#diabolically evil for this one andrew

[ellalalala]

When Hozier said "I haven't felt it since then, I don't know how the feeling ended but I know being reckless and young is not how the damage gets done" and when Brandi said "now we're always missing something, I miss when we did not need much" and when they proceeded to say "all I needed was someone when the whole wide world felt young" yeah

[denimbex1986]

'A formidable Andrew Scott brings to life the iconic character created by Patricia Highsmith: Time, Nature, and Evil according to Steven Zaillian, on Netflix

Thomas Ripley, a petty swindler, is tracked down by a private detective on behalf of the wealthy Herbert Greenleaf, who wants to use him to bring back his idle son, Richard “Dickie” Greenleaf, who has been living in Atrani (Salerno), Italy, with his girlfriend Marge for some time. In reality, Tom is not the close friend of Herbert’s son as Herbert believes: he met him only once at a party and barely knows him. However, the opportunity is unique: to fly to Italy, become Dickie’s best friend, take his place, and take over his belongings.

Thomas Ripley, the unsettling character created by Patricia Highsmith in 1955 and the protagonist of five novels by the American writer, can rightfully be considered one of the last literary archetypes of the modern era. From the first big-screen adaptation, the splendid Plein Soleil by René Clement starring Alain Delon, through films by Minghella and Cavani, adaptations of his criminal deeds on both the small and big screen are now numerous. Viewers now approach these adaptations in a philological manner, as one might go to the theater to see Hamlet: not just for the story, but for how it is staged. Central to the discussion, therefore, becomes the viewpoint of the adapter, his fidelity to Highsmith’s original text, and the liberties he has taken. This premise is necessary to understand a fundamental point: you will not find unanimous consensus for this monumental endeavor by director and screenwriter Steven Zaillian (Oscar winner for Schindler’s List in 1993: hardly a newcomer).

Minghella’s Matt Damon is still too fresh in the hearts of the nearly boomers, and even the diabolical John Malkovich by Liliana Cavani has his admirers. Likely, the black and white and the extremely calm pace will disorient many viewers who, after exhausting, hot days of work, tend to doze off on the couch after vainly hoping a thriller would keep them awake. Yet, detractors should not be offended; criticizing this Netflix series for its slowness means having understood very little of the entire operation (which does not necessarily have to be liked, that’s another matter).

Time, in its various facets, is the true protagonist of Zaillian’s Ripley. The year 1960, marked by a caption, seals an era that seems mythical—a version of Italy unknown to people in 2024, without traffic or cars, a primordial nature barely touched by sparse human presence (the outdoor cinematography by Robert Elswit is formidable). An Eden whose tranquility is disrupted by a dark drop of evil, that of Tom Ripley, who is not a son of this world and does not belong to it. Tom’s sole rooting in another world seems to deform the environment, turning it into an expressionist and livid set, or a sick fantasy of Escher. His struggle to take Dickie Greenleaf’s place is also an attempt to merge into a world that rejects his presence from the very first moment—consider the suspicious glances of the servants in Atrani, the bank men, the receptionists. It is even Nature itself that rebels against the infected germ of evil embodied by Tom, when he falls off a boat in Sanremo right after committing his crime, risking his life in turn.

The hieratic slowness of the narrative is even more eloquent in revealing Zaillian’s intentions: Time, in addition to being the protagonist, is Tom Ripley’s accomplice. Accustomed since CSI to ultra-sophisticated investigations supported by the most refined anti-crime technology, the incredible deception of Tom Ripley would have had a very hard time nowadays. But the 1960 of Steven Zaillian allows him to get away with it: the slowness belongs to a daily life different from ours, made of phones, letters, telegrams, very long train journeys to summon witnesses for questioning, investigations that are necessarily very slow, the impossibility of immediately refuting statements or versions of facts. Time Is On My Side, Tom Ripley might sing to the tune of the Rolling Stones, were he not a fan of Mina and Il cielo in una stanza.

Finally, the time of interminable seconds, of nothing happening, is what helps us closely see and desecrate any possible fascination with evil. Ripley will receive no ellipsis to hide a body killed in cold blood in his living room; he will have to wait hours and hours in front of it, waiting for night, to head out at night on the Appia Antica in Rome, and we with him. Taking on this criminal via Crucis, where a single mistake can indefinitely prolong the process, is the delicious torment through which the viewer’s emotional involvement passes, called, despite themselves, to share the frustration and discomfort.

Andrew Scott is formidable, and the latent homosexuality of his character mirrors that present in Highsmith’s novel. Johnny Flynn and Dakota Fanning also perform admirably, and like Scott, they speak excellent Italian, which was not a given. The Italian cast, directed by a foreign filmmaker, is always a bit over the top: Margherita Buy, perhaps, is not quite in her element, or maybe she has been playing the same role for years and this time something different was needed. Always emerging with credit is the inspector played by Maurizio Lombardi, who is truly convincing. All this is supported by a top-notch technical department, from the set designs and costumes to the music by Jeff Russo.

Praise goes to Steven Zaillian, who in an era of bite-sized, disposable series, takes the necessary time for a broad reflection, while at the same time offering us entertainment of cinematic quality. For those who might not appreciate it: tastes vary. And on the couch at home, one can always sleep away from prying eyes.'

[myfrenzi]

Iconic Villains: Movies and Web Series with Memorable Antagonists

Iconic Villains: Movies and Web Series with Memorable Antagonists

The Art of Being Bad

A great villain can make or break a story. They’re the characters we love to hate, and sometimes, we just love to love them. Here are some unforgettable antagonists from the world of OTT entertainment:

1. “Breaking Bad” (2008–2013)

Best Web Series on OTT: Walter White, portrayed by Bryan Cranston, transforms from a mild-mannered chemistry teacher into a ruthless drug lord. His descent into darkness is both captivating and chilling.

2. “Sherlock” (2010–2017)

Best Web Series on OTT: Moriarty, played by Andrew Scott, is Sherlock Holmes’ arch-nemesis. His unpredictable and diabolical mind games make him one of the most iconic villains in modern adaptations.

3. “Stranger Things” (2016-present)

Best Web Series on OTT: The Mind Flayer, a shadowy, otherworldly entity, is the ultimate evil in the “Stranger Things” universe. Its sinister presence adds an extra layer of suspense to the series.

Silver Screen Menaces

Movies have given us some of the most memorable villains in cinematic history. Here are a few that have left a lasting impact:

1. “The Dark Knight” (2008)

Best Web Series on OTT: Heath Ledger’s portrayal of the Joker is legendary. His chaotic and unpredictable nature makes him one of the greatest villains in superhero movies.

2. “The Silence of the Lambs” (1991)

Best Web Series on OTT: Dr. Hannibal Lecter, played by Anthony Hopkins, is a cultured and cannibalistic serial killer. His intellect and eerie charm make him an iconic villain.

3. “No Country for Old Men” (2007)

Best Web Series on OTT: Anton Chigurh, portrayed by Javier Bardem, is a remorseless hitman. His distinctive hairstyle and use of a captive bolt pistol create a chilling presence.

Complex Villains

Sometimes, the best villains are the ones you can empathize with, even if just a little bit:

1. “Game of Thrones” (2011–2019)

Best Web Series on OTT: Jaime Lannister starts as a morally ambiguous character but undergoes a transformation throughout the series. His complexity blurs the lines between hero and villain.

2. “Dexter” (2006–2013)

Best Web Series on OTT: Dexter Morgan is a forensic expert who moonlights as a vigilante serial killer. His code and internal struggles make him a complex antihero.

3. “Black Mirror” (2011-present)

Best Web Series on OTT: In “Black Mirror,” technology often serves as the antagonist, reflecting the dark side of our digital age. It’s a thought-provoking exploration of modern society.

Where to Find Villainy

If you’re eager to dive into these stories and explore the complexities of these iconic villains, you’ll find them on various OTT platforms. Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, and HBO Max are just a few places where you can start your journey.

The Villain’s Legacy

Great villains stay with us long after the credits roll. They challenge our heroes, test our moral compass, and make us question the nature of good and evil. So, the next time you’re in the mood for some thrilling drama, don’t forget to explore the best web series on OTT that feature unforgettable antagonists. They might just steal the show!

FAQs

Why are villains so important in storytelling? Villains create conflict and drive the plot forward. They challenge the hero, making their journey more compelling. A great villain adds depth and tension to a story.

Can villains be relatable? Yes, some of the most compelling villains have relatable qualities or tragic backgrounds. This complexity makes them more interesting and human.

Are these series and movies suitable for children? Many of the series and movies mentioned here are intended for mature audiences due to intense themes, violence, or other adult content. Parents should use discretion.

Do these series and movies glorify villains? Not necessarily. While some villains may be charismatic or relatable, their actions are often portrayed as harmful or morally wrong. The stories explore the consequences of their choices.

Can I watch these series and movies for free on OTT platforms? Some OTT platforms offer a limited selection of free content with ads, while others require a subscription or rental fee. Check the specific platform for details.

[audikatia]

for the book ask, 1, 10, and 11!!

1. book you’ve reread the most times?

Definitely The Raven Cycle series haha I've probably read it over a dozen times at this point, though I think I've read BLLB and TRK maybe two times less since they had not come out yet when I found the series.

I've also read the Harry Potter series easily 20 times and the Prisoner of Azkaban is the one I read the most out of all of them.

Honorable mentionings go to: Matilda by Roald Dahl, Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier, Dracula by Bram Stoker, Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov. Probably some others, but those are the ones that stick out the most in my mind right now. I love rereading books haha

10. do you have a guilty fav?

I don't really feel guilty about any books I read, to be honest. But I guess if I had to pick? The Flowers in the Attic series by V. C. Andrews

11. what non-fiction books do you like if any?

lol this is gonna be long...

Holy Shit: A Brief History of Swearing by Melissa Mohr

The Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America's Shining Women by Kate Moore

The Ghost: A Cultural History by Susan Owens

Frida Kahlo by Elizabeth Carpenter

The Poison Squad: One Chemist's Single-Minded Crusade for Food Safety at the Turn of the Twentieth Century by Deborah Blum

Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland by Patrick Radden Keefe

The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer by Siddhartha Mukherjee

The Five: The Lives of Jack the Ripper's Women by Hallie Rubenhold

The Feather Thief: Beauty, Obsession, and the Natural History Heist of the Century by Kirk Wallace Johnson

The Gene: An Intimate History by Siddhartha Mukherjee

The Woman They Could Not Silence: One Woman, Her Incredible Fight For Freedom, and the Men Who Tried to Make Her Disappear by Kate Moore

Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty by Patrick Radden Keefe

Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria by Beverly Daniel Tatum

The Anatomy of Evil by Michael H. Stone

The Witches: Salem, 1692 by Stacy Schiff

Rabid: A Cultural History of the World's Most Diabolical Virus by Bill Wasik

The Bright Ages: A New History of Medieval Europe by Matthew Gabriele

I'll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman's Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer by Michelle McNamara

Cleopatra: A Life by Stacy Schiff

The Ghost Map: The Story of London's Most Terrifying Epidemic and How it Changed Science, Cities, and the Modern World by Steven Johnson

Dread: How Fear and Fantasy Have Fueled Epidemics from Black Death to the Avian Flu by Philip Alcabes

LITERALLY ANYTHING BY MARY ROACH.

That's more than I'm sure you asked for and more than anyone wanted lol but thank you!!!

[fearsmagazine]

ESCAPE THE FIELD - Review

DISTRIBUTOR: Lionsgate

SYNOPSIS:  Sam is the first of six strangers we meet who suddenly awaken in a remote, endless cornfield. Stripped of their possessions, each is left with a single item on their person: one a gun with a single bullet, matches, a lantern, a knife, a compass, and a flask of water. As mysterious sirens blare in the distance and traps appear at every turn, the group realizes it’s been plunged into a cat-and-mouse game with an unseen evil, and survival depends upon solving a diabolical and deadly puzzle.

REVIEW: Emerson Moore’s ESCAPE THE FIELD is a thriller that plays into a viewer’s potential dread of cornfields. Some viewers might have encounters with corn mazes that appear in the fall, Moore taps into a more primal feel a person might encounter when driving through vast corn fields, or Stephen King tales that take advantage of such a setting.

The narrative is a hybrid blend of elements some I found reminiscent of films like “Saw,” “Escape Room,” and “Cube,” and even the series “Lost,” but from a literary view “Ten Little Indians” and “Children of the Corn,” of course. There is a nice balance of elements to keep[ one speculating as to the true nature of what is at p[lay here, as well as to what lurks in the field stalking this abductees. While there are more than five characters to the plot, the narrative stays focused on three central characters to sustain the viewer’s interest.  The narrative is structured as a puzzle. The story does not simply present answers to the mystery but provides clues for the viewer to put it together. The film’s climax and resolution don’t tie everything up neatly and deeper mysteries are left unresolved. Many of the character arcs come to an end, but there are a few that are left open. ESCAPE THE FIELD feels like a cinematic universe with a few more stories to tell.

There are some interesting aspects to the production designs that I would like to say more about but would be spoilers. The cinematography is nicely done. Combined with the visual effects adds a fine authenticity to this corn maze. The editing maintains a brisk pace and creates tension, suspense, and a few scares. It all comes together to create an intense thrill ride.

I was engaged by the performances. It’s a delightful ensemble cast. Jordan Claire Robbins, who you may recognize as Grace from “The Umbrella Academy,” is thrilling as the central character of the film, Sam. She is immersed in the action but also adds an element of logic and sophistication to the role. Actor Theo Rossi, who starred in such projects as “Luke Cage,” “Sons of Anarchy,” and “Army of the Dead'', takes on the role of Tyler. He creates a likable character that feels almost too nice, like he is trying to work an angle. His performance adds some contrast to the narrative. Shane West, a seasoned actor who began at the age of 15, creates a thinking man’s action hero, adding depth to the character. The supporting cast all add to the mystery and terror to this tale and are all charming in their own right.

Given the high standard of production values these days for episode series, ESCAPE THE FIELD feels a bit like a series pilot. Grant, there are no mind bending special effects you might find in a Marvel universe film, but the work here is solid and entertaining. The plotting of the mystery is spot on, and while I would easily compare it to an Agatha Christie novel, it’s no Dan Brown adventure. Filmmaker Emerson Moore clearly demonstrates he can achieve maximum thrillers for his budget and captures some engrossing performances from his actors. An impressive theatrical feature film I’m eager to see what he delivers next.

CAST: Jordan Claire Robbins, Theo Rossi, Tahirah Sharif, Julian Feder, Elena Juatco, and Shane West. CREW: Director/Screenplay/Producer - Emerson Moore; Screenplay - Joshua Dobkin & Sean Wathen; Producers - Andrew Davies Gans, Michael Philip, and Jason Moring; OFFICIAL: www.lionsgate.com/movies/escape-the-field FACEBOOK: N.A. TWITTER: N.A. TRAILER: RELEASE DATE: In Select Theaters, On Digital and On Demand on May 6, 2022.

**Until we can all head back into the theaters our “COVID Reel Value” will be similar to how you rate a film on digital platforms - 👍 (Like), 👌 (It’s just okay),  or 👎 (Dislike)

Reviewed by Joseph B Mauceri

[aftgficrec]

There's something I don't understand maybe u guys could clear it out for me, why Tilda was Minyard? Was she married? Minyard was the father of the twins? If not why Tilda has a different name than her brother? Shouldn't she be hemmick too? Is there any extra content where noora explains why the twins are Minyard or maybe tells about their father? Sorry for babbling and thank u for all the hard work!

Like the lack of goal posts in exy, the origin of the Minyard name is a head scratcher! I found some fandom discussion, and you can check out this recent ask about the twins’ father and this one about Aaron & Tilda. There’s also some fandom discussion started by @nxah-czerny here and a post very similar to your question by @evil-diabolical-oops​ here. - A

The Twinyards Dad. Theory: headcanons by @i-care-bout-things-too [Tumblr, 2018]

Ok so, im not sure if this has been done or said before, but just think about it.

The twins' last name is Minyard, however, Nicky's last name is Hemmick…

Don’t think about 12 year old Andrew Doe meta by @fuzzballsheltiepants [Tumblr, 2018]

...About him taking Aaron’s last name.  Aaron’s, not Tilda’s.  He is Aaron’s brother but he will never be Tilda’s son.

tw: implied/referenced csa, tw: implied/referenced child abuse, tw: implied/referenced murder, tw: implied/referenced drug use

Andrew and family headcanons by @palmettofoxden [Tumblr, 2017]

Andrew doesn’t want to be labelled as Tilda’s son and does not consider her his family…

[themattress]

I Grade: Giovanni

The original and most prevalent villain in the whole franchise.

Games: In the mainline game series, Giovanni has made many appearances across many generations. He’s been in Red/Blue/Green/Yellow in Gen I, FireRed/LeafGreen in Gen III, HeartGold/SoulSilver in Gen IV, Black 2/White 2 in Gen V, Ultra Sun/Ultra Moon, GO, and Let’s GO Pikachu/Eevee in Gen VII before appearing in Pokemon Masters during Gen VIII. And for that matter, he was the invisible hand who set events in motion for Gold/Silver/Crystal in Gen II. Only in Gen VI was Giovanni truly MIA. He is THE villain of the game series.

I’m going to be totally honest here: for the longest time, Giovanni didn’t do all that much for me in the games. In every game he appears in from Gens I through V, he is very one-note. He’s a thug with delusions of grandeur, a guy with super tough Pokemon that he’s always promising to use to inflict “a world of pain” on opponents, and whose driving motive is to rule the world of Pokemon as “the strongest trainer” via basic plans that are easily thwarted. The twist toward the end of Gen I about him also being the Viridian Gym Leader was executed in a way that made no sense (Nobody knew? How!?) The games couldn’t even stay consistent on his resolution: in Gens I and II it’s suggested that he reforms after being defeated thrice by the same kid, while the remakes of those games in Gens III and IV change it so that he’s still evil and merely disbanded Team Rocket while going off to train to become stronger, always intending to reforge the gang and becomes it leader again once he’d truly become the strongest trainer.  But in Gen V, which is set place after those games, he’s ultimately shown to have reformed anyway, so what exactly was the point of that whole change in the first place? Giovanni’s own son, the Gen II rival, is a far more compelling character than him!

It’s only in Gen VII that Giovanni’s iconic status finally got a depiction to match. In US/UM’s postgame Episode RR, as the boss of Team Rainbow Rocket, Giovanni has a much smoother, cooler, more charismatic and intelligent characterization. He’s shown to be good at planning and executing those plans, level-headed enough to maintain a level of control over other villains with differing agendas, and can back up his swagger with more than just strong Pokemon - after gracefully leaving upon being defeated, it’s revealed that he swiped an Ultra Wormhole device and can fall back upon another evil scheme in another world, which he does with an evil smirk on his face. This new and improved Giovanni actually ends up being carried over to Pokemon GO, changing his team’s name from Rainbow Rocket to Go Rocket and declaring that Earth, the real world, our world, is where he will make his next endeavor to take control over all Pokemon. That’s right, Gio’s so cool that he’s transcending realities! 

Once he’s defeated in GO, he uses the Ultra Wormhole device again and moves on over to the Pokemon Masters IOS game for the Legendary Event “Lurking Shadow”, where he uses Mewtwo to attempt an evil scheme to take over Pasio and can be fought over and over and over again until finally he comes to respect your strength and actually joins your party, while still maintaining his deliciously diabolical personality. He is voiced by Andrew Russell, who gives him a perfectly sinister and silky-smooth voice which greatly adds to the excellent writing for him that’s carried over from US/UM (I can’t unhear Russell when I play it now!)  

Furthermore, the Let’s GO remakes of the Gen I games retained this new characterization, making Giovanni appear as more of a suave schemer than a glorified bully.  As we’ll see below, it’s actually his portrayals elsewhere in the franchise that led to his depiction in the games becoming this way, in order to fall more in line with them, which is just as it should be.

Score = 4.5

Anime: As the boss of the Team Rocket trio whom they are always desperate to please, Giovanni is basically the overarching villain of the anime franchise, appearing in every show (Original Series, Advanced Generation, Diamond & Pearl, Best Wishes, XY, Sun & Moon, and Revival Series), though only relevant in half of them (OS, BW, the Z third of XY, and SM).

In the OS, Giovanni establishes himself right away as the Moriarty of the Pokemon world. He’s a shadowy, sinister presence, doing little himself but planning and observing, while the numerous agents of his vast criminal organization exercise his will, and he shields himself under the cover of legitimacy in multiple legal enterprises, including being the Gym Leader of Viridian City. However, once he comes into the light, he reveals that he does have a master plan that he’s taking an active part in: the creation and training of Mewtwo, the world’s most powerful Pokemon. When Mewtwo achieves his full potential, Giovanni intends to put him at the head of an army of all the powerful Pokemon that Team Rocket has acquired, and with it he can take over the world. But this plan goes awry when Mewtwo rebels and escapes. Giovanni subsequently becomes obsessed with recapturing Mewtwo, and it all comes to a head in the OVA Mewtwo Returns, where Gio is in full Wrath of Khan mode as he makes a terrifyingly ruthless attempt to bend Mewtwo to his will by force. But with help from Ash and his friends, Mewtwo is able to persevere and utterly defeat Giovanni in spectacular fashion.

This was Giovanni at his best in the anime. He never fully hit the same stride again, and in the case of AG, DP and XY he was simply portrayed as the TRio’s employer and not an active villain or threat of any kind. This was especially bad in the case of AG and DP, where in the former he was fed up with the TRio and just sent them out on fools’ errands to get rid of them and in the latter he cared so little for the TRio that he actually forgot who they even were...all the while, his image gets demeaned in the repetitive “Boss fantasies” of Meowth, which by DP had become insufferable. At least in XY, he took an active interest in what the TRio was doing in the Kalos region, especially when they came to blows with Team Flare.  

However, Giovanni had stronger showings in BW and SM, as in both of them he reclaimed his position as the Big Bad with a master plan for world domination. In BW, he launched a long-running operation to conquer the Unova region so that it could be his stronghold from which to conquer the rest of the world from, even donning a military-style uniform to reflect his sinister ambitions. This culminated in Operation Tempest, where Giovanni directly took control of the Kami Trio via Meloetta and an ancient artifact and engaged Ash and his friends directly in combat, ultimately being defeated by a super-charged Electro Ball from Pikachu. Later, in SM, Giovanni sought to claim the legendary “Blinding One” of Alola, aka Necrozma, a mission he entrusted to Team Rocket’s elite unit Matori Matrix, led by his secretary Matori.

All in all, the anime’s Giovanni is excellent, especially when voiced by the superb Ted Lewis in the English dub, and it’s such a damn shame that the show’s writers seldom utilized him.

Score = 4.5

Manga: Let’s get this out of the way right now - this is the best incarnation of Giovanni across the whole franchise, bar none. No other version is as fleshed out into as full of a character, or as much of a badass in almost every area possible. He’s like the best of the game version and the best of the anime version merged together and topped off with new qualities that enrich him even further. He is, if not the manga series’ best villain, one of its best characters.

Giovanni is the Big Bad of the original Red/Blue/Green Chapter, and he plays this role superbly. His master plan is a relatively simple one, and yet the way he executes it is so intricate and interconnected to events spanning the whole arc that it catches you as off guard as it does Red. His battle with Red in Viridian City is the stuff of legends, showing just how charismatic, brilliant and imposing he is as both a crime boss and a Pokemon trainer. 

He has a brief yet badass stint toward the end of the Yellow Chapter where he engages in an Evil vs. Evil showdown with Lance. After that, he goes underground for a while before finally resurfacing to retake the Big Bad role in the FireRed/LeafGreen Chapter. Here he does even more ruthless deeds and has another, even more intense battle with Red. But perhaps most noteworthy of all is that this was the first time the franchise confirmed that the Gen II rival, called Silver here, was Giovanni’s son. And for all his many faults, Gio does truly and deeply love his son and has an amazing moment in which he rescues him from a blazing inferno that actually gets us applauding him and hoping he survives the illness he reveals that he has.

And survive he does, as his illness is cured in the HeartGold/SoulSilver Chapter where he teams up with the other two OG villains of the manga, Lance and Pryce, to take on the rogue Creation Trio unleashed by his subordinate Archer’s stupidity. Giovanni takes on Giratina, since matter was always what he has sought to control, just as space-obsessed Lance fights Palkia and time-coveting Pryce fights Dialga. The resolution Giovanni’s character comes to in this arc is also perfect: he concedes that he is a bad man and will never stop being one, and he retakes his position as boss of Team Rocket, who are like family to him, while also telling his son to stick to the path of goodness and continue training to get stronger. Silver agrees, vowing to be the one to defeat his father and bring him to justice for good...and Giovanni smiles, as he would not have his ultimate defeat any other way than at the hands of the son he’s so proud of. The level of nuance this version of Giovanni shows is truly incredible. This nuance persists in the Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire Chapter, his latest appearance, while despite still being an active crime boss he travels to Hoenn to help in the Delta crisis since he rightfully suspects he played an unwilling part in causing it (Grand Meteor Delta is actually the original Deoxys, whom Giovanni experimented on and then discarded in the FR/LG Chapter).

I’ve gushed about Adventures!Giovanni enough, you should expect his score by now.

Score = 5

TCG: Yep, Giovanni has been an influential villain even in the Trading Card Game.

He first enters the scene in the Team Rocket expansion, which is dedicated to his criminal organization, their Dark Pokemon, and all their fiendish tricks. He appears on the Ken Sugimori-illustrated card “The Boss’s Way”, shrouded in shadow and giving a diabolical smirk. Two expansions later, in Gym Challenge, we get a lot more of Giovanni, this time in his alternative occupation as Viridian City Gym Leader. He has many Pokemon, plus the cards “Giovanni” and “Giovanni’s Last Resort” dedicated to him, and even his own deck.  Later on, “The Boss’s Way” was reprinted in the US-exclusive Legendary Collection set.

Team Rocket Returns had Team Rocket back and evil-ing it up in order to promote FR/LG, but Giovanni himself was nowhere to be seen in any cards in that set. Suddenly, in the XY era BREAKthrough expansion, Giovanni resurfaced with the card “Giovanni’s Scheme”, which referred to his plan to capture and control Mewtwo and its new Mega Evolved forms. He must have failed, since in the Sun/Moon era expansion Unbroken Bonds, he has been banished to Alola as shown in the card “Giovanni’s Exile”. But the evil grin on his face is clear indication that his spirits are far from broken, and that he’s ready to strike back once more. And strike back he does in the Sword/Shield Era expansion Rebel Clash, where he leads Team Rocket in full force to invade Galar. So Giovanni’s not leaving the TCG anytime soon.

Score = 4

Other: Giovanni appears in two different Nintendo 64 games: Pokemon Stadium and Pokemon Puzzle League. In the former, it’s the mainline game series version who has his own tower in Gym Leader Castle like all the other Gym Leaders of Kanto. In the latter, it’s the anime version, who has created Mewtwo to be the Puzzle Master (yeah, this game is weird). 

The Electric Tale of Pikachu manga, adapted from the anime, features Giovanni in one chapter and...oh dear Arceus, what did they do to you, Gio!? The man shown here is a buffoon, a total kook who doesn’t seem any more competent than his underlings. If this wasn’t enough, he barely physically resembles Giovanni as he is in any other medium! Among all the versions of Giovanni out there in the franchise, this is definitely the worst.

We get two animated versions of Giovanni outside of the main anime, in the OVA Pokemon Origins and the web series Pokemon Generations. The version in Origins is basically the Let’s GO! version before it existed, adapted from the original games but given a more charismatic and calculating portrayal. We also get a look into his childhood as he faces Red in the Viridian Gym, and the reasons behind him disbanding Team Rocket are because he is ashamed of losing his innocence and wants to see if he can reclaim the same passion for Pokemon training he had as a child - a very interesting take on the character that hasn’t been done before. He also has a fantastic voice, in both Japanese and English. Unfortunately, the version in Generations who appears in episodes 2 and 5 is not nearly as impressive, as here he’s adapted to the letter from the 2D games and thus possesses all the flaws from them that I brought up before: being a boring thug instead of an evil mastermind, with a voice to match.

Score = 3.5

TOTAL FRANCHISE SCORE: 4.5 out of 5

Giovanni is and always will be the most iconic BIg Bad of the Pokemon franchise, and when looked at on the whole with all of these incarnations, it’s easy to see why: the man is cool. Everything about him, no matter how evil, is just so admirable: his simple but sleek design, his powerful array of Pokemon, his confidence, his intelligence, his ambition, his hold over a large criminal network, and how he’s constantly evolving even while fundamentally remaining the same guy we all know and Love to Hate (or maybe Hate to Love). He’s just the best.

BONUS:  Which version is my personal favorite?

Yeah, I know. After I praised the Adventures version to high heaven and gave it a perfect score, you’re probably wondering why that one isn’t my favorite. But damn it all, the anime’s Giovanni in all of his shadowy, orange suited glory was my first exposure to the character! This version is why I even ended up discovering all the other ones, and for that I love him.

[logicalbibliophile]

Books I own part 1

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Adams, Douglas

Samantha Learns a Lesson Adler, Susan S.

Aesops Fables Aesop

Flame in the Mist Ahdieh, Renée

Honey Hunt 6 Aihara, Miki

negima! 26 Akamatsu, Ken

Little Women Alcott, Louisa May

The Last Grand Duchess Anastasia

Fairy Tales Anderson, Hans Christian

Let's Dance a Waltz 1 Andõ, Natsumi

Let's Dance a Waltz 2 Andõ, Natsumi

Kitchen Princess 10 Andõ, Natsumi

mär 1 Anzai, Nobuyuki

Beauty Pop 1 Arai, Kiyoko

Beauty Pop 9 Arai, Kiyoko

Beauty Pop 10 Arai, Kiyoko

Pride and Prejudice Austen, Jane

yotsuba&! 1 Azuma, Kiyohiko

Of Enemies and Endings 4 Bach, Shelby

Of Giants and Ice 1 Bach, Shelby

Of Sorcery and Snow 3 Bach, Shelby

Of Witches and Wind 2 Bach, Shelby

A Question of Magic Baker, E.D.

Dragon Kiss 7 Baker, E.D.

Dragon's Breath 2 Baker, E.D.

Once Upon a Curse 3 Baker, E.D.

The Dragon Princess 6 Baker, E.D.

The Frog Princess 1 Baker, E.D.

Of Neptune 3 Banks, Anna

Of Poseidon 1 Banks, Anna

Of Triton 2 Banks, Anna

Peter Pan Barrie, J.M.

Peter and the Secret of Rundoon 3 Barry, Dave and Ridley Pearson

Peter and the Shadow Thieves 2 Barry, Dave and Ridley Pearson

Peter and the Starcatchers 1 Barry, Dave and Ridley Pearson

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Baum, L. Frank

The Unicorn Quest Benko, Kamilla

The Brimstone Key Benz, Derek

The Year of the Hangman Blackwood, Gary L.

Antigoddess Blake, Kendare

William Blake Blake, William

The Atlas of Classic Tales Bordin, Claudia

The Name of this Book is Secret Bosch, Pseudonymous

Witch Born Bowling, Nicholas

Caddie Woodlawn Brink, Carol Ryrie

The Time Travelers Buckley-Archer, Linda

Magic and Other Misdemeanors 5 Buckley, Michael

Once Upon a Crime 4 Buckley, Michael

Tales from the Hood 6 Buckley, Michael

The Council of Mirrors 9 Buckley, Michael

The Ever After War 7 Buckley, Michael

The Fairytale Detectives 1 Buckley, Michael

The Inside Story 8 Buckley, Michael

The Problem Child 3 Buckley, Michael

The Unusual Suspects 2 Buckley, Michael

A Little Princess Burnett, Frances Hodgson

The Secret Garden Burnett, Frances Hodgson

Arabian nights Burton, Sir Richard Francis

Molly Moon's Incredible Book of Hypnotism 1 Byng, Georgia

Molly Moon and the Morphing Mystery 5 Byng, Georgia

Ash and Quill Caine, Rachel

Flunked 1 Calonita, Jen

Charmed 2 Calonita, Jen

Rook Cameron, Sharon

The Forgetting Cameron, Sharon

Ender's Game Card, Orson Scott

All Fall Down Carter, Ally

Heist Society 1 Carter, Ally

I'd Tell You I Love You but Then I'd Have to Kill You 1 Carter, Ally

Only the Good Spy Young 4 Carter, Ally

Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy 2 Carter, Ally

Don't Judge a Girl by Her Cover 3 Carter, Ally

Uncommon Criminals 2 Carter, Ally

The One 2 Cass, Kiera

The Selection 1 Cass, Kiera

Rebel Girls Lead Cavallo, Francesca and Elena Favilli

Rebel Girls Explore Cavallo, Francesca and Elena Favilli

The School of Good and Evil 1 Chainani, Soman

A World Without Princes 2 Chainani, Soman

Be a Genie in Six Easy Steps Chapman, Linda and Steve Cole

The Testing Charbonneau, Joelle

Powerless Childs, Tera Lynn and Tracy Dee's

Drama Con 2 Chmakova, Svetlana

Drama Con 3 Chmakova, Svetlana

Drama Con 1 Chmakova, Svetlana

Aru Shah and the End of Time Chokshi, Roshani

The Star Touched Queen Chokshi, Roshani

Cinderella Cinderella

Magic Knight Rayearth CLAMP

City of Bones Clare, Cassandra

Ready Player One Cline, Ernest

Catching Fire 2 Collins, Suzanne

Mockingjay 3 Collins, Suzanne

The Hunger Games 1 Collins, Suzanne

Matched Condie, Ally

The Waterless Sea Constable, Kate

Seaward Cooper, Susan

Mechanica Cornwell, Betsy

Venturess Cornwell, Betsy

Don't push the button! Cotter, Bill

Chasing Redbird Creech, Sharon

Ruby Holler Creech, Sharon

Love that Dog Creech, Sharon

Chasing Redbird Creech, Sharon

The Death Cure 3 Dashner, James

The Scorch Trials 2 Dashner, James

The Kill Order .5 Dashner, James

The Twelve Dancing Princesses David, Alfred and Mary Elizabeth Meek

The Fandom Day, Anna

Frozen De la Cruz, Melissa

26 Fairmont Avenue DePaola, Tomie

Blind Dewoskin, Rachel

The Tale of Despereaux DiCamillo, Kate

Hard Times Dickens, Charles

A Christmas Carol Dickons, Charles

Stepsister Donnelly, Jennifer

The Boy With the Hidden Name 2 Dorset, Skylar

The Girl Who Never Was 1 Dorset, Skylar

The Magickers Vol. 1 Drake, Emily

The Magickers Vol. 2 Drake, Emily

Dragonsdale Drake, Salamanda

Half Magic Eager, Edward

The Last of the Really Great Wangdoodles Edwards, Julie Andrews

Happy Marriage 2 Enjoji, Maki

Harry Potter Fact Book Farrington, Karen and Lewis Constable

Rocket science for babies Ferrie, Chris

Once Upon a Marigold Ferris, Jean

Bridget Jones's Diary Fielding, Helen

Wellspring of Magic Fields, Jan

Erak's Ransom 7 Flanagan, John

The Battle for Skandia 4 Flanagan, John

The Burning Bridge 2 Flanagan, John

The Icebound Land 3 Flanagan, John

The Rangers Apprentice 1 Flanagan, John

The Outcasts Flanagan, John

The Diary of a Young Girl Frank, Anne

Sphinx's Princess Friesner, Esther M.

Igraine the Brave Funke, Cornelia

Inkdeath 3 Funke, Cornelia

Inkheart 1 Funke, Cornelia

Inkspell 2 Funke, Cornelia

Bloody Kiss 2 Furumiya, Kazuko

Stardust Gaimen, Neil

Scarlet Gaughen, A.C.

Dragon Flight 2 George, Jessica Day

Dragon Slippers 1 George, Jessica Day

Dragon Spear 3 George, Jessica Day

Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow George, Jessica Day

Princess of the Midnight Ball 1 George, Jessica Day

Princess of Glass 2 George, Jessica Day

Princess of the Silver Woods 3 George, Jessica Day

Ruby Red 1 Gier, Kerstin

Sapphire Blue 2 Gier, Kerstin

Emerald Green 3 Gier, Kerstin

The Book Jumper Gläser, Mechthild

Mines of the Minotaur 3 Golding, Julia

Secret of the Sirens 1 Golding, Julia

The Chimera Curse 4 Golding, Julia

The Diamond of Drury Lane 1 Golding, Julia

The Gorgon's Gaze 2 Golding, Julia

The Princess Bride Goldman, William

Escape from Mr Lemoncello's Library Grabstein, Chris

The Wind in the Willows Grahame, Kenneth

A Thousand Pieces of You Gray, Claudia

Tales of the Greek Heroes Green, Roger Lancelyn

Tales of Ancient Egypt Green, Roger Lancelyn

Rated Grey, Melissa

Grimm's Fairy Tales Grimm, Jakob & Wilhelm

Water for Elephants Gruen, Sara

The Princess Academy Hale, Shannon

The Princess Academy Hale, Shannon

The Fairie Ring Hamilton, Kiki

Violet Wings 1 Hanley, Victoria

Indigo Magic 2 Hanley, Victoria

The Fourth Ruby 2 Hannibal, James R.

The Lost Property Office 1 Hannibal, James R.

Seraphina Hartman, Rachel

Ouran high school host club 10 Hatori, Bisco

Ouran high school host club 14 Hatori, Bisco

Ouran high school host club 15 Hatori, Bisco

Pandora Gets Frightened 6 Hennesy, Carolyn

Pandora Gets Vain 2 Hennesy, Carolyn

Hoot Hiaasen, Carl

vb rose 1 Hidaka, Banri

vb rose 2 Hidaka, Banri

vb rose 3 Hidaka, Banri

Portrait of m&n 1 Higuchi, Tachibana

Portrait of m&n 2 Higuchi, Tachibana

City of Masks Hoffman, Mary

The Iliad Homer

The Odyssey Homer

Reawakened Houck, Colleen

Invitation to the Game Hughes, Monica

Pay it Forward Hyde, Catherine Ryan

Dial-a-Ghost Ibbotson, Eva

Which Witch? Ibbotson, Eva

Magic Flutes Ibbotson, Eva

The Secret of Platform 13 Ibbotson, Eva

Demon Sacred 2 Itsuki, Natsumi

Demon Sacred 3 Itsuki, Natsumi

Demon Sacred 1 Itsuki, Natsumi

Princess of Thorns Jay, Stacey

A Thousand Nights Johnston, E.K.

The Enchanted Quest 5 Jones, Allan Frewin

The Fairie Path 1 Jones, Allan Frewin

The Immortal Realm 4 Jones, Allan Frewin

The Lost Queen 2 Jones, Allan Frewin

The Sorcerer King 3 Jones, Allan Frewin

Howl's Moving Castle Jones, Diana Wynne

A Tale of Time City Jones, Diana Wynne

The Phantom Tollbooth Juster, Norton

The Midnight Dance Katz, Nikki

The Day of the Djinn Warriors Kerr, P.B.

The Stonekeeper Kibuishi, Kazu

Mamotte lollipop 1 Kikuta, Michiyo

mamotte lollipop 2 Kikuta, Michiyo

mamotte lollipop 3 Kikuta, Michiyo

mamotte lollipop 4 Kikuta, Michiyo

mamotte lollipop 5 Kikuta, Michiyo

mamotte lollipop 6 Kikuta, Michiyo

The Diabolic Kincaid, S.J.

The Jungle Books Kipling, Rudyard

From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler Konigsburg, E.L.

Enchanted 1 Kontis, Alethea

Hero 2 Kontis, Alethea

Swindle Korman, Gordon

Chasing the Falconers 1 Korman, Gordon

Hunting the Hunter 6 Korman, Gordon

The Friday Society Kress, Adrienne

Theodosia and the Serpents of Chaos LaFevers, R.L.

The Coming of Dragons Lake, A.J.

Defy Larson, Sara B.

The Very Short, Entirely True History of Unicorns Laskow, Sarah

The Portal Lasky, Kathryn

25 Women Who Dared to Go Lassieur, Allison

To Kill a Mocking Bird Lee, Harper

Wings Lethcoe, Jason

Ella Enchanted Levine, Gail Carson

The Princess Tales Levine, Gail Carson

The Two Princesses of Bamarre Levine, Gail Carson

Prince Caspian 4 Lewis, C.S.

The Horse and His Boy 3 Lewis, C.S.

The Last Battle 7 Lewis, C.S.

The Magicians Nephew 1 Lewis, C.S.

The Silver Chair 6 Lewis, C.S.

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader 5 Lewis, C.S.

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe 2 Lewis, C.S.

Spinning Starlight Lewis, R.C.

Pippi Longstocking Lindgren, Astrid

[brokehorrorfan]

Scream Factory has revealed the specs for its Blood from the Mummy’s Tomb Blu-ray release, which streets on September 10. The 1971 film is the fourth installment in Hammer Films’ The Mummy series.

Seth Holt (The Nanny) directs, with uncredited work by Michael Carreras (The Curse of the Mummy’s Tomb). Christopher Wicking (Scream and Scream Again) wrote the script. Andrew Keir, Valerie Leon, and James Villiers star.

Blood from the Mummy’s Tomb is presented in two aspect ratios: 1.66:1 and 1.85:1. Special features are listed below.

Special features:

Audio commentary with author/film historian Steve Haberman (new)

Interview with sound recordist Tony Dawe (new)

Interview with camera operator Neil Binney (new)

The Pharaoh's Curse: Inside Blood From The Mummy's Tomb

Curse of Blood from the Mummy's Tomb – Interviews with actress Valerie Leon and writer Christopher Wicking

US and UK theatrical trailers

TV spot

Radio spots

Still gallery

A British expedition in Egypt discovers the ancient sealed tomb of the evil Queen Tera. But when one of the archaeologists steals a mysterious ring from the corpse's severed hand, he unleashes a relentless curse upon his beautiful daughter. Is the voluptuous young woman now a reincarnation of the diabolical sorceress ... or has the curse of the mummy returned to reveal its horrific revenge?

[nakasomethingkun]

For the title challenge: a fiery heart and a wicked brain

an anti-hero au? or maybe a villain au? idk which one is better: neil as the villain who’s not really into doing evil and andrew as a journalist or cop; or andrew as the super bored villain who’s also not actually a diabolical villain and neil as the smart-mouthed journalist who keeps getting kidnapped by the yakuza or other villains

[jmsa1287]

A Year in Review: The 21 Best TV Shows of 2018

Peak TV may be over and the bubble may be about to burst. Unlike the past few years, 2018 yielded fewer outstanding shows. There were plenty of good-to-great series that aired this year but there were less exceptional programs when compared to the last five years. With the field being so competitive, talent is spread thin — not just those in front of the camera but folks who create and craft shows. We may be reaching a breaking point of quality vs. quantity but 2018 did offer some stellar series.

I watched just over 80 shows this year. I gave up on about 21/22? I liked a lot of shows. I loved only a few; pretty much the top 11. Most disappointing TV was "Deutschland 86," "Claws" Season 2 and "Little Drummer Girl." i hope 2019 is better!! lots of good stuff coming!!!

Below are the best 21 TV shows of the year. 

21. "The Haunting of Hill House" Season 1 Netflix

20. "High Maintenance" Season 2 HBO

19. "Black Mirror" Season 4 Netflix

18. "The Deuce" Season 2 HBO

17. "Baskets" Season 3 FX

16. "Channel Zero: Butcher's Block" Season 3 SYFY

15. "Chilling Adventures of Sabrina" Season 1 Netflix

14. "Insecure" Season 3 HBO

13. "Mosaic" Season 1 HBO

12. "Channel Zero: The Dream Door" Season 4 SYFY

11. "The Curious Creations of Christine McConnell" Season 1 Netflix

10. "Forever" Season 1 Amazon

Starring "Saturday Night Live" alums Maya Rudolph and Fred Armisen the tiny comedy "Forever," created and written by Emmy Award winners Alan Yang and Matt Hubbard, packs a powerful and emotional punch. It's hard to talk about "Forever" without giving away its unexpected and hilarious premise (make sure to watch past the second episode) but the show takes on what it means to be in a long-term relationship in a fascinating and refreshing way. "Forever" also serves as a showcase for Rudolph, allowing her to act and to do something interesting, nuanced and lovely.

09. "Sharp Objects" Season 1 HBO

"Big Little Lies" this was not. The fever dream summer show "Sharp Objects" boasted a similar pedigree to the 2017 hit (both series are directed by Jean-Marc Vallee, are based on hit novels, aired on HBO and starred movie stars), but was totally different in almost every way. This mood piece, starring a wonderful Amy Adams and Patricia Clarkson, is a haunting exploration of memory and trauma, wrapped in a Southern Gothic mystery.

08. "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" Season 2 Amazon

Bright, bubbly and delightful, "The Marvelous Mr. Masiel" returned at the end of 2018 to remind us the best TV doesn't always need to be dark and twisted. In its second season, the Amy Sherman-Palladino comedy took risks, traveling in Paris, the Catskills and around the East Coast. And of course, like last year, the cast (Rachel Brosnahan, Alex Borstein, Michael Zegen, Marin Hinkle, Tony Shalhoub) remains absolutely fabulous.

07. "Homecoming" Season 1 Amazon

Based on a podcast and created for TV by Sam Esmail ("Mr. Robot"), "Homecoming" fires on all cylinders. Starring Julia Roberts in her best role in recent memory, this psychological and conspiracy thriller is one of the best-looking shows of the year. Riffing on Hitchcock, De Palma and more, "Homecoming" is a hypnotic mystery that's gripping as it slowly unfolds, featuring additional brilliant performances from Bobby Cannavale, Stephan James, Shea Whigham, Alex Karpovsky and Sissy Spacek.

06. "Pose" Season 1 FX

"Pose" is not only a beautiful show but a groundbreaking one. Featuring the largest cast of trans actors in TV history, this period piece centers on the ballroom scene in 80s New York City and shines the spotlight on a number of unknown actors who proved themselves to be some of the finest performers on TV this year. At the center of "Pose" is MJ Rodriguez's Blanca, a warm and heartbreaking character that is the through line of this stunning drama.

05. "Succession" Season 1 HBO

No show was funnier and more demented this year than "Succession." Centered on an incredibly wealthy family, which runs one of the largest media conglomerates in the world, "Succession" outdid itself week after week. Each episode was sicker and more hilarious than the last, building up to an over-the-top season finale that was as mean-spirited as "Veep" and as ridiculous as "Billions."

04. "Killing Eve" Season 1 BBC America

"Killing Eve" is a glamorous cat-and-mouse game that pops off the TV screen, thanks to stellar performances from leads Sandra Oh and Jodie Comer. Developed for the small screen by Phoebe Waller-Bridge ("Flea Bag"), "Killing Eve" did an incredible job at turning an espionage thriller inside out, making the show humanistic, hilarious and addictive.

03. "Atlanta: Robbin' Season" Season 2 FX

The second season of Donald Glover's "Atlanta" knocked it out of the park. A number of episodes blended the absurd with reality and humor. The hilarious horror story "Teddy Perkins" is the finest example of what "Atlanta" can do. Episodes were narratively disconnected, allowing the show to fling its top-notch cast (Glover, Brian Tyree Henry, Lakeith Stanfield, Zazie Beetz) to enter truly bizarre situations — from partaking in a Fastnacht celebration to a party at Drake's mansion. Episodes were also incredibly touching, like "Woods," in which Henry's character Alfred goes on a spiritual journey to reconnect with his late mother, and the flashback episode "FUBU."

02. "Maniac" Season 1 Netflix

The dazzling sci-fi drama "Maniac" was like nothing else on TV. It's world-building, courtesy of writer/creator Patrick Somerville and director/writer Cary Joji Fukunaga is incredible. A considered and specific show, the 10-episode miniseries took on mental health in trauma in a fresh way, resulting in one of the most creative shows in recent memory. It also featured a number of stellar performances from its two leads Emma Stone and Jonah Hill as well as its supporting cast, including a totally off-the-wall Justin Theroux, a diabolical Sally Field, and a compelling Sonoya Mizuno.

01. "The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story" Season 2 FX

Told like a collection of short stories the second season of "American Crime Story," "The Assassination of Gianni Versace," examined homophobia in the 90s via one deranged and broken man. Though the show features a number of big names, it's Darren Criss's portrayal of gay serial killer Andrew Cunanan that stole the show. Expertly written by Tom Rob Smith, "Versace" explored a headline-grabbing story that somehow slipped away from America's consciousness. Unlike other true crime series, "Versace" made sure to highlight its victims, digging into their past and how their fate brought them to Cunanan, a victim of sorts too but a storm of evil who ended the lives of at least five men.

[gavillain]

So with the year about to close, I’m once again doing my annual Top Ten Villains of This Year list. My personal rule for doing this: these characters are judged solely on the merits of their 2018 appearances, and I’m not going to include any villain who has appeared on last year’s list (which you can read here), even if they would still make the cut. Also bear in mind that this is only from media that I actually saw/read/played this year, so forgive me if your favorite isn’t here because I might not have seen them. New December movies in particular slipped through my fingers.

List under the cut

10. Lotor (Voltron: Legendary Defender)

Ever since Lotor first debuted, he's never been villainous enough for me. He's been positioned in villainous roles, but he never really did anything all that bad or evil. Season six, however, sees the true depth of his evil finally get revealed. His obsession with his Altean heritage and loathing of his Galra side is interesting from a psychological perspective, and his actions as the seemingly benevolent but truly vicious leader of the Altean refugees really highlight how truly sinister this guy was. He has quite a lot of blood on his hands all done to fuel his thirst for power. The final battle with him in the quintessence field was pretty cool too. I love seeing normally refined and restrained villains just totally lose it and go balls to the wall psycho and that's exactly what we got. We really finally got to see Lotor for who he was beneath all of the false masks he showed to Team Voltron and the audience, and, for that, I definitely consider him one of the year's best.

9. Barbara Kean (Gotham)

Gotham every year always has a great villain to highlight, and while I assume most Gotham fans are coming out of this year talking about the Valeska brother, I think Barbara Kean really showed her stuff this year. Barbara's had an interesting journey on the show, going from a bland love interest to a psycho ex-girlfriend to a Fish Mooney esque crime boss to this season becoming the heir of Ra's al Ghul himself. This year we saw Barbara Kean inherit Ra's al Ghul's mantel as the Demon's Head and assuming control over the League of Assassins. She proceeded to immediately put the sexist men in their place and established a lethal team of female assassins to serve her. It's fun to see Barbara taking on a new mantel and even being instrumental in taking down the original Ra's al Ghul when his schemes go too far. Her ultimately taking charge as the leader of the Gotham Sirens and declaring her turf a violently men-free-zone is a fun touch that I look forward to seeing get followed up in season five.

8. Magica DeSpell (DuckTales)

When I first heard that the DuckTales reboot was building up Magica DeSpell as some serious business Big Bad, I was definitely among those scratching my head. Magica had always just been a reoccurring funny villain with wacky hijinks rather than anyone who acted as a true Knight of Cerebus. However, 2017 DuckTales pulled it off and did so WONDERFULLY. Magica is not only a big serious villain and threat; she also maintains her same charismatic and funny personality. You see her manipulating Lena to giving up her body and unleashing ultimate darkness whilst still cracking jokes and going after Scrooge's number one dime. It's hard to balance genuine serious villainy with comedy, and it's a balancing act that the Disney villains of the 90s had down pat. And that's exactly what Magica feels like: a harkening back to that golden breed of Disney villains, and I hope to see her continue on in season two.

7. The Sanderson Sisters (Hocus Pocus: The All New Sequel)

This was the twenty-fifth anniversary of Hocus Pocus, and, to celebrate, Disney released a sequel novel that included both a novelization of the original film and an all new story set years later. The Sanderson Sisters are iconic and hilarious villains who have long been among my all time faves, so seeing them return in book form was a rare treat. This time, the Sandersons are scheming to bring all of the witches back from Hell to take over the world, and it's pretty scary reading Winnie's evil literally sending innocent people to Hell to exchange for evil witches. Mary also gets a solo musical number about her relationship with Winnie that's a lot of fun and sheds a new light on her character. It's operating at about the same level as A Twisted Tale in terms of quality so it's not hitting anything out of the ballpark, but seeing the Sandersons get treated to new content coinciding with their twenty-fifth anniversary is really fun and is worth their inclusion for sure.

6. Killmonger and Klaue (Black Panther)

The biggest movie of the year also gave us two of the very BEST villains of the year in the form of Killmonger and Klaue. Klaue, as portrayed by Andy Serkis, is naturally fun as a sinister and charismatic thief and arms dealer, filling sort of the "funny villain" quotient for the film. He's enjoyable and a treat to watch every time he's on screen. He's an evil white man who is raping African of its natural resources out of his sense of greed and entitlement. Killmonger compliments that nicely by being one of the deepest and most thought provoking character in the entire MCU. Killmonger is fun because not only is he sadistic and someone who enjoys bloodshed, he's also driven by righteous anger over the way that Wakanda has turned its back on black people globally. He has a desire to turn all of that around and remake the world. He may be cold and ruthless, but you can also see where he's coming from and that makes him all the more effective.

5. Salem (RWBY)

Salem, since her debut, has been a generic evily evil who eviled for some evil evil and never really had any texture at all besides being a vague evil. All of that changed this season of RWBY. We now know Salem and Ozpin's backstory. I was enthralled and mystified the entire time during their backstory. The animation, the story telling, everything was top notch. Salem is a woman who was cursed by immortality that hardened her into someone bitter and angry. She lost the man she loved once through death and then after his reincarnation, she lost him through his own fear of what she had become. She really feels like the type of character who is a tragic figure of myth at this point, and I loved how her motivation seems to stem from a bitterness at the gods and a desire to end the world that they created. Very fun for an arch-villain.

4. Red Goblin (The Amazing Spider-Man)

Dan Slott's decade long run as head writer of the Amazing Spider-Man came to an end earlier this year with a grand finale to end all grand finales: Norman Osborn, the Green Goblin, rediscovers Spider-Man's secret identity and bonds with the Carnage symbiote to form the Red Goblin. Now, on some level, I find that whole concept to be very fanwanky, but, on the other, it's REALLY fucking cool. Yeah, Spider-Man writers have a tendency to continuously try to tell the next great Norman Osborn story, and, while this doesn't really rank in my top five, it's a worthy effort. I appreciate how it shows off how vicious and relentless Norman is. Him just fire bombing random people on the street to get under Peter's skin in particular is one of those great twisted moments. I also liked seeing Norman corrupt his grandson Normie Osborn with the symbiote and getting a grandpa's little monster serving him. It's got that fun "he's an assassin and a hostage rolled into one effect. And, of course, the Red Goblin left a permanent mark on Spider-Man history by being the villain who murdered Flash Thompson, long time friend and ally of Peter.

3. Obake (Big Hero 6)

The Big Hero 6 TV show has been a slam dunk for Disney television. Bringing in the same creative minds behind Kim Possible, the show has a great "loving parody of he superhero genre" feel to it whilst still being an epic hero show in its own right, and six heroes are only as good as their villain. Voiced by Andrew Scott of Jim Moriarty fame, Obake is an evil genius mastermind who's always in control of a situation and always crafting diabolical and brilliant schemes. Obake is in many respects a dark image of what Hiro could become: a man who refuses to limit his brilliance by morals or familial ties. His brain has outright been damaged to where his conscience doesn't check him and this brain damage IS slowly killing him, but he accepts it as a reasonable price for his perspective free of morality. But in the end, his schemes were all that he had, and when he's defeated, he has no reason to live and effectively commits suicide after letting Baymax go. There's a really great tragedy to the way he ends up. And, on top of that, he's just a really interesting and charismatic villain with fun quirks, fun minions, and engaging schemes. Easily one of the very best villains to come out of Disney television. 2. Doctor Octopus (Spider-Man PS4)

One of the really smart features of Insomniac's Spider-Man game is that Octavius is actually not Doctor Octopus at all for the first half of the game. Octavius is Peter's friend and boss, and the two of them are working together on cybernetic appendages for prosthetic limbs that respond to the brain waves just like regular limbs. Octavius has a degenerative brain diseases that is causing him to slowly lose control of his motor functions. As such, when he thinks he has the solution, he's overly hasty to use it even though the cerebral interface has a dangerous impact on his personality and moods. It causes him to act upon his worth impulses, particularly his resentment and anger towards Norman Osborn. This turns him into the Doctor Octopus who we all know, much to Peter's sadness. Peter ends up struggling a lot in this game over whether Octavius is worth saving, and it tears him apart when they reach their climax. No spoilers, but it's POWERFUL writing and acting. I particularly like how this version of the characters takes a little from every single iteration of the character without ever feeling unfresh. He has that personal connection and tragic element of the Raimi Ock, he has the intelligent master criminal side of the comics version, he has a design that echoes the sort of "I may be an overweight nerd but I can still kick your ass" appeal of the Spectacular Spider-Man version, and yet they still find his own unique sweet spot of characterizations that perfectly blends with the Insomniac Spider-Man world. I particularly enjoy his use of the Sinister Six and how he gets them all under his control by using his intelligence to give them each what they want so that they're all in debt, but they all genuinely seem to enjoy and admire him. That's an excellent retelling of the Sinister Six that's far more interesting than just "We all hate Spider-Man so let's team up to fight him."

1. Venom (Venom)

This was honestly the biggest and weirdest surprise of the year for me. See, the whole idea of a Venom solo movie is a uniformly bad idea from basically the word "Go." Oh yes, let's do a movie about a villain whose entire character revolves around being a dark version of Spider-Man in a movie that completely omits Spider-Man so that the villain can be the protagonist. That won't backfire at all. Well, of course, it totally backfired into a complete mess, but it happened to create a mess that was entertaining and enjoyable and had an absolutely wonderful and fun take on the Venom character. This film leans hard into the romantic side of Eddie and the Venom symbiote's bond and sort of formats itself as a gay alien romcom. Eddie is a journalist who wants to be a hero through his reporting, but he pursues it at the expense of every meaningful relationship he has. Venom is the runt of his alien litter who on Earth suddenly finds himself as the big fish in a small pond, and he likes it that way. In Venom, Brock finds a relationship that allows him to indulge his savior complex that won't be destroyed by it, and in Brock, Venom finds someone who allows him to indulge his power trip and sense of narcissism. They complete one another. Yes, it's stupid. Yes, it's cheesy. No, it's NOT the Venom we know at all. But, yes, it's a fun and effective route to take the character in the absence of Spider-Man. The thing is that the reason why it's so fun is pretty much all Tom Hardy. Tom Hardy has a weird awful accent, but he also gives this weirdly camp performance that's just captivating and fun. It actually reminds me a bit of Jack Sparrow in a way in that it's so out there, you can't help but he enamored. The Venom symbiote has fun banter and chemistry with Hardy, and the humor is on point. You've got Venom eating gangsters as people around him under-react, and he just shrugs it off with a one-liner. It's that type of thing, and, honestly, I love it. Like when the movie is Tom Hardy and Venom being goofy murder bros together, it's fun and engaging. Eddie himself is definitely more hero than villain, but Venom absolutely counts as far as I’m concerned, even if he is restrained by Eddie’s moral code by the end of it. It's exactly the type of ridiculous villain protagonist fantasy that it needed to be, and even though Venom isn't the main antagonist of his story, he's still easily my favorite villain of 2018... I have no idea what that says about me XD

Also I have all three of Spider-Man's big archenemies on this list in the reverse order that I usually like them XD That's fun lol

[allforthebee]

thankful to the writing gods! I hope this means we're getting more of there's a honey (no pressure

It was day five, and Andrew was in the process of reheating leftover lasagna—okay, Chef Boyardee—when Renee called with a proposition and an invitation to Allison’s dinner party. They were one and the same and he almost laughed, as bargaining Neil’s attendance with Andrew’s was an evil, diabolical, ridiculously brilliant scheme. 

u tell me anon 

[octartarian]

A note to mention that I’ve seen and read what nerusuzo posted earlier today, and as a fellow evil Tartar RPer, I endorse everything they have said. 

Absolutely everything.

I mostly RP two different Tartars* - one who never went evil (Mistah T) and one who always was evil (Trooper) but tonight, we’re going to talk about my favorite asshole.

I designed Trooper to be as devious, as slimy, as diabolical as possible, which being in a small package. Someone who looks harmless, but really is a terrible individual. 

Hell, when I designed his professor, my idea was “What if Andrew Wakefield and Martin Shkreli had a baby?” 

Trooper was created by someone vile and thus, prefers to propagate hatred, greed and bigotry over trying to make the world better.

The thing is, while this Tartar of mine is absolutely evil, reminder he’s also physically weak, and I am absolutely NOT opposed to people talking to me and asking me if they can beat up Trooper - in serious or more comedic plots alike.

The answer will most likely be "Yes, just don’t kill him.” 

I want to see him yelled at, I want to see him suffer, I want to see him hurt, they’re not things I’m afraid to do and if you talk to me, you will notice that I am more like Mistah T than Trooper.

* I have two other Tartar designs but I no longer RP them - they’re used as NPCs in other verses. Let me tell you about my phone children

[aftgficrec]

In Trust Fall and Welcoming Arms by SpangleBangle, Aaron decides to no longer be "that guy". Are there any other similar stories where Aaron is accepting/not completely against Andriel?

I’m all about exploring Aaron’s character growth! Here are some post-canon fics, a meta tumblr post, and some twinyards art. For AUs where Aaron has a strong friendship with Neil and is accepting of Andreil, we recommend “Raise Your Spirits” here, and “i heard you in the wind” here. - A

Progress comes in small steps by Ominous [Series, Rated T, 38825 words, Incomplete, updated 2020]

Part 1: and we’re just starting to get it [11196 words] - Neil is nothing and everything all at once, the entire universe for Andrew, however small of a universe that is. Even Aaron is starting to see it, though the pieces still don’t line up.

Part 2: there’s always more to learn [12376 words] - The subject of Katelyn and Neil hasn’t felt like dangerous territory in a long time, but Aaron feels the bomb countdown already coming to an end before Bee even opens her mouth.

Part 3: trust is a slow process [7179 words] - …Katelyn and Andrew spend some unwanted quality time together, and Katelyn sees things for what they are.

Part 4: some day there won’t be scowls [8101 words] - Neil finds that even with his mind’s best efforts to hang onto the wounds of the past, his opinion of Aaron just isn’t what it used to be. He can thank Andrew and Katelyn for a lot of it, but his own observations certainly help.

tw: references to abuse

Aaron Minyard Vs. Calculus by Lover_of_Fairy_Tails [Rated G (we say T), 13388 Words, Incomplete, Updated Nov 2019]

Aaron Minyard had been putting off taking Calculus after receiving his one and only near failing grade in pre-cal. Now in his third year at Palmetto he feels like his life has calmed down enough to finally attempt the class.

Except he comes to regret that decision as soon as he walks into the classroom and figures out he is sharing a class with someone he would rather spend much less time with.

NB: This ask is for a more accepting Aaron - we promise this fic delivers, but it’s a long and angsty character arc to get there. Worthy of your time.

tw: implied/referenced csa, tw: implied/referenced murder, tw: homophobia, tw: involuntary outing, tw: nightmares, tw: bullying, tw: implied/referenced self harm, tw: implied/referenced torture

AFTG Bingo 2k18: The Twinyard Card by exactly13percent [Rated T, Collection, Complete, AFTG Bingo 2018]

Chapter 3: If/Then - Aaron happens to be at Andrew’s, during the holidays. Neil is there, too. Maybe Aaron isn’t an expert when it comes to his brother, but he’s learned, and he knows something is up. They’re overdue for this conversation, anyway.

Tumblr

About Aaron by @evil-diabolical-oops [Tumblr, Not Rated, 2017]

Here’s the thing about Aaron Minyard: he just wants to be normal (whatever that is).

Art

an idea in which they’ll be alright ft. aaron’s wedding art by @requiemofkings, future twinyards comic by @coldcigarettes, and one of my favourite bonds in fiction art by haamletisdead (Instagram)

[sugaurora]

NaNoWriMo - Can We Be Honest For a Second?

You are only doing NaNo for one of three reasons:

You need to get into a daily writing habit and writing 1666 words a day for a month is a good way of developing that habit.

You need to get a big chunk of writing done in a hurry and 50,000 words in a month ain't a full novel for most genres, but it ain't too shabby either.

Your friends are threatening to steal your fuzzy socks and your chocolate stash if you don't join.

See, the 50,000 words you get when you win NaNoWriMo aren't the prize, they're the byproduct. Winning NaNoWriMo means spending the month of November turning yourself into a better writer. And I want to help you be a winner.

There are pages and pages of writing advice on the internet. You could read books on writing, and nuance, and metaphor. If you're lucky you'll spend your entire life reading great books and learning from other authors, but no amount of learning is going to help you get off the starting block and to writing a book unless you know where to start. So that's what this post is about: how to prep for NaNoWriMo.

Mid-October you need to set aside a day for NaNoWriMo planning. You're going to be doing your research, basic plotting, and some very simple outlining. If you're a Plotter who needs to have all the details written down, fine, add more. If you're a Pantster (like me!) you'll find this method isn't overwhelming and leaves lots of room for improvisation. Once you've got your date set grab something to make notes on and give yourself five hours to work... and yes it's perfectly fine to do this in fifteen-minute increments over the month of October. You're busy, and that's normal. :)

Step 1: Write the elevator pitch for your novel.

Don't get hung up on finding an original plot or the perfect pitch right now. Just pick an idea that tickles your imagination and run with it. The fact that you are writing it will make it unique. Every person is different, and so is every story!

In two sentences or less write what you're going to write your book about. It doesn't need to be perfect, you just need to verbalize it somehow.

If you don't know what to write about look for inspiration in art work, online story prompts, the NaNoWriMo Adopt A Plot forum, or on Tumblr where the Out Of Context D&D people give anyone with a pulse an urge to write fantasy.

Can't decide on just one plot? No problem! Plan them all out. Start writing whichever catches your fancy in November and write the others next year.

Step 2: Use the Dime Novel Formula

This is 100% stolen from the author of the Doc Savage novels Kenneth Robeson (Lester Dent) and he deserves full credit. Partial credit goes to British author Tim Dedopulos who wrote a NaNoWriMo post in 2010 entitled How To Write A Novel In Three Days. We're using a modified version of his method....

Lester Dent said every good novel needed four things:

A new way to kill someone

A new thing for the villain to want

A new place

A menace that threatens your hero at every turn.

Write down your four things.

Step 3: You Need Four Plot Twists

No one likes a book where they can guess the ending on page one. It's boring. Plot twists set in the right place along the course of the book will give your reader a wild ride that keeps them reading long past bedtime. Plan on at least four plot twists.

Plot twist #1 comes in the first quarter of the book. "You're a wizard, Harry." "I found a wardrobe that leads to a kingdom of snow and my brother ate the evil queen's Turkish Delight!" etc. You get the idea.

Plot Twist #2 comes about 40% of the way through the book, this one's the gut punch. The hero loses something, they're betrayed, something horrible happens and at all cost, you must leave the readers thinking there is no way your hero can ever find a happy ending after this. If you're George R. R. R. Martin this is where you kill [spoiler redacted], you soulless fiend.

Plot Twist #3 comes at the climax of the story, when the fate of the universe hangs by a thread, and then suddenly PLOT TWIST! something amazing happens. Harry comes back from the dead. Loki really didn't kill Thor. Mulan shoots Shan Yu with a firework and the Emperor bows to her.

Plot Twist #4... and I know you're scratching your head here... this one comes in the last pages of the book. The villain confesses they did it all for the love of the hero, the hero pulls the sword from the stone and finds out it's plastic, the long-lost princess realizes she rescued the wrong kingdom! This is the very final twist that keeps the book alive after the last page is turned. It may seem diabolic, especially if you're not writing a series, but it lets the reader believe the characters will live on and have more adventures even after the book ends, and that's important.

Step 4: You Need Three Villains

Early in my writing career, I wrote several novels that were great except the pacing and tension seemed almost nonexistent. It wasn't until I wrote a book with a well fleshed out villain that I realized my early novels suffered from a lack of antagonist. Save yourself some tears and define your villains up front.

Who is your Primary Antagonist? This is the villain that shows up one page one and gives our hero grief but who may not be a villain all along. If you're writing an Enemies-To-Lovers romance this antagonist will wind up being a hero in the end.

Who is your Second Antagonist? The Middle Villain is the one who comes in the center of the book (hence the name) and who the hero didn't see as a problem beforehand. Either this antagonist was a friend before and betrayed the hero, or they become a villain because of the hero's actions in achieving the first quest of the book. This antagonist carries a lot of weight and deals the hero the most setbacks. They're the one that drives the hero to the moment of despair and strips them of everything (which is why a betrayer makes such a good second villain). While dealing with the second antagonist the hero stumbles into a realization of who the bigger villain is. If you're writing a series with One Big Villain driving the series (think Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews or Star Wars where the Emperor is the Big Bad) you'll have the hero defeat a series of Middle Villains in each book and only face The One Big Bad in the final book. If you're writing a series driven by Hero's Choice this second villain will bounce between being a villain and being a temporary ally (think the Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs or Star Trek where Romulans and Klingons are sometimes enemies and sometimes friends). The other series option is the No Hero series like Game of Thrones where everyone is an antagonist and a protagonist in their own mind.

Who is the Third Antagonist? The Big Bad, the villain whose presence is felt but unknown throughout the book. In a series, you may not see this person until the end of the series. The best part about this kind of antagonist is it invites readers to reread so they can catch the earlier clues. You really can save this villain for the very end, or at least the last 1/3 of the book. They usually appear around the hero's Moment Of Despair, when the hero has lost all hope, friends, support, and belief in themself. This is the villain that defines the hero. Because the hero looks up from the mud and blood and despair and says, "I cannot let you do this. I cannot let you win even if I lose everything." The decision to fight this villain when all hope is lost, at great personal sacrifice, is what makes an ordinary person a hero. And because the hero is coming from such a low point, beaten and fragile, their victory is all the more sweet in the end.

Whew! Got all that? Okay. Good. Take a breather because the next section is there we're going to tackle the nitty gritty. You ready?

Step 5: Building The World

Do you know what derails the most NaNoWriMo novelists? The research. They pause to look up a name, or find a place to set a scene, and then they're lost down the rabbit hole of research and you find them wandering bookstores in mid-January wondering why people are hanging Valentine's Day decorations. It's sad, really. And you, smarty that you are, are going to dodge that bullet by naming everything right now!

Make a list of 25 female names and 25 male names for your book. You can do it by culture or race if you need to, but get it done before November 1st. And, remember, if you hate the name November 15th you can change it in edits. That's why we have the Search-Replace function.

Make a list of all the modes of transport in your book. If you have spaceships or sailing vessels make a list of names for them too. Ten minimum. More is better. Pick a theme if you're having trouble, like naming all the ships in your fleet after minerals: Jasper, Feldspar, Malachite...

Make a list of all the places you might set a scene. Name the cafes, name the fields, name the forests, name the nebulas, name the schools, name the rooms. You may not use them all but they'll be there if you need them.

Make a list of all your props: weapons, clothes, whatever will be on stage goes right here. If it helps, pretend you're planning a play. Picture what you might need. And feel free to add more when you start writing. These lists are guidelines only, you can use them or lose them to your heart's content.

Step 6: The Setting Thesaurus

This is going to take a bit of time, so plan ahead. What you need to do here is follow the excellent example set by Becca and Angela and make a thesaurus for all the scenes.

Honestly, this is more for the Plotters who need to know everything. Pantsters, write five or six key words to describe each place, one for each major sense. If you have more or have something you really want to see in that place, scribble it down.

Bookmark the Emotion Thesaurus and Setting Thesaurus in case of emergencies in November.

Step 7: Time For The Math

NaNoWriMo is meant to be thirty days of steady writing, but let's be realistic, unless you're life is perfect you won't be writing all thirty days. Look at your calendar right now and decide how many days you can write. For me is about 24 days in November. I take weekends off to spend time with my kids and I'll be too busy cooking on Thanksgiving to write.

Grab a calculator. Divide 50,000 by the number of days you have to write. This number is your target word count if you want to have 50,000 words at the end of the month.

50,000 isn't a full novel for adult genres and most YA. If you really want a novel in a month you need to do that math with 75,000 words. I'm sorry.

Curse yourself. Cry. Google WRITE OR DIE. Thank the creators of WRITE OR DIE for all they have done for you. Bookmark WRITE OR DIE. Tell your family and friends you love them, and then go buy some note cards.

Step 8: The Dread Outline

This trick I actually picked up from a fellow Critique Circle writer my first year participating in NANOWRIMO. She said she spent Halloween night handing out candy and writing scenes on a note card. One card per writing day with all the scenes she needed to write.

Let's pretend you have 25 writing days in November and you want 50,000 words. That's 2000 words on each of your writing days, or one scene per day.  

Pick out 25 cards and write one or two sentences describing a scene you want to write on each card.

Put a small sticker or check mark on Plot Twist days and mark the days on your calendar. You'll probably be writing a plot twist on the 7th, 14th, 21st, and 28th of November.

Rearrange, discard, or rewrite anything that doesn't seem to make sense.

REMEMBER! This is only the rough draft. It's meant to be rough. You are aiming to write something ugly. Everything will be smoothed and polished in edits. These cards can be changed at any time, they're really here to be your countdown clock to victory. No panicking allowed.

Step 9: Write Like A Pro

Can I share a teeny tiny little secret with you? There's not an author alive who knows what they're doing. That blank page is just as blank for you as it is for your favorite author. Every person is unique. Every person will write differently and in different ways. There is no wrong way to be an author.

Sit down.

Write.

All the planning you did, that's there for reference. All those lists and names and plot twists were written down so your subconscious could have time to play with the ideas and present you with the scenes when it's time to write. On November 1st all you have to do is show up and write.

If you get stuck, check your notes.

If you go running down a new avenue just make sure to connect with your plot twist.

Never abandon your villains, they're what makes your hero a hero.

Write.

Keep writing.

Don't give up.

Have fun.

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