#i want my favorite characters to get closure and see their mysteries get answered. not completely dropped.

[cross-my-heartt]

Why I don't think anyone from the batch is going to die in Season 3

Alright this was supposed to be in Part 3 of my Three Act Structure analysis but it's gotten rather long so I'm making it a separate post.

The premise here is that a large part of the third act is often the process of tying up subplots and providing closure for the audience. (Unless we get an open ending which I doubt since we have a whole season to cram full of content.)

And in my opinion killing off any member of the batch would serve to cut their respective subplots short rather then resolve them. Here's what I mean:

Let's start with Tech. Making Tech’s death final means an untimely end to not one but several subplots. First and most obvious is the goal of reuniting the batch. And I mean the batch in its entirety. Next is his romance with Phee which was in its development stage when it was cut short and finally there’s the mystery of his possible survival which, given how many casual and non casual viewers are convinced he’s alive, is an ongoing subplot, an active mystery.

And answering the question of ‘how he survived’ with ‘he didn’t’ is likely to put off a large part of the audience.

Next is Crosshair and the entire subplot of getting him back to his brothers.

Crosshair is the missing piece that has been creating tension since episode one of season one. A character who has already sacrificed himself for the good of the group making another sacrifice repetitive and redundant. Who has largely redeemed himself and has gotten his own miniature hero’s journey where the hero hasn’t been ‘rewarded’ yet. Who was once forcefully prevented from returning before making a decision to leave, a choice that he now has the chance of making again.

In short killing Crosshair now… doesn’t make sense on any front.

Then there’s Echo, another option with little narrative logic behind it. There was an immense effort made to bring Echo back after he died in TCW so there’s the element of redundancy in killing him again. It would also completely obliterate his subplot with Rex, because here’s the thing:

If at any point there is emphasis put on a character’s choice, especially one involving an interesting personal/moral dilemma, killing that character before he’s able to give his answer is an extremely unsatisfying thing to do.

As an audience we naturally want to know what conclusion the character reaches. Hunter and Echo had a conversation where Hunter asked Echo ‘when it would be enough’ and thus far we haven’t heard Echo’s answer. We don’t know whether he’s made up his mind on which life he’s going to choose, which one he will prioritize or how he will possibly balance them; whether the new circumstances introduced by the show have somehow swayed him in either direction.

These are all very interesting questions. And depriving us of an answer, a resolution, a character defining choice feels cheap. Almost like a cop out following a good baiting. What’s the point of giving us complexity if it’s going to lead to a dead end?

Next in the lineup is Omega who has been such a crucial driving force behind the batch’s decisions that killing her off would be beyond stupid. Much like Echo, she’s the source of many quandaries that I’m sure the audience would rather see answered than have them be cut short.

Character development and complexity is built through the important decisions characters make when faced with dilemmas. And taking those dilemmas away either stunts growth or leaves us without any insight into the character’s mind.

Characters who are forced into a certain path for lack of any choice can quickly become one dimensional. Deprived of the chance to demonstrate agency, personality and their values. Crosshair was such an instant fan favorite because he was allowed to make choices. He was compelling regardless of whether we agreed with him or not.

So what happens if Omega is torn away from the batch? What happens to the question of family versus being soldiers? Of safety versus risk? Of the familiar versus the unknown? Do we really want our heroes thrown back into the fight out of despair? Out of a sense of revenge? Or do we want a slow building realization brought to a satisfying conclusion. You tell me.

And finally let’s not forget how much of Star Wars centers around hope and in particular, passing the torch to the next generation. There’s a whole dissertation to be written here but I’ll refrain from it and just say that killing off the youngest member of the batch who’s supposed to carry their legacy and lessons into the future would be a pointless slap to the face of much of what the franchise represents.

And last but not least there’s Hunter and Wrecker who I’m putting in the same basket as they’re similar in that there’s no immediately apparent reason or subplot keeping them safe. Well, none besides the question of why... Why do it really? The only thing I can think of is shock factor and my personal stance on that is borderline derision. It’s one of the cheapest most narratively pointless tropes out there and I expect better from the show.

If we had to go into the nitty gritty, I’d say Hunter is safer from getting the chop because a) there’s his developing parental relationship with Omega b) he’s already been in a critical situation where he’s shown to be ready to sacrifice himself (I’m talking about Daro where he tells them to leave him behind. Honestly it’s redundant to show any of the batch sacrifice themselves for the others because we get it. We’ve seen it. It’s really really redundant at this point.) and c) he’s one of the main decision making forces in the squad so we expect the answers pertaining to their future to come from him.

And honestly there’s more. There’s the fact that he and Crosshair were the representatives of two opposing worldviews so seeing them reconcile and reunite would be a satisfying moment. There’s Hunter’s guilt for leaving Crosshair behind, Crosshair’s resentment for being left behind (both things that have been largely forgotten after the Outpost despite being unresolved. There’s been this pervasive attitude of ‘haha you were wrong all the time, stupid! now grovel’ that seems to invalidate everything that’s happened before that but …sigh… another post for another day).

So I suppose the conclusion here is… Wrecker is in danger? If we believe that someone is definitely going to die. Though I certainly can’t promise anyone that the writers won’t throw us a curve ball or introduce some new narrative reason for a carnage.

[valleyfthdolls]

Quick FNAF analysis: Why and how I think Cassie's dad died

Content warning: This is very long (TLDR at the end) Trigger warning: Death

Why I think Cassie's dad died

I'll be the first to admit that a small part of me mostly hopes that Cassie's dad is dead because Cassie is only one of two female protagonists we've ever gotten and I'd hate to see the progression of the story from here be that Cassie was fridged and overshadowed for her dad's development. However, I also think that it's likely that he is in fact dead.

Everyone who's brought this up- and I do mean everyone- has talked about the item descriptions and Cassie referring to her dad in the past tense, and the common rebuttal for this is that he could simply be absent from her life.

However, this is unlikely for one main reason: look at the other missing character who was absent in her life. Gregory.

We know Gregory probably wasn't present in her life for long before disappearing. Less than a year, most likely, since they met at her birthday party and she went looking for him before the next birthday. I'm willing to bet based on his total lack of legal records and Vanessa not recognizing him as a missing child that he's been gone long enough for the case to have gone cold, more or less. That would at least be a couple of months. If you consider GGY canon, Cassie is not present at school and is never mentioned, which could take off another few months. (Funnily enough, at one point, the Spanish version of the FNAF wiki asserted that the two were likely school friends.) Likely, Gregory was missing for just as long as if not longer than Cassie was friends with him, and yet:

"Freddy is Gregory's favorite."

Not was, is.

This could be because she thinks she's talking to Gregory, so she has reason to believe he's alive, but to me, it feels intentional. It's the exact same quote as "Bonnie was my dad's favorite", but in the present tense. It makes me think that at the very least, Cassie has no reason to believe her father is alive.

Also, this note that I can't believe no one talks about.

This note appears in the AR world, as found by me and my friend Kani. If my memory serves me correctly (might not), it was found in the raceway. It's akin, to me, to the cutouts of Gregory. It represents something she's lost. But unlike with Gregory, where it's easy for her to believe he's been alive this whole time, Cassie makes no indication she believes or even hopes that her dad is alive. I think she's likely accepted that he died, but subconsciously, it may still weigh on her. See:

Monty very obviously destroyed Bonnie. Associating Bonnie with her father as she seems to, it's hard for her to look at Monty. Maybe in her eyes, he destroyed her dad, in a sense, and also:

Speaking of associating him with Bonnie.

I think Cassie is likely projecting all of these unanswered questions onto the mystery of Gregory under the building, because there's an answer coming to that, and she isn't going to be getting an answer for what happened to her dad. If this is true- and this part is mere speculation- the case of her father's death could be closed, ruled an inexplicable freak accident. If it was still a mystery, or if he was still missing, there would still be a case and a reason to search for him, but there's not. There's no hope of closure and reunion to hold onto. So all hope is funneled into seeing Gregory again.

But if her father's death is confirmed, if the case has been closed without the truth coming out, then what actually happened?

How I think Cassie's dad died (and it was not the staff meeting)

I think, simple as all things, that the ending of Help Wanted 2 represents the death of Cassie's father. He could be the protagonist, but that raises some questions about the Princess Quest ending- in all honesty, HW2 is a game I don't really understand the significance of, and given all the wildly varying and painfully unfounded theories, I have a hard time believing anyone really does. Regardless, I do think that HW2 showed us his fate. And I don't think it's what fans think.

A lot of people chalk Cassie's dad's death up to the staff meeting referenced in Security Breach. The leading theory goes that with the heavy emphasis put on going, it was definitely something sinister.

Attendance is mandatory, despite how late it is. There's a risk of being laid off if you don't go. And then, not too far away, a message saying that they no longer need a lot of their staff due to the success of the STAFF Bot project. What most fans believe is that staff meeting was a way for Vanny to congregate staff members and use the endoskeletons (who she had trained not to not react violently to the presence of cake, and one of whom has a model in the files where it is covered in cake)-

I don't know who the guy in the top right is-

-And that the fifteen victims' deaths were covered up with a "staff retreat" mentioned in Special Delivery, but the kitchen it happened in was left in a state of total disarray.

However, I doubt this. First of all, Karen Soto is on there twice, which isn't relevant to this but I needed to point it out. Second of all, I doubt that the massacre actually even happened, third, Special Delivery took place in the early days of the Pizzaplex's creation, before they would've been able to replace people with STAFF Bots (which we know was done around the same time), and fourth, if Cassie's dad died at the end of HW2- which I have no idea why else they'd show us that if it wasn't relevant to Cassie and I'll explain that in a second- it doesn't align with the details of the supposed staff meeting massacre.

Let me explain.

I doubt that the massacre actually even happened: The evidence is few and far between, and flimsy at that. A mandatory meeting, the endoskeletons being violent in response to quite literally everything, not just cake, a staff retreat that might not have even happened at the right time to be related, and a single endoskeleton with cake on it that isn't actually in the game. Also, if that was the cause of the mess in the kitchen, A) why was the meeting in the kitchen? B) wouldn't the company want to cover it up by cleaning up the kitchen before going with faking a company retreat from which apparently no one questioned that fifteen people never returned?

Cassie's dad's potential death doesn't align with the details: If we put my skepticism about the massacre ever happening at all aside and assume it did, if Cassie's dad died at the end of HW2- and again, I don't think that they would show this to us if it wasn't relevant to her- it couldn't have possibly been in the massacre.

First and foremost, that scene is immediately followed by watching Cassie take the VANNI mask, meaning that what we just saw not only predates Ruin, but is also important to it. Therefore it has to be relevant to Cassie, to Ruin as a whole. I think it makes the most sense, then, that we're not just following any random ass technician but rather Cassie's own father.

Beyond that, though, looking at the scene, Cassie's dad is not in the kitchen. He's underground in the old pizzeria. And there, Cassie's dad is attacked by Vanny's weird nightmare STAFF Bots. These weren't the tools she used in the massacre- that was the endoskeletons. No other people appear where Cassie's dad died. There is no cake. This is not the staff meeting.

Plus, if I'm right about Cassie knowing that her dad is dead, then that negates the cover-up part of the massacre.

But why would he individually have been targeted?

Look back at the note.

"Gone for a while" is ominous. You'd think if it was the staff meeting, it'd be "gone for the night", but it's "gone for a while." That suggests something odd. He didn't think that it was something innocuous. He was expecting to be gone for a while.

Cassie's dad was a technician. The technicians were the ones who caught onto P46 hacking into the system and were trying to keep [her] out and fix things. As described later, the glitch was "broadcasting a very dangerous message."

Attempts to remove the glitch did nothing. It was certainly obvious to these techs that whatever was happening was sinister in nature. So maybe Cassie's dad was trying to put a stop to it. To keep P46 out of the system and fix the damage [she] had caused in a way that would cause meaningful change. And in this way, he ended up in [her] line of fire.

As the fourth therapist points out, the previous therapist's body was "mangled by machinery". Knowing of The Mimic and what it does in Tales from the Pizzaplex- decapitating and dismembering its victims- that sounds like it could be described as them being "mangled by machinery." And it happens when they become suspicious of Patient 46's behaviors.

The STAFF Bots are trained on the same program as the Mimic. They're taught by watching. Showing them what actions to replicate. That's at least what HW2 suggests. So if the Mimic program is corrupted, then Vanny or P46 could use the STAFF Bots trained on it to do the kind of damage described to the therapists, and the kind of damage done to Vanny herself in the disassembled ending. (Now, that ending might not have happened, but I imagine it must have been within the realm of possibility at least in Gregory's mind, and they could dismember Freddy, who is much larger than a human.)

Cassie's dad was a technician, the group that became suspicious of Patient 46's behaviors. Others who became suspicious were brutally murdered, potentially dismembered, "by machinery". The STAFF Bots in particular would be easy to get to do such a thing because they're programmed just like the already-prone-to-dismembering-people Mimic, and we know that it is absolutely in their power to dismember people.

And what was he attacked by?

STAFF Bots.

TLDR; Cassie refers to her dad consistently in the past tense even though she refers to Gregory (also missing) in the present tense, and doesn't seem to think or hope that she can see her dad again. She seems to have accepted that her dad is dead even though she doesn't know how. As for how, he wasn't at the staff meeting where people were supposedly attacked and killed in the kitchen by endoskeletons; he was a technician who got suspicious of Patient 46, or Vanny, or The Mimic, or whoever, and the STAFF Bots, trained by the same program as the Mimic and corrupted by it, physically tore him apart just like the Mimic does to its victims.

[mossbone]

C3E37 and Genre Thoughts

I’m seeing so many theories on the latest episode re: Laudna’s past and the things we saw, and here’s my take. On the last 4-sided dive, Marisha said she based ~Laudna~ as her character’s name based on laudanum, the medication. She chose it because “it sounded a little weird, and hazy...and fucks with your head.”

I believe episode 37 reflected that, on purpose.

With the additional knowledge that her birth name was ~Matilda~ it makes so much sense that she has such a personality-fitting name, because she chose it. And I don’t think it’s a coincidence that as a lonely child with magic powers she shared a name with Roald Dahl’s famous Matilda who did the same. But then Matilda died, and her narrative, her genre changed. So of course her name did too.

Delilah has been messing with her head and her memories for 30-odd years and episode 37 really showed us exactly what that looks like. The ages jumping around, the town shifting illogically, the purple sparks of our favorite dead girl answering to both names sometimes, the uncertainty of whether or not fighting her worst memories was changing anything, unsure if they were reaching out to her actual spirit all those times...not even knowing if the horrorscape was under the control of Delilah, or Laudna, or Something Else.

In the horror-adjacent novel Harrow the Ninth, there are both real ghosts and personal hallucinations and we never really get closure on which was which for certain scenes. The author goes into a little bit about that being on purpose, because sometimes the horror is in not knowing, and sometimes the horror is in having to rely on people you cannot trust to tell you what’s real, and sometimes it doesn’t matter if the horrors are physically real or not because you are experiencing them and that’s all that matters.

I feel like Matt took a similar approach with this episode, and I see so many people trying to decipher a Fundamental Truth about why Andy called her Matilda but her parents called her Laudna or other inconsistencies that happened. The theories are getting more and more elaborate, and like, that makes sense! Human nature is to solve mysteries! And I could be wrong but I don’t think there is an in-universe concrete reason. Of course people want there to be an answer—it’s terrifying to not understand what’s happening around you. But this was a horror episode! We got to see the characters physically explore the confusion and manipulation going on in Laudna’s head, so I think some things were meant to be nebulous or outright contradictory. Trauma does that to the brain. It makes you remember things wrong, and having the woman who killed you squatting in your mind, filling it with dark powers and shadowy illusions only expounds on that. Which is terrifying! So of course us viewers don’t like that and are trying to find safe logical paths to The Truth. But sometimes The Truth isn’t simple. Sometimes you can’t find the clues to understand what Actually Happened.

This episode, we got an inside look into Laudna’s mind. It was weird, and hazy, and fucked. Like a too-strong dose of laudanum.

[lola-andheruniverse]

"K" for the ask game ❤️

Oh, hi, dear anon! Sorry for the wait!

K - What character has your favorite development arc/the best development arc?

UGH! This is a tough one. I want so much to answer Carol from The Waalking Dead, my dear babe who started as an fearful, abused, "mousey" wife and through so much fire and pain (and love, she has so much love) became the ZA badass queen....BUT, and I hate this but, unfortunately, TPTB put her so many times on endless cycles of misery and grief, rewashing the same narrative over and over again, that they stunted her development arc and ended the main show without giving her a happy ending. So, because she's victim of a very bad storytelling, I can't choose her.

I have to go with Clara, from Doctor Who. Moffat had a lot of issues as a showrunner but he had a clear plan when he created Clara. Her character is a celebration of all things Doctor Who and a love letter to the show. At the beginning, she's a cute, intelligent and stubborn girl (more afraid than she appears but trying so much to be brave), nothing groundbreaking except she already died twice saving The Doctor and he can't understand why she keeps coming back, why she keeps saving him. A "mystery wrapped in an enigma, squeezed into a skirt that's just a little bit too tight", as the 11th Doctor describes her. We discover that she's not a mystery, she's just an ordinary, magnificent girl who made an impossible choice: to split herself over time and space to save him because she loves him. She's just human. And, because of that, she's capable of the most amazing and impossible things. She gets older, and smarter, and braver, until the point she's not only the ultimate companion, but Doctor Clara. A force to be reckoned with, the only one to truly match the Doctor on his cleverness and his recklessness. She starts as the girl who was born to save The Doctor and becomes a Doctor herself. Her development arc comes to a full closure with a bittersweet and a little-bit-happy-a-little-bit-tragic but so fitting ending, leaving the door open for a bunch of new stories that could be explored on a spin-off without changing her ending on the main show. Its chief storytelling, beautifully written and executed. So, yeah, anon, what would I give to see Carol's arc planned and developed like Clara's. Sorry for the most convoluted answer ever. This was fun!

[sheisbeautyweareworldass]

the inheritance games trilogy final thoughts:

after pulling two all-nighters - for each of the first two books - and learning to manage my time and adding some sleeping hours in-between my tfg reading, i finished my second murder/mystery trilogy that i had no idea involved murder or mystery of the year… i should start reading synopsis 🫡

i’m gonna start off with my biggest issue and easiest thing to rant about lmao, keep an eye out for spoilers

so, here’s my thing with love triangles: if you aren’t going to do you best with it, than maybe it’s better to scrap that idea off instead of half-assing it. i think it was okay in the first book - i even said here how i found myself looking forward those scenes and eating it up - but i feel like everything went down in the second book. to start, i genuinely believe the “who’s avery gonna end with” was answered halfway through that book and everyone kinda knew that, what made the persistence of that topic in the third book annoying and useless.

also, it severely harmed grayson’s arc imo. with avery and james dating, gray was out of the picture except when it came to jameson feeling jealous and making avery angst - in order words: he existed only to help develop their relationship. but saying that was his only purpose in the last book is wrong, because he was keeping his distance from avery, the logical choice was to glue him to eve’s side and bring up his trauma and feelings for emily at every scene he appeared. i also think the whole gray/avery thing got no closure…? there’s not really a moment where they both talk about their feelings for each other to each other, just a loooot of repressing until the very last page of the book.

i think what i want to say is that choosing jameson so soon felt quite… lazy? like. he was the “obvious” choice from the beginning so i thought we would have to work a little bit more to get there, but nah, two kisses and we were already there. pair this with what i said above about the lack of true romantic confrontation between avery and grayson and you can see why i think the author choose the quickest way to the easiest road (which is not to say she didn’t make the right choice, i just don’t like the way it was given to me)

sometimes it felt like the author was really pushing the love triangle agenda when it didn’t even made sense/matched the tone of the story?? i would probably have eaten it up in 2013 but i don’t think the world needs another two-brothers-falling-in-love-for-the-same-girl-for-second-time-in-a-way-that-would-make-you-think-they-share-the-same-type-but-they-really-don’t-since-the-first-girl-was-a-cunt-and-the-second-one-is-an-angel story when that spot is forever taken by tvd.

now, about the characters:

i really don’t have much to say 😭 i wasn’t head over heels for anyone and i also wasn’t in the murder mode for anyone (well, maybe for vincent blake’s misogynistic ass and i wouldn’t say no to punching skye in the face). avery is a good main character, the hawthorne brothers are all nice - xander is probably my favorite, if i’d to pick one. libby 100% deserves more pages, as did max. alisa is a good character to have in a book because she’s easy to bring out doubts at the readers (is she trustworthy, is she a threat, is she selfish, is she telling the truth). oren is the goat and i’m surprised avery didn’t end the book by mentioning how he’s lowkey a father figure to her. i think thea and rebecca were written very bidimensional- thea’s a girl boss, rebecca doesn’t think she’s enough, they’re in love, the end.

about the riddles:

definitely not obvious. comparing to the mysteries in tgggtm, for example, i think they were way harder to decipher. i think the only ones i beforehand were toby being adopted, toby not being avery’s biological dad and liam not being just some random dude and bring somehow related to toby’s abduction 😭 tobias hawthorne’s final explanation that he chose avery to inherit everything because he could deal with her dying as a consequence of his actions but couldn’t risk any of the boys suffering with it made sense and i think it was the most reasonable motive.

[mikireyna]

Best of Best 2023: Scott Pilgrim Takes Off

What if Scott Pilgrim…dies?

Would Ramona do the same thing that Scott did if the roles were reversed? 

Those are the questions that Scott Pilgrim Takes Off and how they answer them in eight episodes made it my Best of the Best for 2023.

When we started planning the Best of the Best for 2023, Scott Pilgrim Takes off was pretty high in my ideas for this category. I even had Ramona as Best Female and the main couple pretty high in contention for Best Couple. Though, when I was writing Ramona for Best Female was when I realized that I couldn’t put her in Best Female. While she was great and amazing in the show with her taking the lead as main character. The thing is that it was overall the whole situation that she was in that made it great. It took everything you knew about Scott Pilgrimand and just reversed it. Ramona wasn’t the prize or the princess. She was out there doing the legwork in finding out what happened to Scott Pilgrim. Thus, a show that you thought was going to be filled with fights was instead made into a mystery whodunit. 

Of course there was some fighting in the show but this time we had Ramona not only be the center of it but also the forefront. 

But let’s get past Ramona and talk about this show! It is a pretty solid mystery show that really does have plenty of surprises. From how they handle the Seven Evil Exes where each one of them gets some sort of closure to expanding the world beyond Scott Pilgrim’s precious little life. It even makes fun of the live action movie because they actually make a movie in the show that is pretty much just the live action movie but everything goes wrong. Haha So if you are a fan of the original movie then you will get a few good laughs with the few episodes involving the movie. Heck. One of the movie episodes is pretty much done documentary style. So this show gets some awesome points in just playing around with the medium of entertainment. 

We also see the other characters like Knives, Young Neil and Kim get some attention as well. Especially Knives, who you get to see grow and move past Scott and learn more about herself. And I do love some good Knives stuff. This show brings back all the favorite characters you may love from the comics and live action movie plus the ones you hate. Then gives you a reason to love them all. It takes the time to really give them all a purpose and feel that makes them complete instead of just obstacles that need to be punched. 

Eventually Scott does come back and they handle that pretty well because the show does a great job in keeping Ramona as the main character. Even the final fight had it where Ramona finally confronts her issues of running away and learns the power of love.

Herself. 

Honestly, Scott Pilgrim Takes Off is an amazing show and it is pretty funny that the title was a hint to what would happen. Scott Pilgrim really does take off. And Ramona steps up to be the main character. The show was so good that it did something that the live action movie failed to do. Pick up the comics and read them all. I really wanted to see how these characters from the anime stack up with the characters from the comics. And while they are different due to the situations they are in, it really does feel like if this did happen that the characters did act the way they were in the comics. Which makes this anime really takes off. 

Honorable Mention: My Adventures with Superman- It would have gotten Best of the Best. It was a fresh take on Superman. Heck just Superman in general for animation. Cute and funny.

[doodlebloo]

Ok well if they reset and do Dream SMP season 2 I may not care about it because Michael_Beloved wont be there. Everybody else have fun

[thealmightyemprex]

Sci Fi Month :Close Encounters of the Third Kind

In this 1977 film , Roy Neary (Richard Dreyfus ),is among many who witness a UFO,becoming utterly obsessed with it while the government lead by  Claude Lacombe (Francois Truffaut ) investigates this possible chance at first contact

For the purposes of this review I watched the theatrrical cut ,I dont know if that was the right call,cause it did feel like stuff was cut out ,but this film blew audiences away in 1977 ,so I wanted to see that version

So back in the day this movie was a big deal ,Stephen Spielbergs second blockbuster,helping lead to the Sci Fi boom of the late 70's and 80's ,it was praised by Ray Bradbury , and even when I was a kid it was considered a big deal .....That has stopped,I dont really hear people talk about this as one of Spielbergs greats anymore ,in fact its not discussed that much at all nowadays

As for me ?I like id ,thought it was pretty good ,though it is not a favorite . Honestly I get both why it was a big splash back in the day but why it isnt as talked about now

What makes the film work is it really dials up the mystery ,for every clue there is a question and the ones that dont need to be answered arent answered .I also commend the film for telling a belivable first contact narrative ,with no monsters or villains ,and handling sci fi with a realistic lens.ACticing is all good ,Richard Dreyfuss is a good lead , Teri Garr was solid as the struggling wife ,Tobert Blossom has a fun small role as a farmer who witnesses the aliens ,Melinda Dillon is belivable as a frightened mother and Bob Balaban is really good as a translator .The performance and charaqcter I like the most though is from a non actor ,French filmmaker Francois Truffaut really stole the movie as a UFO expert ,and his performance really impressed me .The reaql star of the film though are the effects which hold up even 45 years later,like these effects are spectacular

The problem with the film really is the main characters arc ,cause it is very polarizing What I think the film is trying to do .He's a normal guy whose find himself drawn to something grand...PRoblem is well,the interpertation I got is the guy is having a meltdown due to an obsession ,which destroys his realtionship with his family and is....REwarded for it.I guess the fact we get NO closure with the family doesnt help.I know Spielberg regrets the ending ,but the ending itself doesnt bother me ,I think its the right ending ,the way getting to it does .I also have seen the film interpreted as an allegory for mental illness and due to my own experiences ,I cringe at this interpertation ,cause if it is ....How Terri Garrs character handles it is not how ya deal with mental illnesses

OVerall though I do like the movie,though the main arc doesnt work for me .If you havent seen it check it out ,its still a spectical

@ariel-seagull-wings @metropolitan-mutant-of-ark @marquisedemasque @filmcityworld1 @princesssarisa @the-blue-fairie @amalthea9 @angelixgutz

[kimsnnn]

Part 1

Disclaimer: This post is in favor of my ship, Elriel. No hate, just an opinion. This is what makes sense to me. If this isn't your cup of tea, and it came up on your feed, no worries just skip please. 

If you look at it this way:

If the series were to officially end at ACOWAR then that would mean that there would be no need to add any more books due to the majority of the plot being resolved. If there were slight questions or plot holes that were left open, we as readers can basically create our own conclusion based of where these characters and their stories were left off at. That’s the beauty of being a reader, being able to use our imagination to extend the stories based on canon information to infer or even speculate what happened to those beloved characters of ours.

If its easy to answer these questions, fill these plot holes and resolve any issues within that story, then there would be no need for any additional books, and lets say there were questions that were pressing but not complicated to answer, a simple extra book could be added to resolve that like ACOFAS. ACOFAS could’ve concluded everything. She could’ve also showed Feyre or whoever freeing Vassa and then created a whole spin off on Vassa and her adventures including the plot of her defeating her captor Koschei while also dealing with the queens and humans basically introducing us to a whole new world and continent with new fae/fae territories (like chaol introduced in his book from ToG). Her LI would most likely be Jurian because Lucien would have ended up with Elain which we know because she resolved that in ACOFAS.

BUT

That’s not at all what happened. Things were not answered/resolved during ACOFAS.

The author which in this case is SJM knew that whatever obvious inferences/speculation we the fandom would have is not the accurate ending she had for these characters. So she decided to introduce far more books into the series as standalones but, still part of the overarching plot to truly get the full scope of what she has in store for these characters. Why make additional books based on the obvious ?  She’s a writer, she knows the importance of creating mystery or writing plot twists that we either didn’t or decided not to realize or even accept. So ACOFAS and even ACOWAR wasn’t there to answer last minute questions, to show us that our favorite ships did end up together, no it was there to be used to set up future stories like SJM said and be as close as can be as opposite of obvious.

At the End of ACOWAR we have :

Nesta

-THAT Nessian moment 🥰  (& Nessian moments in general in ACOWAR)

We can infer based on where those characters were left off that :

-They would end up together eventually.  I mean come on, Cass’s line *chef’s kiss*.

BUT what people forget is that was also her breaking point (trauma) 

-We didn’t know how her trauma would affect her, her life and loved ones, & how she’d heal Or what were even her powers. These questions were built up throughout all of ACOWAR

So what did SJM do?

-She wrote the answers to those questions in ACOSF while also resolving questions about Nessian’s status especially since Nesta first had to start healing to let herself be loved.

The evidence ? The set up to gain support to find these answers ? Its in ACOFAS

-Nesta’s drinking, isolation, rage, fear, loneliness and self hate

-Nesta’s avoidance of her sisters, the IC and Cassian

-Cassian’s persistence, confusion. Feeling helpless.

Same thing can be seen for Elain

At the end of ACOWAR

Elain

-Civilness between E and L.  She seems more at peach and want to plan gardens/rebuild

We can infer

-Elain talked to Lucien so she forgave him or is on track to forgive him. From this we can assume the possibility of Elucien being endgame.

Elain also must be healed because she smiled and wants to help rebuild. So that all equals acceptance of her powers (on occasionally seeing things and that it, that’s her power), her new life and bond

BUT what we forget is the iconic Elriel moments (Hybern camp & truth teller connection), Elain’s world/future going up in flames, the consequences/trauma of having been gifted these powers

-We don’t know the full scope of her powers, why the cauldron adores her, how she feels, why were we given blooming moments between Elriel 

So again what will SJM probably do?

-Set Elriel to be endgame. Cause civility/friendship/forgiveness/CLOSURE between Elain and Lucien. Get In depth about her powers, her trauma and how it has affected the life she thought she would have. Have her come into her role in the NC and have self growth. 

The evidence? Its in ACOFAS & ACOSF

-Elain’s anger and desperation to have a choice, to have her own agency

-Elain’s avoidance, tolerance, discomfort of Lucien ( she wilts and regresses)

-Elain’s push to contribute more and firmly declare she’s a member of the NC

-Elriel’s tension & build up ( glances, smiles, blushing, gifts, humor, awareness, longing, protectiveness, attraction, actively trying to distract themselves, etc I could go on and on)

-Confirmation of Elain’s power still existing. Her whereabouts: where is Elain when the IC are facing obstacles?

-Her visions still to happen. The fourth dead trove needs to be found: it makes sense that it would be found by Elain (& Az) ( the crown: Braiylln, the harp & mask: Nesta, the fourth trove: Elain)

*If there are 3 cauldron made and Braiylln found one (& is now dead), Nesta found 2 but couldn't get a good read of the fourth, that means it'll be up to Elain & Azriel because they are basically the only two in the IC who closely work with shadows and even mist. Maybe Nuala and Cerridwen would also join in searching which id love.

Now let’s ignore the evidence.

From that moment at the end of ACOWAR again: 1) we see Elain who seems better and 2)we have Elain and Lucien who seem to be in a civil place 

So we assume she’s healed or on track, and her relationship with Lucien is looking up. So why would SJM write a whole standalone on the obvious?

If she’s healed and okay, if she and Lucien will be a sailing ship why be so secretive and unclear on Elain’s story, on who she ends up with?

Nessian was so clear, there was no REAL doubt that they would not end up together despite the obstacles between them, two of them being her rage and trauma. But Nessian would be and are endgame period. All the other “prospects” were just for angst, development and humor. Not real threats.

She wrote Nesta’s story because the worry and question wasn’t on Nessian’s validity, she established their validity and their romance when Nesta prepared to die with Cassian, when Cassian promised to find more time with her, when Nesta called for Cassian, when Nesta Wass worried for Cassian, when Nesta would constantly pay attention to him without realizing it (his wings) when Cassian ran after her during solstice, when Cassian bought her a gift etc. The worry and questions were ALWAYS on and about Nesta’s role, powers, and trauma because they were the influencing factor that affected everyone’s future, Nesta’s life/health and Nessian’s ability to finally able to come together.

If Elucien were endgame we as a fandom would know without a doubt that they are. There would be many more moments of ooh’s and hmmm’s and less mystery and confusion on their validity. There would be far more angst and these characters would have be seen more often together (seeking each other out, but Elain never does) or at least have them have more than one scene of mutual civilness where they dont talk awkwardly, and have a real conversation not one that seems forced, especially by Feyre. Even with the obstacles between them and their distance (because of the obvious elephant in the room) we should have scenes that showcases clear interest between them but we don’t. There is only one true scene where we have that and its at the end of ACOWAR, Im not blind i could see where people might interpret it as Elucien confirmation and who knows maybe I'm wrong and it is but, I read that differently. That to me was confirmation that a friendship between them is possible. Something completely platonic but just as sweet in a different way. That scene to me wasn’t charged it was not even a slow burn or even a spark it was healing and the foreshadowing of a possible friendship.

ALSO:

*Possible ToG spoiler below*

I don’t think it’s too far fetched to assume that Vassien is a thing. And in all honestly I also don’t think its too far fetched to have Lucien (& Vassa) have their own book like Chaol (& Yrene) did. Chaol was an important/original main character from the very beginning of the series who ended up doing grave mistakes. He found himself lost in life to later finding himself gaining a new purpose outlook & perspective when he left the continent to only meet his new LI Yrene freaking Towers who SERIOUSLY changed the whole game ( I freaking love her) and was extremely valuable to winning that war. This is so similar to Lucien’s story so far and Vassa (the firebird) who I expect to resemble Yrene in value and vitalness  BUT it is important to state that Lucien is nothing like Chaol and is far more SUPERIOR. So No this is not me saying Lucien is like Chaol. This is just me seeing the resemblance in their journeys so far, which might be due to SJM possibly reusing the same template on purpose.

Part 2

[henryandkalcavillsdogpack41482]

From this:

1, 8, 12, 15 and 29.

💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜

@theluxuriousfangirl asked for questions 1, 8, 12, 15, and 29, and I replied. The most challenging question for me to answer had to be 12 because I have a bunch of favorite authors, I used to read a lot for leisure. Anyways, these are my answers.

What’s your favorite character(s) to write for?

I started to get into writing again and for Sebastian Stan. If it’s Bucky/Sebastian Stan-related, I’ve only been able to two for them (Birthday Girl and Rock Star). I have them posted up on my Tumblr page and I'll share the links for them as well. Starting to enjoy writing for him and some of his various movie characters. In the past, actor wise I’ve written for Orlando Bloom, some for his other movie roles, Pirates of the Caribbean, Jackson Rathbone, Kellan Lutz (I was a huge Twilight fan when the movies were out).

8. Do you prefer writing one-shots or multi-chaptered stories?

When I was younger (20 moons ago lol) back during the early 2000’s when I was working in retail, in college for my first unfinished college degree, I had the energy wasn’t tired, I loved writing multi-chaptered stories. My old Orlando Bloom ones got tons of feedback when I was in Yahoo Orlando Bloom fan groups These days, it seems I am lucky if I can find some time where I can work on and write a one-shot.

12. Who is your favorite author?

Hmm tough question, I have a lot. In my teens, I loved Johanna Lindsey, I often bought her books. I later got into more erotic romances by Susan Johnson and Robin Schone. In my twenties, I liked Allison Brennan Mystery, Thriller, and Romance. Lately, I’ve been reading Sadie Kincaid’s books. Her new book in the LA Ruthless series just came out on June 3rd. I also like Lindsey Powell, Amber Adams, Fiona Cole, and Nicole Snow. My list often grows because of author’s books popping up in my Facebook feed. I sometimes will share in my Tumblr posts about books I just finished reading or what are some of my favorites that aren’t exactly erotic-related romance.

15. What is the fanfic you’ve written that you’re most proud of?

Well, if you can consider a movie script a form of fanfic, I would say my first movie script called Shattered I wrote in May 2007. I wrote that after I had just gotten out of an abusive relationship/engagement it helped me heal and find some closure. It didn’t hurt that seeing Pirates of the Caribbean 3, 9 times either helped with how fast I was writing it. It was the first piece of my work that I actually got registered with the Writers Guild Of America (WGA) in March 2015 and actually sent to Kellan Lutz to read as a 30th birthday gift. It also was a way of saying thanks for commenting me that I was vocal, and he liked that about me, giving me courage to get brave enough finally do that. After doing that, I wouldn’t rule out trying to write something for Sebastian Stan.

29. What part of the writing process do you enjoy the most? (Brainstorming, outlining, writing, editing, etc)

It’s probably got to be Brainstorming. I don’t think my brain ever sleeps or takes a break from wanting to be creative. I can get ideas at the most random times or most random of places. I wish I could just be able to write the story in my head alone since it can play out like a movie preview. I also have a bit too much fun when I get into research.

[bookwormfangirlwriter]

Law School Episode 7 thoughts [SPOILERS ALERT!!!!!!]

I think it’s probably because of how wonderful Ep 6 was but Ep 7 didn’t feel that great for me. But with that said, I still love this show so much. 

THE GOOD

+ Han Joon Hwi. I think this is my favorite Kim Bum’s character so far. His cheeky banter with Seo Ji Ho in the beginning of the episode is just adorable. I also love how calm and collected he is when facing both Ye Seul’s jerk boyfriend and the Prosecutor Jin. He definitely reminds me of the guile hero archetype who uses his mind to get out of situations. And this is probably too early to tell but I think by the end of the show, Joon Hwi might not become a Prosecutor like he originally planned but will maybe become a Professor like Yangcrates. Besides Yang Jong Hoon, all the Prosecutor characters introduced so far have been very shady and I don’t know if after everything, Joon Hwi will want to be a part of it. Also, I have to say that I really appreciate him not being all broody the entire episode. 

+ Kang Sol A. She has really grown on me since episode 1. I admire her bravery, great sense of justice, and kindness. We all need a Kang Sol A in our life. #bestiegoal. The scene where she testified in court cracks me up. Ryu Hye Young and her pouts are so precious. (Also I just rewatched Reply 1988 and I can’t believe Sol A and Bora are played by the same actress. RHY is so talented!). One thing I wish they had done though in this episode is showing more about Kang Dan and Kang Sol. They are twin sisters and Dan went to Hankuk Law. I feel like there's more to show, especially right after the revelation. I don’t know about you but if I find out the Professor I respect has been in contact with my estranged twin sister, I will not wait for answers. 

+ Yangcrates. While I definitely don’t want to be his student, I gotta admit, he is a very cool teacher. He really cares for his students, not just Sol A and Joon Hwi, and he means it when he said he didn’t want his students to turn out to be delinquents who broke the laws. He also has that commanding presence that just oozes charisma and captures people’s attention. The moment he starts lecturing in the middle of the trial, I lost it. Such wonderful comedic gold. And it feels so in-character too. 

+ The side characters’ dynamic. Law School sets itself apart from the typical legal drama thanks to the school settings and in my opinion, it is actually these interactions between the side characters that keep the show grounded and light, especially when we don’t have a lot of Han Joon Hwi and Kang Sol A moments. Mr. Sung is hilarious! He is probably my comfort character in this show <3

THE MEDIOCRE/BAD

+ Seung Jae. That transition and the last 4 minutes of the episode is very well done. I get chilled watching it. My guess is that he was trying to get the test answers from Professor Yang’s laptop when Professor suddenly returns to his office and thus, has to hide in the closet. All the clues so far have been pointing to him being a cheater but I wonder if there’s anything deeper behind it? Of all the plotlines going on, the cheating storyline seems the least matter. I’m assuming they will focus on him next so I hope we get some closure or insights. Cause right now, I don’t know if I know enough about Seung Jae to care about him. 

+ Sol B and her family. While I appreciate that the storyline does not drop her character arc as soon as they mystery is solved, right now, they are pretty much just on the screen for the sake of being on the screen. I can see there are crumbs laid for the future but the hints are too subtle that it just makes me feel disappointed when they show her and then nothing really comes out of her scenes. 

+ The subplots. There are too many currently running at the same time that it just takes attention away from the more prominent ones that are connected to the story. Just counting in Ep 7, we have 

Ye Seul’s abusive boyfriend

Ji Ho’s quest for revenge? (Like is that happening anymore now that professor Seo is dead?)

Joon Hwi’s quest for the truth and THAT revelation (I feel like it should have been a bigger shock than this)

Sol B and the ex med student

Kang Dan’s mystery (also, Idk about you but if I found out my Professor knew and has been in contact with my estranged twin sister, I would not simply let it go just because of finals coming up.)

Professor Kang’s family drama

Lee Man Ho

Professor Yang’s case against Prosecutor Jin. 

THEORY

I am very convinced that Prof Seo killed himself. When he was high and hallucinated Ji Hoo as Joon Hwi, what he said kinda felt like a suicide note to me, especially the part where he was begging him to understand how much he loved him. 

[oldest-house]

🏮 -  What do you want to see from future games/a sequel?

Assuming that their next future game is, in a way, a sequel to Control as well, here are few things I personally would like to see:

1) More character-interactions between NPCs. We get to see a fair amount of dialog and meetings with Jesse and her staff, but rarely do we get to see those working people interact among themselves. They do mention each other in passing; Langston refers to Salvador and his reluctance to accept advice, Arish talks about Ahti being his favorite coffee break buddy. Emily and Underhill have an interesting dynamic going on. But we don't really witness these relationships ourselves, we hear about them afterwards as Jesse. I would love to learn more about the characters in general, I feel Remedy did really wonderful job with them in this game, and I'd like to see them being used in large doses in the future games.

2) Some theories confirmed/questions answered. I do like the mystery of this universe. I really do. But it would be nice if some of the core ideas would be confirmed as facts in the future games. It would make sense, if they are to expand the world of Control and Alan Wake, to therefore solidify some of the theories dealing with the basic laws of their universe. And I by no means want them to just blatantly slam all their cards on the table in terms of the lore, but some strong hints and confirmations in the future would be greatly appreciated in my books.

3) More light horror-elements. Now this one is purely a selfish desire of mine, but I personally really enjoyed the AWE dlc and its atmosphere. I loved the main enemy's design, I adored how the team at Remedy seemed to be experimenting with new type of characters and breaking off from the human-like designs of the past. Control is not a horror game. It was never designed to be one. But I feel in the future, it would be interesting to see some sections of their games embracing this type of lighter horror style. This feel of mystifying uneasiness. Lord knows they appear to be getting impressively good at it.

And as a little closure piece, if they were ever to make more DLCs for the main game?

Take my money, Remedy.

Take it all.

[solar-pxwered]

A List Of Norman Reedus Movies/Shows I Have Seen And My Opinions On Them

1. The Boondock Saints

The Best. A classic. Bloody and inappropriate and if I remember my count correctly, contains 194 “fucks” or variations of it (this movie certainly illustrates the diversity of the word). Terrible Irish accents. A KICKASS soundtrack. Willem DeFoe crossdressing. Dropping toilets on people’s heads. Over the top action sequences. Cheesy dialogue. Campy as fuck. I freakin’ love it.

2. The Boondock Saints 2: All Saints Day

Some people didn’t like this one as much as the first one, and I admit that I wasn’t as fond of the new detective in this one as I was of Smecker...but, overall, I really enjoyed it and I drove 2 hours to see it in theaters. I love Romeo more than Rocco. The humor was on point. It was nice to see the original actors for Doc, Dolly, Duffy and Greenley. There was more terrible Irish accents, another KICKASS soundtrack, cheesy dialogue, over the top action sequences, still campy as fuck. I freaking love it.

3. The Walking Dead

Cannot even describe how much I love this show. I have ALWAYS loved zombie related shows and movies so this show was right up my alley from the very beginning all the way back in 2010. I watched it religiously every Sunday. I adore this roller coaster ride of a show and I especially adore Daryl, Carol and Jerry. This show has it all: Comedy, drama (hella lots of that), tragedy and triumph...and it never fails to pulls me in and hold my interest.

4. Mimic

Honestly, I saw this a LONG time ago and I hated it because...well, because I have a cockroach phobia, ok?! Don’t judge. Norman’s part was pretty small, not one of his lasting impressions on me.

5. Six Ways To Sunday

This is a weird one. It’s about an overly innocent 18 year (played by Norman) who gets involved in the Mob and develops an alter ego that’s violent and his complete opposite. There’s murder, prostitutes and good ol’ fashioned mother-son incest and it wasn’t a movie I suggest for the lighthearted or anyone with those sort of triggers. 

That being said, I watched the whole thing and didn’t hate it. It was just uncomfortable...as seems to be a theme with Norman Reedus movies.

6. Dark Harbor

This fucking movie...

Ok, so, I’ll be straight with you: I really enjoyed this dumbass movie. It had me guessing right up to the very end and it took me on a very strange ride along the way. 

If watching someone sexually feed a woman a poisonous mushroom, lots of dark eyed staring scenes or Norman Reedus making out with Alan Rickman is your thing, then go for it. 

7. Let the Devil Wear Black

It’s modern Hamlet. What else is there to say? If you like Hamlet, you’ll like this movie. If you like pre-car accident, baby face Reedus with the black hair, you’ll like this movie. I liked it.

8. 8MM

You know what the best thing about this movie is? Nicholas Cage. He steals the damn show no matter what movie he’s in and no one can even deny that fact. Norman’s part in this one is pretty small too but I liked this movie anyway because...well, Nick Cage. Enough said.

9. Bad Seed

I honestly can’t remember how this movie ends, all I remember was that it wasn’t at all how I expected it. I liked this movie because it’s a psychological thriller and that’s my most favorite genre of all time. The movie’s premise is a guy suspects his wife of having an affair and comes home one night and finds her murdered so he goes after her lover (Reedus) to try and kill him because he believes he was the one who killed her. It’s a cat and mouse chase sort of thing...now I need to rewatch it because I can’t, for the life of me, remember how it ends.

10. Gossip

Ok, no JOKE, this is the best movie I ever randomly discovered and I can’t believe how many people have never heard of it! It’s got some big names in it (Lena Headey, Norman Reedus, James Marsden and Kate Hudson to name a few).

It’s a psychological thriller/mystery drama in which three friends start a rumor at their school as a social experiment for their class. The rumor grows, however, and suddenly it’s out of their hands and spiraling out of control. People start getting hurt, reputations get dragged through the mud and then it escalates to the point of someone losing their life. The three main characters {Reedus, Headey and Marsden) try to figure out the truth behind the out of control rumors and discover more than they ever imagined, or ever wanted.

I HIGHLY recommend this movie. I really, REALLY do. The ending is one of the best twists I’ve seen in a LONG time.

11. The Beatnicks

This movie is so weird. It’s like...it’s just really weird. It revolves around two beat poets who find a magic box that somehow magically helps them get good at being poets but it’s like...an evil box and so they decide to only use it once and then get rid of it. Yeah, it’s a weird movie. Not my highest suggestion.

12. Blade II

Ok, if you’ve never seen the Blade Trilogy then I just don’t even know what to tell you. 

My favorite of the three movies, Blade 2 gives us the glorious Reedus character of Scud, the pot smoking, horrible-shirt-wearing, mechanical genius and Blade’s sidekick. Not only is he precious and adorable, the movie in all is enjoyable and has a fun rave-esque soundtrack. 

The one thing I hate? *SPOILER ALERT* Scud’s scummy betrayal.

13. Tough Luck

This is another one of those movies that I liked but it’s just so freaking weird. 

It’s a psychological drama where a down on his luck con artist, Archie (Reedus), tries to rip off a carnival worker and gets caught. As punishment, he’s hired to work at the carnival  to pay off the debt. He gets involved in a scheme to murder the owner’s wife, but falls in love with her in the process.

Things go to shit. He gets the short end of the stick. More plots and lies develop. It’s all twisted until the end and the answers fall into place.

I really like this movie, it’s one that I kept and still have my copy of. 

A word of warning though, never leave this movie on your movie shelf for your father to find and watch while you’re away at college, resulting in your mother calling you and asking you why you have such a nasty movie. Because the sex scene at the end is OUTRAGEOUS. I mean, it is the FUNNIEST fucking sex scene I have ever seen in my life and I can’t ever watch it without cringing and laughing. My mother, however, didn’t think it was funny at all and my father was too shocked to even form a sentence.

I highly suggest this trippy as hell movie.

14. Octane

Ok, to be fair, this movie is actually alright, although Norman’s character gets the shittiest death possible. I mean, imagine dying because some psycho vampire kisses you and bites your tongue out. That’s one shitty death.

But, overall, this is a good thriller. Johnathan Rhys Meyers plays the villain and he’s always pretty quality. The story is basically a teenager has a disagreement with her mom and gets picked up by this drugged up, blood sucking, vampire wannabe cult and indoctrinated joining them. Her mother joins up with a tow truck driver (Reedus) whose daughter was also kidnapped years ago and who has been hunting the cult down ever since. 

It was a cringe filled, yet interesting, movie and I didn’t hate it.

15. John Carpenter’s Cigarette Burns

This is John Carpenter....OF COURSE I liked this one. 

I won’t say what it’s about because that would ruin the story, but it’s part of an anthology and John Carpenter loved Norman’s role so much he STILL talks about it today and suggests Norman to people in the industry.

It’s a good one if you’re into horror shorts or anthologies or the genius of the legend that is John Carpenter.

16. A Crime

I had completely forgotten about this movie until I started making this post, but now that I remember...I REALLY liked this one!!

This is a pretty sad one, but it was very good and Norman’s acting in it is absolutely wonderful. His character’s wife was murdered and the suspect was never found so his neighbor, who really likes him, creates a fake culprit so that he can finally get some closure. 

This is a good one. I suggest this one if you’re in the mood for a strange sort of romance movie that has underlying thriller tones.

17. Moscow Chill

I remember watching this one, and I remember enjoying it, but I honestly can’t remember anything about it except that it’s a Russian film in which Norman plays a computer hacker who gets hired to hack into a Russian bank and gets caught and put in prison. But I honestly can’t remember what happens in detail.

If you like foreign movies with hacking and subterfuge plots, then give it a try because I do remember enjoying it while I watched.

18. Red Canyon

This one is kinda fucked up. Imagine Daryl Dixon mixed with Breaking Bad mixed with Deliverance and you’ve pretty much got the story...

A brother and sister return to their mother’s hometown to settle things and put their horrible past behind them...but upon returning they end up reliving the nightmare all over again.

It’s a good thriller/horror watch, but there are scenes of sexual violence so if that’s not something you can handle, then don’t watch this one.

19. Hero Wanted

This. Is. A. GOOD. Movie.

Cuba Gooding Jr. is the lead and he does an AMAZING job. Gooding’s character is a garbage man who falls in love with a girl who never takes any notice of him. To get her attention, he stages a heist in which he is supposed to jump in, save the day, and win the girl...only the heist turns out to be real and he is shot and the girl is also shot in the process. He sets out for revenge and gets in way over his head.

Norman’s part in this isn’t very big...but HOLY SHIT, was it impactful. His character didn’t have a lot of screen time, in comparison to a lot of other people, but he had a solid backstory and reason for being involved and MY GOD did I cry about it. This was actually the first movie of his I watched AFTER discovering Boondock Saints and it solidified my love for his acting abilities.

A very good watch. Highly suggest.

20. Messengers 2: The Scarecrow

This one is pretty ok, actually, as far as lame horror movies go. 

The plot is simple: Blonde, beardy, corn farmer Norman gets slowly driven insane by the haunted scarecrow in his field that he thinks putting up is a good idea for some damn reason. He starts to get more and more violent and rapey as time goes on until his family is forced to take up arms against him.

It’s not bad. Second part in what I THINK is a trilogy? I’ve only ever seen the first two. If you like horror movies then this one is a good watch. As I mentioned though, there is an attempted rape scene in this one so just be aware.

21: Pandorum

It’s an alien movie. Astronauts run into a species that is stronger and hungry for tasty humans. Shepard (Norman’s character) doesn’t make it out alive. If you’re not in the mood to see Norman get LITERALLY gutted or other characters get nommed by aliens, then don’t watch.

If you ARE, then go ahead and watch, because it was pretty alright.

[fearsmagazine]

BROADCAST SIGNAL INTRUSION - Review

DISTRIBUTOR: Dark Sky Films

SYNOPSIS:  For three years, James has been haunted by his wife’s sudden and inexplicable disappearance. His best distraction is work—specifically, archiving old videos. While watching decade-aged TV news footage one night, he sees a video interference that’s deeply disturbing. And it’s not the only interference he’ll see. As his obsession over these strange clips increases, and he submerges himself into their mysteries, James discovers troubling connections to his missing wife. Which will these broadcast intrusions bring him, though: long-desired answers or a never-ending nightmare?

REVIEW: There are too many independent genre films that strive to be a homage to the filmmaker’s favorite film and/or director. It often even has a similar theme. Today the technology is available to anyone who aspires to make a film. While a good independent film can get buried in the pile of new genre films being released, a good film can rise up and be recognized. What makes a film stand out is artistry and storytelling, plus a good cast can help.

BROADCAST SIGNAL INTRUSION blends a variety of narrative elements and a visual style that will remind the seasoned genre viewer of the early works of De Palmer, Cronenberg and Fincher. At its core, the screenplay by Phil Drinkwater and Tim Woodall, has the feel of an 80’s film. The main character has suffered a trauma he is unable to overcome and comes across something in his profession that he becomes obsessed with as he feels it might bring him closure or relief to the pain he still suffers. As he goes down the rabbit hole in search of answers the story takes on a surreal feel and like a chilling Kafka tale the lines blur and the viewer is entranced and horrified as it unfolds.

Director Jacob Gentry does a breathtaking job of creating a gloomy, nightmarish world that envelopes the narrative. He employs a variety of angles to keep the viewer off balance and add tension to the scenes. There are some nerve wracking edits that build on the unease the film emulates. Within the film there are these raw and primal Broadcast Intrusions. There are basically two, but it is the combination of the psychological terror they represent and the frequency with which the main character views them that it assaults the subconscious and primes the viewer.

It is Ben Lovett’s fantastic score that makes this film. It fully embraces the narrative and visual atmosphere and brilliantly stokes the viewer’s emotions and expectations. It is rare when a score becomes such an integral part of the viewing experience. I can think of Herman’s score for “Psycho,” Donaggio’s for “Dressed to Kill” and “Carrie,” and  Cliff Martinez’s “Drive” or the scores of Harry Manfredini and Charles Bernstein. This is a score I want to own and have in heavy rotation on my soundtrack playlist.

I’ve heralded the praise for all these folks behind the camera, and the talent in front are equally as amazing. Actor Harry Shum Jr. carries the film and takes the viewer on this character's quest that unravels into a nightmare as his emotional state comes undone. At first you feel for the character, which quickly turns to horror. Shum does an excellent job of maintaining a balance that keeps the viewer guessing as to his state of mind and the true reality of his situation. I loved the entire cast. They create a variety of performances and extremes that offer a warning to James to cease his pursuit for answers. Each one is unique and memorable.

BROADCAST SIGNAL INTRUSION is an unforgettable, creepy, eerie and unnerving viewing experience. The film’s ending offers few answers and leaves the viewer with even more questions as to the meaning of the ending and the entire film. It’s one of those great cinematic moments where it horrifies and leaves the door open in the viewer’s mind so that it lingers in the psyche for weeks to come. This is a rare cinematic wow moment. Based on what I experienced here I can’t think how the future films of these talented people will lead audiences back to this film and leave them wondering how they ever missed this film.

CAST: Harry Shum Jr., Kelley Mack, Chris Sullivan, Jennifer Jelsema, Arif Yampolsky, Justin Welborn, Michael B. Woods, and Steve Pringle. CREW: Director - Jacob Gentry; Screenplay - Phil Drinkwater & Tim Woodall; Producers - Greg Newman, Brett Hays, Giles Edwards and Nicola Goelzhaeuser; Cinematographer - Scott Thiele; Score - Ben Lovett; Production Designer - Sarah Sharp; Costume Designer - Sarah Sharp; Special Makeup Effects Artist - Brian Zurek; Creature Effects Designer - Dan Martin; Visual Effects Producer - Samantha Amoros. OFFICIAL: darkskyfilms.com/film/broadcast-signal-intrusion FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/DarkSkyFilms/ TWITTER: twitter.com/darkskyfilms | #BroadcastSignalIntrusion TRAILER: https://youtu.be/JE_4LeNfYxg RELEASE DATE: In theaters and on digital October 22nd, 2021

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

Reviewed by Joseph B Mauceri

[smokeonshadows]

Thank you for those posts about Gil!! You’ve voiced a lot of my similar feelings. It’s gotten kind of annoying how majority of the content relating to the show is overexamining how Ace’s coat matching her pencil case means they’re in love with each other. I don’t want to sound like an anti because I don’t hate the ship. I just hate how a lot of fans seem to be unable to enjoy the show, analyze and critique it without making it about the ship. The show is such much more than that!

As a south Asian fan, I’m happy to see the Bobbseys and I’m excited to how they continue to grow and develop. I enjoy theorize about upcoming mysteries and analyzing the characters and their relationships (platonic and romantic). I really enjoy seeing the Bobbseys and it makes me happy to be represented. You’re allowed to dislike them but, when it seems like you’re hating on them because they’re getting in the way of your ship? It’s so annoying... and disheartening to see. None of these characters are perfect, this includes Nancy and Ace and that’s what makes them interesting and enjoyable. The bobbseys are included in that. I do also really enjoy seeing Amanda and Ace together and I hope they continue to have a great relationship. I really don’t want to see them be thrown away or used just for love interests or to further Nace’s relationship. Thanks for voicing that because we’re definitely in the minority but I wish we weren’t

Yeah, exactly! It’s great that people are so excited about their ship, but it does get frustrating to go into the tag and see that it’s 90% this one specific part of the show. Sometimes it feels like no one wants to talk about anything else and that kind of sucks because this show (and particularly compared to others of the same genre) is doing a lot of really interesting things wrt its characters, the storylines, diversity, how it handles adaptation, etc.

So I try to do my part and post the type of content I want to see in the tag.

And since you mention representation, this is something that I’ve been feeling lately but have been hesitant to voice because I don’t want to be misinterpreted–

I think it’s kind of...weird that for a show that’s not only highly diverse (both in front of and behind the camera), but actually does diversity really well (though not perfectly), the most vocal part of the fandom is so strongly focused on a straight white ship.

To be clear, I’m not calling anyone racist for who their favorite characters or ships are, that’s definitely not what I’m trying to say or imply. People can and should ship whatever they want without being judged for it. I just think that given the context, this is something that should raise concern and it’s worth it to take a step back and examine what subconscious biases might be at play here.

To tie this back specifically to Gil, something that really rubbed me the wrong way was seeing a lot of concern in some parts of the fandom about his ‘anger management issues’ (and specifically how it makes him unsuitable for Nancy, especially compared to soft and sensitive Ace) and it’s hard to ignore how coded that is– 1) Gil is a dark skinned south asian man and it’s a stereotype that they’re angry, aggressive and sexist/violent towards women, and 2) he’s actually not shown to be unusually aggressive.

I’ve rewatched all of his scenes and yes, he’s very firm about his intention to use the shroud and he even has an outburst where he knocks a lamp over when he finds that the body’s been moved, but given the circumstances, it’s pretty understandable (to him, his one shot at getting answers and closure about his mother’s murder just evaporated. I’d want to break things too if I were him). It’s not like he has a hair trigger temper and is unhinged and explosive all the time for no reason. And (props to the actor) if you pay attention to his body language and his facial expression, it’s clear that if anything, when he gets really emotional, he seems like he’s trying really hard to contain it rather than indulge in it.

[traccigaryn]

20 answers for a fanfic 2020

Thank you to @curator-on-ao3 for these questions! I'm a few days late, but who cares?

1. fandoms you wrote for this year

All Star Trek, all the time: Voyager, Picard, and DS9/TNG

2. favorite fic you wrote this year

Oh, that's such a hard question. I love them all, but I think the one that means the most was Tousled, an unrepentant bit of froth about Chakotay's hair. I hadn't written anything in months and was feeling sad but not bad about that. Despite the fact that I started out trying to make it crackfic, I think it may have been the first really truthful thing I'd written in some ways. Also, writing both Tuvok and Seven's voices, making them distinct and distinctive, was so. much. fun. 

3. favorite fic you read this year

One thing that fell to the wayside in 2020 for me was reading fic. Still, I read some absolute gems and look forward to unearthing more some time soon.

It is the destiny of stars to collapse by @amoderngirl (T, Chakotay/Janeway). This story. THIS STORY. Months later, and this is still all the coherence I can manage.

Siren Song by @curator-on-ao3 (G, Tom Paris & Cristóbal Ríos). This melancholy and hopeful story was beautifully written and captured Tom and Cris to perfection.

Your Shadow Falling (Caesar) by @coffeeblack75 (E, Chakotay/Cristóbal Rios). Coffee took all these conversations we had, all her insights into these characters and turned them into something joyous and true, smutty and searching.

Not Star Trek at all and not a new story, but Gentle Antidote by x_los was everything I could want in a Peter Wimsey/Harriet Vane story that also happened to be a soulmark fic.

4. favorite opening line/scene you wrote this year

"I took another sip of tea and longed for coffee." - From I Thoroughly Lived. Mostly because that is how I feel every time I am drinking tea. 

5. favorite ending line/scene you wrote this year

"But in the morning he smiled at her, and she was lost all over again." From Touched. 

6. a trope you wrote this year

I think the only out-and-out trope I wrote was a stuck-in-the-turbolift story. Man, I need to do better next year. 

7. pairings you wrote this year

To the surprise of no one, mostly J/C, but with an increasing amount of Gen, which was an absolute dream to write. 

8. a fic regret from this year

I wrote something I was really proud of, but it hasn't had a chance to see the light of day yet. Hope springs eternal. 

9. a song that helped you write

I always feel weird admitting this, but I'm not a big music person? I spent several days listening to Patsy Cline in December, though, and it got me thinking about a whole series of angsty, melancholy stories based on her songs. Stay tuned. 

10. total number of fics you posted

Eleven stories. My goal for the year was ten, so suck it 2020.

11. total number of words you posted

63,653 (one piece was co-authored, but I can totes claim all those words for these purposes, right? :D )

12. most popular fic written this year

If we're talking hits and kudos alone, A Sensible Understanding - I mean, it was a smut fest with feels, what's not to love? It was an AU (of sorts) of a rather different story from a few months prior and became its far-more-popular younger sibling. I kind of love that about fic writing. 

Between Decks 4 and 5 has also chugged right along and struck a different chord with readers: two people, stuck together in many ways, really just needing to actually talk to each other. 

13. least popular fic written this year

Ship, a little drabble I wrote about Harry meeting Voyager. I don't mind. 

14. longest completed fic you posted this year

I Thoroughly Lived, coming in at 15,208 words. That was a fun one to write: first person POV, a period AU, and an attempt at gothic mystery. Also corset smut.

15. shortest completed fic you posted this year

The aforementioned Ship (100 words)

16. favorite character to write about this year

Well, that would be Chakotay, wouldn't it? Always and forever. I find the glimpses of layers and contradictions and growth endlessly fascinating. I particularly enjoyed getting to explore his relationships with others this year: Tuvok and Harry, Gerron, Seven, and Cris. Definitely planning on more of that for 2021. 

17. a fic you didn’t expect to write

Wherever We're Lost (Jupiter) was probably the most unexpected. It was the first time I'd stretched beyond writing for Voyager and the first time I'd written a pairing besides J/C. @coffeeblack75 and I had so much fun analyzing Cris, thinking about how he'd interact with Chakotay, what brought them both to where we see them. So far, our stories are still the only two in that pairing, but we have more planned. And hey, we all need a rare pair, don't we?

18. most memorable comment/review

I received so many lovely comments this year, and I treasure each one like the baubles they are, but I think my favorite one came from BlackVelvet on Wherever We're Lost (Jupiter) because it encompasses steps forward for me as a writer and the feeling that I am starting to progress:

"You could say i'm an unlikely fan of this story. I haven't seen Picard, have no idea who Rios is, rarely read m/m. Then again, i am a fan of your writing. And it's a delightful feeling to pick up a story, whatever story, and start reading it with a certainty that whatever happens, it'll be amazing, cause you trust the writer. You do not disappoint."

19. fics you wanted to write but didn’t

I've had several stories involving B'Elanna that hadn't quite bubbled to the surface yet, but I think (I hope) 2021 will be their year. 

20. something you want to write next year

The B'Elanna stories. The next chapter in the Mythology series. And I want to keeping branching out into other fandoms. That Nancy Drew/Frank Hardy story I've had half-written for a couple years now. Maybe some one-offs in other fandoms that give me some closure.