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sk8erboi04 · 5 months ago

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Why You MUST Read Star Catcher On Webtoon

Hello, my name is Sk8er, and in this essay I will be doing my very dang best to try and convince you to read Star Catcher on Webtoon. (Yes, the title is a little dramatic but it is so honestly how I feel that I can’t be sorry about it.)

And just a statement before I get into it, I obviously am not connected with the author and am in no way getting anything from promoting her beautiful story, I have just recently become obsessed, and this is my most productive way to deal with those feelings. (I feel this is obvious, but my sister, forever my voice of reason, said I should make sure people know anyway so there ya go)

With that out of the way, and the warning that this is going to be LONG, lets do it.

There are a number of things I love about this story, but pretty much everything can be summed up into two categories. The story, and the art. I’ll cover everything I love that falls under both of the topics, and then finish of with my closing statements.

1- The Story

As of the time I’m writing this, there are 36 episodes/chapters released to the public, with 5 extra chapters available via fastpass. I’ll do my best not to spoil anything that you can’t understand or infer from the first 3ish chapters, because the first chapter is a flash forward and isn’t plot relevant until way later in the story.

Anyway, holy shit it’s only 41 chapters but it's already SO GOOD?! Like, we have our main characters, Lucas(Luke) and Thomas(Tommy), and they are both such excellent protagonists! They both have so much depth, and it’s so clear that there was so much thought put into their motivations and general dispositions by the author.

On one hand, Luke is such a wonderful representation of what it’s like to struggle with anxiety/self doubt. It’s such a realistic depiction of someone who is recovering from a time when those issues were at a peak, but is not magically better and on a perfect healing arc either. There are clearly steps in the right direction, a light at the end of a tunnel the character couldn’t see previously, but it’s still a work in progress. That’s not even to mention how much is revealed later down the line, and how much is still not clear but is being so beautifully hinted at/foreshadowed.

And on the OTHER hand, you have Tommy who is just the most incredible depiction of a parent-pleasing ‘good boy’. Where the story is currently, not a WHOLE lot has been revealed in terms of Tommy's family sitch, but it’s very clear that the guy is the classic “No dad, that’s your dream, not mine!” except the sweet boy can’t say that cause there’s no one else to live out the parents’ dream for him so he’s gotta do it. There’s more hints at his people pleasing behavior, but I won’t get into it for fear of spoilers, just know that he is trying SO hard to take care of people and is astonished someone might want to take care of him.

And then, ya know, that meet and fall in love at first sight and it’s perfect and I will never get over it.

This story is what we in the business call a ‘slow-burn’, and holy shit do the comments love to yap about it. Problem is, on one hand, I definitely see where people are coming from. Within the timeline of the story, it feels like eons. But. like. It’s not that bad. Don’t let anyone scare you, it’s definitely a tension builder, but it’s not as bad as some stories I’ve seen so don’t be deterred if that’s your sticking point. You will be well fed with cutesy content, even if they're not together yet. The commenters are just hyper.

The story so far is focused on Luke and Tommy getting together, but I’m not sure how long that’s going to last as a plot point and how much story will come after they get together. There is a really cool extended cast with Luke’s twin sister and all of their friends, plus we’ve got some ~trauma~ to get into, so regardless, there’s plenty of story outside of the ‘couple things’ to get into and It’s all really cool.

All in all, I'm obsessed and the amount of attention and care the author has put into planning the story out is so clear and I can’t wait to see where it goes!

2- The Art

This is the main reason I wanted to write this essay. I totally understand that art is subjective, and not everyone is going to like the same thing, blah blah blah. I understand all that. I have never taken longer to read a Webtoon story in my LIFE because I was too busy just admiring the pretty pictures.

The colors are STUNNING. The line art is STUNNING. I could stare at it all day and never grow tired of it. If my life were drawn out in a graphic novel, I’d want it to look like Star Catcher.

I’m not any kind of super talented artist, but I like to paint as a hobby and have played with procreate on my ipad for shits and giggles and damn is it only in my wildest dreams that I could draw the way this author does. Every character is so individual and unique. Clothes and general style are complex without looking ‘busy’. Poses and movement feel so natural and are never out of place.

AND OH MY GOSH THE EXPRESSIONS! The faces each character makes are so expressive, Luke especially getting some of the cleanest and clearest emotions I’ve ever seen. Perhaps it’s because I've tried and failed so miserably at drawing mouths, but I am especially impressed by how rarely characters' mouths look boring. Every facial feature is used to tell us what the character feels, and I can’t get enough.

Also. The cartoony/chibi style bits?! It’s like, 50% of the appeal for me. It is so cute and just so well used for comedy, I laugh out loud at nearly every episode from those parts alone.

Even the damn speech bubbles stay in between pages is a liminal outer space so they stay out of the way of the art while still allowing for a flowable reading experience. WTF.

Compliments to the chef, cause she fuckin’ cooked with this one.

Conclusion-

You should read this comic. Do it. I triple dog dare you. That’s a threat. I will never shut up about how good it is and as long as nothing crazy happens like all the characters getting eaten by a pack of wolves or something, I’ll be reading it until it’s over. I advise you do the same.

(Also, if by some crazy chance you’re the author and have just read my brain vomit, I hope it comes across as ‘I love your thing in a cool and fun way, not a weird and creepy way.’ Haha funny, not haha weird, ya know? Much love!)

TLDR -

Star Catcher is perfect and you would think so too if you’d just read it ya bum.

#star catcher #webtoon #webcomic #gay #romance #slow burn #art #read it #i dare you #star catcher webtoon

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sk8erboi04 · 10 months ago

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Achilles Come Down is Regulus coded and I can PROVE IT!!

Okay so I have literally never posted anything on the site, I literally just exist as a ghost that likes silly funny things, but I have been inspired so severely and I physically can’t not say something.

Picture this.

I was driving my car, minding my own business and absolutely vibing, when all of a sudden a song auto-plays that I haven’t heard in like, three years.

‘Achilles Come Down’ by the band ‘Gang of Youths’ hit me like an emotional truck, and outside of how beautiful that song is on its own (literally if you haven’t heard where have you been go listen to it NOW) that silly little fandom worm we all know wiggled its way into my brain and gave me the most violent fanon idea I’ve ever had.

*Ahem*In this essay, I will explain how ‘Achilles Come Down’ is a perfect representation of Regulus Black and his relationships with Sirius, James, and his parents, as well as his inner turmoil as a character.

Okay, so to start, we are running on the idea that James and Regulus have or at least had a relationship in some capacity. I will accept one-sided feelings on James’ part, mutual feelings but never official, or officially together for any stretch of time. If you are not a Jegulus shipper, your mom’s a hoe, but you can enjoy the familial aspects at least, so there you go.

Beginning with the song as a whole, there are three voices we hear singing at different moments throughout the song, each with their own intention and influence on the song’s subject. Within the song's narrative, we listen as Patroclus tries to inspire Achilles to fight for his own life and push through his hardships, while Hector tries to poison Achilles' mind with self-doubt and despair.

As I mentioned though, there is a third voice that appears throughout the song that speaks French in the time between the characters fighting over Achilles’ well-being and the chorus. This character’s identity is unknown as far as I can tell, but his narration is far more metaphorical regardless and we’re not gonna get into that until later(though each instance will be numbered for later reference), in the meantime, we can move on to the lyrics and how this is so incredible Regulus coded and how I KNOW I’m right.

The song starts with the opening lines:

Achilles, Achilles, Achilles, come down - Won't you get up off, get up off the roof? - You're scaring us and all of us, some of us love you - Achilles, it's not much but there's proof - You crazy-assed cosmonaut, remember your virtue - Redemption lies plainly in truth - Just humor us, Achilles, Achilles, come down - Won't you get up off, get up off the roof?

Now this first stanza reads to me as an emotional James, trying to convince Regulus that there is still time to join him and Sirius and the other marauders and to get away from his parents/Voldemort. Perhaps at this time, Regulus is feeling like it’s too late, maybe he already has the dark mark, but James is begging him to understand that it’s okay, and he still has time to make the right decision.

After a few lines in French (1) from our third voice, the original voice continues:

Achilles, Achilles, Achilles, come down - Won't you get up off, get up off the roof? - The self is not so weightless, nor whole and unbroken - Remember the pact of our youth - Where you go, I'm going, so jump and I'm jumping - Since there is no me without you - Soldier on, Achilles, Achilles, come down - Won't you get up off, get up off the roof?

At this point, I still believe this is James, becoming even more desperate to save Regulus and bringing up their time at Hogwarts and the relationship they had at that time. Now, I personally believe they would still be together in the context of the song, but it works from multiple angles, playing at possibly a past relationship that’s now over but still treasured, or a one-sided thing for James where he’s still trying to reach Regulus in a way he never could. Regardless, this is James’ hail-mary, saying if you do this, you will leave me empty; an attempt at reaching Regulus emotionally, even if that means threatening his own well-being.

From here we move on to the chorus:

Loathe the way they light candles in Rome - But love the sweet air of the votives - Hurt and grieve but don't suffer alone - Engage with the pain as a motive

Today, of all days, see - How the most dangerous thing is to love - How you will heal and you'll rise above

Now this is clearly James and Sirius (and whoever else you want on the side of goodness) reaching out to Regulus, but the first half gets a little tricky. I’ve taken it to mean Regulus loathes the way they do things with the order of the phoenix and Dumbledore, but loves the grace, safety, and love they show. (this is related to hating what Rome is doing ((lighting the candles)) but loving the results ((the sweet smell))) They call out to him saying “you will hurt to leave what you know, and you will be afraid but you don’t have to be alone in this. We are fighting because of the pain they have caused you and everyone else.”

The second half of the chorus is much simpler, speaking to how literally the WHOLE THING in ‘Harry Potter’ as a franchise is that love concurs all, and that while it would be dangerous to leave the dark side, he can heal and rise above his family and history through ~the power of love~.

After some more of our French gentleman(2), we hear from our second voice:

Achilles, Achilles, Achilles, jump now - You are absent of cause or excuse - So self-indulgent and self-referential - No audience could ever want you - You crave the applause yet hate the attention - Then miss it, your act is a ruse - It is empty, Achilles, so end it all now - It's a pointless resistance for you

This is Regulus’ parents, discouraging their son from following in his brother's footsteps in their terrible parenting way. Speaking of how he would be selfish to leave, how Sirius would never want to see him again anyway, and how it would be pointless to fight what they have already predetermined for his life.

A little more French(3), and then we’re back to the original voice:

Achilles, Achilles, just put down the bottle - Don't listen to what you've consumed - It's chaos, confusion and wholly unworthy - Of feeding and it's wholly untrue - You may feel no purpose nor a point for existing - It's all just conjecture and gloom - And there may not be meaning, so find one and seize it - Do not waste yourself on this roof

Now THIS is Sirius talking. He argues against his parents' negative influence and tries to convince Regulus that everything they’re saying is a lie. He then relates to Regulus, referring to his own experience of leaving the family and how he felt hopeless and lost, but calling Regulus to action to find meaning outside of his family (cough* James *cough) and push forward, not letting the family and Voldemort waste his life.

We then hear an updated chorus:

Hear those bells ring deep in the soul - Chiming away for a moment - Feel your breath course frankly below - And see life as a worthy opponent

Today, of all days, see - How the most dangerous thing is to love - How you will heal and you'll rise above - Crowned by an overture bold and beyond - Ah, it's more courageous to overcome

Not much to say here tbh. I don’t have any strong feelings on a different interpretation one way or another, other than the fact that ‘it’s more courageous to overcome’, is something Sirius was able to do while Regulus, unfortunately, couldn’t, and maybe this was destined, as Sirius was a Griffandor and Regulus (in my opinion) actively fought being placed in his brother's house and thus, couldn’t show his true courage until the cave.

A tiny more French(4), and then THE moment the fight comes to a head (note that the ‘good’ voice is the one in parentheses and/or italicized):

You want the acclaim, the mother of mothers (it's not worth it, Achilles)

More poignant than fame or the taste of another (don't listen, Achilles)

But be real and just jump, you dense motherf#cker (you're worth more, Achilles)

You will not be more than a rat in the gutter (so much more than a rat)

You want my opinion, my opinion you've got (no one asked your opinion)

You asked for my counsel, I gave you my thoughts (no one asked for your thoughts)

Be done with this now and jump off the roof (be done with this now and get off the roof)

Can you hear me, Achilles? I'm talking to you

I'm talking to you

Achilles, come down

This is very dense, but I think the obvious back and forth of the voices speaks as well as it can to the fight of good vs evil in Regulus’ mind as he tries to grapple with what he wants and knows is right vs the pressure of the dark side and the fear of its wrath. I DO especially like the line about being more than a rat, simply because of the symbolism with Pettigrew and how Sirius/James are reaching out and trying to save Regulus, all the while, their friend is being swept away as well.

A bit more French(5) and then the last iteration of the chorus:

Throw yourself into the unknown - With pace and a fury defiant - Clothe yourself in beauty untold - And see life as a means to a triumph

Today, of all days, see - How the most dangerous thing is to love - How you will heal and you'll rise above - Crowned by an overture bold and beyond - Ah, it's more courageous to overcome

This last bit, when listened to with Regulus in mind, comes across as very hopeful. Throw yourself into this unknown, but safer reality, do it ferociously and courageously, and surround yourself in the light of these good people who want to help you. See that your life is not condemned, you can live to be happy for yourself.

Whoa! That was a lot my friends, but now that that's settled, let's get into this FRENCH! (also the fact that they speak French, it’s literally too perfect) I’m just going to translate and do all of it in one big chunk for clarity and also this is already a mile long😅.

I see that many people die because they believe that life is not worth living. I see others, who are paradoxically killed for ideas For illusions, which give them a reason to live (What we call a reason to live is at the same time an excellent reason to die).

Of a building manager who had killed himself it was once said that he had lost his daughter five years ago, that he had changed a lot since then, and that this experience had changed him

What triggers the crisis is almost always uncontrollable. The newspapers often speak of “intimate sorrows” or “incurable illness”. These explanations are valid. But we should know if, on the same day, a friend of the desperate person did not speak to him in an indifferent tone.

The memories of a lost homeland, the hope of a promised land. This divorce between the man of his life, the actor and his setting, is properly the feeling of absurdity.

Either yes or no. this would be too easy. But we must make allowance for those who, without concluding, always question. Here, I am hardly being ironic, this is the majority. I also see that those who answer “no” act as if they thought “yes”.

Now, if you just read that all and were like, WTH girl, what even was that? Well, let me tell you! Every instance of French in the song is an excerpt from ‘The Myth of Sisyphus’, a book written way back in 1942. Why does this matter? In all honesty, it kinda doesn’t😅. Sisyphus was a king who figured out how to cheat death so everyone could live forever, and it SUPER ticked off the gods, so now he’s stuck rolling a boulder up a hill forever and ever.

I have racked my brain trying to tie this into the Regulus stuff, but it’s just not working so now you just get to know what the French stuff is about and that’s gonna have to be good enough, I’m afraid😂

ANYWAY, with everything combed through and all the parallels pointed out, I hope you can go listen to this song with new ears and get on my wavelength about it! Enjoy your life, you know, drink some water, viva la vida loca and all that.

TLDR; I’ve decided ‘Achilles Come Down’ is the perfect depiction of Regulus trying to get away from his parents' harmful ideations while being called to by Sirius/James who are attempting to save him.

#marauders era #james x regulus #regulus black #jegulus #sunchaser #this is my manifesto #Its literally so late and this is how I’ve decided to spend my time #my magnum opus #i’m going to bed

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