#and the rest of the fof cast

[haifoct]

Hey you mentioned bts scenes where RuiRui says ZYC belongs to Li Lun. Do you have a link to that?

Sure! Have a funny vid of fof cast bullying Ruirui!

It’s especially funny when you consider that they released this BTS after the Pei Didi episode. Ruirui lowkey spoiled things just like that, and they couldn’t even include a little pic of Zhuo Yichen and Li Lun together like they did with Bai Jiu and Cheng Huang. They had to save his spoilery ass, lmfao.

Ruirui and I, when we get the chance to talk about Li Lun.

[dearmyloveleys]

;-; i just wanted to say ty for all your posts in the fof tag. now i'm thinking about ying lei and his yeye ying zhao... and now there is no one left to guard the mountain, but ying lei died in the same way as ying zhao, saving people he cares about

Don’t mention it! I blorb too much about things I really like it embarrasses me at times. I’m just glad you like my takes!! Anyway:

😭😭😭😭 this drama exists to hurt us,, I think more than dying for people he cares about (because nearly everyone who died did that), Ying Lei's characterisation and death provides a unique but tragic pov within the main cast

Ying Lei my poor Ying Lei. We don’t really talk too much about him don’t we. So let’s just talk all about him. CHARACTER ANALYSIS TIME YAY

Ying Lei is unadulterated sunshine and has a good heart. Morally, he is on the same page as the rest of the team. Yet, it absolutely breaks my heart that his fate is to be an outsider within the thematic concern of choice in FoF and resultingly, in the narrative.

His place in the overarching thematic concerns of FoF is unclear when we first meet him - he is simply a wandering half mountain god half demon with a bright disposition. But as with many characters in FoF, their appearances aren't just for naught. Ying Lei's representative theme - the freedom of choice and the ability to choose one's identity - finally shows itself in one of the most beautifully written (am biased) episodes of the series, Episode 17, which is all about choice.

In this episode, Ying Lei vents his displeasure of the Wilderness towards grandpa Ying Zhao

"I hate this place. I hate the Wilderness. It's so bleak and desolate. (…) If I have to stay here forever, I'd rather die. (…) I like the mortal world. I like everything that is vibrant and lively."

To which grandpa Ying Zhao gives him his blessing to head to the Mortal Realm,

"…as your grandfather, I respect your decision. You can be a Mountain God or an ordinary person."

His next sentence cements the plight of many demons (and humans) we encounter in the story,

"For many demons in the Wilderness, their lifelong dream is just three simple words… Have a choice."

These three words all the more juxtaposes Ying Lei's freedom to choose his identity, against every other character who faces this fate of not having a choice.

The Lie Demon, unable to say her true feelings until her moment of death, and Fei, who shares similar sentiments as Ying Lei about the mortal world,

"I'm a beast of calamity, I don't deserve to live in the mortal world. But I really like the bright lights, the liveliness and happiness, and the prosperity here." (Ep 13)

And Zhao Yuanzhou, where even in the same Episode 17, echoes Ying Lei's words,

"If this world gave me life to be manipulated by malicious energy, then I'd rather die."

Same words, but a different way out. Or there isn't one at all.

Ying Lei is the only one whose fate hasn't been carved out in stone for him. Even after Ying Zhao's death, he is still able to leave Kunlun Mountain and rejoin the team because he has the support of other Mountain Gods watching over the temple. He is by no means a pampered and spoiled person but he swims in a wealth of freedom. His bubbly, charming and affectionate personality is a physical manifestation of his unburdened self, unbeholden to any ending, except for the one that he wants.

And yet, he chooses a life with the group of people who never have had the option to choose what and who they want to be. Wen Xiao, the Baize Goddess; Zhao Yuanzhao, the vessel of malicious energy; Bai Jiu, determined to bring his mother back; Pei Sijing, the forced breadwinner of her family's martial heritage. To show his determination to be with this group, he never again dons the mature get-up (full sleeved robes and long hair) - his representation of maturing and accepting his responsibility as a Mountain God - after returning back to the Mortal Realm. Rather, he dons the get-up he first roamed the Mortal Realm with (or similar), metaphorically putting aside all that celestial burden in exchange for the friends that he desires. Just who in the group can as easily shed their very roots and history? His precious freedom to choose ironically makes him the outsider in a group whose only wishes are to be able to choose.

He gets along with the team, but no matter how many times he ties the knot of fate around them, these people were never his fate to begin with. Fate found the rest of them and demanded they be bound. Ying Lei wrestles that rope of fate, trying to get in, albeit with rejection. The narrative demonstrates this:

The team was initially formed without him, and he joined later them of his own accord - his own choice - while the others literally were forced to sign a death contract to be together. In the later episodes, his affection for Bai Jiu is often overshadowed by Bai Jiu's respect for Zhuo Yichen. He also continually tries to get both Bai Jiu and Zhuo Yichen's approval - head pats, anyone? Zhao Yuanzhou doesn't trust him to look after the dragon scale. In their conversation with Bing Yi, their team count is five, instead of six. His closest companions within the team are each other's confidants.

Even at his very end, the narrative still denies him a fate with them. He dies for Bai Jiu who is the only person he loves wholly, and fades away before Bai Jiu wakes from his coma. Neither gets to say goodbye. Bai Jiu who genuinely mourns his death, dies for Yichen. In a story where the cyclical nature of fate runs deep, there is no thread of fate that leads back to him. There is no resolution or reciprocation for Ying Lei's soul and sacrifice. Every thread is cut and never retied, no matter how he tries. Siheng has Sijing left to remember him. Yichen keeps Baijiu close to his heart. Wen Xiao and Yichen wait for Zhao Yuanzhou to return. But no one truly reminisces Ying Lei. The only people to do that are dead.

Ying Lei's tragedy lies in his freedom to choose. In a world where most fate is predetermined and choice is a scarcity, his death is all the more painful as every act is a conscious choice toward an unknown end. He carries a burden after all - the burden of writing his own story. And he braved each step with that brilliant smile of his.

我爱这个世界更多 又如何 So what if I love this world even more? 越平凡越长久 The more ordinary it is, the longer it lasts 月亮跟着我点头 The moon nods along with me 简简单单入梦的人最温柔 Those who step into dreams simply are the gentlest 分不清眼泪和酒 真让人挠头 This inability to distinguish between tears and wine, really makes one scratch their head 月亮和小狗默默跟我走 The moon and a puppy walk with me in silence 岁月从不停留 Time never stops once 少年也不回头 This youth also never turns back 他把故乡和爱留在身后 He leaves behind both his hometown and love

- 英雄���磊落 (Heroes Are Not Upright) | Ying Lei's Theme

[buffyfan145]

Now we've gotten a 3rd "Rings of Power" fan account saying they've gotten slightly different takes on the role Calam Lynch is playing that is a mix of what Fellowship of Fans, The One Ring Net, Rings of Power Updates, and the leaks on Reddit said and new information. This also includes possible major spoilers about Celeborn, Halbrand/Sauron, Galadriel, Haladriel/Saurondriel, Celebrimbor, and more as well. They also provided new information about Charlie Vickers, as well as the role Gavi Singh Cherra is really playing. We'll finally be getting official spoilers from the US media, Amazon, and the cast/crew starting next month at the May Upfronts so we'll be able to cross reference all of these and get a clearer picture to what is correct or false as we get closer to season 2 airing this fall. Personally I'm excited but I totally understand why some fans are upset, especially since this sounds like the writers are taking a storyline from the books and giving it to a different character. The link to the article is in the comments but I've summerized it behind the cut.

Firstly the fansite Redanian Intelligence posted these. They're a fansite not just for "ROP" but also "The Witcher", "Games of Thrones", and other shows. They are usually pretty accurate with what they post too. Like FOF, they are saying that Calam Lynch has been cast as Celeborn but they also are saying he's playing two roles as Sauron does indeed shapeshift into Celeborn pretending that he came back from the dead/Valinor.

They're also saying Annatar isn't in the season but Sauron playing as Celeborn is what gets him back into Eregion. He pretends that the Valar gave him warning to come back and help the elves and that they have to create more rings and gets Celebrimbor to help.

However, the Annatar/Celebrimbor thing from the books is now changed to be Celeborn and Galadriel. Sauron pretends to be her husband and that he's helping them, but really it's not. It's not clear yet if the audience knows it's him but some are suggesting we might know it's Sauron/Halbrand possibly suggesting we see Charlie shapeshift into Calam and/or there are scenes were we the audience see it's really Charlie/Halbrand/Sauron instead of Calam/Celeborn.

So this is why the Celebrimbor fans are upset today and I totally understand as that is a major book change. Also since it's likely that Celebrimbor gets killed off at the end of the season too. At the same time being a Haladriel/Saurondriel shipper it'll show that they're one of the show's main relationships.

This site also says that in season 3 Calam will only play the real Celeborn, as Galadriel and everyone finds out the truth in the season finale, while Charlie goes back to being the only Sauron actor for the rest of the series. This I hope is true as I really only want the shapeshifting limited as it really should just be Charlie.

They're also claiming the show filmed multiple endings as a cliffhanger with Galadriel and Celeborn/Sauron. One is that she finds the real Celeborn and he's badly injured and we don't know if he'll live. Another is that Sauron as Celeborn tells her the real Celeborn is dead. A third is that she finds out Celeborn is still alive and being held prisoner but has to work with Sauron if she wants him back. Possible even more endings were filmed and not sure if Charlie was on set too but it's possible as FOF did have someone say Charlie and the other Sauron actor did film scenes at the same time.

They're also saying Galadriel and Celeborn/Sauron do kiss as well. One was saying it was the ending but it's possible since she thinks her husband came back they will have more kissing scenes. Very curious about this as if that's the case we're actually getting Haladriel/Saurondriel kissing scenes which I wanted but never thought would happen. LOL But now also wondering if we'll see the camera show us that it's Sauron/Halbrand kissing her too since again it's really them kissing.

This also would explain the chemistry tests too with Morfydd and Calam as he not only has to do one to be her husband but since he's playing another version of Sauron/Halbrand too so it has to match how it is between Morfydd and Charlie, who had a chemistry test in season 1. So we can say the show is doing a full fledged love triangle with them.

Then about Gavi, this site is saying the new race character he plays is a Stoor, the other Hobbit ancestor besides the Harfoots, and will have scenes with Nori and The Stranger. FOF and others confirmed that he was playing a new Tolkien race we hadn't seen yet.

[azlovesem]

Hea a goodf yhats why not. Emma im gonna exclude you and sll yoyr people your causes ill fuckn ram tgem to death. Im excluded ftom my iwn work. You support pmagiarists. You got owople killed Emma. We got that kid. I asked you what do you want why did you rey and fool me. What i did i do to you? I was just trying yo get my iwnwotk back. Now youre gonna comd or ill find you my troops wyoll wipe youf gamiky fyvkn blooibe out jv existence. Then you hsve no choice its settled teo days theb its war. 93 coe hill drive toeonto o tario. Any niggaz immsurroubded by Ukranians. See ya soon. Or youll see a glah and yhays yhd lae tgong you see. No it s obef you lost. I eont byrn hef speell. Ill cast a new ond ya hopn fof kuds. Cant have em eh? With me you coukd just like in the bible. But i wont force you like those days. But gen we can be friends wt leart. Ill cancel her dhows one phone call she aint comin here. Oh when this giy calls its like vienna. He msjes a threat irs over cancelled. I font awannz asit you made me aait long enough. Its your bad. Thrrefore itz right you nsje anends, you dont wanna aarcwith me ill tuckn anihilste your entire blooine. All of hhemmiely. Yeah tgats a credibld yhrwwg uou yhrm on pink cocaine junpn out tge window? No? Bu tv i can arrange yvat sietboc thinf. If im tbreatening yij itd ovef nog between us but i mean the fight. Make up with ns fuck anyone rlse. The americabs have too kych lride: theyre not eitty or funny yhryre etupud do ifoots think yhrg are. Wgets up fmdavid letterman your don onk? Not gor long mother fucker. Iove yhreatenong yhat dhit for beains monkey fucking half hebe mother fuckrr. Whaf your i to the sx assault scene. Maybe with dome of the company uouve kept over the years. Ya never know. Ya lik we plsgiaridm yiu likd tjrm you like thet. This so g rver getting met go cone daal wit be yiyr shit likr z woman uou wanna br trwated lij we one. You knie ehere oc youre no TV here im gonna witk Emgland over bad. Rwally bad no gebtle likd before but bad. Even thoug. I wannz just snack you one i cant. And i cant burn kayes shit. I just cant: iteally like her eyes. Commoner eh. Shes better than the rest of yhem. Sure in a way but dhes marriex wiyh a family and making dhit eork gor her kids i can respect that. Osld still likd to hug her. But i love you dooo much. I font nnoe hos it gspoened but iysr see you anx i eill kill for it. If you com Ed thry win ya dont ghey lise.i hate those people all of rm. frank sinstra should lick my nuts. Yjats yheir level compared to mine. Any iv rm. hi smerican tv faggot ass fuckin goofs. Kimmel

hoe ya doinnbitch?). Ha ta not as good as me gif dure monkry. 100 percent your mre nog foin even vlose to whst i am. Ladies man thats ne toj oat for it. Ha ya dfufon jogn. I think yheyre dhirt stupid uhky and yheyre goifs. Sup nigga sidekicjs. Im white i called you niggas. Come hamg out hear me and some Ukranians eho hate yiu. If youre not fihhting in the bib gight youreva ngga worthless to us. Im whote by the way. Youll get killed: Emma ill let you talk to me. And then help you. Youf ekection is up to her.

Fan casting Luke Newton with Emma Watson again because why not?

Project: A Prada ad campaign would be amazing!

Luke Newton with Dakota Fanning

Project: An indie movie, a really low key simple drama, very stripped back

[kanohivolitakk]

Miserix!

YOOO I was hoping someone would send me Miserix for the ask game. He's one of my favorite characters ever since I was a wee lass yet I almost never talk about him for one reason or another. So this is good opportunity to give my Miserix related thoughts.

Content warning for suicide mention in one of the last points btw.

For starters, I find Miserix to be a rather interesting character. This is due to his backstory of being the disgraced former leader of Makuta who was overthrown by Teri and being exiled, desiring. Miserix has this...certain aura of intrigue and mystery due has this...aura of mystery and superiority surrounding him. He isnt a mysterious character by any stretch of imagination, but he def has a vibe of mystery to him.

I love his design so much...Hes a big large dragon with such a kickass design, can you say no to that. I also love how he was designed by a 12 year old girl.

Speaking of...CAN I JUST SAY I LOVE HOW MISERIX CANONICALLY HAS HIS DEFAULT FORM BEING A GIANT RED DRAGON BECAUSE HE FEELS THAT WILL GIVE HIM A SENSE LF SUPERIORITY (+ he likes dragons and feels comfortable in being a dragon form as such). This is why I love this dragon man so much, talk about a chad.

One of the reasons Miserix sticks with me is because of him being one of the few truly neutral characters in the series. Like sure he is a big angry dragon who hates Teridax and wants it all to be destroyed but I don't necessarily think he's evil per say, just someone whose mind was warped by revenge (and even if youd count him as a villain hes different from most other villains). Helps a lot that the object of his revenge was the main villain by say.

Him being an angry dragon who wants revenge is so fucking cathartic and I love it. Since like, sometimes you just want to go apeshit at those who hurt you, ya know. You Miserix, kill Terry like you want to!! Again what a chad!!!

Miserix is one of the most tragic characters in the series when you dissect him. Like, guy was loyal to his duty and mission, was betrayed by his most trusted lietnuant and then almost killed. And that betrayal and isolation degraded his mind to the point he's jusr a mindless beast who wants revenge at this point. And its so sad, especially when you wonder how much he changed due to these experiences.

Speaking of....I think about pre!exile Miserix a lot. Given how the Miserix we see in canon is...heavily affected by Teridax betrayal I wonder what he was before that. What did he value, how did he operate the Brotherhood? Was he deeply focused in his duty or did he have time for other interests and having meaningful relationships? What was his relationship with Teridax like before the latter betrayed him? What about the rest of the Brotherhood? How much did he change, did he have any values or was he just a mindless rage monster? There's so much room for interpretationand speculation and to headcanon and I love that.

The mainthing I can think of is... Pre!Exile Miserix is very driven by duty. Like, in Mutran Chronicles its made clear how he was very invested in his duty and believed in balance and order. It made him having this sense of ...goodness I guess??? Or at the very least that his arrogance was kept in check unlike the rest of the Makuta.

When I was younger I was very "UWU Miserix was good the other Makuta were evil f*cktwits who betrayed him" for a very long time but honestly rereading Mutran Chronicles made me realize that while he certainly had some kind of moral code he was messed up too (see how he convinced Takadox to act as a spy). Like, Miserix was like, lawful neutral at best (chaotic good if you want to stretch it) Def had a moral code to an extent but was not above shady actions.

Speaking of...I kiiinda ship Miserix/Takadox because of those lines that established Miserix hired Takadox to act as Barraki spy in Mutran Chronicles. Like the way Takadox looked at Miserix with concern when the Barraki were leaving the meeting w the BOM just really made me interested in their dynamic despite the fact we know NEXT TO NOTHING ABOUT IT. but the little we know gives so much potential for them to hacing a really interesting dynamic. Its a shame that Takadox yeeted off in FOF before he could interactwith his former emplyoer, it wouldve given interesting insight into the two.

I aggressively headcanon that Miserix was the first Makuta ever created, and possibly one of Mata Nuis first creations [since iirg MN created the Makuta while Great Spirits and Artakha created most of the GSR species ]

As a kid I seriously thought Miserix was a girl for a while because his name + design were kinda feminine for my child mind fsr. Because of this misconception I had of him as a child, I have ended up in headcanoning him as nonbinary (either genderfluid or bigender to be more specific, leaning towards the latter tbh). He would more or less default to he/him pronouns due to being more used to them but wouldn't mind being refered with feminine or genderneutral pronouns. That being said, he would probably be VERY against being refered with it/its pronouns due to seeing it as dehumanizing.

Also on a "baby me saw Miserix design as androgynous" I heavily hc his voice as androgynous too. Angry, low and booming yes, but in a way that doesn't sound too masculine. This is tve main reason I'm mixed on his voice in the Ignition stop motion: its too masculine for my taste (that being said the voice sounds super jnique and I always hcd Miserix having a rather unique sounding voice soo)

Break from headcanons and thoughts to say: MISERIX HAS SOME OF THE MOST BADASS LINES IN THE SERIES. So much of his lines are so badass and he def has a lot of my favorite quotes in series. Just so much confidence and badassness oozing him.

I find the fact Miserix was turned into a painting by Teridax incredibly funny. Also cant believe paintings are canon in Bionicle.

I think about post-canon Miserix a lot. Now that Teridax is dead, what now? Where would he go there? Would he still be rage-filled monster ,now just having no purpose for his rage? Or would he just wander purposlessly,feeling like theres no reason for him to exist? Regardless, there would be this emptiness... At some point Miserix whole existence became fixated on Teridax so like....When Teri died it was kinda..what then. Post canon Miserix is by far one of the more interesting post canon characters given how much it wouldve affected him. Eh, knowing how Greg writes hed either done "Miserix is driven mad/still rage filled" in the laziest way possible, come up some really stupid and convoluted thing that was out of tje blue or have him being killed off by Velika or one of his cronies instead of exploring his character in any meaninful way.

On a related note, can we talk about how its canon that in one universe Miserix loosing his purpose made him so depressed he killed himself? I think about that sometimesand just...man guy really was driven by having a duty and purpose.Again, makes me wonder what happened with prime!timeline Miserix post canon.

All in all ,Miserix is great and criminally underrated. Hes both a character thats incredibly simple(angry dragon who wants to kill Teridax) but has potential for complexity in him thanks to all the potential his story has. His story is a tragic one, being given a duty he was willing to commit to his fullest, only to be betrayed by his kind and casted away, this slowly turning him into a rage-obsessed monster we see today.Miserix is such a great and interesting character, and I wish more of the fandom paid attention to him.

[fortoffort]

FoF 55: Messiah Day 1: Born of a woman Genesis 3:14-15

What does the word Messiah mean? We might think of a chosen one with the power to save the world or someone with a complex believing that they alone are chosen to save the world. The biblical idea of Messiah is very different and this year in the lead up to Christmas I wanted to take the time to explore some of the Messianic prophecies and how I believe they are fulfilled in Jesus.

We start at the very beginning (a very good place to start) God created the world and he placed humans within it. He distinguishes us from the rest of creation by making us in his image (See FoF 53 and 54 for more on this idea) This means we were designed to relate to him, to have a relationship with him. When we take a photo it looks like the person we are photographing in the same way we are meant to be like the God whose image we are made in. We represent him to the world and as he seeks to bring people into a loving relationship with him, we are to do the same.

However we see in Genesis 3 how this all went wrong. Adam and Eve were deceived by the serpent, Satan, who tempted them to step outside of God’s plan. They decided to listen to Satan. They didn’t want to do things on God’s terms, they thought they could be like God without God’s help. They directly disobeyed him, in doing so they alienated themselves from the source of life and goodness. Creation became subject to decay, we needed to be reconnected to God in order to experience life as it was meant to be.

Right from the start God had a plan to break the power of death. As God pronounces the consequences of the serpent’s disobedience, he includes the first messianic prophecy of the Bible:

“...I will put enmity

between you (the serpent) and the woman,

and between your offspring and hers;

he will crush your head,

and you will strike his heel.’

Genesis 3:15

God was planning to send a man, born of a woman who would crush the serpent’s head, breaking the power of death over us. This means we could live forever and everything to do with death would be done away with, our sin, our disobedience; Life could be lived to the full, eternally. However this incredible prospect comes at a great price, the messiah, the one born of a woman, would be struck on the heel. He would have to take all of the death on himself, all of the consequences of our disobedience.

God didn’t expect a regular man to do this, a regular man would not be up to the task. He chose to send his son, his only son, to be that sacrifice. To defeat death by dying one death for all of us. The Son was willing to do that for us, God could have cast away humanity as a failed experiment but he was willing to endure the ultimate suffering to reforge a relationship with you and me. Today we are thankful that we have access to God as soon as we turn away from doing things our way and seek his way of doing things. We look forward to the time when the son’s victory over death is fully realised and we get to enjoy life to the full in relationship with God for eternity.

[diablescharmants]

sensorybound replied to your post:                   ooc;; Y’know what fight I’d still have found...                

   that would’ve been great a retribution given by rajinshuu! i’m glad laxus got to be more involved in the anime, but i wish the rest of them did too ):   

ooc;; Ah well yea that made me quite salty lmao. I mean when I heard that Laxus would have a comeback I already guessed that there’s probs no hope for the Raijinshuu having one too but oh well. Made me salty not because Laxus appeared again but bc they did not even though?? Laxus was the most affected from the particles?? And either way they were just lying around for an entirety of a whole ARC I mean c’mon wtf, that was so so obviously Mashima searching for an excuse not to use them an their powers. I really would have loved to see them have a comeback, too. I don’t even know if I can blame it on their eyemagics this time, at least as far as Ever and Bix are concerned, ‘cause their opponents would’ve been non-human and Idk if Ever and Bix’ eye magics would have worked. Also look Freed can literally turn into a friggin’ demon and could have gotten Kyouka back for her torture shit real good but nooOOoooO.

hotlightning replied to your post:                    ooc;; Y’know what fight I’d still have found...                

   Why wasn’t Freed vs. Rufus a thing tho   

   I mean as long as we’re talking about missed opportunities

ooc;; Ah yes, that would have been quite interesting, too. Especially because, I’ve recently talked with a Rufus rper about it, we thought that it might make sense that Rufus’ memory make would not be able to just ‘memorize’/copy Freed’s spells (or generally, magic in written form) because they basically all need to be written. Yes, Freed IS skilled and trained enough in his mastery that he is able to release his magic with just a move of sword or hand without you even seeing that he writes his runes or that his spells consist of runes (and yes he also has magic spells that do not consist of runes but we’ll just not be considering them right now lmao) BUT basically most of what he does is individually written up/has different codings/is not just a spell you can ‘say’ if that makes sense. I’m very bad at explaining. And of course we’ll never know if that could be the case in fact or not but it would make this fight even more interesting.

Here I can at least comprehend why Mashima didn’t/couldn’t include them in the GMG teams. Of course it makes sense to include the ‘main cast’ even though the Raijinshuu easily belong to the top mages of the guild, in team and individual work. Also like to think that their quite problematic/dark eye-magics make the participation troublesome or even that they are not allowed to participate because fof them.

[takenews-blog1]

Captain Flowers talks about being a caster, find out how to play Zoe and constructing boots on Skarner

New Post has been published on https://takenews.net/captain-flowers-talks-about-being-a-caster-find-out-how-to-play-zoe-and-constructing-boots-on-skarner/

Captain Flowers talks about being a caster, find out how to play Zoe and constructing boots on Skarner

It’s at all times arduous to evaluate how followers will react when a brand new character is added to the casters’ desk. With new expertise coming in it means making room for what individuals already get pleasure from and nowhere is that extra true than the NA LCS, the place among the identical individuals have labored on the published crew because it began again in 2013.

So when Clayton “Captain Flowers” Raines joined the NA LCS broadcast in the beginning of 2017, nobody fairly knew what sort of reception he would obtain. Nonetheless after only one sequence on the desk, Raines’ dedication, arduous work and expertise shined by instantly and he was showered with praises from the notoriously arduous to please NA LCS crowd.

Now, nearly a yr after his journey as a Riot caster started, Rift Herald had an opportunity to sit down down with Raines on the 2017 All-Star Occasion to speak about how it began, what it was prefer to go from beginner leagues to worlds and his ideas on the preseason.

The Rift Herald: How did you get into, not simply casting basically, however Riot casting and League of Legends casting?

Clayton Raines: I did my first solid in the summertime of 2015 and again then, I wasn’t satisfied I had any enterprise doing it, however on the advice of family and friends, trigger I used to be at some extent in my life I had simply graduated school and I didn’t know what I wished to do, they advised doing this. And I initially thought, “There ain’t no approach in hell.” However the very first thing I did, for a month straight I solely watched pals taking part in solo queue and performed my voice over it and I performed these again for myself. No person else bought to listen to these!

Then I moved on to placing a pair movies on YouTube, I regarded on the boards, I moved onto an beginner group, stuff like that and the entire time I wished to do League of Legends, trigger it was a sport that I performed since 2009. As quickly as this sport was launched from beta I used to be taking part in this sport. It’s one of many only a few video games I’ve come again to time and time once more. It’s a sport I really like.

So, I figured if that is one thing you will do, if that is one thing you will give an trustworthy shot at, you possibly can’t go midway, and be like, “League of Legends is just too large.” Trigger that was my unique thought, you realize, ‘this sport is just too large, it has essentially the most views on Twitch.’ You had these guys like Phreak and Kobe and Jatt which were in it for years and years. What kinda enterprise do I’ve getting into right here? However I figured, I’m trolling by attempting to speak about video video games for a residing anyway, I would as nicely go for it…

TRH: You may as nicely shoot for the celebs?

CR: Proper, yeah, if you’re already going to house you may as nicely shoot for the most important, brightest star on the market. So, for some time I began casting for an beginner org that was principally like, ‘LCS for the remainder of us,’ groups full of men which can be like plat and diamond. And I feel they common like 70 viewers on a weekend, so it’s fairly small time.

However there was one clip from that, like their preseason, the place there was one crew that was all Masters tier guys, destined to win all the pieces, so a lot better than everybody else. However there was one other crew that was a pair Diamond one guys and a few Diamond 5 guys and so they beat em. And I had a Baron name the place the lesser crew had a 3v5 and beat em and I misplaced it. And that clip went to primary on the subreddit in a single day and that was my large break.

The subsequent day, and I say this with no exaggeration, no phrase play, I noticed a Riot Video games electronic mail in my inbox and I fell out of my chair. I kicked myself again from my desk and fell out of my chair. Trigger I believed, there’s no approach. There’s no approach Riot noticed that and wished to speak, however they did and so they did. And after many interviews and plenty of many months I finally discovered myself right here.

TRH: Have you ever been stunned by the group response too you from that preliminary small video to Worlds?

CR: Yeah, like I stated, after I began right here I believed I no enterprise being right here. I’ve no formal broadcasting coaching. I did radio for a yr in school and theater and improv, however I’ve by no means had broadcaster, shoutcaster, commentator coaching. So, I believed i’d have a pair individuals say, “Yeah that’s okay,” however everybody else could be like, “Get off the stage.”

However the reception to the preliminary YouTube video was actually constructive and the truth that Riot got here to speak to me was an enormous thumbs up, however by the point I bought the LCS, I had no concept what to anticipate from the higher reception. Trigger you realize, when somebody new exhibits up on the scene, it’s arduous for individuals. They only suppose, “Why is that this man right here, the place’s the man we all know?” So, I didn’t know what to anticipate. However the first day was unimaginable.

TRH: Do you suppose it makes a distinction that there aren’t many casters in North America that got here from a League of Legends background, or that units you aside in anyway?

CR: I feel that’s form of simply indicative of the state of the sport on the time that we got here in. I feel Quickshot used to play aggressive Name of Obligation or one thing, and Phreak used to play semi-pro Warcraft three, Kobe and Jatt had been each execs early on in League. However League wasn’t large again then. I keep in mind studying that their purpose was 10,000 concurrent gamers. So, it was sufficiently small that folks weren’t prone to come from there. However these guys have been round for the reason that starting, it is sensible that they got here from elsewhere.

However for me, who had performed the sport for thus lengthy, we’re in season 7 occurring season eight, it’s been round for a sizzling minute. So, the truth that I really like the sport as a lot as I do made me extra of somebody that they wished to come back into the scene.

TRH: Outdoors of that kinda stuff, I wished to get some ideas on the preseason from you. Have new runes modified the way in which you have a look at issues or put together for casts?

CR: The cool factor about new runes is that it throws this large query mark into all the pieces. Preseason at all times shakes issues up, modifications to the objects or the jungle or no matter, however it is a large change. It is a change to one thing that has been within the sport up up to now. In order that signifies that all the pieces, all of the metas all of the methods all the final consistencies that you just had at the moment, are out the window.

And to me, that’s so enjoyable. So that you get to see individuals do issues which can be like, “I don’t know if that is gonna work however we’re gonna attempt it anyway.” That experimentation part to me, in any sport I play not simply League of Legends, however I feel one of many funnest issues to do is that principle crafting and that experimentation attempting to determine what makes it work, trigger whenever you lastly do discover what works, it feels so sick.

TRH: Have you ever seen something to date that you just had been stunned by and thought, “I by no means would have anticipated this, how am I even going to speak about this?”

CR: There’s been a few attention-grabbing ones. I keep in mind when Aery first got here out I used to be like, wait a minute this factor is extremely robust, what is that this? However the one I used to be most excited for, trigger I’m a Skarner one trick, I solely play Skarner, so I used to be extra excited for the free boots mastery, or rune I ought to say, than I used to be for any of the others. Simply because it synergizes so nicely with the way in which that I play the sport.

So, anytime I see someone else take it, like I used to be watching a stream the opposite day of TFBlade, that tremendous good Akali participant, primary or two on the Challenger ladder, and he took the boots and I used to be like, ‘this man is aware of what’s up!’

TRH: It’s nearly like a secret membership. While you see another person utilizing the runes that solely you want, it’s like, ‘you perceive.’

CR: Yeah, and that’s the idea crafting that I used to be speaking about, you may get forward of the curve. It really feel even higher when everyone begins taking it, and it turns into the norm. Is that gonna occur with boots, I haven no concept, but when it does, you finest imagine I’m gonna pull on these victory glasses and be like, ‘again earlier than it was cool.’

TRH: So, final query, Zoe. What do you consider her, what do you consider casting her, does it make for a kind totally different expertise from the rest within the sport?

CR: Zoe could be very very robust. Clearly individuals have totally different opinions on Zoe, some individuals actually like her some individuals don’t. The bubble, I feel, is exceptionally robust as a CC potential. As a result of, should you miss it, there’s nonetheless crap on the bottom. Yesterday, I used to be so glad we bought to see Bjergsen play it, as a result of I actually like watching him as a participant and he showcased precisely what I wished to see type that champion. So he positioned them in a approach that introduced a alternative. You both have to choose a facet or dodge it, and should you dodge it it’s now a entice in a spot you possibly can’t stroll previous. He arrange the bounces on the Paddle Star very well, which I favored.

TRH: And Fofo, once they took targets was putting bubbles within the attempt brush of both Baron or Dragon.

CR: Yeah, yeah, actually showcasing what that champion can do. It was a champion that I noticed and I believed, this champion goes to be so extremely robust as soon as the professionals determine find out how to use it. Trigger, clearly, you need to transfer the factor and do your pool shooter trick shot and be taught to push the bubble by terrain correctly. However when you do nicely… I feel within the 2018 season, when it begins, you’re going to see numerous Zoe bans and numerous Ornn bans.

TRH: Are these sorts of champions enjoyable so that you can solid? Champions which can be so totally different from all the pieces else within the sport?

CR: Oh yeah. Champions which can be totally different from the sport are enjoyable becasue they convey you new alternatives to be enthusiastic about that you just couldn’t be enthusiastic about earlier than. If Zoe banks a shot off a 75 diploma angle and kills a man in a approach you by no means thought was potential, into fog of conflict, it’s superior. It’s one thing you by no means anticipated.

TRH: And it allows you to get enthusiastic about previous issues in new methods.

CR: Proper, each new factor isn’t just its personal factor, the way it interacts with all the pieces else there, I imply, sky’s the restrict.

[buffyfan145]

So another update about the whole "who is Calam Lynch playing on "Rings of Power"" thing as we're still getting 3 different things now from the fan sources. Hopefully with the promotion from Amazon starting within the next couple days we'll start to get more info but it is getting confusing as we're getting so many different things now from sources that were mostly right about season 1.

So the latest is that "Rings of Power Updates" Twitter/X account got word from their source again that Calam is only playing the Annatar version of Sauron and that he is not Celeborn. They're also saying too that Celeborn never was cast for season 2 but likely will show up in a later season. Then the chemistry test between Morfydd and Calam was only so it matches the chemistry between Galadriel and Charlie's Halbrand/Sauron since it's still Haladriel.

Fellowship of Fans and the other accounts haven't posted anything about this yet to refute it. FOF was the one that said he's Celeborn only, while the other accounts said that he'll be both Celeborn and Sauron pretending to be Celeborn so he can get back into Eregion.

I know a lot of fans are going to be upset if these happen. Personally I'm starting to think maybe it is true that Calam is only Annatar and likely won't be on the show past s2 as every source has said Charlie takes back over the role for the rest of the show. I can see them doing Sauron pretending to be Celeborn too but that could also be a made up "leak" to anger the so called "fans" who hate the show anyway and give a bad rap to us Haladriel shippers. This is the only spoiler I've seen so far where it's so widely different between the fan accounts, as everything else so far matches for most of them.

So again while one of these are likely true we can't really know until we start getting trailers and official spoilers from the cast/crew and the US media. Thankfully that is starting over the next couple days so we'll get a much clearer picture of what's coming but fans need to prepare so they aren't as let down if what they want to happen doesn't.

[buffyfan145]

Finally have confirmation that "Rings of Power" will be included in Amazon's upcoming May Upfront presentation on May 14th thanks to Forbes (the article is linked in FOF's Twitter thread)!!! 😀 For those that don't know the May Upfronts have been around for decades and are for the broadcast networks and streamers to promote the shows, movies, and programs they'll be airing for the rest of the year. Originally this is how the media, advertisers, and fans would find out the fall schedules for the broadcast networks, which shows got renewed or cancelled, previews of the new shows coming, and casting announcements. So this feels like a throwback that Amazon is doing a full presentation for all their upcoming 2024 shows here. This likely should also be the first teaser with new season 2 footage shown as well as first look photos and maybe more news.

It's been a long wait for us but we're finally going to be getting things soon. Even possibly before May 14th but finally we have a date and this should also likely mean they'll be at San Diego Comic Con in July as well.

[buffyfan145]

I realized something about how we had a discussion before about using the ship name Haladriel and if we should keep it going forward in the show and I guess now with the season 2 spoilers we've gotten we likely should keep that as the name since we're talking about the Halbrand form and now Charlie's version of Sauron. I'll post the rest behind a cut for spoilers but I think most of the Haladriel shippers know about these and what I'm referring to. So this ship name will always be Haladriel for me and why I'll only use that tag for the rest of the series and beyond.

ETA: Sorry if this comes across as being bitter but I am still angry and upset about a few of the spoilers we've gotten. Even though I love the show anyone who knows me from my other fandoms is I can still be majorly upset if I think one of my fandoms is doing something I think is wrong and possibly could hurt the show (and we've already had way too much hate that was so messed up). I'm still excited for most of the spoilers we've gotten it's just this particular storyline and some casting choices I don't agree with and think are the wrong call.

So as most know we're getting multiple actors playing Sauron starting with season 2 of "Rings of Power". Charlie's still there and from everything we've gotten so far is the main form on the show for the rest of the series. They are going to show him shapeshifting and we'll see another actor playing Annatar/what Fellowship of Fans has dubbed the "original form" of Sauron (which I'm still mad about as Charlie should be Mairon but that's been in my other posts LOL). Then there's possibly a 3rd actor too to play the form Adar knew.

So we're going to have all these different forms but to me I'm certain the only form I'll still be shipping her with is Halbrand/Charlie's version. FOF also confirmed as far as they know Morfydd never had a chemistry test with the new Annatar actor or anyone else besides Calam who is playing Celeborn. So that's another big thing to me too and likely why I won't be shipping her with Annatar or any other Sauron form as it's not Halbrand.

Now I will say with the LOTR books/movies after rereading/rewatching after watching season 1 of "ROP" I do now ship Sauron and Galadriel in them too. However in the films it's Cate Blanchett and Benedict Cumberbatch since he's Sauron's voice actor and I'm also a fan of them so it works that way too. LOL :D

But that's why I'll always use Haladriel as the ship name as I also feel it shows the impact of the show and how it's through the show that made me ship them and realize it makes everything different and more meaningful adding that too it. Plus to honor Charlie too as he's the first actor to play him in live-action and give him a face.

[buffyfan145]

Fellowship of Fans was back today after a short break with their biggest spoiler they've gotten yet for season 2 and it's all about Calam Lynch's character!!! :D Like always posting behind a cut since it's a huge spoiler but for fellow "Bridgerton" fans it also likely means since his role is a major LOTR book character he likely won't be on the show after season 3 as he'll be busy with this till it ends with season 5. Also still linking to FOF's Twitter but there have been changes with Twitter that most tweets only users can see but they've posted this on their actual website and Instagram too.

It seems that those fans who speculated when Calam's casting was announced that he was Celeborn were correct!!! :D FOF has gotten confirmation and that he had a chemistry test with Morfydd as part of his audition. They also said that he will have a long, silver wig and his costume colors are a mix of dark blue, silver, and gold. There's speculation too that he might've filmed flashbacks as well as present day scenes to explain where he's been this whole time.

However like I noticed and others did he is not a series regular for season 2 and he only filmed in 2 blocks last fall and then right before filming wrapped in May/June as he had a play he did in London. His status likely will change from recurring to regular for seasons 3-5 but him being recurring and not filming that much likely also means he won't be in that much of season 2 which does make sense since we've already gotten confirmation that season 2 will be a Sauron centric season with most of the story and flashbacks centered on him. But curious how this will play out and if Sauron has had him or more likely that Adar has had Celeborn this whole time.

I'm also a bit surprised as this seemed to be the easiest to guess as Calam does look a lot like Marton Csokas who played Celeborn in the LOTR movies and a lot of us thought they would cast someone who looks different to change things up. I'll admit I thought Celeborn's casting would be kept secret till the end of season 2 to be a major cliffhanger to set up season 3 and that he'd actually be someone more like Sam Heughan or Luke Bracey as I kept picturing him as being blonde haired and blue eyed. And with how young Calam looks, which isn't his fault. LOL But he is also younger than both Morfydd and Charlie.

Also we knew he'd be coming so I'm very curious how this will all play out for the rest of the series. I'm still certain Celebrían hasn't been born yet and it'll happen likely in season 3 or 4 and then they'll do a major time jump so it won't be that weird for her and Elrond's romance to start. Plus, I'm a Haladriel shipper too and I'm hoping the way the writer Celeborn that most of us and the general audience will like him. The chemistry between Morfydd's Galadriel and Charlie's Halbrand/Sauron pretty much set a high bar for the writers and cast to achieve and I really want to like and be torn between who I want Galadriel to be with. That's how a good love triangle should be.

And yes I do think there will be a love triangle. They're not going to change whatever they had planned between Galadriel and Halbrand/Sauron and it does fit with how they are intwined for centuries after these events of the show till the books/movies end. Plus there's a chance this might be a love pentagon as from FOF's earlier spoilers last month that Amelia Kenworthy's unnamed character has a past with Halbrand/Sauron and seems to be now aligned with Adar.

So we have the key players here and I'm excited to see how this plays out, and again I'm a fan of Calam's and excited for him getting this role.

[buffyfan145]

I've watched the Halbrand/Sauron video now from Fellowship of Fans (there's an article about all the rumors/spoilers now too on their site too if you want to read instead) and I'm really excited!!! :D Going to post this behind a cut but seems to fit with other spoilers we've been given and sightings of Charlie last fall with fans and at that GQ event with Maxim. Also they posted new drone pics of one of the sets too which also might be connected to him and I've included in this post.

To start with they said there are going to be two versions of Sauron this season and this isn't counting the possible Mairon flashbacks Charlie talked about as it's pertaining to the present day storyline for s2. They're likely thinking this is some form of the Annatar storyline and I have to agree since we're getting Narvi and Celebrimbor working together and the forging of the Doors of Durin and the rest of the Rings of Power. They don't know if Annatar will be another actor but it's also likely Charlie will also play Annatar in wigs & prosthetics. They hired the head of prosthetics from "Stranger Things" and "Game of Thrones" and since Charlie has been cleanshaven both times he was spotted in the UK last fall it's leaning more towards this as it's easier to apply prosthetics to a clean shaven face, and Annatar was in the form of an elf so fits that too besides the Mairon flashbacks. It's also a good bet Charlie is playing this 2nd form too as he's still a series regular and all the new cast were confirmed by Amazon to be recurring. And from watching Charlie's other movies and shows so far he looks totally different in each one this likely will be easy to do.

2. The second piece of scoops was that Charlie and Sam Hazeldine, who is now playing Adar filmed scenes together last fall. We know Adar knew Sauron in another form but it also looks like most of their scenes will be him and Charlie either as Halbrand or Annatar. My guess is we'll another actor in flashbacks and to likely show Sauron shapeshifting but it'll go back to Charlie. Plus too much switching of actors is normally too hard for most TV show and movie audiences to process. LOL So like Tom Hiddleston and other shapeshifting actors it'll likely stay Charlie for the rest of the series.

3. There was also scenes Charlie filmed as Halbrand but badly injured that is supposed to be early in the season. FOF seem to think it might be flashbacks to when Adar "killed" him and he reformed, which supports the theory that Halbrand is Mairon and his base/original form he defaults to after he gets seriously injured/dies.

4. Then the drone shots were of the elven city set that included the Fëanor statue and now the set has been made to look like it was destroyed by fire and a battle. It was already confirmed by the writers we're getting a 2 episode battle likely to end the season and FOF and others think it is the destruction of Eregion, which would also end the Annatar storyline too.

So now wondering if Charlie is also playing Annatar will Galadriel realize it's him? Will the other elfs like Celebrimbor? I'm curious how this is going to play out though I know from the books but how it will on-screen. Then him giving out the rings to the dwarfs and the men either this season or in season 3. Really excited for it and even more so as it seems like it's a safe bet Charlie is playing the 3 main forms of Sauron.

[buffyfan145]

Got some big spoilers today about Sauron/Halbrand for s2 of "Rings of Power" from Fellowship of Fans!!! :D I'm actually a mix of surprised, disappointed, but still excited. LOL It's good overall but not exactlly what I was thinking. Rest is behind a cut.

I've seen some already posted here but it's on FOF's Twitter so I'll just posted my reaction. It looks like now the Mairon form and Annatar form of Sauron will be the same person instead of those original speculation last fall that Charlie would also be playing Mairon. This does make sense too as he'll be able to fool the elves better with his "angelic" Mairon self and the new looks for Mairon/Annatar is called "angelic" and with the classic long, black hair and wearing black and gold like is usually shown in artwork. So this now has a lot thinking Calam Lynch is playing this form instead of Celeborn and Anarion (the latter who I thought he was) since he and Morfydd followed each other early on, he filmed both last fall and recently before wrapping for s2 and this form will appear towards the end of s2 likely in Eregion before the battle start and they finish the rings. Again I still don't think Celeborn has been cast or that his actor is being kept a secret, so this actually fits better for who Calam is and it wouldn't be Ben Daniels either going by this new info. But Ben could still be the form Adar knew too in flashbacks. Gif here is from Calam on "Bridgerton" and I can see Mairon too.

However, don't worry about Charlie leaving as he's not. Thankfully FOF also posted that Charlie's version is still around too and filmed mostly at Mordor but they speculate too he'll be back to this form for the battles and the rest of the series once the elves realize he fooled them again. But he's now clean shaven (which a lot of us noticed those times he was spotted at events back in the fall) and has more of an ashen and fiery look to him. Plus, this also makes sense as they were so careful casting Charlie and he's a series regular still and the writers would be so careless to let him go and not stay as the main actor. Also makes sense to keep this Halbrand form especially because of everything with Galadriel and they know how popular Haladriel is and a lot of us (possibly even myself) would stop watching if he left as I can't see any other actor playing him now especially opposite Morfydd. Though will be interesting to see if he and Calam or whoever this other actor is worked with Charlie to get certain mannerisms down since they're sharing a character.

But still sad it won't be Charlie as Mairon as so many of us loved how he looked in "Medici" and he was so perfect. That's how I've always written Mairon in my fics as Charlie and that likely won't change. LOL But still I'm excited to see how this plays out, if they're able to use either Mairon or Annatar as names, and happy as long as Charlie stays for all 5 seasons.

[buffyfan145]

I posted a similar thread on Twitter about this but really wish so many fellow fans of Charlie Vickers would stop freaking out as again there's no spoilers at all indicating that he's leaving the show. Fellowship of Fans should've worded that spoiler last Sunday better as it's played into their fears again which started last fall when there were so called "spoilers" saying both Charlie and Ismael were going to leave the show going forward. That actually was proven to be false partly by FOF last month. From everything I've researched too Charlie at least signed the same 5 season contract as Morfydd and the rest of the cast. The latest spoilers sound more like what Marvel does with Loki where Tom Hiddleston is the main actor and they sometimes have other actors to show him shapeshifting. The same is happening here and makes sense as Sauron is going to make those other rings and he can't just walk back into Eregion look similar to Halbrand still.

But there's nothing to worry about and this is causing so many Charlie fans and Haladriel shippers even to say they won't watch the show after he leaves. This happened a lot too when I watched both LOST and "Once Upon a Time" as there were always "rumors" about Jack & Sawyer and Hook getting killed off each season and leaving, which never happened. Some are doing this on purpose too and it's not worth listening to. I said in my other post Sunday if I really thought he was leaving even I would consider this, but again I've seen nothing of the sort.

Even most at FOF agree Charlie likely is the main Sauron till the show ends with season 5. They were so careful casting him and testing his chemistry with Morfydd. This 2nd actor likely won't even be in the show that much this season being recurring and who knows if they'll be back for the other 3 seasons. So people just need to relax and I need a break as it's make me stress and I don't need that. LOL

We should be celebrating as they finished filming today too.