#i was only there for like half the stream so i’m gonna rewatch the earlier half later!!

[ectoplasmer]

did I tell you guys earlier that i might’ve almost cried when I saw littlekuriboh was streaming ryou playing phasmo. i’m so Unwell

[keef-a-corn]

Rewatching TFP-

Giving you commentary of episode 6 -Masters and Students.

(I would talk about episodes 1 - 5, except I watched them yesterday and it made me realise that they stress me the hell out. Instead I’m going to cover episodes that don’t stress me out nearly as much)

Also I watch Transformers Prime on Stan (I’m pretty sure Stan is only in Australia, but it’s a streaming service and has every episode of TFP), so if any of these time stamps don’t match up, I’m sorry.

~~~~I begin now~~~~

Not saying much about the first part because it’s pretty much as seen.

*intro*

02:52 - scenes like these where it’s just Ratchet and Optimus cannot be viewed without at least one ‘this is proof their marriage certificate exists’ moments.

03:14 - and there it is. Optimus literally just when ‘mm’ and Ratchet immediately switched up his approach, the second approach worked significantly better.

03:44 - I like how you can tell Optimus has significantly larger strides when running compared to Ratchet. He started off further away, but arrived faster and closer.

04:00 - NOTHING BOILS MY BLOOD MORE THAN WHEN MIKO SAID

‘Whoopsie’ LIKE WHO THE FRAG ARE YOU?! WHERE TF DID MIKO GO?!

04:02 - ‘h-what… in the allspark’. Ratchet pronouncing ‘what’ that way is all the proof that’s needed to come to a conclusion that he’s old. Take that clip outta context and everyone witnessing it will know that he’s closer to his deathbed than a mid-life crisis.

04:15 - Not even close to being an accurate comparison.

04:21 - DAMN RIGHT, RATCHET! THEY ARE MAKING A MESS! MIKO BEING WEIRDLY MESSY WITH THE PAINT, BEE AND RAF TRIGGERING FIGHT OR FLIGHT, JACK AND ARCEE… Being weird- I mean.. for the bots, wouldn’t that be like trying to construct a body?

04:27 - then why did you leave it to the last minute, Raf?.

04:34 - Soooo close, Ratchet, but Bulkhead doesn’t need to know about the solar system to help Miko paint, same with Bee needing to know about Volcanoes to assist in constructing a model like that.

04:33 ~ 04:46 - Optimus just standing but like ‘just gonna let him talk it out’

~sorry, not much to say either~

05:55 - I wanna know what Bee’s saying. It seems interesting!

05:58 - Honestly Raf saying that clues me in even less.

06:05 - OPTIMUS’S HAND ON BEE’S SHOULDERRRRR! It’s so big! Aaaaaa

06:06 - Optimus calling Bee awesome.

Also Optimus confirming Bee’s very young.

06:54 - I really like how Peter pronounces ‘Bumblebee’ in Optimus’s voice. Just makes it sound so regal, then you remember it’s the word ‘Bumblebee’. + Optimus had no reason as to choose Bumblebee (aside from plot), Bulkhead was most likely not needed because we saw Miko’s project was pretty much complete and Jack was most likely the only one that would require assistance from Ratchet as Arcee was clearly no help.

07:07 - damn, those two strong as hell.

07:40 - Gotta keep his Bee safe. + he looks so concerned as he watches Optimus walk away.

07:49- Starscream had a whole choreographed dance for ‘rise and serve’

08:15 - I like Skyquake. What a waste. ALSO HE LOWERS HIS UPPER HALF TO TALK TO STARSCREAM, BUT TECHNICALLY HE IS BOWING!

08:55 - LMAO he really just pushed him away.

09:11 - Aww Bee gotta check on Optimusss

09:39 - Optimus just watching them like: 🧍

09:40 - SLAY, SKYQUAKE!

10:11 - Scraaaaaaaaap I love Soundwave’s designnn (I know he shows up earlier in the ep, it was just at this point that I truly stopped to appreciate them)

10:37 - Bee’s eyes are so interesting.

10:50 - Gotta protecc his faaather.

10:56 - Ayo- Bee- WTF?? He really just tapped into his inner insect abilities.

11:01 - Optimus immediately stepping in when Bumblebee was down *cri*

11:04 - He really just threw Bumblebee.

11:30 - Optimus leans in a bit closer when saying ‘vehicle mode’ to Bumblebee. He doesn’t want Skyquake to hear. And Bee kinda perks up as he realises Optimus is right.

11:52 - Ratchet’s inner goat

12:17 - That’s me doing all the work in science because the rest of my group is an idiot.

13:40 - It took me four rewatches to understand that Soundwave repeats ‘must bear witness’ as a command he’s making.

14:00 - of Agent Fowler didn’t show up in this episode, I bet that Optimus and Bee would’ve benefited greatly.

14:22 - Now that I think about it… odds are, Skyquake isn’t calling Bee ‘bug’ because his name is ‘Bumblebee’, instead it’s more likely he called Bee ‘bug’ because he considers him a small inconvenience that could simply be squished. I feel ashamed that it’s taken me this long.

14:39 - Bee’s face rises ever so slightly- he’s obviously happy, it’s just that I never noticed it.

14:58 - See? He’s distracting the bots and giving Skyquake a vehicle mode.

16:33 - Starscream landing so nicely gives me life.

16:58 - he touched da boob.

17:18 - to disagree~ I’m sorry-

18:34 - Oh that must’ve hurt-

18:39 - Father watches son fly off on plane.

18:41 - Father immediately calls in only air support to retrieve son.

18:53 - Bee showing off his surfer skills, but also that he’s smart by committing mid air murder.

19:01 - whoever chose for Bee to make that sound when plummeting to his death, thank you. You couldn’t have chosen a more perfectly silly sound for this very dangerous situation./g

19:04 - yeas, it is, Fowler, so why are you waiting?

19:12 - Bee showing off perfect coordination abilities

19:40 - Damn- Bee teleports now-

19:56 - Optimus condemning the strategy before praising the performance is very smart. I will not explain further

20:08 - I DON’T CARE WHAT ANYONE SAYS, TO ME, OPTIMUS SMILED WHEN RATCHET GOT EXCITED.

20:49 - if there’s a remote, why does the volcano have buttons?

21:08 - Optimus engages with a joke.. why does no one mention this?!

M’kay, those were my thoughts.

Lemme know if you thought differently/disagree with my points/have more to add.

I like hearing people’s perspectives.

[laketaj24]

Unteachable III: Distractions

Author’s Note: So, I had slacked off on this because I lost some motivation lol, but this series is back! I will try my best to post weekly!! Please let me know what you think! Happy Reading!

Warnings: Smut. Drama.

Parings: Professor!Henry! Cavill x Reader, Charlie Hunnam X Reader

Masterlist for previous parts.

Moving had been easier than you thought, it helped your brother wanted you out. He had done half of it for you, and when henry joined in you, you were in your new place within two weeks of signing the lease. It was not close to Henry’s, which in retrospect it didn’t matter. You saw him every day regardless, he would drive to you, or you would haul ass to him if you had to, but Henry didn’t require all of that.

The new house was spacious, and more importantly, it was your own, and it was all that you could want. Your living room was compiled of grays and specs of red throughout the decor. All modern, all easy and all just the way you loved it.

The call came late in the afternoon, it was not one you were expecting either. Henry was the only person that called you besides your parents occasionally, and he was on his way over.

You were tempted to ignore the number, but you didn’t. you slid your finger over it and pressed the phone to your ear. “Hello.”

“Angel.” His smooth voice sent chills up your spine, how could you hate and love a damn voice that fucking  much.

“Charlie.” You breathed. “How did you get this number?”

“Your brother and sister-in-law saw me downtown, and I asked.” he paused. The breakup had not been on bad terms, but it had been a few months, and hearing from him rattled you.

“Oh.” You paused. “Why are you in town?”

“I accepted a position in town for a year or so,” He exhaled. “And I-,” he stopped his words.

The initial reason for the break up was easy; he didn’t want a long-distance relationship. But then that whole thing revealed issues with him you didn’t know you had. Were you not worth the distance? It’s all that you thought about, “I’m happy for you.”

“I wanted to talk to you about some things that happened before you moved here if you have a minute?”

“I have someone.” You blurted out.

He chuckled. “Congrats.” It was quiet for a minute, the words resonated with him and you didn’t have anything to say. Henry was all you could think about and had he came one month earlier, you would have jumped back into his arms, but not now. “I never wanted to leave you.” He said. “I just wasn’t ready to leave the life I had, you know?”

“I know that you didn’t think that I was worth the struggle of distance.”

“Y/N, that’s not true.” He scoffed. “I hate that you even felt that way.”

“Why now? Because you’re here.”

“I moved because this is what I thought you wanted.”

“That’s a shit excuse, Charlie!”

“That’s what I have, I tried to move on, but I couldn’t even look at another woman with comparing her to you, without thinking she will never be good as you.”

“Shut up.” Your voice broke.

“Four years of my life was spent with you, and you just move on.”

“It has not been easy.”

“Then give me a damn chance, please?”

The doorbell chimed right before Henry burst into the living room with bags of food and wine. “Y/N.” He sang. “I hope that you’re prepared to be wowed by the movies I got.” Henry spun around to the small table in the bay window, and then his eyes met you. He started at your feet, the frog slippers were your favorite accompanied by the matching shorts and tank top he had given you. “You look like you are ready to fight someone.” He laughed. “Are you okay?”

“Just the editor from the paper trying to change some deadlines, babe.” You chuckled nervously.

“Okay, I’ll leave you be.”

“Give me a chance, please.”

“Yeah, well, let me think about that, okay.” You ended the call, tossing the phone to the couch and ran over to him.

Henry was easy to be with, he wanted nothing more than time and to know you cared. It was hard not to care for him, he was dedicated to making sure it worked even though his job was at risk. Your arms wrapped around his waist from behind, and you inhale. “Miss me?”

“I always do.”

“That’s good to know.” Henry fixed your plate and poured the wine. “What was the editor saying?”

“She needed a new lifestyle article like tomorrow.”

“I can leave.”

“No, she can wait.”

“Rebel.” Henry turned to face you. The stubble of his five o’clock shadow teased you as he dipped his head down to your breast and sucked at the supple flesh. “You taste like cake. What do you have on?”

“Ohh. dropped the honey bun there earlier.” You laughed. “The food is gonna get cold.”

“We have a microwave.” He smirked.

“Good thing you brought that over, then isn’t it.” You pushed your fingers through his curly mane and wrapped your legs around him.

“I like to plan ahead.”

Henry graded papers in the library, third floor in a dark corner. He did this every Friday night, and it didn’t matter if you had plans or not, he didn’t leave until it was done. You’d grown used to the routine, five weeks of dating the professor, and you had learned he liked a procedure for everything.

“I’ll be done in a few.” He whispered after glancing up at you.

It was simple to say, you found this routine tedious and unneeded. He could grade papers in bed after he was done exhausting you. “Take your time, professor.” You leaned back in the chair across from him with your arms folded and a smug smile on your face. He always had a good way of making it up to you. Last time it was dinner and a movie. Only the dinner was you, and the film was rewatching the scene you’d done an hour earlier. Watching yourself fuck him done something for you, it was an experience. The way your body moved on him and watching his face distort when he was on the precipe of a release. You squeezed your thighs together, your teeth tugged on your bottom lip, and a sigh followed.

Henry peered up at you through the square, dark-rimmed glasses. “What?”

“Have I told you that you are incredibly sexy in this mode, just serious and brooding.”

“I’m brooding because one of my students won’t let me be productive. She insists on biting her lips and staring a hole into me.”

“Well, she definitely deserves to be punished.” You winked.

“Perhaps I can fit some discipline in after I finish,” Henry smirked, but the desire was clear across your face, and you were willing to take the chance.

“Or, you could do it now.” Your foot slid up his thick thigh, only making you wish you could ride it, better yet ride him in general. “It’s a high chance she won’t learn her lesson until this is properly handled.”

“She’s acting like a spoiled brat.” Henry’s hand touched your foot playfully and then dropped it to the floor along with your phone and everything else in your lap.

“You’re making a mess.”

“Twenty more minutes, baby.” He whispered.

“Fine. Twenty, no more.”

“Thank you.”

The exclusiveness of the library worked to your advantage because there was no way you could actually wait for him to be finished. The entire day had been a conjunction of him teasing you, and you get yourself worked up. You sink down to the floor, reaching for your phone and papers, but your knees guided you in front of him. The only light in this place was the desk lamp Henry had dimmed to keep him from distractions. He didn’t know the distraction was going to be something he didn’t need to see.

Your hands trail up his thighs to the belt buckle, and you watched him stiffen beneath your touch. “Keep working, sir. I’m getting my things.”

Henry’s deep breath was followed by a slight jolt when your hand gripped his semi-erect cock. You felt him lengthen in your hand, the heat rising as he swelled, and you gripped him. “Y/N.” He rasped.

“Shhh, this is a library, sir.” You lifted your head so that your lips could tease the tip of his head, sucking before your tongue swirled swept the drop of precum that beaded at his head. “Wouldn’t want to have anyone interrupt you doing your job.” You took all of him in your mouth, and he throbbed. His legs tensed, and the guttural moan made you wet for him. This might not be enough for you, your hunger for him was only growing more intense when you started to pleasure him. Your head bobbed up and down, taking all of him and then swallowing around his cock only to repeat the action again, grazing your teeth lazily over the veins.

His hand was under the table, gripping a fist full of your hair and urging you to move faster, and you obliged. You added your hands stroking him in between each suck and making him suck air through his teeth.

The floor creaked as the footsteps grew closer, and for a minute, you didn’t care if someone caught you or not; you wanted Henry to cum. You wanted to hear him fall apart because of the magic of your mouth.

“Y/N.” His muffled groans of protest only encourage further, and you suck harder, causing the warm and salty cum to spurt from him, hitting the back of your throat. “Hi,” he said, clearing his throat.

“Professor! It’s good to see you.”

“Dean Carter.” He leaned forward in his seat. “You as well, how are things?”

“Great, I would still love to have you over for poker night.” Dean Carter’s voice was savory, but it was apparent he was older without even seeing him.

“I apologize, I’m not really a poker guy.”

YOu teased licking the head of his cock and watched him jerk in your hands. He was so sensitive. You loved it.

“I see. Spending your Friday night here of all places.” he laughed. “I won’t hold you up. But maybe consider coming one day. I’m sure you would love it.”

“I will.”

The footsteps were departed, and you slid back up in your seat. “Got my things.”

“You’re a psycho.” He laughed.

“You’re welcome, professor. I gave it my best efforts.”

“You did well.” Henry exhaled. “I don’t even want to do this anymore.” He covertly dressed and stood up. “I want you naked... like now. But when we get to my place will work.”

“Is that a demand?”

“It’s a requirement.”

His apartment building had a constant stream of people in and out of it, but you didn’t seem to care as long as Henry got you in there and fucked you senseless. He carried you up the steps as if you weighed nothing and landed you against the door before it could get open. “We have to calm down.” you giggled but unbuttoning his shirt.

“You have to calm down.”

The door opened across the hall, and the face from your past slapped you in the face. He was still handsome. Perfect fucking face, charming ass smile, and he still had the power to make you weak.“Y/N?”

No. No, no the fuck it is not him. “Charlie?”

“Who?” Henry said, confused before lowering you to the ground.

“Y/N, you live here.”

“No, I do.” Henry lifted his hands. “who are you?”

“I’m Charlie.” he extended his hand.

Henry Cavill Taglist: @oddsnendsfanfics @taytayize123  @my-rosegold-soul @titty-teetee @sparklemichele @imgoldielikehawn @therandomthoughtsofmsparker @therealcalicali @rhys108 @shut-up-broccoli@peculiar-monstar @sincerelysinister @xxpapasfritasxx @brexrif  @sheismycherry @justgrits  @angelic-kisses13 @ikeepforgettin @persephones24​

@bitchwhytho​​ @ryuzakiackerman1 @soapjay​​ @szhead31​ @sapphirescrolls​​ @sprinklesandsugarcubes​​  @superapplepie​​ @ellaheart​​ @greektragedyc​​  @lovemindbodystuff  @cass-the-mess​​ @auroussss​​  @earl-aive​​ @rockme-fabulous​​ @mary-ann84​​ @angelic-kisses13​​  @wondersofdreaming​​ @two-unbeatable-beaters​

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@queenmalhinewahine @sweetybuzz25​ @xmother-mortemx​​ @zoogrl05​​ @cap-barnes​@itsmydreamlifethings​  @love-more122​ @dearlybelovedluke​​ @savismith​​  @comfortingcreature​​​ @badassbaker​​ @hell1129-blog @keiva1000​   @la-meneur-louve @inthenameofrock​​​ @i-love-superhero​ @vivodinson​​​ @dealingwithit0214 @crowngold​​ @violetidk​​​ @virgodmood @magic-dust​   @kittyatemytaco @aykanna​​​ @fcgrizi​​​

@thewitcher-is-a-pandemic​   @tonictransistor @itsmydreamlifethings​  @lady-out-of-time @keiva1000   @this-is-serenaa  @mis-lil-red @captainslasher​  @littlefreya​ @snatchedbylele​ @alyssaj23   @deep-in-my-thoughts13 @ohjules​ @s-ravenall​ @elixasays​​ @snatchedbylele​​

[samreviewsmovies]

Bo Burnham: Inside

Year: May 30, 2021

Director: Bo Burnham

Writer:  Bo Burnham

Actor:  Bo Burnham

Produced by:  Josh Senior

Synopsis:  Recorded in his home during the COVID-19 pandemic without a crew or audience, it was released on Netflix on May 30, 2021. It features a variety of songs and sketches about his day-to-day life indoors; he depicts his deteriorating mental health and explores themes of performativity and his relationship to his audience. Other songs are about internet activities including calling one's mother on FaceTime, taking photos for Instagram, and video game streaming.

Rating:

Rotten Tomatoes: 97%

My Rating: 9/10

Platform: Netflix 

Thoughts: I’ve got to say right of the bat, that Bo Burnham is a very talented person. To be able to do all the things to produce a piece of work of this magnitude, and quality, and be as thought provoking, the man is quite possibly a genius or a mad. Probably, more the latter, if the content of his special has anything to say about it, but by all means, he is very clever and a hard worker. So, kudos to you, Mr. Burnham.

For a moment, I was hesitant to include this on my blog, because it’s not a movie or a tv show, but it’s not your typical comedy special either, if it can be call comedy. To me, it’s more of a piece of a piece of art. And I don’t mean, hang it in the Louvre, it’s the best thing since Monet’s Water Lilies, (even though I really enjoyed looking at the cinematography) but it makes us see things from a different perspective. The special asks uncomfortable questions that there aren’t really answers to. It’s social commentary, it reflects something about us in this moment, which is something that I think that good films and shows should do. Make us think and make us feel, way past the time we’ve gotten up from our seats. This special hasn’t quite left the back of my mind since I watched it earlier this month, (Future Sam, that’s June 2021 because you won’t remember) but that could because of how catchy the songs are or how they’re all over Tiktok. Probably Tiktok. 

I know I said this not even two paragraphs ago, but Bo is really talented. From the way he analyzes musical trends to make catchy songs, from the points he brings up that are true and uncomfortable, and to the way the film was shot. I liked his transitions, I liked his use of lighting and projectors to influence the moods of his pieces, and use some not so subtle tongue and cheek symbolism. Yeah, I’m talking about the overlaid cross just so we’re clear. And these are things that movies do, that stage plays do, but that’s done by a whole crew of people. He put this together on his own. And he did a really, really good job.

Something that this piece does well, is make us question what is real and what is a performance, which I think is it’s intention and a critique. We’re all so geared to social media these days and trying to put our best self forward that we kind of ignore the real self. Not that that is necessarily only for social media, we’ve been doing it for years before the internet, and even in our heads with perceptions of other people we build up. Bo achieves this effect by interspersing his editing moments and his down moments between the performance pieces. We see the loneliness, the frustration, the despair, the daily annoyances, things that don’t usually make it to the screen. These might be true, human moments, (I’m inclined to think most of them are. It’s hard to be a creative, even before the added pressure of being a big name star, and it’s hard being human, too) but by the fact that he then chose to edit them into the film, they become part of the performance and maybe less real. He didn’t have to, he’s made them in to performance pieces. So who’s to say what’s real and what’s fake. Only he can, and even then does it really matter? Isn’t it funny how in movies and shows, the actors can be feeling real things, drawing from personal experience, but those emotions are ‘fake’. To make us feel real emotions, we have to watch unreal things.

All of his songs have some kind of message, some kind of deeper meaning, even if on the surface level they don’t seem like much. I’m going to highlight three songs/moments that really struck me on an emotional level. In no particular order they are: the laugh during “Welcome to the Internet,” “That Funny Feeling,” and “All Eyes on Me.”

“Welcome to the Internet” says a lot, about how all the different things we do, the things that you can find, how we interact with others. It was always meant to be a tool, but it has become a lifestyle. We spend a lot of time on it, and I’m not saying that’s good or bad, it just is. We spend a lot of time on the internet. And There is a whole generation of people growing up that have always had the internet around for them. The song has it’s own kind of story, being bombarded by information, it feels bad, out of control, and then Bo shifts the story into something softer, hopeful when you think that we’re out our most angry, our most insane, at our lowest. “It has always been the plan/ To put the world in your hand” and that line moved me. It was hope. It was good intentions. And then there is the laugh that plunges you into horror and madness. And that moment was *chef’s kiss*. I wish I could go back to rewatch that moment for the first time for the emotions it gave me. 

“That Funny Feeling,” is a funny (ha) one for me to try to write about. It’s hard to put my finger on. A song of juxtapositions, some funny and some sad. It starts with the performance of someone who’s insecure, yet is putting themself willingly on stage. I had to laugh, because I could imagine that kind of person. We know who they are. That and this song, is admittedly in the genre of music I like to listen to, so I had to laugh at myself. (See, it can be comedy sometimes!) Listening to the song gives me a funny feeling that I can’t put my finger on after listening to lines like “ A gift shop at the gun range, a mass shooting at the mall“ and “A book on getting better hand-delivered by a drone”. I feel like I need a hot bath and a good cry, but I also feel numbed and expectant. This happens everyday, and it’s awful, but do I really care anymore?

Derealization: derealization disorder occurs when you persistently or repeatedly have the feeling that you're observing yourself from outside your body or you have a sense that things around you aren't real, or both. Feelings of depersonalization and derealization can be very disturbing and may feel like you're living in a dream.

“All Eyes on Me” is essentially a slow party at the end of the world, that just picks up the pace. There is a touching moment, about Bo Burnham’s personal life, that’s brave of him to share, and a heavy dose of situational irony. The lines that really get me in this song is basically all of verse three. “ You say the ocean's rising like I give a shit/ You say the whole world's ending, honey, it already did/ You're not gonna slow it, Heaven knows you tried/ Got it? Good, now get inside”. It’s both sides of the coin, both things that we might find ourselves thinking about every day, or at least I do. One half panic, fear, and dread and the other half a distant, nonchalance. How can you care when everything is the next greatest disaster, pulling your attention in many different directions to care about too many things. It’s overwhelming.

“How can you joke at a time like this?” Indeed. It’s either laugh, cry, or shut down completely. 

Extra: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bo_Burnham:_Inside

[phoebehalliwell]

I had a thought that came to be during my latest charmed rewatch (which they’re taking off Netflix 😔) what if, had Phoebe’s first kid lived, they were the one to go back in time to stop Wyatt? Like say instead if instead of Chis getting to save the day it was Dency? Also! Welcome back! I hope school is going good!

rip charmed on netflix 😔 tho i think the streaming service they’re moving to is free?? which probably means it’s gonna have ads :/ but i love the idea of dency coming back to save the future!! i think she’d have a lot more difficult of a time than chris bc white chris is half whitelighter she is half Source of All Evil so she can’t pose as the charmed one’s new whitelighter but that also means she doesn’t have to come up with a whole plan to boot leo. i think dency would worm her way into the charmed one’s lives by making herself paige’s charge (i think if she wrote a powerful enough spell she could replicate the “symptoms” of a new charge and then once she’s close enough to paige idk make some subtle limited magic tether that resembles a witch/whitelighter bond) and i don’t think anyone would really think too much about it. i think dency would definitely be like hey where’s coop has anyone seen a cupid around here like six foot something love of phoebe’s life anyone like that dropped by any time recently? and she’d definitely have a bit of a side quest to make sure her mom and coop end up together while also trying to Stop The End Of The World As We Know It. i also think it might make more sense for her to pop in earlier than chris did bc like. well she’d the oldest. idk i think i did some calculations somewhere yeah so i think source’s heir would have been born in late november i’m not gonna double check & then wyatt was born in february so that’s like. december january that’s like two to three months difference. so that’s not like a major difference but the point is if she’s there with baby wyatt she’s gonna also be there with baby dency i’m not gonna comment on the time space continuum notion of it all bc charmed doesn’t care But she was definitely a baby that displayed powers in the womb meaning baby her much like baby wyatt will have active powers meaning she Will have the same powers as the tiny lil baby which idk could raise some suspicions (especially bc it’s not like. telekinesis. which everyone seems to have it’s pyro/cryokinesis which we have only seen like maybe three times total). so like. maybe we’re putting dency in before baby wyatt is born maybe the evil we have to stop is doris trying to snarch the baby during imbolc hmm but idk how to make a whole season out of that maybe perhaps dency is coming from an au in which she exists and entering canon verse where she does not in order 2 save the day. just for funsies. maybe phoebe has a doozy of a premonition and glimpses all the horror of the dark future and evil!wyatt and she doesn’t really know what do to bc that’s her little angel nephew she must have got it wrong and piper and paige are like are you sure that’s not just a lil ptsd/paranoia from that time u were pregnant w the antichrist r u sure you’re not just projecting your old fears onto wyatt bc you haven’t really dealt with those repercussions and phoebe’s like haha yeah,,,, yeah that’s probz it yeah,, so whatever she starts going to therapy and she keeps having the dreams these prophetic visions of death and destruction and she’s just like. okay. okay so maybe this is all in my head. maybe this is all some weird psychobabble But just to be safe i will write a spell. i’m gonna write a spell like let me know that the future is safe, that our next generation isn’t evil. so you know uhh something like i’m a witch i’m calling on magic / been having some p weird dreams lately bro / very concerned for the future / specifically that of the next generation / plz get back 2 me when you can / would sure love some sign that the future of magic is like good but like. rhyming. and nothing happens. well, not nothing, her dreams stop, but like. no grand sign from the universe. and she’s like hmm okay so maybe that was all mental and that spell was just like a release for me on this mental block. and then like two three weeks later paige has this new charge. and just like how chris was like you know manically flipping through the book and marking and killing demons yeah dency’s doing that all herself. but she definitely downplays her powers around the charmed ones like haha i don’t have the combined powers of a charmed one an infamous demon and remnants of the source of evil i’m just like a normal witch ice magic go brrr bc in this au i think she would only display cryokinesis out of all of her active powers and blah blah blah she saves the day we push phoebe’s vision quest all the way towards the end of the season bc phoebe has sort of this fear of having kids bc she really wants kids but like last time she got pregnant It Did Not Go Well let’s say coop’s appeared by now it’s looking like this will they won’t they definitely will but still she’s held back she has her little vision quest and to get to her little future of three little cupid babies she has to overcome her fear trauma and regret of the situation with cole and the source’s heir and blah blah blah whether the baby is predisposed to evil whether she’s predisposed to evil and she decides that it doesn’t matter that no matter what she’s gonna take destiny into her own hands and love with her whole heart bc like her family loved her and that’s what saved her from the source and it’s like a whole i believe in the power of love love can conquer all clear eyes full hearts can't lose thing and she glimpses a snippet into the reality where she had her baby and she just sees a lil kid in a pack n play and then comes out of her vision and dency’s there and the pieces all fall into place and she realizes that her spell worked she got the answer to the question about the future of the warren line and whether or not the next generation would be good bc her daughter’s right there in front of her and she’s amazing

[hawkland]

For the fandom asks: 6,10,11,24 :)

6. Favorite movies of the year

To be honest I watched very few movies this year (as in general unless something looks interesting and is free on streaming), and even fewer that were actually released this year. But if I had to pick out one 2020 release that stuck with me, even though I can’t say I have any burning desire to rewatch it, it’s Vivarium. That film was creepy as FUCK and if anything was going to re-enforce my childfree status, it’s that film. Also it’s liminal as hell and I’ve become really fascinated of late with the idea of liminal spaces...I think I always have been without knowing what it meant (a lot of my earlier surreal watercolor paintings definitely were trying to capture liminal feelings and places.)

I also enjoyed watching The Old Guard but didn’t end up really developing fannish feelings for it. While I liked Joe/Nicky in concept, the way it seemed to develop as a fannish ship and drown out all other possibilities kind of...made me wary of getting involved. It just didn’t give me that certain something I need to go from enjoying a source to becoming truly fannish about it. Maybe when the sequel comes out and we get more canon development of the characters? 

10. Biggest fandom disappointment of the year

Ugh, this is a toss up between SVU and The Good Doctor. SVU pissed me off SO MUCH with the premiere episode this fall and the dumbass way they claimed to incorporate covid-19 protections, while being so willy-nilly about mask usage and social distancing. I literally have not been able to watch any episodes since the Season 21 premiere. I was so enraged by first episode I was yelling at the tv and Mr. Hawkland had to tell me to be quiet so he could try to figure out the plot - and it is usually the reverse in our household. I just...as a health care worker I just can’t with the bullshit with them ripping masks on and off with no rhyme or reason because they think we won’t be able to follow the action and emotions if the actors are behind masks.  I hated it. I used to say I’d stick with SVU as long as Ice-T was still there but now I’m not sure. I don’t know if I’ll try to watch the rest of the new episodes and honestly, I’m probably the one person in SVU fandom who gives no shits about Barba returning because I was never a Barba fan to begin with. If anything that makes me less likely to watch because I feel like the fandom’s gonna become a clusterfuck over it, like 

The Good Doctor? I gave up on at the end of Season 3 when they decided to go with the Shaun/Lea romance after all. After the way he threatened her violently, after she rejected him, and after the shitty way he treated Carly, I just lost all ability to be sympathetic to Shaun and interested in what happened next. (There were also aspects of Shaun and Carly’s relationship and the way they portrayed it that felt really...creepy and icky to me? Like emphasizing Shaun’s childlike nature in many ways while putting SO much emphasis on their sex life, like...ew.) Also killing off Melendez who I really liked and just...ugh. I always kind of half hate-watched the show but by the Season 3 finale it was pure hate and I realized that there was no joy any more in trying to keep going with the show. And yet I’ve heard they actually handled covid pretty well, but that’s not enough to make me want to go back.

11. Biggest squee moments of the year 

Getting to see Oysterhead perform live back in February was definitely a dream come true, something to check off the bucketlist and I’m SO DAMN GLAD that happened before covid hit badly and the rest of the shows of the tour got postponed. I consider myself EXTREMELY LUCKY that I got to those two shows out in Colorado. Actually I got to see Stewart Copeland 2 weekends in a row - in Pittsburgh first for the Satan’s Fall premiere and then with Oysterhead right after that. 

Beyond that just getting into Gorillaz fandom has been a huge ball of squee, culminating with the video for “The Lost Chord” which was just pure gold for this 2Doc shipper. 

24. Fandom resolutions for next year

I would like to be more productive writing-wise again. This year more of my creative energies went into painting as it was something I found easier to do/focus on in this hellhole shitworld of 2020.  At minimum I’d like to say I won’t end up defaulting on any exchanges I sign up for (though I only defaulted on one in 2020, and that was because Fic in the Box took up all of my brainpower so I couldn’t even complete something short for Trick or Treat.)

I’d like to say I’ll finish/pick up again on one of my series/WIPs that have been sitting unloved in my google docs most of this year, if not longer, but it’s always hard to say where inspiration will lead me.

[loreweaver-universe]

And we still haven’t even met some of these characters.

Mysteries upon mysteries.

Well!  That was...an episode.  I didn’t enjoy it, but not because it was badly written; in fact, I’d say it was very well-written.  It just followed a man I want to burn for what he’s done.  A lying, thieving, unfaithful coward who thinks he’s a man.  What a sack of garbage.

Still, I made it past the worst of him, I think!  Onwards!

As for the next liveblog, I’m going to be picking up Baccano again on Friday--but first, I’ll be doing a rewatch to reframe the timeline in my head.  It was getting too far away from me, watching half an episode once a month.  I’ll see you for that early Friday afternoon!

IN OTHER NEWS:

If you’d like to help support me financially, you can use my direct donation link to buy me some food.  You can also pledge to my Patreon if you want to support me per liveblog completed, which not only allows you to vote on what shows I do next, but also grants access to the community Minecraft server to $5 patrons or higher!

I’m planning on revamping a bunch of things about my blog–fixing up old sub-pages, hopefully re-tagging the early Steven Universe episodes, and maybe commissioning a new banner, among other things.  Stay tuned–I may also get some help reworking the blog’s overall appearance! At the very least I want to make it so the top of my head isn’t cut off on the banner.

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It’s your kindness and support that lets me do this stuff, and I wouldn’t be where I am without all of you to do it for.  Thank you all so much for your support, and for tuning in every episode!

OTHER PEOPLE YOU MAY ENJOY:

I may have been one of the earlier Steven Universe liveblogs, but a whole community of livebloggers has sprung up over the last three years!   I linked to a bunch individually for a few wrap-ups, but honestly, this end-slate is already eight billion miles long, so I’m just gonna link to my links page.  Click here if you want recommendations of other livebloggers, or other neat people, or webcomics and podcasts that I recommend.

[watchingspn-blog]

spn rewatch | the woman in white (pilot)

Okay so I can safely say I’ve seen the pilot episode at least half a dozen times, if not more. I got season one on DVD for my 14th birthday (which I 100% binged with my BFF at the time to the point where we were beyond exhausted for my actual birthday festivities the next day) and would watch over and over in the days before Netflix. So for me the first couple of seasons are way more familiar to me than the later seasons. Especially since at some point after I started college when I didn’t have as easy access to television and streaming services weren’t quite what they are today I fell off the bandwagon. Pretty much everything I know about the show from mid-season eight onwards comes from gif sets on Tumblr and the occasional Facebook posts. Which brings me to this rewatch/first time viewing. 

It’s easily been at least three or four years since I’ve watched the pilot but it’s still so familiar to me which I feel like says a lot for the show. Or just says that I was way too obsessed with this show as a teenager. But anyway, here we go.

First of all, I don’t know about anyone else but I’m honestly a little weirded out by seeing JDM looking younger and not having a beard. Like it’s strange to me and I don’t know how to feel about it and I’m glad this is the only scene where he looks like this. The beard does him wonders in all walks of life and I’m glad it’s a look he’s stuck with in just about everything he’s in these days. (Also you can totally see one of JDM’s tattoos under the sleeve of his t-shirt and it just makes me want to headcanon John with a couple tattoos from his time in the service despite looking so clean cut when they have the flashbacks with Matt Cohen.)

Secondly, I want to know when they came up with the backstory that Mary was a hunter and came from a family of hunters and that she’d been in that life before she settled down with John. Because I feel like if that backstory had been mapped out before the pilot her reactions when she woke up to the baby monitor would be more suspicious. But that could also be me just being too picky. Like it’s totally valid that Mary, just waking up didn’t pick up on the static or the flickering lights. I just want to know if they’d had her history in mind when this started or if that came up later once they’d developed the story and characters more. 

Okay, so I don’t have any major attachments to Jess, mainly because we just don’t spend enough time with her. She’s got a whole three (?) scenes where she’s mostly delegated to the supportive girlfriend who’s also over-sexualized. Like they seriously chose to introduce a female character and have all of her outfits be revealing to the point where other characters are commenting on it before killing her. Like I have no issues with female characters wearing whatever the fuck they want, there’s nothing wrong with that. But it wasn’t given any more depth than “here’s this sexual object for our audience to look at” and that’s what bugs me. But I am glad that they showed her being genuinely concerned when Sam is packing like wanting to make sure he’s okay and make sure he’s not doing something reckless for people who’ve actively avoided being in his life over the last few years. She’s incredibly supportive of Sam and it makes me happy that he had that in his life even if I do hate that it was taken away in a horribly gruesome way.

Adrianne Palicki is just ridiculously talented and deserves way more recognition than she’s gotten over the years. 

Now, I’m gonna be real. I was a Dean girl from the get go. I loved me a smartass bad boy when I was thirteen and I was head over heels for Jensen Ackles from the first time I saw this show (probably because I’d never seen him anything else before but I already knew Jared as Dean from Gilmore Girls who wasn’t my favorite as a middle schooler). It also probably doesn’t hurt that I saw an episode of season two as my first intro to the show instead of the pilot. Because honestly, watching his first scene as a 26 year old, he doesn’t come off in the best light. Between breaking into Sam’s apartment, their whole tussle in the dark living room, and then him hitting on Jess right in front of Sam, he’s kind of an ass. Which yes, Dean is not perfect by any stretch of the imagination. All of these characters are fucked up, especially after fourteen seasons and counting. But this just doesn’t line up with how Dean is in the rest of season one even, I feel like. 

Like Dean telling Jess that she’s way out of Sam’s league is one thing. I expect nothing less from him. But then him just being creepy and ogling her is just uncomfortable to watch now. 

Also the lighting budget for the entire first season is just horrendous. It’s like they wanted to show that they were scary and edgy but really it just meant I couldn’t make out what was happening in any scene that didn’t take place in broad daylight. 

Okay, on to the spooks. Having a woman in white for the first MOTW (monster of the week) was kind of cool to me because it was something I actually knew about before the show, thanks to reading any and every book on ghosts my school library had to offer. And Sarah Shahi is super gorgeous. Like hot damn. And as cheesy as some of the effects are in the earlier episodes, I actually like the way that she kind of flickers in and out along the side of the road as Troy’s driving up and then the way you don’t actually see her in the passenger seat when it shows her getting in. None of the effects are too crazy over the top (at least not until the very end of the episode when she finally goes home and has that weird as fuck death scene with her creepy kids) and it works.

As a thirteen year old, I thought it was totally believable that Sam and Dean could be US marshals and the local cops were just being jerks. As a twenty-six year old, the idea that those two could pass as any kind of law enforcement other than like maybe a couple of rookie cops is ridiculous. I’m the same age that Dean was at the start of the show and I’ve got people assuming I’m still in high school. I couldn’t get past the crime scene tape for anything. But I guess if you’re confident enough and tall enough, anything’s possible. Also as if they didn’t already look hella conspicuous, they act like a couple of five year olds with all their stomping and smacking, like no wonder the cops were suspicious. 

Also can we take a moment to appreciate the awesome mid-2000s goth look Amy and her friend are rocking? Because it’s fantastic and I’m here for it. Also kudos to them for being the only women to make it to the end of the episode alive. 

I never really thought about it when I was younger but it’s not surprising that Sam isn’t as gung ho about hunting down the demon that killed Mary like John and Dean are. His memories of Mary are entirely built on stories and pictures and not from anything he actually remembers himself. And like it’s totally valid for him to want to get away from the hunter lifestyle and follow a different path instead of just killing monsters and running credit card scams for the rest of his life. 

All I can think about when they break into the room John was renting is that gif of Charlie from Always Sunny with all the papers and strings on the walls. 

One of the better aspects of Supernatural, in my opinion, are the actors they get to randomly guest star on the show. And not necessarily big names (although those can be fun) but like the ones that you’ve never seen anywhere else. Because the guy who plays Joseph Welch is fantastic in his one scene on screen. There’s so much emotion there as he’s talking about a clearly sensitive subject and being able to show the grief and also some of the guilt over being unfaithful. It’s a fantastic scene so like major shoutout to Steve Railsback for being awesome.

The whole showdown with Constance’s ghost is kind of like mediocre compared to future fights. Like it’s a pretty quick scene and the effects once they actually get her to the house to face her creepy children are kind of the worst. Like they used their whole special effects budget doing that flickering thing in her first scene and had to settle for this instead. Also like yes they stopped her and she won’t be able to kidnap and kill skeezy men in the future but like I feel kind of bad for Amy and Troy’s family because they’re just left with zero closure whatsoever. Like I never thought about it but there are a lot of people over the years where it’s like yes we stopped the monster but those families never actually know what happened to their loved ones. 

Okay, I get that it’s supposed to be a serious, intense scene, and the first time I saw it - yes it was shocking and heartbreaking and terrifying but the effects for Jess’s appearance on the ceiling are just bad. She doesn’t look like a person, she looks like a mannequin. And I’m still annoyed that they brought her in and showed how much her and Sam loved and cared for each other only to kill her horribly at the end of the episode. It’s just frustrating. And honestly this should’ve warned all of us that pretty much no female character is safe on this show. None of them. 

The “we’ve got work to do” at the end is still hella iconic. Like there’s a couple of lines that still give me that little excitement I got when I first watched it and that’s one of them. I love it. 

BODY COUNT: 3 humans (Mary Winchester, Troy Squire, Jessica Moore), 1 ghost (Constance Welch - do her kids count too? They didn’t really show up until was time for Constance to like melt into the floor all creepy like)

RATING: 7/10 - the effects are kind of garbage and there’s some stuff that hasn’t aged well but I still think this is one of the better pilots I’ve seen as far as getting you hooked into the story and characters. 

[theonceoverthinker]

OUAT 3X01 - The Heart of the Truest Believer

Finally, I can start Season 3! It’s been so long that I can HEART-ly believe it!

...Did you miss the puns? I missed the puns. I don’t think Emma did, because I’m just hanging on by a thread! 

(Ha! Snuck two in!)

Anyway, let’s get under the cut and see what this episode has to offer!

Press Release Emma, Mary Margaret, David, Regina, Mr. Gold and Hook enter Neverland to search for a kidnapped Henry, they’re greeted by a school of not-to-friendly mermaids who threaten to end their search before it begins; Henry finds himself on the run from the Lost Boys with another escapee from Peter Pan’s encampment; and Neal, recovering from his wounds, travels through the Enchanted Forest with Mulan in an attempt to learn the fates of Emma and Henry.

General Thoughts - Characters/Stories/Themes and Their Effectiveness Neverland Seas ”I blame you.” Yeah, I disagree, Emma. For one thing, this plays a pretty small part of the overall story. For another, while they tried to convince her of what to do, it was Emma’s ultimate decision to do it. As she says, “We’re the same age. We have equal amounts of wisdom.” For a third, their decision, while endangering Henry, saved Regina. For a fourth, the only people’s faults for Henry’s capture are Greg and Tamara. *sighs* Look, I get Emma’s grief and worry, but this writing direction doesn’t feel genuine for her to deflect blaming Snow and David. It feels like a conflict was thrown in so that there would be more of a disconnect between her and her family.  I love Emma, but I can admit when a scene makes her completely unsympathetic despite the framing telling me otherwise, and this is a prime example. And here’s the thing: This never comes up again! Emma doesn’t apologize to them. This moment is utterly pointless!

The importance of teamwork is the big theme of this segment and once we get over that hiccup of a scene as I just mentioned, it’s delivered incredibly effectively. The conflicts between the characters, both internal and external, are incredibly real and no one is holding back. And the twist of those conflicts causing the storm is handled well! Rumple presents the bare essence of the theme, about Emma’s lack of belief, and because he chooses to go off on his own, the narrative has him fail by putting him into a traumatising position, whereas Emma’s belief in their abilities as a team and, in correlation with Rumple’s speech, herself, allows for the rest of the Nevengers to succeed.

Neverland Island So I have a nice bit to say about this segment, but it all applies to my “Favorite Dynamics” segment, so you’ll see that down there!

Enchanted Forest There’s not really much to be said about the story other than I liked it. That’s not to say that I didn’t like it or I didn’t appreciate the characters re-introduced or the interactions between them, but it was rather simple and that just doesn’t leave me a lot to talk about in terms of a breakdown of themes of major character actions. Still, the pacing was nice and the story was engaging!

Insights - Stream of Consciousness -So I didn’t realize that Emma giving birth to Henry was the first scene of the season. For some reason, I was under the impression that it happened at the start of “Coming Home,” but I honestly love it being here. Immediately, you get the sense that this arc was well planned so that it could return to this moment at the end of “Coming Home.”

-Also, I love that flicker of light as Emma gives birth! Such a special part of Emma’s life -- one filled with both joy and misery as she decides to give Henry away -- deserves the magical treatment!

-I seriously got choked up as Emma denied her chance at being Henry’s mother from the start. There’s so much love for him from the start and while it’s causing her so much pain, she’s doing what she thinks is best for him. And the gentle and yet powerful way the theme plays in the background just kills me. Swan Believer forever!

-Damn, what a cool way to go back to the present! We’re put right in the action, not missing a minute of the adventure.

-I will NEVER get over how much I love hearing Killian say “Neverland.” Whether in “The Crocodile” or here, Colin puts so much energy into the word, encompassing the danger and adventure to be found there.

-”It’s a good thing you guys don’t ask any questions.” My sentiments exactly, Henry!

-”More time than I care to remember trying to leave this place to kill Rumplestiltskin.” This provides some interesting insight into Killian’s character. It implies (to me) that he devised his Dreamshade plan with quite a few years to spare before his escape, whereas I always assumed that the planning took most of the time and that the escape was just a pinch of time towards the end.

-”Villains don’t get happy endings.” It’s incredible that this line, said by a character that left so little of an impression, is what follows Regina, Rumple, and Killian throughout basically the rest of the series.

-”That’s a great use of our time. A wardrobe change.” To be fair, Killian, Rumple’s not going to be in fighting shape sporting a Calvin Klein suit. This...honestly weird ass outfit makes the most sense.

-”You don’t believe in your parents, you don’t believe in magic, or even yourself.” Talk about a kickass line of foreshadowing of all that she’s going to overcome by the end of this arc!

-”When have you ever taken a real leap of faith?” Give it about a half hour, Rumple!

-So I must say, it’s funny that a lack of evidence is brought up as such a big story element here, but once Tink enters the picture, it’s her need for evidence as to the safety of their voyage back that secures it. A bit of dissonance, but nothing too severe.

-I love how Rumple spins his cane as he disappears. Rumple is the most beautifully extra person across the realms.

-I probably should’ve discussed this last time, but I love the design for the Lost Boys. They give off this air of being lost souls and their numbers stand to make them very intimidating.

-So going off of Greg’s death as well as the events of “Awake,” I’m gonna say that a shadow rip doesn’t necessitate death unless the shadow ripper wants it to mean death.

-”No time for questions.” I like that subtle line that’s in tune with Greg and Tamara’s line of no asking questions, foreshadowing the revelation about him.

-Damn! JMO is strong!

-The dialogue in the scene with Neal, Mulan, Aurora, and Phillip flows so naturally!

-”How long was he with you?” ”Long enough for me to know that I miss him, too.” I normally don’t make timeline jokes, but...come onnnnn!

-”I will not be capsized by fish.” This may be my new favorite David line.

-Also, any pretense that murder leaves any long-lasting effects of Snow and David go the fuck away when David tries to kill mermaids.

-Why didn’t Regina get rid of them earlier?

-”If Pan wants you, he WILL get you.” This line is delivered so well. Pan is not only just barely holding out from outright bragging, but is trying to deteriorate Henry’s belief and seeing that it isn’t working, cementing his part to play in Pan’s ploy.

-”Lead the way.” Am I the only one humming “Follow the Leader?”

-I like how, until Rumple enchants her, Tamara physically can’t talk. Very realistic.

-You know, everyone talks about heart colors when it comes to Rumple, Regina, Snow, and Killian, but does anyone notice how Tamara’s heart was pretty freakin’ red when Gold crushed it?

-Did no one read “Lord of the Flies?” Get the conch shell away from your enemies!

-”Filet the bitch.” I’m starting to think that all of my favorite character lines in this show have to do with aquatic life.

-”We need to think this through.” Emma, that why they’re shouting at each other. They’re discussing the matter.

-Okay, so I’m not the biggest Robin Sr. fan (And I’m hoping that this rewatch changes that for the better), but this was a solid entrance. It feels iconic, plays to the character’s power and good nature, and the more neutral yet noble tone that the scene requires plays well to Sean’s strengths.

-”See these markings? He was keeping track of me growing.” Awwwww!!! Papafire moment! That was necessary and beautiful!

-I just realized, this is our intro to blood magic! Cool!

-”I ruined YOUR life?” Regina, please. I thought we were past that…

-”Don’t call my wife a slag!” Yeah, Killian. You deserved the fuck outta that punch.

-I love the music that plays during the flying sequence! It’s gorgeous, distinct, and whimsical!

-CAPTAIN CHARMING BROMANCE!!! We have taken off!

-So I’m guessing that Rumple has encountered Felix at least one or two times.

-”Each of us have been too busy being at each other’s throats to be believers.” Those things aren’t correlated.

-”We need to do this the right way.” “No, we don’t. We just need to succeed.” YESSSS! Emma! That is my girl! She gets her tactics from her mama!!

-”It’s easier to get people to hate something than to believe.” That’s...incredibly accurate.

Arcs - How Are These Storylines Progressing? Everyone Working Together AND The Mission to Save Henry- ”It’s time for all of us to believe, not in magic, but in each other.” Emma’s speech took a sentence to get going, but once it did, DAMN did it get good! Now, as one gleams from this episode, these two arcs are one and the same. The only way Henry is saved is by working together, and this episode completely captures why that’s so important.

Emma Accepting Her Parents - This second-part-of-an-arc got off to SUCH a weak start, and that’s frustrating because I KNOW it gets better from here. But what I said above does apply.

Greg and Tamara - “We don’t ask questions. We just believe in our cause.” Holy crap. Tamara and Greg went from being two pretty intelligent and well designed villains into being total morons. I will say, part of me is glad that they did because if not, their conflict would’ve been way too close to a science vs. religion debate for comfort. But they also die here. To be honest, if anyone but Rumple was to find one of them, I’d rather it have been Greg who got the additional moments of life to speak and allow for Henry to get away. His story, well, was actually a story, whereas Tamara’s connection to Neal is loose at best.

Killian’s Redemption - Killian’s redemption takes an honest-to-goodness step forward. He’s acting on his decision to care about someone other than himself (And that shows through the two people aboard the ship that can stand him), but still has quite a bit of his verbal firepower and contempt (Towards David and Rumple) that reminds us of his villainous past and that his redemption won’t be all sunshine and rainbows.

Rumple’s Redemption - Rumple takes what is a realistic step back, though I’m not even certain I should call it a step back. Despite being his Rumple-y self, the narrative makes it very clear that his decision to dessert the group and chastise them beforehand are made on behalf of the mission to save Henry. And as we see the personal trials he’s already taken on in this pursuit with the confrontation with Pan’s minion, there’s so much power that grows with these decisions.

Regina’s Redemption - Regina also takes a step back into some of her more vicious tendencies: hating on Snow, defaulting to magic and violence for all her solutions. I personally like this because while there’s an understanding that these people are family, the anger and resentment between Regina and them is still present and in the heat of the moment, Regina won’t forget it. I will say, the Regina Blames the World trope is back and it still annoys me, though slightly less so here because the framing wasn’t going for sympathy in that moment.

Favorite Dynamic Henry and Pan. Pan’s dynamic with Henry sets up perfectly the kind of monster he will be for the rest of the season. He’s an incredible manipulator and plans out everything he says in order to activate Henry’s belief just when he needs to. Look at the way he set up the pixie dust and how that moment pays off! It’s makes for a triumphant moment that becomes terrifying in hindsight. But what makes this dynamic work so well is how it is set up. In the few minutes we see before Pan’s disguised appearance, Neverland has shown itself to be a cruel place. The location itself is darkly lit and the two villains of the previous season are violently murdered. Because of that, we as an audience clutch to Pan just as Henry does and because of that, for the first time, our belief causes suffering as the deception is exposed.

Writer Adam and Eddy, as usual start up the season! And I honestly like it. A lot of it is good! I’d compare it to the Season 1 finale where it’s a good mix of story and character moments (And just like in the Season 1 finale, has a completely pointless and aggravating moment, but thankfully, this one doesn’t mean a lot)! I feel like the characters were put in a solid place where they have room to grow and are put somewhere that keeps them intimate and gives them opportunities for great dynamics!

Rating 9/10. This episode is a great way to start off the season! The settings and themes have been set up well, and the characters are in good form! It’s exciting and adventurous, but nerve racking all the same. It makes me super excited for what’s to come!

Flip My Ship - The Home of All Things “Shippy Goodness” Captain Swan - Look, season 2 was not Captain Swan’s golden time for shipping (For me, at least), but Season 3 is here and they are glorious! Killian is incredibly respectful of Emma, comforts her over her worries, addresses underlying grief she has for Baelfire, and supports her as she prepares for Neverland’s horrors. It’s honestly amazing! Also, Emma and Killian are sailing the Roger together during the storm!! They’re working together and it is the BEST!!! Ship of dreams...quite literally! Swanfire - And don’t think I forgot about Swanfire! Both Emma’s grief and Neal’s devotion to getting back to her is such a big presence in this episode. “Tell Emma I’m alive, and that I love her.” Letting Emma know that he’s both okay and loves her is Neal’s main priority and that’s just incredible! And I loved Neal’s scene with Mulan as he discusses his regrets leaving Emma. <3

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Woohoo! Season 3 is off to a solid start and I can’t wait to take the rest of Peter Pan’s Flight! Thank you for reading and to the fine folks at @watchingfairytales!

Next time...I don’t know. Reader, help me out, cause I’m lost...girl… ;)

See you guys then!

Season 3 Total (9/220)

Writer’s Scores: Adam and Eddy (9/60)

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