#(i loved all the sam-and-jamie moments this ep so much)

[chainofclovers]

Ted Lasso 3x10 Thoughts

I intended to write this last week, but I’ve been really busy. But 3x10 was a real joy, so I do want to capture something about it, so I’m just gonna try to quickly hit the highlights and any of it sounds similar to stuff I said in discord, so be it. 🙂

Rebecca spit tea in Ted’s face! She was planning it! He liked it! I loved it!

OK but really, everything about that moment…Rebecca reclaiming the Hockney, and the way it no longer signifies the loss of her marriage (and I think it’s so interesting that Rebecca says in 1x1 that she and Rupert bought it together on their fifth anniversary, but in this episode Rupert asks her about the Hockney “he” bought for “her”), and now that it’s back on the wall the drawing is about football again, and she’s wearing a flowy pink dress reminiscent of what she wore on the boat in Amsterdam but this time it’s something she would have picked out and purchased herself that suits her perfectly, and the Hockney scene blends so perfectly into her telling Ted that her reasons for wanting to win. Exchanging victory plans followed by a quick but thorough dousing of liquid via spitting ritual…it was so 1x10 of them. 

@talldecafcappuccino said something about Nate facing some of his worst fears (as articulated at the team movie night in s1) in this episode—he is unemployed, and he makes a return (albeit temporary) to his parents’ house—and that really stuck with me. That moment when he reminds his dad that he literally told him he hated the sound of Nate playing violin is a remember-forever moment for me. Some of the parents on this show are true villains, but I think it’s as important if not more important to depict the very real pain that comes from that mismatch between thought and speech, the damage that can be done bit by bit even when intentions are good, even when a parent genuinely desires good things for their child. I’m doing a terrible job articulating it, but I appreciated the small-yet-ultra-concentrated scale of all the Nate moments very much. 

Speaking of the scale of things, the grand yet quiet gesture of Nate getting Rene from the sewers to let him into the club (why are sewers so important to this show?) to fix up the locker room for Will…the sprig of lavender…the simple heartfelt apology…the intentional use of “Wonder Kid." Loved it. Completely loved it. I’m really looking forward to what’s going to happen with Nate and Ted talk, but it was completely essential that he reaches out to Will first, and that it’s an action-oriented apology that is specifically about the nature of a kitman’s work. 

Speaking again of the scale of things: Rebecca’s speech to the other potential Akufo League owners. I’m very glad it was a monologue and not a soliloquy. In-scene, non-fourth-wall-breaking speeches are always a tiny bit bigger than what my personal sensibilities w/r/t secondhand embarrassment would prefer. But they are essential to Ted Lasso. And I think Rebecca’s speech absolutely had to be scaled big—she literally made herself bigger right beforehand, in this lovely moment of honoring her child self and connecting to the silliness of the ritual and the absurdities of childhood and adulthood. And it had to be big because it was in front of Rupert, who has literally interrupted her mid-speech before, stealing all the thunder for himself. I really appreciated that Rupert becomes human before our very eyes, and that Rebecca is able to genuinely draw from the things that made her love him in the first place, while there is nothing unclear about how bleak and miserable and awful Rupert is. He fucking tries to kiss her after the cathartic moment with the speech and the food tantrum, and her rejection is so clear and strong. I can’t think of a better way to almost purely visually illustrate (although the words are important, Rebecca's face says it all) what it means for her to be free of the hold he had over her for so many years.

I am soooo excited that we (re)met Roy’s sister and she really is that doctor from the A&E and she’s awesome and clearly a very good and fun mom and she’s having such a good time teasing Roy out of love which is basically the adult version of the incredibly important role Phoebe plays in his life. Also, Elodie Blomfield is so good as Phoebe. The moment when she figures out the “Roy Kunt” kit is so great. And everything about Jamie being there and his familiarity with the family!?! 

Roy and Keeley! Roy’s tiny terrible handwriting! I like that we didn’t get the big moment of Roy and Keeley kissing and reconnecting to each other, and I also like that we didn’t get the moment of Nate resigning from his job. In both stories, we got the most important gestures, the most important decisions that led up to these moments and came after these moments, and considering the show needed to go big for Rebecca’s speech I think it’s essential to have a little restraint elsewhere.

Barbara! Everything with the snow globe reimbursements! Ahhhhhhhh! Barbara is the coolest and I would pay the big bucks to hear Katy Wix talk (in a good thoughtful environment obviously) about her autism and her acting choices when playing Barbara because her timings are so incredible and so hilarious and she’s built a side character into someone who fully enriches the overall story and I assume it’s all connected but I’d love to hear about this role straight from the source. I was already such a Katy Wix fan from Taskmaster and reading some of her writing online, and she was just perfection in this episode. 

Beard. Oh God. Beard. What are you doing. His grudge against Nate and the kind of willful immaturity of his character in this stage of his relationship with Jane. Other than the day out with Henry in 3x8, when is the last time Beard was critical and compassionate with anyone in his life? Ted looks so bummed about that axe-throwing offer. I think Beard had to know deep down that Ted and Roy were never in a million years going to be saying yes to this invitation; it’s not that Jane would want them there. I think 3x11 and 3x12 are going to have a lot of Ted-and-Beard by necessity and I’m basically on pins and needles.

I am nervous about many things for the rest of this season, not because I think they’ll be handled badly in the show but because I can see so many different possibilities (for the truth bomb, for all the moms, for what Rebecca understands about her life today and what it could be, same for Ted, same for Beard, because I feel like Ted has to leave in some way but something’s telling me it’s not as simple as leaving or not leaving) and it’s making me feel insane. But 3x10 was a wonderful time and the lavender sprig and the spitting hit that perfect sweet spot of callbacks that propel the narrative forward and I’m grateful to have had it. 

[itsalinh]

I saw many posts saying they hate this ep and the show now, but here I’m like…. I love every bit of this ep??

I want to squeeze everything in this one post, but that’ll be a lot, a lot a lot. So this one first, I’m gonna showering my love to the locker room discussion scene and the Jamie Keeley scene.

Locker room discussion

This! This is the exact reaction we can get from a bunch of men when they found out about women’s videos being leaked. Some will have dirty thoughts with it (Colin - I know he’ll never do it, but in generally speaking, yes, men does that); some will feel once those photos/videos been sent to them, meaning that they belong to them so they don’t have to delete at all; some lay blame on women for recording/taking those content; others feel completely fine with it, the ones to condemn are those leaking; some just let their exes delete those themselves. We are not colours, we are not white or grey or black, we are just flawed human. And flawed human makes mistakes. No one is completetly “white” nor “black”, and this show has demonstrated it quite clearly and has not tried to conceal it from the beginning. We have shitty thoughts, we do shitty stuffs all the time. So I don’t think any characters got ooc-ed in this scene.

I know it is not morally right for anyone to use others’ private stuffs for entertainment without their permission, whether it’s for a joke or not. Colin said shitty thing. He straightforwardly stated that he did not want to delete it, though he has a point saying others leaking are to blame. But in the end, it’s scary to think someone still has your private stuffs in their possesion. Colin did shitty thing too.

But you know. People can change for the better, and that’s why we’re watching Ted Lasso. Isaac, Jamie, Sam they all have a right reaction to this kind of situation, so they were helping their friends think right and do right too. Everybody, sad or not (Richard baby I’m proud of you), willingly deleted their exes stuffs off their phones. In the end of the day, that’s what important. Even Colin, the one who openly opposed to that idea, also found a small place for himself to deal with it.

Some said Isaac honoured people’s privacy, only seconds later he snapped Colin’s phone himself. Isaac was pretty clear with Colin’s reactions, Colin even didn’t stay with the whole team for the mass deletion, he just walked away without specifying any reasons. Also, he said fuck off to him with pretty serious expression, why so agressive man, Isaac might think. Isaac had to do what he thought was right at the moment: took away Colin’s phone and deleted everything himself.

I’m gonna detour a little bit right here. The whole scene got on my nerves. I screamed out loud, and my head could not stop spinning for the next 10 minutes. Omfg would you look at Colin’s face right there. First it was horrified, then it was distressed, later was worried, anxious and finally was defeated. Colin would never want Isaac to find out this way. He tried his fucking life to conceal and played it cool under this supreme toxic football environment, he was not ready for this kind of confrontation, especially from his bestest friend. Isaac used to have homophobic comments, what if he felt the same towards Colin? That fierceful side-eye, that shocked impression, killed pretty much Colin from the inside. But luckily, Isaac’s face neutrolised, he nodded in empathy, he knew what was Colin going through just now. Still, this new information was too much to handle at the moment. He did need some time for himself, for Colin as well. For the next episode, I still think Isaac would going through his acceptance phase, he thought he knew Colin but it turns out he knew nothing. By the end of Ep 9, he would realise how much Colin had to suffer all these years, and he would fucking murder anyone who dares to disrespect Colin and he would cherish his friend even more. I’m not that worried about the situation between Colin and Isaac, what terrifies me is “Roy is asked to so a press conference”. What…? Would it be about Colin??? If it would, I’m going die and and cry endlessly from my grave.

OK back from my detour. I literally finished the whole episode first, after that I replayed this locker room scene, and it makes me love Phil’s acting even more. Jamie first reaction towards the leaking thing was pretty unbothered. Don’t get me wrong, he was still awared of how bad the situation was, it’s just it was not his fault so he did not feel guilty. When Sam mentioned Keeley also got involved, Jamie froze right at the moment. He startled as fuck and was spaced out for a bit. He kept rubbing his bum bag and reconnecting all those dots in his head. Was the source from him? Was he the reason Keeley got all the criticsm? He did not know for sure, but he did not feel good about this either.

And that led to…

The Jamie and Keeley hug

This damn hug sums up very well their relationship. The last time we saw Jamie and Keeley interacted (I think) was at Rebecca’s dad funeral. He pretty fucked up at that point, tho actually I understand his motive, he just wanted to let things out without holding in anymore. He didn’t have a chance to really talk about his feelings for Keeley with Keeley. OK I love you, but I respect your relationship with your current boyfriend, and now I have the gut to say it, I’m happy to move on. He coming to Keeley’s to say sorry is the most Jamie thing ever. He’s now accountable, responsible and care so much for others. Maybe nobody will ever know, and nobody will ever blame Jamie, but he himself will. Him saying It’s my fault broke me into pieces, like TWICE in a span of one episode. He needs Keeley to know he worried about her and he felt guilty, he should have done better so none of these would have happened. Idk guys… I love him sm I might cry.

After a rough evening with Jack - the girlfriend who should have understood better, Keeley was tired. Everybody said sorry, but they disappointed her more after that. Jamie came with another sorry, and she might have predicted what was going to happen next. But she would never anticipated a sincere apology from him. A little bit clumsy, a little bit bum bum from her ex, her friend. She went on for a hug and my heart melted. Might be my favourite part of the episode with so much understanding, so much loving and heartwarming affection from both of them.

We might never see them together as a couple anymore (otherwise I would hate their ending very much), but more of a understanding and trusting friendship. Keeley already moved on, and Jamie also moved on would be the best for them ig.

And that, folks, is the end of my first wheezing part. The second part about Rebecca/Keeley, Rebecca/Ted, Ted/Michelle/Dr. Jacob, Ted/Henry/Beard, Nate/Rupert, Roy/Keeley and Jack/Keeley will be posted later cuz I need more time lol. I love this show sm (and I will keep repeating this on and on), they deserve everything.

Buh-bye!

[bombshellsandbluebells]

Ok throwing out a bunch of Ted Lasso finale theories just so I can pat myself on the back if any are correct:

- Ted’s going home. His story is not ending in romance because it’s never really been about that. It’s been about healing and moving on and Richmond has helped him do that as much as he’s helped them, but ultimately his heart is with his son and he needs to be there.

- Jamie’s injury is going to keep him from playing - which is fine. He’s gotten to a place where it’s not all about himself anymore, it’s about supporting the team, and he made his big contribution last episode. He’s also gotten to a point where it’s not all about winning, it’s just about enjoying it. I actually think him cheering from the sidelines while his team wins it might be the perfect place to end his story (especially since he had his moment.)

- Above means two big things I think: 1) Richmond NEEDS Nate’s strategic genius because the style that’s been making them win all season is very reliant on Jamie. Nate will know how to come up with something new that works. And 2) Sam needs to get his big win this season, he’s just had loss after loss so far. Would love for him to be key to their winning.

- Rebecca is going to find love again and I really, really hope it’s not with a random stranger we meet in the last episode so it probably means either she’s going to date Sam again (there’s been too many nods to their feelings for each other in the recent eps) or she’s going to (hopefully) find Mr. Amsterdam Man again

- reappearance of Michael finally? getting to see Colin be open with his boyfriend in front of his teammates 

- either it’s going to hint at RoyJamieKeeley endgame or Keeley is going to tell Roy she wants to be single right now because SOMETHING was up with her not immediately wanting to be a couple again last ep and we don’t really have the time to address it, so they probably won’t officially get back together but maybe it will leave it somewhat open ended?

- we will hear something more about Trent’s book - maybe even end with Trent narrating some of it

- Beard is staying in England, for sure. He, Roy, and Nate will make the new dream team at Richmond.

- I think the Pub Boys are going to somehow know about Ted leaving and get emotional about it. I think it’d be nice to see.

- I previously said that Richmond was going to 100% win because nothing else made sense, but then Dottie had a line how in parenting sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, but mostly you just tie. And if this show is about ANYTHING, it’s about parents. So there’s some possibility for a tie. And one last nod to Ted finding that ridiculous. (I will still lean mostly towards win, but I also know they love subverting expectations and now you could argue there’s some foreshadowing for it.)

- I cry.

[altschmerzes]

Thoughts on the new episode???????? There were SO many jamie feels tonight

LET'S GOOOOO okay it's Thoughts Hour here at chez gav altschmerzes [cracks knuckes]

there SURE WERE and once again we get a disorganized bullet point mess of My ThoughtsTM

first off, i did indeed enjoy it in cosymode once more and this will be a recurring ritual. cannot recommend it more highly. cosymode my beloved. really enhances the experience even if it does mean i get Imprisoned By A Creature as soon as the episode ends (climbed on by my cat)

we still don't know what zava's first name is. it is still distracting me.

COLIN'S BF (!!!!!!!!) SEEMS SWEET I LIKE HIM A LOT

oh my gd all the stuff with colin in this episode was absolutely brutal. i have a..... Hard Time with narratives around being closeted just on a personal emotional level but overall i'm like, invested as hell and i love that they went this direction with him. BOY it'll be interesting to see how they handle it going forward. juxtaposing the two moments he has with isaac in this episode, the "haha that's a little gay" comment that obviously hit hard and then that sincere like, checking on him, you're gonna be alright, thing later was like. damn. damn, damn. that hit.

also - when shandy said that thing about saying something shocking in an interview i was like oh no oh boy oh no Oh Boy- colin, honey-

something is. Up. with shandy. i don't know what or how it's gonna manifest but. something is up there and idk what. there's the same sort of tense feeling to her scenes as there are with keeley's company scenes. something's on the horizon.....

also i have to believe that trent isn't going to out colin, for the record. i just don't think he's gonna do that. i have reasons, but i don't think i even really need reasons, i think it's just..... i don't think it's particularly likely even.

speaking of zava, when i said last week that i was either gonna be riveted or i was gonna want this guy outta my face right now? IT IS BOTH, IT TURNS OUT. i do not like him. i think he's bad news and i think he's like, bad news in a very insidious way. i feel like...... it was fine in this episode - again, this is a comedy, i am aware of the genre and what it encompasses - but if this like. everyone's sycophantic adoration of him stretches on much longer it's gonna grate on me real bad. this was probably the episode where i had the most acute awareness that i was Watching A Comedy than any other episode, i had to do more like, averting my eyes and trying not to fast forward in this ep than in any of the previous ones. which is fully a me thing! this a me problem! i am not a comedy guy and i am watching a comedy. but oh my gd.

getting to see sam's restaurant coming together was so, so fucking good. he was so excited and happy and i'm so thrilled to see that all start to pay off. he's so proud of what he's done here and he SHOULD be. ugh i just love to see sam successful and thriving and everyone is so happy for him [sobs into my hands] isaac being like no. you do not understand. it is the best. was so funny and very sweet. i loved it, augh.

AND THE JAMIE OF IT ALL. oh my gd. he was having a bad one this whole episode and i kind of loved it because we know me, we're realistic about who i am as a person. i love characters having a bad time sldfks as long as we're gonna do something with it. and BOY DID WE.

boy they really did get me with like. the bit in zava's first match where he tells jamie to get open and he'll find him i did have a MOMENT where i was like okay maybe he's just kind of eccentric but overall fine, maybe i was wrong and he just grates on my nerves a bit. but WHOOF. nope. so he was just fucking with jamie orrrr because. yipes!

and man the timing of seeing zava call jamie over and say something to him being when ted's almost panic attack starts is like. [shrieks into my hands] he's already amped up about henry and then he sees this interaction happening and doesn't know what's going on and it's like. jamie just told him he's got concerns about this guy and now he might be messing with him and it clearly set ted off. aaaaAAAUGH.

i'm just. so proud of jamie tbh. he isn't throwing a fit, he's celebrating these wins, he very maturely and reasonably expressed his concerns which i think he's right about - i think roy thinks he's right too, based on his face during that scene. i was really gratified for that like, i was being a hypocrite thing at the end bc it made it clear that like, this isn't the show making a 'haha see he doesn't even realize that's exactly what HE is, he's still the same....' joke. his discomfort with zava isn't just played off and i really enjoyed that.

THE WHOLE THING WITH ROY. LIKE- every time he noticed jamie was having a hard time this episode he like. seemed to be making a note of it? he didn't snort and shake his head or smirk or whatever, at least not more than once-ish, he like. noticed, made a note, and seemed worried about it. and then at the end he not only went over to check on jamie at the restaurant he offered to work with him directly? without being prompted? i could shriek.

everything about that conversation made me lose my mind. jamie's earrings were FANTASTIC. the like- 'you thought i was the best' 'you still could be' [screams into my hands] 'only if you fucking mean it' i.e. the same thing roy said to phoebe's team, and the VERY PAINSTAKINGLY SINCERE 'i do mean it' i could've CRIED.

as i said to a friend earlier, their dynamic is a rich tapestry of things that make me fully insane

(to have a bit of a gripe - we got a couple of That's A Bit Much moments in this episode too. ted agreeing that yeah, fragile little bitch is pretty much what he meant, was weird and out of step. and then roy smacking the utensil or whatever out of jamie's hand which clearly startled him at minimum at the end of the episode was like... hoo boy. we're doing this i guess. it's not the type of thing i'd like, zoom in and harp on if it weren't for everything i already talked about in the previous episode. just like. again. i keep coming back to this phrase but It's A Bit Much. i was worried i might lose steam for my 3x02 tag after the new ep but nah, i am still amped up for it.)

(oh another gripe real quick - ho boy so dr jacob is just like, the shittiest therapist, eh? like, that whole thing is. Ethically Fucked Up. i absolutely hate whenever a show is like hey this person is now dating their former therapist, it feels weird and gross every time and i already had a really bad opinion of this guy's ethics and approach to practice just based on like. we know that michelle already had a therapeutic relationship with him before she and ted started seeing him for couples' therapy which is a Big No. and maybe i'm biased here because my parents knew a therapist for several years that they ended up dragging my sister and i to see with them when we were in high school and it went really fucking badly in a way directly related to them having an established relationship with that provider but uh. bad news bears. red flags. field of red flags.)

(someone do something about jane. speaking of red flags. WOW.)

(red flags again! the psychic thing. what are they implying with the matchbook, that the psychic was RIGHT? whoooooof. that's all i'll say on that.)

[theodore-lasso]

Okay I’m just gonna do a little Ted Lasso vent under a cut feel free to keep scrolling this is just so I don’t ruin someone’s day in DM’s by being salty as hell

TLDR this season has just been: go girl give us nothing for me. 

I’ll start with overall vibes, I just think they’re doing too much. Maybe this is personal preference re: ensemble shows but there are so many plotlines and while I disagree that Shandy and Zava and Anastacia are useless and time fillers (they’re side characters to advance main characters personal arcs.... that’s how side characters work) I do agree that they feel flat and one note, but I think that’s just because there’s too many characters and too many plots, and they’re not able to go deeply into any of them anymore. Like we’re not often sitting with characters, it’s like a quick scene then moving onto the next person and issue. 

Unfortunately I’m feeling that with Henry and Ted now, which sucks, because it’s one of the most meaningful relationships on the show. But Henry had an issue this ep, and by the time Ted spoke to him it had already been solved by parenting he’d done in the past. Which... I feel like we as an audience don’t need more reminders that Ted is a good dad, we already know that. Also I don’t feel as if “count to ten until you don’t feel angry even if that’s infinite” is the lesson that Ted has been learning this season? Hasn’t he been learning to occasionally be assertive and stand up for himself? I think this plot line could have been a bit deeper - Henry being insecure because his dad isn’t there and taking it out on other kids instead of... undisclosed being mean for no apparent reason and immediately apologising. Anyway that’s just one moment in the entire episode that fell flat for me. 

Rebecca, bro idk. She feels like 2 different characters to me at the moment. Like she’ll yell at Ted to make them win a match and then literally isn’t doing a single thing about it outside of that and will just be like hi :) to him in the hallway. Loved the moment where Higgins said maybe they needed to find another manager so much, I love his growth from S1 and actually saying brave things now, but I hate that it was brushed aside especially if she’s yelling at Ted on the regular now about losing. I’m glad she got her fertility tested because I feel like otherwise there’d be this huge “what if” for her. As a single person I was rolling my eyes at the emergency contact thing but yeah I get it she wants to find love. I think this is where my main criticism of the season comes in, and that is the reliance on the psychic, things that have been “set up” in previous seasons rather than characters actively doing things. Like as someone who has been watching closely for years now, I haven’t really been surprised by any of the directions they’ve taken s3. 

Rebecca is walking around looking for signs related to the psychic, which is all well and good especially if it leads her to getting her fertility tested and stuff, but same with Ted, not currently doing anything about the teams losses, not doing anything about the team & Zava when he was still there. He hasn’t spoken to Colin about benching him and then playing him when like... S1 Ted would be all over that. He hasn’t spoken to Beard about Jane. Idk I think there’s so much reliance on “it will all work out in the end” that they’ve forgotten you need to make active strides in the middle. We haven’t yet seen Roy working on himself to figure out what he wants with Keeley, Jamie has had no arc this season so far other than being suddenly a genius (like nothing has come from the 4am training sessions yet?)

Literally shocked that the writers can’t seem to think of a meet-cute that isn’t with someone’s boss, like I do think it’s odd that it’s happened 3 times now (Sam and Simi, Keeley and Jack, Sam and Rebecca) but I am here for seeing sapphics kiss onscreen even though I’m slightly concerned about the long-term of that for Keeley (but tbf I was about Sam too and that ended fine) 

Shandy Keeley stuff, I know it was a mirror with Sam Edwin but fml, I thought Keeley was going to learn to be a good manager and grow Shandy as an employee but... no. 

Final note even though I could probably rant for longer: I miss Phoebe SO MUCH

Anyway highlights of the season are: NATE!!!!, BeardRoy, Trent although I wish he’d say more, Higgins, and Colin has potential 

[sy5starplaty]

Live-blog of Ted Lasso 3.09...

FOOTBALL! That should keep the complainers happy, right?

Roy is liking other people having fun... what?

Beard faints at Roy saying "great job".

Pretty sure Isaac's issue is Colin not telling him... otherwise he'd be making others stay away from Colin, right? IDK.

Jack is ghosting Keeley... So she's more worried about her reputation OR she's dead. Either way, this is the end & Jack is very much Willhouby.

TED IN A REBECCA SCENE 4MINS IN!

Oh, that was lovely.

Also good song.

ROY IN A KEELEY SCENE 6MINS IN! Ok, not quite the same, but yes... positivity?

Jade at Nate's workplace...

Wait, Derek? Does that mean he's the same guy who owns the American joint in Amsterdam? Or are there two Dereks?

"It's worthwhile to meet you" - that feels like a bit of an insult & I love her for it.

Her name is short for JADED... I LOVE HER SO MUCH.

And Roy's not doing the press conference. Why am I not surprised?

Beard losing 'em with the music jibes... not a great stand-in.

Neither is Rebecca. That guy from Cream is pretty good, though.

"I am sick of Roy being Roy" - me too at this stage.

Rebecca doing a Roy with the loud yell to grab attention & ordering him around.

Is the total football thing happening around the whole club? That was very versatile.

Colin off to talk to Trent...

Rebecca's "pep talk" needs some work, but it's long overdue.

GET OUT OF YOUR OWN WAY, MAN.

She may need to take her own advice.

Rupert doesn't approve of Jade, so he'll do something which will eventually bring Nate back to Richmond. Hopefully Jade isn't caught in the crossfires.

"Thank you for correcting me Chris, and next time feel free to wait until we're off-air." I LOVE ARLO (& Chris).

Of course beer tastes better out of a champagne glass, Paul.

"So now that Jack is officially my ex please feel free to say anything you didn't like about her"... Oh, Keeley, I don't think you're ready to hear all of my grievances.

The hand thing suggests it's more a personal issue with McAdoo...

Oh, dear, he's brought it out onto the field. This is not going to be good.

I hope that guy who keeps shouting is getting paid a lot for all the vocal work.

Uh oh! No, McAdoo! DON'T ATTACK THE HORRIBLE "FAN"!

Red card for McAdoo...

And... the whole team is... silent.

The other F-word. Ah.

What if one of us is gay? ... Oh, dear. Ready to out somebody are we? But, uh, yeah... what if, man? You gotta tread carefully with your slurs. Better yet! Don't do any at all!

Lol at the silent convo with Sam & Jamie. Go, Sam! Be the captain.

Jamie's flattered that the others might think him gay.

Wait... Colin's about to...?

"What happened isn't what you're really angry about, is it? You gotta go deal with that, or you're gonna fuck up whatever it is you really do care about." Oh, Roy. You learning! And also... this is good fodder for my next GMW fic chapter.

Aw, Will... I'll have some bubble gum.

Aw... the himbos! I love them.

Yup. Rupert's still effing around & he expects Nate to do the same. Good lad, Nate. Can you help Bex out, now? She and Diana need to get the hell away from that man.

"The Press are ready for you, Ted." Nope, Roy's gonna do it. Good boy.

ROY'S BEING TED RIGHT NOW WITH THE STORY INSTEAD OF GIVING A STRAIGHT ANSWER. So weird. I love it.

And... he's doing wonderfully. It was a good pep talk, Rebecca.

Jade's reading Murakami. And she gives good hugs too apparently. 

KNEW IT. Isaac was just annoyed Colin didn't tell him.

And... it ends on them playing video games going through the process of understanding.

GOOD EP. Might even say great ep upon rewatch.

I'm really gonna need some movement on the Roy/Keeley front next ep (still need to see that moment from the trailer). The bit of growth Roy did here should be moving us to that point.

Also... tedbecca, but less so. Starting to think Nate might be involved there.

3 episodes left.

[hacash]

ted lasso thoughts 2x08

hey, remember when everyone was worried that Ted Lasso Season 2 had too much fluff and not enough conflict? huh? everyone remember that?

everyone remember when we watched this because it was light and hopeful enough to get us through lockdown?

remember last episode when we thought all the dark forest would be about nate’s downward spiral and thought nothing else heavy could happen?

hell, remember when we first saw jamie tartt and thought there was no way we could sympathise with him as a character?

I’m not going to lie, the dark forest is dark and it is scary, but even in the midst of the trees there’s flickers of light. jamie’s entire storyline in this ep was building scene by scene - we could feel the tension growing, from that first screenshot of his phone saying “Dad” (not Dad, “Dad”, I mean fuck this show) right up to the moment when Tartt Senior bursts into the changing room. If Phil Dunster doesn’t get an Emmy nomination next year he will have been absolutely robbed - and then to put the icing on the cake, having Roy be the one to step up and hold him through the pain. I mean, damn.

A little underrated scene was Jamie and Higgins chatting: there’s no way in hell Jamie would have taken the time to so much as pass Higgins a word one season ago, let alone ask if he wanted the door to his closet-office closed. I particularly appreciated Higgins’ chat about his own father - it wasn’t straight-up ‘screw your dad if he’s a bad dad’, but neither was it a ‘you should always be there for your family no matter what’ message that children of abusive parents often get from well-meaning but ignorant bystanders, once again showing that Higgins picks up on more than not. Personally I’m waiting for Jamie to be invited around to the Higginses for Sunday lunch.

The shock on the entire Richmond team’s face through that scene. Oh man.

I never thought they’d have the audacity to kill off Sharon before the credits but whoa that still had me yelling at my screen while the theme song was still playing. I love how we’re seeing more of her as a character, not just a therapist. (And hearing her voicemails to Ted were something else.)

Ted. Oh Ted. I think a lot of us knew it was coming but still, that line hit more heavily than anything else in the episode. The bluntness of it coming out of nowhere - the fact that Ted is unsure whether or not that was what gave him his issues - the fact that we’re still scratching the surface... *weeps in football*

The Diamond Dogs exchanging vulnerabilities was such a precious moment. I’ve seen some say that they thought Nate’s expression was one of disgust at Ted’s revelation, and some that they thought it was relief at not being the only one struggling with mental health issues. For myself, I read it as shock - Nate’s always seen Ted on a pedestal, and the idea that your idol can suffer from the same weaknesses as you...well, that’s always a heavy moment. (Whatever it was, I’m sure it’ll come back to bite us in time.)

SAM ‘N REBECCA. It’s a testament to the two actors that even though everything in me feels iffy and odd and that this ain’t a good thing, their chemistry and acting is so good that you end up thinking ‘oh man, I wish this was workable for them’. Rebecca knows it’s not going to work, but comes up against Sam’s irrepressible youthful charm and hope, and after everything she’s been through...suddenly it’s so easy to understand why she’s sailing so close to the wind. But it’s almost definite that this ain’t gonna work out, and all we can do is hope like hell it ends as well as possible.

Seriously, look me in eye and tell me that if Toheeb Jimoh came up to you looking like he did all through that episode and asked to have dinner that you’d say no. I dare you.

Is Roy’s sister the doctor from the ER???? I really hope she is.

Roy taking on board everything he learned about being a good role model for Phoebe and comforting Jamie is just...just... *flails*

There wasn’t much to laugh at in this episode but my boy Colin never lets me down. That dumbbell scene had me cackling. Seriously, someone protect him. (I particularly loved the fact that we have Overprotective Boyfriend Isaac lambasting him for letting Colin nearly choke to death and then thirty seconds later does the exact same thing.)

THE HAIRCUTTING SCENE. There are no words other than cinematic masterpiece. I remember thinking at the beginning of this season that I wanted more for Isaac to do and to see him coming into his own as Captain and holy hell did I get my wish. Watching all the boys hoot and applaud and gush over Isaac’s effortless mastery of the clippers was the purest form of ‘boys will be boys’ I have ever seen or will ever see. (Until the next Richmond Himbos scene, ofc.)

And as a nice touch, watching Will take part and be included (holding the clippers’ tray ‘like a squire to a knight’) was lovely, particularly given the last episode.

The football match itself - it says a lot that this wasn’t even the focus, only as a tool to make our hearts break even more for Richmond FC - was hard to watch, particularly because it really felt like we were meant to feel like they just weren’t playing well? and I don’t quite understand why - I’ve already written about how Nate kinda had a point in this episode, that Roy and Ted dashing off for emergencies without telling anyone what they were is weird under any circumstance (let alone before such an important match) and possibly is a sign that while the team themselves are stronger than ever, everything is not quite well with the coaches of Richmond.

(seriously: ‘Sharon’s in the hospital and I’m going to make sure she’s ok’ ‘My niece has an emergency at school.’ Would that have been so hard? From a show that prioritises communication?)

And I really didn’t understand that little moment of Beard letting Nate - a junior coach, before a really important match - lead training. That, coupled with Beard being focused on as struggling to take the result, really intrigues me. It could be nothing, but so often this show drops little nuggets leading up to a big reveal, and the fact that the next episode looks to be Beard centric has me very interested, and more than a little anxious. As I am leading up to every episode of Ted Lasso these days, I suppose.

[pynkhues]

youve lost interest in ted lasso, is it ok to ask why? was there a specific thing that turned you off or just generally lost interest?

Of course, anon!

I'm popping this behind a cut though because I know a lot of my mutuals + people who follow me still love the show a lot, and I don't want to be a dick.

It's less that I've lost interest, and more that I've found season 2 extremely frustrating. I could give you a lot of reasons for this – ill-thought out conflicts, bad pacing, a lack of engagement with their own storyworld (the fact that football has barely featured this season is very strange to me given it's a show, y'know. Set in the world of football, haha), but really my frustration boils down to this:

The characters aren't making choices anymore, the writers are making choices.

What I mean by this is that every single development in the narrative has, to me, seemed like something that has happened because the writers have wanted it to happen, not because it feels like an organic evolution or regression of a character's motivation, needs or agency.

We've seen this over and over again throughout the season: from Sam and Rebecca's glossed over connection, to Jamie suddenly having feelings for Keeley again, to the lack of any sort of connection to Beard in a bottle episode that should've given us a firm and profound understanding of his character. It's become a season which, to me, has abandoned its understanding of character for the purpose of exploring certain plots and themes, but without those characters, those plots and themes don't resonate or feel earned, because they don't mean anything.

I think the thing people often forget is that stories aren't about characters, stories are characters. They're the beating hearts of them, and so a lack of clarity and investment in the characters ultimately breeds a lack of clarity and investment in the story.

The thing is, I actually like the overall arc of season 2. I like the idea of unpacking Ted's anxieties and trauma in the wake of his divorce, I like the idea of festering Nate's insecurities and hunger for power, and the idea of Roy navigating a career post-retirement and coming back to coach, but it feels like these are ideas that have been written up on a whiteboard during a writer's room and taken at face value, not explored in a deeper and meaningful way.

Nate's arc has been borderline caricature and frequently the inciting incidents for his moral decline are not present on screen (like saying Ted takes credit for his ideas in the last ep, which we've literally never seen), Ted's arc has been heavyhanded to the point I don't think it works at all, and don't even get me started on the contrived and repetitive conflicts in Roy and Keeley's relationship, or for that matter, both Rebecca and Keeley being reduced to romance plots (the fact that Rebecca's arc this season hasn't been about fixing everything she sabotaged in s1 is baffling to me).

Like I said, the writers are making choices for these characters without writing the circumstances and situations that would instead allow or force the character to make them.

I tend to say that the role sequels or follow up seasons have is to deepen storyworlds, not stretch them, and I think s2 of Ted Lasso has stretched so much that it's tearing at the seams unfortunately. It was an ambitious season, and it gives me no pleasure to say this, but I think they've failed on many levels.

Still - to end on a positive note, I do still enjoy parts of the show, and I especially think it really thrives when it's spotlighting its ensemble and the characters are together (I think separating so many of them this season was also a mistake, but we're being positive now, so I'll stop that thought there). There have been a few really great moments of that, and I hope they re-root in those characters, together and apart, in s3.

[themusicsweetly]

Hi, thanks for your happy blog... What are your top five Outlander episodes so far? Thanks for answering...xx

Hello there, Anon! Thanks for the ask!… Even if it is an extremely difficult one lol. And thank you so much for your kind comment!

Top five eps? Only five?? Can I pick five from each season instead? xD

Just to make it a little easier for me, I’m adding the rule that I have to pick at least one from each season. So here goes (in order of season rather than preference):

“Common Ground”, 4x04

I actually surprised myself by not picking “The Birds and the Bees”, but right when I watched 4x04, I knew this ep was going to be a favorite of mine of Season 4. How could you not love seeing Jamie x Claire finally getting the start on their forever home that they’ve dreamed of having with each other for literal decades? This was the perfect introduction to Fraser’s Ridge. Finally, a place for them to stay in one place for longer than a year or two where they can live free and be together. You could practically see all the opportunities they’d have there written on their faces when they first stood at the Witness Trees. Obviously their life there is not as string-free as they’d hope, but it’s the closest they’ve ever gotten. I also love the fact that we get to see them actively building it piece-by-piece together as a team (“Couldn’t do it without her” is right, JAMMF!). And not gonna lie, I’m a sucker for the building montage at the end. Like Claire says, “It’s perfect.” 💜 (And yes, I’m ignoring any and all non-1700, JC-centric scenes. Sue me xD)

“Eye of the Storm”, 3x13

I had a really hard time choosing between this and literally four other Season 3 eps, but there ended up being three scenes that put this ep firmly on the list.

1) Jamie x Claire talking before they confront Gellis in the caves. This is basically a conversation straight out of the book, shortened and made so much more impactful by this line: “We lost Faith. We will not lose Brianna.” The fact that they were willing to sacrifice everything they had only just got back for their daughter is so beautiful to hear laid out like that. And to hear Faith’s name, especially together with Brianna’s, is always a special moment.

2) Jamie saving Claire in the water. THEY PLAYED FAITH’S THEME SONG. CLAIRE HEARD ANGEL WINGS. SHE WAS AT PEACE. WITH. HER. DAUGHTER. That one detail will never not kill me. Also them arriving on Georgia’s shore with so much hope was so great to see. I love that the season just ended with one word: “America.”

3) The “Don’t shave your beard” wee noises scene. Because Caitriona was absolutely right: soap >>>>>>>> soup 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

“Dragonfly in Amber”, 2x13

Again, it was so hard to choose between this, Je Suis Prest, and Prestonpans, but this season finale was just SO well done. Even though it transitioned between the 18th and 20th centuries, it really felt seamless, necessary, and unforced. And both time periods were so heartbreaking(ly beautiful) in their own way. Seeing the duality of Claire dealing with losing Jamie in the moment and then reliving it all over again 20 years later tore me up. Her goodbye speech at Culloden field and her sitting at Lallybroch will never not make me cry.

But it’s the scene at the stones that is a true masterpiece. Their whispered exchange of their blood vow, the way they held on to each other and never looked away, THE DANCE TO THE STONES, and Jamie placing his hand over Claire’s as she reached for the stone. It all just kills me in the absolute best way possible. And I will  n e v e r  not love the fact that it was Caitriona + Sam that came up with the idea for the dance to the stones. Absolute brilliance.

“The Devil’s Mark”, 1x11

I know this is probably an unpopular opinion, but this is an ep I always go back to and think how really well-done it was. The first half that is mainly just Claire and Geillis imprisoned and on trial were really great in that we saw them both butting heads and hating each other while also being the only one the other can rely on, creating such a strong friendship because of it. The shot of Claire looking up at the starling murmuration is also one of my favorite cinematic shots of her of the entire series. Plus! BAMF Ned Gowan FTW! Jamie to the rescue FTW! “If you are telling me that you believe your authority to be greater than that of the Almighty, then I must inform you that I am not of that opinion myself” FTW! Geillis saving Claire FTW! “Looks like I’m going to a f—ing barbecue” FTW!

But the second half is, of course, my favorite because we get to finally hear Claire tell Jamie the truth. Which I think was so much better done in the series than in the Book!Universe (that’s a separate rant for another time xD). To have Claire laid bare and be vulnerable in every imaginable way possible. And to have Jamie so readily accept it, accept her, and still want to protect her with everything he is. UGH. That reveal was everything. Not to mention the fireside scene which is possibly the hottest fully clothed scene in the history of television. PHEW. And I love, love, LOVE the “On your feet, soldier” line. So damn much. There’s really just a whole lot to love about this ep!

“The Wedding”, 1x07

Okay, so this one is a given, right?? I’m pretty sure I’d have to turn in my Outlander fangirl license if this didn’t make it somewhere on my list xD But seriously, this was just such a well written, well acted, all-around gorgeous ep. I love the fact that we start it off AFTER the actual wedding. Just jump right into them dealing with the shock and awkwardness of being married to a practical stranger without seeing the steps it took to get to that point. And yet it’s so perfect, because just like they’re walking their wedding night forward step-by-cautious-step, we’re lead backwards through their day in the exact same way. I actually really liked hearing Jamie’s narration as he filled in the gaps for Claire; taking his POV and making the “sun came out on a cloudy day” quote a line said by Jamie about Claire was brilliant. I also really loved Claire’s loyal “I’m Jamie’s wife” when she’s confronted by Dougal. She honestly should have smacked him harder with that chair in “The Gathering” lol.

The contrast, though, between the three intimate moments in this episode are what really make this such a fantastic ep. Not just the fact that we get so much Secksay Times Fraser, but that we see a real comparison and evolution between duty, lust, and (almost) love. It’s great that we see a moment of Jamie’s progressiveness when he asks Claire if she enjoyed their first time or not, rather than him just automatically expecting her not to (as all his “advice” givers told him to). Claire DEFINITELY loved her role as Professor here, too. As progressive as Jamie is so is Claire in how she embraces her sexuality, which, honestly, seems like something so rare to see in a female character where the word “slut” isn’t an implied adjective. And finally to see the true depth of their relationship thus far in their final intimate moment, which was so different from the first two, was so damn beautiful. One thing Outlander does so incredibly well is parallels and call backs and Claire wrapping Jamie in the tartan as he did on the night they met was a wonderful touch. This entire ep just felt like a whole complete journey and was such an amazing bit of storytelling from start to finish.

And this ep never would have worked half as well — none of these episodes would have — if it weren’t Caitriona + Sam playing our two favorite characters. Going through this list just makes me realize all over again how lucky we are to have these two leading this show 💜

[chainofclovers]

Ted Lasso 3x11 Thoughts

I have to write my thoughts down right away this time.

[Please don’t hate me if calling TL a rom-com is your favorite thing but] I’ve always felt like Ted Lasso isn’t a rom-com in the traditional sense where a protagonist finds love with an “opposites attract” kind of person and it ends right as they’ve decided to be together. Because the rom-com structure can be brilliant for what it is, but it’s all about the build-up, the whirl of questions and magic that gets you to one perfect moment of clarity. Ted Lasso is a kaleidoscope of people, all learning from the light reflected off the others. People within its world fall in and out of love, but the “movie” isn’t structured entirely around a single love story between two people. And I like that, as much as I have strong feelings about the potential for romantic love in this universe. Because a lot of times, when I watch a rom-com, I can’t quite picture what will happen to the characters who have fallen in love now that they’ve cracked the code of getting there. But, of course, what if Nora Ephron wrote a sports film? (—Jason Sudeikis.) As soon as this ep ended, my wife said she loved that this very Ephron-filled episode rather aggressively tied up a lot of loose ends all at once, with a lot of rosy moments and schmaltzy dialogue and the kind of magic that exists in a romantic comedy, revised to be about sports. Which are actually about life. Or whatever.

I appreciate that structure a lot, but even more than that I appreciate that the Ephroniest episode of this show is the penultimate one. I assume—or at least, I very much hope—that now that they’ve tied up so much and hurtled these characters so rapidly towards the close of the scene, the finale will have some breathing room to be a bit more real and more messy. I hope that it still feels like closure for this story, but I also hope that it’s open enough that we not only trust that all these people will still have lives, but will actually be able to imagine them.

It’s kind of funny how much the ending to this one felt like a cliffhanger even though I’m certain Ted is going to tell Rebecca he’s going to need to leave at the end of the season. A neat trick for the rom-com ep, cutting off the two protagonists right before their moment of clarity. Because of course Ted is already clear. And I would have HATED Rebecca’s so-self-aware-the-fourth-wall-was-quivering speech about the truth bomb if it weren’t for Ted so clearly having something to say, and if it weren’t for how casual and almost careless she is about being down in the office simply because it’s on-schedule. I mean, this woman was in no way able to handle it when Higgins merely suggested rethinking Ted’s role when the season was going badly; I’m really curious how shaken she’s going to be when he tells her, and how quickly she’ll get to acceptance. 

For all that I loved the flirtation with rom-com structure, and the big sports movie messages, and all the very intense interpersonal dynamics (Ted and his mom! Beard and Nate! Roy and Keeley and Jamie loose in Manchester! Even the ten seconds of Bex and Ms. Kakes showing up at Rebecca’s doorstep!), there’s also a big part of me that’s just aching, though, because I just love Ted and Rebecca and Ted&Rebecca and Ted/Rebecca so much. And even though their connection would never be a rom-com romance to me—because their connection is forever, and their connection has already taken so much good work, and that’s as it should be—I would love to watch them fall in love in a romantic way (if not a rom-com way). That still of them watching the movie together was sooooo lovely and soft and framed with such perfect movielight that I just feel wistful. But Ted is right about You’ve Got Mail not quite being his favorite story. It’s Sam’s rom-com, and I would have even liked the little glance between Sam and Rebecca as Sam feels his own wistfulness if it weren’t for how much I just wanted to see that promo still come to life.

(The absolute bullshit of shipping wars notwithstanding, I feel like even among the sensible non-warring people there is a camp of seeing no romance between T/R and a camp of seeing romance in everything between T/R, and I’m just. In neither place. I have seen a lot of their connection points this season as full of the potential for some kind of realized love, and I think many of the things they have said to each other and done for or with each other have a comfort and familiarity that could flip nearly instantaneously into a romantic and sexual love. Also, aren’t rituals kinda kinky anyway? And their whole relationship is based on rituals? 

It’s so weird; I don’t think I’m delusional, but I could still see them having a huge moment in 3x12 and in fact am certain there will be one, I just don’t know what it will mean to them. But I will never be like “I’m clowning again” when it comes to this shit because the ingredients are literally all there, and I guess they can make whatever cake they want, and I’ll unclownily respect it while continuing to see what I see.)

Other stuff: 

Ted’s mom added some cutesy pillows and kitchen stuff to Ted’s flat, right? I think it’s interesting that her ultimate message was that Henry misses Ted and that he can’t be scared of parenting him, but in the lead up to that truth she was doing stuff to populate his living space in London more fully. I’m curious if that was the equivalent of the cute animal videos he referenced in s1, when she’s trying to work up the courage to talk about something real, or if it was something about a parents’ desire to make their children more comfortable even if they screw up, or if it portends something more complicated on the horizon w/r/t Ted’s relationship to “home.” 

I loved Becky Ann Baker’s performance so much, and I thought Jason Sudeikis played off her incredibly well. There is nothing more irritating than being irritated by someone whose worst qualities are the exact same as your worst qualities. And when Rebecca and Beard and Higgins and the entire team just adore Dottie, it’s just so…of COURSE THEY DO. It was so good.

I think this show has something very frustrating to say about forgiveness and I think maybe there needs to be a different word for this concept they keep invoking?! I’m certain there are interesting philosophical and theological beliefs about forgiveness and how it’s not really about willfully becoming okay with someone who has hurt you but more about freeing yourself from how horrible it feels to be trapped by how that person made you feel. And I think that is what Ola advises Sam to do when thinking about the bigots who trashed him publicly and trashed his restaurant, and I think that is what Ted advises Jamie to do when he suggests how Jamie reframe how he feels about his dad. I don’t think either conversation is intended to minimize the horrors of what has happened, and it feels like the intention/vibes/overall care for the person receiving the advice/outcome in each situation is “correct” in that both Sam and Jamie end up finding the conversations helpful. But something about forgiveness as a concept just feels like they needed to invent some new word or contextualize the old word better or something.

When Jamie’s mum takes his side about his hair being walnut haze OH MY GOD.

Genuinely thought Keeley and Roy were fully back together last episode and I think Rebecca also thought this, LOL. I am unsure what I even want to happen at this point. I mean, obviously Jamie/Keeley/Roy should ride off into the sunset together. So I guess I do know what I want to happen.

Beard backstory! Ted and Beard backstory! I am so, so glad the Ted and Nate reunion didn’t happen in the Ephron ep. I am so, so glad Beard showed up and gave something of himself and grew as a human being a little bit. I’m glad that Nate did not send anyone any groveling tomes, and that this continues to be a story about forging and reforging connections rather than the economy of redemption. 

I’m sure there’s more, but I’m fuckin’ exhausted. Until next time, so long, farewell. (HAHAHAHAHAHAHA.) 

[shemakesmusic-uk]

Pop artist Nadia Vaeh has dropped her new music video for her powerful track 'Anxiety'. The video reflects on her personal mental health struggles and how she copes with the highs and lows of anxiety. The video shows Nadia alone at home coping with what the real and raw effects of anxiety look and feel like. As an advocate, she hopes her music can inspire people to embrace the conversation of mental health and be a reminder that they are not alone.

Babeheaven, the project of West Londoners Nancy Andersen and Jamie Travis, share their latest single, 'Craziest Things', along with a video from the award-winning illustrator and animator, Sacha Beeley. The track is taken from the duo’s much anticipated debut album, Home For Now, which will be released on November 20 via AWAL, and follows the singles 'Cassette Beat' and 'Human Nature'. About the track, Nancy said: “On 'Craziest Things', I explore my anxiety and insomnia, not being able to make sense of my emotions and running around in a state of mania.”

Moscow-based multi-talented avant-pop artist Kate Shilonosova aka Kate NV has just unveiled a video for 'Lu Na', a track taken from her last album Room for the Moon. Drawing from “unlived memories of 70s and 80s Russian and Japanese pop music and film,” the project also comes with vintage and surreal conceptual videos inspired by the shows she was watching as a child. In these new Gina Onegina-directed visuals, she introduces four dancers voguing in pinky cats outfits. “‘Lu Na’ was originally planned as a dance clip consisting mostly of one repetitive loop—simple pattern where cats walk in a square one by one,” she stated. “This pattern was hugely inspired and based on [Samuel] Beckett’s piece Quad which I love. Originally I just wanted the sun to appear slowly behind those cats while they walk. All of the dancers were wonderful, they brought so much life to the characters of those cats!” [via High Clouds]

Kississippi, the increasingly pop-minded project of the Philadelphia musician Zoe Reynolds, have released a new single, 'Around Your Room'. Kississippi got their start making wispy and hypnotic folk reveries, which opened up into more muscular fare on their debut full-length, 2018’s Sunset Blush. 'Around Your Room' is their most unabashedly pop song yet, a strobing synth that pulls from Lorde’s Melodrama providing the main thrust for Reynolds’ gauzy lyrics about memory and its inexorable pull. Reynolds cowrote 'Around Your Room' with Sarah Tudzin of Illuminati Hotties, according to a tweet from Tudzin. “This song tells a story of yearning and infatuation. It’s about being hopelessly enamored in a way that took me back to my youthful perception of love,” Reynolds said in a statement. “It represents those moments where you’re fully infatuated with someone and they’re all you can think about. I’ve written about love in a cynical manner in the past and this song was written as a reminder of the magic and euphoria that comes with it.” 'Around Your Room' is the lead single from a new Kississippi album due out next year, Reynolds’ first for Triple Crown. Watch director Josh Coll’s video for the song above. [via Stereogum]

Tank and The Bangas have announced a new EP called Friend Goals. Due out November 20 via Verve Forecast, the six-track, guest-heavy release is being previewed with the track 'Self Care'. The New Orleans-based group are known for their collaborative habits, having this year teamed with the likes of Jacob Collier and Fantastic Negrito. Friend Goals, as the title might suggest, brings together a number of artists Tank and The Bangas have befriended over their career. The follow-up to last year’s Green Balloon LP features guests like CHIKA ('Mr. Insta'), Duckwrth ('Fluff'), PJ Morton ('TSA'), and Pell on the title track. Lead single 'Self Care' actually touts three collaborators: Jaime Woods, Orleans Big, and Anjelika “Jelly” Joseph. The track itself is exactly what we need in 2020, an ode to being with yourself and being damn okay with it. “Chillin’ all by myself/ Netflix, eatin’, cheatin’, by myself, all by myself,” Tarriona “Tank” Ball spits, clearly enjoying her alone time. “Nobody else/ New people to the left/ What is there left but myself?” “‘Self Care’ is THE quarantine song to get you moving,” Ball said in a statement. “It shows that some of the best things can come out from solitude, especially when the beat hits this hard.” Take a listen above via the song’s Fat Happy Media-directed video. [via CoS]

New Zealand’s platinum sensation BENEE unveils the official video for her latest single 'Snail'. For the visual, BENEE and director Anita Fontaine deliver a lush and larger-than-life fantasy befitting of the track. In the colorful clip, BENEE wakes up to feed her giant snail roommates and slides around their slime trails before heading to work in her secret elf lab. Soon, she’s cycling out of her home—a concrete replica of her own head—out into a storm. After being struck by lightning, our heroine turns into an elf and cruises through a mushroom wonderland under the glow of an aurora borealis-style blanket of colors across the sky. Reflective of her personality, it pops off as her biggest and boldest video to date. Of the inspiration behind the video, BENEE says, “I knew I wanted the vid to be a weird fantasy story involving snails! I said to Anita that I wanted to be an elf with long braids riding a bike and have giant mushrooms somewhere in the vid...She came back with the treatment, and I loved ittttttt! Her imagination is supa whacky in the best way, and I’m so happy with how ‘Snail’ turned out!”

Bebe Rexha has returned with her new anthem 'Baby, I'm Jealous', which features Doja Cat. 'Baby, I'm Jealous' is Bebe Rexha's first single of 2020, following on from last year's Maleficent: Mistress of Evil track 'You Can't Stop The Girl'. The new track marks the debut collaboration between Bebe Rexha and Doja Cat, and is accompanied by a Hannah Lux Davis-directed visual that stars Charli D’Amelio, Nikita Dragun, and Avani Gregg. Bebe Rexha says the new single is "about embracing my insecurities", and adds, "It’s about the way social media has heightened my jealousy which can affect how I feel about myself. We are constantly flooded with the highlights of other people’s lives, and at times I find myself comparing my worth and beauty to others. It’s part of the human process to experience jealousy - ultimately, this is an anthem to embrace those feelings as a form of empowerment." [via Line Of Best Fit]

Making her grand return to the scene with a striking new single is Brighton-hailed singer Fable, with her new tune 'Thirsty'. With otherworldly tones and harmonising vocals, the singer serves us with a sumptuous genre-bending tune that has us headbanging at every chorus. Known for her bold and atmospheric sonics, the singer accompanies the song with an attention-grabbing video with juxtaposing images of ethereal nature and mental destruction. Speaking on the single, the singer said, “'Thirsty' is about taking the beauty of life for granted. How overtime we write off profound stuff as mundane because it’s a constant; the sky’s always there, but it’s weird and beautiful that we even exist under it. It’s playful at heart but it’s about my realised depression and learning how to reset my perspective through mindfulness,” Having disappeared from the scene back in 2016 due to a personal tragedy, the singer has reconnected to her artistic side and is ready to step back into the spotlight. [via Wonderland]

With the enticing line-up of Joe Lonie (Supergroove), Milan Borich (Pluto), Jol Mulholland (The Reduction Agents) and Morgan Leary (Cindy), Tāmaki Makaurau supergroup Kathy Bates Motel share their latest ear worm 'Cool Your Heels'. The class act's second single, following up debut track 'Damaged Goods', is dangerously catchy, with killer harmonies from vocalists Lonie and Leary. 'Cool Your Heels' will have you moving your feet and hankering for a dance, a need so perfectly met by the Footloose inspired, Joe Lonie directed visuals. Everybody cut foot loose, the weekend and 'Cool Your Heels' have arrived. [via Under The Radar]

Up-and-comers Wargasm recently dropped their fifth single, ‘Backyard Bastards’, and now they’ve released a video to go with it. Shot and edited by Olli Appleyard, the video sees sees Sam Matlock (guitar, vocals) hunting down Ryan Cornall (session drummer) on a manic murder spree that finds its peak in an epic showdown between the two, all the while being cheered on by Milkie Way (bass, vocals) and her dancer squad. You can check out the video for ‘Backyard Bastards’ above. [via Dead Press]

Atlanta-based glam punk rockers Starbenders have released an energetic and evocative music video for their new single 'Can’t Cheat Time' off most recent album Love Potions. 'Can’t Cheat Time' is available now as part of a bundle featuring the original single and an acoustic version. 'Can’t Cheat Time' perfectly pairs frontwoman Kimi Shelter‘s incredible vocal shapeshifting abilities with electrocuted guitars and heart-pounding rhythm for this stand out rock ‘n’ roll anthem. Speaking to the inspiration for the single’s music video, Shelter adds: “‘Can’t Cheat Time’ is a personal favorite amongst the band. This single has a wicked string arrangement reminiscent of Jeff Lynne from ELO’s production style. It was so rewarding hearing all of it come together with the live string players. The accompanying music video is a love letter to the mom and pop businesses that have shaped and supported our very existence. These businesses along with the touring industry have been devastated by the pandemic. We filmed in locations around Atlanta which include the local greasy spoon diner, the record shop, the independent guitar store, the watering hole, and the divey small music venue. While mega-retailers did not close down for even one day, 60% of small to medium-sized businesses in the USA that closed will never reopen. These places are vital to the social and economic health of our cities. We encourage our friends to go to saveourstages.com. Sign up to push legislators to help independent venues though the updated Heroes Act. So many are hurting and on the verge of financial ruin from lighting to sound engineers, musicians, DJs, security, bar staff and venue operators. Our hearts are with you all.“ [via The Girls At The Rock Show]

[dachi-chan25]

GoT Season 8, Episode 2: Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Thoughts

Like i am not even sure this episode's name is that or "The rightful queen" but I am going with the title I liked more.

I was fully intending of making a big ass Recap like I usually do but today I had a lot of work and I feel like everyone has already talked about the episode since it was leaked so I am just gonna talk about some scenes that I think will be relevant and my take on some shipping stuff.

Again I warn that I don't root for D Targy at all (but I do think she is an amazing character) and she annoys the heck out of me most often than not so... if she is your fave pls don't read this cuz it's not for you.

.

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On Jaime Lannister

I feel this was a great episode for him as a character, while I do wish he would have said something about the wildfire on King's Landing or the Loot Attack I ultimately think that what he did say was the best thing in his PoV because he thinks D is the North's queen now that Jon bent the knee so ofc he wasn't gonna antagonize her that much when he was at clear disadvantage.

His chat with Tyrion was also very good, tho I feel in the books this will be more on a bitter note given Jamie's confession about Tysha, but yeah they are close once again and I appreciate that.

Every scene he had with Brienne had me swooning.Brienne defending him in the Great Hall. All those stares. The clear tension between them and the fact that Brienne doesn't know what to do when they are on the same side and he is not insulting her, so they still fight and pant around each other and I love it (honestly this kind of fighting is a lot like the Jonsa one because they have to get rid of that UST but they can't fuck or even kiss yet so they bicker and pant around each other). I noticed how he stared at Tormund and immediately knew he was intrested in Brienne. And ofc him knighting Brienne was the best of the episode for me (hence my preference of the title aluding to this scene).

On Sansa Stark

Curious that we don't get Sansa or Jon's PoV this episode, just them through other people's eyes.

The Great Hall scene: while I would have loved Sansa defending Jaime like in some fics, I think it does make sense that she feels resentment towards him and his family, but she still was willing to trust him once Brienne spoke on his behalf which says a lot for their relationship and how much Sansa has come to trust and value Brienne and her opinions. She was completely a queen in that scene, she even left the place frist not giving a fuck whatsoever about D.

Tête-à-tête with the gecko queen: Sophie Turner is an amazing actress. Ok so I loved she was telling Lord Royce she wanted to leave the Gates open as long as possible, such a compassionate queen, but also the moment D steps in I lived for Lord Royce clearly showing more respect and deference towards Sansa than towards D (I mean that the whole North respects Sansa as their leader is the very reason why Jorah asked D to talk to her). We see Sansa be closed off towards D in the beginnig even when D is trying hard to be sympathetic to sansa and bond over them being good leaders to their people (bihhh Sansa laughed and so did I cuz just how deluded is D to think she is on Sansa's level of good leadeeship), and D asks the question we have since ep 1 "does that (Jon's love for D) bother you?" And I am absolutely sure that the answer to that is yes, but Sansa was never going to show herself that much to someone she doesn't trust nor even likes (this girl out played LF ffs!!!) so she went for a non-commital answer (is not a yes or a no, she is justifying her distrust for D and appears not to be jealous but a concerned sister) D is appeased by this answer and tries to show Sansa that her and Jon's relationship is real (lmaoo) by stating just how much she sacrified her goals just for his love (like nice that she doesn't pretend to care for the people she wants to be queen of anymore, the Jonsa fandom said this since last season) and straight up says she is the one being manipulated by Jon, and Sansa's face is a poem, cuz you can see exactly the moment when she figures out that Jon is manipulating D!! We even get a smile of relief and promptly she catches herself and changes her behaviour implying she should apologize (but she never actually does) and even lauguing at how short Jon is (Sansa bites her lip tho 👀👀 and D's smile is so fake idk who she thinks she is fooling) but Sansa again brings up the North and D is visibly upset at that.

Scenes with Theon: I am just going to straight up say I do ship Theonsa and I have read fics of them, but I do not think it will be canon or that it makes narrative or political sense cuz it doesn't. Their reunion was heartwarming and beautiful (tho D jealous stare bothered me, like fuck off I wanna see my babies) Sansa was clearly happy at seeing Theon more like himself and having him want to fight for their family. Their scene with the soup was cute but I did not see it as shippy at all, there is definitely affection and care but I don't think it was shot as romance or a couple's montague, it was simply showing us all the different ways the characters we know spend this night. As much as it hurts me because I love Theon, I think it is possible he will die protecting Bran (I really don't want this, but it's a big possibility, cuz I know some big characters must die in order to destroy us as much as possible, and this scenes with Sansa might just serve that purpose) so I'll just drown in theonsa fics if that happens. Also, it kinda make me go 👀👀 the fact that they made the theonsa scenes so alike the jonsa s6 ones but without all that flirty stuff on the soup scene and that it was enough for the GA and some Aegonys to ship it while we know Theon like Jon also grew up with Sansa in WF. Idk it was kinda amusing to me.

On Jon Snow

Ok so this made a lot of sense to me, Jon avoiding D post parentage reveal is what seals pol!Jon to me, if he really loved her he would have gone statight to her in the night and confess this thing he found out while crying and looking for her support and being all hopless longingly staring at her but nope he doesn't even want to look at her (he is probably thinking how he fucked his aunt and shudders). I was also like 👀👀 when he pushed past D to follow Sansa, did they talk?? Did they fight again??? I am thirsty, but it was also a good thing Jon didn't interact with Sansa cuz it would give the game away too soon, as a matter of fact Jon doesn't seek her out like last episode as far as the audience knows and I think that is because he doesn't know what to do he is having an existencial crisis in the middle of the Apocalipsis, and Sam is like have you told her yet??? He knows shit could hit the fan at any minute. I loved his reunion with Tormund and Edd because I love Jon's smile and he has been just miserable since last ep, so yeah I need my boy to be happy.

Now onto the reveal, I think Jon genuinely thought he might as well just say it, D clearly seeked him out for some loving sexy times and Jon was not on board with that, he just couldn't keep it up with her cuz he doesn't love her, never has and now she is his aunt, he just can't do that knowing they are super related, also now D can't leave them (I mean she kind of can fuck off in Drogon and maybe Rhaegal will follow, but her armies can't leave, and they have the obsidian so...) . The fact he called her D@ny is so layered, for starters she told him straight up not to call her that cuz it reminds her of Viserys, so it connects them as family and upsets D at the same time. D straight up thinks that Bran and Sam would make shit up to usurp her (bihhh no one but u and Cersei gives a fuck about the ugly ass chair) and then when she sees Jon is saying the truth she is furious (so much for the aegony marriage fix up that her stans dreamed off, also can we fucking kiss boatie goodbye?? Cuz that sure as hell ain't happening) and Jon is baffled, he knows she wants the IT more than anything and shit but really??? They are about to die, and he has left more than clear to any one that would listen that he doesn't care about titles. Not only that but Jon and her are family now,and family is important to Jon, and she reacts like this???

On Gendrya

I was a bit wierded out cuz we have seen Maise since she was a kid (lmaoo i am like a year older than her) but more power to her for the scene, also I really love Gendrya and their interactions have been so flirty and charged with chemistry. I am worried about Gendry's survival, but I think he might live.

On everything else:

I loved Gilly and Dadvos's scene, it was so good and I wish they would give Gilly more lines.

Missandei and Greyworm making plans for after the war makes me worried one of them will die, also now that D will feel betrayed by Jon, I fear she will think GW and Missandei wanting to leave is also treason. I AM WORRIED. Also to ppl doesn't trust Missandei cuz she is with d and nobody in the north trusts Targs not even children.

Tyrion talking about destroying Cersei made him seem more Book!Tyrion than ever and I just shudderd. D literally never wants to take responsability for any desicion when she refused to fight for the north if Cersei didn't joined them. Also she would really have named Jorah hand??? She is dumb as a brick. His scene with Jaime, Brienne and co. Was cute.

Podrick was looking fine and his voice was really good. Also that Jenny of Oldstone song with all it's jonsa vibes 👀👀.

[brian-in-finance]

Robert Wilson / Starz

‘Outlander’ Stars Sam Heughan and Caitriona Balfe, EP Maril Davis Discuss Season 6 Cliffhanger and Claire and Jamie’s Fate

Despite a tightly packed sixth season comprised of just eight episodes, Starz’s “Outlander” did not disappoint with its dramatic finale episode “I Am Not Alone.”

At the start of the finale, Jamie (Sam Heughan) and Claire (Caitriona Balfe) — a couple who can never catch a break — barricade themselves inside their home while facing off against Richard Brown (Chris Larkin) and his militia. Brown has come to fetch Claire to make her stand trial for the murder of Malva Christie, a “trial” both Claire and Jamie know will not end well if Brown and his mob get their hands on her. As bullets rip against the walls of their Fraser’s Ridge abode, the two have a heartfelt discussion as to whether this could truly be the end of their story.

Their salvation comes in the surprising form of Tom Christie (Mark Lewis Jones), who says he’ll ride along with Jamie and Claire as she is taken to trial to ensure justice is fairly served. The trek to find an open court amid growing Revolution chaos proves difficult for the Browns, and Jamie and Claire are constantly met by angry mobs who have already deemed Claire a murderer, and worse: a witch. Eventually, young Ian (John Bell) is alerted of his aunt and uncle’s perilous predicament and tracks them down, which comes in handy quite soon.

While chaos has come to Fraser’s Ridge, Brianna (Sophie Skelton) and Roger (Richard Rankin) are completely unaware while on the road to Edenton, where Roger plans to be ordained as a minister. The two actually discover delightful news when their son Jemmy needs to have his hair cut due to lice. Bree discovers a birthmark on Jemmy’s head, one that Roger explains is genetic and notes he has as well. The two joyfully realize at that moment Jemmy is truly Roger’s son, and not the product of Stephen Bonnet’s assault on Bree in Season 4.

Jamie is separated from Claire in the final moments of the finale, with the Browns deciding to take justice upon the Scotsman for the murder of Lionel Brown (Ned Dennehy). Claire is put in jail, with Tom Christie trying to assure her she’ll face a fair trial and Jamie’s fate will not be a deadly one. Just as Jamie is about to be shipped back off to Scotland, seemingly a deal Brown planned instead of having him murdered, Ian arrives with the Mohawk to save his uncle. Jamie rides off in valiant fashion to go rescue his wife — hopefully, he gets there in time.

Variety spoke with stars Sam Heughan, Caitriona Balfe and executive producer Maril Davis about the epic Season 6 finale and what lies ahead for our “Outlander” couple and their loved ones.

We’ve got quite a cliffhanger with this finale. When learning that’s where the sixth season would stop, what were your reactions?

CAITRONA BALFE: We originally were supposed to film 12 episodes. That was the original idea. But this felt like a really natural point. If we had to stop somewhere, this felt like a good place to stop. It’s such a great cliffhanger to be on. There’s that point of hope, but you’re definitely left kind of on the edge of your seat wanting to see what’s gonna happen next.

SAM HEUGHAN: I mean it’s pretty breathless, right? The last two episodes, so much happens. So in a good way, I think it’s good that we have this ending and give time for the viewer to catch up.

Absolutely. What has been interesting for this season is with just eight episodes, so much has happened and it feels as if each episode is more intense.

BALFE: The interesting thing about that is none of these episodes were adapted. That was always the way they were written, even when we were going to still do 12 episodes. I think we had a long time before all that lockdown, the writers were thinking very deeply about everything they wanted to put in and it just sort of was organically like that.

HEUGHAN: Also there were several episodes of this season that are longer. There is more time to sit with the characters in those scenes. I think the first episode especially, you see a lot of intimacy as well as, you know, stuff happening. So I’m really proud of the season. I think it’s actually a really strong one, possibly one of our strongest.

Maril, how did the decision come about to end the season here?

MARIL DAVIS: So originally we’re supposed to have 12 episodes, right? Due to COVID and a variety of factors, we kind of realized very quickly after we started the season that we couldn’t accomplish those 12 episodes. It just so happened eight was a perfect point to cut it off. Not only because that’s as long as we thought we’d go, but also it was a perfect way to end the season, with Jamie and Claire separated. We didn’t know what was gonna happen. We’d leave a cliffhanger moment. So it was perfect. There was a little bit of a tag at the end of this episode that we pushed into Season 7. But that was honestly the only change we made to this episode. This episode was always planned to be this way, this shootout at the O.K. Corral. I just love it. That shootout at the beginning is so cool. And I just love that shot of Claire coming around the corner with the rifle.

I just love seeing Jamie and Claire with their backs against the wall, it’s them against the world. It’s so symbolic of this whole season. We talk so much about the Ridge, and what happens when your home turns against you? Its climax is at this episode. Everyone is against Jamie and Claire. Everyone believes Claire did it, and no one speaks up for them. There’s a very small group of people who do. And it’s a huge surprise when Tom Christie speaks up for Claire. We don’t know whether he thinks she’s guilty or not, but we do know he’s gonna ensure she has a fair trial.

It’s been really interesting to watch Tom Christie’s relationship with Claire. He’s wavered between respect and disgust for her and the work she does. Throughout the finale, he remains by Claire’s side vs. just letting the Browns take justice into their own hands. Maril, why is it so important to him to stay there for her?

DAVIS: We will see in Season 7 kind of the reasons why Tom has done what he’s done. Tom is a flawed character, played so brilliantly by Mark Lewis Jones. He’s flawed and he’s conflicted. He’s always at war with himself. He knows what’s right or what he thinks is right. He’s a very pious man. He’s very judgmental. Deep down, he’s a fair man and he wants to see justice for his daughter. I think deep down, he probably knows Claire didn’t do it. But regardless if she did it or not, he’s not okay with this vigilante justice. He’s not okay with Richard Brown taking her off. He knows if Richard Brown takes her, he’s just gonna kill her by the side of the road. She’s never going to see a fair trial. So for him, he does want this to be done the right way. And he knows he’s also the only one that can make sure that happens because… the justice is his.

Robert Wilson / Starz

Let’s discuss where Jamie and Claire are in the finale. For Jamie, he’s been rescued by Ian and needs to go save his wife. As for Claire, she is sitting in jail awaiting a trial for Malva’s murder and fearing for Jamie’s life. So many at Fraser’s Ridge have turned against them, making this finale a pretty unsettling one for them both.

HEUGHAN: Jamie and Claire’s world has been completely destroyed here. Normally, the popularity and the strength of their reputation is something that they’ve utilized, but this time it’s strange. Their allies come in different shapes and forms. In this standoff with the Browns, Tom Christie, in a very odd way, comes to help them. The situation they’re in now, for Jamie certainly, he’s clearly gonna go find Claire and luckily does have some allies left. But it’s a very different world that we’re used to. We see that throughout this journey of the last two episodes. We see the world, the actual physical world around them, is also very unsettled. A lot of terrible with the upcoming revolution. But you can count on one thing and that’s that Jamie’s gonna go find Claire.

Caitriona, this season explored how all of the trauma Claire has endured can, with the right amount of pressure and triggers, overflow in a destructive way. On the outside, she appears so strong. Near the finale, she’s realizing how all she has experienced is affecting her and opening up about that. How did it feel to explore that side fo Claire this season?

BALFE: This whole season is in a way of deconstruction of Claire. Claire, as a product of her time, as a product of her profession, has always been very good at compartmentalizing everything. I think in the medical field, you have to be able to do that. You have to be able to experience trauma, see trauma, but put blinkers on and focus on the job that needs to be done. You put away your feelings about it and you’re very good at shelving your emotions. I think Claire has always been able to do that. But I don’t think anybody, doesn’t matter if you’re a strong person or not, I don’t think anyone is able to go through life without allowing yourself to process these emotions. It’ll come up one way or another. I think for Claire this season, that’s what we really explored. How does she get through trauma and get over what happened or heal from what happened if she’s not processing it, if she’s not dealing with it. And the answer to that is that it rears its ugly head and forces her to find a new way of approaching things. I think what’s beautiful is that we are still showing her continued journey and it’s like a growth now, which is so beautiful. We see that she’s learned a new coping mechanism. She’s learned that she can’t shut down and hide things and try and manage things on her own. She needs to be able to share.

Especially with Jamie, it’s that connection that they have, but if she’s not open with him and if she’s not allowing him to see her at her most vulnerable, then she’s not being fully present I suppose. That was the big lesson that she learned from Season 6 — everything with Malva and all of that. What I loved Episode 7 is that we really explore her subconscious and this guilt that she’s been feeling. When we see her in Episode 8, I wouldn’t say she’s healed, but she’s definitely on that journey. But now, of course, mentally, she’s in a better place, but physically she’s in a really bad place. She can’t really catch a break. The most pressing concerns for her at the moment are that she’s stuck in this jail, but because of the Revolutionary War, the system of justice that would normally be in place is sort of completely blown apart. So I think for Claire, her biggest fear is that she’s just gonna be left to rot in jail.

Sam and Caitriona, this season packed so much into just eight episodes. What about your character’s stories, or others, this season did you enjoy the most?

HEUGHAN: I was really impressed and loved, especially in this last episode, Brianna and Roger’s storyline, just some really intimate moments with them. I think it’s nice to spend time with the other characters and to see this beautiful relationship that they have.

BALFE: I think this season, there was actually a lot of time dedicated to everyone else. I mean, you know, Marsali and Fergus, that was like a great storyline early on. And its really sad that they’ve moved to New Bern. And young Ian, we get to see a lot more of his back story. I think it’s really lovely. I think it opens up the world. It allows the audience to get to know all these great characters a little bit deeper. We have such an amazing group of actors around us. And it’s just so lovely to get to see them shine as well.

As for you Maril, how do you feel about where many of the characters are left at the end of Season 6, and what can you tease about what’s to come for them?

DAVIS: We’ve kind of purposely had Roger and Brianna in a pretty great place when we’re ending Season 6. They’re completely unaware of where Jamie and Claire are. They’re unaware of the danger they’re in. We’re purposely setting them up that way because there might be rocky waters ahead for them in Season 7. But we also wanted to see that Roger and Brianna had finally settled into this place. They had tried to go home last season. They finally realized this is where their home is and we see them trying to set down roots. This season, Brianna is pregnant again. They find out Jemmy is actually Roger’s and not Steven Bonnet’s. So they’re in a very good place. Obviously, Jamie and Claire are not in a good place. But that’s typical of Jamie and Claire. Things never run smoothly for them for very long. For Ian, I mean, I’m so impressed with John Bell this season. Every season I am, but I just think we’ve seen young Ian and I love that we call him that. But young Ian turned into a man this season. He’s really coming into his own. Everything we saw in Episode 4, his backstory with the Mohawk and his tragic love story. I’m so excited for where we’re going with Ian and Season 7. We’re gonna see such a great arc for him. I’m just so impressed by John and the way he’s transformed that character from boy to man. We saw that before our eyes this season and it was really lovely.

While hiding within their home from the angry mob led by the Browns, who want to collect Claire for the murder of Malva Christie, Claire and Jamie discuss the possibility of this being the end. Jamie remembers a fortuneteller who told him he had nine lives, and he recounts several of his near-death experiences. I believe he’s at five (Wentworth, Culloden, Laoghhaire’s shot, a snake bite, and Doughal’s axe being the count so far). Maril, can we consider what happened in the finale as his sixth?

DAVIS: Actually it’s funny. We purposely didn’t include all of his near deaths in there because we want to keep it kind of vague about how many lives he has left. I never considered this one of his nine lives, but it’s interesting you bring that up because I’m not sure. I wonder if Diana [Gabaldon] considers that one. I’m not sure.

Any teasers you can give for Season 7? This season, the theme has been what happens when your home turns against you. What theme would Season 7 center on?

DAVIS: I can’t get into the theme too much. I will say we’ve talked so much about the Revolution coming — it’s like “winter is coming” in “Game of Thrones.” Next season, the Revolution is here. It’s our biggest season yet. We’re gonna straddle so many storylines and so much ground is covered in this season. Everyone goes on such a crazy arc this season. It’s the biggest season we’ve ever done and I’m so excited. I’m particularly excited about young Ian. He has a great storyline. Jamie and Claire, there’s so much I can’t talk about because I don’t want to spoil anything.

This interview has been edited and condensed.

https://variety.com/2022/tv/actors/outlander-season-6-finale-claire-jamie-1235254989/

Remember… I’m so excited for where we’re going with Ian and Season 7. We’re gonna see such a great arc for him. I’m just so impressed by John and the way he’s transformed that character from boy to man. — Maril Davis

[winterisfinallyhere]

Episode 2  initial thoughts

I just finished watching and WHAT is going on! Spoilers, obviously.

Initial OMG WTF is going on feels are like 1000% 

We got Arya x Gendry - WTF? This was apparently a leak, but I was going “is this happening?” until it was actually happening. Sadly this seals Gendry’s fate for me, he’s going to be the person chasing Arya (once he’s turned White Walker) and she’s gonna have to kill him. So sad because they’re so cute together.

Theon x Sansa? I mean could they be going with that? While I love their friendship and the fact that he’s there for Sansa and not Dany, Sansa and Theon together because she was raped and he has no c*ck left would piss me off. That is not a happy ending, that is two people DxD feel are too damaged for anyone else, thrown together. That is not a good ending for either one of them.

We got Dany admitting she loves Jon! And that she sees she been manipulated to some degree. And my girl Sansa being all “what about northern independence” and Dany not liking it one bit. At least Sansa still got her head on straight. 

BUT...

the biggest WTF moment, however, goes to Jon Snow. For confessing who his parents are to Dany minutes before going into battle. And her face. I seriously don’t know what to do with this. I guess maybe it makes sense for there was a possible dragon vs. dragon hissy fit going down during the battle.

But for me, him telling her totally smashes Pol!Jon and leaves me with StupidAss!Jon. Which makes me so freaking unhappy. Seriously, Jonsa fam, tell me how this makes sense? I can’t see it. I just can’t. 

Now all I got is political Jonsa match (which I kind of figured was what we were going to get). Seriously, Jon didn’t even get any goodbye, we’re gonna die moment with Sansa. I wasn’t expecting full on feels but something.

Instead, all we get is the weird confession with Dany. And it lacks in impact because for fuck sake we don’t know what Jon is all about! 

What is he feeling! 

His POV is still so freaking blocked. 

Is he heartbroken? Happy he knows who his mum was? Does he love Dany? Why not have that made much clearer in ep. 1 when Sansa asks it point blank. He clearly doesn't answer her because then we would have been shown that, but he must not have said anything to dissuade her either since Sansa tells Dany Jon loves her at the start of the ep. 2.

Or does he just want it off his chest, to somehow make it clear he’s not after her throne? Bang up job he did reassuring her of that. Is he just incapable of shutting up? Like the one time he should be quiet and brooding he fails at it? What’s the play Jon? WHAT IS IT! DON’T BE STUPID! PLEASE DON’T BE STUPID! I seriously have no one else I can put on the Iron Throne, you’re my only hope and I don’t want a stupid king.

Anyway, during the reveal, I have no idea what I’m supposed to feel. Mostly I just feel super annoyed Jon Snow for apparently being an idiot. 

But at least Dany doesn't disappoint. She hits the nail straight on the head with “You’d be the last male heir. You’d have a claim to the Iron Throne”.

(or if someone was Narrating: And this is when everything changed and the path was forever set out for our two young heroes...or villains, as we all must remember a villain is a hero of the other side. This was the moment they became mortal enemies. They just didn’t know it.)

This is all a clear set-up for some sort of conflict between the two, which makes me happy, but still not drawing me into the drama. Because I have no idea what is going on in Jon’s head. 

Also

NOT one single Jon/ Sansa moment? No Arya / Sansa. No Sansa / Bran either! What are you doing Stark family? Spending time with everyone but your family? What about the Pack Survives! You all think you’re going to die and your off with your random hook-ups of the week?

Good things this week?

Let’s see

We got a five-second shot of Ghost. Whoowhoo. So exciting. No one even interacted with him. He was just there, on the side, chilling. At least he’s there.

Sam being Sam. Gotta love that.

The cute kid wanting to fight like her brothers. That was nice. She’s totally gonna die.

We get Jamie knighting Brienne - which AMAZING - but just makes me think Brienne is going to die.

I guess the Arya/ Gendry stuff was nice. I was just too busy going ARYA is having S*X? WHAT IS HAPPENING? I AM SO OLD BECAUSE APPARENTLY, ARYA IS A GROWN UP NOW! 

Sansa and Dany chat was kind of fun, in a way. Made me smile for a second.

Podrick singing. That was very nice. Maybe I should start shipping Podrick / Sansa. We know he did some amazing things for those whores in King’s Landing and that’s what Sansa deserves and he knows how to sing. That’s a real good start. Plus he’s a pretty good fighter nowadays. I like it! Go propose Podrick - tonight is the night - all the Starks are making questionable decisions on who to spend time with, this is your chance.

____Last Thoughts____

Being honest this episode feels as flat as the first one, even if we do get some good stuff. The problem is nothing really seems to affect anything. It’s all just ‘all, well okay then, that was bad, but right let’s soldier on’ and while that is all well and good, it’s not very compelling drama. 

Next week we got a movie length episode, battle of Winterfell and once we’re fucking done with the Wight Walkers and the Army of the Dead (because I need that plot-line to be over and done with, it’s just so fucking boring) we can get back to the actual Game of Throne stuff! You know, the political drama we’re here for, where things actually matter and betrayal means death and war and destruction. Where you either Win or You Die? That’s what I want!

Basically, this felt like it was another set-up episode, I’m assuming for things that are going to get paid off in later episodes. How, I am not sure.

I honestly don’t know where they’re going with this season, one of my favorite theories (pol!Jon) seem to be out of play and that changes a lot of things and I honestly have nothing exciting replace it with. Once I’ve gotten a chance to do a second watch maybe I’ll be less annoyed and have some more things to say. 

But for now thanks for reading and hope you enjoy the episode more than I did!

[doyouknowthemuffinmaam]

Outlander 4x10 The Deep Hearts Core: Spoilers!

Ok so it looks like it’s unpopular outlander opinions time again... I loved this episode. There were a few things that I think could have been done better and I’ll get to those but overall I think this was one of the stronger episodes of the season.

Pros-

•Jamie and Bree: the scene with Jamie and Bree where he overpowers her to prove a point was one I was worried over because that could have gone very wrong. But it was actually one of the highlights because of Sam and Sophie. They killed it. Sam especially. You can just see on his face how much Jamie hates this while he had her in a lock. Brilliant performances.

• Roger: I have had issues with Rogers character a few times but never with Richards performance and this one is a winner. I enjoyed getting to see how smart he is to track where he’s going. The increasing danger of his situation cut with the ‘happier’ moments at Frasers Ridge really hikes up the tension, and makes it so uncomfortable in a good way waiting for the ball to drop on the Ridge. And his face and reaction to finding the stone and hearing that buzz at the end made me cry. If you didn’t then you have no heart. Bravo Richard.

• Mama Claire and Bree: ooof. Claire explaining to Bree ALL of her options and the lack of time she has to choose, was somehow simultaneously heartbreaking and uplifting. All the C&B moments this ep were gold especially since we have seen in the past how tense their relationship was before. Them drooling and laughing over all the things they miss from the future was again heartbreaking and uplifting. I love them. Bree brings out the Claire in Claire that we’ve been missing. Bree’s “I’m sorry for making you leave me” and their embrace and parting shattered my heart.

• The Confrontation and Rescue Plans: I am apparently super in the minority here but there is very little about those scenes I didn’t like. Bree has a temper. She has Jamie’s AND Claire’s tempers. And she is still dealing with a significant and ongoing trauma. Learning that Roger came back for her and was then beaten half to death and sold into slavery and death by her family, and then to have Jamie yelling in her face accusing her of lying, after she was woken from a nightmare where her rapist is attacking her again...he earned that slap. And while Bree will regret the things she said she wasn’t wrong to say them in her anger in that moment. Especially since it was partly true about Frank. That scene was fraught with anger and confusion by all and the tension was palpable.

Brees line when Jamie is raging..”No! You do not get to be more angry than me!”... that was the best moment of the ep. and my favorite line of the season. It sums up the true issue with the entire situation. Not only is she feeling guilty and horrified, but J&Y.I. did this thing to her husband, behind her back, for revenge for her, without actually considering her. Even having the best of intentions, Jamie and Ian made Brianna’s trauma about their anger. It harkens back to season 1 when J&C first got to Lallybroch, and he thought weeJamie was BJRs from raping Jenny and how he was disgusted for the dishonor to him. Remember that? Yeah. Its a reoccurring theme with the men of the show that sucks but makes for good moments when Claire, Jenny, and now Bree have to point out to them and to the audience that it’s not about them! It’s a good message to not make yourself the center of another persons trauma and once again Sam and Sophie killed it. They played off each other perfectly and your heart aches for both. Just wonderful.

• Young Ian and Murtagh: Ian being smitten by Bree is funny. He’s a puppy but he’s a puppy who’s getting to remind us of his range again. John Bell did a fantastic job with Young Ian’s guilt, remorse, and horror about what they did. Murtaghs presence will never not be appreciated. stepping out for the confrontation and stepping in to take Bree to Jocasta were perfectly timed and a good display of someone who knows their place and role in this family.

Cons-

• Claire: While I do support Claire being firmly TeamBree, and she was right to honor Bree’s wishes that she not tell Jamie about Stephen Bonnet...I don’t know... It felt like she was supposed to be feeling torn between the two and Cait should have played that up a bit more. We keep getting these moments about how happy she looks and feels here but it doesn’t always translate. Instead we have reating bitch face/scowly Claire instead of happy/worried/torn Claire in a lot of scenes. Remarkably enough Cait was by far the weak link in an episode of strong performances.

• Jamie and Murtagh: Jamie never fucking learns. How many times are the women of his life going to have to yell at him about making their pain about him before he gets it! Asking Murtagh to hunt down Stephen Bonnet is an astoundingly stupid thing to do and I hate it. Murtagh is not in any position to be hunting down criminals right now since he kinda is one! The whole reason he is on the mountain right now is to lay low from the law! Do I want Stephen Bonnet to fucking die? You damn right I do! But does it feel like going after him now is going to put Murtagh in a terrible position? Absolutely it does. Let’s not forget that Murtagh is not technically supposed to be here! He was supposed to die at Culloden so any risk taking from him makes me extremely nervous for his fate in very uncomfortable ways!

On The Fence-

• Jocasta: I love Maria Doyle Kennedy and she plays Jocasta well but that woman makes me want to roll my eyes out of my head. She’s snobby, but kind, and her obvious plans for meddling are already tedious.

• Murtagh and Jocasta: I have seen some theories about a possible romance between the two and I have no feelings about it. It’s so very ‘eh, sure’. I don’t know what it would add but I also don’t think it would take away from anything so I guess we will just have to see.

Overall this was a great episode driven by absolutely brilliant performances almost all around (come on Cait). What I’m getting is that people need to stop:

A) letting Frank be noted for being a good father and an important part of Bree, make them think it’s somehow a slight against Jamie. It’s not. People seem to think Bree talking about Frank to Jamie is some terrible, disrespectful glorification of his character. It’s not. The writers have been very clear about all his shortcomings in his marriage to Claire. Frank may not have been a good husband, but he was by all accounts (including Claire’s!) a great father who adored Bree and she him. To ignore that IS disrespectful to that memory and that’s rightfully and realistically not something Bree is willing to do. Get over it.

B) thinking that any episode where Jamie and Claire aren’t banging it out constantly is automatically a bad episode! This was a good episode! This is so far a good season overall because of the story! Are there some clunky parts and not great CGI? Yes. But are those few in comparison with the rich and full story being told through some of the best performances in the whole show so far? YES! If all you want is a constant J&C bone-fest then go read some, and then kindly fuck off while the rest of us enjoy a good story.

[xlisaleinx]

Episode analysis & review: Outlander season 4, episode 1

Hi guys! Just like last season, I’m going to post an episode analysis & review for every episode of season 4, hopefully on Sunday nights. So happy Droughtlander is over! :)

Things I loved

First of all, I love a script with a clear outline, great dialogues and the clever connection between beginning and end. This episode delivers in all these regards. It has an obvious theme that is introduced right in the beginning: circles. Stone circles, which represent time travel; the hangman’s noose, that sets all the following events in motion; death and the announcement of new life; Jamie and Claire’s eternal love (made me think of @gotham-ruaidh’s endless loop theory); weddings bands. America The Beautiful starts off with a circle, addresses circles throughout the ep and ends with one.

The opening scene with the ritual: Not only does it highlight the ancient meaning of stone circles to human culture and prepare the viewer for the realization that time travel is also a phenomenon in America and that it might continue to affect the Frasers, but it also shows that the natives have been there for over 3700 years. Their fate is addressed several times in this episode, and I think that’s so important.

The Gaelic song (I’m guessing it’s a farewell song?) that Leslie and Jamie sing for Hayes, before everyone in the tavern joins in – what a beautiful way to highlight the bond between the men, and also to show how many Scots made their way to America, sharing a cultural heritage and finally being able to live it openly again. Wonderful scene.

What I absolutely loved is that they chose to address Ian’s trauma. Geillis raped him, and Jamie understands what he’s going through. Ian trusts him enough to share his terrible memories with him. Just like Jamie at the end of season 1, what Ian is struggling with the most is the fact that he did something he didn’t want to do, yet all the while “it felt pleasing”. He feels betrayed by his own body. Jamie’s line “What it comes down to is that your cock doesna have a conscience, but you have. It’s not your fault, lad. You did what you must. You survived. And that’s all that matters.” nails it. He could only arrive at that stage of acceptance with Claire’s help, someone who loved him unconditionally. Jamie becomes that person for Ian. His comfort, and the knowledge between the two of them that they share this trauma, this burden, is everything.

Jamie and Claire’s little reassuring gestures – with the touch of a hand, for example at the execution, or with words, like when Claire is unsure about her appearance before the dinner with the governor. They are so committed to one another, so in love, so endlessly supportive and stronger because of each other. LOVING IT. Exactly what I want to see!

“Do ye no see how small a thing death is between us?” I feel like that line perfectly defines Jamie and Claire’s relationship. Their love and bond are undying – even if they have to bridge 200 years. Their souls are inseparable – even in death.

The intimate scene between Jamie and Claire in this episode is so much more intimate than others, in a way. It’s like the physical continuation of the verbal conversation they had beforehand – in which they basically pledged their souls to one another, for eternity. And they seal it with the union of their bodies.

I LOVE seeing Jamie and Claire discussing politics and decisions about their future again. They were such a power couple back in the day, mingling their respective life experience and skills, discussing and plotting their way through the French court and the Scottish clan system. Now they’re finally back doing exactly that and I’m LIVING for it!!

“This becomes Bree-annah’s country, does it not? […] If there’s a bit I can do to make this a good land for Bree-annah, if my presence here now can be felt by her later, then…then that would be something.”, Jamie says with tears in his eyes. Thinking this is his only chance to have the slightest impact on his daughter’s life, the only way to protect her from harm and give her a good life. The only way for him to form a palpable connection to her. Ugh, I’m crying again. Kudos to Sam for delivering these lines in such an amazing, heartwarming and heartbreaking way at the same time.

Jamie’s gift to Claire and the conversation that follows. Absolutely STUNNING. He gets her. Frank was never supportive of her career, always unable to understand her passion for medicine. For healing. Jamie, on the other hand, knows, respects and supports her, every step of the way. The box is the perfect gift from a loving, devoted husband to his wife, whom he sees as his equal and as someone who deserves every bit of love and respect. And that guy thinks he hasn’t given her enough material things. Silly man.

Rollo!!! Ian!!! No words needed.

Another change from the book that I strongly support is that Fergus and Marsali play a larger role here. We get to witness them announcing Marsali’s pregnancy to the whole family, and how everyone is celebrating. It’s lovely to see Jamie being over the moon at the news. Fergus is his (adopted) son after all, so his children will be Jamie’s grandchildren. Of course he’s happy and proud. I always felt it wasn’t quite right to leave this moment out in the book. Glad to see it on screen!

Bonnet’s attack: I think we all agree that it causes physical pain to watch. Claire has to give up Jamie’s ring (about which she had just said “This ring is all I need”), despite her efforts to save it. It tore my heart into pieces!!!!!! We’d known for a while that it would be Jamie’s ring Bonnet steals, but nothing could have prepared me for seeing it. Caitriona’s acting performance in this scene – absolute, pure pain – was phenomenal, even without sound. Which leads me to the first point in the next list…

Things I didn’t love as much

I agree with @ciamarathathu‘s assessment that the song that was playing during that last scene was distracting. I realize that it’s America The Beautiful and therefore fits well with the ep title, and the irony between the lyrics and that violent scene isn’t lost on me either. But I can’t help but feel that I would have liked the scene better with the fighting sounds. It’s an instrument to “break” the scene, to pull the viewer out of it while adding another emotional layer to pull them closer at the same time. It worked very well with the Jazz bits in the first few eps of season 1, where Claire’s 20th century mindset is colliding with life in an 18th century castle. It also worked perfectly (!!!) well at the end of S3E4, when Jamie is leaving Willie and we hear a version of Bob Dylan’s “A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall” (“Where have you been, my blue-eyed son, where have you been, my darling young one?” Ugh, I need a tissue!!). It’s a total tear-jerker and makes you weep for Jamie, realizing what kind of impact this moment has on him, even though the scene gets broken by the 20th century music. This time, though…sigh, it only pulled me out of it, to be honest.

Where’s Duncan?

Is it me or is the CGI pretty bad?

In summary:

“America The Beautiful” is a worthy premiere episode for this new season. The focus is on Jamie and Claire and their solid, loving, supportive partnership, which is everything we could have hoped for. The well thought-out script also explores the novelty of this new land in various interesting ways and addresses important topics. Tender and hopeful moments take turns with tragedy, violence and grief. And it ends with a bang. Add all of that to great acting performances all around, and you get quality entertainment - I want more, right now (quelle surprise). In short: Is it next Sunday yet?

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½ out of 5.