#like he can appreciate the whimsy and fun of it more I think

[garashir]

insane move to have Thee Diagnosis followed up immediately with the hot air balloon quest

[imababblekat]

Bayverse TmnT X Reader; Jealousy HC's

Anon Request, "Hello, I'm your fan, how are you? Can I ask what the Tmnt's reaction would be to seeing that the girl they like is the best friend of one of their brothers? and see that they have a lot of fun together. How would you handle jealousy and insecurity? Could you talk to her about how you feel about it? (PS: the girl is also in love with him). 💙❤💜🧡Greetings from Buenos Aires! I am writing to you with the translator. Notice in case I have any spelling errors.🥲🥲🥲"

A/N: Oh! Well hello! Thank you very much; I hope you enjoy the request ^-^

~xXx~

-Regardless of which brother has a crush on their friend, they all truly appreciate that the person of their interest gets along well with their brother/s.

-Which makes their feelings of jealousy and/or insecurity very conflicting, and each handle it differently.

-that being said. . .

Leonardo:

Leo’s probably the most relieved that his crush gets on with his family, their safety always his top priority, but at the same time he can’t help but feel that he’s lacking something with how close they seem to be versus with him

Such as he wishes that he could be more of a social butterfly like Mikey, scientifically wise in the way Donnie is, or even more of a fun risk taker like Raph

Leonardo thinks that his role as leader makes him come off as some sort of serious kill joy to his interest, and it truly does bum him out, wishing that he could step out of his introverted shell and not be so stiff around them

It would take a deep talk with Master Splinter for Leo to take the chance to talk things out with his crush, his father’s statement replaying out in his mind that he sees the whole story from his point of view rather than a few sentences on the page his son is so tunnel versioned on

Raphael:

Raph won’t ever say it aloud but he appreciates the bond his crush and brother/s have; till he realizes he’s caught feelings for them

Absolutely the most conflicted about the situation and is also the one who comes off as the most jealous, though everyone thinks he’s just being more of an ass than usual

In reality he’s masking over his deep rooted insecurities

He sure as hell isn’t wise and all mystic like Leo, or a magnet of hospitality like Mikey, and there’s a reason he’s the brawns of the team while Donnie is the brains

Raphael hates the notion that he’s intimidating to his interest; he already felt like a freak to begin with, but to feel like the non desirable one amongst his brothers is a new low he didn’t know was possible

Takes a miracle and a half to get him to speak his mind to his crush, meanwhile everyone around them is dying because of the obvious pinning from both idiots in love

Donatello:

Donnie finds comfort in the fact that the groups friend gets along so well with his brother/s, which is why it’s so frustrating to him that he also somehow really hates it

It was never an issue before and he quickly comes to the conclusion that its because he’s formed a crush on the groups friend

Tries to reason with himself that the feeling will pass but when it doesn’t is when it really starts to become a problem

Just because Donnie is the most intellectual member of the group, doesn’t mean he’s immune to in-depth emotions and is very quickly drowned in envious insecurities

Things like why can’t he be cool and collected like Leo, or as whimsy as Mikey, or as impressively strong like Raphael

He only ever even thinks about saying something to his crush after Leo has a talk with him on why he shut himself in his lab for a week while unintentionally giving his crush the cold shoulder; Leo’s statement that they were very concerned they did something wrong being what pushes Donnie because despite his overwhelming emotions he can’t sleep with the fact he made them feel so hurt

Michelangelo:

Mikey absolute adores that closeness of his brother/s and crush! Mans just keeps collecting a bigger family!

Which is why he doesn’t particularly hold anything against his bother/s for the attention they get from his crush, but more so gets too deep in his head about himself

Mikey knows he can be a lot, that he can be annoying and loud and forget others personal space

With his brothers, he’s used to it, knowing they never truly mean anything negative they say to him, and while his crush hasn’t ever said anything horrid to him, there must be some reason they spend all their time with his brother/s versus with him

Turns out it is because he’s lot, but not in the way he thinks!

It’s Raph who talks some sense into Mikey, the former being the first to notice something really bothering the youngest, and despite making a promise to their friend not to say anything, Raph admits to Mikey the reason behind his crushes apparent avoidance

It’s because they actually have the biggest crush on him as well, but unlike Mikey in all of his excitable nature, they’re much more shy and reserved

The news absolutely breaks Mikey in the best of ways, dude is on cloud nine and trying his hardest to resist running out into the lair to grab his crush into twirling hug

~xXx~

[part-time-zombie]

I feel like I kinda wanna talk about what I want to think is a key part regarding logans character: his unicorn onesie.

I know it's a stretch, but hear me out: in a way, the onesie represents his comfort and sense of whimsy. It shows who he is when he isn't just "logic", it shows how he acts when he's happy.

When thomas summons him by surprise, he's taken aback by the unexpected interruption. Look at his face here: he doesn't just look startled, he almost looks scared. He doesn't want to be seen like this, when he's not in his serious, necktie-wearing role.

"I can explain,"

He immediately tries to convince thomas that it's not what it looks like, acting like a child who's mom caught them doing something they weren't supposed to do.

Thomas doesn't give him that chance, instead making him change back to his normal clothes. He does so quickly, and almost immediately returns to his more serious self.

In the end card, however, when he's alone with patton he openly indulges in his appreciation for the onesie. He looks happy and relaxed, a stark opposite from his reaction to thomas seeing him like that just minutes prior.

But the moment he lets himself get too silly and makes a dad joke, he clams back up. Patton caught him and now all he can do is beg him to not tell anyone, because if word got back to thomas that he's not serious or respectable, he'll never he listened to again.

We don't see him wear or even mention the onesie at all until ATHD, where he says he stopped wearing it because it's "too childish". In fact, aside from crofters I can't really remember him doing anything fun or silly in many of the later videos, likely his attempt at being more serious to make up for the onesie slip-up.

However, as the end card rolls, we see him snuggled up in the onesie again. He sneaks quietly onscreen, checking to make sure he's alone, before wrapping himself up in his comforting onesie and practically hugging himself as he apologizes to it.

He apologizes to the onesie, an inanimate piece of cloth that he knows very well isn't sentient. Unless he's not just talking to the onesie. He may be somewhat consoling himself here too, feeling upset that he has to say his favorite things are too childish for him to openly enjoy anymore.

He wants to be respected, but he feels like he has to be serious for that, and in doing so he neglects his own wants and interests in the name of fulfilling his expectations.

Now it seems he can only be himself in private...

[susansontag]

studio ghibli ranking list let’s go

(will include nausicaä and the red turtle)

the these-are-actually-bad section:

24. earwig and the witch

actually the only one I haven’t watched so it’s cheeky to put it here. but I won’t be watching it and no one will blame me.

23. ocean waves

who sincerely cares about these teenagers they’re so annoying. if the boys had been gay it would have honestly been homophobic.

22. pom poko

this film is about shape-shifting raccoon dogs waging a war on humans and there’s copious jokes about their testicles. so on paper a perfect film. execution wise it’s so long and so boring and you care about none of them.

the cure-for-insomnia section:

21. tales from earthsea

hayao miyazaki was right to walk out of this one even though he probably is a terrible father for having done so. some of the animation was really nice but these protagonists made me yearn for the ocean waves cast because at least they have semi-personalities.

20. castle in the sky

proof miyazaki was judging his son too hard for earthsea because this is basically his version of the same thing: a nice idea with good animation and the most boring boy/girl protagonists imaginable. has got that whimsy he does so nicely however.

the passable-films section:

19. the cat returns

but should he have? was that really necessary? has a scene of cats walking in a procession on their hind legs though so that’s a plus.

18. arrietty

visually gorgeous but otherwise a very run-of-the-mill adaptation of the borrowers, which in something that should feel wondrous is less than ideal.

17. my neighbors the yamadas

some harmless and inventive fun that you can put on in the background whilst eating lunch or doing some light yoga stretches.

the don’t-harm-me-I’m-right section:

16. howl’s moving castle

yes I do in fact understand the intricacies of the plot and I still don’t care. this is one of ghibli’s messiest films for sure, it can’t decide what it wants to be or focus on and the plot just seems to happen and then not happen for no good reason. I also think howl’s a whiny bastard and hate that sophie has to mother him and endure his contemptible man tantrums. a shame because she’s actually cool.

15. grave of the fireflies

it was sweet but I’ve watched more moving animated films set in war-time, even. I don’t have much desire to watch it again honestly but maybe I will at some point.

the this-is-getting-there section:

14. the red turtle

I liked it! an acquired taste but I really felt the harshness of the elements and the cruelty and the love. it's also very beautiful to look at, one of the most visually arresting ghibli productions.

13. only yesterday

a tale of two films with this one. the parts where she's a young girl are much more interesting, but if this had stuck the landing and it'd been more even overall, could have potentially been a favourite. alas.

12. the wind rises

a genuinely weird one in ghibli's lineup, in which miyazaki meshes two different stories together (one of inventive 'genius' and a doomed love story, respectively) in a likely attempt to try and grapple with his having chosen his career over all else, including family (noteworthy is that his wife was not able to retain her career as an animator). as a piece of art it's less whimsical and more mature than many of these films, but I struggle to not let my distaste for what it potentially represents get in the way of my appreciation for it as a film, but it's so blatantly personal that it's impossible.

the that-was-just-a-good-fun-time section:

11. nausicaä of the valley of the wind

aesthetically one of the coolest films on this list but I don't remember the story as well. great protagonist too. must have been great to experience when it first came out in the '80s.

10. porco rosso

I love this film about a tomboy mechanic and some pilot guy who went off to war and was so changed he is now a pig. watching it feels like if the mediterranean was so small it fit into your back pocket and was also populated by all your friends all your enemies and your ex-lover also.

9. from up on poppy hill

I found this one boring the first time I watched it but it really grew on me with subsequent rewatches. I really like her predominantly female household and the community they share in the backdrop of the rest of the drama is sweet. the bit of drama midway through is still batshit though but in a loveable, disney-would-never way.

the near-perfect section:

8. the tale of the princess kaguya

probably takahata's magnum opus with the studio, if slightly overlong. folktales are tricky because they tend to feel moralistic and the characters one-note if you're not willing to build on them but kaguya herself feels very spirited and alive. the prettiest on the list too I'd say.

7. my neighbor totoro

cozy late summer comfort film. perhaps even more special now because I was able to see the london production. cute!

6. when marnie was there

surprised this one has ranked so high for me but that's the power of tomboy lesbians heck yeah etc. also the fantastical element of this one is so up my alley and touches upon a particular kind of childhood nostalgia I have of being in old houses and imbuing them with magical qualities. the image of anna facing the house across the marshland is burned into my retina.

the I'd-die-for-her section:

5. princess mononoke

aesthetically too cool for school and has one of the best ghibli villains and female characters (lady eboshi). they really said all the spirits of the forest are going to die in this one but well it was a nice thought.

4. ponyo

my comfort movie of all-time! heartwarming! with another great female ghibli character in lisa, sosuke's mum who is legally allowed to drive like that apparently. also one I actually watched for the first time in my childhood when I was around 7 or so at an after school club. the subtitles taught me the useful and now underused gem of a phrase "bog off".

3. kiki's delivery service

asks the important questions such as: what if you were a young witch from a dying tradition who moves to a gorgeous town in sweden? what if your remarkable gifts were no longer appreciated due to rapid advancements in aviation technology? what if you could live in a bakery?

2. spirited away

when you're just a timid child who is scared of admittedly a lot and your parents manage to mess everything up spectacularly so now you're forced to work at the age of twelve for people who steal your identity. still one of the best honestly they may never top this as the peak of their artistic achievement.

1. whisper of the heart

have you ever been a struggling artist? have you ever been in love? have you ever been obsessed with john denver's take me home, country roads? in all seriousness love a story of two artistically inclined people inspiring each other and this has a unique feel compared to other ghibli films forever favourite probably. it feels like basically no one has watched it and that's a shame. rest in peace yoshifumi kondō.

[raven-at-the-writing-desk]

Hi, Miss Raven! What're your thoughts on the new characters' designs and the new cards we're getting?

[You can see the designs for the Halloween 2023 cards and other related TWST news here!]

I'll post my general thoughts below! I unfortunately don't know enough about Pinocchio myself to point out all the little easter eggs in their outfits, so I'll leave that to those who are more knowledgeable than me.

***Spoilers below the cut!!***

Regarding the NRC boys' looks overall, I think it's a very fun theme and very fitting for the location of the event. I like that they all still wear masks, just in a different context than in Glorious Masquerade. One thing I did notice is that the masks seem... same-y? Like they all resemble thick tree roots or something like that. So maybe they aren't masks at all, but they're associated with whatever the conflict in the story is. (I previously suggested mind control or the loss of consciousness, so maybe the "roots" play into that???) You can see the marionette theme Yana was going for, as well as some design elements from Black Butler's circus arc, very clearly. The poses for each of the boys, even the R cards, are extremely dynamic and imply a strong sense of movement. The ribbons are such a simple detail that contributes a lot to this sense of whimsy and flow.

Some comments I have on specific designs and poses:

Suspenders are so... Trey 💀 THERE'S REALLY NOTHING ELSE FOR ME TO ADD HERE, THEY JUST SUIT HIM

I like it when Trey makes these kind of slightly sus but plausibly deniable faces... He should make more of them...

I can't see the front of Jack's outfit that well, so I don't know if I can fully comment on it??? But I can see his. Like. Physique... coming through... That chest to waist ratio/j

Seeing Jack's tail like that kinda weirds me out. I think that's the first time we've gotten a "full" view of how the tails look coming out of the pants??? So maybe I'll get more used to it with time...

J WORD MY BELOVED dghgqwktvwukdviu1vdutw1513FR7vuofOTVUofvfaafvfyivs.,bk;mobsdb;ibuafetvuqoffSEythTOTqebivfguovqnafCUtuiUIEtt please ignore my bias 🤡 The way his top hat is angled and how there's a dark blue ribbon around him... It vaguely looks like he's trying to pass as Crowley, LOL

I like how his undershirt is frilled and how he has that sash at his waist it reminds me of the genderbent design for my TWST OC! The fact that both he and Floyd have the eel emblem that resembles a heart is also really cute~

Lilis is my favorite design of the R cards!! There's a very good distribution of ruffles throughout the look, and his knotted skirts fit well with his personal flair.

I'm not a huge fan of the style of hat Cater's wearing (sorry to all the Cay-kun stans out there), but I can appreciate his look. His dress appears more militant than Trey's, and his posing is certainly more aggressive--it's nice to see him in this new light.

FHIBBAILAIBASIADIHBLBUDB EVERY TIME I SEE L*ONA NOW I'M GOING TO THINK OF THE ONE REBLOG I SAW THAT SAID "of course leona has his tits out again" BECAUSE THEY'RE RIGHT, HE'S LITERALLY THE GIRLIE THAT DRESSES SLUTTY ON HALLOWEEN AND SOMEHOW NEVER GETS COLD 😭 You go, king... Live your best life!!

Love L*ona-san’s new hairstyle here!! 👀

The way Floyd is posed reminds me of those people that walk around on stilts. I think I much prefer the coloration on Floyd's outfit than on Jade's, but I prefer Floyd's jacket to Jade's. I think Floyd's the best of the SR designs!

Shockingly, Vil's look doesn't stand out to me that much??? I enjoy his sash, but I don't immediately pick up on anything in his illustration that catches my eye.

His pose resembles that of a ballerina, which just makes me think about the time he assigned Epel and Deuce extra (ballet) dance lessons in book 5 ajdbhasivldsadued

Of the SSRs, Ace is definitely my favorite one. He just looks so dramatic soaking up that spotlight and trying to look cool while doing it... Bro's 100% thinking, "heheheheh, I'm SO awesome :))" in his head.

Ace's design also reminds me a lot of Jack Hearts (from Disney Villain Recruiters). Not sure if it was intentional or not, but I'm definitely super into it!

HHNNNNNGNGHGHHGHGNGNGHHGHGHGHGHHHHH I WANNA BITE HIS HEAD OFF AND BULLY HIM SO BAD, I WANNA WIPE THAT SMIRK OF FHIS DUMB FACEe Am I seriously about to revert back to my Brat Loving era for Trappola... Maybe so...

I was pretty much expecting a SSR Ace (because he's a trickster with a brother that works in an amusement park) and Ortho (literally a robot that became a real boy), but Kalim took me by surprise. In hindsight, I guess it makes sense though...? Kalim has a similar immature vibe as the other two (plus I do remember there being this one scene in Aladdin where the Sultan was dressed like a jester that was being maneuvered on puppet strings).

It's great that Kalim gets to be a little out of his usual element and make darker, more mysterious expressions like what we see in his new illustration. I'm not sure if I entirely agree with how he's dressed (the yellow jacket is WAY too bright), but I love his his coattails (???) trail behind him in waves.

OR-KUN MY SON 😭😭😭 As is the case with all of his gears, I adore how the devs creatively adapted clothing into metal parts for Ortho! The half-caplet is easily the best part of the whole look for me (the pattern on it reminds me of stars falling down)--and because Ortho has a smaller stature, the type of hat he's wearing isn't as offputting; it actually looks very cute on him.

ANYWAY, VERY HAPPY THAT ORTHO GETS TO HAVE A HALLOWEEN SSR TO MATCH HIS BROTHER'S HALLOWEEN SSR FROM LAST YEAR... They match!!!

... Is that the fucking cricket on Ortho’s cape... and the goldfish on Kalim’s scarf… AND THE CAT ON ACE’S WAIST… What does this meeeean 🤡

And now for my thoughts on the two new boys!! Honestly?? I don't actually have much to comment on in this regard because I try to reserve my judgment of characters until I've actually seen them in action. I haven't seen Pinocchio either, so I don't have a strong basis for what their personalities would be like based on their original Disney counterpart. I only vaguely understand that Honest John and Gideon trick children into visiting Pleasure Island... That's it, that's the full extent of my knowledge on that pair. I don't have any other expectations going in other than "yeah, these two are going to swindle me".

Gidel looks like a mix of Cheka and Ruggie to me (because of the hair and the eye shape). He seems like he’ll be the other guy’s goon, similar to how Jade and Floyd/Ruggie follow Azul/Leona. Nothing else for me to add, Gidel seems alright… Just a silly lil’ guy!

I have more… mixed thoughts on Ferro. One one hand, he looks like the exact kind of shady bitch I’d love. (You know, the ones that smile and lie and manipulate and drive a knife into your back and—LOOK, HE’S VERY J WORD CORE) On the other hand, I’m beating back the “you like cat/dog boys” allegations from my friends, so 💀 I can’t give in so easily/j

Looks-wise, Ferro’s iteration of the rat tail hair is not as ugly to me as Malleus’s is. (I think it’s because it looks more windswept!) I also really like how he dresses—very dapper 😌 and he can pull off green eyeshadow well!

I’m wondering how they’ll make Ferro different than the other con artists we’ve seen so far *eyes Octavinelle* but I’m keeping my hopes up since the devs did a good job remixing the “I have a dead brother and I feel immense guilt about it” backstory for Rollo (when Idia had a similar one). Looking forward to that~

I’m sure my thoughts will chance once I actually get to see them in the event! ^^ I’ll keep you posted. For now, I’ll keep cautious. (Actually, this fan art basically summarizes my current feelings on the two! I’m Rollo/j)

[blossoms-phan]

I have been watching old videos in tour preparation and was staggered by how much happier and healthier Dan and Phil both look now. You can see how suffocated by the whole thing they were back for a period pre hiatus. Those years where the enjoyment and fun had gone is a tough watch.

I dipped out for a while and missed this period, and so looking back now you literally see the lights dim in Dan's eyes over a year or so, and how fed up of forcing an act he was.

The absolute chaos and fun and joy that has been post hiatus really emphasises just how tired and over hiding and lying and being yes men they must have been. It makes me appreciate this new era of content so much more. I would watch them watching grass grow, if it kept them smiling and happy and fulfilled, rather than making content for us, that made them that miserable.

oh :(( anon this really broke me and i have a lot of thoughts about this tbh.

as someone who's been lucky enough to watch them change and grow over 10 years, i think something we all know is how it's nothing compared to now, but like there was a clear shift around 2018 with tour and just the way that they presented themselves publicly. in part, they started to become a little bit more comfortable with each other and carefree about sharing certain things. again, looking back this sounds strange to say but im talking purely compared to the years before then- it was absolutely different. of course, we all know that this time was extremely difficult for dan, struggling with authenticity and "living his truth". i love ii, this is in no way dogging on it bc i think there's room to be proud of it and what they did but also the entire concept of "giving the people what they want" is almost poetic considering dan's internal turmoil during this time, like with what he said during one of those reaction videos- "c'mon dan, give the people what they want and then you can disappear forever." multiple people on here have put it like this before but there are certain points like in ii era liveshows where you can tell dan is just buzzing with this restless, frustrated energy, like he's stuck inside his own skin and can't crawl out of it.

i will say that i think just on some practical level, i like to tell myself that it wasn't all doom and gloom pre-hiatus and that there were obviously moments of happiness or comfort or things that they genuinely enjoyed doing, like travelling the world or something as small as playing a fun game. but i would be lying to myself if i denied the fact that they absolutely struggled at points, and that dan was fed up of struggling with the pain of wanting to be his true, authentic self, but being scared. again though, it's not all bad. this was the first time that dan started to accept and at least think about coming out, and all those moments where they signed pride flags and he would say things like "hopefully one day" to people who told them their stories really cements his point that the acceptance and support his audience gave helped him. the hiatus was so important for their personal growth, to heal their relationship with us, and like you pointed out they really were "yes men"- phil constantly pointing out how learning how to say no has helped a ton.

there are no words to describe this new era other than pure fun, joy, and whimsy. it's been an absolute privilege to see their personal growth, to watch them allow themselves to focus on themselves and be happy and open and watch them have the time of their lives and reassure us that they're enjoying it and not going anywhere anytime soon. i'm right there with you, i just feel so happy and appreciative of being here experiencing this new era with you all and them, and i just want them to do whatever makes them happy and fulfilled. which is what i think they're doing right now with the tour, and they knew it mere months after the comeback which they had no real long term plans for, but we showed up for them, and they know that which is why it makes the idea of our mutual "healing" and entering this new era together so exciting <3

[kadextra]

q!Forever & q!Bad, comedy and tragedy are two sides of the same coin

(little meta rp analysis & appreciation)

Comedy and tragedy- complimentary concepts when it comes to the dynamic that is these two characters.

Their lore together is truly like a soap opera to me in the way it operates, entertaining in how goofy it is- I laughed so much during interrodate. They had a whole elaborate musical prank war over a stolen gun (which neither of them even had, they’re just too dedicated to the bit.) The first thing they say to each other after q!Forever returns from the nether is “You look terrible!” 💀 and my guy gifted a bloody chainsaw as the flower of the day to q!Bad in purgatory 1 which was happily accepted.

Even when the characters show attraction for each other, it’s usually through some ridiculous romcom thing. q!Forever is in love with q!Bad dressed as pink barbie and thinks photos of her are the best gift a person could ever receive?? 🤨 q!Bad daydreams about q!Forever as a lobster with blonde hair and a six-pack??? brother be projecting him onto larry the lobster from spongebob squarepants dude what is wrong with them 😭 sometimes I wonder how they’re able to do all these bits in improv and take it seriously, it’s impressive

The characters are not normal, their relationship is not normal, it cannot be viewed normally. the ccs know exactly what they’re doing in creating whatever *gestures* this is, and it’s amazing. over the top, cute, played perfectly for comedy

But the characters aren’t just that, you can’t have them without the inverse 🎭 like a punch to the gut after all the sillies, they really know how to do tragedy well.

I very much look forward to whenever they’re at the top of their angst game, bc they both LOVE to make their cubitos suffer. to an insane degree. My god these two can’t go 3 days with their characters experiencing some peace and joyful whimsy, they *must* rp their ocs actively dying, horribly diseased, going crazy

And they go hard with it. I’m very serious when I say multiple times during the lore I’ve had to get up and walk away to calm down because it was too intense. super special shoutout to the q!Forever first happy pills arc stream & October 1st q!Bad psychotic breakdown stream. I’ve never been so shocked as I was watching those live, the stamina to do highly emotional rp like that is actually nuts. some of the most angsty mfs on this server fr (the #1 spot goes to quackity though. hey maybe i’ll make a tierlist)

So when Bad & Forever bring the best of their angst ability into serious rp interactions together that Aren’t comedic…? we are in for a treat. that talk they had right when q!cellbit died to the code, the richas rescue mission, the election, voting arguments, post-ron kidnapping, colorblind test/therapy, flower of the day. many scenes that are seared into my mind, but none is more so than The Happy Pills Proposal. goosebumps whenever I think about it… the scene ever. the way it was framed, the lines they said, how it had tense, chilling buildup before a literal explosion. how are these people capable of doing the most silly things and then turning around to stab us in the heart 50 times

So you bet I’m crossing my fingers for a meeting between @v@ & q!Bad. Forever is absolutely killing the role so far. If q!Bad gets involved I can already taste the glorious angst…. since he has specific traumatic experience in also being possessed, & having killed his possessed friends in another life. he recalled the memory when talking about how to save q!Forever last night. fun! *shaking*

anyways that’s all :D love these characters, I had been wanting to do a little meta appreciation post for a while so I thought why not now ^^

[telestoapologist]

drifter: i'll be seein' ya, little sister. sao and i got a biiig score of popcorn shrimp to fry up tonight by the river.

eido: that sounds delicious! would it be too much to ask if i could join you both?

drifter, grimacing slightly and rubbing the back of his neck with an awkward chuckle: sorry, 'fraid this is private a party for two this time around. tell ya what, though; i'll bring back some leftovers for ya. how's that sound?

eido, slightly disheartened, but understanding: i see... i understand. thank you for offering, i would like that very much.

drifter, patting her shoulder apologetically: next time you can come with, trust. hell, we'll even teach ya how to catch and cook 'em! how's that sound?

eido, brightening up: oh, that sounds fun! yes! thank you, i greatly appreciate the offer and will gladly partake!

later that evening, down at the river....

sao, with their pants hiked up to their knees as they help drifter catch prawns for eido: don't get me wrong, i'm not against this- and smoking on an empty stomach is a bad idea- but don't you think she's old enough to be able to handle this sort of talk?

drifter, wiping a bit of river muck across his forehead: eh, it's not her i'm worried about, it's big bad crawdaddy- he's been a little more protective than usual after that ordeal with eramis. eido may be able to handle herself just fine, but 'ol misraaks is like any other dad. he knows she's her own person, but she'll still always be his baby girl no matter what.

sao, smiling to themself and humming: fair enough, i imagine that's something they'll eventually work out for themselves with time juuust fine- though, i think you and i are going to have to change up our phrases just a little if she's gonna be tagging along. you know, for now.

drifter, clucking: you might be right about that. (grins) got any ideas?

sao: hm... (leans up with a freshly caught prawn, snapping its neck to kill it instantly and dropping it in their basket) what about "meeking a smee"? i haven't used it in awhile, but it's always been a personal favorite of mine.

drifter, raising a brow skeptically but not without amusement: "meeking a smee", eh? now that's an interesting one. i like it, though! it's got a little (wiggles fingers while swirling hands in the air) ~*~whimsy~*~ to it, heh.

sao, beaming proudly: thank you! i think so, too.

[kyriefae]

The Web Planet was an incredible story.

Long live The Light! 🔆 ...but not the evil one ofc; boo hiss!

As more of an aside before I get started, I fear the spark of magic that opened the door to stories like this one being performed the way they were in their time is gone. Not only because of graphics or budget...but can you just imagine how much of an uproar it would cause if we said let's go back to doing stage performance science fiction! Like full blown, all on a set, all choreographed as if for a live studio audience?

How "cheap" people would say it looks?

I appreciate the overtly campy stories we still get in the modern era even more watching older ones like this.

Makes me think of that teetering line between the harm of nostalgia & the joy it carries.

I digress from the 'what if' games to say what I came here to say about The Web Planet: it dives bravely into the world of absurdism and science fiction and I greatly appreciate the production team for choosing to make such an esoteric story! We don't get a history of Earth from the perspective of Britain or a future of Earth taken over by Daleks, instead we get a genuine attempt to play with the genre and be creative about what may exist out there in this wide and expansive universe.

I celebrate stories like this because they're inspired from a place of whimsy. No matter the quality of the costumes; astigmatism-like camera effect, or fumbled lines by the lead performer...were not in our own galaxy and we're encouraged to play along and go for a ride.

A full-on psychedelic ride.

Additionally so, it's clear Ian, Barbara, and Vicki can barely count on The Doctor to protect them at this stage in his travels...adding verisimilitude to their life-threatening moments.

As for the Doctor, he's a madman who lost his box. So he lies on impulse to trick a voice in the sky who communicates with him through a drop down 'hair-dryer' {in Hartnell's words}. Further placing everyone he knows in danger.

Love the dichotomy of this original iteration compared to our modern understanding of the character. The retcons that have followed regarding previous lives with less morally upstanding behavior and time lord society being malicious and manipulative, the First Doctor being so...careless of others is not so alien anymore.

The heart of it all, Hartnell chose to make this man alien in his demeanor and what The Web Planet highlights most are the lives of everyone else around the Doctor making exceptional choices in spite of the chaos. The Doctor simply receives all the credit in the end...that cheeky, maniacal bastard! 😅

Bonus silly points for Hartnell saying "explortation" instead of exploration as the captions would have you believe above.

Like, how many takes did they do before just saying whatever we need to get this episode out! 🤭

Final take on this episode: Barbara. I just love her so much!

She is so knowledgeable. So patient. So witty. When she's talking to Vicki and Vicki calls aspirin medieval? Her response was so teacher-like. So professionally backhanded while being compassionate enough to still offer this smug child aid. Like yes, I look up to your example Babs.

She is also a lot of fun to watch while the gold bracelet she'd received from the creepy arsonist Nero in the previous story was being used to control her movements. She hammed that silly stage direction right up.

And she was the hero of this particular story. Get it girl! 🎉🥰 History teacher for the win!

Classic Who is such a journey, y'all. I'll avoid delving into the cringe I experience on a relatively frequent basis when Hartnell speaks to young ladies (shuddering at all the excessive shoulder and face touching).

Erhem--I mean...

Huzzah for Vrestin & Friends!! The Light prevailed!

...all thanks to The Doctor. 🫠

[the1gayteen]

Doctor who companions part 2 

Nobody asked but,  

Brain rot is real so here is part two of the 9-1-1 characters as doctor who companions 

Ravi:

Susan Foreman; Granddaughter to the Doctor and companion to the 1st Doctor 

Ravi my beloved, has to also be Susan, my beloved. Both super smart with vague enough backstories, but we know they involve some form of trauma, only having snib-bits of information. Both are extremely smart and everyone around them seems to feel like they might be holding back. Ravi as a companion I see would quickly become one of the doctors' favorites. Not due to romantic interest but from his personality matching the doctor and everyone's immediate need to take Ravi under their wing, seriously he's the sweetest and I can see why everyone just loves him like a little brother immediately. He is also a companion like Susan that I feel like fans would be screaming at the writers to bring back or have more of. THIS IS ME SCREAMING TO BRING SUSAN BACK AND RAVI MAIN CASTED. 

Tommy:

Romana I & II; Companion to the 4th Doctor and Timelord 

Tommy is both Romanas and would be as a companion. Starting like Romana I as more pompis and rude. Feeling like hes the best, especially like Romana because they were under the influence of people, they felt like they had to perform and impress for (Tommy being Gerard and Romana being the council of timelords). I could see instead of Tommy ‘regenerating’, him being left then found again (like within 911) and becoming Romana II. More sure of himself, having found the time to grow and become a kinder person. Both would help in any way they can, risking whatever it is to help someone they know in need, still a bit sarcastic and blunt but meant with actual kindness this time around. I also head canon Romana II as a lesbian so this fits to my own headspace.  

Josh:

Melanie “Mel” Bush; Companion to the 6th, 7th, 14th, and 15th Doctor 

First off, I believe if you asked Josh his favorite companion it would also be Mel. Both have the upbeat and sweetheart personalities. But they can blindside you with their headstrong snarky remarks. Both are geniuses and headstrong in their respective knowledge boats and remarkable brave, but can and will scream terrified from time to time (both characters have remarkable similarities in how the writers can't choose how they’ll react to stress or fear). Josh also given the doctors costume closet insist on wearing whatever stylish outfits he can to match the era. Josh would be such a fun companion, who while being the relief, can still get the job done and be efficient in helping the doctor. Could see him being such a long-lasting companion.  

May:

Clara Oswald; Companion to the 11th and 12th Doctor 

Clara to me will always be one of the companions that matched the doctors and being a time traveler the best, and May absolutely matches that same energy. I feel like May would also be wary of the doctor initially. But slowly grow to appreciate and adore his kindness and whimsy, slowly also growing her skills quickly and growing her own confidence in those skills. She would absolutely match the doctor's sass and break away from his orders if she knows that it would be for the best. Don't get me started on the fact that May would also become a solo traveler in a stolen Tardis if given the option, making sure to visit her folks now and again, potentially giving Harry trips across the stars.  

Chris:

Luke Smith; Sarah Jane Smiths Child 

This is not at all self-indulgent from the fact that I see Eddie as Sarah Jane Smith I have no idea what you are talking about.... But seriously, we all know that Christopher is extremely intelligent and sweet. I don't think he would be allowed to make it through actual TARDIS travel whether that be the doctor knowing that lifestyle wouldn't suit Chris well or Eddie hard stopping any of that talk. You can make parallels between Christophers disability and how Luke also deals with his being alien. Wanting to do the same things as the other kids, both parents saying they can and are just like the other kids, but both learning and dealing with the fact that they both are in fact different. Both though are wingman's to their respective parents and are usually the ones to figure things out. I see Chris just looking at Eddie as he solves how to stop an invasion like, ‘what, it's obvious?’.  

Thank you for indulging my brain rot once again 

[aclowntiny]

Hi dear 🥰

I hope your doing well and life is treating you kindly

I would love to ask something for the ( MTL for the 1k ask party )

MTL ateez members to like someone with childlike energy & happy go personality

I hope your health and happy my dear

Thank you so much for everything

Love you

💗

Hi friend! Working on the healthy & happy part as we speak 🫡 we are trying!!! This is such a cute ask & I really believe none of them would dislike having someone with a cute, joyful energy like this 🥰

Most Likely to Go For a Childlike, Happy-Go-Lucky S/O

Most: Yunho, Seonghwa, San

Middle: Hongjoong, Wooyoung, Mingi

Least: Jongho, Yeosang

Yunho has mentioned before that his actual type would be someone who could match his energy, so he would love this about you and be super drawn to it! He loves that you two are always smiling and laughing, it relieves stress and just makes him feel like you guys are meant for each other! Your smile is like the sweetest candy to him and your outlook is refreshing. With someone like you, he can be silly and play around, putting something funny on and seeing you join in the game or just scooping you up into his shoulders! Yunho loves your optimism, too- you never bring him down and you guys rarely stay in fights for long! Seonghwa is one of Ateez’s resident E types and someone with a huge sense of whimsy, so he is also drawn to people like this! A person with a happy-go-lucky person cheers him up when things get tough and is most likely to enjoy getting involved in some of his favorite activities, too! You’d be the cutest lego buddy, play, and nature walk partner because you look at it all with such wonder and pull him to look with excitement, whether it’s at the cutest pieces, the silliest make-believe, or a new place to run and take in the view! Everyone says he’s a first life sort so getting to witness someone else on theirs is warmth to his heart. San has always said how much he appreciates a warm and beautiful heart above outside looks, so when he meets someone with a personality like yours he knows it’s it. You do almost anything with a smile and like him, try your best even if you’re nervous or scared, so San sees you as someone who inspires him and encourages him to be better. I bet you love cute things just like he does, so any plushies and collectibles you guys have bond the two of you for sure! San is very affectionate and energetic, and with you he never has to second-guess himself because you’re always ready to receive and give back that love and join him when he’s bringing the mood up- you’re his type through and through!

Hongjoong also enjoys this quality- it balances him out. He’s more introverted, sometimes forced to be more serious. But as a creative, he absolutely adores the wonder you bring to all aspects of life and he enjoys having a partner he can joke around with. You’re the sweetness he seeks and a person who brings out his caring, protective side. He’ll always look after you and watches your antics with a wide, fond grin. Having someone like you encourages him to let loose, have fun, and mess around and he loves the release! You play well with the members and listen so intently it makes Hongjoong’s heart swell. Wooyoung of course enjoys someone with a fun side. I think there are times where he wouldn’t mind having you take charge, but generally the two of you are the goofy couple who’s all over each other, whether it’s with affection or playful fighting and teasing. You two are laughing all the time! He loves to listen to you go on about the things you enjoy and share facts and observations with you, too. Both of you having childlike personalities at times, sometimes the two of you will get into fights, but you have the sweetest makeups too. You two are that couple who squabble about random silly opinions, but the moment someone else jumps in, you defend each other like nothing else. Mingi thinks that you’re the cutest thing ever from the moment he meets you! He likes being babied too, though, so sometimes he wants to flip the script on you. Surely you’ll be happy to do so, right? Having someone like you around brings out Mingi’s sunshiney side, keeps him smiling and light things on his mind. Sometimes he has worries so someone like you knows how to cheer him up and take him somewhere to refresh himself, and he really appreciates that. He feels like with you, he can always find something to be happy about, and that makes you like an anchor to him.

Jongho is a 50-50 on this personality type, being so reserved himself. This is because he doesn’t actively seek someone like you out, but once he gets to know you it’s the epitome of ‘opposites attract’. You’re there to encourage his bursts of humor and he gets so much softer around you. You’re his biggest cheerleader, clapping for him and expressing how impressive everything he does is, and that gets his heart beating faster. Jongho isn’t usually the most affectionate guy, yet with you he’s giving you heart eyes and trying his best to give you everything you want. It can be trying being the serious one in the relationship, but he knows if you both were reserved and practical, things would be awkward and stiff. The way you’re always seeking beauty in life and encouraging Jongho to loosen up has him feeling changed for the better, even if he didn’t realize he needed it! Yeosang, if anyone asked him, would respond like Jongho and say he wasn’t sure if he could handle that energy. Once he meets you, though, like Mingi all he thinks is how adorable you are. You’re gentler than he expects, someone who doesn’t overwhelm him but can be cared for. He has to learn about you, how you respond to his teasing and that he might need to cut it back, but you embrace the things he loves wholeheartedly and with endearing excitement. One thing you guys love doing together is what you’ve taken to calling ‘tea parties’, throwing yourself into buying or even making sweets to share as Yeosang makes tea and you set the table with a cute new theme every time! That’s yet another he realizes the wonder you have isn’t a sign of immaturity, it’s a different way of viewing the world just like he has.

All in all, they all really enjoy your personality and see you as a wonderful escape and activity buddy, some are just more aware they’re seeking out your natural energy and joy than others! 🥰

[kaiokentimesten]

Top Ten Things I Love About Thes zombur cquackity revivebur viceduo

I love his whimsy. His passion for life and his friends is so admirable and endearing

I love his competitive swag. I like getting into banter with him because I know he can keep up. Also even when I'm not arguing with him it's very fun being on the same side as him

HE'S SO TALENTED AT WRITING OMGGGGG like the way he writes dialogue is so on point. You guys should all look at @casinoroyale and read his exile fic here

Related to the above he is SO fun to roleplay with. He's great to bounce off of and without him songbird-sunrise wouldn't be where she is. Shoutout to Thes for fucking saving songbird fr fr

He is SUCH a loyal friend man like he's ride or die and I really appreciate that. Can always count on him to be there for me fr

I LOVE HIS BLUNT AND UPFRONT SWAG. It's nice having someone that I know will let me know if I fuck up. It really takes weight off my shoulders cause I never worry if he's mad at me or smth because he will just tell me

His layouts for his blogs are always so banger. He's got a good eye for which colors/images go well together

HE IS SO FUNNY like he's such a fun presence in calls. It's very easy to talk to him and he will say the funniest things in the world. Also he's got a very contagious laugh

His analyses are always such bangers. Especially the ones about c!dapduo like back in the day they REALLY helped me understand c!Quackity and c!Charlie more. When he understands character he GETS THEM and he writes such good meta about them too

He's the #1 supporter of artists tbh. Like he always leaves such nice things for them in the tags and regularly reblogs and re-reblogs art and I think that is so cool

He is my friend. smiles.

[bogkeep]

last year i wrote my opinions on all the movies i watched on my Very Long Flights to australia, since long flights are a great opportunity to watch some movies i probably wouldn't have bothered to seek out otherwise. here's the stuff i watched this time around

the first 13 episodes of rurouni kenshin: okay so back when i watched demon slayer for the first time i asked around like "does anyone know any other Good Sword Animes. i'm in a big mood for Sword Anime" and a friend told me that they were going to tell me about THE sword anime, but with a BIG caveat. and the caveat was such that i went "ah yeah maybe i won't look into that one". i've since heard more about this series and been very curious about the story, because it sounds like My Shit. i figured in-flight entertainment is probably one of the more ethical ways to watch it, and i have confirmed that it is indeed My Shit. extremely skilled swordsman torn between his bloody past and a new life? he can win any fight, but at the cost of his soul? yeah. yeah. will say that the subtitles left in a lot of japanese terms and words that i think i would've greatly benefited to know the meaning of - like i figured it out from context eventually, but yeah. so Now I Know. at least my curiosity is sated.

the new wonka movie - it was Fine! i appreciated the sincere efforts of whimsy and trying to stick to a roald dahl-esque tone, though in hindsight it's ENTIRELY too magical and sugary sweet (hah). could definitely have done without the fatphobia - something that is very present in the source material, so i shouldn't have been surprised that it features in the prequel, too... it just made me go "nooo noooOooooo don't do that uuughhh noooooooooooooooooooo" a lot. honestly, as far as vibes go, this movie reminded me the most of the first f*ntastical beasts movie (you know, the one that came out in 2016, when we were still young and innocent) - like, decently charming, very cgi.

the old willy wonka movie - i had never seen this one before, and it provided me a lot of context for the New movie :') now THIS really hits the Unhinged Dangerous vibes the new movie lacked. easily the best played willy wonka. a grand old time. i <3 practical effects.

3/4ths of the barbie movie rewatch - is the barbie movie still fun to watch, even after a year of Essays and Takes? i think so. i was in a practical effects mood and had less than two hours left of my flight. like, it's The Barbie Movie. it will never be That Deep because it cannot escape its corporate mainstreamness, but i love the actual play-pretend whimsy and exorbitant amount of pink paint and funky outfits.

killers of the flower moon - i'd considered watching this on my previous flight, i had heard of the movie and put it on my to-watch list, but the THREE HOURS AND TWENTY SIX MINUTES runtime scared me off. not because i didn't have time (my flights were 12 hours and 7,5 hours respectively), but because i knew it was gonna be Heavy and Depressing and you gotta have the right mood for three hours of That. both of my flights had the exact same entertainment catalogues i gave it a try first thing on flight #2, knowing i don't have to finish it if i don't want. it was very good but oh boy heavy and depressing was correct! really good buildup of dread and despair as the web of murder closes in like water circling the sink. very good period piece, and everything i've read about it after indicates that martin scorsese worked very closely with the osage people to create this movie.

the lego movie rewatch - this is one of my favourite movies that i've seen many times but haven't in a while, and after the Three Hours And Twenty Six Minutes of indigenous people getting poisoned and murdered i REALLY needed something light-hearted. i was also severely sleep deprived at this point. all this to say that i was almost overwhelmed by how fun this movie is and kept tearing up at almost every scene. it's just such a good time!!!! my critique of this movie has always been that it has two tropes that annoy me - the "highly competent girl is reduced to an assistant for the clueless 'chosen one' dude" and "person who has changed their name goes back to use their ~*real name*~ because it's more valid than whatever they picked" - that only annoy me because of how prevalent they used to be at the time when this movie came out. in isolation, the story works really well and i still like it so so much. everything is awesome!!!!!!

anyway those are my movie thoughts

[cringelordofchaos]

FOR DAY 2 OF FREAKBLR MONTH -

Listing my faces here!!! (SORTA AAA in order)

SEAN <¾¾ IDC HES SUCH A COMFORT CHAR FOR NE ABD THERE'S SM MORE TO HIM THAN SOME PPL THINK . I have a whole tag dedicated to him (#sean appreciation)(I think) and I've been obsessed w him since ep6 which isn't really THAT long ago (and my sister had him as a fav before that) but IDC. Literally have dissected every single scene he's in in my head. I swear it all makes sense. Traumatized ass. Also he can be so silly <¾¾ (he talks to a mop he calls mr broom... Maximum joyful whimsy imo) and my rp account for him is the third side blog i ever made, and the first rp account j ever made, I also have both a music and a non music playlist for him on YouTube where I just hoard and collect videos of him... And seriously guys please write more fics of him.... I started but I am incapable of finishing ANYTHING I start so it's been abandoned in my documents folder forever .... Hopefully one day...!

Basic answer but DREW ! Been a fav of mine since ep5 And idc what people say, he's cool and interesting and I'm allowed to like imperfect and even rude or antagonistic characters . Also parallels more than half the cast if were gonna be honest. Also his relationships w zoey n Jake r really fun to look into . Also my playlist for him is the largest one (w over 40 songs) and idk whether it's cuz I'm obsessed w him specifically or cuz a lot of songs r usually about heartbreak and betrYal

Lia !!!!!! Deserves more screentime but the screentime she did have did flesh her out, but I want to know more - why did she feel pressured to fit in sm to the point of her (presumably-) leaving Hailey and befriending Zoey, someone she clearly is tired of? for Jake we know he wanted to fit in n be popular cuz he's been subjected to bullying his whole life and he didn't want bad history to repeat, but is there any specific reason for Lia to go so far to change herself for others ???

daisy !!! Don't have anything specific to say but I love her sm cuz of ep7, tbe struggler

MILLYYY!! really relatable + fun and chaotic and cool (ep3 = <¾4444444), she definitely has adhd(c?), I love her friendship w Sean and Jake and Elliot, her frenemyship w Zander, her enemyship w Zoey n Henry (who she beat to the pulp)

..Zoey!!! There r so many possible explainations for why she is the way she is and she could genuinely be interesting. The potential is there and yes it's be predictable and cliche but c'mon this is tmf were talking about, id be totally down for it !!!

Honorable mentions to Background-chan (iykyk), Sadie !!!!!!!!!, henriam (inseperable) and elliot!! Theyre pretty cool!!!!!!

This... Isn't really the most accurate list but whatevs

There are probably more I forgot!!!

[saspitite]

sap what do u think of all the heavysaurios versions of the songs

OOH here we go

i am a HUGE fan of their covers, they do a really good job translating the lyrics and generally have a great flow to them (at least in my opinion)! when it comes to song covers, they're my favorite (this is excluding the original band ofc). i'll list a couple of my favorites and explain what i think they do right:

Perdida en el Bosque (Eksynyt Metsään / Lost in the Forest) - first of all, the singer here has a beautifully rich and more "mature" (compared to the original finnish ver that is) voice, which i think just better fits the vibe of the song (no offense to the finnish singer! i think her vocals were also amazing). and the way she stretches out syllables sounds pretty angelic honestly<3 HOWEVER i cant say i like it more than the original MAINLY for the fact that riffi doesn't go bleh at the end. he just goes "augh". there's no whimsy in that. i need my blehs back.

Heavy Disco (Liskodisko / Lizard-Disco) - i have a feeling the singer for milli is the same as the one for the purple dragon/in Perdida en el Bosque, but either way i absolutely LOVE her voice. i also like how they get creative with slight lyric changes in order to more easily fit in rhymes (note that i'm pretty sure this is the only version to translate liskodisko into having something other than "lizard" or "dino" being in its title). i also just think the rhythm of the vocals are super fun. is it better than the original? hard to say! i think they're at a pretty close tie.

El Rey Del Bosque De Hongos (Tattimetsän Valtias / King of Cottonwood Forest) - i am HIGHLY impressed with how closely the vocals of this cover line up with the original. the flow felt so familiar i sometimes forgot i was even listening to a cover! i consider that a good thing in this case- if the flow of the lyrics were too off or different it'd start to feel a bit strange to listen to. the singer was also just especially feeling the energy in this one which i appreciate! i wouldn't say it's better than the original but pretty damn close.

Luz De Noche (Yölamppu / Nightlight) - they were absolutely COOKING with this one i tell you. the singer's voice perfectly switches between soft and serene to loud and visceral when the tone needs it. it's perfect. i also fucking love how the vocalization right after the guitar solo is significantly softer to match with the instrumentals getting quieter. like god i love it so much. is it better than the original? it... it might be. i'm not sure. maybe i just really love yölamppu as a song.

for an extra note: i kinda noticed that the singer for mr heavysaurios seemingly changed between the first two albums and the third. the first singer has a much more "nasally" quality to his voice while the second's voice is smoother, if that makes sense? i think i prefer the second singer tbh

but yeah right now my general opinion of the bands are:

hevisaurus: goat by proxy, best original songs

heavysaurus: best stage presence/live show experiences

heavysaurios: best song covers/translations

and uhm not much can be said about the swedish and hungarian versions. sowy i havent really checked them out so much</3

[basedkikuenjoyer]

Our sixth book in the series (fourth in written order) The Silver Chair is one of the hardest Narnia books to write about. It's a weird one but most fans I've known like it and I bet it's a fair few people's favorites. This time we're done with the four Pevensie siblings and our holdover is Eustace Scrubb from Dawn Treader. More mature and changed by the voyage here with a classmate Jill. Back to the same vibe as The Magician's Nephew pair with a way better Uncle Andrew stand-in out of our main man this blog will always stan, Puddleglum. I know you lovelies out in Tumblr land love Puddleglum.

Imagine Eeyore playing D&D as a frogman paladin. Pessimistic as hell, though he assures us he's a weird optimist for his Marsh-Wiggle race, but he goes hard. I have never forgotten the sheer emotion that came across when Puddleglum found out he committed the major taboo of eating a talking animal. He also gets the best chance to showcase why I like the fine line CS Lewis walks with Christian elements in the series.

Has to do with the main plot. Underdark this time and now I'm starting to appreciate where my love of fantasy sea, desert, and cave journeys come from. Caspian's son Rilian has been taken by an evil queen brainwashing him. Evil queen does lean into being a figure for atheist arguments but it's important to note that the tone is a very fine line. Imagine making a criticism of Youtube Athiests leaning on specious reasoning to dunk on a prominent Christian. It ties in more with the series setting up Eustace & Jill through a criticism of English schools, Digory in Wardrobe bemoaning how they don't teach logic anymore. And what seals the deal to me is how Puddleglum lays it out in a bit of an author filibuster...making explicit the idea that he thinks the question of whether or not Aslan and the world of Narnia above are actually real isn't important.

The idea of those things matters in its own right, especially if those ideals inspire him to be a better person. The belief that this worldly life is but the first step on a much grander journey, the faith that the world is a more special place than mankind can fully grasp does not need to be true if it gives us the drive to make a better Earth. I can get behind that at least. This is also a man who very much believes in the idea of maintaining whimsy & childlike wonder for much of the same reasons. That's pretty ballsy for Christian philosophy, looking at the clergy I know today I only know one example who'd comfortably say something like that and he's still an asshole that really could do with reading The Last Battle more closely. I'm not a religious person by any stretch, but it absolutely pisses me off to see charlatans looking for a hot take trash a wonderful child-friendly series that teaches critical thinking and examines the nature of belief as mere Christian propaganda.

Other than that you see the writing start to mature. Special shoutout to The Horse and His Boy getting a nod as a famous in-universe tale. Which is awesome for a very 1001 Nights inspired side story. Even more so when it is a foreshadow or callback depending on which order you read the series in. Eustace & Jill are a solid pair. I don't think they have the chemistry Digory & Polly had but weaker character chemistry for CS Lewis is still better than most. Great, great entry in the series that is a fun story for a kid but gives you some real meat if you revisit as an adult.