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Myths and Legends Pop Culture

Disney Channel Original Movie (DCOM): The Thirteenth Year

Original poster for the Disney Channel Original Movie (DCOM): The Thirteenth Year released in 1999

Back in the 90s, Disney Channel had new original movies released every single month. In May of 1999, that original movie was The Thirteenth Year.

“The Thirteenth Year” was directed by  Duwayne Dunham and starred Chez Starbuck as Cody, Justin Jon Ross as Jess Wheatley, Courtnee Draper as Sam. Brent Briscoe as Big John Wheatley, Tim Redwine as Sean Marshall, Dave Couiler as Whit Griffin, Lisa Stahl as Sharon Griffin, and Stephanie Chantel Durelli as the Mermaid/Cody’s Mom.

Since The Thirteenth Year is a Disney Channel Original Movie it is rated G.

The movie opens when an ambitious fisherman named Big Jessie mistakes a mermaid for a large fish. As he’s hunting her down, using sonar technology, the mermaid places her newborn son in a small boat for safekeeping.

The mermaid goes back to Big Jessie’s boat and reveals herself to him. He’s in a state of shock and wonder.

Minutes later, the Griffin’s hears a baby crying and find the little boy on their boat. They name him Cody.

Chad Starbuck as Cody Griffin in the Disney Channel Original Movie (DCOM): The Thirteenth Year 1999

13 years later Cody is the most popular guy at his middle school and is the Captain of the swim team, the Marlons. He also has a beautiful girlfriend, Sam.

At Cody’s 13th birthday party, he invites the school nerd Jess to his birthday party. Sean makes rude remarks to Jess, about how he can’t swim, so Jess gives his birthday gift to Cody’s Mom and asks her to give it to him.

Shortly after a humiliated Jess leaves the party, Cody goes inside the house to get some water. Sam follows behind him and gives him his birthday gift: A frame with her picture in it and a kiss.

Chad Starbuck as Cody Griffin in Disney Channel Original Movie (DCOM)The Thirteenth Year

After the party, Cody’s adoptive parents tell him, now that he’s thirteen years old, his whole life is different. His Dad notices, the unopened gift from Jess and tosses it to him. Cody is at first, unimpressed that Jess gave him a copy of “20,000 Leagues under the Sea” by Jules Verne for his birthday. Cody isn’t a reader, he’s an athlete.

A few days after his birthday, Cody begins to feel ‘strange’. He needs to drink an excessive amount of water, his hands become sticky or slimy (like Spider-Man), he has an electric charge (like an eel), his speed in the water increases, and he has a weird scaly rash.

Not knowing where to turn, Cody confides in Jess about his fishy-like symptoms, knowing that Jess is very knowledgeable about marine biology and oceanography. Jess begins to run tests and comes to the conclusion that Cody is a merman.

Chad Starbuck as Cody and Courtnee Draper as Sam in the Disney Channel Original Movie (DCOM): The Thirteenth Year

When Jess tells Cody his theory, at first Cody is turned off by it, believing Jess made a mistake or has no idea, what he’s talking about. Seconds later, Cody tells Jess that he’s adopted and that he doesn’t know where he came from.

That night, Cody’s adoptive parent’s tell him how they found him in the sea. He shows them the scales on his hands and at first, his parents think nothing of it and even call the doctor. The doctor diagnoses him with puberty. But Cody, insists thats not the issue, and the changes are something else.

Cody begins to have dreams that he’s swimming under water and he doesn’t have to hold his breath. He sees a beautiful woman, luring him close with her glowing hands. The dream becomes repetitive and Cody comes the conclusion, that Jess’ merman theory is correct.

His adoptive parents finally believe that Cody’s becoming a merman, but don’t know how to help him. Cody becomes secretive around his friends, except for Jess and Sam is upset that Cody is pulling away from her. She begins to wonder, what is wrong with him and why he’s not being honest with her.

Meanwhile, Big Jessie notices the changes that Cody is experiencing and wonders if he’s connected to the mermaid he almost caught 13 years ago.Big Jess takes it upon himself to hunt the mermaid again, knowing she’ll surface again, to see her son, Cody.

Cody tries to continue normal life, despite becoming a merman and Sam discovers the truth, during nationals. Cody is forced to tell Sam the truth and learns that Big Jess is on the hunt for Cody and his mom, to prove that mermaids exist.

As Cody’s body progressively becomes more merman in the water, he realizes that to complete the transformation, he must see his mother in the sea. He goes into the water, despite his adoptive-parent’s wishes and is captured by Big Jess.

Jess, goes into the water and rescues Cody, despite the fact, that he can’t swim. Cody rescues Jess and Big Jess feels guilty for his actions and lets Cody go. Cody sees his real mother ascend from the water, calling him home. He jumps into the water, his mother’s hands glowing, and his transformation is complete.

Cody surfaces a merman. Sam tells him not to fall for any mermaids while he’s in the sea. Cody promises that he’ll return home at the end of the summer.

Cody leaps from the water and starts his new life as a merman.

 

 

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Pop Culture

Wonderful World of Disney: Sabrina Down Under (1999)

Sabrina (Melissa Joan Hart), Barnaby (Scott Michaelson), and Gwen (Tara Strong) in the Wonderful World of Disney: Sabrina Down Under

Back in the 90s, Melissa Joan Hart became a household name, with her tv-series Sabrina the Teenage Witch. The show was so popular, that the Wonderful World of Disney created a few made for TV movies and Sabrina Down Under was one of them!

Sabrina Down Under was written by Dan Berendsen and directed by Kenneth R. Koch.

The made for TV movie was released on September 26th, 1999.

The film opens with Sabrina (Melissa Joan Hart) flying over the great barrier reef on a helicopter and she catches a glimpse of a merman in the water. Sabrina thinks nothing of it, since she’s excited to explore and have fun with her clumsy, British friend Gwen (Tara Strong).

When Gwen meets Barnaby (Scott Michaelson) on the reef, she thinks he’s handsome and hopes to see him again, not realizing that he has a fishy secret.

Later on that day, as Sabrina and Gwen are strolling on the beach, they find something or someone beached on the shore. They are shocked to discover, that it’s a merman and it’s Barnaby.

Sabrina and Gwen, use their magic and transport Barnaby back to their hotel room. They are mortified to hear, that the mer-people colony is being poisoned by pollution in the water.

Sabrina gives Barnaby legs, so his symptoms won’t get worse and so he has the proper time to heal. Barnaby is enamored with the human world.

It doesn’t take long for Gwen and Sabrina to learn that pollution isn’t their only problem, regarding Barnaby’s mer-people colony. Marine Biologist Dr. Julian Martin (Peter O’Brien) wants to expose Barnaby’s mer-people colony to the world and become famous with his discoveries.

Sabrina and Barnaby fall in love, while the looming threat of Dr. Martin looms over their heads.

Sabrina befriends Dr. Martin and discovers that there’s a medication to help the mer-people who are getting sick. She takes the ointment to the mer-people colony, where she meets Fin (Lindsay Sloane), Barnaby’s sister.

Meanwhile, Sabrina’s feline companion Salem falls for witch-turned cat Hillary, but like always, Sabrina’s problems ruins his plans.

When Sabrina’s spell on Barnaby wears off and he’s no longer human, he’s caught by Dr. Martin who takes matters into his own hands and places him in a tank. Dr. Martin calls the press, claiming that he’s made a discovery of a lifetime. A merman.  Sabrina and Gwen are devastated, so they take a risk of revealing their witchy powers and go out and save him.

Against all odds, they rescue Barnaby and return him to the sea. Dr. Martin leans the error of his ways and vows to no longer hunt down the mer-colony for profit. Rather, he vows to protect them and to bring more awareness to pollution.

Sabrina Down Under is definitely a nostalgic movie for anyone who grew up in the 90s. It’s filled with lessons about pollution disrupting the environment, friendship, loyalty, and love.

 

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Myths and Legends

Poseidon

Greek God Poseidon holding a Trident in a Corinthian plague dated between 525-550BC

Poseidon was the son of Cronus (the youngest of the 12 Titans) and Rhea (Cronus sister).  Cronus was the god of agriculture. Rhea was the goddess of fertility.  Poseidon was the brother of Zeus, the King of the gods and of Hades, god of the underworld. Poseidon, like Zeus was one of the most revered gods in Greek Mythology.

Poseidon ruled over the oceans and was the god of the sea, earthquakes, flood, drought, and horses. Poseidon’s legendary trident was created by the Cyclopes, the same beings who created the thunderbolt for Zeus and Hades helmet. The trident is a fishermen’s spear.

Poseidon throwing this trident in an ancient coin dating between 282-306BC

Poseidon, like his brother, Zeus, had a weakness for human women and had many children with them. He had Pelias and Neleus with Tyro, who was the daughter of Salmoneus, who was part of the royal family. And many of Poseidon’s descendants would become rulers of Greece.

Poseidon had other children, that were giants and savage creatures. Most notably, Polyphemus, Orion, and Antaeus.

Poseidon was also known to have consorts. Progenitor, was one of them.

He was married to the Oceanid Amphitrite. Together, they had the sea creature, Triton. Triton became a powerful figure in Greek mythology, like his father Poseidon.