#4x05 first of his name

[westerosiladies]

Game of Thrones (4x05): First of His Name

[raayllum]

Something I’ve been noticing a lot in my current rewatch is how Rayla and Soren are foils…Soren being the failed crownguard (“failed” in large part bc of his father’s choices) who ends up on a quest to kill his little king… Rayla trying to make up for her parents’ failures as dragonguards and going every extra mile to protect Zym but taking Ezran under her protection as well (sometimes FROM Soren)…, Soren runs Viren through for trying to kill Ez but he’s just an illusion, the real Viren is trying to kill Zym, and Rayla is prepared to die to stop that…then Rayla goes but Soren stays, and when she comes back he’s taken up her role as the moral center of the show, arguing points that she used to make

I tried to see if you’d written anything about these two being foils specifically but tumblr search is… you know lol. I would love it if you could point me to a relevant meta if there is one! If there isn’t, I hope my thoughts were interesting lol they make me emotional

Y'know funnily enough I don't think there ever was a dedicated Soren&Rayla from almost anyone (of course I could've missed it, but at least not from me) precisely cause from what I remember of early post-s3 arc 1 days, their foil relationship was just... a general fandom consensus of everyone going "Oh yeah that checks out" and kinda left at that.

After all, Soren is the princes' sworn protector who tries to kill them, makes his way back onto the right side, and then 'kills' Viren (his father) in order to protect them... whereas Rayla is their sworn killer who defects from her father in order to protect those same princes, and then she actually kills Viren (if Aaravos and Claudia hadn't intervened) in the same episode. More than that, they both leave behind their previous "hey kill these kids" roles in favour of being a Protector of their respective princes (Soren with Ezran, Rayla with Zym) respectively likewise in 3x09.

You're absolutely right that Soren and Rayla both rely a lot on their physical fighting skills, and this parallel in regards to failure always stands out to me in S3:

Soren: As crownguard, it was my job to make sure that nothing happened to him. No matter what. So when the Moonshadow elves came I did everything I could to protect him. But it wasn't enough. I just... don't want to fail you, too. Rayla: It's me, and it's all my fault. I failed them. I let them all down. They're right to reject me. I'm not good enough, and I never will be.

as does this one for Runaan-Viren, because Runaan may have brought his teenage daughter on an assassination mission, but she's never seemingly scared of him the way Soren is of Viren

even if both fathers take issues with 'fear born' weakness at least in theory

And of course there's some other parallels scattered throughout, which makes sense: 1x01-1x03 is basically Rayla speedrunning Soren's S1-S3 arc of perpetuating the cycle of violence to actively trying to stop it by joining forces with your previous 'enemy'.

I think in a lot of ways Soren was exactly the sort of human Rayla had prepared her whole life to kill -- he's proud, he lies, he's not a 'good' person (at first) -- but of course, now they're good friends and it's very sweet to see. Arc 2 has less direct foils, but it's still there, y'know? Just more quietly in the background.

For example, enough has changed since 2x07 that now in 4x05 their roles have virtually switched, since Soren is the one campaigning to save the dragon while Rayla, although not the aggressor, is saying to walk away. I expect S6 Rayla to take some of Soren's 'protector' quality on further in regards to "doing everything you can" when Callum gets possessed. Possible 5x08 parallels also stand out to me with the concepts of identities (names), ownership vs agency, and compassion against the enemy currently wailing on you through future possessed!Callum and Elmer parallels.

The two are also in for a real pickle since they're the most "these people are the bad guys, we're the good guys" in the show... and it's like sir your sister is evil and ma'am your boyfriend is going through a corruption arc, you're in for some rude awakenings. That said they do have their unbreakable bonds of love with Claudia and Callum respectively, so who knows. It'll all work out. (Eventually.)

On that note we can also see some parallels between 2x02 and 3x03 perhaps... Rayla accuses Soren of trying to kill Ezran but explains it poorly, so Callum gives her as much as he can but doesn't side with her in the moment (which to be fair it is Quite a leap so like Callum you're so valid) VS Soren poorly explaining Viren asking him to kill the princes and Claudia not siding with him. The difference is that in the face of more evidence in favour of Claudia + Soren, Callum still sides with Rayla, and in the face of more evidence against Viren ("You'll understand when you see the first to change" -> "Claudia, you're changing too"), Claudia still sides with Viren, but I digress.

I'd also argue that Ezran is the moral centre of the show (at least to me) simply because he's the only one in the main cast who hasn't entered the 1) you did terrible things in the name of love/protective relay and 2) he's pretty measured and compassionate 99% of the time (but I do love the 1% when he's not let me tell you).

I talked about it in this meta (which is 2+ years old jc) about how like a good moral line event horizon measuring stick is "how does this character treat Ezran" and if they're treating him poorly they're not doing the right thing, and if they're treating him well then they Are, but it doesn't go into S4 or S5 so like. Mileage may vary

Last but not least: I do have a Sorayla tag for headcanons edits brotp content in general so if you want more of them, that's what I'd recommend, with fics such as "flower crowns" (oneshot) and "if heaven and hell decide" (completed multichap, 60k) for their dynamic

[aashiqeddiediaz]

so i’m going insane about name meanings again with @oneawkwardcookie and @eddiesbuck but — jeshan (captain mehta’s first name) means “clear, plain, simple, crystal clear.”

captain mehta has played a big role in 4x05 as the IC of the warehouse fire where quite a few things get cleared up for buck, but more notably, he’s played a big role in 4x13/14, where he responds to the emergency of charlie’s that buck and eddie rush off to.

captain mehta is right there when eddie gets shot, right there when buck gets splattered with his blood, right there when buck is too stunned to move afterwards. captain mehta is essentially the one that saves buck’s life in turn by knocking him to the ground, out of the sniper’s range.

he’s also turned towards buck straddling eddie with the gauze pressed to the bullet wound, and is witness to buck pleading eddie to hang on, but he’s also witness to eddie asking buck if he’s hurt.

in this one event, captain mehta witnesses one of the most intimate moments of buck and eddie’s lives - another piece of trauma that binds them irreversibly together. i can only imagine what he would’ve thought, watching the guy who actually got shot needing to make sure his partner is unharmed, watching as he goes slack with relief, watching as buck’s strings are cut, clearly not okay when they roll eddie away.

and sure he’s a minor character, and this post is probably just a wind-around interpretation, but im thinking about of all names, him being called jeshan, and him being the only minor character to witness the event that turns buck and eddie’s lives around.

or in other words, clears things up.

[kummittelemaanninja]

Sansa Stark in every episode

4x05 - First of His Name

[walker-extended-universe]

4x05 Review

This week's episode was lighter in the fact that there was technically less going on but it was intense nonetheless. "We've Been Here Before" was certainly an apt name and I'm curious about the implications for future episodes. But, we need to talk about this one first.

Let's cover the main plot first: Cordell and Kelly trying to help James help himself.

After an opening montage of our team working the Jackal case, we get a short conference room scene of them going over what they know- or rather what they don't know. They know who the Jackal has killed and how he did it, but they have know information on how he picks his victims, or if he even has a pattern.

With them hitting a wall, James tells them all to go home while he gets some more work done. Cordell also tells the team to go home and says he'll stay back in case James needs him, keeping the promise he made to Kelly earlier in the episode to stop James from drowning.

While Cordell watches James, we get a flashback to five years ago. James had been assaulted by someone, but he's refusing to press charges. Cordell is irate on his behalf and Kelly is there trying to bring him home again. James refuses; he owes this to the victims and their families. He needs to bring the Jackal in. As Kelly leaves, she makes a knock at Cordell for not watching his back better.

As Cordell comes out of the memory, he sees James getting ready to go and meet someone. Alone. Worried, Cordell takes one of the undercover cars and follows James to a restaurant, where he meets a younger man.

This man is Henry Moore, the son of one of the victims. We learn that he's the one that assaulted James all those years ago, something James is still very forgiving of. We also learn that he and others that were related to Jackal victims are a part of a network that have been doing their own vigilante investigation. He claims to know who the Jackal is- one of his customers. While James is willing to follow up on this lead, he cautions Henry on jumping into a case like this. The evidence he has is circumstantial at best and it needs to be checked before they can act on it. Henry starts getting angry and storms out of the meeting, just in time for Cordell to make himself known- much to James' anger.

Side note: I love (and hate) that James has been careful to call Cordell "Ranger" this entire episode.

Cordell tries to confront James in the moment on him keeping him and Kelly at arms length when all they were trying to do was help but James isn't hearing it. Whatever good intentions they had, they lied to him. That's not something he can get over easy.

Later, we see Henry Moore setting his trap for the man he thinks is the Jackal. Luckily, James and Walker show up before he can do any serious damage. While Cordell gets Henry in cuffs, James finds his investigative journal and they decide he might not be completely grasping at straws.

Later, back at HQ, we find out that the man Henry suspected was not, in fact, the Jackal. But that doesn't mean the investigative work he and the others in the Jackal Survivor's Network wasn't good. James sends Cordell home with the promise that they'll pick this up in the morning. Then Kelly arrives.

Kelly tries to have a serious talk with him about this. She feels like he's slipping back into old habits and she doesn't think he can do this all over again. James assures her that this time it will be different. Their relationship is much stronger this time and he's not drinking this time. It won't be easy, but it won't be as bad as last time, he promises. Kelly seems to accept this answer and let's him do "one last thing" before they leave.

Unfortunately, James' "one last thing" is grabbing the mini-bottles of alcohol from Maybelline's gift basket, downing one before leaving the office.

Side note: Love love love (and hate) the visual of a literal wall between James and Kelly as they leave HQ.

Next, let's look at our favorite investigators' day off.

After being rather unceremoniously pushed out of the office, Cassie and Trey invite Luna out to the Side Step to relax a bit before he makes the long drive back to Corpus.

While they're relaxing, they talk abotut he case for a bit and try to piece together why Dylan Hollis' death was so different from the others. Cassie posits that the Jackal has some kind of ritualistic checklist he goes through with each of his victims and, since he'd already gone through most of it will Hollis, he could skip right to the end when he came back. Trey and Luna agree that makes sense and Luna offers to buy drinks to celebrate their win.

The main theme during this part of the episode is taking pleasure in the little things to chase away the darkness of an intense case. For Luna, that's sleeping with a weighted blanket on his feet. For Cassie, it's finding that perfect blend for her coffee. And, for Trey, it's trying to set Cassie up with Luna.

Side note: After the matching "He has swagger for days" lines I'm shipping Trey/Luna more than Luna/Cassie but to each their own.

After a night of celebrating, the three decide to head home. After learning Luna plans to grab a hotel, Cassie insists on him staying at her and Geri's place, an offer he accepts. Once he gets settled in, Cassie looks like she plans to take things to the next level and fixes herself up for seduction, but changes her mind and just leaves the weighted blanket outside his door, a gesture Luna appreciates.

Side note: I don't care how frosted those windows are, I would never be able to sleep in a bedroom with doors like that.

The next morning, Cassie finds specially roasted coffee beans in the oven and Luna returns to the kitchen with a proper good morning kiss.

Next, let's talk about the kids' investigation journey.

We learn that the kids have been focusing on finding the necklace on their own while Sadie is in the wind and Witt is in hiding. Unfortunately, visiting random estate sales and pawn shops hasn't given them much luck. It doesn't help that Stella is trying to keep everything a secret by constantly breaking her promises to help Liam with the horse rescue.

Side note: I love that they thought to call the Davidsons about an issue with someone wanting them dead over a stolen item. So on-brand.

When Liam gets hurt by ATV-ing and calling Ben to complain about Stella bailing on him again, Mawline pulls her weight and gets Stella and August to help out. She has a talk with Stella about fulfilling her obligations and helping the people she cares about, regardless of her own problems. Stella does feel guilty about bailing but, as she stated earlier, it can be hard to focus on family obligations when "a ghost is holding a gun to your head".

While they're at the barn, Stella asks Bonham and Abby for help tracking down lost family heirlooms. When she shows them a picture, Bonham comments on how old the necklace is given the style of the craftsman ship and suggests a few other places for her to look for it.

Later, we find out August has been doing some digging on his own- much to Stella's continued annoyance- and he actually found a record of that necklace. Specifically, a piece in a museum that once belonged to an Ophelia Rawlins. Naturually, their minds head to everyone's favorite thief: Hoyt Rawlins.

Side note: Looks like mine and @theladywyn's theory that this is about something Hoyt stole was right. Y'all are welcome.

Side side note: Anyone else think we would've gotten a glimpse of Ophelia if we'd had more Windy? *sigh*

Ending on a light note, let's talk about Geri and Liam's plans for the future.

We learn that Geri's received an investment offer from a decently sized influencer who wants to help her open up a new location- with some strings attached of course. Geri is excited as she's apparently had plans to expand the Side Step for a while and even picked out a location: Oklahoma City.

But our new influencer "friend" isn't as excited about that location considering her reach only goes so far. That's already dampening Geri's excitement for this deal but when Liam looks over the contract and sees some questionable clauses regarding how much the influencer and her team are getting out of the deal, Geri decides to turn it down. Her spirits are down for a bit but with some advice and help from Liam, she decides she can make those expansion dreams happen on her own terms.

Later, Liam is still resting his leg while doing some research for Geri when Bonham brings him some pain medication. Bonham scolds him again for taking on too much work but Liam explains that he feels good about doing this. He misses being in the court room, pointing out injustice and helping those who need it.

Side note: Did anyone else peep Bonham mentioning the pain meds are supposed to be temporary right after we heard about Henry's dad's addiction? Because I did. And I'm spinning over it.

Bonham seems happy for him but reminds him Abby is going to have some harsher words for him, which Liam accepts.

Walker continues to deliver great episodes and, as usual, I'm left with more questions for next week. How long will James be able to keep his drinking under wraps? How much blame will Cordell put on himself when that does come to light? Is addiction really the tie between all the victims? Where is that necklace Hoyt stole and why is this woman only coming after it now? How many more times are they going to bring up pregnancy before we actually get one? And will Maybelline be sending any more gift baskets for her favorite ranger?

See y'all next week to find out!

[imminent-danger-came]

Ok- so I recognize that this is a stretch but:

"You heard a story about a guy who had everything, who never had to work for anything, and thought you were the other guy?"

Mei: Has always had a family, has a rich history, also literally rich, doesn’t seem to have a job (possibly an influencer? Not sure), never struggled/needed training with her dragon powers (that I can remember at least)

MK: Doesn’t have a blood family/Didn‘t originally have a family, someone with no past, not necessarily poor- but by no means wealthy, works as a delivery boy, struggles with his powers on a regular basis (emotionally and literally)

LOOK ANON YOU'RE NOT WRONG.

"I don't have a family—I don't have anything."

I think one thing pre-s4 that really set off my theory-ometer is the fact that MK, for the first 3 seasons, does not have a single flashback or implication of past history. We see child Mei in 1x03, Pigsy has those photos on his wall in 2x04, Tang "met [Pigsy's] parents", Sandy has flashbacks to whatever war he was a part of in 2x08. Wukong and DBK and LBD have flashbacks. And MK, despite being the main character, does not get anything of the sort until 4x06—and even then it's him struggling to recall his own childhood. Like, MK truly is a paradigm of that "no past, no family, and no name" description we get from Scroll Subodhi.

All this to say that Mei's (and by extension the rest of the gang's) "rich history" v.s. MK's "no past" intrigues me to know end. Like, let's look at this scene from 3x09:

Mei: "Does anyone else feel like- " Sandy: "-we've been here before? Yeah, it's weird right? But I know I haven't." Tang: "Me neither. And yet this places feels so familiar!"

MK: "Nope! Not me man—this is all new to me!"

-

And let's also set it right beside this scene from 4x05:

MK: "I wonder when we're gonna meet my ancestor." Mei: "I thought Monkey King was your dad!" MK: "He's not my dad—Pigsy's my dad." Pigsy: "Uh, kid? I'm not exactly yer uh..."

-

So, MK clearly isn't connected to anyone who was there to seal the Samadhi Fire, and we don't meet an "ancestor" in the scroll for MK like we do for everyone else, but you know who we do meet?

HM.

We go from "I wonder when we're gonna meet my ancestor" in 4x05 to "A simple creature, with no past, no family, and no name" in 4x06 to meeting Curse MK in 4x07, to MK saying that he doesn't "have a family—[he] doesn't have anything" in 4x08. Those sure are some dots.

[all-eyes-lead-to-the-truth]

All Eyes Lead to the Truth | Season Four Master Post

Season four is one of the most beloved seasons of The X-Files, and we had a lot of fun exploring the background characters that helped make it so special!

Check out this thread to see all the characters we got to meet this season!

Herrenvolk (4x01) | X

No one would remember him, and if they did, they would struggle to remember a name they were never told. The memory of his existence would remain occluded by the shadows he lived in.

Home (4x02) | Sheriff Andy Taylor

For protection, his father had said, as he pressed the unfamiliar cold metal into Taylor’s warm hand. To keep your family safe.

To keep your home safe.

He shuts the drawer. He isn’t ready for this reality, not now. Not yet.

Teliko (4x03) | Special Agent Sean Pendrell

With them, it was never something simple. It was a computer chip so fragile he could barely study it. It was a complex string of numbers and letters tracking a smallpox vaccination program for reasons he couldn’t even begin to fathom.

This was what he went to school for.

Unruhe (4x04) | Gerry Schnauz

Gerry knew she needed his help the moment they met. There was a howler inside of her head — a black mass invading her body and mind.

The Field Where I Died (4x05) | Melissa Rydell Ephesian

Melissa struggled with the idea of reincarnation, but dared not show it. And as it turned out, a broken link in the chain of her faith led to more broken links.

When she first saw Vernon hurt a child, the chain shattered.

Sanguinarium (4x06) | Dr. Theresa Shannon

The face on the computer had looked just like Jack, but that had to be impossible. The science of surgery hadn’t come that far. To spread the eyes further apart, change features completely… and besides, she knows him. Knows the person he is…

Musings of a Cigarette Smoking Man (4x07) | Albert M. Godwinkle

All Albert M. Godwinkle wants today is to read a halfway decent manuscript that puts a smile on his disgruntled face. Today is not that day.

Tunguska (4x08) | Alex Krycek

If looks could kill, Alex would be a dead man. But he thrives off this, off making Mulder squirm. It’s just so fucking easy.

Terma (4x09) | Senator Albert Sorenson

He was a staunch proponent of holding insubordinate witnesses in contempt when the court was not being respected, and no one, not even a government employee, was immune to that.

Paper Hearts (4x10) | Addie Sparks

The little girl he loves is gone, and she is never coming back.

Just like me.

El Mundo Gira (4x11) | Migrant Worker

At the simple mention of El Chupacabra, the shack erupted in a cacophony of worry, as if merely saying the name might summon the beast.

Leonard Betts (4x12) | Michele Wilkes

Even through the panic she felt screaming through her that nothing about this was okay, she felt a moment of relief wash over her. Maybe it had all been a dream. Maybe her partner hadn’t died while she was at the wheel.

Never Again (4x13) | Ed Jerse

Deadbeat. Loser. Failure.

He’s heard it all, and he has had enough. No one humiliates Ed Jerse anymore. No, not now. Never again.

Memento Mori (4x14) | Kurt Crawford

What is destined for a creature borne of fluid and test tubes, guided by the hands of cruel men?

Kaddish (4x15) | Ariel Luria

Someone else’s hatred had taken her true love away. Just like that, in an instant, like it was nothing. But it was not hatred that led her to the gravesite that stormy night.

Unrequited (4x16) | Special Agent Kent Hill

Hill slides in his earpiece, watching as their eyes lock. His wife would call it eavesdropping, but as he steps closer, tilting his head just right to better hear their hushed voices, Hill simply calls it satisfying a long-standing curiosity.

Tempus Fugit (4x17) | Bartender

The man tried to fluff the pink ball back into shape after presumably squashing it in his pocket. “The woman I came in with— it’s her birthday, and she loves these things. I was wondering if there was any way you could ask someone in the back to put it on a plate and bring it out to her?”

Max (4x18) | Sharon Graffia

Sharon Graffia isn’t a liar. She’d only done what she needed to in order for people to believe her. All she’s ever wanted was someone to believe her.

Synchrony (4x19) | Jason Nichols

Naïveté and a complete lack of understanding of the consequences of their work had been their downfall. But how could they have known?

Small Potatoes (4x20) | Eddie Van Blundht

It didn’t take him long to realize he’d initially misread the situation when he saw them at the clinic. Based on the look Dana Scully shot him when he tried to hold her hand at the airport, he knew he was navigating territory Fox Mulder had yet to conquer.

Zero Sum (4x21) | Billy

He slowly twisted his neck to the right, and was horrified by the sight before him. In the next bed over was David from his class, his face covered in gross red bumps. He looked dead.

Billy didn’t know what else to do. He started crying.

Elegy (4x22) | Lauren Heller

She had an exam in the morning. Her mother’s birthday was the following weekend. She had plans.

Demons (4x23) | Amy Cassandra

As she speaks, the deep wound in her skull throbs, reminding her that that was true, until weeks ago when she’d traded the nightmare of one penetrating drill with the reality of another.

Gesthemane (4x24) | Father McCue

Her faith had come from God, yes… but it had also come from another, less expected source. Perhaps it still did.

Stay tuned for more perspectives coming in Season Five!

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

We spend so much time deliberating and chatting about who to use in a given episode or where certain characters would be best utilized in the series, and we'd love to hear any opinions or predictions you might have! Do you have a favorite minor character? What episodes do you think would be best for our favorite recurring characters? Your feedback is one of the most enjoyable parts of this project (and sometimes hearing other perspectives can help inform the decisions we have to make). - @admiralty-xfd, @fridaysat9, @monikafilefan, and @gaycrouton

[blacklister214]

The Slow Shift of Eliza's Feelings Toward Patrick

2x04: Angel of Inferno. Enemy. Patrick immediately gets under her skin, so much so that she literally says that losing to him would be worse than somebody dying. She loathes him, reasonably so, because he seems like one more man determined to stand in the way of her business. Also he gets her thrown in jail, and tries to steal her evidence.

He throws her further through a loop when she beats him at his own game and he shows up at her house with a smile on his face. She genuinely doesn't know what to make of him. Then she thinks he's threatening her friends and she is ready to throw down.

2x06: Frenemy. First step was Patrick hiring her to work his case. I don't think she really took his flattery sincerely until this moment. She assumes he wants her for the novelty of the "lady detective." This is big show of faith, especially for a man who runs his own agency.

The next big moment is when the way Patrick reacts to the results of the case. Even though she got him shot, he don't yell at her, and neither does he take back the money. Further more he thanks her for coming to see him, even though he's perfectly aware she had to to give him the results. Because of these reactions he moves into the frenemy tier. She offers him her opinion on his cane choice, which at the beginning of the episode she wouldn't have bothered with.

3x03: Friend. My favorite because this the beginning of their personal relationship, though the first jump was to ally of convenience which Patrick earns by listening to Eliza, conceding to her point and acquiescing to her plan. As the evening wears on she slowly drops the convenience part. She opens up with a little about her childhood and plays a game with him. She doesn't reproach him for his mistake with Malone, but immediately admits her own error and is ready to move on, until she find out he lied to her. Big moment here, because this time his lie HURT. She is furious in a way she's never been, because she'd allowed herself to begin to trust him. She's so mad that when he does open up in apology/explanation, she is unwilling to listen. Finally the major moment: He helps her out of her restraints, rather than leaving her there. She knows Patrick really did share the most painful moment of his life with her. That's why the breakfast and "Patrick" becomes a thing.

3x06: Employer. Why does she accept his offer? Patrick raced over to tell her about the bomb and checked himself to see if it was dangerous. He listened to her about taking the case to Wellington. He also helps tidy her office as he speaks to her without being asked. He accept her direction on the joint task force for without comment. Finally he proves how much he gets her. Business cards in a box, desire to make things possible for other women, and he already put her name on the door.

4x04: Partner: Shares ideas. Listens to him. Why? Because he doesn't give up on her, even though he is angry. Because he is able to push past mistakes and focus on the problems at hand.

4x05: Mentor. Evidenced by Eliza listening to Patrick about Phelps and honoring the deal. Why? Because he doesn't throw her under the bus with Bracewell. Because she can see Patrick being effective in a way she is not when he gets them into the crime scene. Because she can see his argument has merit, even when it sticks in her craw.

4x06: Ride or Die. Eliza is conflicted about Patrick's announcement he's going back to Paris. She's pleased at the show of faith, but still its not a purely celebratory look on her face. She agrees to spend her free time with him, doing something outside her comfort zone. Eliza never doubts his innocence in the stabbing, refuses to stay out of his trouble, and when she realizes the truth, she quite literally bets her life on his character.

All told, that's quite a bit of progress. Unlike William and Eliza who go from "Person I am UNWILLING to admit to being romantically interested in, but also drives me crazy to Person I am WILLING to admit I am romantically interested in, but also drives me crazy."

[blazethecheeto]

what are your arrowverse rarepairs?

okay so this is gonna be fun especially as i'm not sure what counts as a rarepair

ARROW

lauricity (laurel x felicity) <- the first words she said to laurel was 'gorgeous laurel' ok she was crushing hard

shasladiver?!?! (shado x oliver x slade + please tell me if they have another name) <- domestic. cute. island. trio. before. the. incident. "what's the worst way your ship has ever died" "oh so slade fake-died and then oliver accidentally murdered shado and then he appeared just as she died and she never knew he was alive so he held her dead body in his arms as oliver was forever shrouded in guilt then slade became corrupted from a drug and oliver had to kill him too but he wasn't really dead and came back for revenge"

smoaksiren (siren x felicity) <- i already ranted about this one i LOVE THEM.

terrificdog (rene x curtis) <- they're so gay and chaotic x nerdy duos are the best even dinah agrees

constanqueen (oliver x constantine) <- why was constantine so flirty to him in that one episode they probably hooked up let's be honest

smoakingcanary (felicity x sara) <- 'YOU'RE STILL CUTE'

alicity (felicity x alena) <- they were actually adorable oh my god

lauryssa (laurel x nyssa) <- supposed to be canon you can't convince me otherwise

(gotta love how much felicity ships are in there girlie has chemistry with everyone)

FLASH

coldflash (snart x barry) <- does this even count as a rarepair they're so popular i mean thematic parallels, red x blue, enemies to lovers, homo-erotic flirting

snowwest (iris x caitlin) <- lauricity coded also the entirety of 4x05

balph?!?! (barry x ralph) <- the entirety of s4. that's all.

blackfrost (frost x siren) <- they're each other in a different font just IMAGINE THE FUCKING POWER.

bulian?!? (barry x julian) <- enemies to lovers and just very sus moments in s3 that made me say 'hold up fruity'

snowfrost (caitlin x frost) <- new ship but oh my god its growing on me they're smoaksiren in a different font

(gotta love how barry is half of them he's so shippable)

SUPERGIRL

superwire (leslie x kara) <- dude they're so coldflash coded

agentreign (alex x sam) <- i still can't believe they're not canon

psiwire (psi x leslie) <- that one episode in s3. got me thinking thoughts.

superlane (kara x lucy) <- i shipped them so much in s1 oh my god

monwinn (mon-el x winn) <- bro has a thing for aliens

scholson (james x winn) <- nah bc this could lowkey work

superbat (kara x kate + is there another name?) <- kate was 1000% flirting with kara in the elseworlds crossover

LEGENDS OF TOMORROW

coldatom (ray x snart) <- snart has a type and it's self-righteous red coded dark haired boys

lovebirds (kendra x sara) <- this was so unexpected but like hello they trained together and she got sara back from the league

timehex (jonah x rip) <- actually no way u can convince me they aren't exes

whiteatom (sara x ray) <- they're so sweet and they're the time parents and so underrated

steelatom (nate x ray) <- bromance.

hellcanary (sara x constantine) <- hhhh i could rant so much bro but they get each other and they are friends with benefits and both have ties to demons and can understand each other's hurt and are chaotic bisexuals and-

atomhawkcanary (sara x ray x kendra) <- they lived together for like a year ok things probably happened.

thanks for asking!!!! damn there's a lot lol

[roseandsalt]

SANSA STARK 4x05 - First of His Name

 The snow drifted down and down, all in ghostly silence, and lay thick and unbroken on the ground. All color had fled the world outside. It was a place of whites and blacks and greys. White towers and white snow and white statues, black shadows and black trees, the dark grey sky above. A pure world, Sansa thought. I do not belong here.

Yet she stepped out all the same. 

[princeescaluswords]

I just saw the teen wolf movie and I hated everything about it.What pissed me the most was this movie killing off Scott's character development and he's still in love with Allison.I just was like he didn't move on,dammit.Also I hate how Derek just becomes a true alpha before he dies,I was like there is one every one hundred years and Derek just gets it,I call bullshit.

Also the fics already bashing Scott and saying he didn't deserve being a Alpha,it's just so fucking sad that these people will never happy until Stiles becomes the chosen one of magic and Derek become the true alpha.I hate the majority of the teen wolf fandom and it's really shitty that Tyler Posen himself cannot be celebrated by the fans,of his own show.

I enjoyed the movie for a great many reasons, even though I didn't get everything I wanted from it. I was prepared for that, because I know that Jeff Davis is a very focused storyteller. He doesn't spend time on things that don't interest him, aside from the inconsequential bits of red meat he throws to fans to keep them around.

It's completely fine that you didn't like the movie -- it was never going to please everyone -- but I have to disagree with you. I don't think that Scott still being in love with Allison is undoing Scott's character development. He never stopped loving Allison. We saw that in throughout Season 3, 4, 5, and 6. His reaction to her name breaking a third of the Dead Pool code in I.E.D. (4x05). His inscription during Senior Scribe in Creatures of the Night (5x01). His memories in Apotheosis (5x20). His ability to guess Argent's password in Raw Talent (6x12). He never lost that emotional connection to her.

But he did move on. He truly loves Kira. He develops feelings for Malia (but they didn't seem to have gone anywhere). Yet, he couldn't be with Allison because at first she didn't want to be with him and then she was dead. He couldn't be with Kira because she had to go learn from the Skin-walkers. His character development was the ability to accept that he couldn't always get what he wanted, and that it was mature to allow himself to want other things instead. (This was echoed by Stiles, who admitted in Memory Lost (6x01) that he had a crush on Lydia even though he was in a loving relationship with Malia.)

I don't think many people will like this next part, but I think that Teen Wolf rejects the concept (something I wish modern United States culture would mimic) that in order for love to be 'true', it must be possessive and exclusive. It must be powerful to the point of destiny, e.g. soulmates, the red string of fate, etc. To me, there is no such thing as emotional infidelity. Emotions are too broad and too deep to be focused on a sole individual in a healthy manner. Infidelity is real but it's behavior not simply a feeling, and we never see Scott being unfaithful, not to Kira, not to Malia, and not to Stiles. (Think about how many people in the fandom act as if Scott developing emotions for Allison is 'betraying' Stiles.)

I have an example which I hesitate to bring this up, because Rowling and her works have fallen into extreme disfavor, but one of the things I hated about both her books and the movies derived from them is the celebration, magnified by fandom, of Severus Snape's devotion to Lily Potter's memory. "Always." It's supposed to be a redeeming aspect of his character, but it seems eminently destructive in my opinion. He spent 18 years not only holding on to his love for a woman he couldn't have in any way but also closing himself off from everything else. He didn't move on. In fact, he spent seven of those years furious with a child yet refusing to avoid him because the boy reminded him of his mother. That's not healthy.

Scott's ability to love other people while still having an emotional connection to Allison is far more mature and praiseworthy. I think that, especially in terms of romance, Scott's character development definitely remained intact.

As for Derek's assumption of True Alpha status in his final moments, I wasn't surprised yet I also wasn't disappointed. Remember, being a True Alpha isn't just about sacrifice. It's about "virtue, strength of character, and willpower." Derek didn't simply sacrifice himself for his son because he had no other choice. There were other options. Derek recognized that this option -- burning the nogitsune on the Nemeton with hellfire -- had to happen, because a creature as powerful as it was would just keep coming back. A threat against his family that could last for generations. He wanted his pack, his alpha, and his son to be free of it forever, to be able to live without looking over their shoulders. That's why he made sure Scott took responsibility for Eli. Think about it. The Hale Fire ruined his life as his family burned, but now he burned to preserve his new family. That acceptance, that decision is more than just a sacrifice; it's an act of will. I don't have any problem with that at all, especially since he learned how to do it from Scott (and it's not a competition anyway).

As for the fandom, you knew these racist assholes were going to be that way. They already had an event planned for fix-it stories a week before the movie premiered. You just have to remember it was never about the story -- it was about centering white characters and defending their privilege by concealing it behind an overindulgence in misery porn. As I said above, the Hale Fire was 20 YEARS AGO during the movie, but there's a reason they don't want Derek (or any character) to have moved on from it, as Scott had moved on from the death of Allison. To them, constantly defining the Hales by what was done to them is a feature, not a bug.

[owl-with-a-pen]

so I was rewatching an episode of season 4 recently and I realized, when exactly does Nia learn Brainy's name? He definitely learns hers when they first meet, but for her learning his, I'm not certain. (although since Brainy really has 3 different names, she could've learned them in 3 different conversations? Like she learns 'Brainy' early on, maybe Kara tells her, and then he reveals 'Querl Dox' to her sometime in the middle of the season, and 'Brainiac 5' comes after the season finale ordeal.)

Ok so this got me thinking!

So, from 4x05, we definitely know Nia learns the name 'Brainy' first. Lena offhandedly mentions Brainy while he's off screen and Nia doesn't react to it until he appears a little later in the scene, although I do like the idea that Kara might have mentioned Brainy in casual conversation before then to Nia, but she just doesn't put two and two together until she sees him again.

I have headcanons for so many interactions that might happen between scenes or episodes for these two characters, so I like to think that maybe when Nia's training with Brainy or just hanging out in general that they have a conversation about it. I feel like it'd be easy to work in Nia learning both of Brainy's other names more or less in the same conversation. She might ask him whether Brainy is a nickname and he might then explain that it's actually shortened from 'Brainiac 5' which could then lead on to him explaining that his actual name is 'Querl Dox'. Or alternatively, maybe she hears him referred to as 'Agent Dox' which prompts the conversation.

Certainly lots of possibilities 🤔🤔

[raayllum]

 Don’t you remember who you are?

Was mulling over this scene specifically from 4x06 and the interesting commonalities / weight to it, particularly paired with the way S4 quietly starts deconstructing the identities that Callum and Rayla have built over arc 1 and into S4, both individually and together.

Ezran attempts to get them to work together by stating basically that working together is an intrinsic part of who Callum and Rayla are, at this point. A part hat they need to remember even as a stressful situation mounts. It’s similar to Ezran’s faith in their love for each other in 4x01, buoyed by his love for them, in which Ezran knows Callum still loves Rayla even if he’s heartbroken and unable to say it aloud, and Ezran knows that as long as Rayla has breath, she likewise has love for his brother. So there’s that.

Then you have what Ezran says. To each of them, he starts with their more formal titles, titles they are chafing or splintering under. Ezran doesn’t know (or isn’t taking into account) how awkward and apprehensive Callum is about his formal high mage title and following so directly in Viren’s footsteps, unable to say the man’s name aloud either. Then you have Rayla, who shirked off her Dragonguard title the night before with an eye-roll and a big change in character, something she’s done her best to repress and has thus far been decently successful at doing so. Titles that don’t accurately capture who they are, or at least aren’t titles they feel secure in. 

And then the second thing Ezran says is something that reminds them of the journey they went on together. Callum became the first primal human mage in centuries because Rayla called him a mage and was there every step in the way in his journey with magic, from none to dark to the Sky arcanum, always hearing him out and even helping him learn a couple of spells. Ezran cites something akin to what Rayla said about Callum when vouching for him to Sol Regem back in 3x01 (“The only reason the Dragon Prince is alive is because of this human”) and refers back to something we know is already on Rayla’s mind (circa 4x05′s “Then you spread your wings, and you saved me”). She’s the real reason Zym is still here, but the only reason she’s still here is because of Callum.

And then she looks at Callum, arches an eyebrow, and waits for his judgement call (like almost always, ever since “Say the word”) and he collects himself and passes his staff over to her so he can think. So they can work as a team, again. 

[gregorygerwitz]

i would love to hear more thoughts about he/him enby mouse if you have any to share?

⚡

he/him enby mouse my absolute beloved

Okay, this headcanon is not super fleshed out, honestly? I've had it for like a year but have I developed it at all beyond slapping a label on him? No.

It also started... as a joke? I'm sure I'll bring the post back eventually but I've made the joke that no cis person goes by "Mouse" for 10+ years many times. And I stand by it. It's true. I'm non-binary and it was a silly throwaway joke I made I think just to Kit and a few IRL friends don't come for me but like... I've just adopted that headcanon now. It's part of my personal belief system.

Because "Mouse" started out as a silly nickname, something that Jay definitely continued to call him when they came home, and then he just... liked it. I think canon kind of confirmed that for me last year? Because Jay does not still use "Ricochet" at all, and was openly uncomfortable when Knox used it, but Mouse is exclusively "Mouse" with a few exceptions:

When Jay introduces him to Voight in 2x16, it's "this is Greg Gerwitz, aka Mouse"

In 3x03 when he's being held hostage by Fraser, he introduces himself with "I'm Greg Gerwitz, but everybody calls me Mouse"

And in 4x05 when he and Jay are arguing, and that is the only time when Jay pulls out the first name, when he's terrified of losing his friend, and it's just "Greg, it's a war"

Non-binary!Mouse headcanon aside, he picked that name. He chose it over "Greg" and whatever reason he has for that is valid. Whether it's because he's trying to further distance himself from his parents (this blog remains an anti-Gregory and Thelma place at all times) or because he never liked "Greg" much to begin with (which is fair, I only know one Greg IRL and he's chill but like... he's my uncle and he taught me how to drive of course I like him) or he just got attached to his found family when he was deployed and keeping the name helped him feel close to them even after he was back in Chicago. Whatever it is, good for him.

(I'm also not generally a pro-Voight person but he is slowly growing on me ten seasons into this stupid show and the fact that he never once deadnames Mouse, even when he's frustrated and angry in 4x05, definitely wins him some points in my book tbh. good job, Hank)

(honestly the fact that no one deadnames him once, at least that we saw, is so important to me actually. I also disregard most of the writing around Mouse in s4 because it was messy but "Greg, it's a war" does hold a special place in my heart so Jay's not on thin ice for that I actually think he should do it more but that's just me and my love of angst)

But just... he's not Greg. He's Mouse. He was never "Greg," not really, not since he met Jay, at least, but the fact that he doesn't change his pronouns is just because... he doesn't feel like he needs to? Even if/when he puts a(nother) label on his identity? I'm trying to think of how to explain the feeling with words because it's hard, but...

It's just gotten to the point where "Greg" just feels wrong. That's not who he is. But the use of he/him pronouns has never made him uncomfortable. Maybe it's because they're part of his everyday routine and the idea of switching it up, even to he/they, is stressful (mood), or he's not so disconnected from being raised and socialized as a boy that he feels the need to change it. He/him pronouns feel right in a way that "Greg" doesn't anymore.

And, I did show @okayhotshots this gif while infodumping to them about my baby once:

Their exact words were "no cis-person dresses like that." And they're absolutely correct. They should be louder.

[destielshippingnews]

Edvard's Supernatural Guide: 2x05 Simon Said

Spoilers up to SPN 5x05 Fallen Idols

Supernatural’s 27th episode is the first episode by Ben Edlund, a favourite among fans of the show for his unusual, quirky concepts, his peculiar yet usually-fantastic execution, and for being one of the biggest pushers of bi!Dean and DeanCas,

Edlund was a producer on both Firefly and for the last year and a half of Angel, making him one of several connections between Supernatural and Joss Whedon’s work. Another connection is the actor Ridge Canipe who played poco!Dean in 1x18 Something Wicked and 3x08 A Very Supernatural Christmas. He also played Doomed Teaser Child in Angel 5x14 Smile Time which was written by Ben Edlund.

Speaking of Firefly, Jensen was cast as one of the leads for the 2003 show Still Life of which only an unaired pilot was made. Starring with him was Morena Baccarin as his dead brother’s ex-girlfriend and his apparent love interest. Morena Baccarin, as I am sure you know, played Inara in Firefly and Serenity.

Quite a few fan-favourite episodes were written by Edlund, including 2x18 Hollywood Babylon, 3x03 Bad Day at Black Rock, 3x13 Ghostfacers, 4x05 Monster Movie, 4x08 Wishful Thinking, 4x16 On the Head of a Pin, 5x04 The End, and 6x20 The Man Who Would be King. However, in spite of Edlund’s reputation among the fans, his first episode of Supernatural is far from being a stand-out. It hurries the plot along, lets us conclude beyond a reasonable doubt that Sam’s visions have something to do with Azazel (Yellow-Eyed Demon), and foreshadow the possible end to Dean and Sam’s story, but it does not do any of it in a way which personally entertains or interests me. Edlund’s next offering, 2x11 Nightshifter, leaves me similarly cool.

One thing which series two does better than series one is plot: more happens in series two which is relevant than in series one. The set-up for this began already in episode 2x01 In My Time of Dying, with John telling Dean he might have to kill Sam (though this is not revealed to the viewer straightaway), but the main plot of series two is the psychic children and Sam’s psychic abilities. Funnily enough, though the plot of series three is trying to free Dean from his contractual obligations with the crossroads demon, the story is actually about Sam. Even in a plotline about himself, Dean gets shunted aside in favour of Kripke’s self-insert. Anyway, not much significant has happened in relation to Sam’s psychic powers since 1x14 Nightmare, but 2x05 lights a metaphorical fire under its proverbial derrière. The episode’s story of one brother becoming a monster and the other being forced to kill him is clearly foreshadowing Dean and Sam’s story.

On the subject thereof, the show has made numerous references to Stephen King’s works, namely IT in 2x02 Everybody Loves a Clown, Pet Sematary in 2x04 Children Shouldn’t Play with Dead Things, and the upcoming 2x09 Croatoan and 2x11 Playthings make reference to The Shining. I am far from an expert on Stephen King, having read only about 20-25 of his books, but even after reading only that I can see parallels with the story of the psychic children. Allow me to explain:

Stephen King’s novels take place in a multiverse very much like Supernatural, and many themes, references, and places link the novels together. The axis mundi of the Kingverse is The Dark Tower series of novels, a story inspired in large part by The Lord of the Rings but which is drastically different and does its own thing completely (Dean would love it: cowboy iconography everywhere! In fact, I can see Dean having quite the soft spot for Roland…).

The dark tower in question is the axis mundi of the multiverse, the pin keeping everything in place. Beams of power are emitted from the tower, each one named after an animal such as the bear or the turtle (whom readers of IT might recognise). These twelve beams transverse time, space, and different universes, holding everything in place. However, the Crimson King wants to destroy the multiverse completely, just because he likes destroying things, and his plan to topple the dark tower might sound familiar to Supernatural viewers.

Psychic children play a significant role in Stephen King’s novels, such as Carrie, The Shining, Doctor Sleep, Firestarter, and The Institute. Part of the Crimson King’s plan is to gather as many of these children together as possible into an institution and harness their psychic power to attack each beam until they fail and the worlds begin to die. By the time the story begins, many of the beams have already been destroyed, and it is a race against time for Roland and his ka-tet to get to the dark tower and save the multiverse.

It is no secret that Eric Kripke is a big fan of Neil Gaiman, especially American Gods and The Sandman, but he also appears to be quite the Stephen King fan, and this is apparent in the psychic kids storyline. Sam’s story is not a copy of King’s psychic children, but it is similar enough to warrant comparison and for there to likely have been inspiration taken from King.

Returning to the episode, the story begins with a middle-aged doctor taking a phone call, then shooting a man in a hardware shop somewhere in small-town Oklahoma before turning the rifle on himself. It turns out that this is a vision Sam is having, and Sam uses the name of the bus line he saw in his premonition to locate the town. This leads them to a case involving not one but two psychics and a lot of incestuous subtext.

And no, Winc*sties, I am not referring to Dean and Sam, but Weber and Andy, or specifically, Weber. From the beginning of the episode, there is something off about him, something strongly reminiscent of Warren, Jonathan, and Andrew in Buffy, or even Ed and Harry. They are utterly incompetent at social interaction and try their hardest to cover it up with something which is clearly an act adopted from television shows and rap/hip hop music. Far be it from me to judge somebody for trying to fill in a missing part of their personality, but the result is that Weber comes across as trying too hard.

As hinted at, this suggests either a ‘sheltered’ childhood which denied him the opportunity to learn how to socialise, a neurodivergence such as autism , or quite probably a mix of both. Some people might be tempted to use the demon blood to explain his mental instability, but Weber’s desperation to fill a gaping void with his brother (not a pun), his resentment and murder of those responsible for his adoption, and the fact he appears to be a serial rapist and killer of women strongly implies abuse at the hands of his mother.

A slight sidetrack to Jensen’s new show, Big Sky. The first series and a half revolved around a human trafficking ring, and one of the main antagonists was Ronald. In the scene he was introduced, his mother was shaming him for not being as successful as her friends’ children and treating him like an eight year old. This very scene set alarm bells ringing in my head, and I was right. It turns out Ronald kidnapped women and trafficked them into prostitution in Canada. The ultimate cause of this was his mother’s mistreatment of him as both a child and an adult, involving perverted intrusions into his sex life (reminiscent of Francis Dolarhyde in Manhunter (see 1x06 Skin), and ‘allowing’ or encouraging him to sleep in her bed with her. This last could possibly have been as a ‘replacement’ for the husband whom she killed when Ronald was a boy. That puts me in mind of the role poco!Dean had to take on as almost an ersatz wife and life partner for John as discussed in 2x01 In My Time of Dying.

She was clearly a Jocasta of the highest order, and while Ronald was responsible for ruining the lives of countless women and girls, his mother was responsible for making him the kind of person who would do that.

Returning to Weber, he serves another purpose in this episode as being an insight into Sam’s possible future. Whatever happened to him at his adoptive home, it seems the awakening of his psychic abilities was a catalyst to a change in behaviour for Weber, allowing the monster loose. Sam is scared that this will happen to him as his powers develop.

However, Weber is relatively insignificant in the overall story of the show, serving to showcase a possibility and reveal Sam’s fears. Whilst I can have sympathy for whatever must have happened to him, and whilst the demon blood might have been responsible for the monster he became, he was indeed a monster and got what was coming to him. At least the manner of Weber’s death would have pleased him had he been alive long enough to appreciate it: getting blasted from behind by his brother.

Sam is terrified in this episode because he is seeing one of his possible futures. Dean tries to reassure him, but to anybody with ears, Dean’s protestations that Sam ‘doesn’t have it in him to be a monster’ sound like desperate denial: he knows what Sam might become, but does not want to accept it.

Dean is trying to be supportive of Sam, and even gets hostile with Ellen at the end of the episode as an attempt to keep Sam's psychic abilities secret from other hunters. But there is something about Sam’s behaviour in this episode as well as the way he generally talks about himself from 1x14 Nightmare onwards which suggests fatalism and even self-destructive tendencies. In 5x05 False Idols, Sam will go on to blame Dean’s ‘controlling nature’ for driving him to Ruby, but this is an attempt to absolve himself of responsibility and ignore a deeper issue. Dean tries his hardest to support Sam as a brother and friend, but Sam does not let him get through. That is Sam’s problem and Sam’s responsibility.

Further to the subject of Sam (usually I discuss Dean at length like this, but this is mostly a Sam episode), I mentioned a few analyses ago (1x19, perhaps?) that he has many traits of bipolar disorder, or manic depression. He certainly views himself as scum of the Earth sometimes, but he also has what could be the ‘manic’ aspect on display in this episode. That is his refusal to even entertain the notion he could be wrong about Andy because Sam just knows so much better, and he certainly knows better than Dean (like with the patch of dead grass in a graveyard in 2x04 Children Shouldn’t Play with Dead Things).

Of course, there are other factors at play, such as Sam’s dislike of Dean and his apparent need for sureties such as Andy being the killer and even the surety that he will become a monster. Sam’s touchiness at being referred to as a ‘freak’, for example, indicates he is already struggling with this view of himself and feels Dean’s use of the word is ‘confirmation’ of his insecurities.

Another part of him on display in this episode is his hope that saving people will stop him going bad. Sam has seen people die before, but he was especially broken up after the doctor he thought he had saved from shooting himself with the rifle got the Regina George treatment.

Another part of him on display in this episode is his hope that saving people will stop him going bad. Sam has seen people die before, but he was especially broken up after the doctor he thought he had saved from shooting himself with the rifle got the Regina George treatment. Other than the fact that watching somebody get run over right in front of you is the opposite of fun, his inability to save the doctor perhaps confirmed to Sam that he cannot save people, and if he cannot save them, he cannot save himself.

Returning to the very beginning of the episode, the music over the recap reminded me that the show once had a real vibe about it, something lost somewhere around series four. It reminded me a lot of The X-Files in that there was something very early 1990s genre show about it, as well as the fact I am sure there is an episode of The X-Files filmed in the same location.

A bit of a culture shock is how easy it is to acquire firearms in America. In Britain, it is possible to go into certain shops to acquire hunting knives, Swiss Army Knives, and similar things, but as far as I am aware guns are not available to the general public. Things are different here in Finland, where primary school children are allowed access to sharp hunting knives (under teacher supervision) whilst preparing food outdoors, gunshots can be heard frequently during hunting season, and where pistols are available to buy in some outdoor and sports shops as well as a specialist weapon shop or two (although licenses and permits are required).

We meet Jo, Ellen, and Ash again in this episode. Jo is, as always, being Bad Ass, by which I mean adults act stupid around her to make her look good. Of course, some middle aged men would act silly around a pretty young woman like Jo, but given how easily and she ‘beat’ Dean (who conveniently did not fight back because men shouldn’t hit women) in 2x02 Everybody Loves a Clown, she comes across as an attempt to write a Bad Ass Chick. If I can call out the fact that almost all the baddies on Big Sky are men and almost all the victims are women and girls, I can call out Jo as a bit of a Mary Sue, surely.

A female sometimes being better than a male at ‘man things’ is not the issue, nor is a tiny female being able to best a large male at physical combat an issue. It makes complete sense, for example, that Mary in The Winchesters is able to go hand-to-hand with the demon in 1x01 Pilot because she had been groomed her whole life to do just that, in the same way Dean had. My younger sister plays more video games than I do, but whereas I am quite content with Pokémon, Dragon Quest, Monster Hunter, and Spyro the Dragon, she likes more ‘serious’ games such as Fallout, Halo, and Assassin’s Creed and is much better at them than I am. My third sister was in army cadets for about five or six years and could have joined the actual army as a lieutenant (I think) whilst I had the hand-eye coördination of a thing which has no hands or eyes and barely passed my tae kwon do and kickboxing gradings.

Dean also seems to have the same general opinion of Jo as I do: that she is a little girl trying too hard to act like a woman. She clearly wants to enjoy physical intimacy with Dean, but he is not into it at all. This is something acknowledged later in the show, and in Jo’s defence she does grow up a bit later in the show, though I do not understand people who think Dean should have ‘ended up with her’.

Dean and Ash’s ‘relationship’ could have benefited from further exploration. In fact, something which would have vastly improved series two would have been for Ash to take on a more prominent role and to coördinate Dean and Sam’s hunts whilst searching for more psychic children. The Roadhouse could even have functioned as a safehouse for psychic children, but the Harvelles were only introduced because the executives wanted Dean and Sam to have a base of operations and Kripke used them as little as possible.

That said, there are people who saw more between Dean and Ash than a working relationship, and it did not come out of nowhere. Other than the fact that Ash completely ignores Sam when Sam knocks on the door at the beginning of the episode, but opens the door immediately naked when Dean calls for him...

Dean recognises Ash’s burnt remains by his watch in 2x21 All Hell Breaks Loose Part I. Unless I am mistaken, Ash’s watch was new then, meaning Dean had seen him off-screen enough times to get familiar with the timepiece.

Further to the discussion of Dean, his disgust as Jo puts REO Speedwagon on the jukebox is gold.

However, nobody likes music snobbery. John enforced conformity on Dean through control and shame, but Dean is unfortunately passing some of that on without realising. He does the same with Sam’s hair: Sam’s hair does eventually get utterly ridiculous, especially with the mutton chops in series seven, but men are allowed to do whatever they want with their hair.

I have not had my hair cut for about thirteen years and one thing I learnt pretty fast is that people – men AND women – are very fond of telling men what we can and cannot do with our hair. One of the reasons I refused to cave to people’s comments, jokes, and attempts at shame was because I wanted to flip them the metaphorical bird. While I agree with Dean that Sam’s hair is ridiculous, it is not because Sam is a man with long hair; it is because it is a bad hairstyle. A ponytail or braid would have been great, but that has the downside of it being a handhold for opponents in combat. A topknot would have been cool, though.

This behaviour from Dean should have been something the show seriously addressed as it is second-hand abuse. When Dean mocks Sam for something, it is John speaking through Dean. Dean is far from stupid, but Sam has more education and should be able to call this kind of thing out for what it is. Imagine the scene:

Dean: You gonna get rid of your female hair anytime? It’s staring at me.

Sam: [frowns] You gonna stop passing off Dad’s abuse of you onto me anytime soon, Deano?

Dean: [stares speechless for five seconds] ...I believe I’ve made a mistake.

Sam: Thank Dad’s paramilitaristic parenting for that. And besides, female hair? Two words: Classic. Rock.

There could have been growth, healing, recovery, becoming better brothers, friends, and a better team instead of spending the next fourteen years with Sam as narcissistic abuser and Dean occasionally taking potshots. Alas, some writers and loads of fans seemed to like their narcissistic-co-dependent Chinese finger trap and refused to free them from it.

Anyway, Dean’s ‘disgust’ is perhaps not quite as genuine as one might think, given that he sings the same song in the car afterwards.

...And Sam, once again, refuses to let Dean have his fun. He also neglected to explain to Ellen that Dean's hostility and rudeness to her was on Sam's account. Yes, Dean 'chose' to behave like that, but he did it for Sam who, once again, let Dean take it. Not very 'heroic protagonist' behaviour.

Thus concludeth my analysis of this episode.

[nellie-elizabeth]

Barry: tricky legacies (4x05)

This show makes me wish I was smarter and better at articulation so I could explain what I think is genius about it.

Cons:

I almost wish the episode hadn't included the intrusion from the past at the end, and had instead ended with Barry and Sally and their son just... living their strange lives together. The bit at the end with Cousineau returning from hiding and ready to tell Barry's story, and Barry saying he'd have to kill him, felt like more of a plot gimmick than anything, and I think it would have been cool from a pacing perspective if like... that happened at the start of the next episode, leaving this one in this strange unfamiliar space with nothing to latch onto from the past. It's a small thing, I just thought the very ending of the episode was the weakest part.

Pros:

Something about the way this whole episode was shot and paced and scripted just made everything feel so alienating. There weren't very many close-ups on faces, a lot of wide shots to show the loneliness but also the oppressiveness of their lives. Also a lot of playing around with what we can and cannot hear; murmured conversations that John can hear his parents having through the wall, that kind of thing. I loved the sense of creeping dread the whole thing provided. It was unsettling in all the best ways!

The psychology of Barry as a character is fascinating to me because what you might assume someone would do in this situation was cut the past out of his life entirely. And yet instead of doing that, he's telling John about his time as a marine, in order to impress his kid. He's pretending to be a gentle sort of guy who never gets angry, and he's painting stories of heroism instead of violence to demonstrate the nobility of his past.

And Sally, now going by Emily, is totally detached from the world around her, not even attempting to cross the divide and connect with her husband and son. Her dead-eyed behavior with the creep in the diner, all the way through choking him and then without seeming remorse getting an innocent person fired by accusing him of stealing from the till, the way she talks to Barry on the phone while drinking straight out of a liquor bottle leaning up against the side of the car... her existence is so bleak, and we get so little insight into how she's feeling about things, other than just... bad. There's the parallel that as Barry is recounting glory days to their son, Sally is also caught in the past, watching clips of her former assistant interviewing about her big TV show that's just coming to an end, a show that was meant to be Sally's.

The themes of "clean living" and the religious overtones are interesting, because you get the sense that Barry decided one day what kind of family they were going to be, and then decided to method act his way into making that the reality. The stilted conversations about Lincoln's origins and eventual legacy were a great way to drive this home. I love how Barry quickly pivots from praising Lincoln to learning the less ideal parts of his history, and then goes down a rabbit hole of finding out all the bad stuff that historically "good" people have done. Gandhi, St. Augustine, etc. Like, that's relatable as fuck, Barry. Nothing's sacred anymore.

We end with Cousineau reappearing, wanting to help make a movie about his experience with Barry. Sally calls to Barry, using his real name for the first time all episode, and as John, off screen, asks "who's Barry"? Barry rushes out to see the news article on the computer screen. I did like that this was the moment we saw Sally coming the most alive all episode, when the past finally seemed to be catching up to her. And Barry's commitment to living a better, cleaner life goes out the window when it looks like the past might be catching up with him.

All in all, excellent stuff. The flash-forward at the end of the last episode was an excellent teaser to what turned out to be a genuine eight-year time jump, and now we've just got to wonder what some of our other characters have been through in that intervening time. Hank? Fuches? It's going to be interesting to find out.

9/10