RUMOR has it the next BeForever character will be from the early 1940s. I know I know, you're probably asking..."what about Molly, just bring her back."
This character will be Hawaiian with Pearl Harbor in her story. Ironically her name is RUMORED to be "Pearl".
Read: Attack on Pearl Harbor
Bringing Molly back would be better, but really I'd prefer 1920's, 80's, 90's & some more from the 17 & 18 hundreds. Surely there's a Hawaiian character that could come from some other significant date. I don't want to revisit the 40's right now. lol Besides the BeForever line is going to be all in the 20th century before long.
ReplyDeleteSo true, especially since they retired Felicity and CAroline. Kaya's just about one of the last and she and Josefina will probably be retired soon too..
DeleteI agree! So many big historical moments in both the 80s(Regan's presidency, Challenger Disaster, Collapse of the steel industry, John Lennon Shot) and 90s (Rise of the Internet, Rodney King Riots, Collapse of the USSR, WTC bombing, OK City Bombing, OJ Simpson Trial) any of those would make for amazing stories! They might as well bring Molly back for a WW2 character
DeleteAnd have you noticed that the only dolls left pre-1900 are non-Caucasian dolls (Kaya, Josefina,and Addy)? I thinkAG is afraid to retire them for fear of being called racist...their excuse for retiring Addy is that they're replacing her with Melody. I don't like where this is headed...soon we may see the historical line disappear forever!
DeleteRosie
I'd honestly prefer a Hawaiian during the lat 1890s. That was during the Hawaiian Kingdom and the only actual Monarch in American history! Why are people so fixated on Pearl Harbor as if that is the only time in history to talk about Hawaii?
DeletePlus a 1940s Hawaiian girl is going to have the same kind of clothing Molly will have because in Hawaii 1940s girls were more modernized. Whereas in the 1890s it would give us a more interesting time in history.
I think that would be cool! I'm excited to know what she'd look like and what her story be like during the War.
ReplyDeleteI am really thrilled about this! Love the time period, couldn't get enough of Molly's stories. Its like they are taking the best of the best...Molly and Kanani. They should just call this new doll Malani and call it a day. Plus the setting is Hawaii...sounds like a winner to me.
ReplyDeleteAs interesting as this sounds, I would rather have some pre-20th century girls. AG is seriously lacking in that department.
ReplyDeleteMe too! In fact, a Hawaiian girl pre 20th century would be better. People don't know enough about Hawaiian history, but there is so much more to it than just Pearl Harbor. What about The Hawaiian Kingdom in 1890s, the last Hawaiian monarch and the only monarch to truly exist in American history? Plus, Queen Liliuokalani is the only woman to ever rule on American soil. That is more empowering than talking about World War 2 all over again.
DeleteI'm so excited about this girl, she's most likely going to have a very intersting story and it would be interesting that they will go into the war and the attack on Pearl Harbor. I adore Molly but she was a girl on the Homefront and away from most of it, whereas in comparison this girl will be right there seeing it happen before her eyes. I'm excited and looking forward to learning more about her. :-)
ReplyDeleteBut Pearl Harbor is just one event. Can you honestly see an entire series about just one event?
Delete1940's Hawaiian-style furniture should be fun. Do we know when she will be released? Madelon
ReplyDeleteRebecca Kinney, the only other "significant" date that would make sense for a native Hawaiian character would be from the 1880s-1890s when the US stole Hawaii from the native Hawaiians by a coup d'etat against the royal family and forcibly annexed the islands. Certainly not the kind of positive feel-good story that American Girl wants to market. WWII Hawaii is a far better choice in comparison. Molly is gone, get over it.
ReplyDeleteBut Samantha came back. That's why people are like, just bring Molly back. This girl's collection will be just like Molly's. She'll end up like Cecile and Marie-Grace for sure.
DeleteActually, in the late 1800s Hawaii was under a monarchy under Queen Lili'uokalani, the only female ruler of American History. I think a story talking about the only Kingdom in America would be LOADS better than having a story talking about only one event. I don't think you see the bigger picture. Yes, Pearl Harbor is a significant event, but how is an entire series going to cover this one event? The Hawaiian Kingdom was actually the most prosperous time in Hawaiian history. They don't have to do 1880s or 1890s to cover the Kingdom of Hawaii. They can easily do the 1830s, 1840s, all the way up to the 1870s. Not only would the clothing be significantly different, but the time period would offer us some new history rather than same old World War 2 story.
DeleteBesides Pearl Harbor is also not a feel-good story. Is being bombed a feel-good story to you? Besides, her clothes will look just like Molly's for people who already have a Molly collection, and if you're smart you'll know that two years ago they said they were re-releasing Molly from the archives. It would be stupid to have two girls from the same period with the same kinds of outfits. You do realize that a girl in Hawaii in the 1940s would be dressed exactly as Molly, right?
I think I will be very interested in Pearl's personal story and I can only imagine she will be unique and cute. But I don't have any urge to collect 1940s themed objects and outfits.
ReplyDeleteI am also beginning to experience a kind of "war fatigue" in the historical doll line. I am really ready for a new historical that has a story more inward and internal rather than outward and political with guns, plagues, wars or civil unrest. Perhaps something along the lines of Kirsten's story--there was death and loss, but the story felt more like an *ordinary* girl and her rather unremarkable (in terms of history making) family rather than (for example) Caroline who is suddenly an active agent in a major war with guns and canons.
Ia gree! And Pearl Harbor is not the only Hawaiian history they can do for a Hawaiian girl. What about the Hawaiian Kingdom that was under the only female ruler on American soil, Queen Lili'uokalani? This not only took place pre20th century (which would give more pre 20th century characters) but it would also give us some fresh history that is missing from the Beforever collection. I honestly do not want to see another World War 2 story.
Delete"Molly is gone, get over it." Did you seriously need to be so rude, Miss Anonymous? I have Molly, & I have all my favorite pieces from her collection. I'm not exactly crying over her retirement. I was just simply saying AG has already done the 40's. There's so many other decades to learn about. And sorry but WWII anything isn't the least bit positive or feel-good. If you're all for this potential character though, that's great, I'm glad you'll have something to look forward to. There's no reason to get offended by opinions that differ from your own. Notice how I wasn't belittling anyone who showed interest in Pearl, even though I didn't?
ReplyDeleteSoooooo very excited!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteInteresting...I really want more dolls added in the 1600s, 1700s, and 1800s. We don't need anymore 1900s dolls. I would rather them bring Molly back.
ReplyDeleteI'd hate for Molly to be brought back. She'd have a new meet outfit, collection, and probably wouldn't even have her beautiful gray eyes. Although the fact that this doll is (supposedly) Hawaiian is interesting, bringing the actual "war" part of the 1940's closer to girls, with Molly's story you only heard about the fighting, you rarely read about/witnessed it (in both the books and the movies). Still excited for Melody though!
ReplyDeleteIn Hawaii, she wouldn't witness much of the fighting either, just the one Pearl Harbor event, which would more than likely be in one/third of the first volume, while the rest would be about the Hawaiian home front with a collection that is very similar to Molly.
DeleteMost Americans were far away from the war.
Why another character? And who will be leaving? We already know Addy will be leaving as soon as Melody arrives. I wish they would bring back Molly! I loved her collection and the others. Why can't ag just keep things how they are!
ReplyDeleteIs that definite, that Addy is leaving once Melody arrives????
DeleteI'm hoping they get rid of Addy, Kit and Josefina ASAP and replace them with a brown eyed Kanani (Asian historical replacing the medium skin slot taken by Josefina) and a new blonde hair blue eyed historical with long hair.
DeleteI would also love for them to archive Rebecca and replace her with a Beforever Molly (replacing the light skin, light brown hair, colored eyed slot Rebecca is currently holding.) But if the new girl is also WWII this won't be happening for a while if ever.
No way should they "get rid of" Addy or Josefina. Kit? Fine. Her collection went downhill fast in Beforever.
DeleteAnonymous, why would they have both Molly and the Hawaiian girl from the 1940s? XD
DeleteIt seems that people in the American Girl community care more about the look and fashion of the dolls and less about the history itself.
DeleteYou honestly want to get rid of dolls like Addy and Kit, girls who represented important times in history, just to have certain hair and eye color? I would hope that American Girl focuses more on the history than the look of the dolls. But maybe I'm too idealistic.
Do you think she will have med. skin color and almond eyes? I would like that S.R.
ReplyDeleteIt would make sense that they haven't re-released a medium skin Jess mold doll because they were saving it for a character doll.
ReplyDeleteSadly, I don't think she's going to have the super long hair Kanani had.
But if they basically release a brown eyed kanani with slightly shorter hair I think she sounds amazing and will be a day one purchase!!!
The hair is very important to me because I don't customize so that is my personal wish for this doll.
Molly was my first American Girl doll so although I am sad another American Girl will be "taking her place" I think this story could be really interesting and her accessories would be so cute! With that said, I agree with many other collectors that I would appreciate a pre-1900's doll. I would love to have a doll between Caroline and Felicity's time or one to fill the gap that Marie Grace, Cecil and Kirsten left. Looking forward to Melody though!
ReplyDeleteYou spell it Cecile, not Cecil! Oh, I agree with you.
DeleteHmmm, this could be interesting. I'm sure she will be Asian or mixed, possibly even Japanese, making the attack on Pearl Harbor particularly difficult. This could go either way. No way her name will be Pearl, screams code name. I really thought AG would do an Asian 80's doll, I guess not.
ReplyDeleteTo be honest I'm not sure Im liking this "name goes with story" thing going on. Melody is okay simply because her whole family likes music so it makes more sense. But Pearl and pearl Harbor? Not so sure. It actually sounds goofy to me. I do miss Molly and I'm really sad that she now can never ever return. What I'm concerned with though, is who is going to retire to replace her? Josefina? I hope not because Hawaiian and Mexican is not the same. I would prefer Rebecca retiring, because although she's Jewish, its not as huge as retiring the only Mexican be forever doll.
ReplyDeleteAnd who came up with the idea that they have to retire a doll with every new release?
DeleteBy the way Mrs. Maria S., I feel the same way you do about Josefina , but I feel that retiring Rebecca will just wind up to a "Ivy-Gate" controversy. And if you recall Marie-Grace and Cecile, they came a year before Kristen. So, as long as "Pearl" is a year before/after Molly , she can come back . And if Kit went away, I'd be sad, but it wouldn't be as bad if they retired Rebecca or a different diverse.
DeleteThe difference is that Cecile and Marie-Grace didn't talk about the same subjects as Kirsten. They were marketed differently. Cecile and Marie Grace were growing up in NOLA during the Yellow Fever epidemic, not pioneering America on the prairie.
DeleteThis character is talking about the same event that Molly talked about, only from a different state. Her collection will mimic Molly's in many ways. They would have to keep Molly archived in order to keep this new character around.
Well, American Girl has usually re-released archived dolls before. So let's not say that they will NEVER re-release Molly. :)
DeleteIf Pleasant Rowland still worked for AG, we'd still have Nellie!
ReplyDeleteI think if Pleasant still OWNED American Girl, we never would've gotten Nellie to begin with. Samantha was her character from that period, and we would've gotten new characters all the time rather than best friends.
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