Claudia and the New Girl

 Book #12, Graphix #9, Netflix S2 E2

Original Book - Writer: Ann M.Martin

Graphix Book - Illustrator: Gabriela Epstein

Netflix Series - Director:  Robert Luketic, Writer: Sascha Rothchild

Basic plot

Books/Graphix:

Claudia gets a new friend the arty Ashley Wyeth. She starts neglecting the BSC so she can concentrate on her art and spend time with Ashley. She realises who her true friends are in the end.

Netflix:

This diverges quite a bit from original book. When Kristy is sick, Claudia is disappointed she isn't first choice to step in as president she decides to prove herself by training up new club member, Mallory. She clashes with Mallory, but after talk with Janine's new cool friend Ashley, she realises she wasn't listening well to Mallory.

Things that are kept the same 

• As the Netflix episode is completely different, the only things that are common across all 3 mediums, is a BSC member missing meetings causes problems, Dawn gets more club responsibility and Claudia is impressed by cool girl Ashley Wyeth.
• The Graphix follows same plot as original book, Claudia meets new girl the arty Ashley and they bond over art. 
• Claudia misses meetings because she gets caught up in new art project and hanging out with Ashley.
• Dawn isn't happy to have to take over Claudia's duties all the time, and the whole club is annoyed with Claudia and write some mean notes to leave in her bedroom. 
• Ashley only cares about art and can't understand why Claudia wastes her time on babysitting.
• Claudia decides to sculpt Jackie Rodowsky for her project.
• Claudia makes up with the BSC.
• Because she has to make up for other things she missed she doesn't have time to finish her sculpture but does get an honourable mention at the art show which all the BSC attend.
  

Things from other books 

• [Netflix only] Mallory's first babysitting job with Claudia supervising doesn't go too well because of nerves (Original Book 14)

Things that are changed 

• The graphix actually switched around the book order so this came before Kristy and the Snobs, but the change doesn't really effect the plot.
• The Graphix stays pretty close to the book, some events seem to be combined like when Claudia misses meetings, the club's notes are bit less bitchy in the graphix and the ending has everyone coming to a more friendlier understanding with Ashley.
• The Netflix series, Ashley Wyeth is not even the "new girl" of the title, Mallory is who it refers to.
• Ashley is introduced as Janine's friend, and she is an influencer that all the BSC in particular Claudia find cool. She isn't art obsessed and is actually quite friendly giving Claudia advice.
• After the BSC sleepover, Kristy gets strep throat and has to miss meetings and asks Dawn to take over as president, which upsets Claudia as vice-president she thought it would be her job, and thinks her friends don't take her seriously.
• Unlike the books Dawn is thrilled at the new responsibilities and wants to try out new ideas. She suggests new dues system and donating some of their club fees to charity each month.
• Mallory and Jessi have now joined (earlier than the original books but they are both in the Graphix at this stage too). Mallory is over enthusiastic, talks a lot and is unsure of her place.
• Claudia tries to train Mallory but gets really annoyed with her and ends up yelling at her.
• After talking with Mimi and Ashley, she goes to apologize to Mallory and is more open to listening to her, they talk about collaborating, Mallory's stories with Claudia illustrating.
• Kristy comes back which everyone is grateful for, as some of Dawn's ways were not working, Kristy does take some of her ideas and modifys them appropriately.
  

Final Thoughts

This is the last Graphix published for now, there is an adaption of Goodbye, Stacey Goodbye due in February. It's another good adaption, like I said it follows the original closely but I think improved on few subtle things, like Ashley and Claudia leaving things on friendlier terms. As for the Netflix episode this wasn't bad and I like the Claudia actor (Momona Tamada) but I would have preferred if this was just a Mallory episode. Basically nothing comes from the original book, Ashley is very different personality wise, Claudia is disappointed people don't take her seriously (while in the original book she was being more irresponsible) and even Dawn happy in her new role is different. I also found Mallory a little too incompetent, I can't really blame Claudia for losing her cool, Mallory really doesn't seem to be make any attempt at entertaining Lucy while babysitting, which seems to be bigger issue than her talking too much. Someone not as familiar with the books would probably be less nit-picky because it is fun to see Mallory's over-eagerness from an outside viewpoint and Claudia's family dynamics, and it does set up some stuff for later in the series, which from a show runner point of view is more important for making things flow together better. It just would have been nice to see it from Mallory's perspective as she doesn't get an episode herself.