#the layers to this narrative... masterpiece

[bennetsbonnet]

I really love how, in the course of her confrontation with Lady Catherine de Bourgh, Elizabeth echoes a sentiment that she earlier expressed to Jane about how, so long as the couple in question are happy with each other... who cares what the rest of society thinks? Which causes Lady Catherine to exclaim the infamous and iconic, 'obstinate, headstrong girl!'

In Chapter 21, Elizabeth and Jane are discussing potential reasons for Mr Bingley's abrupt departure from Netherfield. Jane, who always sees the best in people, naturally refuses to believe Elizabeth when she argues that it was Caroline's doing, as Miss Bingley is determined for her brother to marry Georgiana and even goes so far as to say that Jane should still marry Bingley, even if it goes against the wishes of his family and friends.

To which Jane replies:

'But, my dear sister, can I be happy, even supposing the best, in accepting a man whose sisters and friends are all wishing him to marry elsewhere?' 'You must decide for yourself,' said Elizabeth; 'and if, upon mature deliberation, you find that the misery of disobliging his two sisters is more than equivalent to the happiness of being his wife, I advise you by all means to refuse him.'

Essentially, Elizabeth advises Jane to ignore whatever Caroline wishes and focus on how deeply Jane and Bingley regard each other as, if they truly care about each other so greatly (and Elizabeth can see that they do) the opinions of others will simply not matter. Especially when such opinions are influenced by snobbery.

Later, in Chapter 56, Lady Catherine attempts to threaten Elizabeth into rejecting any proposal that might follow from Darcy by reminding her that it will lead to the prospective couple being ostracised by Darcy's noble relations:

'Do you pay no regard to the wishes of his friends? To his tacit engagement with Miss de Bourgh? Are you lost to every feeling of propriety and delicacy? Have you not heard me say that from his earliest hours he was destined for his cousin?' 'Yes, and I had heard it before. But what is that to me? If there is no other objection to my marrying your nephew, I shall certainly not be kept from it by knowing that his mother and aunt wished him to marry Miss de Bourgh. You both did as much as you could in planning the marriage. Its completion depended on others. If Mr. Darcy is neither by honour nor inclination confined to his cousin, why is not he to make another choice? And if I am that choice, why may not I accept him?' 'Because honour, decorum, prudence, nay, interest, forbid it. Yes, Miss Bennet, interest; for do not expect to be noticed by his family or friends, if you wilfully act against the inclinations of all. You will be censured, slighted, and despised, by everyone connected with him. Your alliance will be a disgrace; your name will never even be mentioned by any of us.' 'These are heavy misfortunes,' replied Elizabeth. 'But the wife of Mr Darcy must have such extraordinary sources of happiness necessarily attached to her situation, that she could, upon the whole, have no cause to repine.'

In employing such a threat, Lady Catherine proves that, like her nephew once did, she has grossly underestimated Elizabeth Bennet. Of course, such a threat may work on others of milder temperaments, like Jane. Undoubtedly, Lady Catherine will have previously employed such warnings to great success. But Elizabeth is not a woman likely to be intimidated. In fact, in all that she has seen of Darcy's relations (save for Colonel Fitzwilliam and Georgiana) she would probably relish such a lack of contact with them!

This exchange also demonstrates that Elizabeth understands how, if Darcy seriously wanted to marry Anne, or felt obliged to (man of duty to his family that he is) he would already have done so. And, in my opinion, it's another lovely sign of how highly an opinion of Darcy Elizabeth now holds. Rather than wishing him to have a miserable life, she now believes Mr Darcy deserves better than being pressured by his family into a marriage with a woman that she previously dismissed as 'sickly and cross.'

Most of all, she knows that a life with Mr Darcy would be a joyous one indeed and, despite the wishes of his family, that both Elizabeth and Mr Darcy do deserve such happiness.

[annihilatius]

Resident Evil fans when RE4 remake is actually deep, has three-dimensional characters and makes the player think critically about it instead of the original where every plot point was layed out clearly and concisely in front of the player where every antagonist was an entirely irredeemable one-dimensional baddie saturday morning cartoon villian with no depth or intrigue or realism (they don't immediately understand everything it has to say like the original so that means it must be garbage corporate slop made solely for money)

[kirbyddd]

kirby right back at ya is so cool

the premise of an ancient cosmic evil finding conquering worlds by force no longer feasible in a modernizing intergalactic civilization, so he starts a corporation and shifts to seeding his influence through products and services is an absolutely killer concept

[luna-azzurra]

The Villain Checklist!

Creating a villain is a delicate art, much like crafting a masterpiece. To ensure your antagonist leaps off the page with depth, consider these essential elements for your villain checklist:

Motivation: Every great villain is driven by a potent motivation, one that fuels their actions and sets them on their dark path. Explore their backstory and unearth the core reason behind their villainy. Are they seeking power, revenge, redemption, or something more sinister?

Complexity: Gone are the days of one-dimensional villains twirling mustaches and cackling maniacally. Infuse your antagonist with layers of complexity and nuance. Perhaps they possess redeeming qualities or wrestle with inner conflicts that humanize their actions.

Flaws and Vulnerabilities: Despite their nefarious intentions, villains should be flawed beings with vulnerabilities. These weaknesses not only add depth to their character but also create opportunities for conflict and growth throughout your story.

Backstory: Delve into your villain's past to uncover formative experiences that shaped their present disposition. Trauma, betrayal, or societal pressures can all contribute to their descent into villainy, providing rich narrative fodder for exploration.

Goals and Ambitions: Just as heroes strive for noble objectives, villains pursue their own twisted goals with fervor and determination. Define what your antagonist hopes to achieve and the lengths they're willing to go to attain it, even if it means sacrificing everything in their path.

Antagonistic Traits: From cunning intellect to ruthless brutality, equip your villain with traits that make them a formidable adversary for your protagonist. Consider how their strengths and weaknesses complement each other, creating dynamic conflicts that propel your story forward.

Relationships and Alliances: Villains don't operate in isolation; they forge alliances, manipulate allies, and cultivate relationships to further their agendas. Develop the connections your antagonist shares with other characters, be they loyal minions or reluctant collaborators, to add depth to their character dynamics.

Moral Justification (from their perspective): While their actions may be abhorrent to society, villains often believe they're justified in their pursuits. Explore your antagonist's moral code and the twisted logic that rationalizes their behavior, offering readers insight into their twisted worldview.

Arc of Transformation: Just as protagonists undergo arcs of growth and change, villains should experience their own journey of transformation. Whether it's redemption, downfall, or something altogether unexpected, chart the evolution of your antagonist throughout the narrative.

Memorable Traits: Give your villain distinctive traits or quirks that leave a lasting impression on readers. Whether it's a chilling catchphrase, a distinctive appearance, or a haunting backstory, give your antagonist elements that linger in the minds of your audience long after they've closed the book.

[vintagerpg]

Vermis I (2023) is a narrative art book by @Plastiboo. It’s a gorgeous and darkly layered homage to a variety of influences, new and old — Souls games, old videogames like Shadowgate, more recent ones like Shadow of the Colossus, perhaps Fighting Fantasy gamebooks, perhaps Warhammer. There are many possibilities. And yet it also stands as very much its own thing, a world unto itself. The book’s central question “Which flesh is your flesh?” goes a long way in establishing the sorts of horrors we’ll find on our journey.

There are two things that really make Vermis come to a diseased sort of life. The first is the decision to arrange the book as if it were a strategy guide for a videogame that doesn’t exist. This allows for the introduction of little icons and hints at mechanical systems without committing to building them, which is an enticement to brains like mine to figure out how they MIGHT work. And by providing level maps and strats for boss fights and profiles of magic items, I wind up playing the game on a meta level, reflexively, through the act of reading. This sensation is strange and unique and made for one of the most memorable book-experiences I’ve had in a long time.

The other thing is the texture of the art, the way everything is buried under pixelation, cathode grain, moire ripples and other distortions. It unifies all the book’s visuals in a sort of murkiness that add an almost painful sense of mystery and danger and inscrutability to the narrative.

Vermis is a dark masterpiece of creeping dread, and anyone who tells you it isn’t a game to be played isn’t to be trusted.

[pharawee]

I usually don't do yearly recaps because my memory sucks December is one of the busiest months for me and I'm lucky if I get to gif at all but this year I thought I'd take a look at all of the gifsets I did in 2024 and see which shows, pairings and moments I liked the most.

✨FAV BLS OF 2024

1000 Years Old: 2024 was supposed to be the year of vampire BL (going by all the announcements and pilot trailers) but in the end only this one aired (edit: wait, I forgot about OMG! Vampire to protect myself 🥴) - and it was neither spicy nor particularly spooky. Instead, it was all heart and quirkiness and when it was over I cried for a week because of the bittersweet ending.

Playboyy: This show is truly a masterpiece, with layers of subtext and social commentary. Also, it's fun and camp and sexy and ridiculous. I'm so glad it's going to get a second season.

Caged Again: How come that a little show about a penguin and a panther is legit one of the best - if not THE BEST - Thai BL of the year?

Knock Knock, Boys: I came for Best and Seng and Pak but then Almond and Latte bewitched me body and soul. Kongthup now owns me.

Every You, Every Me: I don't know what I was expecting (well, okay, a whole lot of Mick & Top - which is exactly what I got) but it surely wasn't crying my eyes out for two episodes right in the middle of the show.

Spare Me Your Mercy: Long awaited and currently still airing - I actually love this show a lot because it reminds me of all the detective dramas (esp Endeavour and Grantchester) I used to binge. Morse but make it queer is actually all I ever wanted.

7 Days Before Valentine: This show's depth and artistry and stageplay-like character absolutely blew me away.

I Saw You in My Dream: WeTV absolutely blew it out of the water this year with their many diverse productions, and this unassuming and charming little show with a supernatural twist (love me one of those!) was no exception.

Monster Next Door: Big Thanakorn in his first main role with his first acting partner in an extremely fun and all around lovely Kongthup/WeTV production. And I just love how nuanced it was when they could have just stuck with the whole introvert/extrovert cliché.

✨FAV PAIRINGS OF 2024

Hope x Save (Jack & Joker): These two completely took me by surprise, especially because I had such an intense reaction to Pee Phiravich's character in La Pluie. I had originally set my eyes on PromMark and while I definitely ate up their crumbs, HopeSave just checked all of my boxes: morally grey antagonists (at least for a while there), doomed by the narrative (until they actually got their happy ending, yay!) and ride and die for each other.

Pete x Kenta (Pit Babe): I'll be a PeteKenta truther until the day I die (see all of the checkboxes above), and if Change2561 didn't subscribe to the branded pair model, they'd agree with me. As things are I'm actually kind of meh about Pit Babe 2. I bet KentaKim won't have knives at each other's throats!! (PeteWay is delicious though.)

Prom x Nont (Playboyy): Uhhh, that's a lot of the same checked boxes. So maybe I have a type. Thanks 2024 for making me realise. Also, I hope these two make each other worse in season 2 (before they get their HEA because ultimately I'm vanilla like that).

Latte x Almond (Knock Knock, Boys!): Oh God, these two. I was prepared to be ride or die for Thanwa and Peak but then LatteAlmond barged in with a pink sex toy and it was over for me. They just have so much heart and so much sincerity between them (and while their dynamics are different in Caged Again I'm really enjoying Nokia and Jaonine there too for pretty much the same reason + their incredible comedic timing).

X x Namping (Every Me, Every You): It's probably a good thing we got these two for two episodes only because we might not have survived a whole 8 or 10 or even 12 episodes of them. Plus, the anthology-like character of the series made a sad ending possible in the first place, and I really appreciate it - even if it almost destroyed me.

✨FAV MOMENTS OF 2024

Twins: For a moment there we had FrameRyan and it was beautiful.

The Sign: Chalothorn stole the whole show for me and then when he inexplicably vanished I kind of stopped watching. Whoops.

Deep Night: I have seen the throuple light thanks to SeijiPanKen.

The Rebound: Frank Thanatsaran's acting (but also that scene...) overshadowing pretty much everything else (and now he's with Star Hunter which... you know... ehnnnn 🥲)

To Be Continued: Fluke Pongsapat and Junior Khajbhunditt starring in a way underrated 8-episode netflix show with one of the most beautiful love scenes ever, and I've been wanting more of them ever since.

Two Worlds: Kongthup giveth and Kongthup taketh away (aka for one and a half episodes I had Phupha and Khram and now I will never know peace).

Century of Love: Offroad Kantapon as a sultry fox spirit.

Sunset x Vibes: When Star Hunter remembered Fong and JJ exist and then they stole the whole entire show (there really wasn't much to steal though...).

The Sign: Whatever was going on between Heng Asavarid and Nat Sakdatorn in this scene BUT I NEED MORE (pls Idolfactory I'm begging you release Heng from his solo actor prison).

Two Worlds: Kongthup choosing violence by giving Pak and Mon one of the spiciest love scenes of the year.

The Rebound: THESE TWO (boxes checked!! But also I need more Nammon in my life).

Kidnap: GMMTV's strategic placement of Papang in a suit.

The Hidden Moon: Whenever that tiny low-budget show got surprisingly deep and artsy (and also spicy).

My Stand-In: When I watched a whole show for one (1) character that wasn't really a character at all. Oh, the tragedy of it all (and yes, I'm still scared of Ming).

Pit Babe: When I made several posts about the Pit Babe novel but then I actually ended up loving the villains more than the main characters. I'm watching Pit Babe 2 for them and them only. Winner of my heart here I come!

Aaand that's it, my first ever yearly (Thai) BL recap - which actually ended up way longer than planned (guess my memory isn't as bad as I thought. Then again, I had my gifs to fall back on).

2024 was an amazingly diverse year for Thai QL (along with the wonderful news of marriage equality in Thailand finally becoming a reality) and looking back I now realise (not that I was ever seriously worried) that gmmtv's monopoly is actually way more of a blessing than a curse because not only did it cause WeTV to heavily invest in their own productions, it also leaves more than enough room for innovation and creativity via smaller and indie companies (along with the truly big players finally paying more attention - see: Spare Me Your Mercy). Innovation which in turn enriches gmmtv's portfolio as well (judging by their line-up for 2025 the years to come). In short: the Thai BL ecosystem is truly thriving.

And with that, may 2025 be even queerer than 2024 with tons of marriage proposals and actual marriages (PorschArm here we go!), and a favourite little (or in gmmtv's case not so little lmao) BL niche for everyone.

I hope you had as much fun with BL in 2024 as I had. I really appreciate everyone's commentary posts and meta and fanart and gifsets and tag games and reaction posts, even if I didn't spend as much time on my dashboard this year as I wanted to. I'm so glad tumblr BL fandom exists. ILU guys. Only the bestest and kindest things for you in 2025!🌈✨

[kenney-mencher]

Northern Bear by Kenney Mencher

Kenney Mencher’s Northern Bear (24x36x1.5 inches, $1,200) is a body-positive celebration of queer masculinity. This oil-on-stretched-canvas masterpiece depicts a heavy, masculine bear, blending classical techniques with a modern understanding of inclusivity and pride. It’s a tribute to strength, softness, and the beauty of diverse bodies in queer culture. Check it out here.

The oil medium provides a lush texture, with Mencher layering his strokes to create depth and a tactile sense of presence. The colors are warm and earthy, featuring browns, ochres, and muted blues that ground the figure in a sense of intimacy and authenticity. The chiaroscuro shading sculpts the body with light and shadow, celebrating its curves and strength, while the painterly brushwork adds a dynamic energy to the piece. The composition uses the rule of thirds, placing the subject slightly off-center to draw the viewer’s eye and create balance within the asymmetrical arrangement.

A Celebration of Queer Ideals and Body Positivity

Northern Bear fits perfectly within queer ideology and gay men’s decor as a symbol of pride and representation. The bear archetype is celebrated here in all its glory, validating older gay men, bears, and anyone embracing body positivity. This isn’t just a portrait; it’s a narrative of self-acceptance and the celebration of non-traditional beauty. The juxtaposition of the heavy, grounded figure against the soft textures of the background highlights the tenderness and strength found within queer identity.

Kenney Mencher’s work stands out for its ability to elevate the everyday into the extraordinary. His focus on queer bodies and his use of classical painting techniques bring depth and emotional resonance to each piece. Northern Bear is a testament to his commitment to inclusivity, celebrating the beauty of diverse bodies with pride and artistry.

[writerthreads]

Ten must-read books for writers (or anyone, really.)

By Writerthreads on Instagram

Obviously this list is highly subjective and based on my research and personal experience. Please share your favourite books as well!!

1. To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf

Woolf is the queen of the stream of consciousness and a master at diving into characters' inner thoughts, conveying complex emotions, themes and perspective. Her prose is breathtaking, her character memorable.

2. Beloved by Toni Morrison

Morrison tackles difficult themes with poise like no other, diving into topics like grief, trauma, and identity. Read this book to learn how to develop multi-layered narratives whilst maintaining perfect pacing and a intricate narrative structure.

3. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

A masterpiece. Sharp social commentary, eloquent prose and vivid imagery... what more can you want from a book? Every word was chosen for a purpose, and it shows the importance of restraint in writing.

4. The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien

Tolkien's legendary fantasy world-building makes his series a staple in fantasy literature. The geography, cultures and histories in his works are well-crafted. Anyone trying to build a complex world can learn from from this series.

5. Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf

Our second Woolf classic in this list! Mrs. Dalloway is a masterclass of a perfect character study. Woolf weaves different viewpoints intricately, capturing the essence of human experience.

6. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Austen character development is legendary, showcasing complex, evolving characters like Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy. The novel’s witty dialogue show insight into personality and societal norms, and her narrative voice and well-structured plot keeps readers hooked to the very end.

7. Never Let Me Go by Kazoo Ishiguro

Ishiguro’s novel presents a quietly devastating exploration of memory, identity, and humanity through a dystopian lens. The subtle, restrained prose and profound emotional impact illustrate how to weave complex themes into a seemingly simple narrative.

8. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

This book made me cry so very hard. The author explored themes like identity and fame, while creating an engaging and multi-layered plot that had me hooked. Reid’s vivid prose showcases techniques for creating emotionally resonant and storytelling that allows readers to feel for the characters.

9. One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

Márquez’s masterpiece provides a gorgeous, profound exploration of magical realism. Its intricate narrative and richly imagined world blends fantastical elements with real-world themes into something unique and breathtaking.

10. Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte

Brontes exploration of dark themes, framed within a dark and brooding narrative, makes it the quintessential gothic read. It's emotionally intense, complex in structure, and definitely memorable, perfect for any budding writer dabbling in dark academia, modern gothic literature, horror, etc.

And here's my rather shoddy list from a non-English major who reads too much! And Sorry for the lack of accents on the required letters, I haven't figured out how to add them on my laptop. Please give me a general opinion on my book recs and whether they're good, or if you have more suggestions! Lots of love.

[windylink]

Sailing Into Legend: How The Wind Waker Changed Zelda Forever

🌊✨ The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker - An Epic Analysis & Discussion! ✨🗡️

Hey Zelda fans! Let’s dive into one of the most beloved and talked-about games in the series: The Wind Waker. 🎮💙

🎨 Visual Masterpiece & Bold Choice When Wind Waker first launched, its bright, cel-shaded cartoon style shocked many fans expecting a darker, more realistic Zelda. But guess what? That bold art direction has stood the test of time! Its vibrant, expressive visuals make the world and characters pop like no other Zelda game. Toon Link’s iconic look has become a fan favorite and inspired many sequels and spin-offs. 🌟🖌️

⛵️ Sailing the Vast Ocean The game’s biggest innovation? The vast open sea! Instead of the usual Hyrule fields, you explore a sprawling ocean dotted with mysterious islands. Navigating the Mascarón Rojo (your trusty boat) gives a true sense of adventure and freedom. 🌅⚓️ Sure, some players found the sailing a bit slow or repetitive, especially hunting for Triforce shards, but the HD remaster fixed many pacing issues with faster travel and improved controls. 🚤💨

🧩 Puzzles, Mazes & Gameplay Classic Zelda magic is alive here: clever puzzles, epic dungeons, and memorable boss fights. Plus, new mechanics like controlling the wind with the Wind Waker baton add fresh layers of strategy and fun. 🌬️🗝️ The game balances challenge and charm perfectly, especially with the optional Hero Mode for those craving extra difficulty!

❤️ Story & Characters That Stick With You The narrative blends humor, emotion, and legend. Link’s journey from a peaceful island boy to a hero facing ancient evil is timeless. Characters like Tetra/Zelda and the Mascarón Rojo bring heart and personality, amplified by the expressive cel-shaded art style. It’s a tale about courage, friendship, and moving forward - literally and figuratively. 🌟👑

🎮 Legacy & Fan Debates The Wind Waker sparked tons of discussion:

Original vs. HD version - which do you prefer?

Is sailing a relaxing voyage or a tedious chore?

Favorite dungeon or boss?

The emotional impact of the ending?

This game perfectly shows how Zelda can reinvent itself while staying true to its roots. It’s a masterpiece of art, gameplay, and storytelling that continues to inspire fans worldwide. 🌍💫

Drop your thoughts, favorite moments, or fan theories below! Let’s celebrate the magic of The Wind Waker together! ⚓️💙✨

[maybe-boys-do-love]

Neo Trai is just INCREDIBLE at creating characters who front. They’re angry or cocky or aggressive, but from the get-go you can see IN HIS PERFORMANCE that their overcompensating. He does it with some of the most subtly expressive eyes in the business (watch, for example, how his eyes shift around if he ever has to do a slowmantic face-to-face scene), which contrast with his athletic physicality and a mouth that curves down where others have smiling corners. He works them all together to create a LAYERING of conflicted characterization. It’s SUCH A SKILL!

Then it’s SO IMPRESSIVE to see how he wears down the grime of those fronts to reveal the vulnerable shame and confusion underneath, especially since we know they aren’t shooting these series in order—so he’s keeping BRILLIANT track of his characters’ developmental arcs.

And he’s gotten to do this work in different styles within different genres—campy comedies to realistic dramas—with none of the characters fronting in the same manner.

And it’s an especially valuable approach to character-work in BL because fronting is a core experience for a lot of queers, notably in this instance for mlm (see: the problematic but still insightful book, The Velvet Rage), whether they’re unknowingly putting on a front to maintain the closet they were forced to grow up into, or putting on a front of stereotypical gayness to meet social expectations they feel pressured to embody to be understood. Not to mention how alienating that latter approach would especially be to mlm who also feel attracted to other genders!

The most beautiful aspect is that his characters don’t seem conscious of their fronts. They’ve created these psychological shields without knowing it, compartmentalized pieces of themselves, and we as an audience are just waiting for the walls to crumble. Because we see the facade is a facade so early on, we’re drawn into the narrative’s momentum and feel compelled to watch how it will unfold. How will the front fall? Will it be softened so that these characters will feel free to be honest about their fears and therefore loved so they no longer need their defenses, or will the fortresses be tragically toppled as the characters receive their comeuppance for hiding inside the lies they’ve learned to tell themselves?

I’m so glad to have Neo coming back as Boston in Only Friends Dream On because that character is a masterpiece of character writing and Neo’s abilities. Plus, I was a bit afraid we had lost him from BL-world after his public announcement about who he was dating. What he crafts in his queer roles is far too impactful for him to be totally done with mlm characters yet!

[otp-after-dark]

Final THT thoughts: What Could Have Been.

As a long-time fan of the book — and the book version of the Nick/Offred relationship — I’m honestly sickened by the ultimate message this show chose to send. Atwood’s novel isn’t just a dystopian masterpiece —

it’s an empowering, ahead-of-its-time feminist work that dared to show how women can be brave, sexual, flawed, and still worthy of love and freedom.

It’s about reclaiming power in the most personal and political ways. And Nick and Offred, as written in the book, are central to that. Their relationship is not just romantic — it’s radical. It’s about desire in a system built on oppression. About choosing for yourself, when everything else is chosen for you. Offred’s relationship with Nick was not an escape — it was a reclamation. A choice. A refusal to be broken.

“I did not do it for him, but for myself entirely.”

And this was never just about desire — it was about safety, intimacy, and resistance in the harshest conditions. It was about what it means to find a corner of love in a world built to erase it:

“We make love each time as if we know beyond the shadow of a doubt that there will never be any more, for either of us, with anyone, ever. And then when there is, that too is always a surprise, extra, a gift. Being here with him is safety; it’s a cave, where we huddle together while the storm goes on outside.”

As a woman who has embraced desire, fire, and freedom in her own life, I really despise the message this show ultimately landed on. Instead of honoring the complex, layered love story between Offred and Nick — one born of resistance, defiance, and mutual recognition — the show punished June for her desire, her rage, her grief. It pushed her into a narrative of guilt and “healing” that felt hollow, and worst of all, erased the feminist power of her relationship with Nick.

And let’s be honest — the show completely lost its footing when it ran out of source material. Season 1 was gold. And there are moments in Seasons 2–4 that still shine. But the further it drifted from Atwood’s vision, the more it lost the nuance, the fury, the purpose. Instead of sharpening its message in the wake of our current political climate, it softened. It sanitized. It forgot what made the story dangerous and important.

And in that unraveling, they did Nick so dirty. He was one of the most compelling, quietly radical characters the show had — a man who chose love and rebellion from within the system, who risked everything to protect June, not because she needed saving but because he loved her as she was. His emotional repression, his deep moral conflict, the way he operated in the shadows — it all built up to a portrait of someone torn apart by love and war. It's shameful we never got to see his shift into his real Testament-style characterization — not just the man who loved June, but the man who helped take the system down from within.

“More likely it was ‘Nick,’ who, by the evidence of the very existence of the tapes, must have helped ‘Offred’ to escape... A number of Mayday operatives are known to have infiltrated the Gileadean power structure at the highest levels... Nick must have been at the same time a member of the Eyes, as such chauffeurs and personal servants often were.”

That’s who he was — a double agent with everything to lose and a deep, dangerous, unwavering love at the center of it. The show gave him crumbs. The book gave him purpose.

Through it all, Max Minghella gave one of the most nuanced, understated performances on television. He brought depth, longing, and an aching restraint that said more in a glance than most characters said in a monologue. For the show to sideline him, to reduce him to a narrative obstacle, to not even give his arc closure — it was not just a disservice to the character, but to everything Nick symbolized. He was part of the heart of the story, and they let it go silent.

What makes that even worse is how the show treated Serena. A woman who was not just complicit in Gilead’s violence — she was architectural to it. She helped build the system that enslaved and raped women. She abused June physically and psychologically. And yet, the show bent over backward to give her a redemption arc. It tried to frame her as a mother, a victim, even a potential ally — and in doing so, tried to sell us a version of female “sisterhood” that’s frankly insulting. You don’t get to brutalize women and then claim solidarity. The fact that Serena ends in a place of relative peace while Nick is treated as a monster? That’s not justice. That’s a betrayal.

The power of what this story could have been lives on in the moments they couldn’t erase. The quiet tenderness. The resistance that looked like a hand on a belly. The truth of a kiss shared on a bridge in a burning world. The bridge kiss will live on in infamy.

I will always love Season 1. It understood what this story was. Some of 2–4 had glimmers of that brilliance. But ultimately, The Handmaid’s Tale betrayed its own thesis. It punished the very kind of woman the book celebrated — angry, passionate, morally complicated — and tried to redeem the kind it condemned. And that’s a shame.

[maxdibert]

Omg Sansa Starkk!!!! The TV show did her so dirty. Holy shit, they took a complicated layered character (every character of asoiaf is complicated and layered actually) and gave her the most dismissive interpretation possible.

Fuck, when I heard the criticism against game of thrones, it being sexist and the depiction of violence against women, teenager me dismissed it. Then I read the books, and I agree with every criticism 😭

Sansa irritated me in the first couple episodes of season 1, until everything turned and it became a helish nightmare for her and then I felt immense sympathy for her. In the books, she became my instant favorite.

Even Arya had more layers and complexity in the books. Arya was much more human in the books, loved it.

The show assassinated several characters—it didn’t just simplify some, like Sansa, but outright destroyed others. For example, they turned Arya into a complete psychopath, period. The Arya from the last three or four seasons had literally zero personality; she was just a badass who killed people, that’s it. She would put on her psycho killer face, and that was her entire character. She was only there so the male audience could jerk off.

And then there’s Daenerys’ character assassination. And listen, this is coming from someone who can’t stand Daenerys and found her chapters in the books unbearably boring. But even so, I can’t stand it when characters are disrespected in certain ways, and what they did to Daenerys at the end was a complete disgrace. She went from being one of the main characters, always framed as good, positive, and revolutionary by the narrative, to literally a crazy, sociopathic, genocidal maniac—it made zero sense. I’m not saying it couldn’t have happened. Sure, you could spend two more seasons showing how she descends into madness. But don’t do it in three episodes—that’s just pure nonsense. Plain and simple.

And well, WELL—I won’t even get into the rant that is, for me, the biggest crime of the entire trash show: THE CHARACTER ASSASSINATION OF JAIME LANNISTER. Jaime is one of my absolute favorite characters in the saga, and his redemption arc is one of the best I’ve ever seen. It’s truly a masterpiece of storytelling. I can accept that the show’s Jaime was more meh and had less charisma, but what I can’t accept is that after setting up a redemption arc so well, they ended it like that. Like, WHAT. They should have just killed him off during the Long Night—seriously, I wish they had done that. It would have been less painful. What a complete disaster.

Anyway, back to Sansa. She has always been my favorite character from the very beginning, in both the books and the show. I also think she’s a particularly interesting character when it comes to analyzing misogyny within fandoms. Both book Sansa and show Sansa get endless hate for one simple reason: she’s a normal girl. Sansa isn’t a dragon queen, she isn’t a ruler, she isn’t a rebel like her sister. Sansa is just a regular aristocratic girl with regular dreams for a girl of her age and status—someone who has always lived in a bubble. And her reactions, her doubts, and her fears are exactly what any normal person in her situation would have.

And that’s what audiences can’t stand—first, because she’s a reflection of themselves, since most people would act and react like Sansa, not like Arya. And second, because in a patriarchal view of women, a female character is only acceptable if she has traditionally masculine traits (she leads like a man, fights like a man, speaks like a man). A female character with flaws, whose personality isn’t masculine but also doesn’t cater to male fantasies, is unacceptable—so she becomes a constant target.

So yeah, as I’ve been saying for over ten years: hating Sansa Stark is misogyny, and I will not elaborate on this because I don’t do free education for misogynists.

[zcinderone]

Some ideas and criticism about case2

spoiler

I realized why people were so split and clueless right till the end. It’s because the murder itself was too simple, not too mysterious. You literally need only two existing facts to figure out whodunit a year ago: Only Teruko, Ace and Eden had access to the tape. Eden had alibi for the fish. Nothing in the resuming trial even helped further uncover or hide these two clues. Recalling the band is a bonus point as a physical proof for boss fight but not needed to know it has to be you! In classic DR cases you have to go through layers and layers of the murder mystery itself and when things are peeled and exhausted well enough, the candidate close to the last layer is most definitely the one. Yet this case is so unique: they only dabbled on the murder method a bit and quickly locked hard on two targets, effectively creating a delusion in your subconsciousness to expect some extra layers to unravel the secret when it really was the first and last one. But the case itself was so compelling because they went through such fantastical trivial things to construct solid conflicts and personal stories(which is arguably the best part in my opinoin about DR formula ) and consumed so much time. Had they switched order by chance and discussed the method first, it would literally be game over from the get-go.

Still, there are things I really feel that did damage to (further pefecting )the story.

1,Ace was in fact quite clever to figure out and pull such convoluted plan but locked this in a very narrow scope including himself. Their reasoning is well Ace choke her unconscious so people would lock some stronger dudes dismissing ladies I guess so he needed to imitate Nico which makes 0 sense and actually double locks him as that one would be strong enough and have been at the previous crime scene. And the explanation for all that is, quote Charles “ace is nothing if not unintelligent so he thought it would work” so simple and so incoherent.

 2, Water with fish, complete plot device, to help clear Eden and lock Ace, despite he can get water anywhere and more safely.

 3, Scuff on the floor, never mentioned again, you could guess it is from the struggle and it can make sense but it felt so off not even mentioning it in the closing argument.

4. Arei just didn’t wear her glove that morning. This one knocked me out hard.

There are still some things I don't find convincing but I somehow can forced myself to believe they could work and don't affect a great murder case. But these four I'm not so sure.

So far, I feel story-wise drdt still probably is the best I've seen but I genuinely feel this chapter didn't deliver a murder mystery(by itself not the whole trial) nearly on par. It's such a pity that there is some great chance already in its narrative that can make perfect sense out of a 3rd party twist(imagine how this would be received when everyone was fretting between Ace and Eden ). Every best wish to this masterpiece in the future, especially hope it can genuinely outsmart me, not in a "you believe I am way smarter but no I fooled you!" kind of trick-smart me way.

[the-tmnt-ficfinder]

Christmas Kindness submission

To Qoldenskies,

I’ll straight up say it. You write my favourite Donnie angst out there. There’s the obvious masterpiece that is the Canary Continuity, and the horrifically underrated Coming Undone. Both are such visceral, heartbreaking experiences that I have enjoyed from start to finish. And Caged Lungs broke me down. Miner’s Eulogy was what shattered me, though, and Clipped Wings? What a RIDE. With each chapter you post, I can’t believe we’re getting closer to the END. Not the END. I don’t want it to end, but it’s gotta. We do need that promised happy ending.

Honestly, your interpretations of the characters? Especially Donnie? They’re so well thought-out and clever. There’s so many important layers to them and what drives them, and it all comes together SO WELL. You’ve definitely done your homework and put a lot of care into your stories. It shows.

What I also have to praise is how beautifully crafted the writing ITSELF is. The metaphors and parallels are so clever. You use them masterfully to paint a better picture of the characters and their struggles. It’s like you have two narratives running at once, sometimes, the obvious one, and the supporting one that explains so much. I don’t always catch that, since I’m not that smart, but I know it’s there. Commenters help me out by bringing attention to it. 

Emotions? Spot on. I feel so much, and the experiences are painted so viscerally that it’s hard not to feel along with the characters.

And I wanted to also bring up one more thing. I really like how you ‘distort’ and break up the dialogue when the characters are in distress. The stammering, the added words, (for examples, “I’m— I’m too muh-ch,” “something’s wro-wrohng, Raph and Leo are ouh-out—“ (cu) “I’ll d-do– I’ll do any-hhh-thing,” “I’ll– I’ll clean it up, I promi- hhh -se!” (cl)) really helps me HEAR how they’re talking. I’ve never seen stuttering or dragged-out words articulated so ‘as-said’— meaning, that is exactly the noises they’d be making if you heard them (particularly the shuddering of breath that accompanies then ‘hhh’, if that makes sense). This is probably my favourite little detail exclusive to your work. I absolutely love it. It’s such a small thing but it definitely enhances the reading experience.

Because I don’t want to leave out your ‘smaller’ fics, I wanted to say that I have read Circomvating Death, too. It definitely is a nice little refresher to all the angst (but I LOVE angst), and I’ve enjoyed the humorously chaotic adventures of Donnie and Casey Jr. Whenever you get back around to writing for that, I’ll look forward to seeing where they go next!

And Enhancements? Short but sweet pain. The idea of NO existing painkillers working on them makes a lot of of sense. The super-soldier piece is such a fun little concept to play around with, whether for badass purposes or whump. I also love seeing the concept referenced in your other stories. It works great as a little headcanon establishment. It doesn’t need to be a massive masterpiece to still be great.

I know you’re also planning Where We Went Wrong as a B-team sep AU, and I’m definitely looking forward to that and your bad things happen bingo prompts! I know all that’s in the right hands, and 

You have a lot of talent, and you deserve all the positive feedback, fan art, and fanfics you’ve gotten so far.

And I did read the post where you said that your family is too poor to celebrate Christmas, but I hope you can cherish the time you all have together regardless (and beat that Christmas Curse that’s plagued you for the past couple years). <3 Have a great one! Wishing you all the best.

@qoldenskies

Christmas Kindness Event Post

[afterthefuneral]

Heya, what's your stance on the dreamverse theory?

I’m not a fan. Look, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is a fun, silly movie made for laughs and nostalgia. It’s no Kubrick masterpiece of symbolism and deeper meaning. You aren’t meant to find 6 layers of meaning and interpretation. The writers simply weren’t that deep. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a great movie, but Eyes Wide Shut it isn’t. Too many plot holes and side stories for it to be this giant meta narrative. Simple as that. And besides, having the entire movie being just a dream seems like a lazy cop out, don’t you think?

But don’t take my word for it, view it as you wish. Don’t feel like you have to interpret something as one way or another just because some random person on the internet tells you to think a certain way.

[usagirotten]

Why Mr. Robot Is the Cyberpunk Masterpiece You Didn’t Know You Needed

Mr. Robot: The Show That Made Hackers Cool Again (But Also Sad, Real Sad) Alright, fellow sci-fi heads and tech romantics, let’s talk about one of the most underrated psychological thrillers of our time: Mr. Robot. If you’ve ever wished Fight Club had more code, fewer abs, and a darker, glitchier aesthetic—this show’s for you. It’s not just a drama about hackers. It’s a deep, moody exploration of mental health, capitalism, and whether we even control our own lives in a surveillance-obsessed society.

Sounds heavy? It is. But stick with me, because it’s also one of the smartest shows you’ll ever binge. 🧠 Meet Elliot: Our Favorite Unreliable Narrator At the core of Mr. Robot is Elliot Alderson, a hoodie-wearing loner who’s basically the Batman of the darknet—if Batman had social anxiety, insomnia, and a serious dissociation issue. Played by Rami Malek (yes, that guy who crushed it as Freddie Mercury), Elliot is equal parts genius and mess. And then there’s Mr. Robot—his rebel mentor, played by Christian Slater—who may or may not be real. I won’t spoil anything, but if you like plot twists that make you question everything, you’re in for a ride. The rest of the fsociety crew? They’re misfits with purpose. You’ll love Darlene’s punk energy and curse the name “E Corp” every time it flashes on-screen. (Seriously, it’s Evil Corp. Not even subtle.) 🎥 What Makes Mr. Robot Hit Different? Fourth Wall? What Fourth Wall?Elliot talks to us—yep, you—like we’re part of his broken reality. It’s trippy, unsettling, and incredibly effective. Cinematic AFWeird angles. Silent tension. Haunting scores. You don’t watch Mr. Robot. You experience it. Actual Tech AccuracyForget movie hacking with 3D cubes and blinking lights. Mr. Robot keeps it real—Linux terminals, Python scripts, social engineering. It respects its nerds. When it premiered in 2015, it looked like another cyberpunk thriller. But what creator Sam Esmail delivered was far deeper: a complex narrative about mental health, capitalism, surveillance, and identity—all wrapped inside the story of a socially isolated hacker trying to bring down a corrupt conglomerate.

🚧 The Flaws (Yeah, It’s Not Perfect) Okay, even masterpieces stumble. Some episodes in the later seasons slow to a crawl. Dialogue gets... philosophical. Occasionally, you’ll yell “Just hack something already!” at your screen. And a few side characters? They fade into plot devices. Still, the emotional and thematic payoff by the finale? Worth every minute. 🧩 Themes That Stick With You Mental Health ≠ GlorifiedElliot’s mental illness isn’t a superpower. It’s raw, painful, and treated with care. Late-Stage Capitalism Gets RoastedFrom debt culture to surveillance to Big Tech overreach—Mr. Robot isn’t subtle about the system being broken. It’s here to smash it. Morality Isn’t BinaryHeroes make bad choices. Villains have sympathetic motives. You’ll be questioning who you’re rooting for the entire time. 📺 How It Stacks Up If Black Mirror had a long-lost, emotionally tortured cousin with a vendetta against capitalism, it’d be Mr. Robot. Unlike the anthology format of Black Mirror, this show follows one wild, spiraling plot across four seasons. Fans of Fight Club, The Matrix, and even Breaking Bad will find plenty to obsess over here. 👾 Should You Watch It? If you: Love tech Are fascinated by mental health Like stories that don’t spoon-feed you Appreciate stylish, smart storytelling Then yes. Plug in. Hack in. Fall in. But if you’re looking for quick payoffs or feel-good fluff? Maybe not this time. 🧠 Final Thoughts Mr. Robot isn’t just a TV show. It’s a layered, brain-breaking critique of everything from data privacy to the illusion of choice. It’s dark, it’s demanding—and it’s absolutely worth your time. So the question is: Are you ready to wake up? In an age where data is currency and algorithms shape behavior, Mr. Robot isn’t just relevant—it’s prophetic. It asks the big questions: Who owns your identity? What is real in a curated digital world? Can individuals still disrupt systems? For anyone working in a space influenced by tech (which is all of us), those questions aren’t fiction. They’re strategic considerations. 🖥️ Have you watched Mr. Robot? What did you think? Drop your thoughts below or hit me up on Discord—we’ll debate capitalism and keyboard shortcuts all night.

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