slightlystrangepsyche

[slightlystrangepsyche]

The Reality War: five female characters who were done dirty, and one who wasn’t

1. Belinda. As others on this site have said, she started as a strong, independent character, opposing the doctor when he goes too far, living in a house share, wanting to get back to her life. Then the biggest retcon in history, completely unexplained, that she is a mother who wanted to get back to her child. The only thing that makes less sense than this is the doctor regenerating because the child they made up together (did they? Or was this the space baby Poppy?) was about to not exist?

What makes this even more depressing is the context of Wish World being misogynistic and idealising women as mothers, then forcing Belinda into this role. With Ruby, there were previous themes of caring for and adopting children, so this whole plot line plays into the idea it was written for Ruby, and Belinda was shoehorned in instead.

2. Ruby. No goodbye? The doctor didn’t even say goodbye to her? It was insane not to have this, given the long time they were together and her continued presence as some kind of secondary companion this season. And then he knows he’s about to regenerate and doesn’t say goodbye. The only way I think this is possible is that the last 20 mins of the show were late reshoot and they couldn’t get her/fit in the goodbye scene.

3. Susan. You don’t show a loaded gun without the gun going off. Why was Susan’s return trailed both on the screen and with a storyline about the doctor’s daughter, only to have her not only not return at the end, but also not even show up as an image onscreen? Where is that reunion with the doctor that the fans have been waiting for?

4. The Rani. Got eaten by a big skeleton. The Rani had so much potential! Could have been so great! But all they both did was chat and there were no actual scenes that merited bringing her back. In fact, her original identity as evil scientist was barely present: they could have replaced her with generic evil god.

5. Mel. Why does she never get to do anything? Kate too? In this they were just shooting bone beasts, which was the smallest stakes thing: Mel has faced the Rani before so I was hoping she’d take her down. Nope, the Rani just gets randomly eaten by Omega.

Other things that are making me angry:

WHY DO THEY KEEP CREATING UGLY CGI CREATIONS WHEN THE ORIGINAL OMEGA CHARACTER DESIGN WAS RIGHT THERE?

WHY DID THE DOCTOR SAVE THE DAY BY SHOOTING OMEGA WITH A LASER WEAPON?

WHY DID THE REGENERATION COME OUT OF NOWHERE? (Maybe because it was added after)

I do have some positives.

1. Thirteen: she came back!!! And what a cameo. It was really lovely to see her again and interacting with fifteen, that whole scene with their banter was top tier, especially the nod to Tennant repeatedly returning. I loved how she reflected on loving Yaz, that was a beautiful moment, 10/10, no notes.

And fifteen. He only had 2 seasons and appeared in a couple of specials, but what a doctor. He is up there for me: his emotion, freedom of expression and the pure love for humanity and his companions. He was incredible and it’s a shame this era has come to an end so soon.

I’m cautiously optimistic about Billie Piper: she is a fantastic actress and the wording around her being the doctor or possibly some kind of trick was interesting. My hope is for a special where she is not the doctor but the bad wolf goddess of time, but we’ll see…

Overall, weak episode, weaker season finale, thirteen’s return was great and fifteen will be missed.

[slightlystrangepsyche]

What happened to the wish baby's family? Did the Doctor just leave them to be birds and blossom? So letting 6 boys, a father, and mother cease to exist as people is okay? Honestly, I'd feel better if the doctor sacrificed himself to restore that than to gaslight us all about Belinda's whole identity and motivation.

Doctor Who finale spoilers

I'm... confused.

Why tease Susan only to go nowhere with it? Did the sterilization of the Time Lords somehow erase her existence?

And Rogue. I can't imagine Rogue in love with the Billie Piper!Doctor, so is that just... done?

I'm... confused, and a little worried that's going to turn into disappointment and anger, because Ncuti deserves better. Archie Panjabi deserves better. Varada deserves better.

[slightlystrangepsyche]

Doctor Who finale spoilers

I'm... confused.

Why tease Susan only to go nowhere with it? Did the sterilization of the Time Lords somehow erase her existence?

And Rogue. I can't imagine Rogue in love with the Billie Piper!Doctor, so is that just... done?

I'm... confused, and a little worried that's going to turn into disappointment and anger, because Ncuti deserves better. Archie Panjabi deserves better. Varada deserves better.

[slightlystrangepsyche]

Hastings/Poirot

The format of David Suchet's Poirot series is such a feat, and really inspires me. Can you imagine if the show filmed two different realities? The one we saw, with Poirot being a bachelor his whole life, how that affected his work. And a second reality, where Poirot admitted his feelings for Hastings, so Hastings didn't marry, and he got to tag along for all the cases, and Poirot was never lonely.

[slightlystrangepsyche]

Pretty sure that that was a huge inspiration for this.

It has taken me years to place it, because I was so focused on the puns. I guess any tap number has to pay homage to Moses Supposes.

Moses Supposes

[slightlystrangepsyche]

My fault. I think amazon was waiting for me to watch it and become feral for it, and the moment I did it has been cancelled.

Kevin Bacon is desperate to portray a character who develops, but his shows keep getting cancelled. I'm still salty about The Following.

this is my last staw

[slightlystrangepsyche]

DOCTOR WHO. Interstellar Song Contest thoughts.

I didn't watch this year's Eurovision, but I did watch Doctor Who, and whilst I enjoyed the episode it seems to have annoyed everybody. I don't think the show was trivializing genocide survivors, nor was it painting all genocide survivors as the villains. I thought the show was campy and fun, but I bawled my eyes out hearing the song of the survivor, Cora.

The trouble with Doctor Who is that the show just wants to be campy and fun, and like a lot of sci-fi there is some social commentary in there, but because society is so dire, a lot of people are projecting their own message.

I thought the same thing in the episode with Ruby's boyfriend. I didn't see the episode as being pro-military, because I was viewing it as strictly in universe, not applying real life logic to it.

I took issue with the Christmas special, too, because of the use of covid, taking such a real issue but blending it with the alien.

I wish Doctor Who could be a comfort escapism media, or a scathing social commentary, but it doesn't seem like it can be both, and it just leaves it so open to being interpreted and misinterpreted.

I am in love with how campy it is though. That never fails to hit the mark with me.

[slightlystrangepsyche]

I really do want season 2 of The Odyssey, but I also want justice for my boy Tristan. I'm still convinced Max is repressing his feelings for Tristan and pushing them towards Avery instead, which isn't fair to Avery either. Tristan deserves to feel chosen, although I guess he had that with the chef and he ended that. I'm so scared of Tristan being alone at the end of the season.

Honestly, I'd much rather the season ends on Tristan/Max agreeing to explore their relationship whilst Avery attends med school, but they both acknowledge their love for her and will wait for her in a way that doesn't put pressure on her, just helps her know how loved she is.

I need season 2 to be confirmed. I love them all too much, and I don't want them to leave me after the next ep.

[slightlystrangepsyche]

Cobra Kai - finale thoughts, changes I would make

Loved 90% of the show, but the ending seems backward, reveling in toxic masculinity instead of evolving past the philosophy that caused 30 years of trauma and 6 seasons to unpack.

I don't understand how the finale embraces the Cobra Kai motto as a good thing. I can accept "Strike Hard" and "Strike Fast", but I will never accept "No Mercy" as a healthy mindset. If they had Johnny change it to "Fight Fair" or something like that, it would show the character development as it reflects the lesson a lot of the kids already know better than the adults.

Stingray has always made me feel uncomfortable as a character, so to have him as a Cobra Kai sensei does not help assuage my fears that the kids are not in safe hands.

They could have had Stingray step up. If Johnny gave him a talk on what being a sensei means, how kids look up to adults and that the kids are there to be nurtured and taught and protected, but not necessarily their friend. Stringray needed to develop boundaries with the kids, but they ignored all that to make him a laughing stock who ditches the kids to do what his mom tells him.

The last few episodes were packed full of drama and emotion and heartfelt discussions, so to revert back to the caricature of rude drill sergeant Johnny who doesn't understand that tax even exists just felt like a crane kick to the heart for me.

There's so much more I could rant about. I'm glad they restored Miyagi's honor with the necklace SL, because I was worried about that, but the CGI was just so unnecessary.

Wish Devon, Anthony, Kenny and all the other students weren't just relegated to background characters, but I understand how they had to focus on resolving what they had set up, I just wish they'd found a way to be more inclusive.

Speaking off, the queer rep was teased but non-existent, which I'm not happy about.

Also, how white was Johnny and Carmen's baby? So pretty and clean and white. Johnny holding the baby in one arm whilst holding a beer in the other hand also irked me a little. I guess they're embracing him being a functional alcoholic, but why show him trying to get clean for the baby, only to brag about baby and beer?

I'm so happy Johnny got the closure and the family and support he has always wanted/needed, and that's where I will end the story in my mind. The cycle is broken, and Johnny is not at risk of perpetuating it. Or Stingray.

Dammit, Cobra Kai.

[slightlystrangepsyche]

I hope "Companion" 2025 gets a DVD release. I just want all the behind the scenes footage, sketches of Patrick's tattoos, bloopers, cast and crew commentary. I want to treasure the art and the messages and the cast energy. I've seen it twice at the cinema, and I find it so empowering and entertaining.

I did spoil myself, because I'm a Harvey Guillén fan first and a human being second. I was prepared to be disappointed, but instead I'm delighted. And inspired.

[slightlystrangepsyche]

People not giving the Robbie Williams biopic Better Man a chance will be my villain origin story...

[slightlystrangepsyche]

well 🧍‍♀️ as a reminder this blog is NOT a safe space for trump supporters but it IS a safe place for women, queers, trans ppl, people of color, undocumented people, and any marginalized group.

[slightlystrangepsyche]

Military Nichols

Was it ever specified what branch of the military Josh was? If not, what do you think it was?

[slightlystrangepsyche]

Brilliant Minds Spoilers - wolfnichols

I've finished season 1 and have bawled my eyes out. Brilliant Minds is a show where I can understand every single character's actions, so I can't fault it. It makes sense, even when it's frustrating and heartbreaking, and I need season 2 so we can work through it, because people make mistakes but they work through them and I trust this show to handle emotional growth and set-backs and journeys.

Josh Nichols is my blorbo though, so this is about him.

My heart is breaking for everyone, but especially Josh. We don't know much of Josh's past, but I could write an essay on his relationship with Wolf. The way Josh was so defensive of his work, but still so fascinated by Wolf and so desperate for his attention and recognition, even from the beginning. Josh's playful but nervous struggle to get Wolf to admit they had a relationship. Breaking it off even though he clearly didn't want to, and how so very relieved he was when Wolf fought for him. How Josh held his breath when they were fighting, and Wolf said he was wrong, then how happy he was to know Wolf considered him worth fighting with.

Josh has no idea what's going on with Wolf, he just knows that he let himself be vulnerable with Wolf, admit his feelings, and then Wolf started pulling away, questioning those feelings, and then didn't show up.

I can see various options for the future of WolfNichols, so I'm interested in what others want or think is most likely in season 2.

[slightlystrangepsyche]

People are (lovingly) mocking Josh for his backpack, but have we considered a Doctor Josh Nichols who actually cycles to work? Not even a cool motorcycle like Oliver, but straight up a pedal bike. I can see it, so I hope you can too now.

[slightlystrangepsyche]

I know this is too soap opera for Brilliant Minds, but in my mind I'm casting Lukas Gage as a prodigy heart specialist.

He's played Zachary Quinto's love interest before, but this time I'd want him playing Teddy's. Josh's longest relationship: one-night stands with the guy, but they span the past 8 years, and stopped once he was with Oliver.

Can't decide just how psycho and possessive Lukas' character would be.

And Muriel was the one who hired the dude.

There'd be so much tension and drama, but it would be handled maturely and compassionately.

I might lose my mind over this hiatus, but imagination is how I will cope.

[slightlystrangepsyche]

every time i listen to “you’re a mean one mr. grinch” i can’t help but sit there and think “what did the grinch do to hurt you?” because dude just stands there for 2 minutes and 58 seconds and drags the grinch into the dirt