#not spoilers for the new ep as such but it's more-or-less spoilers for show-watchers who haven't read the comics so just in case

[nobodysuspectsthebutterfly]

When I first met him... he was the most gallant of lovers. He knew so many things. He delighted in sharing his knowledge. He had a castle full of treasures, and he took such pleasure in showing them, giving them to me. He was so gentle, and his skin felt like white silk against my skin. And I gave what I could give to one such as he. When we made love, it was like a flame: I felt utterly engulfed, utterly loved. Treasured. I have been with many poets, many dreamers... but his love alone was ice and fire. His eyes were stars.

Calliope, in The Sandman #71, by Neil Gaiman

[comrade-bucket]

good omens s2e2 thoughts

I want to scream about every episode of good omens as I watch it slowly, I wish I had a community around it but I don’t wanna poke around tumblr or anywhere for fear of spoilers and I like to savor shit (“you go too fast for me binge watchers!!”).

So hear ol void buddy take my screaming!!

Idk if I’ve ever made so many noises at a screen! I have a lot invested into this world to the point where everything is imbued with Benefit Of The Doubt Goodness, like it’s my child. I guess that’s what being a fan is like but also being a fan can mean being extremely disappointed so there’s that

I’m not disappointed I’m screaming! Okay episode 2. I love the buddy holly song and the gasp I made when Gabriel sings it. I loooove the little gay dorky conductor motion Aziraphale makes before singing it to people, I am obsessed with it, I’m chewing the walls.

Job!!!! I just read a fanfic that partially takes place during the book of Job, I haven’t dived HARD into the world of GO fanfic but I’ve read enough that take place in biblical times that make me go “huh wow the bible is this real thing full of very old and pervasive myths, oooo there were real people wandering the desert back in the day,” sense-of-awe type vibes. And then the show is doing that!!!!

I love a show that wrestles with this very big question that feels like it is playing out for me on some ancestral level, as a person (like many of us) descended from people who believed in God: “HOW THE FUCK COULD YOU EXIST AND BE SO CRUEL, HOW COULD I BELIEVE, FUCK YOU GOD FUCK YOU!!” lol maybe that’s not entirely a question. Hard not to giggle at it a little but it’s also like a pretty big thing to wrestle with?? (I’ll die on this hill but see: thor love and thunder - dumb little box office stories that actually are wrestling with that if you choose to go there)

Bible fanfic!!! It makes something in me itch in a good, I think, way

What else. Brain all over. There’s Jim ordering the books by the first letter of the first word, which is like the damn Spotify playlists that spelled out those words. GOD DAMMIT!!! Brain tickles!!! What does it meeaaaannn?? Should I start looking for acrostics everywhere, like in that weird headline about the ducks held by that rando in the pub who is going to be important prob?? What does it mean when you open your life to the unhingedness and magic of little synchronicities like that, of things vibrating with hidden meaning???

The angels not recognizing Gabriel is sooo good - me expecting a more typical “ha ha he tries to hide Gabriel, shenanigans ensue” - nope, he just answers the door, the angels don’t know him, Aziraphale (like us) is like “….okay what the fuck???” [unless it’s the miracle that’s hiding him, that’s possible]

There is something with identity and who are you if your appearance changes but you stay the same (the goats, Job’s children); who are you if your appearance stays the same but you are fundamentally different inside and/or nobody recognizes you and/or you have to pretend to be someone else (Gabriel/Jim, Job’s kids when they come back) (and then there’s Maggie and Nina actually being entirely new characters with the same face!) (and! on the opposite side, Beelzebub having a new face and the story is like “eh, new face, same guy”) - what is identity, what is a self??

And then identity is a theme for Aziraphale too right!! At the end of ep. 2 he’s like “what am I???”, it’s a whole existential crisis, (you feel for him so hard, because these actors are so fucking good??). He’s like I can’t possibly be an angel because I did these non-angelic, demonic things… and Crowley is like “🤷 you can still be an angel, more or less”…….. if you appear to be an angel then nobody has to know…… and what, really, is the difference

(“if it walks like a duck and it quacks like a duck”... and Crowley’s thing with ducks!)

Holy shit and that flows into undertones of things being a metaphor for being closeted?? Would love to untangle it more but that scene where Aziraphale eats the meat - 1) was SOOOOO fanficky (in the best way!!), I mean I’m puking, (Book of Job fanfic! Just an intimate encounter in the space between scenes); 2) was very easily some kind of stand in for, you know, temptations of the flesh, gay sex type thing. (I mean… did he have to eat the meat like that… did Crowley have to watch him like that... I mean… come on. Amazing.) (incidentally I think Michael sheen is playing Aziraphale even gayer this season mannerisms-wise and I just love it a lot!!) - so anyway, Aziraphale and Crowley’s whole thing being “we love each other, we know we love each other, but NO ONE CAN KNOW how much we love each other”… even to the point of hiding it from ourselves, lying to ourselves (cough Aziraphale)… that theme just feels so present!

Being closeted… you have this experience that is so pleasurable and full of love and can’t possibly be wrong (eating meat, befriending a demon)... and yet the highest powers are telling you it’s wrong, god says it’s wrong, that’s your entire identity, so who are you?? You just have to pretend… oh man it’s so sad pals!!!

I’m obsessed with this identity thing. I wonder if it’ll be important to the plot. Back to episode 1, Az & Jim: “I know someone who looks like you” “that’s probably me then! I think that’s one of the ways you can tell” - ha ha funny joke cute line, except wait, it is thematically resonating throughout everything, oops!!

ALSO getting caught in the rain and taking refuge under an awning and falling in love = it raining outside the garden of eden and Crowley shelters under Aziraphale’s wing…. GOD FUCKING DAMN IT

Okay those are some of my long chaotic thoughts, thanks for listening void!!!

[macgyvertape]

Netflix Witcher s2 thoughts

obvious show spoilers but warning for some book spoilers too

It's weird as a Witcher fan who played the first game, then read all the books waiting for game 2 to release, how there’s now a huge fandom. The fandom really grew after game 3 but this is a whole new level

Was thinking watching this, somewhat surprising to me that I’m not interested in most show fanworks despite there now being so many works in the fandom. Often it’s so different from the characterizations I’m used to, and sometimes those works are “popular fandom characterization you disagree with”

Overall I didn’t like s2; just like WoT, I think a person’s relationship with the original books will heavily effect their opinion vs a show only watcher.

The bruxae was done well, i can’t wait to see how they do Regis, like beautiful mix of makeup, camera work, and CGI

I really like how they adapted the short story to ep 1 and kept the themes and the emotional gut punches, while changing it to work for the show. I think one of the best changes was Geralt walking away after learning of the rape, and the obvious condemnation by the show for his actions at the temple and allowing a Bruxae to prey on the villages

Vesemir looks like a Vesemir, good casting there. Also wow a lot more witchers here than in the book. I think the adaptation of having a bunch more witchers than the book’s 3 wolf school ones plus Coen, gives it such a different tone especially with the Eskel and the prostitutes plotline in the supposed to be hidden Kaer Morhen.

THEY KILLED ESKEL?!?!? (didn’t like it) This was the point where I started looking to see what other book readers were thinking

Best opinion i’ve seeing is: wish the show was in a place where they could use dialogue to build tension and not have to have Geralt fight a tree monster since its been 30 minutes since the last fight

The costuming on the show is always wild, like Yennifer having the most modern dress compared to the long sleeve ones in the pool reunion scene. Words I’m looking for are THEMATICALLY INCONSISTENT. Seriously the way that Yennifer gets more modern looking gowns, then look at someone like Dijkstra, the visual style is just so confusing 

I think its funny how they completely changed the Nilfgard armor from s1 ballsack to something that looks good, and just don’t even mention it in the show

 Like how they're handling Triss’s scar and body consciousness, I really liked her this whole season

I don’t know why they added in this yennifer losing her magic plotline other than the books didn’t have her doing much during this time, since she was blinded. I didn’t think it was a good plotline, wish they hadn’t done it, and it was thinking this in ep4

Damn they finally gave Dandelion a hat and tried to age him up, with all the other changes I get why they changed his plot and reunion with Yennifer, glad she still got to have rescue him at some point

Damn Dijkstra’s ripped and I think its hilarious that its portrayed he’s ranting at a random owl and not Philippa Eilhart (i hope for show only fans it is a fun reveal at the end)

Glad they kept Triss calling out the Witcher’s speech about Ciri’s health from BoE

Geralt and Istredd interacting in completely different circumstances, but enjoyable none the less

There was a post about how s1 show is going to make Cahir’s later redemption be harder and s2 is doubling down on that

HOLY SHIT, the Fringilla freezing people then murdering them was absolutely brutal. It started with the eye trauma like W3 Hearts of Stone then just got so much more intense. JFC

Yennifer going to sacrifice Ciri, don’t like this plot change

just realized Shani never showed up :(

This whole show only Monolith plot with the demon in the woods, it really felt like filler since they spent so much time on that instead of book content. I think the Deathless Mother plot was way worse than the book plot, a magical big bad was written rather than have a lot of character interaction and politicking 

Had to rewind it a second time:  all these show only Witchers which changes the dynamic of the found family of Kaer Morhen, and they invented a Deathless Mother plot just to have Ciri kill them off in a “oh no she’s dangerous and look how bad the big bad is” moment.  Seriously this plotline makes me not enjoy s2

Like when Ciri started summoning creatures I just emotionally checked out from the show, since it felt like the showrunners decided there NEEDED to be a big climatic battle at the end of the season and worked back from there (I know im being salty here)

The show had a LOT less of Blood of Elves in it than I was expecting, and lot of the elf and mage political plot was changed so much its hard for me to guess how the adaptation will go in s3. Its gonna be so long till we get to the hansa :(

Its really late arrival spoilers that Emhyr is Ciri’s father, but if the show is being so open about it then hopefully they’ll not do the incest plot of the books that W3 game quietly dropped (for the better imo). Reading the books I was like; guess I’ll hate Emhyr forever

[snkpolls]

SnK Episode 68 Poll Results (for Manga Readers)

The poll closed with 146 responses. Thank you to everyone who participated!

Please note that these are the results for the Manga Readers’ poll. If you wish to see the results for the Anime Only Watchers’ poll, click here.

---

RATE THE EPISODE 140 Responses

The anime continues its positive streak with just over 90% of respondents rating the episode a 4 or 5. MAPPA appears to be blowing this season out of the water for most of us!

Noice

Good!

I liked it

WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING MOMENTS WAS YOUR FAVORITE? 144 Responses

We got a pretty mixed pie chart this week. To be expected, given how many moments were in this episode. At a tie with the largest pieces of the pie were Hange’s eccentric attempt to greet the Marleyans and Eren’s gunshot figuratively hitting Sasha. Behind that two more options tied in each with 10.4% of the vote - EMA’s conversation at the shooting range and Sasha appreciating Nicolo’s cooking. This is followed closely by Eren’s mirror scene with 9.7% of the vote. Onyankopon explaining why he looks different when Sasha asks him about it took a solid 9% of the vote.

WHAT WAS THE MOST EMOTIONAL PART OF THE VISIT TO SASHA’S GRAVE? 144 Responses

This was almost too close to call, but Mikasa sitting alone managed to edge out just slightly over Connie’s “I’ve lost half of me” moment at Sasha’s grave. Trailing behind the two were Nicolo’s grief and the agreement between Papa Braus agreeing to a free meal from Nicolo.

AFTER SEVERAL TENSE AND ACTION PACKED EPISODES, HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE TRANSITION TO SOMETHING MORE CALM? 138 Responses

The larger chunk of respondents are feeling relieved to get a break from the action for a few episodes. 21.7% prefer the action but don’t mind a break here and there, while 21% state that they enjoy the exposition more than the action anyway, so they are content. A small handful don’t care either way. 

We needed this for another build-up to more action

I like the action but it’s important to move the story along 

These just feel mandatory fillers to me.

I miss the warriors

I feel fine with it. I thought that was going to be some happy-go-me episode, but gladly it still had a serious tones.

This episode felt like a very welcome respite after the absolute shitshow that was spoilers week and....whatever the fuck chapter 137 was. 

Nice breather of sorts, I always like seeing characters from action-heavy series in their downtime.

WOULD YOU RATHER GET A SURPRISE GREETING FROM EREN & HANGE, OR ARMIN & LEVI? 141 Responses

The vast majority of respondents would prefer the slightly less lethal greeting given by Hange and Eren at the beginning of the episode. We’re not sure if the other 29.1% are masochists or just really love Levi and/or Armin that much more. Or perhaps they’re intrigued by the pig piss from the filthy island devils.

ON A SCALE OF 1-5, HOW HAPPY ARE YOU TO BE BACK ON PARADIS? 139 Responses

Overall, fans are happy to be back in familiar territory and put into the perspective of the Survey Corps again. Let’s get ready to rumble!

MAPPA HAS SPRINKLED IN ANIME-ONLY ADDITIONS THROUGHOUT THE EPISODE. AS A WHOLE, HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THEM? 139 Responses

Though subtle, MAPPA did include some anime filler (such as Eren’s, erm, mouth breathing). 51.1% enjoyed the noticeable additions, while 37.4% are completely confused by the question and didn’t realize there were any. A handful generally don’t prefer additions but enjoyed what little ones we had this episode. A small sliver didn’t care for them.

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE SCENES FROM CHAPTER 107 THAT WERE PEPPERED IN BETWEEN THE MOMENTS FROM CHAPTER 106? 139 Responses

MAPPA is shuffling things around to pick up the pacing of this arc, and 48.2% of respondents are feeling very positively about it. 38.8% also feel that both the order of events in the original manga and the anime work out just fine regardless. A couple of smaller groups either felt that things were a bit off from the manga, or didn’t really care either way. 

I think it's great because it allows an episode to start and end on the same chapter if mappa ever wanted it, allowing the right twists or cliffhangers to be in the right episodes, all WITHOUT having to slow down, which I wholly appreciate.

I'm fine with the changes. Mappa is doing good job.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE CHANGE OF GABI BITING HER NAIL AND ANGRILY SAYING EREN’S NAME IN HER JAIL CELL? 142 Responses

Nearly half of voters feel that both MAPPA’s take and Isayama’s original take work just fine for Gabi’s character. 28.9% prefer the anime’s take on Gabi’s reaction to all that happened, while 14.8% feel that her more defeated posture in the manga makes more sense for her character. 

I'm a mix of both? Her defeated posture implies that she's not happy with the way things worked out with them in jail and Zeke betraying them. On the other hand, her angry face is realistic to the scene too because it implies she really blames Eren for their current predicament.

She looks like some female version of young, angry Tarzan. This time Mappa should have kept the original postures, because the defeated Gabi feels to be more realistic, than the crazy anime one. 

I think they both work but the anime's take might be the anime team beating us over the head that she's just like Eren when he was young.

Makes it clear to the anime-onlies that she really is psychotic

Gabi sucks

HOW WELL DO YOU THINK MAPPA NAILED THE TRANSITION OF EREN SHOOTING THE GUN, TO SASHA TAKING THE HIT? 141 Responses

The response to MAPPA’s take on Eren’s shot inadvertently hitting Sasha was overwhelmingly positive, with only a few people saying that they could have done better with it. 

Eren shot linked to Sasha's death was awesome. Mappa is nailing it!

THE PART WHERE JEAN, SASHA AND CONNIE ARE TRYING TO GUESS WHAT A PORT IS WAS CUT OUT, WITH ARMIN’S NARRATION INSTEAD CUTTING INTO THE SCENE. WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT IT? 140 Responses

Exactly 50% felt that while having that JSC characterization would have been very much welcome, they’re okay with that small detail missing from the manga (granted, it was at least acknowledged by one panel being animated). 25.7% have a more nonchalant response, stating that if it helps with the pacing, they’re fine with small cuts like this. 10.7% are just let down by JSC’s lack of characterization in the anime overall and didn’t appreciate even more being taken from their characterization in this episode. 

I was more so interested in our Paradis Peeps talking about newly discovered technology but I’m happy with what we got.

Not dissappointed since I understand you can't show everything but I love them so sad

Why was it animated then?! I’m so confused

Normally I don't like it when they cut corners like this, but I wasn't fond of that scene in the first place so it's okay.

If by "anime" you mean the entirety of it including the past 3 seasons, then option 3. I'm always going to be salty about how much they took out or changed for these three during the uprising arc. So far mappa has done okay with them, I guess. 

Would have been a funny JSC moment, but it was really absolutely pointless. In manga format it works as just background words on a panel. Animating it takes seconds of an episode that could be used elsewhere. So I'm fine with it being cut out.

SOME HAVE COMPLAINED THAT THE ENDING SCENE OF EREN REPEATING HIS MANTRA INTO THE MIRROR LACKED THE IMPACT IT HAD IN THE MANGA. HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THAT? 138 Responses

43.5% were receptive of the anime only shots, but favor the way the scene was portrayed in the manga more. 34.1% felt that both versions were done well, with only 9.4% feeling that the impact was largely the same (if not better). Based on the write-ins, the main complaint seems to be the lighting/color scheme of the scene not quite meeting expectations, or that MAPPA made Eren’s back look weird. 

theyll make up for it when eren screeches at hange next ep

Impact was there, art just felt a bit wonky and toned down the scene overall. 9/11

This goes into my criticism of the color palette and shading style mappa uses, which is far more subdued. The contrast is lowered and the scene is very dark, and there is little rim lighting, so while the actual lineart has far more detail, the detail in the lighting is reduced. Damn I really am writing a wall text aren't I? I prefer Wit Studio's art style a lot but Mappa has honestly been doing great so I couldn't care less, manbun Eren is hot.

I prefer the manga version. I think the anime version have weirds shadows in eren's back. Plus the mirror don't have the same energy, less impactful

Cool scene in the anime, an unforgettable blow to the brains in the manga

Idk

Most of the time seeing things for the first time is what's really impactful. Feel this way towards Armin's transformation in the boat as well. It was definitely less impactful than when you first read it in the manga.

I understand the fandom because this moment was very popular when the chapter was out. I think that in the anime Eren lacks the anger he had in the manga. His voice was too calm while repeating his mantra. .

WHY DOES HIS BACK LOOK LIKE THAT

I didn't care for it in the anime, it was really underwhelming. 

I think most people are annoyed about the lighting than the impact. It’s a bit too dim and the lamp hides Eren’s new hair.

Didn't like the anime version at all

The animation wasn't good and they totally fucked his hair, face, and body up. Although the added shots were definitely welcome.

Eren could've been sexier/animated better, I hope they do better next ep 😭

WE WILL ASK YOU AGAIN. HOW WILL THE ANIME DEAL WITH MIKASA’S HIZURU TATTOO/SYMBOL? 135 Responses

With Mikasa meeting Kiyomi presumably being inevitable in episode 69, we wondered if any opinions had changed on this. 34.1% feel hopeful that the tattoo will be retconned into the anime and that we will see this scene faithful to the manga. 28.9% think that Mikasa will happen to have some kind of embroidery on hand already. 25.9% don’t want to make a call either way, and a small handful think Mikasa’s going to just pull out an embroidery kit and go with it, lol.

The embroidery will be on the inside of her bandage.

Japanese are very taboo about tattoos because of the Yazuka... it will 100% be the embroidery.

I don't know but I hope it gets retconned. Never liked the embroidery thing.

It won't be included

Let’s just... ignore it..

I really really hope MAPPA retcons Mikasa's tattoo next episode. This will be the one retcon I will absolutely celebrate. Plus, it's not really a retcon if they're just amending Wit's changes.

WE WILL ASK YOU AGAIN, AGAIN. WITH THE PACING CURRENTLY UTILIZED BY MAPPA, WHERE WILL EPISODE 16 END? 137 Responses

Uncertainty continues to loom over exactly how far MAPPA will get into this (first half of the?) season. Nearly 40% don’t want to make predictions one way or another, while 23.4% feel that it won’t make it quite to chapter 122. The rest believe it will make it to chapter 122, with 17.5% feeling there will only be minor cuts, if any, and the remaining 13.1% feeling that there will be major cuts to make the feat to chapter 122. 

116 (?) when the allied force attack paradis

122 with the amount of cuts being somewhere in between. They can cut a lot of the Gabi and Falco plotline and still have the story remain intact.

See, I'm not sure buy I'm also worried and curious about it all. It brings up the question of will the story continue in a possible second half of the season? With the manga ending very soon now, it makes sense to have the story wrap up in its anime medium as well. Fees like there's some kind of uncertainty surrounding this, it's unnerving tbh. 

119 with Eren's head being blown off.

gabi no scoping eren, ending creds is eren entering paths and we see ymir standing behind him, s4p2 starts w the ymir backstory

121

No idea and I don't think about it. I just enjoy the show. 

Your guess is as good as mine, I'm still fearing major cuts.

119

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT NICOLO’S PORTRAYAL? 138 Responses

With Nicolo now formally introduced in the anime, we were curious how you felt about his portrayal. Overall the reaction was positive, with 48.6% agreeing that he’s a “cutie pie chef”, and another 45.7% feeling that his design and seiyuu are absolutely great! A small handful were less happy with the voice, but happy with the design, and a sliver went in the opposite direction, preferring voice over animation.

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE ADDED DETAIL OF THE FLOWER BOQUETS AND THEIR SYMBOLISM ON SASHA’S GRAVE? 140 Responses

Respondents vastly appreciated the flower symbolism from MAPPA with 82.9% of the pie. 12.9% aren’t really sure what symbolism there even was, and a small amount either don’t care or felt the effort could have been spent on something other than flowers for Sasha.

WHICH SCENE FROM THE PREVIEW ARE YOU MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO? 143 Responses

This pie chart wound up being almost eerily even. 42.7% are most looking forward to the 104th discussing Eren (hopeful for the train flashback?). 39.9% instead are looking more forward to Hange and Eren’s tense conversation at his jail cell. The remaining three preview moments were pretty evenly split as well.

DO YOU THINK WE’LL GET BLUSHING!104TH NEXT EPISODE? 130 Responses

71.5% feel that there is a chance we will get the train flashback of the 104th in this episode, but don’t want to say for absolutely certain. 18.5% feel that it is a guarantee based on what we saw in the preview. 10% feel it is instead guaranteed that we will NOT get the scene in 69.

WE WILL LIKELY SEE PREGNANT HISTORIA NEXT EPISODE. THOUGHTS? 140 Responses

The plotline that continues to be a frustrating mystery in the manga - Historia’s pregnancy. 34.3% aren’t particularly looking forward to seeing her in the rocking chair and aren’t very stoked about having to relive this plotline all over again. 33.6% mainly just care about seeing how the anime only fans react to the scene. 17.9% just miss Historia altogether and will take any scraps they can get. And a small handful, at 9.3%, are actually looking forward to seeing anime!Historia with a baby bump. 

Don't really care about historia

It's in MAPPA's hands now. I just hope they can add a little more of her screentime somehow.

I hope so. I want to see the design of her adult self. 

I honestly wouldn't mind if Historia's entire arc, which consists of equal parts pregnancy, irrelevance and uselessness, is just completely cut in the anime lol

not interest

I'm not interested 

I've hated this fucking plot line with all my being and what it's done to Historia since the leaks for this chapter were revealed years ago. So I'm not looking forward to anime-only people jumping in with their hot takes too. 🤮🤮

ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS ON THE EPISODE?

mikasa was shown in sasha's grave in the morning/afternoon and then she was shown again at dusk. SHE SPENT THE WHOLE DAY THERE. and annie... what a queen. and hisu's few scenes? so pretty.

Really glad the pacing was well done

nicosasha ship just flew in and took the spotlight

fantastic!! maybe it's just because this isn't my first time going through this arc anymore, but i feel like the anime feels chronologically less confusing than the manga—I remember being very confused my first time reading these chapters.

The lack of score by Hiroyuki Sawamo is negatively impacting my relationship with the anime. The depth of the emotion that could have been evoked was not present. I also did not get the sense that Nicolo and Sasha were in love, which was a major disappoinment. There were other aspects that weren't so bad, though; specifically, Levi's portrayal and Onyankopon's philosophy.

It felt a bit all over the place, but just seeing things from the manga being animated, I ain’t even mad.

I think that the scene between Sasha and Nicolo was made better in the anime. Isayama has problems with writing romantic moments, so in the manga the whole moment looked like it was taken from some light romance. Mappa made this scene more serene. I liked it. 

I think MAPPA is doing so great tbh! I just need them to hurry up and explain if there will be a part two to this final season or what?! I need to know if we get more anime or they'll diverge into movies or.... just tell us! Lol! 

How DAREEEE they not give Levi his black steed!!!! .....Although knowing what happens ummm yeah maybe his pony gets to live another day this way lol

Here comes the train wreck, choo choo!

I'm really sad I didn't get to hear Sasha call Jean a perv. I was really looking forward to that. LOL I love them. When EMA were at the shooting range, it looked too much like Mikasa wasn't wearing any pants. 

VERY solid. Not the biggest fan of the War for Paradis arc but I'm here for the ride.

WHERE DO YOU PRIMARILY DISCUSS THE SERIES? 128 Responses

Thanks again to everyone who participated!

[reivenesque]

SPOILERS FOR LAST THREE EPS OF MACGYVER

It feels like I haven’t watched MacGyver in ages and yet I barely settled into my seat and I’ve already finished season 2. What the fuck happened? *speaking as a person who binge watched a total of 14 seasons across 3 shows within a couple of weeks*

So among these 8 episodes that I watched, 3 of them are easily my faves of the season; the Colton episode, the one with Jesus and the finale (I’ve given up trying to remember the names).

In the Jesus episode, I liked that it finally focused on Mac again, if that makes any sense. Yes the show is called MacGyver and is in fact about MacGyver, but I feel like the last couple of episodes were less about him as a character and more about him being a tool almost, or a means to an end on a mission. Like @thehemingwaygoldfish mentioned already, I hate that Mac was the one who tipped off the mob guy they were tailing when Bozer was making such obvious googly eyes at Liana for 2/3rd’s of the episode. I really hate when the writing needs the smart guy be the klutz for no apparent reason.

(Also, I had nowhere to insert this bit but the scene on the trampoline in the air and Mac looking so fucking scared and when Jack shot off those fucking balloons like - be still my whumper heart!)

Minor criticism firstly. It isn’t in this particular episode, more like spread across a couple of episodes but the Die Hard reference episode especially. I know that Jack is the comic relief of the show but I honestly hate when he gets treated like the buttmonkey or when he’s made the butt of old man jokes by other people (and even by the team, besides Mac, cause lbr, Mac and Jack are the epitome of taking the piss out of each other but no one else can do it ever). Or when things just inevitably don’t work out for him just cause it’s supposedly funny.

Jack is always bad ass but I just want one Jack centered episode where everyone gets to see just how bad ass he truly is, especially Bozer and Riley. Cause this Jack is old and doesn’t get hip young kids stuff is just - well, getting old.

So anyway. I love the friendship between Mac and Jesus (Carlos I think his name was) and I love how much his family accepted Mac and their team and how his mom fawned over Jack and Jack just being so sweet and Jack-like about it. I seriously love him.

I love how everyone got to see how amazing Mac is - I always love when outsides get to bask in the awesomeness of Mac because obviously Jack and the team already know how great he is.

Also Marc Menchaca playing a bad guy, called it! I do have to say that Gunny Wynn is honestly working the hair and the scruff.

All in all, love the episode, but then again, I love when an episode brings in outside characters besides just the main such as Carlos and the Coltons. I do hope we get to see them again.

The alien episode was just okay for me. Like with many MacGyver episodes, it wasn’t boring but not exceptionally memorable either. I loved how adorable Jack was in the end and I do enjoy the dynamic between Mac and Riley. And I appreciate how willing the team are to break government rules and go behind their own boss’s back to help Mac without him even having to ask them to.

The final episode ugh, I was so conflicted. I honestly hated Mac’s dad and I was really pissed at Matty during the first quarter. For one thing, I hate when shows introduce a new character that’s smarter, stronger and better than the main character. I get the context of it since he is Mac’s dad, but it’s really just a trope I find irritating as hell.

Brief interlude because I clicked away to google the actor who plays Mac’s dad because I couldn’t stop thinking how familiar he looked all through out the episode and I’m so fucking glad I didn’t google him earlier because ajshdgliaudhfalkdfjhas TATE DONOVAN! I remember having a crush on him when I was younger and I probably couldn’t have disliked him as much as I did when I was watching if I knew who he was. But goddamn he aged like fine fucking wine.

I was annoyed at Matty mostly for keeping it a secret but by the end James MacGyver did win me over and Matty made it back into my good graces and firmly cemented her position there indefinitely. 

I knew that Mac would quit and when I started I was under the impression that it was because his dad was an asshole and the fact that Matty lied and shit like that, but I was really happy to see that his relationship with his dad was on a pretty okay ground and it was just him sticking to his convictions and I honestly just respect Mac so fucking much for that. I love that he sets his mind to do something that he believes in his heart and he sticks to it regardless. 

I also fucking love that it was Matty this whole time who was the one leaving the clues to his dad’s whereabouts. That’s how you fucking do a heel reveal and immediate redemption arc on fucking steroids. I have never loved this mother/son type relationship between Mac and Matty than I do at this very moment.

The only criticism I have is the faces of the team when Mac walked out after he quit. I don’t know, everyone just had that really weird, indecipherable look on their face which I didn’t know how to translate. I know that they knew he wanted to quit - did actually quit already, It was just weird.

So anyway. I’m really happy I waited and got to binge the last few episodes. It always more enjoyable for me to binge a whole bunch of episodes without having to sit around and wait like some normal tv watcher. 

Mac is as usual amazing. I love the depths he had in he last couple of episodes (if nothing else cause Lucas Till does angst and anger amazingly and I wish the writers would utilize it more) and seeing him not being the lighthearted, optimistic Mac we’re used to.

I think I’ve covered just how much I love Jack and what I’d like to see the writers do more (and less) with his character because he deserves so much more than being just the butt of people’s jokes.

Bozer and Riley are just there for me. Apparently Liana is going to be a regular next season? Idk, she’s with the other two in my book. WHERE THE FUCK IS CAGE IS WHAT I WANT TO KNOW? I honestly really like Jill though, I won’t lie. I hope we see more of her.

One last thing, with the reveal of the new baddie at the end - also another person I know but am too lazy to google right now ( I think he was also in Justified as Boyd’s cousin or something, I could be wrong) and the shade about his dad and his old partner and the other turning to the dark side. I hope this is foreshadowing Mac - now away from Phoenix and his father’s eyes, maybe dipping into the darkness, perhaps not willingly. But maybe ending up on the wrong side of the law and Jack, Matty and the team having to hunt him down to save/catch him. Because can you imagine anything more dangerous that Mac using his abilities for bad?

I hope the writers do something with all this possibility though (they probably won’t but a whumper can hope right?)

So yeah, that’s what you missed on Glee MacGyver.

[riffrelevant]

(By Pat ‘Riot’ Whitaker, Senior Writer/Journalist, RiffRelevant.com)

Monday, July 23, 2018, would see an incredible one-off gig featuring ROYAL THUNDER, WITCH MOUNTAIN, and ALMUTEN – playing The Mothlight in Asheville, N.C.

As fantastic a line up as this boasts being, it was made even better by a rare treat… a FREE show! With a respectable turn out showing up, Asheville’s own ALMUTEN would launch the night’s festivities.

(Photos Courtesy Of Will Bouton/FUGO Films)

For the record, I knew nothing about ALMUTEN coming into this event, but several friends had informed me that they are a great, newer band currently building their presence. The quintet – Nikki Frank (Vocals), Scotty P (Guitar), Zin Vetro (Guitar), Adam Kowalski (Bass), and Springs Wade (Drums) – soon launched into a killer set.

Accompanied by a psychedelic light and visual show courtesy of Oblivion Light Show, ALMUTEN‘s aural output jived nicely with trippy enhancement from the liquid lights. The band’s fluid, energized performance of contemporary rock with a heavy classic rock/grunge/alternative bent to it was stellar. Rife with a lot of solid jamming, fiery guitars, and Nikki’s diverse vocal range, ALMUTEN set the bar high right from the start of their set.

Ultimately, they delivered four originals, “Changeling“, “Tears For The Hierophant“, “In Flight” and “Watcher Of The Watchers“, along with a cool, trippy take on The Doors classic, “Strange Days“. Once again, I was made aware of yet another promising band making their mark within the AVL underground (a regular occurrence for me there) and it will be cool to watch their growth.

(Photo Courtesy Of Will Bouton/FUGO Films)

Next to take the stage would be Portland’s doom powerhouse, WITCH MOUNTAIN, who recently released their self-titled album through Svart Records. The album is their first studio record with new bassist, Justin Brown, and the first full-length to be laid down with vocalist Kayla Dixon. The band is rounded out by longtime members Nathan Carson (drums) and Rob Wrong (guitar).

The quartet delivered amazing renditions of several of the new record’s tracks including “Midnight“, “Burn You Down” and “Nighthawk“. Being the stand-alone entity they are, WITCH MOUNTAIN walk a fine line between doom and classic metal, their songs powered by Rob’s massive riffs and incendiary guitar playing.

Then there is the band’s rhythm section of Carson and Brown who hold everything down, anchored firmly into resolute place. Dense and crushing, the pair’s aural productivity is thunderous, thick, and ultimately, navigates things to the destination the band are seeking. Be it sludgy, or bordering more on the drone side of doom, or even a bit more akin to traditional metal, this duo drive the advance of each song.

Topping things off are Kayla’s animated, over-the-top vocals and onstage demeanor as she traverses the dynamic ranges within her grasp. With flare and presence, her deliveries are bolstered by the ever-morphing psychedelic doom heaviness emanating from her bandmates’ instrumentation. Make sure to check out the Riff Relevant Interview with WITCH MOUNTAIN that I conducted prior to this night’s set [HERE].

(Photo Courtesy Of Will Bouton/FUGO Films)

In the six years since I first discovered Atlanta’s ROYAL THUNDER, I’ve managed to catch them live at least 8 or so times, and all over the eastern U.S. seaboard. I never tire of these experiences either, am never disappointed or subject to a lame live presentation from the band and tonight would be no different.

Though the quartet’s membership has changed once or twice over the years, the core of bassist/vocalist Mlny “Mel” Parsonz and guitarist Josh Weaver is always intact. Recent years saw them joined by second guitarist Will Forte (Zoroaster) and as I’d learn tonight, a new drummer, Order Of The Owl’s Dwayne Jones, would be thrown to the wolves in his first live appearance with the band.

Dwayne Jones

Spoiler: Dwayne, and the others, would all deliver yet another enthralling, utterly amazing live presentation of ROYAL THUNDER‘s alt. rock/psyche-blues material. With three full-length albums, and a couple of EPs as well, to draw from, the quartet served up mind-blowing offerings of such songs as “Whispering World“, “Blue“, “Mouth Of Fire“, “Low” and others. As always, Mel’s raspy, emotive vocals and “quiet cool”, or laid back presence, contributes to the focus really being on the songs themselves.

That could really be said for her bandmates too though, well, most of them anyway, as each seem to enter a stationary state while playing. Now, that’s less true for the drummer, of course, and absolutely not applicable at all to Josh as he plays. Always moving, he’s a dynamo of live energy, such that gets transferred through his guitar playing and creates a spectacle to witness as he melts your mind with vibrant guitar-based discharges.

I find it nearly impossible to pull away from a, or any, ROYAL THUNDER live set and this one in AVL tonight was no exception. Utterly astounding… as always. In fact, all three of this evening’s acts were stellar in their own right, each in their own way. I recommend you get out and catch either ROYAL THUNDER, WITCH MOUNTAIN or ALMUTEN live should the opportunity present itself.

You have ample shots to do exactly that with either WITCH MOUNTAIN or ROYAL THUNDER currently as both will remain on the road for awhile longer. ROYAL THUNDER joined the reactivated CKY on tour right after this Asheville show, you can find their ongoing live appearances HERE.

You can find the remaining dates of the current WITCH MOUNTAIN tour HERE.

*All Photos Courtesy Of Will Bouton / FUGO Films & Photography

ROYAL THUNDER, WITCH MOUNTAIN, ALMUTEN Live [Asheville, N.C. 7/23/18] (By Pat 'Riot' Whitaker, Senior Writer/Journalist, RiffRelevant.com) Monday, July 23, 2018, would see an incredible one-off gig featuring…

[snkpolls]

SnK S3E13 Poll Results (Manga Reader Version)

The poll closed with 539 responses. Thank you to everyone who participated!

Please note that these are the results of the manga reader poll. Anime only watchers are suggested not to read if you do not wish to be spoiled about certain events! Anime only viewers, click here to view your poll results!

RATE THE EPISODE 534 Responses

WIT kicked off the arc fantastically according to the viewers! This episode got overall positive reviews, with 95% of respondents giving it a 4 or 5 rating.

An ideal opening episode in my opinion!

Incredible start for possible the best season yet ♥

Awesome opening episode to set the stage for the arc to come. Pacing was just right, imo.

HYPE MY SOLDIERS

I think it was a great ep and did pretty well with the chapters it adapted. The dialogue was there and so were the scenes, the ending hyped what is coming so much so I'm already in love!

Lack of creavity when it come to the OP and ED visuals, but the ep overall was good.

The soundtrack slaps, voice acting is on point, and the animation proves to be very promising. Overall, it's a great episode to start off the second cour!

Awesome episode with awesome soundtrack.

One of the best episodes of the whole series, which was surprising.

RATE THE OP 533 Responses

Overall respondents liked the new Linked Horizon opening, which was a great summary of the current arc, but overall it fell flat as a song that most would be willing to label as their favorite.

OP depicts the upcoming battle well!

Great adaptation, just wish the opening was a little more original

It is the worst OP of all. The song is disappointing; it sounds like typical, boring song from random shonen series.

The opening definitely had some parts to it that felt recycled from previous openings, but I guess it's just Linked Horizon's way of linking them all together.

SPACE OPERATION RAINBOW!!!

To me it looks like they ran out of time to make an OP so they slapped a green filter on what they had done already.

RATE THE ED 530 Responses

The 104th-centered still-frame ED has some mixed reviews with most of the fandom sitting somewhere in the middle between loving and hating it. Respondents overall are leaning more toward the positive, however.

ED is perfect with the time skip just over the horizon

WE GOT A FEW NEW SAWANO TRACKS. HOW ARE YOU FEELING ABOUT THEM? 530 Responses

Well over half the fandom are already pumped for new music from the series’ composer Sawano Hiroyuki! A whopping 76% already feel that he’s killing it. 22% need more time to decide how they feel. A small sliver of respondents don’t really care for the OST. Who hurt you?

ost perfect as usual

It was good but at this point everything sounds like it's been reused a bunch of times. Hopefully we get some new great tracks later on..

Hyeh

The bassline in the new rendition of "Attack on Titan" (or however Sawano spells it) is amazing. I cannot wait for the S3 soundtrack to be released.

WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING WAS YOUR FAVORITE MOMENT? 532 Responses

The scene with the Beast Titan appearing with his army of titans took 30% of the vote, with Levi attacking Reiner as a close second with 22% of the vote. 10% overall liked the entire episode, and 7% favorited the cliffhanger staredown. We can all agree the battle to come has us all hyped!

I repeated the scene where Reiner appears until the end of the episode tons of times already

Did they really had to skip Levi's frustrated expression after he failed to kill Reiner? It was my favorite moment…

Levi attacking Reiner and everything after that has become one of my favorite scenes in the series. Damn!

Nice Erwin Screentime, nice Levi nyooming behind Eren

Best girl makes her appearance

the last three minutes of the episode where the warriors show up was fucking amazing

ON SCALE OF ARMIN TO ERWIN, HOW GOOD ARE YOU AT GIVING ORDERS? 526 Responses

The majority of respondents relate to Armin’s timid nature a bit more when it comes to overall confidence in giving orders. Just a small 6.3% of you guys feel you have the charismatic swag that Erwin brings to the table.

I loved Armin giving orders politely.

How was Armin overcoming social anxiety a billion times cooler then eren flying over a 60m wall, becoming a titan and basically saving humanity.

ON A SCALE OF 1-5, HOW MUCH DO YOU WANT TO GO HORSEBACK SURFING? 528 Responses

This was in no way a serious question. But at an almost even split, 35.8% of voters would totally try their hand at horseback surfing, while 35.2% would never risk their life doing such a dangerous activity!

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE ANIMATION QUALITY IN PART TWO SO FAR? 529 Responses

Overall respondents are pleased with the animation in the first episode of the RtS arc, with 54% stating that it’s the best animation they’ve seen from the series yet. 42% feel it could be better, but is also not the worst. A small percentage don’t find the animation all that impressive.

I can’t believe how clean all of the animation is looking. SUPER impressed with the difference in art-style compared to season 1 as well.

The animation is on the highest level.

i miss the thick lines the show used to have

i really love the colour palette of this season and the op especially.

IMO the color tones on this episode could've been handled better, it was too gloomy on some scenes :(

The animation & art style was almost as good as season 2’s (which is one of my favorite pieces of animation of all time) but still lacked in some areas.

Looks like they went all out with budget on this season and I'm loving it

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE CG COLOSSAL TITAN IN THE OPENING? 532 Responses

57% of respondents aren’t too upset about the GCI Colossal Titan in the opening and say they don’t mind either way. 35% aren’t happy at all with the decision to make the Colossal CGI, while a few actually find the effect super cool.

ON A SCALE OF 1-5, HOW EXCITED ARE YOU TO FINALLY SEE THIS ARC ANIMATED? 533 Responses

The overwhelming majority are extremely excited to see this arc animated after all these years. With its high levels of action and drama, it’s no surprise to us to see that the fandom is looking forward to getting this arc in an animated form!

IVE WAITED MORE THAN 2 YEARS FOR THIS IM NEVER BEEN SO FUCKING HYPED IN MY WHOLE LIFE

I've waited so many years that I'm satisfied and ready to pass now that my favorite arc is being animated

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE ADAPTATION OF RTS SO FAR? 532 Responses

67% of respondents are feeling very satisfied with the way the arc is unraveling in the anime, finding that it’s a very close adaptation of the original source material. 23% feel that it’s still too early to judge the adaptation properly, and a few less feel that the adaptation so far is somewhere between good and bad.

Fantastic adaptation.

Good pacing jumping right into the action, while staying faithful to the manga.

Overall very good, but could be a TAD better

I think the adaptation so far has been great, but I need to see how the action is handled before I say for sure whether it's well adapted or not.

It was ok.

It was very well-adapted! All the important details were there and nothing important seemed to be missing, which was something I was sad about in the last arc. It seems like everything I want will get covered.

How do we come back from there without breaking my heart?

PART 2 IS SLATED FOR 10 EPISODES. DO YOU THINK THIS WILL BE ENOUGH TO ADAPT THE ARC WELL? 531 Responses

Voters are confident that WIT knows what they’re doing by shortening the amount of episodes that will air for this action-heavy arc, with only ¼ of respondents feeling that they haven’t given themselves enough screen time to cover every last detail. 10% don’t want to say either way.

i was disappointed in knowing it was a 10 episode arc, but seeing the quality and taking into account that this is an action-heavy arc, i'm bouncing off of the walls to see what wit has underneath their sleeve. hopefully they don't ruin the best arc

one advantage of the short season is that they cant draw out the serum bowl for too long. God, that was a painful wait when the manga was dropping those chapters.

Really well done, the pacing in particular was great. After seeing it I was convinced 10 episodes was perfect for this arc. A 6-4 split is perfect.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE VERY SPOILERY OPENING? 532 Responses

61% of respondents agree that the opening, while spoilery, is a great summary and teaser of what is to come for those who only watch the anime. Without context, they can’t know what every last symbolic image in the opening means, after all! 23% of voters expressed distaste at how much WIT is spoiling the viewers, however. 9% aren’t even concerned about it.

The whole opening was just one big “fuck you” to people who don’t read the manga.

it only becomes obvious b/c manga readers keep pointing stuff out. Yes, the intros have always hinted at things but it goes so fast that I don’t think every person will know exactly what something means if they’re anime only.

The Opening is good representation of this phase of the story ending.

I don't get why people are making a big deal over the "spoilers" in the opening when they're not even anime-onlies themselves in the first place.

Man, it only seems spoilery for those of us who know what's coming. Anime onlies don't understand the context of the images, so they can't recognise them as spoilers unless it's directly identified as such! We gotta stop judging this stuff from the perspective of someone who already knows what's coming.

It's definitely not holding back on the indications that'll happen in the arc

HOW DID THE NEW ED MAKE YOU FEEL? 527 Responses

61% of manga readers felt nostalgic seeing the images of the 104th during their trainee days coupled with a somber song. 20% felt sad about the ending, and 15% were just disappointed with the entire thing.

Lazy ending.

WHAT DID YOU THINK ABOUT THE RED EYES ON THE TITANS? 533 Responses

Just over half of the fandom feel that the red-eyed pure titans was a cool aesthetic to add to show that they are under some form of control by a shifter. 33% feel it’s a cool addition, but not really necessary. 11% don’t care.

I was on board with the red eyes until the cart titan also had them. No longer made any sense.

I don't get why Pieck's eyes are red when she's not a mindless being controlled by Zeke…

Like the red eyes but why does Pieck have them too.

WHICH SCENE FROM THE PREVIEW ARE YOU MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO? 530 Responses

Perhaps unsurprisingly, over half of the fandom is most hyped to see the Eren vs. Reiner showdown in Shiganshina. Although not far behind, 28% of respondents are excited about Erwin’s badass unhooding moment as he challenges Reiner.

THUNDER SPEARS FOR NEXT CHAPTER!!!!!!!!!!

ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS ON THE EPISODE?

Even though I totally know what will happen, the episode is written and directed in a way I still get goosebumps and forget I actually know what will happen. And the music, oh god. That's amazing. These two together have a really good effect.

I need the next one RIGHT NOW.

AAAAAHH!!!!

It was an introduction episode, so imo, it's just there to put the basis for the rest of the season. There was a good balance between the "emotionally charged" scenes and the more quiet ones, all this accompanied with an increasing tension in the background.

I wish theyd reanimated the scene of armin talking to eren about the opening instead of just reusing the animation from season 1.

that Zeke smile is like : hey there, i am here to euthanize you all. Love it !

I'm buying tickets into denial islaaand, bye, bye!

Airpipes. AIRPIPES. p.s. cracking soundtrack

Reiner has been enjoying himself some Marley protein, he extra swole now.

Armin was the MVP

PIECK!!!

I don't like the fact that WiT decided to spoil a lot. Some anime onlies already have guessed that Armin is going to be burned and then will become the next CT. So the serumbowl won't be as emotional and exciting for them anymore. I don't understand why WiT decided to do such thing. Don't they want anime-onlies to enjoy the show?

Exactly as expected you'll find a strange titan next to the beasty

I love Mikasa’s improved design and hope they show more of her working in a team like the manga. Focusing on the mission ect without pandering

RIP nameless soldier killed by Reiner.

Very happy to get a glimpse at best girl Pieck

Really no questions about our exactly right girl in this poll ? I am dissapointed :/

Watching this episode is bringing back all the suspense and awe I felt when I read this part in the manga. What a treat to be able to relive it!

They did a great job at keeping the tension and the "well shit everything's about to go wrong" from chapters 73 and 74, and managed to make the explosion at the end worth it, despite the fact I still think Reiner's continued survival throughout the arc is stupid and wish the anime had changed it so it'd be more believable, but here we are.

WHERE DO YOU PRIMARILY DISCUSS THE SERIES? 514 Responses

Thank you to everyone who participated! We’ll see you again in a few days!