#TB5 is so big man

[flyboytracy]

[tos1701voy74656tmnt2012-cc]

TAG MBTI

Since I got into MBTI a few months ago, I've been trying to type every single person I know - real or imaginary. There are quite a few people out there like me who like typing TV characters, but there have been very few sources out there that talk about the MBTI of the 2015 Thunderbirds Are Go series. So I thought I'd discuss my thoughts on a few more controversial (main) characters on TAG. Keep in mind that these are just my thoughts, and may not be 100% aligned with the theories. This is all in good fun.

Disclaimer: as Gordon and Alan's types are quite straightforward and widely accepted, I will not be discussing them.

Most commonly accepted types:

Scott: ENTJ/ESTP

Virgil: ISFP

John: INTP

Gordon: ESFP

Alan: ISFJ

The Hood: INTJ

Not confirmed:

Kayo: ISTP/INTJ

Starting off with Scotty. People (myself included) call him the Commander, ie. ENTJ according to the 16 Personalities website. I've done the test myself on his behalf (self-righteous me haha) and the results are quite conclusive: ENTJ. This is quite accurate, given his decisive demeanour in the field which corresponds with dominant Te. That's why I think ESTJ wouldn't be too far off either.

As for ESTP, they're known to be very spontaneous (and frankly, crazy...no offence intended!) The main reason people get this idea is because of certain episodes (High Strung) that suggest Scott was something of a 'thrill junkie' as a younger person. However, the episode also suggests he is not proud of his past and is not like that anymore (or at least tries not to be). So my conclusion is that he has grown into his role as head of IR, which requires an ENTJ personality, while suppressing the extraverted sensing which is dominant in an ESTP.

Next up, Virgil. Virg's known to be the family artist, and ISFPs are the stereotypical artists. In that sense, ISFP is pretty correct - but Virgil doesn't exactly strike me as (and I'm making a big generalisation here) a crybaby. So what are the alternatives? First, I'd agree he's mostly an introvert, though he sometimes does give off a more E energy. Next, I'd say that he could he either intuitive or sensing, and he seems like the kind of guy to come up with a plan at the scene. So I'd go so far as to say he could be an INTP. Conclusion: ISFP/INTP.

Now with Johnny, most people can agree that he's INTP. I once read somewhere that he's INFP, however, which I thought was interesting - INFPs have the stereotype of being ignored all the time, which relates to John's situation of being the guy stuck on the lonely space station and the middle child. But it doesn't feel as if he has dominant Fi, so I agree with the opinion that he's INTP. INTPs are stereotypically nerdy, and although John isn't a complete dork, he is shown to be afraid of crowds (and in general, people!) particularly in episodes such as The Man From TB5. So INTP is fair.

Kayo is an interesting case. I have found literally zero consensus on the net on Kayo's MBTI, so I have just gone ahead and typed her as ISTP/INTJ.

Kayo is, how shall we say it, very cool. Even aloof, like an ISTP, the typical lone wolf or cool guy. ISTPs also tend to have good street smarts, being very versatile quick learners. That is what makes them good candidates for being spies, or in Kayo's case, covert ops. She's formidable because of her skills, quick thinking and determination in protecting her ideals (her insisting that IR get involved in the 'bad guy catching business') - dominant Ti.

Some people also think she's an INTJ for obvious reasons. In Legacy, she reveals she has all sorts of contingency plans for Tracy Island, and even her uncle, the great mastermind, fell into her trap. That sort of scheming is very INTJ. It's probably an influence of her having the Hood as her uncle.

You could argue that Kayo is completely INTJ, and I'd say that's possible as well. The reason I've put ISTP is that some of the things she does are a bit too physical and real-world, things that typical INTJs would die from. Of course, she could be an Fi and Se developed INTJ. It depends on how you look at it.

Now finally...our favourite villain, Hoodie Guy. INTJ, the mastermind. No one can deny that the Hood is the ultimate criminal mastermind, with his scheming plots and evil smirk (!) However, there are some qualities he has that aren't exactly INTJ, which is why I'd argue that he's an INTJ/ENTJ hybrid.

First, he's very impatient. We see this in a lot of episodes, and in Signals Part 2 he even admits he was short-sighted (and therefore impatient) to have tried to commandeer a Thunderbird. That's quite unlike an INTJ, who must be patient in waiting for their plots to unfold over time. The Hood is almost too rash to be an INTJ.

Secondly, INTJs are known for being cold and calculated, and although the Hood is that, he's also very personal. And by personal I mean he gets very hung up on personal vendettas, namely the one against Jeff Tracy. INTJs don't usually put the focus on people - unless the person is merely an obstacle in the way of them getting what they want. They do not act on impulse - dominant Ni ensures that. ENTJs, however, can be 'personal'. They have vendettas, and they will use dominant Te to act even if it's not exactly wise.

Finally, he's too famous. INTJs do not thrust themselves into the spotlight as the Hood did even in the first episode - that is way too not subtle for INTJs, who work from the shadows and get what they want without anyone being the wiser. ENTJs, on the other hand, are known and feared by the world. Sound familiar?

Of course, the many cliffhangers we get informing us the Hood has gotten exactly what he planned tells us he's still an INTJ - but not entirely. Things like personality typing are never black and white, and no one is completely 100% one type or another.

[galentaliel]

Ooohhhhhh…!!!! This!!!

[gumnut-logic]

Episode tag to 3.10 has a bunch of Scott and Gordon with a little Virgil, Penny and Parker on the side :D

-o-o-o-

Thunderbird Two hit Australian air space growling. Skirting across Cape York, she shed speed, frozen exhaust wafting off in white clouds, her pilot finally drawing in breath as her sensors scanned the condition of TB4.

“What the hell, Gordon?” Virgil stared at the corrosion of her shell. “What did you do to her?”

“Hey, it wasn’t my fault!”

John had said Thunderbird Two was needed urgently, but he’d been caught up in China saving miners from a collapse. Virgil had dropped everything as soon as possible, but he knew he was going to be too late.

There had been a number of very bad moments.

“I didn’t say it was your fault! What is your condition?”

“I’m fine.”

He kicked in VTOL on approach to the platform, settling TB2 into a secure hover.

Triggering a separate comline, he interrogated another brother. “John, are you sure he is okay?”

“What I can read is good. I’m sure he has neglected to mention the need to change out of his uniform. It disintegrated during the incident.”

Of course. “Any injury?”

“None I can detect, none he is owning up to. Because he isn’t wearing his uniform I haven’t got full detail. Also, without full access to TB5, I have only the basics to work with anyway. Eos is relaying what she can. Do me a favour and clap him up the head for me?”

Virgil’s lips thinned. IR was stretched to the limit today.

He had to admit, Gordon on a rescue without his backup was rare, and to be honest, today’s situation had scared the living shit out of him. Scott was inbound from the other side of the planet, no doubt as concerned as he. It wasn’t that Virgil didn’t have confidence in his brother’s skill, it was just...

Shit.

That had been close.

Flick over the comline. “Status of the wreck?”

“Secure. We’ve frozen the contents. Should keep it contained for a number of hours. Long enough to get Bio-rescue out here.” A pause. “Everything is fine, Virg. Take a deep breath.”

Surprisingly, Virgil did as he was told. He bit his lip. “Okay, I’m coming down.”

“There really is no need to-“

“I’m coming down.”

“Okay, I’ll get Parker to make us some tea.”

-o-o-o-

It was inevitable, he supposed. His big brothers were worry warts. With Virgil in China, Scott in the US, Alan and John on the moon, and Kayo in Spain it had been one hell of a day. Adding in his little rescue had just piled more on top of it all.

When Penny had said that his brothers would say he was there to rescue people, not save a reef, she had been right, but Gordon Tracy hadn’t spent his life underwater as a marine biologist and researcher to ignore a cry for help, no matter the voice. The reef may not save human lives in the short term, but long term was an entirely different matter.

And besides, considering the life the reef supported, who said International Rescue was restricted to human lives anyway?

He could feel Scott’s glare from across the Pacific.

At least Virgil should be easy once he had calmed the man down. Nothing scared the medic more than a brother in danger, and, well, yeah, he’d managed that quite well today.

The sight of his green behemoth roaring into a hasty hover above the pink and white platform was a clear illustration of his brother’s worry. That was one hell of an entry.

The zipline hitting the landing pad besides where he was standing made its own point and the thud of specialised boots hitting that same surface, equally determined.

Virgil shed his helmet the moment he landed, striding over to Gordon. The aquanaut squared his shoulders, ready for verbal warfare.

But Virgil didn’t say anything. His eyes just raked over his brother, scanning for hidden injury, no doubt.

“I’m okay, Virg, I promise.” A lopsided smirk. “Don’t you trust me?”

Those concerned brown eyes flared.

“Virgil! So nice to see you!” And Penny was striding across the pad towards them, both Parker and Bertie trailing behind.

The TB2 pilot was expertly distracted, turning to greet Penny with his usual polite manner.

“We are in debt to Gordon for saving so many lives today. International Rescue has performed a great service to the world in saving this reef. Its loss would have been a devastation beyond repair.”

Gordon hid a smirk as Virgil straightened. “No doubt, Lady Penelope.”

Nope, his brother didn’t have a hope.

A grin and he wrapped an arm around his brother’s shoulders. “C’mon, Virg, relax, have a cup of tea. Let Scott do all the yelling. I’m sure he’ll be here soon.”

“Thunderbird One on approach in ten minutes.” John had obviously been eavesdropping.

“Yay, we have ten minutes before he chews my head off. Parker brought cookies.” He didn’t miss Parker’s mumbled ‘biscuits’ at that comment.

Some of the tension dropped from Virgil’s shoulders and Gordon let his own breath out. At heart Virgil was a big softie. Gordon was pretty sure that now his second eldest brother knew he was okay, he would actually stand up for him when eldest eldest brother started the yelling. And Gordon would put up with the meticulous medical exam in his near future if he had to.

“Sorry, I wasn’t here for you.”

He almost didn’t hear it as they all turned to walk inside. Gordon shot his brother a look. “Hey, I’m okay. It all worked out.”

Virgil’s lips thinned.

Oh, okay, so perhaps this went deeper.

Virgil was perfectly polite and calm as he was offered tea and ‘biscuits’, and as predicted TB2’s hovering roar was added to as IR’s scout vessel tore into orbit of the platform and landed beside FAB1 on the pad. It was less than a minute before Scott was led into the room by a confident Penny.

Why did Gordon feel like the school principal had just walked into the room?

His big brother parroted Virgil’s initial bodily assessment. Gordon didn’t bother to get up and continued to munch on his cookie. Hey, he deserved it. It had choc chips.

“Gordon, you okay?”

He blinked. Scott was still staring at him. “I’m fine.”

“Good.”

And Scott sat down across from him and grabbed a cookie himself. Parker poured him some tea.

Gordon froze and stared. What?

“Nice cookies, Parker.”

“They’re still biscuits, Master Tracy.”

Scott rolled his eyes.

Gordon couldn’t stop staring. “Aren’t you going to yell at me?”

His brother straightened in his seat. “What? Why?”

“I distinctly remember you yelling at me from across the Pacific at least twice during this rescue. I’m expecting follow through.”

Scott shrugged. “You’re okay, aren’t you. You saved the people; you saved the reef. A job well done all round.” He stole another cookie.

“But-“

“Thunderbird One, Thunderbird Three reporting situation resolved and on return to base.”

Gordon’s eyes widened as Scott’s shoulders visibly relaxed. “That is great to hear, John.”

“Hey, Gordy, hear you’ve been having some fun.” Comms sparked with his little brother’s tired voice. “Way to scare the shit out of everyone.”

“I did what I had to do!” What the hell was it with protective brothers?

“And he did a damn good job.” Scott’s deep voice cut across the conversation stilling everyone. “It had its moments.” And those big brother blue eyes pinned him - there it was, the concern he had been expecting. “But he got the job done in the best way possible. Better than any of us. Gordon was the man for the job and he did it.”

The man for the job was just staring. “Oookay.”

Scott frowned at him a moment before standing up and turning to the man beside Gordon. “Virg, you need to return to base and collect module four.” His brother nodded and rose, taking the order despite the fact Gordon knew Virgil had already planned to do exactly that anyway. “Gordon, finalise the situation here and prep Thunderbird Four for transport. Brains is waiting to check her over.” As Virgil excused himself and made his exit, Scott turned to their hosts. “Thank you for assisting Gordon on the rescue Lady Penelope and Parker.” A single nod in each of their directions. “It is very much appreciated.”

Gordon was still staring.

“You are most welcome, Scott. We were very glad to help.” Penny was smiling at Gordon.

“Sorry to eat and run, but we need to get our resident aquanaut home.”

Huh?

“Yes, of course.” And that smile of hers was verging on a laugh. She had a twinkle in her eye.

And Scott offered him his hand to help him out of his seat.

What the hell?

He grabbed his brother’s grip and stood up, staring at Scott the entire time.

Scott ignored his expression and, instead, wrapped an arm about Gordon’s shoulders and led him out onto the landing pad and into the shadow of Thunderbird One. The air was quietening as TB2 roared off into the distance. “Seriously, Gordon, you did great today.”

“I did.”

“You did.”

“I know.” He grinned up at his brother. “Sorry if I scared you.”

“Not the first time. I could hope it will be the last, but I don’t think that is possible.”

Gordon’s grin widened.

“Now, I have no doubt we’ll be called out again soon. We need to move Four while we can. Virgil will be back shortly.” A half smile. “See you back at the ranch.”

TB1 lowered her pilot’s chair and Gordon found himself stepping back as Scott launched her into the air. A blink and she was gone.

“What do you think that was about?”

He jumped. Penny stepped up beside him. “I dunno. Virg was just scared, but Scott? I expected a roasting and got compliments instead.”

“You did a good job. Despite scaring all of us. Try to do less of the latter in the future, please.”

He glanced at her, remembering their earlier conversation. “Yes, m’lady.”

-o-o-o-

FIN

[tsarinatorment]

TAG Ask Game

10. If the fam HAD to swap Thunderbirds, who would you place with which 'bird?

TAG Ask Game

Well, this is a tough one. Some of these are easier than others, but after some deliberation and switching around, I've ended up with...

Thunderbird One - Gordon Thunderbird Two - John Thunderbird Three - Scott Thunderbird Four - Alan Thunderbird Five - Virgil

(I left Shadow/Kayo out of this because I could not figure out how I'd redistribute all of them and be happy with all of the choices - including them, it came out at TB1=Virgil, TB2=Gordon, TB3=John, TB4=Alan, TB5=Kayo and TBS=Scott, but Virgil felt really weird for TB1)

Now, this is not my first choice for all of them. Originally I jumped straight to putting John on TB3, but then that left Scott on TB5 and I think Scott would go mad if you stuck him that far from the action with no way to intervene (although, let's be honest; none of them except John could really do Space Monitor duty). I also initially had Gordon on TB2, but that left John on TB1, which also didn't feel right.

So, the explanation for my final order

Thunderbird One and Gordon: Thunderbird One is first response, field commander role, initial eyes on the ground and primary strategist. If we're taking Scott out of that role, then it was a toss-up between John or Gordon (I know Alan's TB1's backup in TOS but TAG Alan doesn't feel right for that level of responsibility at the moment). And I know we're all thinking of that scene in SOS where Gordon nearly crashes her, but Gordon is a competent pilot! He just needed practice! Gordon's also a strong strategist, and I think would be more confident in the primary response-in-person role over John.

Thunderbird Two and John: The heavy duty work, the always-preparedness, the ability to react to near enough any situation because the right gear is always on hand. As I said, I initially shoe-horned Gordon in on TB2 because of the close connection between TB2 and TB4, but while he's highly competent with her, I think that barring Virgil, John's the one that would best be able to get the most out of what TB2 can offer.

Thunderbird Three and Scott: I know I make quips about how Scott's not an astronaut, he's just a hotshot pilot who happens to go into space a lot, but quite frankly, Scott's gotta go fast, and literally none of the other main 'birds suit that (which is why I would put him on TBS if I was doing the six instead of the five). Follow Dad's footsteps a little more, few trips to the moon and beyond... Scott could definitely do it. Plenty of room for risk-taking on TB3 rescues, too!

Thunderbird Four and Alan: This is the only one I didn't change from my original inception, and I know it sounds a little weird on the surface. I've mentioned in fics how space&ocean are very mirrored from each other and have the same types of risk, so that automatically puts Alan and John in better stead than their Earth&Sky bros. I honestly have no idea what Scott was doing in TB4 in Signals and I can only assume it was because Alan was needed in TB3. Alan's also the youngest and most flexible of the brothers. And I'll be honest, I just can't see any of the other three in TB4 without remembering a comment flyboy-tracy once made about Scott literally "wearing" TB4... they're all too big for her!

Thunderbird Five and Virgil: So, this was a case of "slap the last two options together", because honestly, I couldn't really think of anywhere to put Virgil except TB2. As for TB5, while I know Alan and Scott both canonically take turns in TOS, and Alan and Gordon both take a shift in Man From TB5... well, Alan was the only option for TB4, so that eliminated him, Scott would go completely stir-crazy sat up in TB5 all the time, and I can't imagine taking Gordon that far away from the ocean, although he probably would be pretty decent at it. But, Virgil. Calm, level-headed, maybe not quite as tech-y as John but still pretty good... I think he could do it. (As for why Kayo in my shuffle around with her and TBS - TB5 is the best 'bird for information gathering, organising spy busts and all the rest of it. Sure, she wouldn't be feet on the ground, but girl could do a lot of damage from space. And a lot of keeping her family safe with those super-computers at her disposal)

[tracybirds]

I can officially switch the status of Being Known from “stuck” to “WIP” again :) It’s been over a year since the last update for various reasons but I’m very excited to go back to this one and provide a new chapter!

For those new to the story, this was prompted by @kenzie-running-free in March 2020 and slightly got out of hand 😅 I’ve never stopped thinking about it and I bit the bullet and deleted the entirety of Chapter Four a few days ago and let myself rewrite it from scratch.... and it WORKED!!! (use technique with caution... scariest thing I’ve ever done.....)

Anyway...

A ‘what-if’ story based on “The Man From TB5” where the Hood recognized John in the scene when he makes himself known (instead of John stuttering).... and then he gets kidnapped :)

[Part 1] | [Part 2] | [Part 3]

-----------

Darkness bled into John’s line of vision and he scrubbed desperately at his aching eyes. Time collapsed around him as he worked, the abruptly extinguished bulb the only hint of night. And every new day seemed to bring new weariness as he jolted awake by the sudden onslaught of light which interrupted the deepest part of sleep.

Just another tactic to keep him from gathering his wits together.

This morning, if it was morning, the brightly burning bulb was coupled with the scraping sound of a breakfast tray being shoved through the small slot that had been crudely and hastily carved in the door after he’d lain in wait and brought the tray down over one of the guard’s head. He’d left the man stunned on the floor and made it all the way to the end of the corridor before another guard had grabbed him from behind and thrown him bodily back into the room.

He’d woken to security footage of a fire ravaging a building, his own family on screen.

“They’re not looking for you,” sneered the Hood as he swept from the room.

No guards came in anymore.

Two days later, he’d been savagely poked in the eye when he’d tried to look through the new slot that had been hastily added to his door.

He spent hours every day, searching for a way to send out a message, or even create another receiver. Any link to the outside world would do. But it soon became apparent that the Hood had done one thing right in giving him access to an isolated system, keeping the holomonitor he’d been provided with separate even from his own devices.

One thing right among many.

John peered at the screen with his good eye, wincing at the torn skin that pulled over bruised muscle. His head spun as he stared at the endless commands, trying to replicate the spark of life no-one had ever found before EOS.

Not even him.

And that was the rub of it all.

John didn’t know, not after all his time studying EOS and her abilities, just how she’d been born of code and logical absolutes. How she could grow and change and evaluate her own mind in a way that not only seemed human, but was unquestionably so.

He glanced at the clock he’d created from scratch, counting the oscillations in the electrical current and spitting back a digital time at him. This ‘morning’ truly did correspond with the morning, and that meant the Hood would be paying him a visit for an update.

He wasn’t sure how much more time he could stall for until things got truly desperate.

How much time he had until he had to conclude that he was truly on his own.

*                            *                            *

“Scott, the floor’s unstable there!”

“I know what I’m doing, Alan.”

“Yes, but I have the numbers,” Alan replied, his voice cracking as he spoke. He spun the holo in his hands, checking and double checking the analysis that was running under his fingertips.

“Then the numbers are wrong.”

“They can’t be!”

“Alan,” said Scott, patiently. “I need you to check the parameters over again. I’m seeing two trapped vehicles, with no sign of ground stress, both much larger than me and more importantly containing passengers. I need to get them out of there.”

“Yes, but hang on–”

“There’s no time!”

Alan watched in horror as his big brother barrelled forwards. He crouched low as he ran, grabbing at nearby pylons for support. The ground heaved beneath his feet, but still Scott moved forwards steady and sure. Always with his eyes on the scared little boy in the back seat and a gentle smile on his face.

An alert ticked over into the red.

“Jump, Scott!” he yelled, watching the model floor cave in a split second before a real sinkhole opened beneath Scott’s feet.

“Alan, what’s happening up there?” came Virgil’s urgent voice, bound for home with Gordon from their own rescue.

Alan flipped the channel, realising in his hurry he’d accidentally broadcast his message to everyone.

“He’s fine,” he said, eyes still wide as he watched Scott shakily stand on the other side of the chasm. “The floor went.”

“What?”

“He’s fine, he’s fine!”

“Didn’t you run the simulation?”

“I did,” said Alan, pressing the heels of his hands against his eyes. “He wouldn’t listen.”

Silence fell over the space station.

“Hey Alan, can you pilot Thunderbird One over to us? Got my hands full here.”

Scott’s voice rang out loud and clear. Five clear thermal images were standing around him, including one in his arms.

Alan fumbled for the call button.

“F.A.B. Scott.”

“I’ll talk to him, Alan,” said Virgil. His eyes were focused beyond him, but Alan could read the quiet fury beneath the clear focus on his own piloting.

“I can’t do it, Virgil,” whispered Alan. “I must have done something wrong, there must have been something he could see that I couldn’t.”

“You’ve done nothing wrong,” interrupted Virgil.

“He never would have done this to…”

Alan’s voice failed him.

Twenty-two thousand miles below, Virgil choked back his own distress. Gordon was chewing at his lip, staring anxiously at Alan. He leaned forward so he was in view of the holo.

“Hey, Allie,” he said. “John’s gonna be okay. And he’ll be giving Scott hell for ignoring the modelling like that soon enough.”

“You don’t know that.”

“Absolutely, I do,” said Gordon, cracking a grin. “No way, John would let Scott get away with that crap. Not even if he had to haunt him for the rest of his life in ghostly fury to do it.”

“Is he wrapping up now?” asked Virgil, eyes still pinched.

Alan looked down at the display.

“Yeah, he’s on his way home.”

“Right. EOS?”

“Virgil?” Her quiet voice was sullen and more than a little distracted.

“Got room in your processors for another task?”

EOS’s lights flashed suddenly, and Alan’s blood ran cold at the sight. Three weeks he’d been stationed on board Thunderbird Five and he still found himself walking on eggshells around EOS. Her frustration at turning up nothing in the holonet that could lead them closer to John morphed quickly from long, silent sulks to short outbursts of flying bagels and spinning gravity rings. He’d never forgotten the sight of John floating limply like a rag doll that had been torn apart one too many times by a playful, thoughtless, destructive child.

An angry EOS felt too close to losing his brother for good.

“Will it help, John?”

“It’ll keep his brother alive, and that will make it more likely for us to find him.”

“What can I do?”

“Lock Scott out of his controls, Order TB2-5711FR. Make sure Alan gets to Tracy Island before him. Redirect all calls to local authorities in the first instance, follow Protocol 24.”

“I’m not leaving,” argued Alan. “Don’t pull me from duty, I can do better.”

“No arguments.”

Alan wilted, knowing he had no choice but to follow Virgil’s instructions.

“This is done, Virgil,” said EOS, blankly.

“Thank you, EOS,” said Virgil, his manner still stiff and terse. He shifted his gaze from the open ocean in front of him to Alan, his expression softening. “You haven’t done anything wrong, Alan. If Scott takes his life into his own hands, that’s not on you. But we can’t have him in the field like that, cutting corners to get back to finding John. So, we need you down here in his place.”

“You can’t pull Scott,” said Alan, his eyes wide. “What would… well, what would Scott say?”

“We’re doing him a favour,” remarked Gordon with a sarcastic twist of his lips that made a mockery of his usual grin. “He wants to find John, we all do, but if he’s willing to risk lives and rescues to do it then he should put his energy into searching and we shouldn’t stop him.”

Alan swallowed, his eyes filling with tears that he angrily swiped away.

“Does he think we’re not looking just as hard?” he asked. “We haven’t forgotten him. Have we?”

“Don’t be ridiculous, Alan,” said Virgil, firmly. “John would have our heads before we put the possibility of finding him above the certainty of ignoring people who need our help.”

“So, we keep going out there,” agreed Gordon. “And when, when Allie, Kayo and Lady P and Parker find something, and they will, we’ll be right there without a moment to lose.”

“I just don’t want him to think we’ve forgotten him.”

“John’s too smart for that,” said Gordon. “Promise you, Allie.”

*                            *                            *

He’d worked it out. Every time he did something to anger the Hood, innocent people paid for it in blood. There was no point in harming him directly, not when what the Hood wanted was inside his mind, ripe for extraction. But his heart and spirit could be broken, as a video feed periodically forced itself over his work to make him watch. Earthquakes, landslides, tidal waves, anything that would get International Rescue on the scene and off his scent.

Senseless destruction and despair epidemic across the world because he couldn’t make an AI fast enough.

But senseless destruction that he could use.

There was no doubt in his mind that his family knew the natural disasters were anything but, he could see it in the determined fury in Scott’s face, in the tense draw of Virgil’s shoulders, in the sardonic mockery in Gordon’s smile as he quietly pocketed yet another piece of equipment.

He didn’t see Alan, and he thought of his baby brother up in space often. None of his brothers had any real idea of the full extent of his contribution, no matter how grateful they were for his guidance, and he hated to know Alan would be forced into that knowledge.

He also suspected that when Alan did spill the beans, he’d find his own rotations scrutinised with a lot more care.

Still, the limited glimpses of his brothers did nothing to discourage him, and he found himself contemplating a plan of escape well into the long, cold nights.

He needed more information.

He needed access to an external holonet connection. And the only way he’d get near one was with a working AI.

Or something that could pass for a few minutes as one.

[tsarisfanfiction]

Fic Recs: Thunderbirds

A while ago I did a Scott!whump Fic Rec.  This time there’s no theme.  Just Thunderbirds!  Characters and genres vary wildly.

Got put in the mood to do this the other week, and after trawling through all my AO3 bookmarks/FFN favourites, and then the archives themselves because I’m terrible and forget to save fics, here are a bunch of my personal favourites.  As always, only complete fics feature (there are many fantastic ongoing ones, but I’m lazy and don’t like having to update fic statuses).

This list is also long.  100+ fics long.  So it’s under a cut to save everyone’s sanity.  There’s also a spreadsheet version of it that I’ll make available if you wanna search by character/genre/universe etc.

Ratings are all using AO3′s Gen/Teen/Mature, so for FFN “K+” fics, I shoved them in either Gen or Teen, depending on my personal opinion.  Likewise, genres are done using FFN’s method for conciseness, so AO3 ones I just kinda guessed.  Only the major characters are listed.

I’ve tagged (attempted to tag, tumblr please behave) authors where I know their tumblr.  If there’s any I haven’t tagged that anyone knows, let me know!

And one last thing before the recs: If there’s anything in particular you want recs for, whether it be a character, a theme, a trope, a fandom, etc. just let me know and I’ll see about putting one together!

Δv/Δt by @tb5-heavenward [Gen; Family; John, Scott; 4k] Deceleration is a function of velocity over time.

A Break In Routine by @loopstagirl [Teen; Family/Hurt/Comfort; Scott, Virgil; 15k] They put themselves in danger time and time again. That doesn't mean they can always walk away from it again though.

A Father by rosefields [Gen; Family/Hurt/Comfort; Scott, Jeff; 3k] Scott Tracy has been under a lot of pressure since his mother died. But he can cope, it’s not a problem. Jeff know that, his oldest is strong and capable and he doesn’t need his father. Right?

A Guide to Valentine's Day (and how to exploit it) by Silverstar [Gen; Friendship; John, Penelope; 1k] In which John and Penelope pretend to go on a date to make the most of the discounts offered on meals for couples, because Valentine’s Day is about all kinds of love, including the platonic kind. A Seed Once Sown by @darkestwolfx [Gen; Friendship/Humour; Ned, Tracy Family; 4k] Believe it or not, they did have a garden on Tracy Island. It looked a little like a… tip. And that was being kind. A Son By Any Other Name by @space-baegel [Teen; Family/Angst; Scott, Tracy Family, Penelope; 83k] [AU] Cursed as a child, Scott Tracy lives a life in which everyone he encounters must follow all of his given commands. A Summary of Events by PanicPixieDreamGirl [Teen; Family; Tracy Family, Kayo; 3k] This is best described as ‘a look at how IR might function in the real world’ except obviously it’s not quite the real world because it’s several decades in the future and also after a war. A Typical Morning by @louthestarspeaker [Gen; Family/Humour; Tracy Brothers; 6k] The Terrible Two are scheming, Virgil just wants to be sleeping, and the brothers are faced with a bit of a situation. A typical morning in the Tracy household.

Access Denied // The Subject of Virgil by @gumnut-logic [Mature; Angst/Hurt/Comfort; Virgil, Scott; 5k // 8k] He found a way. All Alone by @loopstagirl [Gen; Family/Hurt/Comfort; Scott, Grandma; 5k] Scott reaches breaking point for looking after his brothers so Grandma Tracy takes charge of the situation, and her son. Babies and Brothers by @loopstagirl [Gen; Family; Scott, Jeff; 3k] He may grow into the world's most protective big brother, but even Scott needed time to get used to the idea of younger siblings. Back Story by @thunderbirdcarebear [Gen; Family/Hurt/Comfort; Scott; 6k] That rock slide while rescuing Kat Kavanaugh has left Scott with more than just a few bruises. Bedtime by @gumnut-logic [Teen; Family; Scott; 1k] “They’re my family.” Bring Our Starman Home by @lenle-g [Teen; Hurt/Comfort/Family; John, Scott; 28k] When a meteor hits Thunderbird 5 while shields are down, the Tracy family think John is dead for sure. Scott has prepared himself to fly up in TB3 with Alan to retrieve a body, for John couldn't possibly still be alive after that... could he? Bruised by @gumnut-logic [Gen; Hurt/Comfort; Scott, Virgil; 2k] Sometimes the prescription is simple, if unexpected. Buckle by Teobi [Gen; Family; Scott, Grandma; 1k] She finds him sitting at his father's desk, when everyone else has gone to bed. Candy Strippers by Chobrowny [Gen; Family/Hurt/Comfort; Scott, Virgil, Gordon; 1k] The boys are unintentional candy stripers, visiting a childrens hospital in IR gear. Career Day by @gumnut-logic [Teen; Family; Outside PoV, Alan; 7k] It is Career Day at school for eleven year old Alan Tracy. He has just lost his father. Who will he invite? Communications by nhsweetcherry [Gen; Adventure/Humour; Tracy Brothers; 4k] Random, short snippets of conversations between the guys. Some funny, some more serious. Coping Mechanism by @gumnut-logic [Teen; Hurt/Comfort/Angst; Virgil, Gordon, Scott; 7k] “I get you guys are busy and I’m spoilt that you all visit when you can, but honestly, this isn’t about me. This is out of character for Virg.” A pause. “And I miss him, okay?” Dare To Hope by i_amnerd [Gen; Family/Hurt/Comfort; Scott, John; 1k] Not for the first time, Scott wishes that little brothers came with some kind of training manual or instruction booklet. Denied by @thunderstorm-bay [Teen; Family; Gordon; 4k] Gordon is frustrated after "Deep Search" and "City Under The Sea". Different by @gumnut-logic [Teen; Family; John, Kayo; 2k] John Tracy is different. Dinosaur Dilemma by @godsliltippy [Teen; Action/Adventure; Gordon, Alan; 14k] Never in a million years would International Rescue have thought they would be rescuing victims from dinosaurs. Alan's excited, Virgil is... well, Virgil, John's out of his element, and Gordon is terrified. Edge of the World // Here Be Dragons by Corbyinoz2 [Teen; Hurt/Comfort/Adventure; Gordon, Virgil, Scott; 47k // 114k] When returning from a rescue mission, Thunderbird Two is attacked by an unknown force. As Virgil and Gordon plummet towards the ocean, their chances of survival will depend, as it always does, on each other. Every time it snows by allandmore [Teen; Hurt/Comfort; Scott, Gordon; 5k] A simple mountain rescue goes wrong for International Rescue. Gordon battles the elements and his memories, and Scott has a tough decision to make. Exhaustion by @sugar-fiend [Teen; Suspense/Angst; Alan, John, Scott; 9k] A rescue mission in space is interrupted with deadly consequences… Expected & Unexpected by @gumnut-logic [Teen; Family; Gordon, Virgil, Scott; 1k] He had brothers. It was inevitable, but sometimes unexpected. Facts of Life by Kaeera [Teen; Drama; Scott; 5k] There are some situations – lying on a floor in a pool of your own blood, for example – that really put things into perspective. Famous Last Words by @loopstagirl [Gen; Family; Scott; 2k] All Scott wanted was for everyone to be quiet so nothing else could go wrong. That was apparently too much to ask. Fires of Adversity by NKala99 [Teen; Family/Hurt/Comfort; Alan; 39k] Not everyone is supportive of Alan’s new and improved attitude towards school. First Times by @loopstagirl [Gen; Family/Humour; Scott; 3k] In which Scott forgets the speed of Thunderbird One, Virgil and John come up with a new form of torture and Gordon is after revenge. Just a normal day in the Tracy household then. Five Times Alan Flew Another Thunderbird by Silverstar [Teen; Hurt/Comfort/Family; Alan; 61k] ...and the one time he didn't. Five Times The Floor Was Not Lava by Silverstar [Gen; Humour/Family; Tracy Brothers; 5k] ...and the one time it was. Flat Packed by @hedwigstalons [Gen; Humour; Scott; 600] A simple mission leaves Scott minus two brothers and plus one headache Game On by @loopstagirl [Gen; Family; Scott, Virgil; 12k] As their future Field Commander, it was up to Scott to make sure his brothers were ready for duty - physically as well as mentally. Grudgingly Human by Yarnaholic [Mature; Angst; Scott; 4k] Scott faces some old demons while trying to talk down a man standing on a building ledge after a rescue. He Is, They Are by ThatGirlSix [Teen; Family; Tracy Brothers; 90k] Fixing what was wrong with their family was going to take longer than the span of a Disney movie, but they'd get there eventually. They lived on an island. It wasn't like there was anywhere else to go. He's WHERE? by @loopstagirl [Gen; Family; Virgil, Scott; 1k] Virgil's reaction to finding out that the Hood is in Thunderbird Two... His Part by @gumnut-logic [Teen; Family, Angst; Scott, Virgil, Tracy Brothers; 4k] It started off as a mild annoyance. Holiday From Hell by @loopstagirl [Teen; Family, Hurt/Comfort; Scott, Virgil, Jeff; 158k] It was supposed to be the break they all needed to put the last year behind them and take a step forward. But things never do work out that easily for the Tracys. Homecoming by @loopstagirl [Gen; Family; Scott, John; 2k] There are times when only a big brother can help. When something seems to be on John's mind, Scott steps up to the challenge. I Dream of Genie by @godsliltippy [Teen; Action/Friendship; Penelope, Gordon; 50k] Penelope stumbles across a treasure that could bring more frustration than she bargained for. Illusion of a Saint by AlternateReality1 [Teen; Spiritual/Suspense; Scott, Hood; 92k] There’s an enemy admist their ranks. He’s hidden in plain sight. The question is… when will the illusion be shattered? In Enemy Hands by Claudette [Gen; Adventure, Drama; Scott, John; 62k] When the secrets of International Rescue are offered for sale to the highest bidder the Tracy family must act quickly. However, their secrets are not the only thing that is at stake. In The Trunk by @gumnut-logic [Teen; Family/Hurt/Comfort; Scott, Virgil; 1k] “Why don’t you ever listen to me?!” It Wasn't Me! by @janetm74fics [Gen; Family; Gordon, Scott; 3k] It's not like it isn't the first time Gordon had accidentally hurt one of his brothers, but this time? When his dad doesn't believe him Gordon decides to find the one person who will make everything better. John Tracy hated taking public transport by @gumnut-logic [Teen; Friendship; John; 2k] Every trip he buried himself in his own world whether it be his work, research, a good book or even a movie. He shut the world out and more importantly anyone who sat next to him.  Sometimes this was not possible.  Because sometimes they spoke to him. Just Another Rescue by teddy0bear [Gen; Family/Adventure; Scott, Virgil; 16k] A rescue turns into a hostage situation Just Let It Go by @angelofbenignmalevolence [Gen; Family; Scott, Gordon; 1k] Scott was just trying to get a little work done. Alan and Gordon were working on Alan's schoolwork. What could possibly go wrong? La tarte aux pommes d'or by Yarol2075 [Gen; Friendship; Scott, Mechanic; 400] Scott needs to thank the Mechanic - it really shouldn't be so hard. Labyrinth by TB's LMC [Mature; Horror/Supernatural; Scott; 12k] One minute Scott Tracy’s at Mobile Control directing a rescue. The next, he’s in a fight for his life. Line 'Em Up Bartender by @madilayn [Teen; Friendship; Scott, John, Colonel Casey; 800] Scott, John and Colonel Casey find a way to cope with one of Jeff's speeches at a Charity Function. Living Like Kings by CLynnB [Gen; Family; Tracy Family; 35k] The world wants to know more about the Tracy brothers. So Lady Penelope takes it upon herself to show the world just who they are. Through YouTube. Making Changes by @madilayn [Teen; Family/Hurt/Comfort; Tracy Brothers; 17k] Jeff Tracy has gone missing and International Rescue has to make some changes to cope with this. Merman by @janetm74fics [Gen; Family; Gordon; 700] He'd always wanted to be a merman. Ever since he was old enough to swim and read, his life had been filled with the sea and the things in the sea. A twist of fate may just give him that wish. Missing Scene: The Uninvited by Juud18 [Gen; Family; Scott; 2k] In between Scott being found by Lindsey and Wilson, and the scene where Scott, TinTin, Virgil, Brains, and Wilson and Lindsey are sitting at the campfire. Mission Impossible by @loopstagirl [Teen; Family/Adventure; Scott, Gordon; 55k] Being selected for his first solo mission should have been exciting for Captain Scott Tracy of the Air Force. But there was something else at play. Something dangerous and deadly. Something that could cost him more than his life. Monsters in the Dark by @loopstagirl [Gen; Family; Scott, Virgil; 3k] Scott was used to checking for monsters to keep his little brothers happy. He just wasn't so used to actually dealing with said monsters. More Than I Bargained For by puppetonalonelystring [Teen; Action/Hurt/Comfort; Scott; 13k] Scott attends a Yale reunion party thinking that it cannot turn out any worse than the last one. Unfortunately, things are never simple for the Tracy brothers - when things turn complicated for Scott he has to depend on his brothers to help sort the situation out, or the secrets of International Rescue will be exposed Never Too Late // Never Too Lost // Never Too Long by @loopstagirl [Teen; Hurt/Comfort/Family; Scott, Jeff; 58k // 75k // 138k] As the family deal with grief, Scott must face his fears and grow up, whilst Jeff battles between being dad and being a successful businessman. But what will it take to bring the two of them back together again? On Their Side by @gumnut-logic [Gen; Family/Humour; Colonel Casey, Gordon, Virgil; 1k] She trusted these boys with a great deal. Once In A Blue Moon by WhatHaveWeDone [Teen; Hurt/Comfort; Virgil, John; 3k] It was an aligning of the planets when John and Virgil got to work together. Out of Your Mind // All in Your Mind by @loopstagirl [Teen; Family/Hurt/Comfort; Gordon, Tracy Family, Hood; 75k // 149k] They can defy the odds and snatch people from the jaws of death on a daily basis. But sometimes, not all dangers come in a physical form. Over and Out by @thunderbirdcarebear [Gen; Hurt/Comfort/Family; Scott; 5k] An incident at an earthquake rescue leaves Scott frustrated when he’s injured. Parameters by @drdone [Teen; Family; Scott, John; 1k] “Just pretend to be my date” with John and Scott - in a non-shippy way. Picnic by ThatGirlSix [Teen; Family; Gordon, Virgil; 13k] Every Tracy has a type of job they hate, be them car crashes, hotel fires, mine collapses, whatever. Gordon absolutely hates tornadoes with a passion. No, really, he hates tornadoes. His life would be so much better if they never did another tornado job ever again. The rest of the family is starting to think so, too. Plus One Tracy by @gumnut-logic [Teen; Humour; Tracy Brothers, Kayo; 2k] So which Tracy is right for you? Pranks and Tempers by shadowfox8 [Teen; Angst/Family; Alan, Scott, Gordon; 8k] It was only supposed to be an innocent prank, but Gordon didn't bargain for more. Questions Like A Whirlwind by @darkestwolfx [Teen; Family/Hurt/Comfort; Scott, John; 6k] He couldn't put it into words. He wasn't sure they'd understand if he did. He felt like a child, he felt like a murder, he felt… like he'd lost something and had no clue how to put it back in place by himself. Rescue by taralynden [Gen; Hurt/Comfort/Drama; Scott; 26k] On the way home from a rescue, Thunderbird One crashes and it’s up to Scott’s family to save him. Scott Series: Fallen Brother by QuestRunner [Teen; Family/Hurt/Comfort; Scott, Alan; 11k] In a rare chance to bond with his youngest brother, Scott takes Alan with him on a simple mission to repair a damaged satellite. With tempers running high, the boys find themselves arguing over the roles they play in International Rescue. When Alan slips off a cliff, it’s up to Scott to save his brother and mend their broken relationship. Scott Series: Hidden Pain by QuestRunner [Teen; Hurt/Comfort/Family; Scott, Virgil; 4k] Scott suffers from a mysterious pain in his abdomen, but continues to push the limits on and off the field. Scott Series: Negative Split by QuestRunner [Teen; Family/Adventure; Scott, Virgil; 6k] Scott recruits Virgil as his fellow running partner for an upcoming 10K. When a mission takes a turn for the worst, Scott must put his running skills to the test before his whole world comes crashing down around him. Second Helpings by mcj [Mature; Family/Romance; Gordon, Alan, Grandma, Tin-Tin; 10k] Gordon Tracy's point of view of a VERY precarious romantic situation! Second Round by @darkestwolfx [Gen; Family/Humour; Virgil; 4k] All he wanted was a shower. Why did shopping have to be so complicated? And why did he always end up going? Next time, Scott could be lumped with the responsibility, smaller craft or not. Shattered by @singmetothesun [Gen; Hurt/Comfort/Family; Scott, Gordon; 2k] One Tracy brother leaves his feelings bottled up, until the smother hen catches him out. Shiver // Smacked by @loopstagirl [Teen; Hurt/Comfort/Family; Scott; 44k // 4k] When one of the Thunderbirds is infecting with something deadly, will the rest of the Tracys be able to save one of their own? Or are they about to be torn apart by grief again? Sidelined by @drdone [Gen; Family; Scott, Alan; 1k] Scott's sidelined for the time being and decides to ask Alan about college. Six Point Five by @gumnut-logic [Teen; Humour/Hurt/Comfort; Virgil, Scott; 1k] “So, Mr Tracy, on a scale of one to ten how would you rate the pain you are in?" Sky Candy by @gumnut-logic [Teen; Humour/Family; Virgil, Scott, Gordon; 4k] It was a pterodactyl sized bird. Possibly an elephant with wings. Sleeping Wounded by @gumnut-logic [Teen; Family/Hurt/Comfort; Scott, Virgil, Fischler; 14k] Scott Tracy punched Langstrom Fischler. Sometimes by @loopstagirl [Gen; Family; Scott; 1k] Sometimes, Scott hates being the oldest. But are there some hidden perks... Stuck Like Glue by @drdone [Gen; Family; Scott, Virgil; 2k] Scott is stuck to Virgil like glue. Literally. Summonings by @loopstagirl [Gen; Family; Scott, Jeff; 2k] Alan isn't the only one in trouble at the beginning of Spring Break in regards to the 'birds. Swamped by @gumnut-logic [Teen; Family; Virgil, Gordon; 1k] So here he was standing in his undershorts on top of his 'bird in the middle of the ocean for all nearby female aristocrats to see. Take a minute by @gumnut-logic [Teen; Family; Virgil, Scott; 2k] A mechanical fault forces Virgil to take a minute in the middle of the Australian Outback. Terror After New York by @loopstagirl [Gen; Family; Scott, Gordon; 2k] It was all over. The rescue complete and everyone back safe and sound, finally. Yet it didn't seem as if everything had yet been put behind them entirely. The Antarctic Incident by @space-baegel, @tb5-heavenward [Teen; Adventure/Drama; Tracy Brothers; 9k] Thunderbird Two goes down in the middle of an Antarctic blizzard. The Assignment by Kaeera [Gen; Humour/Drama; Scott; 10k] Twelve year old Scott struggles with a writing assignment. Honestly, when you have four younger brothers, it can be hard finding time for yourself. The Bite by @gumnut-logic [Teen; Angst/Hurt/Comfort; Virgil, Scott; 1k] “I need my big brother, not his sacrifice.” the devil vs Gordon Tracy by @tb5-heavenward [Teen; Family; Gordon, Scott; 6k] Being a discussion about the namesakes of some lizards. The Fire by mcj [Mature; Family; Tracy Family; 22k] “Sometimes all you need is a little quiet reflection." The Hardest Thing by eriphi [Gen; Family; Scott, Jeff; 5k] How do you manage a billion dollar business and parent four growing boys at the same time? It takes something serious to make Jeff realise that he isn’t managing as well as he thought. The Most Dangerous Game by @godsliltippy [Teen; Action/Adventure; Scott, Gordon; 23k] Scott and Gordon find themselves unwilling participants. The One Where John Gets a Hug by Silverstar [Teen; Hurt/Comfort/Angst; John; 21k] Spending months by yourself has never been advisable behaviour, and John's never been good at asking people for help. Or: the Tracys learn the magical art of communication, with a load of hugs thrown in for good measure. The Proof is in the Jello by @gumnut-logic [Teen; Family/Hurt/Comfort; Gordon, Alan; 3k] “Call it what you want, but I’m not going to let you rot in that room.” The Silent Conversation by mcj [Teen; Hurt/Comfort; Scott; 5k] The sound of sirens, a flash of light and waking up under a pile of rubble. How can Scott survive knowing help just might not come? The Spider Incident by Silverstar [Teen; Humour/Family; Virgil, Tracy Brothers; 5k] It takes a certain kind of bravery to save the world... it takes a different kind of bravery to remove a spider from the shower. Or: there is a spider, and the Tracy boys are disasters. The Splinter by @gumnut-logic [Teen; Family; Virgil, Jeff; 1k] Now he had backup. The Venetian Venture by @tb5-heavenward [Teen; Romance; Gordon, Penelope; 11k] Penelope takes Gordon on a mission to Venice the waffle house blues by @akireyta, @tb5-heavenward [Teen; Family; Tracy Brothers; 5k] Wherein a bunch of boys sit around a restaurant, eating breakfast food and dozing on and off and talking about life. To Raise Havoc by @gumnut-logic [Teen; Family; Havoc, Hood; 1k] They had to come from somewhere and he was more than she ever expected. Tomorrow Never Knows by Silverstar [Teen; Hurt/Comfort/Angst; Gordon, Alan, Scott; 110k] Things had not gone according to plan, to say the least. Now they were trapped on a deserted island in the middle of nowhere with no hope of rescue and increasingly slim chances of survival. To make matters worse, the Chaos Crew had shown up. This was not going to be a fun week. Triple Jeopardy by Purupuss [Teen; Drama; Tracy Brothers; 217k] One inventor and one set of plans. But triple trouble for the Tracys and International Rescue. V.T. Green by @gumnut-logic [Teen; Family; Virgil; 23k] “Did you discover this, Brains?” He frowned. There was something familiar about this. Maybe they had discussed it recently. “Oh, no, this is V. T. Green. The man is brilliant.” We'll Be Home For Christmas��by @gumnut-logic [Teen; Family/Friendship; Virgil, Tracy Brothers; 68k] The boys can’t fly home for Christmas, so they have to find another way. Weathering the Storm by tiylaya [Teen; Adventure/Angst; Scott, Gordon; 102k] When an unexpected storm shipwrecks a holidaying Jeff Tracy and three of his young sons, they’re thrown into a situation far more dangerous and complex than anyone initially realises.

[tagsecretsanta]

From @Scattergraph

to @hodgehegposts​

Full credit to the artist mentioned above! Secret Santa does not own this work.

Under the cut for length

Grandma’s Cook Book

Scott

The secret to the perfect Schott-Chocolate (yes, that’s what he calls it and NO, his brothers can never find out) is precision.  His recipe is high quality, highly efficient and perfectly presented.  Scott in a glass, or so he likes to think (no, his brothers can never know that either).  It’s a once-a-year Christmas treat, so quality is key.  Scott is a man who knows what he likes and if that means flying hundreds of miles to purchase the perfect percentage cocoa, pre-warming his custom-made silver-handled antique tall glass and ensuring the chocolate sits exactly 1.25 inches below the rim, then so be it.  The problem comes in the fact that Scott is Scott:  Constantly on the go, always in demand and subject to the ‘good intentions’ of four younger brothers.  That’s why when Scott finally does get around to actually drinking the hot-chocolate he made sometime earlier that day/night, he’s likely to find it wrapped-up in a mug-cosy (Virgil), stuffed with a marshmallow so big and spongy it has sucked up half the liquid and expanded to block the entire top of the glass (Alan), and littered with an array of star-shaped sprinkles (John).  However, it’s the addition of the whipped-cream ‘nose cone’ with the bright red cherry on top (Gordon) that both annoys and impresses him the most; mainly down to the fact that Gordon understands Scott’s need for military precision in his drinks and has actually taken the time to ensure the stem of the cherry is perfectly straight and stood to attention, likely with the help of the hair-straighteners Virgil swears he doesn’t own.  Oh well, even if Scott can no longer bring himself to drink his own hot chocolate, he’s sure Alan will enjoy it.

Virgil

For Virgil, hot chocolate is all about warmth and comfort – a good old-fashioned hug in a mug.  He even has his own spice mix; a secret recipe he has lovingly tweaked and honed to his exact liking over the years and which he keeps locked up safe and secure in his own equally secret supply cabinet deep inside Thunderbird Two.  His brothers must never know.  (They all know.)  As for the mug, Virgil doesn’t really care as long as it’s big and sturdy enough that he can wrap his hands around it and that it can’t be knocked over if balanced on top of a piano or too close to a wayward brother.  The most important factor in the outer layer is the custom-made mug-cosy.  Originally introduced to him by his Grandmother, Virgil’s hot chocolate hasn’t been seen without one ever since.  Especially after Gordon introduced the Christmas jumper rule, meaning that his much-loved plaid shirt is no longer welcome during the Christmas period and if he can’t wear it on his person, then he’s at least going to wear it on his mug, thank you very much.  He’s recently made a mug-cosy for Scott, not able to watch his big brother waste yet another hot drink to the perils of his constantly-busy lifestyle.  He doesn’t think he could make one that would work for Gordon or John – they like to do their own thing.  As for Alan, well, Virgil gets the impression that his well-worn plaid one is good enough for them both.  His littlest brother always has time for a drink and a hug.

John

John learned his recipe from his Dad, back when he was young and Jeff had returned from one of his many missions in space.  Jeff had been sure to implore unto John the importance of taking the time to really enjoy the cooking process and savour the results.  He always used a large pan and the stove, never instant mix.  Months in space had Jeff craving the real stuff and John got the impression his Dad knew he would be in the same boat one day.  As for the ingredients – nothing flashy, just cocoa and milk.  Time was the most important factor.  Cooking hot chocolate on the stove took a lot longer than many of the other methods available, but some of the best talks John and Jeff had ever had were held while sitting at their kitchen table waiting patiently for a pan of hot chocolate to warm.  Yes, plenty of time was essential.  That and a solid mug.  John had lost count of the number of mugs he had watched his father drop over the years from simply just letting them go; forgetting he was no longer in the forgiving embrace of zero-g.  Thankfully John doesn’t suffer that same problem, owing mainly to the gravity ring on TB5 (thank you, Brains), and so he can allow himself a more interesting receptacle.  In fact, John’s mug likely contains more tech than all of the Thunderbirds put together and for no other reason than he is John, and so it can.  As for the stovetop cooking and the big pan, John sticks to that part of the recipe too.  After all, he has a younger brother who is equally as enthusiastic about space and just like his Dad, Alan is always up for a drink and a chat.

Gordon

Gordon is a culinary master, a wizard of the kitchen, the King of all things gastronomical…he could go on (and he does).  Not content with the traditional recipe, Gordon prefers to create.  His hot chocolate isn’t a simple drink; it’s an experience.  Mainly in the fact that it isn’t a drink at all.  Where some would use a mug, or even a glass, Gordon prefers the bowl:  large, strong, microwavable.  His chocolate isn’t cocoa powder, but actual chocolate – blocks, bars, pretty much whatever he can find, he’s not fussy.  As for the remainder of the contents, well that’s the exciting part.  As far as Gordon’s concerned, if it’s in the fridge, it’s fair game.  He’d prefer if it were something sweet or vaguely dessert-y, but hey, last-night’s leftovers and a good array of sandwiches work just as well.  If it’s too chunky, he’ll just add milk, no big deal.  Preparation, you ask?  That’s the best part.  Gordon’s hot chocolate is a rescuers best friend.  Quick and easy:  just scoop it all up, chuck it in the bowl, give it a stir and microwave until the chocolate melts (or something starts burning).  Then just add two Gordon Cooper Tracy patented Stroons (one for you, one for whoever you are sharing with) and drink / shovel to your heart’s content.  What Gordon doesn’t understand is why his older brothers never seem to want to try it.  At least Alan is more adventurous, he’s always happy to share.

Note:

Stroon:  The perfect straw/spoon combination.  Designed by Gordon and currently available only in custom TB4 yellow/red stripe.  Product constructed by Brains using only the best materials and top-of-the-range IR manufacturing.  No expense spared.  (Don’t tell Scott).

Alan

Alan has a secret:  He doesn’t actually like hot chocolate.  He’s never had to make one for himself, so maybe if he did, he might find a recipe that works for him.  But for now, as far as he’s concerned, it’s way too sweet and sickly and he just doesn’t understand it as a drink.  Chocolate should be eaten in bars and snacks and if something isn’t broke, don’t try to fix it.  So why does he drink it?  Because ever since Mom died and even more so since Dad went missing, his older brothers are so determined that he have a normal family Christmas that whenever that time of year rolls around, hot chocolates just seem to appear in front of him.  Whether it’s outside by the pool on a Sunny afternoon, down in the kitchen after a hard rescue, or just waking up to the smell of a mug that has mysteriously appeared in his room in the middle of the night.  Sometimes more than one mug.  Or bowl.  Once it was all four.  He’s never asked for it and will probably never get used to the taste of it but at the same time he’ll never tell his brothers that and will also never turn it down.  It isn’t about the drink for Alan, it’s about what that drink represents:  His family.  

No, Alan doesn’t like hot chocolate; he loves it.

[lenle-g]

Tbirds Liveblog | Firebreak

I was pulling stupid faces to the thunderbirds countdown long before the scrambled presenters were #hipster

uM!!!! Is that a disabled kid!!! THANKYOU REPRESENTATION!!!!!!!

UMMM IS THAT THE FUCKING CRABLOGGER FROM TOS

omg IT ISSSSSS

These kids are so cute and so well-trained not to panic, gotta think that at least some of the Tracy boys were Scouts as kids, definitely Scott. Their uniform looks modelled on the IR one... or the IR uniform is based on the Scout one? If they were scouts as kids it seems likely. I’ve already drawn Scottt in uniform so XD

“Is he worried, he looks worried.” “He always looks like that.” BRAINS BLESS YOU

READY TO LAUNCH THE ZERO-X IN A COUPLE OF DAYS AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAa

OMG VIRGIL HUG that’d break some bones XD

They’rE ALL GOING NICEEEEE had to be for the last ever classic rescue before the finale (still so upset about that)

Won’t have time to launch again for years??? Why bRains???? Why???? IS it a space thing i bet it’s a space thing

OOOO nice shot of TB5 in space NICE SHOT OF JAWNNY BOI

ALAN DON’T BE MEAN ABOUT PARKER

AWWW THE KIDS

Hoo that’s a LOT OF fire, is funny they’re airing this one with all the fire in Aussie land going on, bet it was based off them, they’ve been going on long enough and WETA is just next door

Sound cannons? To put out a fire? There’s got to be more efficient ways of doing that???????????????????????????????????? Has Brains not invented a fire suppressant? Have they got no water?

UH OH IS SCOTT GONNA GET TOASTED ALIVE

‘Exposure to that radiant heat will soon be deadly.’ Sound more worried about that will you John

HER NAME IS BEATRICE SHORT FOR BEE?!?!?!?! I’M GONNA KILL SOMEONE WHAT THE HELL?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!!?! OMGGGGGG

ITV HAVE YOU BEEN READING OUR BLOGS ALL THIS TIME

HOLY FUCK WE WERE RIGHT ABOUT SCOTT BEING A SCOUT WE WROTE THAT YEARS AGO OMG

?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

I HAVE ART OF SCOTT AS A SCOUT OH MY GOOOOOOOOOOOOOD

ITV HAVE YOU BEEN READING MY BLOG ALL THIS TIME?!?!?!?!

SCOTT TYING KNOTS IM SCREAMING!!?!?!?!?! JEFF TAUGHT HIM ABOUT BEING A RSCUE SCOUT, IM GONNA MURDER SOMEONE, WERE THEY ALL RESCUE SCOUTS HELP!!!!

“That’s Alan’s first bath in weeks!” “It’s been two days!” love bro banter oh my gooood

Oh my god that shot of Virgil coming down from two is SO GOOOD

OUCH!?!?!?! VIRGIL JUST GOT HIT BY A HEAVY GRAPPLE FOR PULLING AROUND TREES OR BUILDINGS OR WHATEVER???? THATS A FEW BROKEN RIBS RIGHT?!?!?!?!?!

“We got your back bro, now go get Scott’s”  Hell yeah, that’s just how this family dynamic works, perfect

VIRGIL IS SO OUT OF BREATH AAAAA broken ribs broken ribs

BEE’S GOT STRIPEY BLACK AND YELLOW KNEEPADS OMG

AAA SCOTT’S PROUD SMILE I’M GONNA CRY IM ACTUALLY CRYING, WHAT THE HELL FACE ?!?!?!?! WHY ARE YOU LEAKING?!?!?! OH MY GOOOD

“A rescue scout is...” “Calm, thankyou, sometimes even we need to be reminded.” YEAH YOU DO SCOTT YOU’RE THE MOST HOT-HEADDED AND IMPULSIVE OF THEM ALL

What the hell those drones are strongggg

Gordon’s pleased little smile as he blows the damn up omg aint a Gerry Anderson till something blows up

I don’t think i could have imagined a better final episode before the big finale, this is so good, also even has nice amount of john coordinating, im so glad there was an equal amount of all of the bros involved (in fact i think everyone but penny at least gets a mention)

“Brains i could hug you!!!” “Please don’t.” BLESS YOU VIRGIL TRACY YOU MOUNTAIN OF A MAN, can’t believe it’s cannon that Virgil gives giant bear hugs, ITV stop reading my blog

“Scott are you ok?” HE’S STARING AT THEIR DAD’S EMPTY DESK, THIS IS NOT A DRILL,  HE’S STARING AT THEIR DAD’S EMPTY DESK, IM GONNA BREAK

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA THAT WAS SO GOOD WHAT THE HELL

[shinygoku]

Thunderbirds (2004)

A review by me, CutCat! This is 8-ish pages long!

Spoiler for the end of the film warning: Alan is in International Rescue. What a twist!

Totally Turbulent

Soooo, Tbirds ‘04 is one of those Infamous Adaptations, at least among those who enjoyed Thunderbirds (’65) and of more recent times, Thunderbirds are Go (’15). It’s one of those Bad Live Action Adaptations to a near sacred property, making it dubious contemporaries with Dragon Ball [Evolution], Avatar [The Last Airbender] and suchlike.

But wait, is it really That Bad?? Why is it as divisive as it is? What caused the film to be the way it is, and quite unpopular at that?

First I’m gonna make a long story very short by saying that a Live Action Thunderbirds movie was on and off production for many years, and that the script we ended up with is apparently better than another one that was pitched... but there are reports of cooler scripts further back that never made it, for various reasons. It’s almost a story of it’s own right but I’m only going by 2nd hand information at best, so I’d rather just link them at the end for Additional Reading if y’all felt so inclined.

With that out of the way, we have the Takes from the Andersons to look at. Sylvia had a very favourable reception to it:

"I felt that I'd been on a wonderful Thunderbirds adventure. You, the fans, will I'm sure, appreciate the sensitive adaptation and I'm personally thrilled that the production team have paid us the great compliment of bringing to life our original concept for the big screen. If we had made it ourselves (and we have had over 30 years to do it!) we could not have improved on this new version. It is a great tribute to the original creative team who inspired the movie all those years ago. It was a personal thrill for me to see my characters come to life on the big screen."

Whereas Gerry had a considerably blunter response at the opposite end of the scale:

"the biggest load of crap I have ever seen in my entire life."

As for me, a mere fan of predominantly the TAG series with limited but fond memories of the 90’s TOS reruns, I’d been inclined to ignore it and write it off as a DBE or TLA lost cause. But the combined effect of me deciding to check out unpopular media for myself, namely Dragon Ball GT and the live action Super Mario Bros. movie, and thoroughly enjoying both; and the other effect of TAG finishing but my fixation reawakening with the need to consume More, I dived deeper into the fan base than I had dared to before, in which I found more reasons to watch it and make up my own mind fairly.

Find out what I thought, and a review of the movie itself, below the Cut! ✂

Stormy Story

Ok, enough teasing, I see good things in the movie but not enough for it to be a secret masterpiece, not by a long shot.

1/3 Stars from Me. That’s Poor. (Compare with 2/3 being Good, and 3/3 being Excellent)

My main beef is unfortunately kinda the crux of the whole story, so while there were aspects I really liked, it had permanently set the bar low, and other issues were not helping matters. I’ll go into the problems after I sum up the plot.

[sitcom harp music]

14 Year Old Alan Tracy is stuck in a stuffy school with only his nerd friend to confide in. Something’s eating him up, and it’s jealousy over how his family are International Rescue, the secret rescue workers whole pilot the Thunderbirds, impossibly cool craft with capabilities vastly exceeding standard technology. Even when he’s allowed out of school and back to the Island, his envy and barely repressed resentment over not being a member himself causes him to go off and sulk and to try taking Thunderbird 1, the hypersonic jet plane, for a joyride.

His father and the leader of International Rescue, Jeff Tracy chews Alan out for almost compromising the need for the organisation to remain secret, lest their advanced technology falling into the wrong hands. Alas, said wrong hands are already working against IR: The Hood, a diabolical, cold blooded criminal with psychic powers and a grudge against Jeff. After successfully tracking the location of Tracy Island, he launches a missile towards Thunderbird 5, the Space Station where IR monitor potential disasters to prevent as much damage as possible, manned by John Tracy.

With TB5 crippled and John injured, Jeff and his other three older sons all scramble to the disaster zone via Thunderbird 3, the Rocket Ship. But with Tracy Island largely unmanned, The Hood moves in and aims to use the Thunderbirds to rob bank vaults while simultaneously smearing International Rescue’s good name. As the only Tracy brother left on Earth, it’s up to Alan and his 2 friends, Fermat and Tin-Tin, to foil the Hood and save his family, proving himself worthy in the process. He is also assisted by IR’s London Agent, Lady Penelope, and her driver/butler/lockpicker, Parker.

...

Ok, so that’s a summary you may read on the back of a DVD box, maybe it’s a bit long but whatever. Do you see what’s wrong with the story? The massive rift in the formula that should be within a template set by the hugely popular TV Series?

Critical Crux

For me, the main issue with the movie is that the Tracy family are thrown under a bus, or perhaps it’s more like being locked in a closet, in order for Alan to rise up and be The Hero. A show that was about each of them having different roles and personalities to the others, and the movie sees the best way to adapt the premise is to reduce 3 of them to cardboard cutouts who aren’t allowed to do or say anything meaningful, with the exception to this getting the dubious honour of getting a missile and exploding space station to the face.

I can’t clearly express how much this pisses me off! It’s downright insulting and baffling as well. They had pre established characters right there for the taking but go NO! Let’s make OCs to fill this newly created void instead and make the main Message of the film Friendship Teamwork.

Why does every child-skewed media hafta have the Friendship message? It’s a good one, sure, but nothing said in this film about it was fresh or original. Y’know what I see far, far less? Not just in Kid Flavoured Media, but all sorts? The importance of Brotherly Bonds between actual brothers!! I don’t subscribe to the massively misunderstood message version of ‘Blood is thicker than water’, but a story with the siblings actually pushed and stressed and coming out stronger at the end would have ruled!!

[For what it’s worth, the actual saying is “The blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb”, i.e. the bonds you choose to forge are more important than happening to be born to certain people. This correct message is still compatible with literal siblings though!]

The other, somewhat lesser Large Issue with the movie is simply that we don’t see much in the way of Rescues with the titular Thunderbirds. We only get the tail end of the Oil Rig in Act 1, and then the ‘Birds are used predominantly to get to London and save 1 Monorail Car with TB4.

Watsonian Woes & Doylist Dilemma

When looking at Media, there’s 2 main angles to consider; Doylist and Watsonian. Doylist is the “real life / meta” angle, the structure of the story or interests of the author being in the plot, that kinda thing. Watsonian is the reason given within the story.

All stories have Watsonian and Doylist reasonings, the trick is to blend them in and not use a weedy Watsonian reason for something stupid happening.

Why bring this up? Because it’s still part of the Huge Problem I have with the film; the Doylist reason for all of IR being incapacitated so easily is so Alan can shine without fighting for focus in a large group. I don’t like it, but let’s go along with it for now.

Believe it or not, but I can accept that a Movie format isn’t going to be the same as an ongoing series. There’s way less time and you gotta hit certain beats. Ideally you also condense the essence of the show into the film while being more than just a long episode. They didn’t hit this note in my opinion...

But other than ‘It has to happen for he story to work’, there’s no damn reason for all the Non-Alan Tracys to be cooped up in the crippled TB5! They put all their eggs into one basket when a considerably more sensible choice woulda been to have a small crew, and the others remain on base. Because even without factoring in a worst case scenario where another missile hits them while in space, killing them all, which totally could have happened for all they know, there’s also the part about them being International Rescue! They gotta be ready to respond to other disasters should those develop. TB1, 2 and 4 were still available for use!

If I was Jeff making the boneheaded decision, I would have taken a second to think about it and have 1 of the Bros come up in 3 with me. Seeing to John shouldn’t be something 4 people are needed for, it would just get more crowded and the oxygen would be used way faster! Considering they all come close to asphyxiating, 2 less people would mean things weren’t so damn close to the wire! (Granted, the movie also has them falling into Earth’s atmosphere and burning up as a hazard, but the whole crew being there doesn’t affect that.)

Jeff! You’re the patriarch and supposedly most experienced dude in the whole movie! Why didja run into that trap with both eyes open? Stressful situation, sure, but in the Rescue Business you need to be able to listen to the cold, clinical angle. You’re risking more of your sons’ lives making such a rash judgement!!

Character Conundrums

This is the part of the review where I begin to really emphasise the differences between TOS and this movie. I’ll hold off TAG for now in the interest of fairness.

The movie is a mixed bag when it comes to the individuals within it. Some have been refreshing updates to stuffy 60′s tropes, but several draw the short straw, feeling even stiffer than their marionette precursors.

Alan - Hoo, boy. The plot follows Alan.... for the third time if you’re factoring in the Supermarionation movies, which was quite the baffling choice as Puppet!Alan is quite the obnoxious jerk. But whatever, new movie, new canon, new Alan. While the Alan of the 60′s was a bizarrely whiny brat of a character considering he was supposed to at least be in his early 20′s this Alan at least makes more sense to be annoying. But yes, he starts off as a sullen jerk with unclearly defined jealousy towards his own brothers and seemingly a lack of grasping the stakes behind International Rescue, viewing being one of the crew as a Cool Job rather than a gruelling, life-risking ordeal. Over the course of the movie (mostly Act 3) he becomes less of a berk and a better team player, even going as far as to save the Hood personally.

Jeff - One of the stronger characters in the movie, even with this poor choice I’ve gone on about already, haha. You get the real impression the job means the world to him, but still secondary to his sons. An update and improvement to the sometimes stodgy and holier-than-thou character from the 60′s, plus his proactive role makes him way less of a backseat driver.

Lady Penelope - Best character and a splendid update to the 60′s Socialite. This Penny is always a delight to see, although her ability to change clothes offscreen sometimes pushes plausibility, haha. She and Jeff also have very natural and endearing chemistry, so for this iteration at least, I’m up for shipping them, something I can’t say for TOS.

Parker - Remarkably true to the beloved puppet version and another highlight. His interplay with Penelope is some of the best dialogue in the whole movie, and was written by Richard Curtis in an uncredited role, or so I’ve read.

The Hood - A shockingly sadistic and cold blooded so-and-so. His Psychic powers have been given a huge boost, and the depths of his spite generates all the tense scenes the movie has to offer. His performance may be the best in the whole film, simultaneously over the top while also completely deadly.

Tin-Tin - Y’know, Tin-Tin is a funny character, in how she’s very different in all versions. I enjoy her in TOS, but her potential as an engineering assistant, mathematician and member of IR are quickly discarded to make her a secretary, which is further demoted to bringing coffee. Ahh, The Sixties! One of her other defining features was the sometimes bickering sexual tension with Alan. Movie!Tin-Tin is still the implied love interest [and the same age] with him, but she’s also an Action Girl extraordinaire, with abilities bordering on metahuman. She can trek through the jungle without slowing down, she can dive underwater for prolonged sequences, and has a variation of her Evil Uncle’s Psychic capabilities, but used for good. Notably, the Kayo of TAG takes significantly more from this Tin-Tin to the original, sadly sans Telekinesis.

Fermat - The only OC I’m gonna dignify with a section here lol. He’s basically mini-Brains, complete with the way he t-ta-tal- -distinctive speech patterns. But yeah, as the hypersmart and nerdy pal, I feel that his role is pretty superfluous, though his performance in the movie got me to soften up, he’s a good kid. Just one who, like, is part of the deal breaking issue I have with the whole film. In a way I think he’d have made a better lead than Alan lmao

Brains - Not much to say here, he’s also a dude in distress for a majority of his screentime. Seems to be older than his TOS self and a bit less subservient to Jeff, but also a father ....or Fermat is his clone. They never make that clear. He’s hit on by the Hood’s Female Scientist and it’s played for comedy, more on that later.

John - In TOS, his role was infamously minimal, as Gerry Anderson took such a strong disliking to the John puppet and the TB5 model that he exiled both into space with a few token shots per episode. So in comparison, this movie is far kinder to John! He has a nice, genuine chat with Jeff, without any mission to initiate said videocall. The movie is also quite mean to John in how he gets bombed by the Hood, his space station in tatters, his arm hurt and then near suffocation with Jeff and most of his brothers. Ahh, the conundrum of being John.

Scott, Virgil and Gordon - No, they don’t even get their own paragraphs in my review. Their lack of presence and importance in the movie is my giant gripe (have you noticed yet?) and it got to the extent that I feel they could have been combined into one character to save casting money. They get maybe 5 lines each, if that. I literally can’t tell Scott and Virgil apart (I know they have name tags on their uniforms, but in most scenes I couldn’t even read that) other than knowing 1 of them is taller. Which that one is, is a mystery.

The only one with a slightly distinctive appearance and air is Gordon, which is another can of worms because he seems to be the designated Doubtful Jerk Brother and that drives me mad!! In TOS he wasn’t as main a character as Scott, Virgil or Alan, but he was still a defined person with his own abilities. And his personality was as a slightly mouthy but the most lighthearted character! Why didn’t they carry that over?!

And yeah, Scott and Virgil are pretty much the Main Two of the brothers in TOS, so their roles being reduced to 1 token act during the oil rig rescue each [Gordon didn’t even get that!] is all the more mind boggling.

Hood’s Minions - Can’t be assed to write their names out, I refer to them as Heavy Dude and Science Woman. Heavy Dude is the Heavy, and his character consists of Dumb and somewhat Sadistic Muscle. Science Woman is first objectified (we see her ass first. Yes, really.) but then it’s ‘revealed’ that as she has Austin Powers level teeth, she’s uuuuuglyyyyy and her otherwise genuine attraction towards Brains is played for laughs with this angle. And that’s still female on male sexual harassment, which doesn’t fly with me. Eeeesh. Bad writing! She does Science Things for Hood.

The Rest - Kyrano and his wife are in this. Wife is Original but basically Grandma’s role, though she doesn’t even get a single word to say. Rip. Also the Hood has a few more generic mooks from somewhere, but seemingly only for part of the movie. Kyrano didn’t do much in the show except get bullied by the Hood and little has changed.

Tone Trouble

I feel like the movie has a bit of an issue with balancing a consistent Tone. Again, let’s look back at TOS. It was a Family Show, designed to not just appeal to little kids, but to also keep their parent and other adult amused. Maybe some of it was also the result of the times, but striking to me is that they allowed the characters to get pretty hurt, complete with red paint being applied to look like realistic blood. Some of the criminals, including the Hood himself, would be very vicious, how he treats Brains in Desperate Intruder comes to mind. There was even firefights resulting in death, like the memorable climax of Operation Crash-Dive, where Gordon has to shoot a saboteur in the back, into the open sea below the compromised plane. He then proceeds to hold the cut wires together with his bare hands. Don’t try this at home, kids!

So while I can understand some of that being removed from the Movie (and TAG), there’s still the irritating going down to a perceived kid’s level for the majority of the film, which is probably also a large reason for the massive structural change. But then, there’s shockingly dark implications here and there, and the haunting sight of the crew trapped on TB5 floating lifelessly in the dark, asphyxiating. But then, again, we have goofy choreographed fight scenes with juvenile stock cartoon sounds. And then, we have Hood force choking Alan?! It has been mostly consistent until Act 3, then the tone goes up and down more than the flying machines.

Revamped Rockets

I’m mostly talking about the main craft here, though I know the Pod vehicles got modified too, I’m not sufficiently a TOS Pod Buff to go over them.

TB1 - Looks real nice! Maintains and even enhances the sleekness, and the idea of a glass cockpit is much better than having 1 tiny window and a dinky TV screen to see by. Oddly dark inside the cockpit considering how much glass there is, though. Probably my fav of the Movie Fleet.

TB2 - Oof. Looks bad, man. Like, really ugly. What have they done to the glorious design that was the Original Big Green? The unofficial mascot from her importance and unorthodox style? They turned her into a stubby, too glossy, chunky bar of green soap. The thick ass legs are a good idea but it sure ain’t enough. Also, she carries 3 smaller pods insteada 1 big one.

TB3 - Like TB1, pretty much the same design but streamlined a little. Docks with 5 sidewise instead of like pen going into its lid.

TB4 - I’m mixed. I like the idea of giving her a glass canopy and extendable arms, but the movie’s version is so boxy she looks more like a small yellow Greenhouse with the rear half of the old Four, haha. The arms also look a little stiff, can they bend? Now, if there was a sleek, glass hulled, variable armed, demolition charges-loaded Four, that would be my favourite possible version ;3 Four is my fav craft in TOS and TAG, for what it’s worth.

TB5 - I say it’s quite a visual improvement over TOS and the odds and ends jumbled look that had, though I do appreciate a bit of Chunkiness. This one really needs to have better defence too, TOS 5 may’ve been able to tank that missile lmao

FAB1 - I know that she would have been a Rolls Royce in the film, but BMW said no, so that’s not a point against the movie. And failing the classic image, it’s cute that it’s a Ford Thunderbird, though I’d have preferred one with those 50′s/60′s stylish fins personally lol. Her ability to fly is new here unless you count the Dream Sequence in Are Go (’66) and the water mode was also seen in that before this, and she gets the job done, though we don’t get to see as many gadgets and gizmos in the course of the film.

Unlikely Uniforms

I really don’t understand these. Why are they off white with minimal accent colours? What was wrong with the blueness of their suits and the broad stripe of a secondary colour? I sure ain’t saying the 60’s costumes were practical or even that fashionable, but they were very distinctive and striking!

Not only that, but for some strange unexplained reason, their uniforms all correspond not to their own speciality, but to which craft they’re currently piloting. Even if they’re all in the same Bird...! So like, four out of five are wearing identical looking red accented suits while locked in TB5. I already find the elder brothers to be the Similar Squad, and their microscopic name tags don’t help!

Why don’t they wear their own coloured uniforms all the time? Then ya don’t need the name tag at all! And the silly implication from the way there’s apparently a whole set of Craft Specific uniforms is that there’s piles of clothes that ain’t getting used in all of them, like the tiny TB4 probably having 6 whole sets on board at the end of the film.

Between that, no blue and the outfits looking like Generic Sports Wear, the only nice thing to say is the THUNDERBIRDS down the sleeve is a cool touch. Which should really say International Rescue or IR...

Mingled Misc.

Yeah, The conflation of Thunderbirds and International Rescue is a tad irritating but it’s actually something I can overlook. It’s not a dealbreaker and it makes sense the Dumbass Public would misunderstand and call them the wrong thing.

Jeff refuses Alan early access into IR and cites “No shortcuts”. Then at the end he echoes this when he is making Alan an official member, saying he did it with no shortcuts. The whole faffing scenario was a giant shortcut!!! Fuck training and being a suitable age, am I right?!

Amazingly I didn’t cover this already, but when Alan shortcuts his way onto the team he’s made pilot of ... TB4. That’s why he’s in yellow accents in the pic. Gordon is seemingly the main pilot of TB3 instead, but the movie doesn’t deign to make that clear. While I appreciate that the 14 year old with no Astronaut training isn’t put in charge of 3 instantly, I resent the careless removal of characterisation. Obviously movie Gordon never served with WASP or won the gold medal in swimming or had a massive hydrofoil crash to nearly kill him but ggggghgggaaahhhhhhhhh

Also what’s with the implication that Four is the Babby’s First Machine? She’s a highly specialised craft that would require different training to flying or Space shit! How dare you?! The most charitable link is that Alan stood around in 4 as Tin-Tin did most of the work herself, but I guess it coulda as some level of experience.

Ford Sponsorship - Gets a bit much! It’s one thing for all the cars to be Ford, but them seemingly owning the News is like an unpleasant look into a world where corporations run everything.... hahahaahaaaaaa........

Marvellous Music

Something the movie really excells at is the tunes! The remix of the Thunderbirds March is good in it’s own right and very welcome, and the new music is all solid. Special mention to Busted’s outro song for slapping so hard even people who hate the movie leave warm youtube comments about the song. I have a habit of listening to it set to TAG footage myself, haha

Sincere Summation

Look, I’ve come off negative in this, but I honestly have a lot of respect for a lot of the parts of this picture. Hood, Penelope, Parker and Jeff are fantastic, the physical models and sets have a lot of care and loving detail poured in, the music is all bangers and other little nods and homages to the show shine brightly. The director got a lot of good work in and I hold him no ill will.

I think the problem is in the Writing and probably Studio Mandates, I’m not 100% sure, but things often get snaggy when the studio you’re working under gets bought out by a bigger company partway through. Again, I’ll refer to the info I’ve seen instead of trying to relay it in my own words.

And they made a real bad call snubbing Gerry as a Creative Consultant. Some of his venom towards the film may be from that, as well as his alleged preference to Team America: World Police as a theatrical homage. And I’ve seen that before and wouldn’t really say that’s true to the spirit of Thunderbirds, but yeah...

I’d be interested in any future Thunderbirds Movies, if that’s ever on the cards again. I’d probably be even more up for continuation of the TAG series, or newer new Captain Scarlet with International Rescue involved. Either way, I want new footage of the Birds taking off again, be it puppet, people, CGI, or something new~

Extra Reading

https://securityhazard.net/2017/05/19/thunderbirds-2004/ Full movie review, warm reception. Contains photos of set pieces and costumes.

http://groovyfokker.blogspot.com/2013/02/thunderbirds-arent-go-unfilmed-versions.html Insight into some of the past issues developing a Movie, but gets some basic information wrong (Since when is Gordon the youngest and TB3 orange??)

Thanks if ya’ve been reading the whole thing! <3

[taylart-x]

Whumptober- Day 25

Day 25: Humiliated

Fandom: Thunderbirds Are Go!

Characters: Virgil Tracy, Scott Tracy, Gordon Tracy

Disclaimer: I do not own Thunderbirds or any of the characters from the show (or from TAG). I just want to make cool stories :)

Carried on from Day 13- Adrenaline

TW: mentions and implications of past rape

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The flight home was silent. John manned the controls from TB5, allowing all three brothers to sit in the cabin. Virgil’s head was back and eyes clenched shut. Once the drugs had finally worn off, they had started to cause headaches, bordering a migraine, riding the thin line between the two.

Scott and Gordon got him anything he needed, and while it was a nice gesture, it was pissing Virgil off.

He knew what had happened to him, though he didn’t remember it. But by the pain between his legs and in his lower back, he knew exactly what had happened.

He wasn’t sure if the amnesia was a blessing or not.

For one, he couldn’t remember what was sure to be a very traumatic experience, and he took that as a good thing. It didn’t haunt him in that way. However, the knowledge that he was violated, taken against his will, and he now has no recollection of it unnerves him. Haunts him in a different way. He was drugged and raped, and he can’t remember anything past being at the Viaduct, and pain.

It unsettled him like nothing else has before. He felt itchy and too big for his own skin. It didn’t fit right and made him feel more nervous, a constant stream of anxiety thrumming just below the surface.

“You okay, Virge?” Gordon asked, breaking into his thoughts. He moved his head up to see his younger brother holding out some pills.

“Fine,” he grumbled, taking the pills from his younger brother.

Scott gave him a weird look before he looked back down at the tablet in his lap. Virgil sighed in exasperation, mumbling an apology to Gordon before curling up on his side in his seat. He found it humiliating. He trusted his brothers with his life and with his darkest moments, but their constant hovering, their instant worry, it humiliated him because he knew it was something he had done to cause it. The morning after was still blurry. He didn't know what had happened at all throughout the night or that morning, though his memories seemed to fade in at about 10am.

But something must've happened that night, and not just being found in whatever state he was in. There had to be something else.

“What's up with yo two?” He asked into the thick silence within the cabin. Both pairs of eyes snapped up to him, piercing blue and brown dissecting his very being. “Seriously, you've been hovering like bloody mosquitos since I woke up.”

“We're just worried, is all, V,” Scott said, his voice earnest and eyes sincere. “What happened last night… how we found you Virge, it wasn't good. What that guy did to you…”

“He drugged me. He-he-”

And he can’t say it. Even though he can’t remember it, he can’t say it.

Somehow, the fact that he can’t remember anything unnerves him more. Anyone could’ve done anything, and someone did.

He felt the blood rush to his face, his ears heating as he realises he can’t say it. He can’t admit what has happened to him.

Tears begin to well in his eyes, causing Scott’s eyes to widen and for Gordon to slowly approach him. Virgil tried to shake his head, shutting his eyes and tucking his head into his arm as he tried to stave off the tears. Why was he crying? God, he was so embarrassed. He’d probably been a mess for the past day, and now he was worrying his brothers even more as he began to fall apart a bit. Over what? Something he couldn’t remember?

Strong, lean swimmer’s arms wrapped around him, and Virgil started to sob in earnest. His little brother just held on, probably holding a silent conversation with Scott over Virgil’s head.

He didn’t care.

Maybe he did want to remember. Maybe it would be better if he could just recall what he had done to deserve this.

[themarauder1]

I just need some help with something,

If the order of the Tracy brothers is Scott, Virgil, John, Gordon, Alan then why is it in the title sequence the order they are shown is Scott, John, Virgil, Gordon, Alan?

It’s very clear their not doing it in ship order ortherwise John would be last (being stationed in TB5).

So here’s what I think:

Firstly the order is Scott, John, Virgil, Gordon and Alan. Now I hear people saying ‘but Zoe in the episode where Virgil goes shopping with grandma Tracy john says ‘your braver than I BIG BROTHER’ which would imply that John is younger than Virgil’

Yes I saw that episode and that annoyed me but I’ve sorted it in a way I am happy with, John (being in space pretty much all the time) would be so skinny, he would be so lanky it wouldn’t even be funny (think ginger slender man) and then there’s Virgil very clearly a much bigger build than any of his brothers (he can literally do push ups with Gordon sitting on him).

Also with Virgil constantly being in the action on most missions (piloting the big ship he’s almost always needed) he would be in a lot more stress than john would be, sure john would be scared for his family but it’s not the same as actually being in the action and facing that stuff right in front of you.

So John said ‘big brother’ in a way to say that Virgil looks older than John, they were messing around, clearly going on a shopping trip with Grandma isn’t a big dangerous mission like it was originally thought to be at the very start of the episode with the talk between John and Virgil.

For example my older sister is shorter than me and I often say that she’s my little sister because it’s funny.

That’s what I’m going with anyway, and again I hear you mention that there is a sheet out there if their ages and it has John as the middle child, but all that proves to me is that people make mistakes and even as a screen writer of a show you can make mistakes we are only human after all.

So yea that’s my take of it

[soniabigcheese]

Launch Sequences and the Hood Part 2 - TB5

So ... supposing the Hood HAD managed to survive that death defying fall from the rigging of TB2′s launch. 

Perhaps his next target would be the ever elusive Thunderbird 5 launch area. Namely the space elevator, manned - sort of - by EOS. John’s ever faithful AI ‘pitbull’.

Under the cut for length

Now, it’s not in John’s nature to leave the elevator docked. For a couple of reasons ....

1. Safety. It’s a long wire and anything could crash into it, especially when TB5 is matching the Earth’s gravitational velocity. Space debris as well as some ships have narrowly missed it on several occasions.

2. Security. Since Thunderbird Five is the ‘eyes in the sky’, has it’s own life support system and the ultimate top of the range technology available - courtesy of both John and Brains - it is an extremely valuable commodity. And a lethal weapon in the wrong hands.

However, they have to get past EOS and her own unique set of security measures. As Alan and Gordon discovered when they tried to hitch a ride whilst John was ‘partying’.

So ... this is how I ‘think’ this scenario plays out.

                                                  *********

The Hood, dusty, covered in oil and other matter from the sudden drop onto the concrete floor, limped towards a raised platform. He quirked his bushy eyebrow at this rather antiquated looking object (it looked like something from the original moon landings a century ago) clamped to the floor, a metal cable attached to the top.

He tried to look upwards, but the cable vanished into the sky. Plus, it made him feel a bit dizzy.

Hmm ... so THAT’s the way into the space station, he mused, this should be easy.

He reached for the door handle and was greeted with ...

Who are you?

He wasn’t fazed by the childlike voice.

“Let me in.”

No.

“Excuse me? I gave you an order. Now let me in.”

And I said no. Besides, you’re dirty. Get yourself cleaned up first. THEN I shall consider letting you board.

He groaned and rolled his eyes.

“Let me in or I’ll ...”

You’ll do what? You have no power over me.

He grinned evilly.

“I shall set Havoc loose on you. She will put a virus into your system, render you useless.”

EOS laughed. It was eerie.

The last I heard, she and her brother Fuse ran out on you. You are on your own.

Crap. How did she know? But of COURSE she’ll know. International Rescue know ‘everything’. He was hating them even more now, with this misguided knowledge.

His legs were starting to wobble and his back throbbed. He needed to sit down somewhere. But there was nothing here. The only available seat ... was inside the space elevator.

Maybe he could work this to his advantage? Play on his health to sneak on board?

He shuffled around, feeling the ‘eyes’ of EOS following him, and leaned heavily against one of the railings.

What are you doing?

“I’m trying to find somewhere comfortable to sit. If you hadn’t noticed, I’ve taken quite a tumble recently.”

She observed him suspiciously, then ran a scan. True, he was in bad shape. But John had told her that nobody was allowed to use the elevator 

... at ... ... all

You have sustained a couple of fractures, and you really need to get some medical attention for that big lump on your head ....

she paused

... oh wait ... that IS your head

And resumed her mocking laughter.

I got that one from Gordon.

He glared at her, then winced and rubbed his leg.

“Look, I need to sit down, I’m in pain.”

There was a pause, whilst EOS ran over several reasons why it was a bad idea to let him in. There were no good ideas. None at all.

If you say please ...

“PLEASE ...” he gritted out, he hated to beg but if that would gain access... then begging it would be, “can you give me access?”

Do you have a pass code?

“Excuse me?”

Sorry. Can’t let you in if you don’t have a pass code.

And with that, there was a hiss as the tiny but powerful thrusters engaged. The clamps uncoupled and the elevator rose upwards ... 

... accompanied by  ...

Bye bye sucker!

John did NOT teach her that one.  At least I don’t think he did.

[countessofsnark]

Snarky Recap - Thunderbirds Are Go: ‘The Man From TB5′

The One Where TAG Meets 007.

This episode takes us to a quiet moment on Tracy Island where Mother Hen Scott is apparently babysitting the Terrible Two. You can tell Scott is in a good mood because he’s letting Gordon sit on their father’s desk like an overgrown toddler - while Alan is seated nearby, fiddling with a tablet.

The peace and quiet is interrupted by a phone call from a very smartly dressed Lady Penelope. Cue Gordon’s ears perking up like an excited lap dog’s. Bless this precious squid boy and his eternal Penny crush.

‘Did I hear party? Do you need a date? I can be there in no time.’ Gordon shamelessly inviting himself. Also, maybe it’s time you went and took a few cues from the Flirt Sensei of Tracy Island, who happens to be sitting right next to you.

‘Thank you, Gordon. But I already have a date.’ Who is clearly quite thrilled to be here. 

GORDON’S FACE. I AM DEAD. 

‘BUT I AM THE OBVIOUS CHOICE.’ Modesty is a lovely virtue, Gordo. Sounds like someone should listen to a certain Kendrick Lamar song to get their feet back on the ground.

Guess who will be taking over space monitoring duty?

Yep, this day simply couldn’t get worse for poor Gordon. And just when Alan is being smug about Gordon’s bad luck...

‘And who do you think is taking him up there?’ Sounds like the Terrible Two are going on a little space adventure. *rubs hands*

Cut to what would be an impossible feat of architecture in our world, but not so in the TAG future. 

Brains popping up to inquire about the 007 worthy gadget tux he made for John only to be told that it fits just fine.

‘But didn’t you notice all the cool hidden functions? Like the secret radio in your collar!’ Poor Brains. He should’ve known that Serious Space Trash was not going to be interested in all that high tech spy stuff.

John’s illusion regarding the scale and privacy of the event is about to be shattered in 3, 2, 1...

‘International Rescue. I have a situation’ THE GLORIOUS AWKWARDNESS THAT IS JOHN TRACY. ASDFGHJKL.

‘Communications is my job, I talk to people all over the world. I’d just rather do it from space.’ We are all John. Fellow introverts, unite. Separately. 

Bernard Bottomsley: ‘Lady Penelope! You do like to elevate a party.’ OH DEAR, SOUND THE BAD PUN KLAXON.

Enter Brains giving John a ‘tour’ of his high tech tux.

‘And did I mention the cufflinks?’

‘Will they make me invisible to crowds?’ Aww John. 

The exact moment you realise people are staring at you not because you're a socially challenged and smartly dressed spaceman but because you were just talking (in)to your suit. I CANNOT HANDLE JOHN BEING SOCIALLY AWKWARD IT IS SIMPLY TOO MUCH PLEASE SEND HELP.

Meanwhile, back on Tracy Island, the Terrible Two are prepping for space monitoring duty. And so far things are going just fine.

‘But why not take John’s way up?’ Well, Gordon, you’re about to find out. The answer is called sassy!EOS.

‘EOS, lower the space elevator, please.’

I’M AFRAID I CAN’T DO THAT, GORDON.

‘Voice print not recognized. Palm print not recognized - bit dirty don’t you think? Try the facial scanner.’

Followed by... ‘Hair style not recognized. And not very stylish.’

Gordon: ‘We speak of this to no one.’ 

Me: *CACKLING*

Back to Penelope’s posh party, where John being himself just managed to shut down a cringe-worthy conversation.

And then there’s this unlikely detective duo. Sherbert, the stumpy nosed Watson to Parker’s savvy Sherlock. BLESS. They're about to make a very important and dangerous discovery.

But up in orbit, the Terrible Two are facing some trouble of their own.

EOS taking her sweet time to open the airlock. While sounding every so concerned about the boys’ safety.

Gordon is not impressed. GORDON’S FACIAL EXPRESSIONS CONTINUE TO SLAY ME. OH MAN WHAT IS THIS EPISODE EVEN.

Just when they thought they could finally enter Thunderbird 5... HI, I DIDN’T HEAR YOU SAY THE MAGIC WORD.

Alan has had enough and proceeds to call John. ‘Your housekeeper would like an access code.’

A clearly exasperated John: ‘The code is EOS let them in or I’ll swap your processors with a pocket calculator.’ BA-ZIN-GA.

The party, meanwhile, has moved on to the main bidding event. Before long, however, a familiar face reveals his master plan to rob the guests. Ah, the Hood. Should’ve known you couldn’t resist crashing this party. (No pun intended)

‘Who exactly are you?’

THE NAME IS TRACY. JOHN TRACY. *James Bond theme intensifies*

You count on Parker to cause a suitable distraction to allow John to stealthily sneak outside.

Not a spy mission, eh 00-Trash?

Tracy Island and Thunderbird 5 begin to notice that something is off when they can’t reach John. Time for Kayo to shine. MY QUEEN. *chinhands*

Just how desperate do you have to be when you take tight-rope walking a glacier over those crowds. Oh John.

The Hood is about to conclude business when Mr Bottomsley attempts to be a hero but fails miserably, thus setting off the laser cutters while the Hood and his henchmen graciously vacate the premises.

MAGNETS. HOW DO THEY WORK.

Just when you’d forgotten about that jamming bubble... Kayo losing control had me on the edge of my seat there.

‘If my ship is useless, I’ll just lose my ship.’ YASSS STEALTH QUEEN, SLAY IT.

Penny giving Bottomsley a lesson in humility and responsibility. So much female badassery going on, my poor feels can’t take it.

Fast forward to Kayo picking off the Hood’s accomplishes one by one before disabling the Hood’s scheme. Majestic, absolutely majestic. Something tells me that getting on Kayo’s bad side (for instance during That Time Of The Month) would most certainly land you in the Tracy Island infirmary.

And then there’s the following piece of brilliant dialogue:

John: ‘Any suggestions on how to bring down a ten tonne rock?’

Lady P: ‘Surely you have something up your sleeve?’

It’s interesting to see that even though Kayo once again managed to thwart the Hood’s plans, he can’t seem to legitimately hurt her. Just an angry shove and he’s off. Family ties are still strong and that’s a very intriguing observation IMHO.

John’s laser antics may have stalled the inevitable but not for much longer...

Penny and Parker helplessly looking on as the chateau and our heroic Space Trash plunge into the icy depths.

But have no fear, big bro Scott is here!

‘I got you... party boy.’ EHEHEHEHE. They’re not gonna let him live that one down for a looooong time to come.

‘Thanks, Scott. Just put me down anywhere.’ *Scott moves closer to the crowded platform* ‘ANYWHERE BUT HERE’ *John climbs further up the grappling cable*

UGH JOHN STAHP.

Skip to... Tracy Island, where EOS ‘has something she’d like to say’. And sounding genuinely remorseful, it seems. *cough cough*

Brains scooting off to improve the tux’s gadgets. NERD.

Penelope suggesting she forward the dozens of messages inviting the mystery hero to a party as a chance to see the world, which is countered by John saying that the world looks just fine from Thunderbird 5. Comfort zone: re-enabled. AWW SPACE TRASH. *chinhands*

This was hands down one of the best episodes in the history of TAG so far. Maybe even made it into my personal top 5. What a ride! Penny being her usual glamorous badass self, Parker and Sherbert cooperating like a quirky detective duo, our socially challenged ginger space spy having to battle both the Hood and a crippling fear of crowds. Oh my feels. *hugs mug of ginger tea*

[gumnut-logic]

I asked my youngest for her John picture this morning and was surprised to be told she had done an Alan picture, too.

So here be the other two artworks my youngest created when I wasn’t looking. She is a John fan and has been since we first saw the show. Eos is her favoute ep, followed by The Man from TB5 😁💛

Nutty

(Live my little girl 😁)

PS: She likes the show, but I think at least part of the reason she does is because her big sister hates it and watching or mentioning it makes her sister groan 😁 Sisterly love at its best 😁

[vikapediathat]

TAG S2 E20: Man From TB5

I only have one thing to say: Can someone grab my asthma medication, I can’t breathe!

Haha false alarm, but the episode took my breath away. In other words, TAG has made all of my wishes come true in the span of 20 minutes. 

Because I am on my computer this time, I will put spoilers below the cut.

Gordon on the desk Gordon on the desk Gordon on the desk Gordon on the desk!

Alan with a tablet Alan with a tablet ALAN HAS A DAMN TABLET!!!!

Gordon is jealous of John and wants to be with Penelope, I think we sailed their ship a bit fast here on the internet. Still just workmates, with Gordon having a crush on Penny.

John wanted to keep it secret so Gordon wouldn’t tease him, but John already has payback planned for him... working in space. But Alan has to be his escort... and in the end does the work (good job dude!). 

Brains is a Kingsman! He designed a spy suit with over-the-top gadgets. Don’t mind me calling Brains ‘Merlin’ from now on.

John has embodied everyone in the TAG Tumblr fandom and it is glorious... That amount of people in such a grand place would make me want to run off and back up to space. Also, loud noises scare me when I’m socially anxious too. 

Bernard Bottomsly is back from S1 EP5: Fireflash. I knew I recognised that voice from somewhere! He seems more British now, did his accent develop? 

All of the brotp and college au’s of John and Penny being close friends and gossipers just makes me go YES! FINALLY! If Gordon was here then he would’ve embarrassed Penny with his big mouth. John is quiet and secretive, perfect for Penny (After all this time, I can sail this ship!)

So this is why John rarely leave EOS with TB5 by herself, she is a premature child. But if I was only allowed to watch one moment of this episode because the rest is glitched, I would go for the banter moments between EOS, Gordon and Alan. COMEDY. GOLD.

John acting as stern guardian is so precious, the “the access code is ‘EOS let them in or I’ll change your systems to a basic calculator’ ” (or something like that) WAS PERFECT! I did the z-snap while gasping for air. Also Double Trouble noticing a problem John’s connection

The Hood makes a very dirty entrance, not because of bidding high on Jeff Tracy memorabilia but that his disguise accent wasn’t very convincing. Maybe just an audience thing or maybe they needed to speed things along to the action, but at least he’s doing what he does best: thievery. ALSO, WHY DOES THE HOOD NOT RECOGNISE JOHN  TRACY OR HIS VOICE?! John’s contacted people in crisis before without his tech covering his face or voice. The Hood has contacted all of them many times, he should know John by now. I would’ve preferred The Hood revealing John here instead of just taking more money from Lady P.

Kayo finally gets what she deserves: a field day on screen. I get that her launch sequence, music and lack of a countdown shows that she is in her own league in the company... BUT A LAUNCH DOESN’T FEEL RIGHT WITHOUT IT’S COUNTDOWN... She’s family, isn’t she? 

Spy John = Eggsy Unwin / Young Galahad = TOO GOOD STOP SLAYING ME WITH YOUR AMAZING IDEAS. WHO THE HELL PUTS A LASER AS POWERFUL AS TB2′S LASER IN A CUFF LINK?! THE HEAT AND THE PUSH BACK WOULD’VE BEEN ENOUGH TO KILL JOHN IN AN INSTANT.

Alan doing John’s job and controlling TBS is too... too good... I need a minute... now all he has to do is go into John’s zero-g map spherical room thing with John and I can die happy.

Kayo gliding through the mountains like that while hopping up and down through the fog seems, physically impossible as she is not losing speed as doesn’t have any rockets from the no-power bubble to help keep up with the Hood (who is doing the same thing). 

Hood gets away again but the bubble and transactions of the money he stole has been destroyed. 

Penelope being the powerful woman she is against Bernard’s annoying logic and rebellion just fuels me. Thank you Lady P! Also, more MacGyver Parker love! But then Penelope getting so crushed from John’s demise... sorry Gordon, her heart seeks a console jockey not an aquanaut.

Scott only showing up to catch his little brother (not going to start this argument again) and teasing him with “Party Boy” SCOTT YOUR MINOR APPEARANCE IN RESCUE HAS BEEN FORGIVEN. 

“Get me on the ground Scott” *sees people* “a-a-anywhere but here!” *climbs TB1′s grapple rope to escape the crowd* JOHN DO YOU MIND BEING SO RELATABLE?! YOU’RE KILLING ME OVER HERE.

John again being the stern guardian with EOS, making her apologise to Gordon and Alan by saying “you guys aren’t idiots after all” SINCE WHEN DID YOU THINK THEY WERE?! Just kidding, their doofuses. EOS, you are a blessing!

John is right, seeing the world from space is so much better than being on it! 

BURY ME WITH THIS EPISODE AND DEEP SEARCH MY LIFE HAS FULFILLED IT’S PURPOSE.