#Stark Trek: The Original Series

[monstersmashorpass]

SMASH OR PASS: The Gorn, Star Trek Original Series

Please reblog for greater sample size, as per usual!

[itsagentromanoff]

Tony: [Loki grabs Tony by throat and is holding a knife on him] Well, either choke me or cut my throat. Make up your mind.

[gnawer-of-table-legs]

She star on my trek until I romulan (and Remusan)

[orangy1701]

I love this, but I feel like Tony would be in Engineering. It matches his skillset and the Red Shirt Curse will always get you in the end.

[arkytiorwrites]

It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Crackmas!

Seasons Greetings and Happy Holidays to everyone!

After careful deliberation, consultation, and existential crisis with the gods of Strange Thirst, @feral-for-strange @ironstrange1991 @dino-fart and the delightful @sanctumsanctorumshenanigans, I am pleased to announce that I will be doing my 31 Days of Crackmas Event!

What is Crackmas, you ask? In short, I will be posting ONE (1) fic a day of varying length inspired by a song on this playlist that I have compiled. It shall range from ridiculous, to angsty, to fluffy, to oh my god is this person OK?

I can’t wait to share this with you all!

Day 1: Beneath a Moonless Sky, Sinister! Strange x Reader

Day 2: If You Love Her, Tony Stark x Reader

Day 3: Until I Found You, Defender! Strange x Reader

Day 4: good 4 u, Supreme! Strange x Male! Reader

Day 5: Can’t Help Falling in Love, Strange Supreme x Reader

Day 6: Classic, Khan Noonien Singh x Reader

Day 7: Ways to Be Wicked, Khan Noonien Singh x Mirror! Jim Kirk x Reader

Day 8: Evermore, Sinister! Strange x Reader

Day 9: On the Day We Fell in Love, Tony Stark x Reader

Day 10: Sorry, Defender! Strange x Reader

Day 11: Not Another Song About Love, Supreme Strange x Male! Reader

Day 12: Heaven Can Wait, Strange Supreme x Reader

Day 13: Imagination, Richard III x Reader

Day 14: Heaven’s Light/Hellfire, Richard III x Reader x Khan Noonien Singh

Day 15: Choke, Sinister! Strange x Reader

Day 16: You’re the Devil (in Disguise), SIM! Tony Stark x Reader

Day 17: You Should Be Sad, Supreme! Strange x Reader

Day 18: I Love You Still, Strange Supreme x Reader

Day 19: Immigrant Song, Khan Noonien Singh x Reader

Day 20: Like My Father, Richard III x Reader

Day 21: LA Devotee, Pre-Powers Tony Stark x Reader x Stephen Strange

Day 22: I Dreamed a Dream, Sinister! Strange x Reader

Day 23: W.I.T.C.H, Defender Strange x Reader

Day 24: Hate Me, Alan Turing x Male Reader

Day 25: Sway, Defender Strange x Reader

Day 26: Really Wanna Dance With You, Yelena Belova x Reader

Day 27:What A Shame, Khan Noonien Singh x Reader

Day 28: Seaside Rendezvous, Khan Noonien Singh x Reader, Sinister Strange

Day 29: Heather, Richard III x Reader

Day 30: Roses, Sherlock Holmes x Gangster Reader

Day 31: Once Upon A Time, Richard III x Faerie Reader

[jonberry555]

A Look back at Star Trek SNW: A Quality of Mercy & TOS: Balance of Terror | Star Trek Explain

In this video I will be taking a look back at Star Trek: Strange New Worlds - A Quality of Mercy & Star Trek: The Original Series - Balance of Terror Comparing the episodes like in my original review, but with a more recent rewatching of both episodes as well as more development of Pike and Kirk from Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 2.

[adrian-sheppy]

ur timeline post is insane and fantastic do the others have a grasp on or figure out, or even believe, that the prime timeline is just that—the original? or is that just the naming system? how would they react to that sort of explanation? who wants to return to their timeline first/is that the goal overall for any of them? :’0

to preface, i tend to use timeline/universe interchangeably.. ok . long post time. be warned.

1. do the others understand they're in the prime timeline?

as of right now, this system uses "interuniversal" passports planted on everybody by gee-man as they enter the prime timeline. this was to get around the problem of people having the same name. I love freemanverse but i could not understand how they came to the conclusions of accepting our third-party naming conventions. why would freemind call himself freemind when his name is gordon freeman? martini (who can go by his middle name) doesn't get the "feetman" name joke until way later, so calling him that off the bat would be weird (his passport changes  from gordon "martini" freeman to gordon "martini" feetman when the feet pic bit occurs). No one's name is ACTUALLY barmey, mindrian, freerun, freemercy, etc... but it is on the passport! and they use these names when referring to each other.

okay, so. the naming thing was the main function of the passport, but it has other standard information on it

Dates of birth - explanatory

date issued - release date of their IN REAL LIFE series (I.e Gordon is Nov 19 1998)

date expired - res cas day according to the prime timeline

(These three dates are often conflicting and confusing, which is as intended. They all exist in different years BUT the events of their universes are taking place at the same time. Timelines are synced up.)

AND THEN! place of origin. Every timeline gets assigned a number based on when they were chronologically conceived (for the most part. it's not a strict rule. it can be bent for convenience or funny/cool purposes).

ips: 000

og gordon: 001

freemind: 002

gorgeous: 003

so on and so forth. i like to pair these letters with numbers (HL-001, M-002 (M, not FM, because it's "Mindverse."*) G-003, etc)  seeing as HL-001 is One, they can come to the conclusion themselves that it's the "prime" timeline. whether they ACTUALLY call it that is debatable. i just do it because star trek does, but this requires a more "robust" naming system since it's more than just "prime," "alternative," and "mirror."

*Mindverse technically has alternative timelines too, but we're going with the one where gordon enters the test chamber (not stark) and gordon would've been taken by g-man (not felix)

2. How would they react to that sort of explanation?

Everything is very overwhelming and nonsensical. Since the collisions take place (for the most part) over the course of the rescas, most of them are too stressed to try to fully grasp the situation. They have their interuniversal passports, which just materialized on their person/with their belongings when they get sucked into the prime timeline, so they know SOMETHING IS UP. Some care more than others, like Freemind and Martini (not a game au) both freak out. Freemind probably thinks he's high for a bit even though he doesn't FEEL high. Martini thinks he's going crazy or hit his head, which doesn't help when the science team acts like this is a perfectly normal thing (while it's not a game, they all have their "npc" quirks). The science team is also the narrative vessel which can help explain the phenomenon. emphasis on can. Coomer understands the framework, while Tommy has a more intimate knowledge. But neither explain anything too quickly. Coomer wants playcoins and Tommy would acknowledge the "glitching" and correctly identify it as dangerous and warn the others about it.

The timeline information is accepted. There's not much they can do. They're in an alternate universe? Ok. Well, first things first, don't die from rescas. It's not until later that the information is DIGESTED. This would be during any downtime they have while going through Black Mesa (think how the HLVRAI crew took the occasional nap) and then when they enter the domestic arc. For the most part, everyone thinks that they've somehow JUMPED universes, not that their universe and another have collided together. I guess this could be considered a "plot twist" and if I was writing a comic (comic ver 2.5!) there would be a somber moment where everyone who cares realizes that THIS is there home now. it's familiar and unfamiliar. they know it but they don't. No one is devastated, but it's a very aimless feeling. Characters like Freerun, Gorgeous, Freecat, and Freemercy are "emotionally detached"   from their timelines, so their reactions range from not caring to easily adjusting.

3. who wants to go home and is that an overall goal?

I think Martini, Freemind, and Cicero would all want to go home, Martini more urgently since he has Joshie. No one really understands the depth that Cicero wants to go home due to language barrier, but it is assumed. Freemind wants to go home moreso out of paranoia that being in a different universe was harmful to him on a molecular/quantum level (it's not) and that having multiple of him around is WEIRD and he wanted to go back to being the one-and-only while reveling in the fact he was cosmically significant enough to have parallel universes based on him.

Everyone makes the assumption that there is a home to return to. Their first goal is to survive the rescas. Once they get through that, they awkwardly all move in together (where else are they supposed to go?). This living situation is considered temporary... but.. it's not.

(malmo by mook is one of THE freemanverse songs no i do not take criticism)

Their expectations are curbed quickly. At this point one of the gmen (likely mr.coolatta or gee-man) or tommy would just come out and say yeah there is no other (relevant) universe. it's just this one now. (the merging process is... difficult to explain so I'm not going  to try right now. maybe later..). Cicero wanted to go home because people understood them there and thats where all his friends were. but Molly and others (sugar man , corp) are here now, and his new friends are making the effort to break the language gap. Martini wanted his son and he got his son. Freemind has an actual group of people who care about and support him, something he's not used to having (and barmey is there too. giggles. grins.). No one is particularly upset at learning the prime timeline was now also THEIR timeline since their . liek. hierarchy of needs gets filled. it's like if your house burned down but it didnt ACTUALLY burn down, it just FEELS like it did, and then there was an exact copy in its place with miniscule (but noticeable) differences. like something changed and there's a feeling of loss but you actually haven't lost anything. it's sobering and might be upsetting for a little bit, but it's also familiar and comforting. its ok. they all have gained something now. f... family. found family . grins. smiles even.

[shinyasahalo]

Top 100 AO3 Ships (All) May 1, 2024

(M/M) Castiel/Dean Winchester (Supernatural TV) 116,578 fics

(M/M) Derek Hale/Stiles Stilinski (Teen Wolf TV) 73,560 fics

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(M/M) Draco Malfoy/Harry Potter (Harry Potter) 70,893 fics

(M/M) James "Bucky" Barnes/Steve Rogers (Captain America/Marvel) 66,307 fics

(GQ/GQ) Aziraphale/Crowley (Good Omens TV) 64,542 fics

(M/M) Sirius Black/Remus Lupin (Marauders/Harry Potter) 51,400 fics

(M/M) Steve Rogers/Tony Stark (Avengers/Marvel) 47,536 fics

(M/M) Bakugou Katsuki/Midoriya Izuku (My Hero Academia) 45,551 fics

(M/M) Harry Stiles/Louis Tomlinson (One Direction) 44,633 fics

(M/M) Lan Zhan | Lan Wangji/Wei Ying | Wei Wuxian (Modao Zushi) 42,229 fics

(M/M) Jeon Jungkook/Kim Taehyung | V (Bangtan Boys/K-Pop) 39,019 fics

(M/M) Merlin/Arthur Pendragon (Merlin TV/Arthurian Mythology) 37,813 fics

(F/M) Adrien Agreste | Chat Noir/Marinette Dupain-Cheng | Ladybug (Miraculous Ladybug) 36,839 fics

(M/M) Keith/Lance (Voltron) 34,994 fics

(M/M) Dean Winchester/Sam Winchester (Supernatural TV) 34,574 fics

(M/M) Bakugou Katsuki/Kirishima Eijirou (My Hero Academia) 32,707 fics

(M/M) Dazai Osamu/Nakahara Chuuya (Bungou Stray Dogs) 32,625 fics

(M/M) Magnus Bane/Alec Lightwood (Shadowhunters TV) 32,313 fics

(M/M) Will Graham/Hannibal Lector (Hannibal TV) 30,944 fics

(F/M) Rey/Ben Solo | Kylo Ren (Sequel Trilogy/Star Wars) 30,449 fics

(F/M) Hermione Granger/Draco Malfoy (Harry Potter) 30,410 fics

(M&M) Peter Parker & Tony Stark (Avengers/Marvel) 30,368 fics

(M/M) Jeon Jungkook/Park Jimin (Bangtan Boys/K-Pop) 30,137 fics

(F/M) Original Female Character/Original Male Character (All Fandoms) 29,256 fics

(M/M) Min Yoongi | Suga/Park Jimin (Bangtan Boys/K-Pop) 29,163 fics

(M/M) Katsuki Yuuri/Victor Nikiforov (Yuuri On Ice) 27,963 fics

(F/M) James Potter/Lily Evans Potter (Marauders/Harry Potter) 27,505 fics

(M/M) Steve Harrington/Eddie Munson (Stranger Things TV) 27,249 fics

(M/M) Evan "Buck" Buckley/Eddie Diaz (9-1-1 TV) 25,676 fics

(M/M) Original Male Character/Original Male Character (All Fandoms) 25,438 fics

(M/M) Midoriya Izuku/Todoroki Shouto (My Hero Academia) 24,637 fics

(M/M) Kim Namjoon | RM/Kim Seokjin | Jin (Bangtan Boys/K-Pop) 23,837 fics

(M/M) Clay | Dream/GeorgeNotFound (Video Blogging RPF) 23,714 fics

(M/M) Aizawa Shouta | Eraserhead/Yamada Hizashi | Present Mic (My Hero Academia) 23,690 fics

(F/M) Pepper Potts/Tony Stark (Iron Man/Marvel) 23,633 fics

(M&M) Wilbur Soot & TommyInnit (Video Blogging RPF) 22,378 fics

(M/M) Geralt of Rivia/Jaskier | Dandelion (The Witcher TV) 22,138 fics

(F/M) Hermione Granger/Ron Weasley (Harry Potter) 22,024 fics

(F/F) Kara Danvers/Lena Luthor (Supergirl TV/DCU) 21,423 fics

(M/M) James T. Kirk/Spock (Original Series/Star Trek) 21,144 fics

(M/M) Iwaizumi Hajime/Oikawa Tooru (Haikyuu!) 21,062 fics

(M&M) Sherlock Holmes & John Watson (Sherlock TV) 21,018 fics

(M/M) Hinata Shouya/Kageyamo Tobio (Haikyuu!) 19,681 fics

(M/M) Blackbeard | Edward Teach/Stede Bonnet (Our Flag Means Death TV) 19,581 fics

(M/M) Blaine Anderson/Kurt Hummel (Glee TV) 19,279 fics

(GQ&GQ) Aziraphale & Crowley (Good Omens TV) 18,515 fics

(F/M) Harry Potter/Ginny Weasley (Harry Potter) 18,466 fics

(M&M) Bakugou Katsuki & Midoriya Izuki (My Hero Academia) 18,433 fics

(M/M) Levi Ackerman/Eren Yeager (Attack on Titan) 18,426 fics

(M/M) Jung Hoseok | J-Hope/Min Yoongi | Suga (Bangtan Boys/K-Pop) 18,380 fics

(M/M) Harry Potter/Severus Snape (Harry Potter) 18,170 fics

(M/M) Erik Lehnsherr/Charles Xavier (X-Men/Marvel) 18,106 fics

(M/M) Dan Howell/Phil Lester (Video Blogging RPF) 17,899 fics

(M/M) Akaashi Keiji/Bokuto Koutarou (Haikyuu!) 17,719 fics

(F/F) Original Female Character/Original Female Character (All Fandoms) 17,339 fics

(F/N) The Doctor/Rose Tyler (Doctor Who TV) 17,153 fics

(M/M) Armitage Hux/Ben Solo | Kylo Ren (Sequel Trilogy) 17,086 fics

(M/R) James "Bucky" Barnes/Reader (Marvel) 16,982 fics

(M/M) Keith/Shiro (Voltron) 16,928 fics

(M/M) Ian Gallagher/Mickey Milkovich (Shameless TV) 16,592 fics

(M&M) Dean Winchester & Sam Winchester (Supernatural TV) 16,235 fics

(F/F) Evil Queen | Regina Mills/Emma Swan (Once Upon a Time TV) 16,177 fics

(M/M) Han Jisung | Han/Lee Minha | Lee Know (Stray Kids/K-Pop) 15,998 fics

(M/M) Eddie Kaspbrak/Richie Tozier (IT Movies) 15,991 fics

(M/M) Kim Taehyung/Park Jimin (Bangtan Boys/K-Pop) 15,888 fics

(M&M) Toby Smith | Tubbo & TommyInnit (Video Blogging RPF) 15,665 fics

(M/M) Jenson Ackles/Jared Padalecki (Actor RPF) 15,635 fics

(M/M) Uchiha Sasuke/Uzumaki Naruto (Naruto) 15,460 fics

(M/M) Loki/Thor (Thor Movies/Marvel) 15,430 fics

(M/M) Jeon Jungkook/Min Yoongi | Suga (Bangtan Boys/K-Pop) 15,334 fics

(M/M) Tartaglia | Childe/Zhongli (Genshin Impact) 15,178 fics

(M/M) Rodney McKay/John Sheppard (Stargate Atlantis TV) 15,145 fics

(M/M) Gabriel/Sam Winchester (Supernatural TV) 14,916 fics

(F/M) Bellamy Blake/Clarke Griffin (The 100 TV) 14,907 fics

(F/M) Fox Mulder/Dana Scully (The X-Files TV) 14,787 fics

(F/M) Annabeth Chase/Percy Jackson (Percy Jackson TV) 14,420 fics

(M/M) Regulus Black/James Potter (Marauders/Harry Potter) 14,398 fics

(M/M) Getou Suguru/Gojo Satoru (Jujutsu Kaisen) 13,993 fics

(M&M) Technoblade & TommyInnit (Video Blogging RPF) 13,727 fics

(M/M) Harry Potter/Tom Riddle | Voldemort (Harry Potter) 13,682 fics

(M/M) Mycroft Holmes/Greg Lestrade (Sherlock Holmes TV) 13,515 fics

(M/M) Levi Ackerman/Erwin Smith (Attack on Titan) 13,359 fics

(M/M) Frank Iero/Gerard Way (My Chemical Romance) 13,310 fics

(M&M) Aizawa Shouta | Eraserhead & Midoriya Izuku (My Hero Academia) 13,303 fics

(M/M) Miya Atsumo/Sakusa Kiyoomi (Haikyuu!) 13,207 fics

(F/F) Clarke Griffin/Lexa (The 100 TV) 13,194 fics

(M/M) Jack Harkness/Ianto Jones (Torchwood TV/Doctor Who) 13,111 fics

(M&M) James "Bucky" Barnes & Steve Rogers (Captain America/Marvel) 13,073 fics

(M/M) Steve McGarret/Danny "Danno" Williams (Hawaii Five-O TV) 13,064 fics

(F/M) Clint Barton/Natasha Romanov (Avengers/Marvel) 13,052 fics

(M/M) Enjolras/Grantaire (Les Miserables) 12,829 fics

(M/M) Loki/Tony Stark (Avengers/Marvel) 12,808 fics

(M/M) Bilbo Baggins/Thorin Oakenshield (The Hobbit) 12,773 fics

(M&M) Castiel & Dean Winchester (Supernatural TV) 12,751 fics

(F/M) Oliver Queen/Felicity Smoak (Arrow TV/DCU) 12,721 fics

(F/F) Amity Blight/Luz Noceda (The Owl House) 12,526 fics

(M/M) Bakugou Katsuki/Todoroki Shouto (My Hero Academia) 12,376 fics

(M/M) Nico di Angelo/Will Solace (Percy Jackson TV) 12,334 fics

(M/M) Dabi | Todoroki Touya/Takami Keigo | Hawks (My Hero Academia) 12,318 fics

[celestialvoyeur]

💛💙SPIRK FIC REC💙💛

Oooo if you like a bit of Feral!Spock then this is the Pon Farr fic for you! Spock's pon farr comes early due to the destruction of Vulcan. Nyota, initially willing to support him through it, is unable to cope with the stark brutality she finds as reaility hits home. The captain, unwilling to let Spock die without a suitable mate, will have to take necessary actions.

This AOS fic is INTENSE so please read the tags and stay safe, but honestly it’s so good. The author cleverly gives us Spock’s POV while he’s suffering through the Plak Tow, and it’s hard not to feel sorry for the poor guy even as he’s causing pain and destruction all around him.

[lost-in-liquid-nights]

Roleplay Ad

Update: Due to not wanting to overwhelm myself. While also providing my current rp partners with quality and relatively consistent rp, my request for rp partners is currently closed! Still feel free to reach out if you like and I'll keep you in mind for if things open up.

Ah, hello Tumblr roleplayers, it has been a while! I am one of many who was left adrift after Omegle shut down and am on the search for rp partners.

I am looking for rp partners in a variety of fandoms, genres, ships, etc. I’ll have all of them listed in a hopefully organized manner below and will do my best to keep this list accurate. If you’re interested, feel free to shoot me a DM or interact with this post and I’ll reach out to you. But please do read through this post fully before doing so, thanks!

A Little About Myself:

-Age: 20+

-Pronouns: She/They

-Experience: I’ve been roleplaying off and on in a variety of fandoms and styles for around 10+ years

What I’m Looking For In A Roleplay Partner:

-Age: Roleplayers who are at least 20+ as well

-Style: I’m open to a variety of styles, I roleplay everything from one sentence “text message” style to multi-paragraph advanced lit. Though my preferences tend to lean towards lit/advanced lit.

-Location: I’d prefer someone who’s comfortable transitioning to Discord, once we agree on what we want to rp

-Expectations: One of the things I loved about Omegle were the casual vibes when it came to when an rp needed to end. So, while I hope for some long term rps, I’m looking for people who will be okay with rps ending when interest dissipates. Without the need for big explanations as to why. This goes both ways! I won’t expect such explanations from you either if we start any sort of storyline and you end up wanting to drop out. The way I see it, this is meant to be a fun pass time and ideally shouldn’t feel like a stressful obligation for either of us.

My Current Fandoms & Ships:

Films:

Fandom: Avengers (Films)

Ships: Steve Rogers/Tony Stark, Clint Barton/Tony Stark, Bruce Banner/Tony Stark

Fandom: Captain America (Films)

Ships: Steve Rogers/Bucky Barnes, Steve Rogers/Sam Wilson, Sam Wilson/Bucky Barnes

Fandom: Guardians of the Galaxy (Films)

Ships: Peter Quill/Rocket Racoon

Fandom: Venom (Films)

Ships: Eddie Brock/Venom

Fandom: X-Men (Films)

Ships: Charles Xavier/Erik Lehnsherr

Fandom: Star Wars (Films)

Ships: Luke Skywalker/Han Solo, Poe Dameron/Finn

Fandom: Pacific Rim

Ships: Hermann Gottlieb/Newton Geiszler

Fandom: Star Trek (Original Series, Original Films, and Modern Films)

Ships: James T. Kirk/Spock, James T. Kirk/Leonard McCoy

Fandom: It (Films, 2017) & It (Mini Series, 1990)

Ships: Eddie Kaspbrak/Richie Tozier, Mike Hanlon/Bill Denbrough

Fandom: Spiderman (Films & Comics)

Ships: Johnny Storm/Peter Parker, Harry Osborn/Peter Parker

Fandom: Nimona (Film & Comic)

Ships: Ambrosius Goldenloin/Ballister Blackheart

Series:

Fandom: Loki (Series)

Ships: Morbius/Loki

Fandom: Moon Knight (Mini-Series)

Ships: Marc/Steven, Marc/Jake, Steven/Jake

Fandom: Daredevil (Series)

Ships: Foggy Nelson/Matt Murdock

Fandom: Infinity Train (Series)

Ships: Min-Gi Park/Ryan Akagi

Fandom: Merlin (Series)

Ships: Merlin Emrys/Arthur Pendragon 

Fandom: Stranger Things (Series)

Ships: Eddie Munson/Steve Harrington, Mike Wheeler/Will Byers

Fandom: Supernatural (Series)

Ships: Dean Winchester/Castiel, Dean Winchester/Benny Lafitte, Sam Winchester/Gabriel

Fandom: Hannibal

Ships: Hannibal Lector/Will Graham

Fandom: The Witcher (Series & Games)

Ships: Jaskier/Geralt, Eskel/Lambert, Eskel/Aiden

Games:

Fandom: Phoenix: Ace Attorney Trilogy (Games)

Ships: Phoenix Wright/Miles Edgworth

Frandom: Disco Elysium (Game) 

Ships: Kim Kitsuragi/Harry Du Bois,  Jean Vicquemare/Harry Du Bois

Fandom: Modern Warfare (Games)

Ships: Simon Riley/Johnny “Soap” McTavish

Fandom: Detroit: Become Human (Game)

Ships: Connor/Hank Anderson, RK900/Gavin Reed

Fandom: Dragon Age

Ships: Anders/Hawke, Fenris/Hawke

Podcasts:

Fandom: The Magnus Archives (Podcast)

Ships: Jonathan Sims/Martin Blackwood, Jonathan Sims/Timothy Stoker, Martin Blackwood/Timothy Stoker, Gerard Keay/Michael Shelley

Fandom: Malevolent (Podcast)

Ships: John/Arthur Lester

[siriouslytired]

Feedback fest 2024 🌻

Well RIP to my bookmarks because I just noticed that so many of my favourite fics have been deleted or made anonymous/put in a collection. Thought it would be fun to do this anyway.

Also apparently I managed to post this when it wasn't done (can you tell technology doesn't like me?) And for some reason I couldn't edit the original post (and what's up with that??). So uh, if anyone had liked the first post I deleted it because I got annoyed.

All fics on the list can be found on AO3

A Year In Toussaint by astolat

The Witcher; Rated E; Geralt of Rivia/Emhyr var Emreis

"[...] - and found himself spilling the whole sob story of his success to Emhyr, who actually broke and laughed out loud when Geralt got to the racehorses."

One of my comfort fics, will read it for a multitude of reasons but mostly just because it's so well-written and engaging (which is just all of astolat's fics really)

Hunger and Appetite by thegoodbutter

Shadow & Bone; Rated E; Aleksander Morozova/Alina Starkov; Modern AU

I couldn't actually tell you how many times I've read this, it's just SO GOOD. And the food descriptions are just fantastic, makes me want to cook up a storm/start baking something even though I hate doing the dishes afterwards.

The Stars Don’t Shine, They Burn by Sarcasmismydefaultmode

Shadow & Bone/The Witcher; Rated E; Alina Starkov/Emhyr var Emreis; Second Best AU

Read it. Do it. It's so fucking good. I usually don't read crossovers anymore but I couldn’t resist this one and it was so worth it. It blends the two worlds so well while making sure that the edges are obvious enough that you can still tell which parts came from what canon.

Amazing Grace (series) by Druid Moon

Marvel Cinematic Universe; Darcy Lewis/Clint Barton; Many references to different forms of crafts

A relic from when I mostly read MCU fics that I return to again and again and again. Super cosy, slightly sad, incredibly well-written, one of those fics that just draws you in once you start reading it.

coronas of wolf-teeth and rivers by Dialux

A Song of Ice and Fire; Not Rated; Catelyn Stark/Ned Stark; AU; Robert dies at the Trident, Ned dies at the Tower of Joy, Catelyn becomes Queen of Westeros

I remember reading the summary and basically attacking my phone screen to open the fic. It ties itself together so neatly from the premise and the way Catelyn is written is just fantastic.

Diplomatic Relations by KrazzeeAJ1701

Star Trek; Rated M; James T Kirk/Sybok; AU, Female James T. Kirk

Listen, I had a phase where I mostly read gender swap and I found some real gems - this being one of them. I don't re-read it as often as I should but every time I do I remember how much I like it and how fantastic the writing is. The set-up just makes sense and the progression of the story makes you want to keep reading forever.

the ghosts won't matter because we'll hide in sin by soapboxblues

A Song of Ice and Fire; Jaime Lannister/Lyanna Stark; AU

A cute little AU where Lyanna survives the Tower of Joy and is subsequently turned into a political pawn etc etc. Incredibly well-written and the pieces just fit together so well.

The Debt of Time by ShayaLonnie

Harry Potter; Rated E; Sirius Black/Hermione Granger; AU, Time Travel, Soul Bond

I must have read this at least 15 times by now. It just works so well, you know?

For One Last Day by fideliant

The Hobbit; General Audience; Bilbo Baggins/Thorin Oakenshield; AU

"The things we don't do for love." It's so bittersweet and lovely and all those wonderful things that make me want to smile and cry at the same time. Sort of chances-not-taken and now we're old wrapped up in this little moment that fits so well into the canon of LOTR.

Eurybia by Annerb

Pirates of the Caribbean; Rated T; Elizabeth Swan/Will Turner; Jack Sparrow/Elizabeth Swan; AU

"A love story. Elizabeth Swan and the sea." Read it. Just do it. It's so so so good. And it's barely 1200 words so you can read it and then spend an hour contemplating what you just read and still have time to do other things.

[sunriseverse]

it's been years since i made a reclist from my bookmarks, and i've trimmed down what i had and added some new things to my bookmarks, so here's a reclist, from oldest to newest bookmarks! fics beneath the cut with the original summary and my recollections/comments after. (please note that for any fics with smut, i can't comment on how the smut is, because i skip those portions.)

Tony Stark Meets an Extremely Unimpressed Time Traveler, or, Thomas Barrow Makes a Surprisingly Good 21st Century Butler by Alex51324 (87k, t, no warnings)

In which Tony Stark ditches a boring party, makes an addition to the household staff, throws a much better party, and tries not to sexually harass his new butler. Or,In which Thomas Barrow has a little trouble getting home from the pub, is generally unimpressed with many aspects of the 21st century, never thought of himself as a conservative dresser before, and may or may not be falling in lust with his new employer. tl:dr: Thanks to time travel, Thomas Barrow becomes the Avengers' butler.

my commentary: this is actually one of the earliest fics i bookmarked! i haven't been into the mcu in...........a long, long time, but i distinctly remember pulling an all-nighter to read the entire thing when i first ran across it. i'll be honest, i had clicked into it assuming it was crack, but it's not—it's played entirely earnest, and, in my recollection, does so well. and, well, what can i say; thomas was my favourite character back when downton abbey was airing (for reasons that i did not realise until much later). largely free of angst or action conflict; the issues stem largely from the conflict between thomas' biases and (mis)assumptions and the modern (well, 2010s) world.

Ain’t No Nancy Kerrigan by cleverqueen (t, 13k, no warnings)

It's 1994, and young Lisa Snart's jumps aren't strong enough for an Olympic singles skater. Thankfully, her older brother has an athletic friend who can match her in pairs. Mick Rory is hopelessly in love with Leonard Snart, though he'd never say anything about it, so he jumps at a chance to do Len's little sister a favor. If he's patient and works hard, maybe he'll even get to skate with her older brother.

my commentary: as i remember it, this fic was an absolute delight! i don't remember a lot of mick-pov fics, though i haven't............been in the dc tags in ages, let alone the cw dc tags, but it's really well-written! it's canon setting, but takes place pre-canon, and the dynamics are very well-written and enjoyable. it's even tagged "pining", which, as i remember it, applies very much so, and, well, what can i say; i have tropes i love.

and who shall wear the starry crown by consumptive_sphinx (2k, t, major character death)

Blackfoot serves Shadowclan, first and always. That is not, in fact, the same thing as serving Tigerstar.

my commentary: i think this is the only wc fanfic i have bookmarked on ao3? and deservedly so! it's a human au, and while it's short, it's so well thought out. the worldbuilding and lore that's hinted at, everything you can feel beneath the surface—so good!

The Nationwide Network of Oz by ErinPtah (3k, t, no warnings)

It's long past time Oz upgraded from the wireless telegraph.

my commentary: it's such a shame there's not a lot of oz novel fics—i truly think the series doesn't get the attention it deserves. a fun little short dorothy/ozma fic, with a dash of magitech and blogging.

Spaceships, Private Jets, and Minivans: How to Start a Global Incident in 5 Minutes Flat by Scientia_Fantasia (49k, t, no warnings)

One early summer morning in Riverside, Iowa, a spacecraft crash lands into the backyard of a highschooler by the name of James T. Kirk. Earth history is changed forever.

my commentary: i actually lost this fic for a long time and only tracked it down after a year of searching; it's a fun, teenaged star trek au—i'm usually not too fond of aus where characters are teens, but this one pulled it off very well! and it's rather funny, and the way the characters run into each other and get involved in the plot is very fun!

we make our friends, we make our enemies by ORiley42 (52k, t, no warnings)

Benji finds out he has a new neighbor. This new neighbor happens to be off-the-charts hot. Hijinks, friendship, more-than-friendship, and secret agent drama ensue.

my commentary: i actually read this from start to finish as it was updating! the author, ORiley42, is a fabulous writer, and this fic? so good. i've fallen away from the mi fandom, but i have fond memories of it, so this fic has a warm place in my heart. also, the trope of a civilian getting involved in spy bullshit? so good. and the pining. the drama.

The Long Con by harleygirl2648 (19k, t, no warnings)

There are two kinds of cons: long and short. Short cons mean short-term gain, with smaller rewards, mostly just everything you have in your pocket at that moment. Long cons mean lots of time, effort, costumes, masks, props, sets, and other characters all looking to set up the downfall of the mark and take them for all that they've got. Con Artist/Thieves AU: Will Graham and Hannibal Lecter are both interested in acquiring a Botticelli, but both of them are quite fond of each other's short games. For both of them, it's the deception and thrill of the game that's worth more than the payout. And well, after all, aren't the easiest people to scam are those who think they are smart enough to not get scammed?

my commentary: it's an art heist au, what more can i say? it's funny, well-written, and, crucially, fun.

deus ex machina by coloredink (26k, t, creator chose not to use archive warnings)

"What the hell?" said Katz. "Is that--" "Yeah, I know, it's kinda flashy." Will shut the car door behind him and patted his pockets for the little fob to lock the car. "Isn't that Hannibal Lecter's car?" The car beeped to indicate it was locked. "Yeah, I guess so." Will walked away, toward the field, Katz on his heels. "I needed a new car." "So you bought the cannibal car?" ----- You asked for it: the one where Hannibal is a murderous self-driving car.

my commentary: every time i talk about this fic, people are like. [newt geiszler voice] w—wh—whhhhattttt? and, yeah, okay, i get it, i do, but i swear to you, will graham x the luxury car possessed by hannibal lecter the cannibal's soul is, in fact, a fantastic fic. it's so well written, so funny, so novel. it's the cannibal car!

The Man Who Invented Sherlock Holmes by Calais_Reno (15k, t, no warnings)

John Watson, struggling young doctor, doomed to live an ordinary life, dreams of writing detective fiction. If he can just figure out his hero's name, the story will practically write itself.

my commentary: look. i am, at my core, a lover of experimental, weird concepts. and "john watson accidentally brings a fictional character into being and they fall in love" is, in fact, precisely something i would like. and, and, and! it's acd canon, and written in such a charming style! it is truly one of my favourite fics.

A Really Private Person by astolat (18k, m, no warnings)

The end of the world started on a Wednesday in March.

my commentary: i don't have many poi fics bookmarked, but this one is absolutely the best out of all of them. the emotions i will always associate with reading it are that of being half lucid and experiencing something just so utterly satisfying it makes you smile like a cat.

I've Got Nothing To Do Today But Smile (The Only Living Boy in New York) by gyzym (19k, t, creator chose not to use archive warnings)

Arthur's a corporate lawyer, Eames owns the coffee shop across the street, and all good love stories start with a quadruple shot latte.

my commentary: an ode to struggling out of sunk cost fallacy, finding people who love you, and slowly, slowly building a better life. also the cafe food all sound so so good i would love to eat there.

Atonement by acedott (9k, t, no warnings)

I know how lonely you must be. All by yourself in that room. Morgana’s words stuck with Gwen long after the enchantment was broken. She recognized the veiled vulnerability in her tone from years as her servant. She hadn’t sounded like that in so long; she’d trusted Gwen with her every thought since they had both come of age. But when she first arrived in Camelot, when they were brought together as mistress and servant, Morgana had not known how much to trust her. Gwen, in turn, had not known how much to trust her new mistress.

my commentary: written by the fabulous lovely wonderful @owengrose, this fic makes me feel So Many Emotions. it's written with such care and purpose, and made me cry when i first read it. read it!!!

On the Risks and Rewards of Being Seen by acedott (8k, g, no warnings)

The year is 1815. Karla Gottlieb, the lady of the Gottlieb estate, rekindles an old friendship with Vanessa Haile, the groundskeeper’s daughter.

my commentary: yes i am putting another one of my friend's fics on here, but listen: risks and rewards is just so, so good. i can't even give further commentary beyond "it's so good" because it's just that good. it's historical, it's carefully-crafted, it's lesbians! what more could you want? go forth and comment.

Of Madness and Mammals by Briarwitched (series, four works, 619k, t-m, no warnings)

this series doesn't have a summary, but more or less: alex, suffering from horrific hallucinations and trauma, is discarded by mi6 and tossed into prison—where he meets yassen once more, and, once again, yassen tries to look out for hunter's son.

my commentary: this is, in my opinion, the best set of works i've read in the alex rider fandom. it's one of the best series i've read period. it is so well-crafted, well-plotted, and well-executed. it's a shame that the fandom isn't larger, because the series deserves more attention.

Beginning Where You Are by TF Grognon (gloss) (15k, t, no warnings)

"There's no such thing as magic," Dove-Gray said. Min snorted and flexed her fingers. "Tell that to the magic bloodthirsty soulsucking sword that lives in my hand."

A disgraced scholar and well-meaning mercenary forge an unlikely partnership.

my commentary: i found this while trawling the sci-fi tag, and honestly, i'm so glad i did, because it's just so good. the worldbuilding and lore and character dynamics and every other bit of it is just. god. so good. also, one of them literally has a bloodthirsty soul-sucking sword in her hand.

You're Dead (and Outta This World) by TheOceanIsMyInkwell (10k, t, no warnings)

“Holy shit!” shouts the EMT at his side. His partner on the other side of the gurney--the other side of the body bag--follows up with a well-deserved holy fuck and stumbles backward over her boots to sag against the back of the open ambulance. “I’m fine, I’m fine, oh God, I’m sorry,” Guillermo babbles. His knees are trembling. He wriggles out of the body bag and hops to his feet, feeling like his legs are a cross between jello and underbaked macaroons, and he repeats his litany of apologies as he bounces from one foot to another to restore circulation. Pain shoots through his joints from the roots of his toes. He ignores it, instead pivoting his head from side to side wildly seeking the detritus of his phone and groceries. “Sir! Sir! You were--sir, please get back here! You were dead!” “Not today, sorry!” -- Or: 3 times Guillermo came back from the dead, and 1 time Nandor was there to see it.

my commentary: this fic preserves the horror-comedy of the show so well, and you can see poor guillermo having a longform breakdown across the fic. it's so fun.

and yet we still bloom by gdgdbaby (110k, e, graphic depictions of violence)

When the Crown Princess of Xian Le, Her Highness Xie Lian, saved a tiny street urchin from falling to her death during the nation's biggest parade, she could never have predicted that same street urchin would eventually become her greatest spymaster. Xie Lian hadn't anticipated the heavens-upending events that followed the drought either, but sometimes these things just happen. OR: Xie Lian and Hua Cheng save their country and save the world.

my commentary: i would say this is easily one of the best tgcf fics, and it fulfils so many of my desires: lesbians, fix its, slow burn, and woldbuilding/lore! i cannot recommend this enough.

rare as the glimmer by Euphorion (24k, e, no warnings)

“Do you—” Quan Yizhen started, and then on the other side of the room Pei Ming started up his jackhammer, so he waited, bouncing on the balls of his feet, and then said all in a rush, “doyouknowHuaCheng?” Xie Lian blinked. “You know—him?” she asked, in case 'San Lang' was some kind of private name, a secret code just for her. She liked the thought of that. Quan Yizhen shook his head vigorously, his curls bouncing. “No!” he said. “But Yin-ge said you were with him at Home Depot and you left together!” Xie Lian stared at him. One of the employees that had helped her a few weeks ago had been called Yin something, she was pretty sure, but that’s about as far as she could follow what was happening here. “Yizhen, if you don’t know Hua Cheng, why is this… notable?” “He’s famous. Or like. The bad one. Infamous. I thought—” His eyes gleamed. “I thought maybe you fought him.”  + Retired (read: disgraced) famous boxer Xie Lian meets a helpful stranger while at Home Depot attempting to fix her collapsing roof.

commentary: lesbians! modern aus! butch!xie lian! everything about this fic is just *chef's kiss* it makes me lose it every time. the dynamics and writing feels so true to canon, and reading it is just. so so good. i'm trying to come up with more comments and i can't, it's just. so good.

We Stan Scrap Gege! by PaidSubscription (31k, m, no warnings)

“San Lang…are you sure about this? Life on the road, storage units…it’s not glamorous. There’s junk and there’s gross fluids and roaches and raccoons and meth labs, and one time I got lead poisoning and- oh! Another time I accidentally got locked inside a unit with five families and loaded on a truck and then I think technically we were human trafficked-?” “Gege. I’m in this, all the way.”

Scrap Collector’s cancellation is inevitable. Once, Xie Lian was the most popular face in reality TV. After the...incident, Xie Lian is banished to 2am cable, and turns to making a different kind of show: storage hunting. But in his final season, he suddenly acquires a new producer: a Youtube star named San Lang. And San Lang- along with his legion of fans- is determined to save the show. 📺🎥💕

my commentary: this concept is both utterly batshit, and weirdly sensible for the characters? i loved the interspersing of social media format between the prose, and the dynamics between all the characters, especially hualian, are so on-point!

Knowing Only This by CatMouse (dioscuridevotio) (31k, m, no warnings)

Bai Yutong is handling it. Ever since he was fifteen years old and realized that the horrible, sickening, aching feeling he got in his chest whenever he looked at his best friend wasn't a sign of early heart failure but instead a warning of something much worse, he's been handling it perfectly fine. With full maturity and dignity. He's the head of SCI. He's the best cop of his generation. He's the pinnacle of self-control and an expert at compartmentalization. But sometimes—Sometimes Zhan Yao doesn't make it easy. In fact, it's times like these he's convinced Zhan Yao is determined to make his life as difficult as humanly possible.

my commentary: a wild sci fic emerges! poor bai yutong is going through trials and tribulations of being in love, and it's so so fun to read. i laughed and gasped and was on the edge of my seat while reading (well, metaphorically; i was laying in bed). it's just very very good.

codify my wasted youth by lungache (6k, t, no warnings)

“We're way too caught up in the race with time It's getting hard to take it in We're tryin hard to be the first in line Just wanna be a kid again, a kid again”

An Origin Story “We should start a band!” “Holy shit, we should totally start a band!”

my commentary: the fabulous @lungache wrote a marvelous band!au, and i wish i could eat it like a fine dessert. why does it only have ten comments. it deserves so much more. read it. comment on it. now. that is not a suggestion.

The Tiniest Heipaoshi by tehfanglyfish (6k, t, no warnings)

Jiajia was already handling a good number of Professor Shen's lectures and labs, fielding office hour questions, and all of his online correspondence. Why not add a few more responsibilities into the mix? It wasn’t like she needed to sleep. OR The one where Jiajia impersonates the Envoy.

my commentary: i'll admit, i don't go here, so i can't give a fully accurate commentary, but i stumbled across this somehow (perhaps someone else's rec list? who knows) and the few chapters of the novel plus the episode or two of the show i watched gave me just enough knowledge to enjoy this fic. and, anyway, the concept of "exhausted TA pretends to be a terrifying non-human political entity" is, in my opinion, universally appreciable.

I Love You (I Want Us Both To Eat Well) by freakesque (6k, m, creator chose not to use archive warnings)

In which Xiao Xingchen and Song Lan take it upon themselves to make sure Xue Yang eats regularly, and Xue Yang finds out he’s actually not a twink.

my commentary: @xueyang's fanfic which i got to cheer them through writing and then read; it's so so good. it will make you Feel Things and Have Emotions. read it. now.

And the gentleness that comes, not from the absence of violence, but despite the abundance of it by lucientelrunya (39k, m, graphic depictions of violence)

It's him. It’s really him. For a moment Zhang Rishan looks up from his phone again, letting his gaze wander over the pool and then the shoreline behind it. There is still no trace of the merperson, but he had come to save Zhang Rishan. Again. He smiles to himself. So he is still here, still saving drowning people. That means Zhang Rishan can start step two of his plan. To the humans who hire him, Zhang Rishan is a proficient hunter, one of the best to hunt the rare magical creatures, the yaoren. To Ba Ye, Zhang Rishan is a stranger, a poor human he saves from drowning, not a hunter that has been tasked with catching him. Their meeting will change them both and alter the course of both of their lives drastically.

my commentary: am i using this rec list to recommend my friends' writing? perhaps. but also, this fic is just so good! the worldbuilding and dynamics.................so so fun. and it gave me the perfect excuse to dabble in conlangs again. also i regularly think about the mer lore, so. @lucientelrunya did a fabulous job here and i WILL make you hear about it.

Confidence Trick by duty_free (21k, e, creator chose not to use archive warnings)

"Your umma was going to die instead of you," Jae Ho said as one of his guys dragged Hyun Soo out of bed. Another guy stood waiting by the door, his back to them, looking down the corridor and smoking silently. "But it's smarter to kill you." He gestured at Hyun Soo. "So here we are."

my commentary: yes, i'll admit it, i watched the film and then immediately went looking for fics because the ending killed me. this one soothes those wounds at least partly; i like how it keeps the fucked up elements of their relationship while also still having them, well, fall in love trust. and it's such an interesting canon divergence concept, one that i think is executed excellently.

alright, that's everything, for now, anyway! i hope you can find something on this list you're interested in!

[ksadvent]

It's Day 12 in our Advent Calendar!

Day 12 brings snow in poetry and art!

Title: the promise in falling snow

Author: USS_Queertastic Fandom: Star Trek: The Original Series, Star Trek: The Original Series (Movies)

Rating: General AudiencesWords: 148

Summary: Jim pens a series of odes to Spock inviting him into the enchanting world of falling snow. Amidst a seemingly stark landscape, their connection deepens and together they find warmth in the promise of new beginnings.

In response to a prompt by PageofWands.

 Title: The Snowvulcan

Artist: Sunless_Garden Fandom: Star Trek: Alternate Original Series (Movies)

Rating: General Audiences

Summary: 

After Jim and Spock get snowed in on shore leave, they build a snowvulcan.

In response to a prompt by spaceisgay (ChancellorGriffin).

[leasthaunted]

Legend of The Crystal Skulls GENERATIONS

As discussed in our latest episode, here are the equivalent "generations" of the crystal skulls explained by their corresponding Star Trek generation.

Generation 1, aka: The Original Series (TOS).

These were the first skulls to appear in the 1850's. all under 2.5 inches in height, and all featuring a vertical hole drilled through the cranium. Pictured here is an example from 1857 in the British Museum.

Generation 2, aka: The Next Generation (TNG).

These skulls have grown in size. Now around 5-6 inches tall, and no longer featuring the vertical hole. Pictured here is the skull purchased from Eugène Boban by Tiffany's, and then in turn sold to the British Museum.

Generation 3, aka: Deep Space Nine (DS9).

This generation is represented by the Mitchel-Hedges Skull, aka, The Skull of Doom! The DS9 skull is noteworthy for having near identical replica of the TNG Skull, except that the jaw (mandible) is a separate piece. Also noteworthy for where the series takes a darker turn. This is where most of the supernatural myths regarding the skulls begin.

Generation 4, aka: Voyager

The Voyager Skull showed up as an anonymous donation to The Smithsonian Institute in 1992. It is different from other generations in that the skull is hollow, which is a stark departure from the rest of the series up to this point. It was the appearance of The Voyager skull that lead to the eventual unraveling of the whole series...

Current Generation, aka: Lower Decks

Today Crystal Skulls have developed into an art form all their own with countless imitators and unique takes on the series. It owes its existence to the generations that came before, but knowledge of them is not important to the current experience.

To learn the whole true story of The Legend of The Crystal Skulls, listen to:

Least Haunted Episode 87: The Legend of The Crystal Skulls! Available wherever podcasts are found, and on YouTube!

[umnitsa]

I decided to rewatch Star Trek TOS

Mind you, this is IMPORTANT. It was my first special interest. It was the fandom that made me write, by hand, my first fanfics (and fall in love with the idea of self insertion in fanfic). It was the fandom that made me a writer.

I don't remember much visually, my mind is more verbal, but I remember exactly what happened when I first watched Star Trek TOS. I'm brazilian, and TOS was a series from a past generation. It was old, by the time it reached me. It was something the channel had put on air as a fill-in at noon. I remember I used to watch Adam West's Batman at SBT (that's the channel's name, if you are brazilian and are reading this, fala tu!). Anyway, Batman started boring me and I channel surfed.

I stopped, mesmerized by a close up of Wiliam Shatner and god, that lighting was weird, highlighting the eyes. The series continued, and my mom said, behind me: "Hey, Mr. Spock! I used to have a crush on him. I watched this."

And it was the moment I got curious.

City at the edge of forever (Cidade além da eternidade, in Portuguese, and I think it's so fucking beautiful...)

Here is the thing: I watched it dubbed. And brazilian dubbing is fucking awesome, not gonna lie to you.

The translation was also GLORIOUS, I realized that later when I learned English and started reading about the show. I watched The Next Generation subtitled, but not TOS.

And as everything in the live of someone with ADHD, this special interest passed. But it left me so much. I learned to write creatively, writing for myself, I started friendships and got boyfriends in a Star Trek play-by-email (I loved to write with those people). I learned how much I loved Science Fiction. It gave me Asimov, and awesome writing in the Asimov magazine. It gave me my love for androids, through reading Asimov and then lusting after Data (sorry). Also, it was Star Trek that gave me The Twilight Zone and made me love horror/fantasy; that was a whole other rabbit hole. And I'm telling you all of this just to say:

JESUS FUCKING CHRIST THE REMASTERED VERSION SUCKS AND I WANNA GOUGE MY EYES WITH A SPOON. FOR FUCKS SAKE, WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT TO SOMETHING SO BEAUTIFUL, HOW CAN YOU SHIT ON YOUR HISTORY LIKE THAT. That said, all the weird chroma key feeling and the sharp backgrounds recreated, also the fucking music, it's such a stark difference from whatever comes from the original that I can safely say this is Star Trek on LSD. This is gonna be a weird trip.

[flutishly]

Spoilers for Star Trek: Prodigy S01E13, “All the World’s a Stage”

So Prodigy decided to a Galaxy Quest episode that was somehow also a sequel to an Original Series concept and also its own genuine Star Trek plot, and like. Hats off.

Prodigy hasn’t always been its best when it’s heavily relied on nostalgic factors or references or been steeped in too much Star Trek lore, though it thankfully hasn’t spent too much time on that (unlike its animated cousin, Lower Decks...). Here, in “All the World’s a Stage”, the humorous aspect of the mistaken interpretation and deification of “Star-Flight” (yes, I laughed) not only called back to Galaxy Quest in the best way (!), it also gave the opportunity for the show to respectfully nod at Lower Decks and the concept of Second Contact. The actual distress signal wasn’t just a ploy or convoluted scheme, it ultimately stemmed from a neat little bit of Star Trek sci-fi storytelling. There was a genuine threat that the characters worked together to solve, all while directly engaging with the concepts of the Prime Directive and Starfleet values.

Along the way, it did some surprisingly nice little bits of character work, particularly for Jankom Pog (who until now has been comic relief) in both his anxieties and the passion that helps him set aside that anxiety. Gwyn also gets a moment of clarity in her eagerness to face the source of the evil head-on; she spent too long avoiding precisely that (particularly in the first quarter of season one, when she still largely supported her father’s attitudes and did not see the problem with... you know... everything that was going on around her) and is no longer willing to be passive in the face of bad things. Dal’s continued uneasiness about not being Starfleet and not being worthy of representing Starfleet surfaced again as well, but his experience in the episode thankfully moved him past that place of uncertainty to precisely the logical conclusion - that there is a way to help and to help themselves without necessarily hurting Starfleet.

Was my initial reaction to simply cheer any episode that so brilliantly teased The Original Series, had a Galaxy Quest premise, and built its plot around a fallen Redshirt? Absolutely, and cheer I did. But I also appreciate that Prodigy is continuing to do the work of looking at what Starfleet can mean to those who are not a part of it. Time and again, the crew of the Protostar are forced to contend with what it means - or would mean - to join Starfleet, to represent the Federation. They make mistakes and fix them. They leave behind Starfleet comm badges as a trail of breadcrumbs in their quest to do better (a stark contrast to the trail that Admiral Janeway is following, of destruction and chaos, which will surely come to a head in the coming episodes), whether it’s during a First Contact of a sort or helping their fellow former Unwanted or in this episode, ultimately providing not only a new cultural touchstone and inspiration, but also tangible scientific tools. They do this as outsiders, for the sake of outsiders, but in the name of Starfleet and with the purest of Starfleet values.

Star Trek: Prodigy has sadly not always gotten the attention it deserves from many otherwise die-hard Star Trek fans, but as with previous episodes, I find myself simply appreciating what it’s doing. This is a show that understands what new perspective it has and the unique importance of that particular perspective. I continue to enjoy it and see what else they do with it.