#(not to say the other actors are not well-known but again. we are comparing them to literal zendaya)

[sprolden]

you know 99.99% of the time when a character is "the attractive one" in american tv or movies it doesnt work bc every other person on screen is also extremely conventionally attractive so it always feels a little silly that the rest of the cast is pretending this one person is so much hotter than them and out of their league bc there's always at least 6 other people who are equally if not more attractive than "the attractive one". but in challengers it actually works because that's zendaya

[confoundedluna]

got that until dawn ps3 version quote list for y'all Finally

it is Just as stupid and ridiculous as the final version and it deserves appreciation too - this post might be longer than the other actually since this version has more chapters, we shall see, and the characters seem to talk to themselves a lot, plus I want to call out More of the dialogue since it's lesser known overall compared to the final game

again, please note these aren't in any particular order, I think they're Mostly chronological per character, I just type them as they come up in the videos and the videos are a bit odd in the way the chapters play out (one video is like. chapters 1, 4 and 5, another is 1, 6 and 7, it's just too awkward to be flipping between videos to watch everything in full order), since a lot are incomplete or need multiple builds to showcase everything they can, but I put together a playlist that was Mostly the order the chapters should be in, including different versions of each chapter in case anything changed across the different builds that I might want to take note of

also please note that some of these i typed based off how the subtitles are written and some off of how the lines are delivered - some of them switch the word order or use like a shortened version of a word or whatever, some lines have dialogue that isn't properly subtitled or has an automated voice reading them rather than an actual actor's delivery, I'm sorry if it's inconsistent but that's just how it's gonna be, i might not notice which version of the quote I used but it's basically the same thing so deal with it lmao

and like last time, let me know if i missed or skipped anything you think should be on this list! I tried to be a bit conservative with how many lines I used and go for just the funniest stand out ones or the ones that carried over, either fully or partially, to the finished game

okay enough disclaimers and apologies and shit, on to the quotes!

CHRIS

(SAM: I thought you were dead!) Well that's a fine thing to say to someone.

Wow. Safety. My mind is blown.

A-ha! And here we have the mysterious graphite spray.

It is believed that seances derive their mystical power by channeling the kinetic energy created by nude bodies... gathered as offerings to the occult, particularly those of young, teenage women. Ghosts are typically not concerned with the nude bodies of pasty young men, so if there are any ladies present, would you please remove your shirts and pants-

I'm beginning to think our friendly ghost is dyslexic.

This isn't a video game, Ash! Not everything's a clue!

There's a place in France where the ladies don't wear pants... (ASHLEY: Oh my god, how old are you?)

(ASHLEY: Look at this! Isaiah 11:6!) Is that a baseball thing? Like the signs at games? (ASHLEY: Uh, no, Chris, it's a Bible thing. You know, like a verse?) Oh, that's what those are. We should read it, right? The baseball Bible thing?

(ASHLEY: Look at this lectern, there's all sorts of animals on it.) It's like Noah's ark. Or that channel with all the animals on it.

(ASHLEY: Yep, it's all here. Fire and brimstone.) Blah blah blah, obey all my commands, blah blah blah, kill all your sons and daughters! (ASHLEY: What Bible did you read?) The cool one, duh!

Hey, I got it! See how this rotates? We could line up the animals like it says in the verse! (ASHLEY: Maybe all those hours in Sunday school paid off.) Absolutely. Not.

This just got totally Indiana Jones on us...

I know the human body has a surprising amount of blood in it, but damn.

Someone's been hunting. Guess they don't need a freezer out here.

Alright, handles all around I guess...

Holy shitballs.

I gotta say, this is not the most sensible thing I've ever done in my life.

Maybe we can find the book that the page belongs to. And find the jerk who ripped it out.

(ASHLEY: What is this, chemistry class?) I don't know about you, Ash, but I always like to leave my dangerous chemicals in a food preparation area.

Phew! See, look at that, nothing out there but the wind. (STRANGER: Sometimes the wind is not to be trusted.) Yeah well you would say that wouldn't you...

Do we just seem like slabs of meat to them? Like in old cartoons when one guy would be starving and the other guy would suddenly turn into a T-Bone steak? (STRANGER: Your thoughts wander uncomfortably far for someone walking through the dark in the W's territory…) Well that's precisely why I'd rather think about cartoons...

Brrr it's so cold out here... I guess it's better being cold than dead... though if I get any colder I might wish I was dead...

No more psychos and saw blades and crazy TV rooms and weird skinny monsters and no more snow and no more screaming hunter dudes.

(ASHLEY: How are you holding up, Chris...?) Miraculously. I mean, I'll probably collapse the second I start to think about anything that's been going on. (SAM: Then don't think about it.)

Ash... Even if Jess was down there I don't think it would be a good idea for us to climb into a mysterious hole in the wall...

We just want to get through this. Together, Ash...

ASHLEY

(SAM: Do you think Em is gonna say something about all this?) Knowing Em... she's gonna say plenty...

I tried to join chess club but I wasn't cool enough.

Cannibalism?! Who would buy a book like that? Who would even write a book on cannibalism? (CHRIS: A cannibal...?)

I don't care what it is- why does he keep doing this to us?!

This is our fault... we can't save him, it's our fault!

Not cool. Not cool.

Where does an elevator even go down here?

Bats... I mean, how in the heck are bats down here?

'A week in the mountains' he said, 'we'll get drunk, it'll be fun'...

Ohhh, I hate creepy noises!

They're crazy if they think they're going to find Josh and the stupid key... (SAM: Emily seemed to think she had a pretty good idea of where to look...) Yeah but she's Emily, Sam! When does she ever do anything that isn't some sort of weird selfish game- (SAM: Em seemed pretty shaken up, Ash, she's just trying to help-) She's trying to get us killed. We're all going to die up here. All of us.

(SAM: Just keep going, Ash, just keep going. It's right ahead of us.) It so does not feel like it's right ahead of us.

You've seen Mike with a gun, he seems pretty confident...

Well Sam, there doesn't gotta be another way- I mean we can hope there's another way...

(SAM: Pull it open!) I'm trying! What are you doing?! Don't hurt yourself not helping!

SAM

Ah-yep... limbs are still working.

Bim bam boom! There, fixed it for you.

That was hellacious.

She's usually pretty cool. Seems more like she's nursing a massive crush. (CHRIS: You mean Mike?) Ummm... yeah? Come on, she's sitting out there like a little lost puppy waiting for him.

Is she really being that big of a bitch to him?

(CHRIS: Wicked Witch of the West.) Right? I wish someone would drop a house on her. (CHRIS: That was the Wicked Witch of the East.) Did you seriously just correct me on that?

I can't believe Emily is hooking up with Matt. Didn't really expect her to go full meathead after breaking up with Michael.

Hey, did you get the sense that Jess and Mike are gonna have a uh... 'political summit' on this trip...?

Josh... having a little trouble getting the key into the hole?

(JOSH: I know Sam... I'm sorry... my fingers feel like they're gonna break off...) Do you want me to warm your fingers up so you can get the lock open?

Hello...? Hey guys, is that you? What are you guys doing? Being creepy...?

Hey?! I'm getting a little creeped out here fellas...

Someone help me, I'm stuck in here with a maniac!

I guess Josh needs kind of like a 'time-out' after what he did to us, but...

Okay. That does it. Door is locked. Nothing in or out.

Are you crazy? Or just stupid? You go out there and you're dead. In here we can at least wait- (MIKE: Until what? Come on, Sam.) Until dawn.

(EMILY: How did you find us?) You were making a total ruckus. Emily, I'm not sure you got the memo about the stealth mission.

Perfect. A giant hole.

(EMILY: Be careful...) As opposed to...?

(EMILY: You having a good time up there, Sam?) It's a god damn party.

Don't scream- don't scream- don't scream- (EMILY: I can't help it, I can't-)

Empty. Could have been one of us in there...

Okay Mister Elevator, let's see what we're working with here...

Wow. Now that's more like it. This is baaaaaadass.

Come on already, where is that fricking code?

Come on girl. You'd look good with that in your hands. Don't be shy.

Hey... bout time I found the Big Boy firepower.

I am so done with this place.

Get me outta here. Gotta find the cable car.

Get me out of here. Just get me to the first floor.

I just want to be on the ground, not up here.

Stairs? Ladder? Elevator? Escalator? Just need to get down to the ground floor.

I need out. Find my way to the cable car.

Gotta find the ground floor.

You guys look starved. Let me just fire up the grill.

MIKE

All ye who enter must pay the toll! Take off your pants!

(CHRIS: Maybe I can get a signal long enough to download a manual for one of these things.) ...Nerd alert, amirite?

(CHRIS: Nature calls.) Did you give her my number?

You throw like a- (JESS: Don't say it!) Was just gonna say you throw like a- (JESS: Don't!) ...throw like a beautiful, enchanting woman!

Awww! That's one to show the grandkids, right? (JESS: Don't get ahead of yourself, mister.) I wouldn't dream of it.

You wanna hear a joke? (JESS: Sure! I love to laugh.) Okay. So, how many librarians does it take to screw in a lightbulb? (JESS: Dunno, how m-) Shhh!!! (JESS: Really? Ugh.)

(JESS: Goddamn batteries! Shake it, that usually helps! Awesome!) Shake-powered batteries? Who knew.

I wonder what's down there. Ah, I bet it's just a bunch of pickaxes and old cart tracks and miner bones and ghosts of miners, and miner curses and... Woah. Get a grip dude. Class President.

Look at that. (JESS: What're all those symbols?) I think they're ancient. (JESS: Ancient what?) Ancient symbols. (JESS: Such insight...)

I'm not super thrilled at the idea of bears hanging around and crashing our party.

Looks like the path is a little blocked up. (JESS: What do you mean?) Well, it's got all this... tree in the way.

Where'd you go? Jessica? You've got at least five good minutes left until I bring out the waterworks.

This looks like the work of a bear. I do not like the way bears work.

Jess, hon? I promise I totally won't murder you when I find you. Maybe just a little.

So cold out here, but I'm sweating! Is that normal?

(JESS: You're trying to just freak me out, aren't you?) What? Why? (JESS: To get in my pants.) Yes, I would like to scare the pants off you.

So... One time I jumped over a crazy deep ravine on my bike. All the kids from the neighbourhood came out. Some local news too. Everyone thought I wasn't going to make it. (JESS: But you did?) Nope. Totally died. Been dead six years now. (JESS: You're lying.) Am I, though? (JESS: ...yes? ... Right?) There's only one way to find out...!

We're all alone in here, babe. Just you and me... the Presidential suite. (JESS: Well, Mr President, the lights don't work. And I'm freezing!)

Someone really doesn't like things to stay in one piece around here. Why would someone tear this up?

My jaw's chiselled enough already, but still, it could be useful.

Well, I've found the killer bathtub. Jesus, what did I think would be in there?

Woah. Check out the crazy sex book they have up here.

What is this? Ms. Dunkle's tenth grade science project?

Well, we're here now, so we might as well make use of the amenities. (JESS: Like the bed?) Yeah, I'm thinking mostly the bed.

Alright, madame, is there anything else that you require, or shall I retire to my quarters? (JESS: You're not going anywhere.) Madame requires additional services? (JESS: I can think of a few.)

Huh. Turns out our monster is just a broken branch. Guess it must have seen us and gotten jealous.

(JESS: Finally I have your attention.) The Vice President is standing by. (JESS: Well, why don't you bring him into the Oval Office?) Let's sign this bill into law!

Gotta stay calm. Focused. Get out of this rotten pit.

Crap, what are you doing Mikey, what's wrong with you... this asshole killed Jess... he should pay for that... but nobody's gonna pay for anything unless you get out of here in one piece, buddy...

Stay cool, Mikey. Stay cool.

(groans) Unngh… Either I'm getting weaker or doors are getting heavier…

Come on Sir Mike. Don't be such a wimp. Think about Jessica.

He could be waiting for me… it would be wise for me to tread lightly in the lion's den.

Just stay on your guard Potus… Stay alert…

Let's go, Mikey, let's go.

Gravity's my co-pilot on this one.

Aww… god… smells like something died in here, came back to life, ate its own corpse and then threw it all up…

Well well well. Here we are again. Sometimes wandering around in circles ain't so bad.

This is the creepiest rehearsal space I've ever seen.

Alright, keep your head Mr. President. Calm under pressure…

Ah great, another scenic wing of 'le castle de dilapitacion'.

Alright… look at that. Now we're getting somewhere. Don't know where, but somewhere.

Births and deaths, 1905. Some light bedtime reading for when we get through this.

Man, I can't even skip lunch without becoming a hungry monster, how did these guys feel over 23 days. Wait, no, i don't want to think about it.

Hey! Proper old school photo. Ain't that many left that roll with this kind of geddup anymore.

Chris was killed right in front of us, Jack the monster hunter was torn to pieces and now we're just waiting around like sitting ducks? No. We have to get off the mountain. Now.

Boom! For the win.

(EMILY: Ugh. I hate this place.) Admittedly, they have let it go... (EMILY: Yeah, they haven't dusted in years down here...)

Ah, seems like patient number four was suffering from a bout of being too extraordinary.

I'll tell you what. If the patients weren't completely nuts when they checked in, this place would drive them crazy.

(EMILY: Alright, so how are we gonna get out of here?) Scream and cry like girls?

Pe-culiar? That's actually like a for real medical term? Must have been Charlie Cheswick's records.

I wonder how far your gums have to recede before they start measuring them. If I'm reading this right, this guy must have looked like a dollar store Halloween mask. Wouldn't want to meet these chompers in a dark alley. Or terrifying sanitorium.

If wishes were horses beggars would be cowboys. (CHRIS: Woah. You did not just say that.) That guy Jack had some pretty catchy phrases don't you think?

EMILY

(CHRIS: We just saw Jessica, down by the cable car.) Ugh. Any more perfume on that B and you'd think she was a bachelorette party.

My lips are already so chapped. (MATT: I can kiss them and make them better.) In your dreams Loverboy.

Oh my god, are you gonna swallow his face whole? We're all here! How much more of your crap can we take?

Listen you little slut, maybe because I am not on crack I can see what you're doing.

I don't have to spy when clearly you're showing off with your tongue halfway down his throat.

(JESS: You heard what I said.) Why don't you say it again to my face you bitch?

You do whatever you want. If there's a crazy murderer running around then I'm going to get the hell out of here. (MATT: Maybe he's right, Em-) Do you want me to go out there all alone, Matt? Because I will.

We'll take the cable car to go get help, dummy. Come on.

This is totally crazy Matt. This is totally crazy. My head is spinning.

Ugh. It's freezing out here. I did not pack for this.

I wish Chris and Ashley were more helpful. (MATT: Em, you hardly gave them a chance-) You know, I'm just trying to help the situation.

I just can't believe it's happened again! I mean like, is this family cursed? (MATT: Yeah the whole mountain feels cursed.)

Okay, you done good Matt. Took you a while, but you done good.

Look, if you're not gonna call for help, then maybe you should at least get some tunes going for us to listen to while we sit here and freeze to death can you please just get the radio working Matt oh my god oh my god!

Oh my God, stop talking like you're in a movie. Are you pushing the right button? Is there even a signal?

Wow. These clothes are all torn up. And I don't think it's because they were ripped off the sale rack in a shopping spree…

Ugh. Why do these machines always have to be so complicated?!

Ahhh! Jesus… them's the brakes.

Oh come on batteries… stick with me just a little longer…

Ugh… are those… bite marks on the bones? As in like… eating marks?

This is hell. That's all there is to it. Hell. I fell into hell and there are devils wandering around who will poke me with their forks.

Okay, keep quiet, Em. Put a lid on it. Don't want to attract attention...

Juuuust stay quiet... What would Princess Emilia do? I'll tell you what she'd do: she would stay quiet. Shhhh.

Wow. Good thing I checked my claustrophobia at the door. This is gonna be tight. I guess it's either through this little hole or turn around and face Mr Sunshine out there. Hmm. Excellent options!

I gotta try it. Nothing ventured, nothing gained, right Miss A-student beauty queen and all around hottie?

Bingo! Done. Voila. QED. Hee haw. Locked and loaded. That is how we roll. You go girl. Aaaaannnnd... Cut it. Print it. Saved. Vamos!

Top...! It's the top! Mine top... tip top top of the mine...! No more shaft just... this place! I'm out of the mine! ...Back to the lodge! Back to the fires and warmth and friends! Oh little lodge, I missed you so much... how do I get out of here?

(MIKE: You locking us in?) I'm locking the baddies out. Can't be too careful. (MIKE: Glad you're sure the baddies are out there and not in here.) Feels good to lock a door...

(MIKE: Wow. I guess I totalled the place huh?) Mikey had a tantrum? (MIKE: When I commit to something, I like to do a thorough job.) Hmmmm. Don't remember you making heaven and earth move for me... (MIKE: Hey. Don't say that...) I'm kidding... You did okay... (MIKE: ...that's better...) ...considering the tool you have to work with... (MIKE: Easy! Easy!)

This whole wing just feels like it was for the real head cases. Right? Like the lost causes. (MIKE: Yeah. It's got a really pleasant vibe in here. Let's keep moving.)

Ew. Ew! His gums were receding?! Didn't he floss?! Some people just do not understand the importance of dental hygiene.

One order of W pâté, comin' up!

Wow, Sam, you're really getting all Rambo on us.

(SAM: Look. The machinery. If we can get those metal containers in a row... we can get across.) You're kidding, right? On those rusty... rust buckets out there?

(SAM: You got it! It's working!) That's right, 'cause I'm the mecha-master! (SAM: Now if we get them lined up... We can just hop right across!) Already on it, Rambo. Or should I say... Sam-bo. (SAM: Ah... no... I don't think you should say that.)

An elevator...! Probably broken. Why is everything on this goddamned mountain falling apart!

(SAM: Looks like we've got find a way across.) Score one for Captain Obvious.

(SAM: We've got one shot to get out of here and we can't screw it up.) Right back at ya, lady.

JESSICA

(CHRIS: What's Mike doing?) He's getting all of our stuff to the lodge. Nails. Just had 'em done.

(SAM: We can help you with the stuff.) Oh that's so nice! But... I kinda like it when Mike does it.

Ugh, finally we're out of that stupid wind. I was freezing my buns off out there. (MIKE: I can help you with those if you like...!)

(MATT: Come on Em, relax.) No, it's not okay Matt. That bitch is on crack or something.

Whatever. I don't have time for jealous bitches.

Fine. Whatever. Anything to get away from that whore. (EMILY: Are you kidding me? I'm the whore?)

Ugh, you know, I can't believe Emily sometimes... why is she such a royal B? How could you have ever gone out with someone like that?

(MIKE: Exiled.) More like sex-iled.

Come on troops, move out.

I wonder if they have any room service up at the cabin. I could so use a triple grande mocha cappuccino right now.

You lit up my night... Now all we need are some fireworks later...

How bout some jams? (MIKE: Whatever puts you in the mood.) This one might be my favourite... Until their next one comes out, then that'll probably be my favourite. (MIKE: That's a really good way of thinking about it.) Thanks! ... ...what?

(MIKE: Josh seemed pretty happy to get rid of us back there, didn't he?) Michael! I had no idea you had such a gossipy side... Is this the politician in you? (MIKE: Politician nothing; the guy's a dick!) Hmm.

I keep having this great thought, but then I keep forgetting it.

Somebody's going to owe me a new outfit.

(MIKE: I didn't know Hannah wore glasses.) Yeah. Just when she wasn't around any cute boys.

I wonder if they deliver take out up here. I mean right here.

Ugh. My shoes are getting so moist.

I wonder what's going on back at the lodge. Everybody's probably doin' it.

Nature's kinda gross.

Is that Orion's belt or is he just happy to see me?

Hah! I'm totally going to tell everyone about your fear of birdies.

Stand back, Debbie downer.

Don't worry, I'll save Woodsgate for the next election.

(MIKE: Some of these planks are pretty rickety.) You know what else is rickety? (MIKE: What?) Your face is rickety. (MIKE: That's a really good one!) Thank you!

(MIKE: Watch your step, Jess.) You know what? You're worse than my mom. My mom!

Boom! Sting like a butterfly and float like a bee.

Wow, look at that old photo. (MIKE: Must be an old mining team.) Looks like they really knew how to... handle themselves. (MIKE: Sounds like you wish you could handle them.) Looks really old. I wonder if they're all dead now. Ugh! So creepy!

(MIKE: Probably faulty wiring or something.) You've got faulty wiring.

Unless you want to make out with an ice sculpture, I suggest you get a fire going. Pronto.

It's so cold in here right now my tongue would get stuck to your flagpole.

I'm cold, I'm bored, and I'm getting rapidly less horny. You want to hurry it up with the fire?

(MIKE: It's so dusty.) No maid service up here? What a rip.

Coldness generally isn't conducive to hotness, Michael... Woah. That sounded, like, deep.

While you were trying to find the right button to push, I found some de-light-ful candles that wonderfully spice up the place and light up all the nooks and crannies... Far more cosy and accommodating, don't you think?

I can't lose my phone, my parents are gonna kill me! (MIKE: You can always get a new one!) That's like my fourth one this year.

Just unfasten it! (MIKE: I can get it! I can get it!) Don't send a man to do a woman's job.

Oh. Those perverted assholes. Why can't they just leave us alone and let us have a perfectly nice time? God! What jerks! (MIKE: Hey, they're just trying to have a good time.) Yeah? Well, so are we!

You guys are such dicks! Are you really that upset with me and Michael that you want to ruin our fun? Huh? Well, guess what? You can't ruin it! Because Michael and I are gonna screw! That's right! We're gonna have sex! And it's gonna be hot! So enjoy it! 'Cause I know we're going to! Ugh.

MATT

Ohhhh! She just got Emily'd!

Wow. Someone had a good time in here.

Why would someone leave a picture of keys where the keys should be?

This place can't just be a huge death trap, right? Cable car can't be the only way in and out of this joint.

Josh had a lot of problems... I think he just wanted to be able to sort things out... and put this all behind us...

So the joke I learned, it's really good, it's about like, a dude, who's got a haircut like the moon, and-

Coyote? Bear? ... Why is that okay?

C'mon, Matt... You don't wanna die down here.

The hell is that… Jessica? (JESS: Matt? Jesus… So it got you too.) Yeah… You okay? (JESS: Hardly...) Let's get the hell out of this place. Look! There! (JESS: Light!) That's the cable car station!

Come on, man... nearly there... nearly there...

JOSH/THE PSYCHO

Come on, lock... My lockpick skills are a little rusty...

This is the most boring break-in ever. You haven't even broken in yet.

Hey! Grit bin! Nice work moving that over here!

Everything all right in there? (CHRIS: Yeah, I'm fine. It's really dirty. And a little freaky.) Sounds like my kind of date! (CHRIS: Offf course it does.)

Dude, come on! Let's open this jawn!

Ahh-hahaha! Dude are you okay? That lil' wolverine almost gave you a paper cut!

(SAM: Hey, those things are known to be vicious sometimes.) Vicious to lil' babies. Lil' Chrissy babies.

(SAM: Thank you Chris.) Thaaaank you Chriiiiis.

Yo! Explorers! You guys are gonna need the keys for the love shack!

As you can see, your friend Josh is now in quite an unfortunate situation. If you wish to see him dead, then do nothing and you may watch him die.

Second... clue... picture if you will... high atop a powdery mountain... the only place possible for a jacked up jock like Matthew to score a... 'big break'...

If you'll please now direct your attention towards the main attraction...

Not much time left before your friend is... perforated...

Congratulations! You've just bought yourself... more time... to watch your friend die...

My my my, didn't you do well! You fought the system and you've won. And what you've won is a prize! You're a lucky winner, come on down!

Well, that's the end, folks. I only wish it could have turned out differently, but, unfortunately, I'm still going to kill your friend because, hey - winners don't play by the rules!

Allow me to introduce myself, I am your host!

Oh, I had fun with them... and now I'll have fun with you... There's nothing wrong with having a little fun, is there?

Samantha, my darling, I don't think your friends are going to help you... I've already had a little fun with them...

Oh what a delight it was watching his life drain away. I wonder if watching yours will be just as fun.

(SAM: What do you want?) I just want a little fun, Sam... so why don't we... mix things up a little... You can have ten seconds to pretend like you're escaping... and then you're dead!

Go on, hide if you like... I know just where you are.

(CHRIS: What do you want from us?!) Well now, Mr Chris... I think you've got the answer right there in front of you.

Oh borrring... You think I didn't bulletproof my machinery?

(CHRIS: You're sick!) Heh heh heh... why thank you, kind sir... but the choice... is yours... play ball!

I'm sorry... so sorry... it's all my fault...

THE STRANGER

It would be wise for you to hear me out.

You seem to listen but not to hear.

You have no chance out there on your own- (CHRIS: I'll just have to take my chances.) Then I'll go with you. Alone would be suicide. (CHRIS: Yeah well you're so special.) I am... experienced.

You do not seem too concerned with saving the life of your friend.

(CHRIS: Have you done this before?) Have I foolishly attempted to free a dead man in the hopes of becoming one myself? (CHRIS: Uh...) You ask questions that are not very useful. (CHRIS: My teachers say the same thing. But yeah, so, have you?) This is not my first barbecue.

He who seeks avoidance finds out what he seeks to avoid. (CHRIS: That's... a really confusing saying.)

[austinslounge]

I'm sorry, but when I see all these photos and videos of Austin interacting with fans and paparazzi on set, I always think of the photos of the last time we saw him with Kaia, which was at Gracie's concert last month, and of how paradoxical the two situations seem when compared. I mean, think about the photos of him wearing the mask while she's stuck to him like a leech. Many shippers came up with various excuses, saying that he was wearing it at that moment because he was afraid of getting sick and therefore delaying the filming of Caught Stealing, or that he was annoyed by the presence of the paparazzi. But then when you look at how Austin acts when he's alone, you realize it's none of that. He wasn't wearing the mask because he was afraid of getting sick, I mean, from the video we have we can see that he wasn't wearing it inside the concert, it's now known that masks are more useful inside than outside, and then even if he had gotten sick I don't think it would have been all this tragedy, I'm sure that the productions take this inconvenience into account given that the actors are human beings too. And then he wasn't wearing it because he was annoyed by the fact of being photographed, if he were a person who gets annoyed by these things, he would make both fans and paparazzi leave the set instead of stopping to have a chat with them, to hug them and take selfies with them (this is also linked to the fact that Austin is not afraid of getting sick, because it could very well happen that someone unconsciously gives him a cold for example). Having said that, I am firmly convinced that he was wearing the mask because at that moment he would not have been able to hide his obvious expression of disgust and repentance for having lent himself to that girl's circus for the umpteenth time. So if there's anyone who annoys Austin, it's not the fans or the paparazzi, but Kaia. I therefore hope that after that episode Austin has thought about it carefully and has definitively put an end to this now painful relationship...and judging by Kaia's latest video, where she talks about a sudden breakup that surprised her, I could be right, who knows 👀. I apologize for my long rambling, but it was a thought that had been in my head for a while now 😅.

Love you all, byeeeee <3<3

Girl, if that isn't the truth.

Isn't it interesting that Austin seems so much happier and more in tune to even strangers than his own gf? 😄

I'm sorry, but that will never not be funny to me.

Shippers can try to make excuses for that all they want, but they just look dumb. Pictures and video footage do not lie.

Even when a camera is not being shoved in their faces, and they don't even realize they're being photographed, Austin and Kaia still look miles apart from each other, and the chasm is so painfully obvious.

Great point about the mask thing. I also have another theory that he wears a mask with her because he wants to lessen the value of the pictures taken with them together. Same reason for him wearing the towel over his head while at the beach with her in Cabo rofl 🤣

He never did that with Vanessa, but then again, maybe that was just because he wasn't as famous back then. Who knows. All I know is that he only does that with Kaia, and maybe he just really wants to keep his relationship life kind of separate and private from his work life. I can understand that.

[parkminijiminie]

First of all, welcome back!!! I missed you so much!! Your blog is a gem!!! -and are you gonna be back permanently or are you taking another break? Second of all, I haven’t watched the travel show but I saw a lot of clips and honestly, they just seem like friends. Yeah there is some moments where you’re like wow wtf is going on here but if u look at it from a different lense, it seems like friends enjoying time together because of them were busy with their own lives. I also didn’t expect jungkook’s personality to be like that. Obviously idk him in real life so I can’t really know how he acts in real life but idk he just seems weird? But I don’t think there is anything between them. Most jikookers were excited for this how because it was gonna prove that they are in a relationship but honestly they are just grasping at straws at this point, and so am I guess. All the big fandoms had band members ships like on direction and many kpop fandoms ship two members on the group too like winter and Karina from aespa although she was dating that actor💀 and finally I would just like to say that jk was hanging out with tae more than jimin although I think that jk’s friendship with tar isn’t really anything special except for bros having fun but yeah, seems weird. Sorry my thoughts are all over the place lol.

Hi! I am sort of back. I lurk around and react when I have the need to discuss smth with other people. Otherwise, I just long on and read what other people are saying. I think I will never be active full time because I simply don't have the time, but I love this space a lot, so I'll never really leave either.

To me, JM and JK look so far as people who were once a romantic item but no longer are, but remained in each other's lives just more distantly. The whole show looks to me like them, trying to deepen their bond and friendship again. I think during the time the US episodes were filmed, they were both single and probably spending the most 1:1 time for months, so some of their usual old tendencies resurfaced, like old habits. I am very curious to see the other episodes. I know lots of people are waiting for the show to give answers about the nature of Jikook's relationship, but I don't think we will get them but we could at least maybe see that made them enlist together after barely spending time alone in the beginning of the year.

JK definitely spent a lot more time with Tae in 2023 compared to previous years, but I don't think their relationship is especially deep. They're buddies and share similar interests. They were also free at similar times, but I'm not sure there is any deep emotional connection there. The fact that JK called Tae definitely surprised me, but then we all saw how rudely JK hung up on him. I'm finding it hard to say where JK's head was in the first half of 2023, and I sort of can't really connect to JK of Jan-July 2023 like I did in the past. It seems to me he was very determined to be this cool, successful man at that time. It's also interesting that JM didn't spend time with neither him nor Tae up until July last year. That's also unusual.

Shipping aside, these two episodes really made me appreciate JM even more. I've always known how gracious and sweet he is, but he was such a good sport even when very sick, so appreciative, mature, yet fun and light and emotionally present. My standards when it comes to him are always high, and he somehow always manages to surpass them. I think he would be a great influence on anyone, and he especially well balances JK. It's sort of sad how I am already seeing people using JK's words to attack JM when Jimin was such a supportive friend for JK during this whole trip. I appreciate JK saying he is "obviously grateful" that Jimin came. Maybe he already had told that to JM many times, but it was important for the audience to hear it as well, considering how JM gets hate for "forcing JK to go on the trip" 🙄

[amtskind]

die herrlichkeit des lebens (2024)

with kafka's 100th death day approaching this year, 2024 is full of new media about our favourite author.

@sepulkralkreatur and i watched yet another take on kafka's life:

"die herrlichkeit des lebens" (the glory of life) is a movie about kafka's last year, beginning at the baltic-sea and ending by the death-bed. it centers around kafka's romantic relationship to dora dymant and his outbreak from family and prague as a whole - with him moving to berlin. unfortunately, his tuberculosis progresses and he has to move to a sanatorium, where he looses the ability to speak, eat and drink - until he finally dies, with dora being next to him in his last moments.

i got to say, i feared that this movie might be full of kitsch and focus on romance rather than franz kafka - and my initial thought wasn't far from reality in the end - unfortunately.

while the kafka series had this darker and yet funnily-absurd touch to it (which was very fitting for him - kafkaesque!) and strictly followed every aspect of his life, the kafka-feeling in the movie was reduced to fragments of his writing, other people from his life and sporadically added biographical elements - like his illness.

all of this sounds so negative - but let's view the movie from a different perspective: maybe i shouldn't compare the series with the movie in the first place; the series included more facets of biography and had a larger variety of characters and themes - because it was intended to be a biopic.

the movie on the other hand, was based on a novel of the same name by michael kumpfmüller - which dealt with kafka's last year with dora. although having many biographical references, the novel still remains a form of fiction - which makes the movie more distant to the state of a biopic. we shouldn't view the movie as a biography, but rather as a romanticized adaptation of kafka's last year.

the movie features max brod, ottla and elli (kafka's sisters), as well as elli's husband karl hermann. although the characters make phone-calls with kafka's father - he isn't seen anywhere. he remains an oppressing, invisible power towards kafka throughout the whole movie. despite this being a possible, well done metaphor - i would have wished to see more of other characters, with more insight into their feelings in these hard times. but yet again - the movie wasn't made for this intent.

and it is worth considering, that not much is known about his time with dora, since her belongings, including possible letters and memories to franz, were confiscated by the gestapo in 1933. similiar to the legend about kafka's doll (which funnily enough was also mentioned in the movie, that was wholesome), fiction is there to close those holes in his life - and we have to be aware of the fictional nature to the movie.

although i am not the biggest fan of romance-movies and this one didn't necessarily scream "kafka" in your face - i enjoyed it. the actors did a great job and brought some sort of lightness with them. the sets and scenes were full of details and beautifully arranged, making it very lifelike. the following may sound a bit grotesque, but even the medical treatmant and dying-scene was done very realistically, making his suffering even more gruesome. and of course - my favourite thing: the metaphors. the hospital-beds at the beach instead of loungers made dreaming of freedom during a serious illness very impactful.

thank you henriette confurius (dora) and sabin tambrea (franz) for the movie and paying tribute to wonderful people 100 years ago!

more posts:

comparison of the actors and their roles

[chirpsythismorning]

Crack Theory: Will Byers is Twelve (012) - Part 3

I seriously meant it when I said things are about to get even more interesting. You're not ready.

I didn't notice this until literally today (so if it's a well known concept already, my apologizes!).

For those like me who didn't know about this, essentially we got two different versions of the opening to the Massacre at Hawkins Lab. The 4x01 version, and the 4x07 version.

They're almost identical, both one long take, but still with slight differences, especially in how they end. It's now clear to me that these are two entirely different takes. And so what purpose does that serve exactly?

I'm guessing they did this in large part to convey how El now has a more clear memory of that day, compared to at the start of the season.

But upon rewatching the 4x07 version, and specifically in the context of this Twelve theory, I'm shook.

4x07: The Massacre at Hawkins Lab (cont.)

Does this series of images... remind you of anything?

ANYWAYS

THERE HE IS ON THE LEFT!

Oh nvm he's gone.

WAIT THERE HE IS AGAIN!

It's confirmed!?!! Twelve (Will) sat next to Eleven (El)!?!?! It's just that the story wasn't willing to reveal this in the beginning....

And there he is again, just on the edge of the frame, to the right, coloring away...

Then, Brenner takes Ten out of the Rainbow room, and suddenly this moment that was framed as important in the s4 opener, is now being looked at from a more important perspective: El's.

El then follows through with the plan, in hopes it will bring back her memory...

The last time we see Twelve, he's still sitting at the desk drawing.

I will say before getting into what's about to happen, that this sequence is pretty haphazard at times. Like s3 ending w/the goodbye hugs level haphazard. What I'm saying is, there's visible shots during this sequence, where you can tell the blocking of the characters doesn't match up exactly with where they were in the previous shot/where they were probably intended to be for that shot.

However, I think it's helpful to think about how these are very young actors in this scene, and a scene that is extremely sensitive/serious at that. I wouldn't want children (or even adults) to have to work ungodly amounts of hours, redoing a take over and over because it wasn't perfect, nor would I expect them to do reshoots just because one or two shots doesn't match perfectly with what they intended continuity-wise. That just happens occasionally in film, and the only people with perfect continuity, I imagine are a pain in the ass to work with...

However, I think there is one specific detail that makes me slightly open to humoring this theory.

Because I will admit, I myself am skeptical for an abundance of reasons. There is still a lot that would need to be addressed in s5 if Will was indeed Twelve this whole time. Like a lot of explaining. Though, now looking back at past seasons, there is an interesting new angle to think about it with all of this in mind (that's a different post for a different day).

Still, one of the main arguments, that debunks this whole theory, is that presumably, all of the kids died that day, except for El. Right?

And so how the hell would Twelve (Will) have survived?

Well, that one specific detail I was just referring to, is the framing of Twelve in s4, and specifically in relation to El.

As you've seen so far, Twelve is either very much in focus more than the others, practically front and center, or he's lingering in the background of shots that are really odd for him to be in, or he is left out of the sequences almost entirely, while everyone else is shown. It is so. weird.!

And the ending of the massacre follows that same formula.

As El runs into the Rainbow room, the first place she looks is in the direction where she was just sitting before she left, which we now know happens to be where Twelve was as well (last time we saw him).

However, we do not get to see what El saw in this exact moment. Instead, the camera continues to focus on El as her eyes scan the room from left to right.

Once she looks down to her right, we finally get to see what she sees (I'm not going to post these shots for obvious reasons).

And so basically....

I think Twelve is under the mirror/window, roughly the same area where Twelve was when she left the Rainbow room...

The first time we get closer to seeing someone possibly under the mirror/window, they don't allow us to. It's as if they are panning over it, high enough so that test subject is out of view.

But then, we see a pair of feet on the floor to the left, below the mirror/window, along with a very prominent bloody hand print.

Take note of that handprint and those feet because I think it could be important...

SHIT there it is again!

And again, this time slightly between Henry and El, but more so closer to Henry.

God. I feel like any moment know, dramatic irony is gonna kick in and we're somehow gonna get something that makes us think of Will...

IM SO SORRY

Part 4 coming soon!

Part 1, 2, 3, 4

[accio-victuuri]

everyday is a good day to be a bxg 🌼 ( cpn for sunday & thoughts on things that happened today )

It was a busy afternoon for us, from wyb finally being confirmed to go to LA for the Chanel Cruise Show and then an hour later, XZ’s new movie to be filmed was announced. this is what i meant when i say we never lose. double happiness for us all the time. 👏🏼

so glad that they get these opportunities and continue to do what they love the most! in the meantime, we will be here to support them.

THOUGHTS ON THE AFTERNOON NEWS:

Let me just show the hot search attached to them and go from there:

• XZ’s new movie! Finally! It’s been so long since Jade Dynasty! More than anything, I am looking forward for his aesthetic. I’m sorry for his hairline yet again but he just fits the whole wuxia vibe. He is working with a well known director and a big IP, so that’s good for him. It can also be a huge challenge because Condor Heroes is a well loved story in China and the pairing was played by so many actors for years before him and his co-star — so the pressure is definitely ON. A lot of passer by will have something to say, there will be lots of opinions and the movie will be picked apart, and i think the production knows that too. So everyone should work extra hard to make something special. 💕

In the subject of GG going into movies, well i hope him and WYB will attend movie award events together. LOL. cause technically, they will be in the same “movie circle”. I know this will do well in the BO, and hopefully after this, XZ can choose a passion project that is not tied to an existing IP. Maybe this is their chance to work together, A movie. Who knows. I’m just putting out there!

• The second HS is about listing all XZ’s past female co-stars / love interests and something about it makes me feel that we’re so lucky cause WYB is his only male “love interest”. They will both have so many leading ladies in their projects, but WWX / LWJ will always be that one-time they didn’t. HAHAHAHAHAHA! They can compare all they want among those women ZZ worked with but we all know who is the best “love interest” 😂😂😂

I also know nothing about his co-star for the new movie and i honestly don’t care much. I’m like a solo when it comes to this, as long as they are good at what they do then i’m okay. I’m just gonna crop them out anyway in almost everything i share about the project. so yeah.

• OF ALL THE THINGS THAT CAN GO ON HS WITH YIBO’S LOS ANGELES TRIP! 🤣🤣🤣🤣

actually, his top, trousers and cap are all things he has worn before. that’s just how he is. he is the same as XZ in this, they are professional outfit repeaters — and there is nothing wrong with that tbh. the only new things are the chanel cardigan and bag.

I know all of us are happy that he gets to have a work/vacation abroad. If you’re following other c-ent stars, it seems like a lot of them already had time to play abroad and now it’s our yibo’s turn and he deserves it the most!!!! I’m sure he will have fun and maybe he can meet his friends. This is his first Chanel Show abroad and it’s the Chanel Fanboy living his dream 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 I need a photo of him and G-Dragon please. I also wanna add how lowkey his team was about this. There was no internal announcement from his side or fan groups. It was just melons and rumors. He still got hounded at the airport tho and of course lele and yanyan was there to protect him. And well - look at him trying to control people :

( but his big hands tho omg 👀 )

I will be sharing Chanel posts from other SNS cause engagement will be important so they know how big WYB is. Do not listen to other people ( you know who i’m talking about lol ). Just do your best in promoting our boy in this show. There is no need for comparison. Make noise. 🗣️🗣️🗣️

NOW LET’S MOVE ON TO THE TOPIC OF CLOWNING!!!!!

Well, the highlight of Yibo’s airport photos aside from himself is how visible the bone necklace is. It’s like he is showing off or something. It’s really a genius idea on XZ’s side to give him this because it gives off a sense of ownership. All I can say is, the relationship is stable. 😌😌😌

• photos & videos from his recently finished drama bright road shows him with his very cute bottled joy tumbler with lemon water. which has always been their thing 🍋 it’s truly the small things between them that i like, especially when it’s connected to taking care of themselves.

• My fave which is over analyzing the arrangement of photos, #2 and #8 looks different from the others again. Ai Bo. 🫶🏼

• and well more than that is how WYB’s photos from his safeguard live event in shanghai (2020) looks like it can be from the same set as ZZ’s 📷

their photographer / editor are dating 🤫

• Project Hints in their posts. This one is more on the heavy speculation/interpretation side of things. Tho I do believe that in 2020, wyb was basically the one giving signs if XZ will show up. and then XZ sharing something a day before WYB will announce his single ( which happened a couple of times ). So it makes sense that BXGs would keep an eye out on this.

Even XZ’s solo fans are saying he does this, like a caption from a tod’s post echoes a part of a poem “shooting the condors” & references an old city featured in the series~ so they agree that XZ & his team can put hints in their posts. i’m seeing people who caught this as soon as they posted but i’m uneducated about all this soooo 🤷🏻‍♀️

I swear he’s like taylor swift with his easter eggs and how fans should think about what he posts. lol. and well, we are good at that.

and recently, they did the whole wei lai x where dreams are made of hint too so ya know — they are not making this easy for us! how can you not clown? 😂😂😂😂

as for bxgs the most recent cue for WYB’s project was:

XZ studio posted on 11/2022 a vlog and on the caption was “long wind & waves” 长风破浪. and then weeks or months later, melons of WYB’s new drama of the same name started popping up. It’s now renamed to bright road but what are the chances that they will use that. to be fair, that video was the “health like be like..” vlog with him surfing so it fits, but there are so many other alternative to use so why what exact words huh?

( source one and two for the project hints cpn cause i would be so lost! actually, i still am. lol. )

-END.

[meraki-yao]

I know we shouldn't compare them because it's not fair but when I think about how much criticism rwrb received as a film and how it was never enough for the audience but the first reviews of the idea of ​​you call it "film of the decade" (I really doubt it, please people watch more movies) or say that people were screaming in the theater during the sex scenes... As a queer person it makes me suffer that the projects made for us are never good enough for the public but for straight films literally is enough the bare minimum to make them scream masterpiece. Again, this isn't a comparison or hate for tioy but it makes me sad.

Honestly, I'm in the exact same place as you are. I was thinking about it a lot this morning.

I don't know how fair my judgement is because I am inherently biased towards RWRB but I also feel upset about how much TIOY is getting compared to RWRB. Granted TIOY has the advantage of star power, with Nick being more well-known after RWRB and M&G and Anne freaking Hatheway, and to a certain degree One Direction/ Harry Styles, but just from the premise... It's doesn't sound as groundbreaking or new as what RWRB or even M&G did. I can expect it to be a fun romantic movie, but I can't see it being something as... fresh and impactful/ meaningful to an audience as RWRB and M&G are.

I don't know how much right I have to say this as someone who currently identifies as cis-straight, but the double standards between queer media like RWRB and heterosexual media like TIOY is very frustrating, It's like there's so many more steps for queer media to climb to "catch up" with a straight media of a similar genre/premise. Even with the ratings, RWRB did not deserve R at all. But I do think we're gradually making steps towards improving this phenomenon. Slow steps, but steps nonetheless. So please don't loose hope.

As for "film of the decade"... I'm sorry but that's gotta be an exaggeration. Stuff like Barbie, Oppenheimer, Avenger Endgame, Spider-Verse being called "film of the decade", I can understand, but this is not it. Hell, as much as it's straight up part of my soul now, I don't think RWRB fits "film of the decade". If we're taking that title seriously, then that's gotta be something really creative and new, something that hits hard. So yeah, you're right. People need to watch more movies, or have better media literacy.

I don't think there's been a single day since the movie was released that I didn't agonize and grieve over what we could have had. RWRB had so many disadvantages: As upsetting as it is, queer media, especially rom-com is still inherently seen as something lesser, which is fucked up, but unfortunately it's where we're at right now. On top of that, the timing of the strike directly coincides with the promo period of RWRB. The strike was for a good cause and achieved great things for actors, it was necessary, but that doesn't stop the lost of what we could have from hurting. So compared to other movies and projects (and not even necessarily just the boys' projects, recent streaming media in general) RWRB had so many disadvantages. If this was a race, then our starting line was pulled back a couple of miles.

But on the bright side, you gotta think: even with nearly zero promo, even with so many disadvantages and setbacks, RWRB still managed to achieve a lot: Most streamed movie on the platform globally for (I think?) three weeks, top most-streamed three romcoms on the platform all time, PGA and Glaad award nomination (and hopefully more to come down the line) and look at us! We're still going strong, and a sequel is in talks. There's never a fair comparison when it comes to things like this, but I said we're pretty amazing, and that's something that can't be taken away.

[namtanlovesfilm]

hello there ~ i actually went through your asks a couple of times to see if you have answered this question but i somehow do not see it but if you did answer this kind of question already then you can just skip this question ~ i am curious to know if it is true that gmmtv actors/on screen couples are popular but not as much as other actors from other companies base in thailand compare to international, like i recently just got introduced to this couple call pope bella and heard that they are one of the top actors in thailand, one of my online friend told me that there are other popular actors who are more famous and well known in thailand like yaya, nadech, mark, kimberley, baifern, mai davika, james ji, taew and so on

so i was curious to know that since you are in thailand are they more well known there and that a lot of international fans just dont know them because they are not in gmmtv?

so sorry for asking again, its just that i wanted to know this so that i can branch out of gmmtv and watch other thai shows too and see how much of a difference it is and see what my friend means by the difference in popularity and the difference in thai drama styles ~

hi! I have talked about this before, but this is such an interesting question it's okay to answer it again! so, first we gotta make the distinction between lakorns (thai soap operas, air multiple times a week & have one hour long episode, have plots that are regarded as over the top BUT an acting that is regarded as very good bc it requires a lot of stamina to cry for 18 hours straight), and series, that follow american or korean dramas formula in terms of number of episodes, format, etc. your friends are right to say that most of the actors that are very big & you mentioned above, have been known through their works in lakorns & movies rather than series. now though, these people were discovered over a decade ago, when series were just starting. so while they are still considered the biggest stars to this day in thailand by thai people bc they've maintained their careers, nowadays the people who have the biggest fanbases are undeniably bl actors, notably bright, who's literally everywhere, and billkin & pp who are also overwhelmingly present and very popular. there are some exceptions - I'm thinking about bright rapheepol, who looks like he could be a bl actor bc he's got the look but is actually a lakorn star who's quite big in thailand (and recently got a song with jamfilm, kristgawin, nanon & others), but he's kind of the exception. at the end of the day, the most dedicated fans tend to be women in their teens or twenties, which means that while lakorn actors are very well known and huge, their fanbase is older so less involved. but yes, to come back to gmmtv, where they stand out has always been their marketing towards inter fans (I literally have a full video about it lol), and while gmmtv actors ARE very big and very beloved, they are not necessarily the biggest, especially as so many new bl shows & ships get released every year so the competition is getting steeper & and the fanbases more & more diluted.

xxx

[wonderfulworldofmichaelford]

Psycho Analysis: Two-Face (Batman Forever)

(WARNING! This analysis contains SPOILERS!)

Who doesn’t love Two-Face? He’s one of Batman’s coolest and most complex villains, a villain with a mind fractured by trauma and a face scarred by acid obsessively compelled to follow the will of a coin toss. There’s always an underlying tragedy to the character even when he’s at his worst, and at his best he can be a dark reflection of Batman as he was in The Dark Knight, a fallen hero driven to madness after fighting so long and so hard to make the city of Gotham a better place.

But we’re not talking about a good Two-Face today. We’re talking about the one from Batman Forever.

I’ve long been a defender of Joel Schumacher’s Batman & Robin, but when it comes to Batman Forever I don’t really say much, and besides the wooden acting of Val Kilmer as Batman it’s Tommy Lee Jones and his hammy overacting that keeps me from jumping to the film’s defense. This take on Two-Face is considered one of the worst aspects of an already contested movie, but why is that, exactly? Well, there’s quite a bit to unpack, and not a lot of it is pleasant.

Motivation/Goals: They really took everything from poor Harv here. He’s basically just a colorful, petty thug, doing what he does because he loves wanton destruction. He even ignores the outcomes of his coin tosses or outright reflips to get the result he wants, so there’s really nothing to this character’s gimmick to elevate him above just being some guy who looks like he dresses himself in the dark. This version of Dent is essentially just Joker, except far less funny.

Performance: Like most people, I absolutely love Tommy Lee Jones. Men in Black and No Country for Old Men are two of my favorite movies and he’s great in them, particularly the former. But here? I really ain’t feeling it, honestly. I think part of it is that TLJ’s overacting feels really insincere. It honestly comes off like he’s trying way too hard to be hammy and chew the scenery, and it comes off as a bit offputting and cringey.

Unfortunately, this may be because of the behind the scenes drama. According to Schumacher, TLJ was jealous of Jim Carrey’s popularity on set, and seeing as he had just won an Oscar felt like Carrey’s popularity was unwarranted compared to him. There is nothing more unpleasant than a snooty bastard up his own ass with pride, and it definitely feels like this bitterness informed his performance. I mean, what else besides an overinflated ego could make a man think he could out-ham Jim Carrey?

Final Fate: Hey, do you like watching Batman purposefully letting his villains die? I sure fucking don’t! But that’s what we get here, with Batman tossing a bunch of coins to make Harv lose his footing and plunge into the ocean during one of his trademark coin tosses. It’s not really even bad because this is literally super n character for Harv to go out like that, but the fact it’s another example of Batman committing murder is just really obnoxious to me. Once again, Clooney and Pattinson remain the only Batmans with spotless kill counts.

Final Thoughts & Score: I’m of two minds about this guy.

On the one hand, I really like Tommy Lee Jones as an actor, and it’s hard to deny his take on Harv is goofy, fun, and stylish, fitting for the cartoonish world Schumacher transformed Gotham into for his Batman films. Despite some really corny dialogue, he’s kind of fun. But on the other hand… it’s hard not to feel bitter about what could have been. We could have had Billy Dee Williams as Two-Face instead, as he portrayed Dent in Burton’s films only to be unceremoniously dropped once Burton moved to being a producer.

It definitely feels there was some racial motivation behind sacking Williams and replacing him with a white dude when his character was about to become more prominent. And even if you ignore that and think it’s all just a coincidence, this take on Two-Face has none of the drama or conflict the character is known for. And sure, maybe this would be okay if he was just here to be a goon, but Schumacher’s next movie managed to faithfully adapt Mr. Freeze’s drama from the animated series into a goofy cartoon of a film, so why couldn’t Harv be afforded the same treatment, especially since he’s such a fascinating character? Hell, he keeps flipping his coins until he gets the result he wants! This guy is almost Two-Face in name only.

And on top of everything else, do we really need him being a goofy villain here? That’s what Riddler is for, and there was no way in Hell Tommy Lee Jones could ever have a chance to out-mug 90s Jim Carrey in the prime of his career. The man is desperately fighting a losing battle, and it leads to his Two-Face feeling really forced compared to the more naturally campy Riddler performance Carrey gives us. And it really doesn’t help that he was apparently a dick on set, which taints his entire performance and makes it feel almost spiteful the way he’s mugging the camera and hamming it up. Even though he was already an acclaimed actor who had won a fucking Academy Award, he was still intimidated and angered by some funny guy who just wanted to score a few chuckles, and tried to outdo him out of jealousy. It’s really pathetic and unbecoming.

Overall, while I don’t think Two-Face is great, I don’t really find him to be completely awful either. He’s a pretty subpar villain all things considered, but it’s hard not to find him at least a little amusing here and there. Even at his most petty and spiteful, the Tommy Lee Jones charm still shines through, however slightly. I’d say he’s ultimately at about a 4.5/10, stuck forever between being completely mid and being mediocre. It’s not the direction for the character we needed or the one we deserved, but it’s the one we’re stuck with. Just go read Batman ‘89, or watch the animated series or The Dark Knight if you want to see a good take on Dent.

[bittercandysweetrain]

Tokyo revenger’s x reader with mental illness Mitsuya (pt1)

Illness - Bulimia Author's pov - In the future, Mitsuya achieved his dream of being a fashion artist he even shows off his work on his own body at times. he has worked with famous models and has made a name for himself as famous as Gucci or Versace. His work was extraordinary there were many pieces he has made especially for specific people many of his works was known as one of a kind. but working with him wasn't easy he was known to turn down high-paying models a rumor spread once he turned down Kendell Jenner. but that was mitsuya for you he needed a certain look for his clothes and if you didn't have it you weren't it. which is why (y/n) hardly doubted she would have been picked when it came to signing up to work alongside him she was a new model with only a year of experience but she was already known for one thing. that one thing was well she use to be part of a hardcore gang and she was covered in tattoos and had a rough look to her. but it was her face that pulled many companies towards her she was beautiful her eyes lips nose everything was perfect.

Mitsuya woke up early he had fallen asleep in his office and needed to move or he would be stuck with back spasms again. walking to the kitchen his maid already had coffee and breakfast ready "here is the new print of vogue" she said handing it to him Mitsuya. Mitsuya sipped his coffee pausing when he saw the front page "who is this person never seen her before?" he questioned the maid turned to see what he was talking about "Oh her, her name is (y/n) (l/n) she is a rising model plucked from the streets. her story is unique it's been said her manager had to pay a million to her former gang leader just to allow her to leave." the maid said "is that so?" he said "mhm they say she could be the next-" "don't even" mitsuya interrupted "I hate when people compare new actors, models, and shit to old ones, especially in modeling. Fashion is always changing looks are always changing. this girl isn't going to be the next Gigi or Kendell she is going make a name for herself bigger than them." he said smirking "seems like you found your muse?" The maid said, "I think I have." (y/n) stared at herself in the mirror as she rinsed her mouth out with minty mouthwash anything to cover up the bad taste in her mouth. Modeling had taken a toll on her body despite living healthy with diets and exorcise it wasn't enough and her mental state was heavily affected. there was a sudden knock on the bathroom door and (y/n) hurried to wash her hands and spray the air. "just a minute" she said cleaning herself up she walked out to see her manager and some random girl "uh?" "(y/n) I want you to mee, someone, this is Yuzuha Shiba she represents the one-percenters and well-known designer Takashi Mitsuya." (y/n) eyes widen "of course right um It's so nice to meet you. I wasn't aware we had a meeting would you like something to drink?" she asked, "No, no it's fine can we talk," Yuzuha asked "sure come this way." (y/n) lead Yuzuha and her manager to her dining room to talk "so um what is going on?" she asked "Takashi Mitsuya seen you on the cover of Vogue and I got a call 4 hours ago to get on a jet and see if you're interested in working with him. He will pay double for your contract and move you across the country. there is something about you that he likes and well as you know he has turned down many models the one-percenters are specially picked by mitsuya himself." she said Yuzuha pulled out a contract and check "The contract if a yearly one in case it is too much to work with him you can leave after the year is up. Mitsuya has special conditions for his models as well No dating within the company such as managers, designers, makeup artists, or other models. You will receive personal aid, lawyer, and doctor which you must comply with you may not release any photos of workspace or wearing any clothes made that have yet to be released. you may not talk to paparazzi, or any form of media outlet about any work you do or personal experience about your co-workers such as models, make-up artists, hair artists, or even mitsuya himself. it isn't as bad as you think its more of to keep drama out of the workplace and to keep it professional you can look over the contract the deadline for a decision is-" "I will sign it now I don't need to think it over this is Takashi mitsuya a one in a lifetime chance." (y/n) said Yuzuha smiled "well shall we celebrate." she said

[lonelier-version-of-you]

Well. There was once a time I would have said it was impossible to waste another well-known actor who's on a show for a year and playing a really interesting character with an implied tragic backstory more than Holby did with Paul McGann as John Gaskell.

I take it back. Congratulations, Casualty has wasted Nigel Harman as Max Cristie more than Holby wasted Paul McGann as John. At least John Gaskell's exit was sad in a well-done-story way and had been built up to. This was sad in an infuriating way and has come out of nowhere.

I don't believe this is in character for Max at all. This is just horrible and cold, him walking out on Jodie again like this. Even if he believes she's better off without him, which is the kindest to Max interpretation of his behaviour I can think of... how can he believe walking out while she's still recovering is what's best for either of them?

Look. Max Cristie is not and never has been a good man. He's a volatile, selfdestructive, emotionally dysregulated mess with anger issues who makes other people's lives worse as well as his because he has a terrible sense of judgement about what he should or shouldn't do. He runs away when things get tough and is frightened of emotional intimacy. He has also been a terrible dad to Jodie.

But he was trying to get somewhere with her and cared about her in some sort of messed-up repressed way. Maybe not enough, maybe not the way he should have done, but in some way. And I don't believe he could have done this if he cared about Jodie in any way.

As I say, Max running away when things get hard is something we've seen in him before. More metaphorically than Henrik - who I always think to compare him to because I think they're very alike in personality - perhaps, and more metaphorically than he did tonight, but it's not unheard of. But this was just terribly handled.

This would have been cold and hard to believe coming from Henrik. From Max, it makes no sense at all.

It might've done something if we'd heard anything about him wanting to work elsewhere before. Even a few lines, from Dylan maybe - "Max, you never could settle down for long" or something like that - would have done a lot to establish that he can't be expected to stay. Similarly, maybe if Max's backstory had been explained at any point - instead of vague implications of some sort of traumatic or difficult past that are never explained - this might be more believable. It's not forgivable, but it could have been written in such a way as to be understandable. As it is? I can't even say it's that.

I mean, seriously, Max gets three scenes in his last ep? Three scenes and that's it? All because about 90% of the time was going to Faith and Iain drama that I do not care about. Argh. I already felt unwell with a headache today, I didn't need this too.

There's definitely not going to be any aftermath for Jodie either, is there? She should be devastated by this, realistically. She should really struggle to trust others after this. But I don't think any of that will happen. We'll be lucky if we get one scene of her saying she's sad about it after this week.

The Faith and Iain stuff just really upsets me. The way Faith behaves towards and about Natalia is awful to see and I'm tired of the show pretending Faith isn't abusive. And now Iain's being awful too. Natalia is a grown woman - a young one, yes, but a grown woman nonetheless (she's, what, 19-ish? 18 at the youngest) - and yet they talk down to her and patronise her constantly. She's struggling, and they're just seeing her as a "problem" to put up with. I can't stand it. Obviously her behaviour towards Iain was also out of line, but it's understandable why she's misreading him and I don't think the way he's reacting will do anything good for her. Though tbf he did already try to let her down gently, I suppose. Also, I relate to Nat a lot so I can't be 100% sure I'm coherent on this. I might be projecting too much.

It was nice for Jacob to get screentime, but he can't bond with Siobhan soon enough - I'm tired of him being Iain's life advice counsellor.

There were some great patient storylines tonight. It was nice to see Dylan in Dylan Disability Advocacy Keogh mode again, and I thought the story with Charlie's patients was handled very sensitively.

I'm so glad Charlie apologised to Stevie. She deserved it, and it was a lovely scene. For once, I agree with Charlie - Stevie is great and I hope to see her back soon.

Next week, we get Zoe Hanna back! Yay!

[alarrytale]

I think that the whole concept of het Harry StylesTM is so wrong and it´s becoming slowly obvious that he´s not that boyfriend who´s about to protect and defend his fake gfs because instead he´s actually the one who needs protection and craves for it IMO. The way he always lays on one´s shoulder when someone who´s close to him is hugging him - f.e. Pauli (at the end of EU LOT after they did their dance), Kid Harpoon (after H won AOTY), Gemma (when he won one of his Brits) or the way he threw himself on Stanley Tucci also on Brits. He just doesn´t have that vibe and when we connect it with his feminine part of him (which he is very well aware of and he´s learning how to embrace it)...it´s just against nature if you understand me what I´m trying to say, it´s like to wanting introvert to have fun at some big party while introvert loves being alone or just in the small group of known people. The only ladies he´s protective are his mum, sister and other women in his family we are not very well aware of. On the other hand Louis definitely has this protective vibe (no suprise when he´s the oldest brother to his younger sisters) and that´s why they go together so perfectly - because they fits their needs. Btw few weeks ago I was watching DWD again just for fun and nope, seeing him acting like he´s heterosexual horny husband ready to please his wife with oral s*x had weird vibe for me when I compare it to his gay role in MP. I will repeat this opinion but how can het harries be so blind not seeing he´s the one who wants protection and to be taken by gentle care because he´s the soft one. People who know him treats him like that and so is Louis - that perfect protective boyfriend who will fight for his girl Harry.

Hello, anon!

This ask is a minefield (not your fault), but here we go. I disagree with most of your takes here, but that's okay. If that's how you see it, then that's how you see it. We simply disagree.

However i think we have to differentiate between who harry is in private and who harry tm is. A lot of his behaviour is tied to his image. I think harry is very different in private, with people he know and love, than when he's in a public setting. Harry uses jokes, physical comedy and exaggertion in public. It's a performance. Like the whole Stanley Tucci thing was. Mocking fan behaviour and playing damsel in distress. I don't think that's very reflective of how he acts at home. I also thinks he's not very protective of his beards simply because he don't like them and know them enough to be.

I think Harry can be just as protective as Louis to the ones he cares about, he just shows it in different ways than Louis. I don't think Harry craves protection, he's a big boy and can handle himself. He's assertive when needs be and says no when he means no. But he's shy at times in unfamiliar settings and an introvert as you say. Louis is tactile, but so is Harry. But unlike Louis, Harry is only tactile with the ones he knows. I don't think harry is particularly soft either. Yes, he's feminine, but he has an explosive anger and can pin a guy to a wall when provoked no problem (poor Liam). Harry is mulitdimentional and i hate when he's reduced to either this or that. He can be both and he can be more. And he is. Same with Louis.

I've said this before, but i don't think harry can act. At all. So that might be the reason that his acting in dwd felt weird to you. In mp he didn’t really act as much as just being himself (as grandage put it). Good actors usually don't have any issues with playing straight/gay or good/evil no matter what they identify as or who they are like as a person. It's acting. Also, you were watching DWD for fun? Why? Ironically?

I also take issue with this fandoms obsession with making h and l emulate stereotypical heterosexual relationships. Gay couples usually don't. They don’t require that one partner is "masculine" and the other "feminine" or one being "soft" and the other one "hard". In most couples, both partners have a mixture of gender traits. I think h and l are a mixture. So i don't think one has to be protective and one has to be craving protection. Or one has to be a prince and the other one a princess. Neither of them are the one or the other. They are both a bit of both. They are each others babies and each others rocks.

[myteavsricochet]

hi! tzp thoughts anon here. after reading your (and other's) response on my previous post, i kinda wanted to add more to the discussion.

first of all, i forgot to mention this previously but i absolutely agree with what you said about how tzp easily slips into model-mode despite being so nervous about these events, especially since it's his first time attending such. and i admire that about him so much. like it's so obvious to us that he's kinda anxious but the moment he has to pose in front of the camera, all that anxiety just seems to disappear from him.

the main point i wanted to share though is that with all these discussions about tzp and fashion, i kinda want him to have a career like zendaya's. i want him to be known both as an actor AND as a fashion icon. i want him to show up to his future projects' premieres and red carpets in the most iconic and memorable outfits, just like zendaya did in dune's press tour. i know he's already somewhat making a name in the fashion scene too, but i just want him to be even more known in it, while also being acknowledged as a big name (soon, hopefully) in the acting world. i just want him to grab the attention of everybody.

and finally, all these are simply hopes, wishes, and manifestations i have for him. he obviously does not need to be doing all that if he doesn't feel like it. and i would also understand if it may be too big of a dream considering how tight and competitive the entertainment industry is and how he may not get the same opportunities as others. however, i also firmly believe that these are not impossible, especially knowing how hardworking tzp is. i really just wish him the best always, and i hope he always feels happy, satisfied, and comfortable in anything he does. 🤍

with that being said, i guess it wouldn't be a reach to say that he may be invited to the met gala, no?

(this post became so long and messy again lol sorry bout that!)

Hello lovely anon, thanks again for these asks on tzp, always so much appreciated.

Again, I share every word with you and I can understand where your thoughts are coming from that he might be closer to Zendaya's path. Obviously better specify that we are not comparing the two of them at this moment, we know that Zendaya is at a completely different stage in her career but I don't see it as absolutely impossible that over time he too will strongly combine both fashion and acting and will be able to make fashion a its strong hallmark exactly like her.

In some ways he is already doing it. It's absolutely not a given to arrive on a red carpet like the one of the Oscars and have everyone talk so much about his outfit despite so many celebrities even more famous than him being present. Or all the attention he got at the Sags.

I also think that he is wearing such sober outfits not because he doesn't know how to dare more (between fw and photoshoot we have seen that he can do it) but because he really wants to do things slowly and there is really a lot of work behind it with Jason in hit every event with the right fit. Making himself noticed, but without seeming to want to outclass others.

They know perfectly well what they are doing from that point of view too so I think over time, when the boy finally gets his chance to be on a red carpet for a premiere for one of his films he will do really great things.

About the met: I think between his connection with Anna Wintour (she's known him for a while and literally invited him to her Vogue event... Do people know how huge this thing is?) and all the fashion and big awards events in which he participated I think the invitation is practically certain. I don't know if he feels ready though 🤣, we'll see 🤞🏻

[onwriting-hrarby]

A goodbye from fandom.

I said this on Twitter, but I am not going to write for the eremika fandom again. Trigger warnings about harassment, pedophilia and more, to come.

Back on April, 2022, out of the blue a big account of the fandom (they had 4k followers; I had barely 150) “outed” me as what they called “a proshipper”. They were blaming writers in the fandom who wrote EM having sex underage, telling them pedophiles. I had not written anything of the sort, but they still felt entitled to label me as such because I read fics of Levi/Mikasa. I had been in fandoms for longer than they had been born, probably, so I was baffled that this was a problem: Because, at the end of the day, proshipper or not, I was reading stories of fictional characters. But if we take a moment to consider that the difference between fiction and reality doesn’t exist, it still baffled me, because I had never written anything underage, nor Rivamika: No, I was a pedophile because I was reading it.

This lack of media-literacy surprised me to the point of beginning to study more about it. I read this article by Viet Thanh Nguyen which said that books in USA libraries are getting cancelled because of “racism” or “homophobia”, books that were written decades ago. You should read the article, but it fully comprises my view that we need to create a critical mass, and we won’t create it if we ban those types of readings. But even if we do read it: does it mean that we share the same morals as the story? Does it even mean that the writer shares the same morals as the story they are writing?

After the tweet, I was being massively unfollowed on Twitter, blocked. Some mutuals even responded to that tweet, saying “Blocking her now”. I tried to argue with that person that I was not reading a fic in which Levi and Mikasa were related, nor underage: they didn’t even debated with me, they insulted me. I blocked them. I got an ask on Tumblr asking what had happened, and I explained my POV. They went to my Tumblr (somehow they found me), screenshot it and shared in their Twitter for everyone to see.

I had an anxiety attack, and for some days, I was deciding whether to end RJ at (just) chapter 2. Because I loved the story I was creating, I decided to pull through. When I came back on Twitter after a month out, nobody remembered me: it was like I had never done anything, I gained the same followers that once unfollowed me. I was… There, again. But I was not the same, in real life: I didn’t know what to share, how to share it. I was afraid of bookmarking something on AO3. Tumblr felt safer, so I went there (thank god). I didn’t know how to answer when people commented, about this fic, pearls such as I was an homophobic, a racist, Grisha was out of character and I was a devil to write Grisha that way. I didn’t find these comments like well-written debate in my inbox: I found it as tweets, without quoting me, of course. I began to wonder whether I was a good writer, until I decided that maybe it wasn’t the right audience to begin with. So, saddened, I wrapped my mind about stopping writing for the Eremika fandom (because, yes, it is the eremika fandom) after Rotten Judgement was finished.

Since then, I have been harassed in my inbox during months. First, for writing Erejeankasa. Comments and comments everyday, telling me that I’m a horrible writer, that I’m boring, that what I do is garbage. Then, spamming hate all over my fics, again, saying that I’m a pedophilic and garbage myself (to their credit, I have now written a Levi/Mikasa fic, in which they are actors and over 30, but alright). The thing is that this is not only a matter of myself.

Lots of my friends and colleagues here have been harassed constantly over what they write. The haters compare them to other well-known writers in the fandom: they advocate for the “purity” of Mikasa (but have no problem in Eren being a manwhore), for the “purity” of the fandom, for “only writing Eremika”. If you don’t, you’re just a “false fan”. They have their fights and sides, but let me tell you: probably one 1% of people will find a teenager attractive after reading a fic, but probably more than 80% of harassed people over the internet will feel bad, triggered and anxious about it.

I know this is (mostly) a Twitter thing: I know we’re prompted to have discourse, to argue our views, to fight for our canon couples or not… in fictional characters. This is the cursive I want to throw in here: that in being so “woke” and fighting for the “injustice” in your little bubble, you’re really not being better than an alt-right defending their stance with yelling and hating. In being so woke, you really act and think like a fascist. Because, in the end, there is a true anti-intellectual belief in the fandom: you are not to put your own views on things that are set. Do not make us think more than the original work. And for now, intellectualism (in Mill’s sense of reflection, and understanding of others, of putting yourself in others' shoes) is the true root of democracy. And the EM fandom is anything but democratic. It reeks of a one distinctive trait of oligarchy, said by Socrates: "one assumes the status of a highest good".

But, in my mind, doing good would not only mean asking the readers to defend their authors; it would mean stopping authors from blasting harmful or harassing opinions on other authors (sometimes, smaller authors than themselves); it would mean that they would understand that while someone can feel triggered by some views, anyone is free to express and write about whatever they want, as long as they, as humans, don’t fight for wrongness; that the moral in fiction doesn’t equal the moral in the author and vice versa. It’s not only to answer hateful tweets towards creators: it’s to pinpoint the tweets of that mutual you always see bashing on other ships or tweets out of the blue, just for fun, or because they really think they will make a change.

It is to signal that we, as a society, are being deactivated at our response in true, real-life problems, thanks to the arguments in social media. That while we can all share and spread help when something big happens, and social media gives us the means to spread awareness, throwing hate to authors who’ve written fictional stories about fictional characters and that you don’t like it doesn’t equal justice, but cyberbullying.

However, I will not be here to fight for it. Differently to the majority of the people who has not uttered a single constructive criticism to my fics, but have found the time to comment, put up bashful tweets (without mentioning me) and without reading the story, I do have a life outside the internet. I have beautiful friends, family, and writing—because I will never, ever not write—to which I want to dedicate my energy. If you care about this fandom, stop spreading hate and negativity of all kind. Remember that you can think you fight for freedom and justice, and end up being a Jaegerist.

I still have an EM oneshot I was writing, but I lost motivation to. I don’t know if I’ll ever keep on writing it, but if I do, you will most likely find it in here. As for Rotten Judgement and I did not live until today, you will still find them here. As for Instead, they said: it is hidden, as it has been for some months, because I want to turn it into an original story. Whether you’ll find it reuploaded in some months, who can’t stay. I am happy to delve into other ships and fandoms for now. Writing two years in these conditions has completely drained me. I urge you to think of all the creators whose works you cannot find anymore, whose Twitter and media got deleted, who put up letters of goodbye to the fandom, and rather than crying about this loss, I urge you to protect the writers we still have. I will keep reading the stories I enjoy, so this is not totally goodbye.

For now, relieved that I’ve finished but angry that this is how I’ve finished, always yours,

Hera.

[whateverthedragonswant]

(This was in my drafts and I posted it for kicks):

I just...I just love this scene so much. (only half of it is in the link above)

This to me is genuine chemistry between two actors (and characters) being allowed to play out on screen. It's not forced or awkward or packed with sudden and cringeworthy tension. It's just allowed to be, allowing Jensen and Kylie to freely play with it as they see fit, and it works.

Especially when you compare it to this scene (again, only half of it, for some reason it's really hard to find full clips for this show unless it's the season 3 Beau/Jenny show):

This is purely about work and a "power struggle" & the office scene afterwards continues that.

Beau had playful energy towards the end of his scene with Cassie, and both were smiling. Beau didn't have that at the end here. As a matter of fact, when he started to bring in that playful energy (twice), Jenny shuts him down.

With Cassie, after what appears like they're about to get off on the wrong foot, things smooth over, Beau tries to make conversation and then introduces himself, a vulnerable moment slips through (aka the "leak") that Cassie clocks, and Beau asks for her help which she grants.

With Jenny, after what appears like they're about to get off on the wrong foot, things smooth over (from what we can tell by the end), Beau tries to make conversation (which Jenny shuts down), and Jenny asks for Beau's help which he grants.

"Come on, girls don't know anything about cars." -> Cassie proves him wrong & ends up being the one to actually help him

"So how do you want to do this darlin'." -> Jenny tells him he's got to be kidding

When Cassie cracks the joke about fishing, Beau laughs & apologizes for being an ass.

When Jenny lets her justified disgust be known, Beau says he didn't mean anything by it & tries to explain it away to which Jenny shuts it down.

When Beau introduces himself to Cassie, they shake hands. "Cassie Dewell." "I know who you are." "You do?" "Well, it's a small town." "Stepping for Sheriff Tubb?" "You are good." "Small town, right?"

Beau and Jenny don't shake hands, and they have a tense first meeting in front of the department. "Well, you must be Miss Hoyt." "And you must be the new temporary sheriff." "Call me Hoyt."

Cassie lets Beau talk after their introduction because she's trying to suss him out. Not so much that she wants to get to know him but because she's trying to learn what she can about him (like any investigator would)

And even when you compare it to this (which is later on & these two have had time to build that so-called "connection"):

The chemistry here is present between the two actors but not the two characters. It feels like someone is trying to shove mismatched energy into a box that it won't fit into, I don't know how else to describe it. Like that suitcase you just can't zip closed unless you sit on it and force the zipper through the teeth to the other side of it.

And to me, this ruined what could have been a very organic and emotionally intimate scene between them:

I thought it was an interesting choice for Katheryn to do but then again, she is an amazing actress (and I think it's no coincidence that she chose to do this action after Beau spouts his "wisdom" about all relationships needing to be a two way street) and the story has been showing us that she's very into Beau and she's now letting it show, to him as well as to us. And while Jensen and Katheryn also have genuine chemistry on the screen, something feels off with their dynamic and moments like these leave you cringing, rather than cheering for them or hoping you'll get more from it.

Jensen and Kylie (and Beau and Cassie) have genuine chemistry, and it feels easier, smoother, like it fits. Jensen and Katheryn have chemistry but not Beau and Jenny - it feels forced, obstructive, and unnatural. It's obvious they're pushing the Beau/Jenny agenda but I really hope Elwood and the writers realize the potential they have with Jensen/Beau and Kylie/Cassie, and utilize it to the max. Even if it doesn't go romantic (which I'm telling you, as far as their characters go, it fits way better, this could be the ultimate slow burn), Beau and Cassie should have more scenes together; we should see more of that friendship play out on screen. Why would the writers go to the trouble to create this bond they have and not let us see it have payoff in some way? It doesn't make sense. Jensen and Kylie should have more time on screen together; I'd be curious to see how they continue to play with that dynamic.

Edit from draft publishing 12/17/22: HA!