#spoilers discussion

[mewsmagic]

Alright I did say I’d bring my infodumps and fantheying here to tumblr instead so lemme actually do this for once!!

Spoiler warning for Alrecchino’s animated short!

If you haven’t watched it yet, here’s the link!

Alright first things first! It looks like Clervie and Bulle Fruit girl were Alrecchino’s closest friends/sisters, which’s just so cute 🥺

From the visual storytelling and just how we saw Arle and Clervie together much more often than with Bulle Fruit girl, it also appears like Clervie was much much closer to Arlecchino, which’s so interesting!!

I love how Arlecchino is all about blacks, whites and occasional reds, she was always quiet and doing her own thing, and SHE HAD ACTUAL SHORT HAIR UNTIL RECENTLY ACTUALLY!!!! Gnc nation won!!!!

Anyway ahemmm LOL and Clervie was the opposite. A pink, outgoing girl, full of life and wonder for the world she lives in. Also, she was “girly” and wears dresses, while Arlecchino doesn’t seem fond of them (like me omggg)

Like, they’re literally opposites in everything, yet they were so close and so important to each other. Thinking about what comes next hurts my heart like nothing else just because of this.

Another thing I wanna bring up before we move on is: in this part, we learn that Arle’s deal with the black hand is indeed some kind of curse. And that’s probably why she was able to tell Furina’s also cursed, she had experience with one since birth after all

I LOVE THAT THEY HAD THEIR OWN PLUSHIES MADE IN THEIR IMAGE!!!! Arlecchino’s plushie is so cute!!! I wonder if she kept Clervie’s after all these years 🥺

In this part we also learn that their “mother” usually “argues” with her daughters, and for some reason Clervie has quite some injuries. From this, it’s not hard to assume she’s literally beating them up, which’s nasty.

A full grown woman beating up literal kids who cannot defend themselves? As a survivor of parental abuse, I felt this so hard, and I hate that hag so fucking much already.

This part I didn’t get at first, probably bc I didn’t pay attention to the beginning; when I watched it again, I caught it however. Their “mother” not only physically abused them but also made them battle each other to death.

Resulting in Arlecchino being the very one that killed Clervie, and potentially Bulle Fruit girl too.

Naturally, she was full of rage. I would be too, if I were in her shoes.

And that’s why I love her battle against “mother”. I didn’t take many screenshots because it’s a fast moving scene, but “mother”’s dialogue seems to hint that she’s the kind of mother that pretends to be caring and gentle but is actually cruel and ruthless in her actions. Which’s tbh the worst kind of mother probably.

Another detail that caught my eye was that Arlecchino was no match for her without her curse. But as soon as she released and embraced her curse, she not only defeated her “mother”, she blew up the entire building. Which’s epic as hell and I love that for her LOL

I find it interesting that Arlecchino was actually pretty close to becoming a criminal because of killing “mother”. Which’s so tragic when you think that she had already killed Fatui members before (Clervie and Bulle Fruit girl), but they weren’t ranked enough for it to be a big deal, like their deaths didn’t mean anything. But to Arlecchino they did… Aaaaanywayyyy.

For some reason I thought the Arlecchino title succession was much more automatic, like 1. Kill your parent 2. You’re now king. I think it’s because I’ve seen this in other shows before, but here she was taken to Snezhnaya to be judged by the Tsaritsa herself.

Luckily, the Tsaritsa not only pardoned her crimes but also promoted her to Arlecchino. Also I gotta say, her words… “My poor, mad, cursed Knave” hit me so hard. The Tsaritsa does seem to not be that cold and to empathize with her. Based of her tbh.

And at the end, we see a seemingly orphan child. At first I thought this was Freminet, but he has a more yellowish tone of eye color, so maybe this is a random kid?

Anyway, the thing that matters here is that Arlecchino says that she’ll be his strict and unfeeling “father”, which immediately stood out to me against her “mother”’s “kind and caring” approach.

Looks like she decided to be a “strict and unfeeling father” to not become like her own “mother”. This is so real of her tbh. I already knew the previous Knave was nasty, but with this animation it really hit home to me, as a survivor too.

I wanna pull her even more now LOL may all Arlecchino wanters become Arlecchino havers!!!!! I’m so excited!!!!

[winterlogysblog]

Alright... I can't contain my excitement. I have to talk about this. There's no waiting for the translations cause it's pretty clear.

SIXTUS HAS DISASTER

I have suspected that King's son would have Disaster (this is before 4kota came out and when I'm still on the assumption that King's kid is gonna be named Galehaut)

And... here's the thing. From the beginning, Sixtus caught my attention, there is just something about the way Nakaba presented him that I'm like there's gotta be something about this little pink King and I'm right, here we are. I expected Mertyl to have a fight with the Chaos wizard but no Sixtus dropped in and just like his papa his entrance is now one of my favorites in the entire series.

This moment right here solidifies his placement in the narrative too, he's bound to be relevant one way or another, there's no way he isn't, unless Nakaba is being a troll to introduce Sixtus and reveal that he has Disaster only to keep him in the Fairy Realm. This also breaks the glass ceiling for the other supporting characters as well, cause baby you can't compete with this.

I've said this before, Disaster is a ridiculously terrifying power and the Spirit Spears are one of the strongest weapons in the 7ds/4kota universe second only to Excalibur itself.

There are also people that might ask, how does Sixtus even have Disaster when we know that Disaster is only given to the FK's by the ST. The answer here is simple.

King is the first Fairy King to ever have a child, it's not a huge stretch that the ST would just choose King's child to have Disaster and be the next FK, this is also a great opportunity to make the successor stronger as there will be someone to guide and train them to use Disaster.

Also, according to the ever "reliable" Google Translate. Sixtus' Spear is named "Mariatisla"

And after a quick Google search I found this:

The flower Mariatistel which probably is the actual translation and where the name for the spear came from.

[merverelli]

tula burrows end you are everything to me.

[spielzeugkaiser]

How it started-

How it's going!! They are a family and I am!!! also draw the hug you want to see in the show but they are forgiven because them meeting in brokilon was still soooo tender my HEART-

[thats-entirely-too-much-tuna]

these frames are 37 seconds apart. for eighteen months we’ve been reading and writing and theorizing about their eventual reconciliation, and stede bartholomew bonnet managed to speedrun it in THIRTY-SEVEN SECONDS.

[lizzibennet]

my favorite line in the barbie movie was “we’re going back for my doll” like i felt that so so deeply. it’s about the inherent connection a little girl has to her most beloved doll and the abject horror of realizing u accidentally left her behind somewhere. like u do not know what else is happening and do not care if it’s inconvenient you ARE coming back for that doll. similarly it’s about being an adult and feeling so lost and dejected and remembering when the world was yours to invent, yours to build, yours to take - all you needed was that little doll and you were set and it all seemed so simple and magical. it’s about reminiscing and realizing little you knew so, so much, she understood a lot you seem to be struggling with rn. it’s about coming back for and to little you. it’s about waving to the little girl you once were and being kind to her and asking what does she have to share with you today and tucking her in and knowing with absolute certainty what she knew back then: no matter what else is happening, no matter where you are, where you’ve gone, where she is, you are going back for that fucking doll, simply because you must

[roodles03]

This is best moment in the entire show. Tbh the best moment in any cartoon I've ever watched.

I cannot explain what feeling I had the moment this happened. I never expected deaf representation in Helluva Boss of all things, but I am so glad it happened.

I immediately got extremely emotional, almost cried. I'm emotional writing this even. It typically takes a while for me to get super emotional in any scene, but this hit me immediately. No media has achieved that.

And I'm not even deaf, and no one I know personally is deaf, yet I still felt this way. I know how important this scene has to be for deaf people. It's... incredible.

[adh-d2]

Can we talk about Sami for a sec?

She's not the precocious kid. Not the one with the sweet voice who'll break your heart with their innocence, curiosity, and optimism.

She's not the defiant kid. Not the one who'll rage and fight and inspire you with their rebellious spirit.

But she's the one taking it upon herself to care for baby Bayrn. She's the one gently reminding them of how to keep out of trouble. She's the one trying to reassure the new kid that things won't feel this bad forever.

I'll always have a special place in my heart for the kids that aren't as noticeable as their peers. The ones making themselves as small and silent as possible to keep everyone else safe and happy. Don't worry. We see you too.

[battlekidx2]

I want to elaborate even further on why I think Alastor’s breakdown in the finale was (at least in part) motivated by the fact that he has come to care about the people at the hotel. A few people have responded to me saying they don't believe he actually cares or asking me about my opinions on certain counterarguments against the interpretation that he cares and I figured it would be easier to just make one post in response. (this is just meant to expand on my thoughts. You don't have to agree. That's half the fun of media interpretation.)

The consistent throughline I keep being told is that his breakdown was purely motivated by pride and loss of control and I do think these were massive parts of the breakdown.

Alastor is very aware of the fact that the situation around him is spiraling out of his control. That the notoriety he had cultivated as an unchallengeable overlord is crumbling. His time away allowed the fear he sowed to dull. He keeps coming face to face with beings that rival or surpass his strength. People who wouldn’t dare question him before are banging on his door. His foothold in the world isn’t secure like it once was and that has him reeling.

Alastor's pride is a driving factor in his actions, but, like I said in my last analysis, I think this is only part of it. I think this breakdown is motivated by the fact that he feels like he’s losing control of himself on top of the situation around him.

I'm going to start with the points/questions I've been asked first then expand on my thoughts after.

The first one I was asked about is the interpretation that Alastor was mocking the very idea that he would sacrifice himself for someone else when he says "Great Alastor, altruist, died for his friends." and I think that would work if it wasn't for the visuals paired with this line.

He literally looks like THIS when he is speaking the line. This isn’t the face of someone mocking the very idea that he would do this.

It was actually this shot that convinced me there was some truth to the words he was saying because it looks like he’s beginning to have a breakdown over the fact that this is almost exactly what happened.

The second one that I was asked about was the idea that he was forced to fight and protect Charlie by whoever owns his soul. But if he was forced to fight in this battle due to his contract why not describe it this way when alone? How could he even leave if he was forced to fight and protect the hotel? I doubt there was a caveat that he could leave the fight if he was seriously injured if he was ordered to fight and protect Charlie and the hotel.

I do think he's at the hotel because of whoever owns his soul, but I don't think it's why he fought or why he helped Charlie get Cannibal Town to aid them through his connection to Rosie.

And the last one that I was asked about was the idea that the demons had to be fighting for love like Carmilla said to Vaggie to defeat the angels and the reason Alastor didn't win was because he was fighting purely for his own interests. Freedom, power, and control.

And, while I think the base idea of this is really interesting (This is a genuinely cool idea!) and could challenge Alastor's more selfish motivations, the show itself doesn't really back this up.

Charlie is the literal embodiment of fighting to protect those she cares about-- she has the biggest heart out of anyone at the hotel-- and yet she doesn't defeat anyone in this battle.

Before she faces Adam all she uses is a shield to protect herself and the other residents. She apologizes to those she hits, while Vaggie finishes them off. When she does face Adam she doesn't beat him. She gets in a good hit, but she isn't able to finish him off. She would have been killed if Lucifer didn't step in.

Plus, Alastor's shield killed multiple exorcists before Adam destroyed it, so I don't think this means he hasn't grown to care about the residents of the hotel or that there wasn't some part of him that was fighting to protect them.

Now to expand on my own thoughts now that I've answered the questions I've gotten, it's not just the final battle/fallout that brought me to believe he had come to care about the hotel and its residents.

The show itself seems to want us to think he is starting to grow “accustomed” (In Alastor’s words to Niffty) to the group with little moments that are played straight like when he sends Mimzy (possibly his oldest friend) away, telling her she can stay if she truly wants to try for redemption, but if she just wants to put the hotel in danger then she has to leave.

When he says he believes in Charlie and wants to mentor her in cannibal town. He even gives her his microphone which is a literal extension of himself to help her.

When he talks to Niffty (who he is clearly fond of) and admits he finds the group enjoyable to be around. He says he could grow accustomed to them after Niffty says she really likes them almost in agreement with her.

There is no sinister undertone or hint of the usual facade Alastor puts on in these scenes.

Like I said above I don't think that the fact that Alastor has come to care about the residents is the only factor in his breakdown or the only reason he fought in the first place (Alastor's blatant overconfidence in his fight against Adam makes it clear pride was a factor. That overconfidence is why he lost that battle). It's a combination of multiple things (his pride, loss of control, desire for freedom, etc), but I do think it's a valid reading that it was a part of it considering all the information the show has given us.

This isn't to say I think Alastor is going to melt and be a team player for the hotel from now on. In fact, I think he's going to lash out against this internal change.

Alastor has always put himself first and in the finale he almost died trying to protect this hotel and it's rattled him. It's challenged his entire self-perception. He doesn’t like that it’s being challenged. That he’s losing control of himself on top of the situation around him. So, he doubles down on his initial goals.

I think this internal conflict is fascinating. I wouldn't have written so much about it if I didn't. I genuinely can't wait to see what they do with it in season 2.

If you feel differently feel free to send an ask, message, or respond to this post. I'd love to hear what other people think! Differing views and connections to characters is what makes media so impactful and fun to consume.

[feelo-fick]

WHY has no one talked about these panels. fuck it its 12 am (at the time of me "finishing" (<- not even close) writing this, its nearly 2 am) im going to talk about them

ahem.

before i get to the Main Point i wanna discuss chils tendency to spiral into his thoughts

like, sure, yeah, he's a reasonable guy. real logical-- but he tends to rush through so many possibilities and in this scene even berates himself for his tiny mistake. every thought in this scene goes so fast to me here, just "snap snap snap, call for help, no thatll attract too much attention- wait is there a switch? crap its too far away- nevermind lets just wait for marcille- but can i trust her with that?? god im so stupid, am i just gonna be trapped here until morning???" and it takes a moment for him to stabilise and snap out of it

like... he even has a little pep talk about it

i guess you could take this as him merely being a quick thinker? but i highly doubt it -- look at this fucking guy.

anyways. hes always got to be eased out of it one way or another, whether that be complainerism (self-explanatory), strategising with another person (that way all the insecure thoughts get pushed to the back in favour of working together), reassuring himself (discussed above) or...

you. could.

distract him.

place a brick wall in front of that zooming train of thought and watch it crash and burn :)

he doesnt even respond in that first pic, by the way. in fact, he doesnt say anything for another 3 (and a bit) pages, and by then the topic has been safely switched (granted those three pages are just marcille and laios making the familiars, but i feel it still stands that there was no response at all, not even visually)

secondly, in that other instance -- see how his eyes go wide as saucers when contact is made? and how they turn into pinpricks once he looks back**? god. and. like.

oh. fuck. ive gottta continue this in a reblog since ive reached the picture limit on mobile -- i am not even a THIRD of a way through all my thoughts on this- we didnt even get to my footnote!! sit tight everyone :)

[malewifenandor]

as a writer, my honest guess is that the wwdits showrunners were like “we wanna slowburn nandermo to draw out the tension, but a gay slowburn from one side looks like queerbaiting to an audience that has been relentlessly gaslit for decades, so we’re gonna compensate by making every other aspect of the show as gay as possible” and now laszlo gets to have gay sex once per episode. good for him

[mewsmagic]

MY BRAIN IS FINALLY COOKING AND I NEED TO SHARE IT!!!! Honkai Star Rail future penacony spoilers!!!

Before you click it, also wanna warn you that I do discuss leaks in here!!! Just one little bit but still, proceed at your own risk!!

GUYS LOL GUYS GUYS GUYS GUYS GUYS!!!!!

I was thinking about Firefly's whole thing because I LOVE her and I'm so heartbroken with what happened to her in the end of the quest

So I started rewatching the quest and in the middle of that my braincells just finally linked everything together and I went to r/honkaistarrail_leaks to confirm it (although the leak is still deemed as questionable)...

We know Firefly is an 'interstellar refugee'. We also know she's investigating the Watchmaker just like us and there's a reason she's being hunt down by the bloodhound family

These last few bits of info in particular imply that she's affiliated with one of the factions present in Penacony, invited or not

Which reminded me that the Stellaron Hunters infiltrated Penacony because they were not invited, and then that reminded me of an old leak that I stumbled upon by accident, and that Firefly is again, a stowaway....

firefly is actually sam!!!! SO SHE'S NOT DEAD!!!! I'M SO RELIEVED AND SO EXCITED FOR WHATS TO COME

like I don't know if there're any other leaks and I don't wanna look into those because I don't wanna spoil the surprise too much but now I'm wondering a loooot about her

Like, wasn't she sick? wasn't she only able to enjoy her own life and body inside the dreamscape? so how does she transforms into Sam? Is it some sort of techy body suit that compensates her physical limitations?

I have sooooo many questions and I absolutely LOVE that she's a stellaron hunter!!!! Now I'm kinda conflicted because I think Sam's design is really cool and it'd be nice to have playable characters who are different from humanoid yk?

But at the same time, I love Firefly design and I'm super excited to have her as a playable character too

So in the end I just hope both of her versions will be playable LOL like dan heng maybe???

[adamsrcnan]

It's official. I have finished The Sunshine Court. I have so many things to say and yet have no idea what to possibly say. It was perfect. It was absolutely perfect and heartbreaking and gut wrenching and an insane emotional roller coaster and everything i could possibly have asked for from Nora. Like she really truly delivered and i'm so fucking INSANELY grateful she has shared this story with us after all these years. We do not deserve her.

[kell-eramis]

Hey! After you watch Spider-Verse remember to think critically about how you treat Miguel O’Hara!!! He’s a brown character and the way I’ve seen people treat him has been so uncomfortable as someone who is also latino. People either make him into a feral beast (which can add to the dehumanization of POC) or they fetishize him (which acts to see POC as only an exotic object for an audience’s attraction and nothing else). He is a person with his own motivations and flaws, and I’m begging for this website to actually think critically about a movie that is a coming of age story for an afrolatino character.

[heyimcelery]

GO2 SPOILERS

ok I know everyone is still freaking out over the kiss but theres like 5 and 3/4 episodes worth in the rest of the season that have barely been touched.

Forget the kiss for a moment so we can talk about Crowley mentioning Alpha Centauri when the LOVERS Gabe and Bee needed somewhere to go

Crowley mentions that it's a place he'd always like to go whilst also implying to aziraphale (however intentionally) that he thinks it's a great place for LOVERS to run off together

And he had asked AZIRAPHALE to GO WITH HIM to this place only a few years ago

You can see it on his face, aziraphale doesn't notice at first but then it clicks for him and he DOUBLE TAKES

and don't get me started in the expression he gives. Just so surprised and hopeful as if to say "did you really imply what I think you did"

He WANTS it to be true or else he wouldn't have noticed and he's clearly a bit unsure and hesitant but he he's HOPEFUL

It's straight up an overlooked almost fanfic "oh OH" type of moment.

These are the things we need to be talking about now guys. We've had a day to cope over the finale, it's about time we ramble on about other cute moments too

[userjoel]

from VANITY FAIR’S [ NOTES ON A SCENE ] with MARK MYLOD