#in terms of how spoilery to be

[hephaestuscrew]

Audio Drama Sunday 24/11/2023

Here's the new stuff I've listened to in the past week and a bit:

🏠 Unwell Ep3.01-3.07 - I really liked the first couple of seasons of Unwell, and I don't know why my listening fell off midway through Season 3 in 2021. (Honestly it might have partly been that some of the dementia stuff hit too hard. Ep3.05 was A Lot in a masterful way...) But I thought I'd resume it from the beginning of Season 3, and it's been really nice to return to these characters and this world, even if I can't remember all of the context. I'm tutting at Hazel, a librarian actively withholding and distorting information. I'm shaking my head at what Rudy's gotten himself into. I'm very emotional about Wes - the first episode of this season was really moving. And I'm excited to see where things are headed!

🚀 Travelling Light, Ep1-3 - Like Monstrous Agonies, this show has such a lovely reassuring vibe. I'm in awe of H. R. Owen finishing one show and almost immediately releasing another weekly show nearly single-handedly. It reminds me a bit of the Wayfarers series by Becky Chambers, because of the exploration of the diversity of cultures across different planets and species, and the way these differences are celebrated. I've also noticed that so far the cultures described tend to be more local and specific than 'every alien of this species has this tradition' - instead it's usually about the people who come from a certain city or region on a planet. Which helps avoid some troubling attitudes that sci-fi which contrasts different species can imply. My favourite archive entry from these episodes so far was the drinking song. It felt convincing as that kind of song and was fun to hear.

🌊 The Silt Verses, Chapter 36 - This was one of those episodes that made me stop in my tracks in the street as I listened. I cared so much about the two characters who were only introduced this episode, and the ending sent shivers up my spine. I often hate listening to flirting but the flirting via memory games was unusual, sweet, and compelling in a way that made me smile in spite of the Horrors around them. Also I think Carpenter should be a bitch about unimportant things like music trivia more often. I loved her and Hayward bickering. She should get to care about things that aren't gods or rituals or matters of life and death.

🚇☕ Greater Boston / The Amelia Project, Live Crossover Episode - This was an excellently done crossover in terms of blending elements of both shows in a way that I think would work for someone who was only a fan of one or the other. I was pleased to hear Felix Trench's absurd portrayal of Mark Walhberg again, but my favourite parts were Chuck Octagon attempting to sum up the events of Greater Boston (and the Interviewer's reaction to this) and the Narrator narrating the Interviewer's response to his offer with his own exaggerated impression.

[anarkhebringer]

Me and my goth girlfriend getting ready to beat the shit out of the cults that made us who we are

[wayfinderships]

IM SO NORMAL ABOUT HIM...

[jinmalos]

highly educational and informative and academic discussion of the potential awareness of xenoblade characters on the deep mechanisms of their own worlds

[collegetennisoriginstory]

so i have a question, if you are stuck between two ROs, will that affect anything in the story? would they notice that or not?

Yes, they will definitely notice!!

Some brief spoilery notes about how I think the routes/thoughts running through each RO's mind if there are multiple ROs involved:

Tobin / Rayyan are an especially tense pair if you end up serious about the two of them, because tbe stakes are similar (tennis team etc.) and Tobin is less likely to stand down ("if you're gonna risk things going to shit, you can risk it with me") but on the other hand Rayyan and Tobin actually know each other and respect/like each other, so there's that. Rayyan wouldnt back down from anyone, but with Tobin... they might be just a tad gentler /more conflicted about it.

Tobin or Rayyan competing with anyone else... Tobin might think maybe MC would be better off with someone who gives them a life outside of tennis. Rayyan would only fight harder, asking if they'd truly get it.

As for Sam ... I think they'd initially back off because these other ROs are THERE with MC- G i suspect theyre most comfortable with. In their mind maybe G could just be a fling. And at the end of the day, maybe even at the end of college, theyre hoping theyll find their way back to MC somehow.

As for G... I think they'll first think, "all's fair in love and war" and go all out to win, because they can, but then as they realise they actually do like MC, do really care about them, they'll start to think maybe MC's better off with someone who won't break their heart after a year. Then they'll realise that even thinking that means they're already in too deep, and that sends them into a bit of a... "oh no what have done" moment, as they come to terms with just how difficult it'll be to go leave MC after a years up. And then, upon realising the depth of their feelings and how little time they have, they'll go for it.

[infamous-if]

What are the biggest differences between Gina and Griffin personality wise (if it’s not too spoilery)?

I think Griffin is nicer than Gina. Gina has been referred to as “bitchy” all her life and she has reclaimed that and embraced the term, so she has more of an attitude but it’s out of a defense mechanism. She’s aware of what it means to be a woman in a male dominated industry, so she has more emotional armor. One may consider her “meaner” but she’s simply more blunt and honest. I think Griffin is goofier, and tries to shake everything off with a joke and a smile. Gina has had to fight for respect, so she is very upfront, very clear, and she is careful about looking difficult.

For example, I think Gina wouldn’t have thrown a tantrum at Viktor in front of the buses. She would’ve been more levelheaded because she knows how it looks for a woman to be yelling and screaming. She wouldn’t be taken as seriously as Griffin. Viktor definitely takes Griffin more seriously than Gina but that stems from his own inner misogyny.

Griffin and Gina simply just struggle differently in some aspects, I think! They both deal with things the other doesn’t completely understand. I want to reflect that more.

[the-power-of-stuff]

The Live-Action Sukka Manifesto that I Just Couldn't Keep in My Head

So I've been marinating in my live-action Sukka thoughts for the past three days, and when someone sent me an anon asking if I had any thoughts about the changes, at first I went, "DO I EVER?!" and proceeded to dump my entire brain on the page.

But then I worried maybe the anon wouldn't want to see my entire brain and figured I'd make my own post with my Many, Many Thoughts, and reel it in a bit when I answer the ask. And then link here if they're interested in the dissertation.

I'll put all the excessive details and spoilery stuff under a cut, but I'll start by saying, I didn't hate it! And I was afraid that I would.

There were things that I was bummed or had mixed feelings about, but there was also a lot that I genuinely enjoyed. All the Sukka interactions were cute and still had some decent character development, and I had fun with the episode overall (I've watched it thrice mind you, and definitely have not given the rest of the series that kind of attention). And I didn't necessarily dislike the differences from the original; I think I've just taken more of a "that was an interesting interpretation" approach.

But I better start that cut now, because I'm about to go on and on about this. I'd love to know what others think, though!! Even if the opinions aren't the same as mine! Please feel free to comment, reblog, shoot me an ask. If nothing else, I'm excited that the LA has gotten people talking about ATLA again.

So, I want to start with Suki’s characterization, which overall I found to be delightful, even if it was a bit of a watered-down version of her animated self.

In the original show, Suki is confident, sassy, and doesn’t take shit from anybody. She’s proud to the point of almost being arrogant, and even a little mean. What we get in the LA is someone who’s still confident in terms of her status and her skills, and still proud of her heritage and her role in her community, but with significantly less sass. And while LA Suki still seems like someone who wouldn’t take anyone’s shit, we don’t actually see LA Suki deal with that much shit from anyone (because Sokka isn’t really giving her any). 

There is one moment in the show where her interaction with Sokka is a little contentious, which is when he tries to relate to her as a fellow guardian of his people. I think Suki’s question to Sokka about how is he protecting his village if he’s not there is meant to be a challenge to his swagger. However, the line is delivered with a softness that makes it seem as though Suki is, at least in part, genuinely curious. (This curiosity makes even more sense when we consider the fact that Suki’s eventually going to leave Kyoshi Island so she and her Warriors can take part in the war effort, and that she will have to contend with the question of “how do you do that without abandoning your people?” when coming to that decision. The LA lays a lot more of this groundwork than the animated show did: Suki outwardly expressing her desire to see the world, her mother’s secretive looks every time Suki gazes longingly at Sokka the possibilities…)

Compare these two moments, for example. These are both scenes where Suki expresses disbelief at Sokka's claims about his warrior-hood. But in the LA, Suki speaks rather quietly and mildly, in contrast to the brash sarcasm of her animated counterpart. LA Suki is also tilting her head down and away, looking at Sokka indirectly. OG Suki is leaning in close, getting in his face, smirking derisively with her hands on her hips.  

I think there’s something to be said about the LA in general smoothing away certain personality traits that could be seen as negatives but that are actually strengths that are so narratively well-developed they occasionally show up as flaws (for instance, Katara’s fury, or lack thereof). Animated Suki is prideful and stubborn; she berates Sokka until he gives her sad puppy-dog eyes and has zero hesitation about making an example of him in front of her whole class. It’s a little ruthless, but these traits are also 1) what gets through Sokka’s thick skull (he, too, is prideful and stubborn), and 2) what makes her such a dedicated ambassador of Kyoshi and such a strong leader of the island’s Warriors at such a young age. I feel like the LA writers were afraid of making any of the protagonists seem too abrasive—everyone in the LA has had their edges sanded down, including Zuko, including Aang—and in general this tends to lead to less realistic representations of humanity and conflict, less satisfying character development arcs, and fewer opportunities for reflection and learning. 

That being said! I went into watching the LA with negative expectations about what we would see in terms of character development, and thus was pleasantly surprised. 

The LA removed the need for Suki to be as ruthlessly stubborn as she is in the animated show because LA Sokka’s skull is not so thick (and I'll get into that a bit more later). So what we get instead is a sheltered Suki with a helicopter mom who is so hilariously awkward that she has no idea how to interact with other humans. And, to be honest, I enjoyed this version of her so much that I even thought to myself, “I wish I’d thought of that!”

Suki is a straight-up weirdo in the LA and I love that for her. The way she puts Sokka in a chokehold and then looks at him after she sets him free like, “That was good flirting, yes? Would you like to be my boyfriend now?” And then her disappointment when Sokka walks away as if she’s thinking, “Why didn’t that go well, I thought boys loved getting put in chokeholds?” She is so precious, I just want to put her in my pocket. And this characterization might even be more broadly relatable than a super-confident Suki brimming with sass. Who among us hasn’t made a complete fool of ourselves in front of a crush by coming on way too strong and having no idea how to flirt? I mean…real. 

And because Sokka is also mostly just making a fool of himself trying to impress a pretty and talented peer (instead of covering up his insecurities by wrapping himself in misogyny) this leaves room for the two of them to be attracted to each other right off the bat and for their interactions to be more overtly romantic throughout the entire episode. Which, avid shipper that I am, I have to admit I have been gobbling up for the past three days straight. This episode was an IV drip of romantic tropes hooked straight to every Sukka shipper’s veins. 

Shy glances from across the room? Check.

Walking in on the other person half-naked? Check. (Y’all, Suki looks Sokka up and down for a FULL TWENTY SECONDS yes I timed it from the moment she appears in the background, yes you should count it to see how long that really is. Talk about awkward.) 

Tripping so they end up falling into each other’s arms? Check.

Wide-eyed shock that turns into surprise thirst after being pinned to the ground? Check.

Shooting each other satisfied smirks as they kick ass side-by-side? Check.

Jumping in front of literal fire for each other? Check and check!

Like, I could live off this for the rest of the year. 

But look, there’s a lot that I love about the way Sokka and Suki’s relationship is portrayed in this episode besides those romantically indulgent tension-creating moments, and it has to do with Suki’s admiration and validation of Sokka. 

Suki really looked at this boy with his mouth stuffed half-full of steamed bun and went, “Must have.”

With the removal of overt sexism from this episode (for better or worse), the story focused much more heavily on Sokka’s development as a leader. He still has that sort of posturing display of self-confidence that comes from inexperience and trying too hard to prove oneself (“Ferociously…deadly tiger whales…”), and while at first Suki seems put off by this and his attempts to liken himself to her (“I’m not just a warrior, I’m a Kyoshi warrior”) it doesn’t take her long to decide (*cough*after seeing him shirtless*cough*) that she doesn’t actually mind this behavior (and in fact maybe she kind of likes it because maybe it means he likes her and maybe it means she can show him how much she likes him by slicing the tops off all those melons with her fan). She seems genuinely interested in his boomerang and impressed that he hunts, and then later, she immediately takes interest in training him in the Kyoshi Warrior style. 

After they spar, she casually refers back to the fact that he’s his village’s protector, and this time, she does it without the disbelief and defensiveness. Because he’s finally stopped posturing. He opened himself up and gave himself over to Suki’s expertise, and in that way he proved that he has the will and desire—the heart—of a warrior. And Suki tells him so while touching him gently and gazing at him longingly in the soft golden glow of the late-afternoon sun. And as a die-hard Sokka stan, I love seeing him loved and appreciated like this. Adamantly. Ardently. The Sokka cheerleader in my head is going wild. “YEESSSS!! Our boy deserves this!!” Because we know that, in the animated show, he goes through a lot more struggle and self-doubt before he receives this kind of external validation. And while we also know that this makes for an incredibly satisfying growth arc, I gotta admit that it’s a fun bit of indulgence to watch Suki talk Sokka up directly to his face and then want to kiss him really bad. Y’know. As a treat.

That said, I'm very attached to and appreciative of the way their relationship is framed in the animated series. I love that their respect and affection for each other grows even after the disaster that is their first few interactions. In the LA, they are drawn to each other immediately, and the only barrier seems to be a bit of awkward stepping-in-it-ness. In the original, they have legitimate conflict, and they both have to give a little—Sokka becomes more humble, Suki becomes more tender—before they get to that point of potential romantic interest. And I think it says a lot about Sokka’s character and his desire to learn and grow that he is willing to humble himself in front of someone who, as far as he’s seen, has very little regard for him (slash has a good deal of animosity towards him). Giving himself over to Suki’s expertise costs him more in the animated show. But once he does, he and Suki learn and grow together. He shows Suki who he really is, shows her how dedicated and determined (and fun and a quick learner) he is, to the point that, by the end of the episode, she can allow herself to be vulnerable with him. And she does validate him in the original Kyoshi Warriors episode, just less directly than the LA. Her kiss on his cheek and “...but I’m a girl, too” is about forgiveness and acceptance and acknowledgement and respect, as much as or even more than it is about affection. There’s a little bit of romance, too, but it’s just little baby seeds of it, and it feels very natural to let those seeds germinate over time until we see Suki again later in the series. 

Which brings me to the live-action kiss. 

I’ll be honest, I was a little on the fence about the kiss. I want Sokka and Suki to kiss as much as possible in every conceivable universe. So there’s a part of me that was banging on the table and whistling with obscene joy. But the other part of me thought it was too much too soon. However, my hesitance pre-supposes some things about the second season (not least of which that there will be one), namely that it will handle the reunion with Suki and crossing the Serpent’s Pass anything like how it was done in the original. (Of course, one thing we now know for certain can't happen in a hypothetical LA season 2 is Suki pranking Sokka at the ferry station because he doesn't recognize her without her makeup. Do I love the expression on LA Sokka's face the first time he sees Suki's? Yes. Am I sad that this completely ruins their whole "You don't remember me? Maybe you'll remember this!" game? Also yes. But truthfully, I don't know if LA Suki would've been up to the prank, anyway. Not sassy enough. ;))

The Serpent’s Pass is one of my favorite episodes of all time, and that moment on the bluffs when Sokka and Suki are talking around Sokka’s loss, with the moon shining down on them all the while, and they almost kiss with the moon hanging between them in the background, and then Sokka pulls away without any other explanation besides, “I can’t”? That scene is so absurdly powerful and beautiful and an amazing moment of character development for them both, and I feel like it loses a lot of impact if they’ve already made out once. The fact that they kiss for the first time after that moonlit moment, when Sokka realizes that Suki doesn’t need protecting the way he thought she did, and in fact she was there to protect him, and he can finally just let go of this burden that he’s been carrying with him since Suki first mentioned she was joining them (slash since his dad put him in charge of an entire village at 13), and then and only then can he open his heart to what he feels for Suki, and in fact opens it so wide that he just cannot help but jam his mouth onto hers before she’s even finished talking…? I mean. C’mon. That’s poetry. But, again…loses impact if they’ve already had a first kiss.

But who knows what, if anything, they’ll actually do with that storyline. So for now, I’ll just enjoy my live-action Sukka kiss because, honestly, dream come true.    

Or almost a dream come true. Because there's a huge camelephant in the room that I haven't addressed yet, isn't there? The lack of Sokka in the Kyoshi Warrior uniform...

And I don’t think we can talk about the omission of Sokka’s Kyoshi Warrior uniform without talking about the omission of Sokka’s sexism. Because if Sokka isn’t sexist, then why do you have to put him in the dress and makeup of traditionally female warriors to make a point about how women are strong and capable, too? So here’s what I’ll say about that (and I know there’s a lot that people have said already, so I’ll try not to belabor the point.) I don’t think leaving out Sokka’s sexism was necessarily a detriment to his character arc. I do think, however, that leaving out Sokka’s sexism was a detriment to the message the show was trying to convey about sexism. 

Now, in the Northern Water Tribe episodes, the LA still gives us a message about fighting against the kind of systemic, institutionalized sexism that you might not be surprised to encounter within a very old-fashioned society or from a very old-fashioned gray-haired man. But what about the off-the-cuff, everyday kind of sexism that you might experience from an otherwise good person who is close to you? A person who loves you and would do anything for you but who gets carried away teasing you about “girly” things because of intrinsically-held biases that they’re not even that conscious of having? 

I think it’s important and meaningful for male and female audiences alike, and everyone in between, to see these different forms of sexism and misogyny—to see them, to recognize those behaviors in others and in ourselves, to be able to name them, and to have examples of fighting against them. We see the former kind—institutionalized, systemic—in Pakku. And we did see the latter kind—familiar, personal—in Sokka. And now that’s lost.

Not only that, but there’s the form of sexism that says boys aren’t allowed to do feminine things lest they relinquish their maleness. And in the animated show, we got to see Sokka combating this form of sexism, too. Not only does Suki show him that girls can be fierce warriors as well as boys, but he learns that wearing makeup and a dress does not make him any less of a young man.  

So, yes, I think the lack of Sokka in Kyoshi Warrior garb was a missed opportunity. And not just because Sokka looked really good in uniform and we all should have had the chance to see that, including and especially Suki. 

Alright, this is more than long enough, so I'll leave off with a moment from the LA that gave me great pleasure.

I needed this moment, y'all. And I was so afraid it wouldn't happen. I needed Sokka being protective, I needed him using his newfound Kyoshi Warrior skills to fight, and I needed him jumping in front of fire for the girl who'd taught him. If we couldn't have Sokka in the Kyoshi Warrior uniform, at least we had this.

[amethystfairy1]

I’m going to stop saying I have another question, because I just keep thinking of more (my brain has not had this much enrichment since Octonauts as a kid, my first special interest). This one might be a little spoiler-y, so feel free to tell me that you can’t answer.

If Etho and Doc bet on Jimmy and Grian bringing home their boyfriends, and Scar is largely wheelchair bound… what are the logistics of that? I can’t imagine Doc making a bet that he knew he would lose. But the under-city REALLY doesn’t seem all that accessible, even if you have legs that work correctly (wings are really the easiest way).

Did Doc not know? Is there another logistic that I’m not thinking of here? Would Scar wear his Hot Guy stuff under his clothes to be able to walk around? But then that means that Hot Guy identity would be a little easier to see through… especially because the other overcity people know about him being in a wheelchair. And different people interact with him both as Hot Guy and as Scar (secondary question, does Pearl and maybe Scott immediately recognize the voice?).

I’ve been trying to puzzle this one out for a bit now. Mainly the fact that Doc wouldn’t make a losing bet on purpose.

Oooooo, good one! I'm so glad you picked up on this!

It is a little spoilery, so I don't wanna give to much of an answer, not because I don't have one, because I DO but yeah, the topic of accessiblity in terms of Scar's eventual trip to the under-city is planned to be the focus of a piece later down the road!

What I will say is that you're very much correct. Doc is well-aware of Scar's mobility issues, and he most certainly would never take a bet he couldn't win.

Also side note: Pearl knows Scar is Hot Guy! It's never really explicitly told to her or Jimmy, but they puzzle it together after Grian kinda dances around the topic of how Scar figured out he was a hybrid, and it's pretty much just like an open secret at this point with the three of them and Scar. Scar is fine with it, he can see considering how the three of them are hybrids in the over-city that they know how to keep a secret! 😆 Scott doesn't know Scar yet, he's never met him in his civilian identity, but if he were to meet him, maybe he would recognize him by his voice? Only time will tell.

[oneknightstand-if]

How do ROs feel about having children? Or if it's too spoilery do they like them?

Merlin: Can't have normal children for biological incubus reasons. MC can have them if they like, as Merlin well knows how humans like to propagate their race with the yelling, crying, squirming things.

Since kids aren't suitable food sources, Merlin is overall pretty 'meh' on them unless they're children of fate. They're well used to having to deal with those.

Adrian: No children... for reasons. (Apocalyptic reasons)

Arthur: Is kind of traumatized by Merlin's prophecy that he'll outlive all his children. (Aaaaall those dead children in various versions of official lore)

While he tried to have official heirs as is the responsibility of a monarch, this is one of the reasons he was so chill about Guinevere potentially being barren.

Since he's gone full-blown ageless now, it's pretty much a given that he'll outlive any children he has with a mortal... but it'll still take awhile before he gets used to that idea.

Percy: He's more the type to suddenly come home with two random orphans one day then to have biological children of his own.

4̸0̵4̵ ̴E̷r̴r̷o̴r̴ ̷N̵o̵t̵ ̵F̸o̴u̵n̷d̴: REALLY?!

Cassandra: She's totally up for having children. At the right moment, which is not in the middle of the actual apocalypse. Whether the idea of this has ever come up before... well, we'll just see.

Gwen: Unlike all others, she's totally up for having children... even in the middle of the apocalypse if she finds the right person. Love will find a way!

Vivian: Hmmm... well, if you really want to. And actually survive to the point that you're a long-term lover and not a short fling. But any kids of hers are going to be mari-morgans, you know?

Lorelei: She supposes that she's always had the thought in the back of her head that she'd have kids one day... because that's what's expected, right? Just not in the middle of her Olympic career. (Or the literal apocalypse).

There may be some buried latent issues here.

Broderick: Two kids, a dog, and a white picket fence. Normal enough dream that seems to grow ever more impossible as time goes on (because y'know APOCALYPSE).

[iamadequate1717]

OFMD S3 (Manifesting!)

I think we've all seen Casey Bloys' comments on an OFMD S3:

“What’s a little bit different in a linear world than here is… how a show performs over a longer period of time than three weeks or something,” Bloys stated. “So we’re figuring out how it’s doing, what it’s looking like.”

My reaction:

Really, HBO? HBO, after running one of the worst, most spoilery, most front loaded marketing campaigns I have ever seen, wants to talk about the long term?

The question that was driving everyone feral for an S2 was, will Stede and Ed find each other again? HBO/MAX put their first face-to-face meeting in the trailer. Why watch the show when the marketing will just toss a greatest hits reel out to the public before the episode even releases?

The showstopping set piece of 2x3 (MerStede rescuing Ed) was spoiled in their "marketing" since they released the concept art for MerStede days before the episode aired in a BTS video.

Let's look at the finale:

The beach kisses and the inn were spoiled in BTS videos released days before the episode was released after putting a week between 2x7 and 2x8 releases. Yeah, yeah, they didn't show the kisses exactly, but what else would that pose be for? It really enforced that 2x7 and 2x8 should have been released together, but HBO/MAX choose to create a cliffhanger while immediately posting the resolution in their marketing

Ed thinking Stede was dead was spoiled by the episode promo

Ed and Stede running toward one another on the beach was spoiled by the trailer. (It didn't show them in frame together, but it was obviously the same location and the direction they were going in matched.)

Ed reading one of Stede's letters was spoiled by marketing a few days before the finale release for no discernable reason

Izzy's climatic speech to Ricky (and that he was saying it to Ricky!) was spoiled in the trailer. It could have been a good hype VO, and they didn't need to spoil whom Izzy was talking to

The crew in the British garb and taking out soldiers was in the trailer. This plot begins nine minutes before the credits start.

The Revenge Crew working with Spanish Jackie and Zheng at some point was well spoiled beforehand in their BTS promo material. Zheng saying they should team up is three minutes before the credits start.

(Has anyone seen this amount of BTS material of episodes, including the season climax, released before an episode releases instead of after? Just holding this BTS material until after seems like a no-brainer to extending a show's interest after the finale is released.)

The reason the pacing felt super "off" on your first watch is because HBO/MAX already released a bulleted run through of the episode beforehand, and you were mentally ticking it off as you went instead of watching it organically. Watching it a second time really improves the flow of the episode.

This is a show whose popularity was raised created entirely through word-of-mouth excitement. The greediness of these streaming companies is why we couldn't have the actors doing promo, but then they took away the show's next most powerful tool, the word-of-mouth discussion, by releasing large swathes of the climax of the season before it aired, and the social media hype and discussion was front loaded to before release instead of after.

S3 was set up to show Ed and Stede as a solid couple and to show the pirate community against the British, and the season climax of these two points was released by HBO/MAX before the episode, and it was excitedly discussed then. Now, a week after release, we're stuck in some horrible gravy basket of discussing the part of the last five-ten minutes that HBO/MAX didn't outright spoil (though they tried their hardest with the grave promo stills and Ed's bloody hand in the promo!): Izzy's death. No one is having fun!

There is a lot of story setup for an S3 but DJenks and company had to set up a season that could double as a series finale in a pinch, so we also lost the "What happens next??" fervor because HBO/MAX wouldn't greenlight two seasons at once of their biggest new IP of 2022. The bizarre marketing strategy didn't lend itself to a long term success, and it's up to the fans once again to do HBO/MAX's job for them.

[chrysanthemumgames]

SPOILERS!!!

Hi I just finished ch 10 and the epilogue and hades scene gave me unexpected butterflies 🦋

I was just curious about the mention of the annulment. If our PC chooses to get it, does it mean in the future they could never get married again to hades? Or could there be possibly to get married again but on the PC and hades terms?

This is totally no pressure to see this in the next game or anything lol I was just curious as to the annulment being brought up and maybe an insight to what hades what thinking about the annulment if it isnt spoilery.

Thanks for all your time and effort going into making this great work of art. I feel like it just gets very brushed aside when making IFs, just how much work it really takes. I cant wait to play the next installment when the time is right!

-Star

Hiya!

I don't know whether it's something that will come up in the next game's timespan or not (it very well might, but I can't guarantee that), but PCs who choose to get the annulment on Hades's path can certainly remarry him later. It's definitely a valid path through things to be like "okay this is all in the wrong order, even if being married is something I might like later, I'd like to do all the rest of this properly first" and Hades will be absolutely fine with that.

He sees giving the PC the option as just that: giving them an option. He sort of expects them to take it even if they've expressed interest in him because, well, that's a far different thing from wanting to be married to someone, and his sense of time is a bit different from the PC's, such that he would be genuinely boggled if he found out they were at a 'maintain the marriage on feelings alone' point already. (Which may happen on some paths haha).

[greenerteacups]

I’ve just completed your most recent chapter and what a delight it was from start to finish. The slow burn continues to be delicious, and you’re doing an amazing job of gradually adding bits of kindling to the flames to keep DHr’s relationship progressing (and to feed us readers). This most recent chapter was a textbook definition of fic that gets me giggling and kicking my feet.

I’m always amused by our sweet Victorian child Draco’s reaction to sex, and the reference again to sheets and friction sent me. I’m pretty sure this isn’t the first time Draco has been nearly undone by his bedding, and it got me thinking about Pureblood culture’s views of sex and intimacy.

I know oftentimes in fanon, we tend to get Slytherin sex god/goddesses who are having their first sexual experiences pretty early, though occasionally we get a more prudish/Puritanical Draco. We know in Lionheart’s universe, Narcissa alludes to a certain level of hanky panky with Lucius in the RoR, and it certainly seems like Draco had imagined any number of acts with Hermione, even if he hasn’t acted on them in public or perhaps even privately.

If it’s not spoilery, I’d love to know more about how Pureblood culture in Lionheart generally views sex/intimacy, especially inside/outside of courtship and marriage.

It's a mixed bag! I think the Slytherin sex gods thing is a kind of wish-fulfillment (loving compliment) because, put bluntly, the number of 15-17 year-olds who are even kind of charitably good at sex is a mathematical rounding error. Also, Hogwarts has group dorms. Sexiling one person in college is hard enough; imagine you have to sexile (i.e., declare publicly your intent to fuck) 3-5 people every time you want to mess around. I'm not saying it doesn't happen, it absolutely does — it's a coed boarding school, you can't fight the wind — but I will say it's probably more at the realistic level of high schoolers fumbling through the excruciating ordeal of learning intimacy, and not "the plot of Euphoria is happening in the dungeons at all times."

Anyway. I interpret the wealthier pureblood set as a kind of wizarding aristocracy, so while in general they're expected to perform to certain expectations and social mores when they're in social/public settings, the fact of the matter is it's the twentieth century and sexual mores are changing a LOT from decade to decade. Narcissa's upbringing would have been radically different from Draco's in terms of how much sex and intimacy would have been open subject — in no small part because Narcissa's generation kind of blew the ceiling off that particular conversation. She was born in 1955 and lived through the Sexual Revolution, meaning that her childhood, adolesence, and young adulthood took place in practically three different geological eras of social life. Meanwhile, women like Walburga and Druella were members of the Greatest Generation (maybe Silent Gen on the younger side), and would've been incredibly traditionalist.

Of course, no matter what the social rules are, teenagers will find a way around them. For the purposes of Lionheart, in 1995, it's understood by most pureblood parents that kids are gonna do what kids are gonna do, but there are specific standards about who you can be seen with and make certain kinds of promises to. Narcissa kind of references this at the end of book 3; she goes on this insulting little spiel about how generations of Blacks and Malfoys had secret muggle-born pets that they kept on the side, they just didn't bring them to dinner parties. Basically, what you do in the privacy of your bedroom is your own business; just don't get caught and don't try to push boundaries, and your social set will be understanding, up to a point. But it would be absolutely improper for "dating" or "courting" to take place between a muggle-born and a pureblood, because that expresses the intent to associate with them in Society, which is a discrete sphere with its own set of rules — one of which is that you have to enforce the caste system.

With respect to specific mores and rules, there's a few references to "etiquette." That stuff's inspired by real etiquette manuals from Victorian and Edwardian England, though I've occasionally thrown in my own twist when it suits me. Dance with the one that brought you; you should have an escort to balls, theoretically but not necessarily someone you're interested in; women run the household, men run the estate. There are certain standards of chivalry and respect on the men's part, but there are also standards of ladylike conduct and decorum on the girls'. Daphne is shocked when Katie wears a suit to the Ball— to the point where she's like "?? ARE you a girl?" — because the rules of dress and poise have been so drilled into her. The level of slut-shaming we get from the Slytherin girls (despite several Slytherin girls being sexually active) also indicates how female sexuality is policed in a way male sexuality isn't; the rumors about Draco and Daphne hurt Daphne, not Draco. This double-edged hypocrisy runs hand in hand with the idea that women are training to be wives, and shouldn't be sleeping with people (if anyone) who they're not seriously pursuing for marriage. Relatedly, courting/engaged couples are usually seen together, a la Crabbe and Millicent, because the idea is you're supposed to be preparing for your marriage; now that you're socially connected, you've begun your tenure as a Unit, and you're expected to act like it. It would be strange for Vince or Millie to go to a ball with someone else unless that partner was a relative or (possibly) a close family friend. It would... imply something.

Marriage between a man and woman would be expected, not because purebloods on the whole are traditionalist — which, to be clear, they are — but because the emphasis on bloodlines means children are a priority. Pansy gives us the best précis on this in Book 2. Blaise, being gay, is in an interesting place vis-a-vis the marriage question because his position doesn't come from being heir to an old estate, it's from his mother's money; in that respect, he's not bound by usual expectations of hereditary legacies, which is possibly why he's comfortable being out. (Although there's a blink-and-you-miss-it remark about some tension with his mom in "Miseducation.")

[arcadekitten]

Hi! I've been seeing people ask some lore based and future game based questions wanted to ask some myself cause I LOVE the lore of all your games and how so many tie into each other, if any aren't too spoilery I'd love to know some of these! (SPOILERS FOR A FEW GAMES AHEAD 🥹)

1. For MNE are either Allie or Enide planned on returning in future games?

2. What terms are Enide and Reginald on? Based on the vibes of Enides note it seemed like she was in love with Reginald but he obviously doesn't feel the same, and it seems like with Enide's actions she'd be willing to go pretty far (like her actions in MNE) to get with Reginald based on the note.

3. So I know you've said Rune in Crowscare and Blackout Hospital are the same, I saw the pictures in his office but I just wanted to confirm are they still his kids in Blackout Hospital?

4. Is the creature in the basement in INMIMB be revealed or show up again? Or have they maybe been revealed without us realizing maybe?

Thank you so much in advance for listening I have a silly amount of theories on your characters universe so thought I'd ask some questions! >:D

I think so! ---

I think Enide is very pushy in trying to get Reginald to give her a chance, but she also isn't going to force anything when she realizes he really just isn't interested in her. I feel like the wording "in love" is a little intense though! She just has a crush on him right now. She sees Reginald as a friend but Reginald sees her as more of an acquaintance ---

They are the same character but not exactly the same timeline. Ryo is still Rune's son and always will be wherever they appear! Rune doesn't really consider Ingram a son but does see him as a sort of extended family and cares about him very much ---

I don't think so, INMIMB was purposely designed to be a very interpretive game and I don't want to take away from that! I know some people like to share my old concept art about what the monsters would have looked like, but that is NOT CANON and only remains as part of the bones of what was once a different story.

Thanks so much for enjoying the games, it really does mean so much to me! ♡

[ataleofcrowns]

hey cherry! so, i played the last chapter, i have to say, incredible, and it did gave me idea for ask. I don't know if this ask is too much spoilery, but in terms of social habilities, who of the Ros is the best and who is the worst? in a scale? who is the best at detecting social cues and manipulating people? i dare say X. And if the Crown is a calculative one, where do they fall on the scale? i think they are all very versed on the ways of court and etc, but im curious to know who is better

Ooohh, I love spicy questions like this!!

X and D are fighting for the title of best manipulator for sure.

I think X has the edge on detecting social cues and figuring out the hidden motives of others due to their sensory abilities, which helps them play to that.

On the other hand, D is more effective at deceiving people due to how well they hide their cunning behind their straightforward personality. People tend to suspect them the least.

I think a calculating Crown has the potential to match X and D eventually, but as of right now, I'd place them right below the two of them.

A isn't that far behind, but they're more adept at reading the room and figuring out other people's motives than doing the manipulating themselves. They have no interest in playing social games; they figure they can just lean on D or X for that anyway lol.

R is a bit too hotheaded to manipulate people without a clearly defined plan beforehand. They prefer using other methods to get what they want from people, such as outsmarting them or circumventing them entirely.

[best-underrated-anime]

Best Underrated Anime Group J Round 1: #J3 vs #J6

#J3: Cat demon stuck in cat form, gets adopted as a pet.

XiaoHei is a young cat demon training to be an Executor, someone who maintains the balance between humans and demons. His first mission as a trainee was to steal the Sky Pearl. He succeeded, but he also got injured enough to be unable to revert to his human form. Stuck in his cat form, he gets adopted by the human girl XiaoBai as a pet. The story then follows XiaoHei’s adventures as a pet cat in a human home while also evading the pursuit of his enemy, Diting.

#J6: Students transported to bizarre new realities

Thirty-six students find themselves and their school building suddenly adrift in a void-like dimension. When supernatural powers awaken in some of them, a sense of detachment begins to divide the group. Despite the student council's attempts to impose order, they clash with the students possessing special abilities, who rebel against their strict control.

This conflict leads them to discover that this world has its own set of rules—and following them is necessary for survival. After one of the students decides to take a leap of faith, the school switches dimensions once again. While they deal with the unique challenges and circumstances that each world presents, the students must unravel the mysterious phenomenon and find a way back home.

Titles, propagandas, trailers, and poll under the cut!

#J3: Legend of Luo XiaoHei (series) (Luo XiaoHei Zhan Ji)

[Submitter: Now, I could not find a single trailer for season 1, and this show doesn’t have an opening sequence either, so I’m sharing the s2 trailer instead. It’s not spoilery, so you can watch it.]

Propaganda:

Demons try to coexist with humans and maintain balance; however, most humans aren’t even aware of their existence. XiaoHei himself has had little interactions with humans aside from his master—who doesn’t count since he’s feared by both humans and demons alike. It isn’t until XiaoHei meets XiaoBai that he actually learns more about them and their way of life. Slowly, he gets drawn to the human life and also learns to have fun just like the human kids his age.

But then there’s the antagonist, Diting, who’s out to retrieve the stolen Sky Pearl. As XiaoHei battles with him, we, along with the human characters, learn more about the magic in the world—And I absolutely love this gradual way of unfolding the lore to us viewers. The worldbuilding is quite intricate, but not once does it ever feel overwhelming.

The fight scenes of this show are also very immersive. I don’t know what technical terms to use to describe it, but I love how it’s not just the characters moving around but also our perspectives. It feels as if we’re also fighting along with the characters.

But although there are a lot of fight scenes and supernatural stuff thrown in, at its core, LXH is a story about a young demon learning that there is more to life than magic and fighting. It’s about XiaoHei discovering what it is he really wants to do without fear of losing what he calls his home, for home will always be with him.

The s2 trailer I shared may be action-packed, but s1 is actually more of a slice-of-life. And oh, don’t be mistaken by the fantasy-looking setting in the trailer; this story is set in modern times. The plot of s2 is XiaoHei continuing his training through a virtual reality game (like the Greed Island Arc in Hunter x Hunter), but this time, he brings his human friends with him.

Both S1 and S2 combined, there are only 40 episodes. That may seem a lot, but each episode is only 5-10 minutes long. You can binge everything in a day. But even though it’s short, the show does not lack anything. There are colorful characters, amazing animation, hype fight scenes, interesting supernatural stuff, and also a cute cat. The art style is also nice, reminiscent of Studio Ghibli (and there’s even a Howl’s Moving Castle reference in S1E1!)

Both seasons are something that you can watch when you don’t have much time and energy for plot-heavy stuff but still want something exciting. Even if you end up not voting for this show, I really hope you consider checking it out, as well as its movie. It really is such a beautiful and comforting show.

P.S.: This series takes place about three years after the events in the movie (which has the same title in Chinese, but is more known as simply “Legend of Hei” in English). The series aired first before the movie, though, so it doesn’t matter (still, I recommend watching the movie first).

Trigger Warnings: Child death (it’s fake, but the characters’ reactions feel so real), teens/adults fighting children. XiaoHei is a great fighter, and the people that can match with him are only those older than him.

#J6: Sonny Boy

Propaganda:

Sonny Boy is one of the best shows to come out in recent years. The setting and plot is very fantastical, with superpowers and dimension travel, but fundamentally the story is about the characters. The character writing is really unique. Even the side characters feel like real people, not just cheap gimmicks.

But the main draw for a lot of people are the visuals. Sonny Boy looks like no other anime. The backgrounds are just absolutely stunning, and the realistic character design helps contrast the unreality of the world. There are these amazing visual sequences that just blow you away with how creative the writers must be.

I can't say much without spoiling but it's the kind of show you just have to experience. This is the kind of show where people either love it or hate it. If you are looking for clear, linear storytelling, this is not the show for you. If you're looking for a straight mystery where everything is solved in the end, you might be disappointed. If you want to cry, and feel something, and think about what it means to be alive, then I cannot recommend a better show.

Trigger Warnings:

Animal death - a bird died and is used as a metaphor

Flashing lights - many weird kaleidoscope effects and other sequences

If you’re reblogging and adding your own propaganda, please tag me @best-underrated-anime so that I’ll be sure to see it.

[justallihere]

Yelled and screamed when I saw this update. You are a gift that keeps giving 😭thank you! You are the best!

Loved the heist. Liam played xaden’s parts here? Which makes total sense. Love how Liam is not dead here, had an important role as he would have had in the books too 😭 thank you thank you for keeping him alive here.

I love love how vi is beginning to show signs of love for x. I have literally been dying for this part. Love how vi thinks of aretia as her home and wants to go home 🥹 my heart breaks that it’s going to be a while. My heart melted when she thought of carrying those books back for x. He deserves someone who cares for him so much. And also on how much she missed him, wished he was there with her, to protect her and also on that she was feeling terrible to break her promise but had no choice.

Can the squad be any more awesome? So glad vi included them all. They are a team! Jesinia and sawyer are the cutest! Love love cam and how badass he is, but also so reckless with him just pulling in vi through the wards. I don’t trust that guy to be rational anymore but it’s ok, not everyone can be rational I guess. X is gonna burn hell to get to vi now and I cannot wait. Is there going to be a love confession like in the books? (Sorry for a spoilery q, feel free to ignore it!) Will x be mad at vi for breaking her promise or he will just forget all of that with his heart flying out of his chest. Eager to read more.

Love the comic violet too- “it’s part of my charm” yes girl being badass and brave gives us all a heart attack but we do find you charming lol.

Thank you so much!! 🫶🏻🫶🏻

I was worried people were going to hate not having Xaden there for the heist because a few people brought up how excited they were for it, but I had to continue with Violet doing some things on her own that she didn’t in canon. Plus there wasn’t a great way to write it with Xaden there that he wouldn’t realize she was about to get caught and tortured. Also just not as fun and dramatic. I’m glad people seem to like the change though!

I love writing Violet falling in love with Xaden. She doesn’t need him, but she does want him there, and she’s coming to terms with that being okay. She’s allowed to have that.

Ugh Jesinia and Sawyer my BABIES!!! I was so happy to get to write them 😭 and the rest of the squad too, you guys know by now I’m not passing up an opportunity to write found family squad shenanigans. Cam and Violet are two peas in a pod with their reckless shit. No wonder Xaden and Liam hate him.

Xaden is on a warpath next chapter. At some point they’ll talk about her choice here to go ahead without him, but he’s not going to be angry at her about it like everyone seems to think. He just wants her safe, and he’ll understand why she did it. Like, it was stupid but she was kind of right lol