#But I couldn't stop thinking of all the unnecessary fucking and sucking in this show and it's like.. but what about the ships I do like?

[ehhlien]

Thinking about the DC Titans live actions... I feel like Raven and Beast Boy should have gotten together because they were hinting at it in season 1 and season 4, but I understand why legally they absolutely could not have been.

That being said I feel like if they had hired an actual 16 year old to play Tim, Tim x Bernard would never have happened or they would have made Bernard a 16 year old, as they should have in the first place.

I never read the comics so I personally don't mind changes made in the live action, but I hate when they changes or decisions made are bad or morally wrong.B

[crowley-in-arkham]

Smoke and mirrors, dogs and birds.

This place has a perverse love of unnecessary vagueness.

As I entered my office first thing this morning, the Asylum halls lit only by the buzzing white fluorescents as the sun hasn't even risen yet, Rook seemed--unusually perturbed.

"Good morning, Rook," I raised a brow at the boy, "You doin' okay?"

The kid's looked at me, a gaze well worth the chill it gave me. His blue eyes were dilated in a feverish sort of terror. He looked down the corridor, then up the corridor. His frantic gaze hesitating on me for but a moment as pushed open the door stating: "I gotta ask you something."

I tilted my head, thinking, the hell has him rattled?

I nodded and motioned him in, closing the door behind me.

His hands quaked as he plucked his phone from his pocket, flicking open his gallery and showing me a short video that was taken, seemingly, crouched behind an empty gurney.

"So, you're sayin you want me to change the concentration?" A familiar southern drawl purred, the camera focused on pretty salted auburn hair.

"Yes, just for this week, we'll compare it to previous tests," Another familiar voice stated, "Any new symptoms to the formula? We were concerned after what occurred with Tockman that you'd take like Carrion did."

The camera flicked to Strange, but only for a moment before ducking back down and focusing on the tails of labcoats.

"Mn, couple of migraines, an occasional itch in my id. Otherwise, it seems my antipsychotics keep me from, well," Crane stopped. The ticking of heels clamored through the hall, and Crane let out his charming, ominous chuckle. "Speak 'o the devil."

Then a softer, lowered tone purred through the corridor.

"Jon."

"Carrion."

"Good evening, Ms. Carrion."

"Evening, Dr. Strange." There was a short pause, then a curt, "How's the solution to my little problem coming along?"

"Are you willing to try a medication?" Strange offered, "It seems Dr. Crane here is experiencing less of a reaction to the-"

"Fix it." It said flatly.

Crane snickered, and sucked his teeth, "Ain't you a delight, darlin."

"I think you'd do best to stay in Crowley's care, Jonathan." The words dripped with resentment.

"No can do, hun," Crane teased, "Your turn to play with Dr. Crane, now."

"I'm sorry, was Diane not free?"

"Oh, bless your heart."

"Crane, Carrion, please."

The camera haphazardly zoomed out, and showed Strange's legs turn towards the woman's.

"How about you go downstairs? We'll join you shortly."

"I don't see what she sees in that man."

The heels crossed the hall, and the operator, Rook I presume, gasped, as the camera shot up to a familiar haphazard bun of raw chocolate colored hair.

Before the camera turned off, an amber eye met the camera line of site. She smirked, then looked away, stepping into the doorway to the stairwell.

The video stopped at my disappearing into the door.

My disappearing.

"Rook, what--"

He stared at me with an expression I couldn't quite infer as being either fear or hate.

"Crowley-- Carrion? I don't know what the hell this is, but you best explain now."

I stared at his trembling gaze at a loss.

"I can't-- not because I'm deliberately hiding this from you, but rather, I don't know."

"How the hell do you not know?" Rook stared at me, "that's you, isn't it?"

"I- yes but-- I don't remember this happening; I don't treat Crane like that! You know that!"

"Then why- what's going on downstairs?"

"I don't know, I can't tell you because I don't know."

"Why was Crane out of his cell?"

"I think-- smoke and mirrors," I sighed, "Edward said Crane was smoke and mirrors."

Rook paused; "Crowley, are you--"

"Fuck," I pinched the skin between my eyes. "Fucking- God damn it."

I stepped over to my desk and flipped through the stacks of patient files, looking at the personal notes that had appeared without my cognizant.

"If you don't know, you will," I echoed what Jon had told me to myself. "It was me. It's all me."

Rook looked more concerned than ever.

"I'm an experiment, I'm one of Dr. Crane's little pet projects. That explains so much."

"What do you mean, Crowley?"

"I mean, no self-respecting rehabilitation center would let a psychiatrist treat patients she knows."

I slapped down a file, "Harvey Dent. Harvey, Bruce, and I used to go out to breakfast, lunch, karaoke-- they thought I was 'good people', in Bruce’s terms.."

I slapped down another file, "Edward Nashton, or Nygma, was a coworker, a skilled lab expert with a knack for computer sleuthing and a unique flavor of deduction."

I laid down a third, "Jervis Tetch, I didn't know him intimately, but we knew one another in passing. Bruce introduced me to Tetch and the rest of his hardware development team while they were working the the project that ultimately bore Tetch's hats. The two of us got along well."

And finally, I flopped the last file.

"Jonathan Isaiah Crane." I flipped open the folder, "He was a professor. My professor. A good friend, too. I trusted him, and I admired him," I paused, staring down at the page remembering somberly the day; "I knew him as much as he would share, but still more intimately than most. You know his favorite pie is pecan? Got him some for his birthday one year. The last year, actually."

Rook stared at me, hearing the tightening of my throat, leaning over my desk: "Doc, I-"

I clenched my fists still staring down at the page, "He gassed me once. I was one of the Scarecrow's first real victims."

I muttered,"Outside of his experiments and petty qualms."

I felt this, angry all-encomassing destain rush over me, "You don't forget."

Rook took a step back, hearing the venom in my tone, "Crowley--"

"You don't forget what it's like, Rook." I hissed quietly, "To be afraid like that. He ripped that feeling open again. With a plume of orange gas, he pulled out of me something I hadn't felt since I was a child."

"Fear?"

"Real fear," I chuckled dryly, "I pretend I had a nice life, a kind one. A loving family, all my life. Nobody would know it, but that isn’t true. I could barely remember how it felt to be afraid to exist. I didn't forget it, I repressed it. I forgot because my brain couldn't bare to remember."

Rook gave me a concerned look. His terror from before, now, a different variety of petrified.

I continued, "Scarecrow reawoke that fear, undid those years of remedy. Sure, the threads were haphazard, but there were threads. His toxin cut through them like a hot knife through butter."

"Whatever the hell is going on downstairs is a terrible idea," I gripped Crane's file and remembered that ominously titled 'formula'.

"Jonathan Crane was never my patient. I was his."

I spun around, then opened the vacuum safe atop my filing cabinet. Rook watched as I nestled a black glistening gas mask into it's place over my face, tightening the straps around my head.

It felt like something was eating me alive as my body shook involuntarily. "I need to get out of this fucking gas, then--"

I grabbed my bag.

"I need to have a word with a few of Arkham Asylum's good doctors."

[fonulyn]

I need to scream about RE ID bc like. Did I enjoy it? Yeah, I did. Was it. Just wrapped up way too nicely and quickly? Also yeah. I was a little disappointed by it tho, like the length, and the flashback scenes weren't as clear as I think they should have been? Like I understood what was happening, but it took me a little too much brain power to like keep up with what was and wasn't a flashback lmao

Also I wanna say, I get wanting to keep Jun See alive but god, that did not look fun. Just let him die, dude, no one wants to live like that, smh.

Thank god they kept Leon's one liners tho, like thank you for that at least lol also Claire, my GIRL, I love her holy shit. Honestly she was amazing, like, just perfect. Not sure why she has a gun in the promotional poster, bc she just. Never has a gun throughout the entire show, I don't think? Also can we talk about how she took that guy down with that lamp, and then hopped on top of him just fucking ready to continue to beat the shit out of him? Chris would be so proud 🥲

Okay also, I saw what you said with that flirting scene, and I agree that it seemed like Leon was trying to lighten the mood, but it so didn't need to be put in there at all @ the writers. Like this show could have gotten away with no romance, or just that one moment near the end with Claire and Leon (which, I don't ship them much, and that moment at the v end where she was like "are you ever gonna stop treating me like a kid?" And he responded with "probably not" or whatever kind of ruined whatever was shown earlier? Like it feels like she's had that convo with Chris before too, so I'm like hm no don't imply romance and then imply that he treats her like a little kid every time they run into each other, now it's weird lol) and been fine. None of the story was contingent on any kind of romance between anyone.

Now with that said, can I just say Patrick absolutely wanted to suck Leon's dick? Like he was smitten, and I bet you they at least fuck after all this is said and done, if not date for a short period of time. I thought they were gonna kill Patrick off, I'm glad they didn't tho, he was v wholesome lol.

Also I wanna mention that every serious moment (save a small handful) I just. I couldn't take it seriously, it was too over the top. Acid? Really? That's the self destruct measure? Slowly rising acid? I dunno, that doesn't seem quite right to me, I don't think that's how it works lol

Honestly they should have just made this into a new movie, bc making it a series implies more to follow and in general a longer narrative, but these eps were barely 20 minutes each, so there's almost no point splitting it like that. Did I enjoy myself? Yeah, I always do when Leon is involved, but it could have been so much better.

Also the silly little shipper in me is kind of desperate for more interaction between Chris and Leon, bc as far as I'm aware it's just RE6, RE vendetta, and RE ID (and I think the person who told Chris to save Claire in either code x or Veronica was Leon? Not 100% about that tho lol) where they actually interact with each other, and considering that they're the two main characters of the franchise, they should probably meet up more? Idk, that's just my gay ass hoping for more Chreon content lmao but still.

ANYWAYS yeah, I would rate the show like a 7.5/10? It wasn't amazing but it wasn't garbage, either. Probably my least favorite of the four animated movies tbh, but I will take the Leon content, thank you Capcom. Also it was interesting to see Leon around the time following/around RE4 and RE degeneration, I thought, I dunno.

oh boy I agree 100% it was wrapped up way too quickly in the end. like killing Jason? by just dropping him in the acid? it was way too simple and easy if you ask me. and like, why didn't he yeet Leon into the acid when he had him by the throat? him not killing Leon makes zero sense to me??

asdfg yeah I get they weren't ready to let Jun See go, but I bet Jun See really would've preferred to go...

I am so happy that they kept the one liners!! Leon felt very, very in character which I loved so much. I was afraid they'd tone it down or make him super serious or so, and it was such a relief they didn't. he was so eager to help and so goddamn kind to everyone I don't know if my heart can even handle it ;;;;;

also Claire!! so badass!! I loved the part where she attacked the guy with the lamp (yes Chris would be super proud haha) and THE HEADBUTT seriously, one of the top highlights of the entire series :'D

(but honestly this is gonna get long i'mma gonna hit that read more here)

and the flirting scene, I do think they could've left it out entirely and it felt a little strong-armed in. but I'm trying to look at the silver lining? Leon was super goddamn adorable in it, like, so cute it hurts :'D and Shen May didn't seem bothered really, it was more this joking thing between them. so while yes, it was unnecessary, i'm focusing on the joking feel of it and choosing to interpret it as such :'D

also, can I just say, the "romantic moment" with Claire and Leon near the end didn't feel very romantic to me? I know it's a romcom cliché (or at least a fanfic cliché lmao) how they ended up in a pile after the rescue but ...it didn't scream romance to me? although I do kind of like the pairing! (not a top fave but a cute one)

and yes, the whole "when are you gonna stop treating me like a kid?" "probably never" felt SO much like a sibling moment!! such big brother energy from Leon, and I don't know, that made me super duper happy?? I want them to be friends. I neeeed them to be friends gdi. which is why I am unhappy with how mad Claire seemed to be at Leon in the end and how they left it off like they did. I am hoping that it sets things up for a second season? and they for whatever reason need them on kind of the opposing sides at first? because otherwise it makes no sense to me for her to be that disappointed in him. in Degeneration they already establish they work in different ways towards the same goal, and for that to do a 180 now feels... like a disservice to the characters? idk?

lmaooooo but yes Patrick 100% wanted to suck Leon's dick he didn't even try to be subtle about it :'D idk I would've wanted Patrick to have more depth and screentime too, i so wish they would've made it a longer series and given the characters more development. because I liked pretty much all of the new characters they introduced! but it feels none of them reached their actual potential!

then again that is kind of the whole deal with resident evil in general, they set up awesome characters and end up wasting them half of the time :'D guess i shouldn't be surprised.

THE SLOWLY RISING ACID PISSED ME OFF lmaooo c'mon!! it doesn't seem like a good self destruct measure. especially since ...you'd need different acid to dissolve organic matter and to dissolve inorganic matter if we're being nitpicky. and how would it be plausible for them to store enough of it safely to even do this?? they should've just detonated the whole place and blown it to smithereens or something, the acid was. stupid.

i agree, it feels like a movie. but I think @tirsynni is probably right when saying that it was sort of a test run to see if they should make more? which I am so hoping for. because even with the complaints I have of this, I DID enjoy it, a lot!! and I do want more! and maybe this time we get Claire and Leon actually working together for more than fifteen seconds! :'D

also I definitely would not say no to more Chris and Leon interactions. (yes it was Leon who told Chris to save Claire :) at least that) it... in general makes no sense to me how capcom seems to think friendships work? like how Sherry is all "Leon and Claire are my best friends" and then they imply they haven't met in years? if not more? idek it's. weird. it's like their characters go into storage containers in between their missions to be stored away so they can't even accidentally have personal lives or friendships or anything. weird.

(what I said about having amazing characters and ending up wasting their potential? yeah)

for me, personally, it's... well, my score for the show would depend on whether I just focus on the characterizations and what I liked, or if I try to actually take the plot and all into account too :'D but I did like this more than Degeneration! already the fact that Leon has actual facial expressions is enough to put it way above that one. (and for the record, I don't hate Degeneration either, I do like it, but... Leon is such a cardboard cutout with zero personality in it, it's super frustrating)

idk I think I need to still process this a bit to see how I will like it in the end :'D there are things i'm super hyped about in it, and things i'm disappointed in, let's see how they'll weigh in the overall experience eventually.