#episode commentary

[thunderandsage]

ok but "the trouble with tribbles" may truly be the episode of all times:

Chekov: "it was inwented in Russia!"

the bartender just pulling out tribbles and more tribbles from under his desk

Kirk being disappointed with scotty not in that a fight happened but that it didn't happen to defend his honor

bones and spock sniping ("i like them--better than i like you" and "they do have one redeeming feature--they do not talk too much")

tribble upon tribble upon tribble on the bridge (and the inference that since the tribbles are multiplying so quickly because they were removed from their natural habitat, that natural habitat must have been the hellscape of all hellscapes alá fucking mustafar to justify need for the evolution of that exponential reproduction rate)

"mY cHICkeN sandWhiCh ANd cofFEe"

just—this progression:

[overseer-picard]

Fun fact gleaned from the commentary on the episode “I, Borg”. Rene Echevarria, the writer, originally had Data being the one to bond with Hugh, not Geordi. The thematic idea being the machine who is human vs the human who is mostly machine finding commonality. But due to availability issues with Brent Spiner, the lines were all given to Geordi instead.

[bobwess]

Edit: The video has been posted

[aesthetictarlos]

It's something personal to me that they finally, FINALLY, addressed the whole Shannon situation because we basically never saw Eddie or Christopher properly grieving/missing her.

It was absurd that we had to wait six seasons to see them visit her grave and voicing how much they missed her, so I'm very, very glad that they showed us another glimpse into Christopher's feelings now that he's a teenager and he's more aware of them.

From the beginning, Eddie prompted Chris to be open regarding his emotions and his emotional struggles, so it was nice to see them having another deep, heartfelt conversation about Shannon.

Eddie giving Chris the letter was the perfect end to this storyline, I'm so glad they introduced it thanks to the fact that Chris has started dating.

It was about time!!

[lamportb]

The stitch up

Finally have a minute to re watch episode 4. Rambling below

Love Fagin and Jack covered in viscera in Gaines’ carriage with his wife. “My colleague and I were burying a cadaver” A+ excuse Jack, totally explains why you aren’t wearing pants.

I didn’t notice just how clear it is that Lady Jane is the real governor of the colony. Don’t love her as an obstacle to true love, but I Stan a powerful smart lady.

Hetty is a queen. “All right! Time to check your rose bushes” while she makes the rounds in the brothel, then single handedly loads Rotty in a cart to haul her to the hospital. Also ignores Sneed and gets Jack when it’s clear the first surgery didn’t work.

When Belle goes to observe the surgery Sneed suggests that the surgical theatre is too gory for her and that she should read to the patients instead “some of them can barely read”. Cue pointed look at Jack. I didn’t pick up on this the first time.

Belle also tells Jack that her father paid for Sneed’s medical training! Talk about having connections.

Jack is soooo baby soft when Belle offers to help him. His eyes change. It’s perfection.

despite hating Jack, Sneed still defends him when Gaines is looking for reasons to arrest him. More reason I love that pompous git.

Seriously, there’s not a filler scene anywhere in this series.

Gaines trashes Jack’s room and threatens him with handing and/or flogging to death. Jack has JUST had this very hopeful conversation with Belle and here he is on his bed holding the trampled remains of his signature top hat - the Dodge dilemma. How can he hang it up permanently, and does he want to?

���sniffly Sneed” 😂

dodger hat back on when sneaking around the governor’s yard to find Belle. “We don’t pay for cadavers. We just… borrow them”

11 o’clock cadaver date is the hottest thing Belle has ever heard.

I love Tim and I love how he loves Red.

Fanny is so excited by the idea that Sneed’s medical knowledge will make him a good lover. Yeah…

Jack the savant surgeon - eyes closed in concentration. Lovely.

Jack is illiterate clue 2: he is so unsettled at the idea of being found out he just nopes himself right out of the situation and leaves Belle in the operating theatre at presumably midnight or later. Lol.

“the white ghost who’s close to his grave” should be my new tag for Fagin

Red is so fucking cool

Feels like a very deliberate choice for Belle to let her hair down when she joins Jack in the surgery. Maybe because of the conversation with Fanny about going for it? (Finding love with Sneed?). Also how did Belle know to be there? Tim says they can do the second surgery because Sneed left the hospital. Did Jack just have her hiding on standby? Was it a coincidence? I don’t care - she looks gorgeous.

lots has already been mentioned about the Hetty/Jack/Belle situation but I appreciate the framing of this scene with the three of them - both women assisting in their own way, and both necessary to Jack’s success.

Belle seems genuinely taken aback when Jack is so abrupt with her when the surgery starts, but her relief when she helps him in the end and he smiles at her is so sweet. She is basking in that smile - I don’t think I realized how fast she fell for him. (Of course they start arguing about publication and the moment passes)

“I shall be turned around as a curiosity” - some more insight into Jack’s insecurities.

Lady Jane: “Have you been alone with the surgeon?” Belle: “There’s always another body in the room” 😂

What time is this dinner starting? 2pm? It’s so bright!

love Sneed and the prof arriving in a carriage while Jack walks up in his Navy uniform.

Note to self: research the siege of Sevastopol.

Ah! Jack describes his time as a naval surgeon as “nothing more than butchery” to Lady Jane. Those words sting all the more when she uses them against him later.

Fanny and Belle are both terrible at flirting. Belle can’t stop interrupting to talk up Jack and Fanny can’t stop staring. “I love soup”

I also love how Jack is SO UNCOMFORTABLE with Belle praising him at the table. She’s not lying, but her embellishments are so unnerving to him. “Really, it’s nothing” - but she just. Can’t. Stop.

Jack really is trying. He takes responsibility for Fagin not knowing what the plan is. He tries to fit in. Seems a bit harsh to snap at Belle but she was terrible at reading his cues - like this is her surgical theatre and he has to defer to her expertise. It’s too vulnerable for him.

“I AM rare!” Have i mentioned how much I love the ladies in this show??

Jack’s little voice crack when he blurts out “I CAN read!” And then a little softer “I can read, just not very well”

All her talk of teams and partnerships - she really did bet on him. All in.

”You can take the boy out of East London but you really shouldn’t”

”Belle will never speak to me again” right before taking Fagin’s share of the money and heading to the card table

whew! Gold star if you got this far.

[shyjusticewarrior]

Oswald's hair in this picture is worse than Ed's season 5 emo hair

[spotlightlowlife]

Helluva Boss has a responsibility issue - Fizz and Ozzie edition

And for another unpopular option

The episode 'Oops', just two episodes ago, revealed something, interesting.

During his capture, Fizz was allowed to face his trauma (which also placed leading character Blitzø in the victim club (but gave us a cliffhanger as to how) making his apology something guaranteed to be accepted) involving the past, he learnt new information, made amends with Blitzø, hot rescued and went home.

All good.

He also claimed he never wanted to go outside again.

Now here's the interesting part.

At the start of the episode, Fizz looked forward to going to his contest rehearsal, in the greed ring, where he would meet Mammon, his other boss.

Ozzie's whole issue was how dangerous the greed ring was and how he didn't want Fizz travelling alone. Fizz had to cute his way into getting what he wanted that was travelling unescorted.

Away from Ozzie, Fizz admitted that it was "great not being in the spotlight for once", but remember, he's about to meet Mammon who we would be lead to believe is the cause of all his remaining issues the following episode.

The following episode, Fizz would be stressed out about the pageant, understandable enough, he could easily be toppled from his decade long champion reign and needs to keep up appearances but he's covering an injury from his recent abduction. Why was it OK for Ozzie to withhold the foundation Fizz desperately searched for as he attempted to talk Fizz out of entering the pageant, only handing it over upon failure? Ozzie tries talking Fizz into failure to attend on grounds of Mammon being an issue (which is the first we hear and we have no proof) and being the reason behind the creeps, but didn't Fizz as good as let us know in the last episode where Mammon wasn't an issue that the spotlight he's constantly in is stressful, but who gets the blame for this?

Not his partner, the prince of lust who manufactures his dolls but now doesn't like them after how many years

and runs a hyper sexual club where he has him on stage and easily accessible to fans and haters.

On the subject of fans, specifically creeps who Mammon is supposedly to blame for, the only creep we are then introduced to is the stalker who has been obsessed since Fizz was a teen in the circus. Over 15 years ago since this was the time or the accident, but Fizz has been the reigning champion of the clown pageants for the past 10 years and 'Oops' let's us know that Fizz has been the face of Mammon's brand 'since' meeting Ozzie?

For one, where has this scary stalker been all this time?

And two, if Fizz and Ozzie's relationship predates Fizz's branding, then why is he doubting Ozzie's love for him stripped of his elevation down to Mammon? And how long have they been a thing?

Doubting those who care, performance anxiety and not feeling good enough dispite being excellent are shown to have always been a thing, as has being manipulated by those who wish to exploit and those who care alike

but what was the solution? Once willing to accept the validation constantly offered, blame the annual job that just become an issue this subplot, the idolised employers who just become an issue this subplot, then quit, to do what? Spend even more time at his other job that he also wants time away from, where his boss won't let him out of his sight and is also his lover?

Fizz is waa that starry eyed child who fails to hear and see how others are responding to him, such as Blitzø back when they were younger failing to answer the question of if he could win the pageant, the exploitative Buckzo seeing him as the perfect child (which is very significant) or Ozzie's claim that he would have had everything he already has without Mammon as Fizz sits in the pageant dressing room and we're now blaming Mammon for the attention he receives, just this episode. Fizz is highly impressionable yet highly emotional and entirely vulnerable when stressed, which is why he will always have others undermining his choice.

Damsel in distress again but Fizz wasn't scared for his safety, ever, he needed the courage to lessen the load and find his voice, he needed confidence that only he could summon, it happened in his own time, this is good.

Only, what if it happened at the beginning of the episode where Ozzie talked him up then? What if he stuck to his words from the last episode and understandably wanted stay indoors? This way we could have seen Mammon be that horrible boss who doesn't care for safety and wellbeing and forces work, or that horrible boss who will replace someone they underappreciated immediately, but no, he was the fall guy to give Fizz and Ozzie the lovey dovey moment the fanbase craves and stick it to man at whilst at it.

Again, this may not be an accidental bad writing, but more supply and demand for the same needy audience who will lap up misses and inconsistency without question because the cute quota was met. I'm still open to the last episode being a worked on more recently.

[modernvictories]

In Blossom, Episode 13:

I think Episode 12 and 13 are the strongest episodes of the series yet (Episode 12 being superior in my opinion, but only slightly), and the writing considerably tightens in these episodes.

More below the cut. Spoilers included, obviously; proceed at your own risk.

I found myself irrepressibly charmed by the interaction between our second male lead and our first male lead in the beginning, and the insight into Pan Yue's past (the wounds on his heart finally revealed) was appropriately heart-wrenching; the mystery still isn't the best, but the investigative writing in this episode (12) is by far the most impressive of the things shared so far (in no small part due to the fact that they're investigating themselves, and not just interviewing people who coincidentally have the answers they're looking for and then going Eureka! while staring at scrolls or randomly thinking). I think it's no secret that In Blossom doesn't have the tightest writing when it comes to actually being a mystery, so the focus on the character aspects instead makes it a much more compelling story.

Our female lead continues to be the weakest point in the show to me (including her writing): I think her chemistry and compatibility with Pan Yue and Jiang is pleasant and much improved since she first met them, but her writing is inconsistent when it comes to her own character and her interactions with other characters, plus I think the lack of cohesion between how the two actresses portrayed Yang Caiwei doesn't do her any favors either. I'm liking Jiang more than I thought I would, too: his personality is playful, fun, and boyish, and I wonder if he's going to end up as an item with Yang Caiwei's other friend instead? They have very cute interactions and it does seem to be set up that way: I wouldn't be surprised if they ended up as an item.

I previously said I was glad Pan Yue's father didn't look to be an abusive monster (just a bad dad) during a previous episode discussion, but I'll have to take that back now: apparently I was too optimistic about historical fathers with illegitimate sons. My bad! For all I think that it's a tired trope, though, I was hoping for more angst, and it definitely delivered. It's so fascinating that Pan Yue's father doesn't seem to care for Pan Yue's mother or back up Pan Yue when he stood up for her despite his illegitimate birth and instead reprimands him when he refuses to apologize for defending his mother, because you notice that Pan Yue doesn't care about what other people say about him at all: but that temper and violence lashes out whenever people speak badly about people he cares about (like Yang Caiwei).

I also love how Pan Yue's propensity for violence isn't something that he manifested late in life because of Yang Caiwei's death: his method of defending the women he cares about in both past and present is strangling people who speak badly of them with his bare hands.

Again, though, I wish that Yang Caiwei was allowed more complexity: I love Pan Yue grappling with his trauma, his guilt, his suspicion, and his burgeoning feelings of affection towards "Shangguan Zhi" while still grieving, but Yang Caiwei's portrayal is widely inconsistent; she uncovers Pan Yue's grief before she clears him of suspicion (like finding their portrait in his locked box with a key he keeps on him, then saying that he probably did it to fool the public[??]), but once she realizes he's not the killer, she doesn't really think about it afterwards: I expected some more emotional impact from her figuring out he buried her where she wanted because he loved her, or some more grief about her affection for him after she decided not to tell him who she was because she thinks he's in love with the princess, but apart from that initial melancholy, she seems to be giggly, upbeat, and inquisitive around him. I anticipated some shock or emotional response from her: they only reunited for a few days, so she couldn't have known how deep his love ran; but now that she knows he genuinely cared for her, it's just unfortunate that she doesn't figure out the reason for his white hair or have any response to what she found out previously.

Various notes:

I hope Shangguan Zhi and Pan Yue's servants don't become an item; they're cute together, but I'm so tired of the trope where the main characters' second-in-commands/servants get together! It's basically in every drama I've seen.

That moment when Shangguan Zhi almost tells him who she is! And I can't believe that a traumatized, coughing, poisoned(?), still-injured-from-wolves, ill Pan Yue manages to smash a wall with his bare hands, carry Shangguan Zhi out of the dungeons, grieve his dead wife, and flirt with his close friend's sister while laying under the stars: the level of multi-tasking is insane.

The reveal of what the princess actually wants from him was also fascinating: I love that the princess isn't the obsessive female lead type that we're familiar with (see: Shangguan Zhi) but instead has a vested interest in protecting the natural interest.

And when is Pan Yue going to fire that coroner? There doesn't seem to be any point in him being there since he hasn't been able to do his job on multiple occasions.

[a-non-event]

What a fascinating contrast between these two boys!!

Here, TK is the one hurt and in need and his need is comfort and assurance that he's safe and Carlos meets him there, giving him everything he's asking for! He wraps him up tight and doesn't let go! Even when TK can't even stand anymore.

And here, Carlos is the one hurt and his needs are so different in this moment and bless TK for knowing him well enough to let him lead! Carlos wakes up so confused and utterly terrified. He needs to regain some semblance of control. He needs to be given time to absorb what just happened and process the truth that he is safe and TK is safe. TK holds back what must be his desperate need to envelop that man and instead, hangs on where he can and gives him what he needs.

They are just so precious! I can't handle it!

[orwells-nightmare]

I think my favorite thing about Ed and Oswald's first meeting in season one is it literally did not need to happen. Their story together doesn't actually start til season two, and their second meeting still would've happened even if the first interaction didn't. The writers just wanted these two weirdos to have a silly little interaction.

[maribel-bat]

just got done watching 5ds episode 110 (again) (sorry for the tiny screenshots im watching with friends on discord and dont feel like making my window big to take screenshots) and gotta say every single time there was a pan shot to antinomy standing like this we lost it

its just like man he does not want to be here. guy is just. hes showing up because he was involved in the duel but damn if he really does not love this

hes so far away you cant even see him in the wide shot when they zoom out

hes just like. here because he has to be. desperately hoping nobody looks at him

our live commentary was literally just so much of this stuff here's a fun selection (friends username censored at their request)

he just goes back home like nothing happened and has to stand there while he gets everything explained to him its wonderful

[sidecharactersdomatter]

Thoughts I had during TGCF S1 Ep 2

-Previously on TGCF… (Classic ATLA reference, and my whole experience summarized in this fandom is, “It really is for the fans who grew up watching and loving The Last Airbender”)

-More Butterflies!

-Aiaigasa!

-So much blood…

-“As if he’s walked a million miles…” (that subtle foreshadowing)

-Honey, He looks a little too good looking to be the Ghost groom

-The Rain stopped

-He’s removing the veil

-That was also foreshadowing wasn’t it (I’ve heard spoilers, and the final 8th book just came out sry)

-Ugh it’s an ugly mob, and it’s headed by the same bald jerk

-You’ll find out near the end of the season XL(I’ve already watched all of S1) 

-Ooh it ties in with Ep 1

-That temple looks abandoned, and the animation camera for walking inside

-The brides are all dead

-There’s that song again

-Another different walking perspective

-Woah black smoke

-There’s the ugly mob

-The fact that he though XL was a woman…

-The blinking I can’t XD

-Hi Nan Feng and Fu Yao :D

-Hehe Xie Lian’s aggressive kindness

-Thank You Nan Feng

-I wish the Ghost Groom was the bald mercenary

-Hey Xiao Ying

-When the mob scooched away from Bride!Lian I freaking lost it XDXDXDXD

-And Xie Lian’s face XD

-Also I called it she fixed his dress and makeup Yes!

-And Nan Feng and Fu Yao inch away instead of defending him!  

W H E E Z E! XD

-The fact they both agreed to not explain anything XD!

-That’s just disrespectful

-Great more bride zombies

-That’s gonna end up bad

-It really is disrespectful

-Thank you whoever just threw the rock

-More camera shaking

-And of course you’re leaving her with the deceased brides SMH all of you

-Is he Naruto running right now?

-I really don’t believe that whole “Nothing ventured nothing gained” phrase in this age

-How do you like that?  Instant trauma

-It really is for an older audience

-Now NF and FY got concerned

-And hurting the injured is a real low for the mob

-Pengtou you asshole

-Thank you Xie Lian or should I say, Xie Xie Xie Lian, (Yeah I’m gonna go see myself out now)  Bad Pun count: 1

-That’s nice Nan Feng

-They have enraged the ghost groom

-Xiao Ying is a real friend

-That explains the Nan Yang temple

-I love you Nan Feng

-KO!  Flawless victory!

-So the Ghost groom is a ghost bride

-No veils

-And I thought Pengtou was the ghost groom

-Zombie brides!

-Aw great it’s a cliffhanger

-Ooooh a new ending!

[dekaydk]

Twins ep 6 instant reaction

Just watched it and jotted down some reactions. This is a quick riff and is certain to be proven at least somewhat wrong by subsequent episodes.

Sprite is spiffing up? Why?

Oh, for First, of course.

First isn't having it.

And more of First not having it.

Someone took a picture of First and Sprite/Z together. The hands look like a girl's but can't be sure.

Sprite/Z is not happy about First telling him to buzz off and his jujitsu teammates are paying the price. (He should channel that energy into the next jujitsu competition.)

The sneaky photo got posted. "We have to tell the others *satanic expression*"

Zee sees the posting! "All he does is cause trouble." This is an odd reaction. I mean, Sprite's creating a dynamic that Zee is gonna have to unwind. That said, if he's the jerk the teammates think, maybe that's not a concern for him.

Weird team dynamics. They go to give a ribbing then get upset when someone pushes back.

Sprite/Z: "Did you wait for me that day?" First's expression says "WTF do you think?"

A step towards reduced hostilities.

With reduced hostilities, Sprite is now jujitsu puppy. And volleyball puppy.

The long look at each other. A little too long, director.

Sprite/Z isn't performing well even in practice but we're supposed to buy that his teammates didn't clock this before the competition?

More teammate ribbing but it feels a little too personal. Everyone starts out teasing then easily gets mad.

Jack and Mike are arguing about something, which is completely unclear to the audience and apparently to them as well. "…when we fuck." THANK YOU FOR NOT BLEEPING THIS. They are agreeing on one thing: Zee's behavior is not what they expect.

First enters the gym, sees Sprite/Z practicing, gets a little secret smile, then goes back to publicly grumpy.

Aaaand another long look. First is a little bit rattled!

Shirtless workout time! Already love Team's legs; there's more to love.

Tom has a mother in the hospital.

Okay, the nudity joke is kinda strained and I don't get the point. Maybe something Thai folks would get? Somehow Sprite/Z is using this to get people to trust him? Aww, quoting First.

Oh, man, Sam's going through it.

Notes

The pace of this show isn't what it needs to be, or if it's supposed to be a slow burn, it needs more going on. The eye candy is keeping me going but just barely. Call me shallow.

The side couple characters of Jack and Mike are tissue-thin. So far they mostly read as fuck buddies. (no, Sam and his pursuer don't count as a side couple, not yet anyway)

Someone else said on their Tumblr (can't find it now, sorry OP; would love to have linked to it) they thought that Zee was the token straight on the team, which is (a) hilarious and (b) so far I have zero evidence it's wrong. 😃 If so, less amusingly, it might explain the team hostility if he said/did something homophobic. (Wild theory, no evidence, just thought of it)

Next week looks like we might get an actual peace treaty signed between First and Sprite/Z, so will be tuning in.

[aesthetictarlos]

What happened during the last episode made me feel mad about Tremmett's storyline in season 5 all over again, I'm still not (and I'll never be) over the fact that they (the authors) handled things very badly, ruining a good couple and a good character.

They could've added some drama without ruining Travis' character by making him act completely out of character (which still makes me deeply angry since he's been my favourite since day one) and handling the whole ordeal with his father and Emmett differently, because there's no way in hell Travis would think that bad about Emmett and doubt his feelings for him the way he did. And the whole dinner scene was a mess, I still can't believe they made us go through that hell of a dynamic; Travis might have lots of flaws, but he's not a jerk.

It could have been an interesting storyline, but they made Travis act like an assh*le and a disrespectful person when he's not like that at all. I'll never be okay with it, and it's part of the reason why I have ups and downs when it comes to Station 19, the potential is great but thwy always find a way to ruin everything.

And now what am I supposed to do with my feelings for Tremmett? Hoping for an endgame, despite everything that happened, despite Travis being that mean to Emmett? Hoping for a definitive goodbye after Dixon's funeral? I still don't know.

[lenalake]

“Loser Carter.”

“‘Cause her boyfriend’s back in Washington.”

“He’s almost retired.”

“Are we giving away too much?”

“No.”

…

“The almost retired General.”

“Shh! Now that’s giving away too much!”

- Quarantine (S4E13) commentary with Amanda Tapping and Martin Wood

[shyjusticewarrior]

Ed wanted Miss Kringle to be his reverse manic pixie dream girl and make him normal.