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I just realized something about Estrella the starfish from Crazy ex-girlfriend. When am I gonna shut up about the show that ended in 2019? When I'm dead.

Estrella is a symbol of a transition moment in a character's life. When you have to resolve the last things keeping you in your past and move on.

When we first meet her, she is Heather's. Heather only knows how to be a student and is forced to stop being that and make decisions. She is on the path, but it's still a long way. She doesn't know who she is and what to do. The answer is: go for the promotion, marry Hector, buy a condo, move to another town. After she does all that, after she grows and finds herself in this new better place, she gives Estrella to Rebecca. She doesn't need the starfish anymore, it was the last thing tethering her to her student years. And Rebecca needs it more.

Rebecca at this point is just as lost as Heather used to be. She doesn't think she deserves a love life, she just quit her job of many years for a low profit small business, she still hasn't resolved her mother issues, and her two out of three friends are moving on without her. She is on the path, but it's still a long way. Estrella is the final gift from Heather, the last thing she leaves behind. Because right now, Rebecca needs it. She doesn't know who she is and what to do. The answer is: to stand up to her mother, make peace with Audra, connect with Hebby, try doing theater, and finally start writing songs. After she resolves these issues and finds herself in a better place, she gives Estrella to Josh. She doesn't need the starfish anymore, it was the last thing comforting her that everything is the same. And Josh needs it more.

Josh at this point is very lost. He lives with his ex-girlfriend and ecen tries to win her back yet agaaaain (ugh). He just found out he doesn't know how to be a grown up and how to live alone. He is on this path, but it's still a long way. He doesn't know who he is and what to do. The answer is: to move out from Hector's mom AND Rebbeca, do magic with not popular kids, and find love there.

We don't know what Josh does with Estrella later. My headcanon is, he gives it to Hector's mom. Because that woman has some issues... Maybe then she could stop looking for sons, real of artificial, and just live her life.

The point is, when you are in the beginning of some realizations, when you still have a long way to go, you can always look at previous owners of Estrella, who all used to be in this place too, and who managed to move on. You are not alone, and you will prevail, but you have to start making choices. You can't grasp at the starfish forever. And you are going to screw up on this journey (kill the starfish like 27 times). This is inevitable part of the process. But ultimately you will figure it out and find a way to move on.

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One of my favourite questions for figuring out a character’s motivations is which qualities they most fear being assigned to them. Are they afraid (consciously or unconsciously) of being seen as stupid? Ungrateful? Weak? Incompetent? Lazy? Cowardly? Intimidating? Like they actually care? etc.

It’s such a fun way to explore into who they are, why they do what they do, what they don’t do out of fear, and how they might be affected by the events of the story. And I love when characters have negative motivations—trying to avoid something (in this case, being seen a particular way) as much as they’re trying to achieve a goal.

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finished watching SAO Underworld War Part 2

Overall I think they hit the plot beats a lot better than I had anticipated. Was still feeling burned after they rushed the pre-war arc (god I will never live down the fact they made Eugeo T-pose). The composition CGI effects were top notch (esp Gabe's final form, chef's kiss)

but they really just had Eiji show up for a moment, talk shit, have his dead GF give a mini concert, and then get PKed

I can't imagine what a fever dream it must've been to be one of the mob players ported in - don't know the language but see random AI idol show up singing for this nobody

also also kirito you should know better than to spar with the cutting edge robot - what if you break one of her servos, huh? what are you going to do then!?

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[ Alt Text : Tweet from Lina Posting. "Have just observed the existence of what I can Only Describe as the Culver's Transmutation Circle. Attached is an image of all of the locations of Culvers Burgers in denver on google maps ]

So of course like any neurotypical person, of which I totally am (sarcasm), i had to go check. Y'all. I do not want the "Culvers Denver Mass Transmutation Circle Event of 2025" to become the way we learn magic is real.

[ Alt Text : two images. The first one is a screenshot from Full Metal Alchemist Brotherhood, showing the mass transmutation circle, that covered the entire nation. The second is the SAME transmutation circle drawn over the map of Denver, rotated slightly, with 7 of the 10 points lining up near perfectly with points on the circle. There are dots on those 7 points, and x's on the 3 spots not filled in]

Anyway, felt this would do numbers on Tumblr.

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i kept thinking about this while i was trying to fall asleep yesterday and couldn’t stop laughing myself back awake

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“If I had time travel I’d kill Hitler” “If I had time travel I’d stop my favourite politician getting assassinated” you’re all thinking way too small. If I had time travel I’d stop Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin from dying on the moon due to Soviet sabotage, kicking off the Great Nuclear War and devastating half of the planet.

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Do you have any tips for learning to accept nice things?

no but mrs le guin has you covered

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yr locked in a room alone with three adult men but you feel perfectly safe. who are they

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Mr. Rogers had an intentional manner of speaking to children, which his writers called “Freddish”. There were nine steps for translating into Freddish: 

“State the idea you wish to express as clearly as possible, and in terms preschoolers can understand.” Example: It is dangerous to play in the street. ​​​​​​

“Rephrase in a positive manner,” as in It is good to play where it is safe.

“Rephrase the idea, bearing in mind that preschoolers cannot yet make subtle distinctions and need to be redirected to authorities they trust.” As in, “Ask your parents where it is safe to play.”

“Rephrase your idea to eliminate all elements that could be considered prescriptive, directive, or instructive.” In the example, that’d mean getting rid of “ask”: Your parents will tell you where it is safe to play.

“Rephrase any element that suggests certainty.” That’d be “will”: Your parents can tell you where it is safe to play.

“Rephrase your idea to eliminate any element that may not apply to all children.” Not all children know their parents, so: Your favorite grown-ups can tell you where it is safe to play.

“Add a simple motivational idea that gives preschoolers a reason to follow your advice.” Perhaps: Your favorite grown-ups can tell you where it is safe to play. It is good to listen to them.

“Rephrase your new statement, repeating the first step.” “Good” represents a value judgment, so: Your favorite grown-ups can tell you where it is safe to play. It is important to try to listen to them.

“Rephrase your idea a final time, relating it to some phase of development a preschooler can understand.” Maybe: Your favorite grown-ups can tell you where it is safe to play. It is important to try to listen to them, and listening is an important part of growing.

Mr. Rogers Had a Simple Set of Rules for Talking to Children - The Atlantic

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As a commoner, he's just a kind, elusive boy. But when you add the fact that he is a Houjou child… All of his skills become formidable weapons! This is invigorating.

Nige Jouzu no Wakagimi Episode 09

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he really said "GIRL HELP THEY ARE GOING TO CANCEL US ON TWITTER DOT COM 😭😭😭"