's colors, respectively or the colors of the Other Miss Spink and Miss Forcible's bodies when they morph into the Candy-like creatures that seize Coraline at the Theater when she sets out to retrieve the Ghost Childrens' eyes. She additionally has a facial structure that is incredibly similar to Mr. Bobinksy's and even posesses the Other Father's arms, as well (and although a much different color) her hair bears many textural and stylistic similarities with Other Wybie's hairstyle. Could this mean that, in bearing this particular theory in mind, that the Beldam simply reuses the biological characteristics and physiognomy of her victims to create the illusion of realism in a person who ultimately never existed? I would truly love to hear your thoughts regarding my theory. Thank you so very much for making such well-structured and intelligent multi-fandom and cinematographic media analyses. They truly are phenomenal to watch and engage with.

[@denisejeffries2675]

LOVE your observations here!

[@marlaantonellagomezcarrill4890]

@@denisejeffries2675 Thank you so very much! I had originally been pondering upon this information for quite some time, perhaps for almost approximately a year and a half and I had never truly had the chance to share my theoretical observations (in particular with regards to this scene up until now). I believe that the subtextual stimuli that truly sustains the basis of this theory for me, personally; is that when Coraline remarked that her Other Mother would instantly buy her the gloves that she had wanted from the department store, the Redhaired Woman suddenly and momentarily breaks the fourth wall and gives an almost menacing look and in a blink-and-you'll-miss-it moment, for a split second, she even seems to have a slight smirk or look of satisfaction as if to signal to the viewer "Yes, they're referring to me. Of course I know what Coraline wants because I'm always watching her." To me, that was the most ominous part of watching that scene time after time in slow motion or at 0.5 speed. In my second viewing of this video, I also realized that the name of the department store is "Linden's." The name "Linden", may refer to a "Linden Tree", whose spiritual and symbolic meaning, refers to the deity "Freya", the Goddess of "Truth, Justice and Love" in German Mythology. The themes of truth, justice and love are three of the most essential themes in Coraline's journey. The Beldam thrives on the distortion of truth or the illusion of truth. Coraline, acts as a personal agent of generational justice and a conduit for the Ghost Children to find peace through her plight with the Beldam and love is what Coraline desperately craves throughout the story, as well as an emotional response that the Beldam uses to deceive children. Thank you so very much for your interest in my theory! I truly hope that you can have a wonderful day. 😃

[@denisejeffries2675]

I hope that you comment your observations more throughout this series! This was really wonderful to read! I cannot wait until the FanGirl gets to my favorite scene!

[@marlaantonellagomezcarrill4890]

@@denisejeffries2675 Thank you so very much! I would be delighted to continue sharing my thoughts and observations throughout the progression of the series and I am extremely appreciative of your readership and kind words. I truly hope that you may have a wonderful day.

[@Kiiriminna]

I think that Mel didn't need to turn his head to know what Coraline wanted because she knows her daughter and how she acts when she wants something. She might not know what it was this time, but that didn't matter as she wasn't going to buy it anyway.

[@FukuchiTwins]

i think mel was able to see the gloves through her peripheral vision

[@TheFangirlWatches]

It’s possible, but Coraline’s hands were up so high I would have personally had trouble seeing them at that angle.

[@jsbdkal8285]

Some things I want to talk about Firstly the woman who was smoking outside the store. I think she could be the sister of that lady who was with Mel, and maybe her giving Mel that nasty look was because she had plans with her sister and Mel is making them late, that coukd also explain why the lady was holding the clothes and following Mel around, she wants to hurry so that she can leave. Secondly we dont know whats upstairs in the uniform store so maybe theres another shop upstairs, so maybe the kids uniforms are downstairs and upstairs has non uniform clothes. Thridly I think the reason Mel went home was because she probably didnt know how bad their food situation was, I mean she's seen drinking coffe a lot so Mel probably didn't eat anything, and she didn't know how little food they truly had. Fourth I think Mel wanted to buy Coraline those gloves but since they were expensive she couldn't get them, and maybe her being mad is because she doesn't feel like she's being a good mom. I think that's why she wanted Coraline to come with her to the store since buying Coraline a snack like a bag of chips or a chocolate bar is way more cheaper than those pair of gloves. Fifth I think Coraline wanted to upset Mel so that she would be left home alone, since as soon as Mel left Coraline tried to go back to the other world.

[@jazzputmon9990]

This is very logical .. but this is a mystery lol. But this is more than likely the true reason

[@Neytiri935]

Made a lot of good points.

[@Jay.T4NA]

I’m not sure about the us, but in the UK, kids always need new uniforms. They grow so quickly so there are uniform shops all year around and they seem to do okay?

[@dollsartbyartynyan206]

So I watched yesterday how Mathew McKenna (youtuber) watched Coraline, & he noticed something really cool - interesting how ir our worls Wibie speak & cat don't, & in the other world it's opposite- Wibie is silent & cat is talking

[@kawaiigaythug]

These videos have saved me this past week

[@denisejeffries2675]

The gloves look hand knit. I am a knitter myself. I have worked at and shopped in stores that sell some handmade items such as hats/gloves/scarves/etc. and they sell for a higher price than mass produced ones. Often those were made by a local artisan or even employee. The store gets a percentage of the sale and the rest goes to the person who made them. Perhaps that could speak to the price that caught your attention.

[@theecourtofmadness]

I'd like to say the condiment wrap was Mel trying to make a joke but knowing what Charlie cooks for the family Mel has probably eaten worse.

[@notrealnamenotatall2476]

I think the focus being off of Mel in the car is because Coraline herself is basically 'tuned out'. It was intentional, but it wasn't hinting towards some greater theory. It was cuing us in to the feel of the scene. At this point, Coraline is at the point where she's blocking her mother out, which continues until she flees to the other world.

[@YasmeenMO]

Mel should've let Coralina have the gloves she wasn't really asking for much besides I worn uniform in elementary all the way through highschool I found ways to make it represent me better by adding little accessories to make me stand out

[@williamswonderland3636]

So if those gloves are at the uniform store then surely they must be part of the uniform and other students would be wearing them right? Also I always assumed those kids belonged to one of the employees or even the owners kids Rotten apples? Like in the orchard?

[@TheStormBolt-gf8qi]

Oh hell nah never realized the lady looking through the window while Mels in the store is smoking the cigarette

[@saylor211]

The spirals on the fridge look very similar to the clouds outside when coraline chases the mice downstairs.

[@SqdFeelxngs_]

We have quite a few uniform stores where I'm from, of course we have multiple middle/high schools which I'm not sure of exactly if there is more than one school in the specific place Coraline lives, however they usually sell the same uniforms that the school clothing store does but at a slightly cheaper price. They also usually have some accessories like the gloves we see to go with the uniforms that the regular school stores don't sell.

[@nationalinstituteofcheese3012]

Maybe those stores are also open for kids who come in the middle of the school year

[@kristindevereaux7568]

Mel would, in my opinion, be acting quite accurately how someone would if they had moved to a completely different state, gotten in a car accident, and had a garden catalog due.

[@hoodwinkedwriting4237]

With the catalog. Charlie could be a ghost writer. His job could be that he writes books and stuff that are similar to the like cookbooks you see when you first walk into stores. 3:35 also, why is there a woman creepily staring into the shop, staring STRAIGHT at Mel, with a wide smile and a cigarette in her hand?? (Nevermind. She beat me too it)

[@lineawinther3383]

The drawing on the fridge is Coraline's drawing of a 'mist'. In the book, her real mom tells her to draw something on the rainy day when she is bored. I belive there is a deleted cutscene where Coraline draws that drawing, and it transitioning into the mice getting through the wall. The more you know :)

[@tbjoshua8941]

That drawing on the fridge coraline drew it in a deleted scene it wasn't shown but its here in the movie so that's good

[@christopherb501]

10:30 Never thought of that...

[@isolemnlysweariamuptonogoo3350]

The uniform shop definitely doesn’t seem out of place, as somebody who is in American private schooling. Generally, all the schools in a large area will affiliate with one store that sells all of their uniforms. I know the uniform store in my area has been the uniform store I went to for both of my preschools, my elementary/middle school, and my highschool. Gloves being 24$+ isn’t super surprising because everything in the uniform stores is jacked up. They often sell accessories with the school affiliates cookies on them (for schools around me it was tartan hair bows and such) The store associate following them around isn’t super surprising, either. Usually these stores don’t actually have all of the uniforms on hand. They have the correct cut of the shirts/skirts/blazers for you try on (so if my school uniform is a white oxford shirt they may have a grey oxford that’s the same style so you can confirm sizing) and a store associate will pull up your schools uniform in a catalogue and take you through the store getting everything you need. American private schools (so most of the schools in America that are wearing the type of uniform you see there) have two sets of uniforms, so you often have to go back to the store halfway though the year to buy the winter/“formal” uniform, if you don’t when you buy your spring uniform. Another commenter mentioned kids growing out of uniforms a lot which is definitely another factor keeping them open year round. The weirdest thing is honestly just the fact that the associate talking to Mel seems to be the only associate there?? XD

[@Jax4444_]

what if the little door went both ways and the grandma and her family lived in the other apartment? So, grandma closed it off thinking if no one lived there, no one could be taken like her sister was? Then she just forgot about the button key in Coraline's familys apartment or the other mother put it in there herself somehow.

[@davidfitzpatrick6535]

2:18 ur welcome! Yeah since I was a paper boy I had to carry those up and down my route which was a PAIN IN THE ARSE.

[@TheFangirlWatches]

I was so young when Sears catalogs were still a thing, I never realized until JUST THIS MOMENT that someone had to deliver those to everybody! Your poor back!

[@davidfitzpatrick6535]

@@TheFangirlWatches Yeah I was a teen when I did paper routes and about ten to 12 houses got the catalogue. Unfortunately we weren't paid extra to deliver them due to them being from a third party (IE the paper and Sears had a deal but because we as the delivery person were independent since we kept all our collection money and that was how we got paid werent given an extra buck for delivering them.) I dont think Sears is a thing anymore though as here in Canada where I live I believe they went out of business during the pandemic. Im 29 so I clearly remember visiting Sears with my mom but yeah I dont think ive seen one since before the pandemic. Unless its still in the states but I dont think it is.

[@novepipps]

Thank you KZbin for randomly reminding me of this channel

[@user-sh8dw3of9t]

Great video! Thank you so much!

[@dollsartbyartynyan206]

also, about woman that's smoking outside the store- maybe its seller from other store? dk

[@TheStormBolt-gf8qi]

Yess we back

[@BBMacsWorld]

I was thinking maybe the woman smoking was one of those other kids mum? Although, she didn't follow them when the ran away, so I guess not. Mel definitely is not winning mother of the year any time soon

[@TheFangirlWatches]

Yeah that would seem super weird to me “okay boys, go inside and run amuck while mommy sits here smoking.” She didn’t really react when they ran out of the store either, so I don’t think they’re connected.

[@marlaantonellagomezcarrill4890]

In my second viewing of this video, I also realized that the name of the department store is "Linden's." The name "Linden", may refer to a "Linden Tree", whose spiritual and symbolic meaning, refers to the deity "Freya", the Goddess of "Truth, Justice and Love" in German Mythology. The themes of truth, justice and love are three of the most essential themes in Coraline's journey. The Beldam thrives on the distortion of truth or the illusion of truth. Coraline, acts as a personal agent of generational justice and a conduit for the Ghost Children to find peace through her plight with the Beldam and love is what Coraline desperately craves throughout the story, as well as an emotional response that the Beldam uses to deceive children.

[@clovecrosina8087]

if the movie is in 2009, it wouldn’t be atypical to keep a binder near the front/ in the store which would probably have their products + little blurbs (i.e how to use mulch for fall crops/ how to compost for likely in summer and spring)

[@Sylver2019]

I love your videos!!! 😍

[@yelloworange3125]

Ive been thinking Maybe the limbo pink palace is so close to the real world because after coroline’s disappearance, her parents became overly attached to the coroline doll. Its not uncommon for parents who lose a child to latch onto their childs toy to grieve

[@jeb444222]

This scene in particular has me thinking. Maybe all the people are other real people who have been trapped in the limbo, but the fog always leaves them confused and not questioning their own surroundings? Like the shopkeeper could have sold other varieties of clothes in the real world but now she’s trapped here and is just stuck selling what the other mother makes available in the constructed world. Kind of like if a real person was given tasks in the same way as an NPC. Maybe the real game is to just trap them in limbo to “eat up their lives” in the same way the weeping angels of doctor who do. The more people who get trapped and live their “normal lives” to the end, the more power the other mother would have overall. Maybe I’m overthinking it too!

[@belladonna1950]

What if the black cat is some kind of gaurdian that is meant to keep the kids in general out of the other world or keep the other mother in the other world and away from the kids? It might explain why the cat looked upset as Coraline went to the other world. maybe the cat had something to do with Mel getting freaked out and locking the door and to the point of hiding the key. It was meant to keep someone from traveling through the door, either Coraline or the Beldam, for one reason or another. Depends on if the cat is some kind of gaurdian for the kids like I mentioned earlier, or is a warden to keep the beldam in check/trapped.

[@Imagi77]

This theory reminds me of Stephen King's IT being able to manipulate the people of Derry in a very similar fashion, watching the targets and screwing with them as It hunts them.

[@ingridaguero6460]

I have my own theory, firstly, all of those weird towns people are there to make the set look more active, but in the movie Mel is acting off here because due to the injury, the family is probably having money issues but the catalog is keeping her mind off of the money issues but now that it’s done, her mind is no longer stress about the catalog, but turned into worry about the money issues. My moms the same way. She would stress the fuck out on work but once the work and chaos was done she would be worry and quiet once there’s no work

[@charlene4419]

I love theory videos, also the ones I don't agree with. Coraline is so good and unique, its perfect for theroies. ♥

[@sighingsaichania7033]

I made it to the end!😄

[@toddpieper7322]

yes she goes to the other world at different times throughout the year seasons change in the real world

[@skyhaslam7209]

Cool little detail, the spiral picture is from a scene that was cut

[@snowbutterfly1013]

I never noticed before but does the unicycle performer have a baby on their back?

[@keirajenner8310]

Or maybe this is the other world that’s why Mel locked the door so coraline won’t go back to the real world. And that’s why this reality is so depressing for coralline

[@trixxart777]

Could this scene also be important for the beldam to know her size to make the star jumper

[@renee_is_pink]

maybe that was the food they brought with them in the car?

[@renee_is_pink]

OHMYGOD YOU READ MY COMMENT AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

[@Oggiboggy]

I made it to the end of the video

[@PancakeRights]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@s.knaturegirl9895]

Hi I'm the first to leave a comment

[@20000dino]

This is all just really dumb speculation.

[@TheFangirlWatches]

I literally point to contradictions that are tangible within the film, but, whatever!

[@achill6080]

I am no stranger to a destroyed neck and back. Heck! I got that stuff now. I mean the doctors tell you not to lift when your neck and back is messed up. However, that is for sake of fact and I have been looking forward to the theories on this movie and enjoy them!