#and yet and yet and yet

[all-eyes-no-dragon]

I think that the soul has bandaged moments is a beautiful companion piece to hope is the thing with feathers

while

“Hope” is the thing with feathers -

That perches in the soul -

And sings the tune without the words -

And never stops - at all -

And sweetest - in the Gale - is heard -

And sore must be the storm -

That could abash the little Bird

That kept so many warm -

I’ve heard it in the chillest land -

And on the strangest Sea -

Yet - never - in Extremity,

It asked a crumb - of me.

but also

The Soul has Bandaged moments -

When too appalled to stir -

She feels some ghastly Fright come up

And stop to look at her -

Salute her, with long fingers -

Caress her freezing hair -

Sip, Goblin, from the very lips

The Lover - hovered - o'er -

Unworthy, that a thought so mean

Accost a Theme - so - fair -

+

The Soul's retaken moments -

When, Felon led along,

With shackles on the plumed feet,

And staples, in the song,

The Horror welcomes her, again,

These, are not brayed of Tongue -

[herrmit]

an ode to middle managers

This show truly knows how to juggle the duality of victim and perpetrator with the kind of finesse I haven't seen in a while. Woe's Hollow had me screaming at Milchick when he was (essentially) killing Irving... but then the very next episode they're doing performance reviews, talking about the "kindness reforms" he's instituted and its like. Well, shit. All those tactics have been underhanded and manipulative as fuck but it was also more than Cobel ever tried to do (no, Harmony, psychologically tormenting Mark S. with repressed memories of his "dead" wife does not count as employee recreation). Crazy that he's stuck in this middle managerial position and its clear that- as awful as he is- he is the one higher up we've seen that views the innies as something approximating Human. Especially contrasted with Ms Huang, Helena, and Drummond's comments that same episode. (And it goes without saying that Tramell Tillman's performance has been fantastic.)

Even with people far higher up, like Helena, we see exploitation! I was fr feeling murderous over her violation of both Mark and Helly's autonomy, of depriving me of my girl for four episodes and driving a wedge between the team- but the way Drummond and Natalie were so quick to cast her aside, "shut up, be a good girl, and put the noose around your neck" like damn they really don't care about anyone!! Not even Jeff Bezos herself!!!

Not to mention how Sydney Cole Alexander's performance as Natalie adds so much nuance to her character- even without telling us anything outright. The fear, shame, repression, complacency flitting across her face- truly a Get Out/ Being John Malkovich moment. She speaks for the board but her voice is never her own. She only has power when she's being exploited.

And now, with the most recent Cobel loredrop, I am hoping and praying and hoping and praying that we'll get to see at least one of these Lumon insiders have their "lets burn this place to the ground" moment. I think Cobel is closest to that now, and I see Milchick possibly following along. At the very least I hope we get some Reghabi backstory, because we know she used to work at Lumon (putting the chip in Mark's head herself!) and maybe she was always a spy but maybe she too was able to break from the system. Please Mr. Stiller, more Reghabi.

The contradiction at the core of capitalism is that it relies on everyone's complacency- yet values no one. Cobel, Milchick, Natalie, Helena: they can give and sacrifice all they want, but it will never change the fact that they are all replaceable. They are both victim and the perpetrator, and to go against the system would be to face their own complicity, rejecting whatever sunken-cost fallacy they've built up in their head. It's hard- but it's not impossible.

Here's to hoping.

[slidetoleft]

neilriko are an example of character perpendicularism rather than character parallels 🤓👆

[ceruleanblueshells]

I think my country deserves to heal. As a treat.

[somuchbetterthanthat]

someone stops me from just quitting my two jobs and disappearing on another continent only writing more and more insane post about jonelias to survive

[blujayonthewing]

'I want to play dnd and I want this blorbo to spend a lot of his time being vulnerable and imperiled' finger of the monkey's paw curls

[mysdrymmumbles]

hnnnnnnnngh must not buy $150 monster high doll...it is not worth it

[trckstergods]

working in medicine has me clinging onto kindness with a white knuckle grip

[drumlincountry]

If your life is horrible and you need a new source of meaning and direction.... Do NOT find religion. Learn to identify plants.

[scapegods]

what if this scene was worse

[ryan-sometimes]

LMAOOOO

[rowanisawriter]

this what im going thru rn. if anyone gaf

[pipebombgf]

gender-affirming surgery is a months-long dark comedy. what the fuck do you mean you're charging me double for everything. what do you mean they itemize the bill by left and right ball. what the fuck.

[purplebehittindifferent]

So two of the kids I watch gathered that I am a witch because A: I like bugs B: My hair is purple and C: my bones make weird sounds. They very much like me and call me the nice witch.

Part 1 here!

Part 3

Masterpost

[codecicle-archive]

MY FAVORITE GHOST OF CHRISTMAS' PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE!!!!