#remember when this happened in ofmd. damn good times

[mobydyke]

when themes of monstrousness enter the narrative 👀🥰🤌

[breathing-the-same-air]

Hey, lovely souls. Just here to spread a kind word for anyone who's feeling (understandably) down today🩷

So OFMD has been officially cancelled. Is this the end? Of course not. It will never be.

I mean, even if we'd got S3 there would have been an end to it too. Is it unfair that our awesome cast & producers didn't get to finish what they started in the way they envisioned it? Of course. Is the tv industry absolute shit? Hell yes! So many good shows are cancelled every day, and so many more never even get to exist. We got OFMD for two seasons, a blessing none of us ever expected, that changed our lives in so many ways, that saved so many lives. And if you think about the ending, even though the last episode was rushed and budget was cut and all, we still got such a wonderful, poetic ending, Ed and Stede are together in their inn, love in their eyes, they're safe, they're happy, honestly I couldn't have asked for anything better.

The thing is, things in life are limited (apparently), but the underlying truth to that is that things that truly matter are infinite.

How so? I'll tell you a scientific truth: time does not exist, at least not as we understand it. Because time is just like space, ever-present, every moment in time is actually forever alive. Nothing can ever truly die.

Which leads to another truth: we are infinite, just like the Universe, for we are Universe too. We are stardust and love, and Love is infinite.

We are all one, you and I and everyone out there, we're one same thing. There is no end to something that was created with love. And damn, I've never seen such an outrageous, wonderful outburst of love in my whole life! There is true magic in what we created together, fans, cast, crew, producers... we healed one another, we came together because one day someone just as crazy as us envisioned this absolutely mad world of kindness and inclusion and diversity and sheer joy and against all odds the moment we saw it we jumped on the ship without thinking twice. We made it possible for this show to get a second season, and more than anything, we built this wonderful world around it.

Stories are so much more than imagination, they're not just actors playing a role, there is a point where it stops being just a story and becomes a world on its own, and that world translates into our world, and when that magic happens, when that bridge is created, something so much bigger emerges that forever merges both worlds. It's magic and it's a blessing and I can't but be thankful for it.

My loves, I know you're sad right now. I know we all are struggling for one reason or another, we're all fighting our own battles, be it about physical or mental health, work, study, family, discrimination, or anything else. And OFMD has fought by our side and helped us win so many of those battles already. So when you're in middle of the darkness and can't imagine there could ever be light outside, remember this: we are all with you, right here, right now. Wherever you are, we are with you, and OFMD is with you. Because the things we love do never truly leave us.

We keep saying that OFMD changed us, right? That means that it's become a part of us.

OFMD is and will forever be a part of who you are—and in you, it will live on forever. Be grateful, be immensely grateful, for gratefulness is the vibration that heals the fabric of the Universe and makes miracle happens. Crew, we got something we could never have imagined to begin with!! We are so, so lucky to have had this blessing.

Take the time you need to heal, cry, let out all your pain. But then please be brave and choose kindness, just like OFMD has taught us to. Choose to raise your vibration to that of love and gentleness and dare to believe that life has wonderful things waiting for you. There is hope, there is light, there is magic in your future, a whole life just waiting for you to have the courage to take the next step.

What do you think the crew of the Revenge would have done if they had been told their ship was going to forever stop sailing? They would have thrown another Calypso's birthday party just to celebrate the chance they had to spend so much time there together, and they would have looked forward, found new reasons to be happy, and a new life. Open an inn, for instance!

They would not want us to cry, they would like us to smile and be happy because of the journey we've shared. Or at least, smile through our tears!

You are loved, you are important, your very existence is an absolute blessing to this world. Please never stop being your awesome, beautiful, magical self, because the world needs you exactly as you are- that is why you are here!

Cheer up Crew - we have been so immensely blessed. Can only be thankful 🙏💜🏴‍☠️🖤

[gentlebeardsbarngrill]

02/09/2024 Daily OFMD Recap

TLDR; Day 30 in the Gravy Basket; Cast & Crew Lovely Letters; Resources; Starfury Convention; Astrodglide Fic/Pic Week 18+; New Watchparties; People of Earth; Wrecked; SchadenFreude; Coyote Vs Acme; Articles; Morale; Love Notes; Daily Darby/Tonight's Taika

Day 30 in the Gravy Basket. (FYI Long Post is LOOONG today was a very busy and long day) Well we made it folks, we made it to one month since Max cancelled OFMD and we're still going strong. Some CRAZY stuff has happened since then and some of our crew put together some fun lists of what's happened.

Thank you to @gheyandwoke on twitter for these memes:

And that's not even everything that happened! So just remember, when it feels like it's been way too damn long, A LOT has happened

== Cast & Crew Lovely Letters ==

For Valentine's Day we've set up a Kudos board for our cast & crew of OFMD! (it's on an unlimited version so make as many posts as you'd like!) You can send pictures, gifs, videos, or just text, and we'll be sharing it to them on valentine's day across as many platforms as we can.

== Resources ==

One of our crew members, Lady Penni, aka @Pellington21 on twitter was kind enough to send in a HUGE list of Positive Critic Quotes to the Repo today and they got added in. Speaking of Resources, do you have images/gifs/infographics/text you want to share with the crew? Please feel free to send them to our contact form over at the repo. @quirkysubject as well as some other crew members are being kind enough to help me get it filled in and up to date (as well as updating the accessibility) and we want to make sure if you want to share your resources you can! Let us know what name you'd like to be credited by and we'll get things uploaded! Repo Contact Form

= Starfury OFMD Fandom Convention =

So as a heads up, the first Our Flag Means Death specific event has been anounced by Starfury for Heathrow, UK 8 Nov - 10 Nov 2024. Details at www.starfury.co.uk I would like to point out as it's been brought up QUITE A BIT that it would be good to hold off buying tickets for now. Apparently Starfury is NOTORIOUS for saying certain guests will be there, when they haven't been confirmed yet (and they did that today with Rhys Darby) so it may be good to wait a bit before purchasing. This did cause some "Come to my convention" clowning for various people on twitter, which produced some fun stuff.

= Watch Parties/Events! =

= Astroglide Fic/Art Week 18+ =

You heard that right. 02/09/2024 - 02/25/2024 is Fic/Art Week

Please feel free to @Astroglide on twitter, or even here on tumblr @astroglideofficial and use the tags: #LubeAsACrew #SaveOFMD

= New Watch Parties! =

Thank you @iamadequate1 for getting these all in one place! Twitter Thread

Feb 12 - Feb 16: People of Earth S1

People of Earth is no longer on any streaming platform, but it is available for digital purchase (ex, on Amazon). If access is an issue, DM @gentlebeardsbarngrill

Season 1 watch next week from February 12th to February 16th.

Skipping the week after in case people want to participate in the n next Palestine strike.

Season 2 watch from February 26th to March 1st

Times will be 10pm GMT / 5pm EST / 4pm CST / 2pm PST.

Watch two episodes per day. Episodes are 21-22 minutes each.

Use the following Saturday for the tags/watch if interested but not able to make this time.

Hashtags:

#PiratesOfEarth

#SaveOFMD

#AdoptOurCrew

Mar 4 - Mar 8: Wrecked Season 1

Wrecked is no longer on any streaming platform, and it is not available digitally on US sites. (Apparently, it is available on German Amazon?) There are sources being passed around. If access is an issue, DM @gentlebeardsbarngrill

Season 1 watch from March 4th to March 8th.

Season 2 watch from March 11th to March 15th.

Season 3 watch from March 18th to March 22nd.

Times will be 10pm GMT / 5pm EST / 4pm CST / 2pm PST.

Watch two episodes per day. Episodes are 21-22 minutes each.

Use the following Saturday for the tags/watch if interested but not able to make this time.

Hashtags:

#WreckedPirates

#SaveOFMD

#ForOurCaptain

== SchadenFreude / Coyote Vs. Acme ==

So some crazy stuff happened today. Apparently Zaslav made a decision to not only remove Coyote Vs. Acme from Max but to shelve it so no one else could purchase it.

Wanna learn more? The Final Days of ‘Coyote vs. Acme’: Offers, Rejections and a Roadrunner Race Against Time | Exclusive

Coyote vs. Acme's Fate Might Have Been Sealed by Real Judge Doom David Zaslav

Now what does that have to do with Our Flag Means Death? Well, just like we've been seeing for weeks now the WBD stock has PLUMMETED like crazy since The Wrap article came out this morning.

It sent the following trends all over twitter: (Thank you Mich for capturing these!)

Wanna help out Coyote Vs. Acme? Please sign their petition to get it saved: Petition

Seeing this much negative press for WBD is great and shows it's not just OFMD they're cancelling, they're making crappy decisions left and right. The term "Zaslovian Blunder" was also coined today on the @saveofmdcrewmates tumblr:

*Zaslovian (adjective): to make a decision that is unanimously deemed absurd, that almost seems to purposefully damage one's reputation, company, self, and others.

== Articles ==

5 TV weddings to celebrate the 20th anniversary of same-sex marriage in San Francisco

Peak TV Is Officially Over: FX Tallies 14 Percent Drop in Scripted Series for 2023

== Morale ==

In honor of 85k signatures, our friend @lucyrosebutler on twitter shared the rest of her Cameo with Rhys. (We'll see if it explodes this post, please don't I will cry)

Full video clips on twitter.

== Morale Cont'd ==

Hey Lovelies. 30 days is a LONG time. I get that. I'm feeling it in my bones too. I want you to know it's totally normal if you are feeling frustrated, and exhausted, and just over all of this effort to get our show back.

It's okay to feel that way.

You don't need to be positive all the time, you're allowed to feel grief. I know we've grieved several times since the original announcement, but just like progress, grief isn't linear either.

It's going to come up again in waves, and hopefully those waves get smaller each time, but they will keep coming until we get our show back.

I say UNTIL WE GET OUR SHOW BACK, because despite my own frustrations, I don't really have any doubt that it will happen at this point, it's just a matter of when.

What makes me feel that way?

Chaos Dad's silence

The fact he hasn't told us to just stop cause there's no way it's gonna happen

The whole "everybody is ready to go" in Aotearoa we heard from Wee John Wondays

Rhys' continuous pile of support

The Cast and Crew being more active on social media again

The continuous positive press

and so many other little things that continue to happen that keep making it feel like we're inching forward.

I'm not an expert, I just have a feeling, based on staring at every happening that's happened over the past 30 days.

So if you need to, go grieve lovelies! Get mad, get frustrated, scream, cry, it's normal and it's healthy. You deserve to let feelings those out.

You are human, and you are wonderful, and you can't be a ray of sunshine all the time (nor should you have to be).

And for those of you who aren't grieving, and instead feeling renewed excitement, that's absolutely wonderful too. Don't feel like you have to grieve if that's not where you're at! Every one of us has a personal journey through all of this, and not one of us will share the exact same experience, so remember not to judge your progress based on everyone else.

Anyway, I'm rambling now, so on to the love notes:

== Love Notes ==

YOU are beautiful.

YOU are doing so damn well.

You are trying your best at whatever you're dealing with in your life, and you're kicking ass, no matter how much it doesn't feel like it some of the days.

You are a glorious piece of stardust, and whether you're shining bright or dim today, you are radiant.

Remember to breathe, and drink some water, and get some rest so you can keep shining.

Love you crew, hope wherever/whenever you are on this big blue marble you're doing well.

=Daily Darby / Tonight's Taika =

In honor of the Love Birds Watch Party I'm including it in tonight's theme. Idk about the Taika one, they seemed to match, or I'm just tired.

[notsamsfanaccount]

i’m fucking livid over the cancellation of ofmd3.

it doesn’t even make sense for them to cancel it. ofmd broke streaming records for HBO max. it was one of the top shows of 2023 despite coming out in october. there was official merchandise and a huge advertising campaign (which i remember VERY vividly because i was sick before it came out and i was passed out on the couch for a solid week, waking up several times a day to “no, we’re on a break”).

it’s obvious what’s happening. this is what happens when writers don’t queerbait; the studios do it. they love our money and viewership, but they hate US as people. david jenkins and the rest of the team behind ofmd gave us an unashamedly queer story, and now that we’ve lined HBO’s pockets, it’s getting kicked to the curb.

the ending of season two was a “just in case” ending, which was appreciated, but i feel like everyone thought it was a given for there to be a season three. sure, season two wasn’t as good as the first one, but most of that was a pacing issue that wouldn’t have been there if HBO Max didn’t cut the budget and season length. already looks pretty sabotagey to me. not to be tinhatting about this, but that’s hella fuckin suspicious. trying to tank the ratings so they’d have an excuse to cancel the show.

but after years of sherlock levels of queerbait, we were fine with it. ofmd2 was good even with all the cuts and restrictions. of course it could’ve been better, but we all know why it wasn’t, and now we all know why we won’t have an ending.

i was scared for the finale to come out. i thought they were gonna massacre half the characters, rocky horror style. a whole “this is what happens when you’re queer” hayes code era twist. but of course that didn’t happen, the writers love us and their show too much for that. i always have seen that people like us don’t get happy endings, but for a moment, we did. and then we didn’t.

doesn’t that make you viscerally ill? we were given a show that treats queerness as a given, not as some tragic odd-one-out character development thing, depicts relationship dynamics we never thought we’d see on tv, and celebrates all of us. we were profited off of, which is okay as long as that profit is going toward the people who made this for us, and a lot of it did. then, the executives who platformed the show to get into our untapped consumer market rip it all away. they have our stats and subscription, that’s all they wanted.

the thing is, they could’ve had more. they could’ve just let us be and profited even further off of a third season, but something about us is just too much for them. it’s sick. it’s bigoted. it’s infuriating.

this keeps happening. remember when I’m Not Okay With This got canceled on a cliffhanger? and for what? the show got great viewership, an active fanbase, and people willing to stay subscribed to netflix for another season. it wasn’t even corporate greed of not wanting to cough up the production costs. they would’ve made a whole bunch of money if it was renewed. their bigotry was stronger than their corporate greed.

they hate us that much. enough to manufacture a tragic ending. enough to not rake in more profits just to get us off of their roster. i may be a bit dramatic about this but god DAMN it sure does feel intentional.

[douwatahima]

Oooookay. So I finished my seventh watch through of season 2 yesterday and I finally feel equipped to give my personal ranking of all 18 OFMD episodes. No one asked for this but here it is lol. Also I gave them all a score out of ten and tiered them all by said score because I'm very normal. LET'S GO.

6/10 - These Are Kinda Meh

18. 1x02: A Damned Man - To me, this is the most forgettable episode of the whole show. I mean, it's not awful or anything (it's still OFMD), but I have literally nothing to say about it. It's just kinda there.

17. 2x06: Calypso's Birthday - There's things in this episode I like (everything with Ned Lowe is good imo), but the whole party sequence, which takes up about half the episode, feels so empty to me. At first it didn't bother me that much, but then Samba revealed what the original plan was and knowing that at one point this episode had a plot has made the incredible lack of one we got soooo much more noticeable.

16. 1x03: The Gentleman Pirate - Introduction of Spanish Jackie, Magic Man, Ed and Stede meeting for the first time, there's definitely good stuff here. However, it gets sooooooooo much better than this.

7/10 - Good and Fun, Just Not My Fave

15. 2x07: Man on Fire - There is so much in this episode I like. Ed and Stede having breakfast in bed makes me feel insane. Stede and Zheng fighting ruled so hard. FRENCHIE SCHEMEING WITH THE CREW!!! The biggest thing is that there's so much in this episode that nothing really gets room to breathe. With like…five more minutes this episode could've been peak.

14. 1x06: The Art of Fuckery - This falls under the category of "episodes that are good, but there are others I like way more". The bathtub scene is of course peak, but in a season with some really incredible stuff this episode doesn't particularly stick out to me.

13. 2x04: Fun and Games - Same as the previous episode. I love the whole "Seabird" sequence, Ed and Stede's little heart to heart, and of course Anne and Mary's everything, but there are so many more episodes I love way more.

8/10 - I'm Incredibly Fond of These

12. 1x07: This is Happening - Fun fact I originally had this in the last category but then I remembered the co-captains scene and I knew I had to bump it up lmao. There's soooo much peak OFMD in here. The snake scene! Lucius calling Ed out!!! The previously mentioned co-captains scene!!!!! The only reason this isn't higher is because around my…fifteenth rewatch I found myself kinda getting bored with the Jim's nana subplot (sorry Jim).

11. 1x01: Pilot - OHHHHH I AM SO FOND OF THE PILOT. There's definitely some clunkiness in this episode imo (it is the first one after all), but the feeling I get when I boot up this episode is unparalleled. Frenchie starts singing and my heart soars. Also the entire "High on a Rocky Ledge" sequence is beautiful even all these months later.

10. 1x08: We Gull Way Back - 90% of my love for this episode is that I find Will Arnett very funny. This episode also gave us "The Chain" sequence including the foot touch heard around the world. ALSO ROOM PEOPLE!!! I love this one.

09. 2x01: Impossible Birds - The biggest fault of this episode is that it premiered alongside two of the best episodes of OFMD ever and this one slightly pales in comparison. That being said, it's a very strong season opener. Also, I am personally obsessed with the "Strawberry Letter 23" sequence. AND THE CAKE TOPPERS I CAN'T BELIEVE I ALMOST FORGOT THE CAKE TOPPERS!!!!!

08. 1x04: Discomfort in a Married State - I AM SOOOOOO FOND OF THIS ONE. The way the first half of the episode parallels Ed/Izzy and Stede/Mary only to spend the second half juxtaposing those two relationships against Ed/Stede? Masterful. The way Ed and Stede's relationship develops so naturally? Beautiful. THE LIGHTHOUSE SCENE? INCREDIBLE. WHAT AN EPISODE!

9/10 - I'm Genuinely Mad These Didn't Make Top 5

07. 2x05: The Curse of the Seafaring Life - The way this episode had me giggling and kicking my feet in real life after I first saw it. There's nothing not to like here. Ed and Fang fishing, Lucius and Pete getting engaged, THE SUIT…all incredible. Not to mention we got "you wear fine things well" version 2.0 with the best kiss in the whole show!

06. 1x05: The Best Revenge is Dressing Well - I love everything about this one. Ed and Stede at the fancy party, Lucius kicking Izzy's ass with the power of polyamory, Frenchie and Olu scamming racists…when I think of quintessential OFMD, this is the episode I think of. And of course the original version of "you wear fine things well" lives within my very soul.

10/10 - I Feel Mentally Ill About These Ones

05. 2x02: Red Flags - To start off, I really liked getting Lucius back and his whole subplot with Stede was really really great. Now that that point's out of the way HOLY SHIT EVERYTHING WITH ED IN THIS EPISODE WHAT THE FUCK. THE SCENE BETWEEN ED AND IZZY IS LITERALLY GOD TIER. ED PAINTED THE BRIDE TO LOOK LIKE HIMSELF AND I STILL HAVEN'T RECOVERED. "RUN FROM ME"? LIKE...IN GENERAL??? CRAZY. AND THEN ED SAYING "FINALLY" WHEN HE GETS THE CREW TO KILL HIM? INSANE. THEY WERE INSANE FOR THIS.

04. 1x09: Act of Grace - I mean, listen. I've talked about this a lot but it bears repeating. Staying up until 2am to watch this episode when it premiered and seeing Ed and Stede ACTUALLY KISS changed me as a person. I am different because I experienced that. Not to mention the rest of this episode is peak. Ed calling for the act of grace, the crew voting Olu as captain, the entire "Perfect Day" sequence, just incredible all around.

03. 2x08: Mermen - God this show can do a good finale. I will never stop being bowled over by how much I love this one. The "Moscow" scene? Sexy as hell. Ed and Stede reuniting and Ed telling Stede he loves him? I've watched it three thousand times. THE LETTER? THEY WROTE THEIR NAMES ON EACH OTHER IN PERMANENT INK!!! Also, even though it's highly controversial to say, I thought Izzy's death scene was very very good. Not to mention the entire last few minutes set to "The Times They Are A-Changin'" makes me feel so incredibly soft. I love OFMD soooooo much.

02. 2x03: The Innkeeper - Listen. If this whole episode sucked but it still included the mermaid scene I would still have it this high. That being said, this whole episode is sooooo incredibly good. The opening sequence with Zheng manipulating the rival captain is so well done. Ed in the gravy basket is crazy from beginning to end. Stede plotting to get the crew to safety is peak Stede and I love it. And somehow, after all of that, the episode also ends with one of the most incredible sequences I have ever seen. Watching a man who thought he was fundamentally unlovable get brought back to life because of how much he's loved while "This Woman's Work" plays in the background will follow me forever. Just…some of the most beautiful shit ever put to film.

1000/10 - THE GOAT NO OTHER NEED APPLY

01. 1x10: Wherever You Go, There You Are - I AM SO SERIOUS WHEN I SAY THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVOURITE EPISODES OF TELEVISION OF ALL TIME. The way Ed and Stede's plots through this episode are juxtaposed against each other makes me feel feral. The way that Stede is so out of place and closed off from his family while Ed is actively healing and bonding with the crew ONLY FOR THESE TWO PLOTS TO FLIP WHEN THEY EACH TALK TO THE PERSON WHO REPRESENTED A NONFUNCTIONING RELATIONSHIP TO THEM ALL THE WAY BACK IN EPISODE FOUR! THE WAY MARY AND STEDE GETTING TO TALK AND BE HONEST AND LET EACH OTHER GO ALLOWS STEDE TO FINALLY GROW AND BE HAPPY WHILE IZZY HANGING ON TO THAT TOXIC RELATIONSHIP WITH ALL OF HIS MIGHT AND NOT LETTING ED GROW AND CHANGE WITHOUT HIM FORCES ED BACK INTO THE PITS OF DESPAIR!!! The entire "Avalanche" sequence breaks my heart in the absolute best way and seeing Ed do all this terrible shit with no more spark left in his usually super expressive eyes hurts so good! And then, of course, there's my favourite part of all. Seeing Stede, a man who has been so lost and unmoored, row out into the ocean looking more settled than we've ever seen him while Mary says he's now free and that freedom coming completely from Stede realizing he's in love with another man is something that feels so personally assuring to me I can't even fully express it. The entire "Miles from Nowhere" sequence is incredible to me (and to this day that song is thee OFMD needle drop in my opinion) but that part especially is my favourite thing this show has ever given me hands down. Thank you David Jenkins for my life.

[tseecka]

I feel a little bad saying this because I know how much it means to a lot of people but I am... not upset about the cancellation of OFMD.

In my opinion, S2 was rushed and messy. Characters didn't so much develop as change on a dime. None of the journeys of self-discovery, love, and meaning felt earned; they felt smashed together in a disjointed montage that lasted the whole season, an exercise in getting from Point A to Point B in as little time as possible.

(Respect where deserved to Izzy, the only exception to this from my view.)

Not only was everything rushed and messy but it also seemed to lose touch with the heart of the show and of its characters. I didn't recognize any of them anymore; they all felt like strangers. Poignant and meaningful themes from S1 were completely absent, overshadowed by dumb gags that were just dumb, with no added depth or wit to them. Characters I loved from S1 actively gave me the ick and made me uncomfortable in S2. (And that's not even to mention new characters introduced in S2--not Auntie and Zhang, they were actually the best part of the season--but if I were to ever watch S2 again I would actively skip the episode with Anne and Mary. That was awful and toxic and uncomfortable and, in the absence of any other wlw relationships on the show, made the whole thing feel like one big anti-sapphic microaggression.)

Maybe it's fandom's fault; maybe the depth and breadth of creativity and analysis that we subsisted on between the end of S1 and the launch of S2 was the kind of perfect storm that a small team of insulated writers could never hope to live up to (I am reminded of the Reichenbach theories from Sherlock days, and Moffat's glaring ineptitude at delivering a satisfying explanation that followed). That's no one's fault.

But I remember telling my wife when we watched it: "This feels like DJ was worried about not getting a S3, so he smashed everything he wanted to do into too few episodes rather than leave the story without an ending if renewal didn't happen". The story had an ending; a decently clean and satisfying one, all things considered, and I am genuinely content with where everyone ended up even if I remain baffled at how the show wants us to understand they got there. So in a way, this news kind of feels like a self fulfilling prophecy.

It feels like the creators didn't believe in the show--and honestly, their audience--enough to stick to their guns and tell it the way it deserved to be told, and trust that it and we would continue to stand on its own merits. They rushed it to a "good enough" ending, just in case. And then Max looked took that ending at face value and said, "Thanks for the ending! You're done now."

I'm giving a decent amount of benefit of the doubt, here. It's entirely possible that the story got told exactly how they wanted it to (in which case it wasn't a victim of fear in the current creative climate--it was just bad, and the cancellation was ENTIRELY deserved). But: assuming that isn't the case. Idk. it's a story about pirates, which themselves have long been a narrative symbol in fiction for standing up against the the demands and rules and norms of society, for daring to strike out on your own path, rules and consequences both be damned. S2 didn't do that. They played it safe, took the King's Writ and gold and turned to privateering instead (to continue the metaphor), and so...I think its death is fitting.

(I'm purposefully not tagging this with the fandom tag, because I don't want people to come across this in the tag while they're mourning a show they care about, but if it somehow shows up in the tag anyways because of my other tags below please give me a heads up so I can adjust.)

[macgyvertape]

Shadow & Bone s2 thoughts

S1 of shadow and bone was a surprise favorite show; I’ve rewatched it a lot as something to watch when I’m cooking or wanted something familiar and comfortable.

After last season I tried reading the books; I didn’t finish Seige and Storm because I kept negatively comparing book Alina, Mal, and Darkling to their show versions. I did like the Six of Crows series but have no interest in the other books. So I’ve got a vague idea on the plot points unlike when I watched s1 

Oh I really like the map to cgi city transitions, and the wanted posters as establishing shots for storyline transitions

Sturmhond meeting the Crows like this, this is so much more fun than the book intro of him

I don’t remember seeing Jasper’s gun misfire in s1 or see gifsets of him fixing it.

Tolya and Tamar get a cool intro camera pan and theyre both really hot

Huh Darkling intro very different than the book, honestly he comes off as someone who spent a bit too much time alone by himself than menacing

How come in pirate clothes Sturmhond becomes the most baby faced of the cast

Love Alina’s stag antler embroidery dress, I’d love to wear a dress with that kind of neckline

Having one of Kaz’s plans go wrong and it not be something he accounts for, really ups the tension and makes Pekka Rollins a threat, and he’s actually more threatening than the Darkling. Wolf mask guy is just a creep, the costume kinda felt out of place

I expected the flying ship look more aerodynamic and either there’s a lot more flying ships or the show really glossed over them being repaired after being totaled because it needed characters to move around in ways they didn’t in the book

“Who do you want standing in that door when the lion gets hungry” then cut to a taxidermied lion. Lmao fun transition

This is one of the shows where I find basically all of the main cast attractive, very much including Inej in a knife fight

“All that matters is we know what’s real” with a political engagement, damn this is so much better than the YA jealousy drama of the books

OFMD AND S&B, edgy dude after his love abandons him starts cutting off the digits of the people who drove the breakup 

Rip to Matthias because the show didn’t seem to know what to do with him, I enjoy his plotline much more than s1 but its because he has such low screentime

The costume budget and workmanship is so good this show as it covers so many different styles and cultural influences

Bloody beaten up Kaz threatening as he gets his long awaited revenge is fucking incredible top moment of the season, especially because for Pekka “but for me, it was a Tuesday” he just couldn’t remember 

Genya’s really going through it this season and characters mistreating her is a more understandable and relatable evil than vague war crimes. “I should be your greatest shame!” and “ask me how I did it” she gets some great moments

Mal’s capture then causal return felt like an awkward plot point, like it shows up here because maybe it happened in the book

Huh for a major season 1 character and a global Big Bad threat the Darkling really isn’t getting much material this season, he just sits around and broods in a dark room while his underlings who wear lots of eyeshadow (to show they’re evil) do things. Like early on in the season he seemed sick but then he isn’t, then he just gives up all his action items about Grisha revolution to chase after Alina

Actually very curious about how much screentime Kaz’s dead brother gets vs the Darkling lmao

I didn’t realize at the height difference between Kaz and Inej until she hallucinated them almost hooking up. Eps 4-8 I watched playing a drinking game of take a drink for every romantic moment

The show really contrasted The Disciple and Neyar have such a good relationship compared to whatever the fuck toxic parent child relationship of Baghra and Aleksander 

Great that the Darkling and Mal can interact and bonus its in some weird fucked up way (dead peoples bones), there isn’t enough of that in fandom or canon 

The final battle has basically no tactics just people running around for cool dramatic timing, especially the Crows fighting in the frontlines

Darkling died in this show like he lived in s2, anti-climatically standing around downbad for Alina

Tbh there’s a lot of sex that could be done with gloves and clothes on 

Lmao where is Feydor he didn’t appear at all

Things I didn’t expect: David being killed off early RIP, Alina not losing her powers and faking her death to live with Mal but instead this weird non emotional breakup, and Zoya to not get more character backstory

Think it's interesting the contrast of the bee highlighted by the camera during the Darkling’s funeral as a subtle hint to the Elizaveta plotline vs the last few minutes throwing in: Jurda Parem, Nikolai’s shadow monster infection, a future war with Fjerda, Alina using shadows, all as continuation bait if it gets another season 

Verdict: enjoyable season 2, I’m so glad this season got about 15 minutes more per episode so it could cover the full Grisha trilogy in case it gets the infamous netflix s2 cancel. Still a favorite show because its  the perfect mix of drama, romance, and just enough writing cracks for fun AUs. The show covered a lot in the 8 hours with a fast moving plot that I watched over 2 days, so I’m very curious how my opinion of plot points will change with distance and reading others perspectives 

[opinionatedoctopus]

4!

Okay this took a turn. I picked ofmd bc I figured that's what you'd enjoy :D So I hope you do!

From this post

Guarded

“This isn’t exactly legal but as long as the guards don’t show up we’re good.” 

“You have got to be joking.” Izzy mutters, shouldering past the newly minted pirate and stepping over the property line.

“Izzy, wait!” Stede hurries after his partner in crime. “I’ve known John Nicklebudi since childhood! Besides, Ed told us to work as a team.”

“I am not working with a ponce like you, Bonnet!” Izzy tosses over his shoulder as he makes for the treeline, not slowing for a moment.

Stede scrunches his nose. “Well that’s not very nice.” He raises his voice to catch his departing partner. “You wouldn’t want me to tell Blackbeard that you refused to cooperate, would you?”

That stops him. Stede plants his hands on his hips, waiting.

Izzy stomps back to him.

Gritting his teeth loud enough to make Stede wince, Izzy growls out: “Fine.”

“Great! Here’s the plan–”

Izzy grabs his cravat, wrinkling it beyond repair. Stede winces more at that than the vitriol in Izzy’s tone when he says, “Shut the fuck up. I don’t care if Blackbeard keeps you around for his plaything, but I only follow real pirates, not some little mommy’s boy who wants a vacation from his mansion. A pirate is one thing you’ll never be.”

Stede sniffs and turns up his nose. “Your breath stinks more than your attitude.”

Face redder than Button’s sunburn last week, Izzy drops Stede’s cravat, screams wordlessly in his face, then stomps back towards the trees.

Stede straightens out his outfit and follows from a distance. It only takes three steps into the trees before Izzy vanishes from sight. 

But not from earshot. “FUCK!”

Stede takes his time.

Izzy is jumping to try and reach the edge of the hole when Stede finally makes it to him, but the mud up to his waist doesn’t allow movement easily. “Well, Izzy?”

“Fuck you.”

Stede kicks a bit of dirt into the hole.

“FUCK. FINE! What is your plan and get me out of this damn hole.”

Grinning, Stede uncoils the snatch of rope he’d remembered to bring and drops one end down to the shorter man. “That’s the spirit, Izzy! We’ll be a team in no time!” 

“Fuck you.” Izzy mutters. Stede lets the rope slip a bit. “FUCK!”

“As I was going to say earlier…Nicklebudi loves traps, but he’s rather amateur at them. Always has been. It only takes a few mishaps to be able to recognize the tells he leaves in the wake of his little projects. In fact, you walked right past another pit trap earlier! Missed it by inches!” Stede offers Izzy a hand up once he makes it over the edge of the hole, but Izzy slaps it away. “Lucky that. The last trap probably had a bit worse than mud at the bottom.”

Stede shivers and shoves the memories away.

Izzy eyes him from where he’s sprawled on the ground. “You rich types have the weirdest fuckin hobbies.” Stede turns away.

They walk in silence for several more minutes. Surprisingly, Izzy speaks first.

“Thanks.” Stede opens his mouth, but Izzy plows on. “This the kinda shit that happened regularly to you?”

It feels like an olive branch. Or at least a twig from one. 

“Yes.” Stede does not elaborate.

“What’s the plan?”

A shimmer near the forest floor catches Stede’s eye and he grabs Izzy by the back of the jacket, hauling him backwards just as his foot bends the wire.

“Oi–Fuck! What now?”

An axe whistles past their noses.

“Shit.” Izzy breathes.

Throat tight, Stede barely manages to choke out: “That’s new.”

They’re frozen, breathing heavily. Everything has suddenly become a threat. Paranoia creeps up their spines. Any movement could mean death, not just entrapment.

“The plan is to find sticks.” Izzy blurts out. “Yeah?” He looks up, wide-eyed at Stede.

Stede knows his face can’t look much different. “Yeah. Good plan. Thick walking stick.”

They move carefully to the nearest tree, snapping off a pair of branches. Progress is slower now. A lot slower. Neither know it, but both are wishing they had an enemy to fight instead of muder forest to survive. Looking an opponent in the eye when they sling a death blow at you is a lot easier to handle than the death blow dropping from the trees at any moment.

They find another few pit traps. Mud, mud, and rats. The rats are teeming, squirming, running over each other. The bottom of the pit isn’t visible. Izzy looks at Stede in horror. Stede looks away.

They make it through the trees just as the sun is touching the horizon and there is the house. There are no guards, the arrogant ass. There’s a light on on the second floor and Izzy snarls, branch brandished with more fury than Stede has ever seen. He starts for the house.

“Wait.” Stede says.

And Izzy stops.

“I’ll go.”

And maybe it’s the Stede’s face, or maybe the way the branch is splintering under his grip, but Izzy stands down.

Izzy waits at the treeline as Stede vanishes into the house, footsteps no louder than a ghost’s. He tries not to think about why Stede knows how to step that quietly. It reminds him of Ed.

It’s only a few minutes before a piercing scream splits the empty air. Izzy grins ferally, knowing Stede can’t see him. Knowing no one could’ve heard. The property is empty for miles. The light in the window goes out and Izzy takes it as his signal to meet at the front entrance.

He rounds the corner of the house right as Stede steps out the front door. He closes it behind him. Of course he does. Stede nods and holds up the papers. There will be no bounty out on any of their crew now. No record of their last raid of the port. No survivors. The lighting is poor, but Izzy sees the splashes of red against Stede’s coat and the wild look in his eye.

Izzy steps forward to meet him. “Want me to get you a new coat there…?” He bites off the sentence before the last word slips. ‘Boss.’ When did that change in his mind today?

“No, Izzy, I think I’ll keep this with the others I’ve ruined.” Stede’s voice is too calm for someone who just killed a person they’ve known their whole life. Personally, Izzy would sound a lot happier if he were Stede. “Let’s get back to Edward, shall we?”

“Yes, Boss.”

[eyeofthebrainstorm]

Just finished ofmd and oh boi I loved it.

...But

I can't help feeling a very strange feeling, and hear me out now, because this is going to sound strange but, try to understand:

I kind of wish that I was queerbaited. With Stede and Ed. Don't shake your head just yet, let me explain.

What I mean is, remember when shows had 20+ eps per season? remember what we've been trough? how we were deceived and mocked for shipping queer couples, clearly hinted but never fulfilled, season after season just to keep us hooked, keep us hoping that some day... It was painful, yes, but. Remember how much that gave us to work with?

Don't get me wrong, I don't even think that ofmd was rushed or badly paced. Actually, they did a great job with this standard format they are given these days.

But picture this: double the amount of content we currently have, even more time to let the relationships and situations breath and evolve. More pining, more of that grey area that makes you think "am I imagining this? Is this happening? " and the thrill of looking for the signs, the suspanse...

And I know this show was described openly and frequently as a Rom Com, and the premise of Rom Com is that "in the end they get tougher". You know when you watch that you're there to see just how they get there (or even test how much you can stand to see them not together). And that has its charm and its value, of course (though maybe non my personal favorite)

But can you immagine the inordinate sense of satisfaction, after thinking for 20 episodes "here we go again, just another gay pair that will only happen in my dreams/fanwork"... And then, most incredibly, you were right! They do love each other, you weren't delusional or stupid... The love was there, you saw it and you were right!

Damn it. I think. I want to be queerbaited-baited.

Maybe it's just because I knew from the start that they meant it to be a love story, so I went into it with ease (and that's not to say that didn't get my heart broken a few times nonetheless). But it was pretty hard to miss, that the romance was going to be explicit. Did you know when you watched the show, that they meant for Ed and Stede to be canon? Please let me know, I'm curious.

All this is meant as the biggest compliment to the show, anyway: what I'm actually saying is that with the quality of the storytelling and canon queer relationship going on with side characters, I would have been absolutely willing to commit to three season, 20 eps per season, of this thing, with the first kiss happening, like, at the end of season two.

And how great would that be? No? Only me? Admittedly I'm nostalgic (a nice way to say "getting old"). Or just a sucker for a good old "will they want they".

Anyway, thanks for reading and, please, do interact.