#(the wire monster isn't really a can of worms I just think it's bad)

[ranboo5]

I'm sorry OK not to be a hater bc GenLoss on the whole is fantastic and I'm extremely excited to see the next generations+where it goes from here. None of my haterisms are killer criticisms I did on the whole really like it and I do think on a fundamental level it really works and Also I think people have been a bit harsh on the first two episodes

HOWEVER. Out of those criticisms Hetch is absolutely the strongest one and the one that I find hardest to forgive

For a character apparently written by the same person responsible for the absolutely fantastic and effective Squiggles, Hetch is abysmal. While I liked fine what he did – his role in ep3 is fine, I don't have beef with the evil concept I think it works, and the faux-reveal in the closet of ep2 is fantastic as a plot beat, and hell, the bit where he was obviously lying to Ranboo in ep3/the prereveal dynamic is compelling enough – almost all of his dialogue was trite, overwritten, overexplanatory sludge. The first time he appeared in episode 1 he elicited a reaction of "well that's a bit cheesy and blatant but I can forgive it." It did not get better. Hetch's dialogue is exhausting to me from a story perspective – none of what he explains conveys any information that isn't conveyed and conveyed BETTER by Ranboo's reactions. It wouldn't work with the way the Social Experiments deal with surveillance to not have Hetch's dialogue audible, but if you put that aside, cutting the vast majority of it out would lose you nothing and net you a more satisfying story that doesn't feel like it's trying to explain itself to you at every turn. Hetch saying the obvious is least egregious at the end of episode 2, because Ranboo's reactions really sell the value of the scene as a faux-reveal subverting how this kind of thing is Normally a Shocking Twist, but his appearance in episode 1 doesn't manage to be quite worth it in the same way, and when he's explaining things about the situation that doesn't make sense to matter as a direct lie ("Oooh the mall Changed when Showfall moved in", explaining the wire monster (a different can of worms), &c), it without fail feels overwritten and irritating – I feel like I want to fast forward through it. The villain monologue at the end is the worst and most harmful example of this – it's so cheesy, and overhammed, and next to Squiggles already giving literally all the necessary information for Showfall's role in this and intent for Ranboo in WORLDS more effective and haunting way and to Ranboo's as always fantastic unmatched breakdown acting (has never flopped), it's actually painful in a way only matched by the agony of listening to Amon showing up anywhere in StarCraft II. Hearing him explaining in excruciating detail how actually, if you didn't connect the dots, Hetch evil, by the way, in case you didn't know (like WOW, I guess the next reveal we're getting is Squiggles evil, in case we didn't know, and then we're going to turn to the camera and say "the moral of the story is the entertainment industry is dehumanizing, be sure to turn in your reading comprehension worksheets by Monday,") is awful, and the stupid "THE AUDIENCE HAS VOTED FOR YOU TO DIE" line is especially awful for leaving me groaning in exasperation over an otherwise viscerally affective last scene. (It doesn't help, also, that Ranboo's acting is just in a completely different league from that of Hetch's actor's, making the contrast seriously jarring)

Hetch's role in the story is fine – excellent, even, with what it says about the incentives of the entertainment industry and how alone and doomed the MC truly is – but that role doesn't necessitate "fleshing out" of a character any more than Squiggles' does, and frankly, Hetch already gets far, FAR too much screentime and tedious, condescending (much of it not in the fun way!) dialogue as it is. Again, I'm still excited to see more GenLoss, and honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if streamer ends up making me eat my words here, but like, as it is, I think it's a step in exactly the wrong direction to give Hetch MORE screentime

Floral Mel Days and I were discussing last night – it's likely that Hetch with his explanations and blatant dragging up of the pretty clear and surface level message (not a criticism! GenLoss wearing its identity on its sleeve isn't a bad thing and it does a lot of deeper and more subtle things with it) are a response to the audience reaction to c!Ranboo, which makes me, honestly, viscerally upset. While making GenLoss more accessible and, uh, possible to rewatch is definitely a sensible goal, GL's subtleties are easily its strongest aspect to me, even – hell, especially! – if they go over people's heads. It really does feel like Hetch is writing to people who are unable or unwilling to actually read into what the series is saying, and it feels really restrictive and sad, same as the Ranologues getting ditched. Hetch feels like trying to overcompensate for the worst of the esotericism of c!Ranboo lore with the most "ah, awkward improv" infodumps thereof, while also lacking entirely the character and pathos of c!Ranboo – a character and pathos that it takes time to build, and that, frankly, Hetch does not have enough of my good faith left of to enjoy

TL;DR: Hetch as a story element works awesome but Hetch's actual screentime almost all sucks absolute shit because it violates the principle of

I DON'T WANT TO SEE HETCH'S CHARACTER A LITTLE MORE

[autistic-crypt1d]

X-Files Live Blogging:

Season 2

Season 1 was amazing and left on a huge cliffhanger, I'm so excited for season 2 let's gooooo

I feel the need to say this after watching a lot of this season. Episodes 10 - 14 have some very triggering content (SA and rape). Please be aware of this if you decide to watch and if you want to watch the show but can't or don't want to see that, please feel free to DM me and I'll tell you what I can about the episodes!

S1

Updates:

- Little Green Men

- Space!!!!

- Scully getting existential in the autopsy room

- Scully's longing look at Mulder 😭 why are you ignoring herrrrr

- oh my god, Scully trying to keep Mulder from losing his belief is so AHHHH

- THE HEAD RUB OMFG

- how could he go without her!!!

- Jorge noooooooo

- Mulder should know better than to go after stuff without Scully, she's just gonna find him anyway

- nice work Scullyyyyy

- "before I could only trust myself. Now I can only trust you, and they've taken you away from me." BRO

- OH FUCK

- RECORD IT MULDER

- DAMN IT DUDE THAT WAS YOUR CHANCE

- talk about an event to restore his belief damn

- she found him!!!!

- THE SHOULDER GRAB

- take all the paper and go!!!!!!

- just grab em!!

- Mulder putting his hand on Scully while the shooting is happening oh my godddddd

- let's go get away driver Mulder god damn!

- oh shiy Caldwell (I can't remember the character's actual name) sticking up for Mulder??

- you can tell by his face he did noooot approve the wire tap on his phone

- I don't understand why they didn't just gran all the papers

- "I still have my work. I still have you." AHHHHH

- The Host

- he's so dead

- oh yeah, that is horrifying

- god I hate water monsters, this is gonna suck so bad isn't it

- ahhhh he's stayed for Scully AHHHHH

- YUCK

- NOPE

- Skinner!! The guy who is also Caldwell is called Skinner here

- YEESH that wound is nastyyyyyyy

- starts bleeding from the mouth, GETS IN THE SHOWER INSTEAD OF GETTING CHECKED OUT

- BRUH EEW

- oh boy that is a big worm

- OK NOT A WORM WHAT THE FUCK

- where tf was it?!?!

- NOPE NOPE NOPE

- ok yep he's just goin down into the sewer in a suit no hesitation

- oh he's so gonna fall in isn't he

- YUP

- YEAH STAND THERE AND TALK ABOUT YOUR LOST GLASSES INSTEAD OF GETTING OUT OF THE WATER KNOWN TO HAVE A KILLER CREATURE IN THERE

- MULDER NO WHAT THE FUCK

- OH

- boy howdy that's gross, but nice job Fox

- THEY DIDN'T REMOVE THE BODY?!?! ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?!

- Blood

- title makes me nervous

- do not listen to that man, please listen to your gut and run away

- Mulder you better not have actually given that creep Scully's number

- wow, they never figure out who was doing it????

- Sleepless

- killer nightmares?

- new guy, Krycek looks familiar

- BRUH, the way Mulder is leaning towards her in this scene is WILD

- apparently the actor has been in a couple things I've seen, Supernatural, Once Upon a Time, and Burn Notice

- Preacher I also recognize, been in a couple crime shows I've seen

- I'm excited about the new guy it's fun, he better not try to replace Scully as his partner though

- Mulder's new friend in the FBI has a super familiar voice, it's making me think of the guy who played Brian (I think), the guy who also played Walter on Eureka, but he's already been in this show

- oh shoot, ok well definitely not that guy, but I recognize the actual dude

- damn those are some big ass flashlights

- damn it new guy I liked you!!!

- Duane Berry

- man this is quite an episode for Mulder

- oh shit

- y'all this episode is really cool

- A TWO PARTER OH SHIT

- Ascension

- Duane Berry has made a big mistake

- I recognize the cop that pulled him over

- OOP

- Krycek you better not get Scully hurt istg

- YEESH THIS SHIT IS INTENSE

- MULDER YOU'RE GIVING ME ANXIETY

- KRYCEK I SWEAR TO GOD

- oh hell

- KRYCEK. KRYCEK WHEN I CATCH YOU KRYCEK.

- LET'S GO MULDER!!!

- the government guys used Duane to get Scully away from Mulder didn't they

- WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK WAS THAT, STOP THAT, DON'T TOUCH SCULLY

- Krycek totally murdered him right?

- oh shit did Mulder figure Krycek out???

- YESSS

- I kinda love Skinner now

- SHE STILL ISN'T FOUND WTF

- -3

- vampires?

- Dana becoming an X-File makes me wanna cry

- VAMPIRESSSSSS

- did they being back Maybourne?!?! They did!! Ugh is he gonna be an asshole this time

- OH

- thank god you have SOME sense Mulder

- when is Scully coming back, I miss her :(

- damn ok they ready got a new third

- ugh I hate the way she talks about blood, and the way she talks like she's trying to be sexy. I hate that in characters in general. Characters are either sexy or they aren't, characters that are played to be by trying to be is so hard to watch

- Mulder is wearing Scully's necklace oh my god 😭

- please do not hook up

- STOOOOOOP I HATE ITTTT, ESPECIALLY WEARING HER NECKLACE

- BRO STOOOOOP

- god damn it y'all

- I'm honestly so upset with Mulder right now. His partner, the only person who not only believes in him, but follows him anywhere putting herself on the line again and again for him, is missing and he's hooking up with some random person?!?!

- One Breath

- DANA

- SHE'S NOT DEAD DON'T YOU DARE PUT THAT UP AND MULDER DON'T YOU DARE STOP LOOKING FOR HER

- DANA?!?!?!?!

- I recognize Melissa from something, Eureka I think?

- WAIT NO THAT'S DIANE FROM NCIS

- YEESH

- tall chainsmoking mf, you suck

- PFFFFFT CANCER MAN

- Hammond!!

- who is this nurse??

- damn dude I really love Skinner

- oh hell

- go see her Mulder, tell her you need her!!!

- YESSSS

- y'all this season is nothing but pain so far wtf

- wake up Dana!!!!!

- YES DANA LET'S GO!!!!

- AHHHHHHH

- I'm so happy she's back

- Firewalker

- oh hey it's the scientist from the Eureka episode with the meteors!!

- man this show really loves utilizing the "rectangle of light that only illuminates the eyes even though it makes no sense and where tf is that light even coming from" thing

- oh my god the slight little step behind Mulder Scully did

- bro really should not have gone out alone, he's gonna die isn't he

- I missed the duo so much I'm so happy!!

- oh yeah, he dead

- uh oh

- WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT

- a mushroom?!?!?! NAH

- THE SHOULDER TOUCH AHHHH

- throat mushroom is so gross I hate itttt

- OOP

- I really hope they don't just gloss over Scully's abduction. I hope that the way it affects her will get brought up again at some point

- HANDCUFFS?! SERIOUSLY JESSE?!?!?!

- god damn Scully is strong!!

- RUN MULDER!!

- THE FACE TOUCH

- that was a very deliberate patch showing, does that mean something?

- Red Museum

- wow! Gross!

- where the hell is that dude hiding wtf

- poor kid :(

- oh lovely, a cult

- bro, wiping the corner of her mouth?? These two have so much comfort in physical contact with each other from like day one

- Cadet Haley?!

- OH

- OH SHIT HE WAS IN THE WALL

- disgusting man

- aaaaand Mulder is rushing into danger alone again

- saved by Scully once again

- Excelsis Dei

- Janet!!!!!

- hey now you leave Janet alone!!

- tw: rape

- Mudler you better work this case well or istg

- I despise old men, they say the most vile, intrusive shit, and behave like they're fucking kings

- ah yes, feed the residents mushrooms 👍

- KICK IT!! SOMETHING!!

- ah so Stan was indeed the problem

- Aubrey

- did he just send her there to die??

- wtf??

- not dead???

- huh????

- was that really a necessary thing for Mulder to say? (Spoiler alert, No)

- this poor woman geez

- wtfffff

- y'all this episode is depressing af and so was the last one wtfff

- Irresistible

- sir you are immensely creepy

- WHAT THE FUCK STOP THAT SHIT

- WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT

- AHHHH YUCK DUDE

- GIRL RUN WHAT THE FUCK

- what is going on with Scully this episode? I feel like it has to be more than squeamishness with how they're emphasizing it

- y'all what is with these episodes, I hate them so much

- DAMN RIGHT, PUNCH THAT MF!!

- YOU DIRECT THOSE MF CREEPY PEEPERS AWAY FROM SCULLY YOU BASTARD

- she better shoot him, this episode can only be redeemed by that dude dying horribly

- damn that therapy scene was good

- dude you better back the fuck off

- she should've been allowed to kill him this is bullshit

- I'm really glad they revisited and acknowledged Scully's trauma as much as this episode sucked for me personally

- Die hand Die Verletzt

- interesting title

- wtf

- dude what is with all the sexual assault and rape in this fucking season

- Mulder trying to shield Scully with his body 😭

- Scully insinuating the guy was being controlled?? Oh??

- wtf

- Fresh Bones

- YEESH

- was that Lt Conner from Stargate SG-1??

- fuck Wharton y'all

- WHAT THE FUCK

- serves you right Wharton

- Colony

- Mulder?!?!?!

- GERARD?? FROM 911??

- please don't tell me you're buying this Mulder

- that's the actress who plays the young version of Leneya in Stargate!!

- way to go Scullyyyy

- oh fug

- End Game

- Major Davis!!!!

- get your hands off her you shapeshifting fuck!!!

- it was really her? Oh man :(

- ow ow ow

- ok it wasn't really her thank god that would've been super disappointing

- what about the scene from the beginning of Colony???

- LET'S GO SKINNER

- ok here we go

- why is he still hiding out in the sub??

- oh ok I guess he's leaving now

- YOU TELL HIM DANA

- Fearful Symmetry

- invisible elephant???

- no longer invisible elephant???

- so aliens have been taking the babies?

- :(

- Død Kalm

- what the fuuuuuuck

- what the FUUUUUCK

- BRUH WHAT

- this episode is stressing me outttt

- screw the captain guy

- Karma

- Humbug

- what the hell is wrong with this dude crashing a funeral like that??!?!

- way to go Sherriff!

- tabernacle of terror XD

- boy howdy that’s gross

- DR. BLOCKHEAD

- AHHHHHH NOOOOOO

- GOD DAMN

- Ahhhhhhh don’t touch people you don’t knooooow

- AHHHH DARK CLOSED OFF ROOM. ALONE. NO THANK YOU

- oh

- PFFFT MULDER

- bro you better leave that dog alone!

- SCULLY’S FACE

- her little shrug XD I love that she’s gotten to the point of enjoying the supernatural shit

- PFFFT THE YANK

- I love the sheriff please don’t die

- what the fuuuuuck

- MULDER ON THE FLOOR

- the way she steps over him help.XD

- oop

- oh my fucking god did he eat it?!?!?!?!

- PFFFFFFT MULDER'S POSE

- Calusari

- BUCKLES THE BABY TO THE SINK

- BRO THATS WHAT YOU GET, FUCKIN LEAVE THE KID WITH HIS DAD OR TAKE HIM IN THE STALL WTF

- oof, killed his baby brother for a balloon

- was that a swastika????

- oh shit it wasn't the kid

- it is the boy but it isn't?

- OH

- YEESH this is intense!!!

- oh hell

- ok there is no way Dana can explain that away

- F. Emasculata

- oh gross

- oh! gross!

- I hate ittttttt

- I'm gonna hate this episode so much

- thank god he's finally in isolation, him being so close to Scully was making me nervousssss

- putting a kid on a long journey bus alone????

- IT'S SO GROSS I CANNOT LOOK AT IT

- thank fuck that shit is over oml

- Soft Light

- ok so his shadow like, absorbs people??

- funkyyyyyy

- dude you're gonna get yourself and the others killed

- yup

- great work.

- aw man :(

- Our Town

- eew chicken factory

- oh god that is so gross

- Mulder at least take that big ass coat off if you're going in the water

- oh darn that's a lot of bones

- I do NOT like the sheriff

- oh what the FUCK

- WHAT THE FUCK

- HURRY MULDER

- YEAHHHHH

- freaky

- Anasazi

- OH

- why is he throwing hands with Skinner??

- wtf

- OH SHIT

- WHAT

- 😭

- oh my god the way he collapses into her arms 😭

- someone did something to him right? Like he didn't know why he attacked skinner and he's been sweating and confused

- oh yeah he's been poisoned hasn't he

- OH SHIT

- AHHHH WHAT THE HELL

- he looks like he's finally sobering up

- Sully should be here for this :(

- "you black lunged son of a bitch" PFFFT

- damn it I hate this guy!

- my question is how to the dude got the body out of there on a dirt bike

- WHAT IS HAPPENING

- way to go kid!!

- uh oh

Season 3