#and Beatrice turning away from the arc after she’s gone

[ultraericthered]

So I just recently learned of the true Rokkenjima Tragedy, a tragedy that not only explains why Umineko Chiru failed to quite live up to Higurashi Kai as the latter volume of a set (it peaks in it’s first arc, EP5, and then has a lot of unworked issues plaguing the remaining three) and why the entire When They Cry franchise just hasn’t felt quite the same after Umineko ended, almost as though Ryukishi07 reached his limit and hit creative burnout upon finally finishing it. 

I’m referring to the loss of Ryukishi07’s dearest friend, BT, in 2009. 

As the blog post states, BT was “a person who was deeply involved in the creation of the WTC titles”, as not only was he like a second brother to Ryukishi07 but he was the guy he always had in mind first and foremost when writing his work, as he anticipated him reading it and giving him reactions, thoughts, and even suggestions. TV Tropes puts it that BT was his go-to guy for advice on the plot; he was like an unofficial editor. So without him to bounce off of, some of Ryukishi’s’ less than good ideas didn’t get vetted before going into his finalized works, both in Umineko and beyond (looking at you now, SotsuGou). 

Not only that, but as classified under Creator Breakdown, following BT’s death, Umineko took on a notably different tone and direction from EP6 onwards. EP5 turned out so great because it’s the only one that was fully planned out and largely finished in terms of the writing process by the time of BT’s sudden death (he died in July of 2009 - EP5 then came out the next month). But with the remaining three arcs, how they got effected becomes very easy to spot once you’re aware of BT’s death. Both EP6 and EP7 center heavily around dealing with the fallout of a loved one passing away (Beatrice in both cases). BATTLER attempting to ressurect Beato only to create Chick Beato instead and feeling anguish over their relationship not being the same was likely inspired by Ryukishi missing BT and finding that sharing his stories with other non-BT colleagues wasn’t the same as what he’d lost. Ikuko/Featherine getting introduced most likely ahead of schedule (thus Ange’s entire presence in an arc where she doesn’t really do much) and dialing up the meta commentary on storytelling techniques, tropes, characters, creating mysteries and such, and everything to do with the Love Trials from those goddamn twins were probably not pre-planned either. A lot of the poor writing choices in EP7 like the presentation of Kinzo’s backstory, the gross amount of leniency bestowed upon Kinzo in general, Maria’s out-of-character moment, and that whole “Clair” nonsense most likely could’ve been avoided had BT still been around. EP7 makes a point of how the person to uncover the whole truth of everything, hear Yasu's story as it is told, and understand their true character (Willard Wright) is not the person Yasu had hoped would be the one to do so (Battler), a possible reference to how BT died before Ryukishi could ever reveal to him in full the truth of Yasu and of the story as he'd planned out. How oppressively bleak EP7 got in general is owed to Ryukishi’s grief-stricken state of mind following BT’s death. I already did a post detailing improvements that the manga adaptation of EP8 had to make to the story because Ryukishi missed the mark the initial go round, and even in the final Tea Party, Featherine briefly mentions a piece of advice given by her "old friend who is now gone".

In the end I think that Umineko, even with the sins of its latter 3 arcs, made it through this tragedy still relatively unscathed, cohesive, and rewarding as a whole, enough to be considered a Mangum Opus right alongside Higurashi. Ryukishi and 07th Expansion have gone on to create other compelling and enjoyable stories since then. But in terms of WTC which started it all, the old passion, dedication, and...well, magic, just hasn’t been there. Sadly, that blog post had it right:

I’m worried that he will lose his will to keep writing. Ryukishi07 knows well that stop writing will not make BT happy so he says that he will keep going. I don’t know if it’ll ever be the same for him. His best friend was the reason why he started making these games now that he’s gone Ryukishi07’s writing won’t be the same. This loss will without a doubt have a more powerful effect in his work.

[animebw]

Binge-Watching: Re:Zero S2, Episodes 24-25

In which Subaru saves the day by letting everyone else save it for him, and the painful past finally gives way to a hopeful future.

Save Me

You know, it’s funny. When you strip away all the insane magical mechanics and complex fantasy intrigue, the thematic core of Re:Zero season 2 is deceptively simple; we’re all held back by the sorrows of our past, and it’s only by coming together that we can overcome those sorrows and move forward as one. It’s so basic and straightforward you’d never think it could pack as much power as it does. And yet, when it’s done right- and Re:Zero certainly does it right- it serves as the foundation for some of the most powerful stories in existence. My favorite anime of all time, Gintama, is proof enough of that. I could point to any number of scenes across this season that demonstrate how goddamn well Re:Zero tackles this theme. Subaru’s dream conversation with his parents. Emilia’s reckoning with her past. Garfiel accepting that his parents loved him. Everything about how Roswaal’s villainy stems from an inability to move on. But there’s one moment in this final set of episodes that might just top them all. Subaru stands before Beatrice, a girl imprisoned by 400 years of nihilism, believing she’s doomed to die alone without ever forging another true emotional connection again. Subaru’s already tried to wrest her free of that mindset countless times, and each time he’s fallen short. And with the mansion burning down around them, this is the last chance he’ll get. If he can’t free Beatrice from her sorrow now, they’re both going up in flames. This is, quite literally, do or die time.

And after all his failed attempts, all his words that have fallen short, Subaru finally figures out the one thing he can say to save Beatrice:

“Save me.”

Holy. Fucking. Shit. Never before have two words hit with enough raw emotion to make me break down sobbing all on their own. It’s perfect on a level I didn’t think was possible. Of course that would be the answer. Of course the only way Subaru could save such a lost soul is by swallowing his pride and asking her to save him in turn. Hasn’t his entire arc this season been about learning to let others share in his pain and help him carry his burdens? Hasn’t he repeatedly said that his greatest strength is the ability to trust in others to pick him up when he falls down? Beatrice is brave and strong, a spirit of immense power. She could live just fine on her own if she chose, and there’s little Subaru could offer her that she doesn’t have already. She’s so much greater than him from every conceivable angle, and any notions Subaru might have of “saving her” are just so on-their-face backwards it’s almost hilarious. Even he acknowledges that all the speeches he thought up to try and save her just sounded ridiculous. How can he promise to protect her when she’s more than capable of protecting herself? The only thing she lacks is the emotional support to find joy in the life she’s living, to embrace that strength and leave 400 years of loneliness behind. And that’s exactly what Subaru offers her. Not the strength to pull her out of misery, but the promise that he would weep if she died. The promise that her life matters enough to him for her survival to give him strength. In two simple words, Subaru summarizes the entirety of his best argument yet: your life matters to me. Your life is making the world a better place. So please, choose to save my life by living yourself.

Choose Me

And yes, their time together isn’t eternal. In less than a century, Subaru will live out his life and die, leaving Beatrice alone again. He’s a mere blip in the massive lifespan of a spirit, gone just as soon as he arrived. But he’ll make every second of their time together count. He’ll be there for her every second he can, asking her to be there for him just as often, demanding her attention so she’ll never feel alone again (One might even say he’s being very greedy about wanting her to share time with him, yes?) He’ll engrave their memories together in her heart so deeply, not even 400 years of isolation will be able to match it. No, he’s not the unknown stranger who was supposed to save her, but really, who could be? “That person” was only ever a phantom that might one day appear; it never really existed in the first place. Subaru can’t give Beatrice the answer to her centuries-long wait. He can’t give her an eternal salvation. But what’s the point in waiting for an uncertain enternity when you can choose a definite tomorrow instead? Why pin your hopes on a future that might never come when you can choose a life that’s sure to last, if not forever, at least for tomorrow and the days to come after? Why let fate and destiny keep you rooted in place when you can move forward by seizing fate with your own hands, however terrifying it may be? The answer Beatrice is waiting for may never come. But now there’s a different answer, reaching out for her with a hand burned from the effort of opening a scalding door because that’s how much Subaru wanted to reach her (Also, the fractures of reality forming like spiderwebs around him all throughout this talk... god, the imagery in this scene is incredible).

An answer that offers her a simple, incredible two-word solution: Choose me.

And she does.

And as they soar through the air like a shooting star... Beatrice finally calls Subaru by his name.

God. God, god, god. I thought I was crying before, that was nothing compared to how hard this hit me. Beatrice is free. She’s alive. She’s out in the world, out of her lonely library, out with the people who care about her and an endless sea of possibilities to explore. She’s ready, at long last, to leave the past behind and reach out toward the future. And most importantly, she’s ready to kick some fucking ass. Christ, the moment she stares out at the hordes of the Great Rabbit and remarks how fun a handicap this will be as she genuinely smiles for the first time in, like, forever? Perfect. Absolutely perfect. Against the full might of her new contract with Subaru, not even Daphne’s monsters stand a chance. Especially not with Emilia right by their side as well, their combined powers literally lifting the ground up like that one scene in Age of Ultron. And Subaru himself? With Beatrice watching his front and Emilia watching his back, he’s got nothing to fear. Subaru started this season trying to take on the world alone, shutting everyone out in fear that he wasn’t worthy of their love. Now, at its climax, he achieves victory by asking someone to save him and trusting in the strength of his friends to save the day while he does what he does best: act as bait for an enemy far more powerful than he’ll likely ever be. Strength not from OP superpowers, but from accepting his incredibly stifling limits and trusting the actually superpowered girls around him to defeat the evil with their own hands. I can’t think of anything more quintessentially Re:Zero than that.

A Bright Future

And with the Great Rabbit banished to an extradimensional space never to return, the battle is finally over. The Sanctuary is open, the barrier is down, and everyone is free to return to the world at large. Roswaal is defeated, and thanks to the conditions of his oath with Subaru, he’s no longer able to pose any danger to them. Though I appreciate how he isn’t just forgiven out of hand; they may need his support for the royal selection, but he still did a lot of bad shit, and it makes sense how many of Subaru’s friends would only begrudgingly let him off the hook. After absolutely clobbering the shit out of him, of course, because hoooooooly shit did he deserve that (Also, good lord, that was hilarious). Regardless, Ros can keep searching for his lost love all he wants; everyone else, including his former fellow pupil Beatrice, is already moving forward without him. Not even Emilia’s intimidated by him anymore; she’s stronger now than he’ll ever be, strong enough to stare him in the face and make him apologize for being naughty like she’s a schoolteacher and he’s a misbehaving second grader. She might still be a helplessly corny dweeb (Upon meeting the infinite Ryuzu clones: ”That must have been really tough on your mother!”), but she’s no longer bound by the fear that once held her back. She’ll never give up, not on herself, not on the people around her, not on her dream to make the world a better place and save the people she lost so long ago.

And as for Subaru? He’s still got a lot of danger ahead of him. The more he fights to try and save everyone, the more invisible scars he’s sure to accumulate, scars he can never truly share with the people he loves. But that doesn’t matter. Not as long as he can still love them. Not as long as he can still be there for them. Not as long as they can still support each other through thick and thin, giving each other strength in their darkest moments. After all, he’s got a lot of people to look after. He’s formed a contract with Beatrice and now fights by her side. He still owes Petra a good time out about town. He still needs to make things up to Rem when she finally awakens from her slumber. He’s got Otto and Garfiel looking out for him. And, of course, he’s got Emilia, the girl he loves, the girl who he’s finally become worthy of standing beside with his head held high. He’s actually her knight now! He got the big ceremony and everything! But because they’re both such dorks, they can’t help but puncture the ceremony’s grandeur right after it’s done: ”This is nothing new, but you look really cute in that outfit.” “Idiot.” God, their relationship is so good now. Subaru’s grown into a genuinely supporting boyfriend who encourages her to keep expanding her circle of companionship, to find strength and support in as many avenues as she wants. The selfishness that once rules his image of her is really and truly dead. And Emilia’s ready to face those feelings head-on, to sort out how she wants them to be together no matter how many long nights it takes. They’ve still got lots of time ahead of them.

But for now? All they need is Subaru’s hilariously bad dancing causing Emilia to break out into the biggest, purest smile we’ve ever seen from her.

That alone makes the future look all the brighter.

Odds and Ends

-Alright, so the timeline was a little wobbly with all these moving parts. Got it.

-”But however far you go, you’re still a human. You’ll never beat that devil.” Yikes. Puck definitely knows about Roswaal’s relationship with Melancholy, whatever it may be.

-Hm... I wonder why Roswaal switched from “watashi” to “boku” when he falls apart and begs Echidna for help?

-”At the very least, I want you to grow up healthy.” Every time Echidna shows compassion, it scares me.

-”THAT’S MY GIRL, BEAKO!” oh. my. god.

-Aha, so Roswaal was soul-jumping between his descendants to stay alive all this time. Thought it was something like that.

-I love how we don’t see Echidna’s eyes in these flashbacks until the very end, when Beatrice is finally bidding her goodbye.

-”About the baby I’m carrying in my belly!” I BEG YOUR FUCKING PARDON

-”Screw you, Puck!” this is how I die farewell everyone

-I desperately hope Ram doesn’t end up with Roswaal when all is said and done. He’s basically groomed her and Rem since they were children, there is nothing good about their current relationship.

-”I’m only drunk on myself and the atmosphere right now.” “See? You are drunk.” pfft

-the lighting on their faces holy fuck

And that, folks, was Re:Zero season 2. Wow. Expect my closing thoughts later today, as well as what show will take its place!

[isthemicon]

Writers really did Blair dirty in s5

*super long post because I’m angry as hell*

There was a time when I thought that season 5 is overhated. I’ve been telling myself that sure, Blair is acting unlike herself but that’s because this season is looking at her from more psychological angle and it’s looking at her character more deeply.

But then I’ve rewatched it and I’ve realized that they’ve ruined Blair completely. The depth that I was seeing is in maybe 3-4 episode and is often overshadowed by other things. And usually the deep moments are happening through other characters.

Blair in s5 is barley her own person, she does nothing that isn’t related to her relationships, she isn’t working on her status, position, career. Her whole character arc is regressed to her trying to figure out which guy should she choose or how to make the relationship she is in work.

I mean come on even Nate and Serena have bigger stories and actually do things outside their relationships.

Blair barley ever even makes her own decisions, someone else makes them for her or has to push her to make them.

In other seasons her love life is a big part of her story but in the same time she is doing something else as well.

In s1 she is trying to build her position in school, in s2 she is fighting for Yale and her position in school, in s3 she is trying to figure out her life at NYU and trying to build her position outside high school, in s4 she is going to Columbia and trying to start a career, even in s6 despite its ridicules soap opera like plot she is building her career.

And in s5? Let me tell you what Blair does in each episode of season 5

Recap of all of the episodes

05x01 Blair returns from Monaco, and the whole episode we see her trying to be able to plan the wedding. Wait is pregnant? No it’s Dorota, joking Blair is pregnant too

05x02 Blair is trying to hide her pregnancy from the royal family, while Beatrice and Dan are snooping. That’s all.

05x03 Blair is trying to figure out who is the father. Of course she can’t makw the decision on her own so Dan needs to force her to do it because of course she can’t do it on her own (still very nice friendship moment). I like ending of this episode, it’s deep and sad and emotional. And tells a lot about her mental state and what is going inside of her.

05x04 Blair is trying to convince Louis that Dan’s book is just a fiction, she is angry because the book threatened her relationship, not becuse it affected her career like in Serena’s case, not because she didn’t like the way she was portrayed like Nate and Rufus, it just that it made her fiancé doubt.

05x05 Blair and Louis tell their family about the pregnancy. Eleanor is unhappy (the only one that has a normal reaction) but then they have a beautiful mother and daughter moment but it’s a moment of Eleanor’s depth not Blair’s. Oh and also Blair is pawn in the battle called “where should they live? Which grandma will have more to say?”

05x06 Blair is trying to choose her bridesmaids (entertaining episode and shows her power, still resolves around her relationship). Probably one of the the very few were she is actually doing something.

05x07 Blair is trying to provoke Chuck to show that he hadn’t really changed. And Chuck and Dorota have to form a plan to make sure she believes he didn’t because she will be more comfortable with her relationship with Louis, again it’s not Blair making the decision someone else has to make it for her.

05x08 Blair has a bridal shower. The trouble is Serena is making it seem it’s not like Blair would like it so she is sad, but no it was a lie she has a perfect suprise party, oh and Louis is a jerk and wants to make her believe her friends aren’t her friends. She takes a break from Louis (good for you girl)

05x09 Blair is following Chuck because he had changed and she wants her fiancé to change as well. One of the lowest moments, Blair is absolutely heartless and selfish in her plan. (A very deep scene in the end but it’s coming from Chuck and just happening to Blair)

05x10 This episode I like it’s actually very deep. We are exploring her fear of being alone and her trying to figure out what’s the best thing to do. If she should listen to her heart and choose Chuck or if she should listen to reason and stay with Louis. We see Dan understanding her and trying to help her. That’s a real good episode.

05x11 Another deep episode exploring Blair’s trauma after the accident. Not gonna say anything bad about as I actually like it and here I think the focus on her being unable to stand on her own is important. And her losing her real self is actually very undrstandble here.

05x12 Blair has a bachelorette party and everybody is able to outsmart her and out plan her and Blair doesn’t see a thing. She needs others to save her because again she can’t do anything on her own. Oh and Chuck is following her.

05x13 Blair is getting married, this episode has some depth and action but again Blair does nothing on her own, Eleanor, Chuck, Serena, Louis talk to her and she just responds. But in end she wakes up and tries to run away. Finally she make her own decision.

05x14 Blair is running away from her wedding, Dan is helping her, Serena and Chuck are looking for her. But in the end Blair has one big moment when she takes responsibility and decides to stay in the marriage, doesn’t allow Chuck and her mother to buy her out.

05x15 Blair is back in the city for Valentine’s, goes to the party at Chuck’s place forcing him to leave his own party, she is followed by some woman with the most annoying accent. She is trying to play a cupid, Dan kisses her, Serena is mad, Blair is trying to explain it. The end

05x16 Blair is trying to convince Serena there’s nothing going on between her and Dan. She finds out what’s in a book and realizes Dan has feelings for her. So she decides she may want to start the relationship so she kisses Dan in front of Serena as her grandmother is dying. Sure Blair is doing things but that’s all relationship related, she is not even yet divorced and she is already thinking about going into another relationship.

05x17 Blair thinks she maybe able to get out of her marriage and be able to be in a new relationship, turns out no, she goes to Cece’s wake. She finds out about the video,Chuck and Dan fight for her, she tells Chuck she can’t be with him right now, photo of her and Dan gets out, meaning she will need to divorce and pay dowry. But Georgina says she might be able to help her out.

05x18 Blair tries to have sex with Dan and tries to be able enjoy it so she gets drunk. That’s honestly the whole plot of her story in this episode. (The worst episode in the whole show)

05x19 Blair is about to sign divorce paper, refuses to talk to Chuck, Dan is worried about the papers and tells her Chuck paid her dowry she accuses Chuck of trying to buy her, he tells her she was never meant to find out, she is sad because of the fact she will no longer be in the royal family. She doesn’t come to the conclusion that she can be strong without the title, she needs Dan to give her he fake princess moment where she is basically a tourist attraction.

05x20 Blair is trying to organize the party that will launch her and Dan’s relationship. Party is ruined because of the drama of other people. That’s it

05x21 This episode where Blair is actually doing something related to her social status. But she does it by trying to sabotage her boyfriend’s event? Very grown up.

05x22 Now we are getting to episode where she actually does something. She reunites with her friends as they try to figure out the whole Elizabeth and Jack thing. We finally see her do something outside her relationship. Of course at the same time Dan is worried and follows her outside the city. And lies to her about Rome.

05x23 An interesting episode, again Blair is actually doing something but it’s still connected to her love life. Blair is trying to help Chuck but at the same time she should be with Dan taking to the guy from the program. So she is torn. But at least she is scheming and using her talents.

05x24 Blair has to finally choose between Chuck and Dan while her secrets are being published on gossip girl and she tired or stop it. Finally she talks about her future outise love life but it’s Eleanor that starts the conversation.

That’s all she does, every single scene is related to her love life, she has no plans, no aspirations. Until the very last episode we don’t hear her talk about her work related plans and even then she talks about the matter of her heart. In season 5 Blair isn’t her best self, she doesn’t do a thing. Things are happening to her but she isn’t making them happen, she is just responding to them. And they related only to her love life. Gone is the girl that wanted to be a powerful woman, she doesn’t want a thing, even after she got divorced and is with Dan. She doesn’t talk about her plans, the closesest to her talking about future is when she talks about it is when she is wondering is she wants to go with Dan to Rome, on his writing program and when she decides to do it she is planning the trip, on where they will be eating and what will they be seeing. Not even for a moments she thinks about her future, about what she wants to do.

Blair in season 5 is a shell of a character, regressed to the love triangles, she is woman that does nothing outside her love life. So in conclusion, season 5 is the worst when it comes to the way Blair was treated. She is so much more than her love life and in s5 they completely they forgot that. And yes it’s a season of very big growth to her as she is faced with crushing realization that fairytales and movies are not real, that reality is brutal. But that’s not how you do it, multiple characters have a character growth in this season and yet we see them actually do something not just wonder which guy should she choose and not the end waiting for someone else to choose for her.

It’s an emotional season but again thoes emotions and depth are in few episodes and are usually are not really coming from Blair. More often it someone else’s growth and understanding of her that is creating thoes moments.

[ramblings-of-a-mad-cat]

Okay. I passed Y6CHR45, and... I want to say that this is very bad. I mean, that... This plot twist with Merula is very illogical and obvious. I'm not a fan of Merula, but. First, why it's obvious. Because in the storyline, Merula is our rival, not our friend. How many nasty things did she do MC, etc. Well, it's too obvious that in the future they will try to make her our enemy. Second, why it's illogical. Merula has very different goals. Don't be the same as your parents, take revenge on Rakepick and kill her, become stronger and more powerful. There is not a single point in being with 'R'. Why would she want to work with someone she wants to kill? I think it would be logical if Merula joined the Death Eaters. She and her aunt had been threatened by the Death Eaters. This is what Merula said in Y5CHR28. And Andre was talking about the mark on Merula's hand in year six, when Bill taught us the Barrier Spell. Still, I think Merula was framed by someone. Merula was still ready to drink the Truth Serum. And one more thing. Won't the MC say anything about it? Not to the professors, not to Ben, not to Jacob, not to anyone about what they saw in Knockturn Alley? Hey, JC, we have a Muggle Studies class on Y7, and there will be Merula. MC will just forget about it or what? It's just stupid. I apologize, I have nobody to express this misunderstanding of the JC logic. 🤨 And one more thing. I don't think Merula is a mole. In fact, I think the mole is Penny. Because it's very logical! 'R' could have threatening and blackmailed her, like... They could steal Beatrice, or threaten to kill her, if Penny didn't follow their instructions. Penny, in her fifth year, said she would work with anyone to save Beatrice. And if you add it up in this form... I mean, Penny is the most logical option. She's the most popular girl at Hogwarts. She knows every rumor, she knows the secrets of many students. No one will even think about it! How can you think of one who is very kind, helps everyone, understands Potions, etc? This is my theory, and honestly, I still stick to it. Knowing the character of penny, for the sake of Beatrice she would betray even MC.

I don’t know, I don’t think of it as being that illogical. I suppose it was rather obvious, but in a sense, those two ideas are in conflict with each other. If a plot twist is logical, it can be predicted. If it’s not, then it won’t be, but that’s a whole different problem. In any case, this got very long, so I’m putting it under a cut.

Was it obvious?

She has been our enemy from the start, but her character arc seemed to suggest that was changing. In a way, this actually made her a less obvious suspect. At least to me. She was the primary antagonist of Year 1, but we quickly got used to her nonsense. Stopped taking her seriously. Meanwhile, the story gave her depth. Many players grew to care for her, many pitied her, but even the ones who didn’t no longer saw her as a serious threat. At the same time, the scale was gradually increasing. By Year 5, Merula wasn’t the antagonist anymore, not just because she had been deconstructed, but because the story was darkening, and the times of a school bully being the villain were long over. Hell, by Year 2 we knew about R, and by Year 4 we had Rakepick to wonder about. Year 5 not only brought Merula’s character arc to the point where she became more of a friend (but no less prickly and combative) it also fleshed out the game’s Big Bad to the point where it became clear that this was much bigger than MC, or anyone in their year. Year 5 also exonerated Ben, and later unceremoniously killed the “Rowan is R” theory by having Rowan be imperius’d like Ben was. 

No one took Merula seriously anymore, people felt sorry for her, and we felt as though we understood her completely. That nothing she did could surprise us. This was capped off by the betrayal of Rakepick, compounded with her using the Cruciatus Curse on Merula. Because MC was betrayed, but not by any of the students. But by their mentor, who was always shady in the first place. Merula was put in a horrible position where even her greatest Antis surely felt a twinge of pity for her. Anyone left who suspected her probably wouldn’t have after that night. What’s more, it played into the idea that we understood Merula perfectly. Because she reacted exactly as one would expect her to. She regressed. Year 6 depicted her as someone firmly on our side, but predictably not someone who would be nice about it. From her jabs about Rowan, to her fawning over Jacob, people were annoyed with her, but no one suspected her. The game practically taunts the player, in hindsight, with the veritaserum scene. Because that’s just it - no one thought she would betray MC. They were worried she would go rogue, but no one doubted her loyalty. 

Why did she do it?

As for the logic of her decision, I likewise disagree. I believe Merula had every reason to join R. I don’t think that the Cabal and the Death Eaters are so different that one would make sense for her to join, and not the other, if that makes sense. She could have gone either way, but at a guess, Merula doesn’t think very highly of the Death Eaters. She refers to Voldemort by his name without a care in the world. If they really were threatening her, I feel like she wouldn’t want to cave in, but she might be attracted to joining a rival faction that could provide her (and her aunt?) with protection. If there’s one thing we know about R - it’s that they have a history of making enticing offers to children, provoking them to “prove” themselves to be accepted into the Cabal’s ranks. The description of them being her new “family” gives me cult vibes, and it really sheds some light on why Merula might have been drawn to them. She was lonely, she was angry, she wanted power...and R came along to offer her everything she wanted at the time. Whether she wants to leave now is uncertain, but if we assume that she’s been the mole since the very beginning, it’s probably way too late for her to just walk away. R would not allow that.

As to the sequence of Rakepick torturing her, we don’t yet know what was going on in that scene. Though I am feeling somewhat vindicated in the knowledge that there was more to that scene that meets the eye, just like I was sure there had to be. Perhaps Rakepick and Merula planned that whole thing, perhaps it was staged. Which would mean that Rakepick faked the spell, and Merula pretended to be tortured, and that her entire vendetta against Rakepick has been a facade. Or maybe the curse was real, but Merula agreed to it beforehand. Or maybe she knew the betrayal was coming, but Rakepick went off-script by turning her wand on Merula. Either way, if Merula’s vendetta was real, I don’t think it’s out of character for her to want revenge. Who cares if it’s someone on her side? This is Merula we’re talking about - I don’t think that would stop her. Now, if we assume she was not yet an R mole at the time (I think she was, but for the sake of argument)  then perhaps R reached out to Merula, apologized for Rakepick’s torture and promised that they did not authorize it. Promised that there would be consequences, and Merula could be the one to inflict them, if she agreed to join them. It’s a longshot, but I guess it’s possible. 

The Future.

The existence of this twist doesn’t really create any holes, I don’t think, and while it may put the writers in a tricky position moving forward, that’s not the same thing as them screwing up the continuity of the past. They’ll have to find a way to make this work, and until we see the ramifications, I’m willing to wait on judging how this arc plays out. MC will have a choice to make, certainly, in how they handle this. I can’t wait to see the dialogue. What they do next remains to be seen. Do they confront Merula? Turn her in? Or...if we want to be really sneaky, what we should do, in my opinion...is act as though nothing’s changed. Spread the word to people like Moody and Ben, but...do not let Merula catch on that we know. The way to salvage this situation, from a purely tactical perspective, is to let R believe they still have a spy at Hogwarts...but begin to feed her misinformation. Lead them astray. This is quite literally a war tactic, because hey...this is a war. Now, the issue with that is that Merula will likely face punishment once R figures out that she’s being misled...but hopefully we can save Merula before that point, and to the players who despise her - or even feel like she’d deserve it for her treachery...they probably wouldn’t care anyway.

I don’t think we can really judge based on the Muggles Studies classes, or anything that we know about Year 7. I also don’t expect Jam City to consider what we “know” and in all fairness...I mean, they don’t have to. That is unreleased content. Nothing in the data-mines is, strictly speaking, canon, or part the continuity. With the way that scene ended, it suggests that Merula won’t be returning for Year 7. Maybe. The data-mines contradict this, but data-mines don’t provide the full context. They aren’t released content, and anything could change. There were once data-mines that confirmed Skye as being in MC’s year, as well as suggesting that Murphy felt embittered about his disability. Both of these things were cut. So they’re not canon. In general, I think Jam City has a terrible approach to dealing with hackers, but one thing I will say in their defense is that they aren’t required to write their scenes based on what the fandom has discovered in the data-mines. If we’re confused, well, that’s kind of our own fault. But I’m sure everything will become clear eventually. I hope.

Penny. 

For meta reasons, I don’t see them pulling a double twist and revealing a second character to be the “real” mole, but it’s not impossible. And I’ve said all along that the Year 1 characters were the real suspects. MC unknowingly being the mole was my theory, mostly because Moody is shady as all hell. But Ben is shady too, it’s just that he had a rock-solid alibi in the form of Rakepick trying to kill him, since she couldn’t have known that Rowan would intervene. Setting aside Merula, since I’ve also said from the start that she isn’t a good liar...that leaves Penny. I really don’t think Penny is shady. I’ve never thought that. I’ll admit that she does essentially approach MC out of the blue to befriend them, but I mean...so does Ben. This happens on a much larger scale later on with Alanza. I can believe Penny would go to the ends of the earth to protect Beatrice, and maybe when she was imprisoned in the Portrait, R contacted Penny and strong-armed her into this deal. The issue is, Beatrice is safe and sound as of sixth year. The Black Lake incident is still a bit spotty, and perhaps that was R going after her again...but I just don’t think there are enough hints for me to believe it, personally. If this were true, why was Ben the character who insisted on coming to the Portrait Vault instead of Penny? She could have demanded to come along too, and no one would have blamed her. Everyone would have understood. Not to mention, Penny has severe tells when she’s stressed. She does not act like herself. She’s mostly back to normal in Year 6, and her behavior reflects that Beatrice is safe now, just pulling away. If Beatrice was still on the hot-seat, I feel like Penny would not be keeping it together. Finally, that raises the question of how much Beatrice is aware of all this. Does she know about this deal? Because I find it hard to believe she wouldn’t tell anyone.

[noirandchocolate]

Over the Garden Wall has a really great theme of taking a proper amount of responsibility for yourself and your actions.

Wirt blames Greg for them being lost in the Unknown, for embarrassing him in front of his friends, for various mishaps along the way, and in general for ‘ruining his life.’  In the end, he takes the right amount of responsibility for events--he realizes Greg is a little boy he should be looking after rather than putting blame on, and that he got the two into their predicament by having so little confidence in himself and running away from perceived problems, but also that he doesn’t need to martyr himself to ‘save’ Greg from the Beast, either (’that’s dumb’).  He goes on to truly save himself and Greg, and to also begin taking responsibility for his own social life (rather than blame Jason for ‘stealing’ Sara or Greg for embarrassing him, he admits to Sara that yes, he made that tape, and he’d like to hang out with her more).

Greg is a wacky kiddo, but he does often try to help others in his own ways.  When Wirt gives up and doesn’t care anymore, he takes too much responsibility onto himself and tries to ‘be a leader,’ then laments that he acted silly again and even makes a deal with the Beast to try to help his brother.  In the end, Greg takes responsibility for the things that he’s actually responsible for, like stealing a rock, but remains his cheerful self as a child should get to be.

Beatrice takes both too much and too little responsibility for her action in getting her family turned into bluebirds.  Too Much: Yes, it happened as the result of something she did, and throwing a rock at a bluebird wasn’t exactly a nice action, but honestly how was a grumpy teen supposed to know there would be such dire consequences?  And she could have admitted her deed and asked for help, which could have resulted in her whole family working together to solve the problem (based on their only gentle teasing of her for messing up, afterward, they likely would have helped her).  That wouldn’t have been unfair or wrong for, again, a teenager to do.  Too Little: She tries to sell Wirt and Greg (strangers and then friends) to Adelaide in exchange for the magic scissors, thus making her problem their problem.  But by the end, Beatrice has taken the proper amount of responsibility for their actions: she does her best to stop the boys from going to Adelaide, then puts her own quest aside to try to find them.  She takes responsibility for the fact that she deceived her friends, and tries to help them, and by doing so prompts Wirt to help her by giving her the scissors.  And so, she learns to work together with someone to solve a problem, and gets her family back.

The Woodsman’s arc is also about taking the right amount of responsibility.  Presumably it’s not directly his fault his daughter died, but thanks to the Beast he has made himself responsible for keeping her ‘alive’ in the lantern (or so he thinks).  However, in doing so, he’s been chopping down trees containing the souls of other lost people (implied to also be children).  When he finds out, he at first tries to deflect any responsibility for having been part of the Beast’s scheme (’I didn’t know!’).  But he also immediately repents completely by realizing his daughter wouldn’t want this to happen regardless, and actively trying to fend off the Beast from taking Greg--even if it would mean losing his daughter.  In doing so, the Woodsman takes responsibility for what he HAS done wrong (helped the Beast by chopping down soul trees) while refusing responsibility for things that AREN’T his fault (his daughter’s death/continued lantern existence).  In the end, it’s when he has thrown off the responsibility the Beast put on him and accepted things as they are (that she never really was in the lantern) that his problem is solved and his daughter returns.

Auntie Whispers takes loving responsibility for Lorna and her problem, and she isn’t a bad person for doing what she does.  But by putting herself in a guardianship role over the afflicted girl and simply imposing that responsibility upon herself and Lorna (who isn’t at fault either, but who is told she ‘will turn wicked’ if she doesn’t do as she’s told), she loses sight of what is actually responsible for the issue--the demon.  As a result Auntie misses the obvious solution Greg and Wirt discover, that the demon can be ordered to leave completely, rather than just temporarily suppressed.

Adelaide abdicates responsibility for taking care of herself and in doing so becomes a villain.  She wants child servants to do her bidding, and that ain’t cool!

The Beast, also, is a villain because he has passed responsibility for keeping himself alive onto the Woodsman (and, it’s implied, other lantern bearers before him).  He has also passed that responsibility onto lost travelers (again, implied to be children), by inducing them to become edelwood trees that can be used to keep his lantern lit.  The Beast apparently refuses to chop the trees down and make the oil for his lantern himself, and he certainly won’t just accept that his existence is finite like everyone else’s or take oil only from trees that formed from people who gave up on their own without his intervention.  In the end, the Beast is foiled when Wirt declines to take on burdens that should be the villain’s to bear.  

Wirt’s last actions in the Unknown basically amount to saying, ‘Oh you need this lantern to stay lit?  That sounds like a you problem.’  He then departs with Greg to solve their own problems, taking just the right amount of responsibility for everything that’s gone on.

[c-hristy]

Her Denial (Part 4 of 'His Silence') 《Charlastor AU》

° Final part of the Redemption Arc °

    Her heart raced as she ducked around the corner, her ears pressed flat against her head. Margret tried her best to take a calming breath; her fingers were shaking and she was sure that the entire universe was coming to rest on her shoulders.

    The room she had gotten into was just another guest room; there were countless in the estate. Immediately, she began to rummage around and make sure everything was tidy and in its place  and making hurred mental notes on the fact that the sheets needed to be changed -

    The door swung open and she felt everything in her come to a stop.

    “Margret?” The soft, static filled voice cleared her thoughts and for a split second, she let it relax all the anxiety that was building in her stomach.

    Her skin prickled when she heard him take a few steps inside and then close the door behind him, her eyes widening like saucers. She was trapped; there was no adjoining bathroom to this guest room like she’d previously thought.

    Alastor had been returned from Heaven for about four days at this point and Margret had done her best to keep away from him. She’d opted to take her dinners before the rest of the family did, claiming she had some paperwork to work on for the Hotel. Charlie didn’t complain, though there had been a bit of a confused glance when she’d skipped out the night previous.

    ‘Are you sure?’ Charlie had asked her, holding Margret’s plate in her hands, ‘Your father really wants - ‘

    ‘Sorry, mama. Busy.’ Margret had taken the plate and went to her room, where she’d set the meal down and ignored it. That had been the fate of the past few nights as well.

    She was starving at this point, but she knew she probably deserved it.

    “Margret?” Alastor’s voice snapped her back into reality and she turned, holding tightly onto one of the pillows that was on the bed. She’d picked it up to fluff it out, “Do I have your attention, darling?”

    The eldest of the Magne children did the only thing she could really think of doing in that moment and bolted. Alastor moved out of the way as she plowed past him, dropping the pillow on the floor near his feet. He could hear her uneven breathing and the soft sound of white noise follow her as she left and he knew that something was unsettling her emotions enough that she was tapping into her radio energy.

    Alastor sighed. He’d have to try again later. 

    He couldn’t quite wrap his head around the fact that she didn’t want to be around him. Even before he had been redeemed and sent to Heaven, Margret hadn’t been terrified at the sight of him. Even if she did prefer Charlie - she was still his little girl. His heir! It didn’t make sense to him.

    He’d discussed with Charlie the night before about her behavior. Charlie had just told him to give her more time - she had not been okay when he was gone and Charlie was sure that Maggie would tell him in her own time.

    Well, he was getting antsy. Alastor didn’t like being ignored.

    He turned on his heel and watched as she fled, her eyes wide and he could hear her heart pounding. Did he really frighten her so?

    He had to find out. He was tired of this.

    Alastor followed her to the other end of the house, where she stumbled into a room and swiftly tried to close it before he could enter. His hand stopped her however, his arm pushing the door open with minimal resistance.

    “Margret.” His voice was still collected; calm, “It’s time to talk about this. It’s been far too long.”

    The demoness’ face paled and she stepped backward into the room. It was her own bedroom this time, a place that she usually felt safe. Right now, she felt anything but. In that moment, she was terrified of what he would do to her.

    Alastor shook his head at her fears and stepped further into the room, her scrambling backward and tripping over a shoe she had accidentally left out. Her heart raced and she closed her eyes tightly.

    A hand came and rested on her shoulder, a second going to her elbow and guiding her upward until she was standing upright. She felt her throat tighten and she recoiled from the touch, though the hand that was on her shoulder moved and she felt fingers brush some strands of hair away from her face.

    Maggie opened a single eye just enough to look at Alastor and she felt her heart crumble just the slightest. Her father was eyeing her with as much concern as she knew he could garner - his knuckles brushed over the skin of her cheek just slightly and she felt the terror start to wean away.   

    “Maggie.” He was soft, nearly a whisper, “What is going on? I must admit, I’m confused. Your sister and brother have been nothing but welcoming, your mother is elated I am back. I don’t get why you have been avoiding me.”

    Margret felt something different shimmer in her chest and she heaved out a breath, her lips twisting downward in a frown that she hadn’t worn in months - years, even, “I hate you.”

    His hand fell and the confusion in his eyes heightened.

    Once she started, she couldn’t stop, the anger that was consuming her causing her to violently rip herself away from him, “You left! You just left us here, like we were nothing. And you know what made it worse?” One of her hands balled up and she couldn’t help herself from swinging forward and hitting his chest. He didn’t react, watching her with widened eyes, “You didn’t come back! Not for three years. You didn’t immediately try to come back. You stayed there.” Margret felt the anger consume her and she could feel her mind twisting, her height growing and she couldn’t grab a hold on it, “You left us here to rot!”

    Her voice warped and Alastor watched her as her irises disappeared, his own heart starting to race. He hadn’t seen his eldest in her Wendigo form once; not in the several hundred years that she had been alive at this point. She did her best to hide it carefully from everyone.

    She skyrocketed taller, twisting and her teeth lengthening. Her hand, once pounding on his chest, pulled away and he could see the /fear/ in her eyes. 

    He knew Margret was angry. He didn’t know she was this angry.

    Mindful of her bedroom, Alastor fled. He knew that once she regained control of herself and her bedroom was ruined, she would be inconsolable. He ducked past the doorframe and heard the creature following him; it was stuck by the smaller frame for a moment before it turned in just the right way to get out.

    Alastor kept a quick pace as he made his way to the entryway. Charlie was standing in the parlor, her face brightening in a smile when she saw him.

    He stretched a finger out toward the Wendigo that was chasing him down the stairs, his voice light, “I’ll be just a moment, darling. I must take care of some things first.”

    Charlie frowned, her eyebrows furrowing, “Um.”

    Alastor chuckled and opened the door, swinging it wide enough that Margret wouldn’t tear it off the hinges, “I’ll send a shadow to alert you if things get too rough! Send Bea and Franklin out if I do - they’ll be able to help me.”

    Margret growled angrily as she stalked Alastor out of the estate, her focus completely on him. The anger that was boiling in her stomach was something that she hadn’t felt since the last breakdown she’d had - three months after he’d left. 

    Her anger had been sitting at the edge of a breaking point for so long; it was about time that she exploded.

    Alastor made it halfway down the drive before she came up behind him and he let out a sigh of discontentment. Within a moment, he felt his form shift and change until he was in his own form.

    And she was taller than he was.

    For a moment, Alastor panicked. The taller the Wendigo usually led to more powerful - Franklin was just a touch shorter than he and Bea was a good few inches. Margret was taller by at least a foot or two, her maw dripping with saliva.

    At least Wendigos didn’t taste good. He knew that she wasn’t there to feast on him.

    Her left arm swung forward and swiped him off his feet, gripping him by the waist and holding him up in the air. With a few tactful growls and a sideswipe to her ribcage with his foot, Maggie dropped him and he watched the anger in her eyes grow brighter.

    She let out a snarl and Alastor scrambled backward, something odd fighting in the front of his throat. 

    Was he scared of his own kin?

    Margret’s maw dribbled and she let out something akin to a scream, launching herself forward at him. His eyes widened and he held his hands up above his face, doing his best to shove her off him. He wasn’t angry - because of that, his power wasn’t as strong and there was nothing he could do within himself to trigger the anger that he needed.

    Maggie snapped her teeth a few inches away from his face and that’s when Alastor let forward a few shadows, the inky blots fleeing into the house and gathering his other two children. He did his best to wrestle with the monster above him, her teeth continuously trying their best to latch onto his face and rip him apart.

    They fought at a stalemate for a moment, her anger burning so bright that it was causing her to not fight as well as she could. Alastor knew she wasn’t trained, either; she did what she felt was best instinctually and that wasn’t always what would work out. He got his leg locked around her waist and flipped them over, using his antlers to lock with hers and keep her face a few feet from his.

    There was a rushing sound from his left and a demented laugh that came from his right. He didn’t move; he knew that it was Beatrice and Franklin. For a moment, the two didn’t do anything for him. 

    They knew that he had to at least try. He had to put the larger Wendigo back into her place.

    With a vicious snarl from his daughter below him, her knee came up and crashed into his pelvis and he let out a high pitched whine, letting go of her arms and collapsing over to the right. Her claws sunk into his shoulder and she stared down at him as he glared up at her and in that moment, something changed.

    A few tears dripped from the female Wendigo’s face and onto his own, her eyes closing and a sigh breaking through her maw. Alastor braced himself for the worst and was surprised when she let go of his shoulders, stepping back a few feet and then collapsing to the ground.

    She’d retreated. He’d won the fight.

    It didn’t matter to him either way as he watched his oldest come apart on the soil that was now bloodied from both of them. Alastor easily grasped control of his Wendigo and returned to his normal form at the same time she did, her face littered with tears and her sobs breaking through the air.

    “Go back indoors.” His voice was stern, turning to the two that he had called forth, “I apologize for calling for you when I did not need you.”

    Franklin gave a whine of disappointment and turned on his heel. Bea gave an uneasy grunt and the pair ran off, not toward the house but toward Pentagram City itself. Alastor sighed, standing upright and walking over to where his daughter was.

    Maggie felt her insides coil when he stood above her and she wondered if he was going to yell at her - call her a disappointment and how /dare/ she attack him.

    “I understand now.” Alastor reached down and grabbed her by her elbows, bringing her up into his arms and squeezing her against him, “I gather you were left in charge of everything while I was gone.”

    Her head shakily nodded against his chest.

    “How long did it take you before you broke, darling?”

    Her lips trembled when she spoke, “Three months.”

    “How many times has it happened?”

    Margret swallowed the lump in her throat, ‘J-just that once.”

    Alastor sighed and rubbed the spot between her shoulder blades, resting his chin against the top of her head. She was shorter than him in this form - only a few inches taller than Charlie, “Are you still angry?’

    For a moment, Margret tried to tap into anger she had left and found that she was just so /tired/. Her shoulders slumped forward and Alastor caught her as she nearly fell onto him, her fingers gripping at his sleeves, “I’m so tired, daddy.”

    He turned them in a way that he could scoop her up; she weighed next to nothing. Another Wendigo trait, he was sure, “I saw the plates in your room, dear. When did you eat last?”

    A dry laugh broke from her and she looked up at him, swinging her feet, “Five days ago. You’re carrying me like a baby.”

    “I suppose that sometimes, you need to be treated like one! Darling, not eating for days is severely impactful on your health and I must insist that we have lunch together.” He peered down at her, his monocle nearly slipping off his face.

    Margret reached up and fixed it for him. Her ears twitched and for the first time in a very long time, they moved forward so that they were resting upright. She had been near constantly anxious since his return and her ears had shown that anxiety, “Mm, okay. But I’m having a salad.”

    His nose crinkled just enough to show his dissatisfaction with her answer, “No wonder you’re so small, my dear. You need something hearty! Your mother made soup last night; you should have a bowl or two of that.”

    “Or seven bowls.” Her stomach growled fiercely, “Maybe ten.”

    Alastor chuckled lowly, setting her upright in the foyer when they got back into the house. She brushed off her shirt, picking a few stray bits of soil off the pink fabric as he did the same to his own jacket.

    “I already heated some up.” Charlie spoke from the stairs, sitting on the third step. She looked relieved to see the both of them in decent condition, “Do me a favor next time you two decide to fight.”

    “There won’t be a next time, mama-”

    “Please, just don’t do it on the front lawn. Those sounds aren’t something I want to hear.” Charlie’s normally very reddened cheeks were a bit paler and she seemed to be uncomfortable with where she was sitting.

    “Sorry, mama.” Margret looked to the ground, toying with her own fingers, “It won’t happen again.”

    Alastor laughed, a warm sound that made Maggie feel ten times better. His arm wrapped around her shoulders and he pulled her to his side, nodding toward Charlie, “All is well! Join us for lunch, darling.”

    “Where did Bea and Franklin run off to?” Charlie stood, the three of them making their way into the kitchen.

    Margret’s nose scrunched up, “To get their own lunch.”

    “A wonderful idea, I may add. Gives us some time to ourselves.” Alastor grinned widely at his mate and heir, his eyes sparkling, “Let us eat!”

[aros001]

First time read through light novel vol. 12. Random thoughts.

Right off the bat and I love this illustration

of the aftermath of Subaru's various deaths. Just at a look and you're able to tell which loop and death it was. From left to right:

After the Witch Cult slaughters Emilia, the mansion, and villagers and Puck goes out to destroy the world. Though not sure if this is the loop where Puck and Subaru got to talk or it this is a loop before that.

Rem tortures and Ram mercy kills Subaru, likely lying and covering up their actions afterwards to Emilia.

Rem dies from the Shaman's curse and Subaru commits suicide, unfortunately doing so right in front of Beatrice and Ram.

Elsa murders Subaru and Emilia. Subaru's very first death.

Subaru is possessed by Petelgeuse and has to be put down.

I wasn't sure about this one at first but later in the book seems to imply this is after Subaru killed himself after Rem fell into a coma.

Echidna speculated that Subaru's save points were based just on what'd help him be most likely to overcome whatever killed him and that Satella likely didn't care about anyone else in his life. But with the black shadow devouring everything, save for Garfiel, and seemingly heading for the mansion next, I wouldn't be surprised if Satella actually is choosing the points that get rid of others who are important to Subaru so she can have his love all to herself. Rem's in a coma and Subaru can't go back further to save her from that fate and the only reason Emilia is still around is because a lot of the events that kill her tend to also kill Subaru, like Elsa and the Witch Cult, so her death wouldn't exist in a timeline where Subaru also gets to live. In arc 3 Subaru's save point was set after he and Emilia had that big fight and went their separate ways. I wouldn't be surprised if Satella set that point specifically because the two were driven apart and she didn't want Subaru to get a do-over.

Watching Ram, Ryuzu, and all the other people he cared about get swallowed whole, vanishing within the shadow.

But even after so many precious people were stolen from him, Garfiel refused to use revenge as an excuse to throw all decency aside. He wouldn’t tolerate any talk about a victory that involved sacrificing Subaru.

I like to think this is a little bit of a callback to some of Subaru's loops during arc 3, specifically when he was so lost in his selfishness and later his rage at the Witch Cult's massacres that he was somewhat blinded to everyone else and was throwing away his decency; something Garfiel is refusing to do. Again, I don't mind that Subaru has had moments where he's not a good person and has very serious character flaws because the story is about him continuously growing into a better person.

“In this world, when I heard ‘I love you’ spoken seriously to me for the first time...it gave me, an unredeemable bastard, enough power to make me think I could become a hero.”

He was a piece of garbage, twisted down, broken, and ready to flee from everything, but those words had made him believe he could face the future head-on, never giving in—to challenge it once more, over and over, however many times that it took.

As sad as I am that Rem's not in the story anymore aside from being a near lifeless husk, I am glad that her importance on the story and Subaru specifically is still strong. Honestly, all shipping aside, I'm mostly upset that, because of the coma, all of Rem's character development has pretty much been put on hold. I was enjoying seeing her grow and the ways she was reacting to events in the story. For the audience, having her be in a coma is maybe worse than her being killed because there's that hope she'll come back and you're continuously waiting for her to do so; waiting for that part of the story to be allowed to continue.

What could he say, what should he say, that would rub the Witch the worst way? There was no one better armed to get under someone else’s skin than Subaru. So he knew.

Accordingly, Subaru gave a shallow, cruel laugh, turning a look of scorn toward the Witch.

“—I’d rather love Echidna and the other Witches than you.”

...Yeah, that oughta do it. Seriously though, I almost felt all the sound go out in the world at reading that line, that's how much of an "Ohhhhh shit." moment it was, with there being nothing Subaru could have said to piss the witch off more.

I suppose Satella (and Subaru) consuming and becoming one with everything can relate to envy. No need to be envious of what others have when you are both them and what they possess.

He had seen the Witch’s face in the moment just prior to Return by Death —and it was the same face as Emilia’s. After straddling death to come back, he had dragged along a fear of the Witch that stuck with him.

It's temporary but I do like this. For a moment Subaru is in a similar position as those who naturally live in this world. He knows that Emilia is not the Witch of Envy, just as most people in the world could obviously understand, but because of the strong resemblance (and Satella possessing Emilia's body) he can't not see Satella when he looks at her and feel that fear. Obviously it's still wrong to have that prejudice against Emilia and other half-elves whom have done nothing to harm anyone but having even Subaru feel that fear, even for just a moment, does make it very understandable why the people of this world have trouble letting go of it.

I know this is bothering me more than it should and it's not a criticism towards the series, but I always feel bad that Subaru has this perception around him of being a little bit of a crybaby, or at least easily upset and needing to be soothed. Don't get me wrong, I make no demands that the MC always be seen all ultra-masculine manly but from the perspective of others it does seem like Subaru breaks down easily. In the mansion arc with Subaru working himself sick and crying into Emilia's lap to the White Whale arc where Subaru gave up and asked Rem to run away with him to now where Emilia is needing to comfort him inside Echidna's tomb. We the audience know these breakdowns are VERY well deserved after the horrors Subaru has been through and he really needs the comfort, but the other characters don't know and it just looks like he's cracking over nothing. I like Subaru and it sucks that he keeps getting seen as a bit of a crybaby, especially in front of the woman he loves. Emilia doesn't make a big deal of it and Subaru has done plenty to prove his worth and bravery before, but I still can't help but feel a little bad for the guy.

I'm wondering if there's an implication that Emilia's doing better during this loop is because she now feels she's fighting/being strong for Subaru? Kind of like how Subaru has found strength in fighting for her and the others he cares about.

“I did think about it, so I asked Ram to keep him occupied. In the meantime, it’s a date between you and me, Ryuzu.”

“I am unsure what it is you mean by dayte...but I cannot defy you at this point, Young Su. You may do with me and the girl here as you wish.”

“That’s giving in a little too much!"

What is with people continuously thinking Subaru wants to defile them?! Is it the eyes? (It's probably the eyes)

I've heard tales before that Subaru comes to be known as the Lolimancer. Given he now has authority over Ryuzu and a practical army of replicas, I can kind of see that. And it's glorious. Nothing crushes your enemy quite like their opponent throwing a little girl that them...and winning.

Then, after a momentary pause, she slowly nodded and said, “—Ahhh, I understand now. Betty is probably entrusting you with her final moment because...”

Once he heard the answer, there was no going back. —He was certain of it.

And yet, his decision came too late. He had realized too late. It was too late for everything.

“—Sorry to intrude mid-conversation, but...”

A voice he should not have heard spoke. Hastened by a terrible chill, Subaru flipped around.

Then he saw her.

“—Is it all right if I become That Person for you, I wonder?”

Carrying a black curved blade in her hand—a kukri knife—the black- clothed Bowel Hunter stood at the archive’s entrance.

F**K! OFF! ELSA!

Crystal arrows were thrust through her entire body, half of it shattered like inorganic matter. Such was Elsa’s death.

THAT'S WHAT YOU GET, BITCH!

Beatrice’s eyebrows fell as she let out a breath of instantaneous relief, forming a thin smile in the process.

—The tip of a black blade was poking out of her chest.

“—My, what an odd feeling in the hand. A spirit’s belly really is different.”

DAMMIT!

“The letter...that’s right. I wrote a letter. I wrote everything on it, that’s why. I really meant to tell you about everything, but...”

“Tee-hee.”

Ohhhhhhhh no, that's never a good sign. Dark tomb dedicated to a witch, everything else outside going wrong, and Emilia just gives a little giggle like that, talking about how lonely she was and how much she loves him? She didn't even comment on how he's MISSING AN EYE.

Funny enough, for this part I am being reminded of a reaction I had while reading the Goblin Slayer light novels. "Oh, thank goodness this character was only severely beaten and about to be sacrificed to summon a demon old god into the world." "Oh, thank goodness. Emilia's not possessed or under some terrible curse. She's just cracked from mental strain and trauma." It's just one of those times where I have to take a moment and think about what kind of series I'm reading where I'm relieved a major character has only gone insane.

It is kind of cool how she's in a way going through a similar experience as Subaru has. Repeatedly going through a continuous loop of failures she can't overcome but feels she has to for the sake of others, until she finally just hits her breaking point.

I do like how even just Roswaal talking about RBD is enough for the witch to grasp Subaru's heart, even though Roswaal figured it all out on his own. I'm also glad I saw the "Memory Snow" OVA because it does add a nice (and really messed up) layer to Roswaal's manipulations. That even a happy and completely innocent time like that, seeming to exist for no other reason than to give the audience a nice breather before arc 3, was something he figured out how to use to his advantage. It makes him feel like even more of a devious bastard, that he'll be taking such a pleasant and pure memory and using it to get the villagers to fear Emilia.

“The current you is insufficient to bring about the future indicated in the text. Any discrepancy with that recorded requires a correction.”

That makes me curious about how specifically the book works. Before Roswaal and Beatrice were making it sound like the book foretold futures that would happen no matter what, but this line implies that Subaru currently is unable to make that future come to pass, making it sound more like the book describes the specific ways required to make the foretold future happen. Then again, Subaru isn't from this world, so is he maybe somewhat exempt from the book's prophecies? Or is he a requirement for fulfilling them? Roswaal caught on to Subaru's looping because of the book, but how? Is the future changing every time Subaru loops and because Roswaal has read ahead he knew what the future originally was and thus noticed when it changed? Subaru also speculates that Roswaal has the ability to inherit memories like Echidna and thus he can remember the previous timelines, but I feel like he'd be able to understand that the loops were caused by Subaru dying then, since that's the common trait among all of them. Roswaal also says there's no point in talking about thing since he will not be the same Roswaal Subaru meets when he loops again, so I'm assuming that means he can't inherit memories or the new Roswaal, while not the same as the previous loop, would remember his and Subaru's conversation and be able to continue it.

So to recap:

Rem, Petra, and Frederica are murdered after Subaru sent them to the village to keep them safe

He has to watch as Elsa murders a suicidal Beatrice

Elsa cuts out his left eye

He's caught in a harsh snowstorm wearing only a ripped up tracksuit

Emilia, the woman he loves, has a mental breakdown

Roswaal murders Ram and Garfiel right in front of him and admits he deliberately drove Emilia into isolation

Roswaal tortures Subaru in order to try and get him to loop

Rabbits eat Roswaal alive right in front of Subaru and likely are doing the same to the rest of Sanctuary, save for those whom chose suicide by fire rather than being eaten

The replicas are killed defending Subaru under his orders and he still got half-mauled in the process

His first kiss was at the very moment of his death by an insane Emilia

All in all, today's been something of a bummer for Subaru, hasn't it?

In all seriousness though, SOMEONE GIVE THE MAN A HUG!!!

And let's just keep the pain train rolling with Subaru being shown the aftermath of his death after Rem fell into a coma. Seriously, that was heart wrenching, between Emilia's sobbing to Wilhelm's desperation to save him and unable to understand how someone he genuinely respected could take his own life like that.

I kind of suspected this already given the first trial made Subaru confront his past, or at least a version of it, but now with the second trial being "the unknowable present" I'm assuming the three trials are based around past, present, and future respectively.

“—Goodness, can you even stand anymore? Subaru.”

...

For she was the girl who knew Subaru was not strong yet had said to him anyway, “I love you.”

“—Rem.”

“Yes. I am Subaru’s Rem.”

REM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I don't care if it's the Witch of Lust trying to trick him, the story made me need that as much as Subaru did.

“If I was stronger, if I was wiser, if I was a man who could do more...no one would have to suffer, to be sad, to go through hard times like that...”

It would have been so much better if Subaru had been strong enough to do everything, all of it, alone.

Emilia’s sadness, Beatrice’s loneliness, the calamity befalling Petra and Frederica, the menace of the Great Rabbit, Garfiel, who was desperately protecting something... He should have been able to do...something.

Everything, all of it, every last bit of it was Subaru’s fault.

That was why, to balance out his weakness, Subaru had to pay by shaving away his life. —That was what he’d thought, and yet...

“Have I saved...anyone...?”

“Subaru.”

“If those worlds continued after my death, how many times I have I abandoned everyone to die?”

“Subaru.”

“How many times...did I make you die? How many times...do I have to kill you?”

Seriously, why do so many people hate Subaru? And I'm not talking about in-story, I'm talking about how often I see people online just crapping on the guy and really just having such firm dislike for the character. Yeah, he has a bad tendency to shove his foot into his mouth, especially early on, and he most certainly has been selfish and entitled. But he's continuously growing, continuously being made to face his faults and try to overcome them. Most important, at the end of the day he's just a guy who doesn't want anything bad to happen to the people he loves and he tries despite how utterly powerless he is, holding himself to his failures to the point of self-destructiveness. He's far from perfect but he's a good guy who's being continuously pushed to be a better one.

“I’ll show you my weakness. I’ll show you my vulnerabilities. I’ll even show you how I’m a petty, irredeemable bastard. —But the one thing I won’t show you is me giving up.”

Rem had once said...Subaru was her hero.

And Subaru Natsuki had decided to be Rem’s hero.

Again, I don't dislike Emilia at all. I don't even dislike the idea of her and Subaru as a couple, since I can clearly see why Subaru loves her and why Emilia is likely falling for him. But these books have most certainly done nothing to temper how much I love the Subarem ship. How important Rem is to him not only helping to pull Subaru out of his despair over his long string of failures but also how much he wants to be the man she sees him as breaking him out of the Rem-deception. I'm not sure if what I said makes any sense but it's beautiful nonetheless!

The funny thing about Echidna's idea for potential immortality, hopping from one body to the next, is that it's an idea I feel like I've seen many times in fiction and yet I'm drawing a blank on many specific examples. I'm curious if implanting memories into a new vessel is how her tomb works, like she placed herself literally into her tomb and thus why her dream castle exists even after her death?

I am really enjoying Echidna so far. You know Subaru probably shouldn't trust her but she's very good at making herself someone you kind of want to trust. While it's a bit grey to say if she is an outright villain, I think she makes for a very good one.

I feel like I may have a misunderstanding of how Beatrice's pact works. She's to guard the library of forbidden books and sometimes the story makes it sound like she can't leave it, or at least can't leave the mansion, but she has left it a few times now, the furthest being Subaru's suicide jump of the cliff. So is it the overall estate she can't leave or that she can only exit the grounds on certain conditions? Because she and Subaru did have a pact when he went to the cliff.

Next volume should prove interesting, given Subaru seems like he's going to form a pact with Beatrice and Satella just showed up for the tea party. Next volume comes on sale on July 21, so I've got a couple of weeks to wait, unless anyone is aware of any websites that've translated the light novels (not web novels) like Overlord and Konosuba have.

Original Reddit post: https://www.reddit.com/r/Re_Zero/comments/ho60yc/novels_first_time_read_through_light_novel_vol_12/

[briangroth27]

The Exorcist Season 2 Review

I came into Season 2 wary of the show’s direction—in Season 1, I loved the Rance family plotline but found the papal conspiracy boring—so I was glad the show shifted focus almost completely to the “possession of the season.” Not only is a family in peril easier for me to relate to and invest in, but the conspiracy element has never felt very “Exorcist” to me and I’m glad it all but disappeared by the end of the season (even if the homage to Exorcist III’s famous hospital hallway scene was well done). In Season 2, a family was once again under siege by a demon and only Fathers Ortega (Alfonso Herrera) and Keane (Ben Daniels) could help them. This time, the family consisted of Andy Kim (John Cho) and the several foster children under his care (Brianna Hildebrand, Cyrus Arnold, Hunter Dillon, Alex Barmia, Amelie Eve, and eventually Beatrice Kitsos). I liked that the kids’ diversities—be they blindness, homosexuality, developmental issues, etc.—were utilized for characterization, but those were never the kids’ sole defining characteristics. I really hope fans didn’t take issue with the kids, Andy, and Rose (Li Jun Li) all representing some facet of diversity; this is what the world looks like and I’m glad the show fully embraced it. It’s also cool that a foster home run by a single dad was treated as just as viable a family as a traditional nuclear family.

Full spoilers…

I liked what all the kids brought to the family, particularly when their differences collided with each other, like Shelby’s religious beliefs and Verity’s torture at the hands of “pray out the gay” conditioning. However, it did seem like there might’ve been one too many children to fully dig into in terms of screentime. It felt like they all had solid, distinct personalities; they just didn’t have much to do. Early on it seemed like Caleb might have a bigger role to play, but outside of his initial adventure on the old well and a few moments of his blindness being used to create tension when he couldn’t see the possessed Andy, it felt like his story was a little thinner than it could’ve been. Ditto for Truck, who was sent away midway through the season. I definitely expected Shelby to become something of a junior exorcist when Marcus and Tomas arrived at the Kim household, but not doing so didn’t feel unfinished (particularly when you take into account what we learned of Marcus’ past with eager exorcists). I liked that he was identifying the unholy signs early on, though, and perhaps they could’ve nodded at him wanting to become an exorcist one day in the future. Harper didn’t get much time at the Kim house before things went crazy, but I did like that we got to see how the family adjusted to a new kid through her introduction. Verity got the most mileage out of the writing and Hildebrand crafted a compelling teen who didn’t always get along with her new family, but clearly loved them despite the front she sometimes put up. Going back for a book Andy had given her was a touching moment and I was happy she was the one to stick by Andy longest. I totally fell for the trick that “agoraphobic” Grace wasn’t real, though her “brave face”—the creepiest pillow case-turned-mask ever—should’ve been a major clue.

John Cho brilliantly balanced Andy’s grief over his wife Nicole’s (Alicia Witt) suicide, guilt for not seeing the signs of her depression, care for the kids, affection for Rose, and the demonic side that overtook him as the series progressed. I loved the layers of hallucinations the demon inflicted on him as it attempted to bond with him permanently by enticing him with a “fairy tale” life with his wife. Witt did a great job playing both the caring and troubled Nicole and the maliciously tempting demon trying to entrap him. I’m a fan of puns, so “the kids are in the garden” was a particularly fun bit of dark and ominous humor from her. The battle for Andy’s soul was intense and I liked that Andy had moments of lucidity where he was able to keep the demon from harming Verity, despite the demon’s attempts to convince him the kids distracted him from seeing Nicole’s depression and that Verity might’ve had a hand in driving Nicole to suicide by mocking her issues. Andy’s final act—keeping the demon tethered to his soul so it couldn’t possess anyone else, even if killing it meant dying with it—was tragically perfect. I wanted him to survive, but Verity was right: once he started killing people, no one would believe him. It wouldn’t have been much of a life for him to be arrested for murders he didn’t commit, but maybe he could’ve gone on the run with the priests or something. As things turned out, Andy’s sacrifice worked on an emotional level and the final battle with the demon was tense, touching, and scary in all the right ways; Andy’s goodbye to his kids almost made me cry. I liked that the kids got to start a new family with Rose, who Li Jun Li had made into a solid, supportive, and strong presence the entire season. I also liked that Rose was so open to inviting exorcists into the home to examine Andy; usually there’s a lot more skepticism to break through before the people around the possessed open themselves up to that possibility.

The tests of Tomas’ resolve when it came to saving Andy this season worked very well. I had a hard time knowing when he was in reality and when he wasn’t, making for some great twists and putting me in his confused mindset perfectly, particularly when the demon turned the exorcism around on Tomas. The demon dangling a vision of Tomas as a bishop was great, especially when it included Casey Rance (Hannah Kasulka) to try and guilt him for leaving his parishioners in Chicago to become an exorcist. I was a little surprised they didn’t have the demon play up Tomas’ temptation to stray from the strict celibacy commanded by the church, as we saw in Season 1, but I suppose we’ve already seen that and Tomas has grown. His apology on behalf of the church officials who tried to force Verity to be straight was a great moment and a nice recognition that not everyone in the church—even priests—is opposed to homosexuality. It was good getting to know Ben Marcus’ past more this year. Both his tragic family history and his past with Mouse (Zuleikha Robinson) worked well to illuminate him. I was surprised he left Mouse behind after her possession and I liked that his inaction then was juxtaposed with his resolution to stay and kill the demon possessing Andy in the present. Not wanting to repeat that mistake has probably driven much of his dedication to exorcising demons, even after falling from grace within the church. Marcus’ father killing his mother was also a clever tie to the island’s history of parents killing their families. Finding a bit of romance with Peter (Christopher Cousins) rather than continuing to drown in sadness was another nice touch. I wonder if Marcus actually did get a message from God at the end. If so—and if they can do something different than what Supernatural and Constantine have done—bringing in angels and God could be an interesting, fresh spin on The Exorcist mythos. Mouse joining Tomas as his new partner should make for a cool change in the exorcist dynamic, given she’s much quicker to jump to killing whoever needs to be killed as long as the demons are vanquished. That should play off Tomas’ relative pacifistic nature very well, unless he’s been changed by the experience with Andy. Mouse having been possessed herself and Tomas’ mental link with the demon here—opening him up to being possessed as well—should also give them a unique background to bond over. Since Tomas’ true desire was to see the demon die moreso than an eventual shot at the papacy, I wonder if Mouse will propel him along a more violent path or if she’ll recognize her own past eagerness to be an exorcist in him and council him against it. Either way, the two of them are going to have some very interesting discussions about a lot of things, including being mentored by Ben! And if Marcus has a new directive that’s different from anything we’ve seen from exorcists or the church, it should throw the three of them into an even more interesting dynamic. What if he shows up saying that demons possessing people is somehow part of God’s plan and they should stop exorcising demons altogether?

I really enjoyed the evil history of the island and the season’s shift to a self-contained demon after revisiting Captain Howdy (Robert Emmet Lunney) and Reagan MacNeil (Geena Davis) in Season 1 proved the series doesn’t need to rely on direct connections to The Exorcist to create compelling monsters. The demon forcing multiple parents to kill their children was scary, particularly played against a found family like this one, where the foster kids depended on Andy to keep them together. The series once again found a polished yet creepy aesthetic that didn’t avoid gore, but also never reveled in it. That worked very well to set the tone and setting things on a remote island gave the season a totally different feel than Season 1’s Chicago. Making everything more remote worked to establish classic horror tropes, but the season never felt derivative. If the show gets another season, I wonder where they’ll take it to create an entirely different feel this fall.

Like last season, I'm content with where the story ended with the priests and the Kim family, so if they end up not getting a third season, I would accept it. I like that it's mostly contained each year; focusing on a single family in danger makes for smart insurance against cancellation. It would be a shame to lose characters like Tomas, Marcus, and Mouse, though. Even if I’m not a fan of the papal conspiracy, seeing them grow with each new case and the threat of each new demon makes for a strong series arc for them. A message from God does seem like it holds more promise than whatever the demons are planning with the papacy, so it would be a shame to see this always solid show end here.

[aion-rsa]

The Walking Dead Season 10 Ending Explained

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This The Walking Dead article contains spoilers for episode 16.

Rarely has there been more pressure on a Walking Dead finale than season 10’s final hour, “A Certain Doom.” Due to the coronavirus pandemic, editing wasn’t able to be finished in time for the episode to air as originally scheduled on April 11, 2020. So fans had to wait, and wait, and wait, and wait some more.

Now “A Certain Doom” has finally had its say and The Walking Dead’s penultimate season was able to conclude as originally intended. And “A Certain Doom” was worth that wait for the most part. This episode successfully wraps up the season and a half long Whisperers arc and sets up what’s to come for the show in its final 30 episodes. 

Before those final episodes air, however, it’s going to be another long wait. With that in mind, let’s break down the ending of season 10 and analyze everything that it could mean for the franchise at large.

How Are the Whisperers Defeated?

No disrespect to The Governor and Woodbury or Negan and the Saviors, but Alpha and the Whisperers are certainly the best villains that The Walking Dead has conjured up over its ten-season run. These animalistic creeps who walked among the dead were some of the spookiest and most threatening baddies that Rick, Daryl, Carol, and company have ever had to deal with. 

How then were our heroes able to defeat such an imposing threat? With the power of music, of course! The survivors plan to outlast the Whisperer threat and end their imposing horde of walkers once and for all was a relatively simple one. While holed up in their defensive tower, Luke led an effort to cobble together a stereo system rigged to play The Talking Heads’ “Burning Down the House” at loud volume. Since walkers are naturally attracted to loud noises, this would lead the herd away from the tower and all the communities housed there, and take the walkers over a cliff. The important thing to remember here is that the Whisperers are relatively small in number and have no “home base” as it were. Their real danger lies in the undead company they keep, and to neutralize the Whisperers one just needs to kill the herd of zombies they walk among.

It’s a simple enough plan indeed but not so simple in execution. To get from the tower to the path to lead the zombies away Daryl, Carol, Beatrice, Luke, Jerry, and Magna have to somehow get through the horde. They do so by deploying the tried and true method of zombie camouflage: covering themselves in guts. This slow shuffle to safety makes up the tensest moments of the episode as our heroes have to avoid walkers and the Whisperers among them. Unfortunately, Oceanside resident Beatrice draws the “finale death” short straw and doesn’t make it through. 

Once cleared, the gang is able to draw the walkers very far away from the tower but not all the way to the cliff due to Whisperer treachery. Thankfully, Lydia uses her knowledge of herding to draw the walkers the rest of the way where the immense army amassed by Alpha and Beta fall harmlessly to the valley beyond.

Beta’s Death

Speaking of Beta…he’s dead! We’re sad to see the big lug go but at least he died doing what he loves: having knives driven into his eye sockets while not having sex with Alpha. When it becomes clear that the gang’s only shot at getting the zombies over the cliff is to trust Lydia, Daryl proposes a new strategy to the rest of the group. They are to head back into the horde and pick off the remaining Whisperers one by one.

It’s pretty remarkable at this point in the show that A. there are few enough Whisperers that they can be picked off one by one and B. Team Daryl has grown familiar enough with the dead to identify and take out Whisperers among them. But that’s exactly what the crew is able to achieve, partially thanks to a last minute intervention from Negan. Though Negan surely would have loved to deliver the killing blow to Beta, it’s Daryl who does the honor with his knife-based ocular assault. After one last hallucination, Beta finally dies and is overtaken by the dead, who remove Beta’s mask in the process. 

“Shit, you know who that asshole is?” Negan asks Daryl upon seeing Beta’s face.

Negan is referring to the fact that Beta is actually a famous country singer in the world of The Walking Dead.

But Daryl, despite likely being a country fan, is nonplussed by Beta’s identity and replies “nobody.”

It’s a helpful reminder of just how much this world has gone through and how little someone’s identity pre-apocalypse means. 

Maggie’s Back!

Daryl, Negan, and company aren’t able to defeat every Whisperer, however, as some have remained back at the tower to attack the remaining survivors inside. Though the Whisperers are small in number and operate most efficiently in shambling herds of zombies, they are able to assault this edifice containing Gabriel, Lydia, and the communities’ non-combatants quite effectively. 

Things in fact look pretty bleak for the team as an IED tears apart a room full of soldiers and the Whisperers begin to pore in. Gabriel puts up a decent fight but looks to be a goner….before Maggie comes back! This reveal would have hit quite a bit harder if The Walking Dead hadn’t already released a trailer teasing Lauren Cohan’s return as Hilltop leader and all-around badass Maggie Rhee. But it’s nice to have her back all the same. Not only that, but it’s revealed that Maggie is collaborating with the mysterious individual wearing an iron mask who previously saved Aaron and Alden from a certain doom (hey, that’s the name of the episode!).

In real life, Cohan gets to return to the show after her ambitious, but low-rated spy dramedy Whisky Cavalier wasn’t renewed for a second season at ABC. In the reality of the show, Maggie returns for a very simple, very Maggie reason: her friends needed her. Previously Maggie had been off with a group of traveling society-builders led by Georgie (Jayne Atkinson). We find out early in this episode that the survivors leave little newsletter drops for Maggie to keep up with. The latest news that Maggie received was quite grim: Jesus is dead, Tara is dead, and the communities are threatened yet again. So Maggie returned to save the day. 

The Return of Virgil and Connie

Amid all the walker and Whisperer chaos, The Walking Dead finale makes time to check in with one long-lost character. Kelly’s sister Connie wakes up in the woods, covered in soot (from the cave-in and dynamite blast in episode 9 that left her presumed dead). She stumbles onto the dirt road and her path crosses with none other than Virgil.

This is an interesting connection between two characters who have never met before. Connie was originally part of Magna’s group that arrived in Alexandria, and Virgil was a part of his own “community” (re: people he imprisoned) on Bloodsworth Island, Maryland. Virgil was last seen feeding Michonne hallucinogens and resigning himself to die alone on his island. Something, however, encouraged him to take off in search of other people. And it looks like he finally found someone.

This encounter calls into question quite a bit of the timeframe of the back half of season 10. It’s been days if not weeks since the explosion at the mining cave. Connie really couldn’t have been unconscious all this time as that’s quite bad for the brain, you see. So perhaps Virgil’s sojourn with Michonne happened a lot quicker than previously realized.

What’s to Come

A crucial part of any Walking Dead finale is setting up what’s to come in the next season. Given that The Walking Dead season 11 will be the final one for the show, this season 10 finale shoulders an extra burden in that regard. Thankfully it rises to the occasion with an enigmatic final scene featuring Eugene’s West Virginia travel group.

Eugene, Yumiko, Ezekiel, and Princess make it to the trainyard that is set to serve as the meeting point for Eugene and his radio friend Stephanie’s community. Eugene and company are late and Stephanie is not there. But the newly hopeful Eugene decides to look on the brighter side of things and assures himself that she’ll turn up again sometime soon.

Right at that moment floodlights kick on and a group of highly organized soldiers in pristine white armor surround the group and command that they drop their weapons. Are these people part of Stephanie’s community? The short answer is almost certainly yes. And if you’d like to know more about them we’d recommend checking out this article on The Commonwealth. 

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But for now, trust that with only one season to go, The Walking Dead has now officially introduced a big portion of the original comics endgame. These final 30 episodes should be a wild ride. 

The post The Walking Dead Season 10 Ending Explained appeared first on Den of Geek.

from Den of Geek https://ift.tt/34kdQEC

[lumiereswig]

Can you do a high school au where Lumiere take Plumette to prom?

AWWWW THIS IS CUTE.

Lumiere is the batshit theatre kid, of course. He’s been the lead in so many of the shows—Chicago, The Fantasticks, he’s done them all. He wears natty vests, and half the girls are convinced he’s gay. His senior prank was to replace all the fluorescent lights in the cafeteria with chandeliers. (where he got them, no one knows.) everyone feels like they ought to hate him, but they can’t. He gets that shit-eating grin on his face, and he starts singing, and everyone melts.

Plumette is in theatre, too, but also ballet and gymnastics. her locker is covered in feather boas. you come into the auditorium after school and she’ll be perched up in the back, stretching one leg or the other, working out the kinks and trying new steps. her perfume is soft and gentle and she wears ballet flats every day.

Cogsworth, Lumiere’s best friend, is actually gay but no one’s caught on yet. Cogsworth doesn’t like to be on the stage, as much, but he’s a magnificent stage manager; he stands backstage and cues the others on. When they do Shakespeare plays, he mouths the words; he knows all the lines by heart.

I haven’t told you all of this for nothing.

Prom-time is coming up, and the drama club is getting anxious (though heaven forbid anyone speak the anxiety aloud). Adam’s asked out Belle—on the roof of the school, even, can you get more dramatic—and Stanley’s asked out LeFou, though that was so quiet it barely made a stir at all. Garderobe and Cadenza are automatically going, of course—those two, co-presidents of the madrigal club and all, have been dating for ages and show no sign of stopping. But no one has asked out Plumette, even though she’s the prettiest girl in school.

“Psssst. Cogsworth.”

“I am studying, I am studying, I am studying—”

“Shhh.” Lumiere slides his books away with one slick motion. “Books can wait another time.”

“I have two tests tomorrow! Honors, too. Not that you’d know anything about trying to study. As, I will mention again, I am doing.”

“No you’re not. How can you be studying when your books are in the trash can?” Lumiere flings them with spectacular aim. “Cogsworth, I need your strictest advice. You are wise, wise beyond your young, young years—”

“I never trust you when you over exaggerate.”

“I always over exaggerate.”

“Precisely.”

“Be reasonable!” Lumiere, not following his own advice, slides halfway onto the table and into a position that is half seduction, half Labrador puppy, and all inappropriate. “Cogsworth, I need your help. For prom-ing purposes. I need to be magnificent. I need to sweep my beloved off their feet.”

“Really?” says Cogsworth, perking up.

“Yes. I must ask Plumette to prom. You see my problem.”

“I see far too many,” says Cogsworth, slumping again.

“She’s so pretty! And smart! And glowing! And, ah,” Lumiere sighs, “l’amour.”

“We know, we know, you passed French. You don’t need to keep dropping it into conversation like it’s some big victory.”

“It was my Arc de Triomphe!” says Lumiere, and Cogsworth rolls his eyes. “But my ability to speak French is beside the point, mon ami. The point is that Plumette is soft and gentle and clever and wonderful, and I need to ask her to prom in a way that leaves no doubt that I am all those things too.”

“You’re not.” He is blunt. “Clever? Fine. Wonderful? Meh. Soft and gentle? No, Lumiere. You set the teacher’s desk on fire in chemistry. You carried around a boombox from the 1990s because you thought it made you look cool. On pajama day you wore woman’s lingerie—”

“Fire!” says Lumiere. He clearly hasn’t been listening. “That’s it! Nothing more striking and romantic than fire!”

“I can think of quite a few things, actually—”

“Flames! Burning! Hot passions!”

“Flowers, chocolates, promises you don’t—wait, you’ve got that look on your face again, you know I don’t like that look, don’t come near me if you have that look—”

“Shhhhh,” says Lumiere, and he is grabbing Cogsworth and dragging him up and away. “To the auditorium! We must prepare a masterpiece of romance!”

“Oh, god,” mutters Cogsworth, and is pulled away. “No fire, do you hear me? Absolutely NO fire.”

Later that day, Plumette heads to the auditorium to do some quiet stretches. Nothing should be rehearsing in there right now, and she loves the smell of the old theatre—the musty scent of the shitty 1980s prom dress costumes, the honey-gold-brown of the old polished floor. The mirror that Adam cracked when he threw a hissy fit for not getting the lead in Gypsy. The wooden set pieces badly painted to be castles and villages.

She dumps her backpack and stretches her feet. She dances, and hops, and pirouettes to the center of the dark stage—and on slams a spotlight, right on her face. She tries to shade her eyes, but she can’t see—and she can’t escape, because right behind her she hears the old crash and roll of the scenery, moving around behind her, blocking her path.

“Hello?” she calls out. It’s too dark—it’s too bright—somewhere she can hear Cadenza’s keyboard hitting the opening chords of “Marry You.” Garderobe is singing harmony to it. The 80s prom dresses are swinging on their racks.

Lumiere bursts out of them, fabulous. He’s chosen a truly amazing dress: bright yellow, with bright gold lace, and puffed sleeves to make Princess Diana sigh. He’s even gone whole-hog with the gold eye shadow.

Behind him, out pour the rest of the drama club. Chapeau, Beatrice, Adam, Belle, Garderobe, Cadenza, Stanley, LeFou—all in terrible vintage prom dresses, dancing in absolutely synchronized harmony. They’re all holding paper bags. Somewhere, a strobe light turns on—that would be Cogsworth, up in the tech booth. He always acts like he can’t be overdramatic, thinks Plumette, and here he is, flashing four dozen different colored lights in my eyes. And is that a disco ball—?!

Lumiere is lip-syncing with aplomb. “Cause it’s a beautiful night, we’re looking for something dumb to do—PLUMETTE!” he yells, over the lyrics. “PROM? YES? MON AMOUR?”

The drama kids circle Plumette and flip their paper bags upside down. Feathers come flying from everywhere—pink, white, blue, it’s a haze of softness and brightness, and there is Lumiere, beaming at her, but with just the smallest touch of vulnerability there. Plumette is shocked. He thinks I might say no, she thinks.

She smiles. He cries out in joy, and reaches for her—

“I’m not smiling because you asked,” she says, and he draws back, sudden, surprised. She is saying no?! She is saying no. Oh.

“I’m smiling because I am asking you,” says Plumette, and points to the tech booth. The strobe lights shut off, all at once; the spotlight vanishes. Total darkness. And slowly, slowly, the lights behind them come up, spelling out in blazing orange-yellow-gold:

PROM, LUMIERE?

“Ooooh,” sing the rest of the drama club, throwing confetti at Lumiere. Up in the tech booth, Cogsworth winks at him.

“Wha—you, you are asking me?” cries Lumiere.

“Of course!” Plumette smiles at him, cheeky. “Ma cherie, I’ve planned to ever since we passed French together.”

“Oh,” says Lumiere. “Yes! Yes, of course. Yes, I will go with you to prom. Yes, yes, yes!”

They embrace. Lumiere’s bright yellow dress crinkles. Plumette is all dimples and smiles. The drama club applauds. And up in the booth, Cogsworth sighs.

“Well,” he says, “back to studying, I guess.”

[ceruleanvulpine]

asoue reread: les miserables (mills)

optometry! cross-dressing! hypnosis! me, in the background, speculating about the arc plot!

To Beatrice- My love flew like a butterfly Until death swooped down like a bat As the poet Emma Montana McElroy said: "That's the end of that."

The first time I reread this I looked up the source of that poem, and it turns out to be from a third-grader in an asoue-themed poetry contest. Ms. McElroy (presumably no relation) says that she “like[s] sad stories, because after reading them you can get happy again until you're ready to read one again”. Relatable, Emma. 

But this book begins with the sentence "The Baudelaire orphans looked out the grimy window of the train and gazed at the gloomy blackness of the Finite Forest, wondering if their lives would ever get any better," and you should be able to tell that the story that follows will be very different from the story of Gary or Emily or the family of cunning little chipmunks.

It doesn’t, Lemony, there are two full paragraphs before that sentence is said! 

And the only trophy they would win would be some sort of First Prize for Wretchedness.

Can someone draw the kids with a First Prize For Wretchedness Trophy, cool, thanks

I'm now the Vice President in Charge of Coins

¿¿¿??¿?

Mr. Poe took a piece of paper out of his pocket and squinted at it. "His name is Mr. Wuz- Mr. Qui- I can't pronounce it. It's very long and complicated."

"I have given Mr. Bek- Mr. Duy- I have given your new caretaker a complete description of Count Olaf," said Mr. Poe. "So if by some stretch of the imagination he shows up in Paltryville, Mr. Sho- Mr. Gek- will notify the authorities."

Lifehack: if you discover Sir’s true name, you can compel him to release you from your lumber compact. 

Alongside the sidewalk, where a row of trees might have been, were towering stacks of old newspapers instead.

(squints) Doesn’t the fact that VFD stores old newspapers in stacks on the Paltryville streets get mentioned in UA or somewhere? (Or was that a fanfic? >.>)

Other than a sign I saw once that said "Beware" in letters made of dead monkeys, the "Lucky Smells Lumbermill" sign was the most disgusting sign on earth

?????¿

It is much, much worse to receive bad news through the written word than by somebody simply telling you, and I'm sure you understand why. When somebody simply tells you bad news, you hear it once, and that's the end of it. But when bad news is written down, whether in a letter or a newspaper or on your arm in felt tip pen, each time you read it, you feel as if you are receiving the news again and again. For instance, I once loved a woman, who for various reasons could not marry me. If she had simply told me in person, I would have been very sad, of course, but eventually it might have passed. However, she chose instead to write a two-hundred-page book, explaining every single detail of the bad news at great length, and instead my sadness has been of impossible depth. When the book was first brought to me, by a flock of carrier pigeons, I stayed up all night reading it, and I read it still, over and over, and it is as if my darling Beatrice is bringing me bad news every day and every night of my life.

Lemony --

You know, I don’t think hearing it in person would have helped? 

Klaus frowned at the hand-drawn map that was attached to the note with another wad of gum, "This map looks pretty easy to read," he said. "The dormitory is straight ahead, between the storage shed and the lumbermill itself."

Violet looked straight ahead and saw a gray windowless building on the other side of the courtyard. "I don't want to live," she said, "between the storage shed and the lumbermill itself."

I love her...

I'm sure you have heard it said that appearance does not matter so much, and that it is what's on the inside that counts. This is, of course, utter nonsense, because if it were true then people who were good on the inside would never have to comb their hair or take a bath, and the whole world would smell even worse than it already does.

I’m not.. sure that follows.

"You must be Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire," the somebody said, and the children turned to see a very tall man with very short hair. He was wearing a bright blue vest and holding a peach. He smiled and walked toward them, but then frowned as he drew closer. "Why, you're covered in pieces of bark," he said. "I hope you haven't been hanging around the lumbermill. That can be very dangerous for small children."

Chaaaaaarles! 

He’s just as useless as every other adult in the damn series, but I have a soft spot for him anyway. Maybe because he’s Gay And Useless. 

"That doesn't matter," Charles replied. "When Sir has made up his mind, he has made up his mind. I know he sometimes is a little bit mean, but you'll have to excuse him. He had a very terrible childhood. Do you understand?"

Violet looked at the painting of the seashore, and thought once again of that dreadful day at the beach. "Yes," she sighed. "I understand. I think I'm having a very terrible childhood myself."

This is still such a good line.

But although all the workers looked tired, and sad, and hungry, none of them looked evil, or greedy, or had such awful manners.

):

and at that moment one of the children had a trick played on him which I hope has never been played on you. This trick involves sticking your foot out in front of a person who is walking, so the person trips and falls on the ground. A policeman did it to me once, when I was carrying a crystal ball belonging to a Gypsy fortune-teller who never forgave me for tumbling to the ground and shattering her ball into hundreds of pieces. It is a mean trick, and it is easy to do, and I'm sorry to say that Foreman Flacutono did it to Klaus right at this moment.

1. Was that Madame Lulu? 

2. The similar incident in ATWQ 3 still makes this funnier to me.

When they arrived at the dormitory, Violet and Sunny looked out the window to watch for him, and they were so anxious that it took them several minutes to realize that the window was not a real one, but one drawn on the blank wall with a ballpoint pen.

either they’re VERY anxious or this is some shockingly good ballpoint trompe l’oeil

"Klaus, we were so worried about you," Violet said, hugging her brother as he reached them. "You were gone for so long. Whatever happened to you?"

"I don't know," Klaus said, so quietly that his sisters had to lean forward to hear him. "I can't remember."

"You'd better get to bed, Klaus," Violet said. "Follow me."

 At last, Klaus spoke. "Yes, sir," he said, quietly.

Okay. People differ in their opinions on when this series Gets Horrifying. Monty’s death is upsetting, certainly, and Olaf trying to marry Violet is scary, and when he pushes Josephine off the boat it’s chilling...

But IMO hypnotized!Klaus is a sudden uptick in fear level. (At least, it’s the thing I very clearly remembered even after I hadn’t read the books in years.) He doesn’t take his shoes off before going to bed! And Violet does and then in the morning he gets up and goes off to work without putting them back on! That’s Horrifying(tm)

My chauffeur once told me that I would feel better in the morning, but when I woke up the two of us were still on a tiny island surrounded by man-eating crocodiles, and, as I'm sure you can understand, I didn't feel any better about it.

YOU OKAY, LEMONY?? 

Violet and Sunny sat down beside him, confused and frightened, and put their arms around their brother as though they were afraid he was floating away. They sat there like that, a heap of Baudelaires, until Foreman Flacutono clanged his pots together to signal the end of the break.

;-; ;-; ;-;

Then everyone had to blow on the stamp so it dried quickly.

That doesn’t seem efficient, but I don’t know what I expected from Sir. 

And I simply cannot describe the grotesque and unnerving sight—the words "grotesque" and "unnerving" here mean "twisted, tangled, stained, and gory"—of poor Phil's leg. It made Violet's and Sunny's stomachs turn to gaze upon it, but Phil looked up and gave them a weak smile.

Yikes!

"No, no," Phil said. "It's fine. I've never liked my left leg so much, anyway." "Not your leg, you overgrown midget," Foreman Flacutono said impatiently.

me: children

bald man: midgets

me: adults? 

bald man: overgrown midgets

...and at this point in the story of the Baudelaire orphans, I would like to interrupt for a moment and answer a question I'm sure you are asking yourself. It is an important question, one which many, many people have asked many, many times, in many, many places all over the world. The Baudelaire orphans have asked it, of course. Mr. Poe has asked it. I have asked it. My beloved Beatrice, before her untimely death, asked it, although she asked it too late. The question is: Where is Count Olaf?

That does seem like a pretty straightforward implication that, yep, it was Olaf. The books are not as subtle about this as tumblr user Istoki insinuated to me. :P

Dr. Orwell was a tall woman with blond hair pulled back from her head and fashioned into a tight, tight bun. She had big black boots on her feet, and was holding a long black cane with a shiny red jewel on the top.

Book Orwell was blonde? I had forgotten this.

Also jeez no wonder people think she’s hot. Boots! Boots.

"Have you ever encountered," Dr. Orwell said, "in your reading, the expression 'You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar'?"

Aw man I was mad at the netflix show for giving her Esmé’s line but it was her line all along! I was incorrect. 

The buildup to the payoff of that line is so good. Georgina is so much more competent than Olaf. 

"That wig and that lipstick don't fool us any more than your palebrown dress and sensible beige shoes. You're Count Olaf."

The word “palebrown” appears twice in this page and I am very perplexed. I also love... book Shirley: sensible receptionist’s outfit! Netflix Shirley: red red red red red re

Count Olaf shook his head. "But if you do something impolite to me" he said, "then I might do something impolite to you, like for instance tearing your hair out with my bare hands."

Zero to sudden threats of violence in two pages after his appearance: the Count Olaf MO!!!

"Possibly," Shirley said, crossing her legs and revealing long white stockings imprinted with the pattern of an eye.

#nice

"Don't be ab—" Violet said, but she stopped herself before she could say "surd." 

[...]

"Ab?" said a voice behind her. "What in the world does the word 'ab' mean?" 

Violet and Sunny turned around and saw Dr. Orwell leading Klaus into the waiting room. He was wearing another new pair of glasses and was looking confused. 

"Klaus!" Violet cried. "We were so worried ab—" She stopped herself before she could say "out" when she saw her brother's expression.

[...]

"There you go again, with 'ab,'" Dr. Orwell said. "Whatever in the world does it mean?" 

"'Ab' isn't a word, of course," Shirley said. "Only a stupid person would say a word like 'ab.'" 

"They are stupid, aren't they?" Dr. Orwell agreed, as though they were talking about the weather instead of insulting young children. "They must have very low self-esteem."

 "I couldn't agree more, Dr. Orwell," Shirley said.

"Call me Georgina," the horrible optometrist replied, winking. 

STOP BEING SO MEAN TO THESE CHILDREN.. Also “”Call me Georgina,” the horrible optometrist replied, winking,” is such an incredible sentence? I’m glad they’re exes in the show.

Violet tried to smile at Phil, but her smiling muscles just stayed put. She knew—or she thought she knew, anyway, because she was actually wrong—that the only thing in disguise was Count Olaf.

... Wait, what else is in disguise? ... Orwell’s sword-cane? 

"Hypnosis! Count Olaf! Fiti! I've had enough of your excuses!" he yelled.

Sir is terrible, but this is the second or third time he’s just accepted Sunny’s baby talk as comprehensible speech, which amuses me. Also Klaus isn’t at this meeting because he’s hypnotized and VIOLET THOUGHT HE MIGHT MURDER SIR

"They are being treated like members of the family," Sir said. "Many of my cousins live there in the dormitory. I refuse to argue with you, Charles! You're my partner! Your job is to iron my shirts and cook my omelettes, not boss me around!"

"You're right, of course," Charles said softly. "I'm sorry."

Sorry Charles(tm). your inability to stand up to sir doesn’t excuse letting the children be neglected but i do still feel bad for you

Violet and Sunny sighed, and thought of their poor hypnotized brother. Klaus seemed so different from the brother they knew that it was almost as if Count Olaf had already succeeded with his dastardly scheme, and destroyed one of the Baudelaire orphans.

):

His eyes were usually all squinty from reading, and now they were wide as if he had been watching TV instead.

>:T

1. Introduction 1 2. Basic Ophthalmology 105 3. Nearsightedness and Farsightedness 279 4. Blindness 311 5. Itchy Eyelashes 398 6. Damaged Pupils 501 7. Blinking Problems 612 8. Winking Problems 650 9. Surgical Practices 783 10. Glasses, Monocles, and Contact Lenses 857 

11. Sunglasses 926 12. Hypnosis and Mind Control 927 13. Which Eye Color Is the Best One? 1,000

I’m still losing my mind about this table of contents from Dr. Orwell’s book. Which eye color *is* the best one, anyway? How big of a problem are itchy eyelashes? Why is there only one page on sunglasses? 

AND ARE THERE ANY BOOKS IN THIS UNIVERSE WITH A NUMBER OF CHAPTERS OTHER THAN THIRTEEN

"We just stopped by to make sure everything went well," Dr. Orwell said, gesturing to the saw with her black cane. "And I'm certainly glad we did. Lucky!" she shouted to Klaus. "Do not listen to your sisters!"

This moment in the book: p good. This moment in the show: made me fall in love with Dr. Orwell a little. She’s just so satisfied with her own cleverness! 

"Oh no you can't!" Klaus cried, and stepped forward to push Charles out of the way.

"Oh yes we can!" Foreman Flacutono said, and stuck his foot out again. You would think that such a trick would only work a maximum of two times, but in this case you would be wrong, and in this case Klaus fell to the floor again, his head clanging against the pile of debarkers and tiny green boxes.

YOU WOULD THINK THAT SUCH A TRICK WOULD ONLY WORK A MAXIMUM OF TWO TIMES

There are also, like, six lines of “Oh no you can’t!”/”Oh yes we can!” from various characters, including an “Oh toonoy!” from Sunny. Then Sunny bites Dr Orwell on the hand and Orwell yells “Gack!”, breaking the combo. 

Then..

But then she smiled and used an expression that was in French: "En garde!" "En garde!," as you may know, is an expression people use when they wish to announce the beginning of a sword-fight, and with a wicked smile, Dr. Orwell pressed the red jewel on top of her black cane, and a shiny blade emerged from the opposite end. In just one second, her cane had become a sword, which she then pointed at the youngest Baudelaire orphan. But Sunny, being only an infant, had no sword. She only had her four sharp teeth, and, looking Dr. Orwell right in the eye, she opened her mouth and pointed all four at this despicable person.

I understand why this wasn’t in the show... but I love it so much. It’s so fucking ridiculous. Lemony describes the dramatic clanging of blades ringing against each other except that SUNNY JUST HAS HER TEETH. Also: 

There is a loud clink! noise that a sword makes when it hits another sword—or, in this case, a tooth—and whenever I hear it I am reminded of a swordfight I was forced to have with a television repairman not long ago.

Macros I need: “Thanks Lemony,” “u ok Lemony” 

Klaus needed to invent something to stop the machine, and he needed to invent it right away.

God, I love that in this book Violet has to research hypnosis and Klaus has to invent a thing. I think I’m overall glad they didn’t include it, because Klaus’ stretched-gum-log-grabber is kind of silly ... but the skill-swapping is really cute and I hope we get to see it later on.

Hukkita —hukkita—hukkita! The machine began making the loudest and roughest sound Klaus had ever heard. Charles closed his eyes, and Klaus knew that the blade must have hit the bottom of his foot.

HEY THIS IS TERRIFYING JUST FYI

Gathering up all of his strength—and, after working at a lumbermill for a while, he actually had quite a bit of strength for a young boy—he grabbed his invention, and pulled. Klaus pulled on his debarker, and the debarker pulled on the gum, and the gum pulled on the log, and to the relief of all three Baudelaire orphans the log moved to one side.

THE GUM WOULD JUST STRETCH, HANIEL

(i know, i know, it’s not strictly realistic! but! aaaaaa) 

For just as Dr. Orwell was about to bring her sword down on little Sunny's throat, the door of the lumbermill opened and Sir walked into the room. "What in the world is going on?" he barked, and Dr. Orwell turned to him, absolutely surprised. When people are absolutely surprised, they sometimes take a step backward, and taking a step backward can sometimes lead to an accident. Such was the case at this moment, for when Dr. Orwell stepped backward, she stepped into the path of the whirring saw, and there was a very ghastly accident indeed.

I love, uh... 

This thing Lemony does where he goes from describing a specific situation to describing something in general terms that MIGHT happen or SOMETIMES happens, but which has ominous implications for the current situation, and then after this suspense-building, worrying delay gets back to the main story. See also: Violet reads the first, incredibly dense sentence of Dr. Orwell’s book, looks at the table of contents to see where to skip to, and then Lemony immediately launches into a definition of “stylistic consistency” and you know exactly where it’s headed. 

Anyway. Yes. Doctor Orwell. This works better when she’s .. about to stab.. Sunny on the ground, instead of carrying her as in the show. 

The Baudelaire orphans sat together on the floor of Sir's office and looked up at the adults discussing the situation, wondering how in the world they could talk about it so calmly. The word "dreadful," even when used three times in a row, did not seem like a dreadful enough word to describe everything that had happened. Violet was still trembling from how Klaus had looked while hypnotized. Klaus was still shivering from how Charles had almost been sliced up. Sunny was still shaking from how she had almost been killed in the swordfight with Dr. Orwell. And, of course, all three orphans were still shuddering from how Dr. Orwell had met her demise, a phrase which here means "stepped into the path of the sawing machine." The children felt as if they could barely speak at all, let alone participate in a conversation.

Aaaand getting sawed up is a lot less of a Disney Villain Death than stepping backwards and disappearing into a fire, huh? If I were a child of fourteen, twelve, or one, I would not like to see someone sawed up.

"If your left ankle does not have a tattoo of an eye on it," Mr. Poe said, "then you are most certainly not Count Olaf."

Shirley's eyes shone very, very bright, and she gave everyone in the room a big, toothy smile. "And what if it does?" she asked, and hitched up her skirt slightly. "What if it does have a tattoo of an eye on it?"

Stop!! smiling!!!

Count Olaf shrugged, sending his wig toppling to the floor, and smiled at the Baudelaires in a way they were sorry to recognize. It was a certain smile that Count Olaf had just when it looked like he was trapped. It was a smile that looked as if Count Olaf were telling a joke, and it was a smile accompanied by his eyes shining brightly and his evil brain working furiously.

We’re four for four on this phenomenon!

Even a boarding school sounded like it would be better than their days with Foreman Flacutono, Dr. Orwell, and the evil Shirley. I'm sorry to tell you that the orphans were wrong about boarding school being better, but at the moment they knew nothing of the troubles ahead of them, only of the troubles behind them, and the troubles that had escaped out the window.

I mean, at least they get to make some friends there.

(and boarding school isn’t INHERENTLY bad ok)

"Well, let me think," Phil said, and thought for a moment. In the background, the orphans could hear the dim sounds of Mr. Poe describing Count Olaf to somebody on the telephone. "You're alive," Phil said finally. "That's lucky. And I'm sure we can think of something else."

I like that the culmination of Phil’s useless optimism in the book is.. well, yeah, everything sucks, but the kids are genuinely a little cheered by thinking about how they could have died and didn’t. A bunch of the earlier books have about one page of hopefulness at the end. I don’t think it lasts. 

LEMONY SNICKET grew up near the sea and currently lives beneath it. To his horror and dismay he has no wife or children, only enemies, associates, and the occasional loyal manservant. His trial has been delayed, so he is free to continue researching and writing the tragic tales of the Baudelaire orphans for HarperCollins.

Let’s see, he was living in the city, he was going to be put on trial, now his trial’s been delayed and he’s (presumably) living on the Queequeg. At what point do we start getting the worrying asides about “the author’s execution has been cancelled”? :P 

[piyokosworldproblems]

It was Her.

This is just another roleplay post of my OCs. Again, this features Lance. It is the present time/age him instead of a flashback. Enjoy if you care~ OwO

~~~

Lance The King snorted at the events or Arnold and the girl. He clapped his hands his the excitement, "Well!" He said aloud. Lance averted his attention back to the King, "I will speak with Sir Endroc on the manner and from there we will speak with Princess Yumi on the matter of who will obtain custody of the wyverns."

Queen Katherine rolled her eyes, "You are dismissed. I must talk with my husband in private." She grumbled as she shooed them out.

Lance peered down the hallway where Naomi and Arnold disappeared to. He glanced down at Clink with a frustrated sigh, "You can't go into the shadows." He repeated as a reminder to himself. He began down the path, hoping that he would bump into them. 'I don't know her scent anyway.' Lance thought to himself. It was simple to find Yumi's shadow. It knew exactly how to track her. He was able to find the Kings too when he was alive, but finding shadows of others unfamiliar to him was difficult and sometimes nearly impossible without a scent. These abilities could only be performed in his shade state. Lance looked at Clink again, which he was not able to do.

Lance curiously continued to follow. He could only rely on hearing Arnold's overbearing voice somewhere near. He had to get back to Yumi soon. He became a little anxious to confirm his suspicions. Arnold called her Naomi also, he had to have been right. Was it the same Naomi? She looked much older now, though some things never changed. Her hair was still the same auburn color, though her curls seemed to have loosened into gentle waves through the years. The glimpse of her eyes back in the room still looked like the same green as they were before and the pattern of her freckles under her cheeks didn't seem to have changed.

"She wouldn't listen to me." The girl's voice whined out.

"All you had to do was escort her home. Did you tell her the castle was no longer deemed safe for visitors?" Arnold demanded.

Lance walked closer and within earshot to listen to their conversation.

"Well yes," Naomi muttered.

Arnold growled, "Not well yes, Naomi! Yes or no?" "I told her the castle was no longer safe, yes. But I also may have mentioned that we are harboring two wyverns-"

"You what?!" Arnold interrupted in sheer anger.

Naomi cringed, "I said it was hurt and wouldn't be able to attack anyone. She said she needed to use the washroom and when I went to check in on her and she was gone."

"You lost Lady Beatrice?!" Anger flowed with Arnold's blood. He threw up his hand and got ready to swing.

Lance rushed himself in front of the blow, blocking the hit with his arm. Arnold quickly yanked his hand back and held it close to him,

"What the hell!" Arnold groaned.

Lance looked back at Naomi who stood still behind him. He looked back to Arnold, "My bad." Lance spoke unapologetically.

Arnold clutched his other hand in a fist, "Sir Lance, for the sake of all that is holy, remove yourself from this situation before I knock you back to Mythicana." It was clear to Lance that he had lost his patience with the visiting kingdom awhile ago. 

"How I choose to punish my Knights are none of your concern."

Lance seemed to have blatantly ignored Arnold. Instead, Lance's attention was fixed on Clink. He caught the last bit of Arnold's word, "Knight or not, Sir Arnold, a lady should be respected." He glanced back. Naomi still seemed to be peering up at him with a doe-eyed gaze.

"Not when she can't do her job," Arnold glared past Lance and at Naomi, "I warned you, Naomi. The next time you messed up would be your last!" Arnold began to walk away after realizing that Naomi had not been listening, "Find her or else!" Arnold yelled out. Lance figured he didn't have much more to say. 

Lance felt a jolt from behind him that caused him to be unsteady, "Uh." Lance scowled as he regained his footing. He glanced down to see arms attempting to wrap around him, but both of their bulky armor made it difficult.

"I knew it!" Naomi squealed, "It was you!"

Lance removed her arms from his waist, "Watch it." He adjusted Clink. He turned to face her. Her eyes were fixated on him with a ridiculous smile,

"I passed the room and I saw you! I told myself it was you and it was!" Naomi rambled, "I didn't think Id ever see you again but now that I have, I have so much to tell you!"

Lance scanned her. 'I knew it.' He thought to himself. He turned around and began walking back to the wyverns room.

"W-wait!" Naomi stumbled over her armor, "Where are you going?"

Lance looked back over his shoulder, "I have to return to my duties. I only wanted to confirm you were who I thought and now that I have, I must head back."

Naomi scowled, "You're so formal." She pouted, "Are you not curious?" She said referring back to her armor.

Lance faced her. He was a little curious how a girl like her obtained the title of a knight. It was far too unusual for an Aelian woman to join their army. He stayed as she walked closer, "I suppose."

"It was because of you!" She grinned wide with the same smile that made it hard to take her seriously. Lance furrowed his brows,

"Me?"

"Yes!" Naomi shuffled her feet, "When you saved me in the forest-"

"Saved is an overstatement." Lance looked away from her. He didn't really remember that day. He could remember arguing with Endroc before taking a walk then finding a girl dressed in rags crying in the forest. He gave her some food and sent her off on one of Mythicana's palace horses. From there his memory was vague.

"Nevertheless, you did. If it wasn't for your kindness I probably would have ended up in Mythicana's prison. For all I know, I could have been Princess Yumi's slave!" Naomi shuddered. Lance snorted. He was thinking of telling her that wasn't how Mythicana worked, but he would let her imagination run wild for the time being. 

"I came right home and I told my father that I wished to become a knight. You see, I wanted to be just like you! I wanted to be kind and humble. I wanted to save others while encouraging them to be what they want to be." Naomi spoke with passion, "It took a lot and I got picked on often. I was told a woman couldn't be a knight and I almost gave up. But every time I thought about it, I remembered the boy who sacrificed losing his title to help a scared little Aelian girl." Lance smirked. He didn't remember everything, but he knew her young mind must've recalled the day differently. He had been carrying extra food in his knapsack that he planned on throwing out for the dogs. The horses weren't hard to sneak off since their primary mode of transportation was dragons or griffins. Did she see him as a sort of hero? 

Her cheeks were a rosy red, "As you might have seen, I'm still new."

Lance nodded, "It is a lot of responsibility."

"It sure is!" Naomi giggled. She perked up, "I have an idea!" Her squeak caused Lance's brow to raise, "You can help me find Lady Beatrice!" 

Lance shook his head, "I'm afraid not. I told you I must get back." He started towards the direction of the room. Naomi's armor clinked against one piece and another to catch up to him,

"Where are you headed?"

Lance continued, "The room where the wyvern lays. The Princess is waiting,"

"Perfect!" Naomi skipped alongside him, "I think Lady Beatrice might be there!" She interrupted him before all his words registered in her mind, "Princess Yumi? She isn't with the wyvern." Lance paused and immediately caused Naomi to trip over herself,

"What do you mean she isn't with the wyvern?" His voice shook as he demanded an answer.

Naomi tilted her head, "Sir Kotano of Mythicana took Prince Alaric and Princess Yumi out to spend more time together. I was supposed to be in charge of keeping Prince Alaric and Lady Beatrice separated."

"Damn you Endroc!" Lance held Clink tight as he began running down the halls, "You’ll pay for this, Bastard!"

~~~

I’m still not sure how much I’ll post. I enjoy Lance’s character and arc a lot. I’m happy to put these major events up for everyone. I’ll make note to give a thorough character description for him or anyone who plays an important role.

Thanks for reading :3

<3 Piyoko

[sueboohscorner]

The Vampire Diaries 814 Recap “It’s Been a Hell of a Ride” #TVD #KilltheDevil

Episode grade: 10. Pure perfection. 

All week long, I was both looking forward to and dreading Friday night, because one of my all-time favorite shows is coming to an end…but man, it’s going out strong.

We start with Cade menacing Damon for another crappy deal (all Cade’s deals suck, because he is literally the devil). This time, Cade wants his dagger back–you know, the one thing that could kill him. And of course, Damon’s going to play along, because Cade has Elena’s coffin, delivered helpfully by Kai. 

Elsewhere, Bonnie’s throwing herself into the beautiful pocket dimension she’s able to access, in which she and Enzo can be together. Stefan ignores the “if my dreamland’s a-knockin’” sign and starts bugging her with his guilty conscience. She’s all, Not my problem, brah, and I don’t blame her a bit. Enzo’s a little more forgiving, though, and he urges her to let Stefan off the hook.

Rebuffed by Bonnie and continuing to wallow in his self-pity, Stefan is about to bail on everyone. He agrees to put his broody walkabout on hold when Damon asks him to help get Elena back from Cade. First step: Find Kai Parker.

TVD, I love you. I love you for so many things over the last eight years, but right now, I love you for making time in your final episodes for the delightful insanity of Kai Parker doing karaoke, tweeting (under the amazing handle CobraKai1972) in what can only be described as (ahem) presidential fashion, and hilariously refusing to pronounce Stefan’s name correctly.

Stefan gets stabbed through the hand (this is important), but Damon steps in to take Kai down. They drag Kai into the Armory and toss him in a cell. Alaric is gravely displeased at having his archenemy back under his roof. Of course, Alaric has other things on his mind right now; his daughters have been going all Firestarter.

With Kai stashed away, and the devil dagger in hand, Damon and Stefan head out to find Cade. At the last minute, Stefan insists he has to be the one to kill Cade, because atonement yadda yadda. Damon rationally points out that hey, I’m still a vampire, and you’re not, so of the two of us, I’ve got a much better chance at actually pulling this off. But Stefan is determined to be the hero, so he actually vervains Damon, and OMG Stefan you selfish jackass. Here’s where Stefan’s hand injury is an issue for me. He’s not only mortal, he’s got a freshly maimed stabbing hand. He’s refusing help killing the devil when he’s not even at full strength for a human. 

To be fair, he does have something of a plan…he’s tasked Alaric with ringing the Maxwell hell bell. Since Alaric isn’t part of the Maxwell family line, he won’t be able to access the bell’s full power, but Stefan correctly guesses that the bell’s ringing will at least cause Cade some pain. (I’m choosing to ignore the minor plot hole about how the bell was deconstructed and taken away, yet is now back in the tower. I mean, Bonnie and Enzo had it with them, but her house was stolen from her, so it’s not a safe place anymore…and I am pretty sure Peter Maxwell had taken another component of the bell with him when he left town…but you know what? Screw it. Given the choice between expository dialogue about the bell or Kai Parker singing “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” at karaoke, I'll pick the latter every time.)

Speaking of our favorite evil scion of the Gemini coven, Kai and Caroline are having a heart-to-heart about her daughters, who are also, of course, Kai’s nieces. They’re siphons, just like him, and he offers Caroline a personal perspective on the crazy crap her kids are pulling lately. He tells her about growing up a magic-siphoning abomination, treated with disdain and fear, an embarrassment to his magical royal family. Being shut away and ignored, watching as his twin sister was nurtured in her gifts. Occasionally getting a blast of magic when he was able to siphon it from someone or something, and feeling like a druggie the rest of the time, desperate for more. It’s a powerful monologue, subtle and intense, and Caroline is as captivated as the audience is.

Then Kai explains that the reason her kids are suddenly out of control is that they’ve been dumped into an environment so full of magical artifacts, they simply can’t be expected to control their siphoning. He says a place like the Armory practically has magic in its walls…and then he demonstrates by siphoning the very glass that separates him from Caroline. Kai is out, loose in the Armory.

Right now, Alaric is dutifully ringing the hell bell, and it’s basically doing what Stefan thought. Cade is vulnerable, and Stefan’s got a shot here…until Alaric’s phone rings. Josie and Lizzie are calling for their daddy, because Kai is coming after them with an axe. Alaric walks away from the bell without a second glance, and Cade’s back on his feet.

Cade’s about to kill Stefan, but here comes Damon to save the day. Except that Cade already has the dagger now, and he still has Elena, and now he has Stefan as well. Damon has no leverage in this situation. Cade laughs that he’ll give Damon this much: Damon can choose whether it will be Stefan or Elena who dies today. Damon can’t accept this choice, so he asks Cade to take him instead. Cade agrees, requiring Damon to stake himself. Stefan, you know this is your fault, right?

Bonnie feels the psychic ripples of the danger to Elena, and she follows the feeling to where Cade is about to collect Damon’s soul. Bonnie says, Oh hell no, and she and Cade get into a psychic battle. The beauty of a psychic battle is that the opponents are too busy to do anything else…leaving Cade far more vulnerable to attack. Stefan finally does something right, and the devil is dead. 

Back at the Armory, Kai’s stalking the girls, because not being the only surviving member of the Gemini coven is kind of a sore spot for him. He follows their voices into the Siren cave, then siphons away the magical wall Beatrice Bennett put up so long ago…except he hasn’t found the girls, he’s found Ric, pulling a pretty neat trick with his phone on speaker. Ric gets in a good punch or two, but he’s a little outgunned under the circumstances. Fortunately, Caroline is awake from Kai’s neck-snap nap, and she saves the day.

Damon, magically blown back into his body by Bonnie’s psychic rage storm, is able to convince Stefan to stick around and not be a self-pitying jackass for a few minutes. I mean, we’ll see how long before the full-bore brooding starts back up, but for now, Stefan is able to appreciate the miracle of the life he almost lost…presumably because they’re all operating with the belief that killing the devil also destroyed hell, so they’re no longer living with damnation hanging over them. Funny how Stefan is suddenly less ravaged by guilt now that he thinks he’ll escape punishment. He proposes to Caroline all over again, and she says yes, even though she and Ric seemed to be having a moment, and Ric is so totally the better man on every level.

(Also, Stefan is all excited about the future he sees as possible now, and he’s yammering about how great it will be to grow old and help raise kids, and be with his best friend? What best friend? He doesn’t mean Caroline, because he listed her separately in the marriage portion of the speech, and he doesn’t mean Damon, because he has always consistently called Damon his brother. Lexi’s dead, and that’s the only best friend I was aware of…I’m confused.)

Kai awakens, chained to a chair, in the karaoke dive bar from earlier. The delightful 90’s song, “Two Princes,” is starting up. Kai clearly doesn’t like this song as much as I do. Bonnie relishes the moment as she fills Kai in on his new normal: He’s in a new prison dimension, built to approximate his personal idea of suffering. All alone, no magic to siphon, no tricky escape hatches to work on, with a song he hates that will never stop playing.

But Kai has a parting gift for Bonnie, too: the truth about hell. Killing the devil didn’t destroy hell; sure, Cade created hell, but perhaps it took on a life of its own, nourished by the imaginations of all the people who feared it. Or perhaps a pocket dimension simply doesn’t exist in the head or at the whim of its creator; maybe, once created, it’s a true place that can’t be unmade so easily. If the latter, I would like to point out that Bonnie’s new pocket dimension is not simply a place to keep Enzo safe; it might be the place where all her loved ones can spend eternity–the new version of the Other Side!

But I digress. Kai’s revelation to Bonnie continues: Hell is still very much a real place, and there’s someone else who was waiting for Cade to be deposed so that they could step into the top dog spot. Gee, who else do we know who was that bad? Who absolutely went to hell, rather than to the Other Side? 

You got it.

Granted, this raises another question about how bad someone had to be to wind up in hell rather than the Other Side–remember that Silas was on the Other Side, and he was as bad as they come! But that’s a minor aside, and I’m more than okay with it. Katherine is coming back to remind us why she’s “the baddest bitch of them all,” and I can’t think of a more fitting story arc to carry us into the bittersweet ending of this gorgeous series.

Finally, can we talk about the gift to villainy and television and acting that was Chris Wood's portrayal of Kai Parker?

I don’t know that I’ve ever enjoyed a villain more. Chris Wood is masterful, chilling and hilarious by turns, impossible not to pay attention to every moment he’s on screen. I don’t like Kai, obviously, but I love having Kai around. With every other villain we’ve had on TVD, I’ve been thrilled to see them breathe their last. By the time our heroes vanquished the Travelers, or Silas, or fricking awful Julian, I was cheering to have them gone. With Kai, even though he’s terrible, even though it’s clearly good that they’ve bested him!, I’m sorry to see him go.

[aros001]

First time read through light novel vol. 2. Random thoughts.

Looking back on it, armed robbery included, he’d been slashed to death every time. He didn’t want to see a blade again anytime soon.

Well, Subaru buddy, I got good news and bad news for you.

Bit of an honest confession; if I hadn't seen Isekai Quartet first, I don't know how far into the anime I would have gotten. Don't get me wrong, the first arc is good and my general rule of any new series I'm starting is to get into is to watch at least the first three episodes, so it's not like I would have stopped before the arc finished playing out. But it didn't quite hook me. But thanks to IQ, I knew about some other characters I liked who were going to pop up and episode 4, where they first appear, I was in. I love the Roswaal mansion arc and it's in no small part to Rem, Ram, Roswaal, and, surprisingly enough, Beatrice. One thing I always enjoy is when there is a character or especially a series that I go into thinking I'm not going to like them and I end up absolutely loving them. My Hero Academia is usually my most immediate example of that but Beatrice is easily a close second. When I first saw her in IQ I thought I wasn't going to like her, thinking she was just some snippy little brat, and she ended up becoming one of my favorites. Her back and forths with Subaru incredibly endeared me to both their characters and I actively looked forward to every time he went into the book archives to talk with her.

I felt so bad for Subaru in the anime upon his first death in this arc and it's even worse here. It's why I disagree with criticisms I've seen that Return by Death removes tension and makes things overall easy for him. RBD is not a net-positive yield. He lost so much of what he gained on his first time through the manor; his connections, his relationships, and most importantly an honest impression of himself towards others. And while things worked out well in the end, especially with Rem, it's never going to be quite the same as it was. No idea if there's any overlap between fans of Re:Zero and fans of CW's The Flash but I'm immediately thinking of an explanation Jay Garrick gave about time travel, where space-time is a coffee mug and time travel breaks a part of it. No matter what you do to fix it, no matter how accurately you try to fit that piece back in, it's never going to be how it once was.

I think it's clever how well the story hides the true cause of Subaru's deaths (outside of the ones caused by the twins and himself) in plain sight. The dog bite is present continuously but it's played off like a joke at first, along with how rough the kids were treating him because he's a bit of a pushover, and then later just as a way for him to tell if he'd RBD'd if the bite marks were gone. It's like any good mystery. Once you know the answer you can go back and see all the hints that'd been pointing to it the entire time.

“Well, hello. Maaay I join you?”

The sight of the bare-naked nobleman before him, hands on his hips, made Subaru deeply regret that he required air.

They were close enough to touch as he stood in the nude, his crown jewels swaying between his legs as he looked down at Subaru.

You know, last volume after reading Subaru's own character description calling him ignorant and kind of dumping on him, I was going to make a joke that Ram wrote it. Now with this part basically describing Roswaal's p***s I'm starting to take that joke a little too seriously.

There is something hilarious to me that in the anime I'm pretty sure it was Puck and Emilia who taught Subaru about magic and his own element, Dark, but in the books it was Roswaal...in the bath...in the nude. I'm not saying one version is better or worse than the other but I certainly see why they changed it.

That said, I think the hardest I laughed in the anime up to that point was Subaru biting Roswaal's hand. I don't know if it was the overall weirdness of the scene in the bath, how sudden yet casually he did it and Roswaal playing it off, or even just the sound of the bite, but something just hit me in the right spot during that.

So just to clear up a little confusion, on the second time Subaru died, why did Rem kill him? He seemed to be under the effects of the curse which was already killing him, but then he was killed hearing the sound of chains, which was assumedly her iron ball. So did she do it to put him out of his misery or did she think he was up to something?

Be it with the fruit stand guy or Beatrice, Subaru just muttering and monologuing to himself over everything he's learned post-death in front of someone who just wants him to go away is a pretty funny image.

It's been a long time since I watched the anime, so I didn't remember if it had "The Crying Red Demon" fairy tale in it and had to look it up to see that it was. Either way, I love this section between Subaru and Ram. I'm a sucker for mythology and lore and all that crap anyway, so how the Red and Blue Demons relate to Ram and Rem, as well as new insight into the burdens on Emilia with a freaking dragon she'll have to deal with if she becomes queen (king? given they never talked about a queen last volume), I'm just eating that stuff up. While I knew Ram cared about Rem, I definitely feel it here, probably because I already know their backstory going back through these parts in the story. Ram doesn't exactly like how much her sister is sacrificing herself for her either.

While I really like Goblin Slayer, especially its light novels, one thing I tend to mention is that I can't watch it's first episode ever again without skipping around quite a bit, as poor Fighter's screams were what got me to stay away from the rest of the series for months after. I was genuinely shaking after. Sound is definitely a thing with me when it comes to series I watch and for Re:Zero I remember one of the most impactful scenes was with Ram, not only crying but screaming in sadness and despair over Rem's body on the bed. Subaru running away as she screams "I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!!!" in that voices that's raging but in so much pain. It's such a great scene, there and here in the books. Thankfully, unlike Goblin Slayer, it did not turn me away from the series but rather made it so that I HAD to keep going. It's kind of ironic that a series where every death can potentially be reversed has every death that happens hit so hard.

I imagine I'll definitely have more to say about Rem next volume.

Original Reddit post: https://www.reddit.com/r/Re_Zero/comments/gko0r5/novels_first_time_read_through_light_novel_vol_2/

[recentanimenews]

The Canonical Timeline of Re:ZERO As Seen Through the Characters' Eyes

After a delay earlier this year, Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World-’s second season is about to begin. To help catch people up with the story so that anyone can jump onto the newest episodes more easily, I wanted to briefly detail what happened in the first season.

However, I realized two things. First, this is a show that jumps through time and rewrites a lot of events, so it’d be surprisingly difficult to write out the plot and character developments without confusing people. Second, there’s a more direct way to talk about the story, that being what parts actually stick. The audience gets to see all of the time loops and understand what Subaru is going through, but then to the characters, he looks borderline insane and just happens to somehow have great intuition and observational skills.

So instead of going through each episode and listing out what happens, what Subaru learns from his mistakes, and how he then utilizes that knowledge, we’re going to cut straight to the final part of that list and look at what the rest of the world ends up seeing him accomplish.

The first arc of the show, where Subaru meets and befriends Emilia, is almost entirely gone when the time loops are taken out. Instead of wandering the city with the Half-Elf Dragon Priestess candidate looking for her stolen candidacy insignia, Subaru gets saved by the knight Reinhart and then goes to the slums on his own to talk to Felt the thief and Old Man Rom to buy it from them.

Due to Subaru not being around, Emilia makes it to Rom’s loot house much faster, allowing her to show up before the assassin Elsa. However, that means when Elsa eventually shows up, a full-on fight breaks out, with Subaru only managing to survive more than a second or two due to his experience from previous iterations of fighting her and some help from the others.

Subaru eventually convinces Felt to go get help, and Emilia holds off Elsa for long enough for the thief to get the knight and Sword Master Reinhard, who manages to defeat Elsa, blowing up the loot house in the process. The first arc ends with Felt holding the insignia, it glowing, Reinhard becoming extremely agitated, and Elsa managing to get one last attack off on Subaru, slicing his stomach open before escaping.

The next arc begins with Subaru waking up in an unfamiliar room, his wounds healed and treated. He wanders around for a while before opening a door to a library with a strange girl, Beatrice, reading. Once she drains his mana, he passes out again. This is one of the few scenes in the first season that is never redone. For whatever reason, Subaru waking up the second time is his new save point for future time loops.

When he next wakes up, Subaru meets Rem and Ram, twin maids of Roswaal Mathers’s mansion, Roswaal being Emilia’s sponsor in her bid to win the right to rule the country. In the final time loop, Subaru becomes Roswaal’s servant and is friendly and outgoing with the various townspeople in order to locate the shaman who cursed him (and as a result, killed him) in a previous loop.

After Roswaal leaves for an urgent situation, something Subaru notes didn’t happen in any other loop, he goes to Beatrice to get checked for a curse and realizes that the small stray dog the children showed him is the shaman.

Subaru leaves in order to save the villagers and locate the dog, Rem coming with him as support. In the village, they find that the magic barrier keeping mabeasts away is damaged and that several of the children are missing.

They find the children quickly, but the kids are all bitten and thus cursed, meaning that the only way to save them is to kill the mabeasts who bit them. In the ensuing chase, Subaru is clearly outmatched by the mabeasts, and Rem can only fight off a large amount by going into her oni form, which gives her heightened physical abilities but makes her lose her reasoning. The only way Subaru can think to snap her out of it is to push her out of the way and start getting mauled by the mabeasts again.

When he next wakes up, Subaru is in the village, his wounds treated and healed again, save for some scarring. After he checks on the kids to make sure they’re fine, Beatrice informs him that he has at most half a day to live, since all of the mabeasts cursed him. After realizing that the only way to not die is to kill all of the mabeasts, Subaru realizes that he doesn’t know where Rem is.

Ram then joins the conversation. She and Subaru go back into the forest to find Rem, who is still fighting the mabeasts to try and save Subaru. The ensuing fight eventually ends with Roswaal showing up again and killing all of the mabeasts with a barrage of fire attacks from the sky, ending the arc.

The next arc focuses on Emilia going to the capitol for a ceremony to start the selection process, and Subaru coming along because he needs his gate healed and wants to be around Emilia.

The gate is how most people can use magic in Re:ZERO’s world. Subaru damaged his in the fight against the mabeasts by using the only spell he knows in order to blind the enemy for a few seconds. Rem comes along with the pair as well, to ensure that Subaru gets properly healed, rather than just running off on his own into more danger.

Once Subaru convinces Rem to let him run off to join Emilia at the ceremony, he meets Priscilla, one of the other candidates, and she allows him to get in by being part of her entourage. In the ceremony, Subaru proclaims himself as Emilia’s knight, angering every actual knight in attendance.

After being thrown out of the room, another confrontation leads to a duel between Subaru and Julius, the knight of Anastasia, another of the priestess candidates. The final two candidates are Crusch and Felt, the thief from the first arc.

The duel is completely one-sided, with Subaru getting utterly destroyed, and even his blinding spell not having any effect. The fight only ends when Subaru, beaten and bloodied, is passed out on the dirt floor of the arena.

Subaru in bed after the duel is the next save point, but only after he and Emilia talk. More accurately, Emilia finally gets upset at Subaru always disobeying what she says and trying to do impossible things for her, getting himself in more danger, all while proclaiming that it is for her when it’s really for himself. Subaru tries to explain that she’s saved him in ways that she’ll never know (since many of the things she’s done were in other timelines), and finally admits that if everyone knew everything he’d done, they’d have a greater debt than they could ever repay him, and how every arc would’ve turned out worse if he hadn’t been there. 

Since the ceremony is over and the competition for succession has officially begun, Emilia goes back to Roswaal’s mansion, leaving Rem and Subaru behind with Crusch so that Subaru can heal before returning.

This leads into the White Whale arc, where — in several time loops — Subaru tries to leave Crusch’s protection so that he can get back and be with Emilia, only to die from several mysterious causes ranging from cultists to a giant monster shrouded in fog to a different giant monster at the center of a blizzard so cold that it literally freezes people in place.

By the time we reach the final loop, Subaru has essentially learned politics, using the various candidates’ desires and interests, along with knowing more about the world due to the previous timelines, to incentivize them to help him out so that he can get back to Emilia.

Through negotiations, he manages to bring together Anastasia’s merchant resources for weapons and supply chains and Krusch’s military might, both agreeing in exchange for rights to part of Roswaal’s land and the opportunity to take down the White Whale, one of the monsters that had been a major obstacle for Subaru and which was a major threat to militaries and merchants alike due to its ability to erase people from existence when it killed them, meaning that the dead were not even remembered.

After a massive fight which included three Whales, an old man being thrown several hundred feet into the air, and Subaru actually being helpful in a fight for once, the army manages to cut down the massive Flugel Tree to trap and finally kill the White Whale.

The final arc in Re:ZERO deals with the cultists’ attack. Unlike in previous loops though, Subaru now has allies and an exhausted but trusting military to help him. While the main group prepares to fight the cultists, a smaller group breaks off to meet Emilia at Roswaal’s mansion to evacuate the nearby village that would otherwise be caught in the crossfire.

The cultists have been a presence as far back as Rem and Ram’s backstory, as a group of cultists were responsible for killing their entire village. However, they have only come into focus during the White Whale arc, when Subaru more directly confronted them in a few of the failed timelines.

The cult is specifically the Witch’s cult, referring to Satella, the Witch of Envy. The Witch is supposed to be a silver-haired half-elf, like Emilia, and due to Subaru having more of “the Witch’s Scent” every time he dies and goes back in time, the assumption is that Satella pulled him from Japan to the fantasy world, for whatever reason.

The cult itself is still fairly mysterious, but we get more information due to Subaru’s interactions with Betelgeuse, the leader of the group attacking Emilia. Betelgeuse and the White Whale are both Sin Archbishops of the cult — known as Sloth and Gluttony, respectively — and that the only Archbishop that hasn’t been located yet is Pride. Each of the Archbishops also seems to have a unique ability, with the White Whale being able to erase people from existence and Betelgeuse being able to summon invisible hands that can attack from long range. Additionally, we learn about the cult’s Gospel, which only members of the cult can read and is normally how they first get the Witch’s Scent.

After Subaru and his allies take down Betelgeuse and the other cultists, they learn that one of the cultists was a mole and had planted a bomb in the carts being used to evacuate the town and Emilia. Subaru rushes to catch up and save them, finds them near the Flugel Tree, and barely manages to get the bomb far enough away to not kill him before it explodes.

Finally, Emilia and Subaru are reunited, once Subaru wakes up a while later in Emilia’s lap. The two resolve the tension that had come to a head before Emilia left the capitol before, and Subaru fully admits that he loves her and is willing to wait for her to fall in love with him, however long that takes.

Originally, this was the end of Season 1. However, the Director’s Cut added a final scene to the finale. For the most part, the season is just lighthearted fun, ending with Subaru telling Emilia how Rem confessed her love to him. In response, Emilia simply asks “Who’s Rem?” which is exactly how everyone responded in one of the failed timelines where Rem was eaten by the White Whale.

Now you are caught up on Re:ZERO Season 1, just in time for Season 2 to start. Personally, I’m really looking forward to seeing how some of the hanging threads get tied together. Roswaal mentioned his plan to kill the Dragon that created the country, Betelgeuse wondered if Subaru was the archbishop of Pride, we still don’t have any idea why Subaru was taken to a fantasy world in the first place, and I’m curious about how all of it is going to come together and how each disparate plot will manage to build on the others.

What are some of your favorite moments in Season 1? Let us know in the comments below!

    Kevin Matyi is a freelance features writer for Crunchyroll. He's been watching anime for as long as he can remember, and his favorite shows tend to be shonen and other action series.

  Do you love writing? Do you love anime? If you have an idea for a features story, pitch it to Crunchyroll Features!

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