#this is what i get for deciding to make a 2x8

[knitnightstudio]

Rings of Our Flag Means Death

This is somewhat conjecture but I have a theory about Ed's rings on Our Flag Means Death and I need to get it out of my head and written down. I'd be thrilled if @davidjenks could confirm but I understand if he's too busy!

I'm sorry about how bad these pics are, because of how Max blocks its content I had to take photos of my computer rather than screen grabs.

My theory is that the bright green ring Ed wears in Season 2 belonged to Stede and that when Ed destroyed the ship right after Stede left in season 1 Ed found the ring and kept it. I am basing this on nobody wearing it in Season 1, it being way too big for Ed, it being Stede's color, and Ed not getting rid of it when he gets rid of the "poisoned" loot. As you'll see below, Stede's rings are canonically too big for Ed. There is NO reason for Gypsy Taylor to make Taika Waititi wear a ring that doesn't fit unless there was a specific reason for the ring.

Additionally, When Ed gets rid of all the treasure in 2x6 why would he keep the ring if it was part of the plunder? There is no way he'd keep it unless it meant something important to him.

Then Ed throws his leathers overboard but he STILL keeps the green ring. Why would he do that if it was part of what the leathers meant to him?

It HAS to have a different meaning, and I believe that meaning HAS to be Stede.

We all know that Ed kept Stede's black tie after they switched clothes in 1x4. He wears it through most of season 1. He has a history of keeping part of Stede close to him.

You can't see the tie in season 2 until he has decided to drive the ship into the storm, so sometime between when he leaves Izzy with the gun, and when he tells Frenchie to let him steer the boat he put the scarf back on. After he and Stede are reunited we don't see the scarf again until it is placed on Izzy's grave. Why?

I think it's because the crew knew that the scarf belonged to Stede. If Ed had worn it prior to driving into the storm the crew would have definitively known that sweet Ed was still in there. Clearly they knew why Ed was behaving in the way that he was, but I think Ed probably thought he wasn't being so obvious.

He could wear the ring and thus keep Stede close to him because nobody had seen it before and would just assume it was from a plunder, not as a reminder of Stede.

Stede could have given it to Ed before they got separated, I'm assuming if he had we would have seen that. But regardless if Stede gave it to Ed or Ed took it, the fact remains it HAS to be Stedes as far as I'm concerned.

Once Stede and Ed are reunited he doesn't need the scarf anymore. It's too reminiscent of the life he wanted to leave, but the ring symbolizes Stede without the pirate baggage.

_______

These are Ed's rings in season 1. I have watched pretty darn closely and other then when he and Stede change clothes, they remain the same all season. AND THEY FIT HIM.

This is Ed wearing Stede's rings. They are clearly too big for him. All of them are sideways nearly the entire time he wears them.

In 2x1 Ed is suddenly wearing this ring. It's a bright green rectangular stone being held in by 4 prongs. It is NOT seen in season 1. The image below is from the sequence of them going on all the raids and is the only clear pic i could get of the green ring in 2x1.

You can see it a lot more clearly in 2x2.

It also does NOT fit Ed well, just like Stede's other rings from 1x4. He wears is all season except in 2x5 when he doesn't wear any rings. He does wear it in 2x8 I just didn't take a picture. You can see it most clearly when Ed puts his hand up when he is trying to save Izzy.

Ed gets rid of his leathers but keeps the green ring

[iamadequate1]

Unpopular Opinions on 2x6!

I was in and out of WJW yesterday, but was it said who (Max or DJenks) initiated the 2x6 rewrite? I know Max is to blame for the truncated episode count and episode length, but the makeover-pressure storyline of the original 2x6 maybe just was not working and they decided to correct?

We don't know exactly what "makeover" entailed, but Ed already found Stede attractive under any circumstance (the hanged and sickly look of 1x4, still trying to kiss him after seeing him in that ugly af wig for most of 1x5, that adventurer outfit in 1x7 that did no favor for his legs, etc.) and Stede was already confident enough to try for sex in 2x5. I'm not sure what would have been the point of a Stede makeover, whether it was to make him more "manly" or more "fancy" or more "pretty and gnc" or more whatever was going to be used. The thing that was holding Ed back was wanting to be careful and fear of being hurt again; a Stede makeover wouldn't have helped that, and the crew intervening would have done more harm than good. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Really, the only thing Ed/Stede-wise I'm missing in 2x6 is some degree of sexual tension and a slow dance, dammit. Oh, and really more segue scene in going from on deck, to below deck, to on deck with Ned Low. That was weird.

But, here's the thing: Stede is underdeveloped in S2 compared to Ed. I wrote this thing between the releases of 2x7 and 2x8, and this is the biggest failure that Max gave OFMD in this time truncation. (And the biggest failure from DJenks + company in response is spending so much of the premium screen time on Izzy instead of killing him off early, but I digress...)

This is what I ended that post on, and I stand by it:

I think it should be noted that as of the end of 2x7, Stede is the only crew member who hasn't had mental reflection and/or therapy in Season 2. He realized Mary, Alma, and Louis didn't need him and he was in love with Ed in 1x10, but the voice calling him a child with a toy, an idiot, weak, and ugly is still there.

This is why we need an S3!!!

So, on the lost makeover scene, Stede is the only character that has explicitly had body image issues (from what I remember...), so I really could do without a makeover scene, especially with Stede getting dumped the next episode just a few hours after sleeping with Ed the first time. If Ed had given given him cute reassurances that no makeover was necessary, the dumping would have been even worse! If the crew had pressured the sex in any way, that dumping would have been EXTRA even worse!

I think the makeover/cupid stuff was best left out of canon. I'm sure it would work in a fanfic, but in the placement of the canon story, I don't think it belonged. We REALLY needed more time between "take it slow" and The Banginging (just like we needed more time in the cocaptains era), but 8 episodes, I enjoy the beat breakdowns they chose in the time they were allotted,

Getting more into unpopular opinion territory: I don't care in the slightest that polycule scenes were cut since that storyline is so incredibly uninteresting to me; I don't mind it, but I just don't miss it when it's not around. We don't know who made the call on cutting the polycule scene(s), but IMO, gay Die Hard with Lupete was way better than anything the polycule could have done. And moving the Lupete wedding to the end made the season end on a higher and more hopeful note.

[evilguacamole]

My prediction for Owl House season 3. Each episode is going to focus on one of the main trio characters.

Special 1: the Luz special. We get to see the kids experience the human realm. Lumity date. They work to make a portal back. We get some Luz struggling with leaving Eda and King behind. We get some talk with Camilla about staying and going. Somehow they get a portal working and Belos makes himself known as he fights for control of the portal. Maybe to connect to the rest of his goop? I suspect they all get through; kids and Belos. Alternatively, Belos is used as an ingredient to make the portal work, but this has consequences. Luz's palisman hatches and Gus's magnifier comes in handy.

Special 2: the Eda special. We are dropped in at the moment the draining spell ends. Most of the BI is alive but without magic. The coven heads, however, are barely alive, having been the main ingredients in the spell. At this point those with magic are just the Hexside kids. Eda isn't drained but she's still cursed. I suspect Lilith is in the same boat. Eda also has permanently lost an arm. She likely will have some sort of prosthetic by the end. Eda, Lilith and Hooty work to get Raine, Darius and Eberwolf off the tower as the world crumbles. The special has those six seek out the Hexside kids, terrified that Luz, King, Hunter and the other kids are dead. The Collector begins collecting people to play Owl House and the six barely escape. The Collector creates a giant owl fortress for their game. The adults and Hooty meet up with Hexside kids and they form a plan. Somehow. It's possible they work to make a portal on their sideand it's actually how the human side portal really works. They may go and find King's blood sample from 2x8. Regardless, the two teams get united but also Belos is likely back as well. We may get Hexside Against The Throne. The HATTS. At some point in this special we get Eda and Raine back together and, hopefully, a kiss. The twins are important at some point here.

Special 3: the King special. We rewind back to Luz being shoved in the portal. We then see the new Owl House being formed from the inside. Most of BI is right there for capture because of the abomitons. King now has to keep The Collector from killing people. At first this is just trickery but I suspect they will become friends. They talk about King's dad. King decides, like he did with Steve, he doesn't want to subjugate but to care, which is why he can befriend The Collector. King works to teach empathy to the Collector, that they can be mad at what Belos did but also appreciate real friendship. We see some failed attempts by the other Coven leaders and it tests their new ideas of empathy. I'm uncertain how the HATTS come into play or how it all ends. There will be some sort of permanent portal, however. We may get an epilog with a Lumity wedding.

Those are my official predictions.

[oh-he-grows]

After two weeks of stressing and planning and screwing around in chief architect, I came to the obvious conclusion that I should just make raised beds out of basic-ass pine boards. Here's all the research I did so you don't have to agonize over your potential project. All prices are from Lowes. Below is a cost analysis of my project, which would be for 512' long of raised beds (for a growing area of 1,000 sq ft). I had in-ground beds last year but a massive influx of bunny rabbits ate everything that they could, so I'm looking to lift my plants off the ground a bit.

I was originally planning on using pressure treated 2x8s, but soon got sidetracked into cedar fenceposts and pressure treated landscape timbers, so here's what I eventually found:

Cedar fenceposts are great for a small scale garden. If you need 1 or 2 raised beds, I would recommend cedar fenceposts for cost and longevity purposes. If one piece gets damaged somehow, it's cheap and easy to throw in a replacement. They're incredibly cheap relative to other options, resistant to rot and moisture, beautiful, and can easily fit in almost any vehicle which can't be said for the dimensional lumber. Here's a build video for the most elegant fencepost raised bed I found. Downsides: the fenceposts are very thin, barely half an inch thick-- you can't sit on them or put too much pressure on them. They also require more bracing on the corners and in the middle, as well as a top-strip, as shown below. This is factored into the "Specialty Hardware Cost", and is calculated with pressure treated pine- using cedar for these pieces would look nicer (as below), but are much more expensive and some dimensions are out of stock. They're also a lot of work at scale. For my plan (to look good), I would have to cut off the dogear notch at the top for 280 boards individually, and put four screws each into 280 boards individually, which is an obscene amount of labor and hardware.

Next up are Pressure Treated Landscape Timbers, which I first saw from a Millennial Gardner video where the tagline was "lumber dealers HATE this trick!". Which may be true, but screw manufacturers LOVE this trick. They look really pretty and the wood is extremely cheap, but they're short individually, so you would need to stack 3-4 on top of each other to get the look I'm going for. Most importantly though, these need long screws (50 cents to a dollar each) to connect two boards to each other every 24-48 inches PER layer, and additional rebar if it's being used as a retaining wall, which would be another $4 on every side. The wood is cheap and rot resistant, but the hardware costs creep in.

Cedar boards are too expensive. Flat-out, they cost so much money it's insane. nearly $50 for a single 8' 2"x8" is inordinately expensive for a project like this. For the price of one miniature cedar bed, you could get multiple metal beds that will last decades instead. The final deliberation was between Yellow Pine and Pressure Treated Yellow Pine, and I'm deciding to go with regular untreated pine. The price is an extra 30% - 50% cost, and untreated pine should last (outside of the pacific northwest or florida) for 3-5 years without issues, while pressure-treated could last 10 or more depending on the conditions. Pressure treated boards leaching their chemicals into your food is mostly overstated, as arsenic hasn't been used in the process for 20 years now; although, I understand the reservations about using any chemical so close to food supply. The modern process apparently uses copper-based solutions and various fungicide for copper-resistant strains. I've included two cans of boiled linseed oil in the hardware costs for this to help protect them further, and I might find some kind of plastic or other barrier to protect the wood from direct soil contact to keep them going longer. I think I'm going with the 2x12s as well over the 2x8s, just because I like the idea of a taller bed if I'm just using one board. It's more expensive for sure, and the only thing I'm still deciding on. For the most part it's purely aesthetic, but some plants would prefer a bed larger than 8 inches, so that's why I'm leaning towards 12". It turns out that with the bulk discount that comes with 50 boards, 68 2"x8"s are the same price as 34 2"x12"s, but 4 inches taller. I might have to get some additional 2x4s for corner bracing, but this might be the way. I hope this info helps someone build a raised bed and start gardening, or help their garden become more successful (for cheaper). If I got anything wrong or if there are alternatives let me know, I'd love to hear anybody's thoughts.

[jennawynn]

Chronotrek SNW to season 2 finale

Wow, I thought I had written at least one other post here. Turns out the show, like Discovery, is interesting enough that I couldn't watch it while working, which meant it was competing with all my other free time goals. Took me a while to get through them all! But I'll be headed to TOS next, which means I'll be able to watch while working again.

2x3 Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow

They really like to use timeline fuckery in Trek, don't they?

I had a realization- this Jim Kirk actor was in Army Wives (he was a soldier who tried to marry the general's 17 year old daughter) and one of the brothers in Vampire Diaries and even though I didn't _consciously_ remember either of those parts, that might have had something to do with why I was not a fan initially.

La'an has to shoulder so much. Survivor of gorn, bearer of her name, temporal agent to protect a genocidal murderer... and she can't talk about a lot of it and has nobody to share the burden with.

2x4

Why does the computer specify "officer's quarters" if everyone is officers? I don't know if you can tell, but this still really bothers me. Like... someone mentioned it's because they all have college degrees and are astronauts, etc., but... lots of enlisted have college degrees. That's not what makes you an officer. And AS a former enlisted, to me, it's 'if you work with your hands, you're enlisted'. If you're an officer, your job is more about either managing people or being the mouthpiece. When I see lieutenants and commanders holding tools it bothers me.

"I'm Erica Ortegas and I fly the ship"

2x5 Charades

It's going to bother me if Spock's mannerisms are treated like they're genetic and not cultural. He's not stilted and his language choices aren't because he has Vulcan blood, but because he has grown up on Vulcan around other Vulcans. Changing his DNA to human wouldnn't change how he acts. /sigh I'm trying to be better about recognizing the difference between storytelling device and realism and when one can be sacrificed for the other.

Amanda looked so different here, I needed to look it up to see if it was the same actress.

Charades? Really?

So by the end of the episode, I decided that they handled the mannerisms better than I had expected.

Demiromantic Nurse Chapel?

2x6

Zombie!Hemmer is fucking terrifying.

2x7? Crossover

The crossover was funny, which bodes well for me enjoying Lower Decks when I get to it in about 17 years. It's _AFTER VOYAGER_.

2x8

Digging M'Benga. He reminds me of a character I built once- a war vet who wanted to help instead of hurt. Except where my character was a True Believer on the Enemy Side who sought his own redemption, M'Benga was corrupted by the violence surrounding him and struggles with the consequences of sticking to your principles. It's very compelling.

The scene with the injured boy really spoke to it- you may have the luxury to sit out the fight and be pacifist, but that only means that someone else will be taking up arms in your absence. If you're a better warrior than most, is it ethical for you to put your weapons down when others will die because you weren't there? People who might not have died had you used your talents?

2x9 Subspace Rhapsody

Musical episode. Just when I was thinking that I was surprised Pike didn't sing his intro, the music was acapella.

Were all the bunny lines references to Buffy?

I like the relationship between Una and La'an.

Why exactly was it a two-person job if they're at the same console? I would have expected 'cross-targeting' to be like triangulating, needing to target from two different locations to better identify the target. Preferably from two SHIPS but at least two locations on the same ship.

I don't really like the way the singing was implemented. It feels like over-studio polished lip sync instead of being organic.

Why would they skew the frequencies like that on the UI panel?? future.

2x10 Hegemony

This one snuck up on me. I didn't realize the season was so short OR that it was over after this.

There was another "My God" that confuses me because I thought ST was post-religion.

Pike was willing to risk everything for Wynnona Earp Batel, but is he willing to do the same for his crew?

Does he feel a little invincible because he 'knows' his future? Is he aware of his Plot Armor? If he tried to kill himself prematurely, would it work? Confusing time stuff.

Anyway, I'm off to TOS. I'm not sure yet how I'll handle when SNW comes back.

[jojameswinter]

When Jiara are on the bus in South America and JJ is comforting Kiara telling her they’ll find the other pogues and not to worry, I swear he was about to wrap his arm around her or at the very least put his hand on her shoulder because you can see him turn his body towards her and his hand start to move up before there’s this very abrupt cut to where conveniently we can only see JJ’s face and nothing else.

UGH. Sometimes the editing on this show is so frustrating for them. The cropped, out of focus 2x01 hug. The 3x01 poguelandia hug that was clearly edited out after JJ jumps off the cliff. The 3x04 bracelet touch that was never meant to be. Not being able to see them holding hands as they’re running out of Kitty Hawk. And I’m sure there’s even more but these are just a few examples.

Obx editing/filming can be a little iffy in general, but obviously I’m a bit bias when it comes to my favourite ship lol. They better show us everything next season or I’m throwing hands!

Yeahhh...some of the editing is really frustrating, BUT-

I think the editors also contributed to creating jiara, SO. I can't be too mad at them. The editing they did of JJ's facial expressions and the cuts they chose for his reactions in S1 🤌

I actually did like the hug in 2x1 (that took me a sec, I thought you were talking about the infamous dock long shot in 2x8 where we missed either a hug or Kie pulling JJ in at least). Even though the 2x1 hug could've been framed a bit better, I really loved the close-up of JJ's emotional expression and him nuzzled into Kiara's shoulder/neck.

I also thought for sure JJ was gonna put his arm around Kiara on the bus in South America 😭 That would've been such a nice, subtle little addition for their newly formed union. But alas...3x10 was a bit of a drought 😭 It's almost as if they decided to do the 18 month jump and were like OH WAIT let's make jiara vague, then went overboard and deleted anything relationshippy.

Let's not even get me started on bracelet touch 😃 They released a still and didn't show it. I...yeah. The only thing I can think of is maybe that was used when there was going to be a potential kiss and they didn't think it matched the vibe anymore. But YOU AND I KNOW THAT IT BELONGED THERE NO MATTER WHAT! There are some things I'll never understand and that's fine!!!!

We are gonna send ALL the positive vibes to the universe for S4!!!!

[cuddlyreader]

Hi friend! Holiday challenge for you: what would you choose as your five favorite delena scenes? Good luck :)

Alright. I had time to think about this.

I love the evolution of Damon and Elena from strangers to friends to lovers and all that it entails. I love that Damon falls first and is so devoted that everyone can see it. I love the third season when they are friends, and Damon is there for Elena like no one else. I love the fourth season because Elena knows she loves him even if everyone else, including Damon, questions it because of the sire bond. I love season five because they are finally a couple (and they are cute), and even when they break up, you know they will get back together because they are forever. I love season six because Damon has lived without her, and he values her all the more for it. He is so soft and loving that it takes her no time to fall right back in love with him. I even love seasons seven and eight because he holds on to her and their future for dear life and ultimately becomes the best version of himself.

Now, for my five favorite Delena scenes (This was extremely difficult, and I change my mind depending on the episode I'm watching. Really, every scene is my favorite.):

Damon is the king of romantic speeches for sure. My absolute favorite speech is at Alaric's wedding in 6x21 when Damon tells Elena that he's decided to take the cure. "I'm taking it. I've been a vampire for a long time, Elena. It's been a blast, but I would give it up in a second to be your husband, your partner, the father of your kids...because even if it doesn't work, even if it all goes to hell, even if I'm miserable and alone, the smallest chance at the perfect life with you is infinitely better than an immortal one without you. And I know this, Elena. I love you, and I will love you until I take my last breath on this Earth." I mean...that is the mother of all love declarations.

I have to say the Denver motel scene in 3x19 from the moment Damon comes out of the bathroom to the moment Jeremy interrupts them. The room is so quiet as she watches him, and then he notices her watching. He just as quietly crosses the room to her and gently lays down next to her. It is so intimate and indicative of their relationship. Then, Elena gets so overwhelmed by his proximity that she has to get out of that room. When she finally gives in and kisses him, she is all in. Jeremy is the only thing stopping them after that. Even though she continues to fight it because it scares the hell out of her, she surrendered herself to Damon in that moment.

One of my favorite scenes is when they are at the stairs in 4x7 discussing Stelena's breakup, and she says, "You" in answer to why. I love Elena's intake of breath waiting for his reaction and Damon's breath and face because that man deserves to be chosen, and he never thought it was possible that she would.

I love all the "I love yous," but my favorite is when Elena says it in 4x23. That's the first one of hers outside the sire bond, so Damon has no reason to doubt it anymore. But the real reason it's my favorite is that she says it three times to make sure he hears it and gets it because she knows he doesn't think he's worthy of it. The look on his face broke me. Then, he just has to kiss her.

In 2x8, Damon telling Elena he loves her and compelling it away is such a beautiful scene. He's so earnest, and he just has to get it out even if she won't remember it. I'm going to cheat here (Sorry!) and say that I also love when she remembers it. The way she looks as she watches the memory is just too much for me. I don't know how she didn't go right to him after that came back.

[sleepy-sloth-dragons]

I’m Not Dead :D

Good news guys, I’m not dead! School, however, has drained the life out of me so I haven’t been drawing. I have some stuff in the works but until then enjoy this little line up

Season 1

1x1: Eye of the Beholder, Pt 1

1x2: Eye of the Beholder, Pt 2

1x3: Imperfect Harmony

1x4: When Darkness Falls- On an island that would make the perfect outpost, the dragon riders discover its indigenous residents are a mysterious new breed of dragon, as well as some mysterious figures

1x5: The Queen's Favor- The alpha of the island, a titan wing DeathSong, wants the dragon riders gone. Hiccup and his friends work to convince her with the help of two new companions

1x6: Big Man on Berk

1x7: Gone Gustav Gone

1x8: Reign of Fireworms-  Fireworm dragons invade Dragon's Edge, while Ruffnut and Tuffnut discover that they have an unexpected connection to the island, leading to a fight between the twins and Silas and Eerika

1x9: Big Water-  The Dragon Riders have an important mission to save a group of Monstrous Nightmares from Dagur and the Dragon hunters and need all hands on deck. Silas and Eerika refuse to help, leading to a tear in the group and secrets being spilled. Can Silas and Eerika get over their fear and help their new companions?

1x10: Crushing it

1x11: Quake, Rattle, and Roll

1x12: Have Dragon Will Travel, Pt 1

1x13: Have Dragon Will Travel, Pt 2

1x14: The Next Big Sting

1x15: Total Nightmare

Season 2

2x1: Team Astrid2

2x2: Night of the Hunters, Pt1

2x3: Night of the Hunters, Pt 2

2x4: O Brother Where Art Thou: When Crackle leaves the comfort of home to prove he isn’t the baby of the family he ends up getting tangled up by Dagur and the Dragon hunters.

2x5: Island: After the battle for Crackle Eerika and Dagur find themselves stranded on an island and must work together to survive, that is if they don’t kill each other first

2x6: Bad Moon Rising

2x7: Snotlout Gets the Axe

2x8: The Zippleback Experience

2x9: Snow Way Out

2x10: Edge of Disaster, Pt 1

2x11: Edge of Disaster, Pt 2

2x12: Into the Unknown- During battle with the dragon hunters Silas notices Eerika keeps missing shots and staying away from the fight. Not only that but she keeps leaving the island mysterious at night. Silas asks the Twins for help and to see what secrets she's keeping

2x13: Shock and Awe

2x14: A Time to Skrill- Tension between Toothless and Spyro boils over when a skrill with a grudge against Hiccup returns. Spyro decides weather to side with his own species or put aside his hatred for Toothless

2x15: Maces and Talons, Pt 1

2x16: Maces and Talons, Pt 2

Season 3

3x1: Enemy of My Enemy

3x2: Crash Course

3x3: Follow the Leader

3x4: Turn and Burn

3x5: Buffalord Soldier

3x6: Grim Retreat

3x7: To Heather or Not to Heather

3x8: Stryke Out

3x9: Tone Death

3x10: Between a Rock and a Hard Place

3x11: Family on the Edge

3x12: An Eye for an Eye- In an Act of mourning Eerika goes out and strikes down any dragon hunter ship she finds, alone. During one of these solo missions Eerika gets captured and must escape or die trying.

3x13: Last Auction Heroes- Snotlout goes on an undercover mission to Viggo's dragon auction to rescue the creatures and stop Viggo from getting richer. Two new faces appear in the Grimborn Family.

3x14: Defenders of the Wing, Pt 1

Season 4

4x1: Defenders of the Wing, Pt 2

4x2: Gruff Around the Edges

4x3: Midnight Scrum

4x4: Not Lout

4x5: The Family Grim, Pt 1- Hiccup and the riders once again face off with Viggo and his men. When the battle begins Viggo discovers something more valuable than the dragon eye.

4x6: The Family Grim, Pt 2- Silas and Eerika are  now captured and sailing off with Viggo, home. Encountering old faces and familiar smells.  

4x7: Saving ShatterMaster

4x8: Dire Straits

4x9: The Longest Day

4x10: Gold Rush- Dagur appears at the Edge and claims to know where Viggo keeps his gold, and the Dragon Riders race to find the stash and return Berk's stolen gold (Note: Dagur and Heather don’t leave to find their father).

4x11: Dragon Sickness- With Dagur now on the edge, Eerika is flying high, Silas on the other hand is ready to kick him off. When Eerika becomes sick with a disease they call Dragon sickness Dagur and Silas must work together before it's too late.

4x12: T​​he Hunt for Oswald- Dagur is determined to find his father and, not wanting to travel alone, asks Heather and Eerika to join him.

4x13: Out of the Frying Pan

4x14: Twintuition

4x15: Blindsided

4x16: Shell Shocked, Pt 1

4x17: Shell Shocked, Pt 2

Season 5

5x1: To the Bone: Therril and Jarl want to make up for Viggo and Rykers misdeeds by helping the dragon riders on their latest mission. The riders are hesitant to accept help but a mysterious dragon forces them to work together

5x2: Living on the Edge

5x3: Sandblasted

5x4: Something Rotten on Berserker Island

5x5: Snotlout’s Angels

5x6: A Matter of Perspective

5x7: Return of Thor Bonecrusher

5x8: Dawn of Destruction

5x9: The Wings of War, Pt 1

5x10: The Dragon and the Dragon Hunter- After hearing at a bar that Viggo lives from a group of dragon hunters he sails to dragons edge to confront him. The two fight and Jarl decides to leave and want the riders, but not before he helps a certain dragon escape.

5x11: Wings of war, Pt 2

5x12: No Dragon left Behind

5x13: Snuffnut

5x14: Searching for Oswald…and Chicken

5x15: Sins of the Past- When Heather and Eerika leave to meet a man claiming to have seen Oswald, they walk into a trap that forces the Dragon Riders to pay an unexpected price.

[chainofclovers]

Nate the Great

Hello, I am here because I cannot stop thinking about Nathan Shelley and the many things that are Happening with him. Spoiler-cut for spoilers through Ted Lasso 2x8 and speculation based on conversations w/@bristler, other people in the fandom, a really great interview with Nick Mohammed, and the endless barrage of thoughts in my head!

In 1x7, when Nate gets his chance to roast the players before their match in Liverpool, I both delighted and cringed at the moment. Nate's big moment gets the intended results--he riles up the players by hitting them where it hurts, and that energy nets Ted and the team a much-needed win. But I've always felt that part of why Nate is allowed to deliver his speech in such an uncensored way has a lot to do with Ted's shame that he got drunk and snapped at Nate the night before. It took vulnerability for Nate to decide to slip his thoughts about the team underneath Ted's door, and Ted wasn't in a position to recognize that act for what it was; Ted makes Nate feel weak, and that's got to be crushing coming from someone who's become a mentor and friend. At the same time, Ted is starting to evolve into a person who understands winning is important, so he makes the call that's going to help the team win...and ends up unwittingly rewarding the crueler parts of Nate in the process.

Fast forward to season 2, and Nate still hasn't learned the difference between vulnerability and weakness. The people in his life who understand the difference haven't fully comprehended how much Nate needs to learn it, and they haven't taught him, and Nate's own feelings of self-worth are so bound up in external factors that he's not able to pick it up by osmosis, either.

So now I can't stop thinking about the moment in 2x8 when Higgins and the coaches huddle before the big match and Ted tells everyone he's been having panic attacks. Everyone goes around and spontaneously shares something they've been keeping to themselves, and each person's admission feels like an act of solidarity. Vulnerability. But Nate sees weakness, and his own admission is actually about his ability to be calculating--his ability to make an idea feel spontaneous.

I keep imagining a moment when fame- and power-hungry Nate gets an opportunity to be in the spotlight, and I imagine another moment like the locker room scene in 1x7. A moment with spontaneous-feeling energy that's actually totally calculated. And this time, instead of a cringe-y moment easily forgotten because it brought victory, this moment could be devastating and profoundly regrettable.

Because what if Nate tells the press his own version of the vulnerable stories his friends and colleagues shared in confidence. The weak versions of their vulnerability.

In my imagined version of Nate's words to the press, Ted isn't a man seeking treatment for his panic disorder; he's unfit to coach due to untreated mental illness. Roy isn't an impatient person who doesn't bother to read the coaching reports Ted, Beard, and Nate put together; he's a star whose ego allows him to coast on fame without having to bother with the details of the team. Higgins isn't a harried, office-less professional who messed up a timezone; he's inept and in over his head and sabotaged the roster of the team. Beard isn't a normally-perceptive coach who made a mistake with the mushroom tea because he's being abused by his girlfriend and lacks his usual support system; he's a drug user who lets his personal relationships get in the way of his professional responsibilities.

There's a grain of truth to everything Nate says, but he's lacking the spirit of why he has this information, the context of vulnerability, the preciousness of this one oasis of connection between coaches who are currently disjointed.

I know there's a lot of talk about the relationship between Sam and Rebecca and the Dubai Air and Bantr sponsorships and how those could be a big issue in the press. I definitely think that's a big possibility, but everyone involved in that subplot has a support system. They have a place to land no matter how bad things get, and the show already does a great job depicting how incredibly cruel and unfair the British press can be about personal matters.

This stuff with Nate, though...while the coaches do have a support system and people they can trust, all those connections seem so much more tenuous. And Nate isn't able to trust anyone right now, least of all himself. So the more abusive he gets, he could really fuck a lot of people over, and he might be the one who gets the most hurt in the end.

There's a lot to appreciate about the interview with Nick Mohammed linked above, but I want to particularly call out the fact that he points out that in s1, when he's angry with Rebecca, he calls her a "shrew." I knew that wasn't just a throwaway line, a moment of casual misogyny overlooked, somehow, by the multi-gender writers' room. It was absolutely intentional, absolutely a sign of how far he can go even on a dime when he's upset. He also points out the importance of Rebecca telling him early in s2 that he deserves what he wants. Imagine the irony of that coming back to haunt her if Nate betrays the team (and Rebecca by extension), or if he hurts Rebecca again more personally. I also appreciate that Mohammed lets us know that he's not going to die in season 2 and that he has a storyline in season 3.

I just think there's going to be a lot of pain on the way there.

(This show is so good. Even if it goes nothing like what I'm predicting here, I have every confidence that the betrayal arc is going to be intense and earned.)

[balmasedas]

dearly departed. /

(gif is not mine).

PAIRING: din djarin x force sensitive!f-reader.

SUMMARY: au of 2x8 where reader exists instead of grogu (i'm sorry, baby).

WARNINGS: very slight description of torture, violence and blood. major angst.

WORD COUNT: 5k.

——————————————————————————

One day felt like a year.

A week onboard the light cruiser was hell and Moff Gideon was proven to be worse than the devil.

You’d barely slept and hunger constantly gripped your belly. You didn’t felt the urge to scream or to even beg for help, those instincts were long dead by now.

They were fascinated. A real Jedi or, at the very least, a live one, still yet to be properly trained (if you managed to survive this). So it wasn’t a surprise that because of their evil nature and in the name of “curiosity” you were obliged to use the Force until you fainted, over and over again. 

It was a tragedy. In search of what would’ve been your home, you had found one with Din Djarin; and now the memories you'd learned to cherish seemed so far away in time that you started to doubt your mind.

(,,,)

Din sat against a rock; while you rested your back against his chest and between his legs. Just the two of you, the sound of the crackling fire and endless stars above your heads. You felt so little and yet, at the same time, that there was nothing that could stop you from conquering the entire galaxy.

“You got this.” his modulated voice came out lower than usual. 

“Sh!” you silenced him with a half-smile. Your hand was extended, just a couple of meters away a small rock floated in the air, slowly approaching you. You’d tried it at least a dozen times and this one, you decided, would be the last. 

Silence crept over you both. Too expectant to breathe for a few seconds. 

You were certain, so confident. Then, fear invaded you. Your hand started to shake and so did the rock. You could feel yourself slowly losing control, anticipating a seemingly inevitable failure. You didn’t trust your power, having always been relegated to abandoning your true identity for your own (and everyone’s) safety. 

Luckily, Din did have hope in you, and although he respected your wishes of quietness during this moment, it didn’t mean he couldn’t try to ease your mind through other means. After all, the Mandalorian felt more comfortable with actions than he felt with words. 

So he snuck his hand beneath your hair and softly rubbed his thumb behind your ear, a soothing caress he often offered when you needed comfort.

It wasn’t a revelation that then, and only then, you felt enough peace to stabilize the Force and finally close your hand around the object.

“Oh!” both your eyes and mouth were wide open. You half turned towards Din — you were drunk in elation, still not wanting to miss the warmness of his body. “I got it!” you burst. You met his visor, but you could sense his eyes on you. 

“What did I say?” he spoke. “You got this.”

You got this. 

You got this.

“I got this,” you mumbled, trying to hold on to comforting words carefully sheltered in your head.

You had been a prisoner of your own body for over a week now. Traveling only from your cell to the room you were currently held and vice versa. Having to extend your arm obediently when you were told so and use your powers as well. 

Truth be told, there was nothing else you could do, except trying to keep your mind busy and start processing the facts: there were no (nor there would be) allies to your cause. You were alone and whatever the remains of the Empire had in store for you was still yet to be revealed. 

Din would come for you, you were sure of that, but some hopeless part of your now broken soul was unsure he’d make it in time.

The door from your cell opened. A couple of troopers marched towards you. Between them, the man in the white coat you’d regularly seen since your arrival. He introduced himself by squeezing your arm, it was supposed to be gentle. 

He wouldn't have done the same if you weren't cuffed and strapped into a stretcher. You thought about breaking free. Your hands around his neck, fear instead of the cockiness his eyes currently harbored. 

The urge was sharp and violent and you enjoyed it while it lasted.

“How are you doing?” Like shit. You remained impassible. 

He opened a case he’d been carrying and laid out the contents on a tray next to the bed. You knew what it was, you wish you didn’t. Needles of different sizes, scalpers, and syringes. 

You winced when he took a needle and fitted it into a large syringe.

He smiled at you. "Be a good girl and stay still, will you?"

Fuck you. “Okay.” Even though you complied, both troopers were ordered to hold you down.

As usual, every movement from that moment was processed in slow motion. The doctor hovering the needle just a few millimeters over your skin, then, the hard cold steel piercing it. First a pinch; as it went deeper, burn; then ache. You wanted to trash but you couldn’t. 

Your vision swam, and your head went thick. “It’s done.” was the last thing you heard before you blacked out. 

(,,,)

“Are you seeing anything? Or are they supposed to see you?” Din queried, looking around.

You were sitting on top of the Seeing stone, drowned in confusion just like him. Still, you couldn’t help but giggle at his obvious deduction from the name of the place where you currently were.

“Yes, I-” you trailed off and furrowed your brows as you watched him thoroughly inspecting the rock. He was quiet, his thoughts were loud. Or maybe you just knew him too well by then. “… I see you” you tilted your head, reformulating your sentence into a question, “Are you searching for an interrupter, Din?”

He straightened his body and immediately backed away from it “No,” he was quick to deny. You kept your eyes fixated on him, and then a ghost of a smile appeared on your face. Finally, he corrected himself after a defeated sigh, “Yes.” he confessed.

You chuckled. You could’ve kissed him by then, if only you had the chance. 

“I wish Ahsoka Tano would’ve told me more, but that’s not how it works.” 

The Force seemed to be much more complex than you originally thought. And the Jedi you met in Corvus day’s ago should’ve cleared many things —instead, she baffled you, even more, shifting her entire demeanor when she sensed your connection with the Mandalorian. 

Now, you were supposed to make contact with another Jedi without knowing how. 

Din didn’t answer. He had left the previous planet just as frustrated as you, if not more. 

“Well, look at the bright side—” you were cut by the sound of a ship circling the area. Both of you were immediately alarmed by its presence. Din ran to the edge of the mountain and followed it closely with his eyes. An attack craft was no good news. As much as he wished to complete the mission, there was no way he’d risk your safety. Both of you could come back later, he assumed.

He called your name, walking backward. “Time’s up, we gotta go.” he stopped abruptly when he finally turned around and saw you. He’d never seen anything of similar nature. 

Your eyes were shut, strands of your hair floated like feathers in the breeze. Some kind of force shield had been erected around you. He screamed for you again. “Hey! Snap out of it, we gotta get out of here.” but wherever your mind was, it was far away from Tython now.

He even tried to pass through the force shield only to be violently expelled from it.

He grunted. The floor beneath him was hard, the realization he made hit harder: there was no way he could reach you. 

His desperation only could grow when he spotted an unknown subject leaving the craft. “Dank Farrik!” he cursed. His hands were closed in tight fists, his gaze lingered on you. Leaving you was his last preference, he’d promised you he’d never do it until you were safe but it became the only viable option. 

He had no power to interfere in whatever was happening to you up there, but he could take care of the problem on the bottom of that mountain.

Din pulled his blaster from the holder. “I’ll see if I can buy you some time.” he doubted you could hear him, but still he tried. “Can you please hurry up?” there was hesitation in his movement, his steps were slow and uncertain. Walking away from you had never felt so wrong, and yet he had no other choice if he wanted to protect you.

He would later learn that fear, desolation, and regret were very possible and present emotions in him as he could only stand and see the dark troopers taking you away. 

(,,,)

The first thing you noticed when you woke up was your handcuffs.

The second thing was the light reflecting off them. 

Your glance flickered from the Dark saber to Moff Gideon and then to the person he was talking to. 

Until that moment, you weren’t sure if you were awake or hallucinating. But then everything became so real. His armor, his voice. As exhausted as you were, you took your time to caress Din with your eyes. 

He was alive. Whole. Here.

You were in a dream.

He, on the other hand, sensed that his nightmare was far from over. 

“You can keep it, I just want her,” he assured. The object of dispute between Moff Gideon and Bo-Katan had never sparked any interest in him. You were his only priority and his original quest had been long forgotten by then. 

The Moff stood in silence, seemingly analyzing the proposal.

“Very well, I already got what I wanted from her.” he addressed. “All I wanted was to study her blood. You see, the girl is extremely gifted. And has been a blast with rare properties that have the potential to bring order to the galaxy.” 

Din anchored his attention on you. All this talking did nothing but disturb him even more. You were so close and so far. Shut up, he wanted to say. 

Instead, he remained quiet. 

“I see your bond with her.” Din heard it before. Did he also believe what you both had it was dangerous? He didn’t wish or care to know. “Take her. But you will leave my ship immediately and we will go separate ways.”

If Din nodded, you missed it. He took cautious steps towards you. Your heart started to race in anticipation. You could already taste a decent glass of water, the sun kissing your skin, and the end of what was once an endless agony. 

You extended your hand for him to take it. He was only a meter away. 

It seemed so easy.

It would’ve been so easy.

But Moff Gideon bared only greed and darkness in his soul. He surrendered to no one, let alone a Mandalorian.

“No!” your scream ripped through your throat when you saw the Dark saber hovering over Din’s head. He was quick enough to block the hit and the ones that followed after, but the Moff was insatiable and they both disappeared into the hall.

You tugged at the cuffs, trying to get them off but it was impossible. Not when they were neutralizing your power. You were too weak to run, yet you still launched yourself at the door. 

Your legs instantly gave in. You let out a hard groan but didn't stop to recover from the blow. You instantly laid your body on a side and with the own weight of your arms you started dragging yourself on the floor. 

You had no visuals on Gideon and Din, still, the sound of the black saber colliding against beskar outside the room brought you some sense of calm.

They were still fighting, there was still time.

You just had to crawl a little bit more.

But the hallway seemed miles away, you were tired and you'd barely reached the doorframe when all fell silent.

"D–" your voice died before finishing the sentence. The thought of calling him and not receiving an answer infested your mind like a parasite. You wouldn’t survive that memory. 

A rush of adrenaline took over your body, you started moving once again. Frightened, but not hopeless —not yet. 

If Din hadn’t... If Din—

You would make sure to make Gideon pay. Maybe not with your mind, maybe with your own bare hands.

But your revenge would have to wait a few more minutes because someone blocked your path before you could reach the hallway.

Your eyes fixed over the boots in your line of vision. Where those his? You should’ve paid more attention to his clothes. If you did, you wouldn’t be trembling in fear. If you did, you would’ve instantly knew it was him, instead of waiting until he kneeled and reached for you.

He whispered your name. So loving and familiar. So soft it almost went unnoticed. 

Your lips pursed into a tight line, your eyes were filled to the brim with tears. You didn’t want to cry. But your heart felt heavy and all that pain you had accumulated those days had to go somewhere.

It was inevitable to break down. To weep and shake as your thoughts bounced between what could've happened and what didn't.

Din seemed to sense this when he asserted, "I'm here." He quickly took care of the cuffs. You find relief around your wrist, but the pressure didn't seem to budge on your chest. “I’m here.” 

There, on the cold surface of that cell, he hugged you for all the days he couldn’t.

One arm went around your back, his other hand rested against your head, fitting you against his body. You buried your face against his chest. He drew his fingers along the curve of your neck.

The well-known gesture felt completely different. Whereas before the calming effects of it were exclusively destined to you, it seemed that now it was he who needed it the most. He needed to make sure you were there. That you were real, alive, and well.

You vocalized your thoughts once you found the strength to do so, "I thought I lost you."

Din’s arms tightened around you, solid and warm. His heart would’ve broken right there if it weren’t filled with happiness. Your voice was the same. It was home. "No. I'm too stubborn to leave you." had you had the strength to chuckle, you would have. 

You slowly raised your head and, for the first time, observed past his shoulder. You immediately regretted your decision. In the hallway, Moff Gideon laid against the wall, now in shackles, looking straight into your eyes. There was a smirk plastered on his face. 

Din side-glanced the floor. The handcuffs, from which he had freed you, started to shake. Your back, once hunched and languid, was now rigid under his embrace. 

“No,” he muttered. He separated and took your face between his hands. “Look at me.” you ignored him and focused on the man behind him. Gideon’s brow furrowed, his cockiness slowly fading away —the air in his lungs too. "Cyar’ika.” the whisper came out as a plead. His helmet blocked your vision now, his gloved thumbs slid over your cheeks. You blinked the lashes that framed your eyes. They would’ve looked innocent on anyone else. “Don’t. He can’t hurt you no more.” his voice was gentle and reassuring. You believed him. 

He wouldn't hurt you, but he could –and would– hurt Din if given the chance. 

That terrified you, and it was something you couldn't forgive or forget.

Din was waiting for an answer, so you gave him one, “Alright.” Moff Gideon would just have to wait.

You both stared at each other for a moment. You hoped your answer was convincing enough to buy Din's calm. It did, cause he dropped the subject and moved into another, seconds later, “Can you walk?” he asked.

You placed your palm on the floor and held Din's with your other hand. Your legs responded –slowly but steady, you got on your feet.

The Mandalorian held you by the waist, watching with caution until he was sure you could stand by yourself, "We have to go to the bridge" he announced. His voice was low enough to maintain what he was saying between you. “Moff Gideon will go to the front, I’ll stay behind, you can follow me.” you couldn’t tell if it was a proposition or an order. 

“It’s ok. You said it yourself, he can’t hurt me.” Din tittered and shook his head.

“It’s not you who I’m worried about”.

(,,,)

You’d felt at ease once you met the familiar faces that had come to your rescue. Cara didn’t hesitate to hug you when she saw you, while Fennec limited herself to a comradely nod from afar.

Koska and Bo-Katan had been a completely different story. They didn’t take it lightly when they saw Din in possession of the Darksaber. You glanced at Moff Gideon, his victorious grin made much sense then —he knew of the traditions and what gave power to the saber. He also appreciated how Bo-Katan was as obsessed as him with it —purposely sinking his finger in her wounded pride. 

Although Din had yielded, his peace offering was unwelcomed, as well as his intentions to give her the saber. The last thing you needed was internal conflicts, but you were willing to fight anyone if you had to protect the person you'd care about the most.

The rising tension was —luckily or not— shut down by the alarms going off and then Fennec reporting a breach in the ray shields of the ship.

Moff Gideon, with a disgusting proudness in his voice, announced the dark troopers.

Lines formed between your eyebrows, "Dark troopers?"

Fennec took care of your confusion. "Problems." Her answer was vague, but you could deduce from it, at least, the essential: you'd have to fight against them —inhuman killing machines that doubled your size. The chances of winning were minimal, but you couldn't have gotten this far only to surrender.

You approached the screens and took a seat in front of them. The dark troopers kept coming. Din had trouble fighting with one earlier, and now you were six against too many. Five if they didn't count you. You were still weak, no powers, no Force —you were utterly useless.

Someone softly squeezed your shoulder. You looked up and your eyes met with beskar. "I'm gonna get you out of here." He could try. His words had always given you security. You assumed it was your damaged spirit that doubted them for the first time.

You fixed your eyes on the screen again, Din went to the front among the others. The dark troopers marched towards the bridge. They were getting closer and closer and all you could do was prepare yourself and wait.

"Seal the blast doors!" Fennec commanded Koska.

You looked at the cameras.

They were there.

The two dark troopers in the front started pounding on the door. The material they were made of was resistant, but not indestructible. It was only a matter of minutes before they could get through it.

"You have an impressive fireteam protecting you," Moff Gideon spoke. His voice exuberated confidence. He appreciated his upper hand in the situation and wasn't shy about it. "But I think we all know after a valuable stand, everyone in this room will be dead, but me and the girl."

Din didn't turn to look at you. Gideon's statement probably sent him the same eerie sensation as it did to you.

You closed your eyes and took a deep breath. The thought of him speaking so lightly of your friends' death almost made you puke.

If only you could've hurt him. You had the will, but not the power.

The alarm went off a second time. All of you looked at your right, throughout the windows: A ship flew past the cruiser. Closer monitoring allowed you to identify it as a lone X-wing fighter. Just one. Cara whispered something about being saved, her voice dripping with sarcasm. 

"Incoming craft, identify yourself." Bo-Katan solicited. Radio silence.

The dark troopers outside stopped pounding at the door. You looked at the cameras outside the bridge. They made a half-way turn on their place and armed themselves. 

Everyone was too baffled to be relieved about it. Everyone but you.

Your eyes were glued to the screen. The hooded figure that disembarked was just a visual confirmation of what you had sensed as soon as the craft had landed in the docking bay. 

There was no more such thing as uneasiness. The air felt lighter —in it, an invisible string pulling you towards the unknown subject.

No. Not unknown. You knew what and who it was —long before he'd displayed his lightsaber. You knew why he was here, as well as his intentions. You just didn't want to acknowledge the consequences of his presence —and what it meant for you. 

You turned around and searched for the Mandalorian, only to find Moff Gideon on his feet and pointing a blaster at Bo Katan.

He fired at her, four or five times, you didn't exactly count —it was enough to knock her out of the way.

There was nothing between you and him now. Whereas he'd expressed before the possibilities of keeping you alive for further studies about the Force, it wasn't a viable option anymore. He would rather kill you than let the Jedi get his hands on you.

You had no way to defend yourself. So you looked at him in the eyes and held your breath, resigned, once again, to a destiny written by foreign hands. 

You waited for the shots but they never came. Instead, the air was knocked out of your chest as you were thrown to the floor by someone. You winced at the harsh contact. At least you didn't have a hole in your body. You had closed your eyes by instinct, blinking felt such a waste of energy by then.

You focused on Din's helmet while he frantically inspected your body for any wounds.

"Are you ok?" he asked.

No, you were not. You were numb, expressionless, stunned, motionless. You felt your throat closing up. To speak would mean abandoning the shelter of your conscious, where you still believed to have more time with him. 

But you didn’t, and Din needed to be aware of this.

Tears welled up in your eyes before you whispered, “It’s time.” 

His posture stiffened above you. Though it was never a serious conversation, he’d recalled both of you touching the subject very on the surface. Always in a light, joking manner. “Oh, what will you do when I’m gone?” you’d ask. Din would follow with a snicker and tease you for the sake of your dynamic. “Get a good night of rest.” Truth be told, you could’ve never fathom to properly rest far from each other.

You wished, or rather begged with your eyes, for him to say something, anything —but he chose silence. Was his nightmare the same as yours? Or had he come to accept, long before you did, your true path? 

He took you gently by the hands and helped you get up. He guided you to the front, slow and steady. 

“Open the door,” the bridge was noiseless. No answer whatsoever to his request. Din insisted, “I said, open the door.”

Fennec raised an eyebrow, aiming at the entrance. “Are you crazy?” all the dark troopers were destroyed, but you couldn’t blame the group for their wariness. It had been a long day, a long journey, too many enemies in your path to trust so easily the person waiting on the other side.

You walked past by Gideon, who laid unconscious on the floor. His attempt to kill you felt so far away in time. Now, you faced something worse and more dreadful than death itself. 

Din ignored the verbal protests and pressed the button himself. The blast doors opened. The green glow of the lightsaber was visible before his body. Everyone waited as he entered the bridge. The sick, anxious feeling in your gut only increased when he withdrew his lightsaber. The memories of your time on the seeing stone came back altogether. You recalled his face, he was in your dream, he was the one who had reached out and —oh, you wished you could retract your cry for help.

“Are you a Jedi?” Din found the courage to ask. 

Yes, he is. You knew his identity before he could tell you so. Luke Skywalker.

“I am,” he confirmed and then looked at you. He reached out a hand, you squeezed Din’s. “Come, please.” you trusted this stranger as if you had known him all your life. The Jedi wasn’t the problem, it was the man standing next to you. 

“She doesn’t want to go with you.” Din’s authoritative tone and firm stand made it clear that he shared the same wishes as you. 

But Luke knew better than to give in to the whims of your hearts. If only they were reason enough to rebel against him, “She is strong with the Force. But talent without training is nothing. I will give my life to protect her, but she will not be safe until she masters her abilities.” 

Your fingers lingered over Din’s as you broke the grip on his hand and took a step forward. For a moment, you considered the option of leaving everything behind without looking back. To spare the pain of goodbye seemed the happiest ending you could get. 

Then you remembered how uncertain and unpleasant the future could be. Very few souls in the galaxy could survive regret, an ‘I should’ve’ was more gut-wrenching than any blast to your chest.

So you turned around and face him one more time. You offered a tremulous smile, drops wet the corner of your lips. 

He, as always, tried to offer some peace of mind you couldn’t find by yourself. “I’ll see you again. I promise.” you hated the bleakness that tainted his voice. Still, you found yourself wordless, nodding at his words. 

You extended your hand, the tip of your fingers brushed his helmet. It was cold, lifeless, so much different from what was inside of it and who you had learned to know. Din’s hand went up and reached for yours, for a moment you thought he’d push it away. Instead, he put it on the helmet and slowly removed it. 

What in the past was deemed unlikely, was now a solid dream.

You lingered on the coffee eyes that studied yours, on the small crease between them above the line of his bold nose. His hair —you wanted to jump in his arms and run your fingers through that hair. Your eyes wandered over his mouth, following its curve and pout, as if he was just about to speak. You wanted to crush your mouth against his lips. 

So you did.

Time stopped in a collision of senses when your lips met his. Your heart pounded in your chest as your knees got weaker. You could only focus on how soft he felt against your mouth, in how addictively he invaded your senses. 

There was raw emotion in the way his fingers closed behind your neck, in how he squeezed you against his body. With your eyes closed, you weren’t sure if your mind had tricked you into a perfect present. 

But then you opened them again and he was there. Closer than ever. 

“We will meet again.” your voice quavered in a whisper. You threw your head back just to take a full picture of his handsome face. Tears fell over his cheeks, you brushed them away with your thumbs. “Someday, somewhere, we’ll get to be together.” you lowered a hand and placed it on his chest. “Until then, keep me here, ok?” 

This time, Din draped both of his arms around your frame and met your lips halfway. It was short, intense, and everything that needed to be said was said with it, “I’ll wait for you as long as I have to, ner runi”. 

You stole him one last kiss before you let him go. 

There was nothing said between you and Luke as you left the bridge side by side. More tears cascaded through your face the further you walked away. You knew this was the way it should be, but never would it hurt so bad. The Mandalorian was supposed to be only an eventuality and ended up being half of your heart. 

You reached the elevator and turned around. It took a massive amount of bravery to look at a loved one in the eyes as you parted ways, so you gathered every cell full of courage in your body and looked at Din. 

You were still crying, so was he. But you had made peace with the past, the present, and the future — both of you knew, one way or another, you were destined to each other, whatever the odds you’d have to face. 

The elevator doors were closing. Your smile grew wider and wider as you realized, not too late, just in time, “I love you, Din Djarin.” he didn’t have to say it back for you to know he felt it too. 

You had promised to find him as soon as you could and you intended to keep your word.

[chicgeekgirl89]

So You Had a Bad Day

Fandom: 911 Lone Star

Characters: Carlos Reyes, TK Strand, Owen Strand

Summary: Carlos' bad day has gone from bad to worse. A little tag for 2x8 "Bad Call."

                                  xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

They burst through the door and it takes about three seconds for Carlos to assess the situation; Tommy with her hands in the air, Wolfe holding a gun, Nancy on the floor with someone else, and TK…

Owen fires, Wolfe drops, and Carlos is moving before he even realizes it. “TK!” 

All he can see is his boyfriend slumped over, blood seeping from a wound to his head. Carlos pulls him into his arms, catching a quick glimpse of the panic and pain in TK’s eyes. “You’re okay,” Carlos murmurs, as much to reassure TK as himself. “You’re okay, I got you.”

“Oh my god.” TK’s words are half sobbed, half incoherent, his breathing fast and panicked as he clutches at Carlo’s jacket.

“You’re okay,” Carlos repeats. “You’re safe.”

He’s holding TK so tightly that he feels when his boyfriend goes limp, head lolling to the side. “TK, TK hey! Hey!” he pulls back, holding him tightly by the shoulders so he doesn’t fall off the chair, panic ripping through him as he sees exactly how much blood is seeping through the bandages. “Captain Strand!”

TK’s father appears beside him, concern etched into his face as he tenderly cups his son’s cheek. “TK, can you hear me?”

There’s no response and Carlos’ chest tightens so much that he can’t draw in a single breath. “He’s been in and out of it,” Tommy says from where she’s still working on her would-be killer. “They hit him pretty hard.”

Carlos can hear sirens outside and within minutes emergency vehicles have pulled into the lot and another paramedic team is coming toward them. Tommy calls out from where she is on the floor, “Patient one is a twenty-six year old male. Probable concussion, possible fractured skull. He’s been in and out of consciousness for about an hour.”

Carlos stops listening as she moves onto her own patient. He doesn’t care about anything but TK who is looking so pale he could be a ghost. It feels like the shooting incident all over again. 

“Let’s get him on the gurney.” Owen’s voice pulls Carlos out of his own thoughts and back to the situation at hand.

They each take an arm and lift under TK’s shoulders. TK stirs as Carlos tenderly cradles his head and lowers it to rest against the padding. His eyes open, slightly unfocused. “Car-los?” he says, confused.

“Hey babe.” Carlos smiles down at him, running a soothing hand up and down his arm. “I’m right here. Just relax and let us take care of you okay?”

He steps back to let the medics do their work. They change out the gauze on TK’s head and hand him an ice pack which he presses to his aching skull. He still seems out of it, taking far too long to answer questions and struggling to follow the paramedic’s basic commands.

“We’re going to take him in. Do you want to ride with us?” one of the medics asks when they’re done.

Carlos nods. “Yes. Please.”

They pause outside the ambulance as the medics prepare to lift TK inside and Carlos looks up to find his father walking toward him. 

Their interaction is…strangely pleasant? Definitely not how he thought the day would end. Although none of today has gone as planned, so why should this be any different?

When he joins TK in the ambulance his boyfriend is not happy. “I just want to go home,” he says as Carlos interlocks their fingers once more.

“I know,” Carlos says, pressing a kiss to his hairline. “But we have to get you checked out.”

“It’s just a headache,” TK gripes, eyes sliding closed again.

Carlos knows it could be so much more than that, especially with the severity of TK’s symptoms. Words like “brain bleed” and “skull fracture” flitter through his mind and he grips TK’s hand tightly until TK cracks one eyelid and says, “Ow.”

“Sorry.” Carlos loosens his grip, running his thumb soothingly over the back of TK’s hand. 

They’re halfway to the hospital when TK’s face takes on a strange look and he swallows hard. “What’s wrong?” Carlos asks.

“I don’t—“ TK swallows again and moves his free hand to his stomach, “I don’t feel good.”

The paramedic produces an emesis bag and Carlos watches helplessly as TK throws up. God it hurts to see him like this. When TK finally collapses back against the gurney he looks worse than ever and all Carlos can do is place a gentle hand carefully on his hair, comfortingly running his fingers back and forth.

TK lapses back into unconsciousness as they arrive, stretching Carlos’ already taught nerves to their breaking point. He rouses slightly as they pull up to the hospital, but his speech is slurred and he throws up again on their way into the ER. 

Being a cop and a frequent visitor at the hospital gets Carlos a hall pass to stay with TK while he’s examined. His scans come back clean, no visible brain bleed or skull fracture, but TK is still struggling with severe symptoms so they decide to keep him overnight and transfer him to a room. Within minutes Gwyn is there and Owen finally makes an appearance an hour later.

Carlos wants Gwyn and the captain there, he knows TK is comforted by their presence. But exhaustion is creeping in and he finds himself wishing they would go. He just wants to climb into bed beside TK and sleep this day off. 

Thank god for visiting hours and Gwyn’s impending flight, although Carlos suspects she’ll cancel and stay until TK is back on his feet. The Strands bid him and TK goodnight. A nurse comes in and gives him the side eye, but apparently his cop credit is getting him everything he wants tonight because she doesn’t tell him to leave.

She finishes her checks and leaves them in peace. TK tugs at Carlos’ hand. “Come here,” he says, eyes half lidded from the pain and brightness of the room.

Carlos resists. “You need to rest.”

“Which I’ll do better if you’re next to me.”

There’s not much room in the hospital bed, but Carlos doesn’t have any fight left in him so he caves to his boyfriend’s wishes. He dims the lights and then carefully slips into place beside TK, hands coming back together once more as they hold each other close.

“And here I thought you’d switched to a safer job. You scared the shit out of me tonight,” Carlos says, his voice less steady than he would like. But he’s tired and this is TK and he just can’t pretend to be fine anymore.

“I’m sorry,” TK says. 

“It’s not your fault,” Carlos says, pulling him just a little closer. “What were you thinking though, trying to pull the fire alarm? You’re not supposed to play hero in situations like that.”

TK frowns at him. “I don’t have to ‘play hero,’ I am a hero.”

“Yes you are,” Carlos says fondly. Then he remembers. “I have something for you.” He reaches into his pocket and pulls out TK’s chip. “It was smart of you to drop this. If you hadn’t…I don’t know that we would have—“ The words catch in his throat and he swallows them back down, tears stinging his eyes. 

“But you did,” TK says softly. “You came for me. Thank you.”

“I will always come for you,” Carlos says fiercely. “Always.”

He feels TK stiffen against him, his grip growing tighter. “What’s wrong?” Carlos asks, half sitting up. “Are you in pain?”

TK’s face is scrunched up tightly. “It’ll pass,” he says through gritted teeth.

Carlos doesn’t believe him. “Do you want me to get the nurse? They can give you something non-narcotic.”

“No.” TK sucks in a sharp breath. “No, I’ll be all right. Just keep talking to me.”

So he talks about everything and nothing, his voice low and soft. Slowly TK’s face smooths out, body relaxing into sleep. Carlos shifts a little closer, one hand going to TK’s chest so he can feel him breathe. Within minutes his own eyes slide shut. Their bad day is over. 

[kiss-my-freckle]

The Vampire Diaries: 2x10 Rewatch

Elena: Is that before or after he kills everyone that I care about, including the two of you.

Elena: I don't question why you and Stefan and everyone else tries so hard to save me. You shouldn't question why I would try to save all of you.

Damon’s reactions are funny because he’s not used to someone caring so much that they’d be willing to risk themselves to save him. 

Damon: Because she did it for you. Which means that somewhere along the way, you decided that I was worth saving. And I wanted to thank you for that.

A huge difference between saving him, and sacrificing herself to save him. Yeah, that’s why he responds the way he does. Especially after he killed Jeremy. 

Rose: It's not nice to leave a girl naked so early in the morning. Whoa. Sorry, I thought you were...

Delena’s version of “towel girl” Lexi. This is purposeful stuff, and Rose is so cute in this scene because she knows Damon is in love with Elena. 

Damon: Not a good time, Rose. Rose: Don't be angry with me.

Scared the moment she realized Elena was sacrificing herself. She knows that if Damon doesn’t believe her, she’s as good as dead. 

Damon: There's nothing here for you.

Damon’s like... Sure, Elijah. You can have my heart, but not my girl. It's useless without her anyway. Unlike 2x8, there’s no hesitation. 

Elijah: He'd die before he'd let anything happen to her.

I think he hesitated in 2x8 because he was hoping for a better plan than just storming in the house. In this scene, he really had no choice. Elijah sure knows how to make an entrance. 

Damon: Get your ass out the door before I throw you over my shoulder and carry you out myself.

I love these scenes so much. “You have the Petrova fire.” Rebekah and Elena both call him a caveman. She can’t punch him in the face, but she can pound his chest as long as she likes. 

Stefan: Promise me. No matter what happens. You'll protect her. Damon: Promise.

Katherine: That right there was the biggest mistake you've ever made.

Katherine isn’t a stupid woman. She not only knows both brothers because she dated both, she knows her doppelganger. Like Stefan, she’s listening to them argue. Again, this has to do with Rose’s comment to Jeremy in 3x19.  Damon is doing everything Stefan wouldn’t. You will NEVER see a scene like this with Stefan and Elena because Stefan NEVER challenges her. He gives Elena whatever she wants. Unlike Damon, Stefan actually cares if she hates him.  

Delena is starting to parallel Bonnie and Jeremy. They’re the couple to follow. 

Jeremy: Because I didn't want you to get hurt. Bonnie: Look, Jeremy....you can't feel that way about me.

Like I said, Damon’s feelings are building him to a huge mistake. It’s also the reason Elena didn’t want Damon confessing his love in 2x8. Damon is gonna parallel Jeremy. Instead of getting bit by a vampire, he’s gonna get bit by a werewolf. All for the sake of saving his love. 

Stefan is now stuck in the tomb with Katherine. Their series finale sacrifice. 

[iressails]

Masterpost of all my HDM s2 summary gifsets (or whatever they are actually called) and some gifmaker thoughts that no one needs but I think I need to preserve because I’ll forget.

1. The city of magpies

No edit as it hadn’t occurred to me that this was a thing. I saw some gorgeous ones for this episode and was inspired. It made me look at the episode in more of a painterly way. I sort of decided to experiment with what would work over the season. Most people seemed to do buckets of colour, ‘popular’ scenes, and wide 540px gifs. I loved it all.

2. The cave

I tried tankers of colour based on my normal psd but every dial pushed one way or the other to sort of do what I’d seen the week before. I managed to get some scenes that others did, which I was happy about, so I knew I was on the right track scanning the episode. Did big wide gifs. Looked okay in mostly orange and aqua lol. Tried to have some linking consistency with the colours of each gif. (Me thing not a summary gif thing. I swear I spend 30 secs making a gif, 2 mins colouring [and uncolouring lmao] and 5 hours deciding how to lay out the gifs in the post).

3. Theft

Went mad on the colours but in a different way, again with the wide gifs. I properly changed colours and added colour here instead of pushing what already exists or adding vibrancy or the usual things. Looked iffy, but posted anyway. It looks violent on screen, and makes me a little ill. I might do it again for something else because the think the principle was okay, the execution not great or suitable for purpose. The gifs mostly work together in an extra nauseating way. First time I tried for a story (doorways).

4. Tower of the angels

Decided the wide gifs weren’t doing it for me and went totally the opposite way, 3x3 layout. Everything technical that could go wrong went wrong giffing this episode. I made this gifset at least 3 or 4 times. I’m not keen on the colouring but I liked the layout and the mirroring, there was a story told in this gifset compared to just pretty with the attempts before. Same shapes, same colours, same story to really get to what was a summary of the episide. First attempt I actually liked even though the actual gifs are ugly as hell.

5. The scholar

Just realised I didn’t make one for this episode. Oops. I think I was traumatised by the previous week’s systems failure. I think I made this instead a couple of days later about characters crossing to other worlds. Which in itself was an interesting experiment and the first time I used screening in this particular way.

6. Malice

I laid this out 2x8, and I think this is my favourite layout and what I’ll continue to do with summary gifsets from now on. Like crop stuff out and focus on one thing and sort of tell the story from there. I like this one best and for once the no. of notes agree. I didn’t do anything fancy just pushed colours in my normal HDM psd, added a bunch more vibrance? and fiddled with the linking colours using colour balance like the blue, orange and aqua. I turned John Parry aqua and wet too but whatever. It looked fine.

7. Æsahættr

Still have no idea what the title means, no one tell me now because I prefer to know as little as possible for a show I have giffed madly for two and a half months. Gifset laid out similarly to previous episode but went for a paler palette because I chose lighter scenes. This took literally half an hour. Quickest one of the lot due to life(TM) and also I’d sort of figured out what I’d liked by then. Went for magenta, aqua, red and green and added a lot of black and sharpened it lots. Lots of comments on how pretty it is and I agree but no substance. I went looking for pretty because I was on a deadline and it shows. 

[sailorbadger]

Robin Hood episode ranking part 4 (16-11)

Here’s the second to last episode ranking, with places 16–11. If you happened to miss one of the earlier parts, you can find them here [link].

16. 3x13 – Something Worth Fighting For pt 2

This episode gives a surprisingly good ending to a season that is otherwise not good. The actual ending was good, even if the details surrounding it were not. It was quite touching, especially Much’s reaction to Robin’s death and Robin saying goodbye to the gang. The episode did a lot with what it was given, and it tries to close threads that were left open. It doesn’t do it in the best way, but it works a lot better than the previous episode. The deaths were given the time they need. I would have wished for the Sheriff and Isabella’s deaths to be more significant, but the episode doesn’t suffer too much from moving on from them pretty quickly. After this rewatch I am a lot less mad about the ending of the series, since I now know that the truly bad things happen more towards the beginning and middle of the last season.

 15. 1x12 – The Return of the King

Marian’s fake death here had much more emotion to it than her real death. There is just the right amount of time to linger on the emotional scenes, and even though a lot happens, it doesn’t make the episode feel crowded. I also liked Allan and Will’s scenes. The tension at the end leaves the audience waiting for the next episode. It’s a shame that I saw most of season 2 first, so I never truly got to experience the emotional impact of this episode, since I knew Marian would survive. I’m also giving this episode points for having Marian and Djaq talk to each other. The bar is literally on the floor, but most episodes in this series manage to crawl under it. This episode works well, and it’s a good first part to the finale.

 14. 1x1 – Will You Tolerate This?

“Add a little bit more zoom. A little more. Can you make it faster? Okay, now do a crossfade and add another zoom.” This is how I imagined the editing of this episode sounded like. There are so many zooms and cuts and weird camera angles. I can’t believe there are people who watched this episode and voluntarily stuck around. It’s still a fun episode, and we had a good time making fun of the editing. The scene with the Pirates of the Caribbean -level sword fighting after Robin makes out with the random girl was unnecessary, but other than that the episode was pretty solid. It builds Robin and Much’s dynamic well, and I love how Allan only has about two or three lines where he’s speaking the truth. The episode does a good job telling us the origin story of this version of Robin Hood, and it makes it feels like a fun adventure.

 13. 1x9 – A Thing or Two about Loyalty

This is another episode that I don’t have a lot to say about. I love Much, so it’s good to see him get nice things for a change. This episode could have gone with the “show, don’t tell” path when it came to Lambert and Gisborne’s relationship, since we’re just told that Lambert is Gisborne’s friend, but it’s never shown. I hope Much finds Eve one day and gets the happiness he deserves.

 12. 2x6 – For England…!

This episode is great, and I don’t have anything truly negative to say about it. The only thing I would really complain about is that since we don’t get the gang’s reaction to Allan’s betrayal at the end of the previous episode, there could have been a little more here to show their individual reactions. I like how Allan immediately tries to get himself a job with Gisborne, and I love even more that the Sheriff decides to kill him just because he’s on a bad mood. Here he’s just the way I like; being an evil villain who yells at his minions. The Black Knights -storyline should have been a bigger deal in the show overall, and this episode put it in the spotlight and gave it the appropriate amount of tension. There were a lot of cute little moments in this episode, like Much making up a story about all the places they’ve been on tour and Will coming up with the idea of the instruments in the first place.

 11. 2x8 – Get Carter!

The end of the episode is great, and I like Carter as a character. I like that Allan is still loyal to Marian. The only truly negative thing that bothers me in relation to this episode isn’t even the fault of this episode. I wish there had been one more episode between this and the next one where we could have seen Marian develop her relationships with the other members of the gang. There was a short and sweet moment between her and John in this episode, which I really appreciated.

One more part to go! Stay tuned for the top 10.

[pluviophile-bookworm]

AWAE 2x10 rewatch: thoughts and reactions

So this episode kicks off right where the last one ended - with Billy getting hurt after Cole has had too much to take. To be honest, this episode is already too much for me to take, too. Cole is heartbroken, I am heartbroken, pretty much everyone involved is. But then Anne speaks those wise words: ‘It’s not what the world holds for you. It’s what you bring to it. And you bring so much.’ I’m glad someone finally told Cole how much he means. He deserves all the good in this world. 

What is Rachel’s problem with Miss Stacy? So she’s a little unconventional. So what? We need people like her in the world. 

I see Bash is still with Mary, and he’s willing to let her ‘take advantage’ of him. And I guess it’s repairs season as everyone prepares for the spring. At least I think they’re preparing for the spring. I’m not quite certain of the seasons anymore with all the drama going on. But it was winter a couple of episodes ago, so I figure…

I seem to be empathising with everyone today. I’m just as broken over the story club having been destroyed as the girls are. It’s hard to get over the loss of something so important, something nearly sacred.  But I know they’ll get over it one day. 

I’m still quite depressed over this grey and black episode, but I can’t get over (in a sort of positive way, I guess) how Anne and Miss Stacy talk over each other in this scene and finish in unison with ‘If I could take it all back, I would.’ This scene is so well executed, I just love it so much. And then it’s all heartbreak and tears again as Miss Stacy tells Anne she’s on probation and will probably be let go.

I know Anne is supposed to, as Jerry said, be so happy about the fox trap being removed, but there’s been too much for her to handle and she just breaks down. I think I can’t possibly proceed with this review. This episode is too depressing. I’ll leave this post in my drafts and see how things go later on. Or maybe I should just let it go altogether, or I should just keep going until it’s over… but I can’t. So I’ll stop here for now. 

Alright, I’m back. It’s been a week and I think I’m ready to go on. I’m not quite sure, though, so it might just be another week before I can finish this. I’ve been putting it off long enough. 

Bash is still in the bog with Mary and things are getting serious. The way he looks at those children, I think he wants some of his own, With Mary. And he’ll have one. Too bad we couldn’t see her grow. #renewannewithane Is this battle lost?

Is Gilbert thinking of selling his house? I can’t even comment on that. But that substitute teacher... that I can talk about. Only Phillips is worse than that guy, and that’s because Phillips was a straight-up bully. But this man is absolutely the strictest, most boring teacher I’ve seen in this series. I didn’t even remember he was there at all. Of course, he’s only there for an episode and he’s got nothing memorable about him, so that must be why.

I think I mentioned it last time, or was it the time before, perhaps in my reaction to 2x8 - when Miss Stacy assigned Anne that essay on gossip, I thought it too bad that she couldn’t do the same with Rachel. And now Marilla agrees with me. Good thing she was there that day to see what a great teacher and person Miss Stacy really is. And now she’s really had it with Rachel. To be fair, Rachel deserves to be put in her place every once in a while. 

‘But we’re not heroes, Anne, we’re just girls!’ Oh, come on, Ruby, how can you say such a thing? Have you not been friends with Anne for a long enough time to know that... how did Diana put it now? ‘A hero is a person, and that person can be any person.’ Ever so eloquent. 

Moody wants to help the girls save Miss Stacy, but why am I sensing it’s just because he’s feeling guilty about dropping the light bulb? Either way, the light bulb gives Anne an idea, and thus Team Potato Light Bulbs is born. That’s what I like to call the four of them - and the rest of their classmates, once they join in. 

You know, Anne has taught Marilla a lot in this year that they’ve been a family. And now she has something to teach Miss Stacy too, even though Miss Stacy is supposed to be the teacher. Again, good thing Marilla was there to witness the class that day.

Cole has come to the Andrews’ house to apologise, even though Billy totally deserved what came upon him. And he confirms that last part by calling Cole ‘freak’ once again. But Cole is a man of honour and grace and he goes through with the apology and walks out of there as the bigger man.

Gosh, Bash is thinking about proposing, and I can’t even with how awkward he is. He’s fallen hard - but I already knew that. And then he sees Mary with a strange man (who is actually her son) and totally misinterprets things. Does this episode have to be so depressing? I hope the better part of it comes soon enough, or else I might not be in the right condition to finish this today. 

Alright, things seem to be taking a turn for the better... everyone is hurrying somewhere, and the town hall meeting will decide it all. I’m nervous and excited and that’s when I know what’s going to happen. Imagine how I felt when I first saw this episode? Well, you probably felt it too, so you don’t need to imagine anything. But doesn’t this part of the episode provide such scope for the imagination? Even the second time around.

That’s it. They’re on the train, and Gilbert has seen them, and he cannot believe his eyes, and now he’s joining them , for his own reasons, but still. And then there’s that iconic moment with Cole where he tells Anne ‘You know Gilbert has a crush on you, right?’ and she’s like ‘No, he doesn’t!’ and he so does... and Cole’s not being ridiculous, he’s being insightful. Or rather, he seems to be the only person around there who’s not totally blind.

Gosh, an actual power walk. I love this. This episode is finally getting better and I’m all in for it. 

Is that what Mary thinks of Bash? That he’d leave her if he knew she’d had a child out of wedlock? Who’s thinking less of whom now? Bash would never.

Of all the ways to propose Bash had thought of, this must have been the one he’d never even considered. And yet the question is out. And is that kiss enough of an answer?

When Gilbert asks Bash to sign the deed to the farm as his partner and his family, I am reminded of when Anne signed the Cuthbert family bible. This is an official document uniting them as family - making their bond as official as can be. And once Mary becomes Bash’s wife, she will be part of that too. And that will happen soon enough. This episode sure is taking the long-awaited turn for the better.

Aunt Josephine, always to the rescue. And she’ll help save more than Miss Stacy today. I feel like this episode is all about family - lost family, found family. Mostly the latter.

And Diana apologises for her narrow thinking. She’s changed. I knew it was inside her all this time. It’s just how she was raised that stopped her from releasing her full potential. This girl deserves the world and will get it. I have just one issue with her, but it belongs in season 3, not here. Not yet.

Sure, the kids are ready to speak for Miss Stacy, but she’s come to speak for herself. This is amazing. Potato light bulbs forever! AWAE teaches the important lessons. Too bad it had to end. 

Is that what I think it is? Is Rachel coming to apologise? Apparently everyone can change for the better. Well, not quite everyone (looking at you, Billy), but the world isn’t a perfect place. And yet even Billy left the fox alone after all. 

The wedding... I always cry at weddings. 

‘I wanna be with my family’ - yes, because he has one again. How beautiful.

‘Tragical romance and all...’ That one speaks for itself. 

Let’s sum up: things are so tragical that they make me stop watching before I’d hit the nine-minute mark; Bash and Mary’s relationship grows quickly; Marilla and Rachel have their greatest falling out over Miss Stacy, just to prove the impact she’s had on everyone and everything; girls can be heroes, and so can be clumsy, awkward boys; Cole is a bigger man than Billy - but then again, when has he not been?; Bash meets Elijah - the wrong way; Team Potato Light Bulbs play stowaways; Cole is insightful - if insightful means ‘not blind’, that is; a proposal goes not quite as planned; a new found family is made official; Aunt Jo to the rescue; Diana is more open-minded; potato light bulbs forever; everyone can change; a cry-worthy wedding adds a new member to Gilbert and Bash’s found family; ‘Remains to be seen’.

[xfcklprtehkrx]

Follow the Music

Received this question from @beyondkailani​ : I'd be interested in your views on the episode titles, especially those released for season 2. I find some of the implications interesting - Sex and Candy being followed immediately by Como la flor for example. Very different in tone!

Okay the episode song titles thing is really fun.  For S01 I was familiar with every song, and yay cause even some of my old favorite bands in there.  Nirvana, Everclear, Aerosmith, and Counting Crows?  Can’t go wrong.  Once the episode with Rosa’s CD happened I realized the episode titles were doing the same thing, but I think for most episodes it’s way more literal than others. Since we’ve made it through S01 already I’m gonna mostly focus on S02.

I made a youtube playlist with lyrics for the sake of review: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLu6cxfqCMO9l7f1jJlLLgCzQELAo7W-BZ

2X1 Stay (I Missed You) (Lisa Loeb) Okay this song, the lyrics are 100% about Michael and Alex.  Lyrics strangely seem like the inevitable moment of real separation between them because Michael is with someone else.  It also smacks a little bit of their reluctance to let go of each other for so long.  Now the title could be a direct point to both Rosa and Max seeming to be dead at the end of S01.  I mean Rosa was dead for 10 years.  She can’t just come back to life, so if she’s going to live, she can’t stay in Roswell. Even if Rosa could stay, what about all her drama with Isobel?  Problems. I mean she was Noah at the time, but Rosa doesn’t know that, so they can either tell her or have it be a constant problem.  There’s also a chance Rosa already knows and she was going to tell her dad, so she doesn’t exactly scream ‘support the alien conspiracy’ to me.

I don't pay attention To the distance That you're running or to Anyone anywhere

I don't understand if you really care I'm only hearing negative, no no no, bad

So I, I turned the radio on, I turned the radio up And this woman was singing my song Lovers in love and the other's run away Lover is crying 'cause the other won't stay

And you said that I was naive And I thought that I was strong I thought, "hey, I can leave, I can leave" Oh but now I know that I was wrong 'Cause I missed you Yeah, I missed you

You said, "you caught me cause you want me And one day I'll let you go" You try to give away a keeper Or keep me 'cause you know you're just so Scared to lose

2X2 Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space (Spiritualized) This one is all ‘I can’t help falling in love with you’.  That speaks to me of Michael and Maria.  Could also be a Liz leans on Kyle thing too, assuming Max is still dead.  She does always run back to him, which is super unfair to Kyle.  Maybe it’s also something good for Isobel.  She deserves a new love after everything with Noah, so I’d rather it go that route than either of the other two. 

2X3 Good Mother (Jann Arden) This episode will probably revolve around Maria’s mother, and since I predicted before that Michael’s hand and Maria’s desperation to find a cure for her mother could go sideways, I suspect some of that will happen here.

2X4 What If God Was One of Us (Joan Osbourne) As a Malex shipper I admit this is the one that interested me the most since Tyler Blackburn confirmed in this episode Alex gets a new love interest.  I can’t see how this would relate to Alex in anyway, so I was disappointed to not get any further insight.  

Now the lyrics make me suspect this is when Michael tells Maria he’s an alien. I mean yeah it’s ‘god’ not ‘alien’ but still some similarity there to me.

If God had a face what would it look like? And would you want to see if, seeing meant That you would have to believe in things like heaven And in Jesus and the saints, and all the prophets?

2X5 I'll Stand By You (The Pretenders) I see so many things in this one. -Rosa(assuming she’s still alive)/Liz -Max(if he’s back)/Liz -Max(if he’s back)/Isobel -Michael/Max and/or Isobel. -Kyle always being there for Liz even though he’s sort of a doormat -Kyle and Alex’s rekindled childhood friendship and Kyle being there for Alex -Tragedy strikes so Alex and Maria make up and he’s there for her or vice versa (even though I don’t foresee that lasting)

This could touch so many of the relationships on this show.  It’s too generic to me, and we won’t know until we get there.  Especially since so much will hinge on how they decide to handle Rosa still being alive and Max being dead.

2X6 Sex and Candy (Macy’s Playground) Now I know the word sex is in the title, but I never interpreted this in a literal way. I always assumed it was about eye sex.  His eyes meeting across the room with this fantasy girl and he’s surprised she’s looking back.  So maybe something romantic for Isobel or Alex.  I assume by this point Maria and Michael will be together so nothing to do with them.

Hangin' round downtown by myself And I had so much time To sit and think about myself And then there she was

I smell sex and candy here Who's that lounging in my chair Who's that casting devious stares In my direction

Mama this surely is a dream Yeah mama this surely is a dream

2X7 Como La Flor (Selena) I don’t speak Spanish so I had to check out a translation for this one, but this one breaks my heart.  It’s all about losing the one you love and letting them be happy with someone else. I could almost ugly cry at the implications of this song.

I know you have a new love However I wish you the best If in me, you didn't find happiness Maybe someone else will give it to you

If you saw how it hurts to lose your love With your goodbye, you take my heart I don't know if I can love again Because I gave you all the love I could give

2X8 Say It Ain't So (Wheezer) This song following the last song makes me feel like I am right about the main subject for that episode since it seems to follow the exact same line of thought, but it actually doesn’t.  I suspect Jesse Manes will make an appearance here.  This song is actually about a boy’s fear of his father’s alcoholism.  Then again, if the person who picked it didn’t actually know what the song was really about then yes, it follows the theme of the previous song.

2X9 The Diner So I wasn’t 100% sure which song this was referencing.  My mind immediately went to Tom’s Diner by Suzanne Vega, which I won’t lie, I had stuck in my head for like 6 years because I couldn’t figure out what the song was so I never heard it again.  When I finally did it was sweet relief.  Now there’s a ‘The Diner’ by Kaskade but it’s really just a remix of her song, so I’m going to assume that’s the song.

Now absolutely nothing in this song draws me back to this show.  There is a verse at the very end that seems like it might be significant, but it’s not in the ‘the diner’ version.   Then again, it could just be that the episode takes place surrounding the Crashdown, and the song title is literal.

Oh, this rain It will continue Through the morning As I'm listening To the bells Of the cathedral I am thinking Of your voice And of the midnight picnic Once upon a time Before the rain began

1X10 American Woman (Lenny Kravitz) This seems way out there, but this song makes me think of an outsider government/military type showing up to investigate and stir the pot.

So beyondkailani had directly commented on the contrast between 2X6 and 2X7.  I agree. Different in every way, but I’m not sure it has any meaning beyond trying to find song titles that fit the narrative, but then I think ‘no way’, and I’m sure it must be something more complicated.  I’m still digesting how I feel because the songs do bounce all over the place as far as genre.  

In S01 I felt like 75% of the song titles it was just the title that related to the episode.  I’m sure the lyrics also add to it, but mostly I think they were chosen just for their titles.  There are some episodes where it must be the lyrics that had meaning because I can’t see another connection (1X4, 1X10), but for most, it’s just the title.

Per example: -Don’t Speak is a break up song and I suppose you could attach a secondary meaning of the loss of your faith in someone to this song, but that’s a tough sell for me. -Smells like Teen Spirit on the teen revisit episode and I assure you the song is not actually about being a teenager… -I Saw the Sign on the episode where Liz finds a possible motive for why Isobel killed Rosa when this is actually also a break-up song of sorts. -Champagne Supernova on the Gala episode -Creep for the prison and Noah revealing the full extent of his actions (yet the song is actually about wanting someone who you think is amazing to love you but thinking in comparison to them you are nothing).  Now that I’m reconsidering this one the lyrics may also have value here. Originally I hadn’t considered that the lyrics might represent Noah’s feelings about Rosa.  Rosa not being an active character I didn’t consider her as part of the equation the first time.

I added some of these to the playlist at the top as well. 1X1-Pilot 1X2-So Much for the Afterglow 1X3-Tearin' Up My Heart 1X4-Where Have All the Cowboys Gone? 1X5-Don't Speak 1X6-Smells Like Teen Spirit 1X7-I Saw the Sign 1X8-Barely Breathing 1X9-Songs About Texas 1X10-I Don't Want to Miss a Thing 1X11-Champagne Supernova 1X12-Creep 1X13-Recovering the Satellites

Now all of this could be totally moot since most of the songs in S01 are just about the title and I focused on content to make conjectures.  This was really fun for me though.