Parent reviews for Blaze and the Monster Machines

While I don't deny the educational aspect of the show (it's not always 100% accurate but it does help with a basic understanding of STEM topics.) The biggest (and honestly worst) lesson my daughter picked up from this show is to do with the idea of good and bad. The show's protagonist ALWAYS wins. No matter what the situation or race or whatever, Blaze ALWAYS wins. This constant example the show portrays means that kids will make the unhealthy association of "Winner = Good, Loser = Bad" and also turns Blaze into an unlikeable Gary Stu. While it's great that exposes kids to STEM subjects, the moral dilemmas the show creates is just not worth it.

First of all, I'd like to comment about the folks who are complaining about the use of words like Centripetal force and believe the show is using incorrect terms. I'd encourage folks to Google search a word they don't recognize and educate themselves. In this particular episode, the use of centripetal force was correct and is not the same as centrifugal force. As for the show itself, it's alright for kids to learn basic concepts and new vocabulary. The main characters Blaze and Crusher seem to be the most powerful machines in the world because they can create machines out of nothing by just saying the word. Some of the concerns I have are the following: 1) Blaze is the only character with blue eyes and significant expression in the facial features, the rest of the characters have black dots for eyes. This seems to me like the show is portraying the "hero" as a certain demographic. 2) Blaze is snarky at times and acts like a "frienemy" to Crusher. 3) the bullying is a little too much. The show tries to portray Crusher as the bad guy because he cheats, but as an adult watching the show, what I see is that Crusher is usually in the lead during races to begin with, and stops to set up obstacles to deter Blaze- perhaps because he's tired of Blaze cheating all the time using "blazing speed" at the last minute, a feature none of the other characters seem to have unless Blaze decides to share it with them. The other cars also don't seem to include Crusher or Pickle in their activities much. Blaze is so obsessed with winning and has a clear hero complex that even in episodes where another character is inches from the finish line, Blaze will use his booster cheat to speed past them to take the win. He can never let someone else have the spotlight. 4) the other characters are always calling for help with their problems, and do nothing on their own to solve them. It would be nice to see some balance in this show, where all the other characters have a spotlight and are the hero as well. It's not healthy to teach kids that they should always take a back seat to overzealous show-offs and have no ambition or autonomy of their own.

Um. Sure. Ok. Let’s blaze! Clearly, that was the battle cry for the writers, who were obviously blazing when they wrote these scripts. Seriously, the MOST common meaning of this phrase, used throughout the show, is … yeh … you guessed it—lets Smoke weed. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. I enjoy Tom Petty’s music as much as the next guy. But as the mantra for a show aimed at kids 3 to about 6 or 7? I suppose that it’s a bit funny, really, but the writing reflects the mantra. If you’re blazing while watching, it might be tolerable. If not, we’ll, you will feel the IQ points draining away.

This show is so messed up. It has no point. I mean, look at other shows like Dora and Team Umizoomi. They have some educational value; in Dora, she teaches story telling and spanish and in team umizoomi they teach math, but in this, they just ask random questions like "where the glue?"

My baby loves this show it teaches math and science it is a kid safe show it shows kids to never give up sure it might be cars. But you don't have to pay for it so what is the big deal?

The show is good at teaching children about math, science and improving ingenuity but how sure are we about the morals that it teaches? Crusher is supposed to be the main bad guy. He thinks like a child that wants this and that and also wants to show off but lacks the mental capability to think most things through kinda like a child. Blaze on the other hand is a helpful and mature guy. So why is Blaze always trying to compete with everyone. For example there was a race for animals, in that episode he transformed into an a Lion just to participate in the Animal Land race. Isn't that a bit unfair? He isn't really an animal is he? He undoubtedly had the advantage when it comes to intellect and hardware and I'm not even talking about his Blazing Engine or as I love to call it his Cheating engine. He was built as a racing machine and the others were just normal animals and when the going gets tough he uses his blazing engine to magically give him and his friends super speed. this would be okay if it was just them and crusher racing, but remember there are other non special competitors in those race that they're competing in. so really how is he not a cheater too!?

They teach STEM with all the great vocab that comes with it. Always fun and entertaining. Plus great songs.. haha. Even teach about how cheating is bad. It gets all my stars.

This show is a great learning experience for toddlers and even kids up to seven! This show has great role models, and great lessons. I totally recommend this show for kids.

My daughter does like it but I think the STEM concepts and vocabulary are just an afterthought, so what if my child can say "Rotational Speed" ( or any number of other vocab words) when the concepts aren't actually defined or explored. Also why do they never use units? Kids can understand more , even little kids, its too dumbed down in the strangest way. It doesn't seem like its written or conceived of with actual care for children. I think the phd research staff they credit should try to pipe up more. Kids get it, and they deserve to be taught in a fun and rigorous way, with deeper characters and compelling stories. Blaze is not this. It's not good. Why so much praise?

This show demonstrates a lot of bullying. I understand that they are trying to convey that Crusher's behavior is bad and cheating is bad however they go a little overboard with shaming his character. Even his best friend, Pickle, belittles him when calling him out on his bad behavior. Plus, if Crusher is the bad guy for wanting to win and cheating in order to do so, then Blaze is just as bad because in every episode, no one else can win besides Blaze. And if Blaze is losing in a race, he cheats by using blazing speed to get ahead of Crusher or whoever else is in the race. It's not really fair to always make one character the winner, the hero, the good guy, etc.