Aspects of Rex's / Kid Math's character I really love
The thrilling sequel to my Becky / WordGirl character post, I guess
WordGirl "plays" with her villains in a way that Kid Math just does. not. get. I love how single-minded he is and how he still doesn't pick up on that attitude despite multiple attempts to explain it to him. In his mind, superhero work is serious business...
He just straight-up crushes Two-Brains' ray gun between his palms with this smug look on his face.
There is not an ounce of fear in his body... Always ready to get his hands dirty fighting crime.
He's constantly beaming and putting his hands on his hips. Service with a smile. The only service he provides is teaching times tables and kicking your butt.
That completely unnecessary spin he does when demonstrating how to add "a million plus a million."
WordGirl tries to call a time out on her battle with Two-Brains to talk to Kid Math and he just floats there with a dopey smile :) He doesn't really "get" calling time outs, but he's also a good boy who's ready to listen and chit-chat.
Got gushy and excited when he and WordGirl found out their planets are in the same solar system. Look at him.
Will cheerfully help you with any math equation regardless of how simple it may be... He might be destructive, but he's not mean. He'd be such a kindhearted math tutor; doesn't make you feel bad. He loves numbers and wants everyone else to love them too. This boy is made of pudding and love. Could kill you in the streets; a cinnamon roll with your math sheets.
WordGirl's backstory is that she snuck aboard Huggy's spaceship and startled him into crash-landing on Earth. Kid Math's backstory is that he took a spaceship for a joy ride. Where did he get it? Can he legally drive? Do his parents know he's roaming space? He answers none of this, but he makes a point to imply he was goofing off slkdjf
The hand motions he makes while acting things out during stories... He makes driving motions, he makes stick-snapping motions; he's great. It really makes him feel like this very visual and emotive person which plays so well against the usual stereotypes of logical people (cold, harsh, rude)... He's a friendly guy who just also wants to piledrive you into the asphalt. Love that for him.
I love the little ways he kicks his feet... I love when he tucks one foot behind his other leg... I love his unique little body language quirks.
WordGirl tries to shoo Kid Math away by saying that Fair City "already has a superhero," while she's dressed as WordGirl, after already stating she's from Lexicon, while she is flying, after Kid Math interrupted "an epic battle between good and evil," and he REALLY looked her in the eye and asked who the superhero she's referring to is sdklfj. The glare she gives him leaves me chortling every time.
"It's ME, you absolute coconut."
He's so brokenhearted when Becky doesn't respond enthusiastically to him showing up at school...
He can see through Becky's civilian disguise and it was so obvious to him that he thought it was a joke.
That one little fist pump he does when Becky's super exasperated with him and starts walking off... His excitement cannot be dampened.
Brags about raisins. That's just... such a weird trait. This child will brag about everything from his home planet to himself to snacks.
He just wants to be praised... Give him attention, plz.
Made a point of clarifying that he was still willing to fight Doctor Two-Brains "even though he has a number in his name" as though he assumed WordGirl would worry about that being a problem.
I feel like there's so much loaded in every line of dialogue... like how he specifically says "Is [Doctor Two-Brains] a villain who has a 'thing?'" which really drives home this idea that Kid Math came to Earth fully prepared for superhero duties; he constantly puts up this image of a guy who knows what he's doing even though it's blatantly obvious that he just bumbles into things and I love that.
He is SUCH a know-it-all but he's also, like. a child. And he's such an interesting foil for Tobey, who's a very emotional character. Tobey is a "hot and reactive" boy genius, Kid Math is a "cool and calculating" boy genius. They would drive each other up the wall, I think.
You never see Rex get angry... He always holds his cool. He doesn't speak up when WordGirl consistently slam-dunks him to the floor. He just quietly picks himself up. He doesn't protest when she shoves him out of frame. He doesn't yell, complain, or break down. Even when he and WordGirl disagree, he'll ask for more information, clearly explain the reasoning behind his thoughts, or he'll switch topics. He's very young, but very non-confrontational... and you get the sense that he'd be proud of that if you told him so because he cares a lot about his image and he has such pride in being logical.
He makes one grumble while defending himself for falling for the "Look behind you" act ("it means there's something notable to see") but he just kinda lets Becky push him around... She's not truly being mean, she's just trying to help, and he just yields to her. She's his guide even though he insists that they're equals :) She's his mentor and friend.
There is so much trust in his heart even though he knows basically nothing about her except the fact that her home planet shares a solar system with his. He's so innocent... Not yet burned by the world.
Kid Math bumbles through his words a lot, but his heart and actions are always good-natured... Certified good boy...
He gushes so much over the idea of being adored... He wants love and recognition, your honor.
His idea of showing WordGirl affection was to punch her, sdljkf... He taps her twice as though making sure she "gets it." She reacts strongly, looking like she's ready to slam dunk him again before the security alarm interrupts. At the end of the episode, WordGirl smiles and returns the gesture by elbowing him twice and I love that parallel. Tap tap.
I really like that moment where WordGirl and Kid Math both flinch and check in with each other after hearing the security alarm... It's such a good way to show that they both have the same powers and they're both trying to be on the same page even though she was literally in the process of yelling at him.
Okay this is less about Kid Math's character and more about the episode, but I LOVE how Kid Math ends up in a mousetrap / goop ray combo trap similar to the one WordGirl faced when fighting Two-Brains for the first time in "Squeaky's Machine." The scene explicitly draws attention to the fact that WordGirl is "too experienced" to fall for the early tricks she used to in her younger days, and it highlights Kid Math's inexperience by showing him falling for those tricks, and he's in the same trap... I just think that was a clever parallel.
I really like the dynamic of the ray gun scene where Two-Brains tries to explain Superheroes 101 to Kid Math and KM just sits there like:
That painful delay where Kid Math is staring down a laser gun that will turn him into goop and it takes a very long moment for him to ask for help sdlkfj
The look of shock on his face combined with his little finger splay when he realizes that WordGirl actually DID save him... Slowly processing how close he just came to death, slowly processing what it's like to have someone there for him... Buddy system.
(Also I think it's funny that the cage the henchmen put Kid Math in is smaller than the cage they put WordGirl in... He is little.)
He's constantly in the "on" number brain... He'll just scream "That's a prime number!" or "Two stores!" or mumble "You just said 16 words" or "That's a fraction!" and I think it's hilarious. He just really, really likes numbers... He is, undeniably, the Living Calculator.
I think it's funny that Kid Math's speed trail is glittery while WordGirl's isn't. I feel like she'd be jealous of his sparkles.
WordGirl tends to fly in squiggly motions but Kid Math flies in arcs... just a little detail that I think is cute. WordGirl is such a flighty, indecisive, back and forth person. Kid Math knows exactly who he is, what he wants, and where he's going.
WordGirl tries explaining why Kid Math needs to be careful and his immediate response is to accuse her of being manipulative... Rex, are you okay? Buddy, lower your emotional walls slkdjf
Okay but. Can we talk about that. Can we talk about how Rex was super hype to see WordGirl at school, he was SO READY to have a friend, but his worldview is so painfully black and white that he can't help calling her out on what he considers immoral behavior.
Rex sees nothing wrong with his destructive "You can't have crime if you don't have a city" ideas but he draws the line at lying. From Rex's POV, this is an episode about WordGirl pulling him from his straight and narrow Hexagonian lifestyle and into the morally gray zone. That's SO funny.
Double fist pump when he gets invited to WordGirl's house.
I cannot get over how perfect it is that he wears his superhero costume underneath his civilian clothes... I know Becky does that too but Rex is so blatant about it and it's such a good design choice. Everything about his outfit is a good design choice- I love how he's so similar to WordGirl but has his own unique style, from his eye mask to the way he flies. He's not just a re-skin of the existing hero... He's his own person with his own life, his own design. He's so good.
The progression of Kid Math's attitude from "Huh??" to "Uh-oh, I'm in trouble" in the different scenes when Becky pushes him off screen... He just looks so much more scared the second time... He knows he's disappointing her but he just doesn't understand why. Help him.
WordGirl gave Kid Math two "Let's talk about why this isn't okay" conversations about him blowing his cover and he still said "There's no reason not to tell everyone" skldjf. It's obvious he respects her and values her and wants to learn, but he also will just... Not Do That.
Rex resisting the idea of a secret identity so goshdang hard..... He absolutely doesn't want to be a "regular kid." Honestly fair.
He's clearly very smart, including knowing the definitions to several words (which he can even define himself, which a lot of characters in this show don't do)... Tried testing a Lexiconian by quizzing her on a definition with the most smug face imaginable... His response to a Lexiconian named WordGirl correctly defining a word was "Not bad."
idk something about the way Rex specifically uses phrases like "get away" [to walk away from adults] and "give up" [to go home and eat dinner] is very... hm. The fact that he didn't know what "hint" means... Someone please teach this boy that it's okay to ask for help and that he doesn't need to run away; there is such an aura of Big Yikes energy around him...
Realized that WordGirl had a catchphrase, so he attempted one himself and it was just "MATH!"
And he looks so disgruntled when WordGirl brushes it off and tells him he'll figure out something better later sdklfj...
The cheerful way he waves at Two-Brains before their fight.
Rex attempts the secret identity thing and still messes up in every conceivable way. He's actually worse at maintaining a secret identity after WordGirl introduced him to the concept, which he TRIES to tell her by pointing out that for him, "it's easier to just be a superhero all the time," and... man idk.
There's so much we can say about WordGirl trying to force Kid Math to fit inside her superhero box when he clearly doesn't want to. She has this perfect ideal of "peaceful family life" and this separation of hero and civilian identities. She takes those things for granted because she's always had her family.
Rex is new to Earth. He doesn't have the luxury of parents who care about him, but she tries to push these ideas of "Eating dinner in peace" and "So you can sneak away and fight crime without anyone worrying about you" on him anyway...
Rex doesn't need to divide his life and put up a secret identity front. He already has no one worrying about him. He's new to this planet. He has nothing. No one. He doesn't want her lifestyle, but she doesn't try to work with him and help him find something that works for him - y'know, like how there are tons of villains who don't have secret identities and they live perfectly normal lives - and instead she just tries to stick Rex in the "you need a secret identity because I have one and I know best" box... Man, I love their dynamic so much. She has no idea she's playing with fireworks, that Rex could explode over this... He's just polite and sweet and good, even though he totally doesn't want her life and he totally disagrees. Ugh, I love him.
The way he clasps his hands during his one little "Sorry I helped a villain" apology...
He's just so expressive with his hands; we love to see it.
Even though he clearly knows Two-Brains is the enemy, he still follows his instructions... He thrives on "being good."
WordGirl told Kid Math he needs to "build suspense for the audience" and his immediate reaction was to pretend he doesn't have arms. Then he played dead by flopping over, sticking out his tongue, and crossing his eyes. I love him so much.
Offered to get back inside the cage when he noticed WordGirl was glaring at him.
His random backflips... He's so playful...
I'm sorry I just find it funny that WordGirl basically told him to go to his room and chill out... She sent him to his spaceship sdfklj
WordGirl: "If the villains knew my secret identity, they would never leave me alone" -- Kid Math: /rolls eyes
LAUNCHES himself into a scene... just. Springs in. Top speed. His favorite way to enter a conversation.
"Hello there, Earth kids! I'm sure not Kid Math at all!! :) Boy, isn't it crazy that neither one of us is a superhero from the Planet Hexagon?? What are the odds?? :)" Who wrote this dialogue, it's my absolute favorite. He's a child. Rex is so incredibly smart, but he's also just Like That.
He just really loves floating... He'll babble to you and start floating in the air, slowly rotating upside-down. He'll sometimes just go up and then down again... He likes floating. We never see WordGirl doing that, so I love how there's another character with the power to fly and he uses it to, like... express himself. Just part of his body language.
He literally makes this face while talking about his plan to destroy the city and I love him so much slkdjf
He even planned it out, right down to citing "amazing superpowers" as the reason that "No one would be able to stop them." Crying.
Seriously can we talk about the fact that Becky tried to stop him by saying "We can't destroy the city!" and in her mind it was obvious that she was talking about the moral reasons why they shouldn't do that, but Rex literally replied "Sure we can!" because he was only thinking about the logistics... it's so good. Show don't tell me that your alien is a product of his ultra-logical culture. Fantastic. No remarks.
His fantasy of tearing down the city includes him getting a high-five from WordGirl... Someone PLEASE give this boy healthy levels of attention; he wants to be someone's hero so badly.
WordGirl tried explaining that hurting people is wrong and he still wouldn't let the idea go, I canNOT with him... he's such a card.
Specifically, I need to emphasize that WordGirl checked in to make sure Rex was on the same page that mass destruction is wrong and he was like "Sure okay whatever" and then immediately got excited about... an alternate but equally destructive daydream. His little "Oooh!!" and the way he taps his finger against his lips kills me.
He's just such a playful little kid... He painted Violet's nose green for absolutely no reason... He's SO wild and dangerous and I love that, but he's kept in check by his innocent desire to be a playful little kid and I love that too.
Went to art class and painted... a math equation.
That shy little kick he does when Violet compliments him and he stuffs his hands in his hoodie pockets; he is SO weak for words of affirmation... Help him.
"Compliments make Earthlings feel good :) ... Which I am!! An Earthling! Not Kid Math!!"
Every little bit of his body language is SO GOOD...
I like how Becky and Bob have only known Rex for three days and the moment he starts stuttering and hesitating while trying to come up with an excuse for where he was running off to, Bob just... facepalms and Becky winces; they have no faith in this kid slkdjf.
Kid Math thanks Two-Brains for giving him a compliment on his witty banter, then checks over his shoulder to see WordGirl's reaction... She gives him a thumbs up.
All those little moments where he jolts and clutches his fists against his chest.
"Did you know about this?? >:/ " about something WordGirl could not possibly have known about.
Narrator presents two options and Kid Math says "I choose both." Can you even imagine arguing with the all-knowing voice in the sky.
Entire city is about to be turned into goop and Kid Math still stops WordGirl and wants to trade the hero task she gave him with one that he likes better... He's such a CHILD.
I like how we still saw him out and about in his superhero costume during "Time Out With Two-Brains..." just doing his own little thing. Living his best life, didn't give up his dreams.
Also he just has the best little background poses:
After an entire episode of chasing love and adoration, he gets to hear the crowd cheer for him and he's so dang excited :) Good for him!!
Fully owns up to his mistakes, but also never apologizes for anything (apart from the minor suggestion he made to improve Two-Brains' plan...) Man, he is certainly one of the hero kids who has ever been. Disaster of a cinnamon roll.
