#amc!louis could stand to be a worse person and i stand by that

[robynator]

it would be fun if it turns out amc!louis did actually eat the baby. it took him an awful long time to deny that and i would not put it past him to lie to make himself look better in that situation (which he is more than willing to do)

[ofwraithsandwords]

s y n o p s i s // ❖ More Hellsing short fics featuring, but not limited to: platonic relationships, the 30 year time skip, original characters, Sertegra (Seras x Integra), and/or Alucard's struggle with the Cat's powers ❖ The slow, but steady continuation of my Hellsing long fic, Plutonian Sun ❖ New Witcher long fic to come some time this year inspired by Sapkowski's book series and CD Projekt RED's The Witcher 3, NOT the Netflix series ❖ Possible Interview With The Vampire short fics exploring the characterization/pasts of Louis, Lestat, Claudia, and Armand. ❖ Possible Dracula short fic featuring a male reader/character of sorts.

Happy New Year's, everyone!

In hopes of keeping things fresh and different, I'll be tackling a few writing projects this year.

h e l l s i n g //

For better of for worse, Hellsing (specifically Hellsing Ultimate) has always been my biggest guilty pleasure and I don't think that's going to change anytime soon. As such, I will still be making content for it. I'm especially interested in exploring the (mostly platonic) relationship dynamics in the Hellsing Organization, such as Integra's relationship with her staff and soldiers, that we don't get to see very often.

I'm also interested in exploring Alucard's newfound powers that he unwillingly received from Schrödinger. I don't typically see a lot of people theorizing how it effects him upon his return or how he navigates it, so this will be something I'll be exploring in Plutonian Sun and possibly in shorter writing pieces.

Speaking of the long fic, I am still plotting and writing it, chapter by chapter. I'm not fast at uploading by any means, but I still intend on continuing it. I know it's not everyone's favorite since it doesn't feature any of the most prominent fanon ships and includes original characters, but I am writing for a more specific audience, anyway. I always appreciate it very much whenever someone leaves a comment of a kudos—it helps me know that maybe I'm doing something right!

t h e w i t c h e r //

Probably to come later on in the year, but I am brainstorming a Witcher long fic. Even though I've had thoughts about doing this anyway, I became motivated to put this project to paper after watching Netflix's The Witcher: Blood Origin. I didn't actually watch the whole thing—I could barely stand to sit through a single episode. It's bad. Really bad. And I figured, "well, I can probably do better than this." So here we are.

Once I am done reading my current book, I will be reading The Last Wish, at least for a start. I may also take inspiration from CD Projekt RED's "The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt"—I played the full game with DLC a few years ago. Unfortunately, with how old my laptop is getting, the new gen update has made playing "The Witcher 3" less possible, though not impossible.

Though the story will include many well-loved (and hated) characters from the books, the main protagonists (Geralt, Yennefer, and Ciri) will not be present for at least the majority of it. In order to usher the forth a new perspective, I will be making original characters of my own. Such characters include: — an old bruxa who makes a living as an alchemist in Toussaint — a good-natured halfling who's prone to bar fights and loves to cook — a soldier-turned-merchant from Ofir with "extraordinary" luck . . . and likely many more.

I'm still trying to think of a good title, but once I figure that out and the general theme/plot for the fic, I will start giving updates on its progress.

i n t e r v i e w w i t h t h e v a m p i r e //

I've seen the first season of Interview With The Vampire on AMC+ and I absolutely love it. Admittedly I've never read any of Anne Rice's books, but that may change some time in the foreseeable future. For now though, my interpretations and works will be influenced by the AMC+ series. Stories will include the exploration of Louis, Lestat, Claudia, and Armand's personalities/relationships and possibly their pasts. There will especially be an emphasis on how delightfully toxic these blood suckers are to each other.

d r a c u l a //

I've briefly mentioned this a while ago, but I've been thinking about making a fic with a male reader/character who meets Count Dracula (or "Mr. De Ville") shortly after he reaches England. Though Van Helsing and the others likely won't be present in this work, perhaps I will include other side characters from Dracula. I may even have Djamilah (or Ibrahima at that time) make a short cameo. A self-indulgence, if you will.

If anything comes up or there are any changes, I'll be sure to make an announcement. Until then, this is what I have on the roster for this year.

Cheers. ✭

[itsonlycody]

Cody’s Top 15 TV Shows of 2016

I'm trying to keep introductions short this year. I don't need to go on again about we're in a new golden age of television, there's too many shows, etc. There's a lot of good TV out there and nowhere near enough time to watch all of it. These are the shows from last year I felt were worth making time for.

Honorable Mentions:

Black Mirror, Love, Silicon Valley, Orange is the New Black, Speechless

15. Game of Thrones (HBO)

After a somewhat lackluster fifth season that struggled to adapt the slowest, most aimless books of it's source material, Game of Thrones was back in top form for it's sixth year by finally passing George R.R. Martin in his story. As a result, the show felt fresher and more exciting than it has in a long time. After years of build-up, we finally begin to see signs of the end game for the many characters of Westeros. The show delivers it's usual thrills, with deaths both heartbreaking and satisfying, breathtaking visuals, epic battles, and solid acting across the board. One of the elements that makes this past season stand out is the heavy focus on the female characters of the show. After seeing hours of abuse and terror heaped upon these women, we finally see deep, complex characters like Sansa, Arya, Cersei and Daenerys regain their power and take action. While Game of Thrones initially seemed to be a story portraying the realistic yet poisonous power of men in charge appears to be the story of brave, determined women rising up and overtaking their oppressors.

Best Episodes:

“Home”, “The Door”, “The Winds of Winter”

14. The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story (FX)

Between this and the fantastic documentary, O.J.: Made in America, O.J. Simpson was surprisingly everywhere in 2016, and with good reason; despite the progress we've made over the past few decades, there is still an undeniable race problem in America. Ryan Murphy's miniseries highlights how little has changed in the past 20 years in regards to how black people are treated by the police and the media. I envisioned the worst when I heard Murphy was telling this story, imagining all of his worst campy tendencies being indulged while portraying the media circus that was the O.J.trial. Instead, we got a gripping, in-depth look at the lives of everyone involved in the case and the struggles they faced, most effectively seen with a trio of outstanding performances by Sarah Paulson, Courtney B. Vance and Sterling K. Brown as the attorneys prosecuting and defending the Juice.

Best Episodes:

“From the Ashes of Tragedy”, “Marcia, Marcia, Marcia”, “Manna From Heaven”

13. The Good Place (NBC)

The high concept sitcom has made a bit of a comeback in the past year, with shows like The Last Man On Earth and People of Earth taking ambitious, heavily serialized stories and reformatting them into a half-hour hangout comedy format. The Good Place is set in the afterlife and follows Eleanor Shellstrop (Kristen Bell, in her best role since Veronica Mars), a fairly bad person in life mistakenly sent to the titular "good place" after her untimely death. With the help of her assigned soulmate, Chidi (William Jackson Harper, a true stand-out), she attempts to become a better person and earn her spot in The Good Place. That premise provides a decent amount of material to do a decent "good deed of the week" format. Instead, creator Michael Schur and his team of writers (many from Schur's Parks and Recreation) constantly keep the story moving with twists and revelations arising on a near weekly basis. The Good Place is the rare sitcom that came out of the gate strong, and is still running strong with a hilarious cast (including Ted Danson, still as charming as he was in his Cheers days), smart storytelling, and a lot of heart and mind.

Best Episodes:

“Pilot”, “The Eternal Shriek”, “Most Improved Player”

12. Westworld (HBO)

There's not much more I can say about what is probably the most heavily discussed show of the year. Some complained about the heavy emphasis on mystery, with an abundance of teases about the true nature and motivations of the Hosts and employees that populate Westworld. While it's true the show occasionally got a bit lost in it's puzzle box narrative, it's hard to deny that Westworld is just flat-out entertaining with one of the best ensembles on television. Evan Rachel Wood and Thandie Newton give the show it's heart with performances that are alternately heartbreaking and chilling, often in the same scene. Jeffrey Wright provides a wonderful moral center for the story, giving the character of Bernard a quiet thoughtfulness that makes the occasional bit of necessary exposition compelling. Then there's Anthony freaking Hopkins, who even in his late 70s gives a masterclass in true acting and is riveting every second he's on screen. While the first season of ultimately feels like a bit of a prologue for what's to come, it's a damn good prologue; one that leaves me very excited to see what's next.

Best Episodes:

“The Original”, “The Adversary”, “Trompe L’Oeil”

11. Fleabag (Amazon)

This British import pulls a bit of a bait and switch on viewers; it starts out as a raunchy comedy about a young woman struggling to get her life together, albeit a very funny one with a striking central performance by writer Phoebe Waller- Bridge. However, by the end of the first episode, and with each consecutive episode, Waller-Bridge reveals the dark, sad heart at the core of the series. Fleabag takes the convention of the rude, promiscuous 20-something that we see on so many cable comedies and really digs into the person underneath; what makes this person act the way they do and make the choices they make? Yet, the show never judges Waller-Bridge’s character, even if she judges herself. The show also boasts a solid supporting cast with brilliant character details. The central relationship between Waller-Bridge’s character and her sister is one of the better sibling relationships on TV, and no character goes wasted; a character present in one short scene at the beginning of the series ends up unexpectedly returning, and providing some of the most poignant, revealing moments in the story. There has been no word yet if Waller-Bridge will bring back Fleabag, but we can only benefit from hearing more of her unique voice.

Best Episodes:

“Episode 1″, “Episode 4″, “Episode 6″

10. Full Frontal With Samantha Bee (TBS)

2016 was a rough year. The nightmare circus that was the election, and it’s results, left a lot of people feeling drained, upset, and uncertain of where the country would be heading in the near future. Many comedy shows that deal in political satire seemed unsure of how to tackle the rise of Trump. Late night hosts such as Seth Meyers, John Oliver, and Trevor Noah went for an angle of frustrated disbelief, while Saturday Night Live was unsure what comedic approach to take after providing an unfortunate spotlight for the Donald the year before. Jimmy Fallon took the approach of goofing around with him and tousling his hair. Enter Samantha Bee. The former Daily Show correspondent could not have been given a better time to get her own show. Bee needed no time to settle into her host role, instead giving the sense of anger and outrage that many people felt about everything happening in the political sphere. She took on topics such as the Syrian refugees, gun control, abortion, and both the Republican and Democratic parties with blunt honesty and empathy. The laughs came from pointing out the hypocrisy and absurdness of the election, and from just needing a release of the extreme tension we were experiencing. Just beginning it’s second year, it looks like Full Frontal will be around for a while, and it’s a good thing; as the political landscape looks as if it is going to only get worse before it gets better, we need someone like Samantha Bee to help us through it more than ever.

Best Episodes:

“Cleveland”, “Republican National Convention”, “President Obama”

9. Veep (HBO)

When creator Armando Iannucci left Veep after Season 4, there was concern that the show would lose the hilarious bite that came with Iannucci’s razor sharp dialogue. Thankfully, new showrunner David Mandel maintained the show’s quality in it’s fifth season, bringing what may be the show’s best year yet. Julia Louis-Dreyfus was as perfect as ever as Selina Meyer works to win over congress when her presidential election ends in a tie. As great as Louis-Dreyfus is, the whole ensemble really makes Veep work, with Timothy Simons’ Jonah and Sam Richardson’s Richard being highlights, and Sarah Sutherland getting a much welcome increase in screentime as Selina’s daughter films a documentary and gets in a new relationship. The season built wonderfully to a genuinely surprising conclusion that promises an entirely different show when it returns. In a time when real world politics seem like satire, Veep continues to provide a hilarious alternative.

Best Episodes:

“Mother”, “Kissing Your Sister”, “Inauguration”

8. Better Call Saul (AMC)

A Breaking Bad spin-off was always going to have a lot to live up to. Following one of the most popular shows of the past decade was tough enough, but making the focus of that spin-off a relatively minor supporting character used primarily for comedic relief? It seemed destined to be a mess, but the first season gave a surprising amount of depth to the man who would become Saul Goodman. In it’s second year, Better Call Saul truly finds it’s voice. Less reliant on the action and tension of it’s parent show, Saul instead plays as a slow motion tragedy, as we watch Jimmy (in a wonderfully layered performance by Bob Odenkirk) struggle to do the right thing, all while knowing he is doomed. Michael McKean continues to be as good as ever as Jimmy’s manipulative brother, and Rhea Seehorn gets a much appreciated larger role as Kim, the one person who could possibly pull Jimmy back from the brink of corruption. Those who enjoy the more thrilling, gritty style of Breaking Bad will enjoy the continued presence of Mike Ehrmantraut, who at times seems to be in his own, equally good series as he navigates the Albuquerque crime world and comes across some familiar characters. The journey of Jimmy McGill into Saul Goodman can only grow worse, but it will surely make the journey for those watching all the more captivating.

Best Episodes:

“Rebecca”, “Nailed”, “Klick”

7. BoJack Horseman (Netflix)

The best comedy about depression starring a cartoon horse maintained it’s wonderful mix of hilarious absurdity and dark truth in it’s third season, as BoJack works the award circuit for his leading role in the Secretariat biopic. The show expands it’s experimental streak with an episode set entirely in 2007 (complete with reminders of the time), one with almost no dialogue, and a drug bender episode with chunks of the story missing. Will Arnett as BoJack rivals his work as Gob Bluth for the best performance of his career; he is able to play BoJack’s pain and sadness just as well as his arrogance. Additionally, Aaron Paul and Paul F. Tompkins show new depths to the primarily jokey characters of Todd and Mr. Peanutbutter. Despite all of the adult animated comedies out there, BoJack Horseman feels like something new and original. It uses it’s medium to do things a live-action show could not do, but still is able to find a deep, emotional truth.

Best Episodes:

“Fish Out of Water”, “It’s You”, “That’s Too Much, Man!”

6. Atlanta (FX)

One of the ideal goals of any story being told is to transport you and let you witness a life that you don’t encounter in your everyday life. This could mean going to space or entering a world of magic and fantasy. In some instances, however, it simply means learning more about people you see every day, who are still underrepresented by most modern media. In interviews for Atlanta, show creator/star Donald Glover said he wanted viewers to experience what it felt like to be black. Atlanta itself ends up being a captivating, surreal and empathetic show that is really unlike anything I’ve seen before. Glover plays Earn, a young man in Atlanta who’s essentially homeless; after learning that his cousin, Alfred (Brian Tyree Henry), has a rising rap career, he offers to become his manager in order to support himself and his daughter, as well as proving himself to his daughter’s mother, Van (Zazie Beetz). That set-up provides plenty of opportunities for a weekly grounded series. Instead, Glover makes Atlanta a show that exists in a slightly different world; where Justin Bieber is black and where an entire episode is a talk show from a fictional black entertainment network, complete with fake commercials. Despite the bizarre touches Glover adds, Atlanta is also achingly realistic; Earn’s constant struggle to make money and provide for his family, and all the detours in that journey, from dealing with Alfred’s public reputation to sudden bursts of gun violence, provide a melancholy touch along with several hilarious setpieces. That mix of the sad, strange, and comical is what makes Atlanta so unique and what makes Glover’s voice so essential.

Best Episodes:

“Streets On Lock”, “Value”, “B.A.N.”

5. Halt and Catch Fire (AMC)

In it's first season, Halt and Catch Fire was fine, if flawed; a ­look at the '80s computer industry that occasionally leaned too heavily on the moody antihero trope that had grown so tired. It held just enough interest with it's strong performances and a promising narrative shift towards the end of the season. In Season 2, the show took a huge leap forward as it shifted the central focus to it's female characters, Cameron (Mackenzie Davis) and Donna (Kerry Bishe), while revealing the weak, sad nature if it's male protagonists, Joe (Lee Pace) and Gordon (Scoot McNairy). In it's third year, the quality of Halt and Catch Fire continued to skyrocket, turning itself from a very enjoyable series to one of the best dramas on television. A location change to Silicon Valley give things a renewed sense of energy. All four leads are given roughly equal screentime, but have evolved so much that all of their stories are equally captivating. Joe MacMillan is still devious and cunning, yet Pace reveals more of the wounded, insecure man underneath. As Gordon struggles with both his brain damage and his career aimlessness, McNairy beautifully plays the pain and frustration Gordon is feeling. Davis is as terrific as ever as Cameron stubbornly tries to keep control of her company, and Bishe continues to show new layers to Donna as her opportunities rise and increase. As the season progresses, the characters have to make some tough decisions, and with the writing and performances have grown so strong, it leads to some truly stunning and heartbreaking dramatic sequences that occasionally rise to the level of Mad Men. AMC was kind and smart enough to give Halt and Catch Fire time to find it's identity. The ratings remained low, but they stuck with it, including an opportunity to finish out it's story with a final season this year. When the show started, I didn't think I would care so much to see where these characters end up. After a stellar third year, I'm not quite ready for them to leave yet.

Best Episodes:

“The Threshold”, “NIM”, “NeXT”

4. The Americans (FX)

There's not much more I can say about The Americans in it's fourth season than I did in it's first, second, or third season. The spy family drama gets better and better each year, both in content and as a payoff to everything that came before. Stories that have been building up since the very beginning of the series continue to pay off, showing how expertly The Americans plays the long game. That long game is reflected by it's performances. Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys give Elizabeth and Philip a consistent tired, beaten down in their performances. All of the horrible decisions and actions they have chosen to take over the years are starting to show, turning the excitement and vigor of their early adventures into a struggle just to make it through the day. That weariness extends to the people surrounding them, with Holly Taylor's Paige and Alison Wright's Martha getting significantly increased roles. Paige's story in particular makes quite an impact. On most prestige dramas, from The Sopranos to Breaking Bad to Homeland, the teenage character is usually seen as an annoying distraction from the main action. With The Americans, that character not only becomes essential to the main narrative, but manages to be sympathetic and just as captivating as the main characters we've been following for the series. While The Americans has never been talked about as much as some cable dramas, it's easily on the same level. With each season, the Jennings family grows more and more fascinating as their lives and relationships grow more and more fractured.

Best Episodes:

“Chloramphenicol”, “The Magic of David Copperfield V: The Statue of Liberty Disappears”, “Dinner for Seven”

3. Horace and Pete (LouisCK.net)

Louis C.K. is a comedian and storyteller who is a master of the unexpected. His brilliant stand-up features constant reversals and punchlines that sneak up on you with brutality. When given his own HBO series, C.K. went against expectations and made a Norman Lear inspired sitcom filmed in front of a studio audience.  His second series, Louie, challenged the idea of what a half hour comedy could be, featuring a highly cinematic style, stories that spanned several episodes, and episodes that were primarily dramatic at times. His latest series, Horace and Pete, took everyone by surprise, in many different ways. It arrived completely unannounced; one Saturday morning, those subscribed to C.K.'s mailing list received an email with a link to the first episode on his website. Viewers were treated to what amounted to a 67 minute filmed play (complete with intermission) with a dark, dramatic tone and an impressive cast, including Steve Buscemi, Edie Falco, Jessica Lange, and Alan Alda. As the weeks went by, a new episode would be released, ranging from 30 minutes to a little under an hour, and could be almost anything. Some episodes dealt with current political issues and featured references to news events from recent weeks. One was one long conversation between C.K.'s Horace and a previously unseen character played by Laurie Metcalf, opening with a nine minute monologue solely framed on Metcalf. Horace and Pete features some of the best writing of C.K.'s career, reaching depths of extreme sorrow while still remaining his dark, vulgar wit. It helps that he has such a solid cast performing his words; Alda shows a side of himself that has almost never been seen, and Buscemi plays Pete as wounded live wire, constantly captivating you with his every moment on screen. One of the most impressive things about Horace and Pete is that it's a complete story. The 10th episode provides a definitive ending. It's hard to think of many artists who would create a show in secret, release it without it any notice, and then end it, and move on, but that kind of creativity is what makes Louis C.K. one of a kind.

Best Episodes:

“Episode 1″, “Episode 3″, “Episode 10″

2. Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (The CW)

Crazy Ex-Girlfriend seems like a tough sell; a musical comedy with a potentially alienating title and a penchant for awkward moments. As the theme song notes, however, "The situation is a lot more nuanced than that." Co-Creator and star Rachel Bloom (along with co-creator Aline Brosh McKenna) is well aware of the troubling tropes of romantic comedies, and uses her show to deconstruct the elements of these types of stories while still embracing their more engaging elements. Crazy Ex-Girlfriend has honestly been an eye-opening experience for me. There are so many tropes and narrative choices in romantic stories, be it a major plot point or even just a throwaway joke, that have become so commonplace, we often overlook the implications of what it's implying. The writers call out these moments head-on, with Bloom's Rebecca sometimes halting a scene to question an offhand comment. It's honestly made me look at certain types of storytelling in a completely new light. Aside from the more thoughtful aspects, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend is also flat-out hilarious and entertaining. The comedy is so sharp, with quality jokes coming at a rapid pace. The songs (written by Bloom, Adam Schlesinger, and Jack Dolgen) are terrific, playing as clever satires of popular music both old and new, while still holding up as smart, catchy original songs. The show has also developed a great stable of supporting characters, running jokes, and callbacks, making the show's setting of West Covina feel like a fully realized place. Nearing the end of it's second season, Bloom & McKenna have pulled no punches, unafraid to completely change the narrative and dynamics of the show at a moment's notice. It's this bold inventiveness that makes Crazy Ex-Girlfriend truly special, and, yes, nuanced.

Best Episodes:

"That Text Was Not Meant For Josh!", "When Will Josh See How Cool I Am?", "When Will Josh and His Friend Leave Me Alone?"

1. Stranger Things (Netflix)

This is a really predictable choice for my #1 show if you know me well. It pretty much hits all of my genre interests. A coming-of-age/sci-fi/horror show set in the early '80s that feels like Stephen King by way of early Steven Spielberg with a bit of John Carpenter and Freaks and Geeks mixed in. It would be very hard for me not to love Stranger Things at least a little bit. My anticipation was through the roof before it debuted, and thankfully, it did not disappoint. I understand the complaints of some. Yes, at times, it leans a bit heavily on it's influences, but to those who say people's enjoyment of the show comes solely out of a warm sense of nostalgia, I have to disagree. Yes, it's kind of cool to be reminded of the movies that The Duffer Brothers pay homage to, but Stranger Things really succeeds with it's characters, particularly it's young leading cast. Visual references can only go so far (and did for some), but the story would hold no weight if not for the talent and charisma of Finn Wolfhard, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, Noah Schnapp, and especially Millie Bobby Brown. The kids have an instant rapport, and as the season progresses, you really grow to care for them; you want them to be happy and grow tense when they are in danger of getting hurt, both physically and emotionally. The adult cast holds their own as well; Winona Ryder does some of her best work in years as the emotionally distraught Joyce Byers, and David Harbour embodies the gruff, heroic leading man perfectly. Yet the smaller episode order doesn't restrict the growth of the characters. Even supporting characters like antagonistic Steve (Joe Keery) get a full arc, and minor characters like concerned friend Barb (Shannon Purser) and teacher Scott Clarke (Randall P. Havens) make an impact. The Netflix format suits the show very well, neatly structured and moving along at an exciting pace, yet not overstaying it's welcome at 8 episodes. By the end of the first season, the stories have closure while still leaving much more to be told in the future. I realize Stranger Things isn't the most revolutionary show out there. It doesn't tackle serious issues and embraces it's genre themes and influences wholeheartedly. However, there was no other show in 2016 that I had a better time watching; each episode felt like an event, and left me theorizing and anxious to find out what would happen next. Sometimes that's all you need with a story, and Stranger Things delivers.

Best Episodes:

“Chapter One: The Vanishing of Will Byers”, “Chapter Three: Holly, Jolly”, “Chapter Eight: The Upside Down”