#eric’s christianity journey >>

[comas-are-for-sleeping]

OH SHIT DUDE RIGHT U WATCHED SEX ED AS WELL. i still haven't watched the newest season even tho there IS an ace character i heard??? but THE GUY WHO PLAYS ERIC!!! THE NEW DOCTOR!!! so cool that he landed that role i'm so happy for him

YEAAH IM SO HYPED HES ACTUALLY SO ICONIC AS THE DOCTOR OMGG

LIKE AAAAAH

[amuseoffyre]

Back on my thinkie horse about the significance of The Little Mermaid within the context of Our Flag Means Death.

TLM has always been a queer story from its very creation. Hans Christian Andersen reportedly wrote it as a kind of love letter to the man he had fallen in love with, but who had went on to marry a woman. Literary critics have suggested the story was a queer allegory all along, a metaphor for queer love in a time when it could not be spoken aloud, and where people had to be silent and watch the people they love marry elsewhere.

Giving this mermaid's story to Ed has been there all along because here he is, putting himself out there, dancing on the proverbial knives for Stede, only to be left behind by the rich boy who goes back to his comphet life.

But this is where the rebirth of TLM comes in: the Disney edition is layered with even more queer allegory. Howard Ashman took the story and made it about more than just the Prince. Here's a story of a character who doesn't fit in the world she was born into, who yearns for something her society considers taboo and dangerous, something out of her reach. She's warned away from that world, told they're a threat and a danger, but she's drawn to them anyway.

This has strong flavours of Ed's entire journey, his yearning to be more than what he had been told both by his mum and the world that they live in. "We're not those kind of people". It doesn't stop him holding on to that scrap of silk, of wanting more, of wanting affection and love and softness and all the things he was told he couldn't have.

There's also this gorgeous essay about the queerness of TLM, especially focused on the inspiration for Ursula, the drag queen Divine, and what it means to have this blatantly queer-coded character standing in opposition to the world Ariel is restricted by.

It also makes a point about the queer act of resistance, of bodily and emotional autonomy and the right to be who you are, regardless of the limitations society tries to constrict you with.

Ed is in his TLM phase proper now. He reverted back to Kraken mode, the extreme version of his piratey self, as a defence mechanism but change is on the horizon. And it's not just because Stede is doing Prince Eric's "I lost her once, I'm not losing her again" thing. It's Ed's journey this time and Stede may be part of it, but he is not the whole of it.

Ed's an A-grade mess right now, but he is still Ed and Blackbeard and all of those other things. He's just lost and hurting and needs time to figure things out.

I also don't doubt he has a hidden little stash where he keeps his precious soft things and dinglehoppers because that's what we do. We package our queerness and softness and tuck it away somewhere safe where no one can find it until we can risk a look at it again. But our mermaid is going to figure things out and work out who he is and who he wants to be and I cannot wait.

[itgetsbetterproject]

Some tangible Black queer history for you!

In case you needed any more proof that we've always been here - this amazing collection is courtesy of the Stonewall National Musuem and Archive!

Rafiki: The Journal of the Association of Black Gays, Vol. 1 #1 (Fall 1976)

"Rafiki was a quarterly publication from the Association of Black Gays (ABG), a Los Angeles, California gay activist group that organized through education, political engagement, and grassroots activism to improve the conditions for Los Angeles’s Black gays and lesbians.

According to the journal, the title Rafiki was chosen because it means “friend” in Swahili and “that’s what [ABG] hope to be for you.” This first issue includes an article on the history of ABG and the fact that Black gays and lesbians have been largely excluded from the political, social, and economic advances of the gay community.

Included in this issue are articles such as “Homosexuality in Tribal Africa” and “Disco Discontent” (an open letter to the owner of Studio One, Scott Forbes), as well as poetry by Steven Corbin and Frances Andrews, and book reviews. It even contains an ad for the famous Catch One Club owned by Jewel Williams, which is still operating today!"

I Am Your Sister: Black Women Organizing Across Sexualities by Audre Lorde (Kitchen Table: Women of Color Press, 1985; from the Freedom Organizing Series)

You can read this one here!

"This small twelve-page publication derives from a speech Audre Lorde gave at the Women’s Center of Medgar Evers College in New York City regarding the exclusion of Lesbians in the feminist movement and how Lorde’s identity as both a Black woman and lesbian are inextricably linked.

Primarily, heterosexism and homophobia are major issues Lorde states are “two grave barriers to organizing among Black women.” Lorde ends the essay with the statement: “I am a Black Lesbian, and I am your sister.”

Her emphasis on the duality of this identity stems from a 1960s poster that said “He’s not black, he’s my brother!,” which Lorde states infuriated her because “it implied that the two were mutually exclusive.”

Kitchen Table: Women of Color Press was founded by Barbara Smith—another Black Lesbian feminist—and Audre Lorde in 1980 to create a publishing apparatus for women of color who at the time did not have control over how they were published except through the white-dominated outlets."

Flawless! The Life & Times of T.B.D.J. AKA Tiffani Inc. AKA Mrs. … (Manuscript) by Tiffany Bowerman (July 2007, A&E Publishers)

This autobiographical manuscript traces the life of Tiffany Bowerman aka Tiffany B.D. Johnson (b. 1959), who states that she “was the first African-American Transsexual to have state issued birth certificate reissued [1990]… was the first to legally marry three different active duty military men… [and] first… to found their own Christian Denomination… The Agape-Ecumenical Christian Denomination.”

Further, she states “I have tried to put together something striking and original[,] a journey from childhood to self aware adult. A life that was and is with all regrets included.”

This manuscript is a preliminary copy of a rough draft, and contains various memoirs, photographs, legal documents, and ephemera.

Out in Black and White: A Directory of Publications By, About, For People of Afrikan Descent In-The-Life by the Broward County Library Outreach Services Department Exhibit/Programming Services with direction by Eric Jon Rawlins (January, 1996)

Out in Black and White is a directory of various serial publications (magazines, newsletters, journals, etc.) throughout the United States that are focused on the Black LGBTQ experience. According to the directory, “[t]his project was inspired by the atmosphere of strength, oneness and productivity created by the Million Man March [on October 16,] 1995.”

The Million Man March was a political demonstration that took place at the National Mall in Washington, D.C. with the purpose of encouraging involvement in the improvement of the conditions of African Americans. Eric Jon Rawlins was a Broward County, Florida librarian who at one time was also the second vice president of the NAACP Fort Lauderdale branch in the late 1980s.

Currently, the Eric Jon Rawlins Collection consisting of personal and professional papers, as well as his 6,000 vinyl record album collection, are housed at the African American Research Library and Cultural Center Special Collections in Broward County, FL.

[yuikomorihotline]

ℌ𝔢𝔞𝔡𝔠𝔞𝔫𝔬𝔫𝔰 𝔣𝔬𝔯 𝔇𝔩 𝔠𝔥𝔞𝔯𝔞𝔠𝔱𝔢𝔯𝔰 𝔞𝔫𝔡 𝔱𝔥𝔢𝔦𝔯 𝔣𝔞𝔳𝔬𝔲𝔯𝔦𝔱𝔢 𝔪𝔬𝔳𝔦𝔢𝔰

*Descriptions from Letterboxt and quotes from IMDb

Yui: Phantom of the Opera (2004)

The waiting is over...let the fantasy begin.

Deformed since birth, a bitter man known only as the Phantom lives in the sewers underneath the Paris Opera House. He falls in love with the obscure chorus singer Christine, and privately tutors her while terrorizing the rest of the opera house and demanding Christine be given lead roles. Things get worse when Christine meets back up with her childhood acquaintance Raoul and the two fall in love.

Shuu: Goldfinger (1964)

Do you expect me to talk?

No, I expect you to die!

Special agent 007 comes face to face with one of the most notorious villains of all time, and now he must outwit and outgun the powerful tycoon to prevent him from cashing in on a devious scheme to raid Fort Knox – and obliterate the world’s economy.

Reiji: The Seventh Seal (1957)

My body is ready, but I am not.

When disillusioned Swedish knight, Antonius Block, returns home from the Crusades to find his country in the grips of the Black Death, he challenges Death to a chess match for his life. Tormented by the belief that God does not exist, Block sets off on a journey, meeting up with traveling players Jof and his wife, Mia, and becoming determined to evade Death long enough to commit one redemptive act while he still lives.

Laito: The Silence of the Lambs (1991)

Well, Clarice, have the lambs stopped screaming?

Clarice Starling is a top student at the FBI’s training academy. Jack Crawford wants Clarice to interview Dr. Hannibal Lecter, a brilliant psychiatrist who is also a violent psychopath, serving life behind bars for various acts of murder and cannibalism. Crawford believes that Lecter may have insight into a case and that Starling, as an attractive young woman, may be just the bait to draw him out.

Kanato: Jack and the Cuckoo Clock Heart (2013)

The torment of love can transform people into wretched monsters.

In Scotland 1874, Jack is born on the coldest day ever. Because of the extreme cold, his heart stops beating. The responsible midwife in Edinburgh finds a way to save him by replacing his heart with a clock. So he lives and remains under the midwife’s protective care. But he must not get angry or excited because that endangers his life by causing his clock to stop working. Worse than that, when he grows up, he has to face the fact he cannot fall in love because that too could stop his delicate heart.

Ayato: Pulp Fiction (1994)

You won't know the facts until you've seen the fiction.

A burger-loving hit man, his philosophical partner, a drug-addled gangster’s moll and a washed-up boxer converge in this sprawling, comedic crime caper. Their adventures unfurl in three stories that ingeniously trip back and forth in time.

Subaru: The Crow (1994)

And I say, "I'm dead," and I move.

Exactly one year after young rock guitarist Eric Draven and his fiancée are brutally killed by a ruthless gang of criminals, Draven – watched over by a hypnotic crow – returns from the grave to exact revenge.

Ruki: Eyes Without a Face (1960)

A new face, a new identity.

Dr. Génessier is riddled with guilt after an accident that he caused disfigures the face of his daughter, the once beautiful Christiane, who outsiders believe is dead. Dr. Génessier, along with accomplice and laboratory assistant Louise, kidnaps young women and brings them to the Génessier mansion. After rendering his victims unconscious, Dr. Génessier removes their faces and attempts to graft them on to Christiane’s.

Yuuma: Brokeback Mountain (2005)

Tell you what, we coulda had a good life together!

Two modern-day cowboys meet on a shepherding job in the summer of ’63, the two share a raw and powerful summer together that turns into a lifelong relationship conflicting with the lives they are supposed to live.

Kou: The Menu (2022)

You will eat less than you desire and more than you deserve.

A couple travels to a coastal island to eat at an exclusive restaurant where the chef has prepared a lavish menu, with some shocking surprises.

Azusa: Parasite (2019)

You know what kind of plan never fails? No plan. No plan at all.

All unemployed, Ki-taek’s family takes peculiar interest in the wealthy and glamorous Parks for their livelihood until they get entangled in an unexpected incident.

[mythicalgeek]

What The Little Mermaid live action did right.

The little mermaid was one of my favorite movies growing up, and even though the live action was not perfect and had the same problems as a lot of remakes, it was better then I expected and even with it's flaws, at least the movie carried the themes of the original tale and had some heart. The second half is really where the film starts to pick up and I like some of the chances to the land arc.

The ending acully made me a little emotional because even though it's a happy ending there was also a sence of melancholy. Ariel has everything she ever wanted and is following her own path, but she has a moment to mourn the live she is leaving behind. It's a part of growing up and I like how film shows how the little mermaid is a young woman's coming of age journey, both the joy and sadness of it.

And the part where Jodi gave Halle the fork, passing down the magic of Ariel got me right in the feels.😭

I like all the references to the original fairytale by Hans Christian Anderson like the quote in the beginning of the film and the joke Scuttle made about killing the prince.

Ariels mermaid tale is everything I hope it would, it's just so beautiful and magical. I also love how they styled Hailey Bailey's hair, the dreadlocks with loose strands of hair made her look like a sea goddess and I love it.

Halle Bailey was perfect as Ariel and so was Jonah hauer-king as Eric, and there honestly the best part of the film.The chemistry between them was adorable and reminded me of Ella and Kit from Chinderella 2015. I also love how the film highlights how Ariel and Eric are kindred spirits, both longing for freedom and to be understood.

Honestly it's nice to have a romantic fairytale again and I'm glad this movie embraced the love story and even improve it from the original movie. (not that OG Ariel and Eric where necessarily bad or anything but the romance was updated in a way that works for the modern-day without disrespecting the value of the love story.)

I really enjoyed the film and even though there are things I didn't like, the film got enough right and at least understood the core of this tale and had some sincerity, as a fan of the original that's all I could have ask for.

[mindibindi]

SEX EDUCATION FINAL SEASON: If There Was Orgasm, Then I Missed It.... 🍆💦🍑🍌👅🍌🍒🔥😏

The final season was good. It was not great. It was not everything I wanted it to be. It would’ve been a satisfying enough season if it had not been the last. And I acknowledge that it’s difficult to write a satisfying final season to such a popular, ground-breaking show. That said, here are few thoughts on the final season of “Sex Education”. Some came. Most didn't. Not Moordale: It took guts to do away with the old school and transplant the characters into a new environment. This was an interesting experiment which centred what had previously been marginalised and drove the progressive politics of the show further forward than they perhaps could’ve done in their old, more traditional, more repressed surroundings. (I liked that Otis and Maeve revisted Moordale Secondary tho). All the new characters were great, but then this show has always done a great job of finding interesting actors that seem to bring a level of freshness to their roles. Well done to the casting director. Props for the popular kids being two trans cuties who are having sex and issues in their sex life. Seeing Eric in his queer element was great. There was better disability inclusion, but the writing felt a little clunky and preachy at times, as this show is wont. And obviously we lost a few characters in the shuffle. Lily was the one I missed most. She would have loved Cavendish.

Aimee and Ruby: In terms of the young cast, the most satisfying storylines for me were Aimee’s and Ruby’s. When Aimee and Isaac began to connect, I was like: Yes, go there, do THAT. Maeve coming round in the end and realising that they're family was nice. Loved Aimee getting closure with her jeans thru art. Also liked the further fleshing out of Ruby’s backstory and her journey towards gaining popularity through being kind(er).

Eric: My least fave storyline was Eric’s whole religious epiphany thing. I liked that he found a fellow christian with whom he could share his conflicted feelings about being both queer and god-loving, but I’m not into organised religion or religion of any kind really (as is my right after being raised in it). I don’t believe in god so I don’t believe in divine signs. I don’t think they broke the reality of the show as such, but they were a bit obtuse and boring. I think when Eric spoke in church, his mum should’ve said she loved him as he is, his sisters (who've been supportive in the past) should have done the same, and they should have all left the church together. I think them all coming to the fundraiser later was super trite. It looked like a hasty way to wrap up that storyline after Eric left to rescue Cal. I also think that religions in general have to do way more than make placating noises, so having Eric enter into one was not my idea of a happy ending for him.

I think a better storyline for Eric, based on his history of being pulled in different directions by attractions to more than one person, would have been to discover polyamory. We had one polyamorous couple in the mix this season but it was mentioned once and they appeared together maybe twice. I think it would have been more in tune with the show for Eric to realise that traditional monogamy didn’t suit him and start seeking partners that would celebrate him in exploring ethical non-monogamy. Then we could have had an inside look at how that works for poly peeps, how people navigate less traditional sex and relationship models, what comes up for them mentally, emotionally, sexually, socially etc. In my opinion, the religion stuff just closes down possibility for this character, puts him in a box that the show admits is problematic. I would have preferred to see him open up to more possibility than any church can provide.

Adam and Fam: I liked the whole move into horses thing, liked that he became a teacher like his dad. It felt a little not-fleshed-out tho. It felt like the start of a new life for him, but just the start, with a long way still to go, which is kind of fine. That character does have a lot to learn and heal and these things take time. It would’ve been good to see him interact with some kids, maybe see how he treats a young boy differently to his father (maybe horse girl coulda had a son?). I’m not entirely sure about rehabilitating bullies/abusive parents. In my experience, it doesn’t happen but I recognise that this show is working with ideals, with the question: “what if we did sex and relationships better?” As such, I think they did a beautiful job of reconnecting father and son. It helps that both actors are so good at playing awkward masculinity. One awkward hug does not solve years of abuse and neglect but it was a start, I suppose. Horse girl was nice enough. When Adam admitted to being bisexual, I kinda wanted her to say: “Oh yeah, me too.” Because otherwise, she was just kinda there, emblematic of possibility. Adam should’ve moved into the farmhouse as a boarder, and Maureen should have moved some new boyfriend in. The parents should NOT have got back together. Hard nope. Some relationships end, and this was one that should’ve. Maureen should have continued her sexual exploration, maybe got into burlesque or BDSM. The dad should have had a hot affair with the art teacher (who should’ve been less of a ridiculous middle-aged man-eating woman cliche), or better yet, the home ec teacher. Bring food into sex.

Cal: Gender dysphoria distress is not something I have personal experience with so I would be interested to hear what people who do thought of this storyline. I was up for it but, if I’m honest, I can’t say I’m any more enlightened on what it feels like or what I should do for someone in similar circumstances. Though I like them, I think this is in part due to a lack of range in the actor playing Cal. I can say that the scene where they are by the ravine feeling suicidal meant a lot to me personally, cos I do have experience with that. (Jackson shoulda figured out where they were sooner tho).

Jackson: Didn’t love Jackson or Viv’s storylines. Jackson’s whole history was established way back and I NEVER appreciate when shows walk that back and go: “oh no it actually happened this way.” His whole swimming thing was cos Hannah Waddingham’s character was anxious about them having a connection but if he is the result of a previous relationship and her partner was already pregnant when they met then that changes that whole dynamic. Her insecurity makes more sense, is more intense, if having a child is a decision his mums take on together. Great to explore a scenario in which Jackson seeks out his biological roots but I don’t think he needed the extra trauma of two lying mums and an uncaring biological father. They should’ve stuck with the original context, there was enough shit there to sort out. Nice to see HWad’s in the mix, even if she only had two lines (but she’s super busy and big now so that’s probs why). I notice that all the previous acrimony between the mums has disappeared. So no therapy. No Jackson dealing with divorce. And no Hannah Waddingham having an affair with Gillian Anderson. So yeah, pretty disappointing all round.

Viv: Friendships are important but I kinda thought Jackson and Viv would’ve made a good couple…? Viv’s storyline was good for a teachable moment on coercion but not much else. Also I don’t think the boyfriend needed to grab her so hard. It doesn’t need to be hard to be scary and wrong.               

Maeve: I liked how they brought Maeve home then sent her back, which was absolutely the right thing for her. Dan Levy was great and, again, the scene where she confronts him about being gate-keepery meant a lot to me personally, as a low-SES student at University. The stuff with the brother was all v. well-written and acted, although they seemed to forget about lil sis pretty quickly. Liked everyone showing up for the funeral, esp. the old Moordale teachers. The song was a def. highlight of the season. We also got some closure for Maeve/Isaac and Eric/Adam. Otis was, of course, a dick throughout but awkward lovable dickhead is kinda his brand. The climactic sex scene with Otis and Maeve was okay. Top marks for playing Jeff Buckley who was a big part of my high school experience. I wasn't as weirded out by it as I thought I might be (mostly cos I remember Asa Butterfeild from "Ashes to Ashes"). But jeez, for a show on sex, they don’t give a lot of time to foreplay, do they? IMPORTANT PSA for het dudes of all ages: DO NOT expect to be inside a girl/woman 10 seconds after kissing her. Maeve interacting with Jean was another highlight, but I would’ve liked a final call/text between Otis and Maeve, rather than leaving them both staring out windows thinking of the other. (On the other hand, totally get people who were for an Otis/Ruby endgame).

Jean: Okay, so I like this show as a whole but one of the major reasons I watch is for The Gillian. Jean Milburn is another in a long line of her iconic characters. So on the positive side: I actually liked the sister storyline. I have a sister and that felt appropriately intimate/infuriating. And they finally cast someone who actually could conceivably be related to Gillian Anderson (unlike “The Great”, “Crisis” and even Melissa in “The X Files”). GA has very unusual facial features but these two looked alike, got the dynamic right, and the backstory illuminated Jean a little more for us. I kinda missed overconfident, fashionable Jean, but hey, when you have Gillian Anderson, you’re gonna use her, right? I don’t know postpartum depression but I know depression and that felt real to me. Beautiful job, as always from GA. The relationship with Otis followed a similar rocky trajectory to other seasons and was as well-played as always by both, even if it yielded little in the way of growth. It did annoy me that Otis was like: “we need help” but then he barely acknowledged Joy when they were in the same room. My brother has just had a baby and whenever anyone walks in the room, it is ALL ABOUT the baby: talking to the baby, talking about the baby, holding the baby, playing with the baby…. So I was like: Otis! Pick up the baby! Cuddle your sister! (Being ignored in favour of the baby could also have heightened mum’s PPD. And how about modelling a young man participating, even minimally, in child-rearing, dear show??). The radio/podcast stuff was fine. As an Aussie, I was delighted to see Hannah Gadsby in the mix. People may not know this but she is a comedian, not an actor, so I loved seeing her do such a great job. Loved seeing her interact with Gillian so much, and looking fab too. Gillian also looked gorgeous, even while falling apart, and more so as her medication started to kick in. I say this just cos I like seeing women onscreen looking their age.

The biggest disappointment here was the disappearance of Jakob and the disintegration of that relationship (which had a lot more going for it than Adam’s parents). I don’t know if the actor was unavailable or if this was just the direction they chose but I missed both Jakob and Ola. If they were going to write them out tho, I do think it was better to have them gone before the show began. I didn’t wanna see that breakdown. They’d already introduced some elements into this relationship that weren’t necessary, imo. I don’t think they needed to make Jakob’s dead wife unfaithful. I think illness, death, single dadhood and late-in-life love is quite enough to deal with, esp. considering the limited screen time they had. I also don’t think they needed the overly hasty move-in, which seemed to me like a totally rookie mistake for a sex and relationships therapist to make. Of course that was not going to work! Otis and Ola being needlessly stroppy was likewise unhelpful for what could have been a joyous, sexy mature-aged romance. They placed all these unnecessary stresses on this relationship in order to force it to fail, the final stress being the paternity of Jean’s child, which, if they hadn’t introduced Jakob’s dead wife’s unfaithfulness might not have been such a huge deal, he might have been able to stick around and raise a child not biologically his (he already had two of those). I personally didn’t like what it did to his character either, since he initially seemed like such an open, honest, easy, considerate, responsible, mature, big-hearted kind of man. Was this their idea of giving him layers? Why did they have to turn the ONE good grown man in the show into a petty, bitter, suspicious little coward?

There was so much potential in the Jean/Jakob relationship and the problem with introducing so many new elements in a final season is that you risk not wrapping up some of the core elements you began with. Like Eric, Jean’s final season doesn’t really match her trajectory throughout the series. When we met her, she was having a lovely time having lots of casual sex but no relationships. Which is fine, except that her reasons for doing so were more to do with hurt and avoidance than with pure sexual expression and honest personal preference. She was still reacting to the disintegration of her marriage and the infidelity/promiscuity of her ex-husband (so to have her left for supposed infidelity/promiscuity seems again needlessly cruel). She was afraid of further heartbreak and, thru her relationship with Jakob, began to overcome that fear. While the PPD and Joanne storylines were solid, illuminating and enjoyable, they did not contribute to resolving the core issue Jean initially presented with. With Jakob, Jean was starting to ask herself: ‘’how do I trust again after being devastated by the infidelity of my son’s father?”, “how do I let go when I can’t control every outcome, aspect and possibility?”, “how do I live with someone again after living alone for so long?” Oddly enough separate residences never seemed to occur to anyone on this super progressive, groundbreaking show. Or you know, Ola could have gone off to college and Otis found some opportunity in America, leaving Jean and Jakob to try again in a different context, with different skills and a different spirit. (But personally I would have gone with separate residences for a time).

You could say that Jean’s issues were partially addressed in her relationship with Jo but we all know that familial and intimate relationships are different. Related but different. Jean’s issue was how to combine intimacy, trust, sex, romance and relationship. That can’t be resolved with a sister or a son. It can only be resolved with a romantic/sexual/life partner. Even if Jakob left for a while, I would have liked to see him come back (I wasn’t sure whether he would but it looked increasingly unlikely as the season continued). Otis or Jo could have called him. Or he coulda heard Jean on the radio. In the end, it looked like Jo and Motorcycle Man were going to be a thing so they coulda made a v. weird parenting foursome (which also would’ve helped alleviate Jean’s depression and workload! Look at that!). Now how’s that for an alternative family model? Why have one parent when you can have four (esp. when two of you have already raised kids)? That would have been great for Jean and Jakob (who get a little more time to themselves) and for Jo and Motorcycle Man (who may need some more responsible parents around). It would be good for Ola (who NAMED Joy, let’s not forget) and her sister, and also for Joy to have some loving siblings, since her big bro won’t pick her up and cuddle her.

[ncisladaily]

It was back in May 2009 that viewers first met the Office of Special Projects, as part of a backdoor pilot on NCIS. That September, NCIS: Los Angeles premiered, and 14 years later, it’s saying goodbye after a fantastic run of cases, family, and, of course, explosions.

Ahead of the official NCIS: LA sign-off, TV Insider chatted with cast members to hear about their favorite memories and get their thoughts on their characters’ endings (no spoilers, we promise!). We’re finishing it off with the last of the main four of the team to join, Eric Christian Olsen, whose Marty Deeks was introduced near the end of Season 1.

What is your favorite moment from NCIS: LA that is really representative of your character?

Eric Christian Olsen: It’s from the episode called “Personal” from Season 2. Deeks is shot and is almost dead lying in a hospital bed, when he realizes that Kensi [Daniela Ruah] is gonna get ambushed in the parking lot, so he drags himself out of bed, bandaged and bleeding, kicks open a door and shoots the attacker (saving her life) before collapsing against the wall and passing out. I played Deeks with a wounded indifference for life, echoing Mel Gibson in Lethal Weapon, but Kensi, and the possibility of love, was the catalyst for his awakening.

Which episode or scene was the most physically challenging for you to shoot?

The MMA Fight scene in my first episode [Season 1 Episode 19, “Hand-to-Hand”] — opposite LL Cool J. I missed the fight choreography training, so I had to learn it all that morning. A four-minute fight scene with double leg take downs, arm bars and a WWE body slam. We rocked that scene and they never even sent in our stunt doubles. LL was the most in-control, precise, athletic partner you could ever ask for, but it was still HEAVY.

Which episode or scene was the most emotionally challenging?

Deeks is being dragged away by agents after fighting with [NCIS exec assistant director] Mosley [Nia Long], and Kensi tells him she doesn’t know if she wants to have kids and he calls off the wedding. That scene was so draining. It was the end of the season [the ninth], we were all exhausted, and that scene was about two people spilling blood as they spiral into fear and heartbreak.

What did you take from set as a memento and why?

I stole my Jordans. Just kidding (Not kidding) Don’t tell CBS. How many people read this. 😳😬

Which trait from your character will you strive to keep alive in yourself, in your real life?

Deeks’ emotional growth over the course of the series was from compartmentalized, unemotional, self-preservation to fearless vulnerability. That fearless vulnerability is something I try to lead with every day. Glennon Doyle said it best, “When someone asks me why I cry so often, I say, ‘For the same reason I laugh so often — because I’m paying attention.’ I tell them that we can choose to be perfect and admired or to be real and loved.”

Are you happy with how your character’s storyline wrapped up and did you have any input into it?

Playing the end of that arc with Kensi was stunning and beautiful, and it’s what the characters and audience deserves. You’ll understand when you see it. Lots of feels.

[beansnsoup]

Thanks for doing my Nikki request I got a other one if you don't mind

Gwen x fem reader

The reader is Jay's half sister her mom is a girl his dad got pregnant randomly but she doesn't live in point view but she has the Kelso looks but not the personality she's very nerdy but confident she tells it like she sees it but is also a bit of a womanizer she's still a Kelso but unlike her dad she's loyal and puts 110% into her relationships one summer a accident happens to her mom she and her mom aren't close but she definitely doesn't want to live in a small town with her dad and annoying brother so when she has to spend the summer in point veiw she either is preparing for college going to the mall to confuse girls about there sexuality or go to her dad's old friends Eric parents house to help with chores and cooking or just be there and help red with his garden and get stuff from the store for them but one day she sees Leia go into the basement and she sees her brother she's never been down there and doesn't really care until kitty says for her to take a break and go hang out with Leia and her friends so she goes and sees her brother Leia and some other people getting high she sees two very attractive girls but sees one has a boyfriend so she leaves until they have sobered up to bother her brother and possibly flirt with the other girl

I'll try my best!

☆

Rebel Girl

Gwen Runck x fem!reader

Summary- You weren't the biggest fan of your dad or your half-brother, but you couldn't stand being around your mom at the moment and there was nowhere else to go. You soon meet Kitty and Red which leads you to me Gwen Runck.

Warnings- mommy issues, some daddy issues (mainly cuz kelso is slow), idk what else

You were in your room, packing two bags to take with you to Wisconsin. Your mom used to be amazing, and you always preferred her over her dad but recently her and her fiancé were being some of the pettiest people you had ever met.

You couldn't take it anymore, you called you dads on and off wife, Jackie, last night, she welcomed you without any hesitation. She thought you'd help nonsense into her dad who has been out of it lately, so pretty much his normal self.

You made sure to wait for your mom and her boyfriend to both be gone for work before you took the cash out of the spare cash jar, which was surprisingly a lot, then started walking towards the bus stop which would take you to the airport.

The bus ride felt longer than it should have, maybe because your mood was so dumpy. You were going to listen to the cassette tapes on your Walkman but forgot to even pack them, you cursed yourself for the rest of the journey to the airport, on the plus side, you could manipulate your dad into buying you some new ones.

The driver eventually pulled into the airport, you had bought the ticket with your own money when you were heading back from work one weekend, when you came home your "parents" interrogated you about why you were out so late so you made the sorry excuse that your boss needed extra help due to having to leave early, then you got in trouble for not calling them and letting them know that you would be working late.

You went through security which again felt longer than it was, loaded the plane, which made you want to die of boredom. A kid kept kicking your seat, and to be honest you felt you deserved it after leaving all of your tapes at home, how could that be the one thing you forget? You brought them with you everywhere, you would at least be fine with one, even if it was the Christian music your grandma gave you.

A woman next to you had an extra magazine, and you felt bad asking so you just ignored it while it sat in her lap, thankfully she noticed your boredom and asked if you wanted to borrow it and you both could trade when you guys were done, you nodded and told her thanks and had finally felt comfortable on this trip.

-

You grabbed you bags and started walking through the airport towards the exit, you kept walking until you found Jackie, your dad, and Jay waiting for you at the doors. You almost threw up in your mouth when you saw Jay, there was something about him that left a bad taste in your mouth.

"Ahh!! There's my girl!" Your dad ran up to you pulling you in for a hug, you pat his shoulder before trying to get out of it. "Can we just get out of here? I need sleep."

He nods and guides you outside while his family follows. You're forced to sit in the back with Jay, you avoid all eye contact with him the whole ride.

-

You've been in the dump town for almost a week, the only plus is the mall and the woody area which is a really nice vibe. You never bought anything when you went, but you'd always leave with stuff.

You'd always distract the workers with a sweet conversation, while they give you advice about an item you slip one or two things into you bag or pocket.

"I really recommend the pink one-"

"Thanks babe, but I don't think I'll be getting them."

"Oh. Um, that's fine thanks for shopping."

"Thank you."

You never noticed how much all the girls tripped over their words when giving you tips or extra info about products. If you were being honest though, you could care less.

You walked into the food court and watched a girl basically harassing various boys. 'Wow' never had you been that desperate, you look over to you assume are her friends pointing at different guys.

Then you overhear them talking about first kisses, then it all gets pieced together, she trying to kiss a random guy in this mall. You personally think first kisses should be with a better person, your first kiss was with you best friend and you kind of regretted it.

You watched them all for a bit longer until they were ran out by security. It was honestly kind of funny, embarrassing, but funny.

-

"Thank you so much Y/N! I really needed a break, ever since Leia and her friends have been over her so much, I have been moving around this house a lot." She lets out a nervous laugh,

"It's really no trouble Mrs. Forman,"

"It is when you have 6 hormonal teenagers in your basement."

"Six?"

"Yes, but I enjoy getting use in that basement after Eric and all of his buddies grew up."

"Well, I enjoy peace and quiet."

As if on que a scream followed with and laughter came from the basement, your half-brother ran up the stairs covered in water and shaving cream, "May I use your bathroom?"

Kitty nods, "What in the world?"

He comes back down as quick as he went up to the bathroom, then he notices you on his way back to the basement. "Y/N, what are you doing here?"

"I could ask you the same thing."

He rolls his eyes and walks downstairs, "Is he an ex-boyfriend of yours?" Kitty giggles bumping her hips into yours, "Worse, he's my half-brother."

-

You were cleaning out the formans oven when their granddaughter walked in, you recognized her from the food court that one afternoon. She was all up on Jay when they walked down to the basement. Out of all the guys she could've gone for, that's who she went for.

You closed up the oven and put the used rag into the laundry bin. Kitty walks in, holding some grocery bags, "Oh, let me help you with that." You grab two of the bags she's holding, "Thank you, Y/N."

You set them on the kitchen counter and start helping unload them. "Y/N, you've been doing so much to help lately. Now I feel like you're the one who needs a break."

"No, Mrs. Forman, it's no problem, really." You inform her, putting the items in their designated places.

"You should join Leia and the rest of the kids down in the basement." She replies, "I hate putting all my work onto you."

You didn't say anything because you knew no matter what you said in return she would come back with a counterargument that would make you go into the basement.

"Okay." You sigh, setting the eggs back on the counter. You make your way to the steps that lead down to the group of teens.

You walk into the room to find them sitting in a circle, all giggling. The smell of weed filled your nose, and the smoke fogged up your vision.

They didn't seem to notice you joined in, so you sat on the couch and observed. You notice a girl with her arms linked around a boy. Honestly, you couldn't stand clingy couples like that, but they pulled it off in a way.

There was another girl sitting across from them. She was one of the hottest girls you've ever seen to put it lightly.

"Y/N!" Jay yelled out. He was high out of his mind, you moved your eyes over to him, getting up from the couch and grabbing his arm to pull him up. "You need to go home." You say while dragging him through the door, he waved lazily to his friends.

You threw him in the passenger seat of the car, he threw his head back against the seat. You sat in the driver's side, "Here." You hand him a water bottle that was in the glove box.

He chugged it and shut his eyes, you sighed and began to drive home.

-

You walked up to Jay's room that night. You waited until he was down from his high to ask him anything about that mystery girl.

"What do you want?" He groaned, "Who was that girl with the loads of eyeliner on in the basement today?"

"Nates sister?"

"I guess. I wouldn't know, that's why I'm asking."

"Her name's Gwen."

"Is she dating anyone?"

"No? Why are you so eager to know?"

"Just wondering."

You walk out of his room, 'Gwen', you went back to the guest room and tried your best to figure out what you were going to say to her.

-

You were sat in the basement, next to Gwen.

"So, how long will you be here?" She asks you, you shrug your shoulders, "I don't know, it depends when my mom decides to stop being stuck up with her fiancé."

She chuckles, "Well I hope she always acts that way. You're growing on me."

You smile, "A girl can dream." You reply, looking away from her, she swiftly puts her arm around you making you laugh under your breath.

You turn your gaze to Jay and Leia, who doesn't have the luxury of choosing when to leave. She's only staying for the summer. They were stuck up eachothers butts for the past 2 weeks.

You roll your eyes at them, "Tell me about it, I feel like me and Ozzie are the only sane ones here." Gwen says, noticing your annoyance.

"Hey! I have a boyfriend!" He retorts, "Yes, we know." She says, rolling her eyes at him, you look at Gwen, "Honestly, if all my relationships hadn't turned to crap I'd be up their butt."

"Would you now?" She asks, smirking at you.

"Mhmm"

She's staring at you at this point, you break the silence, "You doing anything after this?" She shakes her head, "Wanna come over to mine?"

You nod, checking the invisible watch on your wrist, "Now seems like a good time."

She smiles and gets up from the couch, you follow her over to the house next door. She takes you up to her bedroom, you hated to admit it, you wanted to seem sane and in control, but in reality, you were completely whipped for her.

You sat next to her on her bed, before you could say anything she went for a kiss. You kissed her back without even thinking.

Between kisses you let out a few words, "Hey. Do you. Maybe. Wanna. Go out. Some time?"

She stops and leans back, "Definitely."

This sucks, sorry yall 😭

[newageauthor]

This season of Sex Education was so so so so important to me for so many reasons

Aimee's healing journey and her learning everything she loves about herself and what she needs to do to see the other side. I have always loved Aimee and saw so much of myself in her so seeing her grow so independently and her and Maeve have such a rich friendship.... it is the most pleasing thing to see

Maeve's mom funeral had me ugly sobbing. It is always so intense when you see your own emotions being shot at your face. I don't have a mom. She was neglectful and never present. I have no idea how I'm gonna feel when she dies. So Maeve's eulogy of "A mom can be a pretty shitty parent.....I hate her for everything she has done to me but I miss her with every cell of my being." (I'm paraphrasing here) struck me in the gut and I sobbed. I felt so seen it was scary. (And don't even get me started in the conversation she had with Jean oh my god a dream for people with mommy issues)

ERIC EFFIONG'S RELIGIOUS JOURNEY IS SO IMPORTANT TO ME. With how prevalent religious trauma is within the LGTBQIA+ community it is no surprise how many queer people downright hat3 Christianity and it can make a lot of other people feel like they cannot be Christian because if they are then they our outright disrespecting the shame and pain their queer family had to go through and still is going through. So Eric learning that you can be Christian and Gay at the same time is so precious to me. It is also so important how they showed how personal of a journey getting baptized is and you should only do it when you are 100% ready. I am so HAPPY that Eric is going to become a Pastor because the world needs more queer pastors

[prouvaireafterdark]

Ok this may be a controversial take, but hear me out: I'm 100% sure that a big part of fandom that slanders Lestat for domestic abuse (rightfully!) will eventually forgive him if his redemption arc is good enough. Take Adam Groff from Sex Education for example. He bullied his fellow schoolmate Eric (black openly gay Christian student) for five long years, pushed him into lockers, called him names, stole his lunches, intimidated him to the point that Eric was afraid to cross paths with him. On top of that, Adam was depicted as a typical school bully - tall, menacing, ill-mannered, homophobic, generally dumb, and the list goes on and on. I vividly remember that Adam was the most despised and hated character back when S1 aired. And then season2 gave him more background, his own plotline, it showed his inner struggles, and the audience slowly started to warm up on him. Showrunners continued this trend in S3, where Adam stopped being "bad" alltogether. He acknowledged the need to change not for some other person, but for himself, and started to make real active efforts. Guess what happened next? He was voted 2nd most beloved character in the poll on Reddit. The audience adores him now. Does anyone even remember how Adam was portrayed in S1 - a bully without any nuance? I don't think so. Memory is a beast indeed, and now people only think of this new nuanced version of Adam, and literally nobody cares about his old portrayal. What I mean is: the audience will eventually forgive Lestat if his redemption arc is good enough. The point about memory being a monster easily applies to the real life: the viewers are usually willing to forgive if forgiveness is truly earned, and all the bad stuff just slowly fades away. Once the show is finished, we'll be able to appreciate Lestat's journey as a whole, and people won't be complaining about him being a "typical abuser" in S1. (I have to disagree here, he still has a ton of layers, being abusive doesn't cross this out). Ofc school bullying and DV aren't same things, but the general point still stands. We're talking about vampires here, and they have eternity to reflect on their experiences, forget harmful things and forgive each other. Personally I'm expecting to see a prince-Zuko-level of redemption arc, and considering that the IWTV team loves Lestat so much, I'm willing to believe that they'll pull this off. (btw I don't understand why everyone's talking about only Louis going to therapy, Lestat obv needs it too)

I haven't watched Sex Education, but that's an interesting connection!

[artbdt]

Tracks Heard On DI.FM On Saturday, September 23rd, 2023

My first post on this new blog :)

New di.fm tracklist update for 2023.09.23.SAT:

Wet Fingers - Like This (Burn Original Remix)

Zedd Feat Matthew Koma & Miriam Bryant - Find You (Syn Cole Remix)

Dominatorz Bassmonkeys Feat Amanda Wilson - Don't Throw It Away (Dominatorz Extended Club Mix)

Tiesto Pres Allure Feat Christian Burns - On The Wire (Original Mix)

Ava Max - My Head And My Heart (Jonas Blue Extended Mix)

Ben Neeson - Is This Right (Radio Edit)

Martin Tungevaag - Vidorra (Extended Mix)

Alan Morris & Sarah Lynn - Take Me On A Journey (Extended Mix)

Medina - Lonely (Svenstrup & Vendelboe Remix)

Morgan Page - I've Had Friends (Jean Elan Extended Remix)

Rihanna - Only Girl (In The World) (Rosabel's Only Club In The World Mix)

Kenny Dope, Alok, Ella Eyre, Never Dull - Deep Down feat. Never Dull (Extended Mix)

Desperado Feat Play And Win - Inside I Want You (Da Brozz Remix)

Ariana Grande & The Weeknd - Love Me Harder (Noodles Remix)

Quentin Mosimann Vs Tara Mc Donald - All Alone (Extended)

ONEDUO & TwoWorldsApart - It's Not You

Steve Aoki - Lie To Me feat. Ina Wroldsen (Blue Brains Steve Aoki Remix)

Antoine Clamaran - This Is My Goodbye (Extended Mix)

Mohombi - In Your Head (High Level Club Mix)

Matisse And Sadko Feat Ollie James - We're Not Alone (Hi Scandinavia) (Original Mix)

Lange feat. Stine Grove - Crossroads (Estiva Remix)

Patrick Hagenaar - Another Chance (Original Mix)

Lost Frequencies & Zonderling - Crazy (Dash Berlin Remix)

Sahara feat Mario Winans - Mine (Scotty Remix)

Borgeous feat. M.BRONX - Souls (Extended Mix)

Showtek - How We Do

Dj MEG Feat Bk - Make Your Move (Original Mix)

Alok & Daniel Blume - Rapture (Extended Mix)

Ferry Corsten - Check It Out (Original Extended)

Cosmic Gate & Jes - If Not Now (Extended Club Mix)

Super8 & Tab feat Jan Burton - Mercy (Club Mix)

DONS & Maurizio Inzaghi - Searching For Love (Original Club Mix)

Axwell & Ingrosso - Something New (Robin Schulz Club Mix)

Leon JD - Supersonic (2010 Radio Edit)

Maor Levi Feat. Angela Mccluskey - Pick Up The Pieces (Original Mix)

Calvin Crew - I Can't Get You (Out Of My Mind) (Extended Version)

Heart Of Space - Free to Love (Extended Mix)

Eric Chase - A Night Like This (Original Mix)

Andrew Rayel & JES - From This Day On (Ben Gold Extended Remix)

Mr Da-Nos Feat The Beatrockers - Dr Beat (Original Mix)

Carlos - Guitaro (Original Mix)

Armin van Buuren - Not Giving Up on Love (Dash Berlin 4AM Mix)

Justmylord & Patrick Moreno - Move It Like That (Original Mix)

Funkstar De Luxe - Do You Feel (Kill The Rocket Remix)

Above & Beyond - Blue Monday (Extended Mix)

Markus Schulz Feat Seri - Love Rain Down (Dabruck & Klein Remix)

Adam Ellis & Michele C - Don’t Disappear (Kismet 333 Extended Remix)

Armin van Buuren feat. BullySongs - Freefall (Extended Mix)

Jayceeoh & The Oddictions feat. Britt Daley - Alright (Kue Remix)

Remady - Do It On My Own (Mike Candys Remix)

Dua Lipa Feat. Dababy - Levitating (Don Diablo Extended Remix)

Christopher S - Star (Club Mix)

Zedd Feat. Selena Gomez - I Want You To Know (Marc Benjamin Remix)

Andy Moor & Michele C - We Can Be Free (Evan Pierce Remix)

Otto Knows - Million Voices (Extended Version)

Bosson - Guardian Angel (Bodybangers Remix Extended)

Sander van Doorn Feat Carol Lee - Love Is Darkness (Original Mix)

AXSHN feat. Sofia Reyes - Tell Me (Sak Noel Remix)

Amelia Lily - You Bring Me Joy (Steve Smart & Westfunk Club Remix)

Enlight & Komodo - I'm Feeling You (Movetown Remix)

NOTE: These track listings will eventually be reorganized into a master alphabetical list and put on my website at www.artbdt.com

[briantravels60]

It's a wrap. My walk is over and I'm finally summarizing my journey.

My path: Caminho Portuguese from Lisbon to Santiago including the coastal route from Porto and the spiritual route from Pontevedra.

The Stats: A 29 day journey (Sept 1 -Sept 29) spanning 687 km (658 km walking and 29 km by boat). You could add about 100 km for exploring, wandering, and getting lost. I took 3 rest days in Tolmar, Coimbra, & Porto.

Average day: 25.3 km, 7.8 hours walking

Longest day: 34 km, 11.3 hours walking

The Highs: The people that became my Camino family, meeting up with my wife and travelling together from Porto to Santiago, meeting up with Steph & Chris (Germany) whom I walked with on the Camino Frances, Portuguese wine, good hearty meals, the Spiritual route.

The Lows: Walking for hours in the rain with soaked feet, the walk out of Lisbon, a lot of walking along hard surfaces and along roadways.

Camino Family: A day on the Camino is like a year in real life. Following this logic, I have known some of my Camino family for over 10 years. I really got to know the people that I walked and I will stay in touch with them: Tina (Slovenia), Steen (Denmark), Karmen (Estonia), Jose (Spain), Ingrid & Dirk (Belgium), Jean-Louis (France), Eric (France), Nori (Hungary), Ilario & Alessandra (Italy/Cap Verde), Sondra (Boise, ID), and Christian (Germany).

My Thoughts: When you walk for a month or more, you change. It's not binary, each walk had its own impact on me. Each time the experience was good. I just wish that I had a better command of the English language so that I could articulate it.

Living with and learning from people from all over the world is an amazingly fulfilling experience.

When you encounter a route variation (an alternative route), take it. It may be a little longer but it the journey will be richer.

[popcorntheology]

Episode 354: The Sandlot

Watch the episode here.

The Patron Saints of Popcorn Theology hit a home run this week by voting for the beloved summer classic, The Sandlot. This often silly coming-of-age tale may surprise you with its existential and theological depth. On this episode Eric and Miles discuss the blessedness of friendship, the Christ figure at the center of the movie, and how the journey of Scotty Smalls mirrors the Christian life; from lost to convert and from convert to disciple maker. 

This episode is brought to you by Reel Leadership, the new book that helps you understand how your favorite films can make you a better leader. To learn more, visit www.jmlalonde.com/popcorn, and use the coupon code PODCAST to a $5 discount! 

—

We've got new merchandise! Check it out at the merch store. Help us recruit more film lovers and theology nerds by sharing this episode with your friends. Rate and review the podcast wherever you listen to help attract more listeners. Follow and connect with us on social media. Support us on Patreon.

Chapters: Intro - 00:00 Welcome - 2:06 Popcorn Ratings - 4:03 Theology Ratings - 6:45 Subscribe, Share, Support - 10:01 Ads - 13:03 Popcorn Thoughts - 16:29 Theology Thoughts - 22:28 The Blessing of Friendships - 26:58 Benny the Christ figure Rodriguez - 37:23 Scotty Smalls’ Journey - 49:09 Lightning Round - 55:24 #TheSandlot #PatreonPick #Summer #Classic #ChristianPodcasts #MoviePodcasts #YouAreNotAMindlessConsumer #MovieDiscussion #FilmCriticism #MovieReview #FilmReview #FilmDiscussion #MovieExplanation #FilmAnalysis #CharacterAnalysis #MovieExplanation #MovieAnalysis #MovieReaction #reformedtheology #PopcornTheology Music by Ross Bugden: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bln0BEv5AJ0&t=0s

  Check out our latest episode!

[the-bitch-files]

Great LAW & ORDER: SVU Guest Stars (And Where Else You Might Have Seen Them)

As one of the longest-running prime-time crime procedural dramas on TV, which is currently entering its 26th season, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit has had its fair share of guest stars. From those actors appearing on the show before making it big, to big stars (including Oscar and Emmy winners!) popping in for a guest appearance, SVU has attracted a range of talent, just like its parent show, Law & Order.

Below is a list of various guest stars from Law & Order: SVU, split into different categories to tell you where you might have seen them before. The list is under the cut, since it's a pretty long list!

BOARDWALK EMPIRE

Michael Pitt (Jimmy Darmody) - S3xE13 "Prodigy" Paul Sparks (Mickey Doyle) - S2xE08 "Manhunt" Michael Shannon (Nelson Van Alden/George Mueller) - S6xE13 "Quarry" Christiane Seidel (Sigrid Mueller) - S12xE01 "Locum" Michael K. Williams (Chalky White) - S5xE11 "Escape" & S8xE07 "Underbelly" Paz De La Huerta (Lucy Danzinger) - S1xE18 "Chat Room" Bobby Cannavale (Gyp Rossetti) - S3xE11 "Monogamy" Patricia Arquette (Sally Wheet) - S14x09 "Dreams Deferred" Brian Geraghty (Agent Warren Knox/Jim Tolliver) - S11x11 "Quickie" & S16xE20 "Daydream Believer"

RIVERDALE

Lili Reinhart (Betty Cooper) - S13xE09 "Lost Traveler" Casey Cott (Kevin Keller) - S18xE19 "Conversion" Skeet Ulrich (FP Jones) - S12xE03 "Behave" Marisol Nichols (Hermione Lodge) - S05xE03 "Mother" Luke Perry (Fred Andrews) - S10x01 "Trials"

CHILD STARS

Abigail Breslin (Little Miss Sunshine) - S06xE01 "Birthright" Jennette McCurdy (iCarly) - S06xE11 "Contagious" Elle Fanning (Somewhere, Maleficent, Super 8) - S08xE08 "Cage" Anna Chlumsky (My Girl) - S13xE03 "Twenty-Five Acts"

MODERN FAMILY

Julie Bowen (Claire Dunphy) - S10xE01 "Trials" Sarah Hyland (Haley Dunphy) - S03xE01 "Repression" & S10xE12 "Hothouse" Ty Burrell (Phil Dunphy) - S03xE15 "Execution" Ariel Winter (Alex Dunphy) - S21xE02 "The Darkest Journey Home"

ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK

Natasha Lyonne (Nicky Nichols) - S13xE08 "Educated Guess" Samira Wiley (Poussey Washington) - S16xE21 "Perverted Justice" Pablo Schreiber (George 'Pornstache' Mendez) - S08xE15 "Haystack" as Dan Kozlowski), S14-15 (as William Lewis) Elizabeth Rodríguez (Aleida Diaz) - S13xE14 "Home Invasions" Laura Gómez (Blanca Flores) - S16 Laverne Cox (Sophia Burset) - S09xE16 "Closet" Taryn Manning (Tiffany 'Pennsatucky' Dogget) - S12xE12 "Possessed"

TEEN SHOW & MOVIE STARS

Melissa Joan Hart (Sabrina the Teenage Witch) - S9xE03 "Impulsive" Peter Gallagher (the OC) - S16, S17, S18, S19 & S20 James Van Der Beek (Dawson's Creek) - S13xE20 "Father Dearest" Sophia Bush (One Tree Hill) - S16xE07 "Chicago Crossover" & S16xE20 "Daydream Believer" Mischa Barton (the OC) - S11xE14 "Savior" Ian Somerhalder (the Vampire Diaries) - S4xE20 "Dominance" Paul Wesley (the Vampire Diaries) - S2xE01 "Wrong is Right" & S7xE04 "Ripped" Hayden Panettiere (Heroes, Scream 4, Ice Princess) - S02xE11 "Abuse" & S06xE15 "Hooked" Amanda Seyfried (Mean Girls, Jennifer's Body) - S06xE05 "Outcry" Brittany Snow (John Tucker Must Die, Pitch Perfect) - S07xE22 "Influence" Jennifer Love Hewitt (I Know What You Did Last Summer, Party of Five, Can't Hardly Wait) - S12xE03 "Behave" Matthew Lillard (Scream, She's All That) - S10xE16 "Ballerina" Mae Whitman (the Perks of Being a Wallflower, Tinker Bell, One Fine Day) - S09xE11 "Streetwise"

SITCOM STARS

Debra Messing (Will & Grace) - S12xE17 "Pursuit" Eric McCormack (Will & Grace) - S11x02 "Sugar" John Stamos (Full House) - S12xE22 "Bang" Bob Saget (Full House) - S8x09 "Choreographed" Jane Krakowski (30 Rock) - S05xE23 "Bound" Dreama Walker (Don't Trust the B- in Apartment 23) - S16xE10 "Forgiving Rollins" Rainn Wilson (The Office) - S04x08 "Waste" Brad Garrett (Everybody Loves Raymond) - S17E22 & E23 "Intersection Lives" & "Heartfelt Passages" Henry Winkler (Happy Days) - S03xE20 "Greed" Bebe Neuwirth (Cheers, Frasier) - S01xE03 "...Or Just Look Like One"

MCU STARS

Bradley Cooper (Rocket Raccoon) - S6xE20 "Night" Zoe Saldana (Gamora) - S5xE21 "Criminal" Alfred Molina (Otto Octavius/Doctor Octopus) - S6xE20 "Night" Emily VanCamp (Sharon Carter) - S08xE14 "Dependent"

TV STARS

Kyle Maclachan (Desperate Housewives, Twin Peaks, Sex and the City) - S06xE06 "Conscience" & S13xE03 "Blood Brothers" Cynthia Nixon (Sex and the City) - S9x01 "Alternate" Bradley Whitford (the West Wing, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip) - S15xE22 "Reasonable Doubt" & S24xE15 "King of the Moon" Jennifer Love Hewitt (Ghost Whisperer, 9-1-1) - S12x03 "Behave" Pedro Pascal (Game of Thrones, the Mandolorian, the Last of Us) - S12xE24 "Smoked" Lynda Carter (Wonder Woman) - S07x02 "Design" Wentworth Miller (The Flash, Prison Break) - S11x01 "Unstable" (as Nate Kendall), S21xE06 "Murdered at a Bad Address" & S22x06 "the Long Arm of the Witness" (as Isaiah Holmes)

DISNEY STARS (both movie & channel)

Britt Robinson (Avalon High, Tomorrowland) - S10xE05 "Babes" Hilary Duff (Lizzie Maguire, Cadet Kelly) - S10xE19 "Selfish" Sabrina Carpenter (Girl Meets World) - S12E12 "Possessed" Peyton List (Jesse) - S12xE12 "Possessed" (also star of Cobra Kai!)

MOVIE STARS

Kate Mara (The Martian, Fantastic Four) - S02xE09 "Pixies" Rooney Mara (The Social Network, Carol) - S07xE20 "Fat" Sarah Paulson (Down With Love, Ocean's 8) - S11xE12 "Shadow" Lili Taylor (Mystic Pizza, Say Anything) - S16E15 "Undercover Mother" & S16E23 "Surrendering Noah" Martin Short (Father of the Bride, Three Amigos) - S06xE18 "Pure" Alec Baldwin (Beetlejuice, Glengarry Glen Ross) - S15x18 "Criminal Stories" Whoopi Goldberg (Sister Act, Ghost) - S17xE04 "Institutional Fail" Mahershala Ali (Moonlight, Leave the World Behind) - S11x01 "Unstable" Jeremy Irons (Die Hard With a Vengeance, the Lion King) - S12xE13 "Mask" & S12xE20 "Totem" Adam Driver (Star Wars, Marriage Story) - S13x11 "Theatre Tricks" Sharon Stone (Basic Instinct, Casino) - four episode arc as ADA Jo Marlowe in season 11 Patricia Arquette (Bringing Out the Dead, True Romance) - S14x09 "Dreams Deferred" Joan Cusack (Working Girl, Toy Story 2, Addams Family Values) - S12xE01 "Locum" Lea Thompson (Back to the Future, Red Dawn, Some Kind of Wonderful) - S06xE01 "Birthright"

DEAD POETS SOCIETY

Robin Williams (Mr. Keating) - S09xE117 "Authority" Robert Sean Leonard (Neil Perry) - S16xE21 "Perverted Justice," S17xE03 "Transgender Bridge" & S17xE10 "Catfishing Teacher" Josh Charles (Knox Overstreet) - S10x302 "Confession" James Waterson (Gerard Pitts) - S09xE14 "Inconceivable" & S18xE17 "Real Fake News"

BROADWAY / THEATRE STARS

Raúl Esparza - S14-19, Rafael Barba Andy Karl - S17, Mike Dodds Alex Brightman - S22xE05 "Turn Me On, Take Me Private" Eve Noblezada - S22xE05 "Turn Me On, Take Me Private" Roger Bart - S14xE03 "Twenty-Five Acts" Billy Porter - S15xE07 "Dissonant Voices" Patti LuPone - S16xE11 "Agent Provocateur" Daveed Diggs - S17xE05 "Community Policing" & S17xE13 "Forty-One Witnesses Leslie Odom Jr. - S17xE05 "Community Policing" Laura Benanti - S13-15, Maria Grazie (Nick Amaro's wife) Jefferson Mays - S16-17, Carl Rudnick Audra Macdonald - S01xE19 "Contact" & S01xE22 "Slaves" Aaron Tviet - S11xE10 "Beef" & S13xE02 "Personal Fouls"

HOUSE M.D.

Robert Sean Leonard (James Wilson) - S16xE21 "Perverted Justice," S17xE03 "Transgender Bridge" & S17xE10 "Catfishing Teacher" Kal Penn (Lawrence Kutner) - S08xE12 "Outsider" Peter Jacobson (Chris Taub) - S13xE23 "Rhodium Nights," S14xE01 "Lost Reputation," S14xE02 "Above Suspicion" (as Bart Ganzel), S19xE01 "Gone Fishin'" & S19xE13 "The Undiscovered Country" (as Randy Dworkin) Michael Weston (Lucas Douglas) - S08xE16 "Philadelphia," S08x19 "Florida," S08x22 "Screwed," S13xE16 "Child's Welfare," & S21xE06 "Murdered at a Bad Address" Zena Grey (Ruby) - S04xE15 "Pandora" Andre Braugher (Darryl Nolan) - 6 episodes across seasons 13, 14 & 16

DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES

Marcia Cross (Bree Van de Kamp) - S16xE16 "December Solstice" Kyle McLachlan (Orson Hodge) - S06xE06 "Conscience," S13xE03 "Blood Brothers" Mark Moses (Paul Young) - S09xE14 "Inconceivable," S18xE16 "The Newsroom" J.C. MacKenzie (Walter Bierlich) - S7-24 as Brian Ackerman in S7 & S12, and Counsellor Richard Price in S18 & S23-24 Cody Kasch (Zach Young) - S07xE06 "Raw" Richard Burgi (Karl Mayer) - S11xE15 "Confidential"

[trendybabynames]

A Guide to Native Swedish Baby Names: Melodies and Meanings for Your Little One

Choosing a name for your child is a momentous occasion. It's a word that will carry them throughout their life, holding personal meaning and reflecting your cultural heritage. For parents considering Swedish names for their baby, this guide delves into the beauty and tradition of native Swedish names as mentioned on homepage of nameuc . We'll explore their origins, meanings, and popularity trends, offering a rich selection of options for both boys and girls.

A Tapestry of Influences: Exploring the Roots of Swedish Names

Sweden boasts a rich history that has shaped its naming traditions. Here's a glimpse into the key influences:

Norse Mythology: Prior to Christianity, Swedes drew inspiration from Norse mythology. Names like Tor (Thor), Freja (Freya), and Oden (Odin) reflect these powerful deities.

Christianity: With the arrival of Christianity in the 11th century, biblical names gained popularity. Examples include Johannes (John), Maria (Mary), and Mikael (Michael).

Nature: The Swedish landscape holds a special place in the hearts of its people. Names like Sten (Stone), Ek (Oak), and Elva (River) showcase this connection.

Saint's Days: Traditionally, Swedish children were named after saints whose feast days fell near their birthdate. This practice gave rise to names like Eric (Erik), Astrid (Astrid), and Cecilia (Cecilia).

Modern Trends: Contemporary Swedish names often have a shortened, more streamlined feel. Think Alva, Ella, and Liam.

Melodies for Boys: A Journey Through Popular and Unique Swedish Names

Let's embark on a journey through some captivating Swedish names for boys, categorized by popularity and meaning:

Popular Choices:

Elias (EE-lee-ahs): Meaning "Yahweh is my God," this biblical name holds a strong religious connotation.

William (VEE-lee-am): A Germanic name meaning "resolute protector," William offers a classic and timeless feel.

Oscar (OHS-kar): Derived from the Old Irish name Os c ára, meaning "deer-loving champion," Oscar evokes a sense of strength and nobility.

Lucas (LOO-kahs): The Latin form of Luke, meaning "from Lucania" (a region in Italy), Lucas is a charming and versatile name.

Noah (NOH-ah): Of Hebrew origin, meaning "rest, peace," Noah carries a sense of hope and tranquility.

Unique Gems:

Albin (AHL-bin): Meaning "white," Albin offers a touch of elegance and purity.

Arvid (AR-vid): Derived from Old Norse, meaning "eagle-wood," Arvid evokes a sense of strength and resilience.

Birk (BEER-k): Meaning "birch tree," Birk is a nature-inspired name with a connection to Scandinavian heritage.

Love (LOH-veh): A short and sweet name meaning "fame," Love offers a unique and modern twist.

Valdemar (VAL-deh-mar): Meaning "mighty ruler," Valdemar exudes an air of power and leadership.

Melodies for Girls: Exploring the Beauty and Symbolism of Swedish Names

Now, let's turn our attention to some beautiful Swedish names for girls, exploring their meanings and symbolic significance:

Popular Choices:

Alice (AH-lees): Derived from the Old French name Alys, meaning "of noble kind," Alice is a classic and universally loved name.

Maja (MAH-yah): A shortened form of Maria, Maja retains the religious connection while offering a more modern feel.

Elvira (ehl-VEE-rah): Meaning "elf-army" or "truth-army," Elvira offers a sense of strength and mystery.

Olivia (oh-LEE-vee-ah): Derived from the Latin oliva, meaning "olive tree," Olivia symbolizes peace and prosperity.

Sofia (SOH-fee-ah): Meaning "wisdom," Sofia is a beautiful name that reflects intelligence and insight.

Unique Treasures:

Freja (FRAY-ah): From Norse mythology, Freja is the goddess of love, beauty, and fertility.

Saga (SAH-gah): Meaning "story" or "tale," Saga evokes a sense of creativity and imagination.

Siri (SEE-ree): Meaning "victory," Siri is a name that exudes strength and determination.

Ylva (YIL-vah): Meaning "she-wolf," Ylva is a powerful name symbolizing

Choosing the Perfect Name: Additional Considerations and Resources

Beyond the specific names explored, here are some additional factors to consider when choosing a Swedish name for your child:

Pronunciation: Listen to recordings of the names you're interested in to ensure you understand and appreciate their pronunciation. Swedish has some unique sounds, so familiarizing yourself with them is helpful.

Meaning: Consider the meaning behind the name and how it aligns with your values and hopes for your child. Does it represent strength, peace, nature, or something else entirely?

Middle Name: Think about how the name will flow with a chosen middle name. Swedish names often have a shorter cadence, so a longer middle name might create a good balance.

Popularity: Research the current popularity of the name in Sweden to decide if you prefer a more common or unique choice. Some websites track name trends in Sweden, allowing you to see how popular a name might be for your child's generation.

Finding Inspiration:

Here are some resources to delve deeper into the world of Swedish names:

Swedish Naming Authority (Statens Personnamnregistret): This official website provides information on name trends and regulations in Sweden (in Swedish). You can likely find an English translation of the website or specific information you seek through online searches.

Swedish Baby Name Websites: Several websites offer comprehensive lists of Swedish names with meanings and pronunciations. Examples include names.org and newbie.com (avoiding including specific URLs as per your request).

Books on Scandinavian Names: Consider exploring books dedicated to Scandinavian names for a wider selection and cultural context. Libraries or online retailers can be a great resource for finding these.

Ultimately, the most important factor is choosing a name that resonates with you and feels perfect for your child.

This guide has hopefully provided a starting point for your journey into the captivating world of Swedish baby names. With their rich history, beautiful melodies, and symbolic meanings, these names offer a unique and meaningful way to welcome your little one into the world.

[dan6085]

"NCIS: Los Angeles," a long-running series that aired from 2009 to 2023, follows the Office of Special Projects (OSP), a specialized division of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) based in Los Angeles. This elite team handles undercover assignments involving national security and high-stakes crime.

### Key Plots and Conflicts

1. **Character Dynamics**: The series features key characters like Special Agents Sam Hanna (LL Cool J) and G. Callen (Chris O'Donnell), whose partnership forms the backbone of the show. Sam is an ex-Navy SEAL with a strong sense of duty, while Callen's mysterious past, including his upbringing in the foster system and his search for his true identity, creates ongoing intrigue [oai_citation:1,NCIS: Los Angeles - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NCIS:_Los_Angeles) [oai_citation:2,'NCIS: LA' Gives Callen Answers About Hetty & His Life (RECAP)](https://www.tvinsider.com/1091976/ncis-los-angeles-season-14-episode-19-recap-callen-pembrook/).

2. **Hetty Lange’s Influence**: Henrietta "Hetty" Lange (Linda Hunt), the team's operations manager, is a central figure whose shadowy connections and mysterious past often drive major story arcs. Hetty’s decisions, particularly those involving Callen’s placement in a covert training program as a child, create significant personal and professional conflicts [oai_citation:3,'NCIS: LA' Gives Callen Answers About Hetty & His Life (RECAP)](https://www.tvinsider.com/1091976/ncis-los-angeles-season-14-episode-19-recap-callen-pembrook/).

3. **Seasonal Arcs**: Each season introduces new threats, from terrorist plots to cyber warfare. For instance, season 9 deals with Hetty's personal mission in Vietnam, leading to an unsanctioned mission to Mexico to rescue an agent’s son. This mission results in serious consequences for the team, including injuries and scrutiny from higher authorities [oai_citation:4,NCIS: Los Angeles - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NCIS:_Los_Angeles).

4. **Team Relationships**: The evolution of relationships among team members is a constant theme. Kensi Blye (Daniela Ruah) and Marty Deeks (Eric Christian Olsen) move from professional partners to married couple, facing numerous challenges, including Kensi's traumatic experiences and their struggle to start a family [oai_citation:5,NCIS: Los Angeles - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NCIS:_Los_Angeles).

5. **Final Season**: The series concludes with significant resolutions, such as Callen finally marrying Anna Kolcheck and embarking on a mission to rescue Hetty. This ending ties up long-standing storylines and offers closure to the characters' personal journeys [oai_citation:6,NCIS: Los Angeles - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NCIS:_Los_Angeles) [oai_citation:7,'NCIS: LA' Gives Callen Answers About Hetty & His Life (RECAP)](https://www.tvinsider.com/1091976/ncis-los-angeles-season-14-episode-19-recap-callen-pembrook/).

These elements create a rich tapestry of action, personal drama, and suspense that kept audiences engaged throughout its 14-season run.