Going off of this post by @follows-the-bees…the “murdering white patriarchy” aspect is very interesting because Stede, Ed’s lover, is superficially a perfect representative of white patriarchy: a wealthy white land-owner who steps into a primarily working class and PoC space where he attempts to take control and even, for a little bit, casts himself as the patriarch of the ship. But Stede is himself victimized by white patriarchy, as a gnc gay man who has been belittled and told he’s inadequate as a man and as a patriarch. His father claims that he “earned” his wealth, where Stede simply inherited it, and this confers on him no real manhood.
And Ed intends to kill him at first, or at least says he does, but immediately sees in him not a white patriarch like his father or the British empire, but a kindred spirit and fellow victim of the very patriarchal world he despises and keeps trying to destroy.
One of the first things these two men do? Exchange costumes and live for a moment as each other.
I just finished the new episode of Puppet History. I… I cannot wait for the rest of this season, because this episode was even better than the last one.
Not me realizing that Stede letting Ed win the thumb war and softly whispering "you won" being a whole ass metaphor for him giving Ed control over how quickly or slowly they move while also assuring him that he's already won his heart and he's not going anywhere I AM UNWELL
wait because seriously being an adult therian fucking rips, especially when you start being independent.
dog with a blog? nah. dog with a JOB. i come into work with my tail and my theta delta necklace and the building implodes from my sheer swag. weirdo teenagers love me. also having your own paycheck means you can get whatever gear/treats you want (once bills are paid, of course - bet youve never heard a dog say that!)
living in your own apartment? well the pet limit is 2 but if i include myself im going over the limit. whoops! good thing i love lying to landlords (fuck landlords). living alone (no roomie) is even better bc theres no one to judge you for your animal habits. i can make a huge den in the living room and who is going to stop me?
i even have my own health insurance. bro. imagine being a dog with medicaid. im climbing the walls and howling and barking. i love being a dog filling out government paperwork.
having your own vehicle? THIS DOG CAN DRIVE! if i feel like going to the lake i can just go to the lake! nobody is stopping me! midnight ride with the windows down to howl at the moon? yes please!!
you can literally just go wherever bro. i moved 11 hours from my hometown to the mountains to feel more at home. i lived in the great plains and now i can just go out for a hike in the rockies and howl at the sky.
being an adult therian slaps so fucking hard i cant wait for the youth to grow up and experience the joy of freedom. yes being an adult is incredibly stressful but if youve been stifled living with family, you get a real chance to develop who you truly are. adult therians i love you im rubbing against your neck and mixing our scents. mwah.
there’s something about how Stede crossing out DEAD and circling ALIVE on the wanted poster like the silly little lover he is manages to be, like…the heart and thesis of the show all in one.
it’s baffling. it’s goofy. it’s a bit sad. it’s optimistic, despite. it’s love in action. it’s earnest beyond belief.