#I still have so many very unanswered questions from S2

[poebrey]

simultaneously find it fascinating that dsc s4 made it canon that both Spock and Michael were running off all the time because wow were Sarek and Amanda questionable parents and also wondering if Lake Yuron is the same shore we see Sarek meditating at when he realizes Michael is leaving because awww

[beesarthur]

ok friends, how do i make my way into the one career i was born to (continuity checker for a long-running tv show)???

[ineffable-suffering]

INEFFABLE META MASTERPOST

Because I'm slowly losing count and need to organize. So, here's all my self-written metas or ones that I reblogged with my own added theories and commentary! In rainbow colours, naturally.

1 – Aziraphale, I love you. But you lied. And here's why. My most lengthy and proudest meta about the Final Fifteen and why I think Aziraphale lied on purpose. (Also: The absolute darling @esthermitchell-author bravely fought their way through it and wrote up some more interesting points and different takes on what I came up with. If you want to go down a S2 rabbit hole with us, go read it here.)

2 – Why Aziraphale is an unreliable narrator (links below) A three-part meta in which I try to analyse and explain that all of the minisodes in Season 2 are not objective narrations but actually Aziraphale's memories.

Part 1: The Story of Job

Part 2: The Story of wee Morag

Part 3: The Story of the Magic Show in 1941

3 – The Jane Austen Ball and why it was never about Nina and Maggie A meta in which I go into unnecessarily great detail about how the Whickber Street Meeting Cotillion Ball was meant to be Aziraphale's confession to Crowley.

4 – Crowley & Aziraphale were never free (reblog) A reblog of @baggvinshield's post in which I explain why miscommunication is the single biggest ineffable enemy in Season 2.

5 – In Defense of Aziraphale (double reblog) A double try at explaining why I think Aziraphale's POV in the Final Fifteen is just as horrible as Crowley's and why I don't think him "choosing" to go back to Heaven was the only point of his character journey.

6 – The Art of Miscommunication: Ineffable Edition A meta in which i once again explain why miscommunication is the single biggest ineffable enemy in Season 2.

7– Season 2 Bookshop Shot Meta A meta where I briefly loose my mind because of a single bookshop frame in Season 2.

8 – What if it wasn't Aziraphale and Crowley who performed the 25 Lazarii miracle? A mini-meta in which I propose the theory that Jimbriel helped with the miracle to hide himself away from Heaven & Hell.

9 – Things in Good Omens Season 2 I still find weird (reblog) A reblog of @ok-sims and many other great OPs' thoughts on the weird loose strings in Season 2 and what unanswered questions I still have myself.

10 – The Deleted Bookshop Scene (reblog) A reblog of @skirtdyke's video and @i-only-ever-asked-questions' smart thoughts on it, with my own overly-excited 'what that could have meant for the "It's too late" line'-theroy.

11 – The Bentley Handle Easter Egg A meta I can proudly say has been liked by none other than Mr. Neil Gaiman himself about Crowley's Bentley handle that might have existed before the Bentley ever did.

12 – The F*cking Eccles Cakes A meta where I briefly loose my mind because of a pastry. (Addendum: People said very smart things in the comments of the post!)

14 – Re: "You go too fast for me, Crowley" A meta in which I make myself sad by connecting that infamous line to Aziraphale assuming Crowley wanted the Holy Water as a suicide pill.

13 – Trauma-Dumping on your plants: The Anthony J. Crowley Chronicles A meta on why Crowley treats his plants the way that he does.

14 – Demonic Mental Health Awareness Post In which I talk about why I want to get Crowley a therapy voucher.

15 – The Curious Incident of The Flaming Sword in Good Omens A meta on why the Flaming Sword has no deeper meaning. Or does it? (Updated: here's a reblog from @queerfables who did a wonderfully exellent job at calmly explaining all the swordy questions I was yelling about! Consider this meta solved.)

16 – Ceci n'est pas une plume A meta in which I'm a bit of a nerd for language and also explain why learning French and magic the human way says so much about Aziraphale as a character.

17 – The meaning of "I forgive you" A meta in which I explain what both "I forgive you"s mean and why Aziraphale will always fight for what is right until he wins. Also, the lovely @sharksbeerr translated it to Chinese on Weibo!

18 – Memory, or the lack thereof, in Season 2 A little reblog on how memory is a big and unresolved, leaky-bucket theme in Season 2.

19 – „It‘s always too late.“ (ft. Crowley‘s watch)

A short meta about that lines from Season 2 that won‘t leave my brain (and also Crowley‘s mysterious watch).

Addendum:

The one non-spoiler-y ask I could come up with about S2 that was actually answered by Neil, yay!

Also, this wholesome little post I added to that Mr. Gaiman also reblogged. :‘)

*** This is a work in progress and will get updated every time I post a new meta! ***

[ageless-aislynn]

Aislynn's Absolute Screaming, Crying, Flailing Thinky Thoughts About Halo s2ep8

Under the cut since its the finale and I don't want to be That Person who spoils a finale for anybody if I can help it 💖

First thing: KAI, my baby, noooooooooo

Okay, do I love the Halo games? So much. So, so much. Did I know what actually adapting them would mean would happen in the live action show, especially since s2 clearly wanted to pull closer to the games? Yep.

Did I want to see characters I've come to love, appreciate or love to hate get infected by the Flood? HECK NO.

However, the fact that the Flood spores were much smaller than their game counterparts (Evil Cabbages with feet were my initial thought of them when I met them in Combat Evolved the first time 😂🤷‍♀️😉) was a definite win, IMO. Obviously they couldn't be germ-sized in game and you be able to shoot them. But just the visual of them being smaller and much more virus/germ-sized made them a bazillion times scarier because they felt more real in that way to me.

Why do I watch so many zombie things? Zombies FREAK ME OUT SO BAAAAAD, MAN. And the body horror, dude. Ohhhhh, I can't with the body horror and people getting mutated and... UGH. Yet I've made, like, half a dozen Alien/Prometheus vids. I AM A CONUNDRUM, what can I say? 🤷‍♀️😂

Now, ever since Vannak died, I've been trying to figure out how we can, you know, bring him back to the show. I still don't know how it could actually be done but one thing I do know is that KAI COULD TOTALLY BE FOUND INJURED BUT ALIVE. Her Mjolnir can protect her from deep space, so it could have totally protected her against a big KABOOM, too. Her body is intact, she wasn't vaporized or whatever, so that's my story and I'm sticking to it. *nodnods very seriously*

I think I'm going to have to either invent time travel or cloning to save Vannak, though. Give me a minute. 🤔😉

If we do get another season (or 2 or 5 😉), I'm wondering if they're really serious about Silver Team being gone, if we're going to get Blue Team, then? Mannnnn, I don't want Silver to be gone, though. I've fallen so in love with Kai, Riz and Vannak now, too!

I'm kinda glad that not-Thel!Arbiter wasn't Thel because that was a good ending to his storyline, with Chief's "I know what he said" and finishing him off. Obs, though, I don't want Thel to have met the same fate.

Makee's line about being a demon, too? That was a good one, yep. Still annoyed that John's first question to her last ep wasn't "Um, hi, nice to see you and how is it that you're alive?" That being unanswered was just one of those clearly "because we changed showrunners," things.

John and Cortana (now in his suit), together again, YESSSSS!!!

Hello, Guilty Spark! If this is Gravemind they're talking about, they NEED Dee Bradley Baker for the voice. Just, no question, don't even think of casting anybody else.

John doing that badass "fight through the smoke and haze to save the day" made my fangirl heart go pitter-pat, what can I say? I'm easy to please, lol!

In summary, I did love s2 in a different way than I loved s1 and I hope we'll get news of a renewal ASAP!

Also, Kai's fine, she's just having a little nap, no worries!

[thestrangestthing89]

I am now convinced there are several scenes we didn't see all of and will possibly get flashbacks for. There are so many moments that feel like they are deliberately keeping things from the audience especially when it comes to Mike and the lack of his POV from the past two seasons. There is a lot of potential for flashback scenes between the seasons too, as well as at the end of the seasons when they do short time jumps.

S1: - We know there is a scene with Mike biking home after Will's body is pulled out of the quarry. - I am also curious what happened after Mike went to his mother and what that conversation was like. - We also know that El found her way into the basement after Mike left her and they seem to be mid conversation. Mike is flipping through Will's artwork and telling her "what she did sucks" and El is trying to find Will on the radio. We don't see what happens after she finds him until Lucas and Dustin arrive and Mike already decided what to do. How much did they talk about Will when El was at Mike's house? Because there is another moment earlier than this when Mike first finds out she knows him and it's clear they discuss it before Lucas and Dustin arrive. S2: - There is a moment in the Byers house where the phone rings and Joyce looks freaked out but no one answers it. They never say who's calling but she's clearly worried. Bob, Joyce, Will, and Jonathan are having a movie night. - The "crazy together" conversation seems to go on longer than what we see. It's unclear how much time passes between when they have this conversation and when Jonathan takes Nancy home. He's supposed to give Will a ride home so Will was waiting there for him. - Mike, Joyce, Hopper, and Bob are in the lab with Will for a couple days. There is a lot that happened here. - Mike's meltdown with Hopper definitely gets cut short. More was said between these two once Mike calmed down. And Mike spends the next scene standing next to Hopper away from El. Not to mention Hopper interrupting El trying to kiss him. Pretty sure he sees how uncomfortable Mike is here and is helping him and it's related to his meltdown. - The Snow Ball also has potential for extra moments. What happened after what we saw?

S3:

Hopper and Mike's conversation in the car in S3. We know they were talking about El but based on Mike's behavior after there seems to be more to it than that.

I want to know what happened after Lucas and Mike found Will in the rain post-fight. It's nighttime and they are all soaked. But the next scene we get is at the Wheelers house and all three of them are in different outfits and it's morning.

What exactly happened at the end of the season between the mall and the Byers moving? I know there are theories here based on a book but this seems to be deliberately unconfirmed and ambiguous.

Along that line of thought - Mike and Will clearly came to some kind of understanding about D&D. Will tries to get rid of his game and Mike tells him not to. Not to mention Will painted them all as their D&D characters so he must know about Hellfire. Because if he thought Mike still thought it was childish he wouldn't have done this. So they talked about this part of their fight. I wonder if they also talked about Castle Byers.

S4

Mike and El's fight in Lenora. I wrote about this here.

There is also potential for flashbacks of the few calls Mike and Will did have. We know they talked a little.

The Cali gang is missing from the entirety of episode 7. It's possible this could just be because they were only driving and it wasn't a very interesting road trip. But they fact that there isn't even a quick scene of them talking about where they are going or something sticks out.

The two day jump at the end has a lot of unanswered questions: What happened with Mike and El after Mike's monologue because they aren't speaking and are rolling their eyes at each other? El and Will also seem to not be speaking. They must have come into contact with Joyce and Hopper beforehand because they aren't surprised about Hopper being alive and they use the cabin as their meeting place. All of the parents were worried about the kids in episode 7 and suddenly we don't see them anymore (except Karen at one point). How did everyone get out of the UD and how did people respond to Eddie - especially Mike.

[bugsbenefit]

back on my bs, thinking about the Creel house. i still want to know where it is so bad i've been looking at maps for too long. because there's not that many options actually

in the final scene we can see that the cracks connecting the gates are almost completely straight. they also form without curving or winding paths, no arches, straight to the point

and we DO actually know two of the 4 gate locations to the point we can put them on the map. the Trailer Park and Lovers Lake

of course some distances on this map could be slightly skewed, it originated in s2. however, it's canonically featured in World's Turned Upside Down and, as of now, very accurate to the town we see in canon

based on us knowing two gate locations and the place where all lines should connect (the library) we're technically able to guess in which area the Creel House (on Morehead) and the unnamed road Fred dies on should be

which would be somewhere along the two extended cracks. the problem is we don't really know which one's which, so my question of the Creel house's location will go unanswered i fear

without a canon answer we can speculate though

i think the road Fred dies on has to be the gate more in the south out of the two, actually. Fred dies in a pretty deserted area surrounded by forest so he can't be anywhere in the central town area. since the party sees police speed by near the road to Reefer Rick's cabin (presumably from the trailer park to Fred's death scene) it would make more sense for Fred to also have died in the south of town, otherwise the police wouldn't have come so close to the party

(also makes sense how he could get there by stumbling through the forest but DAMN that's far. he really went for a hike poor guy. but it does work with him walking away from the Trailer Park in the afternoon(ish) and dying sometime deep in the night. he really was just walking for multiple hours)

that would then support the Creel House being located more north of the town which would also fit it's environment better. it's located on a road with multiple houses, wide road, park, etc. placing it anywhere in the town areas we've seen, near the Wheeler/Sinclair area fits the best as of now. Loch Nora is too far away from any gates and has more concrete and driveways etc. Dustin's and Will's areas don't match either with smaller bungalow type houses. and any downtown area isn't a match either

so my guess-answer for the Creel house's location would be near-ISH Maple Street. at least closest to it out of all the 4 gates. that area would make the most sense with where the gates should be located, and the general big two story house, well off neighbourhood vibe the area has that also fits the Creel house perfectly

[iamnotawomanimagod]

2022 Year in Review

I'm so late, pretend I did this like five weeks ago.

I was tagged by the incomparable @lucerants for a 2022 Year in Review!! Here we go! I'm also gonna talk about 'em all so this is gonna get long!

Top 5 Movies you watched this year:

1 - The Medium (2021)

This is an excellent and disturbing Thai horror film about possession. The last thirty minutes are such pure insanity, all I could do was stare at the screen with my mouth gaping. Highly recommended if you love horror.

2 - Encanto (2022)

What a delightful and beautiful film! I loved the themes of family, being true to yourself, and the importance of acceptance. The music absolutely slaps - if "We Don't Talk About Bruno" didn't get stuck in your head this year, did you really live??

3 - The Fallout (2021)

This was one of the first Jenna Ortega films I saw, and I really enjoyed it. She and Maddie Ziegler had great chemistry and did a really good job of portraying their new-friends-but-also-maybe-more relationship. And it was a truly heartbreaking and very real depiction of what being a teenager in our mass shooting saturated society must feel like.

4 - Spiderman: No Way Home

I'm not really into Marvel, as a rule, but I had to check this movie out since they brought Tobey Maguire back. I was surprised at how emotional I got when story lines from over a decade ago got some closure, especially since that closure came with a lot of empathy for the villains. It was a really fun, meta, fan-servicey movie that made me smile, and even tear up a bit at the end.

5 - Everything, Everywhere, All at Once

Technically I watched this movie at the very beginning of 2023, but I'm going to add it here now because I think it's a movie that truly defined and reflected the feeling of being alive in the early 2020s so well. It was so brilliantly written and shot, just an absolute phantasmagorical roller-coaster of action, comedy, and incredibly heartfelt emotion. I had only heard good things going in, and this film absolutely lived up to my high expectations.

Top 5 TV shows you watched this year

1 - Station Eleven

This show changed me. It's truly one of the most beautiful, well-written, gentle, and human stories I've ever witnessed. It took a setting and premise I thought I was done with forever - post-apocalypse fiction - and made something profoundly impactful. Get the tissues. Prepare to feel everything.

2 - Interview with the Vampire

This was such a delightful adaptation, especially in the ways they changed it. Jacob Anderson as Louis captured the character in a way that brings incredible nuance, even more so in his position as a black gay man in the early 20th century. Sam Reid was an electric and terrifyingly appealing Lestat. And Bailey Bass brought Claudia to life and managed to perfectly portray her various life stages, even as she remains ageless. It's just a really, really good interpretation of a story that I already loved, so it was a joy to watch.

3 - House of the Dragon

I love messy blondes, I love tragic love stories, I love women and their complex and tender and vitriolic relationships. Also dragons. I'm interacting with the fandom via a ten-foot pole, and am very pleased that two of my most treasured mutuals (Luce, Rosy <3) were along for the ride with me for s1.

4 - The Wilds (s2)

I'll never forgive Amazon for giving this show the axe. I'll also never forgive the fandom for reacting to the boys so negatively. S3 would've been incredible. But! I'm glad that we got s2, and got to see more from the Unsinkable Eight. I'm glad we got to meet the boys and learn their stories. I'll always be impressed and grateful for the way this show handled a storyline about sexual assault between young men. And even though there are still so many unanswered questions and we needed an s3, I'm glad that pretty much all of the mysteries introduced in s1 were wrapped up by the end. Better to have loved those castaways and lost them than never loved them at all!

5 - Our Flag Means Death

This show was such a salve - a joyful little pirate sitcom that played on sitcom tropes in a way that made every episode a delight. It was funny, charming, and beautifully shot. I'm so excited for season two!

Top 5 DnD Campaigns you watched this year

The biggest shift in my life this year, especially in terms of media I consume, was my discovery of DnD actual play shows. If I wasn't actively watching a TV show this year, D20 was on in the background. I watched these campaigns multiple times each. I am obsessed.

1 - Critical Role's EXU: Calamity

One of the most heart-wrenching stories I've ever seen, beautifully told and acted by an incredible team of DnD players. The ending is so bittersweet and perfect. I caught the finale live and it wrecked me, I spent the last hour of it weeping. (It was also 1am and the end of a six-hour marathon.) What a masterpiece. The Bronze Ring endures.

2 - Dimension 20: Fantasy High Sophomore Year

This is my favorite campaign by the folks at Dimension 20. The fact that it's live, so delightfully chaotic, and has the lowest production value of any other season makes it so charming and comforting to me. Plus Kalina is easily a Top 3 D20 villain.

3 - D20: A Crown of Candy

Coming up at a close second, A Crown of Candy was the first D20 season I finished. I binged it in about two days (didn't watch the Adventuring Parties at first, though) and felt so thoroughly ripped from the world when it was over that I kinda mourned a family of candy people for like two days straight. It's such a fun, technicolor, sugary-sweet world - but the plot and characters are so complex, so dark, that I was completely swept away by their story. It's just a really well-built and clever world, and it features some of my favorite D20 characters ever (Amethar, Saccarhina, Lapin, and Calroy.)

4 - D20: The Seven

Since The Seven is set in the same world as Fantasy High, I went in with really steep expectations. I was definitely not disappointed. The vibes and relationships between all of the women at the table is so genuine and infectious. The story is touching, but there's so much chaos and so many shenanigans from the characters that there's also so much to laugh about. It's another comfort rewatch, for sure.

5 - D20: Misfits and Magic

Aabria as a GM is always a good time for me, and I really loved seeing this cast parody the Harry Potter universe (and associated "kids at magic boarding school" trope) with such affection, but also incisive criticism. It's funny, light-hearted, and also really fun to watch Brennan be a PC, and get to bounce off the other players as a single personality. (Evan + K = 4Ever)

Top 5 Songs of this year

(I'm not gonna take this from Spotify, although all of these songs were in my top 20)

1 - "It's Called: Freefall" by Rainbow Kitten Surprise

This song did it all for me in 2022. It was a comfort song, a pump-up song, a breakdown song, and a sing-a-long and dance song. I don't know why it struck such a chord with me - I'd enjoyed plenty of other RKS songs before, but never on this level. It just resonates. It was my top song of 2022 on Spotify, and given that the four next songs are all by Halsey, that's saying something.

2 - "Whispers" by Halsey

After seeing this song live, it swiftly reentered my top 5 from IICHLIWP. It's an intense experience even just as a studio track, but the way Halsey sang it in person elevated the song to something even more painfully relatable and real. It's a song that's followed me into 2023, that's for sure.

3 - "Bounce Man" by Twenty One Pilots

I didn't like most of Scaled and Icy, but this song was a huge exception. It was my go-to whenever I needed a pick-me-up. That addictively catchy chorus, the fun beat, the lyrics being hopeful in the face of a scary situation (classic TOP) - that's a combination that hits just right on a tough day.

4 - "Fucks Me Up" by Anthony Green

On the other side of the coin, this song will make you cry on that same tough day, but you'll feel better afterwards. My husband and I share a love for Saosin and Circa Survive, mostly because of Anthony Green's incredible vocals. This entire album is gorgeous, but this song (and the last verse in particular) - well, it fucks me up!

5 - "Tree House" by Alex G feat Emily Yacina

This one is sweet, fun, and calming, and is going to remain in my rotation for a long time to come. It reminds me of my best friend (she did show it to me, but it'd remind me of her even if she hadn't,) and makes me feel so cozy and safe. It's just nice. :)

Top 5 albums of this year

1 - If I Can't Have Love, I Want Power by Halsey

For the second year in a row, this album owned my entire life. Most of my top ten on my Spotify Wrapped was devoted to this album. I still go buckwild when I heard "Easier than Lying" and it's my most played song on Spotify EVER, which includes like five years of music-listening. Getting to see most of these songs live (and then some, that 2hr set was crazy) made for one of the best nights of my entire life. It was an emotional experience bordering on spiritual, which is not a place I normally visit. It's Halsey's masterpiece, a perfect marriage of her abilities as a lyricist combined with some of the best production they've ever had. I just love it so goddamn much.

2 - Boom. Done. by Anthony Green

This album is a beautiful, heart-wrenching, honest reflection on addiction, recovery, and trauma. It's sonically very soothing, but lyrically absolutely crushing, which makes for a very tender experience. My husband and I spent most of the end of the year with these songs on rotation when were listened to music together, so this album is going to hold a special place in my heart for a long time.

3 - HOLY FVCK by Demi Lovato

I feel Demi has always been destined to make an album like this. Their voice is perfect for rock music, and the honesty in her lyrics (which reflect her very difficult life experiences) just work so much better with guitars and drums behind them than snyth beats. I didn't love every song on this album, but it's definitely my favorite work by Demi thus far.

4 & 5. Hopeless Fountain Kingdom (Live at Webster Hall) and Badlands (Live at Webster Hall) by Halsey

Although these are two very different albums, I love them for the same reason, which is that they both are records of Halsey performing live. I truly think live performances are where they shine the brightest, and many of the live versions of these songs have completely replaced the studio versions for me.

Top 5 fictional characters of this year

1 - Rhaenyra Targaryen and Alicent Hightower (House of the Dragon)

As Luce said, you cannot separate them, it causes wars. I love them both so much. And I'm gonna love and hate watching them continue to tear each other apart.

2 - Louis de Pointe du Lac (Interview with the Vampire)

Jacob Anderson just killed the fuck out of this role, and made me appreciate Louis in a way I never have before.

3 - Adaine Abernant (Fantasy High)

I actually can't put into words how much I love Adaine, or why. If you know, you know.

4 - Kirsten Raymonde (Station Eleven)

I'm always a sucker for a fierce, protective woman with a metric fuckton of baggage, who still manages to maintain a heart of gold in the midst of a horrible situation. Kirsten is all of that, and so, so much more.

5 - Lizzie Saltzman (Legacies)

I just think she's a really fun extension on Caroline Forbes' character, as her heir apparent, and she was often the funniest and most emotionally engaging character on the show. Plus, y'know, Hizzie.

Top 5 games you played this year

The Quarry

The Mortuary Assistant

Animal Crossing: New Horizons

The Long Dark

Martha is Dead

5 Positive Things that happened, no matter how small!

1 - I got to see Halsey in concert at my favorite venue!

2 - I moved to a bigger place!

3 - I went and visited my best friend in October!

4 - I got a new job!

5 - I spent a lot of really wonderful time on this website making dumb jokes, crying over shows, and chatting with all of you! <3

Since I'm so very, very late in posting this, I'm not gonna tag anyone, but if you wanna tell me about something you enjoyed last year, feel free!!

[lover-of-queens]

Farah Dowling is Alive Part 2

The follow up to Part 1 or as I like to call it: look mom, I told you this degree would have uses in the real world! 

If you haven’t had a chance to read it yet, you can find Part 1: Here 

You know the drill, under the cut cause this is probably going to get long!

Episode 4: Some Wrecked Angel

Episode opens with our favourite trio. If you’ve read the first part then you’ll be familiar with my argument that it could be possible the writers are leaving Farah x Saul threads to pick up at a later date. I think this scene has some interesting ones. There’s a lot of effort in this scene to set Farah and Saul up as parallels - in a way that also makes them stand apart from Ben. We have them saying his name together, but also, when they discover Callum’s body, both Farah and Saul are in sync as they move into a kneeling position. 

I don’t necessarily know if this could be considered an argument for them bringing Farah back, however, in the scene with Farah, Stella and Luna, Stella brings up an interesting point about Farah’s pedagogy. We’re told that Farah chooses care and time over “solely results” when it comes to teaching. In the next episode we learn Rosalind’s own teaching style involves putting her students “through hell”. I don’t necessarily know when the change will happen but given this, I don’t see any way Rosalind can remain Headmistress, especially when they’re taking pains to show Farah as better suited for the role.

Also important in this scene is Farah and Luna’s last exchange. We know what appearances Luna has helped Farah maintain - the barrier/illusion that stops Aster Dell from being seen. So, what’s interesting is Farah’s next line:

Farah: “Yes, we’ve both done a great deal to preserve Solaria’s reputation.” 

This does not get addressed during the remaining episodes. Personally, this line and the amount of tension between Farah and Luna also strikes me as a potential thread that could be picked up later. I’m going to wager that I’m not alone in wanting to know what exactly they did to “preserve” Solaria’s rep. And my guess is, because Brian has mentioned that they’re going to expand on the winx world, we’re going to be finding out more about Solaria in S2. Theoretically, I suppose whatever event that is being referenced here could be dealt with without Farah on screen, but then we’d miss out on all the fun tension! Also, as of right now, fan response to Luna is nothing compared to Farah (at least from what I’ve seen). 

Tattoo theory, several people have already spoken on this and I don’t want to speak over them. I’m still sorting out my own thoughts on whether it’s Farah’s or Eve’s but I will say that Farah is always wearing rings so it seems to me that if they wanted it covered they could easily do it with a ring (or makeup). If the tattoo is purposely put there then I’m going to assume its for a reason that the writers may want to deal with at a later date (hint, hint: bring back Farah). 

Episode 5: Wither Into the Truth

I may do another post on this at some point if I can find enough to say to warrant it but Farah’s eye colour when she does magic. Up until now every time Farah’s done magic her eyes have glowed blue and yet in the scene where she questions Beatrix they glow light orange. Now I’d always assumed that the colour of the glow = element, which was why I didn’t know why Farah’s glowed blue to begin with; she’s a mind fairy so I would have expected the purple that Musa has. And actually the confirmation of her being a mind fairy comes from Fate’s IG page shown below, I don’t know if it’s ever explicitly stated in the show? Further, to my knowledge, Farah is the only fairy we’ve seen whose eyes glow different colours. So, a thread to pick up in season 2, perhaps? 

Also I’m very interested in the use of the word “Once”. In this instance I would almost take it to mean ‘no longer is’ but the tense is present perfect (I think?) which can suggest the continuance of an action. But now I’m being overly nitpicky and technical. Also I don’t know how ‘principle’ made it through what I’m assuming are several stages before making it onto IG, but it gave me a laugh!

“Incredibly powerful” yet loses to Rosalind without a fight? Not buying it. Additionally, the use of “other forms of magic” is interesting and I figure could be taken to mean other elements. But I wonder if there’s more to it than just that. Farah shows knowledge of archaic Fairy Magic with the Nettle Amalgam, so maybe there’s more archaic knowledge out there that she knows ... that could prove helpful. 

Now, back to the episode. When Farah and Hologram Luna are talking, the fact that there are two burned ones travelling together is cause for concern. 

Farah: “There are two of them travelling together. That hasn’t happened since … In a long time.” 

Once again we are left with a thread of something that has happened. In the same IG post as above, in the section for Saul, it mentions that he and Farah became confidants “after experiencing the Black Woods Massacre”. I wonder if that could be what Farah’s referring to here? I know the massacre has come up once or twice in conversation and correct me if I’m wrong but I don’t believe it’s ever been properly explained? To me, it looks like a great bit of backstory to get into at a later date. It may not confirm Farah being alive necessarily, but you could take it as a sign that we might see Eve again. 

Lastly, for this episode, is the scene between Farah and Bloom. Specifically this part: 

Farah: “I will help you get the answers you need. I give you my word.” 

You can probably guess what I’m going to say at this point, a thread that can be picked up in season 2! You could counterargue that Rosalind could help Bloom with answers (as she offers in the next episode) but in my humble opinion, I don’t think it would offer narrative satisfaction. First, because we’ve been shown what a terrible mentor Rosalind is. Second, they’ve spent the first season showing how Farah and Bloom’s mentor-student relationship has developed (bloomed?) so it seems a waste to go through all of that development for nothing. 

Episode 6: A Fanatic Heart

Rosalind has her little prison break. Personally, I still think there’s a lot of unanswered questions about what happened after Aster Dell, how they imprisoned Rosalind, etc. And I do hope that we get some answers in Season 2 - again these answers may not necessarily involve Farah on the screen but as every writer gets told the age old advice of “show, don’t tell”, I think there’s potential for that. 

Farah immediately tries to disprove my points about her intelligence by wandering alone in the woods at night. But she’s pretty, so I’ll allow it. 

Rosalind gives Bloom some answers but not all, so I do think that my point above about Farah helping Bloom find more answers still stands. Further, I find the Farah is Bloom’s mother theory to be unlikely for several reasons (this is not the post for them) but I do want to draw our attention to several lines of dialogue here. 

Bloom: “You hid me from Miss Dowling.” ….

Rosalind: “The guidance you needed was love. Farah couldn’t give that to you. Vanessa and Michael could.” 

There are SO many reasons why this exchange is fascinating. I’m interested in why Bloom brings up Farah to begin with - her other points could stand alone to the same affect. I’m also really interested in the direct comparison between Farah and Bloom’s adoptive parents -- if Bloom hadn’t gone to them, she would have gone to Farah? It almost seems as though the direct comparison implies that. Also, considering Bloom’s relationship with her adoptive parents, I really doubt the validity of the statement. Plus, I wouldn’t trust Rosalind’s idea of love in general. 

Also, Rosalind is just so certain that Farah couldn’t love Bloom … can’t love in general? There’s just so much of Farah and Rosalind’s relationship that hasn’t been explored that I think really needs to be. 

Now, the scene that always makes me cry! Farah and Bloom have had a difficult time this season and it’s all lead up to this moment of trust and vulnerability - on both sides. If you ask me, this season has been setting Farah up to be the mentor figure that Rosalind was not - Rosalind’s opposite. And they’ve worked hard at it, even when they were trying to convince us Farah might be the evil one which like lmao. I find it hard to believe that they would go through all of that work just to discard it by leaving Farah dead. Especially because what Farah admits to Bloom in this sequence feels like a changing moment for her - she recognizes things she wishes she would have done differently (being less of a figurehead, being more open) and I think its only fair that Fate allows her to follow through on those things. 

And onto the scene that I really don’t want to rewatch but I’m going to do it for y’all. I’ve touched on Farah x Saul moments so it’s only fair that I touch on Farah x Rosalind ones. There is tension here (looking at each other’s lips, Rosalind getting closer to Farah, Farah grabbing her), I mean the cast has joked about shipping them. But there are several different ways to read this and you are more than welcome to your pick! It doesn’t really change my point, which is … thread to pick up in season 2? Have you started taking a shot every time I’ve said that (please don’t <3). 

Farah who has shown herself to be incredibly intelligent and cautious when it comes to Rosalind turns her back on her. And we get what is probably the most important piece of evidence: the eye glow. It can mean absolutely anything, but I’d wager one of the reasons its there is to have people do exactly what I’m doing here. Theorizing about whether Farah could still be alive. I’m going to take that as a sign there’s hope (mainly because I think it would be cruel to suggest a ‘could she come back narrative’ and then … not have her come back). Also, in the Fate novel, it describes Farah’s death as “too easy”. I absolutely refuse to believe that it could be easy to kill Farah when she’s proved time and time again how powerful she is. 

That finishes my episode by episode analysis. It totals well over 2500 words. If you can believe me, I still have more to say on this topic (discussing general counterarguments and possible logistics of Eve’s filming), so stay tuned for a Part 3?

[rickygina]

I don’t really care about PW being the endgame for season 2 because I know that ship is not even going to last. Some shippers are really lying to themselves because they are being set up to be a temporal romance and it surprises me some people are not even seeing it when it’s clear on the writing. But also a lot of PW shippers are R1ni shippers lol so you know they ship them because they don’t want Rina. Those were the same ones hating Gina on S1/2A but now love her and "she deserves better."

Ricky and Gina are still an unresolved situation with so many questions unanswered, questions that are being left open for a reason. If S2 ends with the same thing, leaving questions open and not an actual closure then you sure bet that’s gonna continue being dragged along the way next season. Gina is trying to move on because she gave up on the Ricky thing because she thinks it is one sided, that’s literally it. The only way Rina could be bones its if they actually talk about it and be like "yeah, I don’t feel anything about you anymore, let’s be friends again". And that’s still a reach because you know how it went for R1ni. In fact, I’m sure the ending will leave a big question mark on their relationship to drag into season 3, I think it’s curious how a Rina interaction is the one we truly haven’t gotten from the main 4. I still believe something will happen on 212 that will open everything up again. Them ignoring everything feels very intentional to me.

I know a lot of Rinas are losing hope but don’t expect them to happen soon because they need to be friends again at some point first and also have different relationships. I just remember how Pacey and Joey almost didn’t interact on s2 of Dawson's Creek (a show Tim gets a lot of inspiration from) and they also dated other people that season but then finally dates on s3. And who got the endgame? Exactly.

anon you said this perfectly i dont need to add anything else <3

[winged-fool]

While I was able to manifest us a Maria-less episode last night I was not able to manifest myself a calm day of work so I am popping in to share head canons while I shove sandwich meat in my mouth.

🧡 Roswell New Mexico can pry my head canon that Mindy’s grandfather was a code talker in WW2 from my cold dead hands. I’ve had this head canon since S1 and I know they gave us Harrison but I am still disappointed that he wasn’t related to the Manes Brothers and that he only existed to prop up Tripp and Louise. And as I’ve said before this show should have leaned way heavier into repeating events and Alex being a code breaker and having a Great-Grandfather who was a code talker would have been a really cool and subtle detail

🧡 I deeply need some information about Mindy Manes on screen since we still wouldn’t know her name and the fact she lives on the Rez if it wasn’t for 🚗 Twitter. I assume she was a stay at home wife/mother considering that would have been the norm for a military wife when her and Jesse were married but I assume she works now. How much did Jesse tell Mindy about Project Shepherd since she was the final key in Alex finding out about Project Shepherd in S1. Did she have any friends? Why does NO ONE talk about her? DID HER AND JESSE ACTUALLY GET DIVORCED?!?! Jesse wearing a wedding ring in S2 haunts me almost as much as his last words

🧡 so knowing that Alex is short for Alexander and Greg is short for Gregory I’m head canoning that Clay is short for Clayton and Flint is Flint’s middle name that he uses because he REALLY hates his first name

🧡 feeling real vindicated that I was right about Dallas being Theos son and being the actual third member of isobel and Michael’s triad. But also cosmic friendship confirmed? Because if so, man do I feel vindicated in writing Rosa and Flint as cosmic besties

🧡 like the rest of fandom I head canon that Clay is a Marine and as you know I head canon that Clay and Greg are twins. And because I am a gremlin married to a former marine I need this very particular joke to appear. You know the marines a a department of the navy? Yeah, the men’s department.

I’ll see myself out 🍤🍤🍤

Oh no!! Sorry to hear the day wasn't calm! Hope you're resting now!

Omg yes I 100% support him being a code talker!! I listened to a podcast on code talkers earlier this year and man the history there is unbelievably fascinating!

I have so many unanswered questions about Jesse and it makes me so mad the way they just cast him and the storyline around him away!! Why the wedding ring?? And yeah I'm grateful every day we don't have to deal with Twitter canon anymore...

Oooh that's a really interesting theory! My favorite head canon still is that they were all named after rocks so I don't accept Alexander lol it's Alexandrite in my world 🤣🤣😜😜

Omg yes I love Dallas being part of the triad but also Heath being his platonic soul mate!!! So 💯 support Rosa and Flint being besties haha

Lmfaoo!! I love the joke! My brother is in the AF and I know everyone shits on it for being the bougie branch. I love branch rivalry and jokes. Clay will always be Flint's twin in my heart tho hahaha

[dotsayers]

20 Questions: Writer’s Edition

tagged by the beloved @myrmidryad 

this is a LONG one so here’s a cut to avoid do you love the colour of the sky syndrome

1. How many works do you have on AO3?

101 after a recent purge... no one may know about my Past

2. What’s your total AO3 word count?

329004! used to be about 350k but again... purge

3. How many fandoms have you written for and what are they?

on ao3 i’ve written for (chronologically) doctor who, skyfall, discworld, les mis, star trek, lord peter wimsey, marvel (various), in the flesh, red vs blue, roosterteeth rpf, check please, hockey rpf, star wars, daredevil, rivers of london, dishonored, emmerdale, dirk gently, holby city, hot fuzz, kj charles, guardian, the covert captain, taskmaster rpf, good omens, ghosts, roswell new mexico, leverage, schitt’s creek, the magicians, 9-1-1, it chapter two, the magnus archives, the old guard, the mandalorian, the ritual, the locked tomb

way back on the pit of voles i wrote for twilight, harry potter, hetalia and xmen first class. and on the newsround chatrooms i wrote exclusively harry potter fic about my oc neville and luna’s daughter

as you can tell i am not prone to staying in one fandom writing wise, i tend to end up with one complete fic and seven abandoned wips concealed deep in my google drive

4. What are your top 5 fics by kudos?

finally see what it means to be living (captain marvel, carol/maria, i really hit the zeitgeist with this one i think i was something like the fifth fic in the ship tag)

do whatever you think (the magnus archives, this series is actually #2-7, then #8 #9 and #11 for me so i’m going to cheat a bit)

standing in a world of my own (daredevil, matt/foggy/karen, another zeitgeist hit! really miss writing for daredevil actually... it’s a perennial fave)

a winding road that stretches towards the truth (iron man, tony/rhodey, i STILL don’t know when this got so many kudos. i swear i looked away when it was at 100 and suddenly it ended up here)

where the long shadows grow (star trek aos, kirk prime/spock prime, thank god some people are checking the prime kirkspock tag is all i’m saying!)

5. What’s the fic you’ve written with the angstiest ending?

i don’t really Do angsty endings... possibly a blanket of stars just because i ended it on something of a cliffhanger and then completely zoned out of rnm for long enough that i forgot where i was going with it. there was definitely the intention of fixing things but then i just... did not do that. and now the show is on s3 and i’m over a season behind! life comes at you fast

6. What’s the fic you’ve written with the happiest ending?

where the long shadows grow, because it reunited kirk prime and spock prime and they DESERVE TO BE HAPPYYYY. i’m a complete sucker for presumed dead/back from the dead stories, actually, so on a similar theme i have two (TWO) daredevil fics which follow the trope, one about ray coming back post-s2 (might never be normal again) and one about foggy and matt reuniting post-endgame (in the corner, taking up space). this is the only time i will ever acknowledge endgame ever again

7. Do you write crossovers? If so, what is the craziest one you’ve written?

i do write crossovers! in fact i am often roundly mocked by my friends for the increasingly esoteric nature of my crossovers. way back in secondary i wrote a twilight/labyrinth crossover where angela was sarah and jareth’s daughter  because i had a massive crush on a girl who liked both twilight and labyrinth. however, since that has been comprehensively scrubbed from the internet, i think my craziest crossover is probably part three of ‘traced upon the skies’, already an esoteric crossover of rivers of london and hot fuzz, when i added in a crossover with the horror movie ‘the ritual’ just because i wanted rafe spall’s character to be happy 

8. Do you write smut? If so, what kind?

EXTREMELY rarely and only with extreme embarrassment. i will not be any more specific than that

9. Do you respond to comments, why or why not?

i used to really struggle with doing this, to the point that i had over 300 comments just. lingering in my inbox unanswered. so i decided to give those up and just commit to answering them from then on, which has been working fairly well for about a year and a half now. i love getting comments but i get overwhelmed really easily and struggle with replying in a way which feels meaningful without getting in my head about it! 

10. Have you ever received hate on a fic?

yes lmao it was for a harry potter fic on ff.net where harry got sorted into hufflepuff instead of gryffindor. it wasn’t a very good fic but i think the fact it was clearly written by an 11 year old should have scared off at least some of the less flattering comments.

11. Have you ever had a fic stolen?

i don’t... think so? i don’t know how i’d find out to be honest, my vanity googling is rarely very effective

12. Have you ever had a fic translated?

yes! as bronze may be much beautified (skyfall, mallory/bond) got translated into chinese, i was extremely pleased. i think it’s mandarin but the ao3 page for the translation doesn’t say and my mandarin is.................. extremely poor

13. Have you ever co-written a fic before?

also yes! me and jess little-smartass have written a lot together, although only our star trek/les mis series has been published, more’s the pity. we spent a lot of les mis fandom time workshopping aus and we were always extremely correct about all of it, imo

14. What’s your all time favourite ship to write for?

oh god. i think probably kirk/spock, although there’s some recency bias to that since i reread space manhattans recently and was reminded of my love for them. i really like writing jon/martin but i’ve mostly done that from outsider pov which is a bit different to writing shipfic, i think. joe/nicky from tog was also something i really liked writing but i struggle with plotting longer fic with them

15. What’s a WIP that you want to finish but don’t think you ever will?

i recently went through my abandoned fic folder so i actually have a few options for this. the obvious choice would be ‘any of the hockey ones’ but i did delete most of those just for my sanity. more recently i started writing a vaguely smutty pre-the thing mac/fuchs fic for alex @milkdrinker5000 which i really WANT to finish but am struggling with. most obscure answer (even beyond the thing) and most likely to remain unfinished is the insanely in depth post-tog booker/copley fic i had planned out back in about october. i wrote a good 6-7k of that one and then i realised it was going to be, like, difficult, and decided if i was going to put that much work into something it may as well be the novel im meant to be writing

16. What are your writing strengths?

once a friend told me i had an excellent facility for dialogue and ive thought about it every time i write ever since. i love writing dialogue and i think i’m good at knowing what sounds ic and what is right out. 

17. What are your writing weaknesses?

one of the things i struggled with for a really long time, and honestly still have trouble with, is depicting action in words. once i wrote a hockey fic which featured multiple hockey games and i spent probably four times as much effort editing those to make sense and be interesting that i’ve ever done on a talkier scene.

18. What are your thoughts on writing dialogue in other languages in a fic?

i’ve done it but only when i knew more or less what i was talking about - i did italian at school so i felt confident using it for nicky in something particular and real. i try not to italicise when i drop in words from other languages, which is what i usually do when i’m using a language i haven’t studied in depth (for example, joe’s use of arabic in some of my fic), and to only use words which i’ve heard used by native speakers in that context. i think if you don’t feel confident using another language, generally speaking, you shouldn’t do it. and for god’s sake don’t use google translate for a full sentence

19. What was the first fandom you wrote for?

harry potter on the newsround chatboards. ariana lovegood-longbottom my sweet child

20. What’s your favourite fic you’ve written?

this used to be an easy question because hands down the fic i was proudest of on posting it was i’ll be seeing you. i spent a year and a half on research and writing! but these days i do cringe a little at my hockey fic, and i think i’m prouder of some of my shorter works. let’s do a curveball and say layer on layer, down on down, which is my favourite of my rnm fics and the one i like most from a narrative voice perspective. getting michael right was stressful and i’m still proud i got it down for a TIME LOOP FIC, my absolute favourite trope

tagging @little-smartass and @leescoresbies just in case they want to try this

[animebw]

Short Reflection: Winter 2021 Anime

Ladies, gentlemen, and everyone in between, breathe easy: anime is finally good again. After a dismal 2020 full of Covid delays, disappointments, and one lackluster flop after another, it was tempting to give up on the medium entirely. But at long last, our long nightmare is coming to an end, because Winter 2021 has been absolutely fucking fantastic. So many incredible shows have graced our screens this season, countless unexpected surprises that feel like the new face of modern anime slowly taking shape. I loved watching anime this season, and even a lot of the ones that ultimately disappointed me were still head and shoulders above the also-rans of last year. Sadly, I won’t be talking about my three favorite winter 2021 shows in this post- Attack on Titan S4, Wonder Egg Priority, and Re:Zero S2- because I have not yet finished them (or, in AOT and WEP’s case, they are not yet finished themselves), and it wouldn’t be fair to give them a score until I get the full picture. But even taking those three masterpieces out of the running, this season still puts the entirety of 2020 to shame. It’s a new dawn for anime, folks, and it’s looking like a very bright dawn indeed. So kick back and relax as I gush about the shows that made winter 2021 such a goddamn blast.

So I’m a Spider, So What? (1st Half): Unfinished/10

I am, perhaps fittingly, of many minds about Spider Isekai. On the one hand, it’s a vehicle for the incredible Aoi Yuuki to ham it up to 11 and back as the frenetic, hyperactive girl-reincarnated-as-spider-in-a-JRPG-world of the title, fighting tooth and nail to survive and escape a dangerous labyrinth from the lowest- and most dangerous- levels up. On the other hand, it also reincarnates the rest of her class into an utterly bog-standard isekai mushburger that takes up way too much time for how uninteresting it is and still hasn’t connected with the spider plot in any meaningful way, thus feeling like a needlessly dragged-out filler plot. On the other other hand, there are actually some interesting things happening in the show’s bigger plot, and as the lore of the world itself becomes more prominent, it becomes clear there is a much better story at play here than what we’re currently privy to. There’s secrets, hidden history, mysterious foes that don’t fit neatly into dull bad guy tropes, and a sense that things have only really started kicking off. So for the time being, I’m going to leave Spider Isekai scoreless and wait to see where all its pieces end up falling. It could turn out great or completely shit the bed, but either way, there are too many unanswered questions for me to feel comfortable giving its first half a concrete number. Hopefully, the promise it’s started to show won’t be squandered.

That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Season 2: 3/10

I remember back when I watched the first season of Slime, I was almost tricked into liking it. The first arc is just good enough, with genuine emotional stakes and beautiful animation, that it felt like the breath of fresh air the isekai genre needed. But then as it dragged on and on, it quickly became clear that this was ultimately just another mediocre, uninspired power fantasy averse to any real stakes or narrative consequences, with no real interest beyond buffing its OP protagonist to increasingly meaningless heights of power, fame and adoration. The only thing it had going for it were those pretty production values, and even those took a noticeable downturn as the season wore on. And even by those low standards, Slime season 2 manages to be a crushing disappointment. This season almost manages to push Rimuru out of his comfort zone and have him genuinely suffer, but then it drops a fix-all solution into his lap and lets him easily reverse all the damage, and the only lasting consequence is that he gets even more stupidly overpowered and unbeatable. And that just pisses me off. It turns out, the only thing worse than not having stakes at all is pretending to have stakes only to chicken out at the last minute. At this point, I’d be fine just burning the entirety of modern isekai sans Re:Zero to the ground, salting the earth, and starting over fresh. Otherwise these shows are just gonna keep cropping up like unwanted weeds, choking the garden of anime to death.

On the bright side, though, at least now I know who to blame for planting these weeds in the first place...

Mushoku Tensei: 4/10

Mushoku Tensei is a show that’s actively painful to watch, not just because it’s bad, but because I so desperately want it to be good. This is the first isekai in forever that feels like it takes place in a living, breathing world, populated by actual people and deep history. And the animation by Studio Bind, which was formed just to make this show happen, is utterly beautiful. This is the best-looking, most instantly magical fantasy anime we’ve had since at least Made in Abyss, possibly the most impressive production of the season (no small feel, considering the competition), a product of so much obvious talent and love I want to champion it on principle alone. But the moment Mushoku Tensei stops wowing you with stunning cuts of magic spells and gorgeous vistas and returns its focus to its plot and characters, you’re forced to remember that this was based on one of the earliest, most influential isekai web novels, and is thus responsible for literally every reason modern isekai sucks so hard. The protagonist is a pedophile and attempted rapist who barely gets so much as a slap on the wrist, the world bends around him to make him as much of an overpowered chick magnet as it possibly can, it alternately fetishizes and ignores its female cast, and the whole plot is an excuse for an incel loser to live in a world that all but caters to his every whim, a power fantasy where the worst scum can live out their dream life without ever fixing what made them scum in the first place. And at that point, all the jaw-dropping animation starts to feel like an insult. In an anime industry where ever the best shows are plagued with production issues, why are we forming new studios and pouring so much talent into them just to polish this turd to a mirror shine? Surely all that passion would be better spend somewhere, anywhere else. But no, Stars Align gets sliced in half mid-production and left to rot while the Rapey Baby anime gets the VIP treatment. And people wonder why this industry is so fucking broken.

Dr. Stone Season 2: 5/10

Dr. Stone’s biggest problem is that it’s a seasonal anime that’s paced and produced like a long-running anime. Every scene is torturously drawn out, it almost never looks good in motion, and the gags and dialogue all skew so juvenile that it’s all but impossible to take seriously. Which is a shame, because at heart, the idea of a shonen scientist superhero using the power of human knowledge to restore society thousands of years after its collapse is just really damn cool. And there are great moments throughout season 2. Homura’s capture, Chrome’s jailbreak, and the final tag-team showdown all showcase what Dr Stone is capable of at its best. But they’re too infrequent between the screechy voice acting, the plodding pace, and the moments that are just straight up stupid (Listen, I know we call joke about how drawn-out shonen anime can be, but normally they don’t put focus on the fact that they’re stretching 20 seconds out to ten minutes). Also, let’s be honest here, Boichi’s female character designs suck. They look like blow-up sex dolls with skulls the shape of alien fish people, it’s freaking weird, man.

Quintessential Quintuplets Season 2: 5/10

Sometimes, I wonder why I keep giving Quints the benefit of the doubt. It’s mostly as dumb as the vast majority of harem comedies, it’s never had a good production to back it up, and the gag of Fuutaro not being able to tell the girls apart just does not work in animation when you can instantly tell who everyone is from their hair colors and voices. And somehow, season 2 is an even worse adaptation than season 1, skipping huge chunks of content and condensing arcs into way-too-small stretches of time. I didn’t think it was even possible to do worse than Tezuka Productions, yet Studio Bibury has found a way. But then every once in a while, it’ll land a joke that really makes me laugh or an emotional beat that rings true, and I’ll remember: this is, like, the one harem comedy that actually cares about its girls beyond their roles as waifu bait. This is the one harem comedy where the characters are actual characters, with chemistry and developed relationships and all that jazz. And then I get depressed that the bar for harem comedies is so fucking low that this lukewarm, middlebrow time waster gets to be held up as a paragon of the genre just for not fucking up in the ways most harem comedies fuck up. Surely, this genre can do better.

Otherside Picnic: 5.5/10

Director Satou Takuya has lead an interesting career, leading projects ranging from urban horror (Steins;Gate) to soft yuri (Kase-san) and everything in between. Now, he finally gets to put those two ends of the spectrum together with Otherside Picnic, a show about two college girls exploring a spooky netherworld parallel to our own universe, filled with urban legends and mysterious fears of all shapes and sizes. Unfortunately, while there’s plenty of charm in Sorawo and Toriko’s interactions, and the high-concept abominations they encounter are all unique, the finished product reeks of a poor adaptation that dampens the strengths of the original novels. Lidenfilms’ production leaves a lot to be desired, with limited animation and lackluster visual flair that takes away from the awe and terror of the other world. And it feels like a lot of character definition has been cut to streamline the story, weakening the impact of Sorawo and Toriko’s developing bond. I still enjoyed it, but in fits and spurts and not as a complete package. Unless you’re a diehard anime-only like myself, I’d probably suggest tracking down the novels to get this story in its best form. Because even though I haven’t read them myself, I can tell that this adaption really doesn’t do them justice.

2.43 Seinn Boys High School Volleyball Club: 6/10

What happens when you cross the spirited volleyball games of Haikyuu with the melodramatic, thickly tonal atmosphere of Stars Align? You get this ridiculously named show that sadly ends up less than the some of its parts. There’s some great meaty character work in this tale of best friends driven apart and struggling to reconnect on the volleyball court, and the volleyball matches themselves might actually be more impressively animated than Haikyuu’s most recent season. Seriously, the sports action in this show kicks ass. Unfortunately, the writing and overall structure feels unfocused and compromised in a lot of ways. At times it’s too melodramatic to the point of choking itself to death, and then it backtracks on the best parts of that melodrama by erasing one of the main characters’ darkest, most compelling mistakes with a “Syke! Didn’t actually happen.” It also feels like it’s rushing through a lot of story beats; some arcs feel overly truncated, robbing them of their impact. But every time I felt myself losing interest, the fantastically written friendships between the cast members and spectacular volleyball action drew me back in. This may be an imperfect show, but it’s got some damn impressive highs that make it worth at least a look.

Vlad Love: 6.5/10

Let’s get one thing straight: You are not high enough to watch Vlad Love. You will never be high enough to watch Vlad Love. But you should still absolutely watch Vlad Love. From the mind of legendary director Mamori Oshii comes what I can only describe as an anime shitpost, ostensibly a slapstick yuri rom-com about a blood donation enthusiast who falls in love with a vampire but really just an excuse for Oshii to do whatever the fuck he wants and talk about whatever the fuck interests him. Characters constantly break the fourth wall, jokes are driven into the dirt to the point they somehow loop back around to being funny again, and the plot constantly stops cold so the show can infodump on everything from military technology to Japan’s political history to international cinema to classic video games and basically whatever the hell else Oshii decided he wanted The Youths today to know about, often with the characters explicitly pointing out how ridiculous it is that we’re grinding to a halt to do so. It’s loud, abrasive, nonsensical, and it seemingly dares the audience to see how long they can put up with its ridiculous antics. I honestly don’t know if this show’s even good; all I know is that I enjoyed every bizarre moment of it. So check it out for yourself; something this batshit crazy and original at least deserves a chance.

Horimiya: 7.5/10

There’s something deeply refreshing about Horimiya being as popular and beloved as it is. This is a straightforward rom-com with no unique twist, no narrative gimmick, and no real overarching plot. It’s just about a bunch of high schoolers going through life, falling in love, discovering themselves, and making the most of their youth while they still can. And even with no frills whatsoever, it’s still one of the most delightful shows of the season. How wonderful is it that an anime can get this popular with no wild premise to goose its appeal? That nothing more than well-told romance between a cast of lovable characters, aided by some fantastically evocative direction, is enough to get people singing its praises? That simply nailing the particular feeling of discovering love in your last year of high school is enough to earn this show’s place as an all-time rom-com classic? That even a romance as sweet and vanilla as Horimiya isn’t afraid to actually let its central couple get together and explore life within their relationship, including sex and kink? Yes, it sucks that the adaptation is so rushed; too many characters are shortchanged by the cramped pacing, and it feels like so many wonderful details and connective tissue got left by the wayside. But man, even this imperfect version is enough to restore my faith in popular anime’s ability to work wonders.

Jujutsu Kaisen: 7.5/10

I’m not gonna lie, I was starting to lose interest in Jujutsu Kaisen going into its back half. And thinking back on it, I’ve realized that this show’s writing kinda sucks at staying focused. Hey, remember Yuuji’s regular high school friends? Cause Yuuji sure doesn’t. Also, we introduced the requisite shonen power trio just a few episodes in, only to completely sideline their dynamic until the end of the season (side note, between this and Dr. Stone, what is with modern shonen breaking up the central trio for huge stretches of time right after establishing them?) It just cannot pick one thing to focus on, jumping between ideas erratically and abandoning them just as quickly. So why do I still rate it so highly? Because sweet merciful Bhudda this show kicks so much ass. Every action scene is a winner, every episode is slathered in high-quality sakuga, every character absolutely drips with attitude, and the entire production exudes the kind of effortlessly cool enthusiasm you just can’t help but love. Watching Jujutsu Kaisen is a blast, and it feels like it’s finally started finding its focus now that Yuuji, Nobara and Megumi are on screen together for the first time in ages. This may be shonen junk food, but it’s junk food of the highest caliber, and I can’t wait for what comes next.

Yuru Camp Season 2: 8/10

I was just getting into anime around the winter of 2018, so one of the earliest shows I watched was Yuru Camp’s first season. While I enjoyed it overall and gave it a 7/10, it didn’t leave that much of a lasting impression on me (beyond its fantastic OP, at least). It was just a cute, fun show with good atmosphere, nothing more, nothing less. But something must have changed in the intervening years, because man, I really got swept up in season 2. Maybe my tastes have grown more accustomed to heavily atmospheric shows like this one, maybe being shut inside for over a year has left me longing for anything that reminds me of the beautiful outdoors, or maybe this season really has stepped things up. Whatever the reason, I found myself falling hard for Yuru Camp’s second season and its weekly dose of comfy atmosphere, god-tier face game, real-life camping advice, and quiet rumination on the nature of doing something you love alone vs with friends. There’s something really special about this show, an unassuming sense of wonder and warmth that grows on you little by little until it lodges permanently in the comfort center of your brain. I remember so many moments from this season that just made me sit back and breathe, taking in the world around me and the beauty it was capable of. And in these tense times, a show this good at helping you relax is a show worth celebrating. Who knows? Maybe I’ll inspire me to go camping for the first time in over a decade.

SK8 the Infinity: 8.5/10

The best way I can describe SK8 the Infinity is that it does for pretty sports boys what Symphogear does for magical girls. It’s a ridiculous, bombastic, over-the-top spectacle of itself that somehow manages to be 100% sincere about how utterly, amazingly stupid it is. And with the combined talents of Hiroko Utsumi (Banana Fish, Free) and Ichirou Ookouchi (Code Geass, Princess Principal) at the helm, not to mention Studio Bones’ money to throw around, the result is nothing less than amazing. Every single skateboard race is utterly bonkers, every single character is ridiculously lovable, and it bursts with passions and swagger and a deep-rooted earnestness that makes even its most ludicrous moments shine with emotional reverence. And as if that wasn’t enough, the man villain is the voice actor of DIO himself playing an over-the-top matador who dances the flamenco on his board and absolutely fucking devours the scenery in a way that never fails to leave me cackling. It’s simultaneously impossible to take seriously and yet so self-confidently itself that you can’t help but take it seriously. If only it had committed to being actually gay instead of just endlessly teasing it, this might have risen to a true masterpiece. As is, though, it’s still one of the most deliriously fun anime I’ve watched in a long time, a sports show by way of a wrestling pageant that constantly tops itself in sheer entertainment value. So grab your skateboard, put your flashiest BL goggles on, and let SK8 sweep you into infinity!

[gracefulweather]

pls why did tumblr put the pic in such a weird place lol 😭 i was seriously laughing so hard he was really holding it for dear life

omg yes i have !! i love alice in borderland ! i wish it got the same hype as squid game is bc it's so good !! and the games omg 😨 seriously was on the edge of my seat the whole show ! like the bus one was insane :O i hated how they left it on a cliffhanger but i saw its getting renewed for s2 :D i was really obsessed w it when i first watched, i looked up all of the character profiles and how it differed from the manga + future games and the ending but i still have so many unanswered questions 👀

i love psychological thrillers and shows like those ! wbu???

haha yes 😭 txt really made a whole short film lol

yes 😭 i saw those comparisons and how ppl were bringing up what sunwoo said abt the character comparisons to the members and im ready for PAIN 🥲

cinematic mvs >>>>

drink it halloween dance practice would have been spectacular :")

i don't really collect pcs ,,, idk i just get the ones that come w the albums and put them in a lil card organizer lol but i've never traded or bought any wo an album

omg no 😭😭😭 i hate when things sell out so quickly

haha we love that ! they're all so lovable tbh, it's hard to chose a bias 🥺

yeah ! i am a sunwoo enjoyer :D & my bias wrecker has gotta be eric 🙃 he is constantly coming for my throat..heh when did u start stanning?

THE HIGHLIGHT MEDLEY 😭😭😭 WAS SO GOOD ! as soon as the announcer thing came on i was so happy, they're really going all out ! haha omg 😂 maverick is definitely an intense lil song but i feel like i alr love it ! yes the songs all sound so nice n spicy i'm so ready

LMAOOO tumblr putting the pic there makes it even funnier :') died laughing ngl. and ikr borderland was so good, though i feel like it was a little too scary for it to have the hype factor? oh i totally forgot about the bus one until you mentioned it!! yeah that was so intense... omg also the one with the hanging electric pole things with rising water?? oooh i'll have to check out the manga but yeah hopefully s2 gives us all the answers (unless netflix chooses to drag it out... knowing them, that might happen 😭). and YES!! i also love psychological thrillers!!!! not so much straight up horror, but i love suspense and mind games 😍 do you have any faves or recs?

we're all ready for pain :') and at the same time tbz be playing red light green light in such a cute and funny way in their mcountdown teaser?? they're gonna give us whiplash from this :')))

ohh i see, yeah i heard that sunwoo was one of the umm expensive/sold out pc members LOL but i hope you pull him if you do decide to get the album!!!

maknae line!! eric has been... very bold lately so i hope u survive this comeback hehe. i started stanning towards the end of last year!! i was eyeing them during stealer era but their MAMA 2020 performance convinced me 😍 wbu!! and who are ur biases from the other groups you stan?

yeah omg the chanting in maverick is kinda catchy!! i can see myself looping it until i'm numb 🤡 ALSO MV TEASER??? THOUGHTS? i thought the other one counted as mv teaser already so definitely didn't expect this one, but hopefully it's a sign that we're getting like a full on story and plot and everything 🤩

[togetherkru]

Last Minute Theory (about Bellamy, Clarke, Echo...)

Here's a theory that's been nagging at me for 24 hours. I prefer to warn you right away: I have nothing against b/echo, but I'm pretty sure that Bellarke will be endgame, so this theory goes in that direction. If you feel you won't like it, move along. If by any chance I'm right and you don't want to be spoiled, go on your way too... Well, you never know ;-). For the others, and especially for those who are losing hope, follow me to the other side ^^. It really could make a very nice fiction !!!

I focused a lot on this post (which I don't know the exact source, sorry?) and I admit that my theory is based on that and on a few spoiler account posts (shame on me). @historyofbellarke​ just told me it was fake... So let’s go anyway 🤡 !

- first point: we know for sure Octavia in season 6 returns to Sanctum without a helmet and has forgotten the last 10 years of her life. She has changed, of course, but she doesn't remember Hope, nor what she did on Skyring, or Bardo...

THEREFORE - Let's imagine that Bellamy makes such a trip (so to a planet where time passes slower). We can also assume that he will have forgotten... the last 6 years of his life? ... Uh. His relationship with Echo ? gone ! His difficulties of reconciliation with Octavia, forgotten...But who could he not have forgotten 6 years ago (we don't count the cryosleep, because his consciousness was not awake...) ? Around whom did his life revolve around Praimfaya ???? - So maybe we won't have to deal with a brainwashed Bellamy, but rather with a Pramifaya! Bellamy... Which would explain why his reunion with Echo could be strange (she's totally focused on her relationship with him and on his return, and he... rather indifferent), and very different from his reunion with Clarke : “it’s always been you”... It would also explain the 7X07 Echo’s flashback : to amplify her memories, compared to the total oblivion of Bellamy...Honestly my heart is already breaking for her...

- of course this theory is based on what many Bellarkers believe: Bellamy fell in love with Clarke very early, at first he thought she was out of reach, in love with another (s1), then he became her knight in shining armor (s2), her bodyguard (s3/s4) (and he was able to make Clarke's phrase "I bear it, so she won't have to” his own). Then shortly before Praimfaya, he thought that maybe she also has feelings for him. But they are separated, he thinks she is dead, and he moves on... After three years... And when he finds her again, he is “engaged” to another woman, and he wants it to work. And time has passed, Clarke is different, and so is he...

Anyway, I'm pretty sure I'm onto something. Of course, there are still many unanswered questions: How did Bellamy lose his memory? Will Bellamy regain all his memory (but in the meantime things will probably have changed with Clarke)? What will Echo do ?...But you know what ? I'm here for it.

[thestrangestthing89]

Will manifesting Eddie, Billy, and El.

There is a lot more to say about El being a manifestation compared to Eddie and Billy. She got the most screen time of the three. Brenner's attitude towards El: We see that Brenner favors El above all the other kids in the lab, to the point where they are jealous of El. But we aren't given a reason why. In fact, we are told a lot of reasons why she isn't special - she isn't the most powerful or the most skilled, she is the weakest. He doesn't coddle her either and is instead cruel pretty much every time she can't do something to his liking. She disappoints him, yet he seems to have high hopes for what she can do. His behavior is very manipulative and he's kind when he needs her to do something and cruel when she doesn't do it right. He flatters her with "only you can save them" nonsense when we plainly see that she struggles to save them. We know in S1 and S2 it wasn't just her that saved Will, it was the whole group. In S3 and 4 it not only was the whole group, but El fails to save anyone. She does a lot wrong. But she is constantly told she is special and their only hope. It doesn't add up with what we actually see happening. And this manipulation (by both Brenner and Owens) isn't just when she is the only kid in the lab. He acted like this when there were many kids. So he could have relied on them instead of her. We know he didn't tell her the full story about Henry. He admits to cherry-picking memories. I think what we are being shown here is more El's origin story as it relates to Will. These aren't her memories, which is why she doesn't remember them. She doesn't have them. But Will does and I think he's repressing them (or as I said in my post about Billy, he's putting all of the things he doesn't like about himself onto other people). I think Brenner is interested in her because out of all the other kids in the lab, she was created in a different way - by Will. If she ends up being powerful that means he can create more superheroes through Will.

So in going along with my theory about Eddie and Billy, I think El ends up being related to his childhood trauma. The first thing that happened to him that led to everything else. I think this is related to his father given how much Brenner resembles Lonnie and his relationship with Will (at least what we know of it so far). In this case, Will manifests El through the abuse he suffered from Lonnie as a child. We know Lonnie called Will gay slurs and it's been heavily hinted that there is physical abuse and sexual abuse as a part of this (like Brenner and El). We don't know when Lonnie left or what happened here exactly, but I would guess something significant happened when Will was 7 since that was the age El was in those memories in S4. I think El is a reference to parts of Will's psyche he is struggling to accept. Like Eddie is his ego and Billy is his id, El is his superego - the hyper-vigilant, rational side to him. El likes rules and structure. She needs things to be orderly so she can understand them. She punishes the bad guys because she is the good guy. It's a simplistic superhero narrative and one that a child would come up with when they are distressed. He created a superhero to save him, like he created Billy to put his MF trauma on, and Eddie to put his insecurities about being different than everyone else on. That beings said, I think that once these manifestations are created they are real people with their own thoughts and actions. But I think Will can unintentionally manipulate things when he feels strong emotions - ie he gets jealous of all the time Mike and El are spending together so he has El dump his ass and run off with Max.

Will and El's relationship: For 2 people whose stories are so closely tied together, they have very few interactions. El is very determined to save him though, even though she doesn't know him. And there is still that unanswered question from S1 - El recognized Will's picture but we don't know how. I think this goes back to when Will originally manifested her. I think she remembers a little bit about this but not all of it. She doesn't know enough to know that Brenner's memories about Henry are fakes. Throughout the entirety of S1, El is mistaken for Will. They are interchangeable. Hopper thinks he's chasing ghosts. It's interesting to note here that El's limited verbal skills prevent her from explaining herself and her relationship to Will. Much in the same way that El's mother, Terry, can't communicate with words. A similar thing that Will struggles with in S2 when he's possessed. He uses his art because he can't figure out how to describe how he's feeling verbally. I think El, and by extension Terry, are representing how Will is struggling to talk about his trauma, in this case about Lonnie. They don't talk because he isn't ready to talk about this yet. There is so much that could be said about the comparisons between Will and El but here are a few: - There is a moment early on in the season when Mike is in front of the D&D board and you see the little wizard piece meant to represent Will the Wise. The piece is facing off against the 3 headed dragon and is surrounded by what looks like other monsters. The very next scene is El at Benny's facing off against the lab guys and Brenner. She gets surrounded by them and is able to escape. - El being afraid of small spaces is something that doesn't come up again. She doesn't want to be in the closet in Mike's room. This obviously has a lot of subtext for Mike's sexuality. But this scene happens when Jonathan shows up at Lonnie's and checks the trunk of the car for Will, heavily implying Will was put in there by Lonnie at one point. It makes me wonder if we will see Will struggling with this at some point (and Mike comforting him about it). - When El checks in on Will in the void at the end of the season, he's at Castle Byers in the UD. Will isn't surprised to see El. As far as we know, he never saw her before. But this random girl showing up and telling him to hold on a little longer doesn't surprise him. And it's not because he's barely conscious. The next scene with Will he is singing and he is able to sit up and he's alert. So he notices. They both know each other.

- Will and El both die at the same time. Will in the UD, and El sacrifices herself to the demogorgon. At the hospital, Dustin is telling Will that El is "basically a wizard". Will the Wise is a wizard. - At the end of the season, Hopper gets in a car outside the hospital and goes back to the lab. It's implied in S2 that he made a deal to keep things in town quiet for them. But Hopper keeps an awfully close eye on both Will and El all season. It makes me wonder if he was told to keep an eye on El for Will's sake. I think he knows more about what happened with Will then he's letting on. Hopper's relationship with El/Will is very interesting. He's the protector. He goes out of his way to not only keep them both safe but keep them separated. He is the only one of the characters in S2 who knows everything that is going on. He knows the lab is the only place that can figure out what is happening with Will, so he keeps Joyce in Hawkins. He knows El isn't safe from the lab if she leaves the cabin so he keeps her inside. He knows the town isn't safe from the lab so he keeps secrets about the tunnels. He keeps El hidden from everyone even though she seems to know something is going on with Will all season because she was spying. Out of all the characters, I think it's Hopper who already knows everything that is going on with Will and El. There is also the tie in with his daughter. He has flashbacks to Sarah dying the entire time he's looking for Will in S1. There are so many comparisons to be made between Will, El, and Sarah. I have seen people suggest that Sarah is a fake memory like the fake memories of Henry that Brenner showed El in S4. I think this is possible. In that case, I think it's Will who likely has the real father/child relationship with Hopper and not El or Sarah. He's the anti-Lonnie. The father that actually protects him and takes care of him. And I think there is a strong possibility that Hopper has a lot of this figured out already. At least up to the point where he knows Will is manifesting things (likely not about Sarah). I think he wouldn't tell Joyce about something like this because it's tied to his trauma with Lonnie and I think it's been made clear that Joyce doesn't know much about this. So Hopper does what he can to protect people without giving too much away. And he knows the lab is the best place to keep an eye on Will even though he doesn't trust them, because they know about where El comes from. It's a good way to keep an eye on everything and everyone.

In S2 there are a couple things to note: - El gets "rebirthed" through a tigers paw painted on the wall of the school. Tigers are frequently associated with Will. He brings her back to life when he is struggling with his memories of the UD. - When Mike is being interrogated by the government about El's whereabouts the woman tells him "the stories she told you aren't true". On the surface of course this is meant to get him to not trust El. But nothing is ever as it seems on the surface with this show. This line combined with the many references to El being compared to Will, and Max asking her if she is real are meant to point out the obvious - El isn't real. She is part of Will. What she says isn't true - a theme that continues through S4. El frequently lies. Oftentimes unknowingly/unintentionally. But it's still meant to indicate that what she says shouldn't be taken as truth. S3 is seriously wild. I don't even know where to start with this except that I think it needs it's own post because I think everything in this season is happening in Will's head. Or at the very least, is all being heavily influenced by his strong, uncontrollable teen hormones and angst. S4 is the first time we actually see El and Will interacting regularly. And it's really not much. They spent 6 months living in the same house but they aren't close. El gets bullied in school, which is a thing that usually happens to Will. But here she takes up the role of protector again and keeps him safe from the bullies. They don't even notice him because she is there. She's like a shield. I think El's separate storyline in S4 is partly due to Will getting more confident and partly him freeing her from this need to save him. He is becoming stronger on his own now. I don't think it's a coincidence that we see El have the same hair as Will and wear his clothes at this time. She also spends this season finding out info on their past at the lab. I think they are morphing into one person. Will is getting stronger and is more ready to take on his past in a way that he wasn't before. But he is still using El to confront these things. I think Will becoming more confident and confronting his past will coincide with him becoming more powerful and El becoming less centered in saving him (and everyone else). Like Billy and Eddie, I think El will eventually be killed off (like S1) or become a part of him in some way. I am reminded of what Henry said to baby El after he killed all the kids in the lab - all of those people he killed became a part of him and he could still hear them in his head. So I think in this way, El, Billy, and Eddie, still exist as they are a part of Will. But I don't think it's a coincidence that El doesn't seem to be in the next season much. Will doesn't need her to save him anymore.

[laufire]

Black Sails

Top 5 favourite characters: Max, Silver, Jack, Madi, and Flint.

Other characters you like: Mr. Scott, Anne, Miranda, Idelle, Eleanor, Billy, Eme, the Maroon Queen, Featherstone, Ms. Guthrie, Muldoon, DeGroot...

Least favourite characters: Rogers, Ashe, Alfred Hamilton and Richard Guthrie are my Most Disliked People lol. Dufresne and Hornigold can suck it too xD

Otps: Silverflintmadi, Flintmiranda, Maxanne + Rackanne, Maxanor. Don’t ask me to choose lol.

Notps: Eleanor/Rogers, Silver/Thomas. Though not with the ~passion I dislike other notps of mine -I just find the first depressing in canon and the latter tiresome in fanon *shrugs*.

Favourite friendships: Silver & Max & Jack; Silver & the Walrus crew (THE LOVE THERE), Idelle & Max.

Favourite family: Madi’s family >>>>>>>>. It’s not like there’s many options to choose from lmao, but even if there was, I’d still pick them. What a gr10 reversal of one of most hated tropes *-* (aka: having a character of color save or prioritize a white character at the expense of their own relatives, to the point where sometimes it even costs them their lives).

Favourite episodes: this is one of the shows I have most difficulty picking favourite episodes tbh. Every one in s4 (I still haven’t watched the finale... I should stop putting that off lol) has hit me where I live. Same with s3, really. s1 and s2 were less !!!!! but I’ve never disliked a single episode, so. Choices, choices. To pick one of each so far (minus s4 since I haven’t completed it): 1x03 (probably a... controversial choice, but it’s when I knew the show was something else), 2x10 (I love having my heart broken and this episode provided that. And I love seeing Max & co-winning and I got that too!), and 3x05 (the Silverflint!! Madi’s family!! Flint & The Maroon Queen’s scene! Flint’s visions! Max forcing Rogers to make a place for her on the council!! Max’s “I AM Nassau”!! Spoken Spanish that didn’t make my ears bleed!!!).

Favourite season/book/movie: s4. Each episode has been just. too much xD. So thematically perfect. I hope the finale feels like that too.

Favourite quotes: oof. How to choose. Max’s quote about refusing to make enemies of those one day she could call friends; her rant about Rogers sitting “in [her] fucking chair!!”; her speech to Anne in 4x08; Silver’s “I am no one from nowhere” quote; Madi’s about the “multitude of voices”; Jack’s “did I make up a lot of ground to catch you” speech; Flint’s “no daylight between you and I” (WHO SAYS THAT. IN *PUBLIC*. I swear it’s somehow the most indecent moment of the show. It overwhelms me xDD); Idelle’s quote about Max when she confronts Anne; Mr. Scott’s “only YOU” to Madi. I’d say those are my ultimate favourites.

Best musical moment: the intro. I love it.

Moment that made you fangirl/boy the hardest: Silver and Max’s interacting again in s4 made me lose it. Also, that Look between Max and Flint and Jack confirming later Flint had argued to kill her so she wouldn’t fuck with their plans anymore lmao.

When it really disappointed you: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 

Saddest moment: me at the progressive erosion of Silverflint’s relationship -> DDD:

Most well-done character death: Eleanor’s, I’d say.

Favourite guest star: Idek what I’d count as guest star with this show... I’m going with Idelle. If she appears too much to be considered a “guest”, the Maroon Queen.

Favourite cast member: JPK. She blends so, so well with her roles? Sometimes I have an incredibly hard time remembering Max and Nora West-Allen are played by the same person, ngl xD

Character you wish was still alive: both Miranda and Mr. Scott, though the latter has an edge because I have the NEED of knowing how he would’ve acted if he was in s4.

One thing you hope really happens: that I get the time I need to finish my WIPs and that NO ONE, EVER, tries to do a spin-off/remake/ANYTHING like that with it xD

Most shocking twist: Mr. Scott’s reveal in 3x04, if only because it was one of the few major things I wasn’t spoiled at all about xD. But I love how it changes your perspective of his s1-2 storylines.

When did you start watching/reading?: a few months ago.

Best animal/creature: ... sharks xD. We owe them so much (if Silver’s parrot was canon here, well).

Favourite location: Nassau (aka Max’s Domain).

Trope you wish they would stop using: n/a. I love this show’s tropes and themes lol.

One thing this show/book/film does better than others: lots of stuff xD. Dialogue is one; deviating from expectations and archetypes is another.

Funniest moments: WHO’S BILLY. The Silverflintbones pseudo-triangle xD. Silver’s s1 antics.

Couple you would like to see: *coughs* I could’ve coped with Silverflintmadi going all the way xD

Actor/Actress you want to join the cast: Maggie Smith should’ve had a cameo ¬¬

Favourite outfit: one?!? Have you SEEN everything Max’s worn in season four?? Or Eleanor in s1-2?? Jack’s Iconique Looks?? *sighs* I suppose I have a soft spot for Max wearing red, so that.

Favourite item: “La Galatea”, the book Flint gave to Miranda as an apology. My heart :((( (not to mention it reminds me to my own original WIPs).

Do you own anything related to this show/book/film?: ................ the DVDs xD. They were a little over 20 bucks total and I gave them to myself for my birthday lol (I just don’t trust Netflix anymore and I don’t want to lose easy access to a HQ version the show, so fork it). I own the Treasure Planet DVD (which came along with a computer game), but I have no idea of where I put it. And I have a copy of Treasure Island ofc (that I want to re-read when I finish the show).

What house/team/group/friendship group/family/race etc would you be in?: my heart is with Flintmadi’s cause but my brain and need to win with Max’s team xD

Most boring plotline: eh. I didn’t much care for Blackbeard’s deal (though I felt for his death, because it was so fucking awful).

Most laughably bad moment: n/a.

Best flashback/flashforward if any: The Sword Flirting Sparring flashbacks ofc *-*

Most layered character: Flint and Silver ofc.

Most one-dimensional character: the one-note characters that are just there at plot devices. And of those with a little more relevance to our mains, Thomas is the least expanded-on by far *shrugs* (which doesn’t mean “poorly written”).

Scariest moment: Silver’s state when he thought he lost Madi. No wonder Flint was so worried tbh.

Grossest moment: putting aside the physically gross moments (of which this show has a few, lbr. It did not shy away from injuries, etc.)... I had my most visceral reaction to Rogers speaking with Madi. Like, fuck off dude xD. ALSO: Billy’s beard. Kill it pls.

Best looking male: Joshua was a dork and a cutie. Flint is so not my type but there are... moments xD. Same with Silver when he’s in a shippy context, even if normally I’m all ??? at his face lol.

Best looking female: now this one is a lot harder xDD. I always end up saying Max because... have you seen her. They style her so lovingly *-*. But really, which of these women isn’t absolutely gorgeous in their unique way.

Who you’re crushing on (if any): Anne. She reminds me of my ~first love lol (looks-wise at least xD). And I know I’d be drawn to her...  sunny disposition lmao.

Favourite cast moment: in my lurking over blogs to add stuff in the queue, I saw twitter exchange where Silver’s actor says Silver’s actions against Billy were revenge for the potatoes xD, and Billy’s replied he should’ve made him peel carrots, since he “likes their colouring”. LMFAO.

Favourite transportation: the Walrus, obviously. I’m sentimental :(

Most beautiful scene (scenery/shot wise): Charlestown in flames was hella pretty :))))))

Unanswered question/continuity issue/plot error that bugs you: n/a.

Best promo: I’ve seen a promo picture for s3 with Flint standing over a giant British flag on fire... very evocative.

At what point did you fall in love with this show/book: 1x03. I liked the previous episodes alone, but it was Max’s insistence of rejecting Eleanor’s help that took it over the edge. I’ve said before that although it made things harder for her in the short term, to me it showed how different and impressive a character it was and, knowing that things would go really well for her afterwards, made me see just how much promise the show had.