#the pear callback

[long-suffering-little-spoon]

Not sure how hot a take this is but Twelve had the best regeneration sequence (at least in NuWho) by a landslide like good fucking god

[kyuohki]

Ooooh, I like it! Specter must be respected, while Resh'an needs to earn it back.

Preview for the next goddamn Resh'an-Has-Adventures-With-Specter Knight-The-Grim-Reaper. Actually, not as many homoerotic touching as I wanted to add, but some light flirting.

Should be about 17 pages.

[neverwalka1one]

I got to see Wicked last night, and whoo boy I have thoughts. Cut for spoilers, you've been warned.

I'm looking forward to seeing the 'Good News' song at the end of the second movie - Glinda already looked conflicted about the Giant Elphie Effigy (good lord those munchkins work fast)

Also, I thought the movie highlighted better that those in Munchkinland knew Elphaba her whole life, and this is still how hard they bought in to the propaganda.

The little hint that Glinda's bubble is all mechanics. Chef's kiss.

Glinda's bubble has a Designated Landing Place. Just. Consider all that implies, with Glinda having been until very recently the Wizard's goodwill ambassador.

'Take it away' will never not be heartbreaking. Also, of course Elphaba is going to grow up a fierce defender of animal rights, she was raised by a talking animal, and that bear was the only one to be kind to her consistently through her childhood. Dafuq.

Baby!Nessa!Rose's little meeps. Just. I died.

'Oh, they're going to miss me.' Galinda I love you you ridiculous gal.

I like this twist on why Elphaba was at Shiz. I loved the way she so desperately wanted to go, but couldn't ask for herself. I loved her trying to defend Nessa Rose's independence... and then still being blamed for stifling her. Excellent.

Also did y'all see the picture of the animals behind the cracked and fallen fresco of the Wizard in that scene? Foreshadowing my beloved.

Galinda writing a little 'it's great' card put on top of the saddest pile of bedding you've ever seen.

'What is this Feeling?' omfg. I loved Elphaba putting her foot down about the roommate situation.

I also liked that they moved Elphaba's talk with Dr. Dillamond off-campus. It makes more sense that this status-quo challenging talk would be done away from the powers that be.

Also it sets up Fiyero running into Elphaba (literally) better, and omfg. I love that horse, he's great, more horse in the second movie please.

Omg Galinda flirting. And Fiyero flirting back, but Galinda (and Elphaba) missing that at that point Fiyero was flirting with pretty much everyone because hey, it's fun, it's easy, and it works.

On that note, Fiyero flirting successfully with the librarian. <3

The whole Ozdust scene. All of it. The outfits, the dancing, the prolonged social anxiety/social embarrassment. The way Elphaba refuses to show she's been hurt. The way Galinda finally understands that. THE DANCE APOLOGY.

I did find it a little weird that one of the only lines cut from the musical was the 'Lemons and melons and pears. Oh my' bit between Boc and Nessa Rose.

Also can we talk about how excellent Jonathan Bailey is as Fiyero?

'Popular' is, as always, fantastic. And highlights just how good Galinda is going to be at the politics of this world.

'That might be your secret, but that doesn't make it the truth' AUGH GALINDA just rip out my heart why don't you.

I liked that when Elphaba rescues the lion cub, she's more restrained/talented than in the beginning of the movie. It makes sense, she's been learning all this time.

THE BIKES. THE LION CUB IN THE BIKE BASKET. THE WIZARD OF OZ CALLBACK. LOVE.

The mushroom things during 'I'm Not That Girl', idk what those were but they were so so pretty lord I love the world-building.

That scene of Nessa Rose, Boc, Galinda, and Fiyero all together, and Elphaba on the outside in the dark. Fiyero looking out over the courtyard as he's being pulled away. Augh, all of it.

The way the students turned on a dime the second Elphaba got that invitation.

That. Train. Steampunk my beloved.

Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth getting singing roles, YES, THANK YOU, that was such a great surprise, I was squeaking like bebe Nessa Rose.

On the flip side... sigh. I called it. Jeff Goldblum was... very Jeff Goldblum. That guy, while a lot of fun, is the exact same character in pretty much everything he's been in for the last few years. I still think that casting was a mistake. Hear me out: The original Wizard was Joel Grey. Joel Grey was also the Emcee in Cabaret. ... so tell me it wouldn't both be great casting and an awesome call back to have casted Alan Cumming as the Wizard. I can't have everything I guess.

Also, and it might be just me/the effects of a late night screening, but when Elphaba and Galinda are walking into the palace, with the doors slamming behind them, and there's a scene with the torchlit hall behind them? Didn't the fire look like how the flames in the original Wizard of Oz movie looked? Just sort of... fuzzier and blurred than how film tends to pick up fire these days? It might have just been me.

Also this movie does have a bit of the Les Mis problem - you've got some cast members with serious vocal chops... and theeeeeen there's the ones that... tried hard. Great actors every single one, but would it have killed the director to find people for those roles that could match vocally as well? This movie doesn't need big names. We're not going for the big names, people.

I liked how the movie explained better why the Wizard not being able to read from the Grimorie was such a big deal.

The monkeys. Oh, the flying monkeys. Also the scene of Madam Morrible framed by flying monkeys. Thanks for breaking my heart.

'Defying Gravity'. All of it. Every bit of it. Holy. Shit. Holyshit. HOLY. SHIT.

So yeah, I'm going to have to see it eleventy-billion more times before it leaves theaters.

[quoththemaiden]

Tiny little translation differences from the Good Omens Holy Water Divorce in English and Japanese:

English:

Crowley: This is something else, for if it all goes pear-shaped. Aziraphale: I like pears. >_> Crowley: If it all goes wrong, I want insurance.

Japanese:

Crowley: This is something else, for if everything goes horribly wrong (shippai). Aziraphale: I like pie (pai). >_> Crowley: I'm serious. I want insurance.

Solid, in-character translation of the joke for Aziraphale. Japanese!Crowley is having even less of his nonsense than the English one, but it's hard to blame him when Aziraphale's deflection is even more of a stretch.

English:

Aziraphale: Do you know what trouble I'd be in if they knew I'd been fraternising? It's completely out of the question. Crowley: "Fraternising?"

Japanese:

Aziraphale: Do you understand how I'd become if it were discovered that I've been friendly with an enemy? It's entirely outside what I can do. Crowley: "Friendly with an enemy?"

Certainly, "fraternising" already means opposite sides, but adding "enemy/opponent" (敵 teki) in there makes it stand out all the more, at least to me. On the flip side, "dou naru" is less explicit than "what trouble I'd be in," but Aziraphale still casts his eyes Heaven-ward at the precise right moment... so the vagueness actually makes it feel more like a callback to how they discussed Crowley's Fall just one minute prior and less like it's referring to the previous scene's sternly-written note.

[auncerra]

/ despite the controversy on here for transphobic undertones, i really don't gauge that much. it's metaphoric, exploitative of conventional stereotypes of femininity and masculinity/diminutive toward that slang, it's a rage anthem, not a trans-bashing pop hit. sure, time period wise, controversial production to say the least but i don't think ke$ha of all people is lacking in the inclusion category, and everyone up in a tizzy and incited about a song that's undermining an inept man with present-culturally-derived language to support that... sure, from a perspective of: this is antagonistic towards FTM persons specifically, but regardless of/of not gender confirmatory bottom surgeries, the use of 'dick' and 'vag' to me/in this recording couldn't be further from literal. it feels like more of a callback to an industry of exploitative music towards women/a slash-back at patriarchal norms. maybe i'm wrong, but as a trans person, i'm not harboring resentment toward a track that feels completely expository and encapsulating of an entirely different beast: avoidant, insecure, manipulative men that behave well, not like men - gender non-specifically. a masculine archetype that's undermined by their own ill-capacity to be honest not only with themselves, but the ones they're pursuing any form of relationship/situationship with. so to the brainwashed, personally offended hordes of tumblr that need to prod this woman - already exploited and abused for her pursuit of autonomy in career, voice, image, list goes on - let's just stick to the katy perry heels of it all in terms of calling out blatant misogyny/working with abusive producers/affiliating with capitalists and agenda-pushing minorities and demographics to sell out concerts, and prying real estate from nuns and the elderly/impaired. although yeah, i can isolate the artist from their music in some cases, which perry produced some indisputable gems from - but i just think this spurious rhetoric of jumping on artists because of lyrics that may slightly rub them the wrong way, particularly in a scope of cultural history sense, is unnecessary and actually completely baseless in terms of what ke$ha is actually writing/producing. that's not the statement she's making, and to assume as much is to follow a very narrow lead.

[agentcable]

Law & Order Special Victims Unit Season 24 Ep. 9 "And a Trauma in a Pear Tree"

Carisi and Rollins collaborate on an important arraignment. Benson endeavors to fulfill Noah's Christmas wish when a case lands on her desk.

This episode marks the final appearance of Kelli Giddish (Detective Amanda Rollins) as she departs the series.

If you want to watch the series for yourself, stop reading! This post contains spoilers to the storyline.

Rollins and Carisi were in bed when Rollins' alarm went off. Carisi had to deal with Elias' arraignment. The girls interrupted what might have been a romantic moment with their excitement about Christmas.

Benson asked Noah why he was on his phone so much. He said it was a surprise for Christmas.

Muncy cannot leave town for Christmas because she needs to testify in Elias' trial. She has a meeting scheduled with Carisi, but they end up arguing. During the argument, Carisi drops something and leaves without waiting for Muncy to return it, forcing her to chase after him.

Later, it is revealed that Carisi wanted everyone at court to witness his and Rollins' marriage.

The scene quickly jumps to their kiss. Noah interrupts the party to announce that his older brother wishes to meet him.

Benson is concerned and seeks Fin's help. She discovered that Connor is a year older than Noah and was also adopted. Benson requests that Fin conduct a background check on the entire family.

Elias' lawyer has requested a continuance, and Carisi is prepared to proceed to trial. The request for continuance was denied, even though it interferes with his honeymoon.

Noah is anxious to meet his brother, and Benson takes him to meet Connor after confirming that the background check is clean. They knock on the door, and the mother asks to hug Noah. Benson looks upset. Connor wants to show Noah his Playstation 5 in his room. However, Olivia is uncomfortable with the idea. Despite this, Connor's mother insists that Connor keeps his door open.

Benson speaks with the father about the adoption process. He explains that one of the benefits of adoption is the ability to choose the adoptive family. However, Benson discovers that he has no information about the birth father and that the birth mother is missing. Later, Noah asks if he can spend the night. Although Benson is initially hesitant, Noah pleads with her and she ultimately agrees to let him stay alone.

After returning to her motel, a desk clerk continuously bothers her. While drying off after her shower, she discovers a camera. Rollins calls her, but she requests a callback. Once Benson is fully dressed, she returns Rollins' call and informs her about the hidden camera. During the car ride, Rollins offers to drive up. Benson tells her that Noah is excited and the people are kind, but she's waiting for something bad to happen. She plans to drive up in the morning and will discuss what she wants to say in person.

The next day, Noah is thrilled that Matt taught him how to throw a football. She mentions that she has some police business in town and that they want to ask her something.

Muncy is prepared to testify and assures she won't appear angry. Pria arrives.

Benson informs the parents that Connor's birth father has a troubled past. Rolllins interrupts the conversation with a phone call. She suspects that Troy, the desk clerk, may have planted the camera. She and Benson go behind the desk and find him watching their room. They arrest him.

During Pria's mother's testimony, Carter cross-examines and points out that the perpetrator had a mask and she never saw his face. Carisi redirects and she confirms that she made a voice identification, which was corroborated by her daughter and the detectives.

Troy installed cameras because he feared his cousin Ray would harm him. Benson and Rollins search for Ray.

Pria testifies. Carter does not have any questions.

Rollins and Benson are staking out a bar and discussing the possibility of Noah or Connor finding out about their birth father. They encounter Ray and propostion him for a threesome.

Muncy testifies, and Carter cross-examines her, starting with the premise that he is simply doing his job. He questions her about the radio she threw and the fact that she called him a sick bastard. He asks how many times she used force. She loses her temper.

Benson and Rollins take a drunk Ray inside.

Muncy is at the bar. Fin and Velasco find her. Fin explains that this is a lesson for her.

Benson and Rollins get Ray to admit to the cameras in the motel. The police officer informs Benson that there is video footage of her in the nude, which they plan to erase. However, Benson insists that they use the footage to incriminate Ray.

Benson and Rollins have a girls' night. Rollins informs Benson that she may be leaving soon, and Benson needs time to process the news. While Rollins is away, a desk clerk informs Benson that Rollins has already checked out.

Meanwhile, Carisi learns that Velasco wants to testify. Carisi states that the defense has rested and now it is up to the jury.

The McCanns have been made aware of the chaos at the motel. Additionally, they are no longer interested in learning about Connor's biological father. Noah enters the room and announces that the McCanns have gifted him a Playstation 5. Connor also has a gift for Benson.

Rollins informs Carisi that things did not go well with Benson. Rollins has accepted the job.

The jury has returned, but it was a hung jury. Fin advises not to be too hard on Muncy. Benson requests Rollins to call her back, but Rollins apologizes for leaving and comes in instead. Benson apologizes for her reaction. Rollins reassures Benson that their friendship won't change. Benson understands that Rollins has to do what she needs to do. They hug and cry together. Rollins leaves. Everyone outside applauds and hugs her.

[gemmaismss]

Everything has gone to shit, and so Gemma is at the mall. Yes, fine. She’s a goddamn cliché, get over it. Retail therapy is like a real thing and it's not like she could talk to an actual therapist about her fucking problems. So she spends her Italian grandparents’ money on pretty and often times expensive things. She’s made a spur of the moment decision to get back into glitter, a callback to her cheer days, but also fun as hell and very memorable. Besides she’s constantly surrounded by militaristic and hyper-serious hunters, Gemma sees it as her sacred duty to provide whimsy and fun.

Her absentminded wandering through the fragrances are suddenly, and perhaps quite rudely interrupted by the shouting of some stranger. Gemma is startled and nearly drops what she’s looking at. “Okay, hi, uhm I’m fine, are you?”  Her head cants to the side, brows arching slightly with a pitying smile – she’s a predator posing as a house pet. “It’s Juliette Has a Gun Pear – definitely not what I would call spicy. Are you sure you’re fine? You’re not like having a stroke or something? That totally fucks with your sense of smell, and like, general ability to read a room.”  

WHO: @gemmaismss WHERE: Aftcastle Mall, Generic Make-Up Store

Port Leiry is a quirky little town. Bhavana is not sure if it’s something in the air or some unnatural, yet-to-be-studied phenomenon like a giant magnet for misfortune that lies somewhere deep underground but she knows she shouldn’t be picking up on strange, fucked up aura this frequently. Is this becoming a regular thing? Bhavi hopes not despite the sinking feeling in her gut that it probably will. 

What spurred this revelation is that blonde at the other end of the fragrance aisle. Bhavi was minding her own business, generously spraying and sniffing free samples, when she walked by. Bhavi freezes. Immediately, all the hairs on her nape stand at attention. Blinding heat both contained yet brimming to the surface. The shrieking tea kettle rattling on the stove. Bubbling magma on the brink of exploding out of a volcano. A ticking time bomb seconds away from detonating. 

But something is wrong with this picture. The bomb wires are tied together, double knotted. A boulder blocks the volcano air duct. Locks and nailed boards keeping the kitchen door shut. No one goes in: Nothing gets out. How can anyone live like this? In a constant state of arcane constipation, enough stifled anticipation to drive someone mad. It’s too much. Her head might just explode.

Make it stop. Make it stop! “Hey, girl! Hey!” 

Bhavana calls out but finds herself impatient. She briskly jogs to meet her halfway with an antsy pip in her step. “Are you doing okay, diva?” Too forward. Bhavi forces a chuckle and smiles, “Sorry to bother, what kind of perfume are you wearing? It’s hot as hell—I mean. In a spicy way, y’know!” 

[tytangfei]

Am I convinced of the Pear x Boss pairing? Nah. Am I emotional that they seemed to hit it off by bumping into one another at a Scrubb concert? Maybe.

[thewafflewhat]

so I finally watched the dw christmas special... and 12 was by no means my doctor but by god did it make me cry

[magnumdays]

Magnum PI 4.12 - Angels Sometimes Kill review

Where to even start with this one? There was so much good stuff!

Guys just hanging out and surfing.

It’s so nice to just see them doing something fun, teasing Rick about the baby thing (”You’re having twins?” cracked me up!) and TC about having the ‘talk’ and just some general comradery. 

I also never say no to Hawaii scenery! Though did you need to wear a shirt Jay? I could have enjoyed some other things as well...

Gordon and TC talking and it going badly.

Like I love the intention here. TC going to ask for advice and getting it and then it going pear shaped. But before that he was getting some pretty good advice! 

TC and Cade. Oh my heart.

I think it’s good that there was some consequence for just randomly letting Cade move into the hangar. I mean, it’s awesome that he got the Ohana looking out for him and a place to be but actually having TC as his foster dad - much better. 

So I TC deciding he gonna step up and be even more amazing, we approve. Now they can get a place, TC will be his guardian and Cade can go to school and be a kid. So everything’s working out (though I doubt this is the last we’ll hear of it, probably there’ll be a bunch of drama around social services and getting approved.) 

These two just be so adorable. 

MI6 fixed Juliet visa

Phew? I thought this story line kind of was already over but okay guess I’m glad they made it clear. Robin is back to being the owner of Robin’s Nest and we got a small callback to the MI6 story line. I mean I guess this makes sense they could pull some strings (I can’t complain as this was how I got Juliet blackmailed into doing stuff in my Marriage of Inconvenience fic. I think? I can’t quite remember.)

Rick being proud of Jelly-Bean 

I’m just happy for Rick and I love that the Ohana is being supportive. (I mean of course they gonna be). Also, wow, I am so happy I don’t live in America or other place where school costs money, that gotta be rough to be all “here is the ultrasound - let’s start planing on how we gonna save money enough to send them to college” :O I know it was a joke but still...

The Case

Shammy calling in one of the favors Magnum is sure to owe him... 

No, but it’s nice to have an episode where they’re helping out a friend and this felt totally plausible. And horrible. Money is the worst sometimes. The title gives it a way the tiniest bit, but I’d forgotten the episode title so I was good. And I like titles that make sense (last weeks did make sense, I just have no clue on church-y things...)

Over all the case was good. Poor Shammy and poor Dart and his wife. Real heartbreaking.

The trailer kind of gave away too much though, it’d have been better if we hadn’t known Dart was dead. And the end bit too when they went to the bad insurance dude’s house? We also knew he was dead. So yeah while the trailer was exciting but gave away too much. 

I did enjoy that Magnum is suddenly good at doing quick numbers in his head. Or maybe he can only do it with menus? Higgy was clearly impressed either way.

(Okay, I know that doesn't look super much like her impressed face, but that’s just my bad for not screenshot-ing the right moment, okay?)

I had hoped a case with a vet would mean maybe just one tidbit of a military/spy story. But we didn’t get anything really like that for them or the guys, other than the nod to ‘we’ve all been there’. Which I think was a little bit of a missed thing, just one little thing would have been nice. But also I didn’t miss it in the ep, just thinking about it after.

In the end, Shammy showing up and meeting the wife and her getting to see that her husband had people that cared enough to go searching for him... it was nice. I felt less crappy and Higgy getting to give the ring back felt important so I’m glad they included it... 

(Though missed opportunity when Magnum found it. He should have held it out to her all ‘look what I found’ and and had her take it. No because I want to see him give her a ring. No. For Other Reasons...I Just Can’t Tell You).

Only problem I had is... well I’m a little annoyed everyone always end up dead. Like, come on! In almost every episode. I just want more cases where the stakes are high but people are not dying left and right. Is that too much to ask for? Maybe... 

Juliet Higgins the Best Friend Wing Woman of the decade. Seriously.

Her checking in with him, knowing when he’s lying about being fine and trying to get him to open up. She’s really learnt a lot about caring about someone and how to be nice about feelings. And that they’re important, especially with Thomas.

Her trying to help and getting Lia to work with them after hearing things were tense and they hand’t talked. Especially as we know Juliet starting to come to terms with some of her own feels. But she wants him to be happy, even if that in this moment meant Lia...

And while she might be a bit awkward, she does get out of their first so Lia and Magnum can have their interrogation room talk (that they picked that set made me 100% sure this ep. was going to end with a breakup. because interrogation room... not good vibes.) and then at the end she leaves so they can break up. 

The break up was well done, even if I’m still a little iffy on ‘did Lia do something wrong by not sharing? really? they were not serious’ (not sharing with the HPD and Gordon, sure, wrong of her, but the guy she’s dated for 6 months? maybe wrong? yeah, I guess.)

So because I’m petty... I love Lia more now that she’s not with Magnum. I do hope we get her as Gordon’s partner now and again, because we need some more female characters around! Plus she’s adorable and a cop with a bad-guy dad is a pretty cool character to include. Lots of possibilities there.

Really liked the break up, it was nice (not something you say very often) and I appreciate that. Sometimes things just don’t work out and that’s okay. They can still be friends (and Magnum can ask her for favors...)

I love that Juliet came to check on him as soon as Lia was gone, Higgy def. wanting to know what happening and then gauge his level of upset-ness with the break up.

“To being single!”

This just made me smile, because well...you be standing next to your soulmate being all “to us being single” and it was just perfectly perfect for me (yes, perfectly perfect.). Also both their expressions. They know neither one of them is actually single...

So... All good this week. This is def. one of my favorites this season. Especially in conjunction with the trailer for next week. I can’t wait to see what crazy shenanigans our faves get up to that lands them in jail...

(Plus they look super pretty in their mug shots... then again, when don’t they look super pretty!)

Basically all of this episode just makes me go “please make 10 more season“ because when they get it right, Magnum PI really just hits the spot. Like all the spots. The Miggy banter/partner feels, the cases, feels, Ohana, the prettiness of Hawaii, he prettiness of Jay and Perdie, important topics YET not rammed down your throat, just the right amount of wacky drama for dramas sake, the Ferrari, the guest stars being varied and tugging on heart strings, the whole vibe it just works. So yeah, 10 seasons please - but for now I’ll take a season 5 confirmation.

(Anyone know how we’re looking for that? Rating are holding pretty steady aren’t they? For a Friday night show, I think we’re pretty good. And they want to do a crossover with NCIS Hawaii right? So I’m kind of hopeful for season 5.)

That the end of review. Now I’m just going to go full on Miggy dreams and wishes and speculations that this episode made my brain decide on. Okay? Good, just so we’re all on the same page.

_____

Season 4 will end with Jelly-Bean being born + Miggy kiss. They’ve built it up too much for it not to happen (the kiss, not the baby). That’s my firm belief and if we don’t get it I will eat my hat. I mean, seriously just look.

Exhibit A

“I had that dream again.”

Exhibit B

The whole freaking show, the latest being Magnum and Lia’s relationship ending.

So yeah, I think Higgy will realize and act on what she’s feeling. For Magnum...it’s been kind of obvious he’d be into something happening between them for a long while now. In a way he was just waiting on her. Besides, in romances, it’s the person who has protested and claimed it would ‘never happen’ and is the most emotionally held back, that has to make the move, else it won’t feel (as) satisfying. For these two, that is Juliet. So girl, make your move.

Post kiss/hookup, going into season 5 Magnum and Higgins are trying to figure out their changing relationship. Because seriously, we need that and yes, some viewers will drop off once they will or won’t is over with. But I think by keeping it as a “will or won’t they work out” because let’s face it, they might be perfect for each other they’re also...very different people, they could keep those viewers watching. And besides, show is about more than Miggy. They can be together and solve crimes and banter, not everything have to (or should) change just because they’re doing the devil’s tango, right?

(If they don’t get renewed, at least they’ll have given us a REAL kiss.)

Mean while Rick is trying to be daddy. I’m guessing Suzie (I’m sorry I spell her name differently every time, it’s just one of those names I can never decide on how it’s freaking meant to be) and Jelly-Bean will be a big part of Rick’s story line in season 5.

And TC has Cade (and while I’m betting we’re getting a nervous TC for a interview or house inspection or something), it will all work out. By season 5, we’ll have both our best guys settling into their dad roles. I hope TC gets a girlfriend too, because dating with a teenage foster kid would be fantastic. And TC needs more screen time, he’s the best. 

Anyhow. This leaves the only guy around who is a hopeless romantic and has actually said he wants to be a dad - Magnum - as the only one (of the trio) without a kid.

(I mean we all remember this? Right? My ovaries sure remembers it...)

So while 80s Magnum didn’t end specially well for Magnum, I don’t think they’re going to go down that route. I mean they MAY decide to end it really horribly with Higgins getting shot by Ivan and quite possibly dying and Magnum going of to shoot Ivan in cold blood. In a sort of homage to the original. But, I really hope that’s not how it goes. Because...well that would suck and break my heart.

So my theory for season 5 (and the series finale) ends with a real Miggy wedding. I mean we got the ‘fake wedding that never was’. We deserve a real one!

And this scene with her returning the watch (3.02)...

If this not a parallel for a proposal I don’t know what is. (And today’s episode means I need a Miggy engagement ring that says ‘Ditto’ on the inside. Because reasons.)

And them taking care of Hiapo - Higgy being unsure about the baby thing - maybe have them taking care of Jelly-Bean in season 5 will end with another talk where she’s more open to it? Is this just me being a a sappy fan girl who just wants my idiots to get their happily ever after? Maybe. Not that Magnum and Higgins need a baby to be happy (just each other).

But!!! It feels like a show that is all about Ohana should maybe end with more Ohana. Even if we don’t need an actual Miggy wedding or a pregnancy announcement for that to be a thing. But it seems everyone else is getting a kid, ending the show on the happy note that Magnum and Higgy are going to be parents too just seems like the thing to do. Coming full circle from season one where they’re all a bunch of single guys, who are Ohana for sure, but now they both have each other as brothers and their own families too, all whom they love very much.

It makes sense to do a parallel to the show’s opening scene...

(Maybe even with a few additions, like Shammy, Gordon, Jin, Cade, and even Kumu and Suzie could be hanging out.) 

... they’re all having a good time and then Higgy shows up with the lads. But rather than be there to scold Magnum she’s there to join them or point out they’re going to be late for the X thing they’re doing for Magnum’s bachelor party. Or just anything. Or she’s there from the start. Or it’s Magnum, TC and Rick and then Higgy shows up and then everyone else, just dropping in?

IDK, I think that be a beautiful way to show the whole family that started out with these four guys, have lost one but they’ve still got each other and their Ohana has grown. They’re always changing but no matter what or how their lives change they’re always going to be there for each other. That’s the kind of ending I’d want and I think they all deserve! 

Yeah, that was a bit random, theorizing about the show’s endgame, but that’s what my brain wanted to do today so hope you enjoyed my ramblings a little bit!

[gingiekittycat]

Not only a couple, but (yet another) mirror for Crowley & Aziraphale.

Crowley asks for the holy water after he gets back from hell, and Aziraphale assumes he wants to use it as a suicide pill should things "go pear shaped". Just like Elspeth with the laudanum. As a fandom we always trusted Crowley's reply, that he didn't want it for suicide.... But in the context of the Elspeth/Wee Morag story... Yeah. Yeah I think he did.

I hope this is the only callback to that story. I hope we're not going to get another one in s3.... When one of them is "dead" (or thought to be dead) and the other one wants to die too....

feeling extremely smug right now that neil confirmed elspeth and morag were a couple

[dykeza]

I’m not one for character design HOWEVER. Mulling cTechno concepts around in my brain like the pear wiggler.

POGTOPIA: When we talk about how Techno was portrayed in this arc, I was drawn to how Others saw him. Even his name in chat sent armies into a panic, he’s a boon to the Pogtopians first, and a comrade second. I wanted to play into this, as his silhouette should not only be imposing, but dehumanizing. A hunched over frame, heavy fur cloak and kingly garb to give him an air of disconnect, therefore distancing himself from the audience and making him easier to hate. His crown, though dark in color and of high-end material, would be slightly askew as to convey his nervous personality. His cloak should cover his frame, but not as though he is untrustworthy, but to show his over-prepared habit. A cloak can hide anything, especially weapons.

Wilbur, however, is shrouded in his jacket to convey untrustworthiness. His hair covers one eye to symbolize his manic, skittish personality at this point. Stood together, Wilbur should look small and unassuming, while Techno should loom over him as a sort of “guardian Angel”, as he was originally called to the server as canon fodder.

RETIREMENT AND REVENGE: settling awkwardly into season two, Techno withdrawals completely from the spotlight and shrouds himself away in a snowy landscape. His hair is longer and well-kept, his beard combed and he’s not afraid of the grey streaks he’s gotten. His cloak, while still heavy and imposing, is a soft blue and blown open by cold winds, revealing a comfy, protected winter attire. The only lasting mark of his time in PogTopia is Wilbur’s quill, which he uses to write in his journal with.

When stood beside Philza, I want them to look like comrades. Matching color schemes, but heavily different emotions. Techno has taken himself out of the narrative, but is still scared of being hunted and attacked for his actions on the 16th. Phil, on the other hand, while daintier and with much more of a soft exterior, should be disheveled and wrung with grief. His eyes are wide and tear blotted, his hair hanging pitifully off his shoulders and helping to cover his face. His clothes are much the same as Technos, however his are much more old and worn, showing how he is torn to shreds by grief and adverse to taking care of himself, as he thinks he doesn’t deserve to be clean or well kept. Techno would probably have a steadying hand on his shoulder, or even completely over him to once again give him a “guardian” persona. These attributes would become deadly as doomsday rears its ugly head, as both of them are not only more intimidating, but have equipped the horrifying silhouette of netherite armor.

THE ILLIAD ARC (something I hope will become canon because it’s fun): the Iliad arc is the name I have lovingly given to the arc where Phil dies, a callback to the painfully ironic “platonic Achilles and Patroclus” thing he said about EmeraldDuo that one time.

In this heart wrenching arc, I’d imagine Techno to be standing at his full height, his hair tangled and almost mane like, his beard no longer well kept and more ratty than ever. It’s obvious he’s stopped caring about himself. His cloak is not only a deep burgundy, but the wolf pelt that made up the fur mantle has been replaced by a huge, imposing mane of crow feathers. His dress is mangled, his white dress shirt haphazardly buttoned and untucked, his weapons strapped carelessly to his person and most of his armor is unpolished and thrumming with enchantments strong enough to make your teeth hurt. The Orphan Obliterator and Toothpick are now duel-wielded, his rocket launcher strung across his back and loaded to the teeth with heavy hitting artillery.

The only things well kept are his friendship emerald and Phil’s, both being worn as necklaces on the same link of gold chain. And his Greek warrior inspired helmet, a horrifying callback to the Aristos Archaion, Achilles himself.

[alrighty-matty]

i loved your build a bear piece omg 😭😭 (but just one small typo, it should be pair not pear at the end)

hey thank you so much for liking my fic!! aww, so you notice 👀 it was actually intentional. it's a callback to this fic when matt and reader make food puns together in the kitchen. (the build-a-bear piece was happening in the same universe with that fic? kinda? since matt is babysitting the niece, Lily!)

[twdmusicboxmystery]

10x17: Home Sweet Home - Details

Alright, let’s talk details!

***As always, spoilers abound below for 10x17. Don’t read until you’ve watched!***

As many  have already pointed out, Maggie and Judith talking about the stars and how “she” is looking up at those same stars is interesting. Sirius symbolism, and of course they’re talking about Michonne, but when they use the pronoun, it could be adapted to anyone. Beth, obviously. But even Rick or anyone else who is missing.

I did notice something of a “rule of threes” theme in this episode. Right at the beginning, when loading the wagon, Lydia counts, “one, two, three.” That wouldn’t be very noteworthy on its own, but later in the episode, exactly three of Maggie’s people fall to the snipers. So again, a bit of a theme.

Also, Lydia is wearing a bright pink shirt at the beginning when she counts to three. I noticed it mostly because the color is so bright and it might be the cleanest thing Lydia has ever worn, lol. Not sure what it points to. This is such a minor scene, it’s hard to draw any conclusions. But it caught my attention.

When they go to see the ruins of Hilltop, it’s interesting that the only thing really left standing is the water tower. Water = Beth, so we always make note of things like water towers. It almost feels like a “standing amidst the ruins” sort of thing.

As they walk to get Maggie’s people, we do hear some interesting dialogue. Cole says there’s shelter 10 miles to the East. Just having 10 (think roman numeral X) and East in the same sentence catches my ear. At one point, one of them says “if we’re lucky.” So, Luck Theory. And we see lots of shots of sunlight filtering through the trees. We’ve always seen that as a Beth symbol.

Okay, let’s talk a little more about the cut on Maggie’s arm. It’s a rather large cut across her left forearm, right? And I mentioned yesterday that it isn’t the same as Beth’s because it’s on the wrong arm. Although, it IS in the same place as Beth’s cast, just the opposite.

So, here’s why I noticed it at all. There are two other times when we saw a big cut like this. Since the Leah rumors broke, I’ve rewatched the episode Scars several times. In that episode, Judith gets a cut in the exact same place: her left forearm. It looks exactly like Maggie’s does in this episode. That can’t be a coincidence.

The only other time I remember seeing this exact cut was on Tyreese in 4b. Now, I don’t want to freak anyone out, but Ty’s cut definitely foreshadowed his death. When he was bitten in 5x09, the bite came in exact same place he was cut.

Now, I don’t at all think this suggests both Maggie and Judith getting bitten and dying. I’m sure the symbolism is more complex than that. I just don’t understand exactly how they’re using it, yet. 

What I can say for now is that all three of the episodes I’ve seen it in (and there may be more; these are just the ones that spring to mind) are Beth-heavy episodes, at least when it comes to symbolism. So there’s 5x09 (she’s actually in Ty’s death hallucination), this episode, where she’s mentioned twice after 6 years of silence, and then Scars. I still haven’t posted my Scars post, yet. I just have a lot of stuff to post right now, but I’ll get it posted eventually. Just trust me when I say that episode has TONS of Beth symbolism in it. So, we’ll just leave it at that for now.

Maggie and Daryl’s convo:

So, I’m getting a lot of messages about how people are disappointed that we didn’t get more of a reaction from Daryl when Maggie said Beth’s name. And I get it, but let me answer this two ways.

1.  It’s not all that surprising. We saw Daryl’s huge reaction to losing Beth in Coda, in Them, and then in pretty much every episode for the next 3+ seasons. Eight years have passed since he lost her, and, while of course her death still affects him and of course he’s not over it, it’s not unrealistic that he has his reaction to it more controlled now.

2. Having said that, I actually disagree that we didn’t get huge reactions here. They looked subtle onscreen, but again, they were never going to have him burst into tears in this scene. That wouldn’t have really worked for the scene, or been terribly realistic. So let me lay out what we did see.

First off, when Maggie first says Beth’s name (“Bethie”), we don’t see Daryl’s face, but we can kind of see the side of his head in the foreground. When she says the name—like, the INSTANT she says it—he sort of tosses his head. Almost like a nervous horse. There’s definitely a reaction there guys, even if we can’t see it directly.

But pay attention to him when it DOES show his face again a few seconds later. He keeps shifting his eyes to Maggie’s face and away. He does it at least half a dozen times over several seconds. Again, it strikes me as him being nervous about something. And you know it has to be the mention of Beth.

So why is he nervous? Is it merely the mention of her name that makes him nervous? Is he afraid he might get emotional, and is trying not to? Because we don’t have a window into Daryl’s thoughts, there’s no way to know for certain. But the reaction is there. You just have to watch closely for it.

And to confirm it even more, I watched him closely a minute or two later when she starts talking about Glenn and Negan. If anything, you’d think that would be the subject that would make him more uncomfortable. Both because he dealt with so much guilt over Glenn’s death, and because one might see Maggie returning to Negan as a free man would feel like something of a betrayal. I could see Daryl feeling guilt over that.

But when she starts talking about Glenn and Negan, his eyes don’t do the shifty thing. At all. He just watches her steadily with no hint of discomfort. It’s ONLY when she mentions Beth that his eyes shift.

And before I move on, I want to mention one more things you can all go look for. (Yes, I’m giving you permission to go watch that scene over and over again. :D) 

Just before Maggie says Beth’s name, she has a peculiar reaction, too. Now, she’s talking about Glenn and Beth sort of simultaneously, so it’s hard to say whether this reaction is for her talk of Glenn or Beth. What I mean is, it’s right before she says that after Bethie died, she and Glenn talked about going to the ocean. She feels the need to throw in that it would have only been for a little while, not forever. So maybe that’s what she was feeling discomfort over saying: that she and Glenn contemplated leaving the group for a time.

But if you watch, right before she says the line, “after Bethie died,” her eyes get wide and she shrugs as though she’s about to says something she doesn’t want to.

So it may be about Glenn, but I can’t help but wonder if it’s because she realized she had to mention Beth as part of her explanation, and she knew that would be triggering for Daryl. Go watch that again and tell me what you think.

I don’t think I have to go over the importance of the ocean symbolism, right? Beth = water, and we’ve seen tons of ocean/boat symbolism around her. She also mentions the waves and the sunrise here.

In the morning, Cory calls the containers they sleep in “rust coffins.” Kind of an interesting label, suggesting death. But of course the thing that came to mind is the coffin Daryl lay in at the funeral home.

Kelly checking the truck, as I talked about yesterday, brought a lot of callbacks to mind, including Bob, and the notebook is something we could link to Beth through her journal/notes, as well as to the note left as part of the wolf trap in 5x16. This truck was even a little reminiscent of the “How the Harvest Gets Home” trucks.

One thing I couldn’t help but notice was Daryl’s line about how he’s gone looking for Connie “so many times.” That doesn’t actually make much logical sense. From what they show us, this episode picks up directly after 10x16. It would be different if weeks had passed and this was there way of telling us that Daryl has been looking for Connie in the interim. But this is literally the next day. How could he have gone looking for her “so many times?” Sure, we saw him searching a little bit early in S10, but the Whisperer War always got in the way, and honestly, I don’t think we saw him search more than two or three times.

So my point is, this is kind of a discontinuity. But I think it’s purposely placed to emphasize how often Daryl looks for people and maybe be another way of reminding us both of Rick and of Beth.

Maggie says, “We don’t know that.” Pretty much exact Beth dialogue and it’s about whether any of her people survived the fire and might still be alive in the woods. That’s exactly what Beth said this line about in 4b after the prison. Just saying.

Another line that jumped out at me was Cory saying that The Reapers had followed them. He didn’t know how. He’d been so careful. But somehow, they did.

Now, maybe this guy was just an awesome tracker. But I feel like this line had meaning. Like maybe they truly shouldn’t have been able to track Maggie’s group, but somehow still found them. Kind of makes me wonder if we should be linking this group to the CRM or not.

There’s been some discussion about whether Kelly and Elijah might become love interests. I’d be okay with that. And I can see that the way they connected and became all simpatico in this episode might be leading to romance.

Now, here’s why that might be important from a TD perspective. Did you notice the pear he gave her at the end? 

I looked up pear symbolism. As with all things, different cultures treat it differently. But in Chinese symbolism (and there’s a lot of that in the show) it sometimes means ‘separation.’ So there’s a superstition that friends and lovers should not eat pears together or they may be separated.

So when I first looked this up, I wasn’t really thinking of Elijah. As Kelly is definitely a Beth proxy in many ways, and also based on symbolism we’ve seen around her in the past (S9/S10) that I wasn’t sure how to interpret, I was thinking that maybe at some point she’ll be kidnapped or taken and be separated from Maggie. On TTD, Lauren said Maggie and Kelly became surrogate sisters in this scene. So I thought that maybe, on top of all the Beth symbolism, maybe this is also pointing toward another (surrogate) sister separation on the horizon.

But then it occurred to me that Elijah gave her the pear, and that’s probably really important. If (and this is still a big if) they become love interests, her separation will probably be from him. I’m just saying we might have another Bethyl proxy in the making on our hands. ;D

I have to say that I thought the scene where Daryl grabbed Maya and put a knife to her neck before realizing she was one of Maggie’s people is one of my favorites. You heart has to go out to the poor woman. She’s been traumatized like 5x over at this point. But she was looking at Daryl like he was a serial killer. Every time I watch that scene, I laugh. It’s rough being Daryl.

So how about the title? Well, we’ve already established that Daryl said this back in Still, at the moonshine shack. And given that I think Hershel Jr.’s arc here was a small scale replay of Beth’s (missing, searched for, eventually found and brought back to Alexandria) it makes sense that they used this line here.

But I think you can go as simple or as complicated as you want to with this. Because we also had the “coming home” theme in this episode a LOT. And it’s fitting, of course, because this was Maggie’s homecoming (which you could also see as a type of Beth’s arc, of course). But if you apply the “coming home” theme to what Daryl said in Still, all that tells me is that Beth and Daryl are one another’s “home.” And if Daryl is ever going to find his real home again, it will have to be with Beth, wherever she is.

For the record, I think they’ll explore Daryl’s side of this theme a lot with Leah. He was lonely, and searching for a home, and maybe he’ll think he’s found one for a time with her, but she’s not his real home.

Okay, finally, the song played at the end, You Want it Darker, has TONS of biblical symbolism in it. Since this post is already long, I’ll wait until tomorrow to post it.

Anything you can think of that I missed?

[page12]

I just rewatched The Time of the Doctor and cried my eyes out at Eleven's regeneration scene, like I always do. Then I realized that there's something wrong here.

Twelve is by far my favorite Doctor, but I don't cry when I rewatch his final scene. His speech is a combination of general advice about kindness and somewhat silly things like warning against pears (it's a callback, but it's still silly) and saying that his name can only be heard by children and under certain circumstances (which I don't think matches the other times his name is talked about in the show). The only really powerful part is the final line, "Doctor, I let you go."

Eleven's final scene was personal and emotional, and Twelve's mostly wasn't.

Does anyone else feel like Twelve's regeneration speech was lacking? (In the writing, not in the delivery.)

[jt2zemax]

***SPOILERS FOR THE PENULTIMATE SEASON 9 EPISODE!!!***

@joshscorcher and Aramau's wedding is less than a month away, and... the pressure's definitely on. And in regards to Ari's comment in the comic, in real life, me and @midnightbluerose93 are on opposite sides of the world (Australia for her, USA for me) and neither one of us is doing that great financially, so marriage might have to wait... but that doesn't mean I don't love her with all my heart! In fact, what I REALLY want is to just be able to see her in person again :(

Jasper's ACTUAL Thoughts: THE RUT IS OVER!!!! Yeah, the episodes in between Summer Sun Setback and this one... I thought were kinda bad... ESPECIALLY "Daring Doubt". I was worried that was gonna be the case for this one since the premise was SO PROMISING!!! And, thankfully, it ended up being a beautiful episode! The callbacks to "The Perfect Pear" and previous Big Mac episodes -ESPECIALLY the ones involving Sugar Belle, the clever way we got to see both halves of the same story from the bride and groom's perspective, the comedy (Like how Granny Smith's dream was basically Star Trek), and.... just the shipping feels! I also really loved how the characters are presented here - Big Mac taking a big step out of his comfort zone for someone he loves, Spike and Discord being his bros who kinda mess things up but they still have his back, Mrs. Cake getting a more prominent role (Kinda wish MR. Cake got the same respect), Sugar Belle's still a sweetie who wants Big Mac to be comfortable and happy, the CMC wanting to make amends for the last few times they kinda muddled in Big Mac's love life, and just... everyone was delightfully in character here. I think the one thing I don't really get was why they had it with little confessional scenes in between... not complaining, I liked them and they payoff that they were telling the story to Applejack (Full of liquid pride, no less) was a nice touch... just curious what made them decide to go that route. Add to it, overall, I really liked the episode's moral - somethings don't always go as planned, but sometimes the simplest acts done with a lot of heart are the ones that really matter. And yes, I DID see Lyra and Bon Bon proposing in the background.... nice to see that the staff decided "to hell with subtext! It's the final season, and we all know what 'best friends' is really implying for these two!"

If you like what you see here, please consider supporting me on Patreon where donating a certain amount could earn you a cameo or guest role in a comic or video, or even a spot in a monthly Skype Patreon call! 

Screenshot on Jasper's laptop: https://mlp.fandom.com/wiki/File:Big_Mac_gives_Sugar_Belle_an_engagement_ring_S9E23.png