#it's the same pose she does in the S1 poster :')

[vaggieslefteye]

CHARLIE MAGNE from HAZBIN HOTEL (2019): Pilot - "That's Entertainment" ↳ "So, I've been thinking: Isn't there a more humane way to hinder overpopulation here in Hell? Perhaps we can create an alternative way to change souls through... redemption?"

[william-byers-1971]

SYLVIE IS SEARCHING FOR HER OWN MOBIUS

Breaking down why Sylvie is not in love with Loki (despite what the show tries to sell) and might actually love someone else, strengthening the case for Lokius.

Are Lokis destined to be with Mobiuses?

Ironically, the show presents more narrative and symbolic evidence suggesting Sylvie might be drawn to Mobius/his variants, rather than Loki.

I know this post is ridiculously long. I did try to make it shorter, but editing isn’t exactly my strong suit. If it feels a bit all over the place or hard to follow, I completely understand. Thank you for giving it a read anyway. it means a lot! the goal is to shed light on some very canon-coded hints the writers and creators have woven into the story that strongly point toward Lokius.(If someone else has already picked up on this pattern, credit to them. After watching the show recently, I couldn't shake these thought. So here are my two cents, based on what stood out to me…)

I’m starting with what might sound surprising: the case for Sylbius (Sylvie + Mobius). It holds way more narrative weight than Sylki ever did. And makes Sylki feel more like a detour by the writers, designed to entangle fans in ship wars!

when you stack it all up, Lokius feels like the true endgame, one-true-ship, across variants, across universes. Every Loki seems destined to find their Mobius.

And yet, it raises haunting questions: Are Lokis destined to be with Mobiuses... or destined to lose them? Are they doomed to loneliness, no matter how close they come to love?

Noticeable change in Sylvie after she properly meets Mobius.

Something about that conversation with Mobius in the Skinny’s Pizza car left Sylvie just a bit more hopeful than before. Maybe one Loki variant has found real love. And if Loki could, maybe she could too. After all, they are two sides of the same being.

After meeting Mobius, not only did Loki begin to soften but so did Sylvie. Did anyone else notice the shift? Especially her tone, there’s something gentler there. For the first time, she’s willing to show a sliver of vulnerability to Loki and that's a big change for a rebellious variant!

Is Sylvie giving herself a chance to find her own Mobius (or a variant of him?)

By the end of s1, when Loki and Mobius go looking for Sylvie, she’s no longer hiding in apocalyptic timelines. Instead, she’s chosen a quieter, more stable branch. A place where she could, perhaps, cross paths with variants of Mobius.

Salesmen Pattern

Sylvie keeps crossing paths with men in salesman-like roles, all of whom share shades of Mobius’s personality.

Not only that, she’s practically a regular, on a first-name basis with them, and they even show concern for her well-being… much like Mobius does for Loki.

1 . Lyle

Drinks (Mobius is also the unofficial poster boy for beverages in the show.)

sales technique

Likes office more than home.

hands holding and disappearing.

keeps a Note pad

2. Eric

Drinks

Mobius parallel

3. Jack*

A man who, like Mobius, wears a tie, works a grounded job.

Mcdonald's M (mobius M mobius). mc-DON-ald

2. "You okay" Parallel.

3. Hands on the waist. @lbhisbabygirlcoded (classic mobius pose). it’s exactly how Jack stood in his very first appearance too.

Are Loki and Mobius "actual Dads" of Don’s Kids?

Okay, before you roll your eyes...hear me out. Yes, this might be a stretch… however there's a slight chance that Mobius’s kids are actually Loki’s kids too.

If we go with the theory that Jack is a younger version of Mobius or a Mobius variant, and if Sylvie and Jack ended up together at some point (Don: single dad, wife long gone)… then that means Sylvie and Jack could be the parents of Kevin and Sean.

And if Sylvie is a Loki variant and Jack is Mobius then in a roundabout, Loki and Mobius are the Husbands! dads! co-parents!

Read: Don / Timeline Mobius' kids are coded as Lokis. @charcubed

What led me to this conclusion?

1] Don-Jack-Mobius connection

2] By the end of the final episode, what the hell was Sylvie even doing at Mobius’s house? Why did she choose to go there, of all places?

The smile Sylvie gives when she sees Mobius standing there, she could see him clearly missing Loki.

And maybe, that smile meant she was a little glad because after everything, Loki got his last laugh. Someone did love him. And he truly did fulfill his glorious purpose.

Before leaving, she offered a silent gesture of solace, her hand gently placed on his shoulder.

Was she checking in? Maybe just trying to see if Mobius’s care for Loki had been real… or if it was all just part of the job. But in that moment, maybe she saw that Mobius did miss him. That Loki wasn’t forgotten. That he mattered.

Sylvie leaving with a smile.

random thought:

the cutest jet-ski salesman of all time. "Nice doughnuts today dale" Literal sunshine!

this could also explain why Sylvie got all worked up and makes a grumpy return to the TVA and why she cared to save the branches in the first place. Lokis's goal to save branches is for Mobius and the same is for Sylvie.

and probably why she keeps reacting with frustration toward Loki and Mobius.

because while Loki and Mobius have the time and space to deepen their bond at the TVA, she can’t stay in one place long enough to form that kind of connection. She’s always moving, always surviving and watching them build something she can’t replicate. Their cute chemistry only reminds her of everything she hasn’t had the chance to find.

The Nexus event

Maybe the two Lokis were telling the truth and Mobius's Nexus theory is a TVA lie.

But first, we gotta ask ourselves : did they really survive Lamentis-1 because of a narcissistic love fest? Is the story trying to say “loving yourself to delusional extremes can literally save you from planetary annihilation”? Is that Loki’s secret superpower? terminal self-obsession? Yes, it sounds ridiculous. And that’s because it is. The whole “self-absorbed romance” theory has never held water because it was never meant to.

It’s not just Loki but Sylvie also seems to have some sense of what might’ve triggered the spike. Both of them outright dismiss Mobius’s theory as 'another TVA lie' but what’s even more interesting is the timing: Sylvie herself brings up the Nexus event (specifically naming Mobius, twice!) and she does so right before this....

Sylvie: He cares about you

And Loki gets all fluttery the moment those words hit his ears. He immediately looks away and pulls the oldest excuse in the book "it's cold" hmm interesting...A Frost Giant… catching a chill. Sure, babe. Totally believable!

Look at that face! Sylvie sees right through him. She knows the truth Loki won’t admit, that he is in love with Mobius.

If you trace the sequence—

[ Mobius cares about you → Mobius’s theory → Nexus event ]

It starts to feel less like coincidence, more like a clue. When Loki learned the TVA’s truth, his first instinct wasn’t self-preservation. It was saving Mobius.

For once, he wasn’t chasing his own “glorious purpose,” but thinking about who mattered. That shift in motive could’ve triggered the spike. And maybe that was exactly what HWR intended, A test, perhaps, to see if these selfish gods (Sylvie and Loki) were even capable of loving someone other than themselves in their last moments.

Lamentis-1 spiked branch on TVA screen.

It’s giving rainbow branch (Or more accurately: a gay branch) Just like the prismatic beams from Mobius’s little TVA projector.

By the end of s2, we come to realize that everything had been carefully paved by HWR. Probably the so-called “Nexus spike” on Lamentis wasn’t random, it may have been orchestrated to keep Loki and Sylvie alive, especially to groom Loki into his higher self.

But we also learnt that HWR didn’t hand it to him on a plate. Loki had to earn it, through hard lessons and honesty.

That moment on Lamentis wasn’t about self-romance. It was about Loki being real, maybe for the first time. A test of growth. A rehearsal for sacrifice. A trial run for Loki to tap into his true Glorious Purpose: learning that he could care for someone other than himself.

One step closer to solving HWR equation. Because it was never about what... it was always about who.

Loki may not have known everything about what caused the spike, but he definitely knew something [In Loki’s final moments, who was occupying his mind? Who was he really thinking about? It certainly wasn’t "Sylvie" .she was in total “stranger danger” territory for him. He had just met her, barely knew her, and their connection lacked trust. Loki knew it wasn’t about her]

So why didn’t he share it? I mean, Loki and Sylvie only held hands and gave each other a pep talk, hardly scandalous! It’s not like they kissed or had sex! Sylvie and I, held hands and that caused the spike Mobius So why the secrecy? Because the real reason behind the spike has nothing to do with Sylki romance. It was about Mobius and that’s something he couldn’t bring himself to say out loud. Not to Sylvie, and certainly not to Mobius. For the first time, he loves someone more than he loves himself.…he just couldn’t admit it.

Mobius (discussing the gator variant with Classic Loki): I don't know, he could be lying. The long con. Of course, that just makes him more likely to be a Loki. It's always the game within the game with you guys, which I respect.

Why “a God falling in love with another God” doesn’t work as a meaningful romantic trope:

If Sylki is meant to be the central love story of Loki, what exactly is it saying? That a god loves another god because they are divine equals?

Don’t the greatest love stories always carry a noble message? Built on tension, transformation, trust, on choosing someone who challenges your worldview for the better? Not someone who simply reflects your ego back at you like a narcissistic mirror.

The message can’t be: only someone as extraordinary and powerful as me could ever be worthy of love.

Romantic tropes thrive on imbalance of class, status, belief, because love stories are about crossing boundaries, not reinforcing them! For example:

Noble x Commoner : Royal version of the class difference trope. Prince x Pauper : someone of high status (royalty, rich, popular) falls for someone of lower status (poor, shy, unpopular, ordinary). Forbidden Love : status or societal expectations forbid their union.

Would Mr. Darcy falling for another wealthy aristocrat be as satisfying as his slow-burn love for Elizabeth Bennet? of course, not. Because that story is about pride meeting humility, status meeting wit, and love defying social hierarchy.

Should Edward have fallen for another vampire instead of Bella? What would be the point?

So when Loki, a literal God, falls in love with himself (or a version of himself)...where's the growth? Where’s the "moral center" of the romance?

Loki and Mobius work narratively. Even Mobius and Sylvie work! Loki’s literal god-hood set against Mobius’s grounded, moral compass, a moral counterweight. In contrast, Sylki, a god falling for another version of himself, doesn’t subvert hierarchy or challenge pride, it affirms it and amplifies the ego.

It’s a path Thor(2011) also followed, Thor falling for a mortal, Jane Foster, who humanized this divine character.

In contrast, pairing gods with gods simply to preserve divinity feels like a step backward. Love that humbles a god, that challenges his pride and broadens his worldview, that’s what makes the story compelling.

would the writers really reduce Loki's entire arc to something as "self-absorbed god" whose big character milestone is... a narcissistic romance as the story progresses? Has he slipped back to "A puny god" with a narcissism complex? Reducing his growth to a self-ship undermines the story of who he's become. It would be a disservice to the evolution of a god who's finally learned to care beyond himself. There's no way the writers would choose to regress a god who's come so far. Loki's evolution is more than a self-centered narrative.

The entire point of the Loki-Mobius conversation was to prove that all of Mobius's assumptions were wrong!

Let’s break it down, shall we:

❌ Loki fell for himself ✅ Mobius is the literal sunshine of his life ☀️🌈👨‍❤️‍💋‍👨

❌ He’s a narcissist ✅ No sir, this god had a profound change of heart! 😇

❌ Sylvie is his girlfriend ✅ That was a plot detour and a shared trauma response 🚶🏻

❌ He betrayed Mobius’s trust ✅ He restored it instead 🥹✨

❌ TVA employees were created by the Time-Keepers ✅ They’re all variants with stolen lives 🙃

❌ "Look at your eyes, you like her" ✅ Mobius! he is literally looking at you with puppy eyes! don’t nap through it with your eyes open! 😭

Maybe Loki did develop romantic feelings for someone. But if it were Sylvie, would he really have kept it so tightly guarded, especially if Mobius had already picked up on it? Maybe…the one asking the question is the answer.

Loki’s glorious purpose… might just be him.

Read: CHOICE LOKI WANTED TO GIVE MOBIUS @percheduphere

Final Thoughts on Sylvie as a character:

Looking at Sylvie's arc through a different lens, I've realized I may have judged her too harshly. In hindsight, she feels like a somewhat misunderstood character especially because much of her complexity got overshadowed by the forced romantic narrative pushed by Sylki shippers.

The lack of chemistry between Loki and Sylvie is probably a clue that they were never meant to have romantic chemistry in the first place.

[kaypeace21]

Idk if this is possible or not or if you've done it already but could you list all the rainbow references in the show?

Haha- talk about pandora’s box. Sure, personally i think the rainbows have multiple meanings -3 meanings to to be exact

1) Rainbows being associated with psychics + Will’s powers plot twist

*We see in the stranger thing novel 'suspicious minds' when overusing powers you may hallucinate rainbows (which are also associated with the void/ monsters in the series) .

Terry: “Spots bloomed behind her eyelids. Every color … as the sunlight turned to rainbows” ( p44-45), “streaks of rainbow appeared (p47)”,“The rainbow stayed with Terry for a long while, but eventually it faded and in its place: darkness. A pit.”(p. 48). 

Alice (who sees visions of the future) : “Snarling, snapping monsters,RAINBOW LIGHTS playing in the air around them” (p. 121).

cough Will being in the upsidedown/being chased by “monsters”. And Joyce communicating with Will  via “rainbow lights.”

The rainbow room (from s2) also has a rainbow on the door- according to the novel kali drew that rainbow. Similar to Will's rainbow drawing. Kali in the book also creates a rainbow allusion with sunflowers (Terry ref).

Kali: “field of yellow sunflowers  grew up around them. A rainbow arcing over the golden tops.” (p. 139).  “He noticed she’d drawn up there, a rainbow with her colored pencils. Maybe he’d suggest that for the playroom” (the rainbow room we see in s2) (p. 298)

I also already talked about how Terry saying "breath, sunflower, rainbow " is actually a reference to s1 Will- here (in link including pic of Will and Terry being told to “breath”.

*El in s3 also thinks of papa, her mother , and the rainbow room- cause she sees a cereal box with a rainbow (on it).

Dustin and susie sing a song from the film adaption of the book "never ending story". Which indicates how Will is subconsciously creating the supernatural creatures & people in the series . Before they sing, we also see  susie is next to a ‘wizard of oz’ posters & she reads & talks to Dustin about the book "wizard of earthsea'. 2 of the 3 examples have  rainbow-related songs (in their film adaptions) & all 3 hint at Will’s powers.

* wizard of earthsea:

It’s about a pre-teen wizard named Ged who has a bowl cut (Will) who casts a powerful spell, but the spell goes awry and instead he releases a shadow creature (by opening a portal between the living & dead- Will is a zombie boy remember?)! The new Archmage, Gensher, describes the shadow as an ancient evil that wishes to possess Ged. But the ‘shadow’ turns out  to be a representation of the darkest aspects of his personality. It’ only when he calls the shadow monster by his own name “Ged”(cough mf=will the wise) does the monster stop acting out. The only way to save the world is for ged to then  merge with the shadow(and for Ged to accept himself-and “become whole”).This also reminds me of the “Jungian shadow” 

* never ending story: 

Bastian ( who has a bowl cut- and is from single parent house hold) subconsciously creates a fantasy world being over run by darkness (symbolizing the loss of hope and dreams). One of the characters he creates is Atreyu (El). Atreyu ( was the child deemed the ‘chosen one). “Atreyu is knocked into the sea of possibilities. There he wakes on the shore of abandoned ruins. And Gmorick (mindflayer) then latches his jaws onto Atreyu’s (El’s) leg.”Pretty much what happened to El.”The Empress in the story later tells Atreyu, that despite being told he was the chosen one (he never was). And that it was always Bastian (Will) who was the chosen one-since his imagination created Fantasia (so he’s the only way to stop the darkness from over -running it).”

Will has mental health issues and  accidentally writes a “story” about the shadow monster (reflecting his tra*ma). Bastian is depressed (over his parent) and subconsciously creates a story about darkness over-running everything. Like how Hopper describes his depression- like a black hole.

song Dustin & Susie sing:

 “Written on the pages is the answer to a never ending story” (cough the books susie referenced - are explaining the answer to what’s causing the mindflayer/upsidedown/the lab...this story )

“DREAM a dream. And what you DREAM will be” ( Will’s imagination making his nightmares come true)

“Rhymes that keep their secrets Will unfold behind the clouds.And there upon a RAINBOW Is the answer to a never ending story.”

(the lyric “rhymes that keep their SECRETS” purposely pans to Will both times the song is sung). Because the ‘SECRET’ is -he’s causing everything. And thus he’s the only way to stop it- or they’ll all be stuck in a never-ending story. The only way to stop it is for Will to face his shadow/the mindflayer (aka the other Will) who is always shown within the STORM CLOUDS . Will needs to create a RAINBOW (out of those storm clouds). Like rainbows that show up AFTER a storm.He’d do this by accepting himself , his tra*ma/mental health relating to his dad, and or his gay identity- then the story will be able to end.Dustin even says “ defeat his RAINBOW of DARKNESS” (and later says a “rainbow is the answer ”(to the story). st book:”The RAINBOW stayed with Terry for a long while, but eventually it faded and in its place: DARKNESS. A pit.”AKA: Will has to face his symbolic darkness and the storm/and than create a rainbow from it- for the story to end...

When Dustin says ‘rainbow of darkness’ he talks about my little pony- where one of their friends became a dragon.  in d&d wizards can become dragons &Bastian also summons a dragon with his imagination powers in ‘never ending story’. And Will is associated with dragons: s1he  has dragon comic & drawing, s2 Will has dragon poster in his room + watches his friends play dragon game. And again... dungeons & dragons.

Also tw for s.a/parental ab*se (so skip to ‘wizard of oz’  if you prefer ). In the 4th book of wizard of Eathsea (20 years after the original, where ged was the protagonist). The new main  protagonist - was r*ped and burned by her father as a child (and in the sequel she became a dragon as a form of empowerment ). which goes with my lonnie theory-sadly.

*wizard of oz: 

it’s about a Dorothy creating a mythical world based on people she both likes and dislikes . Dorothy sings in the movie a song about a ‘RAINBOW’ and references ‘DREAMS’ coming true in a mythical land -much like the ‘never ending story’ song (referencing “rainbows”/”dreams” coming to life).

“There's a land that I heard of once in a lullaby Somewhere over the RAINBOW, Skies are blue, And the DREAMS that you dare to dream, really do come true...”

We see in s1 Hopper cop-partner calls the lab “emerald city”. Murray in s2 says people “don’t want to look behind the curtain” (to see what’s causing the supernatural -in the film what was literally behind the curtain was a wizard-cough like Will). We also have -lion, tiger, and bear stuffed animals (as a ‘lion, and tigers, and bears-oh my!’ quote )from the film. And David harbor (Hopper) when referencing the s4 rainbow room (quotes the song)  and he also quotes a speech from Dorothy-when posting about the cabin the mindflayer destroyed.

2) Rainbow cups (hinting at Lonnie’s return) 

We see 2 rainbow cups in the series. 

in s2) when Mike & Will are sitting together & saying they’re “crazy together” . This cup next to them says “happy birthday” in rainbow. Later that season- they talk about Will’s birthday-rainbow drawing, Mike&Will meeting & Lonnie leaving. And in s2, we also see in Will’s room a card that says “sorry, I forgot your birthday”(most likely from Lonnie). So both Lonnie & Mike are associated with Will’s bday.

in s3) We see a woman yell “I don’t want her in my house!” (while she sits next to a rainbow cup). reminiscent of Joyce saying to Lonnie “get out of my house”. We also know there are rumors s4 takes place during Will’s birthday & Lonnie’s actor may have been spotted on set.  Along with the fact (it’s pretty much confirmed) Mike will be visiting the Byers in s4. However, the woman (next to the rainbow cup)  also says “2 visitor only. 2!″

THE 2 VISITORS ARE MIKE &LONNIE (for Will’s b day). 

Also, in s3, when El is drinking from cup- she sees a rainbow. And what’s the first word she thinks of? “Papa.”

so rainbow+cup= shitty dads (lonnie & brenner) probably returning

*And of course if that’s the case -Lonnie (the same guy who called Will h*mophobic sl*rs) will not be supportive of Mike & Will’s “friendship”. And will not be nice to Mike (to say the least). Like... imagine Hopper in s3 - but we know he’s not bluffing and the audience won’t have the option to take it as a joke... and yes the s4 movies hint at that...

3) gay symbolism

First we have Mike wheeler. He in s1 has rainbows sheets, rainbow bedroom blinds , and in his basement there’s a heart propelled by a rainbow. This is like how in s3 Mike kisses El and there is a drawing that says "Mike'. And on the drawing is a heart propelled by a rainbow. I already explained how its symbolic of him trying to be straight/fighting his feelings for Will, but wherever he goes a rainbow still follows (even when he tries being romantic with El). He’s trying to hide his “rainbow heart” by dating  El- why in s3 (the rainbow-heart in his basement) mysteriously disappeared from his room (but a similar symbol follows Mike even when he kisses El). 

Even in s2 when talking about Will (in the AV tech room): Mike is placed in the center of 2 objects : an object with 11 on it & on the right a rainbow apple (this apple is supposed to be an ode to the gay father of computers- but also about the forbidden apple). Hinting at the love triangle of Mike (with El/Will). PLUS, in the ST book ‘worlds turned upsidedown’ they literally show Mike in the AV room- and  put the caption “FALLING IN LOVE- with tech” (and placed rainbow flags next to the caption). And of course we have Mike & Will pose next to the rainbow apple- in the AV room.

 We also see when Mike and Will says they’re “crazy together” (aka LOVE-as Flo stated) and they’re next to a rainbow cup that says Happy birthday .

And later that season they ref the rainbow ship Will drew for his birthday-which Joyce was "proud" of.  And while dancing with a girl (Will according to the script was looking at Mike instead of her) . That girl is wearing a rainbow heart hair pin. This is essentially a parallel to Mike . Will (next to a rainbow heart) is dancing with a girl, but is secretly thinking of Mike. Mike (next to a rainbow heart) is kissing el but secretly thinking of Will (and immediately goes on a movie double date with Will after this). The lyrics of both these scenes indicate they're not happy pretending to be straight. The lyrics for Will are "every smile you fake". And Mike while kissing el is "just a little uncertainty can bring you down" (and during this lyric is when El puts her hands on him-and he removes her hands from him *aka he’s not as confident in the relationship as he pretends to be.

We see in s4 bts that the rainbow heart hair pin (worn by the girl Will dances with) is also worn by nancy while standing next to Robin (who is gay). So being near a  ‘rainbow-heart’ is prob a hint a character is gay. Aka robin & Will & Mike.

tumblr user “awhstrangerthings” pointed out the nancy -hair clip detail.

In s1 when troy is calling Will h*mophobic sl*rs (in front of Mike) he wears a rainbow shirt. And max while often critiquing m*leven (in s3) (to Mike) often wears rainbow shirts. I talked about how I thought Troy and max subconsciously remind Mike he isn't straight - so they're associated with the rainbow iconography-post here. Like we see Max with rainbow sheets (like Mike) and than she immediately talks to him on the phone. I mean she could be queer- but I lean to that theory at the moment. 

The whole being near rainbows when associating with a queer character makes sense (it’s like a ‘gay-dar”). Similar to Nancy’s hair clip when being near Robin/ that Girl having the same rainbow hair clip when dancing with Will. If we assume this theory than see a pattern with other characters (when speaking about/being near queer coded characters)....

it’s similar to how : When lucas (via subtext) criticizes m*leven- he is also next to a rainbow (in Erica's room). I explained here- why it’s about m*leven.

or when Jonathan says he’s going to hang out with Will (it’s near a rainbow).

This Jonathan moment -Is similar to when Steve ( who has a rainbow bandaid-from the Byers’ house) calls Mike “Nancy” (which is slang for a gay guy)

*another addition: you see in the comments of this post ghostgirlsatin mentioned Dart has a rainbow blanket. But, I noticed a couple of other things. 

notice Dustin says "we have to talk- its about my friend ,Will". As Dustin is near rainbow lights and a rainbow bed sheet. Like how

A) rainbows are associated with the supernatural creatures + Will

B) rainbow lights associated with Will

C) rainbows near straight characters when talking about /near queer characters... similar to how Jonathan is near a rainbow when talking about Will

*also can’t tell if that is a ‘rainbow ship’ poster?

We also see Erica has a sunflower & rainbow drawing in her room... at the moment not sure if its just a random easteregg , foreshadowing something supernatural we're not aware of yet? or just for the m*leven diss?

(although given the fact i think some characters were created by Will- and given all the Max &Billy/Will & jonathan parallels ... the rainbow stuff may be a hint Will created them? I mean they even made a Troy comic just to show his dad is a bully.) But, at the moment, i still lean to (some) characters having rainbow iconography because they’re referring to/are near a queer character.

[inappropriatefangirlneeds]

Gotham s5ep4 “Ruin” Personal Review

“There goes the element of surprise..”    Warning spoilers below (ahaha not this week, boy am I late, not that anyone would have missed this though, also little meta content this week)  

What I loved about the episode is that it´s the “apocalypse” and then it comes down to a crime scene investigation! I would take much more of that! Much more!  Just less of a bloodthirsty MOB. Like would they really want Zsasz hanged? The evidence was pretty clear, Jim Gordon really got no reason to lie to them, actually it would greatly benefit him if he did. Do they really not want to see the real culprit punished? I´m not a fan of lynch/mob law in general but does it make sense for the mob to want the wrong guy hanged, that way the police probably will think / claim everything is settled and call it a day, which means the real culprit is free to do that again, but then again I wonder how many people know about Zsasz and him having been a hitman, did some of them have had relatives that got into Carmine / Sal Maroni crossfire, was this partly a he´s a guilty filthy criminal *anyway* thing?  * “You don't need to smuggle in explosives when you can detonate 250 gallons of highly pressurized heating oil that's coursing through all the floors.”  Ah damn, they really had Edward Nygma do it, I kind of didn´t want them to follow that route. Also why put that running guy with bomb in there then, huh .. damn exploding herrings.  HOPE goes on and off this week:  “But whoever destroyed that building can't destroy the hope we've built. Not unless we let them.” “I told the people it was safe. I made them into a target.” “Jim, you gave 'em” “Don't tell me I gave 'em hope. They're dead.”  * It´s GOOD vs. EVIL “This city will never be what you want it to be, Jim. It's always gonna belong to the bad guys, like me.”  “People like you are always trying to own this city. But you never will.” * It´s GOOD ft. EVIL Oswald Cobblepot poses as if he was the synthesis of both those opposites: A bad guy that cares. “I lost people, too, Jim. People you lured with promises of safety and security, only to have them incinerated.”  Oswald arms the GCPD talking about working together just to take over and get his own trials and justice going. He´s claiming to provide what Jim can´t. While both Barbara Kean & Oswald Cobblepot claimed their help came no strings attached Oswald´s help does not include staying aside and letting them do their work. Although to be fair he said “Save for the one that we will cinch around the neck of the Haven bomber.” What is it with people that it always needs a couple hundred dead people that they can focus on nice things. Anyway everyone is appropriately appalled with this atrocity. They also gave all the villains some selfish reasons. OSWALD COBBLEPOT wants people and their cheers. EDWARD NYGMA wants the file of the inmate.  “I've been putting out feelers.” BARBARA KEAN is worried Sirens might be next, making her probably the least “selfish” one because she seems to care about the people that she protects and might not demand the same level of praise that Oswald does. (I know probably other things but unless canon proves me wrong I headcanon slightly differently) She feels hurt but understands Jim would suspect, even for a moment that she could be responsible for the destruction Haven. They slowly get her back on suitable for Jim Gordon to kiss track, which phu idk. I liked her and their relationship in S1,  but there´s just so much happened in between. And plenty in Barbara´s characterization I didn´t like so it´s nice to see her on a more reasonable track now but how about they just gave her an awesome relationship with Tabitha ........  Characterization questions aside I really loved that she did not and could not kill Oswald in the light of the explosion! That was a touching moment!  Also her outfit is nice, although they toned down the make up. And Jim gripping her arm during the kiss almost gives old timey movie vibes. I´m sure I don´t need to write on Babs / Oswald paralells, I assume I just can reblog better words on it from someone ..  * Also something tells me if JIM GORDON  had gotten that shoot out with VICTOR ZSASZ, that kiss would not have happened …… “Inmate number 1215 knows! Knows what???!!??!” Ha, distressed, puzzled, annoyed EDWARD NYGMA is a joy to watch. I don’t really have to say more on that. Edward snatching the blanket from the woman when walking into the GCPD makes me wonder, what would he have done if that woman hadn´t been there? Just walked in? Did he have a stupid disguise and was like, oh no wait that´s better.  He and LUCIUS FOX were a delight. Edward trying to snatch the file from him and run was wonderful! Him preening in pride when his expertise is wanted was delightful! Lucius claiming, he´ll deny having said the praise he gave Edward in the end, precious! Lucius playing him like a fiddle, and moving him with barely more than his fingertips, damn! Just that the whole thing was shot like when Ed pursued Kristen Kringle!  Their dynamic is just wonderful: “Impressive. Calculated the angle of incident to follow the trajectory through the window, into the fuel oil tanks.” “Yep. That, and the RPG case is right over there.”  * One thing that stressed me was Ed sending the Files flying around him on the rooftop. Like at that moment he didn´t yet know that the woman he saw in the window was connect to the note he put down on his hands. Even when the inmate was dead there could have been some hints in the file or who knows in hid grave. Like, no Edward! No! Go run and pick them up.  * Someone needs to do a Parallel Meta for 5x04 & 4x12  when Ed found out he hired the hit on Leslie Thompkins. * “I did not make that building go boom, Jim.”   Yeah, that´s a VICTOR ZSASZ line. Love him. * ““Hey, do you guys have any canned peaches? Man, I'd trade an arm and a leg for that right now. Not mine, somebody else's.” Food and cut off limbs, that´s another one. Love him. * And that one: “Do the math.  If I blew up a building full of people, I would have covered every inch of my body in sweet, sweet scars.  You guys want to do a strip search?” “I'd let Alvarez do it. He's handsome” * Him shooting Oswald´s head on the major poster after he said something was a great detail! * Him drinking while waiting for the bullet hail to stop as well. * I´m gonna make a post about the Gunman magazine that fell on the floor, after Jim tackled him so majestically ...  * Zsasz usurping the applause afterwards, and later was adorable. * “Is this about Sofia Falcone? Because you should really move past that. It's not healthy.” DOES HE KNOW SHE KILLED CARMINE, DOES HE OR DOES HE NOT ???? They had him express sympathy towards Carmine in Season 1, they showed that he cared when Carmine got killed. I get that he might abandon issues like that in the current environment but they can´t open up such a plotline and then just drop it. Does he know that Oswald didn´t kill Carmine? Like honestly .. I know it´s the Jim Gordon show but I would have loved it if Victor Zsasz just had saved himself!! I would have loved it even more if along the way they somehow figured out the whole misconception, Zsasz would recognize that Sofia and not Oswald is to blame and maybe even apologize. * But hey Oswald´s “Well said” about the mumbled last words was mean but awesome. * Soooo who went in the trashy local torture museum to get the guillotine? * How does Zsasz work? There where zero people shown around him. What is it like to live on Zsasz turf? * Zsasz mumbling must have been bewildered that they aren´t honouring the tradition of the last meal before an execution, like he got his order ready, that was the last silver lining, if he´s really going to face his end at the hands of penguin in those halls at least he´s going to get his teeth into something juicy and tasty before it happens ..  SELINA KYLE, (Bruce Wayne), JEREMIAH VALESKA, ECCO * Sykes and the Soothsayers digging a tunnel for Jeremiah Valeska. Is that poetic justice? Also is this a new tunnel, when the Soothsayers had the children dig it they went out of their way to state that their cruelty is even more infuriating because the whole endeavour is very likely futile.  Like they made it damn clear that the TUNNEL is not going to go anywhere. Also would Jeremiah, who made the bridges go boom want a tunnel that remedies that  issue partly? Only for himself? His cult? Is he doing something else altogether? Is it about what he can get into the city through it? Is he better at static issues and remedied the tunnel digging plan? Was he involved before?  * “Yes you certainly have set a very high bar - for devotion.” Fucker gave me an earworm, Ordo Rosarius Equilibrio & Spiritual Front - A Song 4 Hate and Devotion (live) I mean quite a fitting mood considering all the other portrayals of the Harley and Mr. Jay relationship, but maybe they give ECCO and JEREMIAH VALESKA a different path. Aside from that the little dance was slightly nice. * “Bruce Wayne and his sidekick Curls Or is he the sidekick?” Yes! Ecco got the right spirit. I wonder if Ecco sees herself as sidekick?  “You see, a river cuts through rock not because of its power, but because of its persistence.So what do we do when we feel like giving up?” “Dig a little deeper.” “And what do we do when we can't possibly go on any longer?” “Dig a little deeper.” “And what do we ..” “Deep enough?”  I´m afraid it was not deep enough, I´m afraid it was quite shallow because the show is not as clever as Ecco, I bet that he isn´t dead, if he was it if could have actually been just about her. Honestly, I would love that. All the BatJokes built up and then it´s about Selina. And she has plenty right for it to be about her, Jeremiah almost killed her. What else does it need.  * SELINA KYLE keeping in the shadows investigating, disguising herself as one of the people there, then getting close to Jeremiah dressed as Ecco: She´s good! She´s awesome! * That GCPD woman that was doing PAPERWORK when Ed sneaked into the building. Do they do regular paperwork? Cause damn, considering the governmental neglect if Jim got them to bother to do the regular paperwork he must have given one hell of a speech. Or is it paperwork related to organize a place like Haven? How do they do things? * Oswald destroying all strategy with a megaphone: “There goes the element of surprise.” * “Elevated position, back to the sun.” * “Never ever ask me to do anything like that again. Pull yourself together.” Harvey does not approve of Wild West Jim  * “ I know the wheels of justice turn slowly, so I'm here to provide - a modicum of grease.” / “I did not expect you to go soft, Jim. Actually, I did.”  / “By the power vested in me by well, me, I sentence you, Victor Zsasz, to die.”   * “One of the areas in which I excel is the loosening of tongues.” “No. He's mine”  Oh damn I thought Jim said “it´s mine” as in he´s better with interrogations. Well there goes my whole comparison with the Edward Nygma & Lucius Fox expertise quip:  “So, the second smartest man in Gotham needs my help.” “Explosives are not my expertise.”  “Didn't realize you had one.”  *“Jim Gordon cares more about protecting a murderer than he does about protecting you!” Okay look who is projecting .... 

[papermoonloveslucy]

YOU CAN’T FOOL YOUR WIFE

May 21, 1940

Director: Ray McCarey

Producer: Lee S. Marcus and Cliff Reid for RKO Radio Pictures

Writers: Jerome Cady, based on a story by Richard Carroll and Ray McCarey

Synopsis ~ Feeling neglected by her husband Andrew (James Ellison), drab housewife Clara Hinklin (Lucille Ball) walks out on him, much to the delight of her busybody mother-in-law (Emma Dunn). Realizing that she's still in love with her husband, Clara undergoes a glamour treatment, re-emerging in the guise of Latin American charmer Mercedes Vasquez. Reunited with her husband at a masquerade party, Clara tries to win him back by continuing her pose as the alluring Mercedes. Does Andrew fall back in love with Clara, or is he merely smitten by her seductive alter ego?

CAST

Lucille Ball (Clara Fields Hinklin / Mercedes Vasquez) makes her 49th film since coming to Hollywood in 1933. 

James Ellison (Andrew 'Hinkie' Hinklin) appeared with Lucille Ball in Next Time I Marry (1938) and Best Foot Forward (1943). 

Robert Coote ('Batty' Battincourt) appeared with Lucille Ball in Lured (1947). He was best know for playing Colonel Pickering in the 1956 Broadway musical My Fair Lady. 

William Halligan (J.R. Gillespie, Sr.) appeared with Lucille Ball in The Big Street (1942). 

Emma Dunn (Mother Fields) appeared with Lucille Ball in Dance, Girl, Dance (1940). 

Virginia Vale (Sally) makes her only appearance with Lucille Ball. 

Rosina Galli (Mama Brentoni) was an Italian-born actress making her only appearance with Lucille Ball. 

According to the Hollywood Reporter, Rosina Galli replaced Ferike Boros in the role when a scheduling conflict prevented Boros from appearing in the film.

Charles Lane (Salesman) appeared in six other films with Lucille Ball between 1933 and 1949: The Bowery (1933), Broadway Through a Keyhole (1933), Broadway Bill (1934), Joy of Living (1938), Look Who’s Laughing (1941), and Miss Grant Takes Richmond (1949). On “I Love Lucy,” Lane later went on to create memorable characters like Mr. Hickox in “The Business Manager” (ILL S4;E1) as well as the clock-watching passport office clerk in “Staten Island Ferry” (ILL S5;E12). He made a total of four appearances on “I Love Lucy” and two more on “The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour.” In 1962, Lucille Ball cast him as banker Barnsdahl in the first season of "The Lucy Show.” He died at the ripe old age of 102.

Oscar O'Shea (Dr. Emery, Colony College Chaplain) makes his only appearance with Lucille Ball. 

Norman Mayes (Porter at Dock) is making his only screen appearance with Lucille ball. 

Patsy O'Byrne (Hotel Maid) appears with Lucille Ball in 1949′s Sorrowful Jones. 

Charlie Hall (Ritz Amsterdam Bellboy) appeared with Lucille Ball in Kid Millions (1934), Top Hat (1935), Five Came Back (1939), The Big Street (1942), and Seven Days’ Leave (1942). 

Dell Henderson (Ritz Amsterdam Manager) appeared with Lucille Ball in Bottoms Up (1934), Look Who’s Laughing (1941), Du Barry Was A Lady (1943), Meet the People (1944), and Abbott and Costello in Hollywood (1945).  

Minerva Urecal (Mrs. Doolittle) appeared with Lucille Ball in The Dark Corner (1946). 

Leo Cleary (Mr. Doolittle) also appeared with Lucille Ball in Dance, Girl, Dance (1940). 

Harrison Greene (Sullivan, the House Detective) makes his final appearance with Lucille Ball after being in Kid Millions (1934), Broadway Bill (1934), Foolish Hearts (1935), and The Farmer in the Dell (1936). 

Max Wagner (Burglar) appeared with Lucille Ball in Chatterbox (1936), Follow the Fleet (1936), There Goes My Girl (1937), Stage Door (1937), Room Service (1938), and Seven Days Leave (1942). 

Hobart Cavanaugh (Potts, GBG & P Vice President) makes his final appearance with Lucille Ball after being in Broadway Thru a Keyhole (1933), Moulin Rouge (1934), and That’s Right - You’re Wrong (1939). 

Walter Sande (Mr. Gillespie, Jr.) also appeared with Lucille Ball in A Woman of Distinction (1950). 

Walter Fenner (Walker) makes his only appearance with Lucille Ball. 

Irving Bacon (Lippincott, GBG & P Clerk)  was in six other films with Lucille Ball: The Bowery (1933), Broadway Bill (1934), I’ll Love You Always (1935), There Goes My Girl (1937),  A Girl, a Guy and a Gob (1941), and Look Who’s Laughing (1941). He appeared in three Best Picture Oscar winners: It Happened One Night (1934), You Can’t Take It With You (1938), and Gone With The Wind (1939).  On “I Love Lucy” he appeared as Mr. Willoughby in “The Marriage License” (ILL S1;E26) and played Ethel’s father Will Potter in “Ethel’s Hometown” (ILL S4;E16).  

Elaine Shepard (Peggy) also appeared with Lucille Ball in Ziegfeld Follies (1945).

Ronald R. Rondell (Battincourt's Friend at Party) appeared in six other films with Lucille Ball between 1934 and 1942.  

Mike Tellegen (Henchman) also appeared with Lucille Ball in Roberta (1935). 

‘YOU CAN’T FOOL’ TRIVIA

John Farrow (Mia’s father) briefly took over direction during the shoot when director McCarey fell ill. Farrow had directed Ball in 1939′s Five Came Back. 

Some scenes were shot on location at Royce Hall on the campus of UCLA in  Westwood, Los Angeles. Later in her career Lucille Ball lectured at UCLA on the subject of comedy and her career. 

You Can’t Fool Your Wife was generally considered a ‘B’ picture and for the most part was the second feature on a double bill.  The New York Daily News gave the film two and a half (out of five) stars. 

The working title of this film was "The Romantic Mr. Hinklin". It was based on an original story of the same name by Richard Carroll and Ray McCarey.

The Danish movie poster. 

The idea of a wife disguising herself to woo her husband was later explored on “I Love Lucy” in “The Black Wig” (ILL S3;E26) aired on April 19, 1954.

The Des Moines (IA) Register

There was a silent film, also titled You Can’t Fool Your Wife, which is now considered lost. It is not related to the 1940 film.