#talking specifically about s3 btw

[clowns0cks]

thinking about how when the doctor is chameleon arched he's a mess he has no idea what he's doing ever he's just a victim of the events around him and he's pathetic and confused asf and also a bit of a coward while when the master is chameleon arched he is a scientist, he builds an entire system out of "food and string and staples" to save humankind, gives people hope, and ultimately he's brave and plans to stay behind and die to let the other people get to utopia safely. Idk something about how they're normally the opposite of this (the doctor is always ready to save people and always has a plan / the master has ridiculous plans that are obviously gonna fail and he's scared to die a lot of times) and maybe when they don't know who they are they are actually what they would have been without external influences (yes I mean death from master audio but also every other experience that has shaped them). I don't know. I'm just rambling as I think about it I don't know what is the point of this post

[rosetheocto]

…you’re really telling me that those jokes I’ve made in the past that went something along the lines of “Dan personally told me before everyone else that Lanchi will be canon in Failtopia S3” MANIFESTED HIM DOING JUST THAT????

[cbrownjc]

I know it in my soul, in my body, and in my bones that you’ve answered this question at some point but I just can’t find it, please forgive me lol

Let me say first off one thing. I absolutely love Eric, I want that man to be immortal in real life so we can keep him all for our self’s, I don’t want him to leave the show anytime soon, I’m not ageists and I want to see the full scope of present day devils minions with Eric.

But my question is do you think at some point with the whole body thief and raglan stuff, that Daniel is going to be de-aged? (Played by Luke in present day)My feelings are that I wouldn’t mind it and I think it would be a really cool climax in the show. Maybe everyone thinks Daniel’s dead/hurt or however they do it and everyone will be shocked. Louis will be distraught (bc I feel that Daniel and him are gonna have a brotherly relationship going into s3), Lestat at that point might actually like/care about Daniel, and obviously a massive emotional blow out for Armand.

Any thoughts on this, obviously if you disagree/ don’t see it happening I want to hear all about that too. I do think at the slow rate they’re pumping out these seasons Eric’s gonna be close to 80 in no time, which makes me a weee bit nervous. Even tho that won’t stop me from objectifying that man lmao. Love your breakdown💕

Hi! 👋🏾 Nice to hear from you again!

Okay, so fair warning: this is going to be long. But I kind of have almost a year's-long wait of stuff to say about this.

So first off, yes, I did sort of talk about it before. Once. Here's the link.

That post was made when Season 2 had just started airing, btw. (I think only up to Episode 2x03 had aired by that point.) Before I figured out the show was going to turn Daniel at the end of Season 2 (after Episode 2x05 aired).

But in it, I was bluntly and brutally honest wrt how the TV/film industry works when it comes to this stuff. (Shooting schedules, how studios view actors over the age of 75, etc. Because, as I've said multiple times, my dad worked in the industry. I spent many a summer on film and TV sets. I know the harsh reality of how this all works.) But, given a subpost or two I saw after I first made that above post, some people still really didn't like it, and yes, called it ageist to even bring it up and say what I did.

And that, quite frankly, is why I only talked about it that one time before now. Because I didn't feel like dealing with any more subposts or possible backlash, and/or hate I would get for writing/discussing this all, especially post-Season 2.

Because it's very clear how much some fans hate the very idea of this. And yes, that is because in some ways it can feel ageist, there is no denying that, no matter if there is truly no intent to do so when discussing this.

So that said, yes, I do actually have some more thoughts about all of this post-Season 2. Ones I haven't shared here publicly on Tumblr, or anywhere else, really. Only in private DMs (and in emails with one person). Not only because of what happened the last time I waded into this topic, but because I saw how some reacted to the final episode of Season 2. Or, more to the point, didn't have a problem with how Season 2 ended wrt Armand and Daniel.

And I've made it no secret that I have a big problem with it.

But I recognized that many people really just wanted to have fun and enjoy Eric's Daniel being a vampire, so I consequently decided not to post about that specific topic too much for a time (i.e., whether Daniel was turned out of spite or not), as well as not going into the subject of a possible de-aging at all.

But... it's been almost a year now. And shooting for Season 3 is about to start next week. So what the hell. 🤷🏾‍♀️

So my current, now post-Season 2 answer is that not only do I think a de-aging body swap with Daniel is possible, I think it already happened.

Frankly, I felt, in my gut, that it had already happened the second I saw Daniel in that final scene at the end of Season 2. And nothing I've seen or heard about Season 3 so far has changed my opinion on that. And only strengthened it some more.

My reasons? Well, the First one: I've mentioned Daniel's eye color being wrong before, in other posts. Because there is absolutely no reason Daniel's post-turning eye color is the color it is. His having his Maker's eye color makes no sense because Louis doesn't have Lestat's eye color. Claudia didn't get Lestat's eye color either. Daniel being older than he was in the book when he was turned shouldn't make a difference wrt his vampire eye color either.

There are really only two things that can account for it: either the show's production team got Daniel's eye color wrong, (and the next time we see Daniel on screen his eyes will be purple/violet), or . . . it was made that yellow-orange color on purpose as a hint that something is off wrt Daniel as we saw him at the end of Season 2. That will only come into focus later on as a hint when the show finally, fully adapts the Tale of the Body Thief.

Daniel's eye color being wrong is something, at this point in time, that only book readers would notice. A more general audience who hasn't read the books, and isn't steeped in fandom, wouldn't even pick up on it, nor should they.

@nalyra-dreaming made a good post here about how the show has already used an effect on eyes to show possession. I think the show has begun to do the same thing when it comes to soul switching. And that when we finally get to the full Body Thief story with Lestat, we'll get a similar indication that something is off with Lestat via his eyes, particularly his eye color. Just as we're seeing with Daniel right now, IMO.

As the old saying goes, "The eyes are the windows into the soul." Which goes into --

Second: At the end of Season 2, Rolin Jones already said, here in this interview, that the show has to begin to set up the very idea of the "soul," and that Raglan James wasn't just there in Season 2 for plot reasons (i.e., getting Daniel a copy of that script). And I mean, just the fact that he's Raglan James in the first place is a huge, glaring sign that the show has begun setting up for Tale of the Body Thief. And the show only had him interacting with Daniel, connecting Daniel's character to him at first, right now, going forward.

Now, I freely admit, for a time there, I did 100% think that Raglan could actually be Marius in disguise. Particularly because of that line he says directly to Daniel in Episode 2x06, "If I could switch bodies with you, I'd be running the Talamasca," was just a little too much on the nose for me. But something I didn't realize is that it is only a line that is too much on the nose for book readers. Non-book readers, and people who aren't active in fandom, wouldn't think anything about such a line having any kind of weight or hint about it.

But I actually don't think it was Raglan himself who was the one who switched bodies with Daniel. I think Raglan used Daniel, along with someone else, as a test. And Raglan doing so ties into him wanting "reciprocation" from Daniel for getting him that copy of the trial script.

image credit @nalyra-dreaming

Also, there is the fact that Season 2 of Mayfair Witches established that the Talamasca did not want Daniel's ITWV book to be published, and they are going to work to actively discredit it, to make people think it's fiction. Which means that Raglan James was not working with the Talamnasca when he got Daniel's book published and, moreover, might not have still been working with the Talamnasca when he first approached Daniel in Dubai. Or, if he was still working for them, he was already planning to either break away, or -- what I think is more likely -- he is still part of the group but making the Talamansca think he is still loyal to them; while he secretly has his own plans he's working on.

Plans that will eventually get exposed and get him kicked out of the order, and then thrown in jail. Which he'll then escape from.

Which is what James' status was at the start of the Tale of the Body Thief book.

Whichever way it all falls, it is very much looking like Raglan James approached Daniel in Dubai with his own hidden agenda going on, IMO. One that was clearly not connected to the wishes of the Talamansca, as seen with the publication of the IWTV book and their reaction to it in Season 2 of MW.

Third: I know how things appeared to many at the end of Season 2. That there is an impression that Armand turned Daniel right there in Dubai and left Louis to find him, or something.

But neither Louis nor Daniel directly says that is what happened. Yes, Louis says that he shouldn't have left Daniel alone with him, but to me, that only implies that Armand might have taken Daniel somewhere after Louis left the room. But that does not mean Armand turned him right then and there. (Or took him somewhere else and turned him either.)

Because, honestly, Rolin saying that Armand turned Daniel, as he said in his post S2 interview, doesn’t mean he’s telling the truth about that. His saying, in the same breath, mind you, that we’ll never see Armand turning Daniel is what screamed to me that he was lying about Armand turning Daniel, quite frankly. Confirming that Armand is Daniel's Maker isn't something you do in a post-season interview -- because not all general audience viewers are out there reading post-show interviews. That is something you confirm on screen.

Showrunners lie all the time to not give away upcoming plot points, spoilers, and twists. And I have no indication Rolin is above doing such a thing, just like other showrunners do. Trust, I was in Game of Thrones fandom, where the showrunners flat-out lied all the damn time, famously so in the case of the final season of that show.

Right now, when it comes to the show itself, it's only been confirmed that Armand turned Daniel -- we assume -- via dialogue. However, Louis clearly wasn't there when it happened. So he's not speaking from actually seeing it happen, likely not even from finding Daniel directly after it did. For all we know, Louis might only be going off of what Daniel told him.

The only real, hard word we have about Armand being Daniel's Maker is Daniel himself. And if it wasn't Daniel's soul actually in his body when he called Armand that, as I really do think is the case, well . . . then "Daniel" could say anything about who his Maker, couldn't he?

What I'm saying is, not only do I not think Armand turned Daniel before he was body-switched, I don't think Armand did it after Daniel's soul was switched out of his body either.

The Talmansca, in the show's universe, have vampires who work for it. We learned this with regard to Sam Barcely in Season 2. And we recently learned it again with regard to Jason Schwartzman, who was announced to also be playing a vampire who works for the Talamasca.

Because, honestly, there is almost no way to verify who Daniel's Maker is outside of seeing the turning done. Or if Armand himself backs it up from what Daniel has said about it. We saw that in Season 2 when Claudia named her's and Louis' Maker as being Bruce. It was only through Louis' slip-ups (and Armand's skill with the Mind Gift) that verified that it was actually Lestat.

There is absolutely nothing that prevents some other vampire from being the one who turned Daniel's body . . . with Daniel's soul not actually being IN the body at the time.

And no, to do so wouldn't go against anything because, in the Vampire Chronicles universe, who the person is truly seen as is their soul, not whatever body they are in. That is something pretty well established in the Tale of the Body Thief, and then taken even further with the concept of ghosts.

And, per book canon, there is no way to verify if the soul in a body is the original soul of that body. The only way it was done in the book was either verbally -- basically, Lestat knowing things only he and the person in question discussed (which was God and the Devil in a cafe for Lestat and David), or an emotional plea, as Lestat had to do with Louis, since Louis couldn't read minds at the time. But even reading someone's mind won't always reveal it, as Lestat discovered when he poured his heart out to who he thought was David -- but who was actually Raglan James in David's body.

And Lestat only knew that he'd been tricked, and it was Ragland James in David's body, when he began to turn whom he thought was David; and the memories from tasting the blood revealed the deception of it all to Lestat.

Which leads me into the Fourth thing: I have a sneaking suspicion that Season 3 of the show is about to do a spin on that very moment from the book; Lestat pouring his heart out to someone he sees as a friend, but it turns out, is not. Because a body-switch has happened before then.

I don't think Lestat is going to be fully comfortable talking with "Daniel" at first. However, he will know that Daniel is Louis' friend -- basically a "little brother" to Louis, as Jacob describes Louis and Daniel's relationship. So I think, over the course of the seasons, he'll grow more comfortable talking with "Daniel," and telling his story.

But that person won't really be Daniel. And while I think the audience will understand that by the final episode of Season 3, I don't think Louis and Lestat will. Not yet.

In the books, Lestat just wrote his own story down in a book himself. Which, for a TV show, would just be really boring to watch. So why not have him do it in an "Interview" type way as well? It keeps the name of the show relevant. But also since the show is already setting up Tale of the Body Thief and you've already cut out David Talbot and merged his character with Daniel (and probably Louis as well, but put that to the side for the moment), then why not also incorporate that moment where Lestat pours his heart out to David regarding his life and such, but it's not really David that he's talk to?

Minus the skull-crushing and the latter force-turning, of course.

And speaking of that --

Fifth: Again, no, I don't think Armand turned Daniel out of spite or against his will. Yes, even if Daniel has gotten a lot of David's storyline. One, because the force-turning was specifically a Lestat-thing, related to his trauma from Magnus and his view of himself post-body swap. The intent behind the force-turing thing is tied into the character who did it -- Lestat -- and his trauma wrt his own turning and what he felt about himself after the body-swap was over, and he was back in his vampire body.

There is nothing that specifically means it has to be done in the first place to a character that takes up part of David's storyline. Daniel doesn't have to be forced into being turned just because David was. Especially if Lestat isn't the one who does it.

I already went into why I don't think the show has done that with Armand here, and what, narratively, I think this is really all about. And that it all goes into the show about to present Armand as a villain in Season 3. Something I realized was coming towards the end of Season 2, and couldn't be cut out or changed.

Armand's framing in The Vampire Lestat is that of an antagonist, a villain. Even Marius, Armand's own Maker, we learn in that book, gave up on Armand. And the show is, IMO, going to be sticking with all of that.

And the belief that Armand forced-turned Daniel not only plays into all of this, but it'll be heightened by the audience seeing exactly what Lestat went through when he was abducted and forced into vampirism by Magnus.

Which is why I've actually come to think that "Daniel" is going to "confirm" that Armand turned him out of "spite" in Season 3. Because it will be something Lestat, more than likely, will connect with Daniel about.

And let me be clear, all the things we'll see Lestat talking about Armand having done in the past will be true. Armand very much did do all of what Lestat will reveal and talk about.

But when it comes to the present day? When it comes to Daniel's turning? Well, as Claudia said in Season 2, the best lies have some truth to them. Paining Armand as someone who would turn Daniel by force, out of spite, will be easy to do, given the absolutely true history of the things Armand did do in the past. (Which, for those who don't know, includes force-drinking from Lestat.)

So it'll be no stretch for a general audience, who've never read the books and only know of Armand via the TV show, to believe what is being told about this, including Daniel's turning. And that is absolutely by narrative design.

The key to looking at all of this is through the eyes of a member of the general audience who isn't online in fandom, who've never read the books, and have no idea what the story that's coming is. Even now, having watched some reactions on YouTube from such people, many of them already think Armand is a villain. And some still see that wrt Lestat too.

If Season 3 is done right, then Lestat's "villainy" will be put into context that shows he truly isn't one, but was painted as one due to Armand's memory manipulations (the gaslighting, as Jacob himself confirmed) of Louis.

Which will then likely have Armand, alone, viewed as the villain of the story. When that also will not be the case, what with Akasha and Amel set to begin to come into those roles in the story post-Season 3 as we head into Queen of the Damned.

Because again, as Assad already let slip, Season 4 is when we'll finally get Armand's backstory. And that is when we'll see that no, Armand isn't all villain either. Just as we are set to see with Lestat in Season 3.

However, the reason for that -- that when it comes to Armand, that he is not only all villainous despite everything he's done in the past -- that all pretty much begins with Daniel. . . and Armand's relationship with Daniel.

And you 100% can't do that story if Armand has turned Daniel by force and out of spite. Such a storyline not only will not work, but will do the opposite; it will just reinforce the narrative I feel we are about to be presented with about Armand in Season 3 -- that he's a villain, and only ever can be.

And that is a narrative I do NOT think the show is doing, or going to do. And why that is is because --

Sixth: The show is sticking very close to the books. Like, exceedingly so when it comes to character plot points and reveals, more so than I thought it would. I was pretty floored by how close the show is sticking to things from the books, quite frankly. The end of Season 2 surprised me with how closely it matched the end of the first book, with two exceptions, both done clearly to set things up for next season (or be a bow-end on the storyif we really didn't get a Season 3); the first being the bit with Daniel, and the second being that it moved Louis into his post-Merrick state of mind. (I haven't finished reading Prince Lestat yet, but those who have say show!Louis is pretty much at his Prince Lestat at the end of Season 2.)

However, aside from those two things? The show stuck pretty closely to the IWTV book, especially with how it all ended. Armand and Louis break up. Louis and Lestat have -- a later contested -- meeting/reunion after that.

Louis and Lestat, still on a path that will eventually, who knows how many seasons from now, end with their ballroom dance at the end of the final VC book, Blood Communion. Which was foreshadowed during their ballroom dance in Episode 1x07, during Season 1.

The path the show takes to get to those plot points and reveals from the books is different. But, at the end of the day, they don't drastically change any of them. And they do get there, one way or another.

And Armand turning Daniel in any way by force and spite is a drastic f--king change. One that fully alters Armand's story, and the reveal that there is more to him than what is revealed, and we see him do in The Vampire Lestat. A story that reveals there is more trauma, more hurt, more desperation for love and acceptance about Armand and who he is than you, as a reader, ever suspected.

And I do not in any way think the show is going to abandon the reveal that Armand's character/story is more complex than it might first appear. Let alone make him a villain by having villainously turned the character that is and was the first main catalyst for that story.

Because, again, Daniel being turned out of spite and by force, would very much do that.

And so if Daniel, in any way during Season 3, backs up any talk of Armand having turned him out of "spite" -- which, yes, I do think we will hear him do, since it fits too damn well with what we'll see regarding Armand's past self in The Vampire Lestat, as well as the overall narrative of presenting Armand as a villain that I do feel we are set to get in Season 3 -- then, IMO, that will just be one more clue that the person we are seeing, and who Lestat is talking with, won't really be Daniel.

And will just be another clue, IMO, that a body-soul switch has already happened.

- - - -

Now, with all of that said? I don't think Eric will be leaving the show anytime soon. In fact, I still feel he'll be around until at least the end of Season 5 at the very least, or whenever they finish up adapting the Queen of the Damned storyline. (Since, again, Rolin already said they'll probably have the split adapting that book into 2 seasons). Tale of the Body Thief takes place right after Queen of the Damned.

And I think the show is clearly setting up for both already. Again, Rolin already said they've started setting up for Body Thief in Season 2. And, frankly, they were setting up for Queen of the Damned back in Season 1. (The "Those Who Must Be Kept" mention by Lestat, plus the Amel set up in 1x05 as well).

And I think they'll be doing more for both in Season 3 (with the Queen of the Damned setups being much more obvious, along with Amel too, I suspect.) And that comment from Rolin about Lestat's tour being one of the Eastern Seaboard already has me suspecting that the final stop of that tour will be in Miami, Florida. Not just because that is where Night Island is located (and I think that is where Armand took off for after Louis kicked him out of Dubai). But Miami, Florida, is also where QotD ended, and where TotBT begins.

To quote Lestat about it:

A vampire's city-beautiful. Melting hot, teeming, and embracingly hot, marketplace, playground. Where the desperate and the greedy are locked in subversive commerce, and the sky belongs to everyone, and the beach goes on forever; and the lights outshine the heavens, and the sea is as warm as blood. Miami. The happy hunting ground of the devil.

If the show is following the books . . . and by the looks of things, after Season 2, they really, really are . . . then Miami is about to be a new setting for the show, for a bit IMO. Since the next two books in sequence after The Vampire Lestat both end there and then begin there.

Eric has very much achieved his dream of playing a vampire. And, just IMO, I think he will continue to do so all the way through his remaining time on the show, which I really do think will take him through the end of Queen of the Damned, however long/seasons it takes the show to adapt that book.

He's just not really playing Daniel anymore right now, IMO. Because Daniel's soul is somewhere else. In another place, probably in another body (though I have no idea who or what that could be right now, though yes, I do have ideas and speculation, but this post is already super-long as-is). I've thought it since Season 2 first ended, and nothing has really swayed me from thinking that since then.

I always thought a body swap for Daniel's character was in the cards. I just never thought, or even supposed, that it would happen this soon, as the post I linked to at the top of this very long meta/answer to your questions shows. I, too, initially thought it wouldn't happen until Season 5 or so if it did.

And it is one of the reasons I thought turning Daniel at the end of Season 2 was too soon. I thought the show would actually explore Daniel and Armand's relationship more, with Daniel now being older and dying first before he ever got turned, if Armand did turn Daniel when he was still older. But from the little of the timeline we know and what the show has presented about it all -- between the time when Daniel was last in Dubai to the publishing of the book -- there really is no time for such a thing IMO. (And it is just one of the many reasons why, after Season 2, I was always skeptical about a reverse-chase idea.)

The idea that a body switch had already happened, and that it happened at the end of Season 2, I know, is something many people don't think has happened, let alone are looking for to have happened, or even want to have happened.

But over almost a year of time that I've looked at it, more and more things -- for me -- just keep pointing to it having already taken place.

Maybe new info will come out between now and when the show comes back for Season 3 that will have me changing my mind. Maybe something will be shown in Season 3 that will have me change my mind about it. I'm not wedded to all of this, and any big piece of evidence can have me changing my opinion on it.

But right now, for now, everything I see regarding all of this? It points to a body swap having already happened. And that the person we saw at the end of Season 2 wasn't really Daniel -- that the soul in that body was not his. And if I'm right, I think the reveal of it won't be until the final episode of Season 3 and, even then, probably cryptically. And possibly something that will only be revealed to the viewing audience.

Though Armand might already know. Or suspect something is off. And that is why "Daniel" is looking for him. Because Armand knows something that Daniel doesn't want him to let out... or, maybe even more.

So yeah, this is where I am with all of this right now. And if you took the time to read all of this, which is much more than you likely asked for, thank you. 😊

[page-yerin]

literally going to fight someone about ninjago dr s3 because, before anyone flames me, this wasn’t the best season so far 😞

look I’m not the best at analyzing stuff like this but I do my fair share in writing and research so I do want to share my personal opinion on the story and etc.

you’re telling me Cole basically got ZERO SCREENTIME?? ZERO. NONE.

sora GOING WITH ARIN?? WHAT THE F- why. WHY. I’M LITERALLY GONNA JUMP I LOVE THEIR FRIENDSHIP BUT THAT IS NOT IT

I REALLY REALLY need to see Lloyd start crashing out about losing BOTH his students (i have no idea if Frak is considered his student because… he basically didn’t get focus either)

Ras’ bxtch ahh should go to hell just saying

the only thing I liked was MORRO THE LOML AND MY WIFE PIX AND JAYYYAYAYA MY LOVE

OH AND WYFY AND ROBY THEYRE SOOAJRJRJFJ we love supportive Kai that was the best part btw; theyre literally so father and daughter FIGHT W THE WALL ^^

to be completely honest, I feel like in general there was a lot of comedic moments and less storytelling. the only good storytelling part imo was Ras and Arin’s side: specifically Ras’ mfing manipulation over Arin.

tbf that part was always a masterpiece… not the literal manipulation though

and the part where Jay says Arin’s parents are alive… I’m gonna jump if Ras faked their deaths to use Arin like a fvcking puppet

The flashback of Sora and Arin meeting was definitely wholesome, but not… really… expected or like kind of random ig? I feel like they could have showed it through Arin and Sora maybe feeling guilty and remembering how they met or something, more-so Sora since she ends up going with Arin.

like I get they’re best friends and all but… I feel like more could’ve been done with that(?) to show Sora wanting to stay with Arin in the end, esp with the relationship between the ninja and Ras.

And FRAK. DID. NOT. GET. ENOUGH. …development? Character-wise

Frak suddenly going all “I don’t think you understand what being a ninja is” in the last or second to last episode to Arin, but we don’t see enough interaction to build his idea of that other than being a superfan of them in general

I will never stop saying this: they should give him some kind of arc in helping him switch over from Ras’ “anger and hate becomes strength” technique to the ninja’s. We clearly see him more aggressive on the obstacle course in the first episode, but that’s barely touched on later on…

i do like how Arin ends up being able to do object Spinjitzu well enough in the end by.. using his kindness or wtvr that was… to defeat Thunderfang (who will definitely come back and better die for basically killing Morro… he’s already dead but that’s not the point)

i don’t think redoing the merge can “bring back his parents” even if they were actually dead because despite all that talk on it reshaping reality… idk if that’s how things work

I am glad about Arin still stopping Ras from fighting at times and etc.; his character is probably the best here other than Ras imo

other than we have:

that part in the First Realm (or Land ig) where Frak freaks out about the Oni… dude you’re literally right next to one

frak is so real btw I love him, just wish he could be more refined in terms of character

never mind frak though, COLE BETTER HAVE A LOT MORE SCREENTIME IN PART 2; never gonna forgive the writers for this

Oh and Zane dying for the nth time, that was great

Sora and frak bickering… I take back the shipping from my last post, but I do get Sora for being pissed off a bit

And Lloyd saying “green is the best” I LOVE HIM HAHAHSJSJSJN<33

like I said, there was a lot of comedic relief and stuff: not to say it wasn’t funny bc I cackled at most of them, but the overall story just.. wasn’t what I expected

I stand by my case that season 2 is still the best dr season… at least so far

Idk like I said I’m not really good at this stuff and sometimes I change my mind after hearing others’ opinions so lemme know if you agree or if you wanna throw me to the Netherspace

[munecabrava]

ragged-t1ger Thank you for the perspective. One of the reasons many think the reunion scene in s2:ep8 might not have happened is because it is the only scene in the entire series not told directly to Daniel or from Daniel’s POV, making the entire scene unprecedented. It is less about Louis’s unreliability, than the possibility we are still seeing Daniel’s POV, one he wrote, but couldn’t have had because he wasn’t there. However, reading your essay the probability that it is the only scene not from Daniel’s POV because it is the only scene that reliably happened the way we are seeing it, is a richer prospect. I love how this show is made so beautifully, it engenders these types of discussions. Thanks, again.

I think the main reason people think the reunion might not have happened is because it's contested in the books. But the book narration just functions differently from the show so I really think it was real!

Of course I might be wrong - I might be wrong about everything! But I think this is yet again a case of people seeing a story that involves an unreliable narrator and thinking that means they cannot believe a single thing they see.

But this show is so beautifully specific about narration that I do trust it to follow the rules, basically. And I think the rules will change in S3, btw, but I don't think that will work retroactively.

But this isn't even about narration - it's about the storytelling contract between creators and viewers, which agrees that the show will indicate to you when it's showing you something subjective and when it isn't. If in S3 we're told that the parts of S1+2 that were presented as objective reality were actually also subjective, it would feel to the audience as a betrayal, because it's the emotional climax of the entire season. There would have had to have been signs that it wasn't real for it to work. (This is what was it raining, Louis? does very early in S1 btw).

There is no indication that what we see outside of flashbacks is being narrated by Daniel. We're not seeing what he eventually wrote in the book. It isn't entirely from his POV. It's just an omniscient view, basically. We do see other scenes that aren't told to him. We see Armand and Louis in their bedroom together. We see them discuss what paintings to buy. And then what is the epilogue, when the book has been published? Is that the only 'real' part of the show? I don't think it works.

We have a very clear delineation of when the show becomes a subjective narrative. Louis starts talking, we hear his voice over, we see Daniel react to it. There is nothing to indicate that Dubai or the reunion is narrated by Daniel.

And also - if we go beyond just analyzing the text and actually look at authorial intent, people involved in the show have talked about the reunion as being real -specifically Sam saying it's the only time we see the real Lestat - and I just don't think they'd keep up that lie like that.

[asclexe]

haii….intro post…..about me……

click (this is a reminder more for me because i’ll see it easiest this way, feel free to click) / i do not answer donation asks and i cannot donate

haiiii :3 i go bye cameron which is very nicknameable so have fun with that. also call me whatever 🔥🔥

boy-adjacent (i lean more towards trans boy but also im agender) and i ONLY use he/him pronouns!!!!!! NO THEY/THEM OR SHE/HER. thanks!

aromantic spec lesbian faggot thing. i think girls r pretty in a faggoty way. 😍

minor!!!!!!!!! im ageless online 4 my safety so B cool im literally 5 years old :3

PROFESSIONAL white boy. i get paid 1 cent/an hour

american :/ + a mixed pot of european ethnically as most american white people are (EST)

im Literally a 🪼. btw. also a cat

currently matching layouts with the awesome @magicmarkerz give it up for the coolest boygirl ever. our backgrounds are like owen and maddy from isttvg. awesome.

interest wise, im pathetically multifandom

most active in/engaged with right now: doctor who (i hate this show i hate this show i hate. FUCK.), delicious in dungeon, warrior cats, i saw the tv glow

backstage interests/stuff i reblog less: house md, good omens (FUCK ng.), yellowjackets, the good place, takin’ over the asylum, ride the cyclone, broadchurch, six feet under, fnaf, rocky horror picture show, the middle, scott pilgrim, mouthwashing, dead poets society, etc. i do live theater, watch tv, go to the movies, take walks, talk about things, do silly doodles, hang out with my mom, and go to school and sometimes travel and that’s about it! :p

currently watchinf (i also blog about these i’m just not done with them)!! : doctor who (gatwa s1/s15??), six feet under (s3)(if you have watched or even heard of this show Please marry me), torchwood (s1), blackpool, and hannibal (s1)

i run @ask-the-ducklings and @ppth-obgyn-dept-head-real for my house md oc and i’m 1/2 of @meanwhile-on-the-road :3

i have a private blog where i vent sometimes and if we’re mutuals/close enough you can ask for it if tou want ^_^

i use #asclexeposting for all original posts + more

trying to figure out my ao3 situation but im on pinterest and discord under assclexe if you wanna hmu (B cool) and roblox as asclexe and my airbuds and check out my letterboxd too

so yeah below the cut are just like. boundaries whatever lame. but feel free to follow me, ill likely follow back and we’ll be bestest friends forever ^_^

ughh sum things you should know be4 you follow or follow/unfollow or moot/unmoot me/boundaries

i’m generally morbid and sometimes a hater but i Swear im really nice and friendly..

i use a lot of profanity and i say the two (2) slurs i can reclaim.

i will not go to therapy or get help. i’ve been in therapy and it does not help me and i do not like it. i do not want help. i’m fine. please do not tell me “go to therapy u need it” because i do not need it

i say “im going to kill myself” a lot and these are all fruitless, meaningless statements. i am not committing suicide yet, and when i do, you’ll have long forgotten me. hopefully.

pls tell me via ask box! (or dm if i follow you) if i say something offensive or wrong or are overcrossing your boundaries, im sorry, im bound to make mistakes or misjudge a post. ^_^

i do not tag my reblogs with the media or characters, only little comments. i also do not spoiler tag my posts. i try to trigger tag things when i can but if you want something trigger tagged specifically pls just lmk!!

i do not have a dni, interact with me as you please and i’ll block you if i want LOL. i swear im friendly

:3

[hepaidattention]

dude I just realized that Jenny Han made Laurel an author in the show to tell us something very specific.

the scene in s1 when she's talking to the other author guy, Cleveland, and he says how he loves how the character in Laurels book is an unreliable narrator. which is something she finds offensive BTW, because she doesn't think that.

that was Jenny Han telling us THIS STORY is a story narrated by an UNRELIABLE NARRATOR. everything is from the perspective of a young woman who is honestly I love Belly, but DELUSIONAL. and everything she says should be taken with a grain of salt because its very likely that she's only half right - or maybe not at all.

but just like Laurel, Belly would never think her pov is biased or untrue. she truly thinks everything she says is 100% true.

and now we have s3 unraveling (and book 3), and showing us that yes. Belly is NOT a reliable narrator. she thought for years that it was Jeremiah who cried over the dog bc she WANTED IT TO BE HIM. she remembers things in her own little Belly world, all of which is something she has created to fit an idea of a future or life she wanted since she was a kid. for example: saying that Jeremiah is her future now even when EVERYTHING in the universe is telling he's not.

I literally would die for a whole book of Conrad's pov that explained his side of things. like I really love to think about how much different he would've been in book1 if it wasn't narrated for a butt hurt 16 year old girl.

[casinoquartet]

okay so I would like to elaborate on a point you made on the swagdoons moments we should talk about more. Specifically the one about red knowing about the wormhole glitch. Also the whole god thing applies to this too.

Ash avoids any reference (and has lied about it multiple times IF red is telling the truth) to red knowing anything and just never elaborates when it comes to this sort of thing. Then red is just so open about it and it kinddd of sounding like he’s bragging when he talks about it. And he told no one?? 🤨 huh? Red knew sooo far back and told no one???

here is an example:

ash commented that red wasn’t in a video because his reaction to the god thing was basically: “cool.” and did not give any other details.

red has AT LEAST said twice that he knew about the god thing from basically page one (because ash told him?? I don’t know if I’m remembering right) and he didn’t hold back from the details

nothing they say lines up 😭😭😭 one of them is lying about this and either way it’s still so 🤨🤨. Why would you need to lie about it huh??? And I am 90% ash knows what red is saying and he isn’t specifically denying anything red says.

I’m sorry they are soo confusing and just making this much sense of something and to not share it with anyone feels like a felony so yeah…

THEN THE “oh I’d do so many things for you ash.” WAS JUST 😱😱😱🫵🤨🤨🤔🤨 IT WAS SO UNPROMPTED. then the SILENCE after ash said the equivalent of my reaction in emojis I just can’t anymore

also can you explain how after the matching sleeve thing ash just kept it for wayyyy too long. Is it still there??? I think it’s still there. It’s like 4am and I NEED to go to bed so I don’t think I should check. But it’s such an easy fix why is it still there it’s driving me crazy

OKAY regarding the "red knew about the plugin" thing, i'm mostly referencing this clip (51:58-52:10)

red: hold on, so did you dupe or...how did you get the crystals? ash: (hums) red: ...or did you get into creative mode, was that the plug-in? ash: no, no. (annoyed) why do you--okay just tell everyone my plan. i'm kidding, parrot just forgot to check my inventory (laughs)

if we take ash's god video at face value, he did know about the essentials plugin since august (though it is debatable if the wormhole team knew how to exploit it then, i'm inclined to believe that they did considering around a month later the comfort vod happened and ash leaked the wormhole plans 4 months early...lol). and having foresight, we do know that creative mode was necessary to get the entire wormhole exploit to work so...that's why i said it was implied red knew about the wormhole glitch the entire time

anyways, adding onto the "red wasn't in the first video" thing, here's ash mentioning it in a tweet on his alt acc, and while red pisses off (/lh) ash in the comfort vod (1:10:05-1:10:44), ash says that that is why red isn't in the video and red goes "i know"

(also i was just watching the vod where red mentions that he knew about the s3 god exploit from the very start and it's also implied here that he knew about the s4 one too?!?! he got an elytra from subz and subz, who was on the wormhole exploit team, asked him if red knew about the exploit, said never mind, and gave red the elytra anyways. red then says that he knew about the exploit the entire time so ?!?!?! clip from 1:27:51-1:28:27 btw)

ANYWAYS yeah i don't know wtf the "i'd do so many things for you" thing was about either. something is up with them. alas i'm not a mind reader so i don't know why on earth red said that or why ash keeps the cut sleeve (i'm guessing it's bc he thinks it looks cool?) but alas. swagdoons truly did swagdoons all over the place,

[quijabored]

OKAY SO I JUST FINISHED WATCHING LIKE THE ENTIRETY OF S3 FOR BSD SO UH SPOILERS FOR A LOT OF IT BUT ESPECIALLY THE ENDING CUZ HOOOLYYY SHIIITTTTT

I JUST

I CANT PUT MY THOUGHTS DOWN INTO COHERANT SENTANCES SO LIVE LAUGH BULLETPOINTS ((o(^∇^)o))

OKAY SO AKUTAGAWA AND ATSUSHI???

THEYRE GONNA WORK TOGETHER ARENT THEY I JUST KNOW DAMN WELL DAZAIS GONNA LIKE MAKE IT SO THEYRE COINCIDENTALLY PAIRED UP TO BEAT THE SHIT OUT OF A GUY

ALSO THE PROMISE ATSUSHI HAD AKUTAGAWA MAKE??? FYM AKUTAGAWA CANT KILL PEOPLE HES IN THE *PORT MAFIA.*

Just realizing I don't know how to do the whole colored text or different font thingy BUT ANYWAYS

STILL I LOVE ATSUSHI FOR THAT AND SINCE IT WAS MADE WITH A GOAL IN MIND, I REALLY HOPE I GET TO SEE AKUTAGAWA DEVELOPMENT

AAAAHHHH HES SO SILLY I LOVE AKUTAGAWA HES MY SON

SPEAKING OF SONS

IVAN??? HES SO ME LIKE HE IS SO ME????

ASAGIRI WAS SPYING ON ME WHEN MAKING IVAN FR

Funny thing when I first started getting into the fandom bit for bsd and I saw Fyodor being simped on I was like "eeehh I mean I guess hes cool but I dont really get it. Like sure hes an interesting character but..." AND THEN I SLOWLY STARTED BECOMING A FYODOR SIMP AND I JUST SKDHKSJD I HATE THAT MAN I HATE THAT MAN HES SUCH AN ASSHOLE

please I love him so much hes such a bitch I hate him I love him so much

"If Fyodor told me to cut my skin off I would" FUCKING SAME

ALSO AAAAAA THE ENTIRE TIME LIKE I WAS JUST STIMMING LIKE IM TELLING YOU IT WAS AJSHSKDJSJ

I HAVENT HYPERFIXATED ON A SERIES LIKE THIS SINCE THE PROMISED NEVERLAND (Specifically the manga. Miss you Yuugo)

AAAAAA ALSO THE FACT THAT CHUUYAS JUST STUCK IN POES STORY??

AND POE BEING LIKE "But if Ranpo were to die what would be my reason for living..." LIKE HELLO??? I LOVE MY OTHER SON (Poe)

AND AND AND FYODOR???? AHHHHHH HES SUCH A BITCH I LOVE HIM

THIS MOTHERFUCKER WAS REALLY COMMUNICATING QITH MUSIC??? ALSO THE SURPRISED AND SHOCKED LOOK AT THE END WHEN DAZAI FOUND HIM??

I KNOW WE SEE MORE OF HIM LATE BUT FUCK

ALSO FYODORS ABILITY?? From what I saw it seems that it's just kill by touch but if Dazais like "welp, idk" then I'm guessing it's a bit more complicated than that AND I AM SO EXCITED TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS AAAA

Also Mori and Fukuzawa did the sskk punchy thingy they did in the end of S2!! I'm not sure if people ship them (I refuse to take in any content about Mori) but if people do then win for them :D

Also Im extremely excited to see Nikolai cuz hes me minus the Ukrainian terrorist bit BUT AAAA I HOPE I GET TO SEE HIM SOON

JUST SEARCHED IT UP ITS S4 EP 5 AND AAAAAA

I can't watch BSD until tommorow now cuz I wanna have a minute to process everything BUT AAAA I CANT WAIT TO WATCH S4

Fyodor made me feel so many ways I love him

AAAAAAA OKAY SO MY FAVORITE BOY (Akutagawa) IS ALSO SUPER SILLY THOUGHOUT THIS WHOLE THING LIKE

THE SCENE WHERE ITS LIKE "Are you sure youre the real Akutagawa?"

"Yeah."

"...And youre not gonna try and kill me?"

"Yeah."

"What did you have for breakfast?"

"Yeah."

LIKE I LOVE HIM SO MUCH

Live laugh love Dazai but FUCK MAN AKUTAGAWAS TRAUMATIZED

Like don't get me wrong I love Aku how he is and I'm gonna love him more when I learn more about his character, but god damn it hurts to watch him seem so reliant on Dazais praise and Dazais approval like akdjkajsdj Ive been there my boy :(

ALSO I FEEL SO BAD FOR KUNIKIDA LIKE HE HAD TO GO THROUGH SO MUCH THIS SEASON

I PROBABLY HAVE OTHER THINGS TO SAY BUT AHDKSJDKWBD I LOVE BSD AND I CANT REMEMBER WHAT ELSE I WANTED TO YAP ABOUT BUT AAAAHHH ASAGIRI WHEN I CATCH YOU ASAGIRI- ASAGIRI WHEN I CATCH YOU-

Twas talking about this scene earlier btw :3

AH ALSO WHEN FYODOR GOT SMASHED WITH A WINE BOTTLE??? HELLO??? I LOVE HIM BUT I STARTED LAUGJING AT THE SCENE

[stuck-in-the-ghost-zone]

what happens to nhw after muse? like, publicity wise. especially regarding ashe. idk if you talked about it before or not, i remember seeing things about like. nhw tv appearances and such, but i don't remember if there was anything specifically regarding the pr nightmare of a boy getting mused and going on a murder spree like a localized natural disaster

do they make him go on tv and talk about it? do they rebrand? both? what happens here. i mean it would suck for ashe no matter what probably but yeha

OH NY GOD. I FORGOT I NEVER ANSWERED THIS IM SO SORRY. in my defense i got sick and my brain has been goop since like. sunday. not even going to put this one under a cut everyone gets to see my muse ramblings (muse musings. ha)

ANYWAY. SO. FIRST OFF. nobody knows who he is !!!! to the general public, muse and auxiliary are two different people, and like... there's not really anything there to tie them together. aux's costume was so like bulky full coverage that his identity was Very much hidden, and muse like.... doesn't hide his face at all, but at the same time he's not Ashe because ashe doesn't dress like that or do his hair or makeup like that so. even though his face is on full display I don't think anyone other than his family/friends would make that immediate connection either

obviously like... the prt knows what happened, because of course the wards needed to tell them. publicity-wise, as far as the public is concerned, auxiliary was killed. aux is dead. you remember that one interlude from Vista's pov where she had to look at the greyed out memorial images of the wards who were killed in the leviathan battle? yeah imagine one of those for aux. as far as anyone else knows he died in the fight with overlord (lmao. not like anyone could distinguish identifiable corpses from that mess anyway)

we have played with the idea a few times about a few different topics that there's a subsection of conspiracy theorists on parahumans online that actually connect the dots and get everything right (aux and muse being the same person, Tide and magma being made from the endbringers, etc etc stuff like that that isn't supposed to be public knowledge) but it's extremely funny if they're just a weird fringe group of freaks so nobody ever takes them seriously

the idea that after ashe gets back from being mused and has to go on TV about it makes me so fucking SICK btw that's such a horrid scenario oh my god. I made such a face at that. torture for him!

anyway what actually happens after he gets back from being mused is like.... nothing? really? Trickster takes Mal in exchange for ashe and then they just kind of disappear. and they're left in this horrible paranoid calm period. adn because theyre also gone i think people just assume that either muse went with them or also got killed in that final battle. unsure which option is worse, ashe hearing people talk about muse like hes still out there somewhere (ouch!) or talking about muse like he was killed by his friends (actually now that i type this out i think ashe would prefer this option so much more. man. he has so many issues) it takes ashe a loooong long long time to even consider using his powers again much less entertain the idea of going back to hero work, so it's not really like... an issue? for a bit? we haven't rlly nailed down that period of time yet but I would assume the prt has him under some sort of loose supervision until it's decided that he's not an active threat anymore and he gets to fucking REST for a little bit ! we're intentionally leaving late game nhw a little loose rn because I know I personally just really wanna see how s3 of pd turns out before we nail down anything too solid bc if there's one thing i love about nhw it's referencing back to things happening in canon and making them so much worse ^_^ but I think we've talked about ashe potentially going back to hero stuff eventually under a new name. and nobody can say shit because if a cape has a new name that means they're a different person and nobody can say anything (cough cough looks at armsmaster/defiant) !!!

[lunar-wandering]

so. i've discovered that part of the OST for the Macaque vs Wukong fight scene is also used;

when Wukong says "oh, that's a relief, I thought it was someone important" in s3 ep1

really faintly when a bit of Macaque's theme plays when he says "this better work" before fighting possessed Wukong

during the under the mountain argument flashback, albeit, this is a slowed down version of it

this is driving me insane, btw. im Abnormal about this. if they play a bit of this specific Thing when they eventually show us that One Fight They Must've Had (we all know the one i'm talking about), i will start killing-

[miimo96]

Thoughts on Re:Zero S3 episode 5

C.R.E.E.P.Y ✨CREEPY!✨ This dude is so effing creepy I swear everytime this dude's on screen, I just get the strong urge to wanna punch him as Hard as possible because of how deeply I HATE him, and the fact that this man has not only 184 wives, but probably MORE, makes him even more Hate-able (Greedy bastard)

Ouuuu I have so many mixed feelings about this but Julius is right, you can handle your own selfish desires AFTER you rescue the city, in other words: we'll get em next time 😖

My boi Subaru doing WORK with that whip, he could give Indiana Jones a run for his money ^^

Oh, well that's Not creepy at all 😅

Yep nope Don't get me wrong I Love Subaru, but HOW THE F*CK is he supposed to beat someone who can do shit like THIS!? Like bruh at this point, I would've just Reset by now because there's No way I can beat someone like this without prep time

Ngl, this scene was ABSOLUTELY Incredible, I legit felt nothing but Chills watching this, like WOW, the animators effing COOKED ^^

Wait so you're telling me, all the flies including that Dragon over there are the People she Held HOSTAGE!?🤯 Omg she legit basically killed them, yeah at this point it's Time for a Reset Subaru, like there's No way this could get any worse right?

Ya know at this point, I'm entirely convinced that the entire Witches cult specifically consists of Crashouts, because WTF IS SHE TALKING ABOUT!? 😟

Nah she Was DIRTY for this ^^;

Oh well now he HAS to Die, because there's No way he can move around let alone Fight with a Missing effing leg. ya know I just find it crazy that most of these fights would've been over by now if Reinhard was here but because his bitch ass of father is Gatekeeping him, we have to be left with this Suffering (btw that's TWICE now Subaru has lost his leg, my dude is completely unlucky)

You gotta be effing kidding me, annd just when I THOUGHT things couldn't get any worse

The homie OTTO!! Omg I'm so happy he's alright, ok 1st 2 things: 1, How the hell did he escape Gluttony and 2, once again the homie comes in clutch because Now we got Reinhard back! >_<

Oh well that answers my question Lol 😅

God I love their relationship ^w^ I was very hesitant about Reinhard and felt but after the 1st episode of this season, they won me over, now I just WANT to see them together ^^ I wonder how Subaru and the gang are doing

My boi Subaru still doing shit with a missing leg!? Nah this man has NO LIMITS, This Dude is Literally the Ethan winters of anime

Man what a STELLAR episode, Ngl, this show is probably one of my favorite Drama isekais, I just love how much Subaru has actually grown as a character, and capella is such a SICK BITCH Omg I was not expecting that, also the fact they actually flooded the city is Insane,like the witches cult are not playing this season huh, I just hope it doesn't end empire strikes back style with them actually winning and Subaru failing to rescue Emilia no matter how many times he resets, that would be absolutely terrible, anyway yeah totally can't wait for the next one

BONUS:

Oh look, Carnage😅 ok in all seriousnes tho I actually have a Question regarding this scene, capella asks for the city to give her something on her list of demands aside from typhons remains, that being the so called "artificial spirit that has been chillin in this city" could she be talking about Beatrice? Because remember Beatrice is technically not a human, she's a spirit that is basically echidna's daughter, why would she want Beatrice, is it because Beatrice is too powerful even for her therefore she wants to take her off the playing field, or is it for something else entirely? Hmmmm🤔

[momowoah]

To add to the seemingly endless list of Chenford/Buddie parallels: both couples had moments before they dated (and before they even truly realized their feelings) in which they opened themselves to the possibility of that relationship and truly considered moving forward with it for the first time. (aka 7x01 is to Buddie what 3x14 is to Chenford) (long-ish post)

In the S3 finale of The Rookie, Lucy and Tim are finally out of their T.O.-Boot relationship, which opens up the possibility of them having something beyond that. Lucy even acknowledges that in 3x09 when she fake confesses her feelings for Tim in order to prove she can handle UC work. Even though the confession wasn't serious, it did bring up the fact that it could've been; Tim specifically actually had to consider how he'd respond to Lucy actually having feelings for him, since he believed her. This whole ordeal resurfaces in 3x14, first when Lucy flirts with him while UC, and later when they talk at the wedding, the first time both of them manifest being interested in each other and in pursuing a relationship. Lucy breaks away from Grey and Nyla to go talk to him (and they exchange looks over it); Tim checks her out; they bring up the flirting; Tim asks Lucy to save him a dance. It feels like they crossed a line, it feels like it's going somewhere, and it probably would've if not for all that happened after. 4x01 basically confirms that by showing both Lucy and Tim laying in bed(/couch), wondering whether or not to get up and go towards each other after a hug and an almost kiss. Although the show never acknowledges what would've happened if either of them had gotten up (and we know at least Lucy would've, because she was getting up when Tim interrupted her), it is heavily implied that during those two episodes they were interested in each other, but it ultimately led to nowhere (at the time).

(Unrelated kinda but we can also establish a parallel between Chenford and mid S2 Madney here. Jackson's death ruined what they could've had back then, but they still managed to have something else.)

(Btw this paragraph will be a little chaotic and I'm too lazy to reread it and organize it sorry but I swear it makes sense) We get this kind of subconscious-ish realization of feelings and openness to a possible relationship with Buddie too. For Buck, that happens in S7. I can't find that interview again for the life of me but remember when OS mentioned a few weeks ago that Buck felt something when he thought Eddie and Marisol had split up in 7x01? I think that was the moment when he finally opened himself to the possibility of dating Eddie (even if he didn't realize that's what he was doing). He had broken up with Natalia after he had realized that their relationship would always be about his death rather than his life and was actively trying to understand how he had changed since dying (if we go by his 6b plot). I think the fact that Eddie was missing from his coma dream is specifically significant for this reason. Eddie was the one major relationship in his life that Buck didn't confront during the coma. He was absent, because Buck wasn't ready to deal with what he meant to him yet. By S7, we see Buck way more open to dealing with his feelings, evidenced by the fact that he finally figured out his bisexuality and by how light that whole plot was/is. Buck was ready to deal with it, even if subconsciously, and I think a part of that was him finally opening himself up to the possibility of Eddie. His vibes in the locker room in 7x01 are a lot like Tim in 3x14 - he wasn't overtly flirting, but he was trying to take that step forward, willing to take that step forward, and only didn't bc Eddie told him he was still with Marisol. Unlike Tim, though, I don't think he has fully closed that door yet. He's redirecting these feelings to Tommy for now, but he's still there with Eddie. He just needs some time to figure it out.

When it comes to Eddie, I think this moment came much earlier and lasted a lot longer. His feelings finally came close enough to the surface (even if they didn't surface completely) when he got shot. In that moment, he reached for Buck, and he never truly stopped. He broke up with his girlfriend really soon after that; he avoided going on dates; he pulled Buck closer to his family life (s5/6 domestic Buddie my beloved) (also by revealing the will); he actually pretty much took Buck out on a date. Eddie was moving towards a romantic relationship for almost two years, completely open to dating Buck, until the cemetery scene. Buck thinks he's finally found his place with Natalia, and Eddie decides to stop pursuing him because he realizes (wrongly in my opinion but shhhh) that he'll never be able to be that person to Buck, because Buck has yet to realize that Eddie does see him and that Eddie sees him all the time. However, he resumes his pursuit in 7x01, because Buck breaks up with Natalia, and that means that Eddie still has a chance. Even Buck's relationship with Tommy points towards it, because it means Buck can feel like that about a man. So Eddie pulls Buck back into his family life by asking for advice and help with Christopher (and probably also through whatever is going to happen with the Diaz family now), starts to fuck up his relationship with his girlfriend (by moving too fast even though he doesn't want to, which was what killed his relationship with Ana), avoids his girlfriend, and indulges Buck's every idea (as seen through the bachelor party). Since the 7x01 locker room scene, he's been fully open to Buck, and Buck has been fully open to him. In conclusion: Buddie will be canon by the end of 8A.

[penguinlife]

Just an observation.

Last Wednesday, we had our year-end braai (bbq) at the office. I don't follow reality shows, but some of my colleagues do. As we were sitting around making small talk, as one does as a work event. They told me that the reality stars get paid according to online buzz. I was shocked, and they came with receipts. Now, this is specific to South Africa as all the articles they could find were specific to South African versions of American shows, but something about that made me think. Netflix was in charge of the WT. They had all those fan events that have been unique to Bridgerton. Did they have a separate contract/bonus deal with Nic and Luke similar to the reality show actors? Remember what a fan of reality shows Nic are? Also, she met Andrew Garfield at that event that Amelia from the Chicken Shop Date also were at, and it was literally the next day that it was leaked that he and Florence didn't hear cut when filming a love scene. It didn't garner the same buzz that the carriage scene did, but it is suspicious none the less. Also, remember the insane buz Andrew and Amelia got for their Chicken Shop Date episode and also remember that Andrew is also Nics costar in The Magic Faraway Tree. I am not saying the WT was all fake. We, as a fandom, would have spotted it by now. I think they leaned into the unnatural chemistry, and it sparked real feelings again.

I always find it funny when people think they can control SM and manipulate 'viral' as the old people call it. Why is one cat video viral but not all? Because no one can truly control the SM machine. I have completed enough social media marketing courses to know that no one can control it. Authenticity always outsells. Think of "Who the fuck did I marry" viral 62 part TikTok series. Nic is also a fan, btw. So it comes down to money, Antonia had caused Luke to miss out on some of his bonus when the fans turned on him. Nic tried to save the situation with her posts. Because she thinks herself to be more Social Media wise. But when the WT ended, so did their contractual obligation. But social media and the fandon are not a switch you can turn on and off. Their real feelings have become collateral damage, in my opinion. I stand by that they hooked up between Brazil and Italy. My theory in that has not changed.

A comment on Luke and A: Do you remember that friend post of them at the table at a wedding? Luke ran his hand up her arm in that very loveable way in June/July, if I remember correctly? That sold their relationship for me. But in my theory above, it was also before he found out how much papgate cost him. A knows about the bonus contract, and that is why Luke is still liking her posts. To give the illusion that they are still together. They definitely broke up in August/September. This all being said, we should be kind to them and not judge them too harshly. They were still mostly struggling actors until before the WT. It wasn't a normal press tour. Their relationship is more real and authentic than what any marketing team can come up with. My hope is still that they will rekindle what they had during the fliming of S3 and the WT.

As I am typing the next part, I realise this is going to infuriate some. Nic used JD at the festival to try and stop the Lukola train. He is a willing participant and friend, trying to catch some rays. But this is where Nic missed the authenticity part. Only a very small part of the fandom fell for it. She wanted the heat off of her and Luke before S4 filming started. I bet the end of the WT was super uncomfortable.

Now the sad part is, I have read some Benophie fan comments who are saying Polin is going to overshadow S4. Well, for the record. What Jess and her team did with Benedicts' story in S3 is to blame for it. Unless Paul is joining their love story in a throuple, what was the point.

[raging-violets]

Around The World And Back // Kiley // Big Time Rush

A/N: Inspired by State Champs’ song “Around The World and Back”. (Btw, @partiallypearl that and State Champs' song 'Half Empty' are totally Kiley songs. I'm also doing a ficlet/one-shot based on 'Half Empty' and I'm thinking of re-writing Give Your Heart A Break ).

Set between S2's Big Time Move and S3's Big Time Returns. Specifically, it’s where BTR and Jax have just finished their Hawaii trip where BTR shoot their music video for ‘Windows Down’ and BTR and Jax are about to split up at the airport where BTR are going on their “All Over The World tour” (just before BTMovie) and Jax are starting their 6-month break in home in Australia before eventually going back to LA and reuniting in BTReturns.

For anyone wondering, I am also working on Patie stuff.

Pairs: Kiley friendship with tinge of romance

-

A/N: Inspired by State Champs’ song “Around The World and Back”. Set between Big Time Move and Big Time Returns. Specifically, it’s where BTR and Jax have just finished their Hawaii trip where BTR shoot their music video for ‘Windows Down’ and BTR and Jax are about to split up at the airport where BTR are going on their “All Over The World tour” and Jax are starting their 6-month break in home in Australia before eventually going to LA.

So this is Kiley romance and friendship for where it’s set, with a sprinkling of Patie and Rhogan.

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Leaving Hawaii was easy.

Easier than anyone would think leaving paradise would be. Because there were too many exciting things on the horizon. The start of the All Over the World Tour, the first big tour that Big Time Rush were going on.

They were the headliners; they were the ones people were going to see. They were the ones that the fans would be chanting, screaming, shouting for, enough to blow the speakers of their sound production and blow the roof off their tour arenas.

It was exciting.

It was so hard.

Because the other side of the coin was Jax, formerly known as the DarkElements were going on their six-month hiatus. Going underground. Going into hiding. Or, if one wanted to see it a different way, stepping out into the light. It was all over the world now, the news of the big secret they’d been hiding for years. The secret of the abuse and neglect they’d endured for years from their manager as they worked their way up in the music industry. It was out there and they needed to wait for the reactions to subside before coming out the other side like a phoenix rising from the ashes.

A not so missed metaphor in all the articles and online postings as their albums were released under Phoenix Records. The irony was never lost to them once one publication made the oh so clever connection and the others piled on.

Even Ronan rolled his eyes at that, and it was his damn company.

The night before they left, Big Time Rush, Jax, Gustavo, Kelly, Mrs. Knight, and Ronan had dinner together. They were excited. They were sad. They shared pictures and memories of their trip and promised the tour dates they were going to watch live.

The hours ticked by and, eventually, everyone started to go to sleep. Kendall, though, found himself trying to stay awake as long as he could. Riley, ever the night owl, stayed up with him as they talked about everything but the flights they were about to take the next morning, taking them in separate directions.

Two full years of being by each other’s side at every step of the musical journey of making it big and one flight was going to change that.

So they continued to talk about everything that’d happened over their time in Hawaii, some of their memories of Minnesota and Australia, shared heart-to-hearts of their fears of what would happen on their tour and their time off.

Would BTR succeed?

“You guys are going to do awesome,” Riley reassured him, gently shaking her head once his worries were expressed. He’d asked it quietly, arms wrapped around his knees, as if afraid of putting it out there was going to jinx them, “What if the tour doesn’t do well?”

Did Jax’s admission ruin their career?

Kendall had reached out and grabbed Riley’s hand, squeezing it tightly. “You guys told the world something you’ve been holding onto for a long time. If anyone can get through that, it’s you. And if anyone says anything bad about it, they’ve got to answer to me.”

Finally, sleep became too much to ignore and they went to their separate rooms. Though Kendall was sure Riley was going to stay up nevertheless, unable to turn off the protective big sister mode to ensure her siblings, her family was safe.

He knew the feeling well.

Still, they went to sleep, and the next morning Mrs. Knight and Kelly got everyone organized and together to head off to the airport. With Logan’s insistence on following a schedule for optimizing their lead in time for connecting flights (even factoring in times for the moaning and groaning that came with it) they arrived at the airport.

Going through security was an event in itself (which Logan had also factored into their timetable) with James repeatedly having to pack and unpack his Cuda products to determine which ones would be left behind with TSA (that included a lot of shrieking and screaming as the group worked to determine which of his he needed to part with), Carlos’s shrieking laughter of being tickled as he and his helmet was patted down by TSA, Gustavo and Katie both being stopped with making loud (Gustavo) and snarky (Katie) comments on ‘blowing up the plane’ as they were pulled aside for extra screening, Kelly waving paper checks around to make it all go away, Ronan’s frustrations for everyone to ‘sit down and shut up’, Logan’s smug remarks of ‘check’ every time he marked something off the time table when they were stopped, Noah’s flat comment that if any of them were going to be detained he was surprised it wasn’t himself and his siblings, and Mrs. Knight’s screaming of ‘enough!’ to get everyone to fall back in line.

Finally, the bags were checked and sorted, and they got to the portion of the airport that would have them split up. Big Time Rush and co. going left to get on a plane to London and Jax and Ronan going right to get on a plane to Sydney.

They all started to hug each other goodbye, Kendall positioning himself so that he’d get to Riley last. (Also so that he could keep an eye on Katie as Patrick wrapped his arms around her, tucking her face into his shoulder as they said goodbye. There was going to be no ‘goodbye kiss’ between them on his watch.)  He said goodbye to each of the Jacksons in turn, going from Sydney, to Noah, to Rhuben, to Patrick, gave his mom space for her and Ronan to say their goodbyes, then moved to Riley.

She turned her attention to him, brushing her black/red strands out of her blue eyes as they trained onto him. Her lips turned up into her smirk-smile, but it didn’t reach her eyes. Sadness forming there. He was sure his own eyes showed the same.

With a sigh, he hiked his pink backpack up his shoulder, fingers tapping on the straps as he tried to figure out what to say.

For that long moment, neither of them said anything, their silence filled with unspoken words and shared memories. After two years he wasn’t going to be going on tour with his best friend and that was…weird.

Riley, unable to deal with the silence much longer, spoke first. “So, you decided to go with the pink one, huh?” Her eyes shifted from his face to his backpack.

“A fan gave it to me,” he replied, a little defensively. But mostly relieved that she spoke first. If she hadn’t…he wasn’t sure what would’ve come out of his mouth. So many options but…nothing seemed right.

“And you like your pink drinks, too,” she replied. “I’m starting to sense there’s a theme here, yeah?”

“I agree.” He puffed out his chest. “Pink is a manly color.”

Riley laughed. She brushed a pigtail over her shoulder. “I reckon I should’ve styled you guys in pink for this tour, then.” She shrugged modestly. “Though I have to admit, I really out did myself this time.”

“I like what you came up with, Riles. It’s really good,” Kendall said, thinking of the outfits she’d designed and had gotten okayed by Gustavo for the tour. (After multiple rejections of previous designs and threats on his life). “And I like the black and red. It’ll be like you’re onstage with us. Like you should be.” He let out a long sigh. “I wish you were.” I wish you were going. I wish you’d be there the whole time. I wish you were… So many things he wished, he was sure it was flashing over his face as he looked at her from beneath his eyelashes.

“I know,” she said softly. “I wish I was, too. But we’ll go to a show, we’ll be there in LA when you lot get back…” she ran a hand through her hair, hiding her face for a moment. “We can still talk.”

Kendall smiled.

Talking is what they did best.

Hours could go by in what felt like minutes when they were talking, he could get everything he’d ever felt out when they were talking, he could get advice without realizing he was asking for it or wanting it when they were talking. He could be…him when they were talking.

And he always looked forward to it.

“Well, you have to tell us everything that’s going on with your music,” Kendall said. “Even if you take a break.”

“So long as you tell us everything about what’s going on, on tour.” She held up a hand. “We’ve got a bet going that you’ll be arrested at least once in every country you go to.”

Kendall made a sound of offense. “We’re not that bad.”

“I don’t know, boofhead, international laws aren’t very forgiving.” She gestured with her head. “You just saw what happened with Gustavo and Katie. And that was them barely getting past causing a international disaster.” She laughed to herself. “And I don’t know if Logan’s made time on your guys’ itinerary for jail tours.”

“You have a real active imagination.”

Her face screwed up knowingly. “Do I?”

At that, he laughed. “You’re not funny.”

“I’m hysterical.”

He laughed again, a weaker chuckle. He reached out his hand, forming it into a fist. Riley smiled and did the same. When their fists touched, they twisted their wrists, fingers and knuckles still pressed together, and gave each other a thumbs up.

Kendall couldn’t help but joke, "I guess this is the part where we have a dramatic airport goodbye scene.”

“Looks like it,” she replied.

He stepped forward and embraced her in a tight hug. “I'm going to miss you so much, Riles," he murmured.

Riley hesitated for a moment, surprised by his movement, then hugged him back, grabbing fistfuls of the back of his shirt. “I'll miss you too, Kendall,” she replied. Of every nickname she’d ever given him coming off her lips with ease, his actual name only being said in serious moments.

She lifted a warning eyebrow when they stepped back. “I’m not giving you a bloody goodbye kiss,” she replied. Kendall rolled his eyes, both at the irony of wanting to keep it from happening to his baby sister and at the memory of his entailing Riley to help him get to the airport to say goodbye to Jo. This time around, no one was chasing anyone. They were desperately trying to stay where they were. “Because it’s not ‘goodbye’.”

Kendall zoned back in at her statement.

He smiled when she leaned in and stood on her toes, pressing a quick kiss to his cheek.

“We’ll see you when we get back,” Kendall agreed.

He looked towards the ceiling when their plane departures were called, only seconds before Logan loudly called for the group’s attention to march off in the correct direction of their gate.

A whole world away.

He gestured over his shoulder. “I’ve got to go.”

“So do I.”

They stood there for a moment, reality of their separation hitting them. Their eyes met, a silent understanding of their new experiences waiting for them.

“Don’t be scared,” Riley said suddenly after searching his eyes. “Or, rather, be scared and do it anyway. Don’t let fear hold you back.”

He blinked at her, always stunned at how easily she could read his mind, see things unspoken. (He wondered if she could see everything). "How do you do that?"

She merely smiled.

Kendall took a deep breath through his nose. Continued to look her in the eye, a sudden wave of trepidation hitting him. Not just for the tour, for the unknown of what was to come of the band, but for everything that he suddenly wanted to tell her.

“What are you going to do without me, Hockey-Head?” Riley asked with a shake of her head.

Kendall smiled back. “I don’t know,” he said honestly.

They were called to board once more.

Riley waved and backed away to be with her family. Kendall brought his hands up to his mouth and quickly blew a kiss toward her, the same way he would’ve to Katie. Riley’s face screwed up as she laughed and turned away to join in on the excitement of her and her siblings finally going home.

Kendall turned his back and joined his friends, sister, and mom to head to London.

As they walked toward their respective gates, they carried the weight of their emotions with them, the echoes of their shared laughter and friendship lingering in the air.

There were a lot of things he’d wanted to say to her.

He’d tell her when they saw each other again.

@partiallypearl @ceruleanmusings @mystic-scripture @myloveforhergoeson

[gramarye]

speaking of my list of ygo by treatment of its female characters so far. its so insanely long well. sorry.

sevens : really good marvelous awesome. women are treated as equals in my honest onion and everyone rocks. i <3 yugioh sevens. i love you romin i love you rayne (WEIRDO!) i love you princess g i love you atachi mimi i love you asana i love you tiger etcetcetc I LOVE YOU YUGIOH SEVENS

gx: it's not Great with what it does with asuka and rei but it's somehow still less offensive than all of the other ygos below it in this list. asuka gets to be pretty cool and again, even tho there's several episodes about her being courted at least they let her come out on top whenever guys are trying to get to her and they never do weird sexual shit with her in a way that is as obvious as in the other yugiohs. YES THE BAR IS THAT LOW I THINK! SAD! and she gets as much as spotlight as say, chazz, kenzan, sho, or the likes. if you disagree btw you were not watching yugioh gx and should try to pay attention to women again. asuka is a really good fleshed character by gx standards. rei is also pretty fun, i love her, she has her little moments and she's Not limited to her love shtick, she has really fun beef and duel with chazz for example and has a neat role in s3 and all that. ALL THINGS CONSIDERED: ITS PRETTY NICE! they did an ok job! its very hobbyani and shounen but its not offensive w/ the women!

5d's: like.. it started off really good then they just kind of forget about aki. i will never let them live down the "benchwarmer" thing and guess what. THEY WON'T LET ME EITHER BECAUSE THEY MADE MERCH OF HER WITH THAT TITLE LIKE A YEAR AGO OR SO !!!! sherry is pretty cool though and oh i love carly. carly is good i just wish they didn't kinda ... roll back her progress with jack , it's like they had to make him hate her again for the haha funnies and because he couldn't be nice now in the 2nd half. idk. ruka is fine i just think its hilarious she has a kuriboh with huge ass girl eyelashes i will attach it to the bottom of this post. made sure we know this is a #GIRL kuriboh

DM: its like . okay. anzu doesn't do much i am sorry. i love her it's just that they let her have a few duels and that is it. the #og cheerleader. I LIKE HER! i just think they should let her do more. she has really good scenes outside dueling though and is very integral to the friend group and everything though so :) yayyyy anzu. mai is really good but remember when they. okay this is anime specific BUT I AM TALKING ABOUT THE ANIME SO !!! but remember when they kept her in a coma in like marik's special hell world for literally like 50 episodes. like. it was so fucking dire fifty whole episodes. Bad. AND THEN THEY MADE HER GET POSSESSED LITERALLY IN THE NEXT ARC? VILE. rebecca etc are all fine they werent there for super long but i like them. all in all it was OK wish there was more fleshing out. 5d's still did it better and had more memorable women more in the spotlight i fear. but 4 is not a bad ranking here DM is like alright not too offensive

zexal: ok its like... i don't think tori not dueling in itself is a Crime but it's sad they don't let her when she expresses in the anime wanting to duel . why not let her !!!! plus it'd tie really nicely with rio who i think rocks, but i do NOT understand why they had to have rio duel tetsuo who her only tie to was him having a crush on her when she was besties with kotori and it wouldve been a nice way to tie up their friendship and tori's desire to duel..anyway. CATHY AND ANNA ARE NICE its just that i feel like. anna rocks sooo hard but her whole character is wrapped up in her thing with yuma. they should've come up with another plot for her after i think taht would've been nice but it's not that big of a deal it's still pretty cool. train girl forever. also yuma's sister is cool <3 i think this is kind of a tie with DM actually . also they make at least one weird sexualizing skirt length joke with kotori so um. HOP OFF MY 13 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER AND STOP BEING WEIRD

vrains: AUTHORS NOTE I HAVENT FINISHED VRAINS YET but ive seen a good amount and my vrains oomfies concur with these ratings. blue angel gets into a coma within 10 episodes and is really good at getting her ass beat unfortunately. ghost gal is pretty cool but shes also out there getting her ass beat i think she only wins once like its so fucking dire out here they will NOT let these women win like they just take one L after the other. and theres really no other women there. um. its just kind of an L overall they just don't let the 2 cool women do anything. like gx only really had asuka and rei but at least they let them be cool and fun i DON'T SEE THAT HERE... love them both though. also shoutout to soulburner's npc girlfriend i think shes funny and im glad she exists

arc-v: literally im sorry i havent finished arc-v either but ALL MY ARC-V OOMFIES WHO ADORE THE SHOW CONCUR. IT'S SO BAD. ruri and rin are like barely characters. serena is cool yuzu is cool until she isn't and THEY HAVE HER LOSE TO AN ADULT MAN USING BDSM MONSTERS AND IMPLY BEING SEXUALLY GRATIFIED BY IT? ITS REALLY BAD. THAT EPISODE ALONE WAS SO BAD IT TOOK IT DOWN 50000 SPOTS IN THE LIST AND I HEARD IT ONLY GETS WORSE. LIKE ACTUALLY CRIMINALLY BAD. MADE ME GENUINELY UPSET. also asuka is there and shes kind of a girlboss until they kill her like really badly and in a humiliating manner. like. Okay. they build it up soo much just to let you down so terribly with the girls.

undecided: go rush its still ongoing but i have watched all 115 episodes so far or whatever and it was like based and epic and poggers in season 1 but um the treatment of the girlies has been going downhill. i have a lot of opinions. i dont know what to say about it. it just declined a lot for the most part. yuamu girlboss though they're kind of making some progress again. i need to give it a rewatch when it's done airing to sort my feelings on it.

addendum btw here is the #girl kuriboh ruka has in 5d's. kind of a slay