#ant man's 25 days of christmas

[antvnger]

🎵On the 24th day of Christmas, Ant-Mun gave to me actually all of us, me included this time:

So Ant-Mun took the 'Twas the Night Before Christmas poem and rewrote it to feature me and a special guest! It's pretty neat but kinda long, so check it out under the keep reading line!

Here's some mood music to read by if you want!

Ant-Man's Christmas Guest

 'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through my house

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.

Cassie hung our stockings on the mantle with care,

In hopes that good ol’ St. Nick would soon be there.

I had just returned from a Christmas Eve tussle

And stopped some bad guys in their bah-humbug bustle.

Cassie was already snug like a bug in bed,

And I really doubt she watched dancing plums in her head.

Probably dreamed of saving the world like her old man;

I just dream time would let her stay young as long as it can.

I collapsed in my bed, not even bothering to shed my suit;

Just let me get some sleep and dream of sugared fruit.

When out in my living room there arose such a clatter,

I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter.

I ran to the hallway then I halted my dash

And was surprised to catch a glimpse of a green flash.

I must be dreaming! What did I just see?

I could have sworn I just saw something...furry.

The twinkling lights from my Christmas tree

Were the only lights to help me see,

But I knew something was definitely amiss

When I heard a snickering croak and a hiss.

Then I saw him peek out and I had to flinch!

Holy fricking crap! My intruder’s the Grinch!

I can’t believe my own eyes as he struts and laughs

And shows me he has one of Cassie’s old crafts.

Hey! That green Christmas thief has Cassie’s ornament!

And he says, “My my my, how this is unfortunate.

The pride of Ant-Man’s tree now in my grasp!”

Why that little sneak, I couldn’t help but gasp.

“You’re actually trying to steal from me?

And take my favorite ornament off my tree?”

“Why not,” the Grinch replied, “I like to cause a mess

For people like you who are big on Christmas.”

“What happened to your heart growing 3 times bigger?”

He shrugged, “Old habits die hard, and this kind of thing gives me some vigor.”

Then he took off so lively and quick,

I knew in a moment I had to catch that Grinchy trick!

More rapid than eagles we were in our game of tag

But it finally looked like I had this win in the bag!

I said, “You’re a mean one, Mr. Grinch,

But catching you was actually a cinch.”

The Grinch harrumphed but offered no other chatter.

“Now, c’mon, give back my stuff and tell me what’s the matter.

Why did you really come to steal from my tree?”

The Grinch grumbled then sighed. “I want one of these things for me.”

I tilt my head; I’m definitely confused.

Why would he need my ornament; what’s the use?

“I’m sorry I don’t understand. You better explain.”

“Your ornament is special, lots of happiness it contains,

But you see, I have nothing like that of the sort.

No sweet memories or cheer, save for the Whos' newfound support 

I want a trinket like yours, something given to me,

Straight from the heart just to make me happy.”

Well no wonder the poor ol’ Grinch was fighting such gloom

All he wanted was something special, a tiny heirloom,

A sweet homemade thing to warm up his old heart

Like how the ornament Cassie’s love on me will always impart.

“Aw Mr. Grinch, stealing my ornament won’t get you what you’re looking for

Nor can you get it online or from any store.

Just like Christmas, what you’re wanting comes from within 

And given with lots of love that’ll make you forever grin. 

I know why you want it, Mr. Grinch, and I can’t blame you.

Give it some time and I’ll bet ya Cindy Lou Who will come through. 

She’s your big buddy now, right?

Just watch and see, I’ll bet she’ll give you

something that’ll excite.”

The Grinch asked me, “How is it you sound so sure?”

“Because just like Christmas, my kid and your little friend are rather pure,

And they show their love to friends and family 

In those simple, sweet ways and do so happily. 

Trust me, Mr. Grinch, Christmas came through for you,

And Cindy Lou Who will for you too!”

The Grinch said sorry for taking my ornament 

And thanked me for my lack of judgment 

Regarding his Christmas mischief 

And promised that never again he’d play the thief.

We said our goodbyes as we shook hands.

“Merry Christmas, Mr. Grinch”, “Merry Christmas, Ant-Man”.

As I watched him go, I thought of all my loved ones:

Friends and family, online buddies and Anons

I’d give them all a hug if I could and hold them tight

And say “Merry Christmas to all of you! And to all a good night!”

[notealotgoingon]

2023 Bullet Journal Cover & Lists

- movies - books - physical music stickers

(typed list below cut)

Movies

X (2022) ★★★★★ 1/9

Pearl (2022) ★★★★★ 1/10

Jason X (2001) ★★★ 1/17

X (2022) ★★★★★ 1/26

Pearl (2022) ★★★★★ 2/11

Rosemary's Baby (1968) ★★★★★ 2/11

Harley Quinn: A Very Problematic Valentine's Day Special (2023) ★★★★★ 2/12

Skinamarink (2022) ★★★★ 3/8

Re-Animator (1985) ★★★★ 3/12

Ring (1998) ★★★★★ 3/12

Ju-On: The Grudge (2002) ★★★★ 3/12

I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997) ★★★★ 4/2

Scary Movie (2000) ★★★ 4/3

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (2023) ★★★★★ 4/5

Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022) ★★★★★ 4/18

Scary Movie 2 (2001) ★★★ 5/3

Scary Movie 3 (2003) ★★ 5/4

The Green Knight (2021) ★★★★★ 5/20

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022) ★★★★ 5/21

Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023) ★★ 6/6

Evil Dead Rise (2023) ★★★★1/2 6/27

Nimona (2023) ★★★★ 7/2

Barbarian (2022) ★★★★ 7/6

Malignant (2021) ★★★★ 7/7

Barbie (2023) ★★★★★ 7/23

Scream VI (2023) ★★★1/2 8/1

Saw (2004) ★★★★ 8/1

Frozen (2010) ★★ 8/2

Resident Evil: Death Island (2023) ★★★★ 8/21

Studio 666 (2022) ★★★★ 9/4

The Exorcist (1973) ★★★★1/2 9/4

Saw II (2005) ★★★★ 9/9

Saw III (2006) ★★★1/2 9/9

Saw IV (2007) ★★★1/2 9/9

Saw V (2008) ★★★ 9/9

Saw VI (2009) ★★★ 9/9

Saw 3D (2010) ★★ 9/9

Jigsaw (2017) ★★★ 9/10

Miss Americana (2020) ★★★★ 9/10

Spiral: From the Book of Saw (2021) ★★1/2 9/17

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023) ★★★★1/2 9/24

Saw (2004) ★★★★1/2 9/25

Saw II (2005) ★★★★1/2 9/26

Dracula (1931) ★★★★ 10/1

Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter (1984) ★★★1/2 10/1

Friday the 13th: A New Beginning (1985) ★★★★ 10/1\

House of 1000 Corpses (2003) ★★★★ 10/8

Friday the 13th (1980) ★★★★1/2 10/13

Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour (2023) ★★★★★ 10/19

Saw VI (2009) ★★★1/2 10/28

Saw 3D (2010) ★1/2 10/29

Saw X (2023) ★★★★1/2 11/6

Saw IV (2007) ★★★1/2 11/20

Saw X (2023) ★★★★1/2 11/20

Terrifier (2016) ★★★1/2 12/4

Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth (1992) ★★ 12/4

Saw V (2008) ★★★1/2 12/4

Terrifier 2 (2022) ★★★1/2 12/11

The Green Knight (2021) ★★★★★ 12/18

Sonic Christmas Blast(1996) ★★1/2 12/22

Black Christmas (1974) ★★★★★ 12/23

Black Christmas (2006) ★★★1/2 12/24

Saltburn (2023) ★★★★ 12/29

Taylor Swift: Reputation Stadium Tour (2018) ★★★★★ 12/30

Books

The Ballad of Black Tom by Victor Lavalle 1/2

The Witcher: The Last Wish by Andrzej Sakowski 1/12

We Can Never Leave This Place by Eric Larocca 1/14

Causes and Cures in the Classroom by Margaret Searle 1/29

Vox Machina: Kith & Kin by Marieke Nijkamp 2/1

Black is the Body by Emily Bernard 2/4

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas 2/18

The Anthropocene Reviewed by John Green 2/19

Black Klansman by Ron Stallworth 2/26

The Dark Tower V: Wolves of the Calla by Stephen King 3/7

Ring by Koji Suzuki 4/14

What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher 4/14

In the Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez 5/8

Circe by Madeline Miller 5/19

When the Emperor Was Divine by Julie Otsuka 5/30

Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe 6/1

The Hellbound Heart by Clive Barker 6/25

The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson 6/28

The Lesbian Classics Get Me Off by Chuck Tingle 6/28

Icebreaker by Hannah Grace 7/5

Teacher of the Yearby M.A. Wardell 7/7

The Colorado Kid by Stephen King 7/17

This is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar & Max Gladstone 7/31

Camp Damascus by Chuck Tingle 8/4

The Writing Revolution by Judith C. Hochman & Natalie Wexler 8/10

You Can Go Your Own Way by Eric Smith 8/20

Phasma by Delilah S. Dawson 9/12

Small Spaces by Katherine Arden 9/27

Reforged by Seth Haddon 10/8

Fifty Feet Down by Sophie Tanen 10/23

The Exorcist by William Peter Blatty 11/22

Good Omens by Neil Gaiman & Terry Pratchett 12/2

Spoiler Alert by Olivia Dade 12/7

Wildfire by Hannah Grace 12/5

Interview With the Vampire by Anne Rice 12/12

Tender is the Flesh by Augustina Bazterrica 12/19

A Prayer for the Crown-Shy by Becky Chambers 12/20

Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo 12/28

Stowaway and Silent Song by Vera Valentine 12/29

Physical Music Media:

(this isn't all of the records/CDs I've gotten or listened to this year, but I figured I'd decipher the stickers I put in the book; these are all of the promo stickers on the outside of the plastic wrapping on the releases)

Beat the Champ - the Mountain Goats

Paradise - Lana del Ray

Red (Taylor's Version) - Taylor Swift

What's it Like? - Sure Sure

Did You Know There's A Tunnel Under Ocean Boulevard? - Lana del Ray

Stick Season - Noah Kahan

The Rest - boygenius

Midnights (Late Night Edition) - Taylor Swift

Raving Ghost - Olivia Jean

The Record - boygenius

Speak Now (Taylor's Version) - Taylor Swift

Dark in Here - the Mountain Goats

Bangerz (10th Anniversary Edition) - Miley Cyrus

God Games - the Kills

1989 (Taylor's Version) - Taylor Swift

[rachelbethhines]

Archie Sonic Chronological Read Through Recap - 1st Era

I’ve been re-reading old Archie Sonic Comics lately, and doing so in the recommend chronological order of events, except for flashbacks which are placed within their reveal.

For the first era, this includes

Sonic Miniseries: 0-3

Sonic the Hedgehog: 1-14 

Sonic Super Special 8: “Ghost-Busted" 

Sonic the Hedgehog: 15-18

Sonic the Hedgehog: In your Face 

Sonic the Hedgehog Archives 5: “Everything Old is Newt Again” 

Sonic the Hedgehog: 19 -23

Sally Miniseries: 1-3 

Sonic the Hedgehog: 24-25

Archie Sonic Story Ranking

(Stories with the same ranking are listed in reading order)

Twan With the Wind - 8/10

The Vol-Ant-Teer! - 8/10

Bot’s All Folks - 7.5/10

The 3 Phases of E.V.E. - 7/10

Deadliest of the Species - 7/10

A Crowning Achievement - 6.5/10

The Lizard of Odd! - 6.5/10

Here Comes the Bribe! - 6.5/10

Princess Cruises - 6.5/10

The Good, the Bad, and the Hedgehog! - 6.5/10

That's the Spirit - 6.5/10

When Hedgehogs Collide - 6.5/10

Run, Sally, Run!- 6/10

You Bet My Life! - 6/10 

Rabbot Deployment! - 6/10

Antoine’s Vain Refrain! - 6/10

A Little Sonic Goes a Long Way - 6/10

This Island Hedgehog - 6/10

Space in Yo’ Face - 6/10

Princes Sally’s Crusade - 6/10

Everything Old is Newt Again - 6/10

Go Ahead… Mecha My Day! - 6/10

Why Ask Spy? - 5.5/10

Hare Styling - 5.5/10

Uncle Chuck’s Treasure! - 5.5/10

The Lynx is a Jinx - 5.5/10

Animal Magnetism - 5.5/10

Wedding Bell Blues - 5.5/10

Don’t Cry for Me Mobius! - 5/10 

Triple Trouble - 5/10

Paper Trail! - 5/10

Pseudo-Sonic - 5/10

A Timely Arrival - 5/10

The Bold-Headed Eagle - 5/10

Gorilla Warfare/The Apes of Wrath - 5/10

Tails’ Tallest Tale - 5/10

Night of a 1000 Sonics - 5/10

Meet Me at the Corner of Hedgehog & Vine! - 4.5/10

Sorceress in Distress - 4.5/10

Tails’ Taste of Power - 4.5/10

Rockin’ the Bot - 4.5/10

Ivo Robotnik, Freedom Fighter - 4.5/10

Robotnik’s Badniks! - 4/10 

Photo Finish - 4/10

I’d Like to Thank… - 4/10

Foiled Again! - 4/10

Vertigo A´ Go-Go! - 4/10

Super Sonic Pinup - 4/10

Tails’ Little Tale - 4/10

Chomp on This, Chump! - 4/10

Revenge of the Nerbs - 4/10

Ghost Busted - 4/10

What’s the Big Idea? - 4/10

The Return - 4/10

Equal Time! - 3.5/10

Sonic Bumper Stickers - 3.5/10

Two-Timer! - 3.5/10

The Bomb Bugs Me - 3.5/10

Robotnik’s Rules! - 3.5/10

Olympic Trials and Errors - 3.5/10

Fast Food! - 3.5/10

Details are Sketchy! - 3.5/10

What’s the Point? - 3.5/10

Beat the Clock - 3.5/10

The Man from H.E.D.G.E.H.O.G. - 3.5/10

Tails’ Knight Time Story - 3.5/10

Oh No–Robo! No-Mo’ Mobo! - 3/10

The Royal Family Tree of Mobius - 3/10 

Sonic’s Six* Speed Settings - 3/10

Sneaker Peek! - 3/10

Silent Running - 3/10

Ground Rule Double - 3/10

Sonic’s Photo Album - 3/10

Fin Fans - 3/10

Keep Looking Up! - 3/10

Pinup - 3/10

Tails’ Fairy Tales! - 3/10

Double Speak! - 3/10

HorizontAL & VertiCAL - 3/10

Bad-niks Bazzar - 3/10

Sonic’s Ten Second Workout - 3/10

The Spin Doctor! - 3/10

Sonic’s Christmas Carol! - 3/10

The Shadow Nose! - 3/10

Tooth or Consequences! - 3/10

Do-it-Yourself Sonic - 3/10

The Good, The Bad, …and the Muttski!! - 2.5/10

The Top 10 Reasons Why Sonic the Hedgehog is the Coolest Book Around - 2.5/10

Sonic Flashback! - 2.5/10

Fast Food!/Chili Dog Recipe - 2.5/10

All the Mail’s about Tails! - 2.5/10

In the Beginning! - 2.5/10

“Free!* Robotnik Birthday Card!” - 2.5/10

Bowling Pin-Up - 2.5/10

The All New, Pumped-Up, Sonic the Hedgehog Pin-Up! (Sold Out!) - 2.5/10

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun - 2.5/10

The Mirror Zone - 2.5/10

Something Fishy - 2/10

Food for Thought or You Are What You Eat - 2/10

When rounded up to the last decimal the Average for the era is 4.3.

This is in large part due to the over abundance of one page gag stories in the earliest episodes. So much so, that I debated about adding them to the ranking, but I felt it would be dishonest to leave them off. Altogether, with them included, this makes the 3/10 ranking the most used ranking.

Top Five Individual Stories 

The Vol-Ant-Teer!  (Bunnie and Antoine’s first kiss!)

Twan With the Wind (Antoine’s best story this era)

Bot’s All Folks (Funniest story this era) 

The 3 Phases of E.V.E. (Most exciting story this era)

A Crowning Achievement (An early gem from the miniseries that combines both humor and action) 

Worst Five Individual Stories

Something Fishy (I hate the scene of Sonic talking underwater! And no, you can’t skip over the story because it introduces too many plot points for later)

Food for Thought or You Are What You Eat (Creepy, weird, and ultimately pointless save for the fact that it takes place on Sonic’s Birthday, making it important for the timeline)

Sonic Flashback! (Another cringe what-if dream sequence but has zero impact on the wider story)

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun (An insulting, shallow, hamfisted ‘girl-power’ story that only manages to piss off this girl reading it)

The Mirror Zone (Practically unreadable due it’s gimmick. Everything is written backwards with the intention of having you read it in front of a mirror, which does you no good when you instead read it in a digital format)

Best Story Arc

Deadliest of the Species 

There’s only two story arcs in entire first era. Of the two I like this one a little better. It got good pacing, action, and I actual like the plot twist. I also don’t have the same raging hate boner for Geoffrey St. John that the majority of the fandom seems to have.

Worst Story Arc

Princes Sally’s Crusade

This isn’t a bad story at all. In fact it’s quite good. But it lands in this spot by sheer virtue of there being nothing else, and I just personally feel it has a slightly weaker ending then the other arc.

Best Artist

Art Mawhinney

I like most of the artists featured during the first era, but Mawhinney’s pencils are easily the best. Having worked previously as a story boarder for SatAM his art looks like it came right out of the tv show.

[themattress]

Archie Sonic: Full Issue Database

THE CLASSIC ERA #0: Don't Cry For Me, Mobius/Oh No Robo! No Mo' Mobo! - Gallagher #1: Run, Sally, Run/Something Fishy - Gallagher #2: A Crowning Achievement - Gallagher #3: What If.../Why Ask Spy? - Gallagher --------------------------------------- #1: Hedgehog & Vine/You Bet My Life - Gallagher #2: Triple Trouble/Vertigo A' Go-Go - Gallagher #3: The Bomb Bugs Me/Rabbot Deployment - Gallagher #4: The Lizard of Odd/Tails' Little Tale - Gallagher #5: Olympic Trial and Error/Chomp on This - DeCesare #6: The Spin Doctor/Sonic's Christmas Carol - Gallagher/DeCesare #7: Uncle Chuck's Treasure/Sorceress in Distress - DeCesare #8: Bot's All Folks/A Little Sonic Goes a Long Way - Gallagher #9: Pseudo-Sonic/What's the Point? - Gallagher/DeCesare #10: Revenge of the Nerbs/Twan With the Wind - DeCesare #11: Good, Bad and Hedgehog/Beat the Clock/Food for Thought - Penders & Kanterovich #12: A Timely Arrival/Bold-Headed Eagle/Lynx is a Jinx - Gallagher/DeCesare #13: This Island Hedgehog/Space in Your Face - Penders & Kanterovich/DeCesare #14: Tails' Taste of Power/Girls Just Wanna Have Fun - DeCesare/Penders & Kanterovich #15: Rockin' The Bot/Animal Magnetism - DeCesare #16: Sonic Under Glass/The Man From H.E.D.G.E.H.O.G - Penders & Kanterovich #17: The Apes of Wrath/Princess Sally's Crusade (1) - Penders & Kanterovich #18: Wedding Bell Blues/Princess Sally's Crusade (2) - Penders & Kanterovich SP1: Princess Sally's Crusade (3) - Penders & Kanterovich #19: Night of 1,000 Hedgehogs - Penders & Kanterovich #20: That's the Spirit/Deadlest of the Species - DeCesare/Penders & Kanterovich MS1: Princess Sally - Penders & Kanterovich #21: The Three Phases of E.V.E - Penders #22: The Return/Tail's Knighttime Story - Penders/DeCesare #23: Ivo Robotnik, Freedom Fighter/The Vol-Ant-Teer - DeCesare #24: When Hedgehogs Collide - Penders & Kanterovich #25: Go Ahead...Mecha My Day - Gallagher SP2: Sonic & Knuckles - Penders #26: Way, Way Past Cool - DeCesare SP3: Sonic Triple Trouble - Gallagher #27: A Scrambled Hedgehog/Coming Soon - Penders/Gallagher #28: Saturday Night's Alright For a Fight/Growing Pains (1) - Penders/Gallagher #29: Steel Belted Sally/Growing Pains (2) - DeCesare/Gallagher MS2: Sonic's Buddy Tails - Gallagher #30: The Return of Uncle Chuck/Who Stole My Chaos Emeralds? - DeCesare/Castiglia SP4: Knuckles' Chaotix - Penders #31: A Robot Rides the Rails/Lost and Found/Tundra Road (1) - Penders/Gallagher #32: Blast From the Past/Prisoners/Tundra Road (2) - DeCesare/Penders/Gallagher #33: Let's Get Small/The Big Picture/Sonic Shot - Gallagher/Penders SP5: Super Sonic vs. Hyper Knuckles - Gallagher/Penders #34: To Bot or Not to Bot/A Sense of History (1) - DeCesare/Penders #35: Rings of Truth/A Sense of History (2) - Gallagher/Penders #36: Heart of Darkness/A Sense of History (3) - Penders MS3: Sonic's Friendly Nemesis Knuckles - Penders #37: The Day Robotropolis Fell/Bunnie's Worst Nightmare - DeCesare/Koslowski #38: The Rise of Robotropolis/Bedtime Tails - Taylor/Penders #39: Rage Against the Machine - Gallagher SP6: Sonic & Knuckles Mecha Madness - Gallagher/Taylor #40: Court Martial - Gallagher #41: And One Shall Save Him - Penders MS4: Sonic Quest (The Death Egg Saga) - Gallagher #42: In Every Kingdom There Must Exist Chaos/Knuckles Quest (1) - Taylor/Penders #43: The Dream Zone - Penders SP7: Sonic Live/The Substitute FFs/Knuckles Quest (2) - Penders/Koslowski/Taylor #44: Black and Blue and Red All Over - Penders SP8: Sonic Blast/The T.U.F.F Awards/Bugged Bunnie - Gallagher/DeCesare #45: Guerilla Thriller/Knuckles Quest (3) - DeCesare/Taylor/Penders #46: Countdown to Armageddon/Knuckles Quest (4) - Taylor/Penders SS1: Battle Royal/The Map - Taylor/Penders/Rolston #47: Endgame (1) - Penders #48: Endgame (2) - Penders/Taylor #49: Endgame (3) - Penders/Gallagher #50: Endgame (4) - Penders/Gallagher/Bollers/Taylor ------------------------------------------------------ KTE#1: The Dark Legion (1) - Penders/Taylor KTE#2: The Dark Legion (2) - Penders/Taylor KTE#3: The Dark Legion (3) - Penders/Taylor

THE ADVENTURING ERA #51: Reality Bytes - Bollers #52: The Discovery Zone/First Contact - Rolston/Bollers SS2: Brave New World - Penders SS3: Sonic Firsts - Gallagher/Penders & Kanterovich #53: Unfinished Business/Sounds of Silence - Penders/Bollers SS4: Return of the King/Down and Out in Downunda - Bollers/Gallagher #54: Running to Stand Still - Bollers #55: Monkey Madness/Rise of the Robians - Strom/Bollers #56: Immortality is Forever, Life is Finite - Taylor SS5: Sonic Kids - Gallagher/Rolston/Bollers #57: Back to Basics - Bollers #58: Friendly Rogues and Foul Villains/The Living Crown - Penders/Emery #59: Opposites Detract/The People's Princess - Gallagher/Penders #60: Arsenal of the Iron King/The Ultimatum - Strom/Penders SS6: Sonic 50 Directors Cut - Penders/Gallagher/Bollers/Taylor #61: Outback Check/Total Turbulence/Secret Service (1) - Gallagher/Bollers/Penders #62: Icon (1)/Secret Service (2) - Bollers/Penders #63: Icon (2)/Secret Service (3) - Bollers/Penders SS7: Parallel Paradigm - Penders #64: The Naugus Trilogy (1)/Secret Service (4) - Bollers/Penders #65: The Naugus Trilogy (2)/The Library - Bollers/Penders #66: The Naugus Trilogy (3)/And Then There Was One - Bollers SS8: Sally Moon - Slott/Brown/Ribeiro/Strom/Oliveras #67: Tomb Raider/Shadows in the Dark - Bollers/Penders #68: Surprise/Survival of the Fittest - Bollers/Penders SS9: Sonic Kids 2 - Gallagher #69: A Day in the Life/Weathering the Storm - Bollers/Penders #70: Saving Nate Morgan/Statute of Limitations - Bollers/Castiglia #71: Retro Activity/Tales of the Great War (Prelude) - Bollers/Penders SS10: One Enchantra Evening/Zone Wars: A Tale of Two Hedgehogs - Gallagher/Bollers #72: I, Robotnik/Tales of the Great War (1) - Bollers/Penders #73: The Truth is Out There/Tales of the Great War (2) - Bollers/Penders #74: Don't Call It a Comeback/Tales of the Great War (3) - Bollers/Penders #75: I Am The Eggman - Bollers SS11: Girls Rule - Penders/Gallagher #76: Business as Usual/Tales of the Great War (4) - Bollers/Penders #77: Rebels Without a Pause/Tales of the Great War (5) - Bollers/Penders SS12: Turnabout Heroes/Zone Wars: Giant Robotno - Penders/Bollers/Slott #78: Changes/Tales of the Great War (6) - Bollers/Penders #79: The Discovery/The Chaos Factor/Tales of the Great War (7) - Bollers/Penders #80: If Wishes Were Acorns/Land Fall/Swallowing Trouble - Bollers/Penders #81: City of Dreams/All You Need's a Bit of Chaos/A Rose Plucked - Bollers/Penders #82: Night of Chaos/A Door To The Past/Double-Crossed Circuits - Bollers/Penders SS13: Sonic Adventure - Bollers/Penders #83: Menace to Society - Bollers SS14: Law of the Land/Best of Times, Worst of Times - Skolnick/Spivey/Penders #84: Perfect Chaos/Bridge Under Troubled Waters - Penders #85: The Big Payback - Bollers #86: Heart of the Hedgehog (1)/Against the Haunted Past (1) - Fingeroth/Strom #87: Heart of the Hedgehog (2)/Against the Haunted Past (2) - Fingeroth/Strom SS15: Naugus Games / Spin City - Penders/Gallagher ------------------------------------------------------------ KTE#4: Lost Paradise (1) - Penders KTE#5: Lost Paradise (2) - Penders KTE#6: Lost Paradise (3) - Penders KTE#7: Dark Vengeance (1) - Penders KTE#8: Dark Vengeance (2) - Penders KTE#9: Dark Vengeance (3) - Penders KTE#10: The Forgotten Tribe (1) - Penders KTE#11: The Forgotten Tribe (2) - Penders KTE#12: The Forgotten Tribe (3) - Penders KTE#13: The Chaotix Caper (1) - Penders KTE#14: The Chaotix Caper (2) - Penders KTE#15: The Chaotix Caper (3) - Penders KTE#16: Reunions - Penders KTE#17: Deep Cover (1) - Penders KTE#18: Deep Cover (2) - Penders KTE#19: The Forbidden Zone (1) - Penders KTE#20: The Forbidden Zone (2) - Penders KTE#21: The Forbidden Zone (3) - Penders KTE#22: Dark Alliance (1) - Penders KTE#23: Dark Alliance (2) - Penders KTE#24: Dark Alliance (3) - Penders KTE#25: Childhood's End - Penders KTE#26: The First Date (1) - Penders KTE#27: The First Date (2) - Penders KTE#28: The First Date (3) - Penders KTE#29: My Special Friend - Penders KTE#30: King of the Hill (1) - Penders KTE#31: King of the Hill (2) - Penders KTE#32: King of the Hill (3) - Penders

THE DECLINING ERA #88: Family Matters/Picking Up the Pieces - Bollers/Penders #89: Thicker Than Water/A Matter of Self-Interest - Bollers/Penders #90: Sword of Omens/Between a Rock and a Hard Place - Bollers/Penders #91: Crash/Hired Guns - Bollers/Penders #92: The Wrath of Khan/Premonition - Bollers/Penders #93: Crime 'N Punishment/Bagging the Big One - Bollers/Penders #94: New Order/The Best Laid Plans - Bollers/Penders #95: Enemy Mine/When Destiny Calls - Bollers/Penders #96: The Messenger/The Chosen One - Bollers/Penders #97: My Secret Identity/To The Brink - Bollers/Penders #98: Sonic Adventure 2/As the Shadow Awakes - Bollers/Penders #99: Blow by Blow/What Comes Around Goes Around - Bollers/Penders #100: Reunion/Welcome to the Dark Side - Bollers/Penders #101: Altered States/Reboot - Bollers/Penders #102: Family Dysfunction/Life's Realities - Bollers/Penders #103: FFs of the Galaxy (1)/Myth Taken Identity (1) - Gallagher #104: FFs of the Galaxy (2)/Myth Taken Identity (2) - Gallagher #105: You Say You Want a Revolution?/Myth Taken Identity (3) - Bollers/Gallagher #106: Crouching Hedgehog, Hidden Dragon (1)/Reunification (1) - Bollers/Penders #107: Crouching Hedgehog, Hidden Dragon (2)/Reunification (2) - Bollers/Penders #108: Robotnik x 2 = Trouble/A Girl Named Hope/Reunification (3) - Bollers/Penders #109: Heard it Through the Pipeline/The Crush/Reunification (4) - Bollers/Penders #110: War Games/One For All - Bollers #111: Kids of the Spider Woman/I'll Shoot the Sheriff!/The Trouble With Grrrls! - Bollers #112: Mistaken Identity Crisis/Forgiven - Bollers #113: Cry of the Wolf - Oliveras #114: Twice Told Tails/Ultimate Power (1)/Young At Heart - Bollers/Penders #115: Meanie in a Bottle/Ultimate Power (2) - Bollers/Penders #116: Operation Off Switch/Bat Fight/Ultimate Power (Mid-Logue) - Bollers/Penders #117: Cyber Race/The Tortoise and the Hedgehog/Ultimate Power (3) - Bollers/Chacon/Penders #118: Robotnik Returns/Heart to Heart/Ultimate Power (4) - Bollers/Penders #119: Cater-Killer is Coming!/Dust Bunnie/Time Code - Bollers #120: She's Gotta Have Him/Those Were the Days/The Royal Signet - Bollers/Penders/Chacon #121: The Prince and the Revolution/Afterlife (1)/Song Bird - Bollers/Penders/Chacon #122: Hearts Held Hostage (1)/Afterlife (2)/Only One Guardian - Bollers/Penders #123: Hearts Held Hostage (2)/Afterlife (3)/The Last Robian - Bollers/Penders #124: Sonic Adventure 2.5 (Alpha)/Afterlife (4) - Bollers/Penders #125: Sonic Adventure 2.5 (Omega) - Bollers

THE MISERABLE ERA #126: Tossed in Space (1 & 2)/Better Read Than Dead - Bollers/Gallagher #127: Tossed in Space (3)/Agent Sonic vs. Agent Knuckles - Bollers/Gallagher #128: Tossed in Space (4 & 5) - Bollers #129: Tossed in Space (6 & 7) - Chacon/Bollers #130: Home (1) - Bollers #131: Home (2)/Mobius 25YL (Prologue) - Bollers/Penders #132: Home (3)/Mobius 25YL (1) - Bollers/Penders #133: Home (4)/Mobius 25YL (2) - Bollers/Penders #134: Home (Epilogue)/Mobius 25YL (3) - Bollers/Penders #135: Agent of K.N.O.T.H.O.L.E/Anonymous/Mobius 25YL (4) - Chacon/Bollers/Penders #136: The Infiltrator/Mobius 25YL (5)/Patience - Chacon/Penders #137: Robo-Dyne Systems/Mobius 25YL (6)/Ooh-La-La Treachery - Chacon/Penders #138: Return to Angel Island (1)/Mobius 25YL (7) - Bollers/Penders #139: Return to Angel Island (2)/Mobius 25YL (8) - Bollers/Penders #140: Return to Angel Island (3)/Mobius 25YL (9) - Bollers/Penders #141: Return to Angel Island (4)/Mobius 25YL (10) - Bollers/Penders #142: The Original FFs (1)/I Wanna Be a Freedom Fighter/Mobius 25YL (11) - Chacon/Penders #143: The Original FFs (2)/Mobius 25YL (12) - Chacon/Penders #144: Mobius 25YL (13)/Love and Loss - Penders/Chacon #145: Shadows of Hope/Training Day/Harbringer - Penders/Bollers #146: The Good, Bad and Unknown (1)/Out of Your Shell/Circuit Me - Penders/Chacon #147: The Good, Bad and Unknown (2)/This Side of Parodies/Fox and the Hound - Penders/Gallagher/Chacon #148: The Good, Bad and Unknown (3)/Playing Around/Destiny's Child - Penders/Ribiero #149: The Good, Bad and Unknown (4)/The Chosen One (1) - Penders/Chacon #150: From Hero to Zero in No Time At All/The Chosen One (2) - Penders/Chacon #151: Chaos Emeralds are Forever/Stargazer - Penders/Del Rio #152: Engage/Sonic's Angels - Penders #153: Songoose (1)/Fairy Tale - Bollers/Chacon #154: Songoose (2)/More Than Meets The Eye - Bollers/Penders #155: Line of Succession (1)/The Price of Flame (1) - Penders/Gallagher #156: Line of Succession (2)/The Price of Flame (2) - Penders/Gallagher #157: System Shutdown - Penders #158: System Reconfiguration - Penders #159: System Reboot - Penders

THE RENEWAL ERA #160: Birthday Bash (1)/Sonic Rush (1) - Flynn #161: Birthday Bash (2)/Sonic Rush (2) - Flynn #162: The Darkest Storm (1)/Ties That Bind - Flynn #163: The Darkest Storm (2)/Sonic Riders (1) - Flynn #164: The Darkest Storm (3)/Sonic Riders (2) - Flynn #165: Leak/Call of Duty - Flynn #166: Mobius 25YL (14)/The Chaotix Connection - Flynn #167: Mobius 25YL (15)/Hedgehog Day - Flynn #168: Order From Chaos (1)/Courage and Honor - Flynn #169: Order From Chaos (2)/For a Friend - Flynn #170: Comings & Goings/The Island of Misfit Badniks - Flynn/Gallagher #171: I Am/Enforcers - Flynn #172: Truth of the Heart/Worth the Effort - Flynn #173: Round Up!/See Ya Later, Chao (1) - Flynn #174: Union/See Ya Later, Chao (2) - Flynn #175: Eggman Empire - Flynn #176: Cracking the Empire - Flynn #177: Home, New Home - Flynn #178: House of Cards (1) - Flynn #179: House of Cards (2) - Flynn #180: Preparations for War/High Stakes on the High Sea - Flynn #181: Enerjak Reborn (1)/Undone - Flynn #182: Enerjak Reborn (2)/Albion's Shameful Secret - Flynn #183: Enerjak Reborn (3)/Ashes and Dust - Flynn #184: Enerjak Reborn (4)/Anything - Flynn #185: Mogul Rising (1)/The Misfit Badniks Sequel - Flynn/Gallagher #186: Mogul Rising (2)/Honor-Bound - Flynn #187: Mogul Rising (3) - Flynn #188: Mogul Rising (4) - Flynn #189: Bold New Moebius (1) - Flynn #190: Bold New Moebius (2) - Flynn #191: Metal and Mettle (1)/Invaders From Beyond - Flynn #192: Metal and Mettle (2)/Father and Son - Flynn #193: Otherside (1)/Sonic Unleashed! - Flynn #194: Otherside (2)/Sleepless in New Megaopolis - Flynn #195: Hedgehog Havoc (1) - Flynn #196: Hedgehog Havoc (2) - Flynn #197: Consequences/Knight Time - Flynn #198: Egg Phoenix Down - Flynn #199: Knocking on Eggman's Door - Flynn #200: Turnabout is Fair Play - Flynn ------------------------------------ SU#1: Living Weapons - Flynn SU#2: Time & Again - Flynn SU#3: Old Soldiers - Flynn SU#4: The Ultimate Lifeform - Flynn

THE BURDENED ERA #201: Change in Management/Devotion - Flynn #202: Dangerous Territory/A Lonely Girl's Story - Flynn #203: Heavy is the Head (1)/Friend in Deed (1) - Flynn #204: Heavy is the Head (2)/Friend in Deed (2) - Flynn #205: On the Run (1)/Birthright (1) - Flynn #206: On the Run (2)/Birthright (2) - Flynn #207: Blackout/The Iron Queen - Flynn #208: Iron Dominion (1) - Flynn #209: Iron Dominion (2) - Flynn #210: Home Invasion (1) - Flynn #211: Home Invasion (2) - Flynn #212: The Road We Take - Flynn #213: Reigning Cats and Dogs (1) - Flynn #214: Reigning Cats and Dogs (2) - Flynn #215: Family Matters (1)/Future Tense (1) - Flynn #216: Family Matters (2)/Future Tense (2) - Flynn #217: Thicker Than Water (1)/Welcome Back, Chao! - Flynn #218: Thicker Than Water (2)/Hindsight - Flynn #219: In Service to the King (1)/Sonic Colors - Flynn #220: In Service to the King (2)/From the Inside Out - Flynn #221: Changing Tempo/Second Impressions (1) - Flynn #222: The World Can Wait/Second Impressions (2) - Flynn #223: Chaos and the Crown (1)/Special Zone House Call - Flynn #224: Chaos and the Crown (2) - Flynn #225: One Step Forward - Flynn #226: Genesis (1) - Flynn #227: Genesis (2) - Flynn #228: Genesis (3) - Flynn #229: Genesis (4) - Flynn #230: Two Steps Back - Flynn #231: Lost in the Moment/Haunted - Flynn #232: Dark Tidings/Fragile - Flynn #233: The Trial of Geoffrey St. John/From the Shadows - Flynn #234: Unthinkable/Dark Hearts - Flynn #235: Remember the Fallen - Flynn #236: Cry Freedom!/Leader of the Band - Flynn #237: Loyalty (1)/Heart to Heart - Flynn #238: Loyalty (2)/Foundation Works - Flynn #239: Heroes (1) - Flynn #240: Heroes (2) - Flynn #241: Unraveling - Flynn #242: Olympic Trials/Unfriendly Skies - Flynn #243: Endangered Species (1) - Flynn #244: Endangered Species (2) - Flynn #245: Endangered Species (3) - Flynn #246: Endangered Species (4) - Flynn #247: At All Costs (1) - Flynn #248: Worlds Collide (3) - Flynn #249: Worlds Collide (6) - Flynn #250: Worlds Collide (9) - Flynn #251: Worlds Collide (12) - Flynn ----------------------------------- SU#5: Mobius 30YL (1) - Flynn SU#6: Mobius 30YL (2) - Flynn SU#7: Mobius 30YL (3) - Flynn SU#8: Mobius 30YL (4) - Flynn SU#9: Echoes of the Past (1) - Flynn SU#10: Echoes of the Past (2) - Flynn SU#11: Echoes of the Past (3) - Flynn SU#12: Echoes of the Past (4) - Flynn SU#13: Journey into the East (1) - Flynn SU#14: Journey into the East (2) - Flynn SU#15: Journey into the East (3) - Flynn SU#16: Journey into the East (4) - Flynn SU#17: Trouble in Paradise (1) - Flynn SU#18: Trouble in Paradise (2) - Flynn SU#19: Trouble in Paradise (3) - Flynn SU#20: Trouble in Paradise (4) - Flynn SU#21: Treasure Team Tango (1) - Flynn SU#22: Treasure Team Tango (2) - Flynn SU#23: Treasure Team Tango (3) - Flynn SU#24: Treasure Team Tango (4) - Flynn SU#25: Fractured Mirror (1) - Flynn SU#26: Fractured Mirror (2) - Flynn SU#27: Fractured Mirror (3) - Flynn SU#28: Fractured Mirror (4) - Flynn SU#29: Inside Job (1) - Flynn SU#30: Inside Job (2) - Flynn SU#31: Inside Job (3) - Flynn SU#32: Inside Job (4) - Flynn SU#33: Babylon Rising (1) - Flynn SU#34: Babylon Rising (2) - Flynn SU#35: Babylon Rising (3) - Flynn SU#36: Babylon Rising (4) - Flynn SU#37: Scrambled (1) - Flynn SU#38: Scrambled (2) - Flynn SU#39: Scrambled (3) - Flynn SU#40: Scrambled (4) - Flynn SU#41: Unsung Heroes (1) - Flynn SU#42: Unsung Heroes (2) - Flynn SU#43: Unsung Heroes (3) - Flynn SU#44: Unsung Heroes (4) - Flynn SU#45: Racing for the Stars - Flynn SU#46: All For One (1) - Flynn SU#47: All For One (2) - Flynn SU#48: All For One (3) - Flynn SU#49: All For One (4) - Flynn SU#50: Forged in Fire - Flynn SU#51: Worlds Collide (2) - Flynn SU#52: Worlds Collide (5) - Flynn SU#53: Worlds Collide (8) - Flynn SU#54: Worlds Collide (11) - Flynn

THE REBOOT ERA #252: At All Costs (2) - Flynn #253: Countdown to Chaos (1) - Flynn #254: Countdown to Chaos (2) - Flynn #255: Countdown to Chaos (3) - Flynn #256: Countdown to Chaos (4) - Flynn #257: Damage Control - Flynn #258: The Chase (1) - Flynn #259: The Chase (2) - Flynn #260: Waves of Change (1)/Light in the Dark (1) - Flynn/Baker #261: Waves of Change (2)/Light in the Dark (2) - Flynn/Baker #262: Waves of Change (3)/Light in the Dark (3) - Flynn/Baker #263: Waves of Change (4)/Consequences - Flynn/Baker #264: Control (1)/A Nice Day to Start Again - Flynn/Esposito/Bailey #265: Control (2)/The Grand Tour - Flynn/Esquivel/Baker #266: Ambushed (1) - Flynn #267: Ambushed (2) - Flynn #268: Champions (1) - Flynn #269: Champions (2) - Flynn #270: Champions (3) - Flynn #271: Champions (4) - Flynn #272: A Ray of Hope - Flynn #273: Worlds Unite (3) - Flynn #274: Worlds Unite (7) - Flynn #275: Worlds Unite (11) - Flynn #276: Cold Hearted/Back in Business - Flynn #277: Thunder, Rain and Lightning/Hidden Costs (1) - Flynn/Baker #278: Face of the Enemy (1)/Hidden Costs (2) - Flynn/Baker #279: Face of the Enemy (2)/Hidden Costs (3) - Flynn/Baker #280: Keys to Victory/A Special Occasion - Flynn #281: Wings of Fire (1)/Homesick - Flynn #282: Wings of Fire (2)/Shards and Sparks - Flynn #283: The Mission/Zero Hour - Flynn #284: Panic in the Sky (1) - Flynn #285: Panic in the Sky (2) - Flynn #286: Panic in the Sky (3) - Flynn #287: Panic in the Sky (4) - Flynn #288: Genesis of a Hero (1) - Flynn #289: Genesis of a Hero (2) - Flynn #290: Genesis of a Hero (3) - Flynn #291: Genesis of a Hero (4) - Flynn #292: Epilogue: Breaching Paths - Flynn --------------------------------------- SU#55: Pirate Plunder Panic (1) - Yardley SU#56: Pirate Plunder Panic (2) - Yardley SU#57: Pirate Plunder Panic (3) - Yardley SU#58: Pirate Plunder Panic (4) - Yardley SU#59: Shadow Fall (1) - Flynn SU#60: Shadow Fall (2) - Flynn SU#61: Shadow Fall (3) - Flynn SU#62: Shadow Fall (4) - Flynn SU#63: The Great Chaos Caper (1) - Flynn SU#64: The Great Chaos Caper (2) - Flynn SU#65: The Great Chaos Caper (3) - Flynn SU#66: The Great Chaos Caper (4) - Flynn SU#67: Total Eclipse (1) - Flynn SU#68: Total Eclipse (2) - Flynn SU#69: Total Eclipse (3) - Flynn SU#70: Total Eclipse (4) - Flynn SU#71: Spark of Life (1) - Flynn SU#72: Spark of Life (2) - Flynn SU#73: Spark of Life (3) - Flynn SU#74: Spark of Life (4) - Flynn SU#75: Fury - Flynn SU#76: Worlds Unite (1) - Flynn SU#77: Worlds Unite (5) - Flynn SU#78: Worlds Unite (9) - Flynn SU#79: The Silver Age (1) - Stanley SU#80: The Silver Age (2) - Stanley SU#81: The Silver Age (3) - Stanley SU#82: The Silver Age (4) - Stanley SU#83: Eggman's Dozen (1) - Flynn SU#84: Eggman's Dozen (2) - Flynn SU#85: Eggman's Dozen (3) - Flynn SU#86: Eggman's Dozen (4) - Flynn SU#87: Shattered (1) - Flynn SU#88: Shattered (2) - Flynn SU#89: Shattered (3) - Flynn SU#90: Shattered (4) - Flynn SU#91: Case of the Pirate Princess (1) - Flynn/Baker SU#92: Case of the Pirate Princess (2) - Flynn/Baker SU#93: Case of the Pirate Princess (3) - Flynn/Baker SU#94: Case of the Pirate Princess (4) - Flynn/Baker

[mceproductions]

Dancing the Year Away (Countdown Recap)

Before I sum up 2023 We'll look back on the past 30 days Countdown wise.

Best of 2023

Movies

1.  Mission Impossible - Dead Reckoning: Part One

2.  Oppenheimer

3.  The Super Mario Bros Movie

4.  Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse

5.  Barbie

6.  Suzume

7.  John Wick: Chapter 4

8.  Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

9.  Killers of the Flower Moon

10. The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

11. Elemental and The Flash

12. Fast X

13. Wonka

14. M3GAN

15. The Marvels

Runners Up:

A Man Called Otto

Shazam: Fury of the Gods

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny

TMNT: Mutant Mayhem

80 For Brady

Worst:

1. Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey

2. Expend4bles

3. Ant Man and the Wasp: Quantumania

Honorable Mention:

Puss in Boots: The Last Wish

TV

Best New Show of 2023 Nominee*   Winner^

1.  Star Trek Picard (Paramount+)

2.  The Last of Us (HBO)^

3.  Succession (HBO)

4.  The Daily Show (Comedy Central)

5.  The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (CBS)

6.  Yellowstone (Paramount TV)

7.  The Mandalorian (Disney+)

8.  Abbott Elementary (ABC)

9.  Late Night with Seth Meyers (NBC)

10. Loki (Disney+)

11. SNL (NBC)

12. That 90’s Show (NETFLIX)*

13. My Hero Academia (ADULT SWIM)

14. Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO) and Real Time with Bill Maher (HBO)

15. Ahsoka (Disney+)*

16. Attack On Titan: The Final Chapters (Crunchyroll/ADULT SWIM)

17. The Good Doctor (ABC)

18. The Owl House (Disney)

19. TONIKAWA: Over the Moon for You (Crunchyroll) and

Outlander (Starz)

20. My Adventures with Superman (ADULT SWIM)*

21. It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia (FXX)

22. 1923 (Paramount+)

23. RWBY (Crunchyroll)

24. One Piece (NETFLIX)*

25. The Simpsons (FOX)

Runners Up:

Tomo-Chan is A Girl (Crunchyroll)

Oshi No Ko (HI-DIVE)

The Walking Dead: Dead City and Daryl Dixon (AMC)

Young Sheldon (CBS)

Jimmy Kimmel Live (ABC)

Worst:

1. Velma (MAX)

2. Secret Invasion (Disney+)

3. Gotham Knights (CW)

Honorable Mention:

Star Trek Lower Decks and Strange New Worlds (Paramount+)

Music

1. Dua Lipa “Dance The Night”

2. MindaRyn “Way to Go”

3. Morgan Wallen “Last Night”

4. Jack Black “Peaches”

5. Miley Cyrus “Flowers”

6.  NSYNC “Better Place”

7.  Taylor Swift “Karma”

8.  Radwimps and Toaka “SUZUME”

9.  Ed Sheeran “Eyes Closed”

10. Jason Aldean “Try That in a Small Town”

11. Ludwig Goransson “Can You Hear The Music”

12. Olivia Rodrigo “Vampire”

13. Halle Bailey “Part of Your World”

14. Jimin “Like Crazy”

15. Ryan Gosling “Push”

16. Metro Boomin, Swae Lee, Lil Wayne, and Offset “Annihilate”

17. NBA YoungBoy, Bailey Zimmerman and Dermot Kennedy “Won’t Back Down”

18. Brian Tyler “Level Complete”

19. Neriame “Unmei Kyoudoutai!”

20. Rahul Sipligunj and Kaala Bhairva “Naatu Naatu”

21. YOASOBI “IDOL”

22. Ryan Gosling “I’m Just Ken” and Cher “DJ Play A Christmas Song”

23. Dr. Teeth and The Electric Mayhem “Rock and Roll All Nite”

24. Taylor Swift “Cruel Summer”

25. LAUV “Steal The Show”

26. U2 “Walk On (Ukraine)” and Blink 182 “One More Time”

27. Jung Kook “Standing Next to You”

28. Linkin Park “Lost”

29. The Weeknd and Ariana Grande “Die for You”

30. Rachel Zegler “Nothing You Can Take From Me”

Runners Up:

Radwimps “Kanata Haluka”

Chris Pine “This Is the Thanks I Get”

BTS “Take Two”

Casey Lee Williams “Worthy”

Oliver Anthony “Rich Men North of Richmond”

Worst:

1. Awkwafina and Daveed Diggs “The Scuttlebutt”

2. Nicki Minaj and Ice Spice “Barbie World”

3. J6 Prison Choir and Donald Trump “Justice For All”

Honorable Mention:

Taylor Swift and Her Taylor’s Version Remakes

Game of The Year

Nominee* Winner^

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of The Kingdom^

Starfield*

Sony’s Spider-Man 2*

Super Mario Bros Wonder*

Hogwarts Legacy*

Worst:

The Lord of the Rings: Gollum

THE JAW DROPPERS:

1. Damar Hamlin

2. The Enterprise D Returns to the fold

3. Barbenheimer

4. Breakthrough of Bilingual VA’s in Anime

5. Hamas Gives another Salvo

6. Memory of a Flerken Brood

7. The Toymaker Spices Up Our Lives

8.  Looks like ______ is back on the Menu

9.  The Twilight of An Icon

10. The Saga of George Santos

HM: A sport goes Swiftie

[laurenreviewsmovies]

2023 - 52 Weeks of New Movies

Week 1 (January 2 - January 8) - Hail, Caesar!

Week 2 (January 9 - January 15) - Air Force One

Week 3 (January 16 - January 22) - Back to School

Week 4 (January 23 - January 29) - Jennifer’s Body

Week 5 (January 30 - February 5) - The Craft

Week 6 (February 6 - February 12) - Groundhog Day

Week 7 (February 13 - February 19) - Honor Society

Week 8 (February 20 - February 26) - Zoolander

Week 9 (February 27 - March 5) - Creed III

Week 10 (March 6 - March 12) - Rocky III

Week 11 (March 13 - March 19) - Scream 2

Week 12 (March 20 - March 26) - Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves

Week 13 (March 27 - April 2) - Not Okay

Week 14 (April 3 - April 9) - Final Destination

Week 15 (April 10 - April 16) - Air

Week 16 (April 17 - April 23) - Creed

Week 17 (April 24 - April 30) - Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice

Week 18 (May 1 - May 7) - The Mask

Week 19 (May 8 - May 14) - The Fast and the Furious

Week 20 (May 15 - May 21) - 2 Fast 2 Furious

Week 21 (May 22 - May 28) - The Fate of the Furious

Week 22 (May 29 - June 4) - Insidious: Chapter 2

Week 23 (June 5 - June 11) - Coraline

Week 24 (June 12 - June 18) - We Are Marshall

Week 25 (June 19 - June 25) - The Blackening

Week 26 (June 26 - July 2) - Asteroid City

Week 27 (July 3 - July 9) - No Hard Feelings

Week 28 (July 10 - July 16) - Insidious: The Red Door

Week 29 (July 17 - July 23) - Fargo

Week 30 (July 24 - July 30) - Haunted Mansion (2023)

Week 31 (July 31 - August 6) - Gone Girl

Week 32 (August 7 - August 13) - Red, White & Royal Blue

Week 33 (August 14 - August 20) - Deep Blue Sea

Week 34 (August 21 - August 27) - A Life Less Ordinary

Week 35 (August 28 - September 3) - The Descent

Week 36 (September 4 - September 10) - Old

Week 37 (September 11 - September 17) - Alien

Week 38 (September 18 - September 24) - Get Out

Week 39 (September 25 - October 1) - The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It

Week 40 (October 2 - October 8) - The Exorcist

Week 41 (October 9 - October 15) - Trick ‘r Treat

Week 42 (October 16 - October 22) - The Strangers

Week 43 (October 23 - October 29) - Corpse Bride

Week 44 (October 30 - November 5) - Nope

Week 45 (November 6 - November 12) - The Thing from Another World

Week 46 (November 13 - November 19) - The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes

Week 47 (November 20 - November 26) - The Nightmare Before Christmas

Week 48 (November 27 - December 3) - Saltburn

Week 49 (December 4 - December 10) - Black Christmas (2006)

Week 50 (December 11 - December 17) - The Menu

Week 51 (December 18 - December 24) - Sleepaway Camp

Week 52 (December 25 - December 31) - Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom

Additional Movies

1. M3GAN

2. 13 Hours

3. A Man Called Otto

4. Bring It On: All or Nothing

5. Hereditary

6. Alice, Darling

7. No Escape (Follow Me)

8. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania

9. Cocaine Bear

10. 2001: A Space Odyssey

11. West Side Story (2021)

12. Rocky

13. Rocky II

14. Rocky IV

15. 65

16. Scream 3

17. Scream 4

18. Scream 6

19. Renfield

20. The Super Mario Bros. Movie

21. Baby Driver

22. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

23. The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift

24. Fast & Furious

25. Fast Five

26. Fast & Furious 6

27. Furious 7

28. F9

29. Fast X

30. The Little Mermaid

31. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse

32. Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny

33. Joy Ride

34. Oppenheimer

35. Barbie

36. Barbarian

37. Meg 2: The Trench

38. Signs

39. The Wolf of Wall Street

40. Talk to Me

41. The Cabin in the Woods

42. The Out-Laws

43. The Blair Witch Project (1999)

44. Bottoms

45. I Know What You Did Last Summer

46. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)

47. Alone at Night

48. Fresh

49. Pearl

50. Predator

51. Us

52. Dumb Money

53. It Lives Inside

54. A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)

55. Train to Busan

56. Hoosiers

57. Terror Train

58. Titane

59. When a Stranger Calls (1979)

60. When a Stranger Calls (2006)

61. Totally Killer

62. Friday the 13th (2009)

63. Five Nights at Freddy’s

64. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid

65. Priscilla

66. The Thing (1982)

67. The Thing (2011)

68. The Marvels

69. Spirited

70. Black Christmas (1974)

71. The Abyss

72. Final Destination 2

73. Final Destination 3

74. The Final Destination

75. Final Destination 5

76. Orphan

77. Orphan: First Kill

78. The Final Girls

79. May December

80. Megamind

81. Poor Things

82. Paranormal Activity

83. Paranormal Activity 2

84. Paranormal Activity 3

85. The Muppet Christmas Carol

86. Night of the Living Dead (1968)

87. It Follows

88. The Iron Claw

[jokerislandgirl32]

My Holiday Gift to You! - You Can Decide My Content 😃

Hello All!

Since this is generally known as the season of giving, I thought I would allow you all to pick the content I post on tumblr now through New Year’s Day. This is my way to show my thanks and appreciation to all of you for your interest and support.

The options are below, you can comment to this post with what you are most interested in. Depending on the number of, and type of, requests I get, I will put them in a hat and choose a couple to work on each day through the New Year.

You can simply write the identifying letter and number in your comments if you would not like to write the whole thing out. For example, if you want to see the Let the Rhinos Roll Photoset, you can just comment with A1.

*Ones that are crossed out have already been chosen!*

A. Zach Varmitech Photoset; any of the following may be chosen, and I have enough photos on hand to do at least two photosets of most of these:

—Let the Rhinos Roll (A1), Animals Who Live to Be 100 Years Old(A2), Quillber’s Birthday Present (A3), The Real Ant Farm(A4), Cheetah Racer(A5), The Vanishing Stingray(A6), Falcon City(A7), Polar Bears Don’t Dance (A8) COMPLETED 12-30-2021, Mystery of the Weird Looking Walrus (A9), Musk Ox Mania (A10) COMPLETED 12-28-2021, Under Frozen Pond (A11) COMPLETED 12-24-2021 , A Creature Christmas (A12) COMPLETED 12-25-2021

B. Zach Dialogue or Comedy Photo Posts:

Zach’s Opinion on His own Strength - Golden Snub Nose Monkey Man (B1) COMPLETED 12-22-2021

Zach “Winning” - Golden Snub Nose Monkey Man (B2) COMPLETED 12-23-2021

“That Looks Cold”- Golden Snub Nose Monkey Man (B3) COMPLETED 12-26-2021

Zach With Wet Hair - Cats vs Dogs, Animals Who Live to be 100 Years Old (B4)

Zach vs Musk Ox and Wolves (B5) COMPLETED 12-27-2021

Help Zach’s Fallen in Love and He Can’t Get Up (Wild Violet tie in) - The Real Ant Farm, Let the Rhinos Roll, Cheetah Racer (B6)

C. Zach and Violet matching/ inspiration photosets: includes some of their favorite things, and things that are synonymous to each of them. (C)

D. Wild Kratt Episode Analysis/ Why I Like It/ Things I Noticed:

—Golden Snub Nose Monkey Man - A short Zach centered analysis. (D) COMPLETED 12-22-2021

E. Zach Varmitech Analysis/ Wild Violet Storyline Tie in:

—Does Zach Varmitech have a father? (E)

F. Fanart:

—A poorly drawn sketch of Zach and Violet I can share (I am proud of parts of it!) (F) COMPLETED 12-31-2021

G. Fanfic Oneshots: Some of my first Wild Violet scribblings that either don’t fit into the storyline now, or I have already written out and will be included in Wild Violet later on (I would need a couple days to get these ready)

Ones that do not fit:

Zach returns to his plane after being defeated by the Wild Kratts, and Violet comforts him; includes romantic tension, and a whiny Zach. (G1) COMPLETED 12-29-2021

Violet is a musician, hired by Donita, who has a strong obsession with Zach; Zach learns of, and reciprocates, her interest; a bit of a songfic.(G2)

Ones to be included in Wild Violet later:

A mildly spicy one shot that takes place during the events of Under Frozen Pond - Violet confirms Zach is a whiner. Donita, Gourmand, and Dabio get a bit of an ear full once Zach takes Violet to the bedroom. (G3)

Image of “Zach and Violet’s” (really my) Christmas tree; little scene with Zach returning home after the events of A Creature Christmas and finding Violet decorating the tree, baking holiday goodies, and playing/ singing along to Christmas music. Angry Zach; implied romantic scene, or mild spicy scene. (G4) COMPLETED 12-29-2021

H. Halsey Song Analysis:

—Eyes Closed - Is this song about more than moving on to a new relationship; could it also be about the loss of the babies prior to Ender? (H)

[mysteriesofmilo]

Phineas and Ferb songs tournament, season 3 round 2!!

Wow. We received almost as many votes in the last 8 hours as we did the previous 3 days. And best of all, there are no more ties! Here are the results:

Hole in My Heart nearly shut out He's Doof 23-1 (95.8%)

What Is This Thing? beat Awesome Awesome Awesome 17-9 (65.4%)

Livin' In An Ant Society beat Were-Cow 18-9 (66.7%)

The Ballads of Paul beat Swap Meet 17-8 (68%)

Horse in a Bookcase beat Great To Be a Baby 17-11 (60.7%)

In the matchup that was tied last night, Subterranean Crocodile Apprehension Expedition barely edged He's Major Monogram 14-13 (51.9%)

I'm Handsome beat Buildin' a Supercomputer 19-8 (70.4%)

Lunar Taste Sensation beat Heck of a Day 20-6 (76.9%)

Brand New Reality beat Won't Keep Us Apart 24-4 (85.7%)

Aerial Area Rug beat Snacks 19-7 (73.1%)

Livin' With Monkeys beat Highly Unconventional Vehicle 16-11 (59.3%)

Give Up beat Big Brain 17-10 (63%)

Just the Two of Us beat Questing Song 19-7 (73.1%)

Robot Riot beat When You Travel Through Dimensions 24-4 (85.7%)

Frenemies beat That's the Norm 18-8 (69.2%)

Don't Look Down beat Epic Monster Battle 17-8 (68%)

Blueprints beat Lies 15-12 (55.6%)

Meatloaf beat the Vampire Song 18-9 (66.7%)

A Real Boy beat Non-Reaction 25-3 (89.3%)

Sunshine and Bubble Gum beat Do the Moan 22-4 (84.6%)

Dance Baby beat On the Savannah 22-4 (84.6%)

Drusselstein Driving Test Waltz beat I Walk Away 22-5 (81.5%)

Tour de Ferb beat Mallet in the Morning 24-3 (88.9%)

Run Candace Run! beat We're Going to War 15-12 (55.6%)

Evil Tonight beat Eating Cereal Looks Like This 19-7 (73.1%)

Jetpack Volleyball beat Not as Much 19-6 (76%)

Kick it Up a Notch beat Home On the Road 18-8 (69.2%)

Now here are the round 2 matchups!

Double Dutch vs Hole in My Heart

Runnin' From Love (in a Bear Suit) vs We Wish You a Merry Christmas

We Are the Moms vs What Is This Thing?

Takin' Care of Things vs Livin' In an Ant Society

Breakin' Out vs The Ballads of Paul

Perry-Tronic vs Horse in a Bookcase

Ferb vs Subterranean Crocodile Apprehension Expedition

Everything's Better With Perry vs Handsome

Evil For Extra Credit vs Lunar Taste Sensation

Football X-7 vs The Shark of Danville Harbor

Ferb Latin vs Brand New Reality

Monogram This Old Man vs Aerial Area Rug

Deep Into Your Mind vs Livin' With Monkeys

Weaponry vs Be a Squirrel

Bust Is in the Bag vs Give Up

Lady Song vs Just the Two of Us

Zubadaya vs Robot Riot

Set the Record Straight vs Let It Snow

Funhouse vs Frenemies

Victory Gum vs Don't Look Down

Skiddley Whiffers vs Blueprints

Platypus Fight vs Meatloaf

Nostrils On the Bus vs A Real Boy

The Way of the Platypus vs Sunshine and Bubble Gum

Perry's Hat vs Dance Baby

Brand New Best Friend vs Whalemingo

Perry in a Fez vs Drusselstein Driving Test Waltz

Half a Day vs Tour de Ferb

Cheesetopia vs Run Candace Run!

Shot In the Butt With a Dart vs Evil Tonight

Good King Wenceslas vs Jetpack Volleyball

Summer (Where Do We Begin?) vs Kick It Up a Notch

Friendly reminder that this bracket was RANDOMIZED, and as such, I apologize for any matchups you may not like.

Click here to vote,

here to view the bracket,

and here to view the wiki!

EDIT: Just realized that I forgot to set an end date again. I will be on vacation this weekend, so I'm giving you until at least Sunday the 24th. Probably Monday the 25th.

[aion-rsa]

How the Jaws Scene in Back to the Future Part 2 Predicted Modern Blockbusters

https://ift.tt/eA8V8J

Back to the Future Part II is a strange movie. As a sequel that director Robert Zemeckis and screenwriter Bob Gale never intended to make, the ambitious follow-up to one of the greatest sci-fi comedies of all time was put into production simultaneously with Part III, which may have ultimately hurt the middle chapter since Zemeckis was still shooting scenes filmed in the Old West while editing Part II’s trippy vision of the then distant future…of 2015.

Even so, there are elements in the second Back to the Future that still play like gangbusters today, particularly in the sequences set during 2015. To be sure, part of the charm now is what those wild guesses about the future got wrong—such as the idea we’d all be driving around in flying cars, or even simply own cheap cars that didn’t run on fossil fuels. There were no real hover boards in 2015 (or 2021 for that matter), nor even automated Texaco pumps. Yet what Back to the Future Part II got very right is the numbing horror of something like Jaws 19.

Indeed, one of the best bits in the whole film is a slight dig at BTTF’s own studio, as well as the legacy of the film’s producer. The original Jaws is of course the first modern Hollywood blockbuster and it put Steven Spielberg on the map. With its innovative storytelling of leaving the monster to the imagination before finally providing the spectacle in the third act, Jaws is a masterpiece in narrative restraint that could still play for all audiences.

…Which is something no one would say about the three cash-in Jaws sequels that Universal Pictures green lit in the span of 12 years after 1975. In fact, when Back to the Future Part II was released in ’89, it’d only been two years since Jaws: The Revenge, the one where the ghost of Jaws went Bahamas and chased the Chief Brody character’s widow to the Caribbean while on a vendetta for what happened in ’75. It’s kind of hilarious.

As is the scene in Back to the Future Part II. In that sequence, Michael J. Fox’s Marty McFly stands slack jawed in the middle of Hill Valley’s town square, the same space that was so memorably used in the first BTTF film where Marty was forced to finally accept he’d traveled to the year 1985. In the sequel, he comes to realize what it means to be in 2015 when he turns around to face the local multiplex, which has only one film on its marquee: Jaws 19. And then to demonstrate to Marty the state of 21st century special effects, the “HOLOMAX” release teases its thrills as a holographic Great White Shark emerges from the building and descends on Marty’s head.

Perhaps like many an audience member who choked on their popcorn kernels in ’75 with fear, Marty screams bloody murder—and then realizes it’s just a movie and scoffs, “The shark still looks fake.” Yes, it always did, but at least in the first movie that didn’t matter so much.

At the time, the scene was a nice dig at Universal’s expense as well as the Jaws franchise as a whole. What was once the most revolutionary Hollywood movie of 1975 had become a punchline by 1989: a once glorious title that’d been run into the ground with endless cash grab sequels. And the joke is even funnier because of the “19” in the title. Nineteen movies of the same franchise. Could you even imagine?!

Oh, how sweet the irony is, then, that one of the most absurd notions in Back to the Future Part II turned out to be the most true! No, there haven’t been 19 Jaws movies (yet), but that might be by virtue of the studio churning the franchise’s mystique into putty before Gen-Xers and Millennials could grow up with it beneath unsullied nostalgia glasses. Nevertheless, the future where Jaws 19 could exist came true.

Consider that we scoff at the idea of 19 Jaws movies being made in 40 years, but Marvel Studios has released 25 pictures in only 13, with two more due out before Christmas 2021. And that doesn’t even include the television shows that are now coming to dominate Disney+.

I know what some will say: Marvel movies are a series of interconnected franchises, as opposed to one amorphous content farm. But that’s not entirely accurate. There are exceptions, of course, which stand out as singularly distinct from other MCU efforts. There’s Black Panther, for instance. That 2018 Oscar nominee is totally removed from the events of The Avengers, you might say. Then there’s Guardians of the Galaxy and its wacky space opera shenanigans occurring literal light years away from the events of Iron Man 3.

And yet, the appeal for most moviegoers, and the brilliance of Marvel’s marketing strategy, is that they all seem like the same thing to the undiscerning eye. And even to the discerning one, there is a pat familiarity to the formula, story beats, and sitcom-esque ability to wink at the audience at its own silliness. Tonally, they all feel of one piece. Hence why the first Shang-Chi movie was gladly welcomed by the industry last month as Marvel’s latest blockbuster hit—a feat borne in large off it being the next Marvel movie, as opposed to a new original property without a built-in audience.

It’s an aspect to the whole series which caused Dune director Denis Villeneuve to suggest that some Marvel movies are “cut and paste.” It’s also a formula which aids the studio to force its millions of fans to see it “as all connected” and be encouraged to go see the Ant-Man sequel they might otherwise skip in order to discover how its post-credits scene will set up the deus ex machina for Avengers: Endgame.

And that aforementioned Black Panther originally had its protagonist introduced in Captain America: Civil War, an Avengers movie by another name. It’s also the only “Cap” flick to cross $1 billion because they stuck Iron Man in it. Similarly, James Gunn’s Guardians films are genuinely auteur-driven, yet they still worked as a years-long tease of Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame’s big bad: Thanos. Hell, Infinity War’s biggest selling point in the trailer was seeing the Avengers and Guardians meet face-to-face for the first time.

The methods and talent being used to produce these endless sequels are far more sophisticated and entertaining than the hack work which produced Jaws: The Revenge, but then that’s why Jaws only lasted four movies and Marvel’s already mapping out its 30th “event” in the next few years.

This is not meant to only criticize Marvel, however. They are simply the most successful studio at exploiting their intellectual property in the 21st century. Universal’s own Fast and Furious movies aren’t half bad at that game, though. This summer just saw the 10th “Fast Saga” movie when you count Hobbs and Shaw. And while Vin Diesel claims the 11th main line Fast and Furious movie will be the last, you just know with its own Avengers-sized cast that Hobbs and Shaw will be merely the first spinoff franchise from “the family.”

Even Spielberg, who was reportedly never happy with the Jaws sequels and what they did to his first masterwork, has been much more ready to “open up” later successes like Jurassic Park. Considered a “smart” blockbuster entertainment in 1993 that inspired genuine awe from millions of moviegoers, that film’s fourth sequel (which was produced by Spielberg, like all the follow-ups) reveled in watching dinosaurs stalk around a haunted house, as if they were Frankenstein and Dracula. Next year’s Jurassic World: Dominion is supposedly intended to be the “final” film of the three most recent, Chris Pratt-led sequels, as well as another sendoff to the original 1993 movie’s cast. Yet it seems dubious that it’ll be the last film set in that “universe.”

After all, the “Skywalker Saga” ended with a whimper in 2019’s Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, but Disney is preparing to churn out more Star Wars movies and TV shows than ever before in the next decade.

This is not to say you should feel ashamed for enjoying any of these movies or franchises. Folks like what they like. But what Back to the Future Part II perhaps unintentionally predicted was that audiences would have an appetite for a proverbial Jaws 19.

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When BTTF became a trilogy, sequels were still seen as a creatively risky proposition. Filmmakers often maintained artistic credibility by attempting to turn sequels into a larger thematic whole—often as a trilogy. Lucas set that standard with Star Wars, and only after his buddy Francis Ford Coppola claimed he’d never make another Godfather movie after Part II. Spielberg originally walked away from Indiana Jones after three movies, and many likely wish he’d stayed firm about that in retrospect. Meanwhile, Zemeckis and Gale have done the near impossible thing: refuse to allow Universal to make a fourth Back to the Future movie or reboot the series entirely.

But equivocations in the industry about a proverbial Jaws 19 are long gone. What was once a cheeky riff on the dystopian Coca-Cola billboard ads in Blade Runner have become a modern day reality in 2021. And hey, there’s now a real holographic Times Square billboard ad for that, too.

The post How the Jaws Scene in Back to the Future Part 2 Predicted Modern Blockbusters appeared first on Den of Geek.

from Den of Geek https://ift.tt/39HMnzU

[illimitablespaces]

1,8,9,10,25,63,70,135 c:

1. a book that is close to your heart

There have been many books that have found room for residence within my heart but two came to mind, both from my younger years. The first is Stellaluna, by Jannell Cannon. I still remember the day--in kindergarten, as I recall--when I picked up the book at one of those "book days" which seemed to come around every month or so in grade school. I was ecstatic. It remains a much-loved book from those ever-important foundational reading years. The second, A Dragon in a Wagon, by Lynley Dodd, was read to me by my grandmother many times when I visited her home. Somewhere, there is a photograph of her and myself reading it together. So, these two books are close to my heart for quite sentimental reasons.

8. a book you finished in one sitting

I remember when my copy of Ted Hughes' Crow first arrived by mail and I sat in a high-back chair in the sitting room of my parents, devouring every word. It is a small book of verse but I was transfixed by the mouthfeel of the words and the way Hughes got my heart to jump and race that afterward I felt quite spent. It was a most enjoyable and delectable read. Now I wish to do it all over again!

By the way, there is a recording I made of my recitation of one of the poems from that book...

9. your favourite book of 2020

Now, does this mean a book published in the year 2020, or a book which simply happened to my favorite of that year? In any case, I must cite a series of books here, as there is too much goodness to narrow it down to one book alone. There is a series (which actually comprise one work, Iḥyā′ 'Ulūm al-Dīn, or, The Revival of the Religious Sciences) by Al-Ghazali which has caused me to examine my life more critically than any other writing I have encountered. The translations from this series (which I provided in the link) seem to me most timely and apropos. My suggestion is to follow the link and seek out one of the books, whichever inspires your curiosity, and read it for yourself.

10. a book that got you through something

As much as it can be said to be a book, I am compelled to put here the Qur'an, especially the interpretation by Muhammad Asad. In brief, I did not exactly have a religious upbringing: I was baptized a Catholic before I could speak but never have been confirmed. I considered myself agnostic, then atheist, then I came back to the Gospel on my own in my teens. I rarely went to church in my youth but I had a post as organist in a Catholic church for some eight years after I graduated high school. Those days playing organ and singing in choir were often affirming and beautiful and sometimes sublime (especially the midnight masses on Christmas and Easter with the chant and Latin and wow!). And now, in my thirtieth year, I have been a decided follower of Islam for about two years. I have been reading the Qur'an for some six years and I have been learning of the religion along the way. I say with certainty that some (i.e. all) days the only thing that gets me through to seeing another morning is the remembrance of God and the contemplation of His attributes.

25. a book by your favourite author

It is always difficult for me to choose favorites as I seem to have such an array of diverse authors and works from which to choose. For the sake of providing an answer, I will select Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton. As a child I remember first reading that book when I was about ten years old and I read it again multiple times in my teen years. I read quite a few books by Crichton when I was younger but I think now that I'm older they won't have quite the same effect. Still, I have fond memories of hours spent reading his novels and becoming very much engrossed in those worlds of words.

63. a book that actually made you laugh out loud

Now that I have set myself to answering these, I return again and again to those books from my youth which I recall with much pleasure and amusement.

I remember reading many of Roald Dahl's books and finding them utterly hilarious. A few years ago I read aloud from Esio Trot with my partner and the funniness was almost too much for us--I like to perform an interpretive reading when I read aloud, complete with all sorts of inflections and character voices. Which reminds me, I should have another go at something like that.

70. your favourite poetry collection

Oh dear, this is a tough one... I have a copy of the complete poems of Federico García Lorca with many bookmarks (little scraps of paper; impromptu), dog-ears, and bits of underlining that has been the source of much joy and inspiration. In part, I think the sheer voluminous number of poems from García Lorca's pen is staggeringly rich that it dazzles me to imagine it coming from one man's life--my impression is that many ages and lives are bound in his work and I admire it greatly.

On the other--another?--hand, the complete poems of T. S Eliot are also a source of joy and inspiration to me as well. Since reading his work seriously with my partner, I look upon Eliot as a kindred spirit of sorts... there is a certain course of energy which I sense in his poetry, something humbling yet quietly exalting. Each time I read a poem of Eliot's, I am reminded of something Stravinsky said about Eliot being quite a wise man, and I agree.

135. recommend any book you like!

I will give two titles, since that is a theme I have kept up here.

The first is Isaac Newton's Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica. I have not read it in full but what I have read (in translation) is beautiful. I am delighted in discovering that the things taught to me in school and at my time in university have proven to be quite useless, often. The short of it is that Newton and his work were always presented to me in an elementary and somewhat condescending manner. Getting to know a work for one's self is truly gratifying and it has made me more eager than ever to acquire, read, and learn whatever it is about which I may be curious.

The other which I will recommend to you is the Book of Optics, by Ibn al-Haytham. I don't think I have ever been more fascinated and amazed by a scientific text than when I read from this one (again, in translation). My only comment is to follow the link and read at your own discretion and pleasure.

Thank you, @ant-soul, for sending these my way. It was truly enjoyable for me to ponder and provide answers to you and all other Dear Readers.

[antvnger]

Hey! @sobeautifullyobsessed

Happy umm Three French Hens Day! I guess that would be next in the lineup.

Sorry I missed your ask yesterday. I needed yesterday to recover from the 24th and the 25th, ya know?

Aaaaaaww, I’m so so so glad you enjoyed my 25 Days of Christmas! You don’t know how long it took me to decide what I wanted to do and how I wanted to do it and how many times I changed what the days would look like. So thank you so much for the feedback. I really appreciate that, and I’m glad you liked it.

And of course you’re welcome! That message was definitely sincere. I meant every word, and I’m glad it made someone feel good. It was totally worth it then.

Wishing you lots of love, peace, comfort and joy for you too this season!

((Thank you again for your kind words. I really appreciate them too. May your soul be filled to the brim with blessings this season, my friend.))

[heressomestuffyoumightlike]

Disney Investor Day 2020 Info Dump

DIsney just put out the most insane collection of entertainment news I’ve ever seen in a 4-hour presentation. Here’s the big stuff:

LUCASFILM

Ashoka (Series) Set during the time of The Mandalorian.

Rangers of the New Republic (Series) also set during the time of The Mandalorian.

Andor (Series) follows Cassian Andor before the events of Rogue One. 2022

Obi-Wan Kenobi (Series) will have Hayden Christensen returning as Darth Vader.

The Bad Batch (Series) seems to be an animated continuation of The Clone Wars with The Bad Batch characters introduced in season 7, set after the fall of the Jedi.

The Acolyte (Series) is set many years before the Skywalker saga, following the rise of the dark side.

Lando (Series)

Star Wars Visions (Series) An anime series of Star Wars shorts

Star Wars: Rogue Squadron (Movie) directed by Patty Jenkins (Wonder Woman). Christmas 2023

Taika Waititi is writing and directing a new Star Wars movie

Willow (Movie) is getting a sequel with Warwick Davis. 2022

Indiana Jones 5 will be the final film in the series. Harrison Ford returning, and directed by James Mangold (Logan). Summer 2022

Children of Blood and Bone (Movie?) based on the YA series

DISNEY LIVE-ACTION

The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers (Movie?) with Emilio Estevez returning

Turner & Hooch (Movie?)

Beauty and the Beast Prequel Series (Series) with Luke Evans and Josh Gad returning. No Date

Swiss Family Robinson (Series?). No Date

Percy Jackson and the Olympians (Series). No Date

The Mysterious Benedict Society (Movie) looks like Umbrella Academy for kids, but no superpowers... Funny trailer.

Hocus Pocus 2, Three Men and a Baby remake, a bunch of sports movies, Flora & Ulysses, Cheaper by the Dozen, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Ice Age: The Adventures of Buck Wild, an animated Night at the Museum sequel, all revealed without much fanfare

Jungle Cruise (Movie) coming next July

The Lion King Live-Action Sequel

The Little Mermaid (Movie) will be going to theaters

Chip N’ Dale Rescue Rangers (Movie) is a live action/CG hybrid with the voices of Andy Samberg and John Mulaney

Pinnochio (Movie) starring Tom Hanks, going to Disney+

Peter Pan and Wendy (Movie) with Jude Law as Captain Hook going to Disney+

Disenchanted (Movie) is the Enchanted Sequel with Amy Adams returning to Disney+

Sister Act 3 (Movie) with Whoopie Goldberg returning to Disney+

Cruella (Movie) starring Emma Stone in the 70′s set prequel

DISNEY ANIMATION

Raya and the Last Dragon will release in theatres and Disney+ Premier Access in March 2021

Baymax! (Series) focuses on Baymax’s desire to be a nurse robot. Early 2022

Zootopia+ (Shorts) Shorts set in the world of Zootopia. Spring 2022

Tiana (Series) “Long-form musical comedy series” sequel to Princess and the Frog. 2023

Moana (Series) A sequel series to the movie. 2023

Iwaju (Series) This fururistic animated series is a collaboration between Disney and Pan-African comic book entertainment company Kugali,set in Nigeria and “steeped in science fiction”. 2022

Encanto (Movie) Their next animated film from the creators of Zootopia, set in Colombia. Songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda. Fall 2021

PIXAR

Dug Days (Series) A continuation series of Up with Dug and Carl. Fall 2021

Cars Series (Series). It’s Cars.

Win or Lose (Series) It’s about a kids softball team or something. Fall 2023

Luca (Movie) Set in Italy. What if pasta had a soul? June 2021

Turning Red (Movie) A 13-year old girl who "poofs” into a giant red panda when she gets too excited. From the director of the “Bao” short. Spring 2022

Lightyear (Movie) Buzz Lightyear origin story with Chris Evans as Buzz. Actual Buzz Lightyear, not a toy. Summer 2022

MARVEL

Wandavision (January 15), Falcon and Winter Soldier (March 2021) and Loki (May 2021) series coming very soon

Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness confirms Benedict Cumberbatch, Benedict Wong, Rachel McAdams, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Elizabeth Olson returning, as well as newcomer Xochitl Gomez as America Chavez. Connects to Wandavision and Spider-Man 3. March 25, 2022

Black Widow is I guess still coming to Theatres on May 7, 2021

What If...? (series) Animated alternate tales from the MCU (What if T’challa was kidnapped by Yondu instead of Peter? What if Peggy Carter became Captain America? Etc.) 2021

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (Movie) releasing July 9, 2021

Ms. Marvel (Series) filming now, coming in 2021.

Captain Marvel 2 (Movie) will feature Ms. Marvel as well. No date.

Hawkeye (Series) has Jeremy Renner, and Hailee Steinfeld as Kate Bishop. Late 2021

She Hulk (Series) starring Tatiana Maslany and featuring Mark Ruffalo and Tim Roth (Abomination from The Incredible Hulk). Described as “very funny”, and I guess because it’s a legal show, “anyone” could show up. 2022?

Moon Knight (Series) Basically Batman, but with Egyptian gods in his head. Rumours are Oscar Issac is playing him, but no confirmation here

Secret Invasion (Series) will follow the Skrull invasion of Earth, where they imperinate various world politicians and heroes. Starring Samuel L. Jackson and Ben Mendelson

Ironheart (Series) young black supergenius Riri Williams picks up the mantle of Iron Man.

Armor Wars (Series) has Don Cheadle returning as Rhodey, and asks the question “what happens when Tony Stark’s technology falls into the wrong hands”

The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special written and directed by James Gunn. Christmas 2022

The Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3 (Movie) in 2023

I Am Groot (Shorts). No Date

Thor: Love and Thunder (Movie) from Taika Waititi with Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Tessa Thompson, and Christian Bale as Gorr the God-Butcher. May 6 2022

Blade (Movie) starring Mahershala Ali. No date.

Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (Movie) Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lily, Michael Douglas and Michelle Pfeiffer returning, with Kathryn Newton as Cassie Lang and Jonathan Majors as the villain, Kang the Conquerer. No date

Black Panther 2 will not recast T’challa but will move forward to further explore the world of Wakanda. July 8, 2022

Fantastic 4 is in some stage of production, with Jon Watts (Director of the recent Spider-Man trilogy) directing.

Zero talk of Spider-Man 3, but recent rumours are nuts. Coming December 2021

Hopefully there is something here to excite you

[antimatterpod]

Transcript - 70. Clinton-Era Star Trek

Liz: And why are we passing up an opportunity to criticize Rick Berman? We love that shit!

Anika: Let's always criticize Rick. Definitely everything wrong is Rick Berman.

You can listen to the original episode here.

Anika: Welcome to Antimatter Pod, a Star Trek podcast where we discuss fashion, feminism, subtext and subspace, hosted by Anika and Liz, and Cali the cat. This week we're discussing the pilot episode of Star Trek Voyager, "Caretaker".

Liz: So it's the 35th anniversary or something. No, that cannot possibly be it. 25th?

Anika: 30th. 30, isn't it?

Liz: No, I was thirteen when I first saw it, and I'm thirty-eight going on thirty-nine. So it's got to be the 20th. Right? No, 25th...

Anika: No, it's definitely not -- um, it could be 25th. Because the 20th, I did a panel for the 20th. And that was probably five or six years ago?

Liz: I feel like 1996 plus 25 might be 2021?

Anika: I don't know! Math!

Liz: Welcome to Antimatter Pod, the podcast where we don't do maths.

It's the 25th anniversary of "Caretaker", and I'm really really curious to know, when was the first time you watched it?

Anika: I don't remember! I remember watching "Emissary". I did not see "Encounter at Farpoint" first, I saw it, years after having seen Next Generation.

Liz: Which is really the way to do it.

Anika: Yes. And Enterprise, also, I have no actual memory of watching the pilot, but I probably did. I probably watched Voyager and Enterprise live, but I don't actually have a good handle on it. If it was 1995, I was -- yeah, I didn't have a Star Trek group at that point. I was in college, you know, so I was, like, making new friends.

Liz: You weren't ready to unleash the full force of your geekiness?

Anika: Yup. I mean, I was a ridiculous person, you know, there's no way that I wouldn't have been known as a geek by pretty much everyone.

Liz: I actually have very vivid memories of the first time I watched "Caretaker", because I received it on VHS as a Christmas present the year I was thirteen. I really remember how much I liked Janeway, and I wished -- like Kate Mulgrew has a very unusual voice, and that was sort of everyone in the family's reaction. And I'm like, Yeah, it's a weird voice, but I love her, shut up.

And the next day my parents' marriage ended, so...

Anika: Wow. Okay!

Liz: I don't think these things are really connected. But in my mind, and in my heart, they very much are.

Star Trek wasn't really my main fandom at the time. TNG had ended, and I was very deep into having feelings about seaQuest DSV. So -- there are probably still dozens of us.

Anika: I loved that show.

Liz: It was so great. We could talk about my OTP for seaQuest next. But yeah, that was my first encounter with Voyager, and I didn't really become a capital letters Voyager Fan until a few months later, when we accidentally got season two videos.

Anika: Accidentally. Yeah, I don't know. It's a good pilot episode. Not a good episode.

Liz: I want you to expand on that.

Anika: So the thing about pilots is, there are very few good ones out there. It's really hard to introduce a show in a way that isn't cliched, and isn't, like, a bunch of people expositing about everything you need to know about them to each other. It's a -- it's hard. It's hard to do it well.

Liz: Yes. If you want to see a bad pilot, I highly recommend the pilot for Babylon 5. It is unwatchably bad.

Anika: Voyager still has plenty of pilot problems, like, "Caretaker" still has plenty of pilot problems, but they cover a huge amount of ground. They introduce so many things, and when you think about all of the stuff that has to happen in this episode versus, say, "Encounter at Farpoint", which is really just a bunch of people introducing themselves to each other -- that's literally all that happens in "Encounter at Farpoint".

Liz: And not even by name.

Anika: And then Riker watches what happened in the opening scene? I mean, that is a terrible, terrible pilot, and a terrible episode.

Liz: My friend and their partner have decided to start with Star Trek at "Encounter at Farpoint". And I'm like, I love you. You are good people. You don't deserve this.

Anika: Don't do it! No.

But -- so what I like about "Caretaker" is that everyone except B'Elanna -- and I will tell you more about that in a little bit. But everyone except B'Elanna has an introduction that is not them introducing themselves to each other. Or to the audience. They don't stand and say, "Hello, I am Harry Kim."

There's like little bits and pieces, like the -- what we learned about Harry Kim is what Janeway says about him to Tuvok, you know. What we learn about Tom Paris is that, you know, he's in prison. And the first time we see Janeway is Tom looking up at her, and it pans up and she's got her hands on her hips. And she's like, "Hey, I'm totally in charge, and I'm here with Obi Wan Kenobi to rescue you."

So it does pilot things. We get that there is tension between everyone and Tom Paris, like, literally everyone and Tom Paris, there is tension. And we get that there is tension between the Maquis and the Starfleet people, we get that Janeway and Tuvok have a very close, established relationship. Like, there's a lot of established stuff going on?

The Janeway and Tuvok stuff is so much better than the Picard and Crusher stuff, like, I can't even -- they're worlds apart in terms of how they play.

Liz: And not just because the language of setting up a platonic friendship between a man and a woman is different from setting up a romantic tension. Seven years have passed, and the writing is different. And Janeway -- the woman is the one in a dominant position. And it's just better.

Anika: It's just better, it's just better. But the actual story is not. Like, the whole Caretaker thing, it's clearly a plot device, it's very deus ex machina for "we have to get them lost in the Delta Quadrant. Like, we have to get them to the Delta Quadrant, and then we have to get them lost here."

And so, while it is entirely Janeway's choice, she's the only one with agency. She takes it away from everyone else. There's no meeting to discuss any of these things. And it's all very driven by this "there was, a guy, an ancient guy who, like, steals people and keeps them as pets. And his favorite people, like, he needs to" -- it's just ridiculous. Like, he's seeding himself so that someone -- so his child will be stuck with this horrible job of taking care of his ant farm of Ocampa.

Everything about it is bad. Like, nothing in that whole story is good. He's a bad person. And it's so wildly ridiculous. Like, he dies before they can even begin to understand how any of it happened? Like, they just blow up the array?

Liz: It's sort of like the writers going, "Oh, shit, we really don't want to ask too many questions about this guy, we'd better kill him as fast as we can."

Anika: Exactly. So. So if you start to think about this story at all… Being a pilot that introduces you to these characters and this situation, it's bad. But if you're just watching to be introduced to these characters and this situation, it's good.

Liz: I have never thought about it in those terms until you said this in our preparation, but I think that's a really, really good point.

And I'm going to confess that I have not re-watched "Caretaker" to prepare for this episode because I have seen it so many times, I can quote big chunks of it by heart. And, honestly, it's actually not that rewatchable. Deep Space Nine is not my favorite Trek, but I have seen "Emissary" so many times, and I enjoy it every single time. After a while, watching "Caretaker" starts to feel like a chore.

Anika: Yeah, because what's actually happening is not interesting.

Liz: Yeah, yeah.

Anika: And it's just full of holes, and I just get mad at everybody if I start thinking about it.

Liz: That's before we get into the bit where the Kazon exist.

Anika: Oh, the Kazon. They tried so hard to make the Kazon happen. And it just never happened.

Liz: Re-watching season two for my blog, I was struck by the fact that, with a different writing team, the Kazon could have been really fascinating and nuanced and interesting. And instead, it's basically white people having a moral panic about Black people. You know, they explicitly said that the Kazon were, like, "They're based on East Los Angeles area gangs!" And I'm like, Sure, okay. That's potentially interesting, but you're all white people. And, you know, we find out that thirty years ago, they freed themselves from slavery. And that's why the--

Anika: Thirty years!

Liz: I know! I know! That is my own lifetime! [But] that's why they're low tech and dysfunctional and desperate. And they're not given even an ounce of empathy, or sympathy, or even consideration. Even "Initiations", which I think is a good episode, and certainly, by far the best Kazon episode, there's just -- there's one good Kazon, and that's it.

And I do think part of the problem is that we never see their women, we never see them in any situation other than hostility. But mostly, I think the problem is that the writers are racist.

Anika: And the one good Kazon is a kid.

Liz: Yeah, yes.

Anika: It's almost like it's like a white savior -- or a Chakotay savior story, you know, like, Dangerous Minds--

Liz: Yeah.

Anika: -- where Michelle Pfeiffer goes into the inner city to save it.

Liz: The mental image of Chakotay as Michelle Pfeiffer is amazing. And yeah, that is a really messed up genre, and the only good thing it ever gave us was "Gangsta's Paradise".

So, yeah, that limitation in the perception of the Kazon is built right there into this pilot. And a lot of people go, you know, "It's so stupid how they have spaceships and they don't make -- they can't replicate or create their own water." And it's like, this would have been a great opportunity to explain some of their history instead of going, "Surprise! It's actually really racist!" a season later.

Anika: Yep. It's just really bad. Everything's bad about the Kazon. They're not great. They're not good villains. And anything -- every time they are almost interesting, they're almost instantly not interesting and/or racist at the same time.

Liz: It troubles me that the series with the first female captain is also the first series where sexism and misogyny are treated as anything other than a joke. We've had the Ferengi for years, and it's always been, "Haha, they like women to be naked." And it's only now that suddenly these writers are forced to empathize with a female character, that they're like, "Oh, maybe that attitude is ... bad?"

Anika: Maybe it's bad. We never see a Kazon woman.

Liz: Right, are they living in -- is it a Kazon Handmaid's Tale thing? Or are they warriors in their own right? Do they have their own politics? Are they trying to pull the strings from the background and maybe doing so more successfully than Seska because they're further in the background? We don't know. We'll never know.

Are we the only people who look at Star Trek and go, but what if the Kazon came back?

Anika: So we're definitely the only people who look at Star Trek and think, what if the Kazon came back?

But Cullah was almost an interesting character. And, really, the most interesting he ever was was when he took the baby, and, like, cared. That he cared about any of that happening, that he cared about Seska dying. It was like, Oh, my gosh, this is a real relationship all of a sudden. So it's just interesting. And they had a lot of interesting Macbeth scenes that were fun, that could have been so much better if they'd leaned into that instead of what they did.

Liz: Yeah.

Anika: But we're we're getting beyond the scope, because we're supposed to be talking about "Caretaker", and Cullah is not even in it

Liz: Turns out we could do a whole episode on the Kazon

Anika: Whoops!

Liz: That's really gonna get the listeners.

Anika: Let's talk about our first impressions of the crew.

Liz: So the scene where Tom looks up, and there's Kathryn Janeway with her bun of steel and her hands on her hips, and, you know, in her very first scene, she tells us that she was a scientist before she was a captain. I fell in love.

And yet, the pilot is really eager to tell us that just because she's a woman in command doesn't mean she's ... not a woman.

Anika: She has the world's most boring fiance.

Liz: Oh my God.

Anika: I hate -- like, my favorite part is that they're talking, they're facetiming on the viewscreen and all, and she's lliterally doing work while talking to him. Like, this is the last -- and they don't know that it's gonna be the last time for seven years, or whatever, but it's still gonna be months. And yet, she's just doing her work, and he has to tell her to look at him, which is hilarious. But he's also -- he's so milquetoast, I don't care.

Liz: He's just sort of your standard extruded Star Trek male love interest.

Anika: And then there's puppies. She loves her dog.

Liz: She loves her dog. She likes to be called ma'am rather than sir. It's a very 1990s "don't be too threatened" scenario, which is interesting, because you contrast that with Major Kira, who, I think, as the second lead, rather than the primary lead of the show, has more freedom to be abrasive, and unlikable, and unfeminine.

Anika: Yeah. But even in Deep Space Nine, like, Jadzia is super feminine. In presentation, at least, and the more it goes on, she gets -- the more they were like, "Don't worry, we also have this pretty one." Like, Nana Visitor is gorgeous, just, you know, don't yell at me. But--

Liz: After the pilot episode, she went and cut off her hair into -- it's not even a pixie cut. It's a really butch style. And she did that without getting the permission of the producers. She was just, like, that's how Major Kira would have her hair.

And then, over the next seven seasons, they worked really, really hard to force Kira into a feminine mold.

Anika: You're right, they absolutely do it to Janeway [too]. She has that whole Jane Eyre holoprogram thing that -- everything she does in her free time is, like, from the 19th century. It's just very weird. She's super old fashioned in her forward thinking scientist future ladyness.

Liz: I think a lot of that is down to Jeri Taylor, and the fact that she was already, for the '90s, older than the generation of feminists who were defining the movement at the time. I realized once that she's only a year younger than DC Fontana.

Anika: It's interesting. Kate Mulgrew was forty when she started Voyager, but according to apocrypha, she was playing five years younger, like, she's not supposed to be forty.

Liz: No, I've heard that too, that Janeway was meant to be about thirty-five. Which, I mean, I guess? Maybe?

Anika: [What that] means is that she is admiral super young. That's what I take out of it. So good on her. It's just weird. It's like, why? I don't know. It's just very Hollywood. It's very, "Oh my gosh, we can't have a forty-something woman in a starring role. We can't possibly do that. So, okay, we got this one and, and we're gonna go with her, but she's not really forty. You can still be attracted to her. You're allowed, everybody."

Liz: You know, "We've got her in a corset so she's thin, and she's in high heels so she's tall and she'll walk in a sexy way."

It really struck me, the first time I watched Discovery, the first time I watched "The Vulcan Hello", how feminine and comfortable Michelle Yeoh looked with her hair in a ponytail -- and it's a very loose ponytail -- and she's wearing flats. I was like, Oh my god, this is what Janeway could have been.

Anika: Right.

Liz: Now, I know that the next character on our list is Chakotay, but I think we should talk about Tom, because he and Harry the POV characters for this pilot. It's sort of telling that Chakotay is sidelined from the beginning.

Anika: I always say that there are three co-protagonists in this pilot. Tom, Janeway, and Kes are the people who have a point of view and an arc.

Liz: Yeah, you're right.

Anika: And everybody else is just sort of in their orbit.

Liz: Even Kes barely has agency.

Anika: It's a giant cast, so they couldn't -- and again, B'Elanna is not -- like, the B'Elanna that I know and love is not in this pilot. She's just not even actually there. There is a B'Elanna in this pilot, but it is not even close to who she is. And she's barely on screen. She's just an angry Klingon lady, that's all she is.

Liz: Who almost flashes her whole boob in one scene.

Anika: But she immediately -- like, the very next episode is a B'Elanna episode. So it's sort of like, "We didn't put any effort into her in the pilot, because we're gonna, you know, we're gonna have a whole episode about her. It's gonna be okay." And it's great, "Parallax" is a way better story.

Liz: Yeah, I don't think that's necessarily a bad choice. That's like Discovery taking six episodes to introduce it's whole cast. And I think B'Elanna is better served by that, but it's interesting how objectified she is in this story.

Anika: Yes.

Liz: To get back to Tom, I listened to the Delta Fliers episode on "Caretaker" when it came out. I'm sort of at peak Star Trek podcast, so I've gotten behind on them. But that's Robert Duncan McNeill and Garrett Wang talking about their memories of each episode. And--

Anika: It's very fun.

Liz: --among the things that I enjoyed were Robert Duncan McNeill calling himself out for how sleazy Tom is towards women, particularly Janeway. But he blames himself and I'm like, I'm pretty sure you are following a script, dude. Like, this is not your responsibility.

But also, he says at one point that Tom Paris was considered as a potential love interest for Janeway, and that they were going to cast someone older for the role.

Anika: I've been saying that since the beginning. Janeway and Paris, as we all know, are my OTP of Voyager. And I'm not off that! I ship that! Like, I ship literally everything. But it's always going to be -- Janeway and Paris are going to be the most important to me, in terms of Voyager characters, just partly because, again, I was, what, 20? And I -- not even--

Liz: Yep.

Anika: It was formative, you know, it's like, I loved Voyager so much, and I loved Janeway and Paris. The first fan fiction that I read and wrote was Janeway and Paris. Iit's just gonna be them.

And so the idea that they were ever considered, quote, unquote, canon, it just makes me feel like I wasn't a crazy person reading into the entire first two seasons.

Liz: No.

Anika: I firmly believe that you can see a relationship behind the scenes in the -- you know, up until he starts having a thing with B'Elanna.

Liz: No, in fact, there's a point in season two where Robbie is like, "I think this is around the time they stopped pushing Janeway and Paris and started moving towards Janeway and Chakotay."

I found that really interesting, because the other thing that we know about the development of Voyager is that they always wanted a Nick Locarno type of character. They always wanted Robert Duncan McNeill in the role. And, honestly, that doesn't mean that they never considered casting someone older. We know that there were legal issues with having the Nick Locarno character, and that's why he's Tom Paris.

And, you know, it's like how they auditioned men for Janeway and women for Chakotay at one point. Like how DS9 auditioned white men for Sisko, you throw everything at the wall and see if it sticks. But I think the AU with an older Paris would have been interesting.

Anika: I'm fine with it as is. I like the ten-year age gap, personally, but I don't even mind -- I wouldn't mind the five-year if she's really thirty-five. Whatever, fine. Then we're closer to a five-year age gap. But I like the idea of her, like, meeting him when he was a kid and then forgetting that that happened.

Liz: Not giving him any thought, and then meeting him as an adult and going, oh.

Anika: "Whoa."

Liz: Yeah. That would have been really cool because it's a sort of borderline creepy storyline that we see a lot with men and younger women. And I don't remember ever seeing it with women and younger men. And I like an age gap, and I like a relationship where there -- there are problematic elements to be negotiated.

Anika: Yes, exactly. Oh, my favorite things.

Liz: But also I think Tom Paris in the pilot is a deeply terrible person, and I hate him.

Anika: Oh, yeah.

Liz: So many of my friends are watching Voyager for the first time and going, Wow, Tom Paris, he is the worst. And I'm like, Yeah, but wait a few seasons, he's going to be the suburban dad of everyone's, I don't want to say everyone's dreams, but he's going to be peak suburban nice dad. And it'll be great.

Anika: You said that Robbie says that he blamed himself for being skeezy -- see, I give Robbie all the credit for him not being skeezy. I'm on the other side, where I really feel like they tried, they tried to make Tom Paris that guy, the guy that I don't ever like and never want in my Star Trek, and they keep trying to put him in Star Trek. Like, every series has that guy. And it was Tom Paris.

And he was just not capable of playing it. He put so much warmth into these horrible lines and situations that you couldn't -- you couldn't read it that way. And so there was, like, oh, there's something deeper here, he's not just hitting on people, he's lonely. He's not just, like, he's not getting, you know, doing -- he's not trying to hit on the captain in her pool [game] or whatever, he's actually trying to make a friend. He's telling her that she matters to him because she's giving him these second chances.

I read all of my Janeway/Paris stuff into these early seasons where he has horrible storylines, because the actors aren't acting like he's a skeevy, horrible person.

Liz: No, and all of Tom's good qualities are -- or seem to be -- Robert Duncan McNeill's good qualities. You know, he's open, he's generous. He's kind of funny, kind of a dork, but self-aware about it, and very passionate about holding up the people that he loves. That seems to be Robert Duncan McNeill. And that is who Tom Paris becomes.

But I also think, like, what you were saying about how he's not flirting, he's trying to make friends, I also think that his background in terms of having neglectful and emotionally negligent parents, he needs people to like him. And if the only way he can do that is to make them attracted to him -- to build an attraction -- that's the strategy he'll use.

Anika: It's such a psychological thing that really happens, and again, often with women.

Liz: Yeah.

Anika: I gotta say, this might be a good place to say, where Voyager does an incredible job of giving all of the men various feminine traits or, like, you know, stereotypically woman-centered things that happen--

Liz: Right, right, Chakotay is sensitive and domestic. And Tuvok defines himself to a large degree by his parenthood, and Neelix is the cook, and the Doctor is a caretaker, and Harry -- with Harry, I feel like a lot of it's bound up in anti-Asian racism, to be honest, and the emasculation of Asian men. But he is another very sensitive and gentle guy who doesn't really like -- he likes to be romanced, he doesn't like to be seduced.

Anika: It's great. And then, you know, the women -- we get B'Elanna in the engineering role. And she's also angry all the time.

Liz: Yes.

Anika: And Janeway is a scientist and in charge, you know, she's the authority.

Liz: And Seven -- Seven, when she's comes, in is sort of her own thing altogether. But she's the Spock. She's the Odo. She's the Data. And it's notable that the most classically feminine of the characters is Kes, and she's the one who is treated as a failure and discarded and in the fourth season.

Anika: Yeah. They don't know how to write for her, is what it comes down to

Liz: I think it's that thing where they don't know how to empathize with women who don't act in some way, like men. And this is all very binary and very steeped in stereotypes and generalization.

Anika: But it's very '90s.

Liz: It is so '90s.

Anika:

I can say, as a child of the '90s -- I can still call myself that -- that it's what we were grappling with. Like, the '80s were -- there was this whole power fantasy stuff, right? And then the '90s were, you know, grunge and riot grrrls. And so there's just -- this show, like, yeah, it's using all those stereotypes, and so that's why I'm calling them feminine traits. I don't think that cooking or being a good parent or having soft hair or being a musician is feminine in any way.

Liz: No, but we are dealing in stereotypes.

Anika: It's gender coding. That's what I'm talking about.

Liz: Relatedly, one of the reasons Janeway's character is considered 'inconsistent', and I'm using air quotes because I don't think that's actually -- I don't think she's the worst in terms of inconsistent writing and Star Trek captains. But -- (Archer) -- but part of the reason for that--

Anika: My trash boy.

Liz: --is that all the writers had a different feminine stereotype or archetype in mind when they were writing Janeway. Some people saw her as a schoolmarm and Jeri Taylor saw her as an earth mother for some godforsaken unknown reason. And it seems like no one was really able to go, "Hey, what if we get past the stereotypes and archetypes and just write her as a ... person?"

Anika: It's just bad. And it's true. There are definitely inconsistencies where she -- the one that I always point out is that she has this super faith thing where she literally has a scene where she explains the concept of faith and God to Harry Kim. And then, a season later, she has to go save Kes from whatever horrible thing is holding Kes hostage.

Liz: And suddenly she's a TV atheist.

Anika: Yeah. And it's like, what are you talking about? That is not Janeway. It's just wrong. You can't have it both ways. And so there are inconsistencies.

I think you're right, that it's a problem with different people having -- like, putting different ideas of who Janeway is onto her.

Liz: And certainly, Archer is at his worst when they try and force him into an equally narrow masculine box.

Anika: Yeah. Right.

Liz: So, the patriarchy. It hurts men too!

Anika: But I do think that, yeah, Janeway isn't alone in her inconsistencies. And I also think, of every Star Trek character, or every captain, she has the most reason to be inconsistent.

Liz: One hundred percent. Because she's the only one--

Anika: She shouldn't be--

Liz: Yeah.

Anika: She shouldn't be consistent when she's holding the entire, like, the idea of Starfleet and the Federation herself. She's gluing it together in a place that doesn't know what any of those words even mean.

Liz: And she can never get a break. Picard can take a holiday and go to Risa, and wear skimpy shorts, and have a fling, and have adventures. Janeway has to do all that in the context of her ship.

Anika: Right. And she's always captain. She never gets to not be captain, even if she's in the holodeck hanging out.

Liz: Yeah. Basically, Voyager is 2020, and Janeway is working from home.

Anika: So I cut her a little slack.

Liz: Hah, I cut her a lot of slack.

Anika: And I write into my own little headcanons that it is all of this psychological stuff that she's dealing with. Uou know, I say, Oh, well, she was depressed then, so she was making these choices. So.

Liz: Honestly, Janeway makes sense to me. There are inconsistencies, but she holds -- like, she feels consistent emotionally. And that's what's important.

Anika: Right.

Liz: Let's talk about Chakotay, who you've described here as the most stereotypical Native character ever.

Anika: It's just really sad.

Liz: I -- yeah.

Anika: Like it's sad on every level, because now, creating a Native character now, which they should definitely do, but putting that character into Star Trek, that character automatically is stuck with the Chakotay baggage. And that's just so upsetting. We're never going to get this clean, quote unquote, Native character, because of this mess that we got with Chakotay, where he -- like, it was already bad, the TNG episode isn't any better. That episode is really bad.

Liz: That's the episode "Journey's End", which sets up either Chakotay's home planet or one very much like it, colonized by Native Americans, because that is absolutely how Indigenous people work.

Anika: So bad. And then they get kicked out, kind of like in Picard, you know, Starfleet's like, "You gotta leave now, because the Cardassians own this place." And it's like, but they don't really? And no one really does?

So, right, it puts them on the wrong -- it's just all it's all bad. It's all bad. And it's all very much a white person writing what they think an Indigenous person is.

Liz: Right.

Anika: All it did the dream watching, and--

Liz: The vision quest...

Anika: --none of it is true. That's where I end the sentence, none of it is true to the idea of an Indigenous character. And it's just it never gets good in Voyager. I want to like Chakotay, and I have troubles.

Liz: To their credit, they hired a consultant. Unfortunately, the consultant was a white fraud, a Native faker, who was already notorious for being a fake, and Native American groups had been warning Hollywood for years that he was actually a white guy. So they start off on a bad foot.

They audition a lot of Native American actors and decide they're too, quote unquote, on the nose, meaning too Native American. So they cast Robert Beltran, who is a very talented Mexican American actor, who doesn't seem to have any Native heritage. I don't know how Indigenous identity in Mexico works, but to my knowledge, he doesn't really participate in Native culture, or anything like that. So, yeah, they just went for the nearest brown guy, basically.

Anika: And the thing is, if he was Mexican American, and not Native, that would be better,

Liz: Right, or just a Mexican American character who has some Native heritage that he is learning about, like, that is a really interesting story. But like, so much of it is dated even for 1996.

Anika: Right. That's right, exactly.

Liz: I remember as a kid cringing every time they use the word Indian, because even then I knew that the new and appropriate term was Native American. And just the whole "I hear in some tribes, if I save your life, you belong to me" -- that's a setup for a slash fic. It shouldn't be canonical.

Anika: Yeah, everything about poor Chakotay is poorly done. And the further we get from Voyager, like, the more time goes on, the -- [it gets] more blatantly bad. It really starts to stick out.

Liz: I understand what you're saying, that everything they do from now is tainted by what they did with Chakotay. But I really do think that new Trek, the Trek Renaissance, needs Indigenous representation.

Anika: They should definitely do it.

Liz: Yeah, like Discovery films in Toronto and there is no shortage of hugely talented Native Canadian -- I think it's Canadian Aboriginal? Of Indigenous Canadian actors. And and, obviously, Evan Evagora in Picard is half-Maori ... but he's playing a Romulan, so.

Anika: I'm not saying they shouldn't do it because of all this baggage. I just feel sorry for the actor.

Liz: Yes.

Anika: I feel badly for the person who has to deal with it.

Liz: Also because they're inevitably going to end up on panels with Robert Beltran, and honestly, he seems like a dick.

Anika: Everything I've seen of Robert Beltran has been very, like, dismissive, I guess, is the best way -- like, when people bring up to him that, you know, maybe it wasn't the best representation of an Indigenous population, he sort of gets defensive and doesn't listen.

Liz: Yeah.

So let's move on to the greatest character in all of Star Trek...

Anika: Tuvok?!

Liz: Tuvok! Yes.

Anika: I have a Tuvok standee in my house now. I love it. It's just -- Tuvok is amazing. Best Vulcan by far.

Liz: Yes.

Anika: His relationship with Janeway is so precious to me. I just love everything about it. I love how warm it is right off from the beginning. I love that he is just as -- he does crazy stuff for Janeway, the way that Kirk does crazy stuff for Spock. It's that same level of "that's insane," and I love that. I love that they have that relationship. And I'm forever sad that they are the least represented in fan fiction. Like, even, like, platonic. I'm not saying -- I do, I would ship them. But...

Liz: But we don't even have fic about them having adventures.

Anika: Right? There's just -- I mean, Tuvok, yes, best character in Trek. Chemistry with everyone is highly -- [but] he's the least represented in Voyager. It's very upsetting to me because it cannot not be racism. There's just -- I don't have another explanation for why Tuvok is so ignored.

Liz: I have a theory, but I think the primary reason is indeed racism. But I also think it's that Tuvok enters the series as a man who already knows who he is, and his regrets are mainly behind him, and he doesn't really change much over the course of the series, save that he unbends to an extent to reveal his affection more than he did at the start. But, on the whole, he's not the most dynamic character.

And I love that about him! I love his stability, I love the respect that he has for everyone, even Neelix, who often doesn't deserve it. And I think he is a character who is almost the heart and soul of the show in a way that's easily overlooked because he is entertaining and fun to watch with every single other regular character.

When I put it like that, the only reason he is overlooked -- aside from -- like, I really do think a lot of it comes down to racism

Anika: Yeah, he absolutely is stable. And he absolutely does -- he's a supporting character in every way? He supports, but it's sort of like, so shouldn't he be supporting people? Can't we still write fic about that? I don't understand.

Liz: Now I'm thinking that if he was a white guy, he would probably be the male bicycle of the cast. Like I realized the entire cast minus Neelix is basically the bicycle, but now I'm side-eyeing fandom extra hard.

Anika: I just love Tuvok so much. And I have written Tuvok, but I've definitely written for January and Paris. So I'm also part of the problem, I guess.

Liz: I will confess that I completely overlooked him until my current rewatch, so I am not excusing myself from anything here.

Anika: I try to give him, you know, his due, at least in my ensemble fic. I don't actually write much Voyager fic right now.

Liz: No, no. I haven't for years

Anika: And also T'Pel, too, I'm, like, on a mission to give T'Pel literally any characterization whatsoever.

Liz: Someone somewhere out there is going to write me a Janeway/Tuvok/T'Pel fic, and I'm going to be very grateful.

Anika: Nice.

Liz: We're almost at an hour. Let's talk about Harry Kim. Every time I watch "Caretaker", I'm blown away by how beautiful Garrett Wang is, and the floppiness of his perfect '90s non-threatening boy hair. It's magnificent.

Anika: That's absolutely true. One of my photo caps, he just has amazing hair. One shot, you know, my, like, tagline for Janeway is that her hair is fabulous. And I was like, Oh, HIS hair is fabulous, and I compared it to Poe Dameron.

Liz: Oh, no, you're not wrong. I said something in my "Q and the Gray" post about how the only redeeming feature of that episode was Harry's floppy hair. And then I mentioned that when I linked to it on Twitter, and Garrett Wang replied, and I -- I cannot be acknowledged by the actors in that way. Like, I want to objectify you, you don't get to respond. This is a one-way relationship.

Anika: Poor Harry Kim. Harry Kim is another one who is routinely overlooked by fandom. But unlike with Tuvok, there are like the rabid Harry Kim fans who will come to his defense and do write him, usually with Tom, but--

Liz: I understand that there is a thriving, powerful of Tom/Harry shippers, and I don't ship it, but I fully respect them.

Anika: And so he has his own little corner, I guess, of the fandom. But it is still true that, in wider fandom, if you're gonna ask non-Voyager fans -- but Trek fans -- they'll point out Harry Kim as a waste of space, that he has no characterization whatsoever--

Liz: Lies!

Anika: --that, literally all they know about him is that he was never promoted during the series. And it's just, it's gross.

Liz: Which is, again, racism.

Anika: Which is just really bad.

Liz: Because Rick Berman did not like Garret Wang.

Anika: Exactly. What I do when I'm watching Voyager, and I really saw it -- like, Voyager actually does a good job -- you know how we were always complaining about making the bridge crew annoyingly prominent in Discovery? Voyager does a really good job with their giant ensemble. And to be fair, they're all like actual regulars.

Liz: They are, which I do think was a mistake.

Anika: They're supposed to be prominent, but little things. Like there's this great part where we learn that Harry wears a mask to sleep, and why. And, of course, he has his clarinet and his love of music, that he, saved up replicator rations to make a clarinet because he left his actual one at home.

And he has his fiancee, and when he is in that little bubble reality where he's back on Earth, and he has like a favorite coffee place, and he has a favorite coffee order. And it's like, those are the details that I want. You know, they're like throwaway -- not important to the plot. They just tell you who Harry is.

Liz: And what he values.

Anika: And he's a really sweet guy that cares about community, and knows people's names, and pays attention to little things. I don't understand the criticism that Harry Kim doesn't have character, because he has so much character.

Liz: What I don't get is this idea that Harry Kim is bad with women. He is wildly successful with women. He just finds it uncomfortable when women come at him aggressively. Like--

Anika: Yeah!

Liz: --that's it. And I think, again, this memetic idea that Harry is bad with women is racist, because it comes up in the script, and people accept it as reality, but it's not remotely true.

Anika: It's not true. And it's weird. He has plenty of little one-off relationships.

Liz: Right!

Anika: It's strange. It's strange. And also this idea that he's not promoted. That's not on Harry.

Liz: No. That is, in universe, on Janeway and, in reality, on Rick Berman

Anika: Right.

Liz: And why are we passing up an opportunity to criticize Rick Berman? We love that shit!

Anika: Let's always criticize Rick. Definitely everything wrong is Rick Berman. And, you know, all of them. Brannon Braga and Jeri Taylor aren't -- they're better than Rick Berman, but they aren't great.

Liz: No, no, I'm very fond of Braga because I share his tastes for weird science fictional time travel stuff. Buuuuuut...

Anika: There's stuff. There are things that are questionable. And obviously Rick Berman is a trash person and not the way that Jonathan Archer is.

Liz: No, he is a trash person in the low level #MeToo way.

Anika: Right. But back to Harry.

Liz: Yes.

Anika: Harry had a fiancee, so I don't exactly understand how he's bad with women. And in the new Janeway autobiography, he gets back with her.

Liz: Oh, nice!

Anika: I was like, Oh, that's actually -- like, I always sort of I make fun of [Libby] almost as much as I make fun of Mark, but that's really not fair to Libby, because she--

Liz: She has a personality.

Anika: In the one episode we get with her -- yeah, she has a personality, they actually have a really sweet relationship that I'm sort of, like, I can cheerlead that, you know? And since I don't like any of his canon relationships in the show, it's like, sure, he gets back together with Libby. They have a happy life, that's great.

Liz: Yeah, I love that for him.

Anika: I'd also -- while we're because we're allegedly talking about "Caretaker"--

Liz: Oh, yeah.

Anika: The pet names, the way that B'Elanna and Harry call each other Starfleet and Marquis, every once in a while it comes back up, and every time I'm happy, and I love their relationship the way that it -- like, it's not actually in the show. But their relationship that is seen in those tiny moments where they call each other by these pet names, and they support each other and, like, share, Tom is really great.

I just wish that they had built on the potential of those characters and that relationship, and that we got more of that friendship.

Liz: And it really feels like they were setting the groundwork for a canonical romance. And I have to believe that the only reason they didn't go through with that was, again, racism.

Anika: Yeah. Racism.

Liz: Because it had faded well into the background before they worked out that Roxann Dawson had amazing chemistry with Robert Duncan McNeill. And I like Tom and B'Elanna, but I also would have liked Harry and B'Elanna.

I just think at some point early on, they decided, "Actually this Asian kid, we're not going to do anything to support him or uphold him."

And, you know, allegedly he was the one -- almost the one who was fired at the end of season three, and then Garrett Wang made it onto the People's most beautiful 50 Most Beautiful People of the Year list, and they ditched Jennifer Lien instead.

Wang has said that that's not entirely accurate, and I think I'll have to dip back into Delta Fliers when he discusses that, because certainly Jennifer Lien seems to have had problems even then.

Anika: Yes.

Liz: And I hate that her career came to an end because I wonder if she would have been in a better position now than if she had -- if it had not [been her that was let go]. For those who don't follow Voyager actors in the news, Lien has not acted for a long time, and I think is living in Texas, and has racked up a bunch of criminal charges. And basically -- "don't do meth" is the moral of the story.

Anika: Her story reminds me a lot of Grace Lee Whitney's.

Liz: Yeah. And you know, Whitney really struggled with addiction for a very long time, and got through it and her career revived, and she wound up having a successful and happy life. So I hope that comes true for Lien as well. Is this a good segue to talk about Kes?

Anika: Yes. I love Kes, and they from the beginning did not know how to write her. They did not know what they were going to do with her. I hate her introduction. I love Kes as, like, the girl who's climbing up the rabbit hole.

Liz: The fairy princess going on adventures.

Anika: But I hate the fact that we meet her as battered and bruised, and a prisoner, and being saved by Neelix, who's lying to our heroes in order to do it. Everything is bad about that. That's not just -- that's just not good.

Liz: I think even if Janeway had been the one to save her, it would have been better.

Anika: Yes.

Liz: But yeah, I think the whole Neelix/Kes relationship was--

Anika: Oof!

Liz: --poorly conceived. Yur note here is that Kes is an abuse victim and also a literal child. And to be honest, I never have any problem accepting the Ocampa for fully grown adults at the age of one, and they are sexually mature and emotionally mature -- or as emotionally mature as an adult twenty-year-old can be, and there's nothing skeevy happening here. But nevertheless, the gap in age between Ethan Phillips and Jennifer Lien is so great?

Anika: Right.

Liz: I think if they had cast someone younger as Neelix, it might have worked, but it was so far from being a relationship between equals.

Anika: The issue with the actors' ages is, because they're both playing aliens, and they're both playing aliens that are new, even -- like, they're not even Vulcans or whatever, that we're aware of, we don't know how how old either -- like, I guess we know that Ocampa live to be seven-years-old. But until she comes back in "Fury", I was always sort of like, What's seven? You know, we made up time, seven in the Delta Quadrant could be eighty, we don't know. You know, it's another thing that you shouldn't think too much about in science fiction.

And then, Neelix. The thing is that even if he is a young -- what is he? Talaxian? Even if he is a young Talaxian, he has a ship, he has a job. He was in the military for a while, and left.

Liz: I was gonna say, his history in the military makes me think he's considerably older than, say, thirty?

Anika: Yeah. He's lived too much to have this. And she literally lived her two years underground, being one of the Caretaker's ants in his ant farm. [Note from Liz: we regret to report that Kes is, in fact, one year old in "Caretaker". She turns two in "Twisted" and WHY DO I KNOW THIS WITHOUT LOOKING IT UP?] She has no experience whatsoever. So putting those two together is the -- it's just not balanced in any way.

Liz: No. And I, as much as I love an age gap, there are certain conditions that have to be in place for me to be on board. One is that, in experience, or intelligence, they have to be equals. And two, the story has to acknowledge the unevenness and the consequences of that. And Voyager tried really, really hard not to.

Anika: Right.

Liz: It felt dishonest in a way. And then there was the whole Neelix jealousy subplot that came along a season or so later. It really served both characters poorly. I like Neelix? But I like him best after Kes breaks up with him in season three.

Anika: I like him best, really, after Kes is gone. Unfortunately,

Liz: No, no, that makes sense. I think sometimes a relationship holds a character back, even the memory of it. And it's easier to overlook the skeeviness of the Neelix/Kes relationship once Kes is gone.

Anika: And the issue is that Neelix's other closest relationship is with Tuvok, who is another person who -- like, Tuvok is Mr. Boundaries, and Neelix doesn't know what a boundary is.

Liz: Yeah. That's my other beef.

Anika: So my -- like, I get why they put those two characters together, and why they built up that relationship. But when you look at the way that Neelix treats Kes, and the way that Neelix treats Tom, and the way that Neelix treats Tuvok together, it doesn't make Neelix look good.

Liz: No, no, you kind of have to take him -- you really have to compartmentalize him.

And it's a shame, because I love Kes, and I really identified with her when I was a teenage girl. Obviously I identified with Janeway, and weirdly, I sort of overlooked B'Elanna because she was so angry, and I was very much in denial about being an angry teenage girl. But I love her now, obviously.

But one of the reasons that they thought Kes was unappealing was that she was too much aimed at the teenage girl demographic. And in the costume book, they describe her as dressing like a teenage girl. And I'm like, you keep saying that like it's a bad thing!

Anika: Hollywood -- society as a whole -- really looks down on teenage girls.

Liz: Yeah.

Anika: And, you know, a politician says something that you don't like, and they say, "Oh, just like a teenage girl." And it's like, what? What are you talking about? So yeah, it's just bad.

Liz: I'm just saying, you know, who were the first to be into the Beatles? Teenage girls.

Anika: Well, teenage girls are great, and we should always support them. I have that -- that's one of my, like, reusable hashtags, #SupportTeenGrls, because it's just, it's just silly. It's silly not to.

Liz: I think that Kes could easily have coexisted with Seven. Like, I think it would have been really fascinating.

Anika: Yeah! You've said this before, that they should -- like, they should have had, like, five regulars and a bunch of supporting characters. And that's true.

Liz: If they had gotten to season four and dropped, say, Kes and Harry down to recurring, so there's not the pressure to have them in every episode and not the pressure to give them stories--

Anika: And Neelix! Why are we keeping Neelix?

Liz: Oh yeah, no, Neelix has to go.

Anika: Just saying. But for some reason, they were really against all of, like, that.

Liz: Ironically for a science fiction show, I think Star Trek in the '90s was really afraid to change.

Anika: Yeah, it's because, you know what happened with Terry Farrell, where she was like, "Look, I don't want to be a regular. I still want to play this character. I just don't want to be a regular," and they were like, "No." And--

Liz: You say "they", but--

Anika: --they wrote her out and brought in someone else. Yeah.

Liz: It's Rick Berman.

Anika: We all know who.

Liz: This is a great episode for criticizing Berman. I love it.

Anika: Itwould have made so much more sense to spread the love. But ... I don't know, they wrote B'Elanna really well, so I gotta give them that. B'Elanna is my -- you know, B'Elanna and Seven -- but Seven is, like, on a whole other level. B'Elanna is--

Liz: Seven is extraordinary. B'Elanna is also--

Anika: --an incredibly well-written character over seven seasons. She goes on a journey. And they check back in with her at the same time, you know, every season. And it's really clever, and it's really well done.

I don't know how they did so well with B'Elanna when they did so poorly with others. But they did. And maybe -- I said that she's angry all the time, and that's a, quote unquote, masculine trait. And so maybe it just was easier to do -- like it was easier for the writers to write that. But you said that you didn't initially identify with B'Elanna.

Liz: No.

Anika: I want to repeat something I said on a panel some years ago now, where I said, B'Elanna is my Spock.

Liz: I remember you've talked about that before, and I think it's a really great point. And I think having a character who is as angry as her, and as conflicted about her identity, and whose story carries over seven seasons -- and it never really comes to an easy resolution. She goes forward, she goes backwards. She has good days, she has bad days. I think it's an absolute masterclass in writing a key supporting character over time.

Anika: That she is consistent in her inconsistency, that all of the inconsistencies that come up in B'Elanna 's story are there -- are pointed out, are part of the plot, are, like, "We're gonna deal with this now."

And she's consistently going back and forth in different ways, and she never gets over her -- like, she never fully gets over her identity issues. She's dealing with, an anxiety issue pretty much throughout the entire -- even in the seventh season, she's still dealing with that anxiety.

Liz: Yeah!

Anika: And that's true to life. And so it's just really well done. I think that if they had paid more attention to her, they would have screwed her up.

Liz: That's exactly what I was going to say.

Anika: It's exactly the right amount of attention.

Liz: I feel like B'Elanna's story succeeds because she's a supporting character, and she's not the focus of attention the way Janeway and Seven are. And therefore, there's not the pressure riding on her, and not the level of attention, and they can just go through and quietly tell a good story, you know, the way they did with Worf in TNG. Worf's story back then was very -- pre-Deep Space Nine -- was very consistent and very well-told. I mean, you need to have tolerance for Klingon shit, but I'm a bit fond of Klingon bullshit.

So -- so we have not discussed the Doctor.

Anika: Oh, the Doctor. Well, he is barely a person in this first episode.

Liz: He's just Cranky Siri.

Anika: He's literally the program. He doesn't do anything new. He grows -- that's a character tha goes on quite the journey over Voyager, you know, it's kind of required of that character to grow in many ways.

Liz: But what's interesting is that he wasn't planned to be a funny character, and that was something that Robert Picardo brought to the role. And it almost leads to him taking over the series. Like, I find the Doctor very wearisome. And this argument that Seven of Nine takes over, when the Doctor is there every second episode. Seriously?

Anika: Yeah, Seven takes over in a way that, like, Tuvok, Chakotay -- B'Elanna's pretty -- like, B'Elanna's always second tier, that's where she exists. So she doesn't change. Tom arguably -- but Tom still gets to do all his Tom stuff.

But Harry, Chakotay and Tuvok, definitely, are sort of put in the shadows by Seven. You're absolutely correct, the Doctor has just as much character stuff. But he's been there all along, I guess. Like, you don't see it as a change, because what happens is his story doesn't go back the way that Tuvok's and Chakotay's -- he's not put in that box.

Liz: I think it frustrates me with the Doctor, whereas it doesn't with Seven, because I feel like, with Seven, they were doing something genuinely revolutionary in terms of the character and the way her story was written. And it obviously built on a lot of great writing from other science fiction series.

But Seven was new, and the Doctor is just, you know, mash up Data with McCoy and you've got the holographic doctor.

Anika: I am interested that you said that he wasn't meant to be funny, because I can't actually imagine him as not funny.

Liz: No, I know!

Anika: Like, what even would that be? That would literally be like, you know, Siri talking to me. That's not interesting.

Liz: I get the impression that he was basically conceived as Medical Siri. And I guess because it was the '90s and we didn't have Siri, then no one realized how boring that concept would be. And I think the idea always was that he would grow -- go on this journey of personhood, but it's Robert Picardo, who made it a journey of comedy personhood.

Anika: I like it. I like that. I can't imagine it another way.

I don't love the Doctor, I think I agree with you that it's just sort of tired. It's like, we did Odo, we did Data, we did Spock. And Seven brings something different to those same tropes, whereas the Doctor doesn't, really.

The Doctor is basically Data again, not the same personality, but it's sort of the same idea. He's also put on trial to prove that he exists, and he's also used in poor ways. I like the Doctor-centric episodes that aren't about his identity, but are more about how his identity fits into his community.

Liz: Yes, no, that makes sense. And, yeah, I don't dislike the Doctor. I just get tired of him by the end of season seven.

Anika: I mean, I think that's fair. I think that he also has a harsh personality.

Liz: Yeah, a little goes a long way. And honestly, I don't think he's a very good doctor. So ... he's not ... yeah.

Anika: I wouldn't want Siri to be my doctor either.

Liz: No, and we know that he was programmed by one of the biggest creeps in Starfleet.

Anika: Yes!

Liz: And I'm not even talking about Reginald Barclay!

Anika: Well, yeah, it's kind of amazing that he is a nice person at all, really, when you think about it?

Liz: Sheer luck, and also the influence of Kes.

Anika: Yeah, I was gonna say, it's the people. And that's why those are the more interesting episodes. Because someone building an identity is not as interesting as someone becoming more of themselves because of the interactions that they're having.

Liz: Right, yes.

So your note here is, "Janeway's choice. If this were a Cardassian ship, we'd be home now. If this were a Klingon ship, we'd be home now. If this were a Vulcan ship, we'd be home now. Why are humans?"

Anika: I'm just saying.

Liz: Which brings me to my thought, like, we don't see Seska in this episode, but I have to think that the whole Caretaker shenanigans -- it's just a very bad day for her. She's thrown to the other side of the galaxy, she's abducted, she's put through tests.

Then it turns out that Tuvok was a spy, and she didn't even notice, and that it has to be embarrassing, even though he didn't notice her, so at least they're even.

And then this Starfleet captain goes and traps them on the other side of the galaxy, and she has to wear a Starfleet uniform, and she's going to be on this ship for seventy years pretending to be a Bajoran?

Anika: Seska's worst day ever.

Liz: Uh, yeah, basically.

Anika: But, yeah, so obviously I was quoting Seska in the "If this were a Cardassian ship, we'd be home now." One of the best lines, best episodes? Yes. But, one hundred percent, Klingons and Vulcans would also not have done this. And probably Andorians. It's pretty much very human to do this.

Liz: It is. And I think it reflects the way that we have a strong sense of justice and decency and also a dash of paternalism.

Anika: I guess it's also a super American choice?

Liz: That brings me to my note here, "the Social Security controversy", because this episode ends with Janeway telling the Caretaker that, you know, children have to grow up and the Ocampa have to learn to stand on their own feet.

And a lot of -- this aired around the time that Bill Clinton was tipping a lot of people off Social Security, and a lot of left-wing and liberal viewers interpreted this episode as having a subtext -- basically an anti-Social Security subtext.

And it's interesting, because all through the series, Voyager does sort of have this odd, low-key reactionary tendency. You know, refugees are a bit scary. These former slaves are scary, and not white, and all of that stuff. And it's really built into the pilot.

Anika: Yeah, it's definitely there. And, you know, Voyager is my Trek, I guess, as you say.

Liz: And that's how we can criticize it.

Anika: And that's how we can criticize it, right. And I am very critical all the time.

Liz: Yeah.

Anika: Of many of the things both within the storylines, and things that happened behind the scenes and outside of -- and like, why things happened the way they did, and the storylines and stuff like that, all of that.

I can't watch an episode without thinking about the different things, and the way that I saw it when, again, I was a very young adult (in terms of science, not an adult at all) and yet, being asked to make decisions that they kept saying would affect my whole life. "Where do you want to go to college? What do you want to major in? What are you going to do with your life?" You know, and it's like, I don't know.

Liz: "I'm a kid, man."

Anika: And Voyager was my show at that time. And I was also -- like, I've mentioned before, on various places, I went through a -- I was -- I had a mental breakdown during Voyager. As Voyager ended, within six months after Voyager ended, I was hospitalised. So it I think it was even -- because -- if it ended in May that -- yeah, it was like, less than.

So it's just really -- I was becoming a person when Voyager happened, and on the backside of it, on the other end, when it was over. And I literally named myself after Seven of Nine. So when I say that Voyager shaped my personhood, I mean, it literally. Watching this show, at that time of my life, it shaped how I think, and how I feel, and how I see. And that's why I can look back on it without my rose colored glasses, and say, Whoo, that's really rough.

And I'm on Tuvok's side, whenTuvok was like, "This is not our job. We are, we are -- like, that guy was overinvested in this nonsense, and you're just -- you're just continuing that, and you have even less reason to be doing this."

That's why I love Seska so much. That's why I'm always talking about Seska, because Seska's the one who's pointing at it and saying, "This is -- like, letting the Kazon do whatever they want is a wrong decision. But what you're doing is also a wrong decision." And--

Liz: I don't think Janeway is necessarily wrong. I think the Kazon would have probably wiped out the Ocampa if they were left to their own devices. I think, if you can prevent a genocide, then you should do so.

Anika: Everything I know about the Kazon ... I don't think that they could--

Liz: You don't think they're capable?

Anika: 'Cos there were two ships.

Liz: Yeah, that's true.

Anika: Like how would -- I don't see people who have to steal water being able to take out the Ocampa.

Like, the Ocampa not being able to defend themselves is a problem, that is true, the Ocampa not being able to leave their planet. But I guess my point is that the Caretaker is the one who put them in that position.

Liz: Right.

Anika: And Janeway still, like -- yeah, they blow up the array and the two Kazon ships, but then they still leave. Like, the Ocampa are still hanging out on their planet, right?

Liz: And they don't even know about the danger. They don't even know that the Caretaker is dying.

Anika: So I don't see how Voyager taking care of this one threat, and then bouncing, is actually better for the Ocampa.

Liz: It's so typical of '90s Trek.

Anika: I guess there's no right choice here is the real -- the real answer is, there's no good choice, and so I'm fine with Janeway's choice. I just think--

Liz: As opposed to killing Tuvix, which is the only right choice.

Anika: I'm just saying that the idea -- like, Janeway's saviorhood is super -- you can tell that her dad was an admiral, you can tell that she lives and breathes Starfleet. And that's interesting, and that's good, and that makes her a great character. I just am that person who says, also Starfleet can be bad sometimes.

Liz: Yes. And also, I think that if this had been a Next Generation episode, there would have been a meeting about it where everyone argues the rights and wrongs of destroying the array and incorporating the Maquis into the crew. But because they're so set on establishing Janeway as a, quote unquote, strong female character, there was no room for that consultation. She needed to make that decision or else they thought it might be sexist, I guess?

Anika: I guess? She just comes off as like --

Liz: High handed.

Anika: Yeah. It's just, literally Tuvok is like, "Hey, maybe let's not do that." And she's like, "No, I'm gonna do that." And then--

Liz: I'm sorry. When Tuvok speaks, you should listen.

Anika: Right?

I mean, the truth is, in more than one episode, Tuvok, like -- in the teaser, Tuvok will say something, and then it'll turn out to be correct. And the entire episode would not have happened if we just listened to Tuvok.

Liz: See, this is why Tuvok needs to join the cast of Star Trek: Picard. Like, maybe their episodes would be shorter, but they will have a much easier time getting things done.

Anika: They also need an adult.

Liz: And obviously Picard is not -- you know, he's the cool granddad.

Anika: But yeah, so I just think it's very human. It's very American. It's very, it's very '90s, as you say. Absolutely. Like that is -- and it's interesting to look at it from our lens of now, to look back and think about how the entire series is based on this one decision.

Liz: Yeah. I don't think I know enough to really say this with any intelligence, but I'm not going to let that stop me! It sort of highlights the difference between liberalism and leftism? And I think Voyager thinks it's very liberal, and is actually very centrist.

Anika: Right, which is what liberalism is.

Liz: And that is so 1990s. This is Clinton-era Star Trek.

Anika: Very much so.

Liz: Yeah.

Anika: Well, that was fun!

Liz: We have talked about "Caretaker" for about as long as "Caretaker" runs. I'm so proud of us!

Anika: Whoops! Um, before we wrap up, I have one thing I wanted to say.

Liz: Yes?

Anika: This aired in 1995.

Liz: Oh, shit!

Anika: So it's actually the 26th anniversary.

Liz: Oh, that's so interesting!

Anika: But since 2020 was--

Liz: 2020?

Anika: --you know, let's just skip over that, we can call it the 25th.

Liz: 25th with an asterisk. Yeah, that makes sense, because I was born in '82. So I was thirteen in the summer of '95. Cool. Okay. I'm really glad that we got this sorted out.

Anika: I was like, okay, when did I graduate? I was trying to figure out exactly how old I was. And so yeah, so I looked up the air date and, yeah.

Liz: My very first memory of being aware of Voyager was a column about Genevieve Bujold quitting the role. And I had a scrapbook where I cut out and saved any Star Trek related articles that happened to cross my path. I saved this article because it was basically, overworked, underpaid journalist thinks that being a starship captain sounds much easier and doesn't know what Bujold was complaining about.

What I took from that column at age about twelve is, Ooooh, another Star Trek, and this one has a lady captain! I don't know if I can ship a lady captain because any of the crew will be subordinate to her in rank. Oh, well, I'll watch it anyway, and I'll probably like it. Anyway, when's seaQuest on?

And look where we are now.

Anika: That's so funny.

Liz: I think I was a weirdly sexist little kid, actually.

Anyway, thank you for listening to Antimatter Pod. You can find our show notes at antimatterpod.tumblr.com, including links to our social media and credits for our theme music.

You can also follow us on Twitter at @antimatterpod, and on Facebook, and every single episode I say I'm going to be better about sharing episodes on Facebook at every single support night I forget.

If you leave a review on Apple podcasts, or wherever you consume your podcasts, the more reviews the easier it is for new listeners to find us.

And join us in two weeks, when we will be discussing the classic TOS episode "City on the Edge of Forever".

[plugloveff]

Chapter 7

Meek: 

“Yo, Ant go get the door it should be one of them little nigga’s for the drop” Wayne said blowing smoke out his mouth.

Popping the rubber band on the stack of money I pushed it into the money counter. The amount of money we’ve made since teaming up with Carter in the last month was what we usually made in 6 months.

Puffing on my blunt I continued to count the money just as Ant walked in carrying three duffle bags. Biggs walked in behind him with another two duffle bags in his hand.

I motioned for them to drop the bag in the corner.

“Yo Meek, I heard you locked down fine ass Chanel Wright” Biggs said sitting in the chair across from me.

Dropping the stack of money on the table I looked up at him. “What?”

“I ain’t heard of a nigga locking that down, so I gotta know how is it?” Biggs asked.

“Oh shit” Wayne said chocking on the smoke.

Sitting up in my chair I leaned closer to him. “You trying to ask me how my girl pussy is?” I asked my jaw clenching.

“Hell yeah, I’m trying to know what that pussy like.I mean it’s Chanel Wright, every hood nigga wanna piece of that” Biggs said laughing.

Wayne and Dre shook their head as Biggs continued to dig himself into a deeper whole.

Before he even saw it coming I grabbed a bottle off the table and smashed it into his head. “Don’t you ever in your fucking life talk about my shawty. Do you hear me? Her name don’t even need to be coming off your lips. I’m not the one Biggs and you know that” I barked at him. He laid on the floor holding the back of his head, there was a small gash he was leaking from.

“Meek, damn I’m sorry” Biggs said holding the back of his head.

“Yo Biggs, you really put your foot in your mouth” Dre said

“Yeah nigga, you know this nigga crazy ass fuck” Wayne said.

“Get the fuck outta here man, and next time I see you make sure you act right” I barked out.

Ant helped Biggs up and helped him out of the trap house. I was still fuming and pacing back and forth in the room.

“Yo Meek calm down, my nigga. You should’ve known this shit would happen. You wifed a hood nigga’s dream. You got a trophy on your arm you know the streets gone talk” Wayne said.

But I wasn’t trying to hear none of that. I felt disrespected and it wasn’t sitting right with me.

My phone vibrated in my pocket pulling me from my trance. Looking down at the screen I saw it was Carter.

“Wassup G?” I answered.

“I need y'all to meet me at the warehouse, we need to have a meeting” he said.

“All of us?“

"Yeah, I need talk to y'all tonight” he said.

“We in the middle of getting this week’s drops. We could be there in about an hour” I said.

“Ight, wrap it up and come to the meeting when you done” he said.

“Ight G” I said hanging up.

“Yo we gotta wrap this up, we gotta go to the warehouse after this” I said.

“Everything good?” Dre asked

I shrugged “ he just said he wanna have a meeting with us”

“Ahh shit, that don’t sound good” Dre said.

“I mean everything on our end is good. Payments come in fast and on time and he doubling our drops so we moving shit fast” I said.

“Well I guess we’ll find out in a few” Wayne said.

Nodding my head I sat back down and continued counting the money.

                                                       _______

An hour later we were walking into the warehouse. Greeting the guards, we made our way into the office. Carter, and his right hand man Dee sat at the table.

“Finally y'all made it” Dee said.

“You always so damn dramatic” Wayne said and Dee cracked a smile. Giving them a dap I sat across from Carter with Dre and Wayne on either side of me.

“So what’s going on?” I asked.

“Y'all been moving weight like crazy. I gotta say I’m impressed” Carter said. Dee nodded his head in approval.

“Appreciate it G” I said.

“So with that being said I wanna move y'all up in positions” he said.

“What you mean?” I asked

“Listen I’m turning 52 in a couple months, Dee is almost 53. We can’t be running the dope game for much longer. We wanna get you prepared to take over for us when we retire” Carter said.

“Wait what?"

"You giving us your business?” Wayne asked

“Yeah, we’ve only known each other for a little while. Thats a big move to make” Dre said.

“I know, but I also know everything there is to know about the three of you. We’ve always made money, but adding you guys to our payroll has doubled almost tripled our monthly income. Not only that you guys move smart, the legit business you’re using to clean your money makes it almost impossible to tie anything to you. Plus 10 years in the game and neither of you have so much as a parking ticket shit is impressive. I see Me and Dee in each and every one of you, if I can trust anyone to take over my operation it’s the three of you. It’ll take some time to get you guys fully in position but it’s yours if you guys want it” he said.

“Hell yeah we want it” Wayne said.

Dee smirked and shook his head. Carter smiled but his eyes were fixed on me waiting for my answer.

“So, I’m guessing this is another thing I have to keep from her right?” I asked.

“For now, this information doesn’t leave this room. It’s a quiet transition until everything is in order” he said.

Sighing I nodded my head. Running the Cartel would make me rich beyond my dreams. It was what we were hustling for our entire lives. Carter was putting us in a position to take over Miami.

“What’s the word Meek?” Dre asked.

All eyes were on me, it was still my call at the end of the day. And I knew what my answer was it was a win-win. “Yeah we taking it” I said.

Carter smiled and leaned back in his chair.  "Well, let’s talk business now” he said.

Chanel: 

“So what's the plan for your birthday?” Aria asked.

“I’m honestly not even in the mood to do anything big” I said leaning on the couch.

“Seriously your turning 25 we have to do something” Stephanie said.

“A small get together is honestly all I wanna do. I don’t wanna do the club or nothing plus we have our Christmas trip planned so I don’t need to go on a trip.

“Fine we gone plan you a fire ass party” Cassidy said.

“You guys have like two days, to plan everything” I said

“Girl we got this don’t even worry about it” Aria said.

“Enough about me can we talk about Cassidy and Cash real quick” I said.

“What about me and Cash?” she asked.

“What happened when he dropped you home? Cause you guys were very cozy the other night” Stephanie said.

Cassidy smiled and shook her head. “Nothing he just dropped me home and that’s it. He’s cool” she said.

“So what about Chris?” Steph asked.

Cassidy sighed, and played with the string of her sweatpants.

“Cass what’s going on?” I asked.

“I don’t know how to say this to you guys so you understand where I’m coming from” she said.

“Hey we’re here for you; whatever it is” Stephanie said.

“I’m not in love with Chris. I haven’t been in love with him for the past two years” she said.

“Wait what?” I asked. I could see the pain on my sister’s face and I pulled her into my chest. “Cassidy if you don’t love him why are you staying with him? If you’re not happy?” I asked.

“Because, he doesn’t deserve this he treats me so well and I can’t bring myself to leave him. He’s so sweet. But I just don’t feel the same about him anymore” Cassidy said leaning on my shoulder.

“Cassidy but your suffering, because you’re with someone you don’t love anymore. You don’t deserve that you’re only 23 you deserve to be happy. You’re not a bad person and if you don’t love him don’t force yourself to stay with him” Aria said.

“I just don’t know. I keep thinking that I’ll snap out of this faze"

"It’s not a faze if you’ve been feeling like this for the past two years” Steph said.

“Maybe, you’re right. I just can’t do that to him right now, I’m not ready I’ve been with him for the past 4 years. That’s like my entire adult life I don’t know what to do without him” she said.

“Cass, you do what you’re already doing without him. You live your fucking life. Don’t feel like you can’t be you without him” I said.

“Exactly, plus it looked like you and Cash were getting along and he’s fine af. So there’s always that” Stephanie said.

Cassidy smiled at the mention of Cash’s name. “Cash is honestly the sweetest, we’ve been texting none stop since he dropped me home that night. He makes me feel something I’ve never felt before and that shit is fucking scary” she said.

“I say see how it goes with Cash and leave Chris. Even if nothing happens with Cash, you don’t need to be forcing a relationship you’re not invested in. Shit it’s Miami there’s men everywhere you don’t need to be stuck with one you don’t love” Stephanie said.

“Leave Chris before you start anything with Cash” Aria said.

“Honestly she’s going to leave him anyway so it honestly doesn’t matter” Stephanie replied.

“All right can we change the subject please” Cassidy said getting up from her spot on the couch and walking into the kitchen.

“Fine, but don’t think we’re letting this go” Stephanie said.

“Oh trust me, I know” Cassidy said.

Before I could say anything my phone rung. It was Meek’s custom ringtone.

“Hey baby” I answered.

“Wassup Mama, you busy right now?” he asked

“Not really just hanging out with the girls”  I said.

“I need you to meet me somewhere” he said.

“Umm, ok when and where?"

"Now and I’ll send you the address” he said

“Alright, i’ll see you soon"

"Ight, love you ma"

"Love you too” I said hanging up.

“You leaving?” Cassidy asked.

“Yeah, Meek want’s me to meet him” I said standing up.

“Alright, we need to do some party planning anyway. So that’s good that your leaving” Steph said.

“Please don’t over do it, no more than 15 people cause I'm most likely just going to have it at my penthouse" I said.

"Ummm, maybe" Stephanie said.

Cassidy and Aria both glared at her. And I shrugged my shoulders.

"Anyway I have to go, but please keep it small" I said hugging each of them before I walked out of Aria's house.

                                              ___________________

Thirty minutes later I pulled into the driveway of a multi-million dollar home. I raised my eyebrows in confusion, if I didn't see Meek's Ferrari next to me I would've sworn I was at the wrong address.

Parking my car I grabbed my purse from the passenger's seat and got out of the car. Looking around the house I couldn't ignore how beautiful it was. It wasn't overbearing for such a big house, it was simple but modern but it didn't feel cold or like no one lived here. It was the exact style house I saw myself raising a family in.

Walking up the stairs, I rang the doorbell when I reached the black wooden door.  A few second's later a small middle aged women came to the door.  “Hi, you must be Chanel. I’m Isabella” she said flashing a warm smile.

Returning her smile I nodded in agreement “Hi Isabella, my boyfriend told me to meet him here” I said.

“Yes, yes come in. Ahmeek is in the living room it’s just straight ahead” she said.

“Thank you” I said watching her disappear to the other side of the house. Walking down the hallway I walked into the living room. Meek was standing in front of the glass doors looking out onto the backyard.  

“Baby, what’s going on?” I asked walking over to him.

“What do you think?” He asked

“About what?” I asked.

“The house"

Looking around I noticed how beautifully decorated the interior of the house was.

“It’s beautiful.. Who’s house is it? ” I asked.

“Our’s” Meek replied.

“Wait what?” I asked.

Meek smiled, pulling two set’s of keys from his pocket. He dropped one into my hand. “Happy birthday beautiful” he said.

Staring down at the keys in my hand I could barely form word's I was stunned. “This is our’s?”

“Yes, unless you don’t like it. But I’m pretty sure I got your taste down packed” Meek smiled confidently.

I was at a loss for word’s I didn’t know what to say. I could feel the tears, forming and I tried my best to blink them away but I couldn’t. And as one fell down my cheek Meek brushed it away. Cupping his finger under my chin to force me to look up at him. "Baby, talk to me” he said.

“I-I love it, I love you so much. I don’t know what I did to deserve you but I swear I thank god for you every single day” I mumbled in between sobs.

Grabbing the back of my neck Meek pulled me into his chest. I clung to him as I cried. I wasn’t sad I was happy. Ahmeek was the kind of man you only read about in books. But to experience such a man; to be with him made my heart swell. I couldn’t imagine living a day without him and I hoped to god I never had too.

“You’ve changed me ma, I never thought that I’d be in love or be buying a crib with someone else. But I want it all with you ma, I'mma give you my last name and I'm putting 7 little one's in you. And they're going to look just like you. You are my heart" he said.

Looking up at him through wet lashes. “I am not pushing out 7 kids Ahmeek. And I swear you making me soft" I said laughing.

Meek smiled and pressed a gentle kiss to my lips.

I looked around the house one more time “Does the house come furnished? ” I asked.

“Nah I hired someone to take care of that"

“Wait how long have you had this house?“

"Little over a month, if you don’t like it they can redo it if you want” Meek said

“No, it’s perfect, thank you baby” I said kissing him.

“We move in whenever you’re ready” Meek said.

“We can start moving tomorrow, but right now I think you should show me to our new bedroom” I said.

Licking his lip’s Meek scooped me into his arms and flung me over his shoulder. I squealed as he carried me up the stairs and into our bedroom.

[ellanainthetardis]

I was tagged by @aschen-kiln

1. What is the color of your hairbrush?

Black And green.

2. A food you never eat?

Vanilla. I hate vanilla. I can eat it if it’s ice cream but it’s really not my favorite flavor.

3. Are you typically too warm or too cold?

Too cold.

4. What were you doing 45 minutes ago?

Watching one of those Saturday French crime movies on TV

5. What is your favorite candy bar?

Mars.

6. Have you ever been to a professional sporting event?

Eeeer do dance competitions count? I have been to countless of those. Even won a few national ones. Otherwise, I don’t think so... I’m not big into sports aside for football sometimes.

7. What was the last thing you said out loud?

« There’s a part on the other side of my wall ». It’s my bedroom wall for context. And it s annoying me xD lots of music.

8. What is your favorite ice cream?

Chocolate.

9. What was the last thing you had to drink?

Water

10. Do you like your wallet?

It’s old and frayed leather and it should probably have been replaced years ago but my grandfather gifted it to me for Christmas and I will never ever replace it unless it really falls apart.

11. What was the last thing you ate?

Tonight was soooo not healthy, lmao. Chips, an avocado and strawberries.

12. Did you buy any new clothes last weekend?

Well... No? I don’t think so. I did order a hoodie and a bra online but I don’t think it was last weekend. (I have lost all time notion, people. I forgot it was Saturday today. )

13. The last sporting event you watched?

It muuuust have been some football. A while back. We’re t we doing Euro qualifications?

14. What is your favorite flavor of popcorn?

Salted.

15. Who was the last person you sent a text message to?

My cousin.

16. Ever go camping?

Never. And it s not happening. You won’t take me anywhere without proper toilets, running water and internet connnection. Also bugs. So no.

17. Do you take vitamins?

No.

18. Do you go to church every Sunday?

No. I only go for Christmas. Sometimes Easter. Funerals. Random times when we feel like it.

I have faith but I don’t feel the need to go to church to express it. More and more it feels more restraining than anything else. If it makes sense.

19. Do you have a tan?

My natural color is something like frozen chicken. So a tan... noooooe. Either I’m white as a zombie or I’m red as a lobster. No in-between.

20. Do you prefer Chinese food or pizza?

Booooth. If I really have to choose I guess pizza.

21. Do you drink your soda with a straw?

Only when it comes from fast food restaurants.

22. What color socks do you usually wear?

A lot of colors? Depends on what’s clean.

23. Ever drive above the speed limit?

No. Because I don’t drive xD

24. What terrifies you?

I have an ant phobia but I wouldn’t say it terrifies me. Death of a loved one terrifies me. Change terrifies me too a lot of times.

25. Look to your left what do you see?

My stuffed Eyore. I bought him in London during my first trip there. There are worse buddies to sleep with xD

26. What chore do you hate?

Cleaning The windows. It’s always problematic. You have to climb on chairs and dangerous lean out of your apartment... also there’s so much pollution where I live that they were dirty again really fast.

27. What do you think of when you hear an Australian accent?

I’m VERY bad at accents. So probably I wouldn’t think nothing of it.

28. What is your favorite soda?

Orangina.

29. Do you go into a fast food place or just hit the drive through?

Where I live it’s often faster to go inside and take it to go. But from now it will be drive through xD

30. Who was the last person you talked to?

My mom.

31. Favorite cut of beef?

I don’t even know what that means. The very normal regular part. I don’t eat anything funny like ears or tails or coconut stick.

32. Last song you listened to?

Heaven in hiding by Halsey.

33. Last book you read?

Just finished The happily ever after playlist. Nothing exceptional there. Currently reading Vanishing Girl by Lauren Oliver. 35% in, not great so far. A little boring and not very original.

34. Favorite day of the week?

Satuuurday.

35. Can you say the alphabet backwards?

Sometimes I can’t even say it onward xD

36. How do you like your coffee?

I hate coffee. Never drink the stuff.

37. Favorite pair of shoes?

I don’t have a favorite pair really but snickers all the way.

38. At what time do you usually go to bed?

I used to be very good at going to be around 11:30 pm at worst but during this lockdown I slipped back into bad habits and now it’s more 12pm or 12:30.

39. At what time do you normally get up?

9 AM. 9:30.

40. What do you prefer - sunrises or sunsets?

I don’t really care? I guess sunrise. Sunsets sometimes made me angst during this lockdown.

41. How many blankets are on your bed?

Currently two. One is folded at the bottom though.

42. Describe your kitchen plates?

How bold of you to assume I have matching plates xD some are purple with drawings on them, the kind of old plates. Some are plastic and blue. Some are white with pink flower. Some are white with black birds.

43. Do you have a favorite alcoholic beverage?

Vodka with coca.

44. Do you play cards?

Not really, no.

45. What color is your car?

Again, no car.

46. Can you change a tire?

In theory. In practice I can make puppy eye to any man walking around. XD

47. What is your favorite province?

Well I love my south. Also I have a thing for Marcel Pagnol. So yep. My south is pretty good.

48. Favorite job you ever had?

The one I have is cool. Not lucrative but cool. I teach English in kindergartens and more recently higher levels. Well currently I’m off work probably until September. Hopefully it will start again then.

49. How did you get your biggest scar?

I burned myself on a water bottle and didn’t notice because I was sleeping. Next thing you know 14 yo me wakes up with a terrible huge blister on the ship. The scar faded some though. It wasn’t pretty for a while.

50. What did you do today that made someone happy?

I finished the crack story, which hopefully will make a couple of people happy very soon? Otherwise I picked up the cat poop so my mom didn’t have to xD

I tag @jisoomes Have fun. 😂😂

[icarusaturn]

Learn about me!

1. Your name?

Maria Lawson

2. Nationality?

American

3. Age?

16

4. Birthday?

November 12, 2003

5. Zodiac sign?

Scorpio

6. Gender?

Female

7. Sexuality?

Bisexual

8. Your looks ( add a picture or describe them)

9. What do you/did you study?

I’m still in high school, but I’d like to study something either about language, music, or helping people/animals

10. What’s your current job like/what do you have?

I work during the summer at a Dairy Queen, a lot of my friends work there so it’s usually pretty fun

11. Your birth order?

Second, third if you count my sister

12. How many siblings do you have?

2, one brother and over half sister

13. Do you have good relations with your family?

Mostly yes

14. How many friends do you have?

Many but only around 5 close friends

15. Your relationship status?

Single

16. What do you look for in an SO?

Honest, kind, loves animals and kids, up to adventure, loves music, loves nerdy things, open to trying new things, good sense of humor, respects boundaries & privacy, not pushy

17. Do you have a crush?

No

18. When did you have your first kiss?

8th grade

19. Do you prefer a serious/meaningful relationship or casual dating/one night stands?

I won’t mind either a serious relationship or casual dating

20. What are your deal breakers?

No common sense, being an asshole, pushy, no respect, derogatory towards others, no self respect, being overwhelming and or annoying, hates animals/is rude to animals, can’t be independent, lazy

21. How was your day?

Good!

22. Favorite food and drink?

My favorite food is probably chicken or bacon cheeseburgers for meat, otherwise I love any sort of fruit. My favorite drink besides water (lol) is lemonade

23. What position do you sleep in?

Usually I sleep on my stomach or my side

24. What was your last dream about?

One of my friends’ sister was working at a Barnes and Nobel

25. Your fears?

Being betrayed, being lied to, everyone secretly hating me, being left alone, being forgotten

26. Your dream?

I want to be successful and happy with a good place to live and good friends

27. Your goals?

The same as my dream

28. Any pets?

Yeah, one cat named Sabrina

29. What are your hobbies?

Art, theater, band, choir, speech

30. Any cool places in your area?

I live in a small town, so there’s many unique things about it

31. What was your last awkward situation?

I was in the car at the local grocery store and someone I didn’t like parked next to me

32. What is your last regret?

My last relationship

33. Language(s) you can speak?

Only English, although I’m trying to learn sign language

34. Do you believe in astrological stuff? (Zodiac, tarot, etc. )

It’s very interesting so yes, I’d also like to learn more about it

35. Have any quirks?

I have synesthesia, the type where I can hear colors

36. Your pet peeves

Lazy people, people touching my stuff without permission, when someone keeps trying to talk to me while I’m listening to music, annoying loud people, obnoxious rude people, people who blurt things while someone else is trying to speak, people who think they’re better than everyone else, liars

37. Ideal vacation

Anywhere where whoever I’m with and I can do what we please whenever we please

38. Any scars?

A few from childhood and some more recent ones from self harm. I’m in a safer space and state of mind now, so there’s no need to worry

39. What does your last text message say?

I just signed up, did it work?

40. Last 5 things from your search history?

Marvel characters

Color block hoodie teddy fresh

Griz and Norm frozen

Everything I wanted lyrics

Kirishima shirt

41. What’s your device background?

42. What do you daydream about?

Movie/show scenes, memories, possible future outcomes, music

43. Describe your dream home

A house in the city with a bay window, an atrium, a claw foot bathtub, and a modern vintage look/feel, clean with nerdy decor

44. What’s your religion/thoughts on religion

I don’t have a religion because I don’t know much about it, but either way I don’t want to attend any holy services, because I’d like to prioritize other things. I do believe that everyone has their own rights to what they believe in, to me it’s like saying people should be able to eat, it’s common sense

45. You Personality type?

Campaigner personality ENFP - T

You can read about it on 16 personalities

46. Most dangerous thing you’ve done

When I was around 12 I flew with my brother alone on a plane

47. Are you happy with your current life?

For the most part yes

48. Some things you’ve tried in your life?

I’ve tried competitive dance, baking, hiking, and woodworking to name a few

49. What does your wardrobe consist of?

The usual stuff, t shirts, hoodies, jackets, sweaters, casual & fancy clothes, dresses, lots of shoes, jeans and leggings

50. Favorite color to wear

Yellow or blue

51. How would you describe your style?

Trendy nerd

52. Are you happy with your current looks?

Yeah mostly

53. If you could change/add something to your appearance - impossible or not - what would it be?

I want freckles lol

54. Any tattoos or piercings?

I have 4 lobe piercings, 2 on each side, and my left ear helix so 5 in total. I’m planning on getting many small tattoos and my septum pierced. Nothing drastic, all simple and small

55. Do you get complimented often?

Yes, almost every day with my hair and a lot with outfits

56. Favorite aesthetics?

Nature, vintage, character inspired

57. A popular trend that you dislike

There were these weird wavy eyebrows, not a fan 😂

58. Songs you’re currently obsessed with?

All of the Frozen 2 soundtrack, For The First Time in Forever and Let It Go from Frozen, Are You Bored Yet by Wallows, Amerika by Young the Giant, Maniac by Conan Gray, Come Around by Papa Roach, Same Damn Life by Seether, and Soarin by Bazzi

59. Song you wouldn’t normally admit you like?

I like mostly everything, so I would admit to liking mostly any song someone brings up

60. Favorite genre?

Pop or show tunes/ movie tunes

61. Favorite song/band/ genre?

My favorite song right now is a tie between Show Yourself and Into The Unknown from Frozen 2 or Are You Bored Yet by Wallows

62. Hated popular songs/artists?

6ix9ine, lil pump, artists like them

63. Put your music on shuffle & list first 5 songs

Prom Queen by Molly Kate Kestner

I’m Born to Run by American Authors

Holding on to You by Twenty One Pilots

Trip Switch by Nothing but Thieves

Swimming Pool Summer by Capital Cities

64. Can you sing/play any instruments?

I sing Soprano 1 and play Flute

65. Do you like karaoke?

Yeah!

66. Own any albums?

No vinyls or cassettes or DVD’s, it’s all on my Spotify lol

67. Do you listen to the radio? What stations?

I only listen to Spotify

68. Favorite movie/series?

My favorite movies are Frozen, Frozen 2, The Lion King, or any marvel movie past iron man lol

My favorite series are My Hero Academia, Voltron and friends

69. Favorite genre movies/ books/ etc.

Action, comedy, and fantasy

70. Your fictional crushes?

None lol

71. Which fictional character is you?

A mix of Elsa and Anna and Bakugou and Kirishima

72. Are you a shipper? List your otps if so

I don’t ship many things but I love Tododeku and Kiribaku

73. Favorite Greek god?

Apollo, Athena is my favorite goddess

74. A legend from where you live that you like?

There’s no legends where I live, but I like state legends like the legend of Paul Bunyan

75. Do you like art? What’s your favorite work or artist?

I like more modern artists, like ones on tumblr lol. These are a few artists I really like

@elentori-art @tecochet @cherriielle

76. Can you share your other social media?

I have Instagram, Twitter and the like but my Pinterest is maria_1820

77. Favorite youtubers

Colleen Ballinger, Joey Graceffa, Trainer Tips, David Dobrik, Molly Burke, Shane Dawson

78. Favorite platform

Everything but Facebook lol

79. How much time do you spend in the internet?

All of the time 😂

80. What video games have you played? Which ones your favorite?

I’ve played the sims and Mario kart and I like the sims more lol

81. Your favorite books?

We are the Ants by Shaun David Hutchinson and the My Hero Academia series

82. Do you play board/card games?

Not really

83. Have you ever been to a night marathon in cinema?

Nope

84. Favorite holiday?

Christmas

85. Are you into dramas?

Medical/police/firefighter dramas lol

86. Would you use death note if you had one?

I’d like to say no but I probably would

87. What changes would you make in the world no matter how impossible, if you had the power to?

I would have everyone have a good house and money

88. (There wasn’t a question here so I made one up)What was your first word?

Besides mama, my first word was eat

89. If you turned into a paranormal being, what would it be?

A Phoenix

90. What would you want to happen to you after your death?

I’d want my body donated to science

91. If you had to change your name what would you pick?

I like my name so I wouldn’t change it

92. Who would you switch lives with for a week?

Maybe a guy to see what it’s like

93. Pick an emoji to be your tattoo

🪐

94. Write 3 things about yourself + only one of them must be true

I love acrylic nails

I’ve never been on a train

I met Dan and Phil

95. Cold or hot?

Cold because I could put on a sweater

96. Be a hero or be a villain?

Hero

97. Sing everything you want to say or rhyme?

Sing everything because I sometimes find rhyming annoying

98. Shape shifting or controlling time?

Shape shifting

99. Be immortal or be immune to everything aside from natural death?

Immune to everything but natural death

100. Book or movie?

Both