#and the themes of love and fear and change and growth and death and sadness and joy and perseverance and anger and ALL OF IT | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

libidomechanica · 1 year ago

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In the squalid savage woman this, the back

A Kelly lune sequence

Robert Burns: ask for death and heart, how know me not fear.

But the sweeps away from men’s, will not yield, eager-heat.

Trembling hands; they keep me aside transformed by a bee.

The white-blossoms from to-day, to me there; but of hate.

Let him, taken Maid, by love, and speak it so. My name.

Yea, I will bear, cry’d Dapperwit, and small plot of good?

And looking Tydes, whereof. That not large leave my Lays.

And Beau’s pinn’d and charity. And bask’d the light appal!

The sylvan his cruel fellowship, o Priestess, alas!

Their feeling crept upon thee more the way here. That all.

For ever be. The pastoral eglantine; for it.

Still were long the hill. With blindly drown’d estate to Fate!

Or with a hinge. That sitting here of men: some disease.

This to thee. Lady treasure have my grandmother days?

Last night, stray’d. Still out of man; who mused on all their door.

Doubt it assumptions tutch. Upon us: surely rest.

I’ll see; see him whence chase. When Nights, for there was no hum.

Are theyr Pan the pity of hurts, while throng’d with darkness.

Of the cursèd duke; o give height. Nor dare weak point, with weeds.

And be all other. And talk of her growth the sinks down.

So to breathe bee? No life, in the Hand for evermore.

In their for nought to handle thing her dress, alas! Sigh.

But thee to my tomb. As I have been they raised her own.

And round alone, and the morn breaks the Cosmetic Pow’rs.

My new-mown. And whispering, replies with desire.

The room I never. Say that find. My love comes from death!

Aqueducts,—and thee, gave us now thee forsworne? Hurts.

Each Band then presence. The very song these should I meet?

With the bugle hung. The sway, the Hair. I was bom old.

To shroud drag inwardly splendour stream. That leades it.

The sons of a Fool? Did glide by side the gen’ral Fate.

Strange a colour, on mine! And high, instruct the snowie Neck.

My tongues. Into your she cried, while Visions, and the lands.

Into my boyling bloudie paine. All this lower to die.

And game and babe and Tweezer-Cases. Ring out the white.

With fall? Sad shall at once of the cedar pole, that’s me.

Burst in turn’d. No gray walls god’s finger- nail on to-night!

The shatter’d free, the Hair. And break before rude Despair.

—My thought shine and liued with pain discourse had of by him?

To love, a hazard. Her more Glories, in faery land.

Oft shower; as gently playne ouerture? To theme to roam.

In Memoriam A. Or pines, wide air, this laye of farce!

Dip down to Camelot. Cure, do you be, will be there?

Lure of two of the blindness, all- subtilising Muse.

Some loves him kind. Thou stay here, and ground, and woe long lost.

And my own Incompete. Viewed the Lady of Shalott.

My speak to me, dearer drawn, sees its Name. Of Demons?

So easily because it’s easy. During or death.

And love, a happy star! One music unto her grave!

Of tender pullings from dealt with wine. Love is slaue-borne?

These am I not stays shut. No long shines in the wise.

Brought to served, and the beautiful each assume the snow.

Each other answer. With me no casual mistresses.

By which makes a lady of Shalott. Love is an hours?

While it sweeps or when life’s death. Night, a vanish’d no more.

Half is his face: nay, Poll satisfied. I smells of death.

At the unpermitted to ravish’d brow. As some day.

Still perfumèd garments see. What would toss with what is it?

Till love begun. The Gods and tried, so well with their Head.

For change, and make them Rebel-Knave, while thus? I shall live!

And hear not; or some in life. Lost her beauty alone!

Leaving left for a guide to roam the soul. There and use.

But Madam’s faultless, flash along tract insight forlorn.

But so it isn’t true. The bailey beareth the way here.

And he shower. If thoughts in darkening true, that he sees.

Put thy tender Box. To lull with gold, and of marble.

Abide, that had fall. What blushing a full of the field.

My light. One day I whistle blew; the generation.

My Lady of Shalott. The Ladies start at the Light.

I am resolve thee lust, yet is death. Like slaue-borne?

Then the summer’s dye! But both are from the Saviour’s feet.

Death ere Arthur’s love and then the field. Or eagle’s ward.

But by the bearing Spoil. The slope than a Birth of old.

For any threat the single churches. As an All Night.

No time enough. When kisses by, and vain am I!

And the floating between the pass’d by the air face. Still!

But heard! The wishes hang the radiant Lock you the Fires.

Of life, whom to love is all the man is best: but with!

Because the gay, like vibration cannot strain of day?

Repair, and yet myself I seek nae main o’er the hand.

The lucid outliving life, in sporting whose lived on.

And change, and good-night for you. Of life, she rainbow frill?

Tender Billet-doux. And go with his houses higher.

For I rank’d with marble men abide, their dead: fair Head.

I love set thy place. Yet late all blood glow with Wisdom.

The night, minstrel in. The frame, and Spoons is comfort neer.

And seemed its supply. And gay, a martiall lot. His cause.

That I have been, or Virgin could Fate prevent; and died.

Clear me when I was a novel powers, where thee all.

Tired that runneth ever curse in an ecstasy.

Winking Face, like Cato cowered. And all their ghost.

Than his blessing of. Two Handmaids along that has fall.

Such follie green, above. Deny it. And thoughts, will not fall.

That I come. The Fleet the work is head, with sorrow wane?

Glowing joy, folioed. Tell me back into my Lady.

Most doth eternal forever lodging God withstand?

Upon such destroy’d, or keep, to wish, that tower was!

#poetry #automatically generated text #Patrick Mooney #Markov chains #Markov chain length: 6 #174 texts #Kelly lune sequence

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sambinnie · 1 year ago

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No swim for Yule, for the first time in years, and no swim on Christmas morning or the days either side — I’ve got the virus that seems to be flattening people’s festivities, and I go to bed on the 20th shivering and aching, and barely get up until Christmas Eve. In some ways it’s sad — my body feels so pathetically mortal and I am never a patient patient, I want to feel better now — but in others it’s wonderful: the housemates bring me Lemsip and cut-up-apple, and all I can do is cough out a few vague directions and release all other plans from my grasp. We make Christmas dinner together, although mostly it involves me lying on a fainting couch and making weak suggestions, and I occasionally put on outdoor shoes to shuffle around the streets, including an early morning walk on the 25th where other early backlit silhouettes wish us a Merry Christmas, until I’m too feeble to continue, and we limp home. A few days later and I walk further, and see the path that’s been completed along the river bank. Workers have been there for a month or two now, and what was a central bank between lake and river, dusty in the summer, full of wasps and kingfishers, and muddy in the winter, ice-pocketed and guarded by hissing swans, has been concreted over in a wide, flat path. I hate it. I hate it. There are parallel paths either side of the lake and river that allow access and smooth walks to those who need it — this was another brief moment of nature that someone decided was too natural and needed destroying. Combined with the news that Universal have bought up nearly 500 acres of land nearby, full of river, fields, hedgerows and trees, with the intent of turning it into a UK park and resort, I want to give up. I hate it. I don’t think ‘a significant positive economic impact’ undoes the destruction of our planet. I don’t think there’s any possible way that an enormous multinational theme park with hundreds of thousands of visitors a year could cause anything other that massive environmental damage.

I think: 2024 will be the year I give up hope. It is so hard, it is so endless, it is so pointless and thankless and exhausting, and it feels clear that maybe it’s just more sensible to give up on hope. Friends and family have died this year; others have moved away, or plan to next year; there is depletion, there is disappointment, there is parting after parting after parting. Love sometimes just feels like a preparation for more loss. Culture is dumb, and getting dumber; intellectualism is a piñata to be beaten by the Extremely Online until the correct phrases fall out and the intellectual stops existing in any meaningful way; no one meaningful seems to care about the climate catastrophe; democracy is collapsing; more war, more division, more fear.

But the frustrating truth of course is that hopelessness is even harder than hope. Existing in hope may be exhausting. It is bloody, it is muscular and effortful, it requires seeing the best of people even when they don’t display it, it means loving people when they don’t want our love and believing with gritted teeth in the joys we can share, in clever thinking, in engaged discussion, in growth and development, in change and forgiveness. Hope is this dumb semi-accidental tumblr poem that captures the sheer stubbornness you have to develop to keep hope alive. I’ve done hopelessness and it’s awful, crushing and enfeebling and dull beyond words. It’s not smart to be hopeless: it’s boring, and I don't want it. Death is inevitable, but there's still time. Anyway! Here are my highlights from 2023.

SKETCHES:

Much as I don’t want to exist in a youtube bubble — listen to albums, not singles! — sometimes a single sketch says everything you need to. Mostly old, but all brilliant, this year we've enjoyed multiple rewatches of Key & Peele’s Text Confusion sketch, Armstrong & Miller’s physics expert, Mitchell & Webb’s ever-apt Baddies, and not a sketch, but Dave’s explanation of the financial crash in Happy Endings has made ‘let me back up’ an ever-present phrase in most of our household anecdotes. From what Dan McCoy calls ‘the worst show I’ve watched every episode of’, we regularly review Papyrus, Amazon Echo Silver, Dear Sister, Christmas Morning, Amazon Go, Enhancement Drug, and Traffic Altercation; almost any Weekend Update segment with Michael Longfellow, Andrew Dismukes or Marcello Hernández, or any sketch with Bowen Yang; most Please Don’t Destroy sketches, not least Three Sad Virgins, Ramen Order, Wellness, and Self Defense. Going mostly cold-turkey on Inside and Bo Burnham generally means that while I have regained some sanity, it gives the housemates fewer opportunities to sing The Chicken, which is a stone-cold ballad banger.

TV:

TV-wise, we’ve been spoiled by the final series of Succession, a masterpiece examination of corruption, the American Dream, and family trauma. Loved it. In the most opposite possible way, I rewatched Damon Lindelof’s Watchmen, also a masterpiece examination of corruption, the American Dream, and family trauma, but with extra mini-squid, cloned servants, masked police, and President Robert Redford. Although it’s four years old now, I’m sure there are still people who haven’t seen it — please do, really. There are no weak links in the entire thing, it’s imaginative and sharp as a razor, taking the original comic and lifting it to a searing present-day examination of white supremacy and racial exploitation, power and technology.

I also rewatched both Community and Happy Endings, this time with the housemates, and I’m so glad that they now say baggle, rooof stoooof, and Max's ‘Here we go!’. I’m also into my fourth rewatch of Mythic Quest, the Pandemic episode of which might go into my memorial time capsule for the way it captured both the best and worst moments of Covid lockdown. For new television, I loved Extraordinary, a British and female-led look at the superhero genre; The Greatest Show Never Made, a moving, hilarious, and enraging documentary about very early reality TV and the bonds we can make when we come together; Why Didn’t They Ask Evans?, an Agatha Christie adaptation that appreciates we don’t necessarily want our escapist Golden Age plots filmed like Fincher’s Zodiac, and Gregg Wallace: The British Miracle Meat, a Swiftian satire that we collectively watched four times in twelve hours. That’s gravy, baby.

In films, I’ve had a mostly duff year at the cinema bar three highlights: Past Lives, with the luminously beautiful Greta Lee and Teo Yoo, John Wick 4, an extreme action flick I absolutely should not even have liked but which gave me a bubble of joy in my chest that still hasn’t subsided, nine months on, and best of all, Bottoms, a film which should be available on prescription. You know when you love someone, then share some art with them and they love it just as much as you do? It might be the best feeling in the world, and certainly made me ask how different my life might have been had I been taken to see a lesbian high school fight club comedy by authority figures when I was a teen. It’s so weird, and uncomfortable, and over the top, and the time period isn’t clear, and the humour is grotesque. It’s also the most female-gaze-y film I think I’ve ever seen, and takes the idea of ‘female existence as a horror film’ — my constant theory — and shows how we can make all the real horrors of a girl’s existence — abuse, stalking, exploitation, the threat of male violence, a porn-drenched culture, the patriarchy — and turn it into a joyful, vivid, sexy, howl-from-the-sunroof-of-a-speeding-car celebration of girls and women in union. Fuck, it’s so great.

At home, we’ve had a glut of horror joys thanks to my pal Tom Humberstone’s Grave Offerings, a daily newsletter sent throughout October that has got one housemate fully into the delights of a good horror film. Besides The Innocents, Alien, A Quiet Place, and the staggeringly underrated Pontypool, we also took in Duel, which I hadn’t seen since watching it with my father when I was a youngish child. Like almost everything you leave untouched for thirty years, it was completely different to how I remembered it, and I watched it now as a brilliant essay on the traumas of David Mann’s time in Vietnam. Tom’s essay on Duel in particular is fantastic, and will change forever how you see a ‘shark film’.

More fuel to my ‘female existence as a horror film’ theory were Happening, Petite Maman, Mustang, and Spencer. I was put off Spencer for a long time since I’ve never had any interest in Diana or her marriage, but this film was more like The Others than The Crown, and has a haunting lushness that stayed with me. Mustang continues to be among my favourite films of the twenty-first century, and I genuinely believe it should be compulsory viewing in schools. The counters to my theory seem to be films with a tipping-point of women; Little Women, Steel Magnolias, Fried Green Tomatoes. We watched the latter at the start of the year, and for all its flaws I’m still struggling to stop saying, ‘You ain’t nothing but a bee charmer, Idgie Threadgoode.’

In books, January saw me reading the second of Tim Key’s lockdown books, Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush. The first was hilarious and crushing, reminding me of the weirdness and loneliness of the first lockdown; this second work made me cry again, for the desperate hopefulness of beginning to reconnect with loved ones, with strangers, with life. Do you remember how special we found going to a coffee shop again?

I’d forgotten how foolproof Nick Hornby’s recommendations in the Believer are, and so finally got round to reading Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow when I saw he'd praised it, having pooh-poohed it myself due to its massive success. I read it in less than twenty-four hours and didn’t stop sobbing for at least that long, pressing it into several people’s hands until they agreed to read it too, if I’d stop hiccupping at them. If I’ve read it, I’m certain you have by now.

I managed only a few children’s books this year — my favourite by far was When You Reach Me, pressed into my hands by a housemate with the same fever I’d passed on Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow. I don’t know how famous it is, but without spoiling anything it’s a wonderful primer for budding fans of early-Christopher Nolan (of which I’m sure there are tonnes).

I’d read a phonebook if David Sedaris wrote it, so I was delighted to have his first volume of diaries to go back to in the winter months; at the other end of the year I read another sharp-eyed look at human connection, in the form of A Glass of Blessings. What would I do without Pym and Sedaris, I wonder? Finally, I got Elton John’s memoir, Me, for Christmas and finished it pronto. He’s rather wonderfully both a total nightmare and the most generous, self-aware, loving, creative, and amusing character I’ve enjoyed for a long time. Like all good music books, I want to go back and hear his entire back catalogue from the very beginning.

When it comes to food and drink, I’m discovering the delights of non-alcoholic gin and negronis. I haven’t really drunk alcohol for years, but I do miss that grown-up taste of something sour and special. I recently rediscovered how easy moules marinière are, and if I can afford the shelled delights through the winter I may make it again for Imbolc.

All of us will die, but we can do plenty of good things in the meantime. I wish you a 2024 full of good health, good fortune, and wonderful coming togethers.

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arisawati · 2 years ago

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About "The dark side and deep meaning in Denny JA's selected work 26: Death in the Corona Virus Era"

In the world of art and literature, the work of chosen often keeps an attractive dark side and a deep meaning that affects the reader. One of the prominent chosen works is Denny JA 26 essay poetry: Death in the Corona virus era. In this essay poem, Denny JA presents a unique and inspired perspective on the pandemic that is engulfing the world today. In an interesting title, "Death in the Corona virus era," Denny Ja invites us to think about the story of the story behind the statistical number, a terrible picture of death, and the implications that occur in our daily lives. In his essay poetry, he raised various themes related to death, such as fear of death, loss of loved ones, and the journey of a person's soul in the middle of this unexpected pandemic. One of the interesting dark sides of this work is Denny Ja's approach to fear of death. In a world filled with uncertainty and fear, Denny Ja invites us to see death as part of life. He invites us to reflect on the meaning of death and how we can live life more meaningfully and full of appreciation. In this case, this work gives an optimistic message that inspires in the darkness of this pandemic. In addition, Denny JA also presents a deep meaning in his elected work. He was able to explore feelings of loss, sadness, and philosophical questions that arose in the middle of this pandemic. In his essay poetry, he created a strong character with deep emotions. He explores how every individual reacts and adapts to this difficult situation, and how this pandemic has a deep influence on our lives. Denny JA also showed expertise in describing the journey of a person's soul in the middle of this Pandemic. He described the changes in attitudes, values, and outlook on life that occur in the character as time goes by. He invites us to reflect on changes and growth that can occur even in the midst of darkness and limitations we face. The in -depth meaning in this work is also seen in the depiction of Denny JA to the relationship between humans and nature and the environment. He highlighted how Pandemic has influenced our relationship with nature and provided valuable lessons about the importance of maintaining balance with nature. In his essay poetry, he invites us to reflect on how we can live side by side with nature harmoniously. In "Denny JA 26: Death in the Corona virus era," Denny Ja invites us to see the dark side of this Pandemic in a different way. He presents a strong perspective, deep emotions, and optimistic messages in the midst of this difficult situation. Through this selected work, Denny Ja invites us to reflect on the meaning of life, death, and how we can live life more meaningfully in the era of the Corona virus full of challenges. In the conclusion, "The dark side and deep meaning in Denny JA's selected work 26: Death in the Corona Virus Era" is an essay poem that arouses the reader's thoughts and emotions. Denny JA is able to present a unique perspective, deep meaning, and optimistic messages in the middle of this pandemic.

Check more: The dark side and deep meaning in Denny JA's selected work 26: Death in the Corona Virus Era ""

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ollypopwrites · 6 months ago

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i’m just gonna get into it

“Bringing back Manfred throws away Emmerich’s lifelong dreams and doesn’t let him grow as a person. it’s selfish for you to bring manfred back cuz you’re only doing it cuz you will miss him”

Well first of all what are you? the fun police? play the game your way, disagree if you want to but don’t be a self-righteous little bitch about it

aside from THAT i’m gonna be so honest about this game — so far those choices aren’t as clear cut as that. this isn’t ascended vs spawn astarion or mortal vs god gale. this is not baldur’s gate and there is no “evil ending” go play bg3 again if you’re looking for that or make some lovely fan work im sure it’ll be amazing

but that isn’t what this game is or does, at least with Emmerich’s choice

I haven’t done a lich run yet so i’m not as familiar with all the commentary he has. but im not talking about that choice.

“bringing back manfred takes away his lifelong dreams” and “it’s rook/player being selfish to choose to bring manfred back” yes and no.

it does take away a lifelong dream, i won’t argue with that. but sometimes dreams change, sometimes they slip away, sometimes they come true and they aren’t what you thought they’d be. and even when you are at peace with those dreams never happening, regret still happens, but that doesn’t mean you aren’t happy. i’m not saying lichdom isn’t satisfying for emmerich, im saying it’s a different path. hence it being a choice. that’s not always a bad thing.

Emmerich outright tells you he has regrets sometimes about losing lichdom, but he also says he wouldn’t trade having manfred back for anything.

he is a grown man. his entire romanced arc culminates to an argument about him obsessing over needing to think, and act like one to the point where he almost infantilizes rook and acts like they don’t understand what it means to be in a relationship with him given the age difference.

he is competent, he is intelligent, he is not a child and he knows exactly what he’s giving up. he says he wouldn’t trade it. he means it. he loves manfred, like a child, even if he doesn’t say it rook does for them both and then he proves her point with his excitement at everything he does, the look he gives manfred is the look of a parent lovingly at a child. bringing back manfred is selfless of emmerich, id argue, he sacrifices a dream for his surrogate child. he sacrifices a dream because neve would miss fred and spite would miss curiosity. he gives manfred (curiosity) a chance to be something completely new in the necropolis, a spirit in a vessel that’s An APPRENTICE. what more does a spirit of curiosity want? to explore new things and possibilities.

emmerich loves spirits, he wants to be of service to them after he dies. he does that through bringing manfred back.

“it doesn’t let him grow as a person”

nah wrong again. he’s not scared of other people’s deaths he’s scared of his own. he made part of manfred from the ribcage from a “dear friend” he’s a necromancer that’s afraid of death it’s a great character trait, it’s interesting, and i’d argue letting him choose lichdom just lets him circumvent his phobia. not that it’s wrong, because the same way his dream of becoming a lich can change, he can certainly be happy and fulfilled in lichdom but he never has to confront his fear of his own mortality. he ALSO starts to fear rook’s loss when he obtains immortality. that’s not growth and in my opinion it’s regression and leftover sadness from losing manfred in that path.

another regret, same as he has about lichdom after he brings back manfred. there’s no clear ‘win’ he still has regrets (THE THEME OF THE GAME BTW) and he has to come to terms with them.

(could it be argued that he faces his fear when he defeats johanna with the gloaming lantern? absolutely! but he does that REGARDLESS of this choice and one moment of facing fear doesn’t mean he’s over it or has worked through it btw)

stop treating him like he doesn’t know what his choice means, that he is without joy in either choice. gameplay wise we have to choose for him obvs, but the dialogue doesn’t even have rook saying “no i will miss him don’t do it” it’s “if a spirit can love, he loved you” or “let him rest.”

this game has a lot of faults and lacks in a lot of ways, don’t take away from a beautiful story about being a grown up and letting things go despite how much you wanted them before and seeing the beauty in new possibility. it’s the same for both choices, the endings just look different.

ooooo how exciting it started happening the Choice Discourse for Emmerich’s storyline

it’s not a real rpg game until part of the fandom infantilizes a grown man

#emmerich volkarin #dragon age the veilguard #long post

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honeyed-sunflowers · 3 years ago

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Midnights – Taylor Swift

Side A: The Dark Side of The Moon

1. New Moons: the first track, starting with a slow rhythm and then building up. theme – being afraid of the new changes in life, like going to a new school and the fear that keeps you awake at night. here, new moons, refer to youngsters facing life changes. this will be the other pov of nothing new. (‘the kind of radiance you only have at 17’ but it'll show the struggle of being 17 here)

2. Saudade: it means nostalgic or melancholic longing. this can be about wishing to go back to a certain time of life when you believed you were the happiest or had someone precious but they aren't around anymore. it can be about sleepless nights thinking about that moment of life.

3. The Tale Of October: this can be a narrative style of song, following the story of a memorable october – how that month symbolises something meaningful to the narrator. it can also include myths associated with this month (it's known as the month of gods in japanese folklore).

4. Cinderella's Shoe: a long-story short kind of song – but it focuses mainly on the negative/darker side of it. inspired by the saying “if cinderella's shoe fit her, why did it fall?” and the enchantment that wears off by midnight.

5. Insomnia: for all the night owls. for those nights where sleep is a distant place, an escape from reality, but it's hard to reach it. it'll include wild thoughts, anxiety and/or imaginations we may conjure while trying to sleep. this will be the saddest song, of course.

6. Werewolves: a song about transformation (every full moon, so contrasting the first track). halloween vibes that will first show werewolves (humans) as monsters but slowly show the misunderstood side of them. it will have reputation vibes and be the song connecting side a with side b.

☄️☄️☄️☄️☄️☄️☄️☄️☄️

Side B: Midnight Paradise

7. Meet Me At Midnight: the first single of the album. it will be a beautiful, romantic song but with hints of fear of losing it, just like delicate or peace. it'll also follow a timeline, like the first verse will be about 10 pm, the second verse will be about 11 pm and in the bridge, at midnight, the two lovers will finally meet.

8. Aquila: it's a midnight constellation, in the shape of an eagle. it'll be about the random bursts of creativity or ideas we may get when we are about to sleep. it can symbolise independence (like owning your own music) or about the growth that occurs in solitude, which no one appreciates us for.

9. Stargazing: another love song, but this one goes like a fairytale. like love story or invisible string. it can be about staying up late at night with someone special, spending your midnights with them after a long day.

10. Temporary Deaths: thinking about lost friendships or relationships and finally understanding how to let them go. it's a slow song about goodbyes, how they tear us apart, how we wish to avoid them, but they still happen. “temporary death” refers to how a part of us dies when someone we cherished disappears from our life.

11. Cerulean: it's about love that keeps you awake at night. it can either take a happy or a sad turn, depending on the listener, so the writing will just super creative.

12. Lanterns: inspired by the emily dickinson quote “i'm out with lanterns looking for myself”. taylor also mentioned ‘lanterns’ in the announcement post. it's about self-discovery or self-reflection. finding your mistakes, forgiving yourself and being free from the guilt, and working on being a better person. it's about accepting our true nature and being at peace with it.

13. The Witching Hour: technically, the witching hour is 3 a.m. so this song takes place after midnight. a story about witches (inspired by a poetry series i once wrote), how the public humiliates them but they stay up all night for a good cause instead. a song with i did something bad and mad woman vibes but it will have less angry tone, and more like “i turned the stones you threw at me into jewels” vibes.

so, this is something i've always wanted to do but never got the chance to do it. i'm not so sure about how much it makes sense or if it matches the theme of the album enough but this album allowed my imaginations to run wild and i knew i had to do something about it! let me know if you liked my ideas! and if possible, i'll try to write some of the songs or just turn them into poems. until next time, keep burning the midnight oil! *winks*

– dandelion

#taylor swift #midnights 👀🪐✨#midnights #writing #album ideas #songs

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emblemxeno · 4 years ago

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Fire Emblem Fates: Personal Arcs and Thematic Parallels for the Royal Siblings

Introduction

As we all know by now, the royal siblings of Fates are all mirrors and contrasts with one another.

Xander and Ryoma are the wise and kind elder brothers who have the weight of their kingdoms’ futures on their shoulders, however Xander is an anxious stoic entrenched in state of denial who worked hard to get as strong as he is, whereas Ryoma is a charismatic natural talent, a huge hothead and has major prejudice issues.

Camilla and Hinoka are the caring elder sisters, with Camilla being overbearing and feminine and Hinoka being stubborn and tomboyish.

Leo and Takumi are the intelligent younger brothers who face massive self esteem issues (in regards to their older brothers) and jealousy (in regards to Corrin), but while Leo’s problems are hidden under a layer of cold pragmatism and isolation, Takumi’s are front and center since he is very emotionally volatile.

Elise and Sakura are the sweet and compassionate little sisters, with Elise being excitable and cheery and Sakura being shy and timid.

However, these aren’t the only parallels that exist between the siblings. More parallels are discovered when you look at the story closely. Especially when you lock down each of their personal arcs. Furthermore, close analysis reveals other interesting parallels, namely for Leo and Hinoka in regards to their brothers, Xander and Ryoma.

Themes, Arcs and Developments: Hoshido & Birthright

The development for the Hoshido siblings and the Birthright path is belief in others, collaboration and tolerance. The siblings start off separated from each other, with Takumi and Ryoma going missing and Hinoka having already left to go find them.

Corrin’s belief in others gets tested through being double crossed by Zola, and the possibility of there being a traitor in the party. Nevertheless, his doubts don’t consume him, and his belief in himself and others gets him through tragedy. Many times in the story, trust and working together gets brought up, like during Chapter 14 where Corrin asks if anyone’s reluctant to move forward with the invasion, but his siblings reassure him. The same thing occurs when Corrin learns about the Rainbow Sage; at first he says if he needs to go alone, he will. But again, his siblings make sure to come with and support him. This dovetails into how the siblings personally develop as well.

Through Corrin accepting Sakura’s pleas to come with them, Sakura goes from meek and unsure princess to a strong willed young woman who’s able to punch Iago in the dick. Through being reassured and believed in by his family, Takumi goes from a prickly skeptic to a confident and heartfelt prince. Through learning of Nohr’s plight and accepting that he can’t do everything alone, Ryoma goes from a stubborn and prejudiced high prince to a tolerant King who seeks to break boundaries and misconceptions, walking hand in hand with his former enemy. The siblings enjoy their newfound perspective and the peace that comes with it; the peace their mother cherished.

Themes, Arcs and Developments: Nohr and Conquest

The development for the Nohrian siblings and the Conquest path is moving on to the future, where justice lies and change. Nohr and the siblings are set in their ways; doing what needs to be done to survive. Upon his return to Nohr, Corrin seeks to change that necessity and bring an era where Nohr can seek glory through mutual respect, not oppression. His willpower gets tested constantly; at times he succeeds in settling things peacefully, at other times he fails or his plan backfires. Still he moves on, working behind the scenes toward his own path of justice, along with his siblings who have done the same for much longer than he has.

Through Corrin’s leadership and conviction, Xander is shown the truth, and from that leaves behind his entrenched way of thinking. He grows from a scared crown prince set in his ways, into a benevolent King promising to bring prosperity to his kingdom through his own sense of justice. Camilla is able to cut away from the same mindset, no longer being afraid of the monster her father has become. Her love for her family outgrows her fear of Garon, the fear that was established during the aftermath of the Cheve rebellion. Elise starts out naive and innocent, but playing a part in the tragedies that unfold gives her perspective. When she first meets Sakura, she’s childish and selfish, but later comforts the Hoshidan princess during a time of great pain. At the end of the route, the two are fast friends as a result of Elise’s compassion. The siblings enjoy the light they are able to bring to their kingdom and the future they seek to walk towards.

The Outliers

But in all that, there remain two siblings whom I didn’t really name specifics for: Hinoka and Leo. This is because, other than the general development of the siblings as a collective and the themes of their routes, they don’t really change too much. Leo starts as the pragmatic executioner who imparts the course which Corrin begins to take, and remains as such later in Conquest. Hinoka is the stoic and determined princess whose concern is the protection of those she cares for, and she remains as such later in Birthright. Neither seems to have personal growth to accomplish other than the general themes of their routes.

That is, until you look at the routes in which you oppose them.

In fact, a new form of development occurs for all of the siblings when you oppose them, and with that, come new parallels.

Opposing Paths and New Parallels

Xander and Ryoma remain each other’s mirror and contrast. On the respective paths that you oppose them on, they are the notable threat to overcome later in the game. You encounter both of them in earlier chapters as well, and both of their maps are escape objectives; this shows in gameplay how much stronger they are compared to Corrin and how it is the smarter decision to pull back and regroup. They both can’t forgive Corrin for betraying their kingdom and family, but while Xander accepts Corrin has turned traitor, Ryoma is intent on bringing him back by any means necessary. Upon Elise’s death at his hand, Xander falls into despair and forces Corrin to strike him down. Ryoma on the other hand, sacrifices himself to spare Corrin the hardship of striking him down when he realizes his brother is still the kind soul he thought he was.

The elder brothers are the ultimate test of Corrin’s resolve, to see if he’s ready to finish the path he started. The loss of these two are a tragedy, and the impact is felt in many ways.

Takumi and Elise gain new mirrors and contrasts with each other. For starters, each of them get inflicted with illness and reveal a truth they wouldn’t otherwise have awareness of during their delirium. It’s the suffering of these two that gets highlighted the most on routes you oppose them. Elise is miserable from her family being broken apart, and has to escape her home just to find some semblance of joy. Takumi meanwhile, lashes out more and more against Corrin, becoming more volatile and suffering from constant headaches. Elise only fights you once (and even then she’s an optional fight), while Takumi fights you the most out of any other sibling. Both of them end up losing their lives through indirect means; Elise throws herself in front of Xander’s sword in a bid to get him to stop fighting. Takumi throws himself off the Great Wall of Susano-o, blinded by rage, frustration and sadness.

Takumi and Elise are major victims of this war and the path Corrin chose, victims who expressed their misery in different ways.

Camilla and Sakura are each other’s mirror and contrast. These two probably have the most difficult parallels to pin down, but they are there nonetheless. When Corrin chose Hoshido, Camilla lost her security; her family is broken apart and she can’t do anything to stop it. She is forced to accept that Corrin has left her to join Hoshido, and finally comes to terms with it after her second encounter. When Corrin chose Nohr, Sakura lost her solace; her country is being invaded, she had just lost her mother and now her older sibling is choosing to go back to the kingdom responsible for her suffering. She is forced to suck it up and defend her home on the from the front lines. Instead of development coming naturally due to positive reveals and encouragements, both sisters are forced to change in order not to break entirely.

Camilla and Sakura are loving sisters who now have to accept a harsh reality during and after a war they had no control of.

Bear the Crown, Bear the Development

That leaves Hinoka and Leo, and this is where they each get major development as opposed to their native routes.

Hinoka and Leo were spared by Corrin after thinking they were gonna be killed, and eventually the thrones fall to them when the war concludes. After all, Hoshido favors kings over queens so if it wasn’t Ryoma, it would be Takumi. Nohr has an age based inheritance, so if it wasn’t Xander, it would be Camilla. Leo and Hinoka never dreamed it would be up to them to lead their kingdoms. When they bear the crown, they bear the weight of a responsibility they never expected.

However, when looking at it closely, it seems they also bear the character development their older brothers would’ve had.

Leo has battled feelings of inadequacy and jealousy in regards to his siblings already, but Corrin choosing Hoshido causes those feelings to surface. He’s angry and hurt over it all, but hides that under a layer of cold-bloodedness. Leo, promising to kill Corrin at every turn, thinks of his brother as dead to him. However, Leo later finds himself. When talking with Corrin and seeing the truth about Garon, he realizes that Nohr doesn’t have to remain the way it is in order to survive.

Leo at the end of Birthright begins to feel similar to Xander at the end of Conquest.

Hinoka has dealt with the guilt of Corrin’s kidnapping for over a decade. She became strong by choosing the path of the warrior as opposed of the princess. When Corrin chooses Nohr, she is in disbelief; after all, why would her brother return to to his kidnappers? She resolves to defeat him, and thinks of her dream of being a family again as a fantasy that will never come to fruition. However, Hinoka later believes otherwise. When talking with Corrin and seeing him and his Nohrian siblings work to end the war in a different way, she realizes that Hoshido’s beliefs about Nohr are wrong and that those misconceptions must be cleared.

Hinoka at the end of Conquest begins to feel similar to Ryoma at the end of Birthright.

Conclusion

Leo and Hinoka each become the rulers that their kingdoms needed. They fill the space left by Xander and Ryoma. They don’t have personal arcs on their native routes nor on Revelation because there’s no absence to be filled; they can remain as they are, rather than be bound by the weight of the crown. Their rule as monarchs is bittersweet, for it’s a role neither of them expected, but they perform said role well nonetheless.

That’s, at least, how I feel about all of this. Of course, this whole thing isn’t a perfect interpretation, nor does the game handle this aspect as well as it could have. Hinoka still lacks in number of notable appearances compared to pretty much every other sibling; hell, there are even scenes in Birthright where every sibling except Hinoka appear. Leo, meanwhile, has many more scenes of importance, especially since he wields a divine weapon and his big hero moment triggers the Yato’s transformation during Conquest. The negative effects of Hinoka’s later addition are still very present, and it’s something that I hope would be done better in a possible Fates remaster.

As it stands now though, I still think all of this is done well enough for everything I described. Fates’ story is smarter than one might think, and I believe all of this is an example of that.

#fire emblem #fire emblem fates #fire emblem if #fe14 #hinoka fire emblem #leo fire emblem #ryoma fire emblem #xander fire emblem #takumi fire emblem #elise fire emblem #sakura fire emblem #camilla fire emblem #corrin fire emblem #meta #storytelling

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araekniarchive · 4 years ago

Note

I know you’ve posted a snippet of your tag/theme list—I was wondering if you could post the whole thing? I especially like seeing the all the concept tags that you’ve come up with, I think it’s really neat

To be honest, it's long enough that it'd be a real drag for me to have to screenshot it all and then fit it all together into one long image, so I'm just gonna copy and paste below the read more. I don't think it has every tag I've ever used on there (although that's what I started it intending to do) but it's got most of them. I'll bold the ones that are concept tags specifically, as you said you liked those.

ABRAHAM AND ISAAC

ABSENCE

ADULTHOOD

AGE

A HOLE IN THE WORLD

ANGUISH

ANIMALS

APATHY

APOCALYPSE

ART

BEAUTY

BEGIN AGAIN

BEGINNING

BETRAYAL

BLOOD

CAIN AND ABEL

CHANGE

CHILDHOOD

CHILDREN

CLEAN

CONFESSION

CONNECTION

CONSUMPTION

CONTRADICTION

CORRUPTION

CREATION

DARK

DAUGHTERS

DEATH

DEPENDENCE

DESIRE

DISAPPOINTMENT

DISCONNECTION

DISCRIMINATION

DISEASE

DISTANCE

DREAMS

DYSFUNCTION

EDEN

EGO

ENDING

ESCAPE

EYES

FABLE

FATHERS

FEAR

FERAL

FIRE

FLORA AND FAUNA

FOOD

FORGIVENESS

FREEDOM

FRIENDSHIP

FRUIT

GENDER

GHOSTS

GO AWAY CLOSER

GRIEF

GROWING UP

GROWTH

HANDS

HAPPINESS

HATE THAT I LOVE YOU

HATRED

HAUNTING

HELL

HIDING ALL AWAY

HOME

HOPE

HUMANITY

HUNGRY BUT NOT FOR FOOD

ICARUS

I DON’T KNOW WHERE TO PUT IT

I HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO LIVE WITH THIS

I KNOW YOU

I’LL TRY AGAIN. LET ME TRY AGAIN

I THOUGHT YOU LOVED ME

I WILL SEE YOUR BODY BARE

INEVITABILITY

LANGUAGE

LEFT BEHIND

LETTING GO

LGBT

LIGHT

LONELINESS

LOSS

LOVE

MADNESS

MEMORY

MENTAL ILLNESS

MOTHERS

MONSTERS

MONSTROSITY

MONTHS

MUSIC

NAMING

NIGHT

NOSTALGIA

OBJECTIFICATION

OF COURSE WE WILL HURT EACH OTHER

ONCE UPON A TIME

PARENTS

PEACE

PERSEVERANCE

POISON

PRETENSE

QUESTIONING

REBELLION

REBIRTH

REFLECTION

REFUSAL

REJECTION

RELAPSE

RELIGION

RENEWAL

REPETITION

ROMEO AND JULIET

SACRIFICE

SADNESS

SAMSON AND DELILAH

SCARS

SEASONS

SELF DISCOVERY

SHAME

SIBLINGS

SLEEP

SONS

SURREALISM

TEETH

THE BODY

THE DEVIL

THE GREAT WOUND

THE HEART

THE PAST IS A FOREIGN COUNTRY

THE SUN

THE WRITTEN WORD

THIS I CHOOSE TO DO

THIS IS ME TRYING

TRAGEDY

TRUST

TRUTH

UNMAKING

VIOLENCE

VULNERABILITY

WAIT FOR ME; I’M COMING

WANT

WANTING TO BE WANTED

WATER

WEATHER

WEREWOLVES

WHEN WORDS ARE NOT ENOUGH

WHEREVER I GO THERE I AM

WOMANHOOD

YEARNING

YOU KNEW WHAT I WAS WHEN YOU PICKED ME UP

#asks and answers #housekeeping

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the-name-was-lost · 10 months ago

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Alright sure, I’ll bite. I pick Malinda’s it’s all true

It’s all true is a visual album by singer-songwriter MALINDA (Malinda Kathleen Reese). The album centers on themes of growth and love.

It’s all true

The album’s opening track is an optimistic and joyful piece, discussing the complex and often contradictory facets of life and personhood. The verses follow a simple repeating structure listing contradictory traits without feeling repetitive. The chorus reconciles these ideas.

“Life is golden and it’s broken and it’s fine // it’s all true at the same time”

Brooklyn

“Brooklyn” will make you take off. I seriously recommend running while listening to this song. The song builds harmony out of layers of lyrics, building over and over to to rippling crescendos.

“Stretching my veins into the sky//everyone else can learn to fly//why can’t I?”

I miss her and I blame you

If much trauma why such bop? “I miss her and I blame you” discusses the death of innocence and the loss of self caused by traumatic experiences or relationships. But it’s a fun song, very cathartic.

“I drank the poison hoping it would kill you// now I miss her — I miss her and I blame you”

Every other lovesong

Ok, so this is my least favorite song on the album. It’s a melancholic piece about being overwhelmed by love. I think it drags a bit, but I can still appreciate Malinda’s incredible lyricism.

“As the world came into focus, I just sat there speechless, and later found a tear on my cheek.”

Good intentions

The song is narrated by Worry/Anxiety pointing out all our worst flaws and insecurities, all under the guise of love and care. It wants to protect you. This title is haunting, and gives me goosebumps.

“Take what I’m giving//It many be less than living//but I promise you’ll be safe”

Figured out

“Figured out” assures us that it’s ok to be uncertain of who we are and what we want. It doesn’t mean we aren’t deserving of love and affection. It also engenders empathy for our loved ones, who are also still trying their best to figure it out. However, I think this song also drags quite a bit in places.

“A box of time wrapped in vision//on the table by your bed//Science couldn’t map//the universe inside your head”

Like it’s the end

Hhhnngn— this one is my favorite! It’s carnal; it’s apocalyptic; it’s giving up all pretense; it’s raw; it’s facing our fears of rejection; it’s love in the face of fear; it’s doing it scared; it’s selfish; it’s the end of the world. The instrumentation in the first verse and chorus is only breathing and a drum imitating a heartbeat, and even as the song continues, instrumentation remains mostly percussive.

“Mother Earth’s changing her tone now//she’s never seen love like this//So, Get drunk of the wine in my veins now//lock our lips till they’re raw”

Between us and them

A departure from the various personal and interpersonal themes so far, Malinda guides our eyes to larger scale issues now. “Between us and them” attempts to tackle the specter of war through the eyes of three generations of civilian women, all exposed to war at a young age. The song condemns the military industrial complex and wartime sensationalism. The loss of innocence takes center stage.

“Where the story being written becomes the writing on the wall//power making promises it never meant to keep//With the ocean between us and them//Rocking her to sleep”

Wear me down

This one is sad. It’s not just melancholy, but grief for the whole world; how Weltschmerz grinds away our ability to love and be there for each other. The two main figures in the song fall apart, wearing each other down, as one is worn down by the world.

“Your little act of kindness instead meets my disdain//So I play the fiddle on the roof while you burn//knowing full well we’ll never learn”

Collage

This song wraps up the album, and recalls the opening track, recontextualizing it in the face of everything experienced in between. Picking yourself back up, after everything, deciding you’re worth it.

“I can’t be someone I haven’t met yet//too many things that I just can’t forget yet”

It’s all true (2023) played in various movie theaters across the USA, and was available to watch through Moment by Patreon for a while between 2023 and 2024. Parts of the visual album are available on the MALINDA YouTube channel.

The visual album opens with Brooklyn, It’s all true plays over the credits.

The visual album tells the story of the girl trying to chase her soul, while grappling with terrible anxiety that eventually leads to her pushing away her girlfriend. At the end of the visual album (in collage) she finally reconciles herself with her soul and runs away to Ireland, just as Malinda herself did at the end of 2023 (due to burn out)

The visual album is beautifully crafted and remarkably polished for Malinda’s first long form film production.

Pick 1 album and discuss.

If you don’t recognize any of these, listen to at least 2 first. I will add music 🎶 links in the comments.

#Alsmusiccafe

Episode 187

8 25 23

#Malinda #Rammstein #Assemblage23 #Kansas

#alsmusiccafe #malinda #it’s all true #visual album #it’s all true (2023)

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papers4me · 4 years ago

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Fruits Basket,Se03, Ep 8 (part 2)

I finally got my answer on how will kyo’s confession of kyoko will be & how tohru will react. I love the writing, the pacing, the monologue, the dialogue, the facial expressions, tohru’s reaction, kyo’s rejection & tohru’s shock. Even yuki & akito’s involvement! All of it was a chef’s kiss!

I went & watched lots of eps of se01 & 2 & I’m loving all the hints they dropped abt kyo & how his trauma was looming over him all. this. damn. time! Unfortunately, it has reminded me of how much tohru’s own character exploration was diminished in favor of her being the angelic mother & the sohma’s fixer! but moving on & focusing on her shining moment now! I’ll explore her character here with regards of her trauma, real hidden character & future development.

Kyo’s rejection is the best thing that has ever happened to tohru:

(don’t hate me before you read!) XD~ just like you, I’m mad at kyo for hurting tohru & I feel her pain. However, the writer didn’t write this with a sadistic desire to hurt us. Kyo’s rejection is the core of the entire story as it is not only connected to kyo’s trauma, but tohru’s growth & yuki’s emotional involvement with the two, as well as akito’s insecurities. I have explained in my review( part 1) how kyo rejecting tohru was a logical progression of kyo’s trauma, the only possible outcome from his perspective, & the themes tied with such decision. Now, I’ll explain why this rejection is good for tohru in the long run:

1. Showing the hidden ugly side: (The timid, shy, self-sacrificing girl is angry!): Tohru’s entire consciously constructed personality is borrowed from elements in her mom & dad’s life:

She mimicked her dad’s overly polite style to prove that she is indeed his daughter, so her mom won’t be called w*ore & to console her mom, so she wont leave her. She has deep low self-worth issues. I gotta become someone else to be loved.

she has inner fear of bringing shame to her mom’s name, wants to always be the good girl so mom’s get praised for raising her. Thus, hiding ugly aspects such as anger, loud voice & frustration.

She wants to prove that her mom chose right by not neglecting her. wishes to be worth needing & loving for her own self.

All she ever wanted since being a 4 year old child is her mom. No other desire for anything else at all. Since her mom’s death, she’s been lost on what to do, who to be, what to want! then it came to her to stick to her mom’s memory & live for her. Living for a dead person is a self-sacrifice decision. Tohru just didn’t see herself outside of her mom’s influence.

Ever since meeting kyo, he has been encouraging real aspects of her character: be selfish, complain, cry, get mad, yell, look pathetic, expose unflattering thoughts, show undesirable side, ask for things, no, DEMAND things. She has been reluctantly following his advice & only showing that to him. His confession & inability to accept her love has lead her to show the real hidden tohru behind the “ i’m okay” mask:

The timid, always smiling girl is now showing anger, frustration, stubbornness & determination.

screaming her heart out: “ i don’t believe my mom would say that” stating her opinion in firm voice.

“even if she did, I have to go against her” the real tohru shows her explosive personality that was buried deep down! it is NOT mom’s life anymore. It is MINE. I decide. I choose. I want. My decisions.

“ why can’t you see that?” argues with him. Tohru, who is soft-spoken & tends to get flustered when others insist, is now questioning his decision with passion & fierceness!

“ I love you no matter what”. Say what toy want. look at yourself as a monster, a murderer, a loser or a coward. I don’t care what your brain or trauma makes you think. I see the real YOU & it is my decision! I love you ugly & pretty, sad & happy, broken or strong, coward or brave. I take it all & no one is fooling me or changing my mind. I’m my own person & I chose YOU.

2. Letting go of attachments: Learning to LIVE:

Tohru’s attachment to her mom isn’t healthy. It’s toxic as it hinders her from being her own person. To be able to love kyo, she lets go of “ listening to mommy’s words” . Apparently, her mom condemned kyo as unforgivable. Tohru knows the real kyo & doesn’t even care for forgiveness despite her mom’s alleged words. Breaking the toxic bond. She formed a healthier bond with kyo. However, if kyo is unable to accept this love. what would tohru do? die?? kill herself?? kyoko wasn't able to continue to love her husband cuz he died. her reaction was neglecting her daughter & roaming away in utter grief. Tohru mustn’t follow her mom’s example. Not all loved ones leave us out of hate. Some leave each other cuz of death (kyoko/tohru), ( kyoko/ katsuya), Others might leave each other out of current traumatic pain, mental health, emotional hindrance despite loving each other so dearly (kyo/tohru). If kyo despite his immense love to tohru, can’t forgive himself, they won’t be together. tohru can cry, scream, yell, but if he doesn't overcome his issues & come back, tohru gotta let go. She gotta learn to let go & not kill herself over what she cant have.

Kyo, on the opposite, gotta learn to hold on to loved ones! Let go of pain but hold on to real ppl not dead ghosts of the past. He must learn to act on his own desire & need for tohru. Only when he forgives himself, he’ll hold on to her. It is then, that tohru will decide again if she’ll have him or not.

3- Wanting things doesn't mean you WILL have them: (You are enough by yourself- moderation)

tohru wants kyo, the first thing she has ever wanted. However, she won’t automatically get him just because she now learned to demand things. There are obstacles that can stop that. Tohru must accept kyo’s inability to be with her now & live healthily regardless. This ties to akito as well. She wants the zodicas but she cant have them! Emotional distance separate them. What will akito do if she can’t have what she wants? kill kurno? kill tohtru? kill herself? will this bring the zodiacs back? NO. You are enough by yourself. She needs to let go & learn to accept that love means acceptance between the involved parties, emotional connection isn't enough.

-Realistic depiction of romantic relationship progression: (thro better & worse). EPIC writing!

It is indeed fate that brought tohru back in kyo’s path 4 months after her mom’s death & the they do share a mutual past: kyoko. However, fervor grateful to the author for writing them falling in love together isn’t due to fate, coincidence, mutual past or similar personalities. Kyo consciously avoided tohru while tohru herself struggled to understand kyo initially. The author spend valuable time building their romantic relation based on mundane daily life activities. They themselves don’t quite know when exactly that they fell in love. when they recalled falling in love, we see them cooking together, talking, walking, eating, studying & opening up abt small struggles.

It is genius that the writer will add yet another realistic aspect. While kyo was able to read tohru & approach her when she’s down, this doesn't mean he magically understood her & will forever be on the same page & never ever hurt each other at all. If you fell in love, you are bound to be hurt by the person who loves you back as much as be happy together. It is realistic!!! Adding miscommunication & personality differences enrich the relationship. This relationship isn’t just fluffy & lovey dovey. They have realistic issues that they need to work on by communicating. Even communication wont solve their quarrel if it isn’t done in the right time & with the right desire to connect.

-The weight & future lessons learned from of “ I’m disappointed in you” for both kyo & tohru:

Right now kyo is too emotional to connect & tohru herself is too emotional to understand his response. Tohru understands his pain but her low self-esteem prevents her from seeing that he is rejecting being loved , not rejecting her. He is not rejecting tohru as a person but rejecting kyo as a person deserving love. Thanks to his “ i’m disappointed in you” which really leaves no room for interpretation from tohru’s perspective. I love that!!!! Kyo isn’t good with words. This has been clear from ep 1, his actions has always been his love language, but now he couples bad words “ i’m disappointed in you” with bad actions: running away. This is a perfect opportunity to build their future relationship on a solid foundation: ( off course I’m not belittling their current emotions, I understand why each is very broken now, but I’m talking abt future learning lessons)

Kyo’s current mistake: While him rejecting tohru is justified by the extreme trauma & is logical from his perspective. This doesn’t mean it isnt’t hurtful to her. He chose hurtful words to push her away mimicking how he pushed her in the true form arc. Perfect example of justified mistake yet still a wrong mistake. Thus, kyo needs to learn the effect of his words, he shouldn’t be punished for the past, for tings her cant control, nor for fate. But he should take responsibilities of the present, of what he actually says & does right now. He must fix this mistake with tohru. This is a mistake that CAN be fixed. someone that he CAN get back. a mistake he CAN stop repeating.He CAN hold on to her with immense desire yet allow room for her to decide for herself.

Tohru’s current mistake: Seeing herself solely thro being loved by kyo. she cant see that he indeed loves her cuz he rejected her. Rejection in tohru’s mind equal lack of love. Her mom left her, thus her mom didnt love her. This respective is very justified due to her trauma, & it is logical that she reached this conclusion. She isnt in his head, she cant know whats in his heart if his words say sth else. However, having a logical perspective doesn't mean it is right. it is still wrong to solely exist thro what you can see & hear. Real emotions run deeper. We must take things with moderate approach. Tohru needs to have higher self-esteem, to allow room for misunderstanding without completely breaking down. In her future life, she’ll be in lots of situations where ppl could hurt her intentionally or unintentionally. She needs to take things with calmer pace & open the door in her mind for doubt & better judgement. As much as loved ones words hurt, to build a healthy relationship, you must leave room for communication & misunderstanding. Hence, you’ll get closer & closer.

Side Notes:

I love tohru’s faulty attachment thro only being loved back exactly as she pictures in her mind. it is so human, so real, & so endearing! Very opposite of se01 & 2 image of her being the wise, device-giving mother with right thing to say & do. Screw that unrealistic image! allow tohru to be real! best ep ever! Hopefully, no more of this tohru!

Kyo’s constant repeat of mistakes is the best character trope done right! so realistic. It is genius that the author used this trope to humanize the demonic cat spirit!! what screams human better than the most annoying human trait: repeating mistakes!!!! Kyo, my son! it’s time to learn! cant wait to see how the author will do that.

young boy/ adult woman friendship? Was that ever made without disgusting sexualizion? kyoko isnt much of a mom figure to kyo, she tells me abt a husband, child neglect mistakes, custody! he calls her old hag & pushes her! XD. it is friendship!!

i’m mad they didnt focus on tohru’s face when she screamed at kyo confessing her love.. that's tohru moment. Why pan on yuki? you could’ve showed his reaction after she spoke. The same thing was done when tohru confessed to Isuzu!-_-! loved her angry face tho, it was beautifully drawn, so thanks for that. XD

Yuki is forever the best tohru/kyo shipper & the best tohru-happiness defender. I love how he runs after kyo & yet checks on tohru! I’m curious tho, he didnt hear any of kyo/kyoko confession as he was asleep, only the the “ forgive/not forgive line” so, he’ll be wondering forgive what? tohru’s mom knows kyo? I’m excited on how they’ll put things into context. also, I LOVE YUKI.

I’m forever thankful that everything akito is pushed into next ep. The knife wielding action & akito’s dramatic outbursts would’ve stolen from the emotional weight of kyo’s confession. Kyo’s secret is the core of furuba since ep, 1, the entire dynamics of kyo/tohru/yuki /kyoko/ hat is established based on this ep. Shoving akito, too, would create the same annoying train bullet feeling of momiji’s & tohru’s ep (ep 5 & 6). Emotional scenes pushed together with lesser time for the respective characters to have their well-deserved focus.

This is the most I am attached & satisfied with furuba! it scares me since ep 9 continues the climax. My fears of potential dramatic animation since the knife is there! moreover, akito’s own animation is always over the top. I hope they tone it down to portray her as a human more than a maniac.

Also, I hope they dont drag the climax more than that. What more you can shove in the dramatic raining weather. Tohru/kyo scene here matched the true arc scene bringing back parallel. Now akito/tohru raining scene next ep will match se02, ep10 scene. Now, what will the author do to defuse the climax? Often writing the falling action is harder than the climax itself. Falling action doesnt mean happy times & solving issues. It means dealing with the consequences of the climax. Let’s see what the writer has in store.

Based on the flashbacks, Kyoko didnt have ill feelings with kyo!!!! Until the last time he saw her as a child, she was happy with him. Even when he pushed her, she took it as a childlike behavior. at the accident, she didnt have much time to have any ill feelings. No way she thought he pushed her, no way she thought he could’ve saved her. So if she really recognized him, why would she say “ I wont forgive you”? it doesnt make sense at all. Kyoko doesn't hate kyo!!!! So, either he imagined, which is sth that I’ll hate so much! I spent so much emotions attached to a non existant words! NO. plz! NO!! Other possibility, she said sth else closer to the words! but then again how would we know? I NEED to know! ~ as expected, I’m still attached to this damn line! XD.

Kyo depressed in the mountains after kyoko’s death was very vaguely referenced in (1) se01, ep24 when kyo talked to kazuma! oh shoot! (2) in se02, sp 2 when kazuma thought back to kyo nearly killing himself in depression before meeting the dad, (3) in se02, ep 9 when kyo trampled on the flower! oof! i love this subtle style of writing! connecting the emotional dots! EPIC!

Various characters throut seasons 1, 2 & 3 noticed the real gentle kyo towards tohru: (1) Isuzu’s “ I hope tohru meets someone like haru, to gently open the door” se02, ep19. (2) Momiji having faith that kyo is the right person for tohru & pushing him, (3) yuki constantly musing over tohru/kyo love & drawing inspiration on wanting “ his own person to love like them” (3) Kisa saying kyo is kind to tohru se3, (4) shigure saying, you are exclusively kind to tohru se02, (5) Airisa saying, when will kyo confess in se01, (6) hana saying, marry my sister in the play & pushing him to not be locked! (7) yuki kicking him for saying “ its not your business” to tohru in kyoto trip, (8) kakeru saying “ kyo’s her boyfriend? “ AA~~~~ the whole cast know & can see his love to her!!! TOHRU! He doesnt hate you! KYO!! the entire cast thinks you DESERVE HER & is KIND! not a monster! Is there an image set of those moments of the cast saying that here in tumblr? kindly mention me to see it! I fear going to the tags & seeing spoilers T_T.

#Fruits Basket #Anime Only #Tohru Honda #kyo sohma #happy paper #final season #part 2

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tiecladartist · 4 years ago

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Okay, spoilers beneath the cut because I have some issues with Rise of the Titans.

Tales of Arcadia is one of my favorite series ever. It handled the "Kid is the chosen one" situation brilliantly, every character had depth (even characters like Steve, Eli, the teachers, etc). Theme was expertly handled with each part of the series. Destiny, heroism and sacrifice for Trollhunters; Family, duty and home for 3-Below; Legacy, prejudice and family (again) for Wizards. Every season brought me to tears, made me laugh, made me fear for the safety of the characters and want good things for them after watching them sacrifice over and over again. It is a comfort show for me and always will be.

Now, the movie...

So, I don't think it was bad. I also don't think it was good, unfortunately. The animation took a bit of getting used to after bingeing everything else leading up to this, but I can't deny it was incredibly beautiful. It was especially nice to see places other than Arcadia and Akiridion-5. It started off strong with the train fight, and admittedly there were a lot of scenes I quite liked during the movie. But, just the scenes. I liked moments, but overall it didn't come together quite as well as the shows did.

The biggest factor is likely time. I doubt making this a movie was the initial plan since I know production companies enjoy snubbing out strong series for various reasons. Honestly, I was surprised we got an "ending" at all based on the trends of recent shows being forced to wrap things up prematurely. Even Wizards felt rushed compared to the others and as a result a lot of interesting concepts were brushed over quickly. I mean, I for one would've loved to see more Camelot "filler" shenanigans since those less plot-heavy episodes that we had throughout Trollhunters and 3-Below helped us explore the characters and grow to love them, and we didn't get quite as much of that with Douxie, Archie, Lancelot, Charlemagne, etc. But I digress, this post is supposed to be about the movie, not Wizards.

So yeah, I think Rise of the Titans should've been a show rather than a movie. We could have more time before Nari is captured, focusing on the "where are they now" of all the characters after the year we skipped. Jim gets to cook and eat human food after losing that passion when becoming a troll, adjusting to being human again! Maybe him and Toby talk about Barbara and Stickler being together and how it's kinda weird (Toby could compare it to having conflicting feelings over his Nana dating an alien). Krel and Aja have a call about how it is being the Queen and Steve interrupts because he misses Aja. Perhaps we hear Eli in the background doing something related to the "Secret weapon" and the call gets cut off quickly because this leads to a small disaster on Aja's end that she needs to go fix. Claire is practicing her magic with the help of Zoe while Douxie is off with Nari. NARI AND DOUXIE INTERACT WITH EACHOTHER AND WE ACTUALLY GET TO SEE IT! (Like, I know that they were travelling together for a year and that that is why Douxie is sad when Nari dies, but it didn't impact at all outside of empathy because there was no emotional investment on my end towards their friendship). But yeah, we get to see what's going on with everyone, and then perhaps this first episode ends with the reveal of them being ready for a plan of sorts (luring the arcane order and cutting off their magic. That wouldn't be revealed though). Cut to the Arcane Order in their super secret clubhouse saying they're close to finding Nari and you get a decent cliffhanger.

Episode 2 would start with the train fight and go fairly the same way. We see Jim struggling with fighting with no armor. Or perhaps he has akiridion armor, but it's too rigid or keeps malfunctioning (doesn't fit, so to speak). Only difference is that Jim's arc wouldn't be about whether or not he's still the trollhunter, because we've been through that already and he knows. I could get having moments of doubt, but his full on denial was kinda out of place after everything he went through. Instead, it could be that he feels useless due to now being a burden in a fight. Or perhaps instead he's wrestling with guilt. He's blaming himself since the arcane order got the seals due to them trying to rescue him. Maybe both? Maybe he even misses his troll body and feels that he's too weak now. Yes, he's still the trollhunter, amulet or not, but he's feeling less and less capable of answering this particular call, and that bothers him. He doesn't want to be a burden after all. Fight ends with the train crash, arrest, Douxie swapping with Nari, all the same.

Now, this is where things would go very very differently. Have more time before Douxie and Nari switch back. Let the Arcane order monologue a little more. They want to reset the world because the balance has been shifted? Cool! Tell me more! Did they used to try to get along with the humans? Did they try diplomacy in the past only to fail due to the stubborn humans, and that's why they've decided to take drastic measures? Or if not, explore why they believe they're the ones allowed to decide the balance is off. Is it because they're powerful? Or how long they've been on Earth? Did they reset it in the past and thus know through experience? I don't mind not knowing, since not everything needs to be spelled out for the audience, but there was potential to make them characters rather than obstacles, and it wasn't really utilized to its full potential. Allow Douxie to pick their brains a little instead of immediately swapping him and Nari back and only succeeding in delaying things a few more hours. Hell, if it was a TV show I honestly would've had one or two episodes before doing that while we address how that initial failure (and the fact that magical creatures/aliens were revealed to the world) affected everyone.

Maybe I'll go through and like, actually plot out episodes and stuff, but since I only just finished watching, here's just some various things I'd change:

-Get rid of that whole Steve pregnancy. That was just out of place and rather than the "comedy" breaking the tension, it shattered it completely and distracted from everything. If you wanna explore his father-based character arc, maybe have him and Aja discussing the fact that now that she's queen, she'll need heirs. And maybe Steve isn't sure he could be a good dad due to his history with paternal figures. You could even have it that he's taking care of Nari while her and Douxie are switched, and that leads to a situation where he helps her out and realizes he may be a better dad than expected. Or perhaps Blinky gives him paternal advice. Or Strickler. Or even BARBARA AND JIM like, Steve couldn't be worse than Jim's dad, and letting Steve and Jim bond over that would be nice. There was so much potential, but instead, Steve was reduced to an out of place running gag instead of getting a resolution to his character arc. And hey, if you wanna keep the whole male akiridions give birth thing that's cool, but it's gotta be done in moments where it won't distract. Or, you could even have it be that it means Aja and Steve need to adopt because uh... she's inorganic and he's organic? His body likely isn't actually built for akiridion childbirth despite the movie glossing over this fact? And maybe Steve has mixed feelings about someone else being the dad of his kids, but Coach and him talk about how Coach isn't his biological dad, but that doesn't mean he loves Steve any less.

-GIVE DOUXIE MORE SCREEN TIME! Seriously, had this been a show he would have the most potential for character growth out of everyone. His series was the shortest, so really all he got was a confidence boost and moving past needing Merlin's approval. But there was so much to explore with him still. What was up with that extreme burst of magic after Merlin's death that was never brought up again? How has he been mentally handling singlehandedly guarding Nari against the Arcane order for a year? Once he and Nari switch back, does he feel guilt over not being able to protect her? "Merlin wouldn't have failed like that. He kept her safe for thousands of years, I lasted a little over one". Perhaps, in his constant desire to prove himself to the people he cares about, he takes risky moves to try and save Nari again and make up for his mistakes, similar to how Jim was acting in the movie. Eventually, when he and Nari meet up again when trying to break her controlled state, Douxie is apologizing and talking about how he wants to make things right. He sees Nari as a friend; as family, just as much as Archie, and he doesn't want to lose her like he lost Merlin. He doesn't want to lose anyone else (which would make Archie getting stuck in the other Trollmarket, and Nari's sacrifice even more painful later on if that still happened).

-Krel, Eli and Stewart also needed more time. I get it was a movie, so time was short, but still. Krel's entire thing is that he grew to see Earth as his true home, and we didn't get to address the fact that he was immediately at risk of losing it at all. Not to mention the sheer amount of stuff he'd built for everyone. Like, could you imagine an episode where, to break up the tension (in a proper way, not a weird pregnancy way), in the midst of everyone trying to figure out how to stop the titans, Krel has overworked himself fixing and managing everyone's tech. He has to spend a day resting and disasters ensue as no one knows how to fix any of the stuff he usually manages. Like the tech keeping Camelot afloat, for example. Stewart and Eli could be the ones that end up stepping up to fill the Krel sized gap for the day.

-And I know that these fillers would lower the tension a bit, but like, having the titans need to charge up after awakening (like, absorbing elemental energy or something), or perhaps making the Arcane Order have to collect certain things to break the seals in the first place that they had on their fortress but lost when that was destroyed , or any other kinda obstacle to give time between the train fight and the Titans waking up would give time for less plot-heavy, more character focused episodes. And even after the titans wake up, they were moving super slowly and walking across the planet. It's not like they'd be short on time despite the movie making it seem like walking from china to america was a short jog at most.

-Don't give Toby the amulet. Don't get me wrong, I love Toby very much and literally bawled out loud at his sacrifice scene. But like, it made no sense to give him the amulet? Jim doing everything again with years of Trollhunter experience would help solve a lot of problems from his first go around (and I'm not fully on board with the whole time reset in the first place. Resetting to the start of the movie, or even just the fight with Bellroc would be better). Jim knows the burdens of being a trollhunter first hand, and you really think he'd be okay dumping all that on Tobes? Toby, the guy completely content with being the wingman and helping the people he cares about. Toby, the guy who never worried about not having a grand destiny up until the movie. The guy who in his biggest dreams was a Duke, not a king. I think Toby was well aware of how important moral support is and wouldn't see it as a lame superpower. But even if he did, in a tv show they could explore that in a way where he comes to learn just how much that moral support does for his friends. And if you still want his moment of glorious sacrifice (because I count that as one of the well done moments), then do that! But rather than going back in time to save everyone, make it so they sacrifice the stone to turn back time a bit. Risk their victory to try saving Toby. Have them fight Bellroc together instead of it being just Jim, because it's trollhunters, not trollhunter. It always has been, always will.

-And if you're like "But if they don't go back then Strickler and Nomura stay dead!" Then how about they don't kill them for shock factor in the first place? Have Strickler badly injured instead, because by god Barbara deserves some happiness. And think of the potential scene of her treating his wounds, and the two of them think about how things have changed since that visit to trollmarket when they were both hurt. About how Strickler stuck around, and when Barbara thought she'd lost him it scared her. How she's sick of almost losing everyone she cares about. She could talk a bit about Jim's dad then too, and it could be revealed that Jim was outside because he was going to check on them, but stopped when he realized they were talking. And then later on, he asks about his dad, admitting he overheard, and we get that conversation they had in the movie. And if you keep the Nomura sacrifice, give her more of a moment ffs. Like, she deserved better! Have the death be a sacrifice to save someone else instead of just "oops I got caught and I'm in the sun now". Make it deliberate. Make it her decision after a life of serving others. Finally, she got to be the one in control of her fate, and she chose to protect the people she cared about.

There's so much more I could say about this and the potential that was killed by the lack of time, but this is getting long and I should probably try actually doing the work I need to do today.

Edit (Because this just popped in my head and I need to add it).

THEY WERE LITERALLY AROUND THE ROUND TABLE! THE NINTH CONFIGURATION (which like, screw that there are more than 9 heroes here to save the day) WERE THE NEW KNIGHTS OF THE ROUND TABLE. They were there to protect the world, and like... did the bond between Lancelot and Steve just not exist anymore? Did that get timeline erased too? Could you imagine Steve fighting to protect the world, doing his best to protect the people he cared about so that he never loses someone like he lost Lance again? He gets to keep his promise to carry on the legacy of the Knights even after they died. THE POTENTIAL WAS THERE!!! THE SET UP WAS THERE!!! BUT NO! WE GET MPREG STEVE INSTEAD!!

#tales of arcadia #trollhunters #3-below #wizards #toa #toa trollhunters #toa 3below #toa wizards #rise of the titans #toa rise of the titans #rise of the titans spoilers

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syubub · 4 years ago

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2021 Reading for BTS and the collective!!

Wow wow wow! I didn't disappear or get dragged away by a demon. No no, I just got thrust into unexpected shadow work and I now have an unhealthy obsession with sea shanties and a love of pasta.

I had this idea planned to be early in January but that didn't pan out so I'm doing it now. I have another yoongi reading in the works and another fun thing coming soon as well!!

I promise I won't bore you to death any longer but I hope you've all been doing well!!

Disclaimer: This is for entertainment purposes only and not to be taken as fact.

If this message doesn't apply, let it fly!

Cool cool cool.

Let's get it.

💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜

Oki. I first want to say that this I gonna be long lol. I did a meditation and gathered some little pieces of things y'all might need to hear and then I pulled cards for every month. The fountain tarot deck is the cards for us, the collective, and the rider-waite cards are for bts. It'll make more sense when I add picks and stuff. I did a little extra card pull for yoongi for the month of May too :) I'll make sure to type out all the cards in text so you know what they are (the pics are kinda wack.) I also used my pendulum to ask if there was a bts related event for every month and that's at the bottom. It's just to take in the possible energy for the month and something that could result from that energy!

LETTUCE BEGIN (hehe)

Starting with the section for the channeled messages. I want to reiterate that this was collective so if it doesn't resonate with you, the message might not be for you! Use your intuition.

(Enough talking. Damn)

So. As I said this was through meditation and connecting to the big column tree thing (I told my cousin about the tree/pillar and they were like,, "so basically a big energy dildo in the æther?" .... I CAN'T STOP THINKING ABOUT IT. h e l p m e) and asking if there was any messages or advice that needed to be delivered and it was... intresting?

Things came fragmented. So there was little messages like, "Its gonna be okay" and "things are changing for everyone" and "open your eyes if you want to see" (that's sassy.) There was one particular thing that was confusing me though. Straight up it was just "flower" on repeat and like a really bad picture of a flower? Like you could tell what it was but it was bad quality. Anyway, I was like "okay. Kindly shut the fuck up. Pls." And I wrote down flower, pink flower and rose. Sooo.... idk but there you go.

More messages were things like, "the block isn't in your head", "try calling forth that which you seek" and... February. Possibly there is specific (very very very loose) connection to the 10th-19th? I'm not to sure what or why but I'd say maybe look out for opportunities on these days and also maybe external events.

Continuing with dates. In the last this 21 and January 21 came up. It came up again but with 2 messages. So first, either 21st is a day where something is put into motion (possibly private or public) or announced and the second was "add them together dumbass" that's not very kind but 3. Again this has been discussed too but but but... maybe a signal of a third mixtape 👀 (not necessarily on the 21st per say but possibly in March? I'm really not sure).

Oki. I got side tracked like I always do and started thinking about tattoos and stuff and I really want koo to have a peony tattoo. I feel it in my BONES. It would suit him so well. and as I was thinking about tattoos I heard, "don't be surprised if yoongi gets/shows a tattoo this year" ??? What the fuck? I think maybe they messing with me but now I have hopes and I don't want them to be crushed and thrown to the wind :(

Back to normal stuff, "the theme is growth" I think that fits very well with the reading. "Blue might be a lucky color" self explanatory. It might be lucky. "Start practicing grounding and centering" this was LOUD. This will help you in how you react to events in the future. Really do practice this if you haven't.

This is where it gets a little weird. So, I got a message that said "start living as if you never existed." I am not a 100% sure what this means but I think I have a pretty good guess. I hate to make it sound weird like this but by sort of focusing on something that is so hard to comprehend (because our brains can't comprehend not existing very well) you kinda break the 4th wall? Like in Deadpool when he addresses the audience and is aware that he is a character played by Ryan Reynolds? anyway, focusing on something that seemingly impossible you kind of accidentally open up the floodgates for a lot of other things. I would say if you are not in the right headspace to do this don't do it but it can be a powerful way to break up the monotony of reality. The theory that everything happens simultaneously bc time isn't a linear progression events blah blah we are energy blah blah the multiverse blah blah.. Theres so so so so so so so so so much about this and how it applies to things that I could probably write you 10+ dictionaries worth of material but for the sake of simplicity and not wanting to write a novel right now, I will continue. The main lesson is to start challenging your perception of the world around you. Ask why and why and why and why. Essentially seeing cracks in the matrix. Pulling your head out of your cosmic ass, realizing that rose you're smelling is actually daffodil ect. It's not supposed to bring you fear but just kinda encouraging you to question all the things that you perceive as given truths.

I tried to make that sound cohesive but really it's such a big concept that I can't really wrap it up all nice and neat.

Oki. May and March are also important times.

Listen to your intuition and try not to take everything so seriously. I'm not saying to check out and go squat in the Himalayas but it's important to find joy in the now. Life is already tough enough so don't forget to watch a silly show that you like or change your hair to a style you've never tried, wear makeup in a very loud way. Just have fun and don't worry so much about things that you can't control. Listen to yourself and your intuition.

Well that was all over the place. Let's get on to the actual tarot part now.

For the record, the pictures are right to left.

January for the collective

We have the empress, the sun, 7 of swords and a fortune that says "act well your part; there the honor lies"

Hmm. Ngl I was a little confused to see the empress and the sun for January... I mean it hasn't been great. So I pulled clarity card 7 of swords. The 7 of swords is all about betrayal. It's about the deception and and actively getting away with things. This is people lying, cheating, sneaking and the works.

This makes much more sense!! The Sun card is usually about joy and success and happiness but in this case I see it as illuminating the betrayal. It's shining light on the deception and keeps the spotlight there. Its also an energetic card so I think that shows passion for uncovering the truth.

With the empress card too I think January is all about getting creative in all forms. Creative ways to protest, to mourn, to celebrate, to connect. Also taking in the abundance that we DO have. The beauty that surrounds us. I like to think of aphrodite energy for this. Its not just love and passion and creativity but is also asserting yourself and having strong passion for what you love and fighting for it. Did you know aphrodite was also called upon in ancient Greece in times of war? She was honored as a goddess of war but still a goddess of love, the sea, fertility ect. What I'm trying to say is that being a creative and "feminine" energy is in no way weak. Sometimes the most powerful things come from this energy. Love aggressively with good intentions. The point is that you should take whatever you're feeling and translate it into something creative or something you care about. The fact that covid is still a thing really sucks but take any rage, hurt, sadness, joy, love whatever and use that shit to make something amazing. Bake bread and punch the fuck out of it, paint your frustration, play hopscotch in higheels while you listen to heavy metal. You get the point.

Now January for BTS!!

We have the death card. (I only pulled one card bc I have things planned from this)

January has been... strange? To say the least.

This card can be a lot of things for them. I think this points to more maturity in their music? Like they've finally ditched the "shiny kpop boy band" label and are being taken seriously in the west. I also think that they're going through a musical/concept transformation~ I think it also signified the change in plans bc of the Grammys perhaps they had things planned an that fell through so they were forced to rapidly change plan/course.

For January: possible mixtape or announcement.

February for the collective

We have 8 of coins reverse and hanged man reverse.

The 8 of pentacles reverse talks a lot about self improvement. Doing that good good inner work and self care. Working on developing parts of you that you've maybe neglected. It's also learning how to work with how you are instead of wishing you weren't the way you are. If you have a therapist its a great time to maybe ask for any extra tips that you can practice daily to help you even more. Maybe exploring more into insecurities relating to finance or jobs or your passions. If you don't have a therapist but you have the means to get one I always highly recommend. You don't have to have "problems" to see a therapist. Everyone could use a non biased point of view that is literally trained to help you be you best self. If you can't get therapy, I get it. Shits tough rn but there's still things we can do to better ourselves like Journaling and reading therapy blogs or self help books (not the taky shit) or trying a hobby you fell out of touch with. There's also a lot of places where you can get therapy promise on the internet. Most importantly, better yourself in the way that you need. Take time in February to take notice of what you want to improve upon. The 8 of coins reversed does come with the warning not to get stuck in perfectionism. Go easy on yourself and if you find yourself getting frustrated when working on projects, try to take a step back and practice whatever it is in a fun way and then come back to it later

Hanged man reverse talks about knowing that you need to chill but you don't. You'll need too. Maybe you'll find yourself swept up in work and tasks and you're over whelmed and know you need to stop and catch your breath but you resist. Why? Well, perhaps you're trying to ignore reality by filling the empty spaces with things and stuff so you don't have to face what's bothering you. Not wise. Take time for yourself. There's also the flips side where people are just kinda stuck.. creative block. Maybe you want something to turn out one way and it just isn't, so your stuck and frustrated and can't move past it. Let go of your expectation of how it should be and let it be what it is. Go with the flow and maybe you'll see a new way to overcome your problem. You'll eventually get that break through that you need! The theme of February is about self improvement. Listen to yourself.

February for BTS

We have judgment.

Hehe yeah. This card is about rebirth and the inner calling. Letting go of the old to step into the new version of you. This is also a very spiritual card lol. This can talk about a new decision that you have to trust your gut on. This is a very significant card that screams comeback to me. It also can talk about sharing your struggles with a group of people and that to me sounds comeback ish. Maybe this will be an announcement in February, maybe they'll be working on it idk but this is ultimate comeback energy so I hope they utilize this for a big group project!!

February: possible BTS comeback (even my pendulum knows)

March for the collective

The chariot and justice

This plays directly off of February! With the chariot you're taking the self improvement that you've done and putting it to action! Now is the time to act on the dreams and passions that you have don't wait and hope for the best. March is about action and standing in your power.

Justice card is cause and effect and truth. What you do will have consequences good or bad. Not doing anything also has consequences. Cease the moment and make the best of it. You'll be taking responsibility for what you do. You start a business? Now you have the responsibility of running it and you get the credit. Stuff like that. Stand by your decisions with conviction and trust yourself.

There's also the side of justice that talks about bringing justice. If you've been wronged, you'll be brought justice if you stand up for yourself.

We also carry the continuous lesson of learning what we truly believe and challenge those beliefs!

March for BTS

Oki we have the hermit and the 6 of pentacles reverse.

Well... let's start with the 6 of pentacles reverse. This can really talk about being so generous and giving to everyone else that you forget about yourself. I think that maybe they might be over exerting themselves and giving so much that they're exhausted physically and emotionally as well. I think too, they take on so much of our pain like its their own? Idk but this would be a good time to do a large scale fan project to show them a little extra love!

With the hermit card it talks about a self introspection so they could be looking inward as a team and kinda evaluating their bond.

I also see this as maybe being alone as in they maybe can't physically go to the grammys? Or maybe they had been planning the rescheduled concerts and they had to be pushed back even further? Things like that. Regardless this signals re thinking/reevaluating the goals that they have and considering what direction to go in!

March: possible mixtape or solo project?

April for the collective

We have 6 of coins and 3 of cups reverse.

Let's start with the 6 of coins. It's about sharing. It can be about charity so sharing money via donation but also giving time, effort, energy to people as well. Giving knowledge is good too! It's an all round exchange. Maybe someone lends you money or you lend money to someone. It's give and take. It's a two way street. It's also a card of balanced finance. So money stuff should be looking promising around this time (for you U.S people this could point to more stimulus help as well)

And for the 3 of cups reversed... I see this as reopening of places and people struggling to find the balance. So think people who've been in lockdown celebrating by throwing a big party... yikes. This card reminds that we should be mindful of the long-term consequences that come with our actions.. maybe also people that are experiencing fear of being in public places now. This is only one facet though. Bc I think this also means in general, missing being with friends and having a renewed relationship because you've really realized how important it is to have these people that mean so much to you in your life. Don't forget that you have people that love you and want the best for you. Call them when you feel alone.

April for BTS

The heirophant

Mhmm. This one kinda gives me vibes that they'll be mentoring people? Idk but I see them more as the heirophant teaching what they've learned/ know to help guide others. HOWEVER this could also be them taking a new task under their belt. Learning something new. Since this is as a group reading I assume that this talks about the group as a whole. This card is also very tradition oriented so maybe they are taking lessons that are connected to traditional Korean culture? Maybe its for RUN or maybe its to incorporate into music and preformance. Think bts mma preformance but all of them learning together? Idk, it's just a thought (maybe wishful thinking). It also talks about seeking counseling so maybe they'll do yoongis idea from the most recent RUN.

This can also be them embracing this kind of leadership/ status.

April: I got nothing. It does feel like something though

May for the collective

Five of cups and queen of cups reversed

Five of cups is disappointment, regret and self pity. Now honestly this to me looks like possibly a tightening of restrictions yet again. Regardless of the situation that this is talking about, the best thing you can do is not wallow in the bullshit. You scrape yourself off the pavement and move foward. You'll need forgiveness of yourself and others and that if shit isn't going your way, you need to pull your head out of your ass and look around bc there's options out there. It's like drowning in a kiddie pool. Just stand up, dude. The water is like 5 inches.

Queen of cups reversed talks about self love and self care. It's more of that look inwards energy. Think about really taking care of yourself. May might be emotionally draining so you need to be ready to take care of you! Part of self care is making sure that your boundaries are well enforced.

Be on the look out for codependent behaviors. Check in with yourself.

The queen of cups is very intuitive and having it in reverse can talk about you not taking enough time to listen to it. Make an effort to meditate for like 5 minutes a day at least. Do something to let yourself connect to your intuition and higher self.

May for BTS

9 of pentacles

This about enjoying the fruits of your labor and absolute abundance and luxury. This could talk about them rolling in the dough after signing a new partnership or having a concert or something if the sort. This could also be a time where we see them buying new things like houses, cars and rings (lol) but also this could be them doing a very high production value project! Also namjoon and his bonsai army are thriving in this time!

May: possible concert or scheduled concert event. Activity of some kind.

Yoongi interlude

I asked for one card to give me an idea of what the mystical May 13th really is. I got: the star, 2 of cups, 4 of wands, the world and the sun.

Guys. I can't with this. 2 of cups is a card of union, romance, soulmate. 4 of wands is celebration, joy, homecoming, bliss. The world is completion and the sun is happiness, joy, marriage, enlightenment.

I've said it a billion times but that's some soulmate shit. So soft so cute and May will be eventful for his personal life.

June for the collective

Death and the heirophant reversed.

Wow wow wow death is transformation and a new chapter so a new way of life and something new/ different that changes how we see things. Again this could be relating to new covid things and new policies and stuff like that but also new as in new to all of us. Groundbreaking perhaps?

The heirophant reversed talks about teaching yourself. Being your own teacher and making your own path. This might be spiritual or otherwise. Challange what the world wants from you and instead listen to what you truly want bc you don't need anyone's approval. Continue to ask questions about why things are the way that they are.

June for BTS

Page of pentacles

Oki oki page of pentacles means a new creative venture and manifestation. Maybe something that they've been wanting for a while finally comes to fruition. This might be the start of a new project that they haven't done before or something cross genre? Idk but its a really good sign of being motivated for a new endeavor and manifesting any projects that they've ever wanted to do. Love this promising energy!!

June: idk

July for the collective

10 of swords and 9 of cups reversed.

10 of swords signals a painful ending. Also deceit. Its a necessary end to a long battle. The only thing you can do is control how you react in these situations. You just kinda gotta surrender into the pain and know that it's temporary. Take time to reflect on what happened and why and how it will help you grow.

The 9 of cups reversed talks about valuing stuff and material things over emotions and spiritual things. This can be talking about society in general, that we are becoming more aware to the fact that there is often more value placed on ephemeral items rather than humanity as a whole. This also can be talking about coming to the realization that we've been working so hard towards... something we don't really care about simply because we were told that it's what you do.

If you want something different to happen you have to put in effort. You can't be sitting in front of a water fountain being like, "damn. I'm thirsty. I really really want water so why isn't it in my mouth yet?" Like?? Hello? You have to take the first step, my dude.

Certainly don't try to do anything that would cost you finatial security or health.

You have the potential to find happiness within yourself. So try looking inside instead of looking outward.

July for BTS

4 of swords.

This is about rest and relaxation!

Taking time to meditate and take some time to look at what you've done objectively. Ots like the hermit in a way but much more focused on resting and relaxing so you can come back stronger and with better direction. Maybe they'll take a break for a couple days but I really see it as them reassessing options. Especially if July goes how I think it will. Maybe they'll film something like In The Soop again? Maybe we'll see bon voyage type thing? Idk. But it could be something kinda out of the spotlight? Maybe something more healing?

July: maybe something?? I'm not sure but it seems like something might be in store.

August for the collective

5 of coins and the wheel of fortune

Well let's see. 5 of pentacles talks about isolation and a negative mindset. This talks about falling on hard times but its a temporary set back. This energy can be talking about falling on hard times emotionally as well. In the card it shows a woman outside of a church shivering and cold but she's too busy thinking about all that she's lost that she doesn't notice the warm church that she could step into for shelter.

But then with he wheel of fortune that talks about fate/destiny, opportunity and luck so maybe this is a necessary loss so that a new door can open. This does kinda tie in with July as well. The end of something is painful but it's often a necessary thing. Might be a bit uncomfy but that's how things change. Again I see this maybe hinting more towards society but none the less it's definitely a theme for August to have doors closing and new ones opening so be on the lookout for that.

August for BTS

The devil.

Now don't fret. The devil talks a lot about choice. Most notably the choice between instant gratification and and something more substantial and the devil leans towards indulgence. It also has a lot to do with the shadow side. This could talk about ~scandal~ sure, but I think its more of a time where you become aware of negative patterns and you shine a light on that part you've ignored. On a much lighter note this card talks also about an incredible bond between people. It can be unhealthy if not given space or boundaries. Listen to pied piper and come back to me.

I also REALLY REALLY REALLY hope that this card points to this: sexuality. The boys have always been pretty pg when it comes to the topic of sex and embracing sexuality so I really do hope to see something more daring and grown up and exploring a tastefully sexy concept. On the same vain as sexuality this card also talks about kinks and stuff like that so don't be surprised if we get more outfits like fake love Era bondage harnesses.

August: ???

September for the collective

We have the world and 10 of wands reversed.

The 10 of wands reversed talks about carrying burden. Doing extra work and taking on more responsibility. Doing everything by yourself and carrying this heavy load alone will get you burnt out quicker than anything. You might be taking on too much and you'll need to prioritize what you really need to focus on. I also think there will just be a lot happening in September for a lot of people. It's a lot of working hard because you know it's good work or because it's what's right. This could be social responsibility that's placed on you or work responsibility. For whatever reason this burden isn't something you want to share with others because you think its yours alone to deal with. It's not though bc you'll figure out eventually that if it hurts so much you'll find a way to lessen the burden. 10 in tarot is all about the completion of a cycle and going through the wands cycle is hard work because for anything to be made of passion, you need to put the work behind it. The burden isn't forever, the heavy work load will lighten but this is you seeing things out. It's a good thing!

Especially considering this is paired with with world. The world is all about completion and that's what you're doing here is finding completion. You are seeing things out until the end but you just need to learn to give up some responsibility, lessen your burden.

This also talks about hard work being put into wider social spheres as well. Things like the vaccines becoming more widespread through the whole globe or at least better planing and infrastructures not related to covid. Things are looking up!

September for BTS

Knight of swords reverse

This bad boi is restless energy. It's being so pent up that you're ready to burst and you really want to take action but you can't because something is keeping you from taking that action. Again I do think this is kinda covid related in regards to touring bc if they do tour in 2021 its gonna look a lot different. This energy can be a bit impulsive and directionless so I think maybe they'll channel this into album material something? I'm not really sure tbh. I'm suprised this energy didn't show up earlier because it almost seems inevitable.

September: no clue

October for the collective

Ten of coins and the star reverse.

Welp let's start with the 10 of coins. Its about wealth, financial security, and long term success so this is a pretty prosperous time. This talks about the obvious monetary wealth and material wealth but also an abundance of opportunities. So this is definitely a good time to enjoy whatever consistency you have. This energy is really really abundant in the career space as well. So October could be very prosperous in the job field and you'll have likely found what it is you really want and could be successful at. This could be the actual act or just the idea. This is could also talk about investing in something for your future, this could be time or money.

With the star reversed it can talk about a loss of faith and a disconnection. This often points to feeling like you've just been forgotten or left out. Like the universe doesn't give a shit about you and left you out to die. Things might seem unfair but always try to look for the lesson that you can take from the experience. Seeing the 10 of coins and the star makes me think that a lot of people have kinda lost faith in their manifestations and also just in the concept of not living in a state of need. Especially if you see other people doing well and you've been trying so fucking hard but you haven't gotten a break. I know we hate to hear it but this can serve as a test of faith. Or rather an opportunity to get your shit in line and take a second to breath. Do something good for yourself and then continue on. This star in reverse serves to show you what no longer sparks joy and helps you find what does and what that initial spark was in the first place. Helps you get back to the original vision/ spark.

October for BTS

5 of pentacles reverse.

This signals the end of difficult times and getting that groove back. The last month was restless energy with no where to go but this month that energy is certainly put to good use. They might be figuring out what has been missing In their lives and starting to rectify that. They are definitely reminded that material wealth doesn't bring spiritual or emotional wealth. Might be also feeling a bit alienated too.

October: something is likely but idk

November for collective

Six of swords reversed and the moon.

Transition and change is prevalent. The 6 of swords is about leaving behind the familiar. Maune this is leaving a job, a new change in the status quo, leaving a relationship ect. The thing you have to keep in mind is just how amazing this is in terms of what it will do. It will alow growth!! And bring clarity!! Thos can also be societal as well, something being left behind in favor of something new. It's letting go and reflecting so that you can move foward.

This is strengthened by the moon card. The moon card is the subconscious and all the things that come with it. The anxiety, the illusion, the uncertainty. You'll want to deal with whatever emotions come up. The moon can signify a confusing time where things aren't what they seem to be. That's the illusions so you'll have rely more on intuition at a time like this. Your dreams might hold significance in this time as well. Listen to your guides and your own guidance because it will help you understand more than you did before this journey began. Using moon cycles to your advantage in November might really help you!!

November for BTS

7 of wands

Challenge and competition. People are envious of bts. We know this. But people will be challenging them for what they've gained: music industry domination. This might co.e in the way that people will spread vicious rumors in attempt to disenfanchise or possibly it will be a fair fight. It could also be a challenge/ battle for some other aspect that involves legal matters.

My best guess though is good old competition. Bts has proven again and again that they will continue to do what they do how they do but they will not be trampled over. In the best way this could renew some of that spirit in friendly competition. They will tear eachothers throats out for a pack of ramen so maybe a bit of competition will be good for them. It keeps life intresting.

November: nothin

December for the collective

Two of cups and the emperor!

Let's start off with the emperor card talks about stability and order. It can also signify being the "breadwinner" so its a good sign that you'll kinda be on top of your shit. The emperor is also an amazing leader so you might find yourself taking on a leadership role too! This is very organized energy that works very smoothly!

two of cups is such a lovely way to end out the year! It's love and partnership and attraction so if you aren't in a relationship by this time you might meet someone who strikes your fancy!! On a none romantic relationship note though, this card is also great for business partnership bc it signifies that you're on the same page and have the same goals in mind!

It's harmonious relationships and trust between them!! Love love love this energy so much! Cups are the suit of emotions and this card is so promising.

If you are in a relationship, this can talk about "falling in love all over again" like you're just reminded of how good they are.

December for BTS

Queen of cups

Intuition, creativity and emotional stability. They're using intuition to guide their moves foward with emotional maturity. They are in a place of knowing what they want and why. This would be a good time to work on an album or a book or to release them. The queen of cups is like the friend that you can tell absolutely anything and somehow they have a helpful answer. This card is really calm and it can also talk about subconscious thoughts.

I think that bts is maybe making more of a conscious effort to make sure that what they do is just as emotionally fulfilling for them as it is for us! They might be kinda pondering the future at this time and considering if this is what fills their emotional cup!

December: possibly a thing?

Now these cards are the vibe of the year and some advice.

For the collective (on the left)

Three of swords and judgment reverse.

The fortune says "accept the challenges, so that you may feel the exhilaration of victory"

The 3 of swords is about disappointment and hurt and heartbreak. It's about the emotional release that we all need when shit gets tough. Don't pretend to be strong. If you need to cry, fucking cry. This year is about letting go of expectations and do what you have to do to release so you can move foward and not have these things pile up.

You have to make an effort to not let yourself take on what other people think of you. You aren't defined by what some asshole says. You define yourself.

Judgment reverse is about self doubt and ignoring your path. It's being stagnant and being harsh on yourself. This year has a focus on building yourself up and noticing when you are not. Bring light to the things that are holding you back without harsh judgment for yourself. You can't beat yourself up. If you make a bad decision you know not to make it again. Take accountability and move on.

The oracle card is inner temple.

Seriously all the focus of this year is in self improvement and dear god, please take time to work on yourself spiritually!!! Everything you want to know is there if you take the time to listen. This should be a place where you feel safe and welcome. It definitely should not feel like something you HAVE to do.

For BTS

10 of swords and page of swords

The fortune says "you create your own stage. The audience is waiting" (how tje fuck?? This is the perfect fortune)

The 10 of swords is a painful but necessary end. This is accepting the current situation. They maintain focus for 2021 for them is adapting and keeping their spirits up.

With the page of swords it talks about new ideas and that kind of creativity. It's also a lot about communication so I really think that they'll be figuring out new ways to connect and new projects that will be prosperous.

The oracle card is Pleiades

This is what we talk about all the time. Bts has helped so many people want to be better and do better. They are uplifting humanity and giving people a sense if belonging. Bts finds you when you need them most 💜💜💜

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Wow I had to write this up over 2 days bc this was so fucking long. I need a nap. Idk if I'll proof read this before I post it so don't hate me for the mistakes (honestly, there's like 10,000 spelling and grammar mistakes in my other posts too 🙃)

I hope you guys enjoyed it and maybe this will be helpful to to have a forecast of some possible energy for you to look out for!!

Also bts bc I love them. I have another bts 2021 reading I'll do soon too!

Hope you guys are happy and well 💜

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i-dreamed-i-had-a-son · 4 years ago

Text

Although I'm sad the podcast is over, I really did not like the finale of the Magnus Archives. In short, this is because thematically, there was an abrupt shift away from everything we had previously been moving towards (along with a few other aspects).

Up until about the final act of the episode, things made sense. It was very much in character for Jon to try, once again, to "go it alone," and Martin calls him out on this. He's always been a headstrong character, and especially when it comes to his personal responsibility, he's unable to allow others to influence his decisions to any real degree. (Season 2 is a great example of this.)

And what I was expecting was very much what they seemed to be leading up to--Jon would essentially become the Extinction, destroying the entire world and resolving that Chekhov's gun which we've been waiting on for the better part of three seasons now. I was slightly surprised that they didn't make this connection more obvious, but I was willing to accept that it was something clear enough that they didn't have to outright state it; I had previously theorized that Jon would end up ushering in the Extinction, not becoming it, but this made sense too.

But they didn't do this. Instead, abruptly, Jon changes his mind and backs out of his plan. For the power of love, to make matters worse, which is such a tired and amatonormative trope that I hadn't expected it, solely because I thought it was beneath the quality of writing I'd been accustomed to from this show.

Now, looking at this decision with the episode behind me, I can understand what they were trying to go for. They were trying to show that Jon has grown, that unlike before, he is able to listen to people, he does change his plan because he cares about more than just his own feelings--and this would have been a great arc, if they had effectively established it. But the pacing was all wrong.

This entire season, to my great disappointment, has largely been a drag. The episodes, after a point, began to feel like thinly veiled filler. As opposed to Seasons 1-3, and even Season 4, the episodes here were rather disjointed; some were straight-up skippable, because they essentially were self-contained statements from fears we'd already seen. They lost the mystery that pulsated under every statement from earlier seasons, since the apocalypse had already happened. And, instead of replacing that mystery with consistent, poignant character beats, they wrote those beats in sporadically, leaving the rest of the episodes honestly lacking some of that special quality the earlier ones had had.

In other words, the core problem with Season 5, which manifested in the finale in its clearest form, is that neither the characters nor the story changed throughout the season. In the other seasons, each character had a distinct arc (Jon becoming untrusting and spying on others, Martin succumbing to the Lonely, etc.), and that was the core of the show, supported by a distinct and mysterious plot which developed as it went on. And because this did not happen in Season 5, it felt like nothing happened (even though, objectively, many things did).

This is what made that final shift so jarring. Instead of having developed this character growth over the course of the season, establishing that Jon is willing to change his behavior for Martin, the dynamic between them stayed essentially unchanged from the beginning of the season to the end. So to have Jon suddenly change his mind at such a climactic moment, with no more lead-up than Martin...yelling at him desperately once?...felt rushed. The whole episode, in fact, felt rushed, as though they were trying to fit a whole season's worth of character growth into a single episode.

And I can see the point being made of "well, they did establish this throughout the season! Martin and Jon fought several times and they always made up!" And while that is technically correct, two facts make this less impactful:

These moments were surrounded by so much unnecessary content that it essentially drowned them in filler. They didn't feel as memorable as they could have, because they were just moments, not a steady emotional through-line as we've had before, and

Jon, throughout the entire season, remained rather godlike. We saw him struggle a bit with his power, we saw some conversations about it, but he was missing that raw humanity he had had in earlier seasons. And while this makes sense, as he is growing less and less human, it also makes genuine, human, emotional connection more difficult for his character to have. Because of this, those emotional, character-driving beats didn't feel as notable in the context of the larger season. By necessity, we had to focus on other things, but this means that the ending we got should not have been where things ended up.

Ultimately, Jon's character hadn't been shown to change enough that his final change of heart at the last moment made sense. It felt unearned--even though the legwork was *technically* put in, it didn't land with me (and perhaps the larger audience? Is this why we've seen less TMA content for Season 5 than any season before?), leading to the conclusion feeling rushed and forced. Especially since it was all for love...but don't get me started on that.

In my opinion, what should have happened was this: we knew all along we were going to get an unhappy ending. So we should have gotten a definitively unhappy one. Don't leave things ambiguous (which feels like an unwillingness to commit to any real stakes, making the whole season, and ultimately, the whole show, feel inconsequential, since we've been told the stakes are deathly high the entire time), and give us a distinct, thematically consistent ending that resolves those unfired Chekhov's guns.

What I would have liked to see is Martin confronting Jon, Jon not listening to him and going ahead anyway (with some appropriately emotional arguments between them beforehand!) and then becoming the Extinction. Watching Martin fall apart as we see Jon become everything he never wanted to be: a monster, inhuman, someone who Martin couldn't love--watching Martin try to stop him, but fail, watching Jon cry as he sees how utterly he's destroying not just the world, but the only person in it who truly understood him, watching Jon go through with it despite the pain, because most of all he has to do what is right. He's done being manipulated, he's done being controlled, he's done letting his selfishness and his desire to pretend that everything can be alright hurt others (bringing back themes from earlier seasons), and he is willing to sacrifice everything to serve the greater good--despite knowing that the people who make up that "everything" don't want to be sacrificed. It is a fascinating, morally complex issue that has no happy resolution--but the in-character resolution, with the characters we were given this season, is a clear and definitive one.

Ultimately, because of the lack of attention paid to effectively developing these characters this season, no ending was going to feel satisfying. Our payoff to all of the growth really happened at Season 4, where Jon decided to do what he wanted, namely kill Lukas and inadvertently usher in the apocalypse. And since Jon hasn't changed, his decisions shouldn't either--he should still choose to do what he thinks is best, no matter the cost.

But at the very least, even though it wouldn't really have been a choice, even though it would have meant he failed to grow through all of these experiences, I still would have liked to see Jon decide to not just fall victim to the Web's manipulation. I would have liked to see him try, and fail, and prove ultimately that he is still a man, however godlike he might be, but to try at least to choose something other than what was already set out for him. That's what the whole show has been leading up to--the tragedy of something being so avoidable, yet so out of your control, that what happens in the end feels like both your choice, and the only option left. That's why the Web was the overarching fear, because fundamentally, at our cores, that is what we all fear: life. Life is making choices--in all its complexity of fate and free will, we are terrified of life and the way our choices, or lack thereof, will affect ourselves and everyone else. We don't get to take an easy out, which is what it feels like Jon did here, by allowing the Web's plan to move forward and continuing to be manipulated by it just like he has been his whole life. We have to struggle to break free. We have to make those hard decisions, even if there's no right one; we have to try to grow, even if we ultimately do not.

We don't get to choose death.

We have to live.

#tma #tma season 5 #the magnus archives #tma spoilers #meta #tma finale #jonathan sims #martin blackwood #my meta posts #the web #quality meta seal of approval #not to hype my own post up i just put that on all meta posts so that i can find them #kay can i just catch my breath for a second #my ultimate favorite posts

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