#that also just happens to deal with some big issues in a really engaging and often subtle way....

[onion-souls]

I'm seeing a lot of the "is Warhammer 40,000 fascist" discourse everywhere in the wake of Space Marine 2. And yeaaaah, it kind of is? Or at least, that's an acceptable reading of what's happening in the text.

There's the defense that it's a satire and the setting is horrible and nobody would want to live in it, but that's also in line with fascism. Authoritarians don't think the world is super nice and gentle and that they need to beat it into shape because they're big meanies that like being mean to people. The fascist thinks that the world is cruel, a war of all against all, and that one must be strong and disciplined to survive, because the outsider and the traitor are going to attack you, take your stuff, and cause your culture to degenerate. And that is what's happening in the setting. If the Imperium wasn't scouring planets and sacrificing people by the thousands to the emperor, humanity would definitely fall to the aliens and degenerate from within by Chaos. The Tyranids aren't exactly going to sit down at the negotiating table and sign off on a trade deal. Part of the universe prolapsed into hyperspace hell because the elvish sex-cults couldn't stop making dildos out of bees and children's bones. The Orks are creature of pure, gleeful warfare and hooliganism. Even the T'au are an other type of expansionist authoritarian, just lighter and weaker. The various rebels invariably work with an evil hivemind, mutating demons, or some subversive alien force. The enemies of the fascists deserve the bullet.

And that level of necessary violence is great as the setting of a wargame where I can put my dudes up against any other group of dudes and it makes sense for them to fight to the death. There's a lot of war games where that's a huge issue, particularly historicals where you end up having to recreate actual engagements because why would my Austrians be fighting your UK forces during a War of the Seventh Coalition Napoleonics game?

But there are implications.

And when the Imperium is portrayed as detrimental in its evil, the narrative is pitting the Imperium's various bureaucracies against one of the military factions, and yeah, that's actually how most right-wing fiction and politics view government. There's a strange mixture of love of the leader and disdain for the pencil-pushers and bean-counters who won't let the good guys get the job done. The narrative that the valiant soldier is being undermined and stabbed in the back by the cushy bureaucrats is ubiquitous in even center-right literature, let alone far-right. See John Clancy and his imitators.

And also they're cool. The overt humor of the Rogue Trader to 3e era is long gone. We're not to see the likes of Obiwan Sherlock Cluseau anytime soon. The fascist theocratic space crusaders are designed and portrayed as cool, and not pathetic and lame. Most satire portrays its targets as stupid, contemptible, misguided, and wrong. But the xenos are horrible in general and still dangerous and manipulative at best. Chaos will corrupt and/or drag your soul to Hell. Even when the human soldiers die by the droves, it's something dramatic and awesome against cool monsters and daemons and its a cosmic fight with space lasers and chainsaw swords and shuriken guns and psychic mind bullets. It's awesome. The male fantasy of dying in a bayonet charge against the forces of Hell with your mates. And your bayonet is a monomolecular chainsaw powered by faith in the Emperor. So fucking sick. It's the Truffaut Effect in action, and possibly at its worse, because nobody really wants their toy soldiers to be lame and boring.

So it's definitely there. Seeing it as a setting that's just universally horrible and contemptible is certainly valid (embracing "the Grimdark"), but a pro-fascist reading is also valid and rather hard to fight.

[faceofpoe]

On the highly contentious unraveling of Cassian Andor (and how season 2 is at its heart about his relationship with Luthen).

(This has nothing to do with justifying or not fuck-all about Rogue One Cassian beyond getting him to that beach, I'm an Andor girlie just working my head around what we've built and where it's going in the context of the show).

I had a lot of issues with arc 1, and some of those issues (like ducking around pillars at a wedding to have the hey we're gonna have to murder that guy talk or, why is Kleya even here?) are not going to go away BUT as someone whose brain wasn't exploded by season 1 until seeing the full big picture come together (Rix Road, beloved), I promised myself a full season rewatch to try to recalibrate.

I haven't rewatched yet, but let's have a 75% recalibration now that arcs 2 and 3 have led us where they have to much fandom furor, and mulling how we bring this whole thing together.

Which brings me back to: this season is at its heart about Cassian's relationship with Luthen, and his acceptance at the end of season 1 that Luthen was right, he's going to die fighting the Empire - so either kill me right now, or put me to good use fighting these bastards for real.

Season 2 came to us with a gigantic ask: engage with the negative space. We have to imagine how Cassian went from big wet bambi eyes above to Mr Earnest-Reassuring-Come-Into-The-Circle with Niya. Mr Empire's-Most-Wanted is sneaking into top secret facilities and doing it with confidence and -

Shit goes instantly sideways. This isn't even the right ship, did anybody know that?? (they didn't, obviously they didn't, they don't know what's gone wrong, and this is really important I think about the fallout of this arc). Cassian's off having a terrible time while Luthen and Kleya are spying and drinking on Chandrila and he doesn't check in and this isn't normal.

It's been a year+ since season 1. Partagaz tells Dedra she's been on the Axis hunt for "almost two years" I believe so presumably we've jumped decently down the calendar year for the 4bby arc.

I have a lot of feels on how Cassian's arc one story should have had more time to breathe, to make the losses punch harder at the end by showing him leaving home, etc, but perhaps that is also the point -

He's good at this; he's accepted his pact with Luthen, one day he'll die fighting - but they're tucked away safe. Brasso's looking out for everyone, Brasso who he tasked with looking out for Maarva if he could. We're meeting him on the high point of thinking he can have it both ways and... perhaps not fearing what happens back home, if this mission or that is the one from which he doesn't return. They'll pull through. This is perhaps his era of: the Cause comes first; we take what's left. And he's balancing it, or thinks he is anyway.

Dashing off home and having found that unraveled while he was having The Worst time on Yavin - captured by, theoretically, allies -

The balance is upended, and cue crisis of faith. Not in the Cause per se, but in Luthen. He gave his own life up to Luthen but now the situation has changed on multiple levels. He's rattled by the failure on Kleya & Luthen's end on Sienar, doesn't have Brasso, doesn't have this illusion of safety on Mina-Rau, Bix and Wilmon both get involved, but Cassian isn't handling it well. There's no "take what's left" when she's right there in the line of fire too. Bix questions his decisions in the field, Luthen... his exchange with Kleya in 2.6 is telling.

"This isn't the piece we need."

"We knew that already."

"I thought seeing it in person would make a difference."

Cassian is not the operative he was where we met him with Niya. Sending him to Ghorman is something of a confirmation of something they've clearly been realizing/discussing. Luthen going to check on Bix/put her to work/whatever was the deal there - this seems very much Not The Norm by her reaction, they don't have a lot of face-to-face contact I would guess - he's doing his own assessment of just what is the situation here. (In the most dickish way possible of course, my problematic beloved.)

Cassian's at this complicated intersection of having lost this comfortable place where he can risk and trust his family's safety. Luthen and Kleya are having their own meltdown over how chaotic their operation has become. Cassian... is probably thinking about that bad intel for Sienar and wondering when the next catastrophic fuck-up that isn't his fault is going to cost something else while Bix is over here being the far better adjusted one about just what war looks like and how unreasonable his mentality about her presence. And I'm really curious if we're meant to read in the sudden appearance of "I have friends everywhere" that this was an effort to avoid another experience like the Maya Pei Brigade.

And then Luthen asks him to see about stoking the flames on Ghorman. (I'm still trying to decide how I feel about the sort of 'having it both ways' aspect of Ghorman and provocation and 'it never mattered anyway the ending was already written.')

And Cassian says: "I'll sit this one out." He doesn't take the order, he decides he wants no part in it. And that is where the final fracture in kill me or take me in finally happens.

He doesn't trust the vision anymore. Doesn't trust that the inevitable tragedy will be worth something in the end. Is this fighting these bastards for real? And is starting, perhaps, to wonder if it was worth it at all, to walk back off that ship to Gangi Moon.

And somewhere in the next year, Cassian starts to come to terms apparently with the fact that he doesn't trust Luthen with his life anymore. But he's not quite all-in with Yavin and Draven either. He's maybe still grappling with the acceptance, or inevitability, or not, that the fight will claim his life in the end - and he's lost his faith in Luthen spending it well. Sometime in this time gap after arguing over Ghorman, the fallout with Cinta, getting shot and struggling with recovery... it unsettles him into retreating, ducking Luthen's calls, until Wilmon turns up with compelling incentive.

[insert Force-ex-machina plot here to heighten his internal struggle]

And at the root of their conversation before the Mon extraction is basically Cassian refusing the assertion from 1.4 - this end is not already written. His own decisions matter. Arcs 1 and 2 only validated his teenage understanding that rebellion is pointless and all they'll do is fight themselves one way or another and, Ghorman has validated his plea with Maarva that she can't beat them. People stand up, they die.

And he has a very similar sort of conversation with Luthen as he had with Maarva and gets much the same response. Still work to be done. Luthen doesn't ask Cassian to stay, but he gives him the "I can't go." They're done. Cassian's done.

[I have quarantined the unfolding of the Bix departure in my brain, Bix's story is now Tether, sorry, I hate it so much, and it could have very much worked without the Force healer Force-ex-machina of it and probably with different timing, anyway]

Anyway Bix pulls the "if you leave, it won't be for me."

So we the audience know of course that Cassian is going to stay. Ironically, perhaps, in a far less make-my-own-decisions friendly capacity within the military hierarchy than he ever was with Luthen. And it will be interesting to see how we meet him at the opening of arc 4. He's presumably got Wilmon and Vel and Melshi and K2SO. He's finally seen the Rebellion pull together; Bix ripped away his fantasy (and it is a fantasy, he knows it's a fantasy because it's played out already on Ferrix and Niamos and Mina-Rau) that there's somewhere safe they could get away from it all.

Will he trust Draven & co to spend his life for good again? Or perhaps he simply can't bring himself to care so much either way after all of the turmoil surrounding Ghorman and the fallout and Bix. Orders are orders and good soldiers follow orders and here he is now, slapped into a uniform with a rank on his chest (idk if he ever actually wears the uniform with rank insignia between all the amazing coats in R1 but you get me) and he'll play the part because what else is there?

But Luthen is still out there, against just about every prediction for how this season would unfold. Luthen is the one puzzling over Ghorman and Dedra, demanding the endgame. Luthen isn't finished.

And I guess the question is, since we know how this ends - what is the force the propels Cassian along to Kafrene to kick off the final mission?

Just a soldier following orders?

Or are we going to wrap this back around to that s1 claim and that pact and the extension of broken trust and give Luthen something of a chance to earn it back (possibly posthumously), in sending Cassian along to the meaningful death he promised?

[ananke-xiii]

ah yes, of course I have more to say. This time it's not about a specific comparison/trope, more about how angels are perceived by viewers (but also partly by writers, too, tbh).

anything about angels being ethereal and divine etc: I think sometimes the non-in-universe view warps what's canon when it comes to angels. For instance, the way we the audience commonly perceive angels sort of interferes with the in-universe depiction of said creatures. Like, maybe we see angels as ethereal, celestial, incomprehensible figures but in SPN they're anything but. We can very much understand their motives, their feelings and what their agenda is. It's totally not beyond human comprehension, as amatter of fact, it's very much human but it's also NOT human at the same time because angels don't have the same morality as humans do and their notion of "good" and "evil" is quite peculiar, if they even have one. This is also why the "halo and a harp" joke is thrown around quite a few times as a reminder that SPN angels are not "our" angels.

The same misrepresentation happens when it's about angels and love (and sex). It's pretty clear that in SPN (hashtag not all but many) angels are actually very, very, very much interested in sex and love. I'll concede that they tend to confuse obsession for love and that there's a lot of repression/suppression/sublimation/you name it going on in that department but, frankly, it's not something so inherently alien that humans can't relate to.

Anyhow, I don't think it's only the audience's fault, though, as I see SPN writers implicitly inserting their own personal view into the story as well. For example, the idea that Lucifer is the "primary agent of evil" in s14 after we've spent a whole season dealing with how God has traumatized and abused both his own sister and his own "son" and how said sister has, in return, abused and traumatized Lucifer doesn't exactly hold up. I mean, if there must be one primary agent of evil in SPN everything seemed to point to Chuck well before s14's big "reveal". Moreover, from their first appearance in S4 angels have perhaps wreaked havoc more than demons and other monsters combined. Lucifer is admittedly a big problem (among other things because he is an abuser and a general piece of shit) but he's not the only problem in paradise (lol).

Related to the first point, how Dean's in awe with Cas because he's a celestial being etc: this is something that I read in a lot of fics so it's just both my own personal taste and my fic preferences (I like when fics stick to canon as far as possible because I like to see how different minds might have developed a particular storyline) that differ from others and that's fine, to each their own. The thing is, I don't really see it. Maybe S3-4 Sam was more in awe with the idea of angels but after Lucifer I don't think the guy's particularly moved by them. As far as Dean's concerned, I actually see him hating on angels the most. Vampires can be okay, werewolves maybe, he's surprisingly okay with demons as well, but angels? He doesn't like them at all. And I mean this, this is actually interesting because out of all the creatures in the world he hates (and who have hurt him and his family) he ends up getting a best friend/consort who belongs to that particular flavor he just can't tolerate and who probably hurt him and his family the most ("Angels are just monsters with good PR"). As in: Dean finds Cas amazing because he's Cas, not because he's an angel but he IS an angel nevertheless and that alone causes some problems. It makes for a very interesting moral dilemma and an engaging angle to explore where a good chunk of their issues stems from.

[dumbstruck-dumbfck]

holy crap this episode was amazing

Doctor Who: Lucky Day (S2 E4) spoilers ahead

First of all, LOVING the Kate Stewart villain arc. I honestly hope we get to see more of that in the UNIT spinoff, and in base DW.

But I feel like this episode addresses a lot of the complaints some fans have had about this season. Its pacing is on-point compared to episodes like The Robot Revolution that felt weirdly rushed. Mrs. Flood feels like an actual presence in the narrative at the end, rather than a simple cameo like in the previous episodes. It's clear she has something planned, and she's actively taking part in the plot by releasing Conrad from prison.

It also addressed some of the mystery box elements in a way that I think really works, sort of furthers our understanding of the mystery rather than just teasing it. We learn something more about Mrs. Flood, by calling herself The Governor. Now, is that her Time Lord name, is that an alias similar to when the Doctor called himself The Architect in Time Heist? We're not sure, but it feels like a clue towards her identity. We now also know that the one who told the Doctor about Belinda in the first place was Conrad. The whole series arc feels very timey-wimey in that way and I kind of love it. Feels very Doctor Who.

It was also good to see Ruby again! I never minded her in the last season, but I know a lot of people felt she was kind of shallow as a companion? And it felt like she was a more engaging character in this episode, seeing how she's been dealing with life without the doctor. It feels more nuanced than Chibnall's "Doctor Support Group" (which I also never really had an issue with). I like that she's still involved with UNIT, and that she's struggling with both the good AND the bad that she left behind. It feels really natural for someone who has traveled with the Doctor. I've heard people (namely Council of Geeks, highly recommend her channel, she's great, even if I don't always agree with them) talk about their distaste for seeing former companions who have left the Doctor feeling unfulfilled with a normal life after leaving the TARDIS. But that doesn't feel like what's happening at all with Ruby. She's struggling to adapt not because she's no longer going out and exploring worlds, but because her adventures actually left her with PTSD that she has to work through.

The plot of this episode was fairly predictable, but I think that's mainly because I'd watched trailer breakdowns and theory videos about it, and exactly the theories that they came up with were exactly what happened lol But regardless of that it was still an enjoyable watch. Just because I knew what was coming didn't make the impact hit any less. Conrad is amazing as a villain. He feels sort of like Adam (I think that was his name?) from Series 1, who joined 9 and Rose for a single adventure and then got dropped back off on Earth, who later went on to be a big villain in the comics. We already know that Conrad isn't finished with us this season because of teasers and the fact that he's confirmed to show up again, iirc, so I'm excited to see what he has in store for us, because he was such a menacing villain for someone who's just an incel with a grudge.

[cecilysass]

Hello! You once told me that I could always ask you for fic recs so here I am! I’ve only seen up to S2E17 so idk if you have anything that doesn’t deal too heavily after that. Minor spoilers/references are okay, just nothing major. I’m also not a smut person generally. If you can’t think of anything that fits those criteria, feel free to ignore this! I hope you have a lovely day:)

Okay, I am SO EXCITED about this question, but also nervous, because I don’t want to accidentally include something that will spoil you. I am going to throw a few recs out, and maybe others will think of more?

Universal Invariants by syntax6 This is so, so good. It’s a classic. A novel-length casefile, plus an AU riff on season 1 and 2 through the abduction arc, so I think you are entirely good with spoilers. The big change from canon is that Scully is still with her boyfriend, Ethan. (If you don't know Ethan, he is a character that was originally in the Pilot but cut from the actual show.) There are... other changes from canon, but you’ll see. There's some smut, but it’s not the focus. And there's a sequel to this, too, which you will definitely eventually want to read, but you're going to have to finish season 5 first.

the progression (and regression) of first names by skuls Scully works through some early identity issues in relation to Mulder. This author (skuls) is always delightful, always recommended.

Center Mass by kateyes224 This fic provides a painful, in character explanation for what might have happened between them after the Pilot that could have resulted in so much subsequent slow burn. Hot and angsty, but not really smutty.

Early On by sunflowerseedsandscience This is also an AU season 1 with Ethan, but this one is more focused on Scully slowly feeling her attention stray from Ethan as her relationship with Mulder develops. It's a series with ten (short) parts. It's very engaging. There are some smutty parts.

Eight Things That Could Have Happened In Oregon by Stephen Greenwood No spoilers here, only things that didn't happen but might sound like spoilers. This is wistful, a little sad, beautiful, odd. The First Year by mldrgrl Their first New Year's Eve, not long after the Pilot. I love the hesitant vibe here.

Still Feeling My Father Ascend - cecily_sass This is my own fic, so I am being kind of a self promoter recommending it to you. But it’s a Beyond the Sea post ep, and I know my own work pretty well lol, so I know there’s no later spoilers, or only really minor things that won’t be meaningful until later. It was written for a prompt for an early season fic exchange.

And I'm not going to recommend it exactly, but I do want to mention that one of the first works of XF fanfic was actually written in 1993 and published online in 1994, so during season one. It's called The Sound of Windchimes by Sarah Stegall. It's got some serious CW (noncon) and some pretty wild content (I've read it), but if you're brave or curious and interested in fan history, you can check it out. Here's the fanlore page, which includes links.

***

Obviously I can come up with SO MANY MORE fics as you get further along. So just let me know. I would say most XF fic is probably written about seasons 5 / 6 / 7 for whatever reason, so once you're in that range, everyone can give you tons. Anyone have any other favorite early season fic they can recommend? It's sometimes tricky because sometimes early MSR has later details embedded in it...

[theside-b]

BL Review: Impression of Youth 🇹🇼

What a weird little show. It's not groundbreaking by any means, but it does explore some topics in a really unusual way that you don't often see anywhere else. It also has that visual efficiency that we come to expect from Taiwan, a show with clear budgetary limitations but with creatives that know how to get the most of what they are given.

The setting is a highlight, filmed in parts of Pingxi and Houtong near New Taipei, the greenery and more rural feel was a welcome reprieve from the usual urban settings seen in Taiwanese productions. It gives a more laid back, slower pace to the show which suits the main plot points because they are quite simple.

From the get-go I knew a good chunk of the audience (the part that is not used to the taiwanese brand) would take issue with the main couple: a high-school student and his substitute teacher, both artists struggling to take their craft to the next level, there is also the city mouse/rural boy dynamic happening between them. Honestly they are mostly harmless, the age-gap not being much of an issue, especially considering that both of them are pretty immature on their own. Xu Luhui, the highschooler, is exactly what you expect from a boy his age while Yu Xing, the art student that finds himself teaching at Xu Luhui's school, is still trying to find his own path in life. Their drama comes with almost all the tribulations one would expect, except for one: nobody really gives a damn about the age-gap.

Only one character gives Yu Xing the side-eye for falling for a teenager, and that's his best friend who is obviously in love with him for the past seven years. Everyone else is pretty okay with them being together (although nobody in the school finds out, which is a miracle because they were not being subtle in the slightest). The show is simply not interest in that conflict, and in a way it makes a certain sense that Xu Luxi, the older brother and responsible adult for Luhui to not make a big deal out of it, not only they are fairly close in age he is not a parent, he sees things differently and is quite understanding of what is happening.

Speaking of which: what a gift it was having him and Bing Chen, the tortured soul widower, as a secondary couple. The fandom keeps asking for more grown-ups, for mature stories with adults acting like adults, and damn if they didn't deliver exactly what we asked for, and then some.

When it comes to the acting it is a very uneven affair, each couple has one strength and one weakness: Muji Hsu does a lot of the heavy lifting in the main category while Wish Chu lends a natural candor to his quiet and serene character. That's not to say that Andrew Chien and Will Wen are bad, but their portrayal of the brothers does come wooden during the show's run. One small thing that I wished they had explored more was the interactions between the in-laws, whenever this cross dynamic happened something interesting happened, and it helped establish the four of them as a familiar unit.

In a certain way this show reminded me of First Note of Love, as it's not really interest in the drama and conflict, but in building love stories and letting them unfold until the pieces fall together. It's just lacks gravity to make things land with more impact.

After everything is said and done it falls somewhere between Because of You and DNA Says Love You, it's not as hectic as the former but certainly not as engaging as the latter, although technically speaking it's the strongest of the bunch.

[crevassier]

- a month home [side missions!]

Sylvain received a letter mentioning possible tensions near the border as reconstruction efforts are ongoing, and with the upcoming winter he felt it would be best for him to spend the month in Gautier and help his people. Not quite to engage in battle, but rather to serve as a living deterrent. The Lance of Ruin is still active, so watch it!

But there is also a personal factor to his trip. After everything that has happened in consecutive moons, the war, the festivities, the Battle of Eagle and Lion and finally the ball, Sylvain acknowledges that his mental state is simply put: at its worst. Sylvain just…really wants to visit his mom and get a hug. Hi mom.

As a result though, Sylvain will not be available for any of the Mission Board prompts! But instead I’ll be creating a set of little prompts for anyone who wants to tag along. You can assume it as your muse going on a sidequest, and Sylvain will be personally accompanying you.

______

Llefelys, Southern Gautier - A merchant town closer to the borders of Itha that suffered a hit to its economy after the war and is still trying to get back on its legs. Merchants claim the routes are still crawling with all sorts of Ice Beasts that have only gotten bolder and more aggressive as winter approaches, while others say the town’s entertainment scene has gone dry as artists have yet to resume their activities in full. 

Tasks: Search through snowy routes for Ice Beasts, Kickstart some fun within the town to encourage performers. What fun? I don't know, you do you.

Glaísne, Capital - The heart of the Gautier territory, dealing with leftover issues but otherwise stable. Citizens prepare for raging blizzards, in particular farmers trying to ensure their livestock survive the winter. At the Gautier Estate, Sylvain seems to be going through documents with the Margravine.

Tasks: Aid farmers with livestock, tea time or a tour at the Gautier Estate. Say hi to the Margravine!

Ruad, Northern Gautier - One of the towns closest to the border with Sreng, it is mostly inhabited by soldiers tasked with patrolling the area day and night. The atmosphere is tense- there have been reports of movement on the other side of the Ruska Mountains, even though raids during winter are rare due to weather hazards.

Tasks: Join the border patrol and report any suspicious activity, Aid Pegasus Knights in preparing their mounts for winter flight.

Camp Laëtitia Zoe, Northwestern Gautier - A camp named after the first wielder of the Lance of Ruin after Gautier himself, it serves as the main training facility for those who wish to join the Margrave’s elite Garde Rouge. Schedules are tight and rough, training is absurd, but those are some of Faerghus’ fiercest warriors.

Tasks: Swim on a frozen lake to prove your might, Learn how to tank magic blows (yes, tank. with no shields. Just take the blow and hope it works)

Neara, Western Gautier - A rather big shore city, fishermen are setting sail towards cold waters for game. The seas are unusually rough this time around, and some wonder if there may be beasts waiting under the surface. At the docks, taverns are lively with soldiers and sailors, and some have begun a brawling tournament like the good ol’ times. Which means, it’s in the snow, shirtless.

Tasks: Help the fishermen prepare their ships, try the tavern fight. (REWARD: a basket of exotic butters)

[princess-of-the-corner]

I know we discussed it before but Akuma really are depressing/horrifying when viewed from Chloe's perspective cos like.

Off the cuff, her Akuma are among the more self aware and self possessed variety. Anti-Bug is basically just Chloe hopped up on magic juice and extra pissed off. She's not even utterly dominated by some irrational fixation like Dark Cupid, let alone having been rendered barely sapient like Horrificator does to Mylene.

In this regard, Nathanial being so... Well Nathanial, would also reinforce this stance to her as far as personal agency goes.

But then you add in that people can resist them, that she resisted and every Akuma suddenly comes off more like an intentional choice. Which puts the students who tried to kill her, which puts the mother who did kill her her, and the father that tried to render her a brain dead sycophantic toy into a stark and horrifying context.

How do you cope with that?

Especially as someone who is feeling increasingly isolated, like vulnerability is a huge issue and struggles to communicate in general. Treating Akuma like no big deal and Akumatizing over stuff like soccer becomes a lot more logical in that context. Because if you treated Akuma seriously, you'd have to face something far worse.

Yeah like.

I think her view on the whole 'resisting Akumas' thing is also one of the things that stems from pre-existing Trauma™ in that

This was something that she did struggle with initially until she kinda gave up on truly ressting if that made sense? Like she failed to resist Antibug or Queen Wasp, but she overcame it with Miraculer and then after that she's compartmentalized the trauma and all Akumatizations after were a 'choice' to give in.

And there's two things at play:

1.) the 'this trauma is going to happen whether I want it to or not, so my choosing to engage in it it's my choice therefore I'm not a 'victim' thing.

and

2.) According to everyone around me, things that should be simple are things I struggle with because I'm so fucking Unexceptional™ and it's easy for everyone I'm just a moron making things difficult for myself. So clearly since she /can/ resist but it was a struggle, that means it's probably easy for everyone else and they choose not to.

tbh I really need someone to say 'hey even if you think you're willing, you're very much not, but also it's super hard to resist Akumatization /especially/ when you're still mid-despair'

[risingsoleil]

I just read your recent HC on the pens catches linzin, and now i’m invested to know more on what happens next? like what did Lin and Tenzin do regarding those rumors?

At first, the rumors on the island weren't really a big deal. Both were highly annoyed at the insinuation that Tenzin would even have an affair.

But they take action when the rumors hit the press.

"Mommy, Daddy?"

"Yes, son?"

"What's affair?"

Tenzin holds a press conference to address them all at one time. Lin offers to be with him so that they can show up as a united front, but he says with the pregnancy, he doesn't want her to handle any additional stress. He knows he can manage on his own even if it would be nice to have her by his side.

"Lin and I are well aware of the rumors that have been circulating regarding my loyalty to her as a husband. And not once have I ever considered betraying Lin by engaging in relations with another woman. Frankly, it's no one's business to know about my marriage to Lin. But since this is impacting my children, I cannot stay silent on the matter."

"Then why is your wife not here today?"

"Is Master Beifong pregnant? The rumor states that the woman you were engaged with showed signs of pregnancy."

"That is all," Tenzin answers firmly.

"Is the acolyte pregnant and that's why you decided to pursue another relationship?"

Tenzin has a talk with the acolytes following the press conference and he's pissed. He's not yelling, but it's obvious by the way he's speaking and talking that he's disappointed in them.

"I'm aware that rumors will arise every once in a while. But anything related to my loyalty to Lin is completely off-limits. Am I clear? That is only for me and my wife to discuss."

He's uncharacteristically angrier than he's ever shown and it feeds into the suspicion that Lin is pregnant. Pema avoids any eye contact with him while he's close to berating them. She's not sure if he knows it's her who walked in on them or if everything happened bso fast that neither caught a glimpse of her face. Tenzin tends to be more overprotective when Lin's physical health is more sensitive.

Around this time, Tenzin has applied to become a councilmember. But due to the rumors, he is disqualified from being nominated. Lin is angry for him because of some stupid rumor that isn't even true. Tenzin is disappointed but he tries to see it as a positive since he'll have more time to continue focusing on Lin and their children for now.

He reasons that he can always apply again in the future when the kids are older and they depend on them a little less.

In this case, Katara and Aang also steps in to reinforce the message. Aang is dealing with some health issues, but he's still doing okay. Katara has dealt with this kind of bullshit, but with Lin pregnant AND affair rumors hitting the mill? Unacceptable. Katara has even harsher words to unleash on the acolytes.

After Katara puts the acolytse through verbal hell, Tenzin decides to take the family on a small trip away from the city. It's not a good environment for his family right now. The kids are being introduced to things that they don't need to worry about, Lin is trying to keep her physical and mental health balanced with a twin pregnancy, and Tenzin is sick of people trying to ruin his life.

They go to the Fire Nation and visit Izumi and Uncle Zuko for a while.

Fortunately, this is during summer vacation for the kids so it doesn't interfere with their studies.

[pedrocomicreviews]

Lightning Round 9

I read a lot of comics every week but don't have it in me to write a small dissertation about each one, so here's some thoughts about a few books! This time it's Iron Man, Exceptional X-Men, Moon Knight: Fist of Khonshu and DC x Sonic the Hedgehog. This is the big post for the week of May 21 2025.

Iron Man #8

Tony deals with a strike at the factory he intends to use to undermine Doom’s world at some point. Aside from the ridiculously funny idea that Melinda really figured out a way to make a SHIELD-style acronym with fucking S.T.R.I.K.E.B.R.E.A.K.E.R.S., there’s a lot going on with the discussions about Tony’s actual role in this world, Doom or not. The characterization of Tony as a guy who will threaten to automate a factory to the face of a union leader, but then turn around and promise them seats on the board, is a little bipolar but it fits the situation fine enough.

I did kind of want Natasha to actually engage with what the story is about, instead of just threatening to call the Avengers on Tony if he keeps his plans up. I guess Bucky’s lack of nuance is contagious and she’s spending too much time with him, but still, it’s a weirdly simplistic take on the character that no one else in the book can really compare to. 

I would also like everyone to enshrine this specific panel in a crystalline box so that we can all look at Tony Stark saying “we can’t free the world from Doom and go back to the status quo” in six months. 

Exceptional X-Men #9 

Incredible issue for all the new mutants. They finally feel like a unit and they’re finally working together and bouncing off each other in the middle of fights very well. More than that, Melee’s invisibility makes her distinct enough from Kate that it no longer feels like she’s redundant, and everyone’s ultimate showdown with Mister Sinister was a joy to read.

Although, is it really that obvious an assumption that the clone melted because of bad Krakoan genes…? That felt very off and it felt like Kitty could have just found out about Essex with the context clues she already had. Everything about Resurrection-Linked Degenerative Sickness is bad and should go away, but this example specifically felt like it didn’t even make sense. You didn’t have to connect these stories like that.

This is also probably my favorite Emma Frost issue ever since Fall of X ended. Incredible stuff, can’t wait for the next one. Very excited that she finally has a catchphrase that always feels earned. 

Superior Avengers #2

So, wait, how long were the Avengers banished by Dormammu for…? Reading the main book it feels like it was just for the time they were fighting; maybe an hour or so, and then they came back. It literally happens over the course of an issue. In this, it’s implied they’ve been away for a while. Long enough that the Superior Avengers are the only team around. 

That’s… not right, yeah? That can’t be right? That doesn’t feel right. Either way, the original premise is elaborated upon and it turns out to be a little more complex than just “Doom is incredibly bad actually”, but we do keep getting these confirmations that his reign will eventually degrade into a terrine dystopia. We just don’t get to know why yet. Here’s hoping for that reveal, I guess.

Moon Knight: Fist of Khonshu #8

God damn I keep forgetting I love this book, look at this ART man holy SHIT.

Me losing my mind about Pramanik and Rosenberg’s collaboration for the nth time aside, the arc continues strong. Very cool issue with an interesting twist, and a chance to get my beloved Midnight Mission back! If God is real and we have been good, it might happen!

There’s never much to say aside from “please read Moon Knight”, and this is gonna be one of those times.

DC x Sonic the Hedgehog #3

[justsome-di]

Hi! Wanted to let you know that I really love your take on Nano and the evolution of it through time. I also quit the whole thing for the same reasons around 2016 after two years. I was curious: what are your expectations for a healthy writing community? I've seen that a lot of people want different things and conflict happen because nobody really talks about it. The most people are willing to say is the obvious don't be an asshole (although obviously that doesn't stop some), but I rarely see people say things like "I don't want to share my writing but I do want to share the efforts of it" or "I want to talk about every details of my stories and brainstorm with others" and things like that. So what are your thoughts on it? P.S. I started following you and then I found out you're also into MDZS XD Love that!

Hi!!

When I think of a healthy writing community, I think about two 12-year-olds sharing their grand story ideas and their original characters that are master-level wizards at age 19 or famous detectives at 15 and the two 12-year-olds gush over each other's ideas and draw their characters and help each other come up with names and ideas and titles.

I think writing communities really thrive when people are encouraged to share their ideas and can get a positive response. There's times to critique works and times to just hype people up--and I think people really do not know the difference.

I've noticed a few, consistent issues:

Competition: I think some writers get competitive over how fast they write, how much, how often, etc. And I've been in some Discord servers when a person is suddenly getting praise or recognition, and you can tell there's tension. Suddenly people stop talking and log off. There's a lot of battle of the egos.

Different skill levels in one space: this is a big issue, though it's not anyone's fault. I've noticed that some writers in some servers are well-experienced with great writing and then other writers are beginners. It's not a big deal, really, but it does hamper feedback. Beginner writers get discouraged and overwhelmed when well-experienced writers offer more detailed critiques. And likewise, experienced writers probably aren't getting super in-depth critiques they need. Not to say people are unsupportive, but it's just not the most productive set up!

Selfishness: I'm not sure if that's the best way to phrase it, but I've noticed that often people will share their writing in servers but not interact with other's writings.

These are pretty limited to Discord which imo isn't a productive space for large writing groups anyway. But unfortunately when a lot of people move to Discord, it's hard to find a sense of community on tumblr or other sites.

But I can't just bitch and not offer suggestions so:

Keep online communities alive. We can't limit ourselves to Discord servers. Post your writing. Engage with other blogs. Reblog. Reply. Send in asks. If you're reading something someone wrote, let them know. Say something in the tags or send in an ask.

Be a hype man: We should encourage each other to continue writing--not everyone is looking for critiques all the time

Know your place: I've seen way too many people shit on ideas for events or special blogs. If you see something that you don't like, just leave it be. If you're not interested in something, it's not for you. Let the micro-communities do their thing and find their people. You do not need to be involved in every facet of the general writing community.

Post. Your. Writing. Or post stuff about your writing. It's hard to find other writers when they don't share! I can't hype up your story if I don't know about it!

I often see a lot of suggestions get vague. Like you said--"Don't be an asshole." Okay. Great. But what does that mean? And how does it get enforced in moderated communities like servers? What if the mods of the servers are assholes?

Or I see "support each other!" Okay, but we need an actual game plan for getting early-2010s level of community back. We need to bring back ask memes and character memes and ask culture. Because people back then weren't just twiddling their thumbs waiting for an interaction, there was effort put into all of it. People were designing games and events and taking time to engage with each other.

I don't think people understand that healthy communities need to be nurtured and inclusive. And this is definitely glamorizing the internet of 10-15 years ago. There's always been bullying and toxic people. But I think we could definitely build on what used to be and make something that's mature and welcoming to everyone.

I'm hoping with NaNo on their steady decline through the past couple of years really encourages people to rekindle other online communities. I think a lot of people have been nostalgic over the past few days, and a lot of people have taken the initiative to coordinate their own events. It's starting to bring back some of the unconditional support that used to exist.

(I love mdzs so much omggg and I'm reading through tgcf too and I aaaahhhh I'm very normal about it)

[stormblessed95]

Thank you so much for answering me Storm!

When I sent that ask I had just come from twitter where some ARMYs where claiming that dropping Muse and Who to support Yoongi is what Jimin would want, that his album has been out for a month already so it not a big deal to move on.

I saw you reblog that post about Jimin standing with Yoongi, along with not seeing you post much about the hate Jimin has been getting lately, and my frustration towards those that are dropping Jimin to support Yoongi may have been projected on to you.

I don't expect you to be a "content creator", I'm very grateful for the time and energy you give to answer our questions and make thoughtful posts about Jikook and BTS. I have seen you post asks with reporting links before, so I was under the assumption that was something you allowed on your blog (especially for serious issues). If that has changed (which is fine! some people want their blogs/accounts/fandom spaces to be free of reports and anti discussion), I'm sorry for not knowing or not remembering!

It was not at all my intention to victimize Jimin, as I said people have resorted to saying things like "Jimin would want us to do this" and thus using Jimin's loving friendship with Yoongi as a way to justify not supporting Jimin anymore (or as much).

I have noticed that you hadn't posted about Yoongi! I was actually wondering if you were doing alright seeing as he is also your bias. I had even wanted to ask you if you knew some good sources to get information on what was happening, because there was a lot of misinformation and I was genuinely scared for Yoongi.

Seeing as this was a misunderstanding on my part, I don't wish to unfollow you if that's okay? Chapter Two and this recent year has made finding actual ARMYs who support ALL SEVEN members hard. I'm sorry if my ask made you uncomfortable in any way, and again hope you and your loved ones are happy and healthy 💜💜

I know we are all under the assumptions at times that our personal moral panic is unique and unprecedented.... But I promise that it's not, and it's important to remember that too 💜

Like everyone else, I'm not really okay with seeing all the hate and slander that's been happening lately. I want to cry if I think about it too long or hard.

To make things a little more clear, if you send me "what are your thoughts on *insert essay length ask or paragraph length ask over hate x member is experiencing*" I probably won't answer it. I'm not sure what it is I'm expected to say in response? Yeah, it fucking sucks. And I can say "report and block silently, do not engage" until I'm blue in the face, but that's not what those asks actually want. They want my rage, for me to be emotional about it. I'm not inclined to perform that for anyone here. I follow my own advice.

Which leads me to, the asks I'll post are from reporting links. If you see hate, and you want to ask me to help spread the word to report and block an account or ask for help in the best way to go about reporting something, please send it in and I will post it and/or give advice over it. And that is what you've seen me post here before. That is how it will stay

As for following me or not, you do you boo. I'm not here for the numbers or the followers. I didn't ask for anyone to be here actually 😅 the fact that the follower count ever made it anywhere over 20 is something I'm baffled at constantly. I've been on Tumblr for years solely as a lurker lmao so I still sometimes don't know how I ended up here... I blame Jikook. 🙃😂

And honestly though. Thank you for coming back and walking your first statement back and apologizing. Almost no one here has ever really done that before, so it's greatly appreciated.

Have a good day 💜

[jungkoode]

Hey Kiki! (≧◡≦)♡

First off, just wanna say I freakin’ love everything you write! Still owe you a read on 25h, but I’m already hyped!

So, I need some advice from you as a writer. I’ve been working on this story for a while now, and it’s super close to my heart D: but I have no clue how to put it out there—like, how do I even get people to notice it? Got any tips? I’m really set on making this happen, but it’s kinda scary ‘cause it’s so personal, and I lowkey fear people won’t vibe with it hahaha.

Also, do you have a beta reader? How do I even find one? Pls help! (シ) My ADHD brain refuses to trust itself with typos and plot holes.

Basically… can I borrow that big sexy brain of yours to help me figure this out? •ω•

Ann!!! First of all, THANK YOU for the love!! I'm already mentally shaking you by the shoulders for even considering reading 25H—that one is like my deranged child, but I love it. Hope you enjoy the chaos when you get to it!!

Now, onto your writing conundrum! First of all, I FEEL YOU. Putting something so personal out there is terrifying because it's like throwing your soul into the void and hoping the void claps instead of throwing it back at your face. But here’s the deal: the void is mostly full of other writers who feel the exact same way, so they’ll GET IT.

Tags are your best friend—use relevant and popular ones for visibility. Example: if you’re writing a Jungkook fic, make sure you use ‘jungkook x reader’ ‘jungkook fic’ ‘jungkook fanfic’ and such, rather than ‘BTS’ or ‘jungkook’. Updating consistently (or faking it) helps too—even if you're slow, a semi-regular schedule keeps engagement up. If you have a buffer, you can post on a schedule. If not, I just lie to myself and pretend I have one.

Interacting with readers is key. People are more likely to keep up with a fic if they feel connected to the author. Be unhinged in the replies. It works. Your title and summary also matter more than we’d like to admit—a good summary doesn’t just explain the plot, it sells the vibes. Think of it like the fanfic equivalent of a thirst trap. And honestly? Be shameless about promotion. AO3 doesn’t have an algorithm, so cross-posting on Twitter (X? Ew.) or Tumblr can help.

I… do not have a beta reader, because I live on the edge. Also, I have trust issues (and ADHD, which means I reread my own chapters 50 times and still miss typos). If you want one, the best way to find them is through Discord writing groups, AO3 writing circles, or just screaming into the abyss on social media and seeing who responds. Some beta readers are just proofreaders, while others give in-depth feedback on plot, so find someone who matches your needs.

Basically, DO IT. Post the thing. Be brave. Be delusional. Even if people don’t vibe with it the way you hope, it’ll find its audience. And if all else fails, remember: even the messiest, typo-ridden, borderline-feral fics have dedicated fans. We are an unhinged species, and we love what we love.

Can’t wait to see your work out there!!! (•̀ᴗ•́)و

[eelfuneral]

Some of the discussion that happens within the Star Wars fandom, particularly discussion of the Jedi, can be really upsetting to observe if you have certain disabilities. In fact, I’m having a hard time even liking the Jedi right now because I can’t help but associate them with some really ableist takes that I’ve seen in their defense.

Let me explain: a lot of people with certain disabilities (such as autism, ADHD, bipolar disorder, and C-PTSD) deal with something called emotion dysregulation, which means that you feel emotions more intensely than the average person and that this strong emotional state sticks around for far longer than it should. When you have emotional regulation issues, an event that might make somebody else a bit sad or mildly frustrated has the ability to put you out of commission for hours or even an entire day. Emotion dysregulation is very stigmatized, even in people who go out of their way to avoid harming people or lashing out while dealing with an episode. People with this specific issue are often told that they are “dramatic”, “attention seeking”, or “future abusers” for what amounts to an automatic emotional response that a person cannot control. This constant pushback forms a metaphorical blister that can easily be popped back open when you see anything that reminds you of what caused it in the first place.

Now, let’s move on to the Jedi. While it can be argued that their teachings were intended to instruct people to reign in their BEHAVIOR as a result of their emotions, several lines in the fist six movies sound an awful lot like they are condemning having negative emotions at all. Yoda literally tells both Luke and Anakin that emotions like fear and anger BY THEMSELVES are of the Dark Side, and these lines were very difficult for a lot of people who have dealt with trauma, neurodivergence, or other issues that cause “big emotions”. These lines, intentionally or not, mirror a lot of the things that real people have said to those of us dealing with emotion dysregulation, and people have every right to talk about this in their own spaces unmolested.

Some of the defenses of the Jedi in the context of how they are instructed to deal with their emotions come off as dismissive at best and ableist at worst. Yes, if you dig through Star Wars canon enough, you can find portrayals of the Jedi and emotions that point to a more nuanced view where choices and actions are the source of evil rather than the emotions, but this does not change the fact that the Yoda lines and other emotionally repressive applications of the Jedi Code very much exist in parts of canon. A person who found the emotionally repressive variant of Jedi teachings to be upsetting due to a disability will likely feel as though you are trying to dismiss their feelings and belittle them if you “correct” them for “misinterpretation of the Jedi”. I get that it sucks to see people bash your blorbos, but if someone is doing it because they are dealing with something IRL like trauma or ableism, then it’s best not to engage and just let that person work through it.

I have also seen people who are defending the Jedi make statements that outright attack people for having intense emotions. I remember a take that basically said that you were a baby or a psychopath if you found the Jedi code regarding emotions to be “too hard”. I’ve seen people dismiss the trauma that Anakin went through and its possible effect on how he reacted to some aspects of the Jedi order in a way that mirrors the invalidation that those of us with emotional regulation issues have experienced for being “too much” for all of our lives. Yes, it is important to avoid harming others when you are in a bad place, and no Anakin was not a great person, but so many of these takes are devoid enough of nuance that they read as if they are just trashing people who have “too many”emotions.

Feel free to defend your favorite characters all that you would like, but please spare a thought for those of us who might not dig everything about them for reasons connected to disability and trauma. The Jedi aren’t real, but we very much are.

[fullscoreshenanigans]

When and how did you get into TPN? For me I discovered TPN in 2021 through the Fandom page where I spoiled myself about Conny and some other stuff which I forgot and in 2023 I purchased the first two volumes of the manga and I fell in love. And the rest is ancient history!

Sorry about my little history lesson!

You're good! (If anyone else wants to share how they got into the series on this post I'd been down for that too)

My sister and a friend recommended the anime to me at some point (I want to say after it was on US Netflix) as something I might like. I did not pay any attention to this at all lol. They did lord this over me when it became one of my favorite series. But I managed to avoid all spoilers for it other than the orphanage being a farm, which wasn't a big deal to me since it happens so early on.

Fast forward to March 26, 2021, the day the season 2 finale aired in Japan. I finished watching another series on Netflix, and it recommended TPN to me. I thought, I vaguely recognize this title, the description sounds interesting, and the thumbnail looks cute, so why not check out the first episode.

(dmotta3's blind reaction lives rent free in my head and inspired this post)

I got to the end of episode 6 and realized that my idea to just check out one episode at 1am was terrible because it was now 4am. But I had the day off from work, so after going to bed and doing everything else I needed to do that day I wrapped up the rest of season 1 because was hooked. I had to know what the fuck is up with these little babies with the mental fortitude and emotional maturity to handle this fantastical dystopia they found themselves in so well. And the final six episodes delivered and then some for me.

Me within watching the first ten minutes of S1e01: oh this kid with the black emo hair is going to be my favorite :)

Me upon watching S1e11: LKJFSDLKFLKDFJL OMFG?? OM?FG?? 🥴🙃🥴 THERAPY! THERAPY FOR A THOUSAND YEARS FOR YOU!!!

I noticed the second season wasn't on Netflix, so while avoiding as many spoilers as I could I took a peek around and discovered that a lot of people were unhappy with season 2. I asked some friends who had watched it if they liked it, and they said it was all right, but not as good as season 1. So what I ended up doing was figuring out where the first season left off in the manga, and then read a few chapters before watching the corresponding parts in the anime to see where it really diverged. By the time I got to the bunker in the anime and saw there was no dad to go in it, I dropped it entirely to focus on reading the manga. It took roughly four days from me putting on the anime on a whim to me reading the bonus chapters and epilogue, and I was initially kind of bummed about it for reasons I've discussed here.

(Chart I made to explain to a friend group my personal enjoyment of the series by arc because it's one of the silly things we do with each other, while avoiding some spoilers by removing the names of the last few arcs. I'd rank Cuvitidala and the human world arc a bit higher now and Return to Grace Field arc lower, but the rest is still largely the same.)

But even with my gripes with the series, it had nestled itself inside my heart and mind, and I was endeared to it enough to buy the blu-ray of season 1 and import the soundtrack.

Another crucial aspect for me was that @1000sunnygo was translating the mystic code book around this time as well as a plethora of other content that wasn't receiving official English releases. This kept me engaged with this silly little shounen that had endeared me so deeply, as I had new official content and information to look forward to every now and then in addition to latching on to some fanfics that proved to be foundational for my personal interpretation/enjoyment of the series. It also helped explain some of the issues I had with it, one of them being the pacing toward the end due to Shirai trying to salvage his health after being in serialized publishing for almost four years while still maintaining his sense of artistic integrity by ending the series on his own terms. I don't think this frees said choices from critique, but it helped me personally accept them more.

And then almost ten months after first watching season 1 on a whim, I made this blog, though I didn't really start using it until February 2022. It was a first for me since I usually just keep everything on main in a random hodgepodge, but the brainrot wasn't going away, and I couldn't put my mutuals through another major interest, so here we are roughly 2.5 years later.

[awakenedsalamander]

Alright, so I’ve obviously given Mage and Vampire some attention. It’s about time I talk about Werewolf: The Apocalypse, you know, round out the “big three.”

Truth be told, I have kind of a love/hate relationship with Werewolf, though that kinda implies it’s an even split of things I enjoy and things I don’t, but that’s not quite correct.

A more accurate breakdown of my feelings would be something like:

- 60% stuff I really love and appreciate

- 20% stuff I go back and forth on

- 15% stuff I dislike but can tolerate (pretty standard for WoD)

- 5% stuff I really, truly, passionately loathe

And it’s honestly that last 5% that I struggle with most. To be clear, a lot of the WoD games have things in them I don’t just dislike, but find sincerely objectionable or harmful. (A certain Vampire sourcebook, the title of which I can’t even comfortably write out, immediately comes to mind.) But I get past those things, because 1) no work of art is morally flawless, and your tastes as a hobbyist or audience member are not your ethics as a human being and 2) a lot of that stuff is from the older editions and has largely been divorced from the game.

So what’s different about Werewolf?

Well, some of it lies in point 2— there are things in Werewolf that are bad and (barring the controversy of 5th Edition’s lore changes, which is a whole other kettle of fish that I’d rather not dive into right now) are still part of the game. Improved somewhat? Absolutely. But the ugliness of some choices still haunts the game.

The ways Werewolf: The Apocalypse talks about native peoples, from Indigenous Australians to First Nations Americans, is a big example. I don’t feel it prudent for me to go into those details, if only because I think it’s not my lane and voices from those cultures should really lead those discussions, but the game has a very weird attitude toward indigenous groups— at one recognizing their history and the atrocities they’ve come through with respect, while still finding ways to exoticize that history, and appropriate much of it. To say nothing of the ways in which it feels comfortable speaking over indigenous groups, even in matters of their rights.

That’s just one example. There’s the way Werewolf conceptualizes ethnicity and ancestry in general, which is weirdly archaic in places despite seemingly trying to criticize that view. There’s its approach to disability and bodies that differ from an assumed norm, which as many have observed can sometimes come across as genuinely eugenicist on occasion.

And of course, the game is about monsters— you’re not meant to agree with the Garou on much of their beliefs, and you’re meant to engage with those very real issues and wrestle with the right way forward.

And honestly? That last part— the reality of the issues at hand— that’s what makes the bad parts of Werewolf so hard to look past. You know, the other games in the World of Darkness deal with real world issues, but they do so in a fairly abstract way. Like, sure I can and do identity the Technocracy of Mage with destructive and cruel systems of power in the real world, but like… there isn’t actually a league of hypereconomists using secret math to influence the fate of the world. That’s just an exaggerated and metaphorical way to engage with the problems at the heart of a late-capitalist world.

But Pentex? Pentex is basically real. The Apocalypse in Werewolf: The Apocalypse is climate change. It’s happening now. When the game tells you that you need to Rage against the dying of Gaia… that’s almost as literal as it gets. And that makes its fumbles, its mistakes, and yes, its deliberate offenses, harder to swallow. The stakes are high enough that when things are wrong, it really hurts.

But… let’s also acknowledge: The reality I’m talking about it? It’s what makes that 60% stuff I like so amazing. The lows of Werewolf are hard to stomach, but the highs are just… exhilarating.

Like, Werewolf is a game that says, “You see the state of the world? You see its monstrous past? Its insidious present that only hides the horror? Do you see the doomed future its on a crash course with? Let’s take it, and let’s rip it to fucking shreds. It these tyrants and thieves want to kill the world, then we’ll kill them first, if that’s what it takes. If the Apocalypse happens, it happens on our terms, on the terms of the people being victimized and shoved to the margins. You and I? We’re gonna build a better world or die trying. All our anger might ruin us, but we have to try. The consequences of our actions are dire, but we don’t go down without making the bastards work for it. Not without a fight.”

And fuck, when the game is saying that? It’s priceless.

In fact, this has all been too down on Werewolf as a whole. I want to get my problems with the game out front, just to acknowledge them and keep space for the critique and change that they demand, but at the end of the day, I am a Werewolf: The Apocalypse fan (if one with a lot of notes). I want to do something a little unusual and show you an outline for an Apocalypse chronicle I haven’t yet had the chance to run, to show you what I love about the game.

So, stay tuned for a glimpse into that later— a glimpse into “Blood Ripples Out.”