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armageddon-generation · 1 year

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Justice for Brandon Routh: Everything Cut From Superman Returns that makes it Great

Ultimately it's good Superman Returns didn't get sequels because of Bryan Singer & Kevin Spacey, but I'm kinda obsessed with the forgotten middle-child of Supes' movies, and it's infuriating how the movie's thematic spine and most of its best character-beats got cut.

The Theatrical Cut of Returns is literally half a movie. Brandon Routh deserved so much better.

Sources:

Deleted scene compilation (+Return to Krypton)

The Shooting Script (available to buy)

Superman Homepage deleted shots Page 1 and Page 2

Novelisation by Marv Wolfman (this, the graphic novel & junior novelisation all used the 2005 shooting script.)

Superman Returns: The Visual Guide (available to buy)

Chew Chan comic art

Requiem for Krypton: Making Superman Returns

Prequel Comics (based on scenes from early drafts, with stories by writers Singer, Dougherty & Harris):

Prequel Comic #2: Ma Kent

Prequel Comic #3: Lex Luthor

Prequel Comic #4: Lois Lane

Comic book recap

‘78 opened with a boy narrating an issue of Action Comics. Returns pulled back red theatre drapes on a comic narrated by Clois’ son, Jason.

Actor Tristan Lake is recording the voiceover in Requiem for Krypton

From the Script (p.1):

RED THEATRE CURTAINS, drawn shut. The kind found in classic movie houses of yesteryear. The slowly open ... the film flickers to life, fading in on an old comic-book

SUPERMAN. A BOY'S HAND reaches into frame and opens it.

JASON (V.O.): On a distant planet orbiting a red sun, a wise scientist predicted his world's imminent destruction. Despite overwhelming evidence, his pleas to evacuate the planet were ignored, leaving him and his wife no choice...

He turns the page to a panel of JOR-EL and his wife, LARA

JASON (V.O.) (CONT'D): ...but to place their only son into a spaceship and launch it to another galaxy, in hopes of finding the child a new home. A child destined to become Earth's greatest protector...

“In Golden Age style art, Kal-El is placed in the rocket by Jor-El and Lara, comes to Earth, grows up with the Kents, & learns that he possessed amazing powers.”

The script cuts the Smallville part because it’s covered later in flashback.

5 years on, Superman has been mythologised. In-universe, to kids he seems as make-believe as comic books are to us.

This develops Jason’s POV of Superman. He was supposed to have this comic (from 'Uncle Jimmy') when he meets Clark in The Daily Planet

This could be why Smallville was cut; the public only knows about Krypton

The opening scene of Gertrude Vanderworth’s death was originally replaced by:

Prequel: Lex in prison

Lex’s cell is covered in Daily Planet clippings. He nonologues to henchman Stanford

LEX: I didn’t get you visiting privileges to my private suite so I could repeat myself … My work was more than mere greed … It’s a calling. Why can’t they see the danger? He’s a vanguard for an invasion of super-powered beings. I knew. I always knew. Making sure there was a line of defence against him. The Conquistadors carried a plague that decimated entire civilisations. Who knows what kind of spaceborne diseases he carried? Oh, they may not appreciate my genius now, but they will worship me for delivering them from this menace they so affectionately embrace.

Kitty Kowalski & Gertrude Vanderworth

Lex has a medical exam before his release. His henchwoman Kitty is the nurse. She flirts with him but complains Superman is all Lex thinks about

Lex burns his old toupé to “cleanse” himself

In flashback, Kitty sees Lex kill an inmate in self-defence. Lex threatens her to protect his perfect record. But Kitty says she’s his “biggest fan” & anger becomes lust

This is in The Visual Guide (p.26):

"She witnessed Lex murder a fellow inmate. Kitty refused to squeal to the guards, and she and Lex made clear their attraction for each-other."

Kitty is the Vanderworth widow's maid & suggests Lex write to her

She doesn’t like the name Kitty: “My name is Katherine”

An imaginary Superman hovers above, watching Lex leave prison.

Gertrude Vanderworth is waiting outside:

LEX: Gertrude! I’m dying in here. I’m dying without you. Please, take me home. If only you could imagine the grotesque living conditions I’ve been exposed to, dear, sweet Gertrude. You’ve rescued me from Dante’s Inferno, from the depths of human depravity.

Shows how prison changed Gene Hackman’s Lex into Returns’ philosophical maniac

Characterizes Kitty as Lex’s ‘Harley Quinn-lite’ & makes her more active

Stronger explanation for Lex's escape than Clark missing his court date

The comic's final panel is Lex looking up at the imaginary Superman in the sky, zooming out into space, then leading into...

The Opening Titles as Clark’s journey to Krypton:

(from the Script):

“Stars interspersed with DAILY PLANET HEADLINES tracing Superman’s history, many by LOIS LANE;

“METEOR SHOWER BAFFLES SCIENTISTS”

“CAPED WONDER STUNS CITY”

“I SPENT THE NIGHT WITH SUPERMAN”

“SUPERMAN STOPS CRIMINAL MASTERMIND, LEX LUTHOR”

“LEX GETS LIFE THANKS TO MAN OF STEEL: SWEARS REVENGE”

“ASTRONOMERS DISCOVER KRYPTON INTACT – SIGNS OF LIFE FOUND”

And then the biggest headline of them all:

“SUPERMAN DISAPPEARS”

More headlines follow as the world is besieged … war, famine, crime. Soon, these headlines push Superman to the back pages. Within years, he’s all but faded from public consciousness. Finally, one last headline:

“WILL HE EVER RETURN?”

IS IT KRYPTON? (p.12), LUTHOR GETS LIFE (p.24) & VANDERWORTH TOPS THE FORTUNE 500!! (p.22) are in The Visual Guide

This gives the indulgent title-sequence a purpose. It sets up the consequences of Clark leaving, his history with Lois & Lex, Krypton’s discovery, and the Vanderworth fortune Lex will steal

This transitions into:

Return to Krypton

Concept art by Ben Proctor

The script describes “the remnants of this great civilisation… cities, monuments… all made from the same crystal technology” not in the filmed scene

Clark finds the House of El crest in the “VALLEY OF THE ELDERS . . . a VAST CANYON OF CRYSTAL MONOLITHS arranged in a circle” with more family crests.

Clark's escape is more visceral (Script pp.2-3):

“GIANT SLABS whiz by ... thousands of pieces of glowing kryptonite are hurtling towards him ... Parts [of Clark’s ship] shatter and break off ... The crystal immediately GROWS BACK ... more kryptonite smashes against the window, cracking it. Crystals work quickly to repair the damage, but it keeps coming.”

The filmed version puts Vibes over story:

The Valley of Elders returns on Lex’s New Krypton in the finale.

Without the other House crests the El one feels random

Showing Krypton's achievements validates Lex’s plan to resurrect it.

Clark’s ship self-repairing introduces ‘growing’ crystals immediately

Opening an action beat is important because the next one isn’t for 40 mins

Famously, this scene cost $10 million. Videographer Rob Burnett said:

“This was always meant to be the original opening [it] explained why he was so weak when Martha found him [&] that Kal-El sweats in the presence of kryptonite which Luthor notices later ... It wasn't cut until some last-minute test screenings … people unfamiliar with Donner's Superman films & Kryptonian crystals/tech found this dialogue-less opening confusing & uninteresting”

To solve this dialogue problem it was suggested Clark bring his mother Lara's memory crystal with him. She would narrate Krypton's history as Clark explored, contrasting its past glory with its current ruin. But the scene was already finished & Singer decided:

I didn’t feel it ... No-one told me to do it. I had no time restrictions or pressure whatsoever. I just felt the movie doesn’t need this."

But Marv Wolfman did something similar when retelling Jor El and Lara sending Clark away in Chapter 1 of his novelisation:

“It had been a timeless city, strong and powerful. It survived the vast armies of three great nations waging war on its bloodied streets. It stood proud as the signing place of an everlasting peace . . . [Lara] spent her early years dreaming of living where Krypton’s earliest founders had once walked, did not want to believe that this magnificence and all it stood for would soon be gone. She had spent her first year out of university touring the city . . . She trekked out to the Valley of the Elders . . . the fabled roads that Sor-El, Kol-Ar and Pol-As, the chosen representatives from the three warring nations, must’ve taken when they created the original laws of humanity that governed Krypton. From the ground, those crystal monolith towers, reflecting the full spectrum of light, looked to Lara like hands raised in reverential prayer. Kryptonopolis had been grown from a single crystal more than 10,000 years before ... shaped by the earliest Kryptonians into vast cities millions of buildings strong"

The Visual Guide also explains the Valley of the Elders is “Where Sor-El, Kol-Ar, and Pol-Us established the laws that governed Krypton" (p.79)

This is a great parallel to ‘78's opening. That was Clark’s origin. Returns is him mourning

Seeing Krypton contextualizes Clark’s arc. We understand his alienation instead of being alienated by him

It bookends the movie with New Krypton, and gives Returns’ oft-mocked climax ‘Superman Lifts a Big Thing’, thematic weight: Clark is excising the grief that drove him from Earth

Lara's narration about the wonders of Krypton both heightens the tragedy & establishes what their tech can achieve, crucial to Lex's plan

Writer Dan Harris said:

“Lex Luthor’s trying to turn this world [Earth] into the dead world, the place [Clark] can’t live, so it becomes a person’s search for identity and home and their place in the universe.” (The Shooting Script interviews p.27)

Martha Kent and Ben Hubbard play Scrabble

Martha spells ‘Alienation’ (THEMES!!) & touching Clark’s name carved into the table is lovely visual storytelling

Ben is there when Clark crashes. Martha stops him calling the cops.

BEN: Martha-

MARTHA: (firm) Tomorrow. Bingo.

She looks at him, stonefaced. He takes another look outside – and at her, and realizes what’s happening. He sighs and shakes his head.

BEN: A meteorite?

She nods.

BEN (CONT’D): Martha Kent, I knew you’d be trouble

There’s a blooper of this scene in Requiem for Krypton & it's mentioned in The Visual Guide (p.20)

Gertrude Vanderworth's death, and Lex stealing her fortune, is shown after Clark passes out in Martha’s arms when he crashes, followed by Lex taking the yacht to the Arctic

Lex Finding the Fortress

Cool details about the Fortress' warm crystals & creating protective weather patterns, explaining the storm around New Krypton in the finale

While exploring the Fortress they find Clark's garage:

From The Visual Guide:

"Lex lingers in a cavernous chamber he dubs 'the garage', where he sees evidence of the construction and launch of Superman's spaceship"

KITTY: So did he?

LEX: Did he what?

KITTY: Take off for his homeworld?

LEX: (looking at Stanford) Well… We gave him a little push.

In the novelisation (p.89)

Lex’s First Experiment

After plundering the Fortress, Lex would test the crystal immediately- “he created a kind of giant Fortress of Solitude in the ice” (Script interviews p.28), destroying the original. Such a great way to raise the stakes!

Extended Clark waking in his childhood room

Clark waking to his starry ceiling & the Kent family photos give his return more emotional heft

Extended Young Clark’s first flight,

Which leads into…

“Little Secret”- Clark finds the Kryptonian ship as a boy

From The Visual Guide (p.11): “When he holds the Father Crystal, Clark feels a primal connection to the vanished world of his ancestors”. Martha’s prequel comic shows Jor El & Lara reflected in the crystal.

The Father Crystal is the key to Lex’s plan, so it's important to see its importance to Clark.

'Little Secret' leads into:

Martha Kent Prequel: The Kents tell the truth

The Kents find Clark on the cellar steps with the Father Crystal, staring at his ship.

They talk in the kitchen:

MARTHA: … I wish we could tell you more… well, anything about your real parents

CLARK: You are my real parents. Those other people, the ones that gave me away… They mean nothing to me. [he bends a fork in half]

JONATHAN: I understand that you feel that way now, Clark. But I have something to show you. [He leaves the room to get something]

CLARK:Ma, I- I… Am I even human? Am I some sort of monster?MARTHA: Clark Kent, bite your tongue! You are our son and we love you. That’s all that matters.

JONATHAN: Clark? This is yours. You were wrapped in it when we found you.

He gives Clark the cloth he was wrapped in when they found him - blue fabric with the “S” shield

This is a big change from ‘78, where Clark didn’t find the Father Crystal until after Jonathan dies. Martha wasn’t there & they didn't discuss it. The Fortress of Solitude made his suit.

Clark's anxiety is more in-line with MoS (“Can’t I just keep pretending to be your son?” / “You are my son.”). Rejecting Krypton is important, as his adult desire for a home drives him from Earth

Here we see Clark feel the alienation he fears for Jason in his final speech ("you will be different..."). Parenting is a big theme of Returns

Clark reads Why the World Doesn’t Need Superman in the Kent barn

In the script, Clark taking the tarp off his ship leads into the Little Secret flashback- which the deleted scene cuts around. The shots following him back to farmhouse include this voiceover (Script pp.13-14):

LOIS LANE (V.O.): For five long years, the world has stared into the sky, waiting, hoping, and praying for his return. We have spent our days asking where he went, debated why he left, and wondered if he’s even alive…

People have always longed for gods, messiahs, and saviors to swoop down from the sky and deliver them from their troubles. But in the end, these saviors always leave, and we are faced with the same troubles that were there from the beginning.

So, instead of facing them ourselves, we wait for the savior to return. But the savior never does, and we realize it was better had he never come at all.

Reading WTWDNS is referenced in The Visual Guide (p.29)

Articulating Lois’ POV makes her more than a bitter ex. Even the Junior novelisation has this!

In the Theatrical Cut Clark returns to the Daily Planet trying to reclaim the old status quo, until he learns Lois has a family. Here, he faces consequences for leaving before learning Lois has moved on, so he’s less selfishly motivated, and returns to the Planet to actively reconcile with her

Parallels Young!Clark finding the Father Crystal- the inciting moment of ‘78’s plot

Martha encourages Clark to return to Metropolis / Clark meets Ben Hubbard

This is a cute scene, humanizing Clark

Martha is selling the farm & moving to Montana

(Script p. 76), cut dialogue in purple

MARTHA: Clark, dear… No one will ever replace your father. But, Ben and I have found something special. Together. And, well, this might all come as a shock…

Clark gives her a look. Just level with me.

MARTHA: I’m selling the farm. We’re moving to Montana.

CLARK: Montana?

MARTHA: The lakes are great. And we love the fishing.

CLARK: Fishing?!

MARTHA: Clark, you’ve been gone a long time. And not even you can stop the world from spinning.

In the novelisation (p.76)

Building this subplot from a background character from ‘78 is neat.

It expands Returns’ narrow emotional scope: It's not just Lois moving on

Superman suit in Clark’s case & changing in The Daily Planet closet

As Clark puts his suitcase in the janitor’s closet he opens it, revealing his Superman costume & a Kent family photo.

So, when he rips his shirt open there’s "NOTHING. Where's his suit? He panics, then remembers." . He must change in the Daily Planet janitor’s closet. As he leaves he "catches a glimpse of his reflection in a window -- he's still wearing GLASSES" (the Script p.44)

Love Superman in glasses as a metaphor for the transition from Clark to Supes.

The Theatrical cut emphasizes Lois’ POV of Superman’s return but this is more balanced & impactful for Clark

Lex and Stanford discuss Superman’s return

When Lex learns Superman is back he & Stanford discuss luring him away. You can see Stanford running to catch up with Lex before the Theatrical scene cuts away. Deleted dialogue in purple:

STANFORD: So, what are we going to do?

LEX: You’re going to modify it and attach it to the stern, I don’t care of the instructions are in Russian

STANFORD: You know what I mean, Lex. He’s not stupid. How long do you think it’s going to take him to trace all that stuff back to me– and you. He was supposed to die up there.

Stanford paces. Lex clenches, obviously stressed. He hears the WHIMPERING of Gertrude’s dog.

Infuriated, Lex hurls the newspaper at it but misses. Enraged, Lex snatches a heavy crystal off the desk, when he STOPS. He stares at something on the NEWSPAPER

Lex bends down and picks up the paper. He smiles, and hands it to Stanford.

LEX: Stanford, you worry too much.

Stanford looks at the article, intrigued.

“WORLD’S LARGEST COLLECTION OF METEORITES TO EXHIBIT AT METROPOLIS MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY”

Lex & Stanford faking Krypton’s discovery makes all Clark's problems his fault. Clark did nearly die, & it makes Lex a more formidable villain

It makes the plot more cohesive

Clark being tricked by his nemesis > ‘he just left lol’

Lex’s desperation gives him depth. Stealing Kryptonite is now a response to Superman, where in the Theatrical cut it’s so underplayed it seems like just the next step of his plan.

Stanford and The Daily Planet

I can’t find it, but Mr. Sunday Movies cites an interview where the actor revealed Stanford was a disgraced Daily Planet science correspondent, & wrote the articles about Krypton.

More plot cohesion, connecting The Daily Planet & Lex plots. If Lois recognises Stanford when she’s on Lex's yacht, she could figure out Clark was tricked, helping her forgive him.

Extended Clois outside The Daily Planet

Deleted dialogue in purple, (Script pp.58-60):

CLARK: Well … Maybe saying goodbye was so hard because he didn’t know whether it would be goodbye for a little while … or goodbye forever.

Lois doesn’t seem to be listening

CLARK (CONT’D, QUIETER): And maybe he had to go and he wanted to say goodbye, but he couldn’t find the guts to do it, because maybe if he saw you, even one last time… Well, maybe he was afraid that if he even looked at you just… once… he would never be able to… leave (beat) Maybe it was too difficult for him.

. . .

CLARK: So… Do you want to grab a quick bite? Catch up? My treat.

LOIS: Oh I’d love to, but Daddy took the car and it’s my turn to ‘cook’ the family dinner, which means I’ve got just enough time to get back to the ‘suburbs’ and order the Chinese

CLARK: Suburbs?

LOIS: Yeah, we have a really nice place on the river. You should drop in sometime.

CLARK: I’d love to.

Brandon performs this dialogue for a screentest in Requiem for Krypton

Much better reason for Clark not saying goodbye. Corny, but if your gonna justify an OOC decision, do it with the romance at the heart of your movie.

Lois is much nicer & less dismissive of Clark. Theatrical Lois seems to actively dislike him.

Hints Lois feels stifled as a suburban mom

Lois Prequel: Writing Why The World Doesn’t Need Superman

The ‘Lois at home’ scene begins with a flashback:

Perry tells Lois to write a piece for the 5th anniversary of Superman leaving. She struggles with writer’s block at home, & goes out to smoke. She thinks Clark blows out her lighter, but she’s imagining it & realizes she must move on. That night she writes WTWDNS

Then Richard asks about I Spent the Night With Superman, then Clark is revealed to be watching at the end of the scene.

[After Clark flies away, Script p.63]

Lois picks up some food, then suddenly stops and turns to the window, staring into their backyard. Beat.

RICHARD: Lois? You okay?

Lois snaps out of it.

LOIS: Yeah, sorry. Hey, didn’t I have four won-ton’s?

Jason stuffs a won-ton into his mouth.

LOIS (CONT’D): JASON!

Lois & Richard dive, trying to snatch it from his mouth

A cute Jason moment, & Lois ‘sensing’ Clark makes his spying a little less creepy, selling their 'stracrossed lovers' connection

Superman On Patrol

Two scenes are omitted from the script (p.64) before the ‘Bulletproof’ bank robbery. Presumably they formed a full crime-fighting montage, like in ‘78.

The Visual Guide describes two cut sequences that perfectly fill that gap (p. 60):

“In Switzerland, he saved 12 stranded climbers from the peak of the Matterhorn. In Venice, he prevented the famous canals from flooding the city streets. Superman seems to be everywhere at once, but nowhere is he more prominent than in Metropolis…”

Full Deli Robbery Segment

MONTAGE REPORTER #3: Sir, after he captured the men trying to rob your Deli, did he do or say anything?

DELI OWNER: He tried the hummus. He said he liked it – and Superman never lies!

More action! More wholesome Superman! Expanding the scope of the movie beyond Metropolis!

Lex’s Plan

Higher-key Kryptonite heist where Lex’s gang fool guards and witnesses

The movie needs more energy. Like the stolen missile earlier, in the Theatrical Cut Lex’s plan is afterthought bullet-points

When Kitty returns to Lex after Superman saves her, the stolen missile is being disassembled. Lex takes its explosive & the kryptonite he’ll stab Clark with

Lois Prequel: Why she resents Superman and meeting Richard

After Perry demands Lois interview Superman we flashback to him doing the same thing after Krypton was found:

But Superman never shows. Months pass until “the world had to admit” he was gone.

The world turned to Lois as their 'Superman expert.'

JIMMY: Miss Lane. You okay?

LOIS: I will be once Perry lets me cover something over than Superman. He left. He's gone, and maybe he's never coming back. How many different ways can I write that?

JIMMY: I know Miss Lane. I miss him too.

The world refusing to let Lois move on by pigeon-holing her as ‘Superman’s Girlfriend’ is important context.

Now Perry refusing to let Lois cover the blackout is part of a sexist cycle she’s fought for years

Lois escapes to the roof for a smoke: "Even as the days kept passing, I held out hope. I mean, he never disappointed me before, right?'

Richard White introduces himself just like Clark:

RICHARD: Those things will kill you, you know. Hello, Lois. I'm Richard White.

LOIS: White, huh? Did Perry even read past your last name on your resume?

RICHARD: I won't deny what it looks like, but my uncle hired me because I'm damn good at what I do. And with you I see wasted talent. The Superman story is old news. The Planet's best reporter should be used elsewhere.

LOIS: You're certainly more insightful than you look, White.

Directly parallels Richard and Clark

And contrasts the rooftop interview with Superman immediately afterwards; we now know she waited here for Clark to return every night until she met Richard

Clark Visits the Fortress of Solitude

When Clark visits the Fortress of Solitude he has cut voiceover (Script p.89):

SUPERMAN (V.O.): Father... It’s been a long time since I’ve come to you… But I’ve never felt so alone.

EXT. FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE - SAME TIME

Superman lands & approaches the console. The crystal has been taken. WITH A VOICE ECHOING THROUGH THE ARCTIC LIKE THUNDER:

SUPERMAN: FATHER!!!

FATHER!!! Is OTT but important when Superman has so little dialogue

Clark is now clearly driven to the Fortress by Lois’ rejection. In The Theatrical Cut, he just checks in because it’s time for Plot to happen.

Losing Jor-El emphasizes the theme of parenthood- Clark loses a father as he gains a son- & justifies Jor El’s voiceover later

Lex's Fortress

In an earlier draft, Clark found the new Fortress Lex grew in his first experiment, and "Clark sunk it and put it underwater"

Originally “Richard & Lois flew there with Clark to investigate & take pictures" (Script interviews p.28) but later on these became satellite pictures that were delivered to the Planet. Lois saw them & understood what Clark had lost.

Lois seeing & understanding Cark's losses is important

Clark destroying Lex's Fortress would be an impressive action beat & Returns is desperate for those. Showing Lex's impact through action!

Extended dialogue on the yacht explaining Lex’s plan

LEX: It’s not just an island. It’s an entirely new continent. Virtually indestructible and self-sustaining. For lack of a better name, it’s Krypton. An extinct world, reborn on our own.

LEX: I’ll have ADVANCED alien technology thousands of years beyond anything anyone could throw at me. Weapons, vehicles, you name it.

Gives New Krypton more credibility & makes Lex's plan more concrete, especially after Return to Krypton showcased Kryptonian tech

Saving Metropolis

Earlier drafts of the ‘Saving Metropolis’ sequence had “monster waves surging in every direction” (The Visual Guide p.70) Dan Harris also mentioned "waves coming in" and Clark “pulling a subway train out [of the ground]”. (Script interviews p.28) The script omits several sections that could fit these moments.

The script includes Clark saving people from cars set on fire by the gas explosion.

Again, Returns copies ‘78, but that earthquake was way bigger - a dam explodes, a bridge collapses, a train derails. Clark shifts tectonic plates to stop it.

Perry White meets Superman

I understand why this was cut but it’s still cool

The Missile Explosive

After Jason kills Brutus, the deleted scene of Lex finding Brutus’ body is followed by (Script pp.113-114):

INT. YACHT - PANTRY Lois & Jason sit against the far wall, exhausted & worried. The door swings open, revealing LEX. He looks at Jason & winks.

LEX: Catch.

He tosses SOMETHING into the room, wrapped in the handkerchief. It rolls towards Jason’s feet. LOIS CHARGES just as Lex slams the door. Jason removes Lex’s handkerchief, revealing the EXPLOSIVE from the missile.

LOIS: Honey… don’t move.

Lois is panicked, searching for any way to get rid of the explosive. Finally; a SMALL AIR DUCT. She kneels & pulls at the VENT COVER. It won’t budge. She looks around & finds a LARGE METALLIC SOUP LADLE. SHE JAMS THE LADLE INTO THE VENT, using it like a crowbar.

JASON: Mommy?

LOIS: JASON DON’T MOVE!

Lois strains to pry the vent away. After what seems like an eternity, it finally pops off. She approaches Jason VERY CAREFULLY.

LOIS (CONT’D): Okay Honey, stay still…

Lois THROWS IT into the air duct … grabs Jason & rushes him to the other side of the room. The explosive drops down a series of air ducts … Silence. Lois and Jason open their eyes, relieved.

Then – BOOOOOOM! THE BLAST ROCKS THE ROOM. A burst of flame shoots from the vent. Lois shields Jason. The flames are followed by a GEYSER OF SEAWATER. The room is tipped upward. Water is streaming in. Lois tumbles backwards into the water, struggling to reach Jason, but she’s STUCK.

ANGLE UNDERWATER: Lois’ leg tangled in a LIFE PRESERVER.

LOIS: HELP ME! Oh God…

Water floods into her mouth. She disappears under the surface when the DOOR is RIPPED OPEN, AND THE SILHOUETTE OF A MAN STEPS INTO THE ROOM. He dives underwater.

The man rips Lois’ leg free from the cables and pulls her to safety. Lois finally opens her eyes and comes face to face with… RICHARD. She and Jason are stunned.

LOIS (CONT’D): How –How did you get here?

RICHARD: (obviously…) I flew.

Lex’s response to Superman’s son here is more appropriate & threatening.

Another setup & payoff with the missile explosive gives the film more structure. Plot, y'know?

Makes Lois more active

Richard/Clark parallels

Jason recognizes Clark

[in the seaplane after Superman saves them from the yacht]

Jason curiously looks up at Superman.

JASON: Hey, you look just like–

SUPERMAN: (Cutting him off) Can you fly?

For a moment, it looks like Superman is speaking to Jason – then he turns his head to Richard.

Also in the novelisation (p.285)

More Jason/Clark connection & more payoffs (Jason suspected Clark's identity after seeing him next to Superman on TV earlier)

Context: New Krypton

The script describes it as “almost identical to the ruins of Krypton ... Unlike the ruins, this place feels like it could be full of life – what he hoped to find when he went to Krypton,” with buildings “resembling the Fortress of Solitude”. made of the Fortress’ glowing white crystals, presenting the facade of life.

Clark confronts Lex in “an exact reproduction of the Kryptonian VALLEY OF ELDERS" (where we saw the El Crest in Return to Krypton). Flickering x-ray vision reveals “IN THE GROUND AND WALLS are pockets and veins of kryptonite”

From The Visual Guide (p.79):

“New Krypton recreates its planet of origin according to an ancient blueprint, beginning with the vanished capital of Kryptonopolis ... [it] will eventually replicate the towering face of Mount Argo, the bottomless depths of the Xan Chasm, & the polished dome of the Krypton Science Council”

Superman hears something else in the wind, coming from inside the structure: a VOICE. Faint, but familiar. Maybe JOR-EL? LARA? It’s joined by other ghostly whispers before another familiar voice calls out:

LEX (O.S.): See anything familiar?

The ghostly whispers are a cool detail

Now New Krypton is literally a ‘dead world resurrected’, not just some land, & will terraform the whole planet. It brings the movie full-circle- Krypton followed Clark home

After beating a powerless Clark, Lex reveals the truth

LEX (CONT’D): Look, buddy. We sent you there to die, but ya’ had to come back…

Superman looks at Lex, his expression turning from agony to realization.

LEX (CONT’D): Oh yeah. All those photos? Those stories about Krypton still existing? It was me. (Beat) And him.

ANGLE ON: Stanford.

LEX (CONT’D): Thankfully the press doesn’t check facts like they used to. (Beat) Hey, you took away five years of my life. I just returned the favor.

In the novelisation (p.297) & literally every other adaptation of the story. Why the fuck would you cut it?

As Clark drowns:

“Crystals are growing towards him from every direction. ALL GLOWING GREEN from Kryptonite. He tries swimming to the surface, but he’s too weak. He’s trapped ... A mesh of crystal walls are closing in around him, over him like a tomb."

The tomb is a thematically resonant image (New Krypton = graveyard) & heightens the crystals’ threat

Jason ‘senses’ Clark instead of seeing him from the plane window

In the script, Jason wants to help Clark too- not just Lois & Richard deciding.

Jason looks out the window, pointing down to the water.

JASON: There.

He turns to Lois. Beat. She can’t see anything.

LOIS: You’re sure?

Jason nods. He’s certain.

While Clark in hospital, Lois names ‘New Krypton’

it's gone “into orbit somewhere between Mars & Jupiter. Supposedly it’s laced with Kryptonite & still growing”.

Again, creates a thematic bookend with 'Old Krypton' in the beginning

Outside the Hospital

Ben Hubbard waits with Martha Kent- you can see his shoulder next to her in the Theatrical Cut

There are shots of Lois, Jason & Martha talking while they're in the crowd- presumably Martha offering support without Lois knowing who she is

Martha meets her grandson! The two mothers of Kryptonian sons talk!

Bringing Martha & Ben back ties the Smallville section of the movie back into the plot

Final Clois Exchange

SUPERMAN: Thank you, Lois.

Tears well in her eyes, struggling for something to say.

SUPERMAN (CONT’D): It’s alright.

It’s what she’s wanted and needed to hear for years.

It’s such a small thing, but gives Clois closure, and Clark more lines

OTHER CHANGES

Color-grade: Returns’ drab sepia look ruins beautiful cinematography. The original color-grade in the teaser trailer (which is like 70% deleted footage) is much better, as is this color-corrected shuttle sequence

A tighter edit to compensate for the action-light script. They went for a classic, unhurried edit, but you could shave multiple seconds off most shots without losing anything. The Superman Restored fanedit re-inserts 25 mins of deleted scenes and is still 8 mins shorter than the Theatrical Cut

Tldr;

Returns is inherently slow-paced. Even with a faster edit, adding all this would push it past 3 hours. Regardless, Singer shot his own film in the foot because his priorities were wrong: Outlined above is a more balanced, cohesive story with richer themes. The Lex and Krypton subplots are complete. Clark feels like the main character, & Lois is more sympathetic.

Brandon deserved so much more.

#superman #superman returns #brandon routh #clark kent #lois lane #clois #cbm #richard donner #superman: the movie #superman ii #deleted scenes #krypton #lex luthor #martha kent #dc comics #dc movies

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best-kpop-song-tournament · 1 year

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Please vote for which song you think is better! If you haven't already, make sure to listen to both songs under the read more before voting.

Propaganda is encouraged, but please do not be negative towards the other song in doing so. This is meant to be a fun tournament! If you write propaganda in the text of your reblog (rather than in the tags), I will likely reblog it!

youtube

It seems it was Too Late for Ateez, which Feel Special beat in the first round!

Feel Special is Twice's 8th most viewed MV! This song is elegant and mature but also carries Twice's signature sweetness, proving that they can pull off any concept!

youtube

Gashina sweeped match 52, Sorry Sorry if you voted for Super Junior!

Gashina is Sunmi's most viewed MV! This song, alongside the dance, is an absolute icon of 3rd gen kpop. Sunmi totally slays the concept too!

#music poll #kpop #tournament #twice #sunmi #more like slay pop

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susan-enthusiast · 1 year

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Sweet/random Susan headcannons!

Loved roller skating! She was very good at it too! (No explanation needed for this headcannon)

Is decent at cooking, but not the best at it

A bisexual with a preference for women (post Derek situation)

Cat person!! She absolutely loves cats

Loves swimming! Especially the California oceans. I mean, she's a Cali girl, what do you expect?

Decent singer, I'd imagine! I mean, Reese Witherspoon does have a good singing voice, so I'd imagine she has a good voice too.

Type to read books from time to time

I feel like she'd be good at art

With my character Nancy, I feel like Susan would absolutely love to just, hold her in her arms, silently rubbing her back in a comforting way.

Loves all the monsters equally

I feel like she'd love Instagram, probably her favorite app

Would love going to museums

Played at least one instrument in High School (probably violin)

Probably was a cheerleader too, I wouldn't doubt that.

Her parents threw her birthday parties up until she was 19 (she didn't hate them, she was getting older and more independent.)

Only ever dated Derek, he asked her out in her Junior year.

Listens to music like 24/7

The only way you can tell that she's upset is that she'll be VERY quiet, even for a giant woman.

Definitely had an obsession with boy bands as a kid

It never specified her age in the movie, so I'm gonna assume she was 23-26?

Got bullied in middle school for her looks

Never the popular girl in high school, just your average person

Derek was probably popular though

Hates dark chocolate

Very sentimental about every holiday

I think the reason her hair turned white was (a.) The quantonium, or (b.) She was super stressed, you know, literally growing 50 feet tall and not knowing what was happening to you, which caused her hair to change.

A very big hugger! She loves hugging Nancy, and pressing little kisses all over her face <3

I'll probably make more of these lmao

#monsters vs aliens #susan murphy #ginormica #mva

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ronandhermy · 1 month

Note

⭐ any section of this account cannot be found you'd like to share? (I'm very tired or else I'd go find one of my favorite sections <3)

One of my favorite sections is in Chapter 5 (oh how long ago was that) when Trout (Mark Fish) confronts Jack. The line "Jack Zimmermann doesn’t have friends. He only has competition.” Had been one I had been sitting on and really wanted to use but I needed to build up to it.

The thing about the canon of Check Please is that there are actually very view characters, especially in the hockey context. There is no full Samwell roster, there is no full Falcs roster, and forget the other 32/33 teams in the NHL. (Also super weird that we never actually see any coaches for the Falcs. Guess they just magically coach themselves.) So it's a lot of creating OC's. One area that I think gets unexplored a lot is the fact that Jack would have had other Juniors teammates besides Kent. And several of them probably had made it into the NHL and would have stayed close to Kent. So how did they take Jack's OD? His ghosting? His behavior towards Kent? His attitude to getting into the league at 26 (which is old to start in the NHL). Enter Trout (and Gordie and Brady and Pat).

So the confrontation in Chapter 5 between Jack and Trout was important for me because it wasn't just the hurt of the years of absence, it was Trout letting out all those past adolescent fears that had basically been proven true. That Jack didn't think they were friends at all. Which, when you're a teenage hockey boy and your Captain is also Bad Bob's son and he's going to go first or second in the draft and is going to be a big star, it's easy to doubt that he sees his second best winger as a real friend.

But it also offered Jack the chance to come back into the fold. Each Juniors boy needed to have his say, with Gordie and Trout being the most vocal, and Jack needed to hear it. Because having their friend nearly die on them and then cut them all off did hurt. Yes, Jack was going through things, but he does not exist in isolation. So I thought it was good for Jack to remember that he did have a community in his teenage years and he still did as an adult, but also to have his shit called out. Because real friends will tell you things you don't want to hear but need to hear.

#asks #this account cannot be found #hope this is what you were looking for #anyway i just enjoy those interactions #and making jack realize he isn't the center of the universe or given a free slate every time he moves on and ghosts people

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justsomerandomfanfic · 2 years

Text

Pick Your Choice - Eddie Munson X Female Reader X Steve Harrington - November 16th

Title: Pick Your Choice

Eddie Munson X Female Reader X Steve Harrington

Additional Characters: Employees, Nancy (Mentioned), Robin (Mentioned), and Reader's mother (Mentioned)

| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 |

WC: 3,857

Warnings: Love triangle, Steve's in love with the Reader, Eddie's in love with the Reader, flirting, slight fighting/mean teasing but it's brief, a bit of a competition, awkward romance, fluff, slight angst, nervous Eddie, awkward (but smooth) Steve, teasing, Reader has a mother, mention of the candy/van thing, and Eddie sings

You were in a real predicament. You liked not only one boy... But two. Steve Harrington and Eddie Munson. The two of them are so different that it was almost comical. One was charming yet a complete goof while the other was edgy yet super funny. How could you choose? You're sure you could fall head over heels for either one of them at any given moment. But which one do you choose? You didn't have the answer at the moment.

And to make this seem like it was right out of a rom-com, both Steve and Eddie had a thing for you. It was quite the love triangle. Before Steve graduated, you were only a Junior when he first went up to you. He asked if you wanted to go out on a date to the drive-in. You had known Steve your entire stay at Hawkins High. And, you had known that his ex, Nancy, had just broken up with him. You didn't want to take the chance of being his rebound, so you politely declined. However, before Steve left, he gave you his number. That didn't stop him from talking to you. He'd take any chance he could. In passing in the halls, or right before lunch ended.

You ended up talking a lot. Learning that he was actually a certified lifeguard and hated working at Scoops because of the stupid hat when summer came around. And when you spoke, Steve listened. He listened to every word and somehow remembered that you had said you liked Lillies in passing once (and got them for you for your birthday). He was soft, caring, and sweet... He really seemed to like you. And... You were beginning to like him.

Then, after Steve graduated and started working at the video store. He told you that he still had feelings for you but he didn't want to force you to go out with him. He said he'd wait for you. Whenever you are ready. You thought that was really sweet of him.

And then... You met Eddie. You were newly graduated, working at a small records shop across from the movie store Steve worked at when Eddie walked on it. He had a swagger about him with his hands in his pockets as he walked to the front desk. A smirk on his face as he asked if you had any Metallica in store. Sadly you did not. But, Eddie was smooth and asked for your number instead. Well, you weren't going to give your number to any stranger, no matter how cute they were. In your opinion, he had to earn it. And earn it he did. After weeks of every Saturday morning walking in and asking for your number, you finally said yes. One thing is for sure, Eddie was dedicated.

But he didn't only come for your number Saturdays. He stayed a while and chatted too. Asking about your favorite band and telling you how Metallica was superior to all. That made you laugh. Eddie was kind, smart and definitely not what you expected from someone who grew up in that neighborhood. All leather and rock n' roll. The more time you spent together, the closer you became. And although you were still crushing on Steve, you couldn't help your blossoming feelings for Eddie.

~~~

Laying up all night as you tried to decide who to choose was terrible. You felt horrible thinking if you chose one, the other would be hurt. And that wasn't something you wanted to do. So, you decided on the best solution. You needed to know why you liked these boys. Why were they important to you? You knew you were attracted to Steve's charm and Eddie's wit and humor. But that wasn't enough.

You grabbed your small notebook that was totally not a diary and began writing...

Steve: His smile made you melt. He was always so nice to you. You learned that there was a lot more to him than he let on. He was protective, thoughtful, and caring. Everything you ever wanted in a guy. Maybe that was what drew you to him. He was so cute, but it was his voice that made your heart flutter.

Eddie: There was something about him that made you feel at ease. Like he was a friend that you had known forever. He was hilarious and weird (but in a good way). And fun! You enjoyed spending time with him. You loved how easygoing he was. He was the type of person you could talk to about anything. No topic was off-limits. His dimples, don't even get you started. And, his perfect dark chocolate eyes... Make your knees weak.

Slamming your book shut, you narrowed your eyes in determination. You knew what you had to do.

~~~

Tapping your foot anxiously as you checked your watch on your wrist. Looking up as the door bell jingled, you sighed as you watched Eddie and Steve walk in, headed straight towards you. Once they both stopped at the booth, they frowned, narrowing their eyes at each other.

"Hey... I'm on this date with Y/N." Eddie spoke up, pointing to the table.

"No, I think Y/N called me last night for this date, Munson," Steve replied before you spoke up.

"You are both on this date with me. Now, please sit... We have to talk."

The two young men looked at you rather confused before sitting at the booth together across from you; Eddie intertwined his fingers on the table while Steve crossed his arms as they looked at you for an explanation.

You cleared your throat before speaking, "Well, I'll get to the point. I have a crush on both of you and can't decide who I like more. And I didn't know what to do." You began, Eddie quickly speaking up after.

"Wait, you like the both of us?" He glanced over to Steve before turning back to you. "Us two?"

"Yes, you guys," You answered, glancing at the two across from you.

"Oh..." Eddie smiled lightly as he scratched his arm nervously. "I mean... Wow..."

"That's why I called you here. I just didn't know how to handle this situation," You admitted.

Steve nodded, looking at Eddie with a slight frown. Eddie looked at Steve before turning back to you. He sighed deeply and leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table as he spoke, "This is crazy..."

"I'm sorry about this..." You muttered, biting your lip. "I didn't mean to fall for the both of you. It just happened."

"Oh! Don't apologize," Eddie smiled, shaking his hand, dismissing you, "I'm just happy you like me back."

"Me too." Steve spoke, "I am also happy you return my feelings."

You sighed and nodded quickly, fidgeting with your hands as you spoke, "I just don't want you two to think that you both have to compete for me."

Both men raised their eyebrows, "Compete for you?" Eddie questioned, crossing his legs as he leaned back.

"Yeah, I mean, like... I don't want you two to fight or anything."

"I mean... If we want to be with you... We have to compete in some way." Steve began and Eddie nodded agreeing.

"Yeah, I don't mind competing. How are we going to win Y/N's hand in marriage?" Eddie spoke dramatically, placing the back of his hand on his forehead.

"Uh... Marriage?" You laughed nervously, confused, only for Eddie to pat your hand on the table.

"Don't worry, sweetheart. Good ol' Steve is going to solve this for us."

Steve narrowed his eyes at the table as he thought, pursing his lips before running a hand through his hair.

"How about... We each take you on one date. Then after, you can decide. We are all free Sundays, so this Sunday I can take you. Next Sunday Eddie can take you. And that next Sunday, we meet back here, you can tell us who you choose."

"Why do you get to go first?" Eddie asked, but you ignored them as they began to quietly bicker between themselves.

You worried on your bottom lip as you shifted in your seat. That did seem like a good idea. One date.

"I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings." You mumbled and Steve grabbed your hand in his, giving you a reassuring smile.

"It's alright if you do, Y/N. But I will support any decision you make. I won't be a sore loser, and I'll still be your friend."

"I'll do the same." Eddie quickly butted in, "Even if you don't choose me, I'll still bother you at work, and whenever I have free-time." He joked about taking your other hand in his.

You nodded, smiling, "Alright." You spoke up, silencing the two boys in front of you. "Let's do it."

"I'm gonna win." Eddie taunted Steve who just glared down at him.

"Eddie..." You scolded lightly as the man in question just shrugged.

"That's what you think," Steve muttered, making you gasp.

"Steve! Be nice."

"May the best man win." Eddie cheered, bringing his hand out for Steve to shake.

Steve stared at Eddie before grabbing his hand and giving him a firm shake. "May the best man win."

~~~

As the first Sunday came around you adjusted your outfit as Steve knocked on the door. You rushed to the door and opened it, seeing Steve in his usual get-up but with some Steve flare.

"Good evening, Y/N. You look stunning," He complimented, giving you a heart-melting smile.

You blushed and smiled back up at the young man, "Thank you, Steve."

"Well, are you ready to go?" He asked, offering his arm to you which you gladly accepted.

"Of course. So... Where are you taking me?" You asked as he led you to his car, opening the passenger seat for you.

"That, my dear, is a surprise." He spoke, before shutting the door for you and rushing to the driver's seat.

"A secret? Not even a little hint?" You asked as he started the car, resting his hand on the back of your seat as he pulled out of the driveway.

"Well, I could give you a hint but where's the fun in that?" He asked, smirking lightly as you just shook your head, smiling.

"Do you always surprise your dates like this?" You ask and Steve shrugged, glancing at you briefly.

"Only for you, Y/N/N."

Pulling up the long building thirty minutes later, a huge smile spread on your face.

"The roller rink? Are you serious? Are you psychic or something? I've been wanting to go for ages!" You gushed as he parked the car, before getting out and coming around to open your door.

"Or something." He laughed, helping you out before leading you into the building. "Totally didn't just ask Robin about it at all." He joked, making you laugh.

Once inside, you took in the large room full of kids and teenagers of all ages, rolling around the room in a giant circle.

"Wow, this place is amazing." You commented as you walked along the hardwood floor, Steve close behind you.

"I know. Have you seen the rug over there? It's pretty cool." Steve observed, pointing to the almost psychedelic rug with roller skates and ribbon printed on it in various bright neon colors.

"Really cool. Come on! I wanna skate." You insisted, taking Steve's hand in yours and going to grab the rent-skates.

Once you and Steve sat down and got your skates on, Steve grabbed both your hands and helped you up. You, a bit wobbly on your feet, slid right into him, making the two of you nervously laugh.

"Sorry... Haven't done this in a while." You apologized, before Steve placed his hands on either side of your waist, stabilizing you.

"It's okay. I haven't either," Steve confessed, unable to stop the smile on his face.

You were now completely pressed against him, feeling his warmth as he held you close. You looked up into his eyes, feeling your heart begin to pound wildly.

"We... Should start skating..." You breathed out and Steve nodded.

"Yeah, we should." He muttered, running a hand through his hair before he took your hand again and led you onto the rink.

Taking one shaky step at a time, you followed Steve around the rink, loving the fact that he was holding your hand. It felt warm and secure. There was nothing else in the world but the two of you and loud 80's music in the air. You glanced up at Steve, looking at his side profile in awe.

He's so cute. You thought, watching as he slowly turned to face you, his hazel eyes meeting yours.

"Are you enjoying yourself?" He asked, leaning closer to you.

"Yes! I'm glad you took me here. Thank you." You giggled softly.

"No, thank you. So far... This has been the best date ever," He whispered in your ear before kissing your cheek.

Your cheeks warmed as he kissed you, continuing to hold on to your hand as you continued to make circles around the rink with him.

"I have to admit, you're a pretty awesome date." You admitted, squeezing his hand feeling so giddy.

"Yeah, you're not so bad yourself." Steve teased as you smacked him in the shoulder, causing him to fake offense.

"I'm sorry, did I hit your ego?" You chuckled, rubbing the spot with your hand.

Steve bumped your hip, chuckling. "Not at all. Just... I can't believe how lucky I am. I'm lucky to even have just this date with you." He sighed, looking down at you with such admiration.

"Well, I feel pretty lucky too." You told him, staring into his eyes.

His grip on your hand tightened as he leaned down, pressing his forehead to yours. The two of you stayed like that for what felt like an eternity until you heard someone clearing their throat.

"Hey! Keep moving please!" A voice called out and you and Steve both jumped away from each other.

"Oh, sorry!" Steve apologized to the rink worker before you began skating again.

At the end of the night, around ten, you and Steve headed off the rink, stopping at the benches to take off the rent-skates.

"Man, my feet are killing me. Who knew skating was such an exercise?" You joked as you struggled to untie your shoelace.

Steev noticed your struggle, "Let me." He offered before bending down on his knee to help you.

You watched with a small smile on your face as Steve untied your laces and gently slid the heavy skates off your feet. Like a reverse Cinderella but just as romantic.

"Thank you, Stevie." You gushed, placing your hand on his cheek, "You really are a charming prince."

"I'm no prince charming." He laughed, kissing your hand.

"Yeah... You're right." You hummed, slipping on your regular shoes with a small smirk. "You're missing your armor."

Steve sputtered a laugh with you as the two of you left hand-in-hand back to his car.

~~~

Not before long, the next Sunday came around and it almost felt like deja vu as you waited nervously by the door for Eddie. You tapped your foot as you waited for him to knock. You knew he was there, you could hear him walking up the steps. He'd been standing at the door, probably mustering up the courage to knock for about two minutes now, which you couldn't help but think was really cute.

Finally, he knocked and you didn't waste any time in opening the door.

"Wow... That was quick." He muttered, looking up at you with wide eyes. "Y/N, babe. You look amazing." He complimented, giving you a teasing wink.

You blushed slightly, "Thanks."

Eddie stuffed his hands into his pockets as he rocked on the balls of his feets. "Please don't thank me. I honestly should thank your mother for making you. Is she home?" Eddie asked, making you jokingly hit him on the shoulder with a chuckle.

"So, where are we going?" You asked, as you grabbed your bag and Eddie took your hand and led you to his van.

"I'm taking you to the movies." He replied, opening your door for you.

"Do you have candy in here?" You asked, hopping in the seat.

Eddie looked up at you confused, "What?"

"You know..? Van... Candy... Nevermind." You laughed nervously, feeling nervous and excited all at once.

"Oh, I got ya. I ran out. You know... Kids to snatch for my d&d and all?" Eddie just shook his head before getting into the driver's seat and driving off.

Only a couple minutes later did you finally get to the small theater. Eddie quickly hopped out of the van and made it to your side, opening your door for you.

"My lady," He spoke, bowing lowly as he helped you out of the van.

"Thank you, Lord Eddie."

Eddie chuckled, placing a hand on his cheek, "Oh, my name. She says it so perfectly." He sighed dreamily, making you laugh.

"What are you taking me to see, Eddie?" You laughed out, only for Eddie to place a finger to your lips.

"Surprise." He said simply before leading you to the employee at the desk. "Two tickets to Little Shop of Horrors, please."

"Right away, sir." The woman smiled, handing Eddie the ticket stubs.

"Thanks." He hummed before the two of you went into the theater. Once seated, Eddie turned to you, "Are you ready to watch a horror movie?"

"Why do they call it Little Shop of Horrors?" You asked, earning an amused chuckle from Eddie.

"Because it's about an evil plant." He explained with a shrug, "But don't worry, it's not actually scary, I made sure to go see it last night... Just in case."

"Awe... You don't think I can make it through a real scary movie?" You teased only for Eddie to shake his head.

"On the contrary, my sweet. I don’t, but I don’t want others to give us looks when we’re the only ones laughing," He joked back, making you laugh; only to get hushed violently by someone in the theater.

"You are a scoundrel, Eddie Munson." You whispered to him, making him smirk.

"Oh, you can't resist me." Eddie grumbled, pulling you to his chest.

"Maybe." You murmured, before turning to the big screen.

As the movie continued, you aimlessly reached your hand into the popcorn bucket, accidentally touching Eddie's hand. His hand in turn slowly caressed yours.

You looked up at Eddie, seeing his lips parted as he stared down at you with deep eyes. Your heart began to pound harder as you felt the heat radiating off him.

"I hope you are enjoying the movie. I know it's a little cheesy." Eddie murmured softly, slowly pulling his hand away.

"I love it. Don't worry." You muttered, before turning back to the screen.

Eddie continued to watch your side profile a moment more, before taking the chance and reaching down, pressing a kiss on your cheek, and turning to the screen as if nothing happened. You felt your face flush as you smiled, glancing quickly at Eddie before stuffing your mouth with popcorn.

Soon the movie finished and you and Eddie walked out hand-in-hand as you headed to the van.

"Suddenly, Eddie." Eddie began to belt out in song, spinning you out and back into his arms like a dance. "Is standing beside you."

"Oh god..." You laughed, pulling away but Eddie followed.

Taking your cheek in his big, warm hand, "You don't need no make-up... You don't have to pretend!" He continued, as you sighed.

"People are staring, Eds." You muttered, taking his hand and trying to re-lead him back to his van.

"Suddenly, Eddie..." He began again, getting your attention, "Is here to provide you..."

"Stop it!" You giggled, shaking your head, "I don't want to be your 'Audrey.'"

"Sweet understanding... Eddie's your friend." He finished, before looking at you eagerly.

You looked around awkwardly, shaking your head at the young man in front of you, before catching his cute puppy dog eyes. Why did he have to do this to you so?

"Okay... I'll do this one line. Then no more." You muttered threateningly, pointing your finger as Eddie waited.

"Nobody ever treated me kindly... Daddy left early... Mama was poor." You softly, nervously sung, making Eddie's eyes grow wide.

"Wow, I didn't know you could sing." He smiled, still holding your hand tightly.

"I'm not very good at it." You admitted shyly, keeping your head down as you walked along with him.

"Don't you worry, Y/N. I think you make a perfect Audrey." He promised, gently tugging on your hand.

You paused and looked up at him, "Are you going to feed me to your plant?"

"Maybe..." He grinned, winking at you.

"Oh god..."

~~~

You lay in your bed that next Sunday. Your mind raced with thoughts, questions, and more. It was hard to concentrate on anything else but the situation you were currently in. You had a date with both Eddie and Steve. They had both been so nice to you, and you couldn't help but feel so lucky to have them both in your life.

They each seemed to have their own charm, and you loved every second of being around them. However, the thought of choosing one of them over the other was terrifying. You couldn't do that to either of them. You closed your eyes. The only way to know for sure was the feeling. The feeling you had with them. You thought back to Steve. He was so sweet, and romantic. Undoing your skates for you and holding your hand so you wouldn't fall. Such a gentleman. Well, both Eddie and Steve were such gentlemen. They both treated you like royalty, like some sort of princess.

When they held your hand, you could tell how much they cared about you. How much they wanted you in their lives. But when Eddie held your hand... You could feel his passion. His burning desire for you. The way he looked at you with such intensity. And, Steve. You could feel his love. His determination. His drive to protect you and keep you safe. Both men loved you deeply, and you knew you would never find anyone better than either of them. After much contemplation, you finally made your decision.

~~~

You walked into the small diner and saw that both Steve and Eddie were already sitting and waiting for you. The two ordering glasses of water for the three of you. You smiled and sat down across from them, placing your bag in the seat next to you.

"Hello boys, you're here early." You spoke and the two nodded.

"Of course. Had to be." Eddie spoke simply.

"I didn't want to be late." Steve just said instead.

You nodded and licked your bottom lip nervously.

"You've decided?" Eddie asked, you could hear the impatience in his voice.

"Who do you choose?" Steve asked, biting his lip.

You let out a breath before speaking, "I choose... | Eddie | Steve | Other |"

_________________________________________________

Let me know who you chose down in the comments... I'm curious.

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scotianostra · 2 years

Photo

Happy Birthday the super sexy Scottish actress Michelle Gomez.

Michelle was born as Michelle May Romney Marsham Antonia Gomez in Ayr in 1966, and grew up in Glasgow. Her dad is of Portuguese descent and is from Montserrat, her mum ran a model agency’ She is one of four children; two older brothers, one of whom is called Derek, and a twin brother who died in.2004.

When she was seven, her parents took her to see Cole Porter’s musical take on the Shrew, Kiss Me, Kate at the Theatre Royal in Glasgow and she was mesmerised by the character Kate, she described it as

“ I was electrified and, of course, I thought they were talking to me. Even then I had an ego running riot. And I loved Kate’s energy, her fieriness. Even at that age, I identified; I thought: ‘Yup, I’m one of her, she’s one of me.”

Michelle attended Shawlands Academy and the junior section of The Scottish Academy of Music and Dance from the age of twelve before going to the adult Academy.

Her first major role was in Irvine Welsh's Acid House , that’s my pal Gary McCormack with her in the first pic, she went on to make small screen appearances in The Bill and Taggart (two different roles in each) before the very funny and underrated Book Club on channel Four.

Other TV appearances have been in Rebus, Murder in Suburbia and Carrie & Barry before her big break as staff liaison officer Sue White in the Channel 4 comedy Green Wing.

For me Michelle’s best work has been as “Missy” in Dr Who, where she regularly steals scenes. Before the first female Doctor, she was the first female “Master”, one of the Doctors recurring arch enemies.

As well as her roles on this side of the Atlantic Michelle has appeared in Highlander: The Raven the American supernatural television series Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, featuring in all 36 episodes, the show got rave reviews but I have not watched it myself, not being a fan of the supernatural horror genre. It was cancelled in July 2020 due to the covid pandemic, I wouldn’t write off it being picked up again in the future, some sources are erroneously saying a series 5 is due soon.

Michelle has been on our screens in The Flight Attendant, series based on the 2018 novel of the same name, it’s on HBO Max in the States, I must admit I’ve not got round to watching it as yet, the show was originally meant to be a mini-series, but a second series was commissioned and it was shown in April this year. It’s not known whether there will be a third series as yet.

Fans of Michelle and the Superhero genre will be pleased that they return to HBO Max in December.

No doubt we will also see her return to Dr Who someday, I certainly hope so. Gomez has been married to actor Jack Davenport since 1st May 2000 they have a son together. Of him she said

“Jack wasn't my type at all. I thought he was too young and too posh and I told him that. Plus, I couldn't deal with his dodgy bowl-cut. But he wore me down”

Of herself Michelle is very modest one saying

“Lots of actresses disappear by the time they're my age. So far, I've bucked the trend. I haven't got sucked into that 26-episode run of something like Casualty. Thankfully, my face has stopped that happening. It's not something you want to see every week on TV! I'm theatrical saffron in that way - just a light sprinkling of me here and there...”

Of her ambitions Michelle says it is to play Mama Rose in Gypsy on stage on Broadway.

“That would be checking every box in my career if I got to play that. That is my biggest ambition! Oh my, I would ROCK THAT! I need to learn how to sing first, but that is just a technicality.”

Happy Birthday Michelle and good luck with getting on stage in Gypsy.

#Scotland #scottish #actress #television

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inkribbon796 · 7 months

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Egotober 2023 Day 23: Arachnophobic

Summary: Virgil is trying to sulk around town at night when he runs into someone else at night.

A/N: WARNING for spiders and a phobia being exploited.

Prompt: Web

Chapters: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31

Virgil did his best, which was all Janus ever asked of him. It didn’t help with Dark slowly encroaching on their city.

He was wandering around, minding his own business and trying not to take it personal that Logan didn’t seem to have any free time. He definitely wasn’t taking it personally that Logan wasn’t trusting him with his super secret identity. Even if Virgil wasn’t being 100% honest with his own either.

While he was wandering he saw Pathos, one of Dark’s junior lieutenants, wandering around as well.

Virgil planned to sneak around but Patton turned around before he could slink away.

“Hey there, kiddo?” Patton smiled behind the puppy dog mask.

“Great,” Virgil said.

“What’s your name again?” Patton asked.

“Anxiety,” Virgil said. “It’s what I cause in people. I can make people feel bad.”

“Neat,” Patton said. “I can make people feel things too.”

And after he said that, a weight seemed to settle on top of Virgil. It wasn’t his usual anxious feeling, it was nothing.

It was absolutely nothing.

Which unsettled Virgil so deeply, more than he thought it would.

Desperately to make the void go away, Virgil sent out one of his spider familiars, a large one the size of a small dog. Spider web being made in their wake.

Virgil expected it to distract Pathos, something for him to destroy and give Virgil time to escape.

But Pathos let out a high pitched scream, and flinched away from Virgil’s spider, the void weight coming off of Virgil entirely.

At first Virgil wasn’t sure what happened but his familiar moved back in front of him and Pathos was clearly trying to get away.

Virgil smiled. “What? Big bad Network lieutenant doesn’t like spiders?”

“I really don’t,” Pathos said, hands in front of him and Virgil felt something trying to grab at him but so long as he kept the spider in Patton’s view, it could never fully take him over.

“They’re really quite awful, how they just—” Patton screamed when Virgil had his familiar fire web at the Lost One.

Virgil laughed.

And then a bat connected with his side, knocking him over.

“Back off!” The Author went over to grab Patton and drag him off. Leaving Virgil there instead of doing his usual writing them into one of his notebooks and exacting the suffering.

Using his star, Arthur got them moved to the house they were staying out.

Arthur turned Patton to look at him. “You okay? Need a bandaid? Need me to go back and kick his ass?”

“I could use a milkshake,” Patton mumbled.

“Yeah, no problem,” the Author said. He walked into the kitchen.

“How’d you know I was here?” Patton asked.

The Author stopped at the fridge, hand shaking. “I don’t know. I just didn’t want him to do something to you.”

“Well, thank you,” Patton said.

“Yeah, sure, whatever,” Arthur said and started pulling out stuff for milkshakes.

Patton got out of his costume and got into his fluffy pajamas, while Virgil was busy running back to Janus.

The two Lost Ones were busy drinking milkshakes, Patton in comfy clothes as they watched cartoons.

Arthur was busy disassociating for a bit as he stared at the screen. He hadn’t known where Patton was. Hadn’t known why he thought Patton was in trouble. He just knew it, and instead of using his star to get Dark’s attention and figure out why Patton was in trouble or where he was . . .

He was just there, and was down a victim.

For that moment Author had become something else and he wasn’t sure why that had happened or what he was. His eyes hurt too.

Author wasn’t sure why that was connected but it felt connected. And to hell if he was going to admit he couldn’t control his powers. His powers were the most powerful in the family. He wasn’t going to admit to Illinois or Dark that he couldn’t handle.

He would be fine.

The Author would be fine.

#Egotober 2023 #Superhero AU #Masks and Maladies #Virgil Sanders #Patton Sanders #the Author #explotation of phobias #spiders #Author is fine #definitely not the Host taking over

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chicken-fifi · 2 years

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It's here! My Halloween Event will be taking place throughout the entire month of October! Every day I will be posting a short fic for the artists that were voted the most coinciding with either or 'horror' or kinky theme. There won't be any normal requests going up this month since I want to focus on creating the best content possible for this event and hopefully you guys enjoy it and look forward to it in the coming years!

Day 1 - Taecyeon (2PM) - Killer or Victim?

Day 2 - G-Dragon (Big Bang) - Degradation (NSFW)

Day 3 - Sungjae (BTOB) - Stalker

Day 4 - V (BTS) - Temptations

Day 5 - Sungjin (Day6) - Til Death Do Us Part

Day 6 - Suho (EXO) - Teasing (NSFW)

Day 7 - Mark (GOT7) - Bloodlust (NSFW)

Day 8 - Yoseob (Highlight) - Obsession

Day 9 - Shownu (Monsta X) - Aftercare (NSFW)

Day 10 - Johnny (NCT) - Breeder (NSFW)

Day 11 - Jaeyoon (SF9) - Sensory Deprivation (NSFW)

Day 12 - Minho (Shinee) - Merman

Day 13 - Hyunjin (Stray Kids) - Exhibitionism (NSFW)

Day 14 - Yesung (Super Junior) - Mirrors (NFSW)

Day 15 - Taemin (Super M) - 1st Time (NSFW)

Day 16 - Yunho U-Know (TVXQ) - Mine

Day 17 - Hoony (Winner) - Kidnapped

Day 18 - Christian Yu - To Worship You (NSFW)

Day 19 - Gong Yoo - Mobstar

Day 20 - Junho (2PM) - Haunted House

Day 21 - RM (BTS) - The Siren

Day 22 - YoungK (Day6) - Troublemaking Ghost

Day 23 - D.O (EXO) - Spanking (NSFW)

Day 24 - Gikwang (Highlight) - Cabin in the Woods

Day 25 - Jisung (NCT) - Zombieland

Day 26 - Chani (SF9) - Mommy Milkers (NSFW)

Day 27 - Han (Stray Kids) - Food Play (NSFW)

Day 28 - Siwon (Super Junior) - 7 Minutes in Heaven (NSFW)

Day 29 - Yoon (Winner) - Serial Killer

Day 30 - Wonho - The Stripper

Day 31 - Woo Dohwan - Dominant and Submissive (NSFW)

Tagging: @iamthecabbage @confusedchildsstuff @multistan-kpopfanfics @steph0707 @irishxgem if you would like to be tagged and aren't please let me know!

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hoperays-song · 1 year

Note

Hey I remember you gave Marcus his status as a pro boxer could you also gave him an AU version as a MMA’st include Stan too…

P.S I also remember an MMA movie of two brother fight each other if they the two ever face other out for some reason in the ring who would win

🏆 🥊🔥🦍🆚🦍

Thanks so much for the ask! I tried to answer it to the best of my ability, sorry if it's not really what you were asking for. I hope you enjoy anyway! - <3 Gooseless

Disclaimer: my boxing knowledge is from google searches and my one friend who did box (who might have been fucking with me with the answers to my questions but oh well). I did martial arts and martial arts sparring soooooo.... yeah this is not my area of expertise.

---------------------------------

If they were actual professional boxers/MMA fighters:

If they were actual professional boxers, I think they would do a lot of doubles fights together and would be a pretty big force to be reckoned with. Barry would probably be their marketing agent in this case and they would have a lot more counted for wins.

Their first meeting would be different, with them probably meeting during a match when they were younger and becoming friends from that (it would also mean that Stan and Barry got to meet Johnny's mum so there's that).

But the conflict in Sing 1 would be the most different. Instead of training him to be a robber, Marcus is trying to get Johnny to become a boxer. He doesn't skip out on a heist, instead he misses a match, pretty much ruining his record which is what annoys Marcus. The same fight would occur, but both his dad and uncles would be at the performance to support him and apologize.

And instead of Marcus and the other's doing community service in Sing 2, it would have been them getting ready for a match when Johnny calls and them choosing to go help anyways, no questions asked.

---------------------------------

Currently in the canon universe:

Marcus's Stats (In a Fight Club)

Total Fights: 67

Fight Record (Wins, Losses, Knock-Outs): 34, 14, 19

Weight Class: Super Middleweight

Title Shots: None (They didn't have titles)

Earliest Knock-Out: 2:39

Win Streak: 15

Total Strikes Landed: 1697

Average Strikes Landed per Minute: 7.41

-----------

Stan's Stats (Actually in a Ring)

Total Fights: 54

Fight Record (Wins, Losses, Knock-Outs): 26, 13, 15

Weight Class: Super Middleweight

Title Shots: Essex Junior Middleweight Champion 1993

Earliest Knock-Out: 2:43

Win Streak: 14

Total Strikes Landed: 1797

Average Strikes Landed per Minute: 8.24

---------------------------------

As for in a match... I think it would be close tbh. I'm not sure who would win, I think it would depend on the day. Marcus is overall stronger but Stan is slightly faster.

#sing marcus #sing stan #sing barry #slight mention of boxer au #boxer/mma au #sing johnny #johnny is a good fighter and i will stand by that #he might be the worst out of the gang but he's still pretty good #stan is slightly faster than marcus and mainly uses his words to get around in fights #marcus is more straightforward with just power #my boxing knowledge is practically non existent ok?#i did martial arts sparring and grappling and i was not good at either #let alone boxing #also im a pacifist soooo yeah my fighting knowledge mostly came from having an older brother #sing #sing 2 #the tagging has descended into chaos

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jxtty · 8 months

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☆ –– (michael evans behling ,he/him, cis man) who is Etan James 'EJ' Williams anyways? ew. you don’t know about him, we’ll bet you want to. they’re feeling 26 and karaoke feels like a perfect night to them. rumor has it they’re impulsive and childish because they care, but they’re also fun-loving and optimistic in the best way. he works to make a little money as An NFL Tight End. they’ve rented on a place on cornelia street in the form of an apartment. End game (a) is the song they could dance to the beat of forevermore. (davis, 30+, est,, he/him)

Demographics

Name: Etan James ‘EJ’ Williams

Age: 26

Sex/Gender: cis man

Ethnicity: Biracial (african american and caucasian)

Occupation: Tight End for the NY Jets

Socioeconomic status: Wealthy

Education: Bachelors in Archeology from Penn State

Physical Appearance

Eye color: brown

Skin color: light brown

Hair color: dark brown

Height: 6’4

Weight: 225 lbs

Body type: muscular

Fitness level: peak physical condition

Tattoos: TBD

Scars/Birthmarks: N/A

Disabilities: N/A

Background

EJ was born into a loving family near Philadelphia with an Older brother (WC) and three younger sisters (WC). He's always idolized his older brother and begged his parents to put him in YAFL so that he could play the game his brother loved: football.

He had an extraordinary talent for it from childhood and by the time he was a sophomore in High school he was already being scouted by multiple colleges, he, however, followed his brother to Penn State where they were able to play together one year, just like high school. They won a championship that year and, in combination with his best friend and college quarterback turned current NFL quarterback, he won another two championships his Junior and Senior years in college.

After college he once again followed in his brother's footsteps and was drafted into the NFL at 22 (as #89), going originally to the Arizona Cardinals for a single season before being traded to the New York Jets where he is today, which just so happened to be the team that his college quarterback was drafted to. He doesn't have evidence, but he strongly suspects that his trade was influenced by his best friend wanting his favorite tight end on his team again after being placed in a starting position unexpectedly after the veteran quarterback had a career ending injury.

Now he's been with the Jets for three seasons and they're coming off of a Super Bowl win with high expectations to go all the way again.

#cornelia.intro

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wrestlingisfake · 1 year

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Best of the Super Jr. Day 1 preview

Hiromu Takahashi vs. Mike Bailey - This is an A Block match in the Best of the Super Jr. tournament, with 2 points at stake--two for the winner, zero for the loser, or one apiece if it goes to the 30-minute time limit. After the last A Block matches on May 23, the two wrestlers with the most points will square off on May 26 to determine the block winner, who will meet the B Block winner in the tournament final on May 28.

Takahashi is the IWGP junior heavyweight champion, but no championships are at stake during the tournament. The tournament winner will presumably challenge Hiromu for the belt, probably on June 4. Unless, that is, Takahashi wins the tournament himself, in which case he can name his next challenger. Hiromu has won four of the last five BOSJ tournaments, and he only missed 2019's edition due to a neck injury. So he's clearly the man to beat in this thing.

Bailey is best known as a key name on Impact Wrestling and the US indies. This is his first tour in Japan since April 2020, and although he was a regular in DDT back in the day, he's only worked a handful of NJPW shows in the US. I'm surprised it took this long to get him booked for BOSJ, and to get him in the ring with Hiromu. He's just the sort of new blood this tournament has needed for a few years.

New Japan likes having major upsets in the early going of its big tournaments. So I could certainly see Bailey winning to make a statement in his debut, set up a title match down the line, and put Hiromu under pressure to recover. But there are other places you could do a big upset on this card, so I'll go with Takahashi to win.

El Desperado vs. Yoshinobu Kanemaru - This is a B Block match, again with 2 points on the line. Same deal as the A Block, but the last B matches will be on May 24. The top two scorers will face off on the 26th to decide who goes to the final on the 28th.

From 2016 to 2022, Despy and Nobu often represented Suzuki-gun as a tag team, capturing the IWGP junior tag title four times. But after Suzuki-gun amicably disbanded, Kanemaru aligned with Taichi's Just 5 Guys group, and Desperado's been teaming with Minoru Suzuki and Ren Narita. This is the first time these former teammates have been pitted against one another since the breakup; in fact, I think it's the first time all year that any former Suzuki-gun members have squared off.

The outcome isn't in much doubt. Despy was the BOSJ runner-up in 2022 and 2020, and he made third place in 2021. Kanemaru has always been an also-ran in the tournament, and at 46 years old he's probably not about to change all that with a sudden hot streak. Look for Despy to win here and finish with at least five or six wins; Nobu will be lucky if he can get four victories.

Titan vs. TJP - This is an A Block match. Titan is the CMLL world welterweight champion; again, titles aren't at stake here. TJP is fresh off losing the IWGP junior tag title and sustaining a nasty cut in the process. It's not clear if TJP will continue in the tag division with Francesco Akira or pursue a singles run; his performance in this tournament may shed some light on that. As for Titan, he joined Los Ingobernables de Japon about six months ago mostly so BUSHI would have a tag partner in Super Jr. Tag League. I keep forgetting he's in the group, so it'd be nice if this tournament gave me a reason to care. I think this one could go either way.

YOH vs. Robbie Eagles - Two points in B Block are on the line. Yoh and Robbie had both been in the same faction--Kazuchika Okada's CHAOS--but Eagles recently joined his fellow Australians in TMDK. I don't think that makes him a heel, but he and Yoh sure aren't going to be friends in this one. Both men recently came up short challenging for the junior singles title, so they need to finish the block with at least a winning record to stay relevant in the division. Robbie is always coming up short for some reason, so I guess I'll pick him to lose here too.

Lio Rush vs. SHO - Another A Block match. Sho was best known for being in Roppongi 3K until he viciously betrayed his tag partner Yoh. Recently Yoh has bounced back in a new tag team with Lio Rush. Other than that these two haven't had much to do with one another, so expect Yoh to be a big part of the story on commentary. Since aligning with the House of Torture Sho's whole act is to try to clobber his opponent with a wrench, so I don't think this will be very good. I'd like to see Lio do well in the tournament, but I suspect he'll be fed to Sho to build up heel heat.

Francesco Akira vs. Master Wato - More B Block action. As noted, Akira's run with TJP as junior tag champs just ended. I'm a little more interested in seeing Akira make a run for the singles title than TJP, so I hope he at least goes 5-4 in the block. Wato has been going nowhere fast for years, and I'd be open to seeing him get a push but New Japan seems determined to not let him get an ounce of momentum. Akira will likely win.

KUSHIDA vs. DOUKI - A Block again. Kushida is one of the IWGP junior heavyweight tag team champions, but more to the point he was the ace of this division before he jumped to NXT in 2019. When he returned last year I thought he'd go on a tear through the singles division but that never got off the ground. Now he's got a big chance to show he's still got it.

But I think the bigger story here could be Douki. In Suzuki-gun he was always kind of the job guy, but now with Just 5 Guys there's a sense that he's on the cusp of breaking out into something bigger. There's bound to be a big upset on this show, and I think this is it. A Douki win establishes that he's for real, it gives him something to crow about even if he finishes 4-5, it sets up a tag title program for him and Yoshinobu Kanemaru, and it gives Kushida the big "does he still have it" storyline. I'll take a Kushida win but I'm ready for Douki to shine.

BUSHI vs. Dan Moloney - This is a B Block match. Bushi isn't a nobody but he's never going to be the top junior in Los Ingobernables de Japon, so I don't figure he'll do much better than 8 points in this tournament. Moloney is the real story here. I've literally never heard of the guy, probably because I don't follow the UK scene and that's where he's spent most of his career. I read that he tries to bring as much heavyweight style and power as you can put into a junior heavyweight body, so that should be a good change of pace from the usual flippy stuff. My preference would be for him to debut with a win, but that's not assured in New Japan.

Taiji Ishimori vs. Ryusuke Taguchi - Back to A Block. Ishimori has been a face in the crowd amid the goings-on with Bullet Club. If he's going to be credible threat to the singles title this year, he should have no difficulty beating a comedy guy like Taguchi. But Taguchi is known for turning it up during BOSJ, and this might be one of those nights. Either of these guys could finish near the top of the block, but Ishimori is that one who belongs there.

Kevin Knight vs. Clark Connors - The opener is a B Block match. Knight is one of the IWGP junior tag champions, alongside Kushida. Connors joined Bullet Club last month, and this should be our first chance to see whatever new look he has, now that he's ditched the "wild rhino" gimmick. Both guys are still finding their footing after graduating from the dojo, but Connors needs this win just a little more than Knight does.

#njpw #best of the super juniors #hiromu takahashi #mike bailey

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