#but still I'll rewatch everything and figure out whether or not that becomes a bit at some point

[rawliverandgoronspice]

just realized I don't have one, not two, but *three* extremely dramatic moments in the animatic where ganondorf stands up and he's tall

[utilitycaster]

Unpopular opinion: the tower conversation between Caleb and Essek was a define-the-relationship conversation on a 20+ intelligence level and with the context that defining a relationship does not inherently mean "we have decided whether or not we are dating from this point onward with the only options being a static yes or no," and if more of the fandom read it that way, there would be significantly less equivocating over their relationship and how often Essek is mentioned in regards to existing and potential post-canon content

This is very funny to me bc if you were not off anon I'd be like "man what does Megs say about it, she'd know more!" Anyway, after this one I'll be taking a break bc I do need to do a bit of D&D prep and this is going to be a slightly long one. To that point, it's below the cut.

Anyway, thank you, because I very much enjoy Shadowgast but I don't know if I've made as much of a study of it as others have, or as I have for other ships, but this led me to rewatch/reread the transcript for this speech (2x133, btw, starting around 3:26:00 for those wondering) and: yes.

I think this is definitely the 20+ INT level version; it is entirely about theory, and the arcane, and everything is subtext. But it's not unprecedented. If I were to do the mathematical thing, and I will, and reduce it to a problem I already know, this is akin to Fjord and Jester's conversation in episode 2x72. Compare:

LAURA: Would you do anything to get them back?

TRAVIS: No. No, but, I feel like I knew what I was doing, and I realized I have no idea.

to

MATT: "You spoke once of intent, lot of fortunes have changed since. What is your goal? Ultimately?"

LIAM: I think my priorities have mostly shifted since we last spoke about things like this. I think what's going on right now is more important than my petty, earthly grievances. Still very much fascinated with and attracted to ability and skill. And it's not fashionable to say, but to power. Who doesn't feel the tug of such a thing? But, uh-- yeah, I said it knowing what your reaction was going to be. I see you outside. (laughs) But it doesn't matter. There are bigger things than you and I.

MATT: "I think that's the key. The pursuit of magic, in the ways that we know it, in the ways that we've been disparately, but in some ways similarly raised and studied. At a certain point, it becomes about the self. It becomes about what I can do. And it's impressive that you've deviated at your skill level. I just hope it holds."

LIAM: That's the key, isn't it? Because if you were to put the very thing that I have wondered about for so many years in front of me, I'm really not sure what my reaction would be.

It is, as you say, a definition of the relationship. It's not "we are now dating;" it's them figuring out if they want similar things; if they will be not just compatible but good for each other. It's foundation laying and setting boundaries for something that won't come to fruition for some time yet, but it's undeniably something more serious than mere friendship.

I think the tower conversation is also uniquely important because it's Caleb's first romantic overture after meeting with Trent. He volunteers the information about his past not just willingly, but specifically in order to connect with Essek rather than to protect him or push him away. They are even able to laugh about it together, and that's really it. This is the point where romance becomes an option.

There's more - I think that Essek admiring Caleb's ability to set aside himself despite his rapid progression as a wizard is absolutely a flirtation, as is Caleb saying he's attracted to "ability and skill" - but really in the end it's them saying "this is my condition, and you have met it." I think the relationships that lack some kind of condition and stakes like this - and to be clear, it's okay if, as with several relationships I don't cover here, those stakes and boundaries are set not through a clear conversation that serves as a turning point but rather more implicitly/through actions - end up feeling fundamentally empty and lacking in possibility because there isn't that tension and that recognition of each other.

[evilwickedme]

What is your opinion of Smallville's Lois Lane?

How is it not obvious yet? She's the love of my fucking life

Okay seriously tho, she's genuinely my fav character on the show, probably one of my fav characters in anything ever. She just... Works, both in the sense of her making sense internally and contributing so much to the show. She only just showed up on my rewatch so I'll withhold any truly thematic analysis for now, but we gotta at least acknowledge that she's fucking perfect for Clark. She constantly challenges him to better himself but also believes in him more than any other character to the show - more than any other character, perhaps, she sees that Clark is Kal El is Clark is Kal El is Superman. Also may I just say, the way she figures out Clark's identity is fucking iconic.

I also just love her character for her. She likes Clark from the very beginning, at least physically, but she doesn't sit around waiting for him, nor does she just stand around begging him to trust her with his secret. Again, not very far into my rewatch, but where Lana and Lex become fucking obsessed with Clark's secret, Lois, to my recollection, spends most of her time just admiring Clark for the parts of himself he DOES choose to share with her. She's such a breath of fresh air in the series, her dynamics with everyone are incredible. She's spunky and rude and flirty but also still obviously so caring - her introduction is so perfect, blasting into town willing to do whatever's necessary to reach her goal, but her goal in the first place is to help avenge someone she loves (not knowing yet that Chloe is actually alive). We see her dedication and intelligence and everything that will make her a great reporter and the way she's a perfect match for Clark with their banter from the very beginning.

I just... Genuinely, I adore her. The moment she arrives Erica Durance plays her to perfection. It feels like she's always been there even as we're so aware she's brand new. Her chemistry is insane with Clark as I've said, but I at least can't help but enjoy every moment she's on screen no matter who she's talking to, whether it's Chloe or Jonathan Kent or Martha Kent or Oliver - God, her and Oliver are great by the way. Also, the identity shenanigans with the Blur vs Clark - we all love a good love triangle with only two people, right? It's not just me and stackthedeck?

So yeah, 15/10 S tier character, favorite version of Lois in anything ever (although I've really only read a tiny bit of the comics so hopefully that version will also win me over; I just got the entire death of superman, world without superman, and return of superman collection so I'll be reading that soon).