REVIEW: Jakks Aldi Play ZOE

 

I was curious about these dolls, so my mom picked one up today on her errands. (I had to stay home because it's that time when maintenance comes around to change the filters, and we have two dogs who would not like the intrusion if they were alone.) We're planning on going again tomorrow so I can go see the others myself, but I thought this one was the best overall. 

They are indeed made by Jakks. I know this was speculated on Reddit. 

Cute! 

The hair isn't the greatest ever, but it's not awful. I think Zoe here has the best hair, because she's the only one (that I can see) with a unique element like the added braid. 

This bag is adorable and well-made. 

Simple but cute.

The body has basic articulation plus elbows. Cutely sculpted. 

I like her. I'm not running right out to go get the other three, but I'll very likely get her a friend if they're still there tomorrow. 

I never think of Aldi as somewhere that would get exclusive dolls, but it's a cute idea. 

I'm running out of ways to say she's cute. 

So yeah, simple, cute, a little bit overpriced at $14.99 but welcome to today's economy. 

PHOTO CREDIT: Mine. 

REVIEW: Monster High ROBECCA STEAM

FINALLY!!!!

I've been wanting to see Robecca again for ages! 

I do find it really weird that first, it took so long for G3 to put out Skelita when she'd been on the show for a while, and second, that we got Robecca so fast after she was announced while we're still waiting on Skelita. When will the US be allowed Skelita? I need to break her out of that body-shaming plastic piece of crap they stuck on her! 

Annnnnnnnnnyway. 

ROBECCAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

Remember when we first saw her and all the haters were whining that she looked more like EAH and not robot enough? Then she came out and they're all dying over her? Typical. 

Accessories. The quill! 

OMG, Captain Penny. He is a lot more cutesy than the original and I do love the grumpy original, but this one is cute. Undeniably cute. 

I'm not a big fan of the purse. I don't hate the mixed metals like some people do, which I do consider a valid complaint, but I definitely feel like they did a bit too much gold. The purse should have been copper. And it looks weird, because you know those are chains on the bottom and they just stick straight out instead of, you know, acting like real chains. 

Also not a fan of the necklace, because it does not want to lay straight. But she looks like she's missing something without it, so it stays. 

These are really cute, though they should have been a bit thicker like actual goggles, not glasses cosplaying as goggles. Still, a great piece otherwise. 

Gah, the bottle. 

Mine's right wrist joint is a little weak, so getting her to hold the bottle up is tricky. 

She is near perfection. I don't have any major criticisms, only little things that I would have tweaked. Like the purse being copper, the chains being different somehow, the blouse could have been ivory and I wish it was a separate piece. I do love the idea of her in bloomers, so maybe a future Robecca could do that. 

Actually, I do have one complaint. Her hair was not great. It had a ton of snarls I had to remove and it's a little frizzy-looking at the ends. I really expected better hair. 

I didn't take photos of her body, because everyone else has by now, but it is amazing. I love her earrings, too. 

Her face is absolutely stunning. Yes, she's sweet-looking but that doesn't mean she doesn't fit in with other MH dolls. She just doesn't have the more sultry adult look like G1 did. Let's face it, guys, the G1 doll did not look like the teen she was supposed to be. This one does. G1 Robecca is gorgeous but she was definitely one of the older-looking dolls, so that really shouldn't be held against this one. Anything actually age-appropriate about G3 should never be held against the line and I'm sick of people doing that. 

I hope we get another Robecca soon! There's so much they can do with her! And Indian rep for the win. I always considered G1 Robecca to be Indian, so it's nice to have that confirmed for G3.

PHOTO CREDIT: Mine. 

REVIEW: Monster High Self Scare ABBEY & VENUS

So I did a recent series of posts on my Insta where I picked my top 3 of each G3 doll, and I realized after that I'd completely forgotten the existence of this Abbey. I can't remember why, but I never took the time to review her. I just set her out with Fearbook Abbey and then they were part of the G3s I packed up a few weeks ago. 

Well, after doing Venus's top 3 and realizing I definitely needed Self Scare, I got her yesterday and wanted to dig poor Abbey out of storage and take some pics of her. 

I mean, this is definitely Abbey's weakest doll. The outfit is quite cute and her makeup is fine, if a bit on the boring side for her. I think it's her hair that I don't like. I need to take the time to condition it and maybe it will lay better. 

I do like her accessories a lot. She has some very cute pieces, though I'm not going to get them all out. 

Plushie Shiver is the cutest accessory. 

So yeah, there's Abbey. 

Now for Venus!

All her fun accessories. I won't be putting the bonnet on her, because I'll never cover up those pretty curls, but it's an important addition. Other lines have been covering Black hair care for a while now, so it's great that MH is joining the fun. 

I love the little cases so much. 

And I'm not going to pretend the succulent was not a huge part of her draw for me. 

So stinkin' CUTE. 

Amazing, as always. Even with one less point of articulation. 

Venus has the strongest face card in G3. Cleo, Spectra and Robecca are up there, too, but Venus has gotta be the best. 

I didn't love these are first. The blockiness is weird. But they're growing on me. 

Love. 

Yeah, I made the right decision. And I didn't pay full price, so I don't feel too guilty for spending when I'm supposed to be being good!

PHOTO CREDIT: Mine.