#my bi-generation thoughts

[my-coven-is-claudia]

after sleeping on the latest anniversary special i think i’m at peace with the whole bi-generation thing because it does something i don’t think it would’ve been able to do if it was executed in any other way. it allows the show to move the fuck on.

nuwho began with this mysterious sense that something bad happened. that this man, this alien, is filled with guilt and pain from something terrible. that theme of a horrible anguish being thinly veiled under a witty, dorky shield has been consistent throughout every incarnation of the doctor since. it’s a brilliant piece of characterisation but the doctor always being weighed down by this insurmountable grief i think was always going to hold the show back eventually. tragedy is inherent to doctor who but when does it become hard to believe that the main character is somehow able to continue on after everything they’ve gone through. what effect would this have on the audience, especially long-term fans? letting go of past companions and doctors is something that doctor who fans are notoriously bad at and i just wonder if it would become too much for the show to handle at some point. but now it won’t anymore.

bi-generation allows the doctor to heal from everything they’ve gone through whilst still being able to barrel into the next adventure. there’s a million theories on where 14 will end up but i think what matters the most is that the doctor is finally happy. not in a temporary, tenuous state of thrill that will only last until the start of the next episode, but truly happy. unlike in previous versions of this story where the doctor gets an impossible happy ending which we never get to see onscreen (e.g. tentoo settling down with rose) we are actually going to witness 15 be joyful and alive, no longer held down by what’s come before. a fresh start almost. not to say that the time war or the flux were so horrific that the doctor never could’ve gotten over them but i don’t think the doctor healing would’ve been believable without him literally splitting in two, allowing him time to breathe and slow down as 14 whilst untethering him from the past and allowing him to fully spread his wings as 15. it’s not a perfect conclusion to this era (and discussions on whether bi-generation undermined ncuti’s entrance and role as THE doctor are completely valid) but i’m ultimately glad it happened

[mark-the-snark]

This sat in my notebook for like a month, dont judge me idk what demon possesed me.

[ssimay]

SPENCER REID WAS SUPPOSED TO BE BISEXUAL!?!! AND THEY GAVE UP ON THE BEST IDEA EVER!?!!! IM GONNA LOSE MY FUCKING MINDDDDD

[beastsovrevelation]

The Hell now, I'm drooling over the Good Omens version of Archangel Michael, too?..

The tag's about Lady Crowley, not myself, but still...

I mean..

She does seem like she'd take and rail you.

[ntaras]

Bi-Han Analysis

Though the primary focus of this analysis is Bi-Han, I also do analyze Kuai Liang a bit. This analysis is also mostly for me to put my general thoughts together, so the formatting is a bit hard to read and messy. 

This analysis is not written with the datamined dlc story in mind, so for the love of god do not bring that up if you want to respond to this post. I also hate the way the brothers and the Sub-Zero vs. Scorpion rivalry was presented, but I’m writing this analysis with an attempt at avoiding placing criticism in the center (because I do have a lot of criticism that does conflict with this analysis.) 

Also, this is not meant to prove Bi-Han as “not evil”, because no, he isn’t, but he’s still an antagonist who’s making very bad choices. Also I talk about my own speculation regarding Bi-Han’s relationship with his father, and I want to make clear that I’m not trying to paint their father in a bad light because he is not canonically presented as abusive or evil. It comes off like that, but that’s not my intention. I’m too lazy to rewrite that portion of the analysis so this is just a heads up. 

Bi-Han is a walking self-sabotaging tragedy, and with Kuai Liang as Scorpion, they were doomed from the start for their relationship to shatter. You have the eldest brother: Sub-Zero, who feels forced into submission and forced to conceal his “true worth”. You have the younger brother: Scorpion, who watches his older brother be consumed by his desperation to be something, and stands unsure of how to help him. 

Bi-Han’s desire for power is the highlight of his character. His and the Lin Kuei’s role as Earthrealm’s defenders isn’t something that satisfies him- it isn’t something that shows his worth. He thinks he’s worth more than simply hiding in the shadows, waiting, and waiting for threats to emerge. Defending Earthrealm brings him no value, but perhaps taking part in ruling it would give him value (Sub-Zero: “You wield the power I aspire to be” Sindel: “Too bad you’re unfit for it, Sub-Zero.”) He wants to bring the Lin Kuei to the light, show that his clan is deserving of power. (From his bio: “Under his leadership, the Lin Kuei will come out of the shadows and fight for its place as one of Earthrealm’s great nations.”) 

I’m really emphasizing the word “shadow”. It’s an obvious reference to Noob Saibot, and it seems like the story is going for the route that Bi-Han is already someone in the dark, yet he doesn’t view himself to be in the dark. (Scorpion: “A shadow’s fallen on your soul.” Sub-Zero: “No, brother. I’ve seen the light.”) As the darkness envelops Bi-Han, he can only see that darkness as the light. 

Bi-Han refuses to see himself in the wrong, and even says his ambition is confused for evil. (Ashrah: “There are many in the Netherrealm just like you.” Sub-Zero: “You conflate ambition with evil, Ashrah.”) That dialogue also implies that Bi-Han does not believe he will end up in the Netherrealm for his actions, because he doesn’t view himself or his actions as “evil”. Everything he’s done has been for the better- has been for the good of the Lin Kuei. 

I wondered why Bi-Han was so loyal to the Lin Kuei in this timeline, as in previous timelines Bi-Han’s loyalty to his clan was because he was kidnapped by that clan, and conditioned to be their warrior (but still agreed to help Raiden and save Earthrealm.) So why is Bi-Han so loyal to the Lin Kuei in this timeline? 

This is more speculation than an analysis I can support with hard evidence, but if you’re asking what I personally think, I’d like the case to be that there was something deeper going on. That somehow, his father put so much pressure on Bi-Han (not intentional pressure) as the future Grandmaster and a protector of Earthrealm, Bi-Han ending up warping that role as “protector of Earthrealm” into his own desire for the Lin Kuei to show all their true ability is to not defend Earthrealm- but govern Earthrealm. Why must their efforts go unrecognized if their role is so important? Also this plays into his role as the first born son, the eldest child who ends up being the one responsible for their younger siblings. As the eldest, he knows what is best for his siblings. As Grandmaster, he knows what is best for the Lin Kuei. 

All the dialogue regarding their father paints him in a good light- even dialogue from Bi-Han. Bi-Han never once accuses his father as being abusive in some manner, but only as weak and lacking vision. So, there is no denying that he was a good man, but he’s still a man of mistakes, such as being the man indirectly responsible for the murder of Tomas’s family. The fact that that murder happened in the first place does raise a lot of questions about the inner workings of the Lin Kuei and how their father led the Lin Kuei.  

It does feel like their father’s death is still not fully revealed. His death is only referred to as an “accident” and not delved into further besides Bi-Han allowing him to die. (Scorpion: “I want to see the moment my father died.” Geras: “You are not ready to receive that knowledge.”) That could mean that there is more to his death, Kuai Liang isn’t ready to see that moment because he’d get all raged up, or it could mean nothing because that’s how a lot of dialogue is. 

The way their father led the Lin Kuei- and how the Lin Kuei has always been in this new era, was by teaching them to be submissive (to follow rather than lead.) And in Bi-Han’s eyes: weak. 

The fact that Bi-Han didn’t kill his father, but instead let him die, is fascinating. We can also compare that act, to how Bi-Han is submissive to Liu Kang until he’s away from Liu Kang and listens to Shang Tsung. ALSO, it’s interesting how Bi-Han doesn’t listen to Shang Tsung’s offer until he is in chains. Even if he let his father die, Bi-Han still was loyal to Liu Kang nor did he change the Lin Kuei in any way (we also do not know how recently their father died, so he may have not even had the time yet to drastically change the Lin Kuei on his own, but I think that’s besides the point). He aches for the right moment to “step up”- to separate himself from what he believes binds him. 

We see Liu Kang keep Bi-Han from being “too antagonistic”. After Liu Kang calls Bi-Han and Kuai Liang over in chapter 1, we see Bi-Han get hostile towards Kung Lao and try to advance towards him, but is stopped by Liu Kang. He glances at Liu Kang, wanting to bark back, but keeps quiet. In chapter 2, Liu Kang looks at Bi-Han when he yells “enough!” and Bi-Han quickly bows in apology. 

He keeps that loyalty to Liu Kang, until he is physically in chains, until he is physically shackled. He does not want to be prisoner to that loyalty of submission anymore. 

His submission to his father’s ruling of the Lin Kuei and Liu Kang’s Godhood is something he doesn’t want, because he feels like he is worth more than submission. He doesn’t want to be treated “so lowly".” He wants recognition for his skills- he’s eager to show himself off and prove that yes, he is a warrior.

If Liu Kang had chosen Bi-Han to be champion, then mayhaps this desire for power and self-sabotage Bi-Han participates in would have been avoided. However, it’s understandable why Liu Kang didn’t choose Bi-Han to be champion despite clearly having the talent to be one: Bi-Han always dies at a tournament. He didn’t want to risk Bi-Han’s death, and then the resurrection of Noob Saibot (or a falling out between Kuai Liang- Scorpion- and Bi-Han that resulted in Kuai Liang killing Bi-Han). But, it seems Bi-Han set himself down that dark path anyways. 

Now, onto Kuai Liang and a brief look into the relationship between the three brothers. 

The story fails at showing us that the three brothers do care about each other, but it’s just barely there. 

In Kuai Liang’s bio, it states two things: “...though he took pride in knowing that his brother, Sub-Zero, would succeed their father as the Lin Kuei's Grandmaster.” and “...he fears that may one day have to battle his brother for control of the Lin Kuei’s legacy.” He views Bi-Han as Grandmaster with pride, and is scared of having to fight him- scared of choosing duty over his brother. 

Kuai Liang verbally tells Bi-Han multiple times to “watch himself”- reminding Bi-Han of his duty (honoring their father) and questioning Bi-Han’s roughness with Johnny Cage. You do see Kuai Liang keeping an eye out on Bi-Han (as he states later in the game, he was aware of Bi-Han’s frustrations). Kuai Liang doesn’t even mind Bi-Han’s ambitions, as evident in the scene where they enter the treasure chamber. “There will be spoils in this war,” says Bi-Han as Kuai Liang does not chastise him for wanting those “spoils”, but responds with “let us win it first, brother.” 

If I’m being honest, I don’t even think Bi-Han was referring to the actual treasure as “spoils”, but rather the glory that treasure holds. Bi-Han doesn’t really have a desire for treasure, especially a bunch of coins, so I couldn’t really view him as having an actual desire for some coins and gems. And I think Kuai Liang’s response was him answering Bi-Han’s hidden desires- that Bi-Han can achieve his desire to “shine” after they finish their job. For Bi-Han to achieve his ambitions, he must earn it first. 

Up until the reveal of Bi-Han letting their father die, Kuai Liang is incredibly patient with Bi-Han. 

Regarding Tomas and Bi-Han’s relationship: Bi-Han doesn’t hate Tomas! Their relationship is complex with Tomas being the youngest brother and being adopted into the family, but it’s not wrong to say Bi-Han does care about him (as clearly evident by the “You are both unharmed?” comment).

I really do think Bi-Han being the eldest sibling is important to his character. It’s a role that brings him frustration as he cannot get his younger siblings to listen to him (them “abandoning” him and the LIn Kuei), and loses control over them. His anger is harsh towards Tomas, as is “what he gets” for being the younger brother, yet Tomas still cares for Bi-Han despite Bi-Han stating Tomas is not Lin Kuei. 

Bi-Han, in all his cruelness and frustration, cares about his brothers. And they care about Bi-Han. It’s evident in the fact that the brothers are so adamant on being the ones to kill/capture the other, not allowing anyone else “the privilege”. They are deeply hurt by the others' betrayal, and any hatred that comes from them is out of a broken heart. 

Kuai Liang did try to kill Bi-Han. After Bi-Han reveals that he allowed their father to die, Kuai Liang loses it, and knocks Bi-Han down, and you see him raise his chains ready to kill Bi-Han. Kuai Liang would have regretted it. He was in a moment of seering, blind rage, allowing his emotions to fully take over him. You know he would have regretted it, because in their confrontation outside the temple, Kuai Liang doesn’t kill Bi-Han. And if I’m being honest, I don’t even think that Kuai Liang knew he almost killed Bi-Han. 

“You are my Grandmaster no longer.” Not, “you are my brother no longer.” Kuai Liang disowns Bi-Han as his leader, but not as his brother. Even if Bi-Han shed his own brother’s blood, Kuai Liang cannot truly renounce his own blood. It’s their bond and their curse as brothers- as Sub-Zero and Scorpion: they are forever connected by rivalry and siblinghood. 

Their love is deep, but their hatred is even deeper. But is it not the same when it comes to siblings? Is that cruelty not the same as a loving embrace?

[timetravelstudies]

ok ill just say this i was one of the “girls” salò shit was being done to in ms like straight up movie style psychological torture type bullying and tbf i dont tend to use the phrase “female camraderie” in general or esp about myself since im a man now. but if you asked me if I’ve experienced it i would say yes for instance in the countless intimate hushed conversation in bedrooms ive had with cis, straight women (same type of girl that was torturing me in ms) bonding over shared madness inducing experiences such as being in extremely abusive relationships with men. So i wouldnt jump the gun on that one. But whatever

[dribs-and-drabbles]

What is the thing from your past (behaviour, thought, etc), after having had your sexuality Oh moment, that you look back on and go 'oh yeah, I should have known' 🤦🏽‍♀️?

[my-coven-is-claudia]

another thing i love about the bi-generation thing is just how fucking buck wild sci-fi it is. how 14 and 15 both exist at once but are at two entirely different points in the doctor’s development. 14 is at the very beginning of the doctor’s journey towards self-love whilst 15 is at the other end of that journey, joyful and full of life. he’s so obviously not chained down by his past and so much more mature it’s almost startling. i know we were all caught off guard by 14’s emotional vulnerability but 15 is just name dropping companions left and right completely unprompted, something the doctor NEVER does. also the way that they interact with each is just a walking visualisation of self love. it’s hard to get my head around but just so beautiful. and when they look at one another they’re both staring into a mirror, a manifestation of the different diverging paths for the doctor (that might unite again if you believe 14 will eventually regenerate into 15). the way they’re both fundamentally the doctor but totally different all the same. how 14 closes out the doctor’s story and 15 starts it anew

[undermine-the-instinct]

Oh, so Leander's a fucking WHORE

[radioregine]

my agenda: liking men in a bi way

[cetoddle]

every woman on earth is the most beautiful show stopping incredible gorgeous person alive and 90% of men make me go ewwwwww…what is that..

[cienie-isengardu]

I could definitely new timeline Bi-Han being jealous honestly. Not to mention I imagine New Era(NE for short) Bi-Han was kind of... aggressive as a toddler given his current personality. Hell, when Bi-Han was sent to test Raiden and Kung Lao, he shows way more aggression than Smoke and Kuai do so I imagine this sort of thing was always there.

He's not evil(he's a literal toddler) but I imagine he wasn't fond of Kuai at first sight and he doesn't get what is special about him or why he's 'hogging' mom's attention.

Which is why he doesn't see any problem with poking a newborn Kuai in the eye and not understanding why he can't roughhouse him as play. Kids tend to not understand how delicate babies are so I could easily see him doing something like this.

I respect your opinion but it seems we will need to agree to disagree about that one.

Bi-Han as an adult being frustrated and aggressive does not automatically mean he was that kind of child to begin with. And honestly, I wish the fandom's tendency to reduce character to only one(1) trait displayed at certain and a very specific moment of their life (story event) will die with Extreme Prejudice. A sweetest child can turn into a bitter adult, the same as the problematic kid can become the most kind, responsible person and it is as much about their nature as much about the upbringing and circumstances that shaped them. Because even the most pure person can be radicalized into a hateful being if said person fell into the wrong crowd or was raised in such a toxic environment. 

Bi-Han being angry now is closely tied to long-term frustration, both shown by story mode and specifically mentioned by Kuai Liang and so far, the only mention of his childhood behavior is him being cold to Tomas, which again is not the same as open aggression and bullying tendencies. So no, I don’t think just because Sub-Zero is now bitter and prone to violence, he was an angry toddler back then.

What is even more, we don’t have any clue how older Bi-Han is than Kuai Liang - if the difference is about two years old, I think he wouldn’t be old enough to hate baby on the first sight or roughhouse him in play, as I doubt their parents would left any of them without a proper supervision, whatever their own or nanny’s. If he is older than let’s say 5-6 years, he may as well already started his Lin Kuei training and not have time to play with baby nor reason to think the baby takes all the love and attention from him, as I imagine Grandmaster would have a special spot for his first-born son, if not the boy himself then his  education but also, the man was leader of the whole clan, and duties could keep him busy and away from both children. So kinda hard to hate a baby on sight, if the baby himself doesn’t get any special attention and its arrival doesn’t change much in regard to your own life. The attention of mother may be a different thing, but then again, the woman was a fighter, so why assume she was there to babysitting both boys all the time and not have a nanny to take care of Bi-Han and Kuai Liang, so she could fulfill her own share of duties, as a great warrior and Grandmaster’s wife? 

And you know what I also dislike about the whole jealous kid Bi-Han or general angry kid Bi-Han takes? The erasing of his parents’ contribution to the situation. Why are people so set on demonizing kid Bi-Han, even if just as “kids know no better and have a hard time to understand their feeling” way, but won’t include his father and mother into the picture? When I hear things like  Bi-Han poking a newborn Kuai in the eye or roughhouse him as play, I don’t wonder if the boy was jealous or cruel or purpose, only why a parents would left a baby and a few years older kid alone, without a proper supervisions or why they didn’t set a rules for little Bi-Han to know how to act and treat a new born brother and so on. And if he was jealous or unhappy, why didn't they help him process the negative feelings. Like, why do people exclude father and mother from such scenarios, as it is them who should be there for both sons and ensure their safety alike yet it is always somehow just Bi-Han was a bad, angry or difficult child?

I’m here for “innocent until proven otherwise” in regard to Bi-Han as a child but also, if only to spite the fandom, I will say this: for all we know kid Bi-Han could be truly happy to have a younger brother and helped his mother taking care of the baby as much as a few years kid could. And the bitterness and anger came when he was much older and had a better understanding of Lin Kuei's servitude to Earthrealm and Fire Lord. Here, you all will need to pry it from my cold, dead hands as I won’t change my mind unless the lore provides me irrefutable evidence.

As you see, I’m done with the jealous, abusive, bad kid Bi-Han. If someone wants to see him like that? Go ahead and have fun! But on this one aspect I can only agree to disagree.

[aroaessidhe]

2024 reads / storygraph

My Throat An Open Grave

YA paranormal/folk horror

about a girl who lives in a small religious town who fear a child-stealing lord of the forest

when her baby brother is taken on her watch, she’s forced to cross the river to the woods and get him back

but when she arrives she finds that the lord is not what she expected - and she can get her brother back in exchange for composing a song. but as weeks go by, hidden secrets and memories are uncovered

[my-coven-is-claudia]

because i’m a timepetals girlie first and foremost i guess i have to talk about how some believe that 14’s ending is very much reminiscent of rose’s ending with tentoo’s. and that some aren’t a huge fan of that.

from my perspective 14’s ending is a continuation of journey’s end. tentoo’s ending is all about concluding the doctor’s arc about longing to be human and his desire to settle down with rose: the one adventure he can never have. through tentoo the doctor gets to have that. but 14’s ending doesn’t have that same theme. yes donna says the famous line about the one adventure the doctor has never had but in reality it’s got a lot more to do with trauma and the doctor finally choosing to stop running. this is why i don’t entirely agree with the criticism that 14’s ending is just tentoo’s repackaged because they’re about two entirely different themes. yes they both centre around the doctor getting this impossible happy ending but one’s about the doctor’s desire to be human and the other is about the doctor’s trauma. they’re just not the same and i believe it’s better to view it as an over-arching story with tentoo just being a single example of the doctor not allowing himself happiness, alongside the numerous other sacrifices the doctor has made for the sake of others, and 14 finally giving himself that, concluding the doctor’s overall arc.

the doctor infamously hates endings so him choosing this definitive ending for himself really exemplifies how far he’s come. going back to rose’s ending, although i believe her’s is ultimately a happy one, there is definitely an underlying sense that she’s being pushed to make a choice. ten is very obviously compelling her to choose tentoo despite the fact she hasn’t been given any proper time to think this through. i’ve always read this scene as the doctor desperately trying to give rose this perfect happy ending so that he won’t kill himself immediately afterwards. as long as she gets this unambiguous, definitive fairytale ending with a doctor who can give her the love she deserves then he’ll be fine. then he’ll be alright. in the end, ten sacrifices his own happiness so that rose can have her’s.

14 on the other hand is choosing himself. although he’s choosing an ambiguous fate by settling down with the noble family it’s ultimately a happy one. i think it’s intentional that we don’t know where he’ll end up after this. who he’ll regenerate into next - if he can even still regenerate. this is character development!! instead of pushing donna away like he did rose and trying to chug along like everything’s fine the doctor decides to step into the unknown. he isn’t the same anymore and he might outlive the nobles but what matters the most is that right now he’s the happiest he’s ever been. he allows himself to get to have that impossible happy ending. he’s choosing to stop running - something that the show has been building up to for 18 years: for the doctor to let go of his burden. he’s seen so many chances for him to permanently settle down fly right past him (11 protecting trenzalore, 12 living on derilium for 24 years with river and obviously rose choosing tentoo) but now he’s deciding to stay.

furthermore, to argue that this conclusion isn’t built up enough and just comes out of the blue i just plain disagree with. in the very first special donna questions the doctor on why it’s always “one last trip” and tells him that they could do normal things like go for coffee and hang out like mates. there’s a million reasons why the doctor ‘can’t settle down’ but to donna settling down is as simple as pie. this shows the extent of her love for him and how at the end of the day she just wants him to be alright. she has such a deep connection with him that she knows that the doctor continuing to run isn’t good for him. secondly, in wild blue yonder there’s a lot of focus put on the doctor’s deteriorating mental state and his desperate wish to be understood by donna but also how deathly afraid he is of opening up. copy-donna points out how they haven’t had a chance to talk and that “It’s always like that with you. Running from one thing to the next” yet again reminding the audience of how the doctor hasn’t stopped running. on top of this we see how the flux and the revelation about him being the timeless child have completely uprooted his sense of purpose and identity. he blames himself for the destruction of half of the universe and it’s clearly ripping him apart far more than anything else has before. he can’t go on like this anymore. finally, in the giggle the doctor admits that he doesn’t believe in himself anymore, how he’s all “sonic, and TARDIS and Timelord” but once you strip that all back, get rid of the toys, there’s nothing left. he literally says “What am I?”

throughout these specials we see the doctor in a state we rarely see, especially for such a prolonged amount of time: he’s directionless. the doctor never really knows where he’s going next but at least he’s excited, at least he feels some kind of thrill. i don’t get that vibe from 14. he doesn’t know who he is anymore, and he needs to figure out who he is. regenerating again wouldn’t fix that.

all that’s keeping him going pretty much is donna. getting to settle down i think is the only satisfactory conclusion for 14 and him dying - even though he was ready to do so - would’ve just been too depressing and might’ve sent out the wrong message. bi-generation recontextualises regeneration as being about birth instead of death. you don’t have to keep running, you don’t have to keep moving on and pushing everything down. you can finally feel what you’ve been ignoring. all that pain, all that anguish, all that love. you can rest now. you can go home. and that doesn’t mean you have to die. doctor who isn’t about tragedy anymore and that isn’t a bad thing. although this version of the doctor getting the impossible happy ending isn’t as bittersweet as tentoo’s ending, it doesn’t make it any less thematically significant. 14 was prepared for his time to be over, more so than most other doctors. but just this once, everybody lives, just this once, he lives

[violet-moonstone]

listening to a podcast and the hosts are talking about why a lot of queer people tend to subvert religious imagery and language in a sexual way and one of the hosts was like "its the repression. it makes you nut harder"

[pollyna]

I have one (1) type of het ship that always has: a kid from a previous marriage, a divorce, the death of the spouse and/or of the children, emotionally constipated adults trying to go on with their lives and meeting at their lower point to get to be best friends and for then to fall in love with each other years later when they finally are in a good place even when they still are partially emotionally constipated. Oh, and they hug each other a lot.