The Thirteenth Year Has a Mom Problem

I remembered The Thirteenth Year as the Disney Channel movie where a 13-year-old boy suddenly starts turning into a mermaid.... What I did NOT remember was Cody being raised by the quintessential early-2000s Weight Watchers/Yoplait granola mom… or just how many questions this movie leaves completely unanswered. Why did Cody's biological mermaid mother abandon him on a boat? Why did she wait exactly 13 years to come back? Are ALL mermaids raised as humans until they hit mermaid puberty? And where are all the other 13-year-olds suddenly growing scales and sticking to walls? So today we're revisiting one of my favorite Disney Channel Original Movies to talk about Cody's questionable parental figures, the surprisingly inept adults surrounding him, mermaid puberty, beet birthday cake, and the absolutely baffling mermaid lore of The Thirteenth Year. I genuinely love this movie. I also genuinely cannot make it make sense. If you have a theory about Cody's mermaid mom—or what exactly is happening in this mermaid universe—PLEASE tell me in the comments because I need answers. And if there's another nostalgic movie you want me to revisit, let me know! Instagram: ‪@hey_its_emily_c‬ #TheThirteenthYear #DisneyChannel #DCOM #DisneyChannelOriginalMovie #DisneyNostalgia