#daniel atlas story

[swetearss]

it's not fair that there are so few fics of my favorite white boys 😭

[thevoyageurmoteplass-writing]

Danny stared at Atlas, his last hope to figure out exactly what was going on. In this, at least, the two of them were completely united. The Centre wasn’t the fantastic haven it presented itself as. Especially not for a kid like him, who’d lived through The Spread without the need of some fancy walls to protect him.

‘It might actually –’

A sharp burst of laughter; so much bitterness held behind the sound that for a moment Danny didn’t even recognise it as his own mouth making the noise. It was the look of mild horror, of slight anguish, on Atlas’s face that really proved to him that he was the one laughing.

‘Be good for me?’ Danny asked, echoing the words that others had muttered to each other, heads bowed close when they thought he couldn’t hear them. Forgetting just how much noise passed through the canvas of their tent walls. ‘Do you really believe that?’

Atlas let out a long breath, rested his elbows on his knees so the firelight put more of his face in shadow. But Danny had been around him long enough to recognise his body language, more so than his actual expressions.

‘I don’t know,’ Atlas admitted candidly. ‘But isn’t it worth a shot?’

‘I don’t want to go,’ Danny said, for once feeling like the child he was.

[liamlawsonlesbian]

what book I would give each current formula one driver to introduce them to the joy of reading

an intellectual exercise no one* asked for

Max Verstappen: Guns, Germs, and Steel by Jared Diamond - if you are nd and have read this book, you may understand me. otherwise just trust me. the impetus for this post

Checo Perez: The Trumpet of the Swan by E.B. White - this is an excellent read-aloud book for Sergio Jr.'s age, and there is nothing as wonderful as reading a compelling book to a kid you love, imho

Charles Leclerc: The Golden Compass by Phillip Pullman - he is on the record as a Potter enjoyer. also, I think he would enjoy having a little animal friend

Carlos Sainz: Priestdaddy by Patricia Lockwood - okay yes this is partially a joke about the title, but this is a hilarious and wonderful memoir, about weird families and Catholicism, and I think Carlos would enjoy it.

Lando Norris: Guards! Guards! by Terry Pratchett - in my mind Lando is a little bit like @bright-and-burning but less cool, so this fits. also, the combination of high number of jokes/page + action/mystery seems like a good fit

Oscar Piastri: Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie - this book has the kind of mystery that really draws you in, plus I think Oscar would dig the questions about AI it digs into. I choose to believe with zero evidence that he would be interested in the funky gender stuff

Fernando Alonso: Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell - look me in the eye and tell me this book wasn't written for Fernando Alonso

Lance Stroll: Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card - yeah

Lewis Hamilton: Die Trying by Lee Child - Lewis deserves to read mildly trashy thrillers <3 plus there's a Tom Cruise movie

George Russell: Changing My Mind by Zadie Smith - as a proud Brit, George should be reading one of the premiere English authors of the 21st century. her first book of essays is a fun and readable place to start

Yuki Tsunoda: Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel - I don't have a Yuki-lore explanation, I just want to give him one of my favorite books

Daniel Ricciardo: The Gunslinger by Steven King - The Dark Tower series is Lord of the Rings-esque in scope but Western-inflected in aesthetic and written by The Horror Guy, I think DR would enjoy

Alex Albon: The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer by Siddhartha Mukherjee - I say this with so much love in my heart, but Alex wants to be seen as smart. this book is brilliantly written pop science

Logan Sargeant: Bloomability by Sharon Creech - yes this is a book for tween girls, but it's about boarding school in Switzerland, and Sharon Creech is a genius. if I could convince him to read it, I think he would love it

Valtteri Bottas: The Fellowship of the Ring by JRR Tolkien - what are hobbits if not humanoid moomins?

Zhou Guanyu: Piranesi by Susannah Clarke - a fun, exciting, stylishly written book for a stylish guy

Kevin Magnussen: Watership Down by Richard Adams - rabbit warfare <3

Nico Hulkenberg: A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles - Hulk SEEMS like a Dad Who Reads Historical Fiction, even if he isn't yet

Pierre Gasly: Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo - I almost said A Game of Thrones but I don't think that would be good for him. so, Six of Crows. he likes heists!

Esteban Ocon: City of Brass by S.A. Chakraborty - a superhero origin story of sorts for Mr. Spiderman

Bonus: Liam Lawson: Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir - lesbian from New Zealand. let me have this

*ro asked for it, take it up with them @oscarpiastriwdc

[seeinganewlight]

2024 books read

2024 goal: 150 books

january: 1 - heartstopper vol. 1 → alice oseman (reread) 2 - heartstopper vol. 2 → alice oseman (reread) 3 - heartstopper vol. 3 → alice oseman (reread) 4 - heartstopper vol. 4 → alice oseman (reread) 5 - heartstopper vol. 5 → alice oseman 6 - a fragile enchantment → allison saft 7 - some shall break → ellie marney (audiobook) 8 - only if you're lucky → stacy willingham (arc) 9 - over my dead body: a witchy graphic novel → sweeney boo 10 - notes on an execution → danya kukafka (physical & audiobook) 11 - murder on the orient express → agatha christie (reread) 12 - our wives under the sea → julia armfield (physical & audiobook) 13 - the invocations → krystal sutherland (arc) 14 - red string theory → lauren kung jessen 15 - the breakup tour → emily wibberley & austin siegemund-broka (arc) 16 - the name drop → susan lee 17 - the secret of the old clock → carolyn keene (reread) 18 - bright young women → jessica knoll (audiobook) 19 - last call at the local → sarah grunder ruiz (audiobook) 20 - no one can know → kate alice marshall

february: 21 - worst wingman ever → abby jimenez 22 - drop, cover, and hold on → jasmine guillory 23 - with any luck → ashley poston 24 - the atlas six → olivie blake (reread, audiobook) 25 - that's not my name → megan lally 26 - not here to stay friends → kaitlyn hill 27 - this golden state → marit weisenberg 28 - today tonight tomorrow → rachel lynn solomon (reread, annotation) 29 - past present future → rachel lynn solomon (arc, annotation) 30 - the atlas paradox → olivie blake (reread, audiobook) 31 - the guest list → lucy foley (audiobook) 32 - in the market for murder → t.e. kinsey (audiobook) 33 - the neighbor favor → kristina forest 34 - in the mix → mandy gonzalez 35 - everyone in my family has killed someone → benjamin stevenson 36 - the seven year slip → ashley poston 37 - veronica ruiz breaks the bank → elle cosimano (audiobook) 38 - finlay donovan rolls the dice → elle cosimano (audiobook) 39 - the simmonds house kills → meaghan dwyer (arc)

march: 40 - the mysterious case of the alperton angels → janice hallett 41 - the book of cold cases → simone st. james 42 - what the river knows → isabel ibañez (audiobook) 43 - cut loose! → ali stroker & stacy davidowitz 44 - how i'll kill you → ren destefano 45 - the reappearance of rachel price → holly jackson (arc) 46 - when no one is watching → alyssa cole (audiobook) 47 - outofshapeworthlessloser: a memoir of figure skating, f*cking up, and figuring it out → gracie gold (audiobook) 48 - julius caesar → william shakespeare (rerad, audiobook) 49 - the family plot → megan collins (audiobook) 50 - if we were villains → m.l. rio (reread) 51 - alone with you in the ether → olivie blake (physical & audiobook) 52 - disappearance at devil's rock → paul tremblay (audiobook)

april: 53 - shakespeare: romeo and juliet graphic novel → martin powell & eva cabrera 54 - shakespeare: macbeth graphic novel → martin powell & f. daniel perez 55 - shakespeare: julius caesar graphic novel → carl bown & eduardo garcia 56 - shakespeare: a midsummer night's dream graphic novel → nel yomtov & berenice muniz 57 - twelfth knight → alexene farol follmuth (arc) 58 - kill for me, kill for you → steve cavanagh 59 - murder road → simone st. james 60 - everyone on this train is a suspect → benjamin stevenson 61 - listen for the lie → amy tintera 62 - king cheer → molly horton booth, stephanie kate strohm, jamie green 63 - twelfth night (musical adaptation) → kwame kwei-armah & shaina taub 64 - in juliet's garden → judy elliot mcdonald 65 - fat ham → james ijames 66 - death by shakespeare → philip l. nicholas, jr 67 - a good girl's guide to murder → holly jackson (reread) 68 - good girl, bad blood → holly jackson (reread) 69 - as good as dead → holly jackson (reread) 70 - dark corners → megan goldin (audiobook) 71 - the one that got away with murder → trish lundy (audiobook) 72 - funny story → emily henry 73 - imogen says nothing → aditi brennan kapil 74 - people we meet on vacation → emily henry (audiobook, reread)

may: 75 - episode thirteen → craig dilouie 76 - the girls i've been → tess sharpe (reread) 77 - the girl in question → tess sharpe (arc) 78 - wild about you → kaitlyn hill (arc) 79 - just for the summer → abby jimenez 80 - my best friend's exorcism → grady hendrix 81 - second first date → rachel lynn solomon 82 - the ballad of darcy & russell → morgan matson 83 - the good, the bad, and the aunties → jesse q. sutanto (audiobook) 84 - truly, madly, deeply → alexandria bellefleur 85 - your blood, my bones → kelly andrew 86 - amy & roger's epic detour → morgan matson (reread) 87 - romancing mister bridgerton → julia quinn (reread) 88 - the viscount who loved me → julia quinn (reread) 89 - bittersweet in the hollow → kate pearsall 90 - to sir phillip, with love → julia quinn (reread) 91 - when he was wicked → julia quinn (reread) 92 - it's in his kiss → julia quinn (reread) 93 - on the way to the wedding → julia quinn (audiobook, reread) 94 - emma → jane austen (audiobook, reread)

june: 95 - first lie wins → ashley elston 96 - we got the beat → jenna miller 97 - firekeeper's daughter → angeline boulley 98 - chlorine → jade song (audiobook) 99 - what stalks among us → sarah hollowell 100 - hollow fires → samira ahmed (audiobook) 101 - part of your world → abby jimenez 102 - the road trip → beth o'leary 103 - yours truly → abby jimenez 104 - finally fitz → marisa kanter 105 - the last love song → kalie holford

july: 106 - dead girls walking → sami ellis (audiobook) 107 - home is where the bodies are → jeneva rose 108 - we used to live here → marcus kliewer 109 - the children on the hill → jennifer mcmahon (audiobook) 110 - what moves the dead → t. kingfisher 111 - my throat an open grave → tori bovalino 112 - dashed → amanda quain (arc) 113 - asking for a friend → kara h.l. chen (arc) 114 - beach read → emily henry (reread, audiobook) 115 - book lovers → emily henry (reread, audiobook) 116 - happy place → emily henry (reread, audiobook) 117 - you have a match → emma lord (reread, annotation) 118 - bonnie & clyde musical script → ivan menchell (reread) 119 - such charming liars → karen m. mcmanus (arc) 120 - she left → stacie grey (audiobook) 121 - let the games begin → rufaro faith mazarura (audiobook) 122 - death at morning house → maureen johnson (arc)

august: 123 - cleat cute → meryl wilsner (audiobook) 124 - i wish you would → eva des lauriers 125 - the break-up pact → emma lord (arc) 126 - water for elephants → sara gruen 127 - when you get the chance → emma lord (reread, annotation) 128 - come out, come out → natalie c. parker (arc) 129 - my lady jane → cynthia hand, brodi ashton, jodi meadows 130 - the lies of alma blackwell → amanda glaze (arc)

september: 131 - the spare room → andra bartz 132 - late bloomer → mazey eddings (audiobook) 133 - savor it → tarah dewitt (audiobook) 134 - triple sec → t.j. alexander (audiobook) 135 - the skeleton key → erin kelly 136 - the examiner → janice hallett (arc) 137 - the dark we know → wen-yi lee (audiobook) 138 - pretty girls → karin slaughter 139 - a good girl's guide to murder → holly jackson (reread, annotation) 140 - lady macbeth → ava reid

[avatar-news]

Simu Liu (Shang-Chi, Barbie) to reprise his role as Paul Sun-Hyung Lee’s son by playing Iroh’s son Lu Ten in live action?

Simu Liu (Marvel Studios’ Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Barbie) just potentially teased that he’s joining the world of Avatar on the side of the Fire Nation!

In a new Instagram story, he posted himself getting fitted for a bald cap or wig with the caption “And then the Fire Nation attacked”. Previously Daniel Dae Kim posted himself in the ATLA makeup chair when he was getting fitted for his Fire Lord Ozai wig.

Simu Liu previously played Paul Sun-Hyung Lee (live-action Iroh)’s son in Kim’s Convenience. Could this be a hint that he’s reprising that role in spirit by playing Iroh’s son Lu Ten?

It wouldn’t be the first family reunion in the live-action cast-- BOTH Joel Montgrand and Rainbow Dickerson (Sokka and Katara’s parents Hakoda and Kya) previously played Kiawentiio (Katara)’s parents in the movie Beans (2020).

[purpleheartskies]

Some fans say that there's no realism in stories, or that Cobra Kai is a "silly", "fun" story and isn't the type of story that would explore serious topics, like trauma.

Taking a step back from Cobra Kai for a bit, there are a lot of stories that are "silly" and "fun" that explore serious topics. Last year, the Barbie movie was the highest grossing film in the box office. It too explores serious topics in a silly, fun plot and universe. There are a lot of people who dismissed that movie and the topics it explored, but those topics were explored regardless if people acknowledged or dismissed them.

ATLA is a great example of a silly, fun tv series that also explores serious topics. Within a completely made-up animated universe with people with elemental magic powers, the realities of war, colonization, childhood trauma, and trauma due to war are explored.

Many Pixar films are also great examples of exploring serious topics in silly, fun stories. Inside Out takes complex psychological concepts and portrays them in silly, fun ways, all while telling a story about the importance of grief and sadness in coping and healing. Up is another great example. Within its first few minutes, it shows a lifetime of memories that Carl and Ellie shared together. I remember, after one of my friends watched it in theaters, she told me that she couldn't believe that a certain moment in the beginning was in a Disney movie. You may have immediately thought of the moment I'm talking about: Ellie and Carl in the doctor's office getting the news that they can't have kids. This moment came immediately after a moment of them happily putting together a nursery. Following this opening montage, the whole movie itself deals with grief, the importance of finding new connections, and found family. These topics aren't just explored through Carl's story, but through Russell's as well. When he's first introduced, he says that he's trying to get his Assisting the Elderly badge. As the story goes on, he reveals that his dad said he'd come to the ceremony to pin his badge on his sash. The empty spot for the badge is right above Russell's heart. It's such a simple detail that shows the void in Russell's life now that his dad doesn't spend time with him anymore. Later, Russell recounts some memories with his dad, and Carl rolls his eyes at first because Russell is once again prattling on about his dad. Russell says that he and his dad used to sit on the curb outside of an ice cream shop and count different color cars. Then, Russell says in a solemn voice that he liked that curb. He pauses, and then says that it may sound boring but it's the boring stuff that he remembers the most. Carl gets it then because he remembers all the "boring stuff" that he did with Ellie. At that point, he still believes that he and Ellie had a boring life without adventure, but later on, he learns that the life they had together was their adventure. Of course, all of these heartfelt moments happen amongst Carl and Russell flying in a house carried by hundreds of colorful balloons, meeting a bunch of "talking dogs!", and finding the infamous snipe.

It's pretty sad if people really believe that there is no realism in stories and that you can't explore serious topics in silly, fun stories and film. The realism is usually what allows us to emotionally connect with the characters and the story.

When it comes to Cobra Kai, fans focus so much on the plot and the karate fights, but the characters, their traumas, and the relationships is where a huge chunk of the story has always been.

For example, Daniel's entire journey has been about his own past with Cobra Kai and how that affects him and his loved ones. When Daniel was reintroduced for the first time in over 30 years, he seemed like he was doing great. Life was going really well for him, and it seemed like all of his internal demons were dealt with and gone. But they weren't. Seeing the Cobra Kai dojo again in s1e2 triggered him. Since then, he's been dealing with the physical "demons" of Cobra Kai but hasn't fully recognized how his internal demons have been affecting his behavior, which in turn affects the people around him. His behavior is realistic, yet it's an aspect of his character that is misunderstood and dismissed by many fans. Regardless, it's there and it drives his journey.

In Kreese's case, they've added a lot of backstory, including a series of flashbacks throughout s3, that shows why he is the way he is and what drives his motivations. In s3e10, the juxtaposition of the flashbacks of Kreese's fight with his own sensei/mentor and the scenes of Kreese's fight with Johnny is no coincidence. Johnny and Robby's first and only violent confrontation was also included in this mix of generational trauma and conflicts. In s5, Kreese had a whole therapy arc, including a scene in which he imagined people from his life who he had unresolved relationships with, including his younger self. Kreese choosing war instead of redemption at the end of s5 makes sense for his character.

In a lot of his Cobra Kai interviews, Thomas Ian Griffith comments about how, in this absurd world in Cobra Kai, the writers have been able to include elements that ground the story and get you to connect (emotionally) with the characters. Although Thomas plays Silver, one of the most batshit characters in the story, Thomas himself has written for other shows (for example Grimm) and understands more than most all the elements that go into telling a story like this one.

When it comes to Johnny and Robby's relationship in s5 specifically, their characters and relationship were portrayed as they always have been throughout the series.

Johnny kept choosing Miguel and the Diazs over Robby: Johnny manipulated Robby and endangered his life to find Miguel in Mexico. Johnny later ignored Robby's request for space and forced him to have a physical fight with Miguel and accept the Diazs as family because of the baby plot device. Johnny gave fatherly advice to Miguel and not to Robby.

Before s5, some fans would describe Robby as a chameleon because he would adapt based on his circumstances. Sadly, Robby had to change completely in s5 to survive Johnny's behavior: After Johnny had lied and dragged Robby down to Mexico and tried to manipulate him to stay to help find Miguel, Johnny dumped Robby at a bus stop with some cash to get home on his own because Robby had gotten upset that Johnny had done lied to him. Robby could either help Johnny find Miguel or Robby would be on his own to get back home with only some cash from Johnny, so Robby chose to help Johnny. Later on, Johnny ignored Robby's request for space from Miguel. After Miguel said yes to Johnny for a fight with Robby, Robby had to say yes to the fight too. After the fight, when Johnny asked if they're okay now, Robby paused and then nodded yes, although Miguel never took accountability for his wrongs against Robby. Robby also had to act excited about the baby news, like Johnny said they have to. Robby later had to ask Carmen's permission if he could have dinner with his new "family". Robby also had to take back his comment about Johnny giving fatherly advice to Miguel and not him. Throughout the season, Robby had to adapt to survive Johnny and be accepted into his life now.

Johnny is a still a deadbeat alcoholic: Like in previous seasons, in s5e3 Johnny had a montage of cleaning up his apartment. But in s5e4, nothing about his portrayal indicated that he'd changed. In fact, he was portrayed as the exact opposite of Carmen's dream. (I think she even imagined him as Maverick from Top Gun, although in s4 he'd said that he's a fan of Iceman.) Carmen's dream Johnny is definitely not who he really is, and the rest of the episode was used to show that. Although Johnny gave a sincere apology to Shannon, Johnny never gave one to Robby. In s5e5, Johnny had beer cans stacked into a cactus and had used boxes with the coors banquet logo as makeshift doors to the hallway for the escape room. When Daniel came to the apartment, Johnny commented about him reeking of booze, but then he gave Daniel a beer and Daniel later thanked him for it. Funny that many fans proudly call out the first part but don't call out the latter parts. They also proudly say that Johnny "put his family first", but he actually just put himself first. He forced Robby into a physical fight for his own gain. Since most fans have always viewed Johnny's mistreatment of Robby as acceptable, it's not surprising that they were okay with how Johnny treated Robby throughout s5. In s5e6, Johnny had a beer in his hand when he and Chozen went during the day to scope out the Topanga Karate turned Cobra Kai dojo. In s5e9, Johnny got drunk as he celebrated knocking up his girlfriend and then committed a trespass and assault. He ended s5 with yet another self-centered speech, this time about what he would lose if something had happened to him. The sad thing is if you point all this out, most fans will just dismiss you and say that you just "hate" Johnny and the Diazs and don't want to accept that he's changed, instead of themselves admitting that he's still the same Johnny and they're fine with that. In a way, he's actually worse now because he's escalated to actively endangering and physically harming Robby, while also believing that he has changed for the better.

For sometime now, fans have believed that Miguel was going to help Johnny grow and become a better father to Robby. The trope is that Johnny would apply what he has learned in his relationship with Miguel to his relationship with Robby. Johnny hasn't done that though. Even in s5, Johnny was clearly shown choosing Miguel over Robby repeatedly, even endangering and abusing Robby to ensure Miguel's safety and happiness. All these people claiming that Miguel and the Diazs have had a "positive" impact in Johnny's life intentionally dismiss the aspects of the story that don't support this claim.

The baby plotline in s5 seems to have taken away any chance of the story eventually focusing Johnny becoming a real father to Robby, but this plot device was used in such a negative way in s5. It reminds me of how the medal of honor was used in s2 to negatively impact character arcs. In addition to the psychological and physical trauma Johnny subjected Robby to because the baby is coming, Johnny kept talking about the baby as a chance to make up for screwing up with Robby. So, Johnny was using the baby the same way he uses Miguel: as a do-over. Clearly, by the end of s5, Johnny hasn't grown because of the baby coming, just like how Johnny hasn't grown as a father to Robby because of having Miguel in his life.

Throughout the series, subtle verbal and visual indications have always been included to remind the audience that Robby is Johnny's son. In s5e10, this sequence of scenes stands out.

Kenny hits Robby with the Silver Bullet, and Robby starts falling to his knees. The scene cuts to Johnny falling to his knees and spitting out blood.

Silver comes and says a few things to Johnny, including that Johnny would screw up another kid. This scene ends with Silver saying, "Finish him." The scene cuts back to Robby, and Kenny and two cobras teaming up on him, essentially "finishing him". Silver had told his students earlier that day to show no mercy to Robby and his friends if they came to the dojo again.

The only line that acknowledges the reality of Johnny becoming a father again is bookended by these two editing cuts, one of the many subtle, visual reminders throughout the series that Robby is Johnny's son. The statement itself literally tells us what to expect if Johnny were to become a father again: Johnny will screw up another kid.

If the writers had rushed the story in s5 thinking that they may not get renewed, as some have claimed, the writers would have focused on properly resolving Johnny's storylines with Kreese and Robby first, which is the storyline the writers care about, and having Johnny actually grow in the process. Instead they used s5 to give Johnny a shallow "happy ending" with the Diazs with no positive character growth and included another negative plot device to worsen his behavior with Robby, essentially continuing with Johnny's failures to do right by Robby and not yet addressing the generational trauma that Johnny passes down and that will just "screw up another kid". Given the crucial loose ends for Johnny's story at the end of s5 and the writers' own statements up to the release of s5 that there's more story to tell, it's obvious that s5 ended with more story to tell especially for Johnny. It's not surprising that fans who believe that Johnny's primary story is with the Diazs are satisfied with s5 as a "real" ending. However, Johnny's story with them has never been Johnny's primary story at all. Even if people discount the importance of Johnny's story with Robby, Johnny's story with Kreese and Kreese's story with Johnny are still unresolved. At the start of s5e10, Kreese recounted Johnny's promise to wipe out his legacy. At the end of s5e10, Kreese set out on the warpath. Next season, as the story concludes, Johnny will have to face his past, and this time, he won't be able run from it like he has been doing since s3e10, the story's midpoint and the episode that emphasized 3 generations of Cobra Kai, trauma, and conflict.

This story has always been about tackling the topic of generational trauma. The writers have always said that they're exploring how Johnny's relationship and past with Kreese affects Johnny's relationship with Robby. By the end of s5, Johnny's relationships with Kreese and with Robby have yet to be resolved, especially from Johnny's side. Johnny hasn't wiped out Kreese's legacy, as Johnny promised in s5e7. Johnny also hasn't resolved anything with Robby. For example, Johnny could have apologized to Robby sincerely, like Johnny did with Shannon, and made the same or more efforts with Robby to ensure his safety and happiness, like Johnny did for Miguel. Instead, Johnny consistently focused on his unhealthy codependent relationships with the Diazs and on his own ego, like he has throughout the series, endangering and traumatizing Robby in the process. Although Johnny told Chozen in s5e9 that he'd decided to move on from the past, which Johnny did in s3e10 including leaving Robby behind with Kreese, Johnny himself kept bringing up his failures with Robby whenever he talked about the baby throughout s5. The past is still gnawing at Johnny from the inside. Johnny clearly hasn't moved on from failing Robby. After all, Johnny stated his motivations at the beginning of s5: "I'm out here trying to fix my mistakes so that I don't have to live with the regret of making them." The baby became another do over for Johnny instead of a "person" of its own because Johnny is still looking to appease his own guilt for failing Robby instead of truly redeeming himself to Robby. That's also why Johnny's finale speech was still about himself and what he would lose. Johnny is still focused on himself first and foremost, as he has been since s1.

3 generations of Cobra Kai

[alessiathepirate]

Now You See Me 2

MIDNIGHT ON THE THAMES: Dylan Rhodes/Shrike x fem!reader

Summary: The reveal happens at the stroke of midnight, in the middle of the Thames, on New Year's Eve - and she couldn't be happier. Or maybe she could, because Lula and Jack won't be the only ones kissing that night.

Notes: English isn't my first language. I apologize for any mistake I made while I wrote this short story.

This man is so underrated, it's a crime. He deserves some love - please love him.

Warnings: a bit of swearing, but nothing more

•••

No matter how many successful reveals they pull off, she still feels the same amount of excitement, happiness and slight nervousness at the end of every trick and show.

Yet, the strongest feeling out of all of them was the happiness. The happiness because everything turned out just fine in the end, because this tiring performance is close to being over and mostly because her friends are also smiling with honest, wide grins and letting out excited chuckles.

This one though, this one wasn't easy to pull off. It was possibly the hardest show they had to put together with the trouble and issues they had to overcome. It was tiring, stressful, but also kind of fun and thrilling.

After this they'll sleep through a day if not two, she smiled at the thought as she let go of Lula, who was the last to end the group hug.

As Walter, Tressler and Chase slowly, reluctantly left the plane, stepping into the light, not understanding what is happening around them; the last act was about to start -- and this, this will be her favourite.

Those three absolutely ruined her whole week, made her almost choke on tears and worry and made her hate their whole existence and the fact that if they wanted to fool them, they had to let them believe they won was hard to swallow. Now they will get those smirks off of their faces and make them realize how easy it was to fool them. They were greedy and arogant and now they are losers -- nothing more.

God, how much they had to go through to reveal their real faces to the world.

"No, no, you should feel pretty good about yourself man. You predicted it correctly." Atlas started to tease the three of them for her pleasure, as they looked around with nothing but pure shock on their faces. "The Thames, stroke of midnight. New Year's Eve. Happy New Year!"

The people, the hundreds of curious fans who decided to come and see the final act shouted in happiness and excitement. Before these people tonight, there'll be nothing they'll be able to hide. That thought alone made her smile wider.

"We would like to acknowledge not just our old friend, Arthur Tressler, but his young and brilliant son, Walter Mabry!" Daniel continued. "Who has performed one of the greatest feats of illusion even we have ever seen. He has, amazingly, brought himself back from the death!"

The audience roared again, but this time the happy laughter wasn't the thing what made her heartbeat unevenly fast. It was the presence of the person who could both calm her down and make her uneasy with butterflies. Dylan's hand landed on her arm, squeezing it gently, lovingly, making her mind into a mush and her tounge forgot how to function to speak - and it's soon her turn to say something. She didn't know what that meant, but it was a sign of something - something soft like a silent 'thank you' or 'congratulations'. Even if it was slightly confusing, it felt nice. Too nice.

"But before he did that, he revealed someone. And we think it only right to give him a proper introduction. He is our friend and he is our leader, Dylan Shrike!"

His hand slowly left her as he turned towards their audience and began to speak.

"So normally only the magician, his assistant, and a few trusted stage hands know the secret of a trick..."

His voice faded away as she looked at him, quietly admiring him from afar, letting him enjoy his place in the spotlight. Her mind was full of memories. Memories of him, memories of today. The day she thought she'll actually choke on stress and worry.

God, how thankful she is that he's okay. That he's alive and up here with them, not down there in the water.

They were close, so close she felt comfortable in his presence. He was a person she could trust with anything, a person who didn't tease her like Merritt or Danny did sometimes. They were play fights, she knew that, but still there was something special between her and Dylan, a different kind of honesty.

And knowing that he could die from the digusting 'magic trick' those three tried to pull off with him made her cry. Like actually cry, many tears with a dry and quiet voice.

After he climbed out of that damned safe, she followed him around like puppy, sitting next to him on the stairs as they discussed what to do next. She sat next to him, not daring to hug him, but craving it -- yet instead she just let their knees touch slightly. It was enough to give her some energy and acknowledge that now they are going to war.

A slight nudge made her let go of those memories, getting back to reality, to a moment she should enjoy. Jack was the one talking now, explaining the secret behind 'Find the Lady' and this time Merritt was the one standing next to her.

"Don't daydream yet, lover girl. We still got a show to run." he patted her back and then walked away with a knowing a smirk.

Damn mentalist, she thought just as Lula began to explain the secret behind the airplane. He knows everything he can use to tease people with.

"Basically, we showed them everything." she finally spoke up herself, still laughing a little as she watched how Merritt teased his brother, finally getting the upper hand. "The switch, the plane, the manipulation... Yet they were still too blind to see." she turned towards Walter, a smirk forming on her face. "And you kidnapped us to steal the very thing that is in your pocket."

Walter was about to reach into his coat's pocket, to see if their homemade special card is really there; but Atlas was quicker.

"Whoops!" he said as the card appeared in his hand, seemingly out of nowhere. "You know, this thing here, which you said you could use to adjust markets, manipulate goverments, and spy on whomever you choose."

"Also, you could, as you said, control the public from outside the grid." she continued as the public groaned in frustration, realizing what their words really meant.

That reaction filled her heart up with pride.

"These men destroy people's lives. Spying on the world, robbing you of your right to privacy." It was weird, how well she recognized Dylan's voice and how well her heart did as well - as it was beating faster. Their eyes met and even if he was speaking the harsh truth, his gaze was still soft. It was always soft with her. "And they do that by hiding in the dark. So in true Horsemen tradition, we are here to expose them."

"Tonight, they, like all of us, are finally stepping into the light." she was grinning as the people reacted, shouting, screaming happily, because the truth was finally out. "Thank you everybody!"

"We are the Horsemen and we will be back very soon!"

And the moment came - when the show ends, the tiredness appears. Her chest was heavy with pride and happiness, justice found those three men who ruined their lives for days without stopping. Now they got what they deserve.

And then the coundown began. The audience shouted, like if the wait until New Year was part of the show... They shouted as the sirens were turned on, meaning the FBI was on its way. It was time to leave -- and then finally rest.

And then she felt it, the push - the literal, physical push she knew she needed, which got her closer to Dylan, almost bumping into him. She didn't know who it was, although she could bet her right arm on one of her friends -- but it didn't really matter. Thoughts didn't really matter. She was there, close to him, their eyes met.

It was their moment.

"So fun's over, huh?" she tried to joke, but her throat was dry and she could feel that her cheeks were pink for sure.

And then it happened - the need in her was satisfied, they touched the other. That kind of closeness was new and intoxicating, but not at all uncomfortable. It was something what both of them longed for since forever - and now here they were.

Their lips touched. It was a quick and short kiss, but it was a very meaningful one. She felt it. She felt it in how warm his lips were, how he touched her cheeks and how he was slightly shaking just like her, because what they wanted finally happened. It was soft, but it was full of passion. All the unsaid feelings were pushed into that one, simple kiss.

"I love you." his words were simple, they were nothing special, but they still made her insides warm.

"Hey, we are on the clock here!"

Damn the clock!

They had to run, sure. But even that couldn't wash the lovesick smile off her face. It couldn't, because Dylan Shrike loved her. He said it himself and she knew it was true.

Dylan grabbed her arm, he held onto her firmly as they started to run - just in time, because the boats arrived and agents started to get out of them, running towards them.

"I love you too." she said as they hurried away. "I think I've loved you since you interrogated me."

"Ever since then, huh?" he chuckled.

"What can I say? I think it was the suit. You look really good in suits."

They both laughed even if they were a little bit out of breath.

Dylan suddenly stopped and so did she. She took a deep breath as she looked at the water of the Thames, which was only a few meters away. People shouted behind them, possibly the agents who were sent here, only to fail their mission once again. They never really learn.

He turned towards her and touched her cheeks once again, his thumbs drawing shapes gently into her skin.

"I need you to go, okay? I'll be right behind you, but there's one more thing I have to do."

"Promise?"

"I promise."

She leaned forward and pressed a kiss to his cheek and then she looked up at him with a shy smile.

"I'll see you soon."

And just like that she was gone. Gone, disappeared into the night like the magician she is, making a fool out of the FBI once again.

Dylan stayed there, waiting for an agent to turn up so he can finish what he started and give them the proof they need against Tressler and his son. He stayed there as the shouts came closer. He stayed there and looked after his lover, knowing that he'll adore the moments he'll spend with her once they finally get to a safe place where they can finally rest.

[echoes-lighthouse]

F/O Masterlist

Okay, I'm at the point where I'm going to have to make The Big List. So this is just a list of everyone that I conceivably might post selfship content about, so if people need to block tags or ask me in advance to tag things, you're aware of the possibility! I'll do my best to update this and let folks know when it's been updated.

This is specifically a list of my romantic or semi-romantic f/os, since those are the ones people usually care about blocking. Maybe I will make a separate list for platonic/familial selfships!

Organized alphabetically by source: let's go!

Primaries

(I Have Posted About Them Before And I Will Likely Post Again)

Tate Langdon (American Horror Story - #my ghost boy), miscellaneous sideships with other Season 1 ghosts

Grell Sutcliffe (Black Butler - #don't fear the reaper)

Toshinori Yagi (BNHA- #sunflower time)

Shigaraki Tomura (BNHA- #my gamer boy)

Himiko Toga (BNHA - #bestie hours), includes a LoV polycule with Shigaraki, Spinner, Magne, Mr. Compress, Dabi, and maybe Kurogiri

Alex (Clockwork Orange - #clockwork siblings)

Penelope Garcia (Criminal Minds - tag TBD)

Jester Lavorre (Critical Role- #my sweetling)

Monokuma (Danganronpa- #my evil lil bear)

The Joker (DC/TDK - #the lover who laughs)

Dirk Strider (Homestuck - #heart of hearts)

Vox and Valentino (Hazbin Hotel - #digital poison), includes sex work with most of the main cast

Emberlynn (Helluva Boss - tag TBD)

Stolas (Helluva Boss - #secrets of the stars)

Armand, Gabrielle, Lestat, Louis, Daniel (Interview With The Vampire - #messy vampire polycule)

Val Frizzle (Magic School Bus - #val <3)

Gertrude Robinson (The Magnus Archives - #archivist my archivist)

Jonah Magnus (The Magnus Archives - #eyes on you)

Mary Poppins (Mary Poppins - #mary and me)

Jack Skellington (Nightmare Before Christmas - #my skeleman)

Zero Rick Sanchez (Pocket Mortys - #waiting in the stars), may include other Ricks as the mood takes me

Death (Sandman - #death becomes them)

Delirium (Sandman - #eyestrain pals)

Cecil and Kevin (WTNV - #listener and watcher)

Tumblr (Miscellanious Sources - #beloved hellsite)

Non-Primaries

(content about these is rare or hasn't happened yet, but it might! None have tags assigned yet, but I'll assign them if you ask.)

Garfield the Deals Warlock (The Adventure Zone)

Iroh (ATLA)

Tsuyu Asui (BNHA)

Nezu (BNHA)

Aizawa Shota (BNHA) only in a hook-up sense but still worth mentioning

Laudna and Imogen (Critical Role), currently on hold because I only got 10 episodes into C3

Hoid (Cosmere)

Celeste, Junko, Toko (Danganronpa 1)

Eventually I'll get through the other Danganronpa games and add f/os from those as well

L (Death Note)

Queen (Deltarune)

Judge Frollo (Disney's Notre Dame)

Captain Hook (Live Action Peter Pan)

Yuri (Doki Doki Literature Club)

Oswalda Cobblepots (DC)

Thirteenth Doctor (Doctor Who)

TARDIS (Doctor Who: my partner ships with her, not me, but I might post content for them)

Fandomstuck f/os are still to be determined

Sun/Moon (FNAF:SB)

Glamrock Chica (FNAF:SB)

The Creation (Frankenstein)

Garfield (Garfield)

Miku Binder Thomas Jefferson (Hamilton adjacent?? - #insufferable pokelovers)

Minerva McGonagall (Harry Potter)

Severus Snape (Harry Potter)

Honestly the entire Homestuck cast is a possibility for me

The Devil (The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus)

Persephone (Lore Olympus)

Jonathan Sims (The Magnus Archives)

Michael (The Magnus Archives)

Minecraft Villager OC

Bert, Ernie, Gonzo (The Muppets)

Mae Borowski (Night In The Woods)

Haruhi Fujioka (OHSHC)

Calypso (Pirates of the Caribbean)

Erik (POTO)

Christine Daae(POTO)

Desire (Sandman)

Trencil (Smile For Me)

Rose Quartz (Steven Universe)

Charlie Bradbury (Supernatural)

Rorschach (Watchmen)

[pastanest]

Danny x gn&British!reader

Danny Atlas x British Reader

- this man will act like he’s above finding an accent attractive until he meets you

- and then his cards are on the table pun intended

- bc he suddenly realizes that the dry British sense of humor massively appeals to him

- the first time you call him “smarmy” he all but fumbles his deck fr

- rarely asks you to translate your British slang and pretends to know exactly what you mean but the second you’re not looking he’s googling on his phone “what is a tosspot”

- LOVES the way your face scrunches up in absolute disgust when he repeats some British slang back to you but makes no effort to sound less American when he does

- particularly when using the word “banter” bc, as you so rightly put it, “there is no need to use such a hard r at the end of that word”

- LOVES listening to you retell stories that he’s told you or tales of funny things that happened to you together, in group settings with others bc the way you retell things with your additional British commentary has him struggling to hide an adoring smirk

- surprises you with random British things sometimes just to see how you’ll react

- bought you a mixed box of British sweets once and when you found parma violets in the bottom, you flipped your lid you decide whether that’s good or bad in this context but if you actually like sweets that taste like perfume…

- LOVES to take the piss out of the way you pronounce American things “wrong” despite the fact he is very well educated on the fact the language he speaks derives from yours, he just likes winding you up

- doesn’t understand the hype around fish and chips until you take him to a proper fish and chip shop and it’s like a religious experience for him

“I should move here. We should move here, I think. And we need to be within 5 miles of this exact fish and chip store.”

“Shop.”

“Yes, sorry, shop. I need to be able to walk here. At least once a week. Maybe more. I’ll book myself as an entertainer here and perhaps they’ll give me this stuff for free.”

“Danny-“

“If I earn enough money from shows here, I could even buy this exact fish and chip shop. And rehire everyone who already works here to ensure everything tastes exactly the same. Except under my name. Atlas Fish And Chips.”

“Danny, you can’t just-“

“J. Daniel Atlas, masterful illusionist and fish and chip shop owner. That’s history. I’m going to make it history.”

[istherewifiinhell]

AGAIN

[VD: Clip from ATLA s1 ep "The Northen Air Temple". Dust from a destroyed wall clears and the mechanist, an older man with a mad scientist look, steps forward. "What the doodle! Don't you know enough to stay away from construction sites! We have to make room for the bath house!" END]

Amusingly enough this episode has a character credited as "Emissary" [the fire nation guy i think]

[ID: The also starring section of the credits Teo - Daniel Samonas, Mechanist - Rene Auberjonois, Emissary - Kristoffer Tabori, Story Teller - Clyde Kastatsu. Additionals voices of Auberjonois and Kastatsu* along with main caster: DBB, Desena and Whitman. END]

*Were all looking at the same credits here but internet says his name is Kusatsu

[crom-ink]

Dark Fantasy and Magic Collide in BIRDKING VOLUME 2

Dark Horse Comics presents BIRDKING VOLUME 2 — the sequel to last year’s critically acclaimed graphic novel — out this November. The fantasy epic is by writer Daniel Freedman (Kali) and artist CROM (Raiders).

About BIRDKING Volume 2: Bianca and Birdking continue their quest to reach Atlas, entering the domain of Hinnom, an insurmountable mountain range that is the birthplace of a dead dark empire and the battlefield in the war between the kingdoms of the North and South. Old friends, new allies, and scores of enemies await them there. No one has ever crossed Hinnom alive. But Bianca and Birdking might just make it. …Then again, maybe they won’t. 

The $19.99 graphic novel will measure 6 5/8 x 10 3/16” and spans 136 pages full of action, drama, and adventure.

BIRDKING VOLUME 2 will be released in comic shops on November 15th, 2023, and in book stores a day earlier on November 14th. It’s currently available for pre-order.

PRAISE FOR BIRDKING VOLUME 1:

“Onomatopoetic sound effects and rushing anime backgrounds make the battle scenes sing, while the use of monochromatic backgrounds and vivid facial expressions make the quiet moments incredibly powerful. About as carefully paced and deftly balanced as a story can get.” —Booklist, starred review

“CROM’s character designs are memorable, and he balances cartoony and artsy details with dramatic battle scene.” —Publisher’s Weekly

Source : Monkeys fighting Robots

[quietmonologues]

I haven't finished the show yet (just need to watch the last episode) but so far, I'll give the live action adaptation of ATLA a 7/10.

Long post.

To start with what I like about it...

I think the VFX is spectacular. Omashu, the Water Tribes, the Fire Nation palace, all the bending effects and fights are stunning.

Seeing all the characters come to life. The Gaang, but also the past avatars, the mechanist and Teo, the freedom fighters, Bumi, Zuko and the family, even Mai and Ty Lee. Aesthetically, everyone fit really well.

I enjoy (most) of the acting, but especially Zuko. I feel like Dallas captures the character incredibly well and his scenes with Paul as Iroh have been very fun to watch. I enjoy seeing more of Azula and getting into her psyche early on, and seeing more of Ozai has been enjoyable as well. Daniel Dae Kim is great. Ian and Gordan also do a great job of playing Sokka and Aang, respectively.

Merging the Jet stuff with the Mechanist stuff is an interesting way to cram as much of the story as possible without being too convoluted. The re-interpretation of The Cave of Two Lovers episode was a change I was iffy about but I grew to appreciate it. Instead of focusing on a romantic love, I liked that it was about familial love (between Sokka and Katara). I wouldn't be surprised if people didn't like that change, and I understand, but I didn't mind it. It didn't feel like the live action was hinting at Aang's crush on Katara anyways (correct me if I'm wrong).

Love the emotional aspects. Iroh and Zuko, Aang and Gyatso...it can definitely get the waterworks going.

In terms of what I don't like....

Something feels missing in this adaptation, and I think it's the tone. There's still funny moments but it's definitely a bit more somber than the cartoon. On the one hand, the original show does deal with heavy themes and it makes sense for the live action to emphasize that seriousness. Like, it made sense for a cartoon geared towards children to have a "lightness" to it, to have moments of goofiness and sillyness. But on the other hand, that lightness being interspersed between all the serious moments made the story of ATLA what it was, and I do feel that that is missing in the live action. I guess that's the downside to limiting a 20+ episode season into just....8 episodes. But the live action did the best it could.

I feel the same about the characters. The Gaang seem a bit more serious. But it's not completely bad, Aang still feels like Aang and Sokka still feels like Sokka. Katara is the one who sticks out to me like a sore thumb because she just...doesn't feel like Katara. No idea if it's Kiawentiio's acting or how she's written, but whenever I watch her, she just feels really flat and demure. Katara is a kind and compassionate character, but I do remember her being a bit more fierce. We do get that fierceness near the end but...I don't know, it comes off as stiff. And that's why I think Dallas as Zuko is my favourite, because Zuko was always a serious and somber character in the cartoon, so his performance in the more serious live action adaptation fits really well (it still would've fit perfectly if the adaptation was more goofy of course).

The pacing at times is bumpy. I felt this especially in episode 4. There was just...way too many things going on and they decided to throw in a couple flashbacks too. Like I said before, I liked that we got more Azula, but I felt like some of her scenes didn't flow well with the rest of the episode (episode 6 i think). We were following a straightforward plot, and then we just have a scene or two of Azula doing her trials and shooting lightning. It just made the overall episode feel choppy and disconnected.

I don't remember how the whole Suki/Sokka/Yue thing went in the cartoon, but yes I do think it's very weird that Sokka and Suki kissed in episode 2, and then he's kissing Yue in episode 7. Maybe in the cartoon it wouldn't be "that deep" but in a live action, it's kinda strange to me lol. I don't know, that's a bit of a minor nitpick I guess.

To me, Book 1 of the original show is the weakest season and my least favourite (it's still good). But if Netflix renews this, then I'm hoping Book 2 (and Book 3) will be much better!

Okay that's it, off to watch the last episode.

(also I do think you're lying if you say the movie was better)

[rat-kinqq]

Thumbnails for character profiles on Toyhouse part 1/?

I didn't know how to arrange them because I draw characters at random instead of all to one story and then to another, so I made a rainbow out of them

Characters:

Wirt Wilhelm - Nothing New

Evelyn Lasko - Rotten Story

Thomas Nikola Richardson - Rotten Story

Gacjan Damek - Standalone

Daniel Berg - Nothing New

Danny Weber - Nothing New

Harold Wagner - Rotten Story

Atlas - Rotten Story

Your average John - Standalone

Toby - Standalone

Will Bies - Paper Hat

Omlet - Nothing New

[emletish-fish]

My belated Netflix ATLA thoughts.

Things I loved

I think all the actors did a great job with what they were given. Dallas was especially great as Zuko. Perfect mix of smushable teenage petulance and trying-his-best. (Lol, it's always Zuko's actor, eh? Dev Patel was the only watchable and redeeming bit of the first live action. A bright spark of talent in an otherwise bleak cinematic experience).

All the kids were great too. Sokka was spot on and got to do some heavy character work. Daniel dae kim was living his best life as a villain and you can tell he had fun with the role. ABED!!! Sorry, Daniel Pudi - amazing choice for the mechanist. Shout-out to the lady who played Suki's mum.

(Love the Suki's mum plot and how Kyoshi's isolationism was explored).

Also Zhao's actor added a wonderfully Uriah Heap-esque obsequiousness layer. Very skin-crawling. Well done that guy.

low-key loved how careful the show was in casting POC. It's so great and refreshing to see so many wonderful actors get more work and recognition.

Loved the costuming and make-up and how it looked like at least some care and thought went into it. Details like the gold corners in the Kyoshi make-up were inspired choices. Shout out to whatever hair stylist did Jet's hair. They managed to achieve cartoon levels of foofiness.

Loved seeing Aang meditate with all the past avatars. Like that his relationship with each of them is being fleshed out early. Some very interesting theories and takes. It also does a great job of showing us all the past avatars were flawed people.

Loved some adjustments to Zuko and Irohs story, like the funeral scene and the division becoming Zuko's crew.

Loved how these changes affect the way we see the relationship. In the cartoon, Iroh is a goofy comic relief character for most of season 1. It's a front for his white lotus sneakery, but that is only obvious to viewers in hindsight. But Netflix ATLA knows who Iroh really is and where his story is going, so his guilt and grief and war crimes are all out in the open from the get go.

Because Iroh's grief is more obvious, Zuko's caretaking role is more obvious too. We are shown how he takes care of his uncle above other duties and it makes their relationship and more balanced one of mutual care. Zuko's moments with his uncle are elevated from occasional pet-the-dog instances to a fundamental part of his character.

Loved some of the fight choreography and scenes. The market place fight was especially entertaining, with the colour saturation of the scarfs and the random lady getting all up in Zuko's business for attacking a kid. She was great. Shout out to her.

In general there was a lot to love in this version, and I appreciate the work that went into it on a technical level. Whilst it maybe a cash-grab at a studio exec level, it's obvious the people working on this project really care about what they are making and it shows in their work.

[talkingperfectly-loud]

Okay! So, I’ve finally watched the Netflix Live Action ATLA and gathered my thoughts! Spoilers under the cut…

Overall score: 7/10

Overall thoughts: I was actually pleased! I wasn’t going in expecting it to be like the original series, and I was really excited to see how they would tell the story, what they would keep, and what they would change. I think that they did a great creative job melding a bunch of story lines together in a way that made sense, but, on a negative note, they did miss some key character beats that ranged from baffling to unforgivable. I loved this cast, and I think they all embodied their characters so well (Dallas Lui as Zuko?!? Hello?! *Chef’s kiss*). Deliveries were a bit stilted (to be expected with young actors just starting out), but I actually found it endearing, and they’ll only get better with practice. The bending wasn’t nearly as punchy or fun to watch in live action (especially the water bending. Oof), but it was leaps and bounds better than the Movie That Must Not Be Named. Below are the major takeaways:

Things I disliked

- Making the discovery and freeing of Aang completely passive. In the animated show, this was brought about BY Katara and Sokka. Their characters and their bickering, which caused Kataras rage, which caused her to waterbend, which caused her to free Aang. In the live action, it just… happens? Randomly? Nothing caused it, and it was a much weaker moment because of it.

- They took away Zuko’s crucial moments of mercy. Yes, they have him save the 41st, and yes, they have him hesitate during his Agni Kai with Ozai… BUT he was about to burn Katara on Kyoshi island? When she was down and unarmed?? At the North Pole, he was about to burn Zhao, who was also down and unarmed?? Absolutely not. No. No way. He wouldn’t even burn Zhao in the original show, because he knows what it’s like to be burned and despite his rage, he is a good person. There is absolutely no way he would be willing to harm someone who is unarmed.

- Sokka not explicitly asking Suki to train him. We NEEDED to see that humility where he asks for their help, not just him staring wistfully through the door and her taking pity. Humble him!!!!

- Sokka not being involved in the Jet storyline. I know that Katara is more obviously the choice to get involved here (love interest, etc), but Sokka and Jet are foils! They are both young men tasked with protecting people they love. Not having Sokka’s moment where his skepticism and independence saves the day is such a loss for his character. This could have even been kept in the Omashu storyline, with Sokka evacuating a building before a bomb goes off, etc.

- Why the literal heck did Bumi himself come to the front of the palace to receive the inventions from Sai?? What the hell even was that scene??

- Cutting the Haru storyline. This episode is crucial for Katara, who has WAY too little to do in this show, tbh. Her rallying the earth kingdom prisoners, and encouraging them to fight back is so so so important. I think they tried to move this to the Northern Water tribe storyline (when she rallies the women) but we don’t SEE it!! It happens offscreen!!!!

- Minor, but the blue spirit mask looked kinda dumb. I wish they had taken inspiration from real kabuki masks and made it more scary.

- I personally feel that Ozai is TOO personable in this adaptation. I’m guessing Daniel Dae Kim probably had a lot of say over the portrayal of this character, but I don’t think they made him dark enough. Ozai is cruel and that is CRUCIAL. He is abusive and manipulative, and hateful. Framing Zuko’s banishment and mutilation as if these were deliberate “learning moments,” rather than cruel, unjustifiable abuse is character assassination.

- Azula isn’t Azula. No shade to the actress, but the script has her written as a hot-headed, temperamental teenager desperate to prove herself. That’s ZUKO! Azula should be able to make grown men per their pants. Do her bidding. She can command armies. She never lets you see her weaknesses or her walls. She is cold, calculating, and terrifying. She is 13 steps ahead of you. Live action Azula loses her temper during a fight, talks back to Ozai (?!?!), and whines to Mai and Ty Lee about her frustrations. That’s not Azula.

- The “ice moon” thing at the North Pole? Why? Why aren’t there any spirits in this world? There’s no need to change that.

- Zhao’s death!?! What the hell was that!?!? No no no no no. Absolutely awful in every possible way. Where was his karmic justice?!? Why introduce the Fog of Lost Souls if you weren’t going to show Zhao getting pulled down into it?!? Where was Zuko, offering him mercy, despite everything? Where was Zhao���s pride, refusing his hand?? Furthermore, you make Iroh of all people a murderer?!? Fine, you could have him intervene and push Zhao into the water like he pushed him down after the Agni Kai in the original series. But to kill him?? Unprompted?! In cold blood?! Zhao wasn’t even his opponent!! Horrifying and disturbing. Unforgivable.

Things I loved

- The order of events. I actually love starting 100 years in the past and not making it clear what is about to happen. I also love that it isn’t clear just how long Aang has been asleep for! I love love love that dramatic irony if you know, and the reveal if you don’t.

- Aang stealing Zuko’s notebook. Finally, it’s explained how the gaang knew Zuko’s name lol

- Aang & Iroh meeting and chatting on the ship when he’s captured! It’s such a small scene, but felt so reminiscent of their conversation from Book 2 that it made me happy.

- Suki being so awkward!! Yes girl!! You have clearly never flirted before and it is obvious! I also loved having her mother be the matriarch of the village. Makes total sense tbh.

- Fleshing out Omashu! I love that they combined Jet & the Mechanist here. It makes Omashu feel more real, and it’s a natural place to put these storylines. I think this was really well done. Also bringing Iroh & Zuko into the story here was seamless, and worked to further both their characters (Zuko choosing Iroh over Aang, Iroh sacrificing himself to save Zuko)

- Having Bumi be an angry old man. This is controversial, but if we put aside Legend of Korra for a second where canon says Aang and him stay bffs, this actually makes a lot of sense. It’s not fair that Aang got to be asleep for 100 years. Bumi, as he said, had to struggle and suffer during that entire time. I’m glad that not everyone is like “it’s okay, it’s not your fault” because it kind of is!! I’m glad they had someone to actually hold him accountable a bit!

- Aang and Zuko connecting during the Blue Spirit episode. Aang making Zuko smile! Them joking! Them feeling pity for each other! The star-crossed friendship of it all! Gorgeous, gorgeous scene.

- Expanding on the theme of friendship vs. isolation. It’s such a key theme in the animated series that flies under the radar, and I really like how they took it and seemed to run with it.

- Azula collaborating with Zhao. It makes so much sense, since Zhao is just some rando tbh?It sets up both the Dai Li storyline and sibling rivalry nicely in season 2.

- Having Zuko’s crew be the division he saved?!?! A stroke of absolute genius.

- No Kataang!! I’m so sorry, but I honestly always felt that any romance in the original series was gratuitous, odd, and oh so Western. This is a story about children at war. I’m glad the romance is taking a back seat.

- Having Pakku see Katara for HER, rather than for her grandmother!! I always hated that in the original show! She fights her damn heart out and he still won’t train her UNTIL he sees her grandmother’s necklace. It always felt like the age-old blight of men not being able to care about a woman unless they have, or can image having, a personal connection to them (What if that was your mother, daughter, etc). I LOVE this change.

- Katara rallying the other women!! Pulling up everyone!! This is such an obvious change I can’t believe they didn’t have this in the original show. As I said, though, I do wish we saw her speech to them. That’s such an important character moment.

[ninja-muse]

As you can maybe tell by the three reviews I posted in July, it was a good reading month! Overall, at least. I still had a couple “this was fine” and one DNF, but there were a lot of hits and I read more books than I have the last few months.

So, highlights: The Hollow Places was fantastic, as was Bookshops and Bonedust but for very different reasons. If you’re worried that Baldree won’t be able to repeat the magic of Legends and Lattes, stop now. It was pure cozy delight. March’s End didn’t get a review simply because I already had three coming, but it was also very good. It examines family dynamics and the realities of a portal fantasy world in a very complex, adult way. The characters are believable if not necessarily likeable, the world-building is great, the writing is strong… all the things.

But between March’s End, The Hexologists, and The Hollow Places, I needed a lot of lighter books to balance, as you can probably tell by the rest of my list. I enjoyed pretty much everything! I’m just sorry I didn’t like the Sanderson more but I guess that’s a sign he isn’t an author for me since I didn’t like the last book of his I read either. I’m also a bit sorry I couldn’t get into The Atlas Six because so many people love it, but I dropped it in a Little Free Library and it got snapped up almost instantly so hopefully it’s found a better home.

So that was my unhaul of the month! I … did not do well with my book haul, or perhaps I did too well with it. The Odyssey and Thud were both damaged books that came in at work and I couldn’t say no. Thud has some wear to the cover; the Odyssey has some uncut and weirdly bound pages I’ll need to slice open. (Have I read and do I own other editions of both? Absolutely.) Love in the Time of Serial Killers was an unexpected rebound—I originally got it as a reading copy and passed it on to a coworker, who sent it back when she’d finished.

And then, well. There’s a new bookshop opening in my metro area. They’ve taken over from a used bookstore and have to sell off its stock before they can properly move in their own. I had to go help out, right? I couldn’t find anything in their SFF section I wanted but still left with three books: Gaudy Night, Evelina, and a collection of Molière. I went with friends, the same day we saw Barbie. ’Twas a very good day, all around.

And last but not least, I have started on one of those long, dense reads that will last ages. I’ve had Music from the Earliest Notations to the Sixteenth Century on my shelf for years and made it a goal to finally start it this year, since it’s totally up my alley but also huge and academic. There was a point in July where I didn’t want epic stories, light stories, or narrative non-fiction, so I figured that was as good a time to start it as any. I’ll probably read a section or two a month, whenever a similar mood hits.

And now without further ado, in order of enjoyment…

The Hollow Places - T. Kingfisher

Kara moves into her uncle’s museum of weird after her divorce, only to discover another universe behind a wall.

9/10

🏳️‍🌈 secondary character (gay), disabled secondary character

warning: body horror

Bookshops and Bonedust - Travis Baldree

Viv is recuperating from an injury in a sleepy town, where she finds a struggling bookshop, new friends, and a mystery. Out in November.

9/10

🏳️‍🌈 main character (sapphic), 🏳️‍🌈 secondary character (sapphic)

March’s End - Daniel Polansky

The Harrows have been tasked for generations with protecting a fantastical other world, but now the family is fracturing and that could endanger everything.

8/10

major 🏳️‍🌈 character (lesbian), 🏳️‍🌈 secondary character (sapphic), African-American secondary character

warning: toxic family dynamics, commentary on colonialism

Imogen, Obviously - Becky Albertalli

Imogen puts the A in Ally and that’s fine. Then she visits her best friend in college and meets a girl….

8/10

🏳️‍🌈 main character (bisexual), main character with anxiety, 🏳️‍🌈 secondary characters (nonbinary, pan, lesbian, bisexual), Jewish secondary character, Brazilian-American secondary characters, secondary character with ADHD, Japanese secondary character, Black secondary character, 🏳️‍🌈 author, #ownvoices

warning: biphobia, discourse

The Hexologists - Josiah Bancroft

The Wilbys get more than they bargained for when they’re hired to find a lost royal heir and stop the king from baking himself into a cake. Out in September.

7.5/10

possibly biracial main character

The Bookbinder - Pip Williams

When World War I pushes Peggy out of her routine, she’s forced to choose: a life binding the books of the Oxford Press or a life studying them?

8/10

major autistic secondary character, disabled secondary character

warning: war, injuries

The Nobleman’s Guide to Seducing a Scoundrel - KJ Charles

Rufus is the new Earl of Oxney, saddled with a crumbling estate and a bitter family. Desperate for a good secretary, he hires Luke—who has a hidden agenda which doesn’t involve tupping the boss. And yet. Out in September.

7/10

🏳️‍🌈 main characters (demisexual-gay, gay), main character with dyslexia, 🏳️‍🌈 secondary characters (gay), minor Black British character

warning: toxic family dynamics, abuse

Weird Rules to Follow - Kim Spencer

Mia starts to notice that she and her best friend are living very different lives, with very different expectations from the adults around them.

7/10

Ts’msyen protagonist, Mexican-Canadian secondary characters, Ts’msyen secondary characters, Gitxsan secondary character, Ts’msyen author, #ownvoices, 🇨🇦

warning: racism, alcohol abuse

A Man and His Cat, Vol. 3 - Umi Sakurai with Taylor Engel (translator)

Kanda begins to deal with his emotional baggage, with the help of his cat and a fellow teacher.

7/10

Japanese cast, Japanese author, #ownvoices

Bookshop Cinderella - Laura Lee Guhrke

Evie is quite content as a spinster with a bookshop. Duke Maximilian has wagered he can make her the diamond of the season. This is a strictly platonic alliance, of course.

6/10

The Frugal Wizard’s Handbook for Surviving Medieval England - Brandon Sanderson

An amnesiac man wakes up in a country that may or may not be Anglo-Saxon England with an exploded guidebook. Good thing he has ~*~Mystical~*~ ~*~Powers~*~™.

6.5/10

Persian secondary character, Chinese-American secondary character

Picture Books

The Skull - Jon Klassen

Otilla finds a large house in the woods inhabited by a talking skull, so she helps him in return for shelter.

🇨🇦

DNF

The Atlas Six - Olivie Blake

Six ambitious magicians compete for a coveted place at the Library of Alexandria.

🏳️‍🌈 main characters (multisexual); Black-British, Cuban, Japanese, and Persian main characters; Filipino-American author

Currently reading:

Kill Show - Daniel Sweren-Becker

A teen goes missing after running back to her school bus for a bag. Forget podcasts: time for the reality show! Out in October.

warning: missing child, murder

The Wager - David Grann

A secret mission in the Age of Sail. A shipwreck and a mutiny. The perils of the sea—and your fellow man.

Music from the Earliest Notations to the Sixteenth Century - Richard Taruskin A history of early written European music, in its social and political contexts.

Stats

Monthly total: 11+1 Yearly total: 75/140 Queer books: 4 Authors of colour: 2 Books by women: 7 Authors outside the binary: 0 Canadian authors: 1 Off the TBR shelves: 1 Books hauled: 6 ARCs acquired: 4 ARCs unhauled: 6 DNFs: 1

January February March April May June