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whateverisbeautiful · 2 months

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♥️Reveling in Richonne - TOWL

#1: The Hand (1.01)

The level of excitement, anxiety, joy, and anticipation I felt just before pressing play on the TOWL premiere was so high. My Richonne was finally coming back. 🥹 And man did they just snatch my heart for an entire hour with their return. I already knew seeing them again would be euphoric, but it was even more than I could have guessed. And the TOWL premiere dives right in with a very emotional, wild, and impactful first few minutes...

When deciding on a deadline for having these RIR: Towl Edition posts ready, I figured today, July 22, would be a great kickoff day since it's the anniversary of when The Ones Who Live was first announced at SDCC. 👌🏽😊

I remember where I was the day I first saw the TOWL announcement in 2022. I was in the middle of moving to a new place and saw an article pop up on my phone with a picture of Andy and Danai hand in hand at Comic-Con. I was just happy to see them.

And then I looked down at the article’s headline and saw they were there to announce that there would be a Rick and Michonne miniseries. 🤩 I was already overjoyed by that, but then, my joy just skyrocketed even more when I saw that they were coming back specifically for a miniseries focused on Rick and Michonne’s “epic love story” with Andy, Danai, and Scott as co-creators and executive producers. 😍

I knew we were about to have an absolute feast with this show our captains cooked up - and feast we most certainly did. This 6 episode miniseries is a six-course meal. 🍽

And I think TOWL is excellent on its own and has a lot of widespread appeal but when I’ve seen people say The Ones Who Live felt like it was particularly for the Richonne fans, there’s also a very clear explanation for that: the show was made by three Richonne fans. Scott, Andy, and Danai…they’re us. 😋

And I am so grateful to them for the beautiful gift that is The Ones Who Live. 😌

So this first post is a bit longer because I gotta come out the gate extra and even offer up some thoughts on the TWD clips that they included just before the premiere starts. I really liked how it sets up TOWL and highlights the power of Richonne’s relationship.

They start by showing the iconic pilot shot of Rick on his horse riding along the barren side of a freeway as we hear his voice say, “We tell ourselves we are the walking dead.”

And then they include the iconic shot of Michonne’s TWD entrance from season 2.

They then show a clip from season 6, just a few episodes before Richonne would be canon. In the clip, Michonne is on the patio with Rick (and his elevator eyes) as she helps him see, “We’re in here together.”

I love this because in reminding Rick that they’re alive and breathing right here and now and have the room to make ASZ home it shows how Michonne was the one who helped change Rick’s motto from “We’re the walking dead” to “We’re the ones who live.” It’s one of the many ways she changed his life. 😌

They show some Say Yes moments, and you know I love that Richonne episode down. Seeing them use clips from the beloved 7.12, I remember just marveling over how years ago we were so excited just to get a single episode focused on Richonne and now we were gearing up to watch a whole miniseries dedicated to them. 🥰 Never getting over that blessing.

Rick says, “We’re gonna lose people, maybe even each other” as the clip ushers in its first gut punch of the hour by showing Rick and Michonne at their son Carl’s side after he reveals he’s been bit. 🥺

They also show Rick telling Michonne “You can lose me” in the Say Yes van and her saying “No.” We’ll talk about it more in a later post, but just as many of us suspected - Richonne cannot in fact lose each other and live on the same. While losing each other is and was physically possible, in every other way losing each other made them lose the most crucial parts of themselves.

Then they show Rick in his final TWD ep, preparing to blow up the bridge as his voiceover tells Michonne “If it’s me who doesn’t make it, you’re gonna have to lead the others forward because you’re the one who can.”

We see Michonne scream his name as Rick blows up the bridge and then they show our sweet older Judith as Rick says “Making a future for Judith, it’ll be worth it.” And I always love that 9.05 shot of Judith because of how it incorporates Rick, Carl, and Michonne with the holster, hat, and sword on her back. She along with RJ is an embodiment of their legacy and the future Richonne believed in.

Then they show Michonne slaying a walker as she says “We can make it. I’m not giving up.” And it just all really hammers home the resilience of Richonne and their love and partnership. They’ve been through so much, built so much, and lost so much, but they still stand because of each other and the family they created.

After they give us some CRM insight with clips of Jadis (😒), they show scenes of Michonne and Judith’s last conversation where they both decide Michonne will go and look for The Brave Man. I’m glad they included that because some viewers really tend to forget that Judith urged her mom to go look for her dad and Michonne left not as an act of abandonment, but as the ultimate act of love for her family.

The TWD clips ends with Michonne saying “Okay baby girl I’m gonna try” and Judith saying “Go get him.” I love that even with everyone else thinking they were crazy, Michonne and Judith never stopped believing Rick was out there. (And RJ was believing too. 🥹 But I'm getting way ahead of myself lol)

And then --- the show we’ve all been waiting for begins and the TOWL premiere has a devastatingly poignant teaser. 🥺

I like how The Ones Who Live's opener connects to the last of the TWD clips because Michonne tells her baby girl she’s gonna try and then we hear Rick’s voice start the show by saying, “I tried. Please know I tried.”

It moves me how much Rick and Michonne have been trying for each other while apart. And it’s crushing to hear Rick say 'tried' in the past tense as he now debates no longer trying anymore since he's learned he can’t be with his family again or else risk putting them in harm's way.

After years of waiting to finally see what Rick has been up to all this time, they immediately let us know it has been an excruciatingly painful existence for him without his family. 😢

gif cred: @perryabbott

I like how the shot opens with Rick facing away from the camera as he stares out the window at a cold industrial view. Rick facing away from us almost gives this sense that we know him but we also don’t fully know him anymore. He’s been through a lot we haven’t seen.

The vintage TV delivers news of a massive attack in the background and similar to the destruction on the television, Rick also feels destroyed by the CRM and at his lowest here.

gif cred: @nerd4music

Then I love how before we even see Rick's face, we see him holding one of his phone sketches of Michonne. This show did a great job of immediately setting up the way Richonne’s love would be at the center of every scene in this story.

This shot of Michonne on the phone let you know instantly that the love between Richonne is still so alive and important to Rick and the miniseries. It’s also painful because it’s like Rick is finally accepting that those little drawings really could be the last he ever gets to “see” her after fighting so hard to believe he would see her again for real one day.

And it’s very symbolic to have him look at Michonne on the phone and then see his own reflection in it. They’re one. It’s also significant that the first we see of Rick’s face is through a reflection. Again he’s him, but he’s not fully him rn. Just a reflection. And the part of him he misses most is his other half - Michonne.

gif cred: @richonne4life

One of the tragic aspects of these two soulmates being separated for so long is that Rick and Michonne were not the type of couple who needed absence to make the heart grow fonder. Like they didn’t need to lose each other to realize how special their love was. When they were together they were fully aware of the gift their relationship was in their lives and they treasured their love deeply and out loud.

So being apart has only heightened what Rick and Michonne already knew full well which is that they are the love of each other's lives. They’re everything to each other. They knew it back then. And they know it still now, even after being away from each other longer than they’ve been together.

It’s such a big deal for Rick to look at this phone in this moment as he contemplates ending it. I noticed that anytime Rick thinks he’s about to die, he thinks of Michonne. It's as though he’s eager for his last moment of life and his last thought to be of her so that he can end on some semblance of a positive note.

When he’s on the bridge in TWD 9.05, Michonne is his last hallucination. When he later chops off his hand and fades out of consciousness he dreams of her. And here when he contemplates dying by his own hand, he looks at this image of her just before. It makes me think of that TikTok that went viral about a man saying his last breath will be his wife’s name. That is definitely Rick’s mindset and I love that Richonne’s love runs that deep.

Rick looks out with tears in his eyes - just sadness personified - and then he stares at the shard of glass in his hand, contemplative, before putting the glass to his neck. The acting Andy does in this moment is incredibly powerful and painful. I know award shows disappointingly tend to completely sleep on the performances from the TWD cast but truly to me he secured every award nomination just within his first few seconds of being on screen.

There’s something so viscerally vulnerable about this moment as Rick stares at the glass really wondering if after everything he’s been through and overcome, it’s really come to this - meeting his demise by his own hand with a little piece of glass.

Plus with how resilient Rick is, it’s like we see this massive internal fight to go against everything in him that’s a survivor and actively choose to stop surviving once and for all.

My heart just instantly broke from this teaser because while yes we know Rick won’t go through with it, to know that he was even in the headspace of this makes me hurt for him deeply. To think he was ready to potentially just go out, alone, depressed, never seeing his family again and them never knowing he was out there, feeling like a failure. It’s extremely dark.

gif cred: @vidco

Throughout his time on TWD, Rick’s journey has been as much a mental battle as it has been an external battle and as we saw in the TWD pilot, Rick is extremely perseverant but without his family, he is not opposed to just ending it.

And now, he's tried so hard for so many years to get back to Michonne and Judith, he stayed alive off the memory of family and the hope of being with family again - But once he realized it was no longer an option unless he risked putting the ones he loves in immense danger, that was it for him. In this moment he no longer sees the point in living if he has to live without his wife and daughter. 🥺

I found it powerfully poignant to have a show called The Ones Who Live begin by having Rick about to take his life. It shows that for Rick, there’s an asterisk on that motto because he feels he’s only 'the one who lives' if he gets to live with Michonne. It’s either ‘the ones who live together’ or nothing at all for Rick.

So he nearly goes through with this attempt. Even draws some blood on his neck...but then he stops. Thank goodness. 🙏🏽 He sucks his teeth and sighs as he stares at the shard of glass looking defeated but also resolved that he can’t go through with it. Not like this.

Through this teaser, we instantly get his state of mind. He can’t end it all but he’s been in so much pain that it feels like the only way through is to die. It’s utterly tragic. 🥺

And I truly feel like part of why Rick couldn’t go through with it is because he and Michonne genuinely are one. So his life is not just his to take.

So long as Michonne is still out there and her heart is still beating then his heart still has to beat too, even if he has to die in other ways to somehow go on without her. We’ll also learn more about why he doesn’t go through with it in his heartbreakingly romantic last letter to Michonne, but we’ll get there. 👌🏽

So then we see the back of Rick again as he ends the night accepting his dreary fate to live but truly as the walking dead from now on. And I really like how the show explores the dark and damaging side of having to tell yourself you’re the walking dead. As well as the dark side of being 'the one who lives' even when everything in you wants to quit living because now you have to live without those you love.

When Rick gave the speech about his grandpa and them being the Walking Dead in TWD 5.10, Daryl responded saying, “We ain’t them.” Rick agreed with that because so long as you have family you aren’t the Walking Dead.

But that’s the thing - Rick hasn’t had his family for years and so he really did have to become the Walking Dead. But as he’ll say at the end of the series (jumping way ahead again, I know lol) he thought he was alone, but he wasn’t. His kids and wife especially were still believing in him and still loving him out there.

I like to think that just like Michonne could feel Rick out there with all the love he was emitting from afar toward her, Rick too could feel all the love she was emitting to him and it kept him here a bit longer. And thank goodness for that because my beloved Rick Grimes' story deserves a bright positive ending, not one this dark and depressing, after everything he's been through.

As the teaser ends and Rick stares into the CRM void, I like the score. The music almost feels like a menacing weighed-down heartbeat which is fitting.

And then there's the beautiful title sequence, which I adore the music and every Richonne image during the theme song. I like how it starts with Rick and Michonne in each other's arms from season 8, letting you know that while the teaser was very dark, there is light coming and that light is called Richonne.

(Also, I really wanted Rick to see Michonne in her corset armor during the show but since he didn’t, I’m glad there’s at least a gorgeous image of the two of them together during the theme song that includes her in the armor.)

I also liked the way the first ep just shows Rick under the title since it’s a Rick-centric episode and then the second episode has just Michonne under the title for the Michonne-centric episode. All and all, this whole opener was a very impactful way to kick off the show and set the tone for what Rick has been through and become in the years he's been away.

All the chatter from certain parts of the audience who thought Rick would move on and even have a new family in the Civic Republic was immediately dispelled because those speculations were always a ridiculous misunderstanding of the character. He found his everything in Michonne so of course he’s still as in love with her now as he was the day we last saw them together in season 9. Just like Michonne still stayed in love with him.

I love that they both refused to move on from each other and operated as in love as ever. And because they held onto that love, even when it felt like all was lost, that love was able to return to them. 👌🏽

So next, we get into some action as we’re taken to 5 years after the bridge. We see Rick and his iconic walk as he stands in the forest with other consignees. And it was such a joy to see him back on screen and know we were finally going to get the continuation of his story. 🙌🏽

gif cred: @vidco

Rick holds a CRM hatchet, which also feels symbolic because it’s similar to one of his signature TWD weapons, but it’s marked by the CRM showing they’ve in many ways attempted to claim him.

Rick is also the only consignee with a leash, clearly illustrating that he’s a lil different than the rest. He’s the one who doesn’t want to be here and will try to escape if given the chance and the CRM knows this about him. Along with attempting to claim him, this leash makes it feel like the CRM is also attempting to tame him like he's a defiant animal.

gif cred: @nerd4music

As Rick looks around and takes a breath you can tell he’s fully made up his mind about what he’s about to do with his most extreme escape attempt yet.

gif cred: @andy-clutterbuck

Rick runs to take out walkers and again seeing him back in action is such a sight for sore eyes. He’s still got it. 👌🏽 However, because he looks all healthy and strong I think some can miss that Rick is still very much in mental disarray from battling the psychological torment of being taken and trapped all these years. Like he might look normal and fine (and I do mean that in all the ways 😇) but he's not mentally healthy right now.

(Side note: I really love the look of this whole night scene with the deep blues and fiery reds. The budget was doing its thing in TOWL. 👏🏽🔥)

gif cred: @nerd4music

So Rick runs far enough that the leash pulls him to the ground. A soldier yells at him and he says “Sorry. Trying to find my axe.” Look at our cute little liar. 😋

And then the show gets right into the wildness by having Rick put a belt around his arm and proceed to chop off his own hand. It’s insane😳.

It's also very reminiscent of when Negan nearly made Rick chop off Carl’s arm in the season 7 premiere. Chopping his own hand off in these woods was more doable for Rick than had he had to chop off Carl’s arm because it’s his family he cares about far more than himself.

As Rick prepares to do the chop he repeats “This is how” as in this is how he gets home. It hurts my heart that he feels this is the only way.🥺

But it's really moving to see that he’s willing to do something this intense to get back to his love. Also, this is 5 years after the bridge, so this means that even a half a decade later Rick was still as determined as ever to break free and get back to Michonne.

The people I watch with and I had a whole discussion on whether chopping the hand the way he did was daftly executed by the show considering it’s such an extreme thing to do in this situation where Rick was never going to successfully get away bleeding out like that with CRM soldiers so close by.

But my argument was that the 'ill-thought-out' element of this escape plan is part of the point.

For 5 years atp, Rick has been isolated from all love and warmth and is deteriorating mentally day by day. In this extremely damaged state, he’s not thinking straight, and cutting off his hand is a last-ditch effort that shows he will try absolutely anything, sound or unsound, to get back to Michonne and Judith.

Yes, he possibly could have just cut off the thumb or hacked at the leash but the extreme approach Rick took also conveys that he’s not all there right now and he’s as desperate as he’s ever been to finally break free and go home. It also informs us that his more sane escape attempts haven't worked and so now Rick Grimes is willing to try the insane stuff to get back to his family.

Think about the mindset he has to be in to go against natural human instinct and chop off his own hand. It’s crazy, but it immediately lets us know that even the most impractical solutions are now what it’s come to for him.

gif cred: @nat111love

So basically, if it seems super reckless for him to do it this way, that’s the intention imo. He’s so worn down and off mentally from his debilitating circumstances that he’ll do anything whether it’s the wise thing or not, he doesn’t care anymore. Anything to get back to her.

The traditional saying is 'asking for her hand in marriage,' but here we see Rick, the ultimate lover boy, be like 'What if I literally give my hand for my marriage.' If there’s one thing TOWL made perfectly clear it’s that Rick and Michonne have crazy love. 💯

And while yes his escape plan could have been more thought through, my baby Rick did show some smart thinking by putting the ax in the fire to make the chop easier so you gotta give him that. 😌👌🏽

After he cuts off his hand this horror music plays as Rick proceeds to make a run for it. He has to lean behind a tree dazed as he bleeds profusely.

It’s crazy because the last time we saw Rick in a full episode of TWD he was bleeding out and now here he is intensely injured again and going through the wringer. I was so eager for whenever this man would finally get some much-deserved rest.

gif cred: @twdfranchise

Rick then has the strength to take out a walker and cauterize the wound by plunging his arm into the fire inside it. This whole thing was an effective way to show early that one; Rick is built different and two; this man will endure literally anything to get home. And home is very much not a place but his wife and daughter.

So then he tries to make a run for it as CRM soldiers near closer and I honestly think with this being his fourth escape attempt this was really a “go home or die trying" attempt. Like I think Rick knew that dying tonight was a very real possibility.

The soldiers knock Rick down and he lays on the ground defeated and drained as he stares at the burning corpse of a walker that’s certainly meant to reflect how he feels as well. Almost like the burning desire to go home has officially consumed him and taken him out.

Feeling like a corpse himself, Rick fades out of consciousness as soldiers approach. And then we get to enter Rick’s lovely mind and see where he goes when at his wit's end.

And y’all, these first two TOWL scenes to analyze were pretty hefty, dark, and depressing, so it’s time we get to something lighter and happier to dive into. And what’s better and brighter than Rick’s beautiful dream world with his beautiful dream girl? 😌👌🏽🌟

#richonne #towl #reveling in richonne #1.01 #RIR (1)#the ones who live #twd towl #michonne grimes #rick grimes #rick x michonne #twol #michonne #rick and michonne #twd: the ones who live #twd #richonnefandom

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bengiyo · 1 year

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Laws of Attraction Eps 1 and 2 Stray Thoughts

For @lurkingteapot, @negrowhat, and @troubled-mind, here are some highlights from the voice recordings Bestie and I sent to the chat while we were watching the first two episodes.

Episode 1

Ben: They were death-flagging on this child, so David and I decided to take the over-under on how long it would take this child to die. We gave it five minutes. So, two minutes later.... David: They ran over that child like Wile E. Coyote!

David: I can't go to Thailand. Ben: I'm scared! I'm really scared!

Ben: I'm so excited. This is giving everything. We got a kid run over by a car after death flagging six different ways, and David's like that list better not be in that bag! Cuts to the bag. The list is covered in blood. David: This is a Mexican telenovela!!

Episode 2

Ben: Let's talk about this sandwich. This man put all this presentation into a single sandwich, which he cut in half! Then split between the two of them, garnished with a piece of lettuce, a slice of tomato, and a ton of onion....along with some orange juice from concentrate?? With bread that looks like it was burnt to within in inch of its life on a George Foreman Grill..... This man is insane.... Like we already knew that. This man is as insane as Bill in Kill Bill 2 using a whole chef's knife to spread mayonnaise on a sandwich.

Ben: Okay, David, you were correct. I'll give you a Clowned Correctly award. David said that that man is not touching him because he's insane and he absolutely wants that man to want him when he finally fucks him. I love it though! He's like, "You were drunk, and you puked on yourself. So I removed your clothes to clean you up, and lusted. I sure did! But I didn't touch you! Because that would get me 4-20 year in prison. And they're not gonna have my ruffles and bubble baths in prison." David: "I'm a not-so-secret luxurious bitch. I don't DO cells." Ben: This high sadity mofo's like, "Uh-uh. But! Since you're sober now!" David: "Let's talk!!" Ben: I love this man. David: "Good! What's really good?"

Ben: Not this man getting out of this car... David: With the gayest shirt! Ben: What the fuck is going on with this collar and these overlong goddamn sleeves? This man is a menace. David: This is giving, "Give me shirt but also a Faustian nightmare." Ben: He looks like someone just popped a can of cinnamon rolls. David: I can't want more for you than you want for yourself. Ben: I...am overdone...with this show... David: And not champagne colored! You're a gay man! You know better! Ben: Look how it's sitting on his shoulders! This is a travesty!

Ben: I know we comment on how unhinged this man is in every scene, but why is he taking the One Ring to Mordor as well?

Ben: This is the least insane he's looked in this show, and that's saying something. We've been here for nine hours.

Ben: I see why @ginnymoonbeam said this show might be for the KinnPorsche enjoyers because this is now the next show where we've watched a father slap his son in the most bitchless way possible. David: Slaps always come in threes! The first is your first salvo. The second, this time, is aiming to fuck up some real estate. The third is the disrespect.

David: They clearly defined her relationship with her employees. They are not afraid of her. If these are hoes, they feel taken care of. Ben: I don't know what the relationship is between Organ and Silvy's characters, but I hope we get to see them fuck on screen. David: If we don't, why am I here? I require women doing filthy shit to each other. I can get BL anywhere. I came to see women doing shameful things with each other. I came here for Jennifer Tilly and Gina Gershon in Bound. I did not come here for the Bridges of Madison County. Ben: Girl you ain't never lie!

David: I'm here for this. The unapologetic sissiness is what I live for. He had me when he pulled out that little gun. "Now, I can date you, but I can also put you down like a dog." You know there's nothing I love more than Gays With Guns. Look at God. Won't he do it. Ben: God had nothing to do with iQIYI.

#laws of attraction #laws of attraction meta #thai drama #thai bl #bl series #Ben watches

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bookgeekgrrl · 5 months

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My media this week (7-13 Apr 2024)

📚 STUFF I READ 📚

🥰 If This Is As Far As We Go (BeauRadley) - 124K, stucky no-powers AU - after a year of being phenomenal hookup buddies, bucky ends their arrangement & throws steve into a tailspin - slow burn, angsty, oblivious steve slowly realizing his true feelings, good supporting cast

😊 Bunt! Striking Out on Financial Aid (Ngozi Ukazu & Mad Rupert) - cute graphic novel about art students forming a softball team to exploit a financial aid loophole

😍 Death in the Spires (KJ Charles, author; Tom Lawrence, narrator) - historical murder mystery set in 1905 Oxford - another KJC absolute banger: incredible sense of place, fantastic characters, perfectly done 'whodunnit' tension and a HIGHLY SATISFACTORY resolution. Loved every word

💖💖 +76K of shorter fic so shout out to these I really loved 💖💖

The Man, the Myth, the Legend (sparklyslug) - Check Please!: gen, 2.9K - Holster's beatboxing skills brings all the a capella groups to the Haus - a short, fun, funny, outsider POV fic

Say it louder for the people in the back (redhook) - MCU: shrinkyclinks, 14K - reread, forever fave - sometimes you just get a yearning to reread the best glory hole fic ever written

In Focus (sparklyslug) - Check Please!: zimbits, 6K - Jack's photography eye knows what's up before his conscious brain does

Entering Orbit (museaway) - Star Trek AOS: spirk, 30K - good post-AOS canon-divergent fic where Jim goes home to Iowa to escape the press & Spock joins him

📺 STUFF I WATCHED 📺

Hot Ones - Conan O'Brien

QI - series S, ep 13

Game Changer - s6, e5 {Bingoception}

Um, Actually - s9, e4

D20: Fantasy High: Junior Year - "Dawn of Justice" (s21, e14)

D20: Adventuring Party - "We're Running on 200%" (s16, e14)

Death In Paradise - s11, e4-8; s12 e0-8, s13 e0-8

🎧 PODCASTS 🎧

Working - How to Be Both a Critic and a Creator

Worlds Beyond Number - WWW #10: Of the Reaching Green

Worlds Beyond Number: Fireside - Fireside Chat for WWW ep10 "Of the Reaching Green"

Short Wave - How Climate Change And Physics Affect Baseball

Consider This from NPR - Bad Omens Or The Cycle of Nature? How The Ancient World Viewed Eclipses

⭐ Armchair Expert - Anna Kendrick [Rerelease from 1/9/23]

Today, Explained - Is college still worth it?

The Sporkful - Jewish Food Is More Than Matzoh Balls

WikiHole - BEYONCÉ (with Zoë Chao, Nat Faxon and Poppy Liu)

⭐ All Songs Considered - Songs to make you laugh, with 'Weird Al' Yankovic

In Defense of Fandom - Season 2 Episode 2: Putting my theory to the test

Dinner’s on Me - Orville Peck

⭐ Switched on Pop - Chasing old sounds: Djo's "End of Beginning" with Joe Keery

⭐ 99% Invisible #577 - The Society of Ambiance Makers and Elegant Persons

⭐ Vibe Check - A Special Conversation with Ada Limón

The Atlas Obscura Podcast - Brown Mountain Lights

Short Wave - The Order Your Siblings Were Born in May Play a Role in Identity and Sexuality

⭐ Code Switch - How Frederick Douglass launched generations of Black and Irish solidarity

⭐ Decoder Ring - Can the “Bookazine” Save Magazines?

⭐ Imaginary Worlds - African Sci-Fi Looks to a Future Climate

Worlds Beyond Number - WWW #11: Promises Promises

Worlds Beyond Number: Fireside - Fireside Chat for WWW ep11 "Promises Promises"

What Next: TBD - Does Google Suck Now?

Short Wave - What To Know About The New EPA Rule Limiting 'Forever Chemicals' In Tap Water

Code Switch - Reflecting on the legacy of O.J. Simpson

The Atlas Obscura Podcast - Atlas Obscura Live: Two Places And A Lie

Dear Prudence - I Lost a Lot of Weight and Now I Enjoy Being a Mean Girl. Help!

It's Been a Minute - The car culture wars; plus, the problem with child stars

Endless Thread - RIP Lil Miquela

Shedunnit - You Probably Imagined It!

Armchair Expert - John Cena

Worlds Beyond Number: Fireside - [One Shot] A County Affair: Prologue

🎶 MUSIC 🎶

Presenting Bonnie Raitt

Lowrider Oldies

Huge House Anthems

Djo

Classic Soul BBQ

A LA SALA [Khruangbin] {2024}

Presenting Khruangbin

Happy Beats

'80s One-Hit Wonders

Feel-Good Classic Rock

#sunday reading recap #bookgeekgrrl's reading habits #bookgeekgrrl's soundtracks #death in the spires #no surprise that kj charles can write the *fuck* out of a mystery #bunt! striking out on financial aid #we had a power outage so i decided to read an actual physical book!#comics & graphic novels are really the only physical books i read these days #fanfic ftw #dropout tv #got all caught up on death in paradise which i continue to watch with 50% affection 50% annoyance #mfred tipped me off to khruangbin and i love them #bonnie raitt #djo #vibe check podcast #switched on pop podcast #99% invisible podcast #decoder ring podcast #all songs considered podcast #code switch podcast #imaginary worlds podcast #armchair expert podcast #shedunnit podcast #worlds beyond number podcast #worlds beyond number: fireside podcast #wikihole podcast #endless thread podcast #it's been a minute podcast #the atlas obscura podcast #the sporkful podcast

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starlitcorgi · 7 months

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Hi......If you don't mind, can I ask, what are your top 10 (or top 7) favorite media (can be books/ manga/ anime/movies/tv series)? Why do you love them? Sorry if you've answered this question before......Thanks....

Hmmm 🤔 my favs are always changing but at the moment.

1. Gokurakugai: Alma is a precious cinnamon roll who loves his mentor Miss Tao like a sister. I really love their platonic relationship and the fact that Alma is incredibly emotionally balanced. Like he's not this typical macho guy. Probably because he's surrounded by strong female role models. It's really refreshing for Shonen and I really hope it gets an anime series because I think it has the potential to be as big as JJK and Demon Slayer.

2. Jujutsu Kaisen: I love Yuuji as a ML and I'm usually a side character gal. So it's great to actually like the lead character. I've noticed in this current generation of Manga and Anime that our Male Leads are becoming much more well rounded and likeable. I love Yuuji's strength and his resilience, he definitely deserves all the love and hugs. I also of course love Gojo and I kind of hope Mappa deviates from the manga in regards to his fate because man that hurt.

3. Demon Slayer: I read the manga start to finish and loved every minute of it. The anime series is just as good. I love all of the characters in this in their own rights. From the protagonist to the villains for me at least the author got everything right. It's Shonen at its best. To be able to make your audience love Rengoku in such a short time is an amazing feat. To care so much that you feel as devastated as Tanjiro to me the Mugen train arc is a masterclass in story telling. It's sad that the series will be coming to an end soon but I think for me this will always be in my top 5.

4. Ghost in the Shell: This is the movie that started my love of anime/manga. It's a cinematic masterpiece and everyone should watch it at least once. It was well ahead of its time and it's not surprising that it inspired the Matrix.

5. Hells Paradise: I love the manga and the anime. Gabimaru is so relatable to me, I think we share the same sarcastic and apathetic nature lol. I love it as well because it gave us one of the best disabled characters in current manga generation. Shion is an epic character for the disabled community, being partially blind myself it's nice to be represented you know? And he's not full of loathing or self pity, he embraces his blindness and uses it to his advantage. He's funny, kind, strong and handsome. He never questions Sagiri's competence, he doesn't try to send her of to the kitchen like his colleagues. He recognises her talent and encourages her to achieve her goals. In short Shion needs to be protected at all costs.

6. Chainsaw Man: when I first saw this pop up on Shonen Jump I didn't have high hopes. It seemed like a crack series but this is exactly why you shouldn't judge a book by it's cover. I love this series even though it hurts me 😭. Denji is a typical hormonal teen, power is a ball of chaos and Aki is just trying to keep everything together. Plus Angel 😇 is one of my fav characters of all time maybe because he reminds me of my daughter lol.

7. Elfen Lied: this is another classic anime the violence is on par with AOT but once you get past that you have this heart wrenching story. Lucy is a monster created by her environment and the abuse she suffered. This is also one of the most beautifully animated series of all time. The art is phenomenal.

8. Solo Leveling: I fell in love with the Manwha and was so excited when it got picked up for a series. I'm loving the anime so far, though I'm two episodes behind. Due to my sight loss I have to wait for the English dub but dubs have gotten way better than when I first started watching anime in the early 2000's. I love Jinwoo's tenacity and the fact that he just cuts through the villains. He never really worries about whether that makes him a bad person. Sometimes you just want to see bad people get what's coming to them. Plus this has some of the most epic fight scenes, I can't wait to see them animated.

9. Tokyo Ghoul: I spent most of Tokyo Ghoul crying ugly tears 😭. Ken Keneki has one of the most heartbreaking storylines in all of anime. It's just painful to read/watch Gege definitely took a leaf out of the Tokyo ghoul book when writing JJK. Yet still I couldn't put it down, I'm a sucker for punishment. It's a great mix of characters as well, I love that we see goth culture mixed in there as well. You do get those Crow vibes the way it's so gothic in inspiration and the art work is stunning. I think the only illustrator that tops it is Yuta Sano.

10. Attack on Titan: AOT has been deemed controversial because of it's fascist themes. However I think it's only problematic if you think Eren is the hero in this story. I actually really can't stand Eren, it's pretty obvious that he's been radicalised by his experiences early on. The foreshadowing is strong with him you know he's not going to turn out well from the start. The real protagonists for me are Armin, Levi and Hange. Like these three are definitely trying to save their comrades and people. Whereas Mikasa is constantly having to save Eren and Eren jumps to mass genocide pretty quick. Levi almost feels like he's representing the audience with his snarky commentary. I also love Levi and Hanges platonic friendship. They really get each other and their banter is a joy to watch especially in the first season.

#jujutsu kaisen #jjk #demon slayer #anime and manga #manga #gokurakugai #tokyo ghoul #ghost in the shell #elfen lied #attack on titan #hells paradise #solo leveling #chainsaw man

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saltygilmores · 2 years

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Thoughts While Watching Gilmore Girls-Season 2, Episode 12, Part 1 ("Richard In Stars Hollow")

You can read all of my previous commentary here. First 10 Minutes Summary : Emily needles Lorelai about her love life some more. A long comedic exchange occurs between Lorelai, Rory and Emily about the family burial plot. Emily and Richard discuss Richard's boring & repetitive retired life. Paris being Paris wants the staff of The Franklin to win a presitgious award given to school newspapers by any means necessary.

Richard is bored and realizes Emily actually had a pretty vibrant daily life while he used to be at work all day, and now with nothing to do he's getting in her hair and becoming a real pain in the ass M-A-N. Desperate to get him out of her hair, she ever so gently suggests he spend some time at the country club.

Wait wait wait. Stars Hollow video is really renting Grand Theft Auto? The violent-est video game to ever violent at that point? (all for the low price of 99 cents, Tuesdays and Thursdays only). Besides the graphic subject matter of the game, like cable TV and internet, I'm not entirely convinced that video games are even a concept in Stars Hollow. Go on, just ask someone on the streets of Stars Hollow if they know what a Playstation is. The citizens seem to be highly aware of modern music, but mainly watch TV shows and movies from the 1950's. I sound like an antrophologist observing some lost tribe that has no contact with the outside world.

You can easily read the titles on many of these movies. What are we renting today, guys? I hope you remembered to bring your Stars Hollow Video Membership Card (unlike Lorelai). This scene, man. Video stores! VHS! 99 cent rentals! Video store membership cards! Flip phones! Lorelai going outside because "the reception sucks in here". I'm positively dizzy. Just like the concession stand, the strip/mud wrestling club and the arcade (which are all places that are only seen once AFAIK) I am fairly certain this video store is never seen or mentioned again after this episode... So basically any kind of fun business that sets up in town is doomed to failure. Enjoy your diner and your movie theater that is actually just a projection screen inside a book store, citizens. In the United States, 1 in 5 small businesses fail in the first year.

Kirk Job: Dirty Movie Peddler. Rory: Hey Kirk, I saw a couple of little kids over there looking at this tape that was kind of mature. You might want to put that stuff on a higher shelf. There's a half naked lady on the cover.

(the movie was Showgirls, by the way). Meanwhile, Emily is desperate to get rid of Richard and punishes him in the most extreme way possible. She unloads him on Lorelai and sends him to Stars Hollow. That monster. Lorelai: OMG. The most horrible thing just happened. Headmaster Charleston's been kidnapped! Two guys broke into his house, stuffed him into a Hefty bag, used those twisty ties and carted him off! When I tell you this is the exact fate I've always envisioned for Taylor Doose on my gritty R-rated Gilmore Girls reboot titled The Hollow. No really, go back to some of my old reviews and I have said this. Usually the sack gets tossed off the Bridge into the lake, a worthy fate for Mr. Doose. Some fun things I observed in the Gilmore Kitchen:

Rory's coffee cup is a pig in a bowtie and boxer shorts. . A killer Crock Pot. (my sincerest apologies to Milo Ventimiglia for not saying "SLOW COOKER", he's going to pop out of the bushes somewhere and correct me). That lady that was on every greeting card in the 90's (I think her name was Maxine). And those Pop Tarts, oh those Pop Tarts. Did I research them? Yes I absolutely fucking did. Turns out they aren't actually from the Pop Tarts brand. Lorelai was buying a cheap imitation. They were called "Kool Stuf", a short lived knockoff from Nabisco that were sold from 1999-2001.

To be honest I'm not sure why Lorelai is having an aboslute freaking meltdown about spending one day alone with Richard, her own father. I think she thinks it's going to be more awkward than anything and they won't have enough to talk about.

Okay, I was right. But seriously, having to make conversation with her own father is the only time Lorelai ever shuts up and can't think of anything to say? Really?

I was observing how gleeful Richard looked while walking into the diner and figured it was one of those "rich people are entertained by the lower class and he's never been in a diner before" type deals, but he then mentions a diner he used to visit in college. So I think it's pretty wholesome and sweet that he looks so happy to visit a place simply because Lorelai likes it. I like Richard. (usually), although he's a total pill in this episode and his mansplaining kinda makes me want to stuff him in that sack with Taylor Doose.

Lorelai: I thought you might like to walk around town and see The Sights. Well, you already visited the diner, so that's one Sight. Seeing the rest of the town will kill all of about 10 minutes. Good plan, Lorelai.

I hope she never stops.

Okay but that's just my exact pitch for my gritty R-rated Giilmore Girls reboot titled The Hollow.

I am firmly convinced they do. Paris: The worst that could happen is that I spend some time in your town and enter a pie in your county fair. Oh yes, I'm sure Rory would just HATE it if Paris had to spend time in her town with her. Paris I'm sure you'd love to enter your pie in her county fair, wouldn't you. This episode has everything. Paris and Rory sexual tension, Jess and Paris meeting for the first of only two times, Richard getting pissed off at Dean later. Richard walks in to the inn while Lorelai is working. L: I thought you were touring the town. What are you doing here? R: I visited all the stores. The cat one, twice. Then I walked around and I was done. Told ya. L: Did you see the park? Or the giant slinky? R: Yes I saw the park and the giant slinky, and the 100 year old oak tree, and the giant life sized Yarn Person. Giant Slinky? Giant Yarn Person? Where's the town getting money for this stuff? Paris' first order of business should be to investigate Taylor Doose and whether he's stealing the money he's always raising for The Bridge (he is). I also don't remember any sort of real park being seen or mentioned before. Paris (after taking the bus home with Rory): I think I have rabies. Burn my clothes. Emily in another episode: Only drug dealers ride the bus.

City Boy frowns upon all this bus slander.

Wasn't there suddenly a bar in season 7 or was that just some fever dream? Season 7 in general is just a fever dream to me. Lorelai gets drunk and sings "I Will Always Love You" to Luke, right? How did THAT place ever get the proper permits and permission to exist from Taylor Doose? I know it's like 5 years away but, investigate that, Paris. We were robbed of so many things incuding a Jess + Paris friendship. Oh, the literary & other intellectual debates we could have enjoyed! (on the flip side, a Paris + Jess romantic relationship would be so disastrous. Luckily for them it would also only last like forty minutes before they tried to kill each other and end it). Anyway I like to imagine all angles of every nook & cranny of this show and I enjoy imagining that carnage.

Crystal clear Tomatos sign spotting. Paris ever so subtly proceeds to ask Luke if his diner sees a lot of truckers looking to pick up prostitutes.

"It's pretty common knowledge that diners are breeding grounds for prostitution and drug dealers." Like the drug dealing gigolo who lives above the diner? Speak of the devil.

*clutches this minute-long interaction tightly to my chest* I won't ever let go...

Well, it is where he likes to stuff girls in a closet.

Hair...that beautiful hair...

So brief. Sigh. Luke and Jess are the best. Back to the Inn where Richard continues to be a pain in the ass Man and meddle in Lorelai's work, telling her how to run her business and pushing Lorelai perilously close to sack-stuffing territory. And in other meddling news, Rory's little snitcheroo about inappopriate movies has backfired on her. Rory and Paris enter the video store to find it nearly empty, as all of the inappropriate movies have been moved behind the Rory Curtain.

In Rory's defense, she did specifically tell Kirk to put the videos "on a higher shelf" and she probably expected Kirk to take her literally like he does every single time in history except for now. But she still should have minded her bizzness. Taylor: All the movies that we (him and Kirk?) deem objectionable will be hidden behind this curtain safely hidden from the eyes of children. Why is Taylor involved in this too? He doesn't work there? Can we skip to the sack-stuffing now? This would all be funnier if this sort of "shield the children" censorship wasn't still happening over 20 years later. Paris realizes The Rory Curtain is a great scoop for the paper, asks Taylor "How long have you been working here?" Good question... Lorelai brings Richard home, minutes away from tossing him into oncoming traffic so Rory tries to give her mother some peace and quiet and offers Richard a tour of her room where we get acquainted with her book stash.

Dang, girl! I'm kind of speechless...

Richard, for as much of a Buttinsky as he has been so far in this episode, gives Lorelai extremely sensible, real-world advice that it would benefit Rory to consider another school besides Harvard. Every time Lorelai hears this perfectly reasonable advice from her parents she loses her mind. Harvard's acceptance rate in 2003 was 11.3%. Thanks again, Googs. Lorelai thinks she can wave her "But she wants to go to Harvard" wand around and that'll magically get her accepted with no backup school or plan in place. I'll save further discussion of "Lorelai jeopardizing Rory's future just to spite her parents" for another episode that's coming up somewhere over the horizon, and because it literally just happened in the previous episode (in that case their fucking house was on the line due to Lorelai's stubborness), god I'm fucking tired.

What is it Rory?! Is it Ed McMahon standing outside with a giant Publisher's Clearinghouse check?

Oh. it's just Butthead. Part 2 coming soon.

#gilmore girls #rory gilmore #lorelai gilmore #jess mariano #literati #gilmore girls season 2 #Richard in Stars Hollow #emily gilmore #richard gilmore #paris geller #butthead #denise rewatches gilmore girls

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belle-keys · 2 years

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my thoughts on shadow & bone season 2

okay, i finished late last night and had a blast watching this. we'll see if it gets canceled or not (it might). but oh my god i had so much fun even though i was like hmm at some things. here's some of my thoughts and impressions in case you would like to feel #seen.

don't @ me about dark!alina. i like it. i love it. i've always wanted a corrupt alina. i've been a darklina shipper for a hot minute and while that wouldn't have made sense to do in the show, a dark!alina does make sense and it deepens her character imo. the use of the merzost had major consequences for her and i love that. aleksander and baghra did warn her, and she didn't listen. and now we get payoff. this is how you write powerful characters!!!

paddy gibson was a great nikolai like come @ me and i will defend this man. alina’s interactions with him, tolya, and tamar were awesome like it felt very natural.

the spirit of cillian murphy possessed my man freddy carter in episode 4 like idk mans was giving me the kaz i had expected from season 1 ong he was not playing in that pekka rollins scene, like he stole so much of the show for me i loved it and i just got chills seeing the kaz we know and tolerate clearly living deep down under freddy's skin.

matthias spent the whole season in jail to simply remain in jail for the whole season and not end the season out of jail despite spending a whole season in jail despite jail being all he did for the season despite-

when aleksander was choking alina and telling her how much he wanted to destroy her and had her pressed up against that table and was muttering evil nothings into her ear? i felt that.

ben was excellent as well in this season as we expected, but as i previously noted, this entire season was identical in both fundamental and superficial ways to billy russo’s season 2 in the punisher like i can’t make this shit up. as soon as daddie darkie opened his mouth to speak, i immediately knew via osmosis what the speech’s delivery would sound like. it's just hilarious i'm sorry i'm not mad but it's just so unserious.

when zoya said "that one's a mess. i can fix him"??? i felt that shit so hard like meee finally a female character to represent meee

we did not need reminders that tolya loves poems 100 times we get it like cmon do more with your side characters if you're gonna make them quip every two seconds.

i will not lie, i’m so happy with how they incorporated the crows into the main story like it really felt like a fun epic fantasy series with different levels you gotta beat until you fight the boss (daddy darkie), like there’s so many interwoven plots and arcs and every time a scene switched i’d be like the leondardo dicaprio pointing at his tv meme i got chills watching everything come together the way it did, i think they really succeeded in making you (me) ooh and ahh this season.

the fight scenes gave me chills like the grisha powers being brought to life like that? slayed. the musical score and the special effects and the cinematography? popped off. the crows bringing guns to a grisha fight? never before seen. inej slicing up daddy darkie monsters? extraordinary. shit had me breaking out in chills.

i think besides kaz's face-off with pekka rollins in ep4, aleksander's death scene and his death monologue was the high point of the season for me. the whole "you need my darkness to balance your light thing"? the whole "let me be your monster so you don't have to" thing? literally took my breath away. he encapsulated every thing i loved about the darkling's character so well and his relationship with alina. he did warn her that she needed him for balance within herself and she just couldn't accept that. now she'll get what he was on to the whole time. it's amazing. it shows the darkling isn't just a character in alina's life.

i feel like splitting mal and alina up at the end wasn't... right? idk, the whole point of malina was supposed to be childhood friends-to-lovers-to-soulmates and her making this huge sacrifice for mal and then have him go away while she stays to... rule ravka??? that fell flat for me as an ending like what was the reason for that change cus i have no idea??? it makes sense from an irl perspective but idk what the showrunners were going for with that.

jessie mei li cannot act. i am not some tv and film expert. but this girl just cannot act. i dare you to change my mind.

oh I absolutely hate how they changed wylan and jesper's relationship. idk what was the reason for the whole "we once hooked up and forgot about each other" thing like WHAT WAS THAT HOW DID THEY MISS THE PLOT OF THE MOVIE SO BADLY IDC I CAN'T VIBE WITH IT NO-

i'm sorry on-screen kanej is still just as dry as book kanej for me like i felt nothing at all during their interactions this season, even the hallucination ones. as individuals they're great, but they made me feel absolutely nothing. not a single tingle.

if i had to cut something from the show, i'd probably either cut matthias' entire presence since he did nothing this season, or, i would cut genya and david's relationship because i do not and never did care about that pairing (or either of them as individuals tbh)

alina doing the darkling's shadow cut at the end??? i was cackling in joy like a maniac. yeah. that was a moment in time.

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svartalfhild · 2 years

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Svar Watches BBC Robin Hood for the First Time - Season 3

Some of you may have seen my reactions to Season 1 and Season 2, well, here's the epic conclusion:

Well I can tell you right off the bat that the production, especially the costumes, have gotten a major glow-up, holy shit.

Damn we're starting off in a dark place. I mean, I guess I expected that, but even so.

It's been 5 minutes and I already miss Will and Djaq.

Guy is so unhinged now and it hurts my heart, but it's so interesting to watch. Also, the costuming glow-up and Armitage doing his thing means that Guy is now, in some respects, even hotter than before. For this to really get out of hand for me, though, he has to get a good redemption arc. That would just be top👌tier👌shit👌. I have no goddamn clue how that could happen at this point, though. Won't hold my breath.

So now that Marian is fucking dead and Djaq is off having her happily ever after with Will, I'm guessing Tuck is going to be the new voice of reason.

Ohoho Guy going Fuck Everything Actually But Especially The Sheriff And Also My Life with maximum emo is fucking zesty.

I like Kate. Her being a love interest for Much is a bit out of left field, but I could be into it if the narrative does the work to sell it.

Man, the real villain in this show is toxic masculinity.

I love how every time a recurring female character is grieving, Little John is like "hello, I'm your emotional support giant".

Lara Pulver???? Fuck yeah!

Holy shit she's Guy's sister????? And she's Robin's new love interest???? That's a spicy meatball.

Gotta say, Guy, being shitty to your sister is rapidly losing you attractiveness points.

OH MY GOD GUY ACTUALLY GOT TO STAB THE SHERIFF I AM LIVING YES BITCH KILL YOUR ABUSER!!!!

Aw dunk he's still alive. Boo. Well, either way, Guy has fallen out of the hands of one abuser into another, who has even more power.

Toby Stephens as Prince John is brilliant. He's so flighty and detestable. And pathetic in the way that only rich men are. This is reminding me of the tantrums of the bird app destroyer.

So I see from Isabella's behaviour with Robin that getting overly attached to the first person who's nice to them is a Gisborne family trait. Also going all super backstabby survival mode when they get put in a tight spot.

Meg is fucking great and I am so here for the women-supporting-women of her introduction. I want her to be besties with Isabella, even though Isabella is duplicitous af (albeit kinda understandably so).

So, uh, fuck Thornton. It was bad enough hearing from Isabella that he's awful, but now that we get to see him, I am absolutely revolted.

Oh, oh, I love watching Meg call Guy the fuck out for his, well, everything, and he just has to sit there and take it cause they're in prison. Get his ass, girl.

Wait...oh my god...oh my god IS GUY ACTUALLY GONNA HAVE A REDEMPTION ARC???? YOU'RE KIDDING HOLY SHIT POP ALL THE BOTTLES LADS

Aw...aw, Meg. I'm crying with you, Guy. T_T

The way Isabella started this season with "I'm nothing like my brother; there's nothing about him that I want to be" and then she proceeded to become exactly like her brother.

God, the cinematic parallels between Guy and Isabella are so strong and so tragic. Both abused, both prone to thinking in extremes, both trying so desperately to protect themselves and making all the wrong choices. But it's interesting how Isabella is descending into evil the same way Guy did the moment she's given a crumb of power by an evil man, while Guy is trying to be better after hitting rock bottom and getting told what's what by a mouthy peasant girl.

Kate turning out to actually be Robin's love interest is honestly a bit boring, but predictable, I suppose.

Damn, that Backstory™ episode was wild and soapy as fuck but it sure did some heavy lifting with the plot to get Robin and Guy united at last. A fucking half-brother between them named Archer. Jesus christ.

Guy's father being a leper kinda brings new context to the Sheriff derisively calling Marian a leper all of the time. Must have been a real twist in the gut every time Guy heard it.

Robin and Guy going to rescue Archer is giving Thor and Loki "get help" energy and I love it so much. More of this please.

So I see being a tricky little bastard and a romantic is something Archer shares with his siblings.

Oh my god the symbolism of Guy riding a white horse now.

Aw, Allan. T_T So it's a Boromir end for you, huh.

I'm scared to watch the finale because I just know it's going to hurt my heart somehow. Let Guy stab the Sheriff again, please?

GUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUYYYYYY *INCOHERENT SCREAMING AND CRYING*

"I lived in shame, but because of you, I die proud and free." I WILL NEVER BE OKAY AGAIN!!!!!!!! T_T

Yes, blow everything the fuck up. Die, assholes.

And there goes Robin too. God, I'll just be sobbing for the next several minutes, thanks.

Thank you for coming on this journey with me. I hope you enjoyed my screaming and crying. I hope you went "ohohoho just you wait girl" every time I saw or didn't see a twist coming.

#BBC Robin Hood #Robin Hood #Svar shitposts

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captain-lonagan · 2 years

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my current ranking of confirmed leitner books that served cunt:

1. The Bone Turner’s Tale: yeeeeees it made all the books around it bleed and it caused a 20 something man to become murderous and grow extra limbs. plus the actual text is a really fucked up version of the canterbury tales that inspires nausea in all who read it. iconic i love it

2. Vertigo Book: it has a name but i can’t remember it. exalterra i think? idk but it’s the first leitner book that appears and it’s wonderful. the watercolors of the night sky give you horrible vertigo and it took on the pattern of a childhood friend’s horrible scar. 10/10 i don’t know how this book would kill people but i think it should just for fun

3. Unnamed Red Fire Book: she’s made two appearances thus far and she’s been an absolute babe both times. killed two men and nearly burned down a hospital and also mind controlled 90% of the people in that hospital. it ranks this low because gerard keay got his little mitts on her and she seems to have gone inactive every since. sadge, let her roam free. god forbid women do anything

4. Book that makes bones??: appeared for like less than 5 minutes in the vertigo book episode but whenever you pass the book through a certain type of shadow it creates a small bone? pop off i guess? she’s got potential but she hasn’t killed, mangled, mind-controlled, or otherwise corrupted anyone to my knowledge so she ranks lowest. she’s quirky but the weakest of the squad so far imo

#tma liveblog #jorgen leitner #i think i’ve forgotten one but if i’ve forgotten it it evidently didn’t serve enough

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coolwali · 2 years

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Minor Gaming Pet Peeves: Mandatory Story Breaks in Open World Games.

Hello everyone, today I want to talk about a pet peeve of mine I've seen in 2 open world games in particular, Spider-Man PS4 and Cyberpunk 2077. The feature in question is that certain points during certain missions, the game will tell the player to wait for a while before the next stage of the mission can begin. In Spider-Man's case, it's mostly limited to the main quest where after a major climactic event, Peter will say something like "that was intense, time to cool off for a while and go on patrol". Then the next main mission will not pop for a while, encouraging the player to partake in side activities. In Cyberpunk it's a similar case, only it can happen for any class of quests, not just main and the time to wait isn't consistent, seemingly being anywhere from a day in-game to several days + a few minutes.

Let's consider the pros; firstly it allows for story sanctioned breaks that may allow for more optimal pacing than if the player took the break during say, an urgent series of quests. It communicates to the player they can take a break now and it encourages the player to do some side content. It's also a nod to realism that some stuff takes a while to happen

But I find it not worth it and more annoying than anything.

Firstly, I like to play open world games by doing EVERYTHING before touching the main story and then blasting through the main story. So in Spider-Man, the game expects me to go out and do some side activities like finding backpacks or research labs, but I have already done everything. So I'm left just sitting there playing on my phone until the game lets me play the next story mission. For Cyberpunk, it's often not clear how long I have to wait. So I have to use the in-game sleep thing to sleep for 2-4 days at a time and then go around walk around for a while and hope the mission updates with the call. I imagine most players probably have some quests left when these breaks pop up so it's less of an issue but still.

Secondly, I find it interrupts the story more than it helps. Like in Cyberpunk, I want to see more of Panem's story, but there's frequent breaks and even if I have other quests to do, it feels like an interruption so I either have to go do other quests for a while or sleep for 4 days and then go and do another quest before I can finally get back to the storyline I am interested in. I'm going to go do all the quests anyway. This just feels unnecessary and it takes my agency. Plus it can seem punishing if you do some side questing before you get one of these waits, like if you had done your questing a couple missions later, your time wouldn't be wasted.

Imagine if you're watching the Mandalorian and part way through an episode you have to go the bathroom. Instead of just pausing the show to go to the bathroom, the Mando turns to the camera and goes "If anyone wants to go the bathroom, go now, I'll do nothing for the next 7 minutes aside from stand here and polish my guns or something". While that is generous, it wouldn't really be a fun or efficient idea. And if it did do that, most people would probably fast forward through it every time it happens because they don't have to go the bathroom at that moment. It's the same with video games, if I want to take a break to go do side quests, I'll do it anyway. I don't need the game to force me to do them. Plus if I do them early, I should be set for the rest of the game.

Now, I understand this is a minor issue in the grand scheme of things. The time wasted in doing these waits isn't so long. But regardless, are there ways to compromise so you maintain the positives while minimizing the negatives.

Solution 1: The Cyberpunk approach (ironically).

Cyberpunk has a solution for this. Some quests that ask you wait have a marker at the mission start area where V will sit and wait at and the next quest will start automatically. As an added bonus, it also adjusts the setting depending on the quest (like spawning NPCs and cars that are required for the quest). This helps because it maintains the appearance that time has to pass while still letting the player play on.

Solution 2: The Batman Arkham Knight Approach.

In Batman Arkham Knight, instead of asking the player to wait at certain points, the game just goes "Master Bruce, things have gotten quiet for now, you can use the time to go do side quests or keep investigating the Arkham Knight/Scarecrow i.e the Main Quest". The beneifit here is that it tells you the story is taking a lull for a short while but still gives the player full agency in what they have to do without wasting any time whatsoever.

But if we must have some waiting, there is one option:

Solution 3: The GTA V approach.

In GTA V, quests for heist prep activate after a while with a text message. But normally you have other quests also active or given to you at the same time so you always have something to while you wait. The smaller number of timed quests given at specific times also mean there is way less of a chance the player has nothing to do but wait even if they do all the side content first. Personally, I'm still not fond of this because it means I have to step away from the heist missions I'm so interested in.

So what are your thoughts?

#video games #open world

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whatsabriard · 2 years

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Watch With Me: Hart to Hart 2x05

Original Airdate: December 16, 1980

Synopsis: Jennifer and Jonathan go undercover to identify a toy pla thief who has become a murderer.

Why this one?: We needed a christmas themed episode, any episode that features Drunk!Jennifer is a gem, and the idiots go undercover in the most hilarious way possible.

Favorite Quote:

Jonathan: A little too much christmas cheer? Jennifer: Well, a little too much for 11 o'clock in the morning. Jonathan: I thought that was a pretty terrific gimmick. Buy a tree and get all the grog you can drink free. Jennifer: I dunno. I still prefer my christmas cheer in front of the fireplace. After dark. Jonathan: That's why I come down the chimney every night.

YEAH HE SAID IT.

Right off the bat, I'm gonna tell you I got tired of rehashing the plot. That's boring. Instead you get my stream of consciousness which is more fun for me. Ya'll, not so much maybe. Andway, enjoy this shitpost/recap.

So the Harts are driving home with a whole ass real tree just sitting in the backseat of the Rolls. Can you imagine the sap.

Jennifer is really drunk and slurring her words. How much free grog did she drink.

Instead of going home, they go to a drive-in theater but it's not for the fun stuff, Jonathan needs to see a man about a horse...toy.

Jennifer is disappointed that they're not gonna neck. She doesn't say it but I know it.

Jonathan meets a guy who is a private investigator about toy designs that are being stolen from HARToy.

This horse isn't Randy Racehorse (WHICH IS JONATHAN'S NICKNAME CHANGE MY MIND) it's Pamela Palomino. But Kris knows it's a Breyer horse and they're all crazy.

This guy gets bit by a snake in a toy and his initial reaction is to literally say "DAMN TOYS" at the plastic snake. He dies.

I'm a fan of this outfit and of the fact that Jennifer perches on Jonathan's desk ala Phryne Fisher.

Someone is trying to drive the toy business into the ground by stealing toy designs.

VERNE AND EDNA

Edna, directly inspired by Dolly Parton

This guy's hair.

Robbie the Robot - that was an actual toy wasn't it? No, no. I'm thinking of Alphie.

There is a sound effect of the robot used in this episode and it's so annoying.

The guy with the Bozo hair says he's going to give the Harts everything they wanted for Christmas plus a little more. By that he means a modded Simon game filled with explosives. It's called Do Re Me but everyone knows it's Simon.

What the hell, Jonathan, and your christmas Ascot.

Jennifer gets bored of playing Generic Simon so she goes away, Freeway knocks the table and Generic Simon explodes with about as much firepower as a roman candle.

Like did he think that was going to kill them? what an idiot. Eric of the Bozo Hair is losing his mind.

Jonathan brings a microphone transmitter that Jennifer found in his pocket.

Stanley, the dummy, asks Jennifer what she was doing with her hand in his pocket. She's like "WELL."

"It's my karma. I vibrate in sympathy with the universe." Hard same, Max.

Jonathan loves seeing his name on things. I mean, I get it but.

Bozo Hair Man fusses with the Rolls, which is just an expensive choice. I hope he rigged it better than Generic Simon but also that car is worth more than his house so better not.

OH WAIT I REMEMBER WHAT HAPPENS. Yeah, the car is fine. It just....stops running.

So that they can be chased by a model airplane that shoots at them.

Duck Snoopy! It's the Red Baron!

This guy has the wimpiest bombs. It falls right next to the car and it barely goes "pop".

Jonathan defeats the toy plane with a garage clicker which is absolutely GREAT since they don't even have a garage.

They're gonna meet up with Stanley's friend Bob. They say the name "Bob" at least 10 times in a 1 minute conversation

That's because BOB is a LADY.

oh that noise isn't from the stupid robot toy. It's from their swipe badges. It's still stupid annoying.

Jonathan knew Bob was a woman. Jennifer did not. "Well it's Roberta, actually."

Max makes some appetizers but apparently they're gross. They're gonna order pizza instead.

Baby girl, Just sit in his lap. It'll save time.

These jerks color coordinate their outfits.

The "fantastic" Robot shuffles around a table top, talking a big game about all the amazing things he does and then he stops. Big whoop, Robbie.

Bozo Hair Man gets dead. Down the shredder chute.

The Harts are actual monsters that put their tree in the very middle of the living room. why.

They go undercover again, this time with even better outfits.

They actually drink wine on a stakeout. as if jennifer wasn't already drunk enough in this episode.

"Ugh, I left the gun in the toy display section." what an idiot.

Jennifer's skirt is so short, her little ass is hanging out. obvi Jonathan picked it.

the bad guy's partner has a gun and she tries to shoot Jonathan.

That works really well. (also cleavage! jonathan def picked her outfit)

Right before the big ending kiss, Robbie comes to life and shuffles around and says "I can thrill you. All you have to do is press the right button." Then they make out. $5 says Jonathan always finds the right button.

#hart to hart #jennifer hart #jonathan hart #stefanie powers #rj wagner #80's tv #watch with me #life ruiners the original recipe

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crowdvscritic · 5 months

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round up // APRIL 24

Big ensembles, the queens of pop, rocky romances, and love-it-or-hate-it pop culture artifacts—they’re all here.

We're on the eve of summer blockbuster season, but we’ve already seen several strong releases, including one below I wouldn’t be surprised if I’m still thinking about in December. Keep scrolling through this Round Up for the top comedies, classics, and action thrillers I experienced April in the order I experienced them...

April Crowd-Pleasers

1. Monkey Man (2024)

Part John Wick, part Rocky, and part something all its own, Dev Patel’s feature directorial debut is a brutal revenge thriller action fans will love. Watch my full review for KMOV. Crowd: 8.5/10 // Critic: 7/10

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2. SNL Round Up

Just last month I was low-key mourning an underwhelming season of Saturday Night Live, but then Kristen Wiig and Ryan Gosling came to revive my hopes with two of the best episodes in awhile. Start with “Beavis and Butt-Head” or just cue up both episodes and watch start-to-finish.

“Five-Timers Monologue” (4916 with Kristen Wiig)

“Jumanji” (4916)

“Weekend Update: Aunt Linda on the Latest Hit Movies” (4916)

“La Maison Du Bang!” (4916)

“Monologue” (4917 with Ryan Gosling)

“The Engagement” (4917)

“Weekend Update: Resident Boyfriend Michael Longfellow on Weaponized Incompetence” (4917)

“Weekend Update: Caitlin Clark on the WNBA Draft” (4917)

“Beavis and Butt-Head” (4917)

“Erin Brockovich” (4917)

“Doctor” (4917)

“Papyrus 2” (4917)

3. Upgraded (2024)

This update of Working Girl set in the art world is, to put it bluntly, just super cute. Camila Mendes has the star power to lead movies bigger than Prime originals (including the winning charisma needed for the best rom-coms), and we could use Marisa Tomei in more of everything. Crowd: 8/10 // Critic: 6.5/10

4. The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare (2024)

It’s not every day I get to mention The Guns of Navarone in a review. This movie is selling itself to you (and your dad) as an opportunity to watch Superman and Jack Reacher kill a bunch of Nazis, and with Guy Ritchie directing, this action-adventure is plenty fun. Read my full review at ZekeFilm. Crowd: 9/10 // Critic: 7.5/10

5. Brooklyn Nine-Nine (2013-21)

Thanks to Southwest Airlines, I've seen a smattering of the eight seasons of Brooklyn Nine-Nine, but with the first four seasons now on Netflix, April became the month to watch it all the way through. Like Mike Schur’s other sitcoms (The Good Place, The Office, Parks and Recreation), the joke rate is exceptionally high and the characters are lovable and idiosyncratic. If a sitcom filled with Halloween heists, umpteen references to Die Hard, and the silliest possible cases for police offers sounds like your jam, you won’t be disappointed, either.

MORE APRIL CROWD-PLEASERS: If you can roll with the half-developed plotting (and a few cruder-than-necessary moments) in the stylish Lisa Frankenstein (2024), this ‘80s-set homage to Heathers is a lot of fun. // When I tried to watch High Fidelity (2000) as a teenager, I quit about 30 minutes in because John Cusack’s man-child protagonist was so unlikeable. I’m glad I gave it another chance as an adult so I could realize that’s the point. // Jake Johnson’s feature directorial debut Self Reliance (2023) is successful as both a comedy and a thriller. // How to Marry Keanu Reeves in 90 Days by K.M. Jackson (2021) is a frothy BFFs-to-true-loves rom-com filled with celebrity cameos. // Smokey and the Bandit (1977) is way more fun than a movie about greedy lawbreakers should be.

April Critic Picks

1. The Lost Weekend (1945)

The Best Picture Project continues with Billy Wilder’s first bout of Oscar glory. Read my Crowd and Critic reviews (or just keep scrolling to the previous post if you’re on the home page.) Crowd: 7/10 // Critic: 9/10

2. Cowboy Carter by Beyoncé (2024)

The problem of writing about Beyoncé is it’s boring to just keep finding new ways to say, “She’s really good at this!” I could write about the sincerity the coming-of-age heartbreak in “16 CARRIAGES,” the epic nature of the bookends “AMERICAN REQUIEM” and “AMEN,” the innovation on “JOLENE” and “BLACKBIIRD,” and the absolute banger that is “YA YA.” (The only real surprise is I’ve found a second Post Malone song I like.) Because I’m a film critic and not a music critic (or much of a country fan), I recommend checking out the Los Angeles Times review for more context on how this fits into her canon and the history of country music.

3. The Heartbreak Kid (1972)

Why is this rom-com from Elaine May so hard to find? Because my local library is awesome, I’ve now finally seen Charles Grodin get married and then think he may have met the real love of his life (Cybill Shepherd) on his honeymoon. More than five decades later, May’s hilarious and cringey film still has plenty of insight into men’s and women’s relationships (and sunburns), and (minor spoiler alert) its ending is a perfect companion to The Graduate. Crowd: 8.5/10 // Critic: 9.5/10

4. Civil War (2024)

I saw someone on Letterboxd call this movie a Rorschach test, and boy, oh boy, that’s an undersell. Civil War is brilliant not because of the political statements it’s making if for no other reason than it makes very few of them. This photojournalist road trip is about the impossibility of complete objectivity, but more than that, it’s about the destructive nature of hostile disagreement. An alliance between California and Texas is writer/director Alex Garland deliberately telling us not to get hung up in our moment’s political issues—if we are so convinced of our own self-righteousness, we’ll lose everything we claim to be fighting for. The Jesse Plemons performance is my premature pick for Best Scene of 2024. Crowd: 8/10 // Critic: 9/10

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5. The Tortured Poets Department by Taylor Swift (2024)

The prophet has come down from the mountain. Somewhere in my third listen, The Tortured Poets Department snuck up on me. I thought this would be another evermore: worthy of mad respect, but too lugubrious to be a frequent relisten outside of “I Can Do It With a Broken Heart.” While that tragic bop is the current contender for the top spot in this year's Spotify 100, “The Tortured Poets Department,” “Clara Bow,” “Fortnight” (now only the third Post Malone song I’ve ever liked), and “My Boy Only Breaks His Favorite Toys” will also certainly be in my annual playlist—and that’s just Side A! On Side B, the Daedalian lyrics of “The Black Dog,” “imgonnagetyouback,” “So High School,” “I Hate It Here,” and “I Look in People’s Windows” elevate their sad stories into awe-inspiring strings of words. Whom she and her collaborators are writing about is beside the point; even at billionaire status, Swift’s heartbreak, regret, hope, and indignation are as relatable as ever, sp she can write about high school as long as she likes. Because I’m a film critic and not a music critic, I recommend checking out Variety’s review for more thoughtful (and perhaps more objective) prose about this collection of poetry.

MORE APRIL CRITIC PICKS: Unfaithfully Yours (1948) is an early entry in the Symphony Conductors Dealing With Marital Issues Cinematic Universe that paved the way for Tár and Maestro. // Frank Capra’s semi-forgotten early feature Platinum Blonde (1931) fits right in his legacy of class-conscious rom-coms. // The spectacle of Cleopatra (1963) still dazzles even now.

Also in April…

I checked out the new time travel romance on Hulu, The Greatest Hits, which definitely took inspiration from High Fidelity. Read my full review for Zekefilm.

Photo credits: Beyoncé. All others IMDb.com.

#Round Up #Monkey Man #The Lost Weekend #The Heartbreak Kid #Youtube #SNL #Saturday Night Live #The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare #Brooklyn Nine-Nine #The Tortured Poets Department #Taylor Swift #Cowboy Carter #Beyoncé #Upgraded #Civil War

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cyarsk52-20 · 1 year

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The Idol on HBO: Everything We Know About the Salacious Series

YouTube/HBO

From the creator of Euphoria comes another shocking drama.

The Idol was the most controversial show in town before it even got a premiere date, but maybe that's how the creators like it. After all, the steamy new HBO series is being billed as a toxic love story from the “sick and twisted minds” of The Weeknd (born Abel Tesfaye) and Sam Levinson, the latter being the nepo-baby son of Barry Levinson who created Euphoria and directed Malcolm & Marie.

So what's all the fuss about? Here's everything we know (and have heard) about the series:

What’s it about?

After her last tour is cut short by a nervous breakdown, the up-and-coming pop star Jocelyn (Lily-Rose Depp) falls under the influence of Tedros, a shadowy nightclub impresario (The Weeknd).

Who else is in the cast?

Oh, it's stacked. Dan Levy, Hari Nef, Hank Azaria, Troye Sivan, Jennie from Blackpink, Suzanna Son, Rachel Sennott, Jane Adams, Moses Sumney, Eli Roth, Mike Dean, Karl Glusman, and the late Anne Heche are all listed on the show's IMDb page, though apparently, some roles that were shot ended up being scrapped from the final version.

Why are people skeptical?

Levinson was already a, let's say, questionable figure in the HBO-verse, having run the Euphoriaset somewhat chaotically. He wrote every episode himself (to the chagrin of Barbie Ferreira) and is alleged to be kind of a control enthusiast, hovering somewhere between auteur and nightmare. So it came as a surprise, maybe, but not a shock when Rolling Stone published a bombshell article about The Idol being an expensive mess.

The key takeaways: Levinson halted production after 80% of the planned series had been shot, scrapped everything, fired the director Amy Seimetz and took over, ballooning the budget and throwing production into chaos. The Weeknd was busy with his music career but apparently wanted more of the spotlight, Levinson made last-minute changes to every script (this causes huge production delays and is super expensive in the industry), people were hired and fired quickly and without notice, and the sex scenes…are gonna be controversial. Multiple insiders who spoke to RScalled the original version of the story a “satire” of exploitation in Hollywood but fear that the finished product will just be plain exploitative. One telling detail is that while Levinson was busy with Euphoria for much of the early days of shooting, he did apparently show up to watch Lily-Rose Depp's first sex scene.

The Weeknd then responded to the article in a way that made people really scratch their heads. In the Rolling Stone article, sources claimed the show was overhauled because the singer felt it was too focused on the “female perspective.”

“It was like any rape fantasy that any toxic man would have in the show—and then the woman comes back for more because it makes her music better,” one production member told Rolling Stoneof the revised version.

So how did Tesfaye respond? On March 1, he tweeted, “@RollingStone, did we upset you?” alongside a scene from the show where his character calls Rolling Stone “irrelevant” and turns down a cover on Jocelyn's behalf.

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