#⭑ funeral grey — meta / bear.

[originhl]

TAG DROP 2/6 ( tags for Lex, Bear, and Scott )

[stagefoureddiediaz]

Costume Meta 5x17

I decided to do this weeks meta character by character this week because it flowed better. I’m also not going to look at every costume this week - some of them such as ones worn to a funeral, are hard to make comment on because there is little scope for a costume and for colour theory when it comes to funeral attire!

Young Jonah’s costume choices were very interesting to me because of my two theories - stripe and check. We started with a maroon top with blue stripes. When you look up the meaning behind maroon as a colour it has two distinctive and opposing meanings - it can be gentle, inspiring, confident and strong. But it can also be narcissistic, overly ambitious and arrogant - any guesses for which meaning we’re attributing here?? as I wrote about in my theory - stripes mean change - changes in the path you life is on - perfectly placed here because this is the moment when Jonah begins his new journey - the narcissistic hero complex journey.

We also see his grey tie is striped as well - adding to this theory of change happening and happening gradually. We also see him in a white check shirt with blue, green and pink check and a blue shirt with a white dot pattern - all indicative of his mental stage fluctuating and changing - figuring out that he likes the attention, the adulation and the power he feels it gives him - this is why in such a short space of time we see him in so many different colours and patterns.

Putting the rest under the cut because it got loooong!

Claudette being in a Yellow top for her funeral ‘order of service’ (I’m assuming that’s what was!) was a good choice - its signposting that the conversation over her death hasn’t ended yet - that there will be more ahead that relates to her death - obviously it was foreshadowing fro the episode itself, but its going to have ripples that reach out into further episodes - beyond just this season.

We saw a couple of interesting transitions for Bobby this episode - firstly the check shirt he wore to the funeral - a clear indicator of my check theory being at play - and the fact it was the funeral outfit shows that it connects back to Claudette - this is Bobbys clothing indicating to us that all is not going to be well with Bobby going forward. I don’t have my Bobby notes to hand, but we definitely haven’t seen him in anything patterned for a while and possibly at all in S5 (like I said without being able to look back at my notes I can’t confirm) so this marks a clear turning point for him. 

The other interesting and change potentially foreshadowing as well is the change in colour of his undershirt. Bobby nearly always has a t-shirt on under his shirt and up to this point the’ve nearly always bee white - not in this episode though - we had one that matched the dark grey shirt he was wearing for most of the episode. The grey for both the shirt and t-shirt was dark and a really stormy browny muddy grey. To me this represents a shift in Bobbys mindset - one we’ve all been thinking is coming - well it seems now it has - the t-shirts always having been white before suggests that up to now, Bobby mentally has been in an okay place - white is clean and neutral - it is light - now though - that tee being stormy brown/grey - t says to me the internal storm clouds are gathering for Bobby. that t-shirt is literally foreshadowing Bobbys mental break down in the next episode and going forward into season 6 - we should all be concerned for our papa bear.

I do like it when a theory plays out and I’ve never been happier than when what I said about the grey Shirt Buck is wearing played out - I said about how it would relate to the idea of ‘complicated family dynamics - Buck relating to Taylor about their respective families and the complex nature of those relationships in 5x09 - and Eddie and Buck talking about it in 5x17 - and  that being part of the conversation about going to Texas. When we get a repeat outfit the original wearing of it will always tie into the later wearing - we saw that play out here.

Interestingly we also saw it play out with the white hoodie - we literally see the cracks and fractures in their relationship widening in the scene where Buck is wearing it here - The jumper is not about Lucy (it never really has been) its about trust in the BT relationship - or the lack there of! When the still came out I also spoke about the jumper being a representation of the ruth being everything to Taylor - and how the scene might bring back ‘Dosed Taylor’ and it really really did.

While we’re on the subject of the white hoodie - this is another Buck sleeping outfit - man loves to sleep in hoodie, shorts and socks - its a bit weird, but adorable really!

The last two outfits we see Buck in are his Maroon sweater when he argues with Taylor and then all in black - black shirt and slacks with a grey herringbone twill jacket with a subtle maroon check pattern on. I spoke about my theory of when and why Buck wears maroon — and this arguement has done nothing to dissuade me from my theory - this arguement marks the true beginning of the end for BuckTaylor - this is the actual catalyst moment when Buck starts to see that Taylor hasn’t changed! The really interesting thing is that it then connects into the later outfit - the maroon check pattern literally connects what happens in the arguement scene with the subsequent scene of Buck and Chimneys apartment and not only that - it connects with the Taylor we see on the TV because she too is wearing maroon - I will come back to these connections when I talk about Taylor further down.

I answered an ask about my expectations for Eddies clothes going forward into season 6 and I said I wanted Eddie in more blues and richer tones - I got both here and I am loving it - I also said I expected to see his clothes fitting him better - and this is very much the case here - that blue shirt might be being worn open, but it is much better fitted!

The olive drab cargo trousers are typical Eddie and he wears them throughout 5x17 - they are symbolic of him going into battle - he’s readying himself for war in the above picture and then actively at war in the picture below. This is almost like the last vestiges of army Eddie (whether we will ever see Eddie entirely free from the army I very much doubt but I think we’ll be seeing less and less of the cargos as he heals) we are seeing less and less of this olive drab as 5b moves on - this is all so symbolic of his healing arc - that they have been confined to trousers right now shows the level of progress he has made - Eddie is becoming the real Eddie right before our very eyes!

I answered an ask about my expectations for Eddies clothes going forward into season 6 and I said I wanted Eddie in more blues and richer tones - I got both here and I am loving it - I also said I expected to see his clothes fitting him better - and this is very much the case here - that blue shirt might be being worn open, but it is much better fitted

Eddie wearing his ‘Buck date night’ shirt is an interesting one - there is obviously the fact that its a western style shirt which is a nod to the fact he’s in Texas, but the most important thing is how the two scenes we see in 5x17 connect with both the  the balcony scene - the connection to the idea of ‘you were always going to fail’ and the idea of understanding family members differently depending on your relationship to them - the very thing both scenes explore - Eddies relationship to his various family members and how it differs - especially in relation to his own relationship with Chris and also Buck - who is relevant because he is the one in the earlier scene - receiving Eddies advice.

Eddie’s watch was incredibly prominent this episode as well - it was always worn out side of his shirt sleeve and we had multiple references to time - the cake, Ramon getting a watch, Eddie being running late etc.

I’m going to cover the rest of the Diaz’s in one because they are all interconnected - we have Tia Pepa in yellow - the colour of communication - the one person who maintains close contact with Eddie (especially now Abeula has moved back to Texas - so upset about this!!) she is the only one who sees him and Chris regularly now and they clearly have a good relationship so her wearing the colour of communication places her on Eddies side - which is backed up by the positioning of the family in the party scene. Abeula is wearing pastel colours - salmon pink at the party and a sage green when Eddie and papa arrive - the salmon colour represents being good hearted and a safe space for people its the colour of fellowship and of being beloved by others - all things we see from her in the party scene - especially towards Eddie. the sage green from the tamales scene expresses wisdom, intelligence and experience - again all things we see expressed in the scene. Both tops appear to me to be made of Honiton lace. 

Then we have Helena - the choice to have her in such a mix of colours in a big bold print is interesting to me because she is the colours of all the other people in the scene - the salmon of Abeula, the yellow of Pepa the two blues of Ramon and the black of Eddie - to me that is a reflection of her dominating over the various people - the more of the colour the more she dominates over them - hence the least amount of colour is the yellow followed by the salmon - then the blues and finally the black - suggesting Eddie is the one she dominates over the most and Pepa the least - which is essentially what we see play out!

Ramon wears a green plaid shirt in the kitchen scene - and check theory wins again, but the green is also interesting - this is his retirement - his new chapter, his renewal. It is also the colour of health, growth and hope, but I think in this scene it is mostly about renewal. I’m literally just going to link to my answer to an ask about Ramon’s suit jacket because I’m trying to save myself some time writing the same thing twice!!

we see Chimney in silver grey shirt with a vertical stripe pattern - the choice of colour here is really fun - grey is about neutrality and insight, while silver is considered a colour of intuition and enlightenment - but it is also reflective - as in it reflects what it sees - so Chimney wearing this when he shows his faith in Hen and her observations is super appropriate and lovely. for the rest of the episode we see him in variations of black and grey - especially dark grey. The black is appropriate when they’re sneaking into Bobbys office because it means mystery and protection but also death and fear. The dark charcoal greys are combination of both the black and the grey meanings - showing Chimneys brushes with death n this episode, but also his stability and strength and also his faith in Hen.

As for Hen she gets to rock some really cool outfits and colours in this episode, and I love that after talking about wanting to see Hen in some teal at the vow renewal in an ask, we get to see her in some here - and it looks so good on her! in this instance the teal is representative of Hen always being wise, on the look out for danger and her objectiveness - super appropriate for the scenes we see her wearing it in. Then we have all the black - the first time its post funeral, so it is mostly representative of death, but it is also about mystery - Hen is trying to figure out what Jonah is up to - the mystery element, but it also shows her fear - her fear over what Jonah is doing and it is this reason the black we see her in for much of the rest of the episode is appropriate. I would also like to point out her K necklace being on such prominent display while she is held captive - it makes Karen present in the scene- representing the fact that Karen is off screen working to get the police etc to where Hen is - to get the help Hen and Chim need.

Then we have Hen looking fabulous  a dark purple/ plum jacket with matching purple, yellow and navy blue tartan trousers. The check pattern still fits with my check theory in that it represents danger - only it being in trouser form rather than worn as a top - to me that’s suggesting that the danger isn’t to Hen herself, but to someone else - namely Chim - which is what we see unfold when Chim end up being the one in the most danger - he is the one who dies twice. I don’t know if this is something we see play out at other times, and it might only relate to the extended firefam - I might look into it during hiatus if I find the time! The use of dark purple is so perfect for Hen, purple has an air of superiority to it (because it is hard to produce and because it is fairly rare in nature making it more prized) so it can be intimidating, it is also creative, enlightening and it is the colour of wisdom, mystery and magic it also encourages support towards the wearer. All of this really sums up what we see in the scenes Hen is wearing it and Hen in general.

The steel blue pyjama top (and fluffy slippers) were an interesting choice, along with what I assume are supposed to be a navy pair of Bucks boxer shorts. Blue is such an interesting colour because it has such a wide variety of meanings - here the blue is combined with grey so we need to look there for meaning too. Blue generally speaking is a colour of integrity and confidence, trust and honesty, but it can also represent depression, the oncoming darkness, fragility and coolness or coldness. Grey is stability, conservative, unemotional, insightful and practicality. 

While many of these can be considered positive things, they can also be viewed as negatives or traits that can be subverted. there is also the fact that when you combine blue and grey to make steel blue - the colour is cold - there is not warmth to be found here and in film we often see steel blue colours being worn by cold and calculating characters. 

We have a scene where Taylor maybe sees Hen and Chim coming to ask her for help as a way of connecting with the firefam - something she hasn’t been offered before, so of course she is willing to help - she’s been looking for an in - she wants acceptance and to seem trustworthy so she provides the help asked for - she is therefore offering insight (because she is the one with the footage) all seemingly positive things. As the scene unfolds we see things changing - she claims integrity and makes promises. Things that would normally be seen as good things, but the steel blue twists the meaning - it is all calculating and you can see her integrity is actually warped - because she only has it if it benefits her - as in until she can figure out how to make use of something or someone - the old Taylor is very much still there and her version of ‘truth’ still means more to her than the potential for harm to others. The navy boxers are about showing a claim - its showing that Taylor has access to Buck in a way no one else does (and I’m not just talking sex - get your minds out of the gutter lol) - almost showing she’s taking over all of him - its essentially a show of control over him - that anything she does - he will go with her wants - as we see from the lack of Buck now present in the apartment - almost all his furniture is gone its very much more Taylor than it is Buck. Its an interesting choice because its so obvious (we haven’t seen her in his clothes before) that it is screaming that that access is going to be short lived because Buck might be willing to hand over every other aspect of his life, but he won’t compromise on his morals and on his family.

I mentioned in my Taylor and Ana meta how her all in black look from 5x06 made me laugh because she looked like a spy - in the classic female spy outfit sense. in that scene she was on the phone and being secretive about her father - well in  a scene that mirrors that one, we again have Taylor all in black and on the phone being secretive! I said in that meta that the outfit in 5x06 was shouting that she was up to no good and that it was telegraphing that she as a character hasn’t changed, that she hasn’t grown since dosed and that her arc would bring us back to her untrustworthiness - well look where we are! The black onyx necklace is an interesting touch - Onyx is associated with bad luck - the Chinese believe touching it or wearing it brings misfortune! In other cultures it is believed wearing Onyx is symbolic of focus and drive - that it will keep you to task and moving forward in life regardless of obstacles. Basically choosing to have Taylor wearing that in that scene shows very clearly where Taylors priorities lie - with her job and that she views Buck making her promise not to use what she knows as an obstacle to be overcome or got round - it is highlighting that things are coming to a head, but that Taylor won’t be changing position - she is too entrenched in her beliefs and purpose!

Finally we have her wearing the russet red top and orange/ red russet  jacket. the choice of jacket - designed as if the collar and lapel are turned up - showing us Taylor knows what she is doing and is preparing her self against the oncoming storm. The use of russet red is important - its a brownish red and is also the name of a specific type of coarse woollen cloth which in 1363 the poor (those with an income below a certain level) were required, by statute, to wear in England to declare their poverty. It is a colour considered to represent grave seriousness and fighting for ones beliefs regardless of outcome. It is also the colour of autumn - the moment when everything is dying (hello dying relationship!). Russet is a form of red, so the strength and power of that colour also applies, as does the fact that red is used to signal danger. the grey flecks you can see in the jacket also suggest the unemotional and stable aspects of the colour, while the rusty orangey tones also present speak of exhibitionism, superficiality and impatience. We are seeing Taylor taking emotions out of the equation, seeing an opportunity to further her career and  not stopping to really think of the consequences (or thinking of them but not actually caring enough to keep her promises)

All of this is being used to show Taylor has cast her die and picked her hill to die on - the ‘truth’ means more to her than promises or trust, it highlights the seriousness of both the story she is reporting, but also that this is where she stands and she won’t compromise on it - it shows she hasn’t changed. 

I mentioned about Buck also having the same colour check running through his grey jacket and that it was important. if we taketh basic meaning of grey - compromise running those russet lines through that grey is showing us that Buck is about to stop compromising himself and start fighting for his beliefs - that he is now seeing exactly where Taylor stands and realising its not compatible with where he stands.

If you made it to the end - I am wrapping you in a bear hug because I got a little carried away! As always I love to hear your thoughts!

tagging the usual suspects - if anyone wants adding (or if I forgot you) please let me know! @leothil @lovecolibri @moniquekatie @talespinner230 @loveyourownsmiilee @adamsparirsh @prettyboyandthekid @wanderingwomanwondering @fiona-fififi @oneawkwardcookie @mistmarauder @theladyyavilee @djdangerlove @kitkatpancakestack @reallysmartladymariecurie @outrunningthedark @xxfiction-is-my-realityxx @mandzuking17 @matan4il @trashendence @mytherapybuddie @asharadine @hmslusitania @spotsandsocks @ekstasisandangst @tulipintulle​ @aknifespoint​ @dirtypixiewings

[thelioninmybed]

I promised @crocordile I’d write more Amlach and there’s that great meta about elven funerary customs going around so…

Amlach had learnt their tongue quite well over the past three months. Not their tongue as they were quick to point out, but the one that all at Himring spoke. He could discuss supplies and troop movements, parse orders upon the battlefield, and understood most of the jokes in their filthy marching songs - Eldar or no, soldiers were soldiers wherever you went.

That was not, perhaps, enough for whatever they were asking of him now.

“Triwiel is dead,” he repeated, certain of that much, if only because he’d seen her take that arrow to the throat with his own eyes.

The soldier nodded her head emphatically and said something in their rapid, lilting language that he knew he’d misunderstood.

“How can she eat with us if she’s dead?”

“Not with us,” said Tuluspen, the steward, who had apparently been eavesdropping and knew Amlach’s own tongue well enough to translate. “Tonight we feast in remembrance of her. You are welcome to attend - Triwiel was strong and very wise, and we think that it would please her to live on in you, as she will live on in all of us. Will you partake?” Her tone made it clear that she did not offer this lightly.

“I would be honoured,” Amlach said carefully. From her solemnity, he had expected she would ask something greater than attendance at a funerary feast, but the Eldar were strange like that, sometimes sad for no reason he could see, sometimes as gleeful as children.

“You must fast until tonight,” said the steward. “And now I must see to the preparations.”

The hall was crowded fit to bursting - Triwiel had been kind, one of the elves that had made him feel most welcome, tried hardest to learn his tongue, and so it was not so surprising that so many others loved her and wished to see her on her way.

Although it was not the custom of his own people, some tribes of the Edain would wash and dress the corpse in finery, and sit it at the head of the table. The woman in the seat of honour was not Triwiel though; she was very much alive. A sister, perhaps, a daughter, a mother or a wife. He had not yet learnt how to tell.

“Amlach,” said Lord Maedhros, waving him over to sit beside him, out of the worst of the bustle. “Did Tuluspen invite you?”

“She did.” Now that he was close enough, he could see that the Elf was frowning. “Was that ill done?”

Maedhros gestured dismissal of the concern with his one hand. “You’re very welcome here. But we know your customs are not ours. If you do not wish to eat, we’ll understand.”

Amlach glanced around the hall. The elves were clustered in small groups, talking quietly, faces not joyful but not sorrowing either. If he listened he could hear Triwiel’s name echoing through every conversation. “I’m honoured,” he repeated. “I wish that I’d known her better.”

“Well so you shall,” said Maedhros, and then changed the subject before Amlach could ask him what he meant. “My cousin has made a study of your culture, as I have not. He tells me that you burn your dead.”

“We do.” They’d left ashes behind them on the long journey to Estolad and safety, more pyres than he could ever count, burning bright and driving back the night until their fuel was spent. “A fitting way for a Man to end, no?”

The Elf shook his head. “My father burned. And my brother. It was a terrible thing. They are lost to us forever now.”

“Better that than for the bodies to lie untended, preyed upon by beasts of the wild.” They had left near as many corpses as pyres - there was not always the time or wood or safety to do as was proper. “My own father lives but if he should fall before me then mine shall be the torch that lights his pyre. I shall grieve but such is the way of things”

“If Finrod were here I expect he would say something about how it is the fate of Men to pass beyond the reaches of the world that we stay bound to. But I’ve never cared for philosophy over practical concerns. At Cuiviénen we knew better than to let anything go to waste and what we forgot in Valinor, Morgoth made sure we learnt again.”

“If you wish a practical explanation, we do it to prevent disease,” said Amlach. “But you have not said what it is that your people-”

The hall fell suddenly silent as the steward entered, bearing a great platter. She placed it before the mourning woman and, leaning closer, Amlash saw that upon it lay a heart, deep red as the rubies on his lord’s circlet. It glistened wetly in the torchlight as Tuluspen set it down at the head of the table. The woman sat there gave a great wail and then seized it in both hands and raised it to her lips.

Amlach’s gorge rose in his throat. Other platters were coming out now, heaped high and steaming, and one was set before him. He did not dare look down, although a savoury smell was rising from it and his empty belly growled its interest. He could not look away from the woman with the heart in her hands and the blood of someone she had loved about her mouth.

“You can still leave,” said the lord beside him. There was meat upon his plate also, thinly sliced strips of something that Amlach might have taken for pork had he not known better. As Amlach watched he speared a forkful and brought it to his mouth. All around him, the Eldar ate as though this were any other feast, filling each other’s glasses and passing platters down the table.

Perhaps not any feast; some joked and laughed and stood to sing - of Triwiel, he thought - while some were quiet, clung to each other or wept into their bowls. It was a funeral after all, however strange, however vile he found it.

Amlach made himself look down. Upon his own plate was a tongue.

He could not help the sudden bark of laughter and had to clasp his hands over his mouth to stifle it. What would they do if he vomited here and now?

“Triwiel had a terrible sense of humour,” said Maedhros. “I fear Tuluspen’s honouring her in that.”

“Do you truly believe that this will let me speak your language?” he asked. Looking to delay, he took a long drink of ale and then wondered, too late, if there was any of her in that as well.

“Insofar as people learn better with full stomachs.” Maedhros reached across and took the plate from before him, then handed it to someone further down the table. Amlach watched it go with something like guilt and no small amount of relief.

“When I die, will you…?”

“I imagine in fifty years time you’ll be too tough to bother with. Get yourself a son and have him light your pyre for you.”

“Aye, I think that I’ll do that. If you’ll excuse me, Lord.” At Maedhros’ nod, he went outside to seek cold air and a place to get his nausea under control.

He saw other funerals after, many of them, and did not take part in those either. No one seemed offended - more meat for them, he supposed.

The war was all; he found himself no wife and no children. Come winter and wet weather his joints ached and he found new wrinkles and grey hairs with every dawn.

They would burn him if he asked it, he knew. As his father had been burnt, and his mother, and his sister. But sometimes he thought of that woman with tears in her eyes and blood upon her lips, of a whole people gathered to become one with one they loved, and wondered if the flames were what he wanted after all.