I think a lot about Leo’s tendency to push his way into the spotlight despite clearly being a natural in the shadows. Hell, you could argue that his worst moments are when he’s forcing himself onstage, and his best are when he does things no one notices until it’s already been done.
"The key thing was of course, the fact that Rick has PTSD and that's very much what's driving a lot of his behavior and being in a place of that level of vulnerability, back with the love of his life in that way.
It's also the thing he fears, the loss of her. It manifests itself in a way that is visceral and leads to the lovemaking not just being about love, but the revealing of pain and trauma and fear. That informs Michonne, that she can't just blast him into making sense. There's something deeper going on here that he can't verbalize. She has to help him get through in a different way. So she gets to see him, as well, as he reveals what's really in there, the wound. That's going to happen most likely in that most vulnerable space." — Danai Gurira
"Yeah, I think it is about pain. As Danai just said, it's about him wanting her and then fearing what he's about to unlock again. He gets to sort of articulate it in the scene further in the episode, when he gets to say that, 'I can't do this again. I haven't got the capacity to do this again. I've worked out how to die and live again.' So it is an absolutely necessary scene that allows Michonne to realize that there's something really broken here, more broken than she's ever anticipated. [...]
So the scene was about a real intimacy, a sort of frightening intimacy. This is a part of his personality he has shut down. It's almost like he's trying to stop himself from feeling this love again. She sees that and she just says, 'Just trust. We're back. We're the same...' I find it very moving. I think it's a very, very moving scene, because it's about them connecting in a way that he's had to deny for seven years. He's denied that connection for the sake of living on in this half life for the CRM" — Andrew Lincoln
Andrew Lincoln and Danai Gurira Discuss Episode 4 of The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live
I think a really fun idea to explore with Tim would be the idea of him having Hyperthymesia.
Hyperthymesia is an ability that allows people to recall almost every event of their life in great detail. It's extremely rare and honestly doesn't have that much research done on it, but recent studies have suggested that people with this ability are limited to autobiographical memories, people with HSAM sometime tend to show symptoms of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and may demonstrate obsessive tendencies.
I think it would be an interesting way to explain why Tim was able to recall his first meeting with Dick Grayson and connect the dots to seeing Robin. Tim does display a lot of obsessive behaviours, and while he doesn't really physically display compulsion (like someone with OCD would typically display) there certainly is a strong case to be made for him potentially having it.
But also, can you imagine how fucking horrible it would be for Tim to remember each and every traumatic thing that ever happens to him as a hero and those memories just never fading. Yes, it would make him a better detective and allow him to be arguably smarter than your average joe, but at what cost?
Cas is right. Dean, with all of his free will intact, would NOT have murdered the Stynes kid.
Like Cas, with his free will intact, would never have murdered Samandriel.
Their assessments of one another are actually correct.
///
Both are on their way to becoming mindless super-soldiers who feel nothing.
And essentially, they tell each other, "you're gonna have to go through me" (to become that).
///
Some similarities in the fight scenes:
They both reach out a hand to the other's shoulder, saying the other's name:
///
Both twist the other's hand away:
///
They ask each other to: "Stop," both telling the other in so many words that "this isn't you."
Their styles differ, of course. Dean goads Cas defiantly: "Come on you coward, do it!" Cas tries to remain level-headed and controlled, only moving to block and restrain.
Essentially, their desires are the same, for the other to stop.
///
With everyone telling them who they should be, and trying to make them into things other than what their big hearts would actually want, they beg each other to stay as they are.
I don't want you to be what they want you to be.
Just be you. Just be.
///
///
And then, much like Cas in the crypt... flight. Cas leaves.
Dean leaves.
///
And here's what's on my mind... They were both GOOD at being soldiers. Unbelievably good.
Their talents were recognized early and exploited. They became chained to their respective battle aptitudes.
Both had to reckon with becoming addicted to war, to the feeling of adrenaline and black-and-white causes (see: Purgatory, hunting, etc.). Both often feel too much responsibility, punishing themselves and undertaking penance.
They struggled with thinking it's all they were good for, battle or WORK.
Or worse. For Dean, it was often being one of the "crazy ones," only "good for a fling." For Cas, it was often "being expendable."
They're looked down upon by the likes of Metatron: Cas is like a "dumb puppy," a "stupid, lumbering jock." Even Crowley talks to Dean this way on occasion: "It's math (idiot)."
It's also like when Death calls Cas a "stupid soldier." Or when the British Men of Letters call the ones on the ground doing the fighting and getting their hands dirty "dogs." Or when Henry calls hunters "apes."
Despite their supposed "legacy lineage," Sam and Dean inherited the Campbell class. The soldier class.
Interesting to me that Jack inherits this, too. Despite his aptitude for nearly everything he touches (computers, research, even blossoming machete skills when he kills Noah the Gorgon), Jack too will inherit this Campbell-coded "stupidity."
That's what Chuck charges him with in Unity: "TOO STUPID."
I imagine Vasco and Ludovica have a big painting (portrait but with two people) in Vasco's house (probably his father insisted of getting one of these, people used to do it in the old days, especially wealthy ones). While it's very serious and formal, in the way all these portraits were, it is also very intimate (at least it's implications). I imagine Machete just staring at it sometimes, feeling small while looking at the big painting. And sad, maybe jealous but I don't think he'd resent Ludovica. He, most of all, understands.
Nature Smarts Workbook, for ages 10-12 is out today! From Mass Audubon and Storey Publishing. Fun, educational and full of my illustrations. Nature Smarts Books available through Amazon and other book sellers.
Say what you will about Hakuba Saguru but the fact that he accepts that somehow an elementary school boy is smarter than him with such grace has won my respect.
I also just love how he doesn't question it and just treats Conan like his equal. Its great. Love him for that
The relationship with you and Joe. Give us a little inside look.
We know each other off the field too, we go hang out at each others' houses. I try to get him outside with me sometimes...he does a little bit, but that's not really his comfort zone, I be trying to get him out his comfort zone, just open up a little bit.
I like it - Joe, don't be such a quarterback nerd all the time!
I mean, nah, you can be a quarterback nerd, cuz you smart, you super smart brother, I love it.