#richard connor cobalt | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

stephaniecobalt · 3 years ago

Text

Rose and Connor's first time alone together

Summary: Rose and Connor's first 1:1 interaction at the national quiz bowl tournament. You can read this without having read the Addicted/Calloway series, however I highly recommend the series! It's my all-time favorite

A/N: Rose and Connor are academic rivals to lovers from the Addicted/Calloway series by Krista and Becca Ritchie. Connor's first name is actually "Richard". He just prefers to go by Connor, but Rose commonly calls him Richard when she's mad at him. Enjoy! (✿◠‿◠)

Word count: 2k

Rose Calloway

I’m painfully aware of the way my Chanel headband digs into my pounding skull and the way my fingers grip the buzzer slick with sweat. This is the last question in the last round of the national quiz bowl tournament and Connor Cobalt is getting on my last nerve. He’s managed to answer just as many questions as I have, and our team’s scores are tied up. Everything rests on this last point.

This round of the tournament is technically Dalton Academy vs Faust Academy For Boys. But from my perspective, the last couple hours have been a rapid-fire, one on one duel: Rose Magdala Calloway vs Richard Connor Cobalt.

We’ve thus far established ourselves as the respective MVPs of each team by answering the majority of prompts, each of us vying to snatch a point before the other can.

My attention shifts to the officiator, who flips to the next page for our final question. Connor and I lock gazes. I wear a fierce glare while he wears his trademark and infuriatingly confident smirk. Ugh. I'm tempted to roll my eyes, but refuse to be the first to break eye contact.

Can’t he at least pretend like he’s scared of losing this last point?

I’d never admit it to anyone, but I am. This moment has been years in the making. I’ve been to dozens of competitions, studied for hundreds of hours, and written thousands of note cards in hopes of winning the national title.

No one is going to get in my way. Not even the handsome, teasing, and overconfident boy standing opposite me.

My glare must intensify with conviction, because Connor quirks a brow.

Translation: “Scared, Rose?”

My eyes narrow. “In your dreams, Richard.”

The officiator begins reading.

“In this play, a prince falls in love with a maiden due to the magical charms of the Rightful Duke of Milan. That prince went on to…”

It’s a Shakespeare question.

I’ve practically been reading Shakespeare since I came out of the womb.

Instantaneously, I know I’ve won. I slam the buzzer as my glare transforms into a confident smile to match Connor’s.

Except nothing happens.

And in the second that it takes me to press the button again I hear the other size buzz in.

“The Tempest” Connor chimes in easily.

He’s right.

My heart stops. And then I feel it drop all the way down to my Louis Vuitton heels. I feel devastated - so devastated that I barely register my teammates clapping me on the back then sliding past me to exit the room. The officiator’s congratulations and closing remarks pass by in a blur, and I'm still staring at my faulty buzzer, seething at its betrayal when I hear:

“Don’t look so upset, Rose. If it’s any consolation, it’s not you, it’s me.” Connor grins from across the room as he continues, “I always win.” He shrugs his shoulders as if to say, “it can’t be helped”, and it sparks a fire in me, snapping me out of my trance

“Don’t gloat, Richard. It’s not a good look on you.” I snarl back.

“Don’t lie to yourself, Rose. Everything looks good on me.”

He walks toward the officiator’s podium unphased and begins flipping through the packet of questions.

This piques my curiosity. “What are you doing?”

“I always review the packets after a match.”

“Really?” I say dryly. “Winning isn't enough for you?”

“No. It’s not. Winning is only a byproduct of my true goal - which is to be better than everyone else.”

This time I don’t say anything in return, not because I don’t have anything to say, but because I’d rather not share what I’m thinking with Connor. I find his admission strikingly relatable. As much as I enjoy Quiz Bowl, I’m not just here to collect trophies either. I’m interested in collecting knowledge. I like knowing things. It makes me feel in control.

With the questions packet in hand, Connor takes a seat behind the podium. He hooks his designer shoes onto a nearby chair to drag it right up next to him and gives me an expectant stare.

I feel compelled to sit down, but at the same time nervous to be in such close proximity to Connor.

“I’ll let you look, but we have to share.” he offers, tilting his head toward the empty chair.

I take the seat.

We’re close enough that I can feel his body heat in the chilly room, and the sides of our legs are almost brushing. I feel nervous at the thought of leaning closer to him, but from where I am right now it’s difficult to read the questions.

“Move the packet closer to me.” I demand.

He moves the packet until it’s mostly on my lap, but taunts “No please? Seems like Dalton needs to teach their students better literature and better manners.”

“Pity that Faust doesn’t offer classes in modesty. Although I doubt you could even meet the course prerequisites given that you’re a raging narcissist.” I quip back. Ha.

Connor wears an amused smirk and I wear a triumphant one as I turn back to the packet to review the questions.

After reviewing the packet together for 5 minutes or so in silence, I hear Connor’s phone vibrate. He slides his phone open and stands smoothly.

“My team is waiting for me outside. The packet’s all yours. I’ll see you around.” There’s a beat of silence before he adds, “You did well Rose. There aren’t many people that can match me, but you are my fiercest competitor. I look forward to our next duel.” And with a quick nod he slips out the door.

As soon as he leaves, I feel a little emptier. The defeat which had been so easy to forget when I was preoccupied with Connor comes back with a vengeance. And so does my anger. My anger at the buzzer. Ohmygod.

I remember that I was robbed of my rightful victory, and I’m not giving up on it yet. I race across the room quickly testing the buzzers and confirming my suspicions that for whatever reason, my buzzer blew out on the last question. My eyes are wide and my heartbeat is racing with hope.

This isn’t over just yet.

I hunt down the official and drag him into the room to show him the defective buzzer.

“Sorry sweetheart, but how do we know that you didn’t just sabotage that buzzer right now?”

Seriously?! I could scream in frustration right now, but I need to convince this man that I’m not the type of person who would break a buzzer to win this title, and I know that screaming and threatening to castrate him would be counterproductive. I take a deep breath.

“Sir, I assure you -”

He cuts me off with a patronizing smile “- Look sweetheart, we already announced Faust as the winners. Even if your buzzer did break -” He pauses and has the audacity to wink at me as if we’re sharing some sick understanding that I broke the buzzer as a last-ditch attempt to win, “There’s just no way we’re recalling that announcement.”

I have absolutely had it today. I am livid. Everything about this man grates on me, and I need to leave before I lose my composure. I shoot him one last withering look of disgust before spinning on my heel and storming out towards the parking lot.

I rip off my headband with one hand (please forgive me Coco) and massage my tense neck with the other as I stride towards my car. Halfway there, I spot Connor surrounded by his celebrating teammates, and I swear my body gets even tenser than it was before. I didn’t think that was possible.

I can’t deal with any more infuriating men at the moment, so I trudge ahead even though his concerned eyes meet mine and silently probe: “Rose? What’s wrong?”

A more prudent question would be “What isn’t wrong?”. Right now it feels like the world is against me. And for the second time today I’m losing a duel. This one is even worse: Rose Magdala Calloway vs World.

I need to go home.

I imagine myself screaming in my closet as I finally slide into my car and slam the door shut. God that feels good. My shaky hands fumble the key into the ignition and I whip my head around to reverse around only to be met with all 6 feet of Connor Cobalt standing right outside of my convertible.

“Tell me what happened.” he demands.

I hate that he’s seeing me like this. I hate that I'm losing control over my emotions right now. Tears prick behind my eyes threaten to fall with the weight of everything that has happened today, but I command them to stay out of sight. Instead of letting my tears fall, I let my words fly. Raw and unfiltered, I spit out the thoughts on the tip of my tongue.

“I hope what you said back there about not caring about winning is true Connor, because you didn’t win. My buzzer was broken, but I did buzz before you. I’ve been reading Shakespeare since before I could walk. Before I could talk. I don’t care that you don’t believe me, and I don’t care that the official didn’t believe me. You’re walking home with that national trophy, but make no mistake, it’s still mine.”

By the time I finish my rant, my eyes are wet with angry tears. I yank the car into reverse without giving him a chance to respond. And as I slam the car into drive, I speed off regretting and wondering why I spilled all of my feelings out to Connor like that.

Pull it together. You are Rose Calloway, and you will not let this day drag you down.

This mantra plays on loop in my head, and only one tear slips before I hastily swipe it away and tip my chin up.

Tomorrow will be better.

~ The next day at school ~

Sebastian, my longtime friend, strides up to my locker as I pull out notes for my first class.

He claps me on the shoulder. “Congratulations are in order. I mean things could have gone better, but considering Faust has won the last 4 years. I think breaking their streak is a pretty good deal don’t you?”

Huh?

“We lost.” I clarify for Sebastian a little more harshly than I needed to, but it’s a sore subject and this kind of feels like a mean prank.

“Umm, no you didn’t.” He replies.

“I think I would know better than you, Seb. After all, I was literally there.” I wish he would just drop it.

“So the school paper is wrong, then?” He prods disbelievingly as he pulls the paper out of his bag and hands it to me.

I snatch it from his hands and greedily read the words below the section titled: “Dalton breaks Faust’s 4 year reign at the National Quiz Bowl Tournament”. My jaw is hanging open slightly and my eyes furrow deeper with each line I read in the paper.

After a brief mixup, in which Faust was mistakenly awarded the title. This year, Dalton and Faust reign side by side as co-champions.

I read it again.

How did this happen?

I desperately want it to be true, but I keep my guard up. This weekend was enough of an emotional rollercoaster as it is, and I was hoping to put all of the Quiz Bowl drama behind me so that I could focus on Model UN.

There are only two people that I revealed the truth to. The officiator and Connor. I sincerely doubt the officiator changed his mind, which only leaves one option.

I would have bet my company on the fact that Connor would take the win for Faust. After all, leading his team to victory all four years would look great on his College apps, and there’s nothing that matters more to him than those apps. Additionally, after 3 years of being academic rivals it’s hard to picture him sticking up for me. His actions make it seem almost as if we’re on the same side, but that doesn’t add up.

For the first time, I’m not sure what I feel towards Connor. We’ve been academic rivals for so long, could we ever really be anything else?

*hint, hint* :p

Thank you so much for reading, pls feel free to send in any requests for scenes you want to read from the Addicted/Calloway universe!

#coballoway #connor cobalt #rose calloway #calloway sisters #addicted series #krista and becca ritchie #kiss the sky #fuel the fire #addicted to you #fanfiction #connor cobalt fanfiction #imagine

66 notes · View notes

twdmusicboxmystery · 3 years ago

Text

TWD 11x22: Analysis, Part 2

Here is some more general discussion about this episode, and symbols we’re seeing in 11c:

@galadrieljones:

Connie and Daryl in the “tunnel of love” LMAO. If anything, he seemed super distracted and he wasn’t even paying attention to her, to the point when she felt the need to stop them and ask if everything was okay! As usual, I am very pro-ship in most respects. Donnie is a perfectly respectable ship if that’s your jam, but there is zero romantic chemistry between them, and they seem just like very good friends, always there for each other, but neither of them seems interested in anything beyond that. And, yeah. Carol and Maggie are clearly foils right now, per the motherhood theme. Carol and Daryl have very little connection imho.

I don’t have many notes. I liked the insurrection bit. It feels like this is karma for Negan, and I was shocked that he was going to sacrifice his life. I truly believe he was ready to die, and that was very scary as Annie was screaming his name, and then his terrified reaction when the Warden went back on his word was powerful. If you’ll recall Negan told Maggie earlier this season that he expected that she was a “woman of her word,” as he’s always been “a man of [his].”

Whatever Negan is or isn’t, he’s always been loyal to his code, and all of his actions, even if they may be deemed as harsh and despotic, are justified in their own way. Ezekiel’s anger with Negan for killing Henry’s brother is probably misplaced for Negan, but I thought it honorable of Negan not to say anything, to just let him have his anger, because ultimately, Negan blames himself anyway. Still, Negan may not have even known about Henry’s brother, as at that time, a lot of his guys were going rogue.

Simon killed the Scavengers against his “word,” and Henry’s brother was an accident. If anything it was Richard’s fault. So anyway, that whole scene was very scary to me, and very powerful. The CW soldier who turns on the Warden in the end reminded me of Huck in the flashbacks from “Truth or Dare” during Operation Cobalt, when she turns on her fellow Marines and shoots them rather than shoot the civilians in the sewers.

At the time, I wondered if maybe this was CRM directive, but now I’m not so sure. I am wondering if maybe she wasn’t a CRM operative yet, that she was wrestling with it, and with her mother’s role in the CRM, and then she became one definitively when the military lost its humanity. This would explain why she becomes so disillusioned in the end, and why she betrays the CRM, because she thought they were good, and they turned out to be the same exact thing as the military—committing genocide, disregarding human life, etc.

This makes me wonder if perhaps the CRM was once better. Was it the hero in the beginning of the Fall? Saving civilians, valuing human life while the US Military napalmed innocents. But then overtime, they became power hungry, or as the atomized world began to fortify, more and more concerned with the possibility of insurrection. I have noticed this season and also in “Diverged” the presence of what could be mass casualty events among the military. Daryl runs into a LOT of dead National Guard in one place in “Diverged,” and then in Fort Connors, it appears that MANY soldiers died at once, the way they’re all scattered on the floor. They haven’t been executed. Perhaps they were gassed? So I’m thinking perhaps the CRM has been getting rid of the military threat.

The insurrection also made me view Beth’s time at Grady as an “insurrection.” She rallies the old man to help her break into Dawn’s office and save Carol’s life. Her escape attempt, we could wager, may have rallied hope among the wards in general. She also kills both Gorman and O’Donnell, who had been abusing the wards, and in the end, she tries to kill Dawn. I noticed that in this episode, Daryl kills the Warden, JUST as he killed Dawn (the Chief of Police). I thought there had to be something going on here. I really wish we knew more about Beth’s time at Grady.

This made me feel like she had truly become a leader among the insurrection there, and her sacrifice was akin to Negan’s (who did not die, who was saved in time by the actions of ONE, a la Eugene’s speech in the court room). The whole “drop in the bucket” thing really reminded me of Beth. It made me feel like her actions against Dawn were motivated in this way, and this was commentary on that. Unlike Edwards, who was a coward, and Noah, who only cared about his own escape, Beth made a sacrifice to try and change things for the better. In “Coda,” Beth’s actions were squandered with TF. Nothing changed, because she was lost. But now, they’re amounting to something great.

@wdway:

But isn't the CRM the military? Guess I'm just not quite understanding. Are you talking about a uprising within the Civil Republic Military? Isn't what we saw in World Beyond the resistance rebel civilian trying to bring down the CRM with some working do you take down from within?

@galadrieljones:

No, I’m talking about the episode Truth or Dare, when we see Huck as a US Marine during the Fall. There’s a scene where they’re ordered to execute dozens of innocent civilians in a sewer. Huck shuts off the power and kills all the marines in her squad instead, including her friend. She then rescues the civilians and helps them escape.

She also then does her part in the CRM coup.

I think the CRM was not a part of the military but a separate entity that swooped in when the us military failed—or that’s what I’ve gained so far.

@wdway:

No, I think it had more to do with me being in the middle of a couple of different projects and was too lazy to go back and reread.

Has anybody else ever started searching for something and then got caught up and went into all kinds of different directions and at the end you go, "what was it that I originally was searching for?" That is definitely me right now.

@twdmusicboxmystery:

Are you kidding? I do that just going to the kitchen to look for food.

@wdway:

I found some interesting things that sparked some ideas.

2 of Caravaggio's paintings. The Denial of Saint Peter, was seen in Slabtown with Beth which connects her to the image of St Peter.

The other painting is, Crucifixion of St Peter. Peter's request of being being crucified upside down became a symbol of Martyrdom. Martyr- a person who is killed because of their religion or other beliefs.

We first see Beth wearing a cross at the funeral home in Alone. We see her with Daryl in the basement where Beth speaks of the dignity of the dead and how it is a beautiful act to remember that the dead walking were once humans. It is later where Beth and Daryl are in the kitchen and Beth tells Daryl he is a good person that we first see that her wearing a cross, and we see it on her throughout her scenes in the episode. We do not see it again until the hallway at Grady Memorial Hospital when she is hugging Noah.

She is no longer wearing the cross around her neck but it is hanging from her left wrist. She is carrying her cross. During the act of crucifixion, nails/spikes were hammered into the wrist holding up the body on a cross. It is believed that a crucified person had three spikes, one for each wrist and then one through the crossed feet. The number 3 is a holy number connected with the Trinity. Which looks quite similar to the logo of the CRM.

I realize looking at the painting that the spikes used in crucifixion could pass for railroad spikes. Another possible connection between railroad spikes and the symbolic means of crucifixion. Crucifixion=Martyrdom=willing to give one's life for a belief.

A interesting coincidence I found in my search tonight, or maybe not so coincidental, is that the 3rd book of the Gospel is Luke. Luke the physician was one of 12 disciples/Apostles of Christ. In the Gospel of Luke, Peter's denial of Christ is found in the 22nd chapter.

The number 12 has been so prominent the last few seasons and I believe that the original intent was to end the first series of The Walking Dead in the 12th season and then start a new, possibly going another 3 seasons, telling the story of the CRM. Unforeseen things happened such as covid. So there is only 11 Seasons officially but it has been airing for 12 years. 12 years/12 disciples.

The number 22 has been seen a lot in the series. Shane wears the number 22 on a necklace. The 22nd episode of the series was Walk With Me, where we found out what had happened to Andrea and Merle, Daryl's brother, which were both thought to be dead by TF.

We've also seen the number 22 on objects in the series

Police car in episode Coda.

Michonne going with Virgil to his island. I believe this is from Walk With Us.

S11e21 Outpost 22.

We also have 2, 22nd episodes in the series. S10e22 Here's Negan and s11e22 Faith.

Let us not forget that the very last Chapter of the New Testament is Revelations 22.

Like I said in the beginning I really don't remember what my intense search was this evening but I think I have stumbled across some interesting connections.

I have more to say about episodes 22 but I'm going to leave that for tomorrow or in my case since it's after midnight here it'll be later today.

@galadrieljones:

As you were writing I was formulating this same idea and then it was like reading my own thoughts. The railroad spikes. There are three of them leading the way to Leah’s house. I really love this connection, thank you.

I think the connection to St. Peter is even more compelling when you consider the connection to the Louvre via Caravaggio and Gimple’s inspiration from The Da Vinci Code and how this could inform what we know about Daryl’s spin-off.

I also love that Beth is “carrying” her cross in Coda that’s wonderful imagery. I think your speculation about there originally being twelve seasons is really interesting. Covid really shook things up, didn’t it? And the number 22—I didn’t put together Revelations 22 here. Brilliant! This is reminding me of how strong the Christ imagery really is around Beth. “Everything gets a return,” says Morgan, the prophet.

Also what you said about martyrdom reminded me of Negan in 11.22. The Warden would not let him die a martyr and instead was going to sacrifice Annie so that he would feel it.

Eugene was also almost martyred in 11.22. I haven’t really given the title much thought as it’s so simple. Faith. Eugene and Negan put their faith in God in the end there. As characters they both have rarely allowed themselves to have faith in anyone or anything aside from themselves, so to sacrifice their lives to inspire the flock to revolt is really this ultimate leap of faith. They’re both saved when their actions inspire those with the power to make one small difference, which counts.

Also I never commented on Mercer’s last line: “Time to fuck shit up.” I was like YES LETS GOOOOOOOOOOO lol

@twdmusicboxmystery:

Lol. Right? I thought Maggie’s final line in ep 21 was pretty badass. It would have been hard to top it. But by golly, Mercer did!

@wdway:

Thank you! Once I realize the railroad spikes were so similar to crucifixion spikes and that it is believed that 3 nails/spikes were used in the act of a crucifixion my mind went right to Leah's cabin door and the three spikes.

And just as I'm writing this something else has occurred to me about the symbolism of the door spikes. In Exodus we read of the Hebrews protecting themselves from the plague of death of the firstborn by putting blood around their door frames. If three at the door is a symbolism of an anxiety enslaved Society seeking freedom, then the spikes we saw hammered into the tree also would represent the freedom that was one through the crucifixion upon the tree of Christ.

This is just a weird little side note but as I've been writing and thinking about the words Crucifixion and Exodus, I can't help but think "X" is used as a symbol of Beth. X in Greek is an actual legitimate abbreviation for Christ. And of course, we have in Roman numerals X represents the number 10, in modern day English X is the 24th letter. The last episode of the entire series will be 24th episode.

I just want to note that the phrase of Beth carrying her cross on her wrist is not mine. It is phrase that has been used many, many times over the years by Bethylers.

I'm going to try not to be so long winded with telling you guys what I believe the writers are pointing to in the present storyline and how it is a twist on what they told us in Slabtown but back then we had no way of being able to interpret the clues because we have no idea of the existence of the CRM.

A couple of episodes ago I noticed the empty chair near Daryl at what looked like an old train depot. I thought it was a symbol of the spiritual but not physically presents of Beth for for Daryl.

The next episode we had an empty chair across of Max. I again thought it could mean an unseen presents. In this last episode when Negan goes into the room to see Annie the camera lingers on an empty chair next to Annie's bed just before he sits down. I thought this was quite noticeable and made a point of rewatching how they shot the scene where Negan was brought into the office of the warden. The chair on the other side of the wardens desk is all but invisible. We never even see any signs of the chair other than Negan is suddenly sitting in a chair. This may me feel correct in that an empty chair has significant.

Last night I wrote about Peter and how his upside-down Crucifixion become known as The Martyrdom of St Peter. Near the end of episode Faith, we see Negan willingly about to give up his life for his wife and child but also for TF who he would not that's betray. He surprised us all, didn't he. We without realizing it were all waiting for his denial. His moment of pulling a Dr. Edwards or a Denial of Saint Peter to Jesus. This is when I realized that soon after we saw the empty chair across from Max, Eugene came forward and turned himself in. After we saw Negan and the empty chair in Annie's room soon after Negan give himself up. Both man where ready and willing to die for the beliefs that there are still things in their world worth dieing for. They were ready to Martyr themselves.

Now let's take a look back at Slabtown.

Beth bring food to Dr. Edwards. In the background we see chairs similar to the one near Daryl at the train depot.

There is a record playing and 2 empty chairs in front of Edwards desk. Edwards invites Beth to sit down and she accepts freely of her own will. They talk about the painting by Caravaggio, The Denial of Saint Peter. Edwards offer Beth guinea pig and she accepts. A wink and a nod to the fact that she will be/she is the guinea pig.

Much later we have a very different Beth setting in Edwards office after being beaten by Dawn for aiding Noah and his escape.

This time she is sitting in the other chair facing the painting. A white coffee cup visibly behind her. The water turned the egg hard, the carrot soft, but it was the coffee that changed the water. She has no longer that naive girl who accepted what was happening around her she is the change.

Beth conference Edwards on what he has done and his reply is to acknowledge the painting, that if Peter had not denied Christ he too would have been crucified.

Caravaggio's, The Crucifixion of St. Peter. Peter did deny Jesus 3 times before the rooster. He was a scared weak man but that denial changed him. He became one of the great apostles of Christ. He spent the rest of his life spreading the gospel of Christ. He finally was imprisoned and then crucified in Rome. His request was to be crucified upside because he did not feel he was worthy to be crucified in the same way as Christ. This Crucifixion is known as The Martyrdom of St. Peter.

The new Beth seeing Carol being brought into the hospital. We see in the next few episodes that Beth has had enough of the corruption of Grady.

She was so close to leaving with her family but Dawn had other ideas. Dawn demanded Noah and he willingly went back. When Beth embraced Noah Dawn said she knew he would be back. That's when Beth got it. She understood Dawn. Everything had become clear to her. (This is me theorizing) in watching that moment again I couldn't help but remember how from Fear Al's girlfriend (can't remember her name) who was a part of the CRM telling her that no one ever leaves. That they would be hunted by the CRM until found.

I do not think that Beth stabbed Dawn for the sake of Noah or not only Noah. I think she had clarity in the moment that if Dawn was alive that she and her entire family would be hunted until found. Beth was too much of a valuable specimen, a guinea pig that could not be let go. She was shot in the head to be stopped. As far as Grady and team family knew both Dawn and Beth were dead. The dead tells no tales. We have speculated that Beth was placed in a car trunk. We'll find out soon enough. I believe this is the only way that Grady, the CRM would allow TF to leave, to live. But our Christ figure Beth rose again and became a living Martyr of a rebellion.

Hope you guys liked this.

I know that I skipped over some things like Eugene wonderful a very powerful but subtle rebellious speech. A speech from a person who believed he would soon be put to death. A martyrs speech.

I need to rewatch again but my question is, it seems like I remember the warden telling Negan he would not allow him to be a martyr. Am I wrong in that? Did I make that up in my head, because that's a really strong possibility. If no one can remember I'll go back and check it out.

I'm also want to stay that I truly believe there's not a single member of TF that would not die for their family. We saw that in s4 "A" when Daryl was willingly going to give his life in exchange for Rick's.

@galadrieljones:

The Warden definitely says that he’s not going to let Negan be a martyr, yes. He goes back on his word and is going to kill Annie in front of him. This is the last straw for Ezekiel, who is a pacifist at heart.

I love all your thoughts about Coda here, and Beth, and martyrdom. It’s very similar to how I view Beth as taking on the role of the Good Shepherd, ie: Christ’s speech about how sometimes the shepherd must kill the wolves to protect the flock. It’s not simply Dawn demanding Noah back that changes Beth’s mind. It’s when Dawn says, “I knew you’d be back.” That’s when Beth gives her the look of death and, I believe, realizes she has to kill Dawn to end her reign of terror.

And while we obviously don’t know how much Beth may or may not know at this point, she may definitely know that if they simply leave, they’ll be in the CRM crosshairs. Ofc this still doesn’t explain why Beth doesn’t kill Dawn by stabbing her in the neck, and instead stabs her in the shoulder. But I think that has to be a product of an unreliable POV.

@wdway:

I agree about the unreliable point of view which was Rick's who was standing behind Beth. So hard to tell how much he could actually see. People have talked about how stupid it was of Beth for using little scissors but in fact that's the only weapon she had available to her. And I don't think she had it planned until the moment arise and she felt she had no other choice. She was protecting her family with the only weapon she had. No one called Rick stupid for using his teeth with Joe the Claimer. The fact is Beth not leaving Grady with TF was how the story as a whole needed to be told.

We haven't talked about the walker that picked up Lydia's knife. What does everyone think?

@twdmusicboxmystery:

I’m honestly not sure what to think of that. It might just be a way to show that there are more smart walkers around. Beyond that, I don’t know. Did you have any I sights about it?

Loved everything you said above about Peter symbols and the empty chairs. I actually started writing something up earlier. I may have written you a small book, lol. I’ll finish it up and send it in a little bit. I touch briefly on the Peter stuff as well. Slightly different but it all really amounts to the same thing. We’re all on the same page about that. So, you may not have been long winded, but I will be.

@galadrieljones:

Yeah I noticed that, too, but am also a little unsure. I agree it could just be to show the smart walker threat isn’t over. I also think it’s purposeful that Lydia is continuously aligned with smart walkers, as she was a Whisperer, and there seems to be some narrative karma there. Maybe Lydia will show up in a spin-off? Or maybe the walker will show up again, with her knife, and do some damage? Scary thought, if somebody thinks it’s a Whisperer and underestimates what they’re capable of.

Also I totally agree about the scissors. They’re as good a weapon as any. And I don’t think it’s stupid what Beth does. I think it’s unexplained. If she wanted to kill Dawn with those scissors, she could have by stabbing her in the carotid. That’s why I think it’s just not what happened, and Rick didn’t see everything. It’s also why we don’t hear the gun “cock.” It just shoots, and we see Dawn’s gun but there’s no way she could have shot her in the forehead from that angle and proximity. It’s impossible, and doesn’t make sense. The best explanation is that Rick is remembering poorly, didn’t see, or is missing time somewhere.

I did a pretty close shot analysis of coda and made a post a little while back. A lot of what I saw up close interested me. For example, how the director blocks the face-off with Beth and Dawn, and how the camera angle makes Beth appear taller than Dawn at times so that it appears that the bullet flies over Dawns head and into Beth’s. But Beth isn’t really that much taller than Dawn, if she is at all, and the bullet couldn’t have done what it did. There also seem to be frame missing between when Beth stabs Dawn and when she gets shot.

twdmusicboxmystery:

I’ll stop there for today. Thoughts?

#beth greene #beth greene lives #beth is alive #beth is coming #td theory #td theories #team delusional #team defiance #beth is almost here #bethyl

7 notes · View notes