persuedbybear - Tumblr blog

[persuedbybear]

If Anon isn’t interested in stories where Kanthony gets into a poorly thought through relationship with the other’s sibling, only to still pine after the other, while the family sits by confused, boy do I have bad news for you. Also, if you don’t like beans, find a recipe that doesn’t use any. But, don’t complain to Molly she’s making bean soup. It’s her kitchen, not yours.

I... Have to say I have a problem with this last prompt. Maybe it's just me, but Benedict doesn't come off as a good brother. He sees Anthony suffer because of his lie, and instead of coming clean and making Anthony feel better... He treats it like a joke? Doesn't even think of telling Anthony the truth and just decides to mess with him? No wonder Anthony's convinced that his whole family hates him. I would too if I were him.

Hmm I guess I don’t see it that way. Benedict does definitely feel worse and worse about it as the weekend goes on and Kate and Anthony seem to get closer and closer to the edge of something. I don’t think Ben views it as a joke that his brother’s upset. I think he feels kind of awful about it but he’s also committed to this lie pretty heavily for the last month and the alternative is telling his mother and his very stressed sister that he was in fact: lying through his teeth and he might have just brought Anthony’s soulmate to her wedding.

Not to mention it becomes clearer and clearer that he just looks like a bit of a twat because Sophie doesn’t want to flirt with him because he showed up with someone else.

Something which Kate pointed out several times in the lead up to, and on the journey to his family estate in Kent.

In hindsight Anthony does sort of wonder why Ben keeps pushing him and Kate together all weekend.

[persuedbybear]

Now, in fairness to Mal:

Nikolai: Explains that he has to send him away because Mal is so bad at hiding his feelings for her.

Every Diplomat: Can immediately tell their relationship is not platonic.

Zoya & Tolya: Tell Alina they've never seen anyone want something more than Mal wants her.

Mal: Moves heaven and earth to reunite with her. Commits treason to keep her safe. Admits to being jealous of her other romantic partners. After learning their attraction is mutual, takes every opportunity he gets to be physically intimate. Runs into a collapsing building to save her. Tattoos himself with a symbol of devotion. Gives multiple speeches about his feelings, culminating in the one where he says his only regret is that they didn't have enough time and he couldn't give her everything she deserves, before spending his last night alive with her.

Alina, 2 and 16/18ths of the way through a 3 book series: Holy crap! Is Mal in love with me?

Mal at the start of S&B: Alina? She's my best friend. Also I've been planning our wedding since I was 8. And I have been attracted to her to the point of distraction pretty much since puberty hit. In addition once we leave the army we will be settling down together, and living happily ever after... You know? Normal friend stuff.

Mal approximately one week later: Holy crap! Am I in love with Alina?

[persuedbybear]

Something I find really interesting about the discourse on whether Ryan Gosling looks too old to play Ken is that I have not seen a single person point out that he is a full decade older than Margot Robbie.

I don't know why I find it so strange that his age is not being acknowledged. There are tons of movies where the actors have a 10+ year age gap where it's not mentioned at all, even one's where the characters are the same age*

Is it because we specifically know what Ryan Gosling used to look like? Are we finally being deprogrammed to assume every woman over 30 is matronly? Are we less comfortable talking about a man's worth being tied to his youth and appearance.

Because if Barbie and Ken are supposed to be the same age (which I assume they are) then the criticism has validity. He looks 10 years older than her. Because he is.

*side note: one of my not-so-pet peeves is when characters who are established to have grown up together as children are played by actors that have a large age gap.

[persuedbybear]

Mal at the start of S&B: Alina? She's my best friend. Also I've been planning our wedding since I was 8. And I have been attracted to her to the point of distraction pretty much since puberty hit. In addition once we leave the army we will be settling down together, and living happily ever after... You know? Normal friend stuff.

Mal approximately one week later: Holy crap! Am I in love with Alina?

[persuedbybear]

Things from the ending montage that make my heart happy

Nate wearing the grey suit.

Sam being the only one smiling on the Nigerian team

James Sr's face while looking at his son. He really is trying to get it right from here on out. A masterful half second performance by Kieran O'Brien.

Colin in conversation with Lindsay Higgins, the vicar (something, something, queer/religious solidarity)

Bex and Richard holding hands. Get. It. Girl.

"A very brief forward"

Nate kintsugi-ing the sign

The mini library outside Ted's Kansas house.

[persuedbybear]

Today's Mal Oretsev theory

Mal is not actually cool or popular. He doesn't make friends everywhere he goes, and he's not automatically well liked by everyone.

Alina only thinks he is because that's what she thinks of him. But it is well established that Alina is never a more unreliable narrator than when it comes to Mal.

Think about it. Not counting Alina, when we meet Mal, he has a grand total of 2 friends, Dubrov and Mikhail, and they're not exactly cool kids themselves. They end up being loyal, decent men when it really counts, but before that, they're kind of unlikable losers. Not the trio you imagine being the big men on campus (or base camp, in this case.)

But what about Zoya? She was interested in him. Firstly, she's a Grisha and he's the world's most powerful amplifier. He has a distinct advantage there. Secondly, even if he didn't, do you remember how Dubrov and Mikhail reacted when she just looked at him? That level of hype implies that this is not a common occurrence.

And that's kind of it.

Those are the only times in the books where he is attractive to people without them having an ulterior motive. Alina tells us that other people have been interested (Ruby for instance) but we have to just take her word for it. We never see it ourselves.

Sturmhond likes him, but Sturmhond isn't real, and as soon as the rouse is over, and he can be Nikolai again the relationship is pretty freaking antagonistic. He's never really accepted by any of the Grisha on the crew or at the little palace. He keeps them at arm's length, and they do the same. And the royals and diplomats all see him as too far beneath them to actually be friends.

The only person in the whole trilogy he forms a genuine connection with is Misha, and he's 7.

So yeah, headcanon that Alina is just projecting. Mal likes, and is liked by his wife and his kid. End of list.

[persuedbybear]

I haven't seen it mentioned yet, but I think it's important to know that the song Nate plays is the same song used to underscore Chidi's wave speech in the finale of The Good Place.

In case you weren't emotionally decimated enough already.

[persuedbybear]

Does Mal make some bad choices? Yes. But it's important to remember that the options he had were not bad choice and good choice. They were bad choice and different bad choice.

What is the right thing to do when someone you care about is doing "the right thing" but it puts them in danger? Do you encourage their actions, or do you prioritize their safety?

When the person you love chooses to subject themselves to arrangements that they don't really want to be in, do you try and get them out of it, or do you support their decision?

It's a total grey area. There is no right answer. It's impossible. And frustrating. And his whole world is at stake. But those are the options in front of him

All he can do is try to exist in the space between being asked to leave and being asked to stay.

[persuedbybear]

Love that Rebecca was the one to finally tell him, albeit in slightly different words, "don't you dare settle for fine"

Love a full circle moment.

[persuedbybear]

Hilarious how Darklina is often interpreted as this passionate/sexy/seductive dynamic, and Malina is, at best, the soft/sweet/innocent contrast.

Because canonically, even pre-betrayal, Alina is confused and hesitant about pursuing a physical relationship with the Darkling, whereas she and Mal can't be left alone for 30 seconds without making out.

[persuedbybear]

I love how the misogyny and sexism were handled in this episode, because it was so painfully realistic.

The locker room scene was great. A few guys were immediately supportive, most thought it was a shitty thing to happen, but there was still a lot of playing devil's advocate, and straight up victim blaming. Very few of them see the need to take action at all, until they learned it affected someone they cared about. Super reminiscent of all those men who claim they never realized women were actually people until they had daughters of their own.

And Jack should be the most sympathetic, because not only is she Keeley's partner, but she's a woman herself. This could have happened to her after all. But she's not, because it could have happened to her, but it didn't. So clearly Jack made the right choices, and Keeley made the wrong ones. So her slut shaming, holier-than-thou behavior is justified, because she did things right.

[persuedbybear]

Something I find interesting

Mal in book 1: Sensitive little boy who grew up being bullied, and having Alina fight his battles for him. Long-term goal is to settle down with his best friend, and build a life where instead of being forced to use his connection to all living things to hunt, he can use it to help things grow. Moves heaven and earth and volunteers for a suicide mission on the vague hope of being reunited with Alina. As a direct result, watches his friends die, and has to kill for the first time. Is understandably hurt when it appears that she has forgotten and no longer cares about him. Despite this, commits treason to find her and keep her safe. Is understanding and apologetic once he learns the truth about what she's been through. Is non-judgmental, but admits to being jealous. Acknowledges that it's a him problem, Alina's done nothing wrong, and that he loves her no matter what. Thinks her powers are actually pretty cool. Is an all-around good guy who has very human flaws, that sometimes get the better of him, but he knows that, and he's working on it.

Mal in season 1: Basically book!Mal, but you get to see it in real time, as opposed to hearing about it after 100 pages of Alina (and the reader) being manipulated into falsely thinking he doesn't care about her. Also, he gets to rugby tackle Kirigan off the skiff.

Fandom: Thank goodness they changed every single detail about him. He's the absolute worst in the books! There are literally no redeeming characteristics to this 17-year-old child, I can't believe these writers got me to like him. It must be because they write him as a completely different person.

Nikolai in book 2: Charming to the point that you can never really tell when he's serious or if he's just working an angle. Always playing a character; Sturmhond, the Soldier, the Prince, and slips in and out of them with distressing, untrustworthy ease. An unapologetic asshole. Cuts off people's fingers and feeds them to their dogs. Assaults Alina, and constantly alludes to their future (not entirely consensual) sex life. Belittles and degrades Mal at every opportunity in an attempt to drive him away. Politically minded, and driven to a fault. Relentless in his pursuits, to the point of reminding Alina of the Darkling. Says he wants to do the right thing, but can't be certain he actually will. Never knows when to stop. You know he's a good guy at heart, and that somehow makes his questionable actions worse.

Nikolai in season 2: Genuinely charming, trustworthy, responsible. Sarcastic, but never glib. The only major difference between his personas is the coat. Respectful of others' relationships and autonomy. BFFs with Mal. Never in the moral grey area. Always does the right thing. Doesn't really have or need an arc, because he's already at the finish line.

Fandom: What a perfect adaptation! He's exactly like he is in the books! No notes!

[persuedbybear]

Saying that shipping abusive relationships is fine because they're fictional is blatantly untrue.

It sends the message to abusers that their behaviors are not just acceptable, but desirable.

It sends the message to victims that people approve their abusers actions, and may prevent them from leaving abusive situations.

It sends the message that you, personally, are an unsafe space for people to go to for help, because you will side or empathize with their abuser.

It creates a platform for more of these stories to be told, but versions where they are not condemned but seen as the heroes. The media is unscrupulous, if abuse sells, then that's what they'll promote.

So yeah, having those relationships normalized and romanticized in fictional situations absolutely has real world consequences.

[persuedbybear]

Maybe it's the divorced kid in me, but I always wanted the show to end with Ted going back to Kansas. Michelle told him she needed space, he had an extreme reaction, and obviously without him doing that there would be no show. But, let's face it, moving to the other side of the world when you have a young child is a pretty shitty thing to do.

It's hard to be an effective parent from across an ocean, and we're starting to see the repercussions of that in Henry's behavior. And it will be difficult to see Ted leave the beautiful little found family he brought together at Richmond, but he has another family in America. One he also chose to create, and one that has a child, so it needs to be the one that takes precedence.

Ted's biggest issues stem from being abandoned by his own father, and I can't imagine an ending where he is happy being anything less than emotionally, mentally, and physically present for his son.

So, yeah, I want Rebecca to fire Ted, it's for his own good.

[persuedbybear]

Genuine question for the S&B Costume Department

Why did Mal wear the same outfit the entire season? On the run, and on the boat I get it (even though Alina changes then.) But was there seriously not a single shirt in the entire palace that he could borrow?

[persuedbybear]

One of my favorite themes in the second book in particular, that I don't think is talked about enough is how being willing to do something is different than actually wanting to do it. And particularly how it informs Nikolai and Mal's actions, and makes a really good parallel to the Darkling.

They're both soldiers, but Nikolai chose it, among pretty infinite options and Mal had it chosen for him, because he was drafted.

Nikolai knows Alina does not actually want to marry him, but the fact that she is willing to is sufficient enough for him move forward with it. Mal breaks up with Alina because he believes she no longer wants him and is only with him out of obligation.

I like Nikolai, I think he's a good person, and I think his mentality is totally reasonable for someone who not only had the privileges and political education he's had, but also has an entire country depending on him.

I just like how for the man who grew up with pretty much anything he could ever want, willingness is enough. And for the man who grew up with almost zero opportunity to do what he wants, willingness is not enough.

Because in book 1 we get the Darkling using manipulation and eventually force. Essentially not taking Alina's actual wants into account at all. And it's not until Alina tells Nikolai that his single-mindedness reminds her of the Darkling, that he comes to terms with the fact that he is doing the same thing.

And most interestingly, he doesn't immediately vow to change or be better, he hopes that if and when the choice is in front of him, he'll be able to make the right one, but he makes no promises.

[persuedbybear]

Do you ever read Mal's lost letter, and just get really emotional about all of it, but in particular:

He cut you, Alina. [...] How many times has he cut you since? How many times has he hurt you? How many times have I failed to stop him? That can't be the last time I'll see you. When that thought creeps in, when it's late like this, and the lamp burns low and the flame starts to sputter, I feel every empty hollow in myself and the wind just blows through. I feel how flimsy I am, how all the things I though were strong and whole were just held together by you. Here's my answer, Captain. She's the thing that made this all okay-the threadbare coats, and the guns that jam when you most need them to fire, the loneliness of knowing you don't matter [...] What is she? She's everything, you dumb son of a bitch. Maybe I'll step outside and let the wind take [this letter.] The wind is strong enough to reach you, to travel south past Tsibeya, to scale the Petrazoi, and wend it's way through the streets of Os Alta. The wind won't stop for gates or guards. It will climb your tower and rattle the window of your room, or slip through a hidden doorway and twist past the bars of your cell. It will lift your hair and brush your cheek, and maybe you'll look up and you'll hear me. I'll survive tomorrow, and the day after that, and somehow, no matter what it takes, I'll see you safe again. and of course, This is going to sound ridiculous To hell with it- I miss your scowl.

It's literally 11 straight pages of poetry, guilt, and pining. And I just, really love this guy.