#gale review

[gale-gentlepenguin]

Gale Reviews: ML Season 5 episode 6 Determination

(Spoilers below)

And let me warn you... It is a LOT

As with all ML we get 6 before 5

THEY ARE WITH THE BUBBLES AND HAIR FLIP! Adrien is so in love!

“Why did she leave so quickly?” “She doesn’t do fencing with us.” Kagami I love you dearly

Good gravy the water color is pretty, and Adrien is simping so damn hard for it

Omg, was that a Marinette-ism? Adrien demonstrating PEAK simp behavior and I’m living for it

“You look at her like how I wished you had looked at me” DAMN! Kagami went for the throat with that one. She makes solid points

So cutting away to kitty section, Marinette made stickers cause they got a record label.

Did they mention Bob roth?

Adrien calls her, she flips a bit, but kitty section just look at her like it’s Tuesday

Points to Adrien for actually calling about it. Sure Kagami pushed him for it, but boy f***ing did it

Kitty section heard her mention Adrien mention feelings and they all crowd her. That’s hilarious

Kagami is like “not the Museum!” But he did it

Luka appears to be part of the cheer squad now. Which is what I expected at this point. Makes him more tolerable

But Marinette is not exactly thrilled

Wait! The statue scene!? Remembered positively? Someone summon @gentil-minou

So seems that Luka noticed something was up. Guess I can’t have nice things

So Marinette isn’t denying she loves Adrien but that s*** is complicated and that the statue scene is cringe. Which we relive again!

Well damn, Marinette is very much aware of her issue regarding romance. I swear it’s like something happened that gave her love trauma or something. Aside from chat blanc I mean.

Wait a minute, she is having Luka accompany her… wait a minute, is this Frozer 2.0?

ML really gave Marinette and Adrien emotional support Exes.

Well at least with context I don’t feel annoyance at the scene.

Kagami here finding it amusing that Adrien is a jelly bean

Luka really just said “cut the crap” to Marinette in the nicest way possible. I approve of this blue boy

And Marinette…

But Luka ain’t having it! Well damn. I guess I have to stan for now (you still on thin ice)

Luka was straight up about to leave. But she begs for help

Adrien asked if Kagami was staying. Kagami is like “Trust me bitch, you will need me.”

That Adrien Siri is weird. Like she talking to Adrien but then Siri Adrien

The museum curator called Veronique (like Veronica)

This episode really is if Frozer and puppeteer 2.0 had a baby but it was made with love despite the tension

Marinette and Adrien have VERY different memories of that scene

Adrien! MY GUY! MY DUDE! Fucking dropping that bomb with the softest smile

Even Luka and Kagami are like “wait what!?” Then just walk off while Marinette panics

Luka explains why Adrien and Marinette are having trouble communicating their feelings in a nice way

Kagami “They are idiots”

Adrien clarifying that he does understand it was awkward but he wasn’t embarassed

Boy was feeling this in SEASON 3! I f***ing knew it!

I see that Marinette is like:

She is panicking

Luka really out here being Marinette’s brain cell

Kagami “you jelly?”

Adrien “I don’t know? But I do wish that were me”

Okay so I see where the mayor is coming from, but he is kind of a dick about the statues

Veronique is correct in this

Oh the mayor is playing dirty, yep! That’s what I expected from a filthy politician

Adrien is trying, Lord knows he is trying

Adrien chuckling at her antics. And Luka and Kagami are representing use viewers

But now the blue bergade got a plan

Luka and Kagami Litterally used the trap from 3 episodes ago. I’m amazed

And cue monarch

The container spheres hover? It’s cool and I HATE IT

Well damn, monarch really be twisting these words and akumatizing people with clever arguements

So she is now immune to powers. Anyone realize we are getting a better look at the powers now than with the other heroes in season 4?

JUST WHEN IT WAS GETTING GOOD! A f***ing akuma shows up!

Marinette yeeted our so quickly she left the boy!

Manipula, sweetie. You are being manipulated

Also I like the name

Chat noir out here being ladybug motivation

Oooo! Each card has a piece of the akuma. Neat!

Villainous akuma “open the museum!”

Chloe (who has no powers) “No!”

Mayor. “Well you heard her…”

Damn, manipula playing hard ball

Cue montage, also they beat polymouse and trapped her like a rat

“You are in great shape chaton” ladybug please contain your thirst… I’m kidding KEEP GOING

Replica ladybug (summons massive weapon) ah as expected

Yo… did that clone just talk?! That’s some mind games level s***.

THE BUBBLES! Oh we be seeing a reversal of the square! Oh damn!!!

Lucky charm is a bowling ball

Casually points to mayor in corner

Chloe out here being salty despite being a hostage. Like seriously Chloe get over it

Chat noir managed to get over using cataclysm quick. Also bitch be a fucking G with that move. Your power doesn’t work on her!

Chat noir out here being motivational

Ladybug drops a chandelier on her head. Damn. Well this shows that the power only nulifies powers. So basically the secret to winning it “HITTING THEM REALLY HARD!”

She forgot minotaurox.

Ladybug was ready to our right confess, and chat noir is like “I know what you mean best buddy!”

Ladybug wanted him to stay. Ugh!!! My heart!

And the sad music! I can’t!

Adrien is looking for her. Baby boy

HE ADMITS IT!!!!

And Marinette admits to loving chat noir!

__________________________________________

Welp, as lovesquare trash, this episode was amazing

10/10

It had good stakes, excellent drama. And it made me enjoy every scene with the blue boy

I loved every minute of it.

I liked the fight, I enjoyed the hilarious antics. It was done right.

[ravennowithtea]

Tumblr Top 3 for 2023

Links to original posts:

Three Panel Comic - Breakfast [link]

Happy Longest Night [link]

Gale & Tara [link]

[rcbertleckie]

I'm no good [at singing] either, but I'm loud. And hell, if you commit with enough enthusiasm, it really don't matter.

[jeeaark]

You have no idea how much I really wanted a 'call Orin out on her bullshit' dialogue option

Wishful thinking this comic. I did not know about the initiate-combat-while-talking option until after this campaign, so I have no idea if there are actual consequences to kicking orin's ass mid-trickery or not

Bonus in Regards to Sleepy Gale:

[rambleonwaywardson]

Salt Water

A Clegan (Buck x Bucky) one-shot

Summary: The boys take a trip to the beach, where Bucky learns that Gale is a little afraid of the ocean.

Word Count: 3020

Author's Note: This idea came to me out of nowhere, and I decided I don't care if it feels accurate or not because I wanted to write fluff about it. I've also never posted a fic on tumblr before, but I'm waiting until I have a larger collection of Clegan one-shots before posting them under a single work on AO3 and wanted to put this out there somehow before that happens. My AO3 is also RambleOnWaywardSon.

—

Gale is perfectly comfortable reclining lazily on a beach towel, book in one hand while he props himself up with the other, when a towering shadow blocks his sun and causes him to glance up through his sunglasses. Bucky, even through the glaringly bright light of a cloudless July day, may be the most beautiful human Gale has ever seen on this planet. Water droplets like glittering crystals cling to the pale skin of his chest and abdomen and drip from salt-water damp curls. Even today, his smile gives the sun a run for its money. 

But he is, in fact, blocking Gale’s actual sun. And Gale had been perfectly happy in the sun, thanks very much. 

“You’re blocking the sun,” he says matter of factly. Even so, he earmarks the corner of his paperback and sets it beside him on his towel, full well knowing that Bucky, giving him this facial expression that somehow manages to mix ‘hurt but hopeful puppy’ with ‘giddy, plotting boyfriend,’ will not be easily deterred.

He would be correct.

“You’ve barely gotten in the water all afternoon. Why the hell did we come to the beach if we’re not gonna swim?” Bucky’s puppy dog smile turns to a pout, and Gale rolls his eyes behind his sunglasses as he glances Bucky up and down.

“You’ve been swimming.” 

“But you haven’t!” Bucky steps closer to Gale and grabs one of his hands, tugging insistently. “Come into the water with me,” Bucky says. 

Gale lets Bucky work for it for a second, but eventually, reluctantly, allows himself to be tugged to his feet. It beats the inevitable alternative where Bucky uses his – extremely slight though not insignificant – size advantage to drag Gale into the sand before throwing him over his shoulder. “Bucky,” he sighs, running a hand through his own dry hair. “I don’t know.”

“Why not?” Bucky whines. He tugs Gale’s hand again, and Gale indulges him until they reach the shallow tide of the ocean, water lapping peacefully at their feet. Gale feels the cool water splash his ankles, the soft and gritty sand nestling between and over his toes. He stops ankle-deep in the clear water, staring at the tiny fish that dart around him as the tide pulls them forward and back.

“See?” Bucky says. “You’re not gonna melt if you get a little water on you.”

Gale looks over at him. Bucky ignores the fact that he knows Gale is rolling his eyes behind those sunglasses. Buck is sassy today. “I walked around in the water with you earlier,” Gale reminds him. “And no, I’m not the wicked witch of the west, thanks so much.”

Bucky ignores the last comment, practically having to physically force himself not to make some poorly executed joke about Gale, apparently, being a witch. A sassy witch. “You’ve been laying in the sun long enough,” he says instead, patting Gale’s cheek. This earns him another eye roll. Bucky doesn’t care. “You’re gonna burn your pretty face like that.”

“I will in the water, too.” Deadpan. Unamused.

“Gale,” Bucky pleads. “I wanna swim in the ocean with you. We don’t get to come to the beach every day, so can we please just make the most of it? For me?”

Gale sighs and looks down at his feet, shifts and presses into them until the sand is almost completely covering them, an anchor. Only when he feels Bucky drop his hand does he look up again, just in time to watch him walk away, without a word, into deeper water. Gale bites his lip and runs his hand through his hair again, trying to tamp down the feeling of abandonment rising between his ribs. This should not be such a big deal. This should not be so hard.

Once Bucky is a good few yards away, the water up to his thighs, he turns around, fully intent on calling Gale out on his bullshit. But he stops short. He doesn’t know what he really expected to see. Gale had been a little off -- difficult, sassy, John doesn’t really know — all day. But he did not expect to see Gale biting at his lip and staring down at the water around his ankles, his arms crossed protectively over his chest. Bucky tilts his head and squints. 

When Gale hears splashing and glances up to see Bucky walking back towards him, wading through the waves, he feels the tight feeling in his chest begin to ebb. He drops his arms to his sides and straightens up, trying to seem nonchalant. Bucky doesn’t buy it. “Hey,” he says. He reaches out and grabs Gale’s hand in his again, this time insistence replaced with a gentleness that wasn’t there before. “It’s okay.” Gale just blinks at him, opens his mouth, closes it, looks down at his feet. “Gale,” Bucky says quietly. With his free hand, he tilts Gale’s chin up again, so he has to look at him. “You’re scared of the ocean?”

Gale shrugs uncomfortably. “Not a whole lot of ocean in Wyoming.” He’d always been a good swimmer, it’s just that he’d never had very positive experiences with the ocean itself – the unknown of it, the unknown in it, the tides, the salt water that tastes awful on his tongue.

Bucky smiles and shakes his head. “No,” he agrees. He lets go of Gale’s chin and brushes his fingers down his check just briefly, a thoughtless touch that's barely there. “Why did we come to the beach if you don’t like the ocean?”

Gale shrugs again. “You like it. Wanted to make you happy.”

Bucky about melts, and he’s not a melting type. At least, he wasn’t before he met Gale Cleven. He squeezes Gale’s hand tight and gently tugs again. Gale takes a step forward, then another. Bucky leads him a few yards out, where he’d been just a moment ago, where the water hits about mid thigh and the waves swell up to just below the waist. It’s here that he feels resistance pulling at his hand. When he turns to look at Gale, the other man is tugging back, his feet firmly planted in the rocky sand. He’s shaking his head. 

“Come on, Buck,” Bucky urges. “Just a little further.”

Gale shakes his head again. “This- This is good.”

Bucky turns a little more so he’s face to face with Gale and steps towards him, so close their noses almost touch. He takes Gale’s free hand in his, so he’s firmly holding both. “It’s okay,” he whispers. He starts slowly stepping backwards, pulling Gale along with him, and is relieved when the other man follows, unsure. Bucky glances behind him at the waves. The water is fairly calm today — Bucky is thankful for that now — but earlier in the day, here and there a wave would catch him by surprise. He doesn’t need any surprises with Gale. They just go slow, so very slow, one step at a time. 

By the time the water is at Gale’s midriff, splashing up towards his chest, he stops and shakes his head definitively. He will not, under any circumstances, go further than this. Bucky decides to take it. He decides that they don’t have to swim today. They can stand, float, whatever. His new task is simply to get Gale comfortable in the ocean that he loves. 

“Look at me, angel,” he says. He holds his breath for a second, worried the nickname will throw Gale off. He never really could figure out what to call Gale other than, well, Gale or Buck. Sometimes the nicknames he came up with were hit or miss — baby depended on the day; princess had earned him radio silence for about an hour, but he’d convinced himself that Gale just didn’t want to admit that he kinda liked it (he is most likely wrong but will not be deterred); darling was acceptable but how fucking boring; and sweetie was a very hard no.  Angel just kind of popped out now because, seriously, Gale looks so goddamn ethereal in the ocean sunlight, the highlights in his blond hair bright and glittering from the sea-spray. 

But Gale does look at him. He looks amused, but John can’t tell if his cheeks are tinged pink from the sun or because he’s blushing. Reaching a hand up to Gale’s face, he pushes the sunglasses up away from his eyes so they’re sitting on top of his head. “There you are,” he says. “Just keep your eyes on me.” He tugs Gale closer, so they’re nearly chest to chest, nose to nose. Bucky can feel Gale’s hair, which has grown just a little too long in the front, tickling his forehead as Gale looks back down at the water rising and falling around them. It’s not so clear anymore; he can no longer see what’s under the surface. “Gale, look at me.” 

Gale obeys, meeting Bucky’s eyes. He’s suddenly very aware of how close they are. “People are gonna look,” he mumbles.

“No one cares what anyone else is doing at the beach.”

“They might…”

“No,” Bucky reaffirms. “And to hell with them if they do. Just keep looking at me, okay? I’ve got you.”

Bucky wouldn’t admit it – it would just scare Gale off – but he secretly loves these little moments where he can be Gale’s safety. He can protect him, reassure him, let him know everything would be alright. Buck Cleven was always so in control, seemingly fearless. Bucky loves that he gets to see this side of him, the one that can be unsure, the one that needs some guidance. He likes that he’s the one Gale looks to for that. 

Bucky guides Gale’s hands up so they’re wrapped around his neck and shoulders. “I’ve got you,” he repeats. “We’re just gonna stand here, okay? You and me.” Then he reaches down behind Gale's legs and picks him up, convinces him to wrap his legs around his waist so now Bucky is fully holding him, lifting him higher out of the water so he doesn’t have to contend with the waves alone. 

“Bucky,” Gale starts to protest, immediately moving to disentangle his legs. He feels silly, a little too dependent. It goes against everything he tries to let the world see of himself, and everything he’s careful to ensure they don’t see.

Bucky holds tight to his waist though, keeping his arms firmly wrapped around Gale’s middle. “Just breathe, Gale. Just stay here with me.”

Gale hesitates, but nods and re-secures his legs around Bucky, leaning back in his firm embrace. The water makes him feel like he’s floating while the arms around his waist anchor him. He tries to focus on the sounds of seagulls soaring overhead, waves breaking over the sand, the distant buzz of a plane engine somewhere up above. The water is cool against his skin, leaving him almost cold where it splashes up and recedes again. Bucky’s body is warm and solid against his. He focuses on Bucky’s face, all warm eyes and a soft, encouraging smile. Gale lets that ground him, almost smiles back. 

But then a larger wave comes and smacks him in the bicep, knocking him off balance and causing his breath to hitch as he tightens his grip on Bucky and shuts his eyes tight. “Bucky!” He’s a little ashamed of how nervous his own voice sounds. 

Bucky just grins at him, though, totally unfazed. “I won’t let you go,” he promises. 

When Gale opens his eyes again and stares straight at Bucky, Bucky’s breath catches in his throat. He feels like a teenager with a crush, the way his stomach flips at having the undivided attention of someone who may very well be the most beautiful man in the world – definitely the most beautiful in Bucky’s world. When they had first allowed their friendship to turn into more, Bucky was terrified that he wasn’t cut out for commitment. He never had been before. He was a low stakes, one night, paint the town red kind of guy. And Gale, well, Gale was not. He deserved so much better than Bucky. Even now, Bucky still beats himself up too much about whether or not he’s good enough, but slowly, slowly, slowly his anxiety over it had started to fade. Now, staring into Gale’s eyes, taking in his beautiful face, his hair, running his hands up and down his slim waist, Bucky is awestruck. Not for the first time, he can’t imagine ever wanting anyone else again. It physically pains him how much he wants to spend his entire life with Gale. 

“What?” Gale asks, smiling a little shyly as he quirks an eyebrow at Bucky. 

“You’re beautiful,” Bucky blurts out. 

Gale’s smile grows. He opens his mouth to speak just as another wave comes and catches them off guard, spraying salt water into his face. He splutters and gags, trying to get the unwelcome taste off his tongue. Bucky can’t help but laugh. 

“‘S not funny,” Gale mumbles. 

Bucky surprises him by pressing their lips together for the briefest of moments, relishing in the taste of salt and sand mixed with Gale. “It’s a little funny.”

Gale rolls his eyes and unwraps one arm from around Bucky’s neck so he can check that his sunglasses are still safe atop his head before clinging on again. Bucky shifts him up an inch or two higher, a silent apology and an attempt to spare him from the bigger waves. 

“Are we done now?” Gale asks impatiently. “Can I go sit on the beach again?”

“No.”

Gale huffs and looks away from Bucky, out to the great ocean and the horizon beyond, even as his fingers play mindlessly with the wet hair at the nape of Bucky’s neck. “It is pretty, I’ll give you that.” When Bucky hums in agreement, Gale frowns. “Of course, I’d rather think that from where I was on the beach.”

Bucky lifts one hand to the side of Gale’s face, runs his fingers down his cheek and then presses his thumb to Gale’s bottom lip, which he’s still been worrying between his teeth. “You’re still nervous.”

“Yes John, I’m fucking nervous,” Gale snaps, and he immediately regrets it. Then he sighs, closes his eyes. The words rattle around in his brain like gunfire. “Sorry.”

Bucky barely reacts, though. He knows Gale doesn’t do well with nerves, or with being looked after, or really anything that shows him to be less in control than he wants everyone to think he is. “You’re doing great,” Bucky says. “Now what was that you were telling me earlier about how stars die? Fusion or something. All those smart things you know so much about.”

Gale glares at him, but there’s no more malice behind it. He looks more like a petulant child who doesn’t want to be coddled anymore. “I know what you’re doing,” he says. 

“And what am I doing?”

“Trying to distract me.”

“So what?” Bucky grins at him, and Gale can’t deny how much he loves that smile. How much he loves feeling their upper bodies pressed against each other as they just float. Or the way Bucky’s hand reassuringly strokes up and down his side as a silent I’m here, I’m with you, I won’t let you go. “Buck?” Bucky bumps their noses together, making Gale scoff. “Tell me about all your nerdy physics facts.”

So Gale does. He tells Bucky all about the life cycle of a star: the fact that the sun is made up of hydrogen and helium, and how hydrogen nuclei collide in a process called nuclear fusion to create helium and release energy, and how eventually the helium will start creating carbon and the star will become unstable, ejecting its outer layers into the cosmos like a fireball. Gale tells Bucky about all the types of stars and how they die in different ways to become different things — No Bucky, the sun will not become a black hole, sorry — and the fact that even the biggest stars eventually stop fusing when they inevitably create iron because they no longer have enough fuel to evade collapse. These are the stars that explode outward in a spectacular encore of literally stellar proportions, a supernova. 

All of this really is over Bucky’s head, but he’ll listen for hours if it means he gets a front row seat to Gale’s unfiltered excitement. The thing that catches his attention though is when Gale smiles at him, brushes his wet hair away from his face. “That’s where everything in the universe comes from, Bucky,” he says. “The Earth, moon, planets, the sun itself. You and me. We’re all made of star stuff.”

Bucky can’t look away from this amazing, beautiful man that he’s holding in his arms. He wants to make some comment about when did you become such a poet, but all that comes out is “That must be why you’re my entire universe.”

Gale’s expression somehow manages to be long-suffering and unamused but somehow so loving. A look that says you’re an idiot but you’re mine and I wouldn’t trade you for the world. 

“You doin' okay?” Bucky asks. 

Gale blinks at him, then looks down at the water again. One arm still around Bucky’s neck, he lets his other hand rest on the water’s surface, bobbing up and down with the waves. He finds the motion somehow satisfying, the physics of it as well as the repetitive rocking, the cooling feeling of water adhering to his skin. He has no idea how long they’ve been out here. “I’m fine,” he concedes.

“Maybe next time we can go out a little further,” Bucky says. “Ride the waves in.” Gale looks skeptical if not a little terrified, and Bucky can’t help but laugh. “Alright, that’s a no for now.”

“I think,” Gale starts softly. He pulls his sunglasses back over his eyes and bows his head, so his forehead is resting on Bucky’s as he tightens his grip on him once again. “I think I’m okay right here.” He feels safe, secure. And he finds he doesn’t mind admitting that. 

Bucky decides he’ll take it. He doesn’t need more right now. After all, he has his entire universe right here in his arms. 

[undeadundying]

Baldur’s Gate 3 characters as FNAF movie reviews I found

Nobody asked for this. Nobody fucking asked for this. But I made it anyway.

Wyll:

Karlach:

Shadowheart (top)/Karlach (bottom):

Astarion:

Lae’zel:

Minthara:

Gale:

Halsin:

Bonus- Oathbreaker Knight (sounds Scottish I read this in his voice and cackled)

[bookcred]

my take on what the bg3 origin characters would be reading for the trans rights readathon!

[avonne-writes]

Reading Weekend Reviews

As I mentioned before, I spent most of my free time this weekend reading instead of writing because I wasn’t feeling well. The stories I had a chance to read were all amazing and they made me feel better!

The stories discussed in this post: meet me at the chapel, Learning Curve (ch 1), if it feels like love (then it must be love) (ch 1-2), i feel so high school. (ch 1-2)

1. meet me at the chapel by @swifty-fox

90s outlaws au, part of a series (I only read the first part so far, but can’t wait to continue!)

This was such a wild and raw ride. It leaves you with the illusion of the wind whipping through your hair, a dusty road ahead of you, and the sunset burning your cheeks as you chase a sense of freedom you long for. It’s sad, funny and sexy at the same time.

John is written as roguishly handsome, a characterization I really enjoy. He has an edge, but he’s warm, caring and flirtatious, charming even as an outlaw.

Gale is wounded and beautiful. He has a really sad background, and you keep rooting for him to find love and peace, and it's easy to sympathize with the fact that he feels safer being an outlaw and living homeless than locked into a life of hopelessness and abuse.

As usual, @swifty-fox does an amazing job immersing us in the atmosphere of the story. Every little detail contributes to the lasting impression that this fic leaves. I know I'll be thinking about it for a while.

2. Learning Curve (WIP, 3k) by @hogans-heroes

This is a new canon au WIP that describes life in the stalag from Alex Jefferson's POV.

First of all, I think the POV is brilliant! I love how fleshed out Alex’s character is in the first chapter already, and how his narration allows us to get to know Macon and Daniels more too. In addition, looking at John and Gale from an outsider POV is always fun and interesting. Oh, and the hints of DeMarco x Macon got me excited!

The first chapter sets up an intriguing conflict between John and Gale, and poor Gale is not doing too well (a feast for those who like Gale whump). I think all the characterizations are spot on, with Gale being quietly self-sacrificing and Bucky falling apart at the seams, belligerent like a caged dog.

The writing is in a delicate style that guides you gently through the story until (I expect in later chapters) you suddenly find yourself crying for the boys. With only one chapter in, it has a great set-up already, so I look forward to the upcoming updates!

3. if it feels like love (then it must be love) (WIP, 75k) by @ranger-elizabeth

This story is set in a modern au where Gale is a freshman at college and John is his RA. It’s almost finished (10/11 chapters), but I only had time to read the first two chapters (for now). This is the kind of work that steals your sleep because you can’t put it down, so be careful if you start reading this late at night!

The first chapter plunges you immediately into that familiar college atmosphere. It reminded me of my own struggle dragging two suitcases through the country without help. Gale's anxiety about fitting in, making connections and the loneliness he feels are all very relatable. It made my heart ache. I love this boy.

I really enjoyed the POV switch between John and Gale. Already after the first two chapters, I felt that it added to the fic and made it even more engaging. I love the side characters too, they’re well-written and entertaining.

I think it was interesting that Gale started out struggling academically. It made a lot of sense in his situation, and it made his character's struggles realistic with actual impact. Gale's perfectionistic thoughts sounded just like me. 😭

Gale's complicated relationship with his parents is painful, and his parents' behaviour makes you want to slap them. I liked the way this relationship was explored on-screen as well, not just referred to as a past situation.

John is really sweet, warm and cheerful, his character brightened my mood every time he appeared.

I'm only two chapters in, but I look forward to the rest!

4. i feel so high school. (WIP, 10k) by @anachilles

Physics teacher!Gale x Football Coach!John high school au. Two chapters out so far.

This fic is shaping up to be a real comfort read to me, because it's written with such amazing humour that it made me smile and snicker several times. The first two chapters have been lighthearted but also contained an interesting conflict between John and Gale, a falling out in their past.

One of my favourite things so far is how their dynamic is written. It shows perfectly how these two click, even after not staying in touch for a long time. I loved strict teacher Gale and fun coach John 😄 Another highlight is Scout (John's dog), I can’t wait to see more of her!

A detail that caught my interest about John is that he’s the first one in his family with college education. I'm curious if we see a bit more about how this might effect him. I'm also curious about his family's religiousness.

I loved the complex relationship between John and Gale, and that there are a lot of things unsaid between them while John is still clearly obsessed with Gale. It’s so endearing and very in character for him.

The second chapter left me aching for John to reconcile fully with Gale, so I'm excited to read what's coming next!

~♡~

I'm a bit sad that I haven't had time to read more, but I will read the remaining chapters of all of the WIPs in this list, they all got me hooked. I also plan to continue with this review series. Next on my list are That Ol' Devil Called Love, To the Moon and Back, yours always and understanding in a plane crash.

I can’t wait to continue exploring all the amazing fics in the fandom! ❤️

[rqsser]

guys can i pls have clegan fic recs i’m pretty sure i’ve read like 0.5% of them

[6blissful6anguish6]

Something I really, really hate about film adaptations of my favorite books is how the movies completely miss the point

For the hunger games movies, they focused primarily on Katniss and Peeta’s romance almost to the point of the capitol itself in the books. Of course the war and rebellion is still a main point, but it’s no longer the focal point in a lot of aspects. The trauma and PTSD are played down severely to make a love story more digestible. And I HATE the “love triangle” (I was never team Gale do not get me started lmao)

A more extreme example:

For flowers in the attic, they REALLY focus and romanticize the relationship between Cathy and Chris. In the book, their relationship is a tragedy and a horror story while the movies do not portray it that way at ALL. They severely play down the abuse at the hands of their mother and grandmother as well

These are not romance novels. One is a dystopian war story about a severely traumatized teenage girl and how her life experiences have shaped her mindsets; and the other is about severely abused kids with multiple complexes ( mostly Freudian but that’s another post) developing a type of trauma bond and Stockholm syndrome due to their horrific circumstances

[gale-gentlepenguin]

Gale Reviews: Wednesday (2022)

So I finally finished watching the first season of this show. And I will be giving my opinion on how I think it is. So to give proper set up and some organization, here are the categories I will be tackling

The Setting

The Flow

The Supernatural additions

The Addams Essence (do the actors capture that Addams family feel)

The New Characters

The Mystery

With that established, be aware spoilers below

__________________________________________

The Setting

For the simple premise, Wednesday Addams is expelled from her old school after dumping live piranhas (something that is very much in character for Wednesday and reminiscent of another old scene) into the school's pool in retaliation for the boys' water polo team bullying her brother Pugsley. Consequently, her parents Gomez and Morticia Addams enroll her at their high school alma mater Nevermore Academy, a private school for monstrous outcasts, in the town of Jericho, Vermont.

The show takes place mainly in Jericho, and in the academy. In terms of aesthetic, Nevermore doesn’t really capture the creepy nature of the Addams family save for some instances, coming off more as a gothic Hogwarts. The small town of Jericho does capture that small town vibe and is crucial in giving a contrast to nevermore, allowing for us to see how outlandish the academy actually is.

I think they could have done more to make Nevermore stand out as more unsettling in its own right. But interestingly enough I think the best set pieces are in the woods and in pilgrim world. The places where Wednesday looks more out of place the better.

Overall it’s a 7/10 for the set pieces and I hope they do more in season two. Maybe show how creepy the Addams family home is.

___________________________________________

The Flow

The pacing or natural movement of the show. I think it has a bit of a slow start until the mystery is revealed. But afterwards I think the show finds it’s footing, speeding up when there are leads and slowing down when those leads get cold. Wednesday is the driving force of the show, and it’s clear that she has a focus on solving this mystery but everyone else seems to force her to slowdown. Thematically it rarely feels like a forced slowdown.

The show makes it seem like Wednesday is dragged into almost every situation outside of the Mystery while the reverse is true when it does involve the mystery. It never feels like Wednesday catches a break and in that regard it’s amusing.

Though I do feel the ending also was sped up too much for the reveal, but it wasn’t jarring.

Flow I give 8/10.

___________________________________________

The Supernatural Additions

So Im split on most of it. Giving Wednesday visions felt like a contrived plot device and giving everyone some sort of magical power in Nevermore felt like it made it pretty run of the mill magic school… BUT the way the powers for others was used cleverly and some of the magic was used in amusing very Addams humor. I think when it does do it in the way we expect in Addams ways… it works. But I felt like some of it was not needed and felt like kind of a crutch needed to differentiate normal people from the Nevermore students. This doesn’t impact how I feel about the characters though.

5/10

__________________________________________

The Addams Essence

So this is apparently controversial, but I Greatly enjoyed Jenna’s take on Wednesday. She’s tired of everyone’s BS and just wants to do what interests her. She has a tough time expressing emotion but cares for her family and friends. She feels guilt and is just as creepy as Wednesday from the show. You can see the young Wednesday grow up to be her. I think everyone that’s calling her a cliche mean jerk is misunderstanding of what type of person Wednesday is. Now I know it’s a thin line to walk but I think Wednesday walks it well.

Thing is also a delight and he Carries every scene he is in. Very expressive for only being a hand. I think it was perfectly executed.

So while I respect the actor and actress that played Gomez and Morticia, I didn’t really feel the chemistry from the adult iterations. They were passable and they aren’t the main characters in this, but I just didn’t really get the vibe I was accustomed to with them. It felt more Told then shown. Young Morticia and Gomez were great and Gomez’s silent action was the Morticia and Gomez I knew.

Pugsly and Lurch were fine, very little screen time but it was acceptable.

Uncle fester was perfect casting. I even enjoyed the electric powers they gave him. The justification was that he acquired it from so much electrotherapy. Fred Armisen killed it.

Overall I would say that the Addams family was captured in spirit for the most part.

8.5/10

____________________________________________

New Characters

Enid is an amazing character and perfectly balanced out Wednesday. She is in a way her polar opposite, but they work great. I don’t say I ship it but I get why people do. Also she’s one of the few supernatural bits I like. The fact she is an incomplete werewolf is a very Addams choice

The principal being a shapeshifter was a fun bit but I think they could have done more with her and I’m sad that they basically killed her off. I wanted to know more of her past with Morticia.

I did not care for the therapist, she wasn’t a bad character, but she was kind of annoying

The town Sheriff added the element of man fighting against the weirdness for his own personal reasons. I enjoyed his character and how he was willing to work with Wednesday.

Tyler being the normal coffee barista that kind of gets Wednesday was fine. Felt like he was pursuing a manic pixie dream girl, until you find out the secret which makes him WAY more interesting.

Xavier Thorpe (the artist guy) was a total tool and it’s hard to tell if he was written that way or how he comes off, dude is a total “pick me” I wish he was actually the monster but he wasn’t, and it’s just a prick

Bianca Barclay is one of the best character, she starts out as the mean popular girl until you dig deeper and see why she has such a chip on her shoulder, joy Sunday does great work with her.

Marilyn Thornhill the dorm mother is an unassuming character that has some great bits and I especially loved the last episodes with her.

The rest of the characters were fine and did help give to the story in some way.

Overall 9/10

____________________________________________

The Mystery

To summarize, there is a monster attacking people and when it does it takes a body part from them.

Wednesday found herself pulled into the mystery along with a picture showing a vision involving her. It sounds completely unrelated but it is.

And the entire season revolves around Wednesday trying to figure out who or what the monster is and how that picture vision relates to her.

I will assume you’ve all watched the show so it’s pure spoilers going down here.

The reveal that the sheriff’s son was the Hyde was an interesting twist as it explained the sheriff’s distrust of the school after his wife’s death. Her being a Hyde and his son inheriting it.

The dorm mother was actually the long believed dead daughter of the family whose brother tried to kill Gomez after going crazy AND being related to the founder of the town who hunted witches.

Marilyn or actually Laurel Gates, awakened the Hyde using her knowledge of plants. Made the ritual to wake the dead resulting in Joseph Crackstone one of the founders of the town to be revived with evil magic.

The twists and red herrings were fine. It was not an obvious guess on some of the who and why but there were hints leading to Marilyn, and Tyler if one was especially eagle eyed.

Though I will say that Crackstone did feel a bit under developed but he was mainly there just to be the evil fight scene, which is fine.

mystery is 7.5/10

____________________________________________

Final thoughts

I think the show does things very well and while I don’t agree with all the choices, I do think it does capture the spirit of the Addams family while telling a new story.

I give it an 8.2/10

I’d like to see where it goes from here.

[sbbarnes]

Hockey Romances. Why?

So I was taken out of work a couple weeks ago due to ~pregnancy stuff~ (mostly just stress, the baby and I are fine) which has left me with a lot of spare time on my hands. And as one does, I have been filling my time reading lgbtq+ romance novels. Because I can.

In this time, I have fallen headfirst into the hockey romance novel subgenre, and I ask myself, as I have done every time I see these books advertised, why? I am not a sports fan. One time, my husband was watching football (European), and a team in red kits was playing against yellow kits, and I started laughing because "it looks like ketchup is playing against mustard". His expression was great, but he hasn't taken me seriously since.

So why is hockey of all things such a draw for the mlm romance subgenre? Especially given the NHL's apparent fear of rainbow tape? Why do I now know what the word "celly" refers to and what an "enforcer" is? Why why why?

Here are my answers:

Extremely organic way to set up some of the most classic romance tropes. Forced proximity? Being on the same team takes care of that. There was only one bed? Shared hotel rooms during away games. Enemies to lovers? Rival teams.

Lots of potential for drama given that players lead very transient lives in terms of the constant possibility of trades. In mlm love stories, even more so given that the NHL is so blatantly homophobic.

Perfect level of fame. Fame and wealth as a draw for a love interest are kind of staples of the genre, and NHL players are famous, sure, but not all of them, and they aren't as famous as football stars (either kind of football). They are still filthy rich, which makes great wish fulfillment. You can have the sexy penthouse and the anonymity.

I would go on to talk about how different roles on the team lend themselves to different tropes (goalie = tightly controlled dude who needs someone to help him cut loose; enforcer = misunderstood fighter with a heart of gold; coach for all your forbidden love/sleeping with the boss desires) but that would very quickly reveal my utter lack of hockey knowledge, so let's not. Instead, here's a quick reclist.

Rachel Reid's Game Changers series. It's a classic in the genre for a reason and it has everything. Forbidden love? Got that, maybe the definitive example. Redemption arc? Got that. Misunderstood bruiser with a heart of gold? Got that. Age difference? Got that. Also really excellent sex scenes, not gonna lie, and satisfying endings throughout - sometimes a happy end will come a little suddenly for me, but these books really delivered, and the nice thing about how romance series are structured is that you get a little peek at what comes after for the couples in the other books.

2. Him, Us and Epic by Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy. This one surprised me, I don't generally go for first person POVs, but I did enjoy this! Coming-of-age story turned coming out story featuring a budding hockey star and his best friend. Lots of fun.

3. Scoring Chances series by Avon Gale. This series is fun in that it doesn't focus on the NHL, it actually focuses on the minor leagues in the southeast of the US, a place almost no one associates with ice hockey. As such, there's a chance to tell different stories about professional athletes who aren't super rich and famous, which I appreciate a lot. TBH the first pairing wasn't entirely my cup of tea, but I'm glad I kept going because I especially enjoyed the later books, which tackle tough topics (including eating disorders, abuse etc., so content warning for that). These are still romance novels though, so rest assured that there's a light at the end of the tunnel. What I especially appreciate is that these books don't have relationship drama, in that the main couples communicate and work together instead of a third act break-up-make-up!

4. Hockey Ever After series by Ashlyn Kane and Morgan James. These are just great. Lots of fun to read, lots of cameos from character in later books, just excellent mood all around. Also features my favorite ever trope (secret relationship, sorry, anyone who knows me knows I am a sucker for it I just can't help myself) heavily, which is a win in my book. I especially enjoyed book two, "Scoring Position". Is that because Nico is German and I loved him? Is that because Ryan is my new blorbo? We may never know.

Happy reading and please give me recommendations for more books like these, I'm lowkey obsessed.

[brokehorrorfan]

4K UHD Review: The Guyver

Following in the wildly successful footsteps of Batman and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, The Guyver takes a (relatively) grounded approach to its outlandish source material — in this case, a Japanese manga series — without divorcing itself from its comic book roots. Produced by Brian Yuzna (Re-Animator, Society), the 1991 film is directed by special effects wizards Screaming Mad George (Society, A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master) and Steve Wang (Predator, The Monster Squad).

As the Star Wars-esque expository opening crawl explains, mankind was created by aliens as an organic weapon. The evil Chronos corporation is further developing a technology that allows humans to change into "super monster soldiers" known as Zoanoids for world domination. The only viable defense against them is The Unit, a piece of bio-booster alien armor that increases a human's natural powers a hundredfold, turning them into The Guyver.

Mark Hamill's top billing may lead you to believe that he's the titular hero, but he instead plays a supporting role as a CIA agent investigating Chronos. The real lead is Jack Armstrong (Student Bodies) as Sean Barker, an amateur martial artist who's the only person that can activate The Unit. When his girlfriend (Vivian Wu, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III) is endangered, Sean utilizes his newfound powers to take down Chronos and the Zoanoids.

Armstrong is a bland lead, but it's not entirely his fault. In addition to a mustachioed Hamill channeling Colombo, he has to compete with several scene-stealing character actors. Re-Animator's David Gale chews the scenery as the malevolent head of Chronos, briefly reuniting with Jeffrey Combs as the company's scientist, Dr. East (get it?). Michael Berryman (The Hills Have Eyes) plays Gale's right-hand Zoanoid with Jimmie Walker (Good Times) as his rapping goon. Linnea Quigley (The Return of the Living Dead) cameos as a scream queen.

But the real stars of the show are the creatures, the designs of which showcase boundless creativity. The Guyver looks like Ultraman by way of Clive Barker, and each Zoanoid adopts a different animal's traits. While a number of other artists were employed to pull off the myriad of monsters, George and Wang's fingerprints are all over the effects, imbuing the alien superhero movie with some disturbing body-horror.

Jon Purdy's script deviates significantly from source material not only in terms of story but also tone. While some of the manga's dark atmosphere and violence remain intact, it's undercut by goofy humor in an attempt to appeal to a younger demographic. Fans of Yoshiki Takaya's original creation were no doubt disappointed (Wang attempted a bit of a course correction with his 1994 sequel, Guyver: Dark Hero), but the tonal confusion is actually charming.

Originally cut down to a PG-13 rating in the US, The Guyver has been newly restored in 4K from the original, R-rated 35mm camera negative with DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and 2.0 options for Unearthed Films' 4K UHD + Blu-ray release. Far removed from the days of Jaws and Alien in which the monster was largely hidden in shadows, George and Wang put their creations on full display — and even with a crystal-clear restoration, the in-camera effects shine.

Two new audio commentaries are included. The first is a lively one with George and Wang, moderated by Budget Biomorphs: The Making of The Guyver Films author Dom O’Brien. It's not the most informative track — the filmmakers admit to not having seen the film in over two decades — but they're enjoying themselves so much that it hardly matters. The second commentary features creature crew members "Evil" Ted Smith and Wyatt Weed, who delve into the nitty-gritty of the effects.

Yuzna and George each sit down for thorough new interviews. Yuzna reveals that he's been approached about a remake, but the rights are complicated, while George's infectious energy lasts the entire 56 (!) minutes. Creature suit camera test footage is included with commentary options from George and Wang or Smith and Weed, while outtakes and a gag reel feature George and Wang commentary.

Other extras include: alternate title sequences in English, German and Spanish; English, German, Spanish, and French trailers (all carrying the alternate title Mutronics); and extensive promotional and production galleries. The collector's edition also comes with the soundtrack CD composed by Matthew Morse (Silent Night, Deadly Night 5: The Toy Maker) and a booklet featuring liner notes by O’Brien and Morse.

The Guyver is available now on 4K UHD via Unearthed Films.

[obsessed-vampire]

I just finished The Hunger Games book. Amazing, spectacular, out of this fucking world. Now time to read catching fire.

[starrynightsxo]

THE HUNGER GAMES MOCKINGJAY BOOK REVIEW

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.75

Wow, this book is so well-thought out and thought-provoking. I loved finishing this series, I've enjoyed every minute.

SPOILERS AHEAD

There were such sad moments. So much death. More so in this book than any of the others. With Finnick, Jackson, the Leegs, Boggs and not to mention Prim??? It was like being blown up with her 😭. Whilst I was so with Katniss in killing Coin, it annoys me that Snow went down laughing. He got his last laugh which always will bug me!! However, I totally understand why she did what she did.

Gale. Thank GOD he's gone. I was trying to shake this girl at the beginning of this book when she was acting horribly with Peeta after he came back from torture from the Capitol. Like I know you are hurt but Peeta would do everything for you and you get annoyed because he said "you're not particularly pretty", girl get a GRIP. The ending with Peeta is deserved because he and her should be together. I am forever a Peeta Defender.

One thing I will say is I NEED a whole lifestory from what happens after to before the epilogue. I need Peeta and Katniss happiness together. TELL PEETA HE'S GONNA BE A DAD - I NEEDED TO BE THERE FOR THE REACTION. PEETA AND KATNISS CHILLING ON THE SOFA - I NEED TO IMAGINE IT. SHOW ME PEETA PLAYING WITH HIS CHILDREN - I NEED TO READ ABOUT THIS. SUZANNE. I BEG. GIVE ME THIS.