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One thing I like in full speed ahead is that we’re given a very insightful view of the dynamic between Odysseus, Eurylochus, and Polites right off the bat. Eurylochus is the more no nonsense right hand man who is willing to do whatever it takes for all 600 men to make it home to Ithica whereas Polites is more the moral compass who keeps Odysseus and the crew’s values in check.

What’s interesting to me is that we’re sort of fed the comparison of the angel and devil on Odysseus’s shoulder but the question is, who’s who?

Most people would instinctively say that of course it’s Eurylochus who is the devil and Polites the angel. Eurylochus is immediately willing to raid the island despite being unaware of whether the people on the island are innocent or not whereas Polites wants to try and resolve things peacefully and barter with the people for food.

But the thing is, I think both have the capacity to be the angel and devil in this scenario.

Yes, Eurylochus is often willing to take the violent route but he is also a man who has been at war for 10 years and knows the price that must be paid. No, the things he does aren’t morally right but when we think of how far he would go to protect the men he has known and have likely become family to him over 10 years, would any of the men think him wrong for doing his best to look out for them even if it meant harming others?

Yes, Polities is doing his best to try and reserve the last dredges of their humanity after spending 10 years fighting and killing in the war but oftentimes it is his naivety that gets them into trouble. No, he doesn’t mean for this to happen, everything he does comes from a well meaning place with his attempts to find peaceful solutions to make it home but would the crew who lose their life to the cyclops and later to Poseidon appreciate his efforts?

In this situation dealing with the aftermath of a horrific war, they’re both right and justified in what they’re doing which is what makes their characters so endearing and interesting. Neither of them are to blame for their differing ideologies and both do their best to protect the crew and Odysseus.

Because, of course, at the end of the day, it is all down to Odysseus to make the final decisions as the captain but he values both of their opinions greatly, Eurylochus as his second in command, and Polities as his closest friend, which means he ends up listening to them more often than not.

Odysseus is a perfect mix of the both of them at the beginning of the musical, both rational and merciful as he has both of their counsels at his disposal, but it is this exact thing that leads to his downfall: he needs both of them to maintain his status as a good captain which is why it all goes to shit when he leans too heavily on either side. It’s his guilt over the death of the infant that leads to him utilising Polities’ ideology and getting into the whole debacle with the cyclops. And after Polities demise, he is left with only Eurylochus to guide him which leads to his descent to monster and losing the trust of his men.

Without this balance between two greatly contrasting perspectives and ideologies, Odysseus is unable to use either without causing great damage to his crew and himself. Whether Polites is the angel and Eurylochus the devil and vice versa, this is what eventually leads to the mutiny of the crew and demonstrates why it is only Odysseus who makes it home.

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Can we all agree that wild child, st trinian’s, and angus, thongs and perfect snogging are the holy trinity of british films that we brits all watched at some point in our adolescence?

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I find it so poignant in Epic the idea that all of Odysseus’s actions of ‘kindness’ so to speak always come back to bite him in the end (going to the cave to try and show open arms in trusting the lotus eaters, offering the wine to Polyphemus, sparing Polyphemus, his apology to Poseidon) except for his plea to Circe after denying her advances.

And you know why I think that is? Because it’s the only open arms approach that is completely sincere in nature.

Let me explain a little further, everything I’ve listed up to that point has been deception in some sort of way, they only went to the cave on the advice of the lotus eaters because they were desperate. I have no doubt that if given any other choice, Odysseus wouldn’t have gone. He only offered the wine to Polyphemus in an attempt to bargain for his and his crew’s lives and he ends up spiking it with lotus anyways so even if Polyphemus had let them go, he still would’ve ended up being betrayed in some sense. Him sparing Polyphemus is an act of spite against Athena and Polyphemus because he believes himself to be above any sort of repercussions and wants to taunt him for killing his friends. And finally, his apology to Poseidon is insincere at best because at no point does he ever utter the words “I’m sorry”. Not that Poseidon would’ve let him go anyways because I firmly believe at that point he’d already made up his mind to kill Odysseus and his crew but it’s the thought that counts and Odysseus clearly wasn’t sorry in the slightest, only sorry it came back to bite him.

Then we move to Circe and that’s when Odysseus’s luck changes when, after telling her that he will not cheat on his wife, she shows him mercy and helps him out. Because Odysseus was sincere in his affections for his wife and Circe, a woman who has been burned and abused by men in the past, has watched her nymphs suffer at the hands of men, and as a woman who deems all men as pigs because she believes they do not care for women at all, respects him for that. It humanises him.

It gives Circe some sort of hope that things could be better. Her line “maybe one day the world will need a puppeteer no more” may be immediately followed up with her declaring that instead one day it could need her more and things will get worse, but it gives Circe hope that she never had before. Circe already held the views of her final line, it’s nothing new for her to be untrustworthy of men at best, but for a moment, she wants to believe in a world where men are good and her nymphs would be safe even without her protection. A world where she would be safe.

All because Odysseus was finally being sincere to someone and genuinely poured his heart out which worked! Circe let his men go and helped them get to the underworld which she didn’t have to do at all, she could’ve sent them on their merry way and washed her hands of the whole incident but she didn’t. She wanted to believe in the love between Odysseus and Penelope and did everything in her power to make their reunion possible.

This makes his turn to becoming a monster in the underworld saga all the more upsetting because one good outcome to his kindness does not change others that got his friends killed so he completely gives up on it and embraces the role of being a monster who doesn’t care for anything but getting home, no matter the cost.

Even by the point of his plea for mercy from Circe, a part of Odysseus has already given up on everything Polites tried to in-still in him, but loves his wife so much that he’d never even fathom betraying her despite the fact that he believes cheating on her with Circe (unaware that her seduction is only a farce to kill him) will make her release his men and she’d likely never know that Odysseus had betrayed her. He still can’t do it, it’s Odysseus’s last ditch attempt to try and resolve things peacefully and he’s only doing it for the love of his wife.

It’s tragic irony that the very thing he believes in so sincerely, humanises him so much, and garners him the most help and sympathy is what leads to his downfall to a monster, his love for his wife and his son.

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I’ve been listening to the Circe Saga nonstop for the last few days so I’d probably say that’s my favourite atm but I change my answer constantly. Like last week I was really into the ocean saga and a few days ago I was listening to just a man on repeat-

Can I just say as well what a banger no longer you is oh my god I could cry.

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I know the song’s been out for a while now but the line “everything’s changed since Polites” is FOUL

Who tf let Jorge Rivera-Herrans cook?

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The entire starkid fan base now that Cinderella’s Castle is fully funded:

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Netflix could ABSOLUTELY do a prequel to damsel with Victoria as the protagonist.

Girlie lasted a while before getting killed by the dragon I just know it. A true girlboss as well looking out for her fellow sacrificed women with her warnings.

And how did she also know that the story told by the kingdom was a lie? Netflix pls it would be so good I’m begging here.

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Literally no one asked for this but i decided to do my ranking of NPMD songs because I’ve seen some people do it on yt. I don’t post on yt and I’m shit at video editing so here we are-

This is all my personal opinions based on how much I enjoy the songs and how often I listen to them (also partly based on the scenes, choreo, etc) so please don’t lynch me, everyone’s allowed their opinions.

This was really hard for me because I actively listen to the songs from 11 onwards and I’m likely to change my mind as I listen to the album more so take this with a grain of salt. This is probably my favourite album that Starkid’s ever done.

Do not expect any coherent comments for this ranking as I’m terrible at articulating my thoughts, but just know that all these songs are incredible and they all hold a special place in my heart.

15. Go Go Nighthawks!

I don’t dislike this song tbh just very neutral towards it. I really enjoy the “fuck you Clivesdale” portion of the song but other than that, I can’t really say I listen to it. Kim and Bryce’s splits were incredible though holy shit.

14. The Best of You

This song, like many have said, is a bit too Disney channel for me. I like the scene and Steph and Pete are a really cute couple but not really into the song.

13. Bully the Bully

I love the scene for this, Angela’s choreo is brilliant and I think it’s a cute little song. The only reason it’s this low is because I don’t really listen to it outside of watching the show.

12. Bury the Bully

OKAY THIS ONE HURTS BECAUSE IVE REALLY GROWN TO APPRECIATE THIS REPRISE AND I THINK ITS BRILLIANT, HOWEVER, similarly to bully the bully, I don’t listen to it outside of outside of the show. Unfortunately cannot rank it higher than this as I enjoy the rest of the songs more :(

11. Nerdy Prudes Must Die

I’m ashamed that this is so low just purely based on Jon’s incredible “I’m not a loser” and Will Brenner’s amazing performance, HOWEVER, I’m not as into the rest of the song so unfortunately it is ranked as it is. The scene is pure genius though holy shit. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time.

10. Cool As I Think I Am

I had a hard time deciding between 11 and 10 but cool as I think I am just took it in regards to the fact that I actually listen to this song in my own time. What can I say? I’m a sucker for Joey’s Bug type roles and solos. Goes to show how much I enjoyed the album that this song I actively enjoy is ranked so low.

9. Dirty Dudes Must Die

This was originally higher on my list but I have since grown to enjoy other songs more but make no mistake, I think this is a great ending to the show and I adore Angela’s unhinged performance as Grace. The “who will pray for you?” reprise coming from Grace of all people is *chefs kiss*.

8. If I Loved You

Mariah and Joey’s vocals willed this ranking into existence. I love a good duet between characters who are obviously attracted to each other but for some reason, are desperate to act like they aren’t. While I don’t believe this is the strongest love duet in Starkid history (that belongs to the way I do imo), I do think it’s a sweet and a catchy tune overall.

7. Cool As I Think I Am (Reprise)

I did not appreciate this song as much as i should’ve when I first watched the show, but recently I’ve been listening to it a lot more and it’s just the perfect combination of cool as I think I am and if I loved you. Absolutely devastated me upon first watch.

6. Literal Monster

Honestly, when I first watched the show, I didn’t like this song very much and was very surprised when I saw that it had one of the highest views out of the album. I’ve listened to it a lot more since then and it’s genuinely been the biggest change from my original ranking to this one now. The harmonies are incredible, Kim is as always a queen, Will Brenner’s section is so good idek what to say. But yeah, I really like this song.

5. Dirty Girl

I know this is very controversial as it is currently first place for my poll on people’s least favourite/least listened to song. Like most people, the scene makes me extremely uncomfortable BUT THE VOCALS !!!!! I genuinely love the song it’s such a banger and Angela and Will’s voices go so well together it’s actually insane. (I do still cringe every time I hear the words “dirty girl soup”).

4. High School is Killing Me

Probably the best opening Starkid has ever done. I’m a big sucker for group numbers so it has that going for it. Idk what else to say really, I just love the song.

3. Hatchet Town

I 👏 LOVE 👏 THIS 👏 SONG 👏 arguably one of the best act 2 openers, I am a sucker for group numbers as mentioned above and the tune of hatchet town is just so good. I particularly enjoy the chorus and the ending.

2. The Summoning

Need I even say more?

1. Just For Once

Probably the most controversial ranking I’ve ever done but SUE ME, I think this song is brilliant and a modern masterpiece. Someone said it gave them Falsettos vibes which absolutely contributes to why I love it so much but theres just so much else going for it. I could write a whole essay on the importance of just for once but I’ll spare you for now. All I’m going to say is that this song slaps and I will take no other answer :)

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‼️THIS IS IN NO WAY SAYING ANY OF THESE SONGS ARE BAD OR YOU SHOULD DISLIKE CERTAIN SONGS IM JUST CURIOUS PLS DONT ATTACK ME‼️

My personal opinions: “Fuck you Clivesdale, go get fucked” is the only part of go go nighthawks that I really like unfortunately.

I also find the best of you to be incredibly cheesy which I know is intentional but it’s just a little too Disney channel for me to listen to 💀

I’m ready for the debate to begin 🤪

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I am totally normal about Richie I swear-

If I have missed someone I am very sorry I’m stupid

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Genuinely didn’t realise how unhealthily dependent I was on ao3 and fanfictions until it was ripped away from me. Definitely need to read some books (not until I finish all my fanfictions though).

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So I definitely stole this idea from @stop-breaking-my-heart-telltale but it looked fun so I decided to make the ericson gang in death road to Canada and omg it was wild

Of course I started off with Clementine and AJ who almost immediately died due to my terrible gaming skills and eventually met up with James. I’m pretty sure James’ morale didn’t change the entire time he was with them he was over their shenanigans

Unfortunately, this picture was taken right before disaster as after this, AJ was killed in a siege right before making it to Canada 😭

(I do have to admit I may have had Clementine throw a pipe bomb into a crowd of zombies while AJ was there and it may or may not have killed him,,,, whoopsie)

Saddest part is that in the last trader camp, the gang met up with tenn but there was no space left in the party so he just kept following them around until they left

Thankfully, the rest of the gang made it to Canada in one piece despite almost dying many many times

There goes James writing his survival guide on why the zombies should be spared and Mitch manifesting his inner Clementine with crashing cars

Might do more of this in the future I made everyone from season 4 and I’d love to actually keep AJ alive next time 😭

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Reblog if you're not homophobic

Every url that reblog’s will be written in a book and shown to my homophobic dad. 

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My experience watching west end Hamilton:

I adore the part in Alexander Hamilton where they all line up as they sing “you never learned to take your time” then they all just disperse shfkskfj it was so good

I couldn’t keep my eyes off the ensemble during most of the show they were extremely talented throughout

I adored all of the cast members, especially the actor who played Lafayette/Jefferson (very sorry but I do not remember his name) he had so much charisma as both characters and you could tell that he loved playing the roles as well

My shot was an excellently produced number both the cast and ensemble made it seem very lively

The Schuyler sisters were >>>> I particularly enjoyed Peggy/Maria

Can’t get over the sheer comedic value King George III gave to the show

WASHINGTON WAS CASTED PERFECTLY I REALLY HAVE NO COMPLAINTS

I love how in right hand man you can really feel Burr’s resentment to Hamilton growing, shown by Hamilton’s attempt at a handshake with Burr being rejected

The sound production with the booms in right hand man and yorktown was actually reminiscent of how I imagine a battlefield would be

They really used the spinning stage well (not sure of the technical term for this 💀)

Helpless was such a cute sequence and then we get to satisfied and you see how it actually was from Angelica’s perspective 🥲

The spinning stage in satisfied was also really well done, it really cemented the fact that it was going back in time

THE 👏 ENSEMBLE 👏 IN 👏 WAIT 👏 FOR 👏 IT 👏

I liked the little detail from ten duel commandments/meet me inside of Hamilton pushing Laurens away so he doesn’t get in trouble with Washington

The anger from Hamilton in meet me inside was very natural

The whole Yorktown sequence was just fantastic, it was probably one of my favourite numbers from the show just because of the attention to detail

PLS I love King George III

The harmonies in dear Theodosia I can’t-

Laurens interlude was so sad the way Hamilton tries to reach out to Laurens during “tomorrow there’ll be more of us” then Laurens exiting the stage :(( brb boutta cry

Non-stop has to be my favourite sequence in my show I love all the chaos at the end, Burr’s outburst, the moving stairs Washington stands on, Angelica and Eliza standing on both sides of Hamilton and him ripping their hands away ?? the drama I live for

JEFFERSON WAS PERFECT CANT EVEN SAY ANYTHING ELSE OTHER THAN HIS TREMENDOUS, SHOW STOPPING CHARISMA

It’s a good contrast to the more down to earth Madison

Can’t get over how cute Philip was 🥺🥺 I adore his rap and the fact that the actor playing Philip was so much smaller than Hamilton

MARIAAAA those bars were on point and how she collapses to her knees during the “I didn’t know any better” you could really feel her desperation

Another one of my favourite sequences ✨the room where it happened✨ I love the jump Burr does on the table and the ensemble pulling away the table sheet under him

The vocals of Washington in one last time were *chefs kiss*

The Reynolds pamphlet was a real experience there was so much going on, King George dancing in the background and throwing a few pamphlets at Hamilton, Washington looking extremely disappointed, Maria in the background looking ashamed, Philip reading the pamphlet >:((, can’t forget Angelica fully roasting Hamilton, and the sheer number of pamphlets that were thrown in the air like my god

Pretty sure they had a real fire going for burn that was confined to this bucket 😳

I’ve tried to block out the trauma that came with blow us all away-it’s quiet uptown so all I’m gonna say is the scream from stay alive reprise was so upsetting I think I started crying

The way Burr goes from 😁 to 😐 in the election of 1800 when Hamilton gives Jefferson his vote was honestly sad to see

THE MOST UPSETTING PART OF THE WORLD WAS WIDE ENOUGH FOR ME IS HOW DURING THE “we were near the same spot his son died” THEY BRING PHILIP OUT ON THE STAGE AND HE SINGS SOMETHING LIKE “near the same spot I died” and Hamilton looks at him 🥲🥲

The emotion coming from Burr during the song was immense I have no complaints

Who lives, who dies, who tells your story was the perfect ending to the show I love the gasp at the end and the way Eliza and Hamilton dance around each other before they see each other :,((

To conclude, I loved Hamilton it’s definitely worth the watch and if you’re reading this you’ll probably love it as well

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‼️‼️SPOILERS FOR SWEET HOME IF YOU HAVENT WATCHED THE FULL SHOW DONT READ THIS‼️‼️

So I watched sweet home last week and ????? One of the best shows I’ve ever watched I literally cried like a baby when Jae-Heon died I was genuinely upset, and that’s coming from someone who rarely gets emotional over character deaths, so for me to fully have to pause the show and take a breather THEN COME BACK TO IT AND CRY AGAIN WHEN SANGWOOK POURED THE DRINK OUT FOR HIM AND JI SOO’S FLASHBACK TO HIM SAYING HE WANTEF TO BE WITH HER 🥲🥲🥲🥲 it was an excellent show with believable characters and character development, almost all of the characters were people who I could sympathise with and even the ones I didn’t really like still had their own little quirks that made them bearable to watch. Hell I was even invested in the kids the moment they walked onto screen, I was deadass prepared to riot if they died AND THATS WHEN THEY FIRST APPEARED 💀💀 the actors who played the kids were excellent as were the rest of the cast honestly props to them ✌️ it’s genuinely a show I would recommend to anyone who likes apocalyptic horror :))

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‼️‼️SPOILERS FOR SEASON 3 OF THE RAIN‼️‼️

I’m still in complete shock that season 3 decided to kill off Martin so they could push this new love interest with, well he was just so boring I don’t even remember his name, so I’ll call him Ralph idk

From season 1 Martin is a key character you get to see his backstory and sympathise with his character and why he does the things he does. Martin has always been a personal favourite of mine as his character development through season 1 and 2 and his relationship with Simone is just so yknow natural(??) it’s one of the reasons I’ve always loved the rain, apocalyptic found family with realism

I’ve always loved season 1 and season 2 itself was still pretty good (though I’m still pissed they killed Lea and shit on Jean’s character) but season 3?? It was just something that I couldn’t enjoy with all the added bullshit about the virus and Simone going in the water when I thought previously the water still held the virus in it like 😭😭 letting Martin believe she was dead just long enough for him to let Rasmus put the virus in him AND THAT WHOLE THING IS A CONVO FOR A NOTHER DAY, it just feels like a completely different show

After Martin died I was so shocked and upset I ranted to my friend about it for a good 10 minutes and couldn’t continue watching seriously after that. I could handle Beatrice dying as it helped cement the idea that life isn’t fair and the virus is brutal, I could handle Lea dying because it made sense for her character to sacrifice herself for her friends, but Martin ????? His death hurt me in a way that most don’t :((

To conclude, season 1 and 2 of the rain are >>> BUT SEASON 3 HELL NO GET OFF OF MY PROPERTY. Using Ralph as a love triangle thing just isn’t my thing idk how I’m ever supposed to buy that Simone would ever cheat on Martin, the love of her life for this random dude we just met who somehow has this magic flower that keeps the virus at bay 😐😐 anyways, so long

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Y’all I don’t even know what to say about the comic except a long string of curses and a lot of ?!??!????!!!!! oh and

WTF SKYBOUND 👁👄👁 trying to tell me clem isn’t “happy” with AJ like 😭😭 this is actual clownery I had low expectations but this is worse than anything I ever pictured

I’m just sick of them pretending that this is actually what clems character is like, we all know that clementine LOVES AJ and she’s happy with him, hell she wouldn’t have done everything she’s done for him if she wasn’t happy with him,,, idk man I’m just tired of this LITERAL FANFICTION of clem I won’t be seeing it as canon and I think if I see ~that~ picture from the comic again I’ll cry my eyes out 🥲

It makes me sad to see that they’re doing this with her character and god poor aj

Anyways if you need me I shall be in de nile far, far away from this ridiculousness 😀✌️