#jos: original interview

[jokeroutsubs]

How's the interview editing going?

Us:

💪💪💪

[ijobcom]

Jetez-y un œil

[should-know-better]

Oh, so (if this is true) this happened when Alex was with Johanna Bennett (05 to 07)… 🤔

Source

[milogoestogreendale]

also i was watching a mq cast interview and idk if this is already common knowledge within the fandom but i had no idea that the character of jo didn’t originally exist??

apparently jessie ennis auditioned and they loved her but she didn’t really fit any of the roles so they wrote her in as jo. cool stuff

[purewasteland]

Rich: I felt like this episode, and tell me if you thought the same, made Dean kind of stupid. I feel like- he had a couple of comments where he was like confused by his own words or do couple of things and I was like ‘oh, that’s weird but okay, this is an alternate universe version’ and then in the end with the Titanic, now they killed Jo and Ellen- Or you know not killed them, made them cease to- put time right again. And then he makes a comment about the movie Titanic and Dean’s reaction was ‘It wasn’t that bad, you know, Kate Winslet’s rack-’ and I’m like ‘oh’. He’s just a little dumbed down this episode, dialogue vise, I felt like.

Rob: Along those lines, I didn’t understand the scene where he goes to interview that guy who works at the like-

Rich: Case and point, dude. Like, Dean, who is a really subtle interviewer just can’t stop himself from sounding like a hitman.

Rob: He was like ‘You’re gonna die’ and 'Have you ever been a Nazi?’ Stuff like that. I didn’t understand that scene.

Rich: I mean, I understand he was trying to- the logic of it was that he was trying to  track the guy’s origin story to see why everyone is dying because they didn’t know it was fake yet. And the thing is, I didn’t mind that Dean says some things that the guy misreads. But then, when Dean realizes that guy is misreading him, he kind of just doubles down. And I’m just- that seems- I don’t know, it just struck me as-  

-Rob Benedict and Richard Speight Jr. Supernatural Then and Now

My Heart Will Go On with Jim Beaver (S6EP17)

Rich: I will say, I continue to say this, I gotta hurt somebody’s feelings here, which is obnoxious, but I keep thinking that they write Dean dumb. In ways that he wasn’t- that was not present in other seasons. Where like making- Rob: Dumb jokes. Rich: Weird, dumb, sexual jokes that  seem frat boy-ish. I don’t know, man. Do you know what I mean? Rob: I agree. I do. No, I do. Rich: There’s a joke he makes ‘oh yeah, I like posse’ or something like that and I’m like ‘man’. Rob: I’m so surprised that got through. Rich: That’s kind of crap we say on this podcast, but not on Supernatural. Rob: Let us make the ‘ashhole’ jokes. Rich: Exactly. It keeps bumping for me. That’s kind of an overreacting- I don’t know, this is- I definitely think that they decided to make dumbed down Dean this season and I’m not sure why. Rob: Well, even Sam doesn't seem to know how to react when Dean is that dumb. You know what I mean? It throws the whole balance off.

-Rob Benedict and Richard Speight Jr. Supernatural Then and Now

Frontierland with Guy Norman Bee (S6EP18)

[soul-eclectic]

mungojerrie & rumpleteazer were originally supposed to be dubbed over until that was scrapped, but you can still hear the dub in jo gibbs behind the scenes interview!

[ratcarney]

hello tiktok refugees.

my name is jo (they/she), and you may recognize me as ratcarney, the matchablossom artist from tiktok. you may also recognize me as the guy that anthropomorphized carla (like, the skateboard).

this is my blog of almost 6 years. it will not be a carbon copy of my tiktok account, but you will find several things here. i’m not at liberty to say all of the things you may find, but here’s a vague outline of a list:

- hadestown (+ other musicals)

- sk8 the infinity

- arcane

- interview with the vampire

- nabari no ou (+ other assorted anime)

- various live-action shows of fluctuating quality

art is tagged jo.art, original posts are tagged jo.posts. askbox is open 24/7, knock yourselves out. i follow back from @ratcarneymain.

much love 💕

[bed-chemist]

❝ brutal ❞

─⋆♡ prelude summary: the president's daughter meets her new security detail.

─⋆♡ main tropes: Michael B. Jordan x Fem!Reader, MBJ x Black! Original Character, Michael B. Jordan x Black FMC, Bodyguard x Princess, Secret Service x First Kid, Doberman bf x Black Cat gf, forced proximity, forbidden love, tolerated enemies to lovers, college romance.

─⋆♡ chapter warnings: angst, 18+ black!writer, language, fighting, physical descriptors (brief), characters affected by symptoms of anxiety or depression.

series masterlist ✰ faceclaims ✰ libby's cabinet ✰ spotify playlist

The blaring sound of my alarm clock has me jolting up out of bed. It’s only a warning that seconds later, a team of people will be in to debrief and doll me up for the day. I slide out of the silk sheets, putting my fuzzy slippers on. Grabbing the nearest robe, I pull it on effectively covering my chest.

Just as predicted my aide Joana shuffles in with my hair stylist, makeup artist, and stylist. I throw my head back in a groan. Just because my mom chose this job doesn’t mean I should be forced to be done up every day.

“Good morning to you too,” I hear Jo say and I straighten my head to see her beckoning me over to the beauty vanity.

I take a seat, refusing to look myself in the face just yet. That’s a jumpscare I’m not ready for this early in the morning. “I’m sorry, I just need coffee. Where is it?” I ask Jo. She usually comes into my room every morning with a latte and a donut.

The hairstylist removes my bonnet, allowing my blown-out hair to flow down my back. “Your parents want to have breakfast this morning. They said if I gave you the coffee, you’d never come downstairs,” Jo tells me.

I put my head in my hands and the makeup artist smacks the back of my hands with her makeup brush. I remove them and straighten up so she can do her job and get the fuck out of my room. “They would be right. What do they want?” I dig further.

A wince escapes my lips as the hairstyles rakes through my hair, trying to get it to lay down. It’s 4c hair, dude. That’s not happening. “To talk to you about your security detail,” Jo responds, looking at me through the mirror.

My brows furrow in confusion. We just got here, there’s not much to secure. “What about it?” I follow up.

Jo shifts to put her hand on her hip. “They’re giving all you first kids 24/7 security detail. They had to test each one to see which one would be right for you. The final test is today, you know, for the optics, ” she rants, finally taking a deep breath. 

My siblings are a couple of years younger than me so they probably think having someone follow you around 24/7 is cool. I, on the other hand, will be trying to ditch my detail as soon as he’s assigned. It’s not like I’d run anywhere, but there’s got to be hiding spots in this building. 

I close my eyes, allowing the makeup artist to apply shadow to my lids. “Okay, do you know anything about him?” I ask, trying not to move too much.

“Not a sliver. You know how clearance is. Anyways you have a photo with Hayley Randall and a–” Jo starts before I cut her off, particularly confused.

My brows furrow and the makeup artist huffs, fed up with my fidgeting. “Why is the secretary of education trying to take a photo with me?” I ask Jo.

Jo walks over to sit in an armchair next to me. “She wants to use it as a way to get her points up with our party. She found out you want to be a teacher and now she won't stop calling. Then you have an interview with Teen Vogue,” she moves on to the next thing.

Finally, something exciting. “Sweet! That should be fun,” I smile with excitement. The stylist brings in a rack of outfits, leaving them by the foot of the bed. She hasn’t figured out my style yet, so the rack weighs a ton.

The makeup grabs my face, tilting it up towards me. She glares over the daunting bottle she holds in front of my face. “Close your eyes, I need to set your face,” she instructs me.

I follow her directions, quickly shutting my eyes. “Yeah, as long as you remember your media training,” I hear Jo say.

A cool liquid is spritzed onto my face and I accidentally inhale some, sending me into a coughing fit. “Fuck,” I cry holding my chest. “I know,” I heave.

I fucking hate everything about this day already. I’m not trying to sound like a pick-me-bitch, but I’d much rather be out of the spotlight and in a bed, isolated. “See, like that,” Jo scolds my swearing and I quickly apologize under my breath. 

The hairstylist finishes my updo and begins joining the makeup artist in packing the supplies on my vanity. “Then you have a fitting for the state dinner tomorrow,” she says, motioning for the crew to leave. 

I scoot forward, hopping down from the tall stool. “What’s the attire,” I ask Jo.

Jo stands, following me over to the rack. “Black tie. Get that in your head, Libby. It’s always black tie. And you have class today,” she reminds me.

On the outside looking in, Jo is the one keeping me in line. But in reality, she’s been my ride-or-die during the entire campaign. Whenever we’re left alone, she lets loose and it feels like we’re back to being just friends. My eyes roll as Jo sorts through the rack, handing me a pink flowy dress.

I accept it, shedding my robe when the realization hits me. I have to be Ms. Americana publically for 14 hours. “Fuck, after all that I have to go to class? What day is it even?” I groan.

Jo helps me step into the dress, zipping the back up for me. “Thursday,” she says behind me.

My hands go up to rub my forehead when I remember, I have makeup on. “Every day I’m here, I’m losing track of the days,” I express my stress to her.

She ushers me to the mirror where she approves my look. “That’s why I’m here to keep you straight now, come on. Time for breakfast,” she says, pulling me towards the door.

She lets go once we’re through the double doors, navigating our way through the White House to one of the many dining rooms. “Morning,” I greet my parents as I walk through the glass panel doors.

My mom lowers the new channel with the remote before responding, “Good morning.”

I walk over toward my 16-year-old sister, where a man meets me and pulls out my chair for me. “Hey, loser,” I greet her as I sit between her and my dad.

Ellis nudges her head up as a hello. “Sup, hoe,” she returns the greeting as I plan my butt into the chair.

My father peers over his newspaper. “Girls, language,” he scolds us.

I roll my eyes, annoyed by the persistent reminder to watch my mouth. I know there’s a time and a place. It’s not like I’m going to get on national television and do it.  I reach for the coffee pot in the middle of the table and pour a significant amount into my cup. “You’re late,” my mother points out the obvious.

Stirring the cream and sugar in, I decide I need a sip of coffee before having this conversation. Once I’m satisfied with the taste, I turn my full attention towards her. “Mmm. Perks of not being the leader of the free world, am I right Dad?” I ask him, clinking my cup with his.

My mom scratches her stork bite on her forehead with frustration. “I only ask for one breakfast a week. That is not a lot,” she complains.

The doors suddenly burst open followed by my 18-year-old lanky brother. Hudson saunters into the room accompanied by a particularly attractive man. “Morning family,” he greets the room before taking a seat in between Ellis and my mom.

My mom smiles at the presence of her youngest child. “Good morning. Waffles are by Lib,” she points across the large round table.

So when I’m late, it’s a problem. But when Hudson’s late, it’s ‘waffles are by Lib’. Why couldn’t I have been born last? “I know you did not just let Huddy slide,” I highlight my mother’s hypocrisy.

She squints her eyes at me looking chagrined. “He’s not the oldest. You need to lead by example,” she counters.

She stares me down for a few seconds before my brother clears his throat. “Can you pass me the waffles, Libby?” he asks in a sarcastically nice tone.

I pick up the plate, extending my arm towards him. When he accepts it, I hold it for a moment too long so he can’t grab it. “You can shove the waffle up your ass,” I grit through my teeth before finally letting him have it.

My dad puts his paper down on the table. “Liberty,” he reminds me to use my manners over his reading glasses. Conceding, I pick up the tongs, loading some breakfast onto my plate. Silence falls over the table and for the first time, I’m about to truly survey the room. There are two new guards, who I assume are Ellis and Hudson’s. One with deep brown skin like ours and one with light brown skin. Both are tall and attractive in their own right, but they’re here to do a job. 

The more I look at them, the more I get curious about my fate. “So about this bodyguard situation,” I hint for my parents to explain.

My mom shakes her head, no. “That can wait until we’re done eating,” she says, buttering her perfectly triangular piece of toast.

“No, Mom. I want to know what I’m dealing with right now,” I demand and I feel like a teenager. The only reason I’m here is because my mom suggested it would be safer after the campaign. All I want is a normal college experience and at 20 years old, I’m still fighting for it.

My mom purses her lips, leaving me to wait for her answer anxiously. “Fine,” she concedes finally turning towards the guard standing behind my sister. “Agent Idris, call him in,” she tells him.

His eyes flicker between mine and hers before he nods. “Yes, Madam President,” he says, turning around and lifting his arm. He murmurs something into the microphone before turning around like nothing happened.

“Why am I the only one getting optics testing?” I interrogate her. If I’m getting optics testing, those two little shits are getting it too.

“You’re not, Hudson and Ellis did theirs this morning,” she nods to the two new faces standing behind my brother and sister. Agent Idris flashes me a coy smile, while the unidentified one sends a flirty smirk my way. Teases. They know I’m not allowed to fuck them. Awesome!!

My sister snickers, but my brother takes his opportunity to laugh at my pain. “Ahaha,” he laughs.

My eye roll again, marking up my eye roll count for the day. “I’m going to shoot myself,” I mutter under my breath.

“Now, before you run through your whole ‘I’m an adult speech,’ know that I get it. This is ultimately for your safety,” my mother continues.

“He’s an ex-navy seal and he’s young,” my dad boasts proudly as if the man is his son. 

My eyebrows knit together and I take another sip of my coffee. I need more caffeine to continue this conversation. “How young?” I ask my dad.

My mom is handed a binder by an aide that seemingly popped out of nowhere. She opens it, flipping through the file before stopping on a page. “Yours is 26,” she says.

26 and an ex-navy seal? I’ve got to start rethinking my escape plans. “How the fuck do you become a Navy seal that fast? Was he just born a killing machine or what?” I joke, taking a bite of the crispy bacon on my plate.

Ellis starts giggling while Hudson lets his melodic laughter ring free. “Liberty, language,” my mother scolds me and I roll my eyes.

I catch some snickers behind me, and when I turn around I see the two agents are laughing quietly. I look around in confusion. The other agents in the room’s faces are stone cold, how they’re trained to be. “Why are they laughing? I thought they didn’t get to show emotions,” I lean closer to Ellis and ask her.

“Mom and Dad said they could, for the optics,” she lets me know, pushing her glasses back up her nose.

My mother clears her throat and I turn back around, refocusing on her. “We chose him because he’ll fit in with you. It won’t even look or feel like he’s your bodyguard,” she explains.

“Oh, how kind of you to consider me before sticking someone with me 24/7,” I scoff.

“He has off days, and a three-hour break every day,” my mom tries to appeal to me.

I groan, thinking about the amount of time I spend with my siblings. Since we’re all stuck with someone 24/7 it means when we all hang out there won't be three of us, but six. “But that’s it. Where will he sleep?” I ask her.

I study her face as she gnaws on the inside of her lip, seemingly afraid to tell me the news. “In your unit,” she breaks it. 

My eyes widen and my jaw drops.“You’ve got to be kidding me. We’re sharing a fucking living space?” I seethe.

“Liberty!” my mom snips towards me.

Each of the kids gets their mini apartment in the wing. Each apartment comes with two bedrooms and two bathrooms. I assume it would be helpful when we have friends stay the night. Turns out, I’ll never know. “I’m sorry, but you can’t dictate how I express my shock,” I defend myself.

“Madam President, Agent Jordan is here to see you,” I hear my brother's unnamed guard say behind me.

My mom nods, waving her hand. “Send him in,” she says to the agent. “And behave Liberty,” she directs towards me.

I slink down in my seat and cross my arms. Fuck this whole situation. I don’t need a bodyguard. I’m 20 years old and I don’t even do anything. I’m not the one partying every weekend like Hudson. They should be more terrified of his pictures resurfacing. 

“Sit up. He’s hot,” Ellis leans over and whispers. I heed her warning because, well, the other two look like a great appetizer and dessert. Maybe mine’s dinner.

When the man walks in, I notice she’s right. The attractive black man is dressed in an all-black suit. It’s tailored to fit him perfectly, although I’m sure he’s got a bulletproof vest on and a gun under there somewhere.

He’s the American woman’s Adonis, and I suddenly realize why my mother set us all up for the optics. If the Kardashians have hot bodyguards, so should the first family. I don’t think she predicted that he’d set my body on fire the moment he walked through the door.

My eyes survey every muscle in his arms, his fresh haircut, and his plump rosy lips. “Madam President,” The man's voice bellows and I feel a pool of desire in my panties.

My mom smiles at him, trying to welcome him with open arms. “Good morning, Agent Jordan. This is Liberty, your responsibility for the next four years,” she introduces us and he doesn’t even look at me. His eyes stay on The President and he remains expressionless.

I smack my hand down on the table, the fury finally bubbling over. “I have to spend 4 years with a stranger?!” I shout at her.

“Liberty! What did I say?” she counters dourly. 

My dad stands, finished with his breakfast with a smile plastered on my face. “I’m sure he won’t be a stranger for long. Besides, he signed a contract,” my father says, grabbing his cup of coffee.

My mom follows suit, ready to disappear from the family for the day. “We’ll be watching, Libby. Don’t make his life a living hell,” she pleads with me.

So he’s just as stuck in this as I am. “I’ll try,” I grunt. 

She comes around to give each of her children a kiss on the cheek before joining my father, leaving the 6 of us in a room alone. Agent Idris and his coworker relax their positioning, allowing their backs to lean against the wall informally.

Agent Jordan doesn't move a muscle. He just stands there with his hands clasped in front of his suit. Fed up with the lack of attention from him, I stand, dragging my fingers across the table as I walk over to him. I stop once our toes are nearly touching and I can feel his hot breath on me. “Hi,” I flirt, batting my lashes up at me.

He finally looks down at me and tilts his head. His jaw clenches and puts both hands on my shoulders, pushing me back so there’s some distance between us. “I don’t know what you think this is, princess. But I’m here for work, not for play,” he articulates with a sour disposition.

I cross my arms, sticking out my tongue at him before turning around. “You’re no fun,” I grumble, slinking back down into my seat next to Ellis. “Why do I always get the worse pick?” I ask the table.

The scraping of Hudson’s utensils against his plate has me wincing. “Probably cause of last summer,” he sneers before shoveling a forkful of waffles into his mouth.

My face contorts and I throw the closest thing to me at him; a strawberry. “Shut your virgin ass up, dude,” I hiss.

Huddy drops his utensils on the table, raising both hands to flip me the bird. “Fuck you, Libby,” he growls, standing and storming towards the door.

Agent Flynn is hot on his heels and Ellis's eyes study them until they disappear. She shrugs, seemingly unbothered as she finishes the last of her smoothie with a final slurp. “You can borrow mine if you want,” she offers. The thought of her sharing her guard with me makes me snicker, and together we giggle before the doors to the family room open again.

There’s almost always a few seconds before the person appears, and I always hold my breath. When I see it’s Jo, my fears are relaxed. “Libby, time for picture day,” she calls for me.

“Great,” I respond, standing from my seat and smoothing my dress. “See you at the fitting, bookie. Have a good day at school,” I turn and bid my little sister goodbye.

She smiles at me and waves. “Bye, Libby,” she returns.

As soon as we’re in the hallway, Jo nudges me with her elbow. “So, how’s that going,” she asks about the brooding soldier trailing me.

“Don’t touch her,” he growls from behind us, sending shivers up my spine.

The click of our heels continues and I turn my head around to tell him off. “It’s fine, she’s my aide,” I say over my shoulder. After a couple of paces, we turn a hall to the media rooms. “That’s how it’s going,” I mutter towards Jo.

At least 4 years with Agent Jordan. Fuck, I am fucked.

Taglist: @cherrellek next part

[thewritingofspencerrose]

Behind the Scenes: A Woman's Guide to Sports

with Emily Hughes

Max had known his father was somewhere behind him as he and Kelly talked with Christian and Geri.

Jack had known his sister had gotten ahead a few steps on their way back to the Aston Martin area they were meant to be spending the race in.

What he wasn't expecting was what he, Trevor and Cole would stumble upon when they reached her.

There was no warning, no hello or greeting, just my body being roughly thrown into the wall outside of Redbull's hospitality, my body releasing a grunt on impact.

"Jack!" Is the first thing I can think to yell out, not even processing who now holds me by my shoulders.

"Who sent you here? If you think you're going to get some money out of me, or out of your brother you must be één stom kind (one dumb child)," the man in front of me bites, a thick accent on his tongue that can only be of Dutch origin.

"What?" Is the only question that comes to mind as I realize just who's in front of me.

Jos Verstappen.

Max Verstappen's father.

What the actual fuck.

"Hey! Get your hands off my sister!" Jack's voice cuts through my thoughts, bringing attention to where we are as Jack and Trevor pull Jos from me, Cole pulling me into his side protectively, chin resting on my head.

"Are you okay baby?" He whispers, moving to look into my eyes, one hand cupping my chin.

"I'm okay, my head just hurts a bit," is my answer, eyes not leaving my fuming brother as Lando Norris, Max Verstappen, his team principal and both their wives approach where Jack is now.

"Who the fuck do you think you are laying your hands on anyone, let alone my sister?!" He hollers, although Jos just looks smug, rolling up the sleeves of his button up before even considering a response.

"I don't know who you think you are," He begins, a scary smirk taking his face, "But I am the father of a two, soon to be three, world champion and I can have you removed from this paddock -"

"What is going on here," Christian Horner questions, looking between Cole and I and my brother who is now being slightly held by Trev.

"These kids are threatening me," Jos states, still looking smug, and I can feel every muscle in Cole's body tense.

"You shoved my girlfriend into the wall hard enough that her head hurts and you're trying to put this on us?" Cole questions, eyes on fire as Max and Christian look at me for confirmation, my being in shock, in part over what's just happened but also over having two F1 drivers right in front of me.

"Ik probeerde net terug te gaan naar Aston Martin (I was just trying to get back to Aston Martin)," I mumble, eyes meeting Max's in the knowledge that he knows what I'm saying. "I was minding my own business when he shoved me into the wall, claiming I was sent here and out to get money from him or 'my brother'," I repeat, Max nodding slowly.

"That's-"

"Probably exactly what happened," Max interrupts his own father. "Jos, leave."

"Max-"

"Do not make me call security," Christian steps in, stepping between the two men, and it's in such a fatherly, protective, manner that you can see how much he cares.

And Jos listens, storming off after shooting me a dirty look that has me curling closer to Cole, Jack and Trev coming over to our sides when he's far enough away.

"You okay, Kiddo?" Jack asks, a hand on my shoulder and eyes softening.

"Yeah J, I'm fine. It's just spooked me," I assure, him nodding, kissing the top of my head.

"You're Emily, right?" Norris is the one to ask, glancing to his friend. "Emily Verstappen?"

My eyes shoot wide, freezing my being.

"I am, but how do you know that?"

"I've heard of your podcast, one of the drivers, Logan, is American and listens when you have guests," Lando explains, and I can't help but blush. "Also I'm pretty sure you're interviewing my teammate Oscar and I tomorrow before the race," Something that I nod at in confirmation, knowing that's one of my obligations for being their guest.

"You here that kid, your little F1 drivers listen to your podcast," Trevor teases, earning an eye roll.

"This is why Jaime is my favorite Ducks player."

He gasps, hand to his heart, "You take that back right now."

"I've listened to some of your episodes," Kelly, Max's girlfriend admits, making me pause. "Max, my daughter and I actually listened to the one where you interviewed Taylor Swift and Kylie Kelce, Penelope is a big Taylor Swift fan," She adds with a chuckle.

"I am too, I could barely get through that interview without freaking out," I admit, her smiling warmly. "You should have seen Cole when he walked into our kitchen and saw Taylor and Kylie sitting at the counter with our cats talking about how Kylie wants one."

"Hi, I'm the Cole she's talking about, Cole Caufield, Montreal Canadians," Cole introduces himself with a little wave, arms coming to rest around my waist. "And this is her older brother, Jack Hughes, New Jersey Devils and our friend Trevor Zegras, Anaheim Ducks. Since she apparently forgot introductions."

"It's the autism, interpersonal interactions are a bit different with her," Jack jokes to the adults in front of them, although it's clear that the joke doesn't land.

"No, it's okay, he's not insulting me, he's just being honest," I assure, trying not to let Jack look like an asshole. "If anyone else joked like that he'd kick some ass."

But Max still looks uncomfortable, his eyes still on me and it's now that I fully process that he hasn't spoken except to send his father out of the paddock.

"You have autism?" Are the words he used to break his silence.

I just nod, shrugging slightly. "Diagnosed since I was six."

"You must have gotten it from Jos' side," He explains. "I was never tested, he couldn't admit that there may be something less than perfect about his ideal racer, but I've been told countless times how I've always shown signs."

"How- why are you connecting us through your father?"

I know the answer. At least I think I do. But there's no situation in which this is real.

"I hired someone to look into you after Lando introduced the grid to your podcast. They made one too many jokes about how similar we were for it to be a coincidence, so I looked for confirmation without speaking to Jos."

"That's not creepy at all," Trev mumbles, Cole slapping him on the back of his head for me.

"I pulled some strings to have Mclaren be one of the teams to invite you four when Max got his answers," Lando chimes.

"I would have invited you personally, but with Aston and Mclaren already inviting you, there was no reason for Red Bull to," Christian also adds.

"Are you trying to tell me... that I'm related to you?"

"Half sister, yes," He nods, as if this is normal. "Apparently your birth mother relinquished custody to my father after your birth, and he gave you to the placement company that put you with the family you're with."

"Put her with her family,"Jack corrects, a cold look in his normally soft eyes.

"Max didn't mean it like that," Kelly is quick to correct. "What he's just trying to establish is that they are related, not at all that you and your family are not hers."

"He knows," Trevor assures, elbowing Jack for being Jack. "All the boys are just super protective of Em. Always have been."

"Speaking of," Cole mumbles, pulling my phone out of his pocket and looking at it. "Quinn's calling."

"He probably saw a video somewhere of this whole mess," Jack grumbles, looking as annoyed as i feel.

I can't help but glance to the people across from us. I need to take this call, but I don't want to leave this conversation here.

"Do one of you have a phone on you?" I ask, looking between them all. Max and Lando are in their race suits, but Kelly starts digging in her bag, pulling out her phone and handing it over with a smile.

"Here's my number, and we'll be in Aston Martin the rest of the day and then we'll be in Mclaren tomorrow. I'd like to chat about all of this," I offer, looking to Max as I hand Kelly her phone back, taking my own from Cole and pressing answer on Quinn's third call in the last five minutes.

"Quinn, do not get on that plane."

And she walks away, phone to her ear as she talks down her older brother and Cole runs after her, wrapping his arm around her waist to keep her from wandering again.

"You should use that," Jack supplies after a moment of silence. "She's a little quirky, but it's worth it. You can't get luckier in the sister department than having Em in your life."

[thefanficwriterscraft]

S3E8. 2024 WRAP-UP (OR, STOP TREATING FANFIC LIKE SOCIAL MEDIA) -- AND AN ANNOUNCEMENT!

Hi all, Happy Holidays! Our new episode is here!

In this episode, we reflect on their 2024 fanfiction journeys and podcast highlights. We discuss notable shifts in fandom dynamics, including the growing conversation around engagement and the impact of binge-reading culture on commenting. We share their favourite reads and writers of the year, personal writing milestones, and thoughts on scenes or lines we especially enjoyed creating. We also highlight some fun podcast statistics and celebrate milestones, like our interview on @mindthetagspod.

As you will see, this episode comes with a bittersweet announcement: Lani (@copper_dust) will be stepping back as a regular co-host in 2025. While this was a tough decision for her mostly due to IRL circumstances, I (@pebblysand) want to express my deepest gratitude for Lani’s incredible contributions to the podcast. Lani, thank you for your hard work, your insights, and the amazing conversations we've shared—on and off the mic. I will miss you so dearly! 💛

But for me, this isn’t goodbye! I (@pebblysand) am thrilled to share that the podcast will continue with a new co-host: @btelling, aka Nargles15 on AO3! 🎙️ You may know her for her brilliant dystopian fanfiction The Squib or her guest episode from season one (check it out here!). We’re already hard at work brainstorming fresh ideas for the new season, which will launch in late January 2025. Have suggestions? Let us know—we’d love your input!

Thank you all for an amazing 2024. Your support, comments, and enthusiasm mean the world to us. Here’s to more creativity, connection, and fandom fun in 2025. Wishing you a joyful end to the holiday season! 🎄✨

This week, we mention: 

Books: Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan ; Normal People by Sally Rooney ; Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt ; The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien

Fandoms: Harry Potter ; The Good Wife ; Spooks ; Peaky Blinders ; The Song of Achilles

Fics: castles by pebblysand ; Merry Men by copper_dust ; Check the Spindle by copper_dust

Films: Small Things Like These (2024 adaptation)

Podcasts: [Mind The Tags] Interview with Lani and Jo ; [The Fanfic Writers' Craft] S3E5. Motifs & Symbolism ; [The Fanfic Writers' Craft] S3E6. Money, Business & Economics ; [The Fanfic Writers' Craft] S3E1. Audience ; [The Fanfic Writers' Craft] S3E4. Use of Time in Narrative ; [The Fanfic Writers' Craft] S2E4. Writing Dystopian Hellscapes with @Nargles15

TV: The Good Wife ; 

Other: Sally Rooney Is Irish (essay)

Our inspirations this year were: 

Lani: Baejax and Johaerys (writers in the Song of Achilles fandom)

Jo: Sundew (fic) and the podfic version of castles by josnail

Your recommendations for this week are:

Intermezzo by Sally Rooney

Wicked (2024 film)

And the Band Played On by Randy Shilts 

The Boys in the Band (original 1970 film)

You can find us online at:

The Fanfic Writer’s Craft: tumblr ; spotify ; ko-fi

Lani (@copper-dust): tumblr ; AO3

Jo (@pebblysand): tumblr ; AO3

[jokeroutsubs]

🥰 JokerOutSubs London: One Year Later

Our hour long interview with Joker Out in London aired one whole year ago today!

Why not check it out again for discussions about Everybody’s Waiting, their time in London, Bojan’s anxiety, Damon Bakers photoshoot and so much more!

What was your favourite part of the London interview? Let us know!👇

Full video with subtitles in Slovenian 🇸🇮, Serbian 🇷🇸 and Finnish 🇫🇮!

Interviewer: IG Gboleyn123

[heireign]

𝐃𝐀𝐒𝐇 𝐆𝐀𝐌𝐄 ! ── In honor of International Women's Day, list eight of your favorite fictional women from eight different fandoms, in no particular order. (original characters can count too!)

rhaenyra targaryen ( a song of ice and fire / fire and blood )

lottie matthews ( yellowjackets )

tenel ka djo ( star wars expanded universe )

shahrzad al-khayzuran ( wrath and the dawn )

kathani bridgerton neé sharma ( bridgerton )

claudia de pointe du lac / de lioncourt ( interview with a vampire show )

lucy gray baird ( a ballad of songbirds and snakes )

dr jo wilson ( greys anatomy )

tagged by: @dcviline < 3

tagging: anyone who hasn’t done this yet !!!

[badgalsasuke]

Kishimoto's Editors Roundtable Discussion for Da Vinci Magazine (2015)

Interview and text by Daisuke Yoshida. Photos by Munemichi Kawaguchi.

From left to right: Fourth and current editor in charge, Jo Otsuki; first editor, Kosuke Yahagi; third editor, Yuko Honda.

"NARUTO" Roundtable discussion with past editors

What is passed down from manga artist to editor, and then to the next generation?

The epic serialization of "NARUTO" has continued for 15 years. The people who have supported this great achievement behind the scenes are the successive editors of the "Weekly Shonen Jump" editorial department. They pass on their love and passion for the series to the next generation, just like the Hokage in the story. Here, we have gathered editors from the first to the current editors to look back on the history of "NARUTO" in "Jump".

―Please introduce yourselves in one word.

Yahagi: I'm Yahagi, the first editor. I've been with [Kishimoto] since his debut, so I was in charge of "NARUTO" for about nine years after it was launched.

Honda: I'm Honda, the third editor. Before me, there was the second person in charge, Shimazaki, but he couldn't make it today due to personal commitments… [Kishimoto] has so many wonderful stories that are hard to put into an article (laughs).

Otsuki: I'm Otsuki, the fourth and current editor. Nice to meet you!

―First, Yahagi-san, please tell us a secret anecdote that only the original editor would know!

Yahagi: The one-shot version of "NARUTO" had a story where the protagonist was a monster from the beginning and transformed into a human. We published it in a special issue, and it got good results, but I ended up saying, "It would be tough to serialize if the protagonist isn't human." The "Karakuri" that I suggested doing instead didn't gain any popularity at all. In the reader survey for "most interesting work," it lost to the "cover." That's when I finally realized, "Why not make the protagonist, who was originally a monster, human?" That's how the serialized version of "NARUTO" began.

Honda: How many times did you go through meetings with the serialization rough draft?

Yahagi: It passed on the first try. They said the first episode was okay, but the second and third episodes were rejected. At that time, the editorial department had about three stories they wanted to do. They said, "You can do it during the next new serialization push, so you have time to revise it," and I worked hard on fixing it. Being able to create the story up to about the eighth chapter during that period was incredibly significant. If I hadn't had that time, it might have ended easily.

―The two young people [Honda & Otsuki] were readers when they first encountered "NARUTO," right?.

Honda: I was a high school student at the time, and I had started to stop reading Jump so much, but I remember thinking, "This is an amazing manga!" The drawings themselves were stylish, the movements were cool, and it felt like it far exceeded my previous image of what a "boys' manga" was.

Otsuki: I started reading the series when I was in sixth grade. At the time, I just read it for fun, but after becoming an editor, I realized the greatness behind the "naturally interesting" aspect... Just how difficult it is to draw from various angles, create layouts, and build up storylines so naturally.

Yahagi: The visual construction is amazing. The use of space is excellent.

Honda: The amazing thing about "NARUTO" is the camera. When I look at manga series by new artists, I can tell right away that they were influenced by Kishimoto.

Otsuki: Also, I thought, "All the enemies are so cool." The enemy characters have a level of coolness and charm that hasn't been seen in previous "Jump" series. Personally, I was really excited when Orochimaru appeared, but when I joined the editorial department and heard that "that chapter didn't get many votes," I was shocked (laughs).

Yahagi: When an enemy character first appears, he's usually not very popular, so that's Gaara. When Gaara first appeared, the popularity dropped a lot too.

Honda and Otsuki: Eh!!!

Yahagi: When we got rid of Gaara's character, it really took off. At that time, it was already seen as one of Jump's flagship works from the outside, and people often said, "There's no way Naruto will end," but we were genuinely concerned about the crisis. "Oh no. It's going to end, so we have to do something," we were always desperate.

"What is passed down" between manga artists and editors

―When did the editor change?

Yahagi: My substitute took over when the battle between Sasuke and Itachi ended (in Volume 43 of the manga). That's when I handed the baton over to Shima-chan. The first time I thought it was good to change roles was with Killer Bee. Such a bright cheerful character probably wouldn't have come out if I had been in charge.

Honda: In a sense, he has become a worthy successor to Jiraiya as a "master."

Yahagi: Yeah, yeah. I thought the character's range had really expanded. Also, when I was in charge, I had mentioned that I didn't want Sasuke to be drawn as much after he parted ways with Naruto. I said, "By not showing him, we can increase interest in the character." But then, after I was replaced, Sasuke started appearing more and more and became more talkative (laughs). Later, when I asked Kishimoto-san about it, he said, "If we don't gradually show him, we can't show how the character is changing." And I thought, "Yeah, that's true. That's another way to do it."

Honda: I became responsible for "NARUTO" some time after the Fourth Shinobi World War began. From then until the end of "Obito's Past Arc."

Otsuki: After that, I was put in charge, but it was my first year there. I never would have imagined that my first time working as editor would be supervising on "NARUTO" - I thought this editorial department was incredible.

Everyone: (laughs)

Yahagi: The reason we do this is to assign a veteran manga artist to a young editor and have them help develop him. When I was a new employee, I was in charge of "DRAGON QUEST: The Adventure of Dai!" and sensei taught me, "Oh, this is how you make manga."

Honda: Kishimoto-sensei said, "I learned a lot from Yahagi-san".

Yahagi: It's not exactly like that, but there is certainly a tradition of passing things down from manga artists to new editors, and from editors to new manga artists. At that time, Kishimoto-sensei was really at the peak of his game, and it was the perfect timing for him to start training editors. We were able to change the person in charge at just the right moment.

Honda: When I took over, Shimazaki-san, the second editor, told me, "Learn from it." I was still a rookie editor, and [Kishimoto] really taught me a lot. Everything from how to create a plot to how to make a drama, all the basics. I think the first chapter of "Haikyuu!!," which I have been in charge of since its inception, was greatly influenced by the Kishimoto method.

Otsuki: Kishimoto-sensei's theory is concrete and practical, isn't it? It has a three-act structure, with "plot points" and "midpoints" within it... The points that need to be adhered to in the flow of episodes and human emotions in entertainment are very solid, which is why he has lasted this long and maintained his popularity for so long.

Honda: What's great about Kishimoto-san is that he listens to our opinions, even when we say, "This is the kind of image I want to see Naruto in!" in a very level-headed way. When he says, "That was a great idea!" with a happy face, it makes me want to make him even happier next week and work harder. That face still remains in my memory. … I know I'm talking like he’s passed away, though…

Everyone: (laughs)

Otsuki: But he really is a genius at flattering editors.

Yahagi: He's the type who praises and encourages others. Whenever someone is in charge of Kishimoto-kun, they say, "I want to work hard for this sensei". It must be because of his personality. Even Shima-chan, who usually doesn't show much motivation.

Honda: No, it's probably just that it doesn't look like it!

The final episode depicts what happened after the perfect final battle

―What chapter from the first half of "NARUTO" was particularly memorable to you?

Yahagi: It was Zabuza and Haku in the "Land of Waves" arc. A character named Haku dies on the bridge protecting Zabuza. Naruto confronts Zabuza about this. That scene really hit me hard, and it got a huge reaction from readers. It was the moment I thought, "Ah, this series can continue," so it's a memorable one.

Otsuki: In the first half, there's the part where Sasuke, after meeting Orochimaru in the "Forest of Death," gets scared and tries to hand over an important scroll. That's when Naruto stops him, risking his life to tell him not to hand it over, and says the line Sasuke once said to him: "Aren't you hurt, scaredy-cat?" When Sasuke said that line before, he was mocking Naruto, but here it's different. Naruto uses it to encourage Sasuke. The same line, but the meaning is completely different. It was a special thrill.

Yahagi: In a good manga there are often recurring events, you know? It’s something that can only be done when you’ve been doing it for a long time. Because each character is living their own life properly, their past actions and words become proper foreshadowing.

Honda: Speaking of the first half, I… I said earlier that Kishimoto-san taught me how to make manga. Actually, Kishimoto-san has a notebook where he summarizes how he creates his plots. When the editor changed, he opened that notebook and personally lectured me on the Tsunade arc. "This is the missing person, this is the spokesperson, and this is the denier..." After that, when I went home and reread the Tsunade arc, I thought, "So that's what it was! Amazing, amazing!!"

Yahagi: That chapter was exactly when I thought, "It doesn't matter who takes over from here anymore." When he finished drawing that, I thought this person had become a great writer. Especially the last scene is amazing. It's an episode that I want many people to read.

I asked him to depict Naruto living life to the fullest. (Yahagi)

―Speaking of what stands out in the latter half of "NARUTO"... it has to be the final confrontation scene, right?

Otsuki: I think that the last line that Sasuke says, "XXXXX", will have a special feeling for anyone who has been reading "NARUTO" from the beginning. As the editor, it was a scene where Sasuke finally says "XXXXX" after so much building up, and I was already in tears when the draft was sent to me by fax. I was working alone in the editorial department late at night, and I forgot about the fact that the deadline was so close (laughs).

Honda: In the final "blood handshake," we see the endpoint of the relationship between Naruto and Sasuke… Even now, just thinking about it gives me chills. I think the most interesting part of the manga is how the characters communicate their feelings in non-verbal ways, even though they use words. I felt like I witnessed something incredible.

Yahagi: You know, when the serialization of "NARUTO" started, I talked about wanting to create characters who "live their lives to the fullest" instead of the typical "characters who never end" that are common in "Jump." He also said he wanted to "draw everything to the end." He fulfilled those words, didn't he? Moreover, after the battle is over, the fact that children appear at the end of that battle is very characteristic of Kishimoto-sensei. Isn't it a gentle story? It's a story of hope where the feelings are passed on to the next generation. I think it was a perfect ending that only this manga artist could have drawn.

Now that "NARUTO" is over, it's the perfect chance

―I heard that right after the final chapter's draft was completed, all the past editors showed up at Kishimoto-san's workspace. What was the situation like?

Yahagi: I was in the lobby of the apartment building, waiting for Otsuki to contact me. There were guys holding huge bouquets of flowers (laughs).

Otsuki: I was at the workplace, but while warning Kishimoto-san not to let it slip, I was also trying to find the right timing to bring everyone into the room. I made the seniors wait a long time... I'm really sorry (laughs).

Honda: When we finally got the call and opened the door, Yahagi was at the front, making a lot of noise. I remember Kishimoto making a surprised face the moment he saw Yahagi.

Yahagi: He was completely worn out. He was utterly exhausted. When I saw his face, I thought, "Wow, he really gave it his all for 15 years..." I just said, "Thank you for your hard work." If I said more than that, I would start to tear up too, so I couldn't speak.

The last "blood handshake" still gives me chills when I think about it. (Honda)

I was alone in the editorial department late at night and cried my eyes out. (Otsuki)

―I'm sure Kishimoto-san was happy too…

Yahagi: Rather than being happy, I think he was just tired (laughs).

Otsuki: It felt like he was on the very edge of his limits (laughs).

Yahagi: We thought it didn't have to be now.

Everyone: (laughs)

Honda: What surprised me when I came to the workplace was that all of the past assistants were there. It made me realize that everyone really loved "NARUTO" and that they all really loved Kishimoto.

―By the way, the hole left by "NARUTO" is big for "Jump."

Yahagi: That's true. But you know, it's better to let go, or rather, it's necessary to let go. When the top people leave, opportunities arise, and new talent comes in and new works appear, and that's the history that Jump has built up.

Honda: It simply means that a serialization slot will open up. All the young people are feeling like, "I'm next!"

Yahagi: The reason why Jump has been able to exist up until now is because there are great artists, and people who see the works of those artists and start drawing manga bring their manuscripts to Jump. Kishimoto-san also wanted to draw for us because he read Dragon Ball.

Honda: We'll do our best to keep that cycle going.

Otsuki: We'll do our best. Really. It'd be bad if Jump disappeared…

Everyone: (laughs)

―Finally, please give a comment to readers who have not yet experienced the excitement of "NARUTO."

Honda: Naruto is just so cool. The way Naruto sticks to his own will teaches a lot of things, both to children and to adults. It's like, "You definitely have to watch Naruto!"

Otsuki: The new chapter of the short, intensive serialization of "NARUTO" that will begin soon is also really interesting! I hope everyone looks forward to Kishimoto-sensei's next new series.

Yahagi: This manga started over 15 years ago, but I think that the drama and characters have a very universal appeal. It never gets old no matter how many times you read it. The cathartic ending is so strong, something that only a manga that has been going on for so long can provide. I hope you'll pick it up and take your time to read it. If you read one chapter a day, you can enjoy it for two whole years (laughs).

[sneg-v-avgustu]

(I missed making gifs of these two, so I had to make some from the new interview. Go watch it, its amazing, as always. Thank you JOS)

(original video)

[kwebtv]

Charles Herbert Woolery (March 16, 1941 – November 23, 2024) Game show host, talk show host, actor, and musician. He had long-running tenures hosting several game shows. Woolery was the original host of the original daytime Wheel of Fortune (1975–1981), the original incarnation of Love Connection (1983–1994), Scrabble (1984–1990, and during a brief revival in 1993), Greed on Fox from 1999 to 2000, and Lingo on Game Show Network from 2002 to 2007. Woolery's musical career includes several advertising jingles, a top-40 pop hit with the psychedelic pop duo The Avant-Garde, and a number of country music releases.

Woolery performed as Mr. Dingle on the children's television series New Zoo Revue in the early 1970s. During that time, he made his first game show appearance on an episode of Tattletales in 1974, alongside then-wife Jo Ann Pflug. Starting as a singer, Woolery appeared on an episode of Your Hit Parade. On January 6, 1975, he began hosting Wheel of Fortune at the suggestion of creator Merv Griffin, who had seen Woolery sing on The Tonight Show. Woolery hosted the show for six years, and in 1978 was nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Host or Hostess in a Game or Audience Participation Show. In 1981, he was involved in a salary dispute with the program's producers; he said in a 2007 interview that he demanded a raise from $65,000 a year to about $500,000 a year because the program was drawing a 44 viewership share at the time, and other hosts (such as Richard Dawson and Bob Barker) were making that much. Griffin offered Woolery $400,000 a year, and NBC offered to pay the additional $100,000, but after Griffin threatened to move the program to CBS, NBC withdrew the offer. Woolery's contract was not renewed and his final episode aired on December 25, 1981. Pat Sajak replaced him

Woolery hosted Love Connection (1983–1994), The Big Spin (1985), Scrabble (1984–1990, 1993), Home & Family (1996–1998, co-host), The Dating Game (1997–1999), Greed (1999–2000), TV Land Ultimate Fan Search (1999–2000) and Lingo (2002–2007). In addition, he was the subject of a short-lived reality television, Chuck Woolery: Naturally Stoned (originally titled Chuck Woolery: Behind the Lingo) in 2003. He also hosted his own talk show, The Chuck Woolery Show, which lasted for only a few months in 1991. He hosted The Price Is Right Live! at Harrah's Entertainment casinos, and appeared in the live stage show "$250,000 Game Show Spectacular" at the Westgate Las Vegas until April 2008. (Wikipedia)

IMDb Listing

[leikeliscomet]

We Failed the First Black Doctor (Part 1)

We failed the first Black doctor.

I know you’re thinking ‘What the hell, I didn't do anything to Ncuti!’. That right there is part of what I mean. When tabloids and fans say ‘the first Black doctor’, our minds go straight to Ncuti Gatwa and rightfully so. Some fans might say Lenny Henry. Some fans might even say Peter Davison. When I say ‘First Black Doctor’, I mean Jo Martin. I think about the Fugitive Doctor. I think about how in only one episode she appealed to so many fans. I think about how she carried a gun and ripped off a Judoon captain’s horn. I think about how a great character was fumbled so badly by the show. I think about how fans barely think about her now. I think about how the first Black doctor was done so dirty. Your next thought is probably ‘Well isn’t that Chibnall’s fault?’. In a way, yes. But also no. What exactly went wrong varies from writing processes to behind-the-scenes structure to fandom politics. To unpack why Fugitive was done dirty, we need to start from the beginning. 

Series 12 would be a complete 180 of series 11; returning monsters, a more energetic soundtrack and heavier reliance on Doctor Who lore (or whatever was left of it). Apart from a vague Timeless Child namedrop in The Ghost Monument, Thirteen’s run was smoother than her predecessors in terms of less overwhelming narrative arcs. No Hybrids or a Time Lord Victorious, just a girl and her fam. Until one day in Gloucester, a tour guide named Ruth would transform in a lighthouse and essentially change Thirteen’s life for the rest of her run. What seemed like an RTD-esque Judoon episode turned into the debut episode for a brand-new incarnation of the Doctor. And we never saw it coming. And neither did Chris Chibnall apparently. In an interview, he revealed that the script for Fugitive of the Judoon was already underway and the Fugitive was a last-minute addition. This was red flag no 1. A last-minute character wasn’t inherently a bad thing, as it was assumed Fugitive would return again in the second half of series 12 and likely in series 13. These appearances were lacklustre, but I’ll go into more detail later. Fugitive’s casting made a lot of noise; bad and good. Right-wing sides of the fandom were outraged at a Black woman playing a role they thought was exclusively for white men (no surprise there) and plenty of comments fuelled with misogynoir, antiblackness and colourism were thrown her way too (no surprises there either). What made this outrage worse was Fugitive’s ambiguous role in the timeline. Many were angry about Fugitive being before One and thought it disrespected William Hartnell’s legacy of being the first incarnation of the show. Contrary to popular fandom belief, Chibnall didn’t actually confirm if Fugitive is pre-Hartnell or not, he left her placement vague on purpose. We as fans have reason to believe so because she didn’t have a sonic and we saw One to Two’s regeneration on screen along with One’s companions, so we know she couldn’t be between those two. Pre-Hartnell is a ‘fanon’ theory, but this doesn’t take into account how Fugitive's TARDIS is a police box already. Another popular idea in the fandom is the season 6B theory. We know Two regenerates into Three, but the physical regeneration is never actually shown on screen, so a sneaky incarnation between them is possible. But again, the missing sonic does poke a small hole in that theory. Fugitive did however state she was smart enough not to need one rather than saying she didn’t know what it was, so maybe the 6B truthers were onto something. The Timeless Children promised to answer these burning questions and didn’t. So, we were back on square one, assuming we ever left it in the first place. With Chibnall also confirming Fugitive is not from a parallel universe, so she had to fit into the main lineup but not after Thirteen, figuring out the origin of the Fugitive became a painful and lengthy debate for answers we never got and probably never will.

Fortunately, details about the Fugitive would end up in her design process. Costume designer Ray Holman added elements of previous doctors in her design. The tweed in her jacket comes from Eleven, whilst her black trousers and boots reference Twelve. Her boots are also for combat purposes, drawing parallels to Three in terms of martial arts ability. Additionally, the colourful shirt she wears is Kente cloth, a colourful Ghanaian fabric, giving a small African cultural nod to our first Black doctor. Jo Martin has spoken about the importance of representation in interviews, stating she didn’t see a lot of Black characters growing up and how Fugitive allowed Black kids watching the show to have someone to look up to. She also noticed the Black and mixed race cosplayers and has shouted them out on her Instagram page. Many pictures and stories on her page showcased fans of colour in blue jackets and yellow glasses, giving the Fugitive her well-deserved flowers. For the first time, we had a doctor that looked like us and this was what made the Fugitive groundbreaking. A dark-skinned Black woman with locs playing the Doctor is something I didn’t see coming. A wish and a hope maybe, but seeing it come into reality definitely touched me. Not only was I seeing a Black woman of my complexion as a main character in Doctor Who, but she was the main character. Not only that, but her backstory was engaging. Why did she run away? Who is she running from? Where does she fit in the timeline? Within one episode, Jo Martin had already captured the ‘Doctor essence’ needed for the role, with some even saying it challenged Whittaker’s performance.

Enter Ruth. We see her get ready and head to work on her birthday. We don’t know a lot about her but she seems friendly. Her partner Lee on the other hand seems a bit sketchy. Fast forward, Judoon are on the hunt for the fugitive who they assume is Lee. Thirteen and the fam swoop in to help the two out. Thirteen knows something is wrong and she can’t place her finger on it. But as time goes on the situation spins out of her control. The alleged tour guide has ripped the horn off a Judoon’s head, an act of dishonour and humiliation. Thirteen’s doubts grow as the two reach the lighthouse because the holes in Ruth’s story are starting to show. Why live in a lighthouse? Why have a blank gravestone? Enter the Fugitive Doctor, previously Ruth. The lighthouse was her fob watch, hiding her memories and true identity. Lee was her companion playing a role similar to that of Martha Jones in Human Nature/Family of Blood and gave his life to save her. Taking that story, we now see how it plays out from the other side; from the POV of Martha Jones as protector to the POV of the Fugitive as the protected. In this 50-minute slot, we already have a backstory for this new doctor that still leaves room for the imagination. On board the Judoon ship, Gat is defeated by Fugitive with a gun she didn’t even have to fire. As she timed this according to the ship’s acceleration, Gat’s shooting takes place in interstellar space with no laws so Fugitive gets away with murder. Almost literally. She’s confident with a powerful presence and takes control of the room, contrasting Thirteen’s more chaotic and vulnerable approach. Thirteen and us as the audience are stunned as this complete stranger has saved the day and made it look so effortless. From there, the groundwork had been done for a new main character in the Chibnall era cast. But this wasn’t delivered.

Part 2 ->