#all these growth moments and parallels this season are slowly killing me

[livelovecaliforniadreams]

2x19 | 5x11

[beyondd-dazedd]

I LITERALLY COULDNT NOT DO THIS POST NOW!! so hsmtmts stans, portwell nation, literally everyone who wants to read me practically screaming for 10 paragraphs here is the hsmtmts season 2 finale EPISODE👏 REVIEW👏

starting off strong with redlyn. my beauties. my loves. my sunshines. i LOVED that the whole cast knew about red’s plan. just carlos, ricky and ej being like ah yes locker letters😉😉 and everyone being all smiley and knowing SO CUTE!! i hated seeing ash sad but GOD RED SPENDING THE WHOLE NIGHT MAKING THIS THING TO SHOW ASHLYN HOW MUCH HE APPRECIATES HER?? GOD TIER. also the crew just wATCHING FROM THE DOOR WHILE REDLYN IS IN THEIR OWN WORLD?? MY HEART they’re just such a genuine couple. i love their sweet awkward moments. i also love that lights is their reoccurring thing. it just makes me so happy. y’all just KNOW red calls ashlyn his sunshine and i don’t take criticisms on that. i also really wanted an i love you confession there but they’re so cute that i will allow it to wait

HOWIE AND KOURTNEY!!! at first (bc ep. 11) i was like HOWIE NO YOU CANT HAVE DONE ALL OF THIS STUFF TO HELP EAST AND THEN STAB THEM AND KOURTNEY IN THE BACK but the fact that he was literally just in awe of kourtney and so nervous to be around her because he thinks she’s so talented mADE MY HEART RACE truly incredible. also loved kourt standing up for herself. we LOVE and STAN a straight forward QUEEN also their dorky arm in arm walk was so adorable. also drum rolls being their thing. also honorable mention to kourt’s (dara’s) mom WE STAN

ej helping mr. mazzarra get that job?? I LOVE THEIR RELATIONSHIP SO MUCH.

PORTWELL ANGST SCENE I CRY. ALSO DID I CALL THAT SCENE OR DID I CALL THAT SCENE?? if you read the fic i posted like 7 hours ago you’ll know what i’m talking about. anyways back to the show. gina joking around and then realizing that ej means not rescheduling ever and her just pretending like she’s fine with it?? OUCH OUCH OUCH i would’ve rather her immediately been heart broken. DO NOT GET ME STARTED ON EJ’S FACE AFTER SHE WALKS AWAY. matt absolutely killed that part. you can tell he waited just long enough for her to walk away when he lets his face fall and IT HURTS YOU CAN LITERALLY SEE HIM WANTING TO STAY CRYING BEFORE HE TURNS AWAY

rini moment. not the dressing room parallel. it was PAINFUL. the juxtaposition between the scene in the s1 finale and this scene?? OUCH. ricky saying if we’re literally on the same page (something they struggled with throughout the entire season) and nini saying just for a moment. i just wanna talk to the writers I JUST WANNA TALK BECAUSE THAT WAS RUDE.

seblos being cuties and ms. jenn on some fuck shit. she was having a MOMENT. like chill it’s high school theater it’s alright sis.

GINA LOOKING IN THE MIRROR AND SOBBING I HATED IT. I HATED IT.

gini moment?? i loved it. also nini’s right. portwell is so powerful for so many reasons. period sis. and she’s right WE ARE LUCKY TO KNOW GINA. i loved their moment of solidarity and friendship. imma be honest for like 0.1 seconds i thought if portwell doesn’t work out gini might be the move bUT DONT WORRY IM A PORTWELL WARRIOR FOREVER also y’all called gina talking to nini about jamie and her music. YALL CALLED THAT SHIT

i liked ms. jenn and ricky’s moment. i loved josh’s acting in this scene because it’s just so well done. like doesn’t seem like he’s acting at all and it translates so well in this scene. it was very heartfelt and such a mature moment for ricky. so reflective. i love ricky

second chances GAVE ME CHILLS the whole staging, the vocals, the core four. CHILLS. the acting from all of them for this song WAS INCREDIBLE. it was so simple but really made the scene. i’m also a sucker for songs structured like this. with like the rounds and the switching lyrics over top of each other. LOVE.

ok literally all of them booing when lily and antoine showed up sENT ME because me too THE FUCK. antoine saying “big red. you were also in it” mADE ME SNORT. ricky literally shooing them out made me laugh and lily’s whirling turn and ricky like startling back a bit made me laugh. i hate lily but her confession was literally me. like i like his big brown eyes and his big brown hair too you ain’t special bitch. antoine’s thumbs up was SO FUNNY. andrew was hilarious in this role.

also i didn’t love that they were like well fuck the menkies after that was a major plot point of the season but like also i get it. just being like MEH the stress isn’t worth it. EJ’S SPEECH HES LITERALLY VOICE BREAK JUST THE FUCKING GROWTH THAT HES HAD I LOVE HIM

jennzzarra flirting in front of the kids?? kinda cute ngl. also am i muted? SENT ME. also love that howie is just chilling there while they’re talking about dropping out. KOURT SAID LETS BURN THOSE RESULTS

benjamin being BOLD BOLD good for him

big star nini?? good for her!

ashlyn being like YIKES i’m sorry i didn’t realize you thought of ej that way and her being like hahah ok... wait WHAT? but i KNEW ash was going to progress that along somehow. like obvs ej and gina were sulking and ashlyn HAD to be the one to step in. she do be the #1 portwell warrior. thank you for your service ma’am

i will only allow ricky and lily to be a thing IF it’s a summer fling, if it means antoine gets to stay around and if it pushes rini back together and if none of that happens then wtf is even the point of pairing those two up. but we already know ricky is a sucker for misunderstood competitive women (minus nini)

GINA CHASING AFTER EJ!!! HIS FACE OF JUST OH GOD PLEASE LET ME BE HEARTBROKEN!! YOU GOT BAD INTEL!! THE CAN I... CAN YOU WHAT? CAN I KISS YOU with her little giddy laugh and her smile GIRL YOURE GLOWING and then ej’s swallow as he turns to fully look at her. WILL YOU BE MY FIRST KISS!!!! HIM JUST SLOWLY SMILING FROM EAR TO EAR AND DROPPING HIS BAG TO WALK TO HER AND THEN THEM RUNNING WHEN THEY GET CLOSER AND GINA’S LITTLE GIGGLING I CANNOT EVEN

i am so so SO HERE FOR SUMMER FLUFFY IN LOVE PORTWELL

overall am i a little sad it was so short? yes. do i understand the insane restrictions they were working under? yes. am i confident about a season 3? absolutely. i am HERE for a summer season.

anyways PORTWELL IS CANNON!!

[post-modern-prometheus]

could you please talk about lucas & el friendship?

YESYESYES OFC!!!!! i made a post a little bit ago about it, and i will gladly talk some more because i love them.

so basically one of my favorite parallels in s1 compares lucas’ initial reaction to mike telling him that el’s name is eleven (“her name is eleven?”) to him telling will that they call her “el” for short. i think that is the easiest way to describe their season 1 growth as friends. at first he’s wary of her. he doesn’t trust this stranger yet, which is completely understandable. by the end, he’s mourning his new, brave friend.

in season 2, the only interaction they have is a hug- a group hug at that. it was really disappointing for me because i loved the growth in season 1!

one of my criticisms of season 3 was max vs mike argument at the cabin. i more or less agreed with him because, like mike, i’d seen what el would do to protect her friends. max had never been in the sort of situation that the boys had been in with el, one that ended with her gone and seemingly dead. (there were many more layers to the whole break up plot point but this one bothered me.) i think it’s very telling that lucas, the only one who had been there besides mike when el had ‘died’, decided they needed to bring the fireworks with them to the mall. because he was aware that sometimes el’s powers didn’t cut it. and in the end, those fireworks ended up saving her life! 

i love that silent consideration for her that he has. it reminds me of the way one of my best friends knows i love this specific brand of french onion dip. he always make sure to buy it before i come over to watch a movie. i think that’s lucas’ love language, for all his friends. with el, there’s that small scale, with something like making sure he stocked her favorite snack before the party’s movie night, or the larger scale we see with the fireworks.

and el is easy to talk to. she’s a great listener. if lucas is ever having problems with a bully or someone, he’ll rant to her. because she never makes him feel like any ‘less of a man’ when he admits to being bothered by the remarks. the only thing is, el is scary. when she threatens to kill them for him, he can’t tell if she’s joking or not. 

and as great as she is at listening, she loves to talk. but she’s still trying her best to learn all her words, and she really thinks before talking. so she speaks very deliberately but also slowly, unlike mike who talks a mile a minute about whatever pops into his brain, which intimidates her a lot. lucas, however, is a lot more perceptive than his best friend and understands that she’s struggling. so he lets her take her time to rant about her soaps and her day.

based off the crumbs of what we’ve seen since they really became friends and what i’d like to see if the writers ever decided to mix up who different characters are paired with, i imagine el basically has lucas wrapped around her finger; he’d do anything for her. she’s aware of this, and takes advantage of it. he’s aware of that. it’s sort of this big brother, little sister sorta thing. they remind me of peter and lucy pevensie from narnia, specifically in the prince caspian movie. (except they’re the same age.)

in season 4 or 5, i’d like to see something like lucas’ awesome moment of taking the axe to the mind flayer’s tentacle to save el. i’d really just like to see more of them interacting, maybe el helping lumax work out the problems in their relationship. for as much as we rip on the writers for season 3 and the lack of meaningful connections of the relationships we love, i do see it under the surface, or in the background of the scene, i just hope that it will be a little more prominent in coming seasons.

but... yeah. you wanted me to talk about lucas n el so you’re gonna have to deal with the essay you got.

ps- i love getting asks like these and i will rant on anything from the show. so if you wanna ask, go for it! (please <3)

[number5theboy]

CREATOR TAG MEME

RULES: it’s time to love yourselves! choose your 5 (ish) favorite works you created in the past year (fics, art, edits, etc.) and link them below to reflect on the amazing things you brought into the world in 2020. tag as many writers/artists/etc. as you want (fan or original) so we can spread the love and link each other to awesome works!

I was tagged by the wonderful @seance, @i-seeaspaceshipinthe-sky and @ogaferoga, all of them awesome creators themselves, thank you all!

This has been a wild year, because I’ve created a lot of gifs for this blog that isn’t even a year old, and I’ve gotten to know so many sweet, wonderful people. There were many gifs to choose from, so I grouped them, because I’m very proud of my output for this blog.

The Umbrella Academy...but it is a FILM NOIR / HORROR MOVIE

I started this series that I plan on continuing, taking the shots from the Umbrella Academy and editing them to look like a certain genre. I’m especially proud of the fact that I looked up the aspect ratio of noir movies for the Noir AU gifset. This was the initial idea, but while I was working on them, I also kept imagining how I could link these visuals, and slowly but surely I developed stories as I was working on the gifs. I really like the AUs I created, and am sad that I’m not a diligent enough fic writer to be able to write them out in the way they deserve. Also really love the touch of naming the AUs through songs that are on the soundtrack, I really think that idea is neat.

The Lost Hargreeves HERE / HERE

567 is my favourite dynamic that was never truly shown in the show itself. I like Five, Ben and Vanya separately a lot, and I love the idea of them together. I’m very proud of the first gifset I ever made for them, because it shows how similar their stories are, how all of them were pushed to do monstrous things through abuse, and how they deserve better. But I also think there is so much love between them, so much gentleness. I will never be over the parallel of Vanya reaching out for Five to clean his wound after he just killed the Commission hitmen and Ben reaching for Vanya’s hand after she just massacred everyone in the FBI office. I just love this idea of someone still loving them, still reaching out for them at their lowest, at their worst, and not judging, I really adore this dynamic, and if I may say so, I kind of went off with the colouring on both.

Soundtrack Sets HERE / HERE

I adore the soundtrack of the show, and I’m a sucker for lyrics as they are used in a scene. So far, I’ve made two gifsets about the lyrics, one that is just about how some lyrics of Season 1 would have fit some of the Hargreeves siblings but weren’t used for them, and another that shows how the lyrics of songs specific to Five scenes interconnect because I love me some thematic coherence. I just like playing with words and how they fit to images, and TUA really is a show that lets me do that. I also just really like the look of the Five gifset specifically, because I really went experimental on that one, and it was fun to figure out a colour palette for it.

Misc ‘I’m proud of the technical aspects of these!!’ Gifsets

Diego & Allison dynamic: I just love the way these gifs interplay, I like the size I chose for the gifs, and although I would do the colouring differently were I to redo this gifset, I just loved making this so much because Diego and Allison have such a great dynamic.

Vissy in the barn: I love this moment, and Marin Ireland is so RIDICULOUSLY charming in the show, but this is on here because I really outdid myself with the colouring here. Soft orange and blue, and that for a scene that is terribly lit. I’m still so proud.

It’s Tough to be a God for Klaus: I am SO fucking proud of the lettering I did for this one. It looks awesome, I think the song I picked is fun and fitting, and just. The framing I did with the text. I really am happy with it, and I’m bad at lettering usually.

Team Dumbass Relationship Growth Appreciation Post: The colours I did here pop beautifully, even though I really struggled with some of them (the light in Elliott’s home?!? a nightmare). I also just loved showing their growth through this simple idea, simple quote, with the black and white gifs from S1E1 and S2E10, and I love the orange and cyan for the font. I should continue the visual with other dynamics, now that I think of it.

Five Favourite Five Gifsets of 2020

Five: The Mammoth Project: This was THE project of the year for me. I combed through all the Five scenes of Seasons 1 and 2, and picked favourite moments. I had to make cuts, as well as the decision to only do dialogue bits. I could redo this with just nonverbal acting moments, I just adore this performance that much. I worked for weeks on this set. I love the colouring I did, and I just love the range the set showcases. Aidan Gallagher is so good in this role, and this set is a love letter to the performance.

Five + Greek Mythology: This was so self-indulgent, but this gifset turned out so pretty. Five’s story reminds me very much of a Greek tragedy in its thematics, and he has so many characteristics of an archetypal Greek hero, and this was just about me concretising this idea in visuals and writing.

 Five and the Handler on the Highway: This is the only gifset on here I think definitely flopped, which makes me so, so sad. I really like this moment and I love the colouring I did for it even more. The blue is so clear and so sharp and offsets the red, and the fact that this gifset hasn’t even cracked 150 notes really bums me out, because I love it a lot.

Five + MCR’s ‘Teenagers’: Good colouring! Good lettering! One of two MCR songs I know! I really had fun making it because Teenagers is such a song that would fit both Five and a Five fight scene, and so putting it over the Board massacre was a delight.

Five’s reaction to other assassin’s quitting: I just love this acting moment so much, the consistency of it all. How Aidan Gallagher just perfectly conveys this little moment of understanding, of being glad for someone else, a moment of recognition. I also love the colouring on this, the blues turned out so nice.

I feel like everyone in the fandom has already been tagged, so I’ll try out some, and if you haven’t been tagged, feel free to take this as an invitation to do this! @diazalex @catchingmydeatth @zavens @fivevanyaklaus @lilapittss, @hargreevesklaus, @hargreeves-ben @thecyndimistuff

[papers4me]

Fruits Basket, SE02, Ep24

This is a buildup ep for the finale. looks like furuba’s tradition for awkward buildup eps continues as this ep is clearly divided into two parts: machi & zodiac banquet.

-Killing the Vibe (furuba style):

Usually when writers buildup an emotional moment, they either go with it right away or if it is not its time, they slowly dissolve it or gradually redirect the story somewhere else. But the most important thing is that you hold on to the feeling they worked so hard to build but know that it will be dealt with later. Usually this is done with minor visuals such as quick flashback to the main event & the character taking deep breath ignoring it. But it is acknowledged that now it is not the time. Furuba doesn’t do that. If they build high moment & decide it is not the time to continue with it, they drop it abruptly, using the ending ost as a closing sign....which is odd cuz this is not episodic eps but continuing plot. They did it twice now: (a) tohru’s nightmare ep 19. it was treated as cliffhanger, but the next, we opened with yuki’s narrative where we see tohru normal. I know tohru’s issues will be dealt with later, perhaps season 3. But the nightmare moment was left hanging weirdly!! we never saw tohru deciding not to focus on it or anything! then (b) the kyo/tohru moment on stage & the symbolic tearing image ep23. Big moment which I  know will be focused on later. But it is so freakin odd that we see them so normal in their daily activities..as if nothing happened. Not a slight visual hint that either one is troubled... I praised how in ep, 23, they showed tohru face worrying abt bits & pieces here & there. These visual hints connects the plot.. For a moment I thought Cinderella play is a filler!! but I don’t think so, since 3 major things happened (Tohru’s near confession, machi’s opinion of yuki, arisa’s recorded outburst) two of which dealt with this ep. I know they want the focus to be on yuki, seeing that his plotline is moving smoothly without awkward breaks, but why not smooth out the other’s plotline with minor visuals without the jarring jumps. Ending ost is not automatic shifts in continued plot. Oh well, it is a minor thing I felt, no big deal.

-Machi pov is here!:

I never expected to see machi today! nice surprise! So machi is not only lonely, she lives alone! that’s odd & tragic! how can a junior high school student live alone? since when was she living alone? & her mom calling to check on her or insult her or scold her! I never wanted a phone call to end this fast. Machi’s monologue was amazingly done. Rather than describing her feelings to us or stating what we are already seeing, the words came cold.. automatic.. slow.. without much emotions. Exactly imitating how machi feels abt herself. DULL. She never thought abt things such as fave color or fave place. never thought abt anything that requires personality or preferences. The imagery they used while she was walking in the street is epic! It explained her mentality! honestly even if she said nothing around that time while she was walking, the image would’ve done enough! Machi was able to see the change in yuki cuz she was able to sense that yuki too was dull/boring or felt he felt so. Now he laughs, jokes, interacts, & joins outside school activities. Negating the dull persona. Now, it is only her. machi questions if she can do the same but her question comes out loaded with her negativity. Instead of can I do the same? it is “ why Am i here? Her bad habits are pulling her back & resisting the change.

- Since they’re deciding to embark into the romantic aspect of mach/yuki & to further add contrast to his interaction with tohru, machi is shown so struck by yuki’s presence, she falls. Typical romantic moment that I appreciate for machi who thinks she isn’t typical girl. but dull girl. Yuki finding the leaf & being happy that she treasures it adds to his self-esteem as it tells him that he is worthy to be treasured. I love machi’s indecisive responses! It gives her personality! as she is reluctant between denying or telling the truth. She was never in such situation, so she doesn’t know what to do!! blushing red like her leaf, machi didn’t only go with friends, she also learned her fave color! yuki, developing the future boyfriend detective sense like kyo, guessed it that machi likes red. You remember things abt ppl you find interesting! Machi felt that perhaps to yuki she is not dull, but interesting enough to want to learn things abt her!

-Tohru is a grown woman!!!

trust me to take 5sec interaction that involves my girl & write a deep analytic paragraph! Call it building sandcastles out of nothing but I don’t care! XD. tohru deserves some spotlight! I’m a bit disappointed that the scene is shown form a far to include yuki & shiggure..(WHY???. They can have their moment later! let my girl have a screenshot for a change!!) & the art quality is the lowest in the ep, lol & but whatever~~~ let’s focus on the positive side! my tohru bought sth for herself!! tohru who spent her hard earned money on buying candy ingredients for the filthy rich sohma’s instead of paying her tuition fees?!! tohru who wore a worn out swimsuit for school & didn’t see the value in buying new one ?! tohru whose school bag have seen better days as hiro said?!! tohru bough herself a scarf with pompom!!& she’s PROUD!! & she goes & shows kyo!!!! cuz she loves him & cuz in SE01 he was mad she doesn't buy herself stuff & cuz she knows he’ll be proud of her & cuz she want show off her cuteness & get his attention & cuz she wanna tease him!! Did you see my girl deliberately hit him with the pompom??? my girl is feisty!! She teases!! Tohru has this feisty, forward personality that she hides but peeks in certain instances!! Like when she teased kyo that he’s still scared of the stain on the wall..like when she calls him cute later this ep!! I’m so happy for every tiny teeny moment of tohru where she is herself & not the worrying mom or friend, when she is focused abt what she shows & what she wants & right now she wants kyo to notice her! GIRL HE ALREADY DOES! you are killing him already tohru..he’d be dead by now if he wasn’t a cat with 9 souls! XD.

-Yuki is leaving Akito’s side:

coming to the big moment in this ep. Akito is loosing yuki. Not only yuki decided by himself to attend the banquet that he avoided last year, he also talked to akito & forgave him for everything before. Yuki is letting go of the past. Forgiveness is a cure ppl! it’s the hardest achieved cure. it cuts the ties to negativity & free the person from the painful feelings. Akito knows she’ll be loosing a zodiac member soon! she reacts the same way she did with hatori! violently resisting change, violently making a statement that I’m the ruler of you. However, unlike when it was hatori, no one came to her. Kureno stopped her. but the rest went to yuki, to the rebel, to the one who caused her pain & rage. Akito is not only loosing yuki...she is slowly loosing all of them.

- Yuki continues the next step in his growth & frees hatori from his sins. By allowing himself to accept that he is not a helpless victim, yuki was able to see the others plain as well. Before, in his mind, he was the only one suffering, others are cruel, but now, he sees the criminal who erased his friends memories was also suffering all along. Perhaps yuki thinks that akito is suffering too? That’s why chose to forgive her & tell her that I don’t hate you anymore or hold grudge.

Side Notes:

I’m so glad kakeru had so little to do with machi & yuki interaction here. He is a character that demands spotlight & if his role was bigger, machi would disappear, it will be another yuki/kakeru moment. Also, since machi/kakeru parallel aya/yuki, you bet kakeru will be more involved between them in order to get closer to his sister & fix the gap like aya did, so I appreciate the moment of only yuki/machi now as it is unique moment without any parallels involved.

After learning of Shigure’s correct line, I can now see how things would’ve been better for akito, if she learned from yuki’s rebellion. loosing one is less painful than loosing them all, which she will. Shigure was eager for her to be spared the pain. or he might be eager for sth else entirely! but he wants this to end.

Shigure sure wasn’t himself this ep! he was restless & his jokes were all over the place, he nearly caused a misunderstanding between hatori & Mayko. I think shigure is hearing the curse breaking!!!!!

Rin & kyo!!!! I never knew I needed this!!! like last ep, I was celebrating hana & kyo, & the return of kyo & haru!! but rin & kyo is unique duo since it is not a teasing dynamics! it is a we-are-too-similar dynamics! XD

Kazuma is luv!! ugh!! my heart! what a man!! so caring & kind & ever so gentle! look at him going to rin to invite her! no kid should be alone in new years! look at him teasing his son!! look at him out polite tohru! just look at him!!!

I appreciate that the boys (kyo,yuki.haru,momiji) have different body types from each other. however, since kyo’s body changing is mentioned in the story many times, they focused on showing him growing since the 2nd ep of season 2 & more so in the beach arc & they steadily continued ever since!!! this ep, even with the low quality they showed his Adam’s apple & he is taller next to shishio. Also his baggy clothes help defy the lanky art style. With yuki, since his beauty is mentioned in the story, they’ve been focused on his face, giving him HD quality beauty all the time, but not much when it comes to his body. but today, he looked a lil bit older in machi’s scene? I duno if it is the new clothes or they’re finally allowing his body to grow?! I hope so. They are still making him so lanky as his legs were only a bit meatier than machi’s in the fight scene, but hey lankiness is the show’s art style, just look at hatori </3. They focused on making Momiji baby as it is mentioned in the story that he doesn’t look like a highschooler at all, but I swear he looks a bit older this ep!! right???

Speaking of hatori, hello there~ doc~ I never knew I needed hatori in Japanese clothes this much! It hid the lankiness & gave him the adult manly look he deserves!! so hot!!! I heard his grunt in my heart as he took his clothes off! XD. Soyou’re attached to the school sensie now~~ a lit bit worried your filthy buddy is putting hands on her..huh? oh!, if only you knew that your goofy pal is the master mind behind your new love story! I think he knows tho~

I never expected machi to be that cute!!! machi/yuki is so cute!

Rin sleeps sitting...like a horse? rin didn’t feel haru? i thought horses are as jumpy as cats! lol

Tohru & kyo are having quality flirting time with no interference from either shigure or yuki. lol.. shishio is amazing! XD

Kureno has the DVD now..let the war begins!!!

[tuafives-archive]

Why it Does Not Make Sense For Five to Go Insane

With all the theories that Five might start to go crazy this next season, I have come to the conclusion that I do not want that to happen. (By “crazy,” I mean feral, as opposed to frazzled.) Five becoming insane would be the most heartbreaking development that could occur. The comic version of his character has already established himself as the former. Comic Five’s motivation to save the world largely stems from his self-interest, while Netflix Five has a different motivation: his family. This distinction would be diminished if from now on, the writing of his character lends itself more towards Comic Five’s persona. It is important to take into account that if Five transforms parallel to his comic version,  it probably would not be a direct translation to the small screen, so some elements of his personality would be adapted. 

A morally gray character is a character who has both “good” and “bad” traits, which fits Netflix Five’s characterization perfectly. A morally gray character also has unclear motives. At the beginning of the show, Five’s storyline does not show his motivation as to why he kills people. The flashback at the beginning of episode five brings a greater understanding to his motives. When we see Five as an assassin, he says that “I was biding my time, trying to figure out the right equation so I could get back. If I could just get back, I knew I could stop the apocalypse. Save the world.” The only incentive for saving the whole population is his family. The reasoning for his stint as an assassin was to find an easier way back home to save his siblings. Even if the audience remained unsure of his true goal, there is a difference between moral grayness and insanity. 

In said episode, he says to Luther that [“killing] never gave me pleasure.” He does not enjoy murdering, but he does it for his family. There is so much grief and guilt in his eyes and for a moment he looks like he is going to cry. THIS is what he has been hiding, his humanity, his disgust at who he has become. Throughout almost the entire show, he is arrogant and irritated and he feels like he has no other way for his personality to adapt. It would only make sense for him to slowly unveil the more vulnerable side of himself as opposed to becoming an emotionless machine. Yes he is good at killing, but that does not necessarily mean he likes it. 

What could be an interesting storyline (in my opinion) would be if at some point in order to stop the apocalypse, he is forced to become an assassin for the Commission again. Through that conflict, he would attempt to grapple with his trauma of killing with the addition of trying to save the world. Then, the audience could truly see the emotional rollercoaster of having to become a murderer once more because of his self-proclaimed duty to protect his family.

It also does not make sense for him to become unhinged in terms of his character arc. Usually the trait (or multiple traits) that adds complexity or delves into a more profound perception of a character is an aspect of themselves that they try to hide. It starts to become more prevalent at the end (or near the end) of the character’s journey. I am pretty sure that season two will be nowhere near the end of Five’s arc, but if the writers were planning on making him more empathetic, why would they veer off into an entirely different direction; and therefore making the majority of his characteristics akin to a maniac’s? As I mentioned before, Five becoming more frazzled makes more sense in my mind. Of course he is going to reach a breaking point due to all that he has been through, but showing his emotions is exactly what he would need, not channeling those feelings of somberness into “lunacy.”

Five spiraling into insanity could mean that his trauma gets ignored. He needs to bond with his siblings, not progressively distance himself from them. He hardly opens up about the emotional impact of his experiences, and that is something that I desperately hope changes in season two. After decades of no comfort whatsoever, he needs consolation from the people that he loves the most because he has been through (literal) hell to save their lives.  His love for his siblings should be the distinct trait that evolves with his character, not his craziness. His already-hindered ability to connect with his family would gradually break if he becomes as wild as he is in the comics. If he loses grip on his longing for his siblings to be safe and just saves the world out of his own selfishness, that would completely change the fundamental reason for him stopping the apocalypse in the first place and lessen the complexity of his character.

Previously, in season one, we saw copious examples of Five turning his emotions into rage. Yes, he is impatient and that characteristic is heavily emphasized, but that is not his only emotion. When reading between the lines, his loyalty to his family and his tenaciousness is more prevalent. His family is weirded out by him and thinks that he is a psycho when really, he is just extremely agitated that they are not listening to him. 

Five has a world to save, so of course he is going to snap back. That does not make his love for his siblings any less meaningful. He does not have an underlying tendency to violently lash out against them. His “craziness” in season one is due to the fact that there would usually be some consequence to his siblings if Five did not act that way. For the most part, he attacks the people who would hurt his family and those are the only times where he is ever remotely “crazy.” It is not necessarily insane, it is a justified act of protection for the people he loves. I would also argue that Five has more (an astronomical amount of) determination and resilience than psychoticness. His frustration is due to his persistence getting him hardly anywhere at all. 

The promotional picture of him holding an umbrella seems out of character for him. With the blood on his face, I am assuming that he murdered somebody, but he is also smiling, which is the aspect that I am most worried about. Going back to the fact that Five did not enjoy killing, why would he seemingly be happy with somebody’s blood on his face? The gif of him swinging an axe (also with blood on his face) is a juxtaposition to the picture since he looks extremely angry. His grumpy demeanor  in this gif is similar to his expression in the season one posters, which is a relatively good sign. 

I am perfectly fine with him getting more and more worn out with each episode. Hopefully, there will come a day where he openly expresses his vulnerability to his family, because that would add an incredible amount of closure to his character in conveying the growth of his sentimentality. His arc centers around an old man pushing himself to the brink every single day. It is his profound love for his family that drives him to self-exhaustion which means that his unwavering motivation is deeply personal. It would only make sense if all of Five’s hard work pays off in the end.

Five is a good person. He has always been a good person.

[its-a-branwen-thing]

On Qrow: Part II

Back at it again with the white vans an over-analysis of one of my faves! In my last post on Qrow, I focused a lot on how legacies play into his character. How he’s slowly becoming a character who can leave a legacy, but that the journey there is still ongoing. And it always is.

Disclosure, as always, this is all pure speculation, enhanced by my personal opinions, and for fun! :)

Legacies play into all of these characters. RWBY is about stories. Especially in regards to our heroes: specifically Ruby, Yang, Oscar, Juane, and Ren. All of them have character legacies that inform who they are today. Summer, Raven, Ozma, Pyrrha, Li Ren. These are all characters that we know had/have their own motivations, destiny, and ideals--and those echo through the narrative in such grand ways.

Mementos are a big part of these characters’ stories. While not all of these are explicitly physical items that serve as reminders, there are stories behind these shots and the objects or focus of them. Ren killing the Nuckelavee with his father’s dagger, Ruby’s mother and their shared silver eyes.

That’s why taking a look at a particular spot in V4 sparked a new idea:

Qrow is also a part of legacies. But this is one he was upholding. In V6 we saw his realization that his own followed legacy was in jeopardy--the one thing he’d staked his life on--and that continues to inform his faith in his nieces and the younger generation going forward. Because it isn’t Oz’s path he’s following, but theirs. Even if it is is hard letting them go it alone.

Qrow chooses his path at the end of V6, and it’s to help uplift this new generation, so that they can create their own stories in honor of or in spite of the ones that were left for them. It’s subtle, but it illustrates that Qrow’s growth has been in doing the things he believes is right, which is why he cautions James on so many of his decisions, why he seems to hang back, to lash out less, why he seems...well, softer. He’s not drunk, for one. And two he’s not as worried for his proteges. They’re taking fine enough care of themselves. Which is why the emphasis on his connection to Clover is so fundamentally important. Because if I look at it from a storytelling standpoint, we see these two characters express very similar ideals with completely different views of how to follow them. But it’s the story Clover has, the one where he’s a beloved leader and soldier, that impacts Qrow’s future the most.

It’s also between them that we witness one of the most brutal death scenes in RWBY.

My knee-jerk reaction to this scene was that it was the beginning of the Scarecrow “losing his mind”, so to speak, because it has been the pattern of the Oz generals to fall by the thing they were seeking in their allusions. But every time I followed this thought I couldn’t realize why it felt so wrong to me. I thought for a bit that Qrow might turn, the he might really and truly go crazy, but I honestly can’t see it. Why? Because if I’m reading Clover’s character right, we see that the fundamental differences between him and Qtow are what the story’s been pointing to all along: one is part of a legacy he never questioned, while the other has no tethers to his old legacies. Qrow’s placing his faith, quite certainly, on the future. (Also, if you wanted to make a point about the cruelty of reality, you could do it elsewhere. RWBY hasn’t really been that kind of show). And what really hit me as an important factor in this is the final shot of Qrow:

He isn’t angry. He isn’t gunning immediately for Ironwood. He looks heartbroken. He looks as he has all season--quiet, but in control.

He’s also holding onto...that’s right, a memento.

Yeah, back to talking about mementos, I am.

In seeing what was said about their relationship by the writers (communication not being 1:1 with writing/animating--also, again, not looking to discuss the implications of that at the moment, I understand and sympathize), I think I’m beginning to see some of Clover’s decisions, as they’re written, in a completely new light.

He’s cocky. He’s proud. But he’s a good guy. He encourages Qrow. He obviously likes him as a person. And this whole season we’re rooting for them to be good partners why’d you sneak in all that sexual tension though, yo, in whatever way that is. But then it’s made clear that Clover and Qrow both prioritize entirely different things until E12 when Qrow nods to Tyrian and...you know what I won’t even....no, I’m not even gonna poke that. The same different things that ultimately split team RWBY and the Ace Ops up. It’s even in their fights. If Qrow is the “Clover” to RWBY, Clover is the “Qrow” to the Ace Ops. Both the oldest and wisest of the de facto teams. Those fights are set up like that for a reason. Even them sharing shifting focus in E12 is significant. And RWBY wins because the Ace Ops don’t “care” about each other as they do, that’s the whole point that I can see. And so Clover shares his teams’ fate...but, like, way worse.

Clover knows when his orders seem harsh but he doesn’t question them. He’s never been shown to do so. He hesitates, sure, but so does Marrow. And unlike Marrow, Clover isn’t a new addition. He’s older. He’s their leader. It’s his charge they’ll follow. He’s not a character easily changed. We knew who he was the moment he swung in to arrest our heroes.

(Side note: I used to think this was a conspiratorial look that they were planning something. But I think now what I see is Clover noticing and then ultimately ignoring Qrow’s concern. His look hardens back to Ironwood with what I can now see as resolve. It’s why Qrow looks down. It’s almost like he’s hurt.)

So when we encounter this duo in the tundra, after their plane crash, and we see Clover’s character attempt to negotiate with Qrow, we see Qrow’s resolve harden. He isn’t going to follow Ironwood’s orders. He finds them wrong. But Clover is Ironwood’s right hand, he can’t listen to any personal feelings he may have, as Qrow and Robyn do. He even parallels Marrow in his conversations with Robyn, in that they both advise her to follow the law on two separate instances, and she makes it abundantly obvious that she thinks the law is rubbish. But Clover is the law. He’s supposed to uphold that trust. Because he’s entirely loyal. He’s a good person upholding a man he trusts. We don’t know his history, but I assume as the elite of the elite he earned his position. He spent years earning Ironwood’s trust (as Winter says--”You can’t buy loyalty you have to earn it”). And he isn’t a disingenuous character with sneaky ulterior motives. He’s how he’s presented. Point blank, heart presumably on his sleeve. I thought he’d turncoat to join our heroes, but now I see why he didn’t. (Then again, not having all the information is...testy)

Which is why this hits so damn hard.

“Sometimes the right decision is the hardest to make. I trust James with my life! I wanted to trust you.”

I wish I could emphasize that last line more. Clover is making an extraordinarily hard choice. He’s choosing loyalty to Ironwood over his partnership and relationship with Qrow. Because he trusts Ironwood more. This isn’t a character failing, it’s just tragic.

And with that last line I think he feels that Qrow betrayed Ironwood as well and, by effect, him. Because if Qrow had just listened to Ironwood’s plan and given himself up, none of this would have happened. But now that Qrow’s gone rouge, so to speak, he has to see him as an enemy. He has to use tactics to lure him to cooperate. Clover wanted to trust Qrow too. And at the end, like a lot of other trusting partnerships this volume, it ended in a loss of that trust. Also Qrow breaking Clover’s aura after the Ace Op has Tyrian on the ropes is SO. GODDAMN. PAINFUL. And when Qrow sees that Clover’s willing to follow these orders, he probably thinks he’ll follow any, and likely why he sees this as a betrayal. Because he’s used to that which i will discuss next time thank you.

What makes this scene so poignant, what makes me realize Qrow’s next arc is going to tie into what Clover left for him, is because Qrow likely understands exactly what Clover was going through. Once upon a time he defended Oz. He ran Oz’s missions. He put those priorities first. He bet his life on this fight. And in the end he didn’t even know the truth of what he was fighting for. Oz lied to him (Yes, I understand why). Meanwhile this whole season has been built on the prospect of lies. Qrow knows the cost of blind trust. He’s trying to tell Clover to listen to his conscience, not silence it. He’s trying to tell him to do the right thing.

And at the end, Clover seems to do just that by telling him, infuriatingly, “good luck.” Not just in the broader sense, although what an absolute madlad. But in the sense that he understands why Qrow chose that path. Why Qrow made that decision to refuse arrest although I’d be hella pissed about him teaming up with Tyrian! tho Why you done did me like that, bruh?!.

Clover’s telling him, really, to do what Qrow thinks is right. It’s the final note of evidence for my theory. Clover’s spent this season prepping Qrow to have faith in himself, and now it’s Qrow’s turn to realize that potential. It’s a blessing, really, that he gives him. To finish what he started.

And Qrow clearly keeps Clover’s charm. Because he’s carrying on Clover’s legacy too, and the mistakes that may have been made along the way. He has to remedy them. And this isn’t the only instance of a “baton pass” between these two. If Qrow is in search of a new legacy (which, truth be told, might involve bringing Ironwood down), then he needs a new team to do it with. And, as it’s been stated countless times by this show, he isn’t the waste of space he say he is and it is a damn shame he doesn’t have a new team yet.

Which brings me to my final desperate reach point.

“What would you guys do without me?”

[kor-ra]

Fun challenge for you based on your recent tags: Explain to me, someone who has never watched a single episode of the 100, why you ship Bellarke? I am curious, and I'm hoping this is entertaining for you to do lol

Oh gosh ok you asked for it, the flood gates have been opened. Sorry this took so long to answer but I wanted to explain it in the best way I could (or at least try to). I’m going to do a short version and a long version so people don’t have to read my entire explanation lol. Also I’m only going over the plot as it relates to their story, so there will probably be some holes.

Clarke Griffin and Bellamy Blake are soulmates, plain and simple as that. The growth that they have had since the first season till now has been a long and winding road. They were enemies then became co leaders then best friends and now are (hopefully) on track to admitting that they love each other. The amount of parallels the show draws between them is insane and they both have such a profound understanding of each other due to their shared leadership role and constantly being the person that the other one goes to when they need someone to comfort them. Time and time again they choose each other, even during some of the most difficult decisions they will ever have to make. Their growth almost always comes back to how they influence each other to try and be better people. Canonically, they make better decisions when they are together: The Head and the Heart. They cannot exist as their full selves without each other in their lives because their lives have become so intertwined with each other that they are fundamentally different people when they’re apart. No matter how often they’re apart, they always find a way back to each other. And if nothing else, the gazes and longing hugs that they give each other just oozes love and understanding.

Ok that was the short version. Here’s the Long Version🤪

Ok so Bellamy and Clarke definitely did not start off this way. From the very first episode they are at each other’s throats. Clarke is trying to be the practical leader to get these kids to survive while Bellamy is the dynamic leader inspiring these kids to “do whatever the hell they want”. They don’t see eye to eye and Bellamy even says he’s willing to cut off Clarke’s hand to get what he wants. This doesn’t change until 1x03 when Bellamy sees Clarke mercy kill Atom, another kid on Earth.

This girl, who he thought was a pampered princess, was able to make this tough decision while he couldn’t. After that they begrudgingly try and coexist together. Then “Day Trip” happens and Bellamy and Clarke go off on their own and almost die by a rogue delinquent. They kill him and while they’re recuperating Bellamy wants to run away from all the hardships and mistakes that he’s made. Instead of holding it against him, Clarke gives him forgiveness (“if you want forgiveness, I’ll give it to you ok, fine you’re forgiven”)

For the first time they are truly vulnerable with each other and make their first decision to lead together. This is the turning point. From then on they co lead together, sharing the burden and responsibilities of leadership and being the person that the other depends on. They don’t always get along but they learn to rely on each other. The season ends with them separated at the end of their first big battle. Clarke closes the drop ship door to save her people from the enemy and she thinks he didn’t survive the blast outside

S2

Bellamy and Clarke are separated (a common occurrence that you will soon find out) Clarke is trapped in Mt. Weather and although the rest of her people are comfortable there, she is determined to get out and find out if the rest of her people -cough cough Bellamy- are alive. Bellamy likewise also starts to look for Clarke. Angst and drama ensues, but the important part is that we get our first ever Bellarke hug and man is it a good one (and an absolute fan favorite)

Like Bellamy is so stunned by the way she RUNS and wraps her arms around him and slowly after the shock hugs her back. But this hug cements just how important they’ve become to each other. From here on out they protect each other. Bellamy saves Clarke from being poisoned, he volunteers to go into Mount Weather and Clarke (originally) violently opposes it saying that “She can’t lose him to” in reference to losing the boy she loved, among other things (imo this is when Bellamy starts to develop real feelings for Clarke). Finally towards the end of the season when they face off against the “big baddie” they have to make the choice to kill hundreds of innocent people among the guilty to save their own people. An impossible choice, and Clarke being the self sacrificial puppy that she is wants to “bear it so they don’t have to”. But Bellamy won’t let her do that, they’re going to share that heavy burden. And they pull the lever together

So they return home, people rescued and the guilt hanging high above their heads. But for Clarke the guilt is too much to bear and she tells Bellamy that she has to leave. And Bellamy BEGS her to stay, even repeating that same line that she said to him in the beginning of the show. However, she leaves him and her people behind, which would lead them both down a path of hurt.

S3

And hurt they do. Clarke leaving didn’t fill the hole of guilt in her heart, and Bellamy was left to (try lol) and heal his broken heart on his own. I will also say that both Clarke/Bellamy get their own significant other with Lexa/Gina respectively and this is because (imo) they both go down paths where the other is not in the picture I’m so certain that if they stayed togehter, they would’ve been together and that’s why they’re always separated. But then for the first time in the 3 months since she left, Bellamy finds Clarke, while she’s being taken captive and literally DROPS EVERYTHING to rescue her. When he finds her it is the most tender thing.

This is soon interrupted when Roan (her captor) comes back and Clarke BEGS him to save his life, saying “I’ll do anything. I’ll stop fighting just please don’t hurt him.” Bellamy gets stabbed in the leg and and Clarke and Roan get away. Unlike a normal person, Bellamy Blake is hopelessly in love and devoted to Clarke so he STILL TRIED TO GO AFTER HER WITH A HOLE IN HIS LEG AND WE GET THIS BEAUTIFUL SCENE RIGHT HERE

Cut back a little while later Clarke is safe in Polis with Lexa, trying to unify their two clans and Bellamy finds her again. He tells her to come back to Arkadia (their home) but she says she needs to be here (in Polis). This breaks his heart and is what sets him literally down a VERY DARK PATH of murder to try and justify a war (complicated stuff, what matter is he fucks up). Clarke eventually does come back to Arkadia only to find a very angry and heartbroken Bellamy who tries to justify his actions (You Left Me). They have a very Bellarke™ talk full of emotion and love.

And just when you think everything is going to be alright, he handcuffs her to a chair lol. And they spend a good chunk of the season apart.

When the going gets tough however, they know that they need each other. And after episodes of not speaking to each other they have another one of their Bellarke™ talks and hugs where Bellamy says “I was so mad at you for leaving. I don’t want to feel that way anymore” And then they hug like this, like c’monnnnnnn platonic my ass.

I’m going to speed up for the sake of getting to more stuff. But they end season 3 as they always do, fighting the evil together. Other highlights include Clarke’s (brainwashed) mom using Bellamy as her 1st choice to sacrifice in front of Clarke. There’s also a cute hand holding scene hgngnghngg

For all the angst however, this is the first season when other people call them out on their feelings (mainly Bellamy’s tho) for each other well Octavia already called him out during the first hug but that doesn’t count because She knows him too well. His other friends call him out for not being devoted to his old girlfriend Gina (who died) and Murphy comparing his feeling for Emori (his CANON love interest) to Clarke.

S4

Ok, I know a lot of this post has been focused on Bellamy’s feelings and that’s mostly because Clarke has had a love interest in every season so she hasn’t had time to recognize her own feelings. However during s4, we get to see the extent of just how much Clarke means to Bellamy as well. There are a lot of moments in this season so I’m just going to try and focus on the big ones/my faves.

(This isn’t super important, but in the 1st episode of s4, Clarke is still grieving her gf Lexa who died and IMMEDIATELY AFTER, we get a cut to Bellamy like way to be subtle guys. no platonic explanation for this edit)

Ok basically what you need to know about s4 is that the world is going to end by a nuclear radiation cloud thingy called Praimfaiya and it’s up to Bellarke (along with some other peeps lol) to save everyone from it. So one of the things Clarke has to do is write a list of 100 people to choose for a potential bunker. So of course Clarke puts Bellamy on spot 99 but can’t bring herself to write her own name. So Bellamy who is sleeping on the couch wakes up because his Clarke is sad sirens are going off to tell her to put her name down. (If I’m on that list, you’re on that list) Still she can’t do it sO BELLAMY DOES IT FOR HER (because this boy needs her to be with him). and then he puts his hand on her AND SHE LAYS HER HEAD ON HIS HAND....so tender.

Ok so a few episodes later Bellamy (and Kane) get held hostage and Clarke has to sacrifice part of a large shelter that they need to escape Praimfaiya for them, it’s a tough decision but one that Clarke obviously makes. (Literally the only reason Bellamy was even taken was because Roan knew how much he meant to specifically Clarke). I can’t find a gif, but trust me it’s worrisome

Ok god next episode is when we start getting into that high stakes shit (THAT I LOVE). So basically Clarke and Bellamy are going to be separated AGAIN and right before he leaves Bellamy says this

LIKE IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO ARGUE THAT HE WAS NOT ABOUT TO CONFESS HIS LOVE TO HER LIKE CMON PEOPLE LOOK AT EVERY TROPE OF THIS EVER. Clarke of course was like “No, we will see each other again” but uhufhdjejdwkndwk he was going to say “I love you” in my book

Ok now towards the end of the season, most everyone in Skaikru is in this Bunker except for Octavia and most of the grounders (people on earth who survived the original radiation). I can’t believe I haven’t mentioned this yet but Octavia is Bellamy’s younger sister and throughout the show he has sacrificed so so much for her and risked a lot of things to keep her safe. So now when Bellamy learns that Octavia is alive and outside the bunker he rushes to open the door for her. But here’s the catch: if they open the hatch, there’s a chance the radiation is bad and everyone in the bunker (THE HUMAN RACE) would die. However, because Bellamy needs to save his sister he’s willing to take that risk. For Clarke, that isn’t though and POINTS A GUN at him. But Bellamy says if she shoots she’s “going to have to make it a kill shot”. AND SHE CAN’T BRING HERSELF TO SHOOT HIM. CLARKE CANNOT KILL BELLAMY EVEN IF IT MEANT SAVING THE HUMAN RACE. Of course it was fine but still man c’mon.

And then later in order to try and lighten the mood, when they’re trying to drive the rover, Bellamy makes Clarke laugh and IS SO DISTRACTED BY HER SMILE HE CRASHES THE CAR. ok moving on

OK HERE IS THE BIG LEAGUE MY FAVORITE BELLARKE SCENE IN THE SERIES. So Bellamy and Clarke have this big heart to heart cause Clarke thinks she’s gonna die and it is the softest scene ever. So Clarke, thinking she’s going to die says “You’ve got such a big heart Bellamy. People follow you, you inspire them because of this (his heart). But the only way we’re gonna make sure we survive is if you use this too (his head aka what Clarke represents in their relationship” AND TO THAT RESPONDS “I got you for that” IN THE MOST TENDER WAY LIKE THEY’RE SO IN LOVE. And also they have one of the best bellarke hugs of the show.

So Bellarke and like 6 of their friends head off to the space station to avoid the death wave. However, the satellite that allows them to get in isn’t working, so Clarke sacrifices her self to go and fix it while the rest of her friends can go to space. Bellamy makes the HEARTWRENCHING DECISION to leave her behind in order to save the rest of his friends from the death wave. So Spacekrew go up to the station to wait 6 years until Earth becomes habitable while Bellamy grieves Clarke’s death.

Except she’s not dead

Clarke has special blood called “nightblood” that made her immune to the radiation. She spends the next six years on the only available plot of green land left with her adoptive daughter Madi (who has nightblood and she found when she survived the radiation.) So for the next 6 years CLARKE CALLS BELLAMY ON THIS RADIO EVERY DAY. This radio doesn’t even work, but Clarke calls him anyways to keep her sane and (imo) this is when I truly think Clarke realizes the depth of her feelings for Bellamy, because I for sure wouldn’t call my platonic buddy EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. for 6 years (THATS 2199 DAYS) like c’mon

S5

Ok so 6 years have passed, and Clarke is waiting for Bellamy + Co (Spacekru) to come back to Earth. But before Spacekru comes back, another ship lands on Earth full of escaped prisoners who have been cryogenically frozen for the past like 150 years. So basically they come to Earth, capture Clarke and hold her hostage, while Madi (her adoptive daughter) escapes.

Literally a little while later Spacekru finds their way back to Earth and stumble upon Madi who tells them Clarke is alive, much to all of their shock but ESPECIALLY Bellamy (cause ya know the love of his life is back from the dead). So he goes to find and rescue her his wife from the prisoners. When he finds her they threaten to shoot him on sight, but he has leverage. He can send a signal back to the spaceship so, he trades 283 lives in order to save Clarke because of course he does.

Bellamy and Clarke finally have their moment to reunite 6 years in the making and it’s as soft and sweet as you could ever expect it to be and they have another one of their classic Bellarke™ hugs.

Ok so happy ending now for them right? They’re finally back together !!! Well NOPE because after Bellamy was done grieving Clarke he got himself a girlfriend :))))))) named Echo (context Echo was an assassin/spy the “bad guys” until end of s4, then she went up to space w/ them) but Bellamys whole schtick is forgiveness, which he learnt from Clarke COUGH COUGH . Anyways when Clarke sees them making out for the first time she is let’s just say ~taken aback~

and the second time she sees them she looks straight up heartbroken !!!

Now that Clarke has finally realized her feelings for Bellamy he’s with another girl :///// But Clarke still holds a very dear position in Bellamy’s heart and we see that when he confronts his sister. Remember Octavia? The sister who he would do anything for??? Well now she’s kinda lost her marbles and became an evil dictator when she was leading everyone in the bunker. So now due to ~plot~ Octavia wants Clarke dead. Bellamy CANNOT have this happen. I mean he just got her back !!! And he pleads for Octavia to save her life and Octavia says this

HIS SISTER WHO KNOWS HIM BEST (well besides Clarke lmao) CALLED HIM OUT ON HIS FEELINGS. And the best part is that Bellamy doesn’t even try to deny it. Then he says “I can’t let you kill Clarke , O” AND PROCEEDS TO POISON HIS SISTER. THE ONE WHO HE HAS RISKED HIS LIFE FOR LIKE FOREVER (she doesn’t die tho) Bellamy choses Clarke over her without hesitation, and that has come a long way my friends. 

Ok while, we’re riding this high it gets kinda worse. So, remember Clarke’s adoptive daughter Madi? Well now Spacekrew wants to put this thing called the flame (ok sorry I glossed over it before but it’s really important to the show, I just hate it !) which all previous leaders of the grounder people had, in Madi’s head because she’s the ~destined~ leader (it’s confusing I know just roll with it). Clarke is like fuck no because she also hates the flame (queen) and doesn’t want Madi to become a leader and carry that burden. So Bellamy locks Clarke up to get to Madi, but then Clarke grabs Madi and leaves Bellamy to die in Octavia’s apocalyptic fighting pit to fend for his life.

Not looking great right? Bear with me for a moment lol. So flash forward to the end of the season and one of the prisoner dudes accidentally sets off a bomb that’s going to destroy the one green valley that was left. Bellamy is pissed at Clarke for leaving him to die, but Clarke was only trying to save Madi but doesn’t know how to fix this. Then Madi (our mini bellarke shipper) tells Bellamy how important she is to him. Like this girl probably watched her make these calls every morning, SHE KNOWS

And just like that Bellamy cannot be mad at Clarke anymore, because he realizes the bond and isolation and dare I say LOVE she must have for him to do that. So they all make it back up to space as Earth explodes for the 2nd time (RIP). So remember that prision ship with cryogenic pods? Yea so now basically everyone who is on Earth is going to rest in these pods until Earth heals itself. Except it doesn’t (at least not in the 10 years they had hoped for). So two of Bellarke’s friends and couple named Monty and Harper stay awake and spend their remaining years finding another planet to live on. And when they find one 125 years later guess who they picked to wake up first. You guessed it, the co leaders themselves Bellarke. So they have a tender moment watching the sun rise over this new planet

S6

Ok this is the last season before we’re caught up but my god it’s a big one for Bellarke. Ok so the season starts off on this new planet and everyone is distrustful of Clarke for what she did on Earth to protect her daughter and make ONE personal sacrifice when she sacrifices everything for everyone all the time god Anyways, on this new planet due to this like “red sun” they hallucinate on the surface and Bellamy says to Clarke “I don’t need you anymore Clarke”(remember this it’s important). After the red sun fiasco, the actual residents of the planet show up (they were descended from an earthship that came there like 250~ years ago).

(I can’t believe I almost forgot to put this but Bellamy tells Clarke about the radio calls before they hallucinate and it’s such a whole some scene and helps to bridge the gap between them once more)

So the people show Bellarke + crew their customs which includes a ceremony where they repent and let go of their past mistakes. Clarke uses this to apologize to Bellamy for her actions as she declares to him “Hey, you’re my family too. I lost sight of that. But I promise I will never forget it again” like boyo that scene brings me to tears like fuck !!! and then once again they have a classic Bellarke™ hug and god it’s a GOOD one.

So yay, they’re on good terms !! That means something bad is about to happen again per usual. So it turns out the leaders of this group of people have been alive for 100s of years using these “mind drives” to back their consciousness up and put into new bodies when their current body dies (fun!). And take a guess as to who has the special blood and can be a new host :))))))))))

Clarke gets stolen and *dies* so Josephine can take over her body. While Josie!Clarke fools everyone for like an episode, guess who is the first to think ‘hey that’s not really Clarke’ ofc our boy Bellamy. AND THEN THEY GIVE BELLAMY AN ENTIRE EPISODE TO GRIEVE CLARKE LIKE HE IS THE ONLY ONE WHO LOOKS THIS SAD THROUGHOUT THE EPISODE. way to be subtle JR

But then guess what !!! Clarke isn’t dead. She’s trapped in her own mind, but very alive. And you’ll never guess how Bellamy finds out. Josie!Clarke taps her fingers on her legs and Bellamy interprets it as morse code that translate into “ALIVE”. LIKE IMAGINE TRYING TO EXPLAIN TO SOMEONE THAT YOUR SUPPOSED DEAD WIFE BESTIE IS STILL ALIVE CAUSE SHE SENT YOU MORSE CODE, LIKE MY BOY I KNOW YOU LOVE HER BUT THAT’S QUITE A STRETCH.

Anyways, this sends Bellamy into overdrive mode, because goddamn it he is not losing her a 3rd time. Throughout the next episodes we see Bellamy prioritize Clarke over everyone, including his girlfriend Echo when she is in danger. He risks himself and even the lives of others to try and save Clarke to get Josie out of her head. And it all culminates to this masterpiece of a Bellarke scene.

Clarke’s heart stops and she won’t get up and Bellamy arguably becomes the most desperate he has ever been. He whispers, “the head and the heart” before LITERALLY BECOMING HER HEART AND PERFORMING CPR ON HER AND BANGING ON HER CHEST TO GET HER TO WAKE UP (HOW MUCH FURTHER CAN THEY TAKE THIS METAPHOR). Even when Octavia gives up, Bellamy yells at her that she’s not dead. “I need you” the first time he has openly admitted that he PERSONALLY needs her in his life. “You’re a fighter Clarke now get up and fight”. Clarke literally (in her mindspace) finds the will to get up and fight by hearing Bellamy’s voice. And like a miracle she wakes up and AN ICONIC AND BEAUTIFUL Bellarke™ hug occurs, even though it looked like she was literally about to kiss him !!!!!! Like tell me these aren’t heart eyes ?!!??!

So then for the rest of the few episodes Bellamy is still super protective of Clarke but they have to split up again because ~plot~. BUT WE HAVE ONE MORE GREAT HURT/COMFORT BELLARKE MOMENT IN THE FINALE. Clarke’s mother had just died, and who does she seek in a crowd for comfort: Bellamy...hopefully you know this by now. God they give each other such meaningful looks in this last scene and have another once again iconic Bellarke™ hug, but it’s a hug where they run into each other like from s2 !!!!! parallels

So they end s6 closer than ever and now we’re all caught up in the present to s7 and lemme be honest besides 7x11, it’s been a HORRIBLE bellarke season, but last episode has had things shake up finally god. So basically everyone assumed Bellamy was dead (including Clarke!!!), but *surprise surprise* he’s alive, but as they soon find out he’s been brainwashed by an evil cult. NOW IT’S CLARKE’S TURN TO SAVE HIM BY BEING HIS HEAD LIKE HE WAS HER HEART LAST SEASON (or I at least hope so). As of writing this post, Bellarke isn’t canon but I’ve been watching this show for 5 years and these two have such a hold on my heart it’s embarrassing, but I hope this explained to you why I and many others will be ridiculously obsessed when it comes to them hehe. Pray for us to be canon, we only have 5 eps left for this beautiful story to come to a conclusion.

[sunlitroom]

Hi! For the ship chart - Gobblepot, Wayleska, BatCat, Nygmakins

Thanks for asking, anon :)

Well, I like all of these :D  But to elaborate.  And by elaborate, I mean - write a massive essay, because I’ve been in lockdown for over a month now.

Gobblepot - The best OTP of all OTPs

I’ve written a ton of meta (how unfashionable of me) and had conversations with very clever people about Gotham’s writing.  It has its flaws - as does everything - but when it does things well, it does them well.  Jim and Oswald are paralleled from beginning to end.  Even when they’re not technically sharing a story - it’s made clear that these people are connected.  Prisoners offered a good example of that, which I recapped here

Jim and Oswald’s connection is made clear right at the beginning - we start off with their story.  Jim’s freshly arrived in town, full of big ideas and hopes.  He has a shiny new job and a beautiful fiance.   Oswald doesn’t seem to have the same external trappings of growth and success - but he’s planted several seeds in the hope they’ll come to fruition later.

It’s interesting to see how reckless and brazen they both are in season one, too.  They both stare down the barrel of a gun at points, and practically swagger up to certain people and dare them to kill them.  They both retain their impulse to thumb their noses at authority, and do downright dangerous things - but they become increasingly less blithe about it over the seasons as their respective trauma accumulates.  There’s a joy in it at the outset, more of a desperate grimness as we go on.

We also get to see their vulnerabilities.  There’s little hints early on that there’s more underneath.  Jim might look like the invulnerable golden boy but - to quote a line from Silence of the Lambs - his face is all scars, if you know how to look.  Look at his immediate bond with the bereaved Bruce, because Jim saw his father die at the same age.  Look at Jim’s reaction when Loeb comments about not following in his father’s footsteps.  Look how quickly his relationship with Barbara falls apart - in fact, just look at it in the first place.  

Oswald’s vulnerabilites are more and less obvious.  He’s the Other to Jim’s all-American hero.  He’s flung about all over the place in season one - tiny-looking in comparison to the likes of Falcone and Maroni.  He’s left with a permanent limp after Fish’s beating.  Less obviously, we see that he’s strongly motivated by his need to make his mother happy, and that the notion of causing her shame hurts him to the point of tears.

All that kind of stuff, all the careful details, built slowly, really make it for me.  They’re built on later - in many ways they’re very different, but in others, very similar.

This difference/similarity plays out in their encounters, too.  They’re oddly fascinated by each other.  Oswald’s attraction is made very apparent from the outset .  Yes - Jim might be another piece on the chessboard (albeit one he won’t sacrifice) - but he blushes and stares and lights up when Jim appears.  Even later, when all the hurts and wrongs between them have mounted up, he still can’t quite resist gazing.

Jim’s a combination of uneasy but fascinated in Oswald’s company.   The early scene in the alley pinpoints it so well - the moment right after this one:

Oswald - who is adept at reading people (in season one, anyway) grins - because Jim is rapt.  He has his whole attention.  To steal a line from Hannibal this time. he watched the red sparks pinwheel deep in his eyes and felt the excitement of a child approaching a distant fair.  Although, in this case - it’s all more illicit and scary.  Jim knows he shouldn’t go to this fair, and this fair is a dangerous place.

And that odd fascination never really goes away.  Even at points when Jim is angered or revolted by Oswald’s actions - he’s never repulsed.  He’s more likely to shake him than turn his back on him.

This dynamic might morph a bit, depending on circumstance - but Jim always stands too close, stares too long, likes to tease, and is quick to head in Oswald’s direction when the chips are down.

A last point. Something else I enjoy is that they know the best and worst of each other, and seem to have an endless capacity for forgiveness.

Wayleska - sort of an OTP?  I do find it a heartbreaker of a ship.  

Pre-gas Jeremiah is so instantly smitten with Bruce.  That first interaction and he’s completely gone.  I’m posting the gifs again because they’re glorious.  I know they’re all different sizes, but meh.  

What makes it all so painful is that you can see - post-gas - this is still there.  He’s still head-over-heels, and there’s slivers of awareness there.  But the gas has twisted everything, and you can see part of him is mortified and pained at how this is all playing out.

Especially here, in these next gifs.  Even the big showy gesture is laced with pain, and afterwards just seals it

Given his secretive and hidden-away past, you could probably hazard a guess that this is the first time Jeremiah has been in love.  On top of that, he seems reserved and restrained by nature.  And here he is - being forced to reveal his feelings like this.  

On saying all that, I loved what I saw in show - but maybe prefer it as a pairing in fics.  Bruce - for me, anyway - doesn’t seem mature enough to deal with the intensity of Jeremiah’s feeling - pre and post-gas.  Maybe when he’s a little older, it’s something he could at least take in and process, but it seems a little one-sided in show just because Bruce doesn’t really seem to recognise what’s happening, let alone parry it.  

The only point where you could argue that he was aware, and that there’s feelings there, I think, is the fact that he’s so angry at Jeremiah.  With Jerome, Bruce almost felt responsible for his actions, and does what he can to mitigate them.  But with Jeremiah, Bruce refuses to even tell him that they have a connection in order to save people’s lives.  His anger and obstinacy feels more visceral and - if I prod it - looks like hurt and betrayal.  Bruce saw Jeremiah, at least, as a friend.  His reaction to the loss of that seems a bit disproportionate - so maybe there are nascent feelings there?

But generally. yes, better in fic where the writer can take more license and time with Bruce.

BatCat - It’s not an OTP - but it’s sweet and I like it?  I’m not so mad keen about how forgetful Alfred and Bruce can sometimes be of Selina in earlier seasons, and sometime tone-deaf at points later - but yes, it’s nice.

Nygmakins - I like this.  It’s maybe not an OTP - but I ship it.  The foundations aren’t quite as extensive as with Gobblepot - but they’re there.  They’re both seemingly sweet-natured, sciencey and fascinated with the darker side of life.  Very early on, we know they have interactions that we don’t see.  Lee apparently allows Ed to use the lab and exam room when he wants, and he dreamily remarks that she smells nice.

Later, we see more similarity as their duality becomes more apparent, and their shared taste for violence, darkness and power.  Lee enjoys the applause of the crowds in the Narrows just as much as Ed enjoys the audience adulation for his ‘gameshow’.  Lee’s revenge on Sofia is as protracted and merciless as Ed’s on Oswald.  

Last up - they both have a desire to be entirely seen, which is something they seem to find in each other.

Thanks for the ask, anon.  I fire the same pairings back at you, if you feel like answering :)

[sparda3g]

Kimetsu no Yaiba Chapter 176 Review

The anime season is over, but there’s a movie on the horizon. It’s an interesting choice for the studio to take for it will be the arc that anime only fans will never forget. Memory can last forever and Kokushibo can prove it. This sole battle in the manga has been brutal, bloody, and badass. With Kokushibo’s head destroyed, is it truly over? End or not, what a battle to remember.

With the past two chapters of Kokushibo remembering his time with Yorichi that shaped his life to this day, it’s time for more insightful look on his feelings towards his younger brother. I know it’s really early to call, but I did assume this would lead to his demise. I was not technically wrong, but the chills; more on it later. Although Yorichi anticipated the new generation to surpass them, the ideal and the sight of his smile have disturbed Kokushibo dearly, past and present.

He couldn’t stomach his “optimism;” truly believed his generation was the peak and nothing will surpass them. His egotistical nature resurfaced once more, proving his stubbornness to admit the possibilities. It plays a huge role towards this battle for it will be the deciding factor to his recovery. He takes one last look on Pillars and their prowess; giving his overview that only boast his ego to continuously deny Yorichi.

You have Tokito, refusing to let go of his sword, even without his lower half body. It’s madness, but bless his soul to even fight to the very end. You have Genya, who was a human that used Demon Art. Kudos to him to use it that essentially became part of a game changer. You have Sanemi, who refused to give up. A character that I didn’t expect to stick to the Shounen’s code, but welcoming for sure. Lastly, you have Himejima, who surpassed the limitation of your average human; comparable to demon, which is in some ways, a compliment. This overview allowed me to reevaluate each character and pay great amount of respect for their amazing efforts.

The biggest question going into the chapter is, is Kokushibo finally dead? The more I read his lines from the start, the more it was beginning to lean “no,” and it bothered me badly. Akaza had a strong will to fight in which ultimately grant him a second wind. Doma had no purpose, so he had nothing to strive back to recover. Kokushibo’s ego was too solid to break down; refusing to submit to defeat. His resolve was growing strong as well. Once he is determined to win, even without a head, the answer is decided: second wind inbound. Honestly, it was absolute bone-chilling when he started to move, let alone his words left me shaken up. In short, shit!

It’s a heart-racing event with the battle resume; got me on the edge of my seat. Himejima tells Sanemi they must go for broke; spam the hell out of their attacks until he dies. Above all, don’t let Tokito and Genya’s sacrifice go in vain. Sanemi’s tears actually hits me. He truly has it hard. He’s trying his hardest to kill his enemy and keep his closed ones safe. Honestly, he didn’t deserve this. I wish anime only fans know this.

I don’t really know if Genya is truly dead, but if he is, that’s just cruel. Same for Tokito. It’s crazy because they’re new generations so to say, yet Sanemi outlives both. New generation? What’s that? True, there’s only one Mist Pillar, but he was young. To make the matter sickening, Kokushibo even cuts his arm off to release him. Was that really necessary?! I know he did it to remove the sword, but…Stop it! He’s already dead!

It’s all or nothing in this bone-chilling sensation. Himejima and Sanemi have to spam attacks with every ounce of strength left. It’s like playing a game that prompts you to tap rapidly, or use all commands to kill the boss. It’s damn crazy. Even with the spamming, Kokushibo is slowly recovering. Then, he grows a new head. God hates Pillars. While I’m referencing video games, his head growth can be described with two letters: GG. Aside of references, this was gut-wrenching.

The design of Kokushibo’s newly formed body is sickening; I really like it. It gives me that feeling of a horror game, where the boss has a transformation, and so, you have to spray and pray. Actually, I hate that feeling. It’s a nightmare when you have to fight them with limited resources. It won’t stop them from spamming. All they can think about is, “Die! Die! Die!” Okay, I’m done referencing. This would mean a new round of battle has begun; that is until Kokushibo sees the sight he needed to see for the longest time.

I really like when the story uses the reflection or mirror for the character to see themselves. It could mean true feelings, a life of what could have been, or in this case, an image of their ugly self. Kokushibo sees himself in the reflection of Sanemi’s sword; now realized how ugly he has become. The reflection of Kid Yorichi emerge in his head, wanted to be like him. It’s a touching moment that made the moment of tears all the more tragic. Yorichi had looked up to his older brother, a role model. He even dreamt to be the second best Samurai in the country. Kokushibo, what have you done?

In the most uplifting turnaround so far, Tokito’s Red Blade’s effect finally kicks in, disintegrating his body from the wounded area. It’s pretty poetic since the Red Blade represents the Sun Breathing alas Yorichi. With the memory of his younger brother and the recollection of the time where he couldn’t finish the job, it’s all coming back to full circle. It’s even better with Kokushibo’s dwindling recovery due to mix of the effect and his sense of morality. It’s the ultimate package of defeat, and it’s not without a great (possible) closure to his character.

When it all comes down to why Kokushibo became a demon, it all boils down to desperation. Not knowing his consequences, he thought he was in the righteous path to superiority, but the reality is, he discarded everything, including his honor. Forgetting what it truly means to be a Samurai; now realizing he no longer carries the same mantle as his time as a human. The body begins to rot, remembering the one thing that set him to this path: to become like Yorichi, his younger brother. This was just touching.

I have to admit, I actually drew sympathy towards him as he was slowly loses himself and questions everything about his image. You can sense his ego got the worst of him and not realizing how far he has betrayed his once pride and joy. It’s ironic and sad. It reminds me of a series where the character hasn’t realized until the last moment before the end how low he has become; tragic and painful. Kokushibo was disgraceful but relatable. People can forget where they came from, even when they believe they’re in the path they have chosen. It’s a sad story that could have been avoided but what’s done is done.

The last words is a sentimental parallel to Kid Yorichi’s wish. They both looked up to each other, yet fate separated them from each other. I’m almost glad Yorichi didn’t kill Kokushibo. He leans more towards to Akaza than Doma in terms of attachment, and I’m glad to be the case. It’s a sad brotherhood story all in all, and this tends to hit me in the feels dearly.

It goes without saying, this was a pretty tensed chapter. The action heated up tremendously, only for the emotion to turn up as well. The tension got me racing. The sequence was intense. Still not sure about causalities, but I’m ready to accept it. I think. At last, this was a great swan song for Kokushibo if he were to end here. It’s possible for one more thing left to cover before closing this battle. It’s only matter of time before returning to Upper Moon 4 and the final boss.

[romanticsuspense]

Man of Worth

By the time the end credits started rolling on ‘Man of Worth’ I had the biggest, most idiotic grin on my face.  Then I shut the TV off, turned to my dog, who was the only one in the room at the time, and said to him “People are going to hate this episode. But, I loved it.”  Which kind of perfectly encapsulates my entire Outlander viewing experience this season.  

I didn’t intend to write a separate review for this episode; my original plan was to mention it briefly in my Season 4 review.  But, as I started writing, I had a couple of revelations, and it became too long to not be a separate post.  So, here it is, my thoughts on ‘Man of Worth.’

“I’ve chosen this.”

Ian giving himself up to the Mohawk was one of my favorite scenes of this episode.  I loved seeing the look of triumph and excitement on his face when he makes it through the gauntlet.  I’m proud of him for making this choice.  I don’t have much else to say about that scene, except it was really wonderful and emotional and I’m going to miss John Bell’s Young Ian, and of course Rollo.

I am currently reading A Breath of Snow and Ashes, and it’s making me really curious about how they’re going to write Ian into future episodes.  I think it would be really cool to do an Ian-centric episode as the penultimate episode of Season 5.  The episode could cover his entire time with the Mohawk, and end with him walking up to Fraser’s Ridge.  Then the finale opener would be a big Ian reunion.  I don’t remember enough about the timeline of The Fiery Cross to know if that would even work, but I’m pretty sure he returns very close to the end of the book?  Anyway, that’ just a thought I had.  I would definitely watch an entire hour of television starring John Bell.

“You’ve a fine, braw lad.”

In case you haven’t read the book, in Drums of Autumn, Jamie and Claire make it back to North Carolina in time for the birth.  The chapter is told in Claire’s point of view.  As such, the focus of the scene is on Jamie and Claire becoming grandparents.  Gabaldon also uses the birth as a way for Jamie and Brianna to reconnect after the Rogergate debacle.  Brianna demands that Jamie stay in the room with her, and they bond through this shared experience.  The birth is great the way it’s written in the book.  But I, personally, didn’t care much if this was a scene that got changed.  So, going into the episode, I didn’t have very strong feelings about who I believed should be there or not.  I was curious about it, and I hoped that Roger would be there, but I wasn’t going to be disappointed if he wasn’t.  

Once word got out that there was going to be a change to the birth (it was hinted that it was timing related), speculation began as to who, exactly, would be present while Brianna gave birth to her boy.  Would Roger be there?  Or maybe Claire rides ahead and Jamie misses the birth?  Then we all picked apart the 30 second teaser trying to figure out who an un-pregnant Brianna was running to, and whether or not you could tell if Brianna was still pregnant in the short clip of her talking to Claire on the bed.  How would it all play out?  What changes would they make?

When the close-up of Brianna’s pained face showed up on screen, all that speculation just flew out the window for me.  I wasn’t thinking about Jamie or Claire, or even Roger.  I was thinking, “Holy crap, this woman is giving birth without any pain meds!”  and then “Aw, how sweet for Phaedre, Lizzie and Jocasta to all be in the room with her!”  and then “Holy crap, Brianna is a mother...a MOTHER!”  I wasn’t distracted by thoughts of who should or shouldn’t be there.  I was caught up in Sophie Skelton’s beautiful acting, and enjoying seeing this woman who has already been through so much, go through yet another life-changing moment.  I saw a young woman become a mother.  I saw the three women who have supported her and shown her great kindness during her pregnancy, by her side.  I saw a mother’s joy holding her son for the first time.  Yes, the way Gabaldon wrote the birth in the book is beautiful.  But, the show writers have done something beautiful as well by shifting the focus back onto Brianna and her newborn son.

Part of Brianna’s journey this season has been learning that she can be independent, strong and capable, while still leaning on and opening up to those around her.  Brianna has spent the majority of her pregnancy in a strange place, in a strange time, surrounded by strange people.  But, she eventually opens up to a relationship with Jocasta.  She forgives Lizzie.  And she grows close to Phaedre, Murtagh and Lord John.  I really loved seeing Brianna go through this mostly by herself, with the help of her new friends and family.  It’s just another example of Brianna adapting to her circumstances and soldiering on.  I’m not mourning the fact that Jamie and Claire weren’t there.  There will be plenty of Fraser Family bonding in Season 5.

[Side Note: While I didn’t mind Jamie not being there for the birth, I will acknowledge that I found it very strange that Jamie hasn’t held a baby at all this season.  He didn’t hold Germain.  He didn’t hold Brianna’s boy.  I wonder if that was directors’ choices that in the moment didn’t feel very significant?  I don’t know.  I’m not mad about it.  But I do think it’s weird.]

Another great example of Brianna’s character growth is the scene where Jamie, Claire, Murtagh and Jocasta are waiting for her to come down to dinner, and she finally arrives, giving them a small smile as she sits down, in between her father and mother.  That’s not Brianna “getting over” Roger.  She’s still heartbroken.  That’s Brianna soldiering on.  That’s Brianna reaching out to her family in a time of need.  That’s Brianna knowing that she can handle whatever life throws at her next.  She may be heartbroken, but there’s dinner to be had with her family.  

"I need time.”

One of my three wishes for the final episodes of this season was that Roger would come straight back to Brianna with Jamie and Claire.  When I read Drums of Autumn, I never understood why he didn’t just run back to Brianna as soon as he could.  I felt this was out of character and figured Diana only wrote it this way to prolong their separation for the drama.  Why would he hesitate?  What on earth was he thinking?  I just didn’t get it.  But, one of the great things about this show is that it’s a visual medium, which means I pick up on things that I don’t necessarily catch in the books.  Roger’s motivations finally clicked for me when I noticed parallels between Claire, Roger and Jamie’s conversation in this episode and Brianna and Claire’s abortion conversation in ‘The Deep Heart’s Core.’

Now, to be clear, I’m not saying that Brianna’s abortion decision is equivalently difficult to Roger’s decision.  I’m just saying that they are asking themselves the same question: “Can I raise a baby that may be the child of a rapist?”  And the two conversations which raise that very question definitely had some parallels. 

“I know this is an impossible decision.” || “I know this is a huge decision, Roger.”

In ‘The Deep Heart’s Core,’ Claire “walks Brianna through the surgical steps of ending her pregnancy, never once mentioning herself as a grandmother or her own wishes. Her selflessness and willingness to put Bree’s choice above her own reservations tugged at my heart. […] Claire is just as detailed and careful in her description of her other option: traveling back before the baby is born and still in her body, lest it be torn from her in the passage through. When both options are presented, she expresses sympathy and holds her peace.” (source: TV Kills Time)

Claire approaches the conversation with Roger in much the same way.  Carefully and slowly giving him all the information he needs to ultimately make a decision.  First, she tells him that Brianna was raped.  Then she tells him that Brianna is pregnant.  And then finally that he may not be the father.  Claire remains objective, and doesn’t pass judgement on Roger for what happened with Brianna, even though she obviously feels sympathetic—it’s written all over her face.  Claire could, as Brianna’s mother, demand that Roger come back with them straight away. She could force a decision out of him, much like Jamie is trying to do.  But, Claire remains neutral.  You can see every time Jamie jumps in, that Roger reacts by turning back to Claire.  Claire is the safe zone.  She wants Roger, much like Brianna, to know all of his options and make an informed decision, and she doesn’t want to influence that decision. She knows that if she pushes him to choose before he’s ready, that he wouldn’t be making the decision on his own, and she knows it’s not her decision, or Jamie’s, to make.  While Jamie pushes for Roger to decide quickly: “Make up your mind.”  Claire understands that Roger needs time to think: “Well, if you need time, then you should take it.  Because this is our daughter.  So, you’d better be sure.”  Roger replies, “I know.” 

So, Roger is presented with the same conundrum that Brianna faced: “Can I raise a baby that may be the child of a rapist?”  Where does his hesitancy come from?

We know Roger loves Brianna.  Roger has given us no reason to doubt his love for her.  When Jamie says that he mistook Roger for the man who raped Brianna, Roger replies, “How could you think such a thing?  I love her!” With zero hesitancy, he says he’ll take her home, back to their own time. 

Then Claire tells him that Brianna is pregnant and glee flashes across his face.  When Jamie points out that Brianna has to stay, but Roger doesn’t, Roger says, again with zero hesitancy: “What, you think I’d leave her?  We’re handfast, She’s my wife.  And now she’s carrying my child.”

It’s only when Claire gently reminds him that he may not be the father that Roger begins to unravel.  “Bonnet.”  Bloody fucking Bonnet.  This is when he says “It’s all too much.”  This is when he hesitates.

So, it’s not a question of whether or not Roger loves Brianna or whether or not he wants to be with Brianna, like I originally thought.  In fact, he loves Brianna so much, that he knows he has to do right by her and give this decision due diligence.  It would be unfair to Brianna, if he were to go back to her with any doubts in his mind whatsoever about how he feels about the baby. Brianna understands that this is a decision he will have to make, because she had to make the same choice—that’s why she tells Claire to tell him everything—“Brianna wanted you to know so you would have the choice.”  

Roger and Brianna both wrestled with the question “Can I raise a child that may be Bonnet’s?”  They both took the time they needed to process it, alone.  And they both came to the same resolution—to accept and love the child regardless of its paternity.

Brianna: “I’m keeping it.  [...] If there’s even the slightest chance it’s his, then I’m gonna keep it.  And not just for him, but for me, too.  And if it’s not his, then I’ll love it anyway.  I know I will.”

Roger: “Take me to see my son.”  

I know there are still going to be many people who don’t like Roger for his hesitancy here and will use it as yet another reason to hate him.  But, I don’t fault him for it, and I’ve made peace with this part of the story.  He takes the time to make a difficult decision.  He doesn’t put the burden or the emotional labor of that choice on Brianna, which he would have done if he hadn’t taken the time to make the decision on his own, before returning to her.  That would be entirely unfair to Brianna, and he knows it.  When he returns, he wants to be able to promise her that he will be, in every way that matters, the baby’s father.  There’s a quote in the book from Brianna that didn’t make it into the show, but when Roger proposes she tells him, “If I make a vow like that, I’ll keep it, no matter what it costs me!”  Both Roger and Brianna hold vows and promises sacred.  When Roger returns and claims the baby as his own son, he is making a vow that he intends to keep, no matter what it costs him.  

Apparently there was debate in the writer’s room about whether to include Roger taking the time to think.  But, ultimately they decided to include it because: “We have story in the future that we have to think about, so when we’re dealing with a moment now, we have to think about what’s going to happen down the road.”

Hearing this gives me hope that the writers will explore the “love or obligation” motif from the end of Drums of Autumn in Season 5. There’s still quite a bit of story from Drums that didn’t make it into the finale.  Including a couple of really great conversations between Roger and Bree, and my all-time favorite Outlander quote, delivered by Roger to Bree.  None of these conversations would have made sense if Roger had come back immediately.  So, keeping Roger’s “thinking time” in this episode sets up the “love or obligation” motif quite nicely for next season.  

I can’t move onto another scene without singing the praises of Sam Heughan, Caitriona Balfe, and Richard Rankin.  This scene was so wonderfully acted by all parties and these were some really interesting character dynamics.  Roger and Claire automatically share a trust, and easily fall back into a familiarity, even though they haven’t seen each other for, what, 2 years?  But, this is the first time we’re seeing Jamie and Roger interacting.  I know Claire wasn’t too impressed by their brawl, but I loved it.  I’m glad Roger finally got a chance to throw a few punches, considering it wasn’t a fair fight the first time.  I can’t wait to see more of them together next season.  

“You’re Here.” “I’m Here.”

In the book, when Roger returns, there isn’t a sweeping romantic reunion between Roger and Brianna.  He simply walks into the cabin, sees the bairn in Brianna’s arms, cuts the palm of his hand to draw blood, and…“Roger knelt in front of her, and reaching out, pushed the shawl aside and smeared a broad red cross upon the downy curve of the baby’s forehead. ‘You are blood of my blood,’ he said softly, ‘and bone of my bone. I claim thee as my son before all men, from this day forever.’” 

It’s a quiet, yet profound moment in the book and I love it.  But, there’s a part of me that always longed for something a little bigger between Brianna and Roger, not just Roger and the baby.  A hug, a kiss.  Something.  I know that it’s important for Roger to make it clear right away that he intends to be the child’s father. I understand that they haven’t seen each other in nearly a year, and there’s going to be some shyness.  But both of them also spent those months apart taking solace in memories of their night together in Wilmington.  I just wanted something more between Roger and Brianna when they were reunited.  

Well, I got more in this episode.  I fucking loved their reunion in the show.  I think I’ve already posted, like, thirty edits from that scene.  It was romantic and lovely and grand.  Yet also intimate, and a great callback to their reunion hug in ‘Wilmington.’  And even though we didn’t get the blood vow in this episode, or even Roger holding the baby, his line “Take me to see my son” succinctly says everything that needs to be said in that moment.  I’m still hoping that they’ll include the blood vow in Season 5.  But, whether they include the blood vow or not, one thing I’m certain of is that we’ll get to see Roger as a father in Season 5.  And that’s something to be excited about.  

This scene was pure perfection, and the perfect ending to the season.  

[kineticallyanywhere]

Ok I don’t have anything on Lina yet, but Wash I got somethin for. I know u were keen on aspect parallels but what about… class parallels!! Wash would be a wonderful Mage of Blood. As we both like Dahni, check out her blood description- it’s perfect for wash! And Mage- Wash is loyal to a fault and fixates on connections and responsibilities. He gets taken advantage of and pushes around in PFL, and then switches when he feels the stronger bond created by Epsilon-

2: In which, after the bonds he thought he had shattered around him, he completely fixated on and considered his primary responsibility. And he takes up responsibilities with the rvbs very fast- and he gets the freedom and fun that he’d always kinda longed for in PFL But was denied! He suffers from being taken advantage of and jerked around with connections, never finding a stable bond, until the rvbs provide him the trust and strength he needs in the new session

3:  I’m like the Pepe Silvia meme puzzling out classpect stuff rn thanks for listening; more to come4: Looking on it more and more I feel like Tucker would make a fantastic knight of space- the description of it in the tags you linked me to fit really, really well with Tucker, or at least how I perceive him, especially after Church’s death. He slowly grows to drop his facade and become genuinely confident in himself instead of overcompensating; I’m ignoring his season 16 writing, it felt strange to me. But anyway5: Lina makes a great Knight of Mind I think? At first I dismissed it bc I thought PFL had an abundance of mind, but then I realized I was wrong- it was completely chaotic and illogical, nothing made sense about it. Lina fits Knight of Mind really well, if you slightly alter mind’s application. She was constantly refining her abilities, she was obsessive, but always thought she wasn’t enough- wasn’t smart, logical, emotionless enough, and she put up a front she’s still working to drop in s17 

all of this is delicious okay one at a time

a quick contextualization of my thoughts: not to lean to heavily on a single (fan) source, but I really do lean on [this post] a lot when organizing my thoughts for classpects. I love the way it explains each class and aspect in the context of character arcs, which is the angle I typically look by when picking apart characters and what makes them tick overall. so, I’m gonna quote that post A Lot. so:

(this got long!)

Wash: honestly I’m not the most familiar with the mage class, but “realize your own talents and don’t get caught up in self deprecation” mashed with “don’t be apathetic, but don’t be too overly sensitive either” and suddenly I cannot possibly conceive of a counter argument. I’d say by the s17 equivalent of this hypothetical hs au, he’s in the back half of that development track. mage: PFL put him in that “worst of the squad” mindset, despite some evidence of being the most empathetic and enduring light-heart there, which is far from a useless skill). When he gets with the Reds and Blues, he gets to embrace those big sappy speeches about friendship and growth and being there for people and it really really works for him. blood: “don’t be apathetic”: every moment of “what about my behavior made you think I expected to survive” to answering “you can’t just kill everyone” with “why not?” || and then “don’t be too overly sensitive either”: The Screech and his propensity to hold grudges for literal years at a time. But he’s grown so much! Caboose let him have Feelings and Donut talked him down from a grudge (Franklin Delano Donut deserves a freakin commendation for that one btw)Tucker: I gotta think a bit more, but parts of mind still appeal to me for Tucker. back on that post, and bolding the part that catches me: “don’t think of yourself higher or lower than others due to your intelligence; inform others so everyone can understand.” He seems to have this internal flip flop over the series about what he wants – to be average or to be the cool guy, or to not care or to be in charge. Knights in general have that internal vs external presentation conflict, so whatever aspect we’re not really in danger of losing that, but… breath maybe? (”learn to be assertive, not aggressive or passive”) He tends to kinda go with the flow of things. “Fight these Reds now, go on the Alien Quest now, find the Director now, do what Wash says now, fight this war now” and on and on and on until you hit s15 and he kinda snaps, ready to just freakin murder Temple until Carolina stops him (from taking the same path Wash did but that’s a different meta about parallel character arcs). And then (how I see it) he spooked himself and tried to fall back into being That Guy in s16, who wasn’t even enthused to kill a weird cow beast and could just cruse along through the bs nightmare of his life by cracking bad jokes and living ridiculously. but he’s not that person anymore so the attempt comes off as… well, like that. this weird blend of still kinda used to being in charge but still unwilling to face up to what he does wrong because it hurts too much to look at and there are other weird things he could be doing if he literally takes two steps in any direction. Or at least that’s how I parse it. 

Carolina: The whole things just feels spot on. I'd considered it in partial for Tucker up there, but "don’t think of yourself higher or lower than others due to your intelligence; inform others so everyone can understand" is just. spot on. literally a whole thing in season 10 was that the others didn't trust her because she wouldn't tell anyone what was happening. Also all the things you said. 

OKAY THAT THING I SAID BEFORE ABOUT NOT BEING ABLE TO EXPLAIN THE CONNECTION BETWEEN CAROLINA AND TUCKER i SEE? (besides armor color) They're knights. They're both knights. They do That Knight Thing that “please be yourself” thing-- just. yeah. that.

[the-trashy-phoenix]

Supernatural season 8 review (part 1)

Link to part 2:

The first episode of the eighth season resumes from Dean coming back from purgatory and doing a weird spell to bring back also a friend he’s made in there, Benny. This starting in medias res was a bit puzzling, because we expect to see what’s happened in purgatory and we’ll learn only later on that those events will be recalled by flashbacks. It is also quite strange to introduce a new character without any presentation in the first episode, especially because Benny raises some questions in the viewer. As a matter of fact, he’s a vampire who’s helped Dean in the last year proving himself trustworthy, so that he’ll come back through the season, for example having the entire episode 5 devoted to him and his story, to help the brothers. This character is another step forward in Dean’s personal growth as a hunter: as I pointed out in the previous review, in the first seasons he would’ve never become friends with a vampire, but now, thanks to his wide experience, he’s able to distinguish real good creatures from evil monsters. This attitude, which could seem more Sam-like, brings about a sort of role reversal between the brothers, as for some time Sam will be skeptical about Benny’s trustworthiness, maybe just as a reaction to Dean’s lack of trust towards his friend Amy, who establishes a kind of parallel with Benny.

As if Benny’s appearance wasn’t confusing enough, we’re led to question at least on other two points. First of all, where’s Castiel? He was sent to purgatory together with Dean, but he didn’t come back with him. We’ll get the answer thanks to the many flashbacks Dean recalls about his rough year in purgatory: Dean refuses to talk explicitly about what’s happened to Cas assuming he’ll never come back and behaving as usual when he suffers for someone’s loss (we’ve seen an identical attitude about Bobby’s death).

Secondly, where’s Sam and what has he been doing during Dean’s absence? We find out together with Dean that he’s been living a normal life with a girl, Amelia, and his dog. So purgatory and Sam’s life are the alternative objects of flashbacks through the entire season, whose consequential plot is often complicated by continuous switches in time, marking once for all the big difference from the first linear seasons. Sam was the first to maintain the promise not to look for the brother while he was dead, and he thought it was the way Dean wanted him to live. I found it quite strange of eighth-season Sam, as he should be completely aware he can’t quit his hunter life and have a normal one as he hoped when he was younger. Also Dean is comprehensively mad at him, but it is as if Sam lived a kind of illusion he was too tired to let go. As always, both of them have a good point, but this time Dean seems to be more right, because they find out Crowley kidnapped Kevin, who asked for Sam’s help several times, so of course the brothers immediately start looking for him. Throughout the entire season Sam will keep on affirming that will be his last mission after which he will definitely quit hunting, even though deep inside I think he knows, as he knew for the whole year Dean was in purgatory, that’s the ultimate impossible illusion.

At this point we’re introduced to the main plot of the season: the Winchesters are willing to close the gates of hell and get rid of all demons once for all, but in order to know how to do that they have to find both the demon tablet and Kevin, the only one able to read it being a prophet, and making him translate it. When the Winchesters manage to do so, they try to keep him safe inside an abandoned ship surveilled by Garth, not the best idea if you ask me, as he’s proven himself a bit clumsy and naive, but I get that he’s the brothers’ best option being, without Castiel, their only friend and helper.

Speaking of the angel, as I said Dean is no help in understanding what’s happened to Cas, so we slowly learn it from flashbacks. At first he just appears on earth without knowing who saved him from purgatory, but he soon finds out that he was rescued by an angel called Naomi, a kind of a boss up in heaven whose aim is to use him. I’m really starting to hate angels more than demons (I never thought I would’ve said such a thing in my life), angels being so manipulative and subtle, while most of the time demons are simply mean as they’re supposed to. By the way, Naomi uses Cas without his consent to spy the Winchesters and to find the angel tablet. As a consequence, Cas begins to have weird behaviour and to take distances from the brothers, who have more and more doubts about him, especially when he kills Samandriel, an angel who has been tortured by Crowley to get information about the angel tablet (at this point all characters are looking for it in separate ways, the Winchesters, Crowley and Castiel/Naomi). The apotheosis of controlled-Cas is the moment when both the Winchesters and Cas find the angel tablet, which is also one of the highest moments of the season, as Cas manages to break free from heaven control. This is the second time he disobeys orders through an act of free will to follow what he thinks is the right side, which of course corresponds to what the brothers, or maybe just Dean, are doing: this time we feel all the heaven pressure Castiel has on his shoulder, and it makes it even more remarkable that he succeeded in escaping from such a powerful master as Naomi. Undoubtedly Dean’s intense speech about needing him and loving him played its part in Cas’ rebellion, and paradoxically disobeying to angels is one of the acts which contribute in making us think of him as the closest to an ideal angel. Having the angel tablet, Castiel just vanishes on his own in order to keep it safe from angels. As it was predictable, Naomi is so powerful she’s able to find him quite easily, demonstrating one more time that Cas’ idea of solving problems without the Winchesters’ help will never end up well (but apparently he’s too stubborn to realise that). So even when Castiel is alive and on earth, we’re not shown many TFW moments, as they often go separate ways and meet up only by chance or because one of them is in desperate need of help (some fans would say that if they were too close there would be too many undeniable Destiel scenes…).

We have to mention that Sam and Dean are finally able to find out where the angel tablet is thanks to Meg. As she’s in middle between good and evil she gets captured and tortured by Crowley and his demons, but at the end she makes her final choice deciding to help the Winchesters, just as Cas will do, breaking free from what they’re supposed to be and do, and that makes them honourably part of team free will. I honestly didn’t expect Meg to die, and above all I didn’t expect her to die fighting demons, her kind, to protect the brothers’ escape. I appreciated so much the deep evolution of her character, from an evil monster to a victim of evil, and I think one last act of love was a good way to conclude her life, even though of course I was sad with her death.

In this season the authors developed the character of Kevin much more, adding his mother to the storyline. They are a rare positive example of parental relationship in Supernatural: Kevin’s mum is a strong woman whose only purpose is to protect her son, a very difficult task considering how dangerous being a prophet is. I really liked her, also because I didn’t expect a secondary character to have this deep participation in the show. As it was clear from Kevin’s very first appearance, he embodies all the unfairness of supernatural world, as he’s just a victim of events, always in need of hiding from opposite forces who want to possess his power, living in the Sam-like illusion he can come back to his normal life when the Winchesters will manage to close the gates of hell. We are led to deeply sympathise with him and his fight against the evidence that his life will never be normal anymore, which is something all Supernatural good characters quite seem to have interiorised at this point.

Just a little mention to a character that’s becoming more stable, Charlie. She comes back in two episodes: one involves a role play, which fully demonstrates her nerd attitude, while the other one is more about her personal story. She’s now one of the few friends Sam and Dean can count on, both humanly and professionally, as she’s become a skilled hunter, and I hope we’ll see more of her going on with the show.

Before moving back to the main plot, I’m analysing once more the relationship between Sam and Amelia. As you remember, he left her only to follow his brother in his last mission, to close the gates of hell, after which he planned to go back to her and his family life. In addition, the situation is complicated by the fact that Amelia finds out her husband, who she believed was dead, is still alive, so she has to choose between the two men she’s in love with. After some time she decides to go back to Sam, but he’s not there waiting for her: I think he knows that she’ll have a good, maybe even better, life without him, while Dean would be completely destroyed by losing his brother, even though he often suggests him to go and live the normal life he’s always wanted from when he was a child. Of course they haven’t closed hell yet, so technically Sam comes back to Dean because the job is not accomplished, but as a matter of fact this is the confirm their brotherly love is stronger than anything else, and they have nothing else to count on except from each other, even if they sometimes seem to forget it. One example is in an episode about Benny, where he’s unjustly accused of having killed people and Sam wants to kill him despite Dean’s attempts to defend him. Benny’s one of the main problems between the Winchesters in this season and Dean does something really bad to save him, which is just partly excusable as Benny was truly innocent. He pretends Amelia is in danger and makes Sam go directly to her instead of hunting Benny. We already know that Dean isn’t able to be rational when he’s mad and desperate, but I think it was a real cheap shot on Sam, Amelia being his current weak point (and love), and Dean could’ve realised that with a little more empathy for his brother.

In the second part of the season a new storyline including a new member of the Winchester family is introduced. During a leap in the past we get to know Henry Winchester, John’s father, who’s part of a sort of secret congregation of educated hunters called Men of Letters. He’s catapulted, together with Abbadon, a very powerful demon, to the present day, where he meets his grandchildren: at first they’re shocked, but then they help him fighting Abbadon, one of the first demons created called knights of hell. They manage to momentarily stop her by cutting her in pieces, but Henry dies in that moment, leaving his son John alone in the past. The arrival of Henry clarifies to the brothers that their father wasn’t abandoned and that their granddad was a very good hunter, father and person, leaving to John the title of worst member of the family. Moreover, finding out all about Men of Letters, who were completely erased by Abbadon, leads them to the bunker, a marvellous and luxury house full of all the books and weapons a hunter could ask for. They will soon begin to call it their home, and I think it was high time they had a safe place where they could both work and relax, also because I, and surely Sam and Dean too, was sick of all those dirty and messy motel rooms.

As always, the most important turning points are in the last episodes, as Kevin is finally able to decipher the demon tablet: in order to close hell, Sam or Dean have to overcome three terrible trials. Of course they have to decide who will do that and, guess what, they fight about it because they both want to sacrifice and think the other brother has suffered more through the years. I have to admit it’s difficult to decide which one endured more pain, so their decision is Dean just because he imposes it to Sam: they can’t imagine destiny will choose for them, as the first trial, killing a hellhound and bathing in his blood, is accomplished by Sam partly by chance. So Sammy, as his second task, has to save a soul from hell and bring it to heaven: they choose Bobby, who was unfairly put in hell, but Sam and him remain stuck in purgatory due to Crowley’s intrusion. Despite that, this is a very positive moment, first of all because of the unexpected presence and salvation of Bobby, secondly because it allows a final conciliation between Sam and Benny (and as a consequence an improvement in Sam and Dean’s relationship), who goes to purgatory to bring back Dean’s family and in return stays there. It is as if in Supernatural nothing good can be obtained without sacrifice, but this time Benny was willing to remain in purgatory, as his life on earth wasn’t bearable anymore. He seems to be Meg’s double, a monster unable to change his physical condition but willing to redeem and help the good guys: we’ve learnt that staying in the middle is not tolerated, and everyone trying to change his written destiny is necessarily devoted to failure, in a quite pessimistic and deterministic view.

The final trial is curing a demon and making him human again. To do so, they choose their favourite demon, Crowley, and after having him captured Sam starts the cure the brothers’ have learnt from the Men of Letters, despite being abruptly stopped by Dean who’s found out that Sam will die if he completes the trials. I was quite disappointed they hadn’t thought of such a possibility: I mean, I know they didn’t want to die for it, but they have so much experience in the supernatural field that I found it naive of them not to think enough about consequences, also because some characters, Castiel first of all, had tried to warn them.

While the brothers face the trials and their final uselessness, Cass is plotting another closure with a new character, Metatron. He’s the angel who wrote the Word of God on the tablets and who’s been living far from heaven for centuries, but from when Sam and Dean find him, he becomes close with Castiel and together they plan, in parallel with the Winchesters, to close the gates of heaven, in order to erase all problems deriving from both demons and angels on earth. Castiel has to complete some trials, like Sam, as a last rebellion to the place he no longer identifies himself with. However, in the last episode, with a big plot twist, it becomes clear that Metatron’s intentions are mean and he just played Cass (by the way, it seems like he’s always too naive to do something right without Sam and Dean’s help…): he steals his grace, the last trial to definitely close heaven and make all angels fall to earth. At this moment the two parallel plots reunite, with a beautiful but terrifying vision of angels falling like bright stars from the Winchesters’ point of view, at the end of the attempt to Sam’s last trial. So this long and full-of-events season ends with demons and angels on earth, with the gates of hell open and those of heaven closed, good succumbing to evil’s success.

- Irene 💕

[catherine-batty-author]

If Destiel was a M/F pairing they would have been canon years ago... or maybe not. The slow burn TV couples.

Following on from my post The Show Made Me Do it (https://thechroniclesofjudas.tumblr.com/post/166439114361/the-show-made-me-do-it), I felt the need to speak again on a topic that seems to bounce around Tumblr all the time re Destiel – if they were a M/F pairing they would have been canon years ago.

All fandoms have ships and Destiel is not only one of the biggest but one of the most passionate. As I’ve said before and many meta writer’s have said (in far more detail) before me – it is there embedded in the show. Sometimes blatant, sometimes in subtext. But it is there.

I disagree with the notion that it is guaranteed that if they were a hetro paring they would have been canon by now. There have been many hetro (canon) screen couples who have had their relationships drawn out and explored over many years. All too often in TV hetro couples are thrown together within a series or two and then torn apart before coming back together again a few series later. It is a fairly standard trope - one used time and time again by SPN - but of course, it’s not romantic (whatever!).

But sometimes writers make interesting choices and there are canon couple/ships out there that have not taken the standard path…and the Destiel parallels are everywhere. Here are a few I love:-

The Doctor and River Song/Doctor Who

This is a brilliantly written relationship because it is known by dedicated fans and GA alike that they were a couple until her death. They loved each other deeply. She was one of the few beings in the universe who knew The Doctor’s real name. He spent 1 night (on a planet where that lasted 25 years in Earth time) with her because he knew the following day she would die based on their weird timeline, and he needed a way and time to say goodbye. Then, following her death he uploaded her memory into a computer so it was there for all eternity – it’s a beautiful love story told in reverse. Following her death he has kept her photograph with him. He finds it hard to talk about her and shuts people down when they try. But their relationship was not shown in a traditional light on screen. She is known as The Doctor’s wife, they even are shown getting married – however each time their relationship is shown, it is in the guise of something else. Although River was shown “marrying” The Doctor it wasn’t actually him. This was the same when she “killed” him. This follows a general theme of their on-screen relationship. What you see is not always what happened. The Doctor and River Song is basically all subtext but even if you don’t ship them you are not told you are delusional, it is accepted because it is canon.

Donna Moss and Joshua Lynam/The West Wing

There are soooo many parallels between Josh/Donna and Dean/Cas it’s unbelievable. Seriously, if you’ve never seen the West Wing (why not, it’s awesome and some of the best screen writing, ever) do it just for this.

So in a nutshell, Donna was introduced in the pilot as the personal assistant of Josh Lyman, the duty chief of staff of the White House. She was only meant to be a minor recurring character (like all the other assistants) but her on screen chemistry (mostly snark) with Josh meant her role was stepped up in S1 and then made a main cast member for subsequent seasons. They are also a big ship from S1 ep1.

Despite their snark and sass with each other, they care for each other deeply and are a great team. Their professional and personal relationships bleed over as time goes on as well. Over the course of 7 seasons they are on the same side, opposing sides, they fall out, they support each other, they are jealous when one is a relationship with someone else. They are not a canon couple until late in the final 7th season, but before they finally get together, it is common for their other love interests to ask the other party if they are “treading on any toes”. Third parties are always assuming there is more them because of they way they are with each other. Donna is directly asked in one ep if she loves Josh – we never see/hear her answer as the ep ends but her face says it all. When Josh is shot at the end of S1 she is broken. She doesn’t leave his side. When he survives, after a brief moment of longing looks they return to their old ways.

Interestingly enough; the writers (who had no plans to make Donna into the character she was, it was fan driven) deliberately kept them apart until the last season. Once the ship was known they slowly wrote two interesting characters who gradually came together with their endgame to become canon.

This is just a TINY insight in TWW writing of Josh/Donna but even so… the Destiel parallels are everywhere.

William Riker and Deana Troi/Star Trek: TNG

This really shows my age! (FYI I was 7 when this series started, my mum was sooo excited Start Trek was coming back and wanted me to watch it too. I also loved it from the start.) This one is a little different in that in the pilot it is canon that Riker and Troi were ex’s who still had feelings for each other. Over the course of 7 seasons they were never “together” but they had this sub-textual under current. There was a lot of pining and long looks at each other with occasional kissing. Again there was a lot of jealousy if one party was involve with someone else.  When they comforted one another they refer as “Imzadi” meaning beloved. They continued in this fashion for the full 7 seasons and 2 films, only becoming canon again briefly in the 3rd film and following their marriage in the 4th film “Nemesis” -15 YEARS after the pilot.

Temperance “Bones” Brennan and Seeley Booth/Bones.

This is another couple that took 6 seasons to become canon – even then it was because the writer’s hand was forced. It was clear that the endgame was to make them a couple but their friendship was developed first. As such there were many of the traits mentioned above and shared with Dean and Cas. Their relationship was only made canon after Bones actress Emily Deschanel fell pregnant. They could have hidden it but the writer’s decided to bring their endgame forward. Writer’s are fluid like that – we can change the direction as and when required.

If in 4.01 Castiel had chosen a female vessel (and this was the ONLY) change to the narrative) no one would have an issue with believing this to be an epic love story. But because it’s two men, it’s dismissed. (Technically one man and one being of multidimensional wavelength of celestial intent without gender, but hey.)

As @tinkdw said in her post Cas and Dean could have been totally platonic, (https://tinkdw.tumblr.com/post/163833238972/cas-and-dean-could-have-been-totally-platonic) I would have loved this show even if Destiel was a “family don’t end with blood” story. The brother Dean chose. It would have been an epic love story of a platonic/familial kind and free will. But it has been MADE romantic. The actors, writers, directors, editors, set designers etc, they have MADE this a slow burn romance. It might not have initially been planned that way but that is how stories (and life) work – it’s all fluid.

Even if you take out the favourite argument for it never being canon which is “Dean is straight” (he’s not but I’m not here to dissect that, meta writers have done a much better job at that than I can ever do), you are basically saying “a person/character has no ability to change or have room for personal growth”. And let’s face it, even in canon Dean’s already subverted many of the character traits he’s known for – why not this one?

It’s not AS common to keep a couple from going canon for as long as Supernatural has Dean and Cas, but in the end, I believe they will make the wait worth it. There is precedence after all. This isn’t a long list of slow burn TV couples there are so many we all could list, but these are just some that strike me a good parallels and leaves me hopeful for the future of these two idiots.

[thewaywedo33]

Wynonna Earp 2X12 Thoughts and Faves

Season One of Wynonna Earp brought me on such a rollicking good ride, enjoyable from beginning to end, that I was expecting good things from Season Two. I was confident we’d get good writing, storylines and humor, but I swear, on Friday night it’s like the season finale showed up and said “You think what came before was good?  Hold my whiskey.”  Everything was on point over the course of the final hour, from the emotions to the dialogue to the cinematography.  My heart was so full and my smile wide as the end credits rolled.  They gave us so much to love, and so much to think about over the hiatus.  Time to dig in to some of those thoughts, in no particular order (sorry, my brain couldn’t help it):

At its core, Wynonna Earp is a love story between two sisters. Everything is rooted in their triumphs and failures; grounded in their love for one another.  What an episode for Wynonna and Waverly.  On a lot of levels, it felt right that Wynonna chose not to dwell on Waverly’s betrayal and poor choice.  For starters, as she pointed out, there wasn’t time for emotional hang ups with Clootie rising. But more importantly, if anyone is equipped to understand poor decisions that potentially hurt the people you love, it’s Wynonna.  The most jarring thing for Wynonna wasn’t the actual choice that screwed them, it was the fact that Waverly made it.  The very same Waverly who is the level-headed one, who has backed Wynonna, followed her, never let her down before, has a million reasons to hate her, but loves her unconditionally anyway, all when Wynonna didn’t feel like she deserved it.  The biggest issue for Wynonna was how blind-sided she felt by it.  

Waverly's betrayal was an important hurdle for the Earp sisters.  I think it’s going to help Wynonna realize that Waverly is an adult who is going to make her own mistakes.  Wynonna’s had Waverly on a bit of a pedestal up to this point.  She can’t help it, not when she compares her own past mistakes and demons to Waverly’s.   But now, Waverly is all grown up and making her own choices, sometimes with negative consequences. Wynonna can find a familiar sort of comfort in that. They’re ready to move forward on more equal footing. A lot of this season has been about their shift towards that.  Wynonna has slowly allowed Waverly to become more involved in BBD business, and Waverly has asserted herself more and more in Wynonna’s personal life.  Rightly so, because what affects Wynonna affects Waverly, and vice versa. Wynonna carries a heavy burden from the curse, and she’s the only one who can end it, but Waverly has longed to help lessen some of the weight.  I think Wynonna is ready to let her.  

The way they’ve grown to support each other is really something.  How beautiful it was when they each declared the other as the best of the group.  They can argue about it till they’re blue in the face, they both have valid claims, but the truth is, they’re the best of each other.  Truly, look at both of their progressions from the pilot through this finale, and the areas they’ve made the biggest growth in, the parts of themselves that have flourished since Wynonna came back to town, are the strengths of the other.

The heart of the show, right here

I’m glad Waverly didn’t solve the mystery of her lineage yet, because I don’t think she was ready before now.  There were two extremely important moments of validation for Waverly in this episode that she desperately needed for feelings she struggles with. She felt left out and mostly unloved by the family as a child.  We know the facts: no one remembered her birthday, Wynonna left town for years, she’s always been afraid Wynonna will never love her as much as she loved Willa. “You’re just as much a part of me as this baby.” That was the moment, and those are the words, that will lock themselves in Waverly’s heart forever. The fact that Wynonna said it after admitting she knows Waverly has different parentage, possibly even demon parentage, adds to the weight of the words. Moving forward, I think Waverly will finally feel secure in her relationship with Wynonna.   Wynonna loves and adores her like a sister, so she is her sister.  DNA doesn’t matter.

Then we have the moment when Nicole tells her she’s extraordinary. Waverly, who isn’t the heir, doesn’t have revenant blood, who is ‘just Waverly’, as she lamented so long ago over bubblegum sake, is extraordinary (and I think we can all agree, she is). Those words are everything for someone like her, who’s spent her life not being the chosen one, surrounded by people enhanced in some way or another, who outwardly molded herself to others needs/wants/expectations so they would love her, even when it wasn’t who she is deep down inside. Look at her face when Nicole says it.

I can make hearteyes too you know, I learned from the best

After those moments with Wynonna and Nicole, I think Waverly is ready to find out what she is, because she’s finally coming to terms with who she is.  Prior to this episode, I suspect Waverly would have reeled significantly at whatever lineage discovery awaits her. But now, secure in the truth of the love from her sister, and the unwavering support and belief her girlfriend has in her, she can handle it.  I’m not saying it won’t be a wild ride, but I am saying Waverly is ready to hold on tight and endure it without losing herself.

There was a parallel between Bobo and Rosita in this episode.  Both of them make choices in order to avoid going back to hell, and it doesn’t particularly turn out well for either one.  But where Bobo is comfortable in his evil deeds (hell, he relishes in them), Rosita is not. As much as I hated what she did, I think she hated doing it more.  Doc is the one that pulled her into all of this.  He promised her protection and encouraged her to find connections with the Earp sisters. Yet not twenty-four hours after revealing her Revenant self, she’s listening to Wynonna say she’ll shoot her last.  Rosita thought she’d proven herself, and maybe earned the chance to try and help Wynonna break the curse in a way that doesn’t require her to shoot all the Revenants. Instead, Wynonna threatens her and confirms she’s going to send her back to hell.  So Rosita does what she feels like she has to in order to survive, even though she finds it distasteful.  Watch her closely throughout the scene.  She’s shaky, nervous, and a couple times her face straight up gives away that she doesn’t want to be doing it. It doesn’t change how awful her choice is, but it does break my heart a little for her.  I hope they’re not done with her character.  I think there’s potential for, not necessarily a redemption arc per se, but a survival arc that puts her back on the side of the good guys while she tries to find a way to live with her demons and choices.

I am so very here for whatever is going on between Dolls and Nicole and the Bulshar cult.  I have a few scattered thoughts on what could be going on, and I’m sure I’ll come up with a dozen more along the way, none of them quite right.  The important thing is that I’m not remotely worried Nicole is going to turn out to be evil in some way.   The final scene gave me notes of what they did with Doc in the first couple episodes of the season.  They made it seem like he wasn’t really working in the groups best interest, and perhaps had nefarious intentions, but ultimately he was working to create the serum Dolls needed to survive.  I won’t be surprised if the end result of whatever this is with Dolls and Nicole is a similar sort of thing.  If any two members of the group would get the boneheaded idea that they should take on the root of the curse on their own, for the sake of the women they love, it’d be Dolls and Nicole.  

Where Doc has always had a quiet acceptance of the danger Wynonna faces fighting demons and working to break the curse (loving and losing Wyatt, immortality, and a gray moral code all contribute to this one way or another, but that’s a discussion for another day), I suspect Dolls struggles with it more.  I think he wants to provide a more normal existence for Wynonna if he can, whereas Doc knows she’ll never have one. So Dolls teaming up with Nicole, who’s training, sharp wit, and keen observational skills make her exceptionally qualified to dig into things, isn’t that far outside the realm of possibilities for me.

I find myself looking with a new light at Dolls encouraging Waverly to turn the third seal over to Widow Beth in order to save Nicole. He said it was because Nicole would then be there to help them put Clootie back in the ground, and now I don’t think it was such a hypothetical statement. I think he was telling the truth, without revealing what the two of them actually have going on.  Because the best lies are mostly truth, and the most effective slights of hand happen in the brightest of daylight.

I wasn’t sure what route the show would take when Wynonna’s baby came, but as soon as the choice became clear, it seemed so obvious this was always going to be the way it turned out.  What a testament to the way they built the storyline all season long, that as an audience we felt like there were multiple options, but once the choice was revealed, we realize it was truly the only one to make.  I love that Wynonna sent the baby to Gus. Clearly they’ve had communication after Gus left the triangle, and I’d like to think that after seeing how great Waverly turned out, especially now that she knows what her early years were truly like, Wynonna knows Gus will give her daughter a good and loving life.  It also gives me hope that Gus realizes just how much Wynonna has changed since coming back to town, and that in turn she’s offered her the love and support she deserves.

I found it curious that Peacemaker lit up orange when Wynonna pointed it at Doc.  Doc admitted to Bobo he went to hell when Dolls killed him, so now I’m wondering if Peacemaker lights up for those that have been touched by hell. Revenants, demons, and previously immortal beings who went to hell and came back all fall under that category.

I do think the gun is somewhat sentient, especially since Wynonna was able to command it work for Waverly.  At the very least I think it’s in tune with who wields it.  It glowed blue for Rosita, just like it did with Willa.  I have to wonder if it picks up on when the shooter doesn’t really want to kill who they’re aiming it.  Also, I don’t think it only grazed Rosita because Waverly’s aim was off.  I think she literally can’t put a Revenant down because she’s not the heir.  So while the gun listened to Wynonna’s demand to fire, it wouldn’t allow Waverly to reduce the revenant count.

I think Jeremy is some sort of empath.  He clearly knows things he shouldn’t, like in episode six when he was aware of Wynonna’s pregnancy before being told. At the time it seemed like a funny, throw-away moment to show that Jeremy is observant, but now I don’t think that’s the case. I also wonder if his deep aversion to Rosita and Dolls being guinea pigs wasn’t just the result of his morals. I think those are very real, but maybe his abilities amplify the hurt he feels for people when they hurt, and he can’t control it. Regardless of how it works, it was obvious he was picking up on strong emotions or thoughts coming from Wynonna when he told Doc to go meet the baby.  His eyes clearly zone out before he relays the information.

That’s so Jeremy

Waverly asking Nicole how the divorce is coming along, and Nicole laughing that she’s on it might as well be them stating “I’m serious about you, and I know where this is going if things keep progressing the way they are.” Only, they did it Wynonna Earp style with humor and an adorable butt tap.  I continue to be blown away by the level of care and development WayHaught gets on the show.  The F/F pairing is the main romance, and they’ve made it real, poignant, sometimes messy, and so, so beautiful.  I do want to see some things addressed in Season Three.  Mainly, that Waverly kissed Rosita, and a clear establishment that they still have trust in one another.  Hell, they can do it with humor if they want, because the show’s so darn good at it.

This is actual art, put it in the damn Louvre

By the way, in case you missed it, Nicole Haught has got both of the Earp sisters, and that gives me some kind of feelings. The woman whose parents I suspect didn’t have her when she needed them to, is damn well going to come through when her found family needs it.  It doesn’t matter what they reveal about her in Season Three, who she is, deep in her bones, is the woman who will never stop saying “I’ve got you”, and meaning it.

Mama Earp, y’all.  I knew she was coming, but I didn’t know how.  So Wynonna has known all along where she is and how to reach her, that’s probably not going to sit well with Waverly.  Why did Mama Earp really leave, and why did she maintain a pathway of communication with Wynonna?  When she left, Willa was still alive and the presumed heir once Ward died, and from what we know about Ward I don’t think anyone expected that he would ever manage to break the curse.  Did Mama get in touch with Wynonna after Willa died?  Why keep it from Waverly?  Why was Wynonna resistant to what Mama told her about Bulshar rising?  I have a hundred questions, and I hope at least five get answered next season.

A Few More Stray Thoughts For the Road:

-Of course Wynonna didn’t give her baby a W name.  She’s going to break the curse, stop the repeating history in its tracks, and she’s going to do shit her own way. I suspected Doc’s mother’s name might get used in some form after his story in episode 2X09.  What a sweet gesture Wynonna was able to do, even in the face of having to send their child away.

-I want to write a small love letter to the way components of the showdown scene in the middle of Main Street change once you go back and watch it with more information. On my first watch, I thought they were trying to show how hard Nicole was struggling to break the paralysis, since they gave us not one, but two close-up shots of her on the ground, and none of Jeremy. But now I think they were playing us a little.  The first time was the establishment shot, so you don’t think anything of her reaction in the second shot when Widow Mercedes mentions the ring of Bulshar.  But once we have the scene from the end of the episode, you can go back and clearly see Nicole is directly reacting to the mention of the ring. You know what else changes in that scene when you go back?  The way Wynonna says “Bulshar” after Mercedes says it.  Now we know, Wynonna’s heard that name before, because her mother warned her about him.

-Doc putting Bobo in the well was such a satisfying moment of retribution. I’m glad they’re putting a lid on Bobo for now and saving him for future use.  He’s a delicious villain, and his brand of crazy is so fun to watch.

-There were so many funny lines of dialogue in this episode that I’m actually in awe.  I’m not going to quote every single favorite line, because I’ll just wind up writing out the entire script, but i’ve watched the episode ten times now, and  “Better not be a nickname for your beave, because I’m not in the mood” makes me laugh out loud every single time.  I can’t believe how many times they said vagina, or referenced it with slang, and it made me love the show even more, which I didn’t think was possible.

Okay, I have to wrap this up at some point, even though there are so many other things from this episode worth mentioning (like, all of it).  

I knew Andras and Co would tell us a good story in Season Two, but I don’t think I was expecting the most satisfying season of television I’ve ever watched.  Television is littered with tv shows that had an amazing Season One, only to follow it up with a ‘Meh’, or worse, downright terrible, Season Two. Wynonna Earp not only avoided that fate, it took every great thing from Season One and amplified it.  The final result is nothing short of amazing.  This is what prestige tv is, my friends.  I don’t care what the hard-scrabbled television critics tell us; a tv show that can make you feel the entire range of emotions, that gives such consistent characterization while allowing for growth, that makes you want to watch episodes repeatedly, and every time you see things in a slightly different way; that is prestige tv.  And that is a show worth coming back to, again and again.

I’ll be around during the hiatus, doing rewatches (and maybe writing more rambling analysis), working on fanfic stories, and tweeting some threads on what Officer Haught is up to.  Come join me, and we’ll get through this hiatus together, until it’s time to join our found family of heroes and anti heroes alike as they start on their next adventure.

Stay awesome.

[digitalhovel]

The Fifth Season, a story about earth-bending, trauma, and freedom

           In N. K. Jemisin’s The Fifth Season, the world ends in the first five pages. The frankness of this event sets the tone for the rest of the novel: a fast-paced exploration of a dystopian society built on a continent of cataclysms called the Stillness. The characters take nothing lightly, and they have no room for personal error. The stakes only ever increase, sweeping the reader into the crucial and brutal moments of the characters’ lives. N. K. Jemisin’s Hugo-winning story is an incredible piece of fantastical fiction and a complex rumination on identity and trauma.

           The following contains contextual spoilers for the novel, but no major plot spoilers.

          The novel follows three women, each at a different age, each undergoing a life-altering event that will fundamentally change her sense of self and identity. Each is an orogene, a rare individual with the ability to use the violent energy of the unstable and shifting continent in order to move mountains, literally. Damaya’s family sends her away for being something different, wrong, and dangerous. Syenite works for the Fulcrum, the facility that acts as a lifelong prison and training ground for those with orogenic abilities. Essun is a mother in a small village, far from the state that uses orogenes as weapons, and her husband has just killed their son.

          Jemisin attaches the narrative perspective closely to each character, even opting for the second-person in Essun’s case, connecting the reader directly to each woman and her experiences. Jemisin’s language and tone prevent the issues that books with multiple characters can have: uneven pacing, a lack of stakes, or a slow build. It is honest, even when things grow dark. Grimness, whether in humor or determination, permeates the book and drives it ever onward, through the shadows of the past and the present. The story and narrator hold no secrets from the audience, openly declaring their intentions from the start. The world has ended. Things will get worse. However, that might be okay, because it will be a different worse than what came before.

          The concept of orogenic powers hooked me easily, as a person with a love for geology and physics. However, Jemisin never allows these powers to become cartoonish. While she beautifully illustrates the shifting of earth and stone, she also focuses on the consequences of these actions. The laws of thermodynamics rule all, even those who can shatter the earth, and Jemisin’s commitment to this only elevates the story. First and foremost, the focus on the results of orogeny directly contributes to the power dynamics in the novel: orogenes are viewed as dangerous, and they are controlled through physical, emotional, and social trauma. Even using the term orogene is a falsehood, for many members of the populace use a far more derogatory term to refer to these people. This coding of a racial slur into the social framework of the book’s world draws parallels between the slavery of the Stillness and that of our own history, making the arcs and character choices meaningful and gloriously defiant. Highlighting the effects of orogeny also illustrates the pervasive hatred the characters experience, and it shows the reader the perspectives fostered by internalizing that hate while under constant duress. The frank clarity of the cost of orogeny also allows the reader to view the story’s events objectively, to see these powers as neither monstrous nor a gift. This nuance makes the humanity of these characters even more evident, as they struggle with the aftermath of their choices while continuing to persist and fight onwards.

          It is a revolutionary story, and a heavy one. Jemisin places the impact of lifelong persecution front and center in the characters’ arcs. It affects their memories, their choices, their actions, and their abilities to freely and easily think and feel and love. Jemisin never shies away from this trauma, but she also doesn’t use it for exploitative or shock value purposes. She highlights it honestly, through each character’s voice, always personal and never pleasurable. Jemisin reveals the extent of the wrongs undertaken in the Stillness slowly, bringing the reader through the characters’ journeys and teaching them to analyze the systems of control at play in the novel, a skill we need more than ever in real life.

          Another critical message of the story is the importance of knowledge. History can be changed with rhetoric, time, and careful exclusion of dissent. Jemisin brings this horrific idea to full fruit in The Fifth Season. Her world never forgives its people, and Jemisin does her characters the justice of never allowing them an easy lesson. This, in turn, highlights a form of rebellion that enables the destruction of the institutions perpetuating slavery and abuse. When those in power hide information, the search for knowledge becomes rebellious. Educating oneself about the truth, even at the cost of the bliss of ignorance, is an empowering act and one the characters undertake in pieces. The power of knowledge contains more worth than raw anger or outrage because it makes those feelings righteous. The Fifth Season’s structure cuts to the core of this by revealing these lessons in order, making each subsequent dissension more satisfying, and allowing the reader to realize, retroactively, why the characters have acted as they have. This non-linear structure provides a sense of exploration and growth to the characters and the reader, making the experience that much more enjoyable.

          The growth the characters experience goes beyond righteousness in action. It gives them agency in an oppressive society, and it develops them as people, giving their decisions more weight and their motivations more depth, even as both become more drastic with every turn. The characters survive. They do not thrive, they do not excel; they persist in the face of trauma, and yes, it affects them. It may define them; it may not. But Jemisin’s work highlights the chains of events leading to radicalization and change, even when they are gut-wrenching. She does not write about trauma with resignation. Not with a sense that this must have happened to the characters, but with a sense that it did,and accepting that will bring a greater understanding than hiding from it, allowing the characters to harness their strength and face the world again, ready to shake the earth to its core.

          I cannot wait to read the next book in the series, and I would highly recommend The Fifth Season to any fan of fantasy, to geology geeks, and to those who want to watch deeply developed characters using their wits and strength to survive a hostile world.