#the interpersonal dynamics are complex and revealed slowly

[wildwren]

THE GALLOWS POLE, EPISODE 1: THE RESURRECTION OF DAVE

Written and Directed by Shane Meadows

Your place in hell is assured. But we're here to offer you a second chance.

[astrolocherry]

Birthday Libra Moon - Love Sick Girls.. You were just a Moon Phase she was going through...

written by astrolocherry

The Libra Moon perfects the vision until the fantasy can be daydreamed to completion. As a child, she was captivated by such insatiable imagination, and to this day she is still chastised for those glassy eyes that reveal she has left the world behind. The Moon loves Libra for the opportunity to dream with this dreamer, and the natural qualities of sympathy, sensitivity, interpersonal intuition, aversion to conflict, and need for deep bonds that each share. She is Alice drinking the love potion mixed by the Gods, knowing all too well that nothing is ever what it seems, she knows, but so easily forgets it’s all a dream. As a child of Aphrodite, she is adorned lunar locket around her neck that reflects her scenic mood in a moon mirror. She goes through people, feelings, reactions, and emotional needs in phases. Everything was once just a phase. It can accompany a tendency of becoming swept up in certain obsessions and preoccupations that fade as quickly as they fixate. 

The Moon in Libra is glossed in a rosy blush across the sky. She is subject to a grand and cinematic imagination that believes the Cinderella love story into real life. But these tinted lenses can be tainted too, and she can absolutely personify the definition of ‘blind ideals’ or ‘romance is blind’. This may become most evident in the dynamics of relationships that occur behind closed doors in the backdrop of a very black and white public and personal life. The people that she interacts with on a general day-to-day basis may find it difficult to comprehend her complexity considering she is much less demonstrative, and for example find it surprising she has a temper. There is a conscious and strained effort to uphold a social composure that masks the rawness of her feelings and reactions. The natural instinct is to form and maintain connections as if survival depends on it, so she rarely willingly compromises her impression or reputation.

The Moon hides her trigger points inside her loved ones, and these people become unwilling provocateurs in this lunar projection showcase. While this inherent to the human condition, this forms the basis of her impersonal and personal perception. In can be expressive in the Moon in Libra child in her vivid magical thinking, with the emphasised belief of being solely responsible for an adult’s actions, emotions, or sickness. The magical thinker’s voice becomes softer as she grows, though often embedded deeply enough to become part of her conditioning and general self and world view.  It may become a subconscious tendency to adapt to the feeling state of loved ones while ignoring her own. As this distance grows further and she pours more of herself into other people, she only becomes more empty. Maybe she carries false convictions, like a toxic person is the dose of medicine she has always needed. Maybe she also carries false convictions, like a toxic person is the dose of medicine she has always needed. Internalised reactions and anger slowly builds into long-term resentment, a deep and powerful sensation that shows itself covertly and begins scratching away at the relationship over time. Internalised reactions and anger slowly builds into long-term resentment, a deep and powerful sensation that shows itself covertly and begins scratching away at the relationship over time. Suddenly she makes a radical and life-changing move or a shockingly explosive ‘out of character’ exhibition when those long forgotten emotions have finally the decision clear. It’s important for the individual to let go of feeling responsible or controlled by other people’s feelings. She must first learn the way of interpreting and managing her own.

It’s also possible for the opposite to occur with the Moon in Libra. Unsettling experiences, emotions, or reactions become attributed to the actions or the presence of a loved one. In a positive sense, it’s ‘you always know how to cheer me up’, in a negative sense it can be ‘i’m only nervous because you are nervous if you would settle down I would be able to’. This can be quite a tragic expression of the Moon in Libra, as such individuals tend to distance or leave people in order for life to get better. And yet it really never does because this Moon in Libra cannot leave herself, and the problems that she drags along just become additional projections. This is rarely as malice as it can seem, and it often highlights a deeper vulnerability, sensitivity, and and almost primitive childhood fear of the shadow apparitions, a secret and awry expectation of looking deeply inside themselves and discovering the very person they have never liked. And all Moon in Libras battle with this demon.

Harmony in the home is necessary as financial and material security. Every guest in her house is made feel at home and ease, and she is also soothed by the sound of company, unmade beds, and tiny footsteps down the hall. She is a fine hostess with a way of intuiting and meeting everybody’s needs, though she cannot fall asleep fighting, and she can wake with a hangover from heavy tension or arguing the night before. High emotions, stress, and distress can cause the side-effects like lower back pain, bladder, urinary or fluid trouble, bloating, weight gain, migraines, or even sugar loading and over or under-eating.   

The Moon has many phases as the Libra Moon has faces. The child is afraid of being left alone and struggles finding a voice. The adolescent is transfixed with acceptance and being everything to everybody. The young woman is perceptive, yet full of self-doubt. The businesswoman can be quite the dominatrix in business, intelligence is the charm she mixes with coaxing beneficial partnerships. And the old wise one in Moon in Libra has finally served justice to herself. She matters. She always did matter as much as everybody she fought so hard for 

Cherry 

[aqvarius]

With people comparing Namba and Matsunaga (both older, both have an ex which feels redundant plot wise, and having moments of being laid back but also stern), which of the two do you think is the better?(Though I'm not sure if rmd will go beyond the 2nd epilogue since all the backlash from LC and we'll probably never see any more character development from each guy)

hmmmMMMM okay so i still have thoughts about the future of rmd (which i’m still working on slowly to try and get all my Thoughts in order) pending for another ask BUT i actually still haven’t read namba’s adversaries so i feel like i can maybe make a decent comparison without namba having too much advantage

so matsunaga and namba are REALLY similar. the sad thing is that matsunaga’s history with his ex should tie into the plot but it really doesn’t (or rather the link between ex and the plot comes out of literally nowhere) unless you’ve read all the right heart scenes (i’m just presuming this, it might also come out of nowhere even if you’ve read all the heart scenes and also i don’t know which ones exactly bc i didn’t wanna spend any hearts on this route lol). 

CUT FOR BIG SPOILERS

i do actually think that matsunaga’s route had more potential to weave in some more complex themes but ultimately ended up being a bit more basic(?) in terms of its core message. while yes, it is groundbreaking for voltage for them to write a bi love interest, i felt the way they tackled sexuality in this route wasn’t the most thoughtful. i mean, for the patient to basically go nuts (honestly don’t even remember his name bc this route made so little impact on me and i didn’t enjoy it enough to save screenshots lol) and murder his ex because he chose to preserve his public image as a celebrity and date a woman just felt like (1) not the most thoughtful character construction for a non-straight character and (2) just a way to (dare i say tokenistically) shoehorn in matsunaga’s sexuality without making it a genuinely impactful part of his personality and the development of his relationship with the mc. 

for one, i have to reiterate that it really did come out of nowhere. most of the route focussed on matsunaga’s health issues (frankly unnecessary imo). for me it felt like the health issue thing was a way for matsunaga’s backstory (particularly in relation to kasumi) to be written in, and then the thing with his ex was the way for his character to relate somewhat to a seemingly unrelated case (the actual medical/patient case aspect of the route), but they honestly threw that in so last minute and it was such a passing thing as well? like i feel like matsunaga’s route and his character were developed more from the whole downplaying his health issues thing than his sexuality. however, because the climax of the route was about the patient going berserk, they kind of were like let’s diffuse this situation with a dramatic reveal about matsunaga’s sexuality and that GENUINELY felt like all that was used for. like all of the “getting closer” moments were related to his health issues or hanging out the pomeranian lol. 

also honestly the ways in which both the patient and the female patient dealt with the singer’s death was exactly the same (i.e. wanting to die bc what’s the point in living if he’s no longer there) so i didn’t really see the point of there being two of them aside from setting up for a more dramatic ~gasp the singer was bi~ moment which in itself was just a setup for a more dramatic ~gasp matsunaga is bi~ moment right at the end. i also felt like they could have addressed the idea of fear of social discrimination in a more nuanced and thoughtful way? essentially i wasn’t a fan of the whole “he was afraid of being in a publicly gay relationship with me so i killed him bc he broke up with me to be with a woman” thing. and in my opinion, matsunaga contributed NOTHING to that entire theme aside from just saying “i had a boyfriend and we broke up for the same reasons except i didn’t become a murderer” which like........ you could have used this opportunity to actually explore the pain and difficulty of needing to hide your relationship because of social taboo or being discarded because your partner chose public image over you rather than just write this character off as a vengeful gay ex vs the good bi guy (matsunaga who just accepts injustices like ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ que sera sera). i thought it would have been a stronger and more sophisticated story had they either focussed on either one theme or the other in this one route (health/life expectancy issues vs sexuality) instead of kind of having both be treated a little half-heartedly. the feeling i got was that the first step to getting closer (and i say this laughingly bc honestly the distance between them even after 30 chapters is GAPING) was the pomeranian and then the topic that gave their relationship a little more depth than “we’re just hanging out with your dog” was the revelation of his health issues. 

also the idea that people live on through your memories of them felt a little like... overdone/simple? or that it was lacking a more sophisticated engagement with the idea of death, legacy and memories. i’ve read school life shoujo manga that deals with that theme in a more interesting way. so for me, it felt a little ingenuine that it was treated by as a perspective or way of thinking about death that was like a mindblowing new way to look at life ahead, especially since the characters involved are in their 20s, not early teens. 

so anyway i think that matsunaga has potentially a deeper character? namba has more or less ‘healed’ or at least learnt to cope with his issues enough that you wouldn’t know anything is up but it’s clear that matsunaga still has a lot of personal issues to work through, so there was genuine potential to overcome some of that boss-subordinate power imbalance through having genuine connection between just humans or to develop him as a character whose prioritisation of others is maybe a flaw. i just think that they crammed so many things in that none of it really got addressed or developed properly lol.  

i will say that i find matsunaga is way less fun than namba? namba is more of a “my pace” kind of guy - he’s more random/eccentric which i enjoy. matsunaga’s persona is more just like a regular nice guy? you would NEVER find matsunaga just on the street in costume pretending to be a fortune teller for no reason but to give you random love advice? 

but on that same note, i definitely feel less chemistry between matsunaga and his mc compared to namba. maybe this is just bc i only read matsunaga’s normal ending in which she confesses and asks him out and he literally SAYS NO AND IT ENDS WITH HER GETTING REJECTED (and i’m p sure they still aren’t together even in the happy ending or the epilogue), but the whole time i feel like there was only ever a parent-child relationship between them. i never felt like matsunaga treated her any different than how he treats literally anyone else in the EICU. i actually think he treats kasumi the best out of everyone, including his mc. the weird thing is that rmd actually had way more time and potential - i mean they literally SET THE TWO CHARACTERS UP IN AN EXPLICITLY ROMANTIC CONTEXT and there was still NEGATIVE amounts of romantic chemistry??? HOW? namba and his mc literally were in a boss-subordinate dynamic the entire time and they still had more chemistry and genuine interpersonal connection without it feeling like the mc is a small pet vying for her owner’s attention the entire time while also somehow simultaneously trying to mother him? i’m not kidding when i say that namba and his mc are more fun in 10 chapters than matsunaga and his mc are in THIRTY.  

ALSO namba’s (consistent lol) berating of his mc makes sense with his character and the context and is justified every time because his mc is a thoughtless noob (but one with potential that he sees his old self in). on the other hand, matsunaga has one moment when he scolds his mc for... some reason... but because she’s supposed to be this superstar student, she doesn’t really make the mistakes that allow her those learning opportunities. and then matsunaga basically just lets her do whatever she wants re: dealing with patients.  

oh and also the plot of namba’s route is better. 

in short, matsunaga’s route had potential but i feel like the missed potential and the lack of thoughtfulness in cramming in too many themes and not making the most of them are huge negative factors. namba has a more fun character, there is SO much more romantic chemistry between him and his mc, the plot is better and more interesting and has a twist without it feeling forced, namba’s comments about his age/their age gap make more sense for his character, his sprite is more attractive (lmaoooo), the relationship development is more organic, even the moments of rejection feel both more earned and heartbreaking. tl;dr: namba wins

ALSO sorry it took me so long to reply!! i’m still half in and out of tumblr 

[aion-rsa]

Lucifer Season 5 Episode 2 Review: Lucifer! Lucifer! Lucifer!

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This Lucifer review contains spoilers. We have a spoiler-free review here if you prefer.

“You are different, but sometimes change is a good thing.”

Though I’m generally not a fan of the doppelganger as a primary plot device, Lucifer takes a risk and trots out our titular hero’s twin brother in a story that gives the detective a chance to solve a case and pave the way for a welcome return to the status quo. The murder investigation takes a back seat to a crime of the heart perpetuated by the archangel Michael, but “Lucifer! Lucifer! Lucifer!” still puts Chloe at the center of this latest challenge and provides a solid bridge toward developing her burgeoning, yet seemingly ill-fated relationship with the Devil.

Tom Ellis gets to spread his acting wings literally and figuratively here, and while his American accent falls a bit flat, that certainly can be attributed to the director’s vision of Michael’s second rate status when compared to his infinitely more well known sibling. It’s a nice touch to have Michael employ fear rather than desire as his celestial superpower, and it’s particularly meaningful when we combine his conversation with Linda and the 1994 Polaroid of her holding a baby. To this point we’ve interpreted her approach to raising Charlie as that of a typical 21st century helicopter parent, but now it appears there may be a much darker reason for her actions.

Lucifer explains to Chloe in the season premiere that time has passed much more slowly for him during his stay in the underworld, so it at first seems understandably natural that it might take some time for him to reorient himself with his former life in Los Angeles. Like Chloe, we excuse the little white lies as simply the “new Lucifer,” since his inability to lie has been one of the fundamental ironies and delights of his character. It’s been awhile since we’ve seen Dan and his pudding, and when we observe Chloe’s ex puzzle over Lucifer’s compliments and the offer of Dan’s favorite snack, it ignites a spark of recognition that this is not really Lucifer. 

Watching a naked Lucifer preen and practice in front of a full length mirror should be enough to set off our devil-sense, but after the previous episode’s uncertain ending, the possibility that it might take Lucifer some time to adjust after thousands of years in Hell seems a reasonable assumption. Nevertheless, it doesn’t take long to see that this is yet another chapter in the celestial family’s dysfunctional existence, and it will be up to Chloe and the gang to unmask this jealous imposter. Once Mazikeen discovers Michael’s truth, the fundamental question centers around how long it will take the detective to decipher the clues.

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Lucifer Season 5 Part 1 Review (Spoiler-Free)

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We’ve watched Dan take the first steps toward rebuilding his life after Charlotte’s tragic death, but life just refuses to cooperate when it comes to Maze and her personal relationships. After Chloe cuts her loose as a partner, it’s not at all surprising to watch her assist Michael in his plan to ruin Lucifer and Chloe’s lives and their relationship. She feels abandoned and mistreated by both. But then, despite the emotional pain she bears, Maze reveals a core value system that refuses to allow Michael to steal the purity that still exists between the Devil and the detective. We don’t know how long Chloe’s has known that Michael isn’t Lucifer, but that doesn’t matter; Mazikeen’s willingness to put her own hurt aside for her friend speaks volumes about this increasingly undemonlike demon.

In retrospect, Chloe’s understated response to Maze’s initial betrayal makes sense because, like her demon friend, she’s already concluded that the man wearing Lucifer’s designer clothes is not who he pretends to be. We get a wonderful scene between the two as Chloe reassures Maze that their friendship hasn’t been destroyed. “You’re trying to apologize in your very awkward demon way,” she tells Maze before confessing that she’s also decided to take her relationship with Lucifer to the next level. And speaking for much of the fan base, “I think we’ve waited long enough.” Yes, Chloe, we agree.

The theme of change runs continuously through the series, and even though Chloe’s insistence to Michael that she likes the new Lucifer, the subtext of her mini-speeches should become even more significant once the Devil returns to Earth. Michael  flips the script and conducts a serious interrogation of guest star Sharon Osborne as Chloe does her best to insert innuendo filled commentary into the process. Of course, Osborn thinks she’s talking to Lucifer when she expresses gratitude for the help the Devil provided her husband Ozzie – “From one Prince of Darkness to another.” Kind of cheesy, but I still like it.

That said, on the surface, it’s difficult to believe Amenadiel fails to immediately recognize Michael, but taken in conjunction with his preoccupation with baby Charlie’s safety, we’ll cut him some slack. The dynamic between Luci’s brother and his human wife is priceless as is the image of him carrying his son around strapped to his chest as Lux patrons go about their hedonistic business in the background. However, it’s Linda’s confrontation of Lucifer at the precinct that crystallizes her concern. “Who’s watching Hell?” 

On the other hand, Amenadiel can rest assured that Lucifer has the demon population of Hell well in hand, but his willingness to risk his family’s safety for the sake of the human race shows just how much he’s changed in his time on Earth. Amenadiel understands the havoc his siblings can cause and must feel it’s worth the risk to ask Lucifer to return to help prevent a potential apocalypse. It’s hard to believe Michael has given up his quest to bring his twin to heel, so we now wait for his next move and anticipate Tom Ellis’ dual portrayal.

The episode’s title makes a not so subtle reference to the 1970s sitcom The Brady Bunch, and the murder investigation of one of Anders Brody’s (sounds like Brady) participants in his Red Mars 2 project takes a back seat to the turmoil caused by Michael’s appearance. The cultural references work as Lucifer takes control in Hell while Brody backs a mission to put the first manned colony on the Red Planet. The revelation that Brody actually fears going into space and the project only serves as a publicity stunt in his competition with industry giant Jeff Bezos and real-life SpaceX founder Elon Musk seems a bit silly in hindsight.

Once Lucifer found its footing during its early seasons and established the complex web of interpersonal relationships engaged in by both humans and celestials, the procedural aspect of the show has gradually moved further into the background. Yes, the parallels between aspects of the criminal suspects and the challenges the core characters face in their personal lives continue to have meaning, and “Lucifer! Lucifer! Lucifer!” certainly continues that trend. It’s just that the complexity of the crimes and subsequent investigations don’t resonate as they once did. And that’s okay.

Needless to say, the episode bombshell Michael drops on Chloe as he slinks away, looks to drive the subsequent narrative, and her relationship with Lucifer faces perhaps its greatest test yet. Will Michael’s pronouncement that she’s merely a “gift from God” put on Earth to be Lucifer’s plaything resonate, or will she consider the vast body of work that comprises her history with her long time partner? 

While Michael’s interference may not be enough to sustain interest for very long, Lucifer quickly puts into motion several plot subsets that should have more staying power once the Devil returns to Earth. Lines are beginning to form, and yet again, Chloe finds herself caught in a web spun by others whose motives clearly do not align with hers.

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