#but book!elphaba is so wonderful i love her

[dearest-darlingest]

long-winded glinda gelphie angst thought ahead.

i just had a Thought™. a very sad glinda gelphie thought.

it's always been discussed how absolutely crushing the finale is; interpretations of glinda's grief driving her to do good, not by her own desire but because it was elphaba's last wish for her, amongst many implications in the finale that i love. however, it's always plagued me how it must be so painful and, to a point, numbing elphaba's absence post-defying gravity to glinda is.

it was never said in the musical how long they were apart (i have not read the book), but i rather think it must be a few years since glinda had to graduate ("we all went to uni together"). so, imagine how desperate she must've been in finding elphaba but not pursuing her search because she deemed it safer for the both of them (glinda with her status and elphaba's everything). how worried she felt in her day to day, wondering if her best friend's even safe, if she's already dead somewhere and no one was able find her body because nobody really knows where she is. all she's ever seen of her are the flashes of black flying through the sky, the sad reality of existing in a world with the one who she loves most but not being able to hold her, not even see her.

and then comes the reunion in the wizard's den.

she hears a commotion, she barges in concerned for whatever's going on in there, she sees elphaba. she sees elphaba. they crash onto each other in a tight hug. she's safe, she's here, she's alive. she holds onto her hand.

but then she realises that elphaba wasn't there to see her. not really. she waited and worried and waited even longer, but elphaba wasn't there for her.

what if she came to the conclusion that elphaba was there to apologise. to make amends with the wizard, so she can be with glinda again. what if glinda thought this was her second chance, a blessed one after she rejected elphaba's idea of flying with her during defying gravity.

she chooses fiyero.

now this is where the Thought™ really sprouted from—

she chooses fiyero and runs away and doesn't even say goodbye. and then the wretched senior citizen duo have the gall, the audacity to plan her beloved's demise right in front of her. but. after she's been brutally chosen over someone else, she bitterly says, "her sister. use her sister. spread a rumor, make her think her sister's in trouble. she will fly to her side and you'll have her."

it works. of course, it does. because that's her sister! her only living family left (though, she wasn't aware of that yet). but what if, glinda started to realise, after being left by elphaba again, that the plan wouldn't work if she were the one in trouble. what if glinda begun to think, how insignificant she must be in elphaba's life. to not be protected by her, to not have her fly over and fight whatever evil that has come to target glinda. to not be priotised by her.

to not even be a choice.

[that-ari-blogger]

Galinda's True Colours

One key theme in Wicked is superficiality. The world of Oz is a place where honest conversation is difficult to come by. Almost everyone is pretending to be something, or believe something, or have something, all to get what they want.

Popular approaches this theme with the subtlety of a hyperactive wrecking ball and gives a musical monologue about how this world works, and why.

Because Galinda has been portrayed as ditsy up to this point, with a bit of the self-serving schemer archetype thrown in for flavour. But here, we see just how intelligent she is. Galinda has caught on to how the world works, and understands what buttons to push.

Let me explain.

SPOILERS AHEAD (Wicked)

The first element to be brought under examination is Wicked's love for subverting expectations. By this, I mean that certain mindsets in the world have stereotypes associated with them, take idealism and cynicism for example.

From what I have observed, when a writer wants to use one of these archetypes, they will probably draw on a few common ideas. The former is usually portrayed as stary-eyed and naive, or unflinchingly positive. Cynicism meanwhile has a certain sarcasm to it. A cynic might feature a permanent scowl and a dry remark as a kneejerk reaction to anything.

In short, Cynics are usually written to be villains who are overcome by hopeful heroes, or to be heroes who are proven right by a world where hope is meaningless. Idealists on the other hand are either heroes who make the world a better place by sheer force of goodness, or naive fools who the world breaks down.

Obviously, there are exceptions to the rule, but those exceptions are mostly more developed characters in their own right, so the label of "a cynic" doesn't really fit them. Batman is an idealist (when he's written properly).

What is fascinating about Wicked is how the characters are presented. Elphaba is introduced as cynical, she fits the archetype to a tea. But after a musical number, her character swaps entirely. She keeps the sarcasm, but the hopefulness becomes a driving force that goes against the stereotype.

Galinda is... introduced as a bit of a ditz. She's got an ego, she gets what she wants all of the time, she has a well-known family. She's the generic rich kid, essentially. Fiyero gets the same treatment.

For the record, By Galinda, I mean young Glinda, and I am treating them as separate entities until they meet back up.

Anyway, when Galinda starts singing, her real worldview becomes clear. It's possible to argue that it wasn't particularly hidden to begin with, but in Popular, she bludgeons you over the head with it.

"Celebrated heads of state Or 'specially great communicators Did they have brains or knowledge? Don't make me laugh! They were popular! Please, it's all about popular! It's not about aptitude It's the way you're viewed"

As much as I despise it, Galinda is kinda right here.

In 1964, Henry Littlefield published an essay in the American Quarterly titled The Wizard of Oz: Parable on Populism in which he gave some opinions on a theoretical metaphor inherent in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz book (if you don't want to read it, TedEd has a video discussing it and its legacy). He claimed that it was an inherently political book about the time Baum wrote it.

The sparkly new world looks even better if you put on tinted glasses, and only works if you understand that the wizard's power is empty, so Littlefield proposed.

Scholars since have praised, debated, and debunked Littlefield's essay. Pointing out the fact that this is pattern recognition with hindsight, in the same way that you can look to the stars and see a goat.

Essentially, there is an argument for The Wonderful Wizard of Oz being political, and there is an argument (most famously made by its Baum himself) that it is just a children's book.

Wicked is a satire, and not a children's book, so it gets away with some heavy insinuation, but to avoid landmines and a lack of knowledge on my own part, I am going to talk exclusively about how this affects the land of Oz itself, rather than its implications for the real world. Please don't argue in the replies.

So, Galinda's hypothesis here is that the leaders of Oz do not get to where they are because of any actual skill, but rather because they were well liked by either the people, or their superiors. She gets proven right about this throughout the musical. Madam Morrible moves up in the world by presenting Elphaba to the wizard, the Wizard gained power by giving Oz a common enemy, and Galinda and Fiyero themselves gain status seemingly out of nowhere.

In Oz, it doesn't matter what you know, but who you know, and who knows you.

In the show that I watched, Galinda was played by Courtney Monsma, who knocked this number out of the park. Galinda is an incredibly cynical character, but Monsma played her with what I can only describe as "manic pixie energy", which circles back to Wicked's idea of superficiality.

Because the ditzy pantomime of Galinda present in What is this Feeling and half of Dancing Through Life is nothing compared to the madness that is Popular. This is a character who knows exactly how to toss her hair to get what she wants, who knows how to make people think she is something she isn't.

Monsma played a character who was well aware that perception would get her further in life than intelligence, and was having fun with that confidence. But she is actually clever, Galinda has picked up on this fact that everyone else has just accepted subconciously, but now she can explain it.

This song feels like a hyper fixation rant. The frantic obsession was a mere outlet for the excitement of finally being able to speak to this worldview head on to someone who she respects and knows will actually understand her. This song feels like Galinda and Elphaba are on emotional and intellectual equal footing.

This song is also part of my case for Wicked as a queer musical that only works as a story because the romance doesn't. As in, this is a story about a romance that could have been, and that romance reads as queer to me. I will get more into it next week, but for now, I will say this:

This song doesn't matter, and that's exactly why it does matter.

This is the moment when Elphaba and Galinda connect, and share. This is Galinda trying to give back for the wand and make up for her previous behaviour to make Elphaba less of an outcast. But she has already done that.

The moment at the end of Dancing Through Life when Elphaba and Galinda share the spotlight, when Galinda makes herself look like a fool to match Elphaba, when she lets the outcast lead, and the rest of the room goes along with it. That moment is when the romance is kicked off, that is the moment when she starts making amends. That is the moment when she starts to make Elphaba less of a social pariah.

That dance renders Popular superfluous, or at least it does on paper. In reality, this song is doing a lot of heavy lifting in the foreshadowing department, even more so than What is this Feeling, in my most humble of opinions.

Popular happens because Galinda is right about so much in her world, but wrong about the most important thing. Brains and knowledge are irrelevant in Oz, perception is powerful, but empathy rules them all.

Galinda gives this big show of how amazing she is for helping people. Look at her, she's so good. But, Elphaba doesn't care about that, and Galinda does. The romance doesn't work in the end because Galinda realises too late that in the big scheme of things, superficiality is nowhere near as fulfilling as connection. That's why her romance with Fiyero breaks off, and its why her romance with Elphaba is doomed. She only realises this when both options are off the table.

The romance between Elphaba and Galinda breaks apart, but it can only do that because it was there to begin with. You can't tear down nothing.

You could read the relationship as entirely platonic, a friendship that breaks down. But art is subjective, and to me, the romance makes this story so much more compelling.

Final Thoughts

Popular is a popular song in the fanbase. It's an absolute bop, but it's also one of the simplest numbers in the entire production. The set is two beds, there is no fancy dancing, just one character sitting still and the other jumping around like she's on springs. The set doesn't change, there are no extra characters, nothing.

This song doesn't let anything distract from the character drama that is going on in centre stage, so that the audience can take in what is actually being said and done.

Next week, I am taking a look at I'm Not That Girl, and I will being going all in on the queer reading of this musical. Although, that is a heterosexual love song, right? How could that be queer? I have thoughts, so stick around if that interests you.

Previous - Next

(Images were sourced from this video)

[thedarkone121]

How I would try to Adapt “Dracula”

Hello, resident Film student that is about to graduate here and I have been through the deep-dive of the Dracula by Bram Stoker waters. Suffice to say, I feel in love and was very disappointed that the cultural osmosis of adaptations that I grew up around to understand Dracula does not even come close to the masterpiece that I found within the original story. It’s Jonathan and Mina, by the way. Their relationship is the masterpiece of this story. Go away very problematic themes, stereotypes, and ideas, I will not let you take this relationship away from me.

Seriously, how was it possible for me to ship a Victorian couple so hard? Why do we not have this in more adaptations?! WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU HOLLYWOOD?!

…AHEM! Once again, I am sorry to my followers for another fixation has caught my attention. At least this is something I could probably put in a portfolio…

Moving back to my idea, I should make a point that I am a storyboard artist so my idea generally falls to making it into an Adult Cartoon Series. Something along the lines of the Legend of Vox Machina — because I really like that art style and it feels like it fits best with my plot.

Speaking of which, let me get into the plot! Strap in newcomers because I am a bit of a storyteller when it comes to explaining my whacky ideas, if you didn’t already figured that.

DARKY’S DRACULA ADAPTATION, GO!

The setting of my adaptation takes place relatively the same time period. In fact, things are largely the same as the beginning of the novel; Jonathan travels to the Count’s castle, he notices the strong ongoing, he has that horrible encounter with the Vampire Ladies, Dracula does who know what to him, he even has his refined taste for paprika!

You might ask yourself: “Well, how is your adaptation any different from the book?” Well, that’s easy, my good friends. Because Jonathan manages to kill Dracula that day on June 30th, where he successfully decapitates the monster that’s been tormenting him.

It all sounds well and good, right? That means no one to torment Lucy and she can have her big day with Arthur. Mina will be safe, no children get bitten. It sounds wonderful…

…But Jonathan can’t get out of the castle. He remains there, trapped, with the Vampire Ladies and a presence that won’t go away.

Months go by and Mina receives a letter, one from her missing fiancé. He is still in Romania working with the Count, but he would like for Mina to come by and look at the land. Thinking how it would be a wonderful place for a honeymoon.

Mina is confused by the contents of the letter, but it is her proof that her fiancé is alive. And now she has a location of his whereabouts.

With a sadden goodbye to Lucy due to the fact that she will miss her wedding, Mina heads to Transylvania in order to find Jonathan.

But when she arrives at the Castle, welcomed by the Three Women, Mina realizes what horrors had plagued Jonathan and now it will soon come to her.

And that’s the outline of the Pilot I had in my head. Do I think it’s possible for Jonathan to decapitate Dracula with the shovel? Probably not, but it needs to in order for this adaptation to work. And before anyone says, yes, this Adaptation is pretty much Mina Murray going all Resident Evil 7 on Dracula’s castle.

She deserves to have her rage moments. Also, she really wants to get married. If it means she has to storm a castle, then she will do that!

Some other facts that I wanted to include:

Lucy gets more of an active role in the story. She’s been poorly adapted for so long, I wanted to give her something more. She’s the Galinda to Mina’s Elphaba. You bet she’s going to lead a search party that involves her husband, their two best friends, and the silly Professor that was interested in the location in order to find her two childhood friends.

Also, yeah. Lucy and Arthur got married. I’m going to give these two a chance to be happy before things go wrong when they arrive at the castle.

The Vampire Sisters get a chance to be main villains for the first half of the show. Yes, I called them Sisters instead of Brides cause I read that two of the three look like Dracula and I’m just going to leave it at that. Also, I think the Blonde one is their mom? I’m not a hundred percent sure. It’s an adaptation. They’re getting more screen time and depth, is what I’m trying to say!

Mina has a gun, watch out.

Dracula still has a role in this story. That I can include.

I know I likened the plot to Resident Evil 7 so I ‘m just gonna go ahead and say this; Mina will not loose any of her hands.

Expect a lot of Jonmina moments, flashbacks and when they reunite included.

[wickedlyqueer]

if you feel like it!!! i’d like to know your thoughts and hcs for a modern setting (or not) where things are relatively normal and elphaba has to take care of liir (as his 7yo self) and there’s also glinda. I’ve always wondered how she (also glinda) would work around children – i know we see elphaba in the book around them and she doesn’t care, but she is also going insane and full of grief so i don’t really take it as a response. I’m not sure if my request makes sense but i always enjoy your thoughts!

For someone who has said repeatedly they don't see gelphie as parents at all, yous seem desperate for my opinions on gelphie as parents. 😆 Anyway,

Even as their happiest and best selfs, I still think neither Glinda or Elphaba would ever chose to become a parent. It just... falls into their lap and they make the best of it.

And by that I mean, after college, Glinda and Elphaba broke up for about a year or two and Elphaba runs into Fiyero and gets knocked up (oops) during their shortlived fling and then 9 months later there was Liir.

They are very much a dysfunctional family. They probably co-parent with Fiyero—who is most likely, objectively, the best parent out of the three of them. (@gliyerabaa wanna take this brain wave over and make it into some ot3 hcs lmao?)

Elphaba would be both the fun parent and the strict parent. Yes, let's get on this rollercoaster you're not even tall enough for. No, you can't play video games before finishing all your homework. Yes, let's have only a ton of ice cream for dinner. It honestly gives Liir whiplash lmao.

Glinda brings some much needed structure to Liir's life. She likes the routine and recognizes that Elphie's chaotic and impulsive tendencies are not always what a little child needs.

It takes a bit before Glinda gets over her envy (since Liir is the living and breathing evidence that Elphaba very much loved someone who is not her and it infuriates her). But, through interacting with Liir, she sets those feelings aside. Because, holy shit, she adores that boy pretty much like he is her own son.

They both tuck Liir in and together tell him a bedtime story. It's a night time ritual that came out of Liir being so upset to go to sleep, it was a two-person-job to basically wrestle him to bed. Now he's older, it's a lot better, and for all of them one of their favorite times of day. But oohh boy if one of them isn't presence. The Tantrum that ensues...

Anyway, if you want to see the Liir&Glinda&Elphaba dynamic I very much encourage you to read attrition by @festivating. It's very good!

[manyfandomocs]

Descendants OC Introductions

because I had an idea for a big plot and universe and here we are. This is No One Mourns The Wicked, my Wizard of Oz focused Descendants verse. In this universe, Oz lost contact with the rest of the world years and years ago and by the time Descendants rolls around, is thought to be a genuine fairytale and not true. Until a tornado blows through and brings 10 children to Auradon and the Isle of the Lost

so much of Oz lore is gonna be pulled from various sources and some just made up by me but Wicked (book and musical) is a large part of the inspo, especially for names

and thanks to @randomestfandoms-ocs for helping me go with Descendants

Orion Diggs (Mike Faist FC), Audrey and Chad ship. Son of Oscar Diggs, otherwise known as the Wizard, he is the main reason they were whisked to the Isle and Auradon as Orion artificially created the tornado with the help of Lilliana. He lands in Auradon

Eden Thropp (Brittany O'Grady FC), Jay ship. Daughter of Elphaba Thropp, otherwise known as the Wicked Witch of the West, she is one of the most skilled sorceresses of her age. She lands in the Isle and struggles with the lack of magic.

Nadia Thropp (Logan Browning FC), Uma ship. Daughter of Nessarose Thropp, otherwise known as the Wicked Witch of the East, she has little interest in big magic and is more interested in science. She lands in Auradon and hates being separated from her cousin Eden.

Lilliana Taylor (Maia Mitchell FC), Mal and Evie ship. Daughter of Locasta Taylor, otherwise known as the Good Witch of the North, she is not the strongest sorceress but she is the best at planning, and she loves to plan for herself, which is why she used her powers to help Orion create the tornado. She lands in Auradon

Garrett Upland (Evan Mock FC), Jane and Carlos ship. Son of Glinda Upland, otherwise known as the Good Witch of the South, he is close to Nadia and had the least desire to leave Oz so he's not enjoying being forced out but he's trying to make the best of it. He lands in the Isle

Donovan Gale (Milo Manheim FC), Gil and Harry ship. Son of Dorothy Gale, he always wondered what it was like being around other humans besides Orion, who seems to have the opposite desire. He's relatively lonely aside from Opal and desperate for friends, and lands in the Isle

Bennett Chopper (Jonathan Daviss FC), Faye Tigelaar ship. Son of Boq Chopper, otherwise known as the Tin Man, he is always here for a good time. He always likes to gain interest in people though it doesn't really last and he lands in Auradon

Faye Tigelaar (Katherine Langford FC), Bennett Chopper ship. Daughter of Fiyero Tigelaar, otherwise known as the Scarecrow, she prides herself on her smarts, even being known as a know-it-all which makes it hard for her to connect with others. She lands in the Isle

Landon Lahr (Drew Ray Tanner FC), Lonnie ship. Son of the Cowardly Lion, he proves that he's not like his dad was and is very reckless and unafraid to do absolutely anything. He lands in the Isle and is very excited to roam somewhere new

Opal Baum (Abigail Cowen FC), Ben ship. Daughter of Princess Ozma, she is the rightful future ruler of Oz, a job that she takes seriously. She loves meeting others and finding out what they're like, she's long had a crush on Donovan and lands in Auradon

[soft-and-exhausted]

Frozen Stage Musical thoughts 

December 2022 + October 2023  (because I forgot to make the initial post, so this is 2 for 1) 

disclaimer: Some of my 2023 additions are probably not really *new* but it's hard to remember everything... Anyway, here are the notes I took right after seeing the shows!  + This is neither coherent nor an analysis, mostly just reactions to a few things lol, not even going to mention the songs cause they ALL slap

ACT 1

- Sir Jörgenbjorgen! He's right there! But he's Anna's stuffie? What does that mean?? (also is Olaf frozen advenure canon again?) 

- Idunas scarf from F2!! Also right there! She's wearing it and then wraps Anna up in it after she is struck by Elsa's magic (love that) 

- Iduna tells the trolls that she's Northuldra! She's the one who calls them to help Anna (setting up F2) 

- Grand Pabi is uh not so gran anymore huh & Bulda says they love kids (raised a few of them themselves), and to bring Anna and Elsa around sometime 

- It was a choice (neutral) to make the trolls hot 

- Update: Idunna says they'll search far and wide for magical answers 

- Update: Also, the gloves Elsa wears? They were Idunas!  

- Update: And it looked like Iduna wanted to reply to Pabi asking "born or cursed" when Agnar interrupts and says "born" (I might have seen that wrong, but it made me think this is setting up F3??) 

- Olaf actually asks about "Samantha?" When Anna and Kristoff hear him in the woods, wondering who's talking as he joins in on looking for himself... haha (Update: he asks for Samantha during "In Summer")

- Anna and Hans dancing! All the choreography is amazing and wow, but they do this funny bit of doing different (modern) dance moves together and it's pretty endearing 

- when Anna tells Hans "I'm not the heir. I'm just the spare" referencing the outtake song that helped develop her character!! (Update: this hit the West End audience way different post-Prince Harry's book "Spare" and was hilarious!) 

- Costumes!! HOLY SHIT, the details the materials the glitter in Elsa's ice, all of it is insane and regal and beautiful, and so well thought out I want a huge artbook with all the details, please 

- Anna (Stephanie McKeon) could totally play Galinda; very Chenoweth voice qualities??? (Update: I got Gabrielle from Xena vibes for some reason, idk (Anna was Laura Dawkes)) 

- Wow they are doing amazing with the ice and the million and one backdrops! Insane! Also with the lights?! It's magical! 

- Update: Oh my god Elsa (Laura Emmit) is so tiny and petite, the different statues of actresses always add a different flavour to the character design somehow? (Like it is so fun with Glinda and Elphaba and what their height difference will be each time) (I love everything unique an actress/actor will bring to their role) 

- Elsa is like 10x more regal? I can't explain it but she very much feels like she's living in a piece of historical fiction more so than a fairytale. but I love it, it's brilliant and adds some layers too, she's so poised in the first act and polite and nods at the court like that(TM) 

- more amazing dancing moments  

- The Duke of Weselton calls Elsa pretty in a weird way while asking her to dance and later calls her "just a little girl" and lets out some sexism that women are weak, which is very in character and another addition to how the stage musical feels more realistic in a way? Or at least caters more towards adults 

- he also says something VERY similar to Atohallen's memory of Elsa's grandfather; that magic is unnatural and uh I forgot the actual wording, but he essentially said the same thing = nothing good comes of magic (especially in the hands of a woman) (yes he says that) 

- idk if Sven is amazing, cute and perfect or uncannily creepy lmao but gotta love him! Olaf is obviously perfectly recreated! (Update: Sven is so cute oh my god) (also Mikayla Jade is the first woman to ever play the role! She's a really cool stunt performer!) 

- Anna is VERY flirty with Hans lmao, girl is so thirsty (the way she touched that statue's tits in "for the first time in forever" ahahaha) (Update: girl is so horny, all those adult jokes, did she actually get more horny this time? Bless her) 

- Update: They don't make blorbos like Elsa anymore, for real 

- Anna's snow outfit is so cute!!! With her hair open? And the hat and all that... 

- Still gagging at the dress change in Let it go!

ACT 2

- Bulda asks if Anna doesn't want to marry Kristoff because of how she raised him, further solidifying how the trolls are his family 

- PLUS when he joins the trolls dance! Because he KNOWS it! Wonderful moment (also wonderful when Anna starts joining in, all of her dances are so sweet and fun and Anna's love language is dance, I don't take criticism)

- child Anna's cast also played the baby troll during fixer-upper upper and it's the cutest scenes! 

- Weselton and Hans both actually said they wanted to kill Elsa! Like the word kill has been said twice (2), and I just didn't expect it because Disney movies do like to dance around that one- it's really intense 

- Elsa's pants and corset combo in the second act looked cool in pictures online, but seeing it irl? in the third row? Holy shit it's stunning! Her let it go dress too of course, but she looked amazing in this new outfit wow - the detail - (this is the part where I don't talk about how the corset, respectfully, she was just very stunning and wow Samantha Barks had the smallest waist ever known to man in that thing!) 

- God those costumes are siccccc, a lot of this musical feels like historical fiction and is so so well thought out! The dances and songs and ten thousand backdrops are INSANE 

- Instead of being knocked out by the falling chandelier, Elsa goes with the guards willingly, and they handcuff her on the spot (at the ice palace) Which is... a blow to my heart to say the least, but makes sense! She just asks to be taken to Anna, to make sure she's safe... being handcuffed and dragged off is perfectly reasonable for her! 

- Update: 

Weselton: "Even the queen is shivering"  Elsa: "I'm not cold"  Hans: "She's scared" 

- the entire scene where Anna freezes to death (that also resembled dangerous to dream with the ensamble lifting Anna up; as the spotlight of Elsa's attention) was phenomenally choreographed and I have no words!! 

TLDR: It's too mind-blowingly amazing for words, and so incredibly thought out! And it's a little more grown up too, adding some layers and fleshing out bits and bobs that I really enjoyed 

[melop-sia]

HELLO @elphabaoftheopera ! i hope youre doing well! ive arrived with more lfay thoughts and some analysis!!!!!!!! 🥳

READING THOUGHTS:

im so, so glad i rereading lfay, it is honestly such an awesome fic and the writing so amazing! personally, since this was kind of my first time reading through the entire thing without multiple day breaks, i was definitely able to pick up on less obvious details (which are compiled below!) that made everything so much better!!! i genuinely felt like i was experiencing the story again for the first time, which made me able to appreciate and become engaged with the more emotional scenes and chapters! some of my favourites of these include chapter 23 (i was evidently moved enough to leave a comment mid read 😅😅), chapter 28 and chapter 34.

for sister sunrise, the description of elphaba reflecting over her room for the last time really got me :') the paragraph was written super beautifully and after going through most of the story i reallyy felt the nostalgic and sentimental aspect.!!!! dorothy and the dark was already a pretty emotional last chapter, but in particular fiyeraba saying goodbye to glinda and elphaba reflecting on her relationship with fiyero to get through the dark were some i really appreciated and loved!

aside from that, i loved being able to notice how elphaba went from following the rules to playing by her own since it was written with a pretty clear distinction! despite it, you managed to still write her so in character and i applaud you for it! 😁

i was wondering, was it difficult for you to write each character through all of these emotions and emotional scenes? im super in awe of how well characterised they are, i can't lie my mind started mixing some of the musical and this fic together because of it how accurate it all is!!! 👏

EDIT: i was also wondering, which parallel in lfay is your favourite / was the most fun to write in?

PARALLELS:

i pride myself soo much in picking up on these! i planned to have screenshots of all of them, but unfortunatly because of the image limit ill just have to describe some 😔 nevertheless, i hope you like reading through this segment and id like to thank @mystic-oni for his much appreciated help in finding some of these!

i loved how this parallel really developed from the beginning of their relationship, with the bickering turning cute banter :) 💕

i HAD to include this one, it is so so sweet and the parallels were all incorporated so well and warmed my heart ❤️❤️

along with these, there was also nessa making the same "you look dreadful" comment to elphaba at shiz and at kiamo ko, each in very different tones that made the second time very heartfelt :')

EXTRAS:

as well as parallels, i noted some a few references related to the book 🥳 i also noticed a few things that sounded similar but i wasn't sure were exactly parallels 🧐 but still wanted to include anyway... so here they are 😁!!! some captioned, some not but i hope you enjoy all!

i was super surprised at myself for initally not finding the lyrics snuck into the poem, but it was a pleasant surprise nonetheless!! also picked up on the mention of sarima from the book during chapter 14!

ANOTHER EDIT: another reference i got after watching wicked again was elphaba's book "discord and discontent" was mentioned by dr dillamond (can't recall in what way though 🥲)!

i noticed elphie celebrating in a similar way at going to shiz and getting into the sorcery seminar, she makes me so :))) SHE IS SO HOPEFUL AND DESERVES EVERYTHING!!!! i absolutely adore how you wrote her so excited and youthful during the act 1 chapters 🥺💕💕

fiyero having the same reaction to elphaba's temper from two different "lives" 💞 i can't help but love this little detail! i also picked up on how fiyero jokes about seeing the present in chapter 20 in comparison to him being sincere about it in the epilogue! super super subtle but one of my favourites !! there was also when elphaba sarcastically suggested enjoying the ocean in ev to considering in the last chapter, i laughed when i first read it and i still do when i think about it :)))

EXTRAS

nearing the last few chapters, i maaayyyy have impulsively made a LFaY chapter naming quiz 😇 it is linked below, i hope you have fun with it!

FINAL REGARDS

overall, im so glad i took the time to read over this outstanding fic, i don't think i could ever get tired of your writing!! ❤️❤️ i look forward to seeing more of your work, and im very excited to hear that there may be new works coming!!!!! however long that takes, i can't wait to be here yet again in support! :)))

[thewickedworkingsofyouknowwho]

For the writer's asks, could you please answer 13 and 29?

Thanks for the ask!

13. How much planning do you do before writing?

It depends on the fic. Like right now the coffeeshop au is a oneshot so it has five bullet points of an outline, two of which have a ?? in them meaning I'll figure out what happens there as I go. The hollywood au has several pages in my notes app and a long discord discussion, but its going to be a longer multichapter fic. Don't get me wrong though the notes app still has a few ??s though lol. So I do always at least have a plan going into the fic but I like to finish an entire first draft and then replan and fill in the blanks once it's done.

29. Share a bit from a fic you’ll never post OR from a scene that was cut from an already posted fic.

It's very unlikely that I'll ever finish or post the vampire glinda fic I started in like 2020, so here's the beginning of it.

The final door was locked, and though Elphaba knew it was wasted effort, she pounded on it anyway. There was no one out there, the tall mountain the castle resided on was known to be dangerous, but the heavy rain would have kept them from hearing anyway. How Glinda had managed to lock her in so quickly, Elphaba was unsure, but each of the heavy oak doors leading to the exterior of the castle had been locked when she tried them, and she had tried them all.  

“Now,” said Glinda, locking the doors behind them as she ushered Elphaba inside, “I can get you a key if you’d like? I prefer that the doors stay locked, but if you’d like to go out and explore I don’t mind giving you a key. It’s cold for June this year, but the landscape is lovely.” 

Elphaba shook her head. “I’m not here to explore, just to determine if that book you told us about is really the one we’re looking for.”

Glinda smiled, nodding. “I’ll show you the library, then.” She placed a hand on Elphaba’s shoulder, guiding her to the curved stone stairwell in the center of the entry room.

Elphaba frowned, wondering if she could pick the lock. If only she hadn’t been so focused on work and so distracted by Glinda’s beauty, if only she had paid more attention to the strange sharpness of Glinda’s teeth, the red tint to her eyes, the iciness of her hands… If only she had gotten that key. 

She started to examine the lock, but she felt a presence behind her and by then she knew it was too late. She straightened up but did not turn around.

“Elphie, dear, what’s matter? Why run from me like this?” Glinda asked. Her voice was sweet but cold, frost creeping into every word.

“You know why. I saw what you did.”

[princesssarisa]

For character ask, Wicked Witch of the West (1939)

Favorite thing about them: The sheer sinister glee with which she carries out her wicked deeds, and the sense of humor with which she taunts her victims. Combine this with her iconic look and costume, her cackle, her theme music, her deadly magic, and her unforgettable death, and it's no wonder that she's probably cinema's most iconic villain, whom everyone loves to hate.

Least favorite thing about them: Besides the fact that she's a shamelessly evil and sadistic villain who tries to kill our heroes... hmm... Maybe the fact that her big hooked nose makes her look too much like a caricature of a Jewish person. Some critics say that her green skin also has antisemitic connotations (green evokes "olive," plus it's associated with reptiles). But that's a problem with the standard look of witches in general, not exclusive to her.

Three things I have in common with them:

*I have dark hair.

*I often wear black (it's a good base for brighter colored accessories).

*I can be very enthusiastic.

Three things I don't have in common with them:

*I don't know magic.

*I'm afraid of fire.

*I'm not sadistically evil.

Favorite line:

Of course there's her most famous line:

"I'll get you, my pretty, and your little dog too!"

But she has so many other great lines too! For example, when Dorothy protests that her sister's death was an accident:

"Well, my little pretty, I can cause accidents too!"

When she blasts a fireball at the Scarecrow:

"Here, Scarecrow, wanna play ball?"

When she has Dorothy and Toto newly imprisoned:

"What a nice little dog. And you, my dear, what an unexpected pleasure. It's so kind of you to want to visit me in my loneliness."

When her guards have Dorothy and her friends cornered:

"Well, ring around the rosie, a pocket full of spears!"

And her famous dying speech:

"Ahhhhh! You cursed brat! Look what you've done! I'm melting! Melting! Oh, what a world! What a world! Who would have thought a good little girl like you could destroy my beautiful wickedness? Oooooh, look out! Look out! I'm going! Oooooh! Ooooooh!"

brOTP: The winged monkeys.

OTP: None – she doesn't have lovers, only enemies or slaves.

nOTP: Dorothy.

Random headcanon: Water melts her because of her fire powers. She's a creature of fire, so naturally, she's extinguished by water. This is also why snow destroys her field of poisonous poppies. (Yes, I know the other explanation that's been suggested based on the original book – that she's been extending her lifespan with magic and her molecules are unstable because she should have been dead and rotted long ago. I'll accept that explanation for Baum's Witch. But for the movie Witch, I'd rather link it to her association with fire.)

Unpopular opinion: Sometimes I get tired of seeing Wicked fans call her "Elphaba." It's all in good fun, of course, but she's not Elphaba. She existed for decades before Elphaba was even thought of. Nor does the plot of Wicked fit neatly into either the movie's continuity or the original book's. Elphaba is an AU version of her.

Song I associate with them: Her iconic instrumental theme.

Favorite pictures of them:

[praetorqueenreyna]

Not to be Like That but the book Wicked is about a thousand times better than the hit Broadway play

[rendnotmyheart]

Thinking about Elphaba and Glinda

[wickedobsessed101]

Hey I was wondering if you could recommend any gelphie fanfiction set whilst they’re still in shiz, preferably with some angst or hurt/comfort, I find that most is post show, I’d also love some whilst they’re still in shiz that includes elphie’s water allergy because I find that so interesting (fiyeraba is also okay I just prefer gelphie!)

Hi! Sure! Here are some of my personal favs!

"Easier Said Than Done" by mecelphie: This fic is just *chef's kiss*. It's a 4-story series that's longer than some novels I've read. The series starts with Elphaba/Galinda at Shiz, then expands beyond that. The OCs are wonderfully crafted. Elphaba's water allergy is deeply explored and explained and is a major component of the plot. Official description: Part 1: What happens when Elphaba is violently attacked one weekend during her second term at Shiz, becomes vulnerable and Glinda must step up and be the strong one. Part 2: The next weeks, Part 3: Spring Recess. Gelphie. WARNING: violent act, 1st chap Read on FF.net

"Accidents Will Happen" by MyLittleElphie (@mylittleelphie): Modern AU Gelphie Official description: All Galinda hoped to do was to get through her university years without creating any unnecessary ripples. When her strange, green classmate suddenly stops attending her lectures, she accidentally gets herself entangled in a particular sort of scandal she had certainly not anticipated at all. Gelphie. Shiz-era. Modern AU. Read on FF.net and AO3

"Moment of Weakness" by heatqueen: I haven't personally read this one yet, but I like the author. Official description: 'Fiyero hit me.' For Galinda, one weak moment causes an onset of rumors that lead to a fallen reputation and a difficult line of questioning of herself. 'I used magic.' For Elphaba, one drastic incident causes dire consequences that could change her life forever. Meanwhile, the two girls are slowly falling in love. Gelphie. Shiz-verse. Read on FF.net

Survival by GretchenMaurice: I LOVED THIS ONE (and it's sequel, "Resistance"!) Official description: Elphaba just wants to live her dream of studying at Shiz. Galinda just wants to be the most beloved girl at the school. Meanwhile, terrible things are happening in Oz, starting with the Animals. Their lives are about to change, but how are the girls going to deal with the rest of the world if they can't even survive each other? (Very) Slow-burn Gelphie. Read on FF.net and AO3

"Activities Between Friends" by LolaVerdigris Official description: Galinda, suddenly curious about her green roommate, devises ways to get closer to her. As their relationship deepens, Oz begins to change. Shameless Gelphie. Booksical. Read on FF.net

"The Thropp Diaries" by denpa wave chick saki: One of the first fanfics I ever read. It's heavily based on the book and I LOVEEEEEEEE it! Official description: I'd never admit to doing something as feminine as keeping a diary. Could you imagine the rumors that would sprout from that? No, the only reason I'm keeping this is to answer one burning question: why has Miss Galinda been drawing me naked? Read on FF.net

That's my list! I don't remember if these all include the water allergy, but I think they do. But they're all Shiz-Era! Hope this helps!!

And I'm always open for Wicked fic recommendations, if anyone else is interested! :-)

[leo-frognag]

wicked of course

you hopped on that so fucking fast jhdgfhkjsg

blorbo: elphaba. i dont shut up about elphaba. i cant shut up about elphaba. the character of all time. she shares nearly all of my interests and if she were real i think we'd have actual hours-long conversations about animals. and Animals. we need more unhinged scientist rep in media and if i cannot contribute to that irl without being under government surveillance then i will do it through the medium of elphaba. please talk to me about her i will love you forever.

skrunkly: elphaba is also kind of my skrunkly but in the interest of not repeating characters i will say malky (elphaba's cat from the book, for musical-only fans). my little war criminal. glass bones and paper skin. i will kiss his little head as he rats me out to the Wizard.

scrimblo bimblo: DOCTOR FUCKING DILLAMOND this man deserved so much better and the way BOTH canons treat him is fucking unacceptable. ur gonna make a Goat who bonds with elphaba and finally treats her like a human for once, then either 1) kill him off or 2) condemn him to lose his sapience?? i would fight wars for the venerable doctor dillamond. (**HONORABLE MENTION GOES TO TURTLE HEART I ALSO LOVE HIM**)

glup shitto: i know tibbett is like. the less obscure of himself and crope (b/c. uh. tiger things) but i love him and he ALSO didnt deserve what happened to him. see, that's the trend here. he's goofy and wonderful and i hope he gets ghost-married to the man of his dreams.

poor little meow meow: **DISCLAIMER: i am diverting from the "problematic fave" part on this and focusing much more on the "pathetic" part.**

oh this has to be glinda. jesus. girl gets put through the wringer on SUCH a consistent basis it's fucking unreal. she goes from having everything to experiencing like 6 devastating losses and STILL graduates, only to immediately sink into an unhappy marriage (and/or to immediately be exploited by the government), all the while never being given the proper chance to mourn so she fills her life with frivolity to hide her insurmountable grief. she's not in my Top Top Absolute Favorite characters but i do recognize that she's the one with the most depth and i love her for that.

horse plinko: a fastpass to hell would be too kind for madame morrible <3 i want to see her spun in a vortex until the layers of her skin begin to separate and slough off. how dare she attempt to brainwash two 18 year olds and a 15(pretty sure) year old into doing her fucking political bidding. how dare she assume that they would be so fucking feeble-minded. how dare she look upon oz with her stupid fucking smile and preach discrimination to generations upon generations of impressionable young students, fully cognizant of the harm she has brought upon the entire nation. i want her to feel each crunching impact of her body on the plinko pegs while the flames of suffering lap ever-closer at her pulverized heels.

eeby deeby: i'm gonna have to agree with everyone else and say the Wizard gfhdkfg that man just does not deserve rights!! snarky old jackass. calls elphaba stupid b/c he can't live with the fact that he's losing an argument to a teenage girl. like yeah ok you have imposter syndrome but that doesn't justify decades of murder and oppression bro get a GRIP

[lesbiten]

THAT REMINDS ME. FIYERO SAYING “BUT WE DID” WAS ABSOLUTELY MALICIOUS. WHAT DID HE HAVE AGAINST GLINDA??? SHE LITERALLY DID NOT DESERVE THAT??? LIKE.

I just hate what they’ve done to Fiyero and it’s just.

What if instead of… Musical!Fiyero, he was instead like. A himbo who was only there to progress the plot, almost like a Manic Pixie Dream Boy but not really, and then he becomes an Animal Rights person who like. Commits crimes and stuff, which would make the only song worth removing ALAYM, and also, Elphaba and Fiyero solidarity in a way that isn’t creepy and unnerving, and like. I don’t know I just think that would make the love triangle a lot more compelling??? Especially since it was framed as Fiyero choosing between Elphaba and Glinda, when I personally think that it would’ve been better framed as Elphaba choosing Fiyero or Glinda??? AND ALSO LIKE. I FEEL LIKE IF FIYERO BECOMES A MARTYR AND WAY MORE EXTREME THAN ELPHABA THAT WOULD’VE BEEN A REALLY GOOD CONTRAST IN A WAY WHERE IT’S LIKE. Instead of Fiyero being the worst qualities of Elphaba and Glinda, it’d be like. Fiyero and Glinda being on opposing sides politically, and Elphaba has to like. Choose between the two??? I don’t know I feel like making Fiyero the literal opposite of Gale Force would be better??? Also, that would make No Good Deed make a lot more sense imo??? Like. Fiyero becoming a martyr for the cause of Animals and becoming a staunch supporter, and it’s like. Not only would Elphaba lose a close friend (and possible love interest but I don’t really care much for that perspective tbh) she would also lose like. A confidante and someone who she could trust to do the right thing??? Also, making Act 2!Fiyero’s character more than literally just “Obsessed with Elphaba”????

I feel like it made no sense for Fiyero to be a Gale Force person when like. Animal Rights Revolutionary was RIGHT THERE

But also I think that was somewhat already in the books if the fanfic I’ve read says anything but like. Idk, if they’re gonna completely rewrite Wicked, might as well do it in a way that’s compelling????

Like. They had it with Glinda and having a complete arc but like. I feel like if instead of pitting them against each other making it like. Irreconcilable differences in execution would’ve been better??? But also like. I feel like the contrast would’ve been really interesting because somehow, I think that both Fiyero and Glinda, if they were on opposite sides, they would operate in nearly the same way??? Like. I feel like it would be intensely strategy driven in an almost cold way, while Elphaba would provide a contrast of being intensely emotion driven??? tl;dr there was so much potential

FIRST OF ALL YEAH it just feels like an extra punch in the face that she did not need or deserve and the fact that it was SO EASY for him to say it is just like. worrying. upsetting. screaming and crying. fiyero why do u need to be mean to glinda WHAT HAS SHE EVEN DONE TO DESERVE IT? NOTHING.

anyways yeah the whole concept of fiyero and glinda being on the opposing end of the political spectrum, with glinda working for the wizard [albeit against her will] and fiyero actively working to overthrow him. i think that fiyero becoming an animal rights activist because in the short amount of time he spent with elphaba, he realized he didn't have to dumb himself down and he SHOULD fight for what he believes in, i think that would've been some fun character development that created a natural connection between his character in act 1 and his character in act 2.

the fact that fiyero helps elphaba with the lion cub in the first act and kind of has an "oh shit" moment would lead you to believe he'd have dropped the silly rich boy persona, especially after elphaba went missing, but...no? he still does keep up at least part of that persona in public, even if begrudgingly, and has quite literally joined the very system that elphaba was fighting so hard to destroy. it kind of just leaves you wondering what the hell happened between acts for fiyero to have decided not only to stay with glinda despite clearly being unhappy, but also why he would have joined the gale force to look for elphaba when he could've been spending that time fighting for her cause. idk!

but yeah it also definitely would've added more to his character than being obsessed with elphaba because as it stands that's kind of all he reads as. he's a walking red flag he quite literally loses all of his personality traits from act 1 and becomes unbearably weird. why.

and also agreed that it would add some substance behind no good deed. because look. i love that song it fucks severely but the fact that it's centered almost entirely around fiyero meanwhile elphaba hardly knows him and has just seen him for the first time in YEARS makes it feel......very empty. when she mentions nessa and dillamond it makes sense to me because well. nessa is her sister (fun fact) and dillamond was the only adult who showed her kindness and also she worked with him constantly. but then when it gets to the Big One and its fiyero........? like. i don't know. their relationship just didn't Exist enough prior to that moment for fiyero to BE the focus of that song. y'know. just strange to me

tl;dr there was so much potential :pensive:

[afrival]

AoT Characters Favorite Musicals and Songs From That Musical

I’m in a musical mood so have this ❤️

no warnings

•=======================•

Eren: Wicked

- Surprising right? He really loves Elphaba’s story and relates to her a lot, it’s so tragic to him. Big fan of Defying Gravity, No Good Deed, and Finale. Also For Good makes him cry

(also tell me this musical wouldn’t make a wonderful EreMin au bc it would)

Armin: Newsies

- Oh please he would be such a huge musical fan. He loves SOOO many I stg, but Newsies holds a special place in his heart. Carrying the Banner is such a feel good song for him

Mikasa: Six

- I honestly don’t think she likes musicals that much but if she HAD to choose it would be Six. Heart of Stone hit her personally

Jean: Hairspray

- His absolute guilty pleasure oh my god. Ladies Choice and Run and Tell That are OBVIOUS faves

Connie: Shrek the Musical

- don’t let the name fool you, this musical is genuinely REALLY GOOD. It’s so fucking good and he adores it. He relates to Who I’d Be so much bye

Sasha: Spongebob the Musical

- GENUINELY loves this musical so much, it’s so much fun to her and she just loves it. Gets chills everytime she listens to Daddy Knows Best

Ymir: Heathers

- TELL ME THIS MF DOESNT GIVE OFF HEATHERS VIBES. TELL ME. BC SHE DOES. Dead Girl Walking? Dear god

Historia: Les Miserables

- PLEASE she bawled and has absolutely gone to see it whenever she can. Obviously adores I Dreamed A Dream and A Heart Full Of Love

Levi: Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812

- Heard Prologue once and fell IN LOVE immediately. That gunshot and count off hits so hard

Hange: Little Shop of Horrors

- I DONT HAVE TO EXPLAIN THIS DUDE. The entire soundtrack slaps but she will go OFF during Mean Green Mother From Outerspace

Erwin: The Phantom of the Opera

- A man of simple but fine taste, he honestly probably loves all of Matthew Lloyd Webber’s work. He’s a fan of the opening of this musical and All I Ask of You

Reiner: Hello Dolly

- I really can’t explain this one other than. Vibes? I mean who doesn’t shake ass to Put on Your Sunday Clothes bc he sure does

Bertholdt: Moulin Rouge

- Loves the chaotic energy of it all, the visuals are amazing. His favorite song is Ewan McGregor’s cover of Your Song (I actually kinda hc this song to be kinda what his singing voice sounds like HDJFJG)

Annie: Cats

- don’t tell anybody bc she refuses to tell ANYBODY that she thinks Cats is a funky little musical. Like Rum Tum Tugger shouldn’t go as hard as it does

Porco: Jesus Christ Superstar

- I can’t really explain it??? He just seems like he would really like the music from JCS a lot (rock and roll baby!!) His favorite song is a tie between Hosanna and This Jesus Must Die

Pieck: Frankenstein

- she fucking LOVES the og book and every Frankenstein movie ever so ofc she would love the musical too. Birth to My Creation is a banger and her absolute favorite

Zeke: Chicago

- all that jazz baby ;) loves the aesthetic of this movie and probably goes off during Cell Block Tango and Funny Honey

[jewels2876]

Always. - A LOKI finale synopsis

So I thought I could write something magical or be inspired by the Loki finale for @the-th-horniest-book-club as it's their last day of celebration.

And it hit me. I can't.

Here's what I can do: dissect this episode down to its heartbreaking ending because at the end I still have a million questions and it's gonna take a cartoon What If?, a Spiderman movie, maybe a Hawkeye show?, and a Dr. Strange movie to answer them all and I'll STILL have questions after that.

Consider for just a moment what happened to 2012 Loki when the TVA captured him way back in Episode One - what the hell did removing Loki do to the MCU timeline? Thor: The Dark World never happened. And no I don't mean you can pretend Marvel put it out there because they did, and it's one of the worst Marvel movies, there I said it. But if TWD didn't happen, what else could have been affected?

And with that disturbing thought we begin...

The opening credits HAVE AUDIO! Every tag line uttered as the characters flash on the screen, EVEN LOKI gets his "We have a Hulk" in. It is awesome; it is glorious; it is expected with EVERY Marvel creation going forward.

Loki and Sylvie should know better than to stare at a door; they always seem to open on their own when that happens. Miss Minutes pops up out of nowhere, scaring the bejesus out of 70% of people, the other 30% wanted to see her one last time. And she's not the same Miss Minutes we first met. She's edgy, she's less peppy, and she gives our duo an offer. Honestly, she should have known the result but 🤷🏻‍♀️

Ravonna is doing something in her office; if she's cleaning it's a piss poor job. Miss Minutes shows up and tells Ravonna she gave her what she needs. Ominous.

Back to Loki and Sylvie who finally meet "He Who Remains." Now we all know guys with names like "He Who Must Not Be Named" are bad news. Guys, to answer the question asked in the show, I'm a little disappointed. The disappointment lasts about five seconds... The office they get transported to reminds me IMMEDIATELY of a certain movie and certain buildings we've seen before (insert duh at this point because you too have seen every Marvel movie ever.)

****** Side note: anyone know if Tom takes his tea with only two sugars? No? Yes? Okay getting back to other things ******

At this point, we get back to Ravonna and her lack of cleaning when Mobius shows up with the pruner (it has to have a cooler name! side side note: nope just glowing batons) and we get a nice little flashback to Original Ravonna (maybe?)

****** 2nd side note: since when did everyone who's not a Russo brother start using OHIO for origin stories? Seriously, go watch Black Widow. I'll wait.******

Now back to Loki, Sylvie, and He Who Remains, hereto known as HWR, who pulls the same trick we saw in the first episode with the "read and sign" guy with the adorable kitten. HWR needs a kitten, a pet at the very least. "You can't get to the end until you've been changed by the journey." HWR s is winding up for a pitch and also summarizes the show too. Loki asks if it's a manipulation; HWR finds the word interesting and I do to. Here's why:

Odin manipulated Loki's abandonment to his advantage

Thanos put Loki under mind control and used him

This is the 2012 Loki as a reminder, so he hasn't been subjected to imprisonment on Asgard or the brotherly banter/squabbles he and Thor have escaping Asgard, nor “Get help” from Ragnarok so it should come as no shock that Loki looks angry. After all, Odin and Thanos kind of killed any hope in Loki of feeling wanted or needed. Aren’t father figures supposed to instill hope, instead of disgust? Yeah, I can answer that one but that’d be an entire other post.

Now we’re back to Ravonna and Mobius and they spat over who was more betrayed - news flash: it was Mobius. But Ravonna has to do for the digs. “Those variants?” “You threw it away for a couple of Lokis.”  Mobius tries to reason with Ravonna, sounding exactly like Glenda and Elphaba from Wicked (his “together” is spot on Glenda!) Ravonna opens a portal looking for “free will” after giving Mobius one last beatdown.

And we’re back to Loki, Sylvie and HWR. HWR gives them a bit of his backstory; I have a suspicion he’s glossed over some of it (he admits being called a conqueror for cryin’ out loud!) He has a maniacal moment, standing on his desk, voice getting a little shrill and thin. He also admits he’s probably the saner of his variants (my words not his.) Then after his real-man-behind-the-curtain routine he makes them an offer. Take his place. Loki, who has been remarkably non verbal, asks why HWR would give up control. Good question from the guy who wants to be in control yet was meant to thrive on chaos he creates. If anyone is keeping score, questions have been asked but not a single ANSWER has been given! Sylvie isn’t believing a single word while our Loki’s wheels are turning.

****** 3rd side note: the acting has been PHENOMENAL this entire series. Forget what Marvel promised and didn’t deliver (fluid Loki) and a scene we’ll be getting to, Tom and company have been nothing short of an Emmy, which I expect next year.******

HWR finally gets fed up with Sylvie and tells her to grow up. Because she took her pruning personally. Now I’m not going to say she shouldn’t be upset about her pruning; Marvel made it A POINT of showing her playing, content on Asgard, when they took her. But HWR has a point. He’s offering an option that allows Loki and Sylvie to do whatever they feel is best and it’s the wrong time for Sylvie to get in her feelings. Of course 99% of us know that’s EXACTLY when feelings choose to surface.

Then something happens - we don’t know who or what did it. Was it Ravonna and her leaving? Did Ravonna meet someone we suspect? Was it Mobius? Miss Minutes? The agents? We may never know exactly but now HWR is actually in the dark. Mr. Know-It-All suddenly doesn’t know it all.

Sylvie thinks she has her opportunity to fulfil her quest but it’s our Loki who protects HWR. Loki doesn’t tell her she’s wrong or right, just to stop and THINK. And now we get a glimpse of 2018 Loki:

See the bigger picture

Let’s talk about it

I believe HWR

What fills the void of a dictator?

What if we unleash something worse than HWR?

Now here’s where Marvel gets an B+ in character development. They took the 2012 Loki hell bent on destroying Earth to rule it and gave him just enough growth to become the 2018 redeemed Loki ODINSON, willing to sacrifice himself to Thanos (even if he did think he wouldn’t die.) It’s not a perfect arc by any means, but Marvel got there and this is one thing I applaud.

Sylvie now thinks Loki is lying to her to get to a throne and is clearly upset they are not seeing eye to eye on this and another point to Marvel. Loki, for only seeing a few videos that Mobius showed him, still has more life experience in his SINGULAR moment with Thanos to know that there is ALWAYS something bigger, badder, WORSE around the corner and he does NOT want to make the wrong decision. Wow.

To trust or not to trust. 

It’s a beautiful sword fight that HWR sits back and watches like it’s ESPN. The lighting is gorgeous behind the action and is leading up to my next OMG moment: STOP.

Loki asks Sylvie to stop, almost like a child. Like someone who knows exactly where the fight leads, where it goes, and where it ends. And he says as much to her as well. Sylvie feels like that person who just wants the fight to be over; she hunches into Tom’s space and the lighting suddenly stays green and blue. Guess who’s green? Guess who is blue?

This goes back to my Emmy mention. Even if it’s ONLY for technical work, it’s so deserving. Sylvie, in green, tired, emotional, struggling with something we aren’t supposed to know just yet. Loki, in blue, almost as if his Jotun form has taken over, strong, sensible, relatable, empathetic.

And then that damn kiss!  Marvel missed another opportunity here. Two Lokis had the opportunity to show self-love, familial love, friendly love, ANYTHING BUT A DAMN KISS!!! I’m not saying they couldn’t have feelings for each other, but it NEVER has to be romantic just because it’s a guy and a girl. **dramatic sigh goes here**

Sylvie pushes Loki through a portal she has opened, then turns to stab HWR through the chest, as he predicted. HWR actually chuckles, which makes me wonder if he expected this exact turn of events. As if we’ll ever know for sure.

Of course the timeline is going nebular and we’re treated to a shot back to the TVA. Mobius and B-15 exchange words as they watch the timelines grow and grow. Loki is sitting on a couch at the TVA and decides he’s not done? You’re supposed to guess the motivation because everything seems normal at the TVA. Loki finds Mobius and B-15 and admits to everything. Loki calling HWR terrifying is terrifying all on is own. And this of course is where it ends.

The post credit scene is just a “Loki returns in Season Two.”

Guys, this season was a mixed bag. There was some good, there was some not so good; there were laughs and a couple of tears. But it also has me SO HYPED for what’s to come. More Loki, more Marvel content, more... everything, I hope!