#Ali literally shared her side of the story too and it’s completely different but sure let’s all believe Sophia the queer icon 🙄

[mayasdeluca]

People calling Sophia a queer icon and completely falling for her narrative of not being a homewrecker and just getting to be “free” while she continues to talk about things changing and shifting in the summer time with Ashlyn when Ali was literally waiting for Ashlyn to come home to her and the kids is going to be my last straw today.

[sturchling]

Salt-Fic September Day 6: Camera

Damian had met Marinette about a year ago. He had been in Paris with his father, and had literally bumped into the clumsy girl. Despite his icy demeanor, Marinette still treated him with kindness. Her warmth thawed Damian to a degree and they spent the remainder of his trip together. By the time he left, they had decided to start a long-distance relationship. They messaged all the time, and FaceTime every night. It was during one of these nightly video chats that Damian learned about the liar.

---------------------

Damian had thought Marinette was exaggerating when she told him how gullible her class was. She wasn’t exaggerating. He had transferred to her school for a semester as an exchange student to see what the situation was, and it was worse than he thought. Marinette had told him that the class had been pulling away from her. What she did not tell him, is that she is almost completely isolated, with only three people still talking to her.

  ---------------------

Nino, Nathaniel, and Adrien all knew that the Italian was a liar and had stayed by Marinette’s side, despite the class pressuring them to abandon her. They said they should leave Marinette by herself to ‘teach her a lesson’. The thought of that infuriated Damian. How dare these imbeciles be so callous towards his angel. Damian knew it was the liar’s fault, she was the one who tricked the class into turning against Marinette. Damian was going to end this girl’s reign over the class if it was the last thing he did. Damian spent the rest of the school day, watching as the class fawned over the liar and her obviously made up stories. He could not believe how easily fooled they all were.

  ---------------------

After school, Damian spoke with Marinette to see what she had already tried. Damian was shocked by how some of the attempts had gone wrong. Like how when Marinette threw a napkin to prove Lila’s wrist wasn’t sprained, and they all fell for her stupid story about how a napkin gouged someone’s eye. How could anyone believe something so stupid? Then Marinette told him about how Alya had asked her for proof that Lila was lying, without having any proof herself that she was telling the truth. That gave Damian an idea.

  ---------------------

Though there was one question still on Damian’s mind. “Why has this deceiver grown to despise you?” Marinette just sighed. “I knew she was lying from day one. I-” Marinette paused before she revealed her secret and switched to a different story. “She said she saved Jagged Stone’s kitten, but I’ve worked for him before. He has never had a cat, only Fang. His crocodile. Anyway, after the napkin incident and she realized I was trying to expose her, she cornered me in the bathroom. She tried to play nice, but when I didn’t buy it, she changed. She told me she would take all my friends and leave me alone.” Damian had to force the rage he felt to the side, for one because Marinette had told him about akumas and he didn’t want to deal with that right now. But also, because now he had a plan. “You said she threatened you after you tried to expose her right? Think she would do the same if I did?”

  ---------------------

Damian’s plan was simple. He would actively try to expose the liar to the class, in a way that the liar was sure to notice. When that inevitably failed, like it did for Marinette, then he would make sure he was alone for a while in the locker room. Lila would come to threaten him, just like she did with Marinette and he would try to keep the liar talking as long as possible. What Lila won’t know is that there will be a hidden camera in the locker room recording every poisonous word. He will have video evidence of the liar admitting to her deception. He also planned to share the video, live, with everyone in school, so no one can claim it was edited. If this doesn’t convince the class, then he is getting his angel out of this school.

  ---------------------

The next day, Damian started his plan. First, he went into the locker room and hid a camera up near the windows. The camera is remote controlled so as soon as the liar came in to confront him, he would start recording. Then he went into the classroom to begin the next phase of the plan. When Lila started one of her stories, this time about helping Prince Ali with a new environmental charity, Damian pointed out to the class that Prince Ali is known for working with children charities, not environmental charities. Lila floundered for a moment, but quickly covered her tracks. “He may be known for the children’s charities, but he has a wide variety of philanthropic interests. He just doesn’t get as much media coverage for his other charities.” The class bought the lie and didn’t question the liar at all. But that hadn’t been Damian’s goal with that comment. And based of the glare the Italian was giving him, he had accomplished his true goal.

  ---------------------

At lunch, Damian waited in the locker room like he planned. He didn’t have to wait long before he heard it. The sound of the locker room door opening. He turned to see the liar standing near the door. Damian quickly started the camera recording and broadcasting, and waited for the liar to start talking. Once she knew they were alone, the smile dropped from her face. “I can see you’re smart so I’m not going to waste our time trying to trick you with the nice girl routine. Don’t ever try to expose me again, or you will regret it.” Damian couldn’t hide the smirk on his face as the liar fell into the trap, which seemed to anger her further. “What do you mean Lila? Expose what?” Lila sneered at Damian, “You know exactly what. You tried to expose that my stories are more fiction than fact. If you don’t want to go through what I did to Marinette, then be smart and back off.”

  ---------------------

Damian had succeeded with getting the liar to admit to her lies on camera. But he wanted to clear Marinette too. “What did you do to Marinette?” Lila smirked, “I made her friends abandon her. You’ve seen how she sits in the back with only a few friends. She used to be one of the most popular girls in class. Now she is a nobody in the back of the room that everyone thinks is a bully because I told them so. I even got her expelled for a while. And if you try to expose me as a liar again, I will do the exact same thing to you. I will make your time in Paris miserable.”

  ---------------------

Now it was Damian’s turn to smirk. “See I won’t have to expose you, because you just revealed yourself. See that little camera up there by the window. It recorded every word you just said. It has also been streaming this live to the whole school. Now the whole school knows you are nothing but a liar.” Lila turns pale as she finally notices the camera. She flees from the locker room, hoping that Damian was lying or that some people didn’t watch the video or watched it and didn’t believe it. But when she got back to the courtyard everyone was glaring at her. Just like that Lila’s hold on the school was completely broken. She tried to reclaim her control, but no one listened to her now. Damian had also shared the video with one person outside of the school. Lila’s mother. Her mother had come quickly after the video aired and pulled her daughter out of the school, to send her back to Italy to attend a reform school. The liar was gone from his angel’s life and Marinette couldn’t be happier. And it was all thanks to Damian and his camera

Hope you guys liked it! @maribat-central-official

[team-adults-blog]

4.05 Tinder Box

In which I make 6 references- 5 numbered and then Wizards of Waverly Place- a few jokes, and a prediction that I think is SPOT ON. Join me on this reactionary journey (in chronological order). 

Abby, Jackson is relaying the science info for the audience, not you. I know that you know, but we, the audience, do not. give him a break.

Oh, the Mt. Weather parallels. BUT Abby checks herself. To all the haters: this means Abby is good. She’s NOT doing what was done in Mt. Weather. Dr. Tsing is a foil; they are fundamentally different.

I too hate molecular biology

At least Helios is a good horse and stays with Octavia when she falls. Unlike that dog vid. (reference 1 here if you don’t immediately get this)

Hey it’s Niylah! Not on the show in the way I predicted (Octavia going to her) but she’s still playing the healing role so I’m proud I pulled that out of thin air.

Oh no Ilian I don’t trust you yet because you hate tech but thanks for saving O.

Miller’s dad is ranking officer. Yeahhhh boyyyy. So many speaking lines, such as: “the radiation’s our enemy, not the ice nation” awwwww so proud of you.

Clarke’s poker face about all things Bellamy needs some work.

Her come the prisoners. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. its Kane and Bellamy. THE MOMENT CLARKE’S BEEN WAITING FOR. (reference 2, keep playing!)

[I had to watch commercials on this rewatch and why are there commercials for books? You don’t want to cast your character so it’s just a bunch of moving dark figures over an abstract background. Pointless. Plus this Riverdale show looks unrealistic.] I learned how to use line breaks and they please me.

Riley stop it. Only like 4 more episodes until your likely death.

“They knew you were coming”- Bell so hopeful. This is lovely. But I would have preferred a little more anguish and suspense before he and Kane know she’s alive. Some good acting and character development could have come from that instead of them finding out the next day.

Octavia knows she’s not lucky Ilian brought her in. Who didn’t question his taking all these explosives? Where is everyone?

Raven and Abby love and concern <3 they are the best. Hand holding throughout their scenes this week. I dig it. 

I thought we all knew Raven had the upgrade and thus still has ALIE in her head? Jackson and Abby are just figuring this out, fine, but I knew. The people I watched with did not? They just thought Raven was really smart? When did I learn this lil’ bit of information?

Abs we gotta go back to space! Raven’s looking at the gas lines and floor map to figure out there’s a rocket ship! She didn’t know where it was, but she knew what to tell the computer to do. PURE JOY! I AM SO HAPPY RAVEN FOUND A SHIP. This seem dangerous too though…

[Commercials are only acceptable in the actual air time. OMG THERE WAS A REALLY CUTE SHELTER DOG COMMERCIAL I TAKE IT ALL BACK cwgood.com if you want to see it. Omg no I had to watch 6 commercials wtf]

Riley you suck. I want to feel nothing at your death in 4-5 episodes.

P sure Costa was just on the island with doctor tech squad? They have to be more careful about where their quaternary-and-beyond(!) characters are.

Clarke is the only one who Roan listens to. Their cave scene was v good. Don’t brag about your lack of heart about your mom to someone who literally had the worst mom. Clarke, your mother cares about you. Roan’s mom used him as a tool in her ploy for power. Telling him that you care about your people more than your mom brings up some ethical values questions. Sacrificing one to save the many seems like a fine moral argument. But when you put faces onto those people things change: A ton of strangers vs your mom? That makes the decision harder. One stranger vs your fam and closest friends? That seems like an easy decision. I don’t know if it makes you a better or worse person for being willing to sacrifice your mother, but it’s definitely not an argument I would want to make. Especially with Roan. He let Lexa spear his mom. I cheered at that scene- it was badass. It was also clear she was a villain. And a completely different relationship dynamic. Clarke could use some advice from Selena Gomez and the Wizards of Waverly Place Theme, “you might run into trouble if you go to extremes because everything is not what it seems.”  You know, with the whole list thing and promising Roan safety in the Ark and taking Jaha’s advice. S3 Clarke could have used the line “be careful not to mess with the balance of things” when she was trying to change grounder culture. Season 4: “The end will no doubt justify the means” or, alternatively, “That’s what I said” in which Jasper goes around making that’s what she said jokes but about himself.  This didn’t directly relate to what I was talking about. My head just went there.

“Riley shouldn’t be here” Good Bell! AH-chers (Kane).I don’t understand why they all have to have American accents? Like let Ian’s lovely accent out. Let Bob’s vocal cords rest. A bunch of accents would have been initially present on the Ark because it was an international force. If English became the dominant language, fine. It’s an American show I don’t care enough to argue that point. One language across the stations is understandably necessary. BUT. Accents don’t disappear. I grew up with this guy whose parents are both English- a lawyer (now head judge, whaddup) and a professor. They’re all super cool. His sister taught me how to pop-lock-and DROP it on a mission trip and went to Oxford. Anyways, both kids have accents because their English parents taught them how to speak. I don’t know for sure if by high school this guy could turn his accent on and off, depending on the social setting, but he may have left it on for maaayyyybbeeeee pretentious reasons. He’s not pretentious, but he’s charming af and flatters my grandma at the Christmas Eve service and like. He’s a little posh. A kind, good person, and probs not posh in England, but he’s posh here. The point is I’m not an expert and don’t know. HOWEVER. It is possible that he can’t turn his accent off and I’m being a dick because I’m relating his ability of turning on/off his accent to my ability to turn on/off a southern accent. The difference is that I was not raised by parents who have the southern accent- I just took one on because I rode a redneck bus and was trying to assimilate. The moral of the story is this: accents, even over 100 years, would not have homogenized to the point that Ian and Bob and Eliza and Ricky and Alycia and everyone else have to lose their accents. It’s a skill but if we follow the English guy I grew up with not losing his accent despite being around other people (and not me singing ZBB’s Chicken Fried with my friends) logic, the different accents should still be there. But then that creates issues for the show runners of having to determine which countries has people in space. There were flags at the Unity Day ceremony, and I’m pretty sure I remember there being an Indian flag, so where are they? Put Dev Patel on the show. Jk he’s too good they could never get him. How did they even get Ian? I’m happy he’s here though. Isaiah can’t get larger roles because no one likes him. I may be projecting, but I also feel like Shonda Rhimes burned that boy.

Bellamy (and a reluctant Echo) to save the day. I hope by the end of the season 1) Echo is still alive, and 2) they’ve forged some sort of trust. They’ve had a cool bond since Bellamy saves Echo from the cages™ in Mt. Weather. Then Echo “saves” Bellamy from the Azgeda assassin who blows up Mt. Weather by tricking him into going to polis. She’s like I saved you, dude. And he’s like no, you lied to me and made it possible for a bunch of my friends to die. Then she’s like hey, be my friend, I’ve had sooo many chances to kill you and still haven’t, that’s friendship right? Bellamy’s like. No. I don’t trust you. Boom. Echo captures (? She brings them into the throne room, idk if she captures them herself) Bell and Stevens (rip, tattletale) and could have killed them both. She doesn’t kill Bellamyyyyyyy… Then this scene with Riley. There’s obviously trust issues on both sides- She doesn’t remove Bell’s chains. “so much for building trust” Bell. She’s worried her king is going to be shot. This is not the moment to scold her But I think she still wants to be friends. It must be rough to be such a badass spy and not to have just one friend. Bell seems to be the Chosen One™ and I hope they can work out their differences. Post Riley they share a secret, so they’re working on itttttttttt.

[I had to reload the page and I’ve now watched 8 commercials. The girl at the booth next to me is talking about her authentic (highly not-authentic) Irish pub experience and all the musicians playing their “banjos and fiddles.” Shut the fuck up. The page timed out again. Enough. I have to watch another 6 commercialssss. I’m tired of this proactive commercial, but at least the CW knows their target audience #annoyed]

SHA-BoO0M GOES THE ARK. Well that bad deal Clarke just made is over. She may have promised Azgeda protection from radiation, but what about Trikru? You’re going to help Roan and not Indra? Not a fan of that deal. Glad it went up in smoke. Da dunn tsssshhhhhh. Puns are fun. (reference 3, same as 2). I now know why the episode is Tinder Box. It all makes sense.

Bellamy and Octavia reunited. Another shot of the shoulder tat. Clarke and the Blakes holding hands (well Bell’s holding O and Clarke’s holding her hand. Poor Kane has no one to hold. Where’s awk bff David Miller? Hold him. The Blakes could at least invite him over.

Back at Doctor Tech Squad- Raven has a stroke! Possibly fatal, who can say? Raven’s just excited to go to space, and I’m happy for her. Abby also at risk, but doesn’t want to be tested until she’s showing more symptoms than those she already has from being sleep deprived. This is pretty normal for people whose parents get diagnosed with genetic diseases. Some people want to know, but not knowing can give you hope for things that can’t be cured. Abby wants to focus on helping adorable Raven save the whole world. But. Hey, how ya doing, well I’m doing just fine, I lied, I’m dying inside my brain and starting to have hallucinations of my daughter dying from radiation. (reference 4. I couldn’t find the one I wanted but imagine a vine of that over this) So now we’re worried about Raven and Abby. Will Abby tell Jackson? My thoughts- No. she’ll try to hide it as long as she can, working on a cure for Raven, then help herself. Yet I don’t see either of them dying? Raven is too important plot-wise and the writers and viewers lovelovelove the character. My argument for Abby living is more of a personal one and then behind the scenes of Paige Turco being a parent who’s very forward with her scheduling (why she doesn’t typically do up fronts etc so she can have separate work and son time) and probs has her contract locked down.

Not my fave episode, lots of callbacks to earlier seasons, but generally not super satisfying plot. Mainly because 4.04 set up these storylines- Octavia on her way back, Doctor Tech Squad reaching the lab, Bellamy and Kane as prisoners. The Polis/ Arkadia plotlines fell short somehow of their build. There were conflicts, but it lacked drama? If that makes sense.. I enjoyed the lab plot because all Raven x Abby interactions have great energy, not to mention they found a rocket. That story still feels like it’s still advancing and keeping the drama up. Props to Miller Sr. for getting more speaking lines in one episode than he did in the entirety of S3.

OMG- A THOUGHT-

what if. they send. Thelonious frickin Jaha. into space instead of Raven?

Stay with me here: Raven could have a seizure which is a risk. Jaha was an engineer and is capable- they’ve been slowly using that in the story and I was wondering when it would actually become plot relevant. BTS: Isaiah Washington finished filming his stuff before everyone else. I doubt he’s dead, but if all his stuff is him by himself/ him video chatting in from the ship, this explains how he could have wrapped up so quickly without dying. Additionally, he needs a big redemption for people to like him again after the CoL. Holy cow I think I’m on to something here! He and Kane S1 were rivals both trying to become martyrs/ find salvation. Thelonious wins, Marcus goes to Earth. But then Jaha makes it to Earth too because he knows how to run a pod. I am heartbroken for Raven, it’s really going to suck getting benched if I’m right. More so when I know Abby and Jackson are probably going to be the ones to tell her and they’ll get so much hate. But Raven and Abby can coach Jaha through some of the medical/ technical stuff (a la Apollo 13-reference 5- and Lieutenant Dan. I don’t remember the dude’s name in that movie- the actor is Gary something p. sure, but he’s in Forrest Gump with T.Hanks too so I don’t feel that bad. He also got benched for a medical issue (back to Apollo 13) that he didn’t get so this tangent was not a waste. He was needed to problem solve and figure out how to save the men on Apollo 13. Raven could parallel this.) and still be a team, which I like. I just want Raven to be happy, she deserves that. I don’t want Jaha to have a lot of glory for doing this either. If it was Raven hell yes. But for him it’s the least he can do. That’s wrong of me, but their histories are incredibly different. 

[gethealthy18-blog]

6 Bollywood Couples And How Compatible Their Zodiac Signs Really Are

New Post has been published on https://healingawerness.com/getting-healthy/getting-healthy-women/6-bollywood-couples-and-how-compatible-their-zodiac-signs-really-are/

6 Bollywood Couples And How Compatible Their Zodiac Signs Really Are

Saumya Gaur May 8, 2019

Bollywood has often been the source of inspiration for us, Mango people. Be it in terms of the latest fashion trends or the right way to celebrate festivals (we’re talking about the dramatic Karwa Chauth). But if there is one thing that almost all of us look up to in Bollywood, it is its larger than life love stories that make us feel weak in our knees.

Every era of Bollywood has given us epic love stories, with royal pairings such as Dilip Kumar-Saira Bano, Ajay Devgn-Kajol, Ranveer-Deepika, etc.

But have you ever wondered how is it that some of these pairings managed to flourish despite all the trappings of the glam world, while many others couldn’t? Intrigued by this question, we made a list of 6 most popular pairs in Bollywood and studied their compatibility according to their individual zodiacs and that yielded some pretty interesting results. Are you hooked yet? Read on to know more about our findings!

1. Virat Kohli-Anushka Sharma

virat.kohli / Instagram

The dashing cricketer Virat Kohli’s zodiac sign is Scorpio while his gorgeous spouse Anushka Sharma’s zodiac is Taurus. In terms of basic nature, these zodiacs are polar opposites of each other, but they say opposites attract, and that explains this unique coupling. However, their relationship is not as breezy as one might imagine it to be from their very mushy Instagram feed. It is all about effort and longing for one another that worked in their favor. Add to that their commitment, and that seems to be the secret recipe for their success story.

Taurean Anushka is attracted to the intense, emotional nature of Virat’s Scorpio, while he is drawn to her calm and serene vibe. At its core, their relationship is very passionate, both emotionally and physically.

2. Abhishek Bachchan-Aishwarya Rai Bachchan

bachchan / Instagram

While the scion of the Bachchan khaandaan is an Aquarian, his lovely wife, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan is a Scorpio. Even if we leave aside other aspects, this unique pairing of the zodiacs is itself an indication of the dynamic couple’s one-of-a-kind equation.

Traditionally, their zodiacs don’t go together, but this relationship thrives because they both love challenges. While the Scorpio woman in Aishwarya loves Abhishek’s happy-go-lucky Aquarian ways, he is charmed by Aishwarya’s passionate and at times, possessive display of love. Though it is smooth sailing at present, the fiery and stubborn side of both the zodiacs could play a spoilsport in their relationship.

3. Ranveer Singh-Deepika Padukone

deepikapadukone / Instagram

The human livewire, Ranveer Singh is a Cancerian whereas his demure and graceful spouse, Deepika Padukone’s zodiac is Capricorn. Just like Virushka, this couple too is an example of the union of two different personalities

While our Cancerian Ranveer is a happy-go-lucky, at-ease-everywhere sorta fella, his ladylove is more career-oriented and ambitious.

Their paring isn’t conventional and goes against the stereotypically gendered pairing. While Ranveer is an emotional being, Deepika is more pragmatic and methodical, which might make her seem cold and distant. But it’s her pragmatic side that allows her to fully appreciate the caring and warm nature of Ranveer.

4. Shahrukh Khan-Gauri Khan

gaurikhan / Instagram

Like another gentleman on this list, Shahrukh is a Scorpio man. Gauri’s zodiac sign is Libra. Both these zodiacs are very harmonious together, and it’s evident from this couple’s wonderful chemistry. Both these zodiacs treasure the values of commitment which is why this is such a solid pairing.

This couple likes spending time with each other and is completely invested in each other. The characteristics of a Scorpio man such as passion, intensity, and seductiveness find a pleasing contrast in the Libran woman’s charming and elegant nature. The only catch is that because they are so different from each other, they might face some roadblocks in communication which might affect their relationship.

5. Anand Ahuja-Sonam Kapoor Ahuja

anandahuja / Instagram

Anand’s Leo has found an apt partner in Sonam’s Gemini and that this pairing gets on together like a house on fire is evident from their Instagram feed. In fact, if there is one couple in tinsel town that sure knows how to have a good time, it’s theirs. The reason that they are so good together is that the basis of their relationship is sound friendship. The only hiccup in their relationship will occur when they have to adapt to changes together. Sonam being a Gemini has an inherent duality to her nature. Her personality and moods can change quite unexpectedly and quickly which is something that Anand can have difficulty understanding. But their mutual respect for each other will always strengthen their relationship.

6. Saif Ali Khan-Kareena Kapoor Khan

therealkareenakapoor / Instagram

Bebo’s Virgo has found its soulmate in Saif’s Leo. The negatives and positives of both these zodiacs even out when they are together. The roguish nature of the Leo man finds a sobering influence in the Virgo woman. Their stimulating conversation is the mainstay of their relationship, while she is intuitive and sensitive, he is a perfectionist who seeks attention to detail. All in all, they make for an ideal couple. The only foreseeable issue is that Saif’s arrogance as a Leo may prove to be too much at times for Kareena’s no-nonsense nature.

You see, the blossoming love stories of these stars were quite literally written in their stars. Do you agree with these observations? Share your opinions in the comments section.

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[popcornbutterflymedia]

love stories do not surprise as much as spark curiosities. 

this is a paul soriano film, apparently his first love story at that, and i did not know what to expect, which was new. where local love stories are concerned, i am not used to not knowing. (that’s not to say knowing diminishes a movie’s entertainment value in any way). the trailer release did not help abate these curiosities. the intentional vagueness of the trailer was begging for film references, so calling out movies like ‘one day,’ ‘adam,’ ‘remember sunday,’ ‘a walk to remember,’ ‘tfios, and ‘lysb’ was comforting. it was something i could hold onto going into the cinemas before getting lost in the movie and what it is.

and what it is, is a cinematic masterpiece on its own. i dare say even better than those hollywood movies this one evokes. just a thought: i know it is a standard of excellence to say this movie is ‘parang hollywood.’ i get that, that’s the gold standard after all. but i hope we become confident enough in our local film makers, and that we give them enough creative freedom to do their best work so that we do not have to draw comparisons to hollywood. our standard should be good enough, and that standard should be world class. 

this is a love story to be sure, there is nothing new about that. a boy meets a girl, they fall for each other, and in the end, one way or another, they will live out their happy ending, however which way that horizon looks like, however long that ever after is. there is a concept that hopeless romantics have a keen awareness of time running out so they operate with a more intense sense of urgency. i love that. if that’s the case, then there is no truer, more romantic movie than this. 

this is a story about a girl with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy - she’s a girl with a bad heart. she’s straddling one line between life and death, and another which is the uncertain probability of being on the wait list for a new one. it’s like living life on three different timeline’s - life’s, death’s, and limbo’s.

this is a story about a boy who is both carefree and calculated, coasting through life while dragging time along for the ride.

this is a story of ali, and nick, individually. this is a story on self-love, as much as it is a romance. i did not understand it at first, only to realize that ali pursuing nick at the beginning is more for herself than it is for the prospect of romance or  anything else. she manages to be brazen with nick. because circumstances have allowed her to throw caution to the wind. nick is ali’s much needed ‘proof of life,’ she tests whatever is left of the zeal she has for life, on him, before she came to love him at an undetermined moment in time. 

ali and nick operate on two different life clocks. they fall in love, the world falls away, it is intimate, that there is almost a voyeuristic quality to watching it unfold, and time stops.

it’s not so much the story, as it is how the story is told. it’s not so much what it wants to say, it’s in how this movie chooses to paint and sing its message.

cinema. cinema is also called motion picture, moving pictures. this is a motion picture, both a literal and figurative moving picture - and i have seen a lot. i have had weird looks thrown my way, or heads shaking in disapproval, ‘you’re brain is mush, full of romance,’ they’d say. and i am extremely picky, almost snobbish, so you can be sure i am not exaggerating. 

‘treat everyone you meet like they have a broken heart...’

with this line, the groundwork for the entire film is laid out, with this line nick and ali’s journey begins.

there is something to the choice of words, the economy and intent of the dialogue usage, that is such a stroke of genius, and is particularly special. ‘first love’ is not a silent movie, but it is a quiet film. it is uncluttered by unnecessary declarations of love, lamentations of fear and sadness. it does not impress with manifestos of strength through adversity, and flowery orations of false hopes in an uncertain future. the lines are sparse, and well placed. the dialogue present elicits the right kind of emotion - it was sad, heart wrenching, happy, kilig funny when it needed to be. and it’s all intelligent evocation of emotion.the movie gives us enough, just to guide its audience through the story, enough, for the characters to introduce themselves and the burdens they carry. to those who choose to care, and enough is just right. it’s perfect. those lines linger....the lines ring in your head, the way impressive literature does, and then it vanishes into thin air, and leaves an imprint in your heart. i just realized this now, and i don’t know if it’s an experience that’s uniquely my own, but i would listen for the lines, i would want to remember it, and i do, but for a moment i forget the lines, as if those lines cease to matter and all i could see is ali and nick, their faces, their eyes, and without words, i completely understand.

the backdrop of the seas, the mountains the landscape and the color of vancouver set the quiet tone of the movie, its unhurried pace, another character that takes the lead. if it wasn't for vancouver i do not think this movie will be what it was. 

if being a fan is having watched almost every movie and tv show of an actor, then i am a bea alonzo fan. i’d ‘met’ her back when i did not really understand what being a fan was. it was in the earlier days of message boards and online fandom presence. i was removed from it and reluctant, even though i had fun with it sometimes, so i was not okay with being that kind of fan, the way i am okay with being a fan right now, but i am a fan. to me she is a foregone conclusion. i may like some of her projects more than others, but if she’s in it, she’s all the reason i need. to say that i have come to know what to expect of a bea alonzo portrayal is a safe assumption. she will be great, she will transform. i expect nothing less. it is not until ali, though, that i lost bea, and it was all ali. it’s none of those ‘hey bea alonzo is playing ali really well!’ it’s more ‘bea alonzo who?!’ and it’s not even the big acting choices, it’s in the details, the nuances - the way she looks at nick. her eyes, her eyes, her eyes. for this character, a particular favorite idiosyncratic choice is how she twitches her head sideways, with lips upturned into a smile, and hopeful eyes. with soul, the depths of which are endless. every time she does that, my heart melts.

aga mulach is the dream leading man. he is one of the greats. i can see why. i completely understand why, and i feel it all the time, every time i see him on screen, but on this movie, i see it, i understand it, i feel it all at once. this is inexplicably different from all the different times i’ve watched him, maybe because of the utter naturalism of it all? it’s effortless, like he did not even lift a finger. for the first time, i find something i do not understand to be so beautiful.

time is a malleable construct on this movie, the unseen character that takes our leads on a ride. nick and ali are both on the palm of time’s hand. ali challenges father time, while nick is at his mercy. his subtlety of forgetting is as heartbreaking as her urgency to remember. she is resolve, while he is resignation. she is destiny, she is fate. he is coincidence.

coincidence -  random events or circumstances without apparent causal connection.

destiny - random events coming together for a specific purpose.

the definition of that purpose is the story this movie tells. 

ali and nick reside on completely opposite sides of the spectrum, so the two of them coming together, and every little moment that contributes to the shared grander design of their lives is a miracle,

in that miracle are bright flashes of light that are the people that surround them.

sandy andolong as ali’s selfless, suffering, and strong mother, too strong, she comes off as harsh sometimes. she’s one character i admit, i initially did not understand, and did not really feel until the second viewing. truth be told, everything and everyone on this movie makes more sense on the second, third, fourth viewing. her silence for the most part, makes the weight of her emotions, and conflict more pronounced. her silence makes her words resonate louder. 

albie casino as seb, as ali’s art student brother, best friend, and foil for their sometimes intense mother. he surprised me in the best ways possible. i am trying not to spoil here, but, i did not realize a character like his could be played like he did. he was dependable, he was there to take whatever bea gave him, and he did it while staying true to his character and giving seb as much grace and dignity, he, and everyone like him deserves.

edward barber as simon, as nick’s...nick’s person. (vague enough?) i have had my eye on this kid ever since the start. those role playing bits, and that one impressive on air audition, not to mention the kid’s heart, and smarts. more than being a fan, it’s an instinct, it’s looking into his eyes and knowing he has it. i do not understand his current path, but i accept it. i am grateful for notable cameos and golden chances. on behalf of him, i am grateful for this. now, simon is the mystery character who wasn’t spoken much about in the junket, so our imaginations ran away with it only to find out that the mystery and connection was more grounded than where we ran, but it was oh so compelling. it took time, two viewings, and a number of belated aha moments to finally get it. nick’s character rests heavily on who simon is. simon is nick’s chance at redemption. he is nick’s ticket to salvation. and that journey to salvation is unexpectedly heartbreaking in its simplicity. there are people, i know, who wanted simon’s character to be more explicit, and i understand that. in one of the casual, but powerful conversations between simon and nick, the connection was implied, and that connection makes complete sense in the context of  the nature of the movie as a whole. i personally wanted nick to be forthright to simon, find words, name names...and then i realized, through edward’s eyes, simon knew what he needed to know all along.

it may be that the kid’s gifted, that he is built for this, but i am in awe of how such a significant character could be brought to life with that much ease, as if he is a mere support. he grew into the character. he will only get better. of course there is still so much to learn, but his innate gift, right now, is enough. in the junket edward had said this is his dream role, to be the support, the sidekick but judging by his portrayal in this movie, he has a knack for making sidekicks and support characters just as relevant. he is able to explain his character, how he figures in the story, without giving anything away. he was the only one who was able to do that. i feel he is destined for bigger things, bigger roles, but for him to be given a support role that is anything but sidekick and for him to play it as it is written? that’s a gift. there is more where that came from, and it’s exciting. in many ways simon, the character is what gives this love story novelty. he is why this movie deviates. it reminds me of enrique gil’s david esguerra on 2013′s ‘she’s the one,’ whose character challenges what would have been a typical best friend romance. the mystery surrounding this character is one of the reasons the storytelling felt new.

the plot is presented in several kinetic parts. it moves on a number of several different timelines reminiscent of the movie adaptation of the musical ‘the last 5 years’ about a couple whose marriage is ending. jaime tells the story from beginning to end, while cathy begins at the end. jaime and cathy only converge at the point of their wedding day. this movie feels the same way, in that ali and nick go through life at different paces. they only manage to exist in the world at normal speed, and with as much clarity when they meet. because of each other they manage to have an existence forever altered, but all the more richer. 

a moment on this movie towards the climax, also strangely reminds me of a moment, and a line on ‘everyday i love you.’ liza soberano’s character audrey locsin twirls and spins around when she senses a change coming.  'pag ang isang bagay hindi nagbago, kahit ilang beses umikot ang mundo, di mo na dapat pakawalan yon.' the difference is, on this movie a spin brings about an irrevocable physical change, however that same spin fortifies ali and nick’s emotional bound, that it transcends the physical change. all these moving components are stacked, layers upon layers, upon layers. with the intention of  the narrative unfolding, and so for the viewer, this becomes a journey of discovery, a beautiful one at that.

most of the power of this movie rests on abstract concepts, ideas on life, and death and love in between. there is minimal dialogue, so it is not a soapbox at all. the trick was to find visual cues and treatments to translate the abstract. some of my favorite visual cues are the (foot) traffic lights, the marquees, and the over all camera work. the result is a whimsical visual feast made of starry skies, and outer space an open field,  where an astronaut and natgeo photographer live out their dreams. how it is even possible to paint the picture of transition in a dream like, other worldly, enchanting manner? i will never understand. all i know is my heart is better for it.  it’s the kind that one gets so willingly lost in, before it finds you and calls you by name. it recognizes you, takes you by the hand through this journey, at the end of it, you find yourself not wanting to let go.

this is the part where i usually make a list of my favorite movie moments, but because every picture is a moment every moment is a favorite. this reminds me of what bea said in the junket: she doesn’t remember the exact moment ali fell in love with nick. she did not plan it.

this movie, being a true motion picture that it is, is a collection of moving pictures, perfectly composed snapshots, a collection of moments. it makes sense. there was no single moment to fall, because every moment is a moment to fall, a moment of discovery, every moment feels like the first, thus ‘first love.’

this layered and fluid quality, and the fact that the movie seems to be steps ahead of the viewer in the best ways possible, makes for such an engrossing viewing experience, an experience you would want to have over and over again, each time an opportunity to see something new. i needed that second viewing, because on the first i was stunned speechless, while my friends were flooding the cinema (i love you girls!) maybe because my brain works first before my heart does. i am proud to have cried the second time around.

‘she saved a life. she needs a heart. she’s too pure for my heart.’

my favorite line in the movie is the hypothesis challenged and proven to be false by the film. nick became deserving of her love. and the moment nick decided to give ali his heart, she became his purpose.

this is written at the end of the month that carried the weight of two different family wakes in the span of two weeks, two different losses (which explains the delay of this being up. sorry). by a girl who grew up by the cemetery, who made playmates out of the dead’s memories. the same girl who counters questions on her openness to haunting and ghosts with a snarky ‘hindi nila ako mumultohin, kilala nila ako eh, alam nilang matatakutin ako, mababait sila sa akin.’

this is how the movie feels. the loss weighs heavy on the heart, and although the loss is permanent, there are always ways to appreciate life’s living moments, and when those moments pass, there is also a way to befriend memories. 

i cried.

i cried, not because this is a movie about death and loss, and grieving.  i even forgot this movie was about all those things. this movie is life affirming. i cried. every moment since they met, up to their last, nick and ali never stopped making plans together. they never stopped dreaming together, even transcending the beyond, and bridging the gap. that’s what great love is.

‘the heart gets what it wants, at walang makakapigil dito.’

and the heart gets what it needs, eventually, the heart gets what it deserves.

this is a love story, a life story, that death simply sets in motion.

‘hope to live...’

ali and nick would always say....

this movie is a reminder.

to love while there is life,

to hope

is to live.

(october 29, 2018. with  my ❤ full, and ‘ikaw lang ang aking mahal’ playing in my head.  🎶😊 ~p)

[lindyhunt]

4 Comics Who Are Keeping it Real About Motherhood ( and 4 Who Are Proudly Not Procreating)

Having children is one of life’s greatest pleasures…or so I’m told. But what happens when you become a mother and life is not the mommy-blog perfection that we all expect it to be? Lucky for all of us, some  comedians have given us all a glance into the unfiltered world of pregnancy and parenting. And, greatest pleasure or not, that shit seems terrifying). An important part of the conversation when it comes to motherhood is that it’s a choice, and probably shouldn’t be considered the default choice for women. That’s not to say that women who don’t breed don’t like children, they’ve just decided that it doesn’t fit into their lifestyle. Like that time that I got side bangs without realizing the amount of work I would have put in  to styling them every day. And yes, I’m saying bang maintenance is exactly the same child rearing.

Regardless of whether or not you want to raise tiny humans, here are the voices of comedy who are keeping it real on all ends of the spectrum.

Ali Wong 

“I used to hate on other moms for the clothes that they wore, you know, all the cheesy-ass animal print and loud metallic shiny shoes, and now I see something that’s bedazzled in rhinestones and I’m like ‘oh that looks nice, I think I’m gonna get that,’ because when you’re a mom you need sparkle to compensate for the light inside of you that has died.”

I’m grateful the weekend is over. #WorkIsEscape #TGIM

A post shared by Ali Wong (@aliwong) on May 28, 2018 at 7:03am PDT

There’s something so incredibly wonderful about watching a heavily pregnant, 5’3″ woman dancing around the stage with her middle finger high in the air. Ali Wong became a household name in 2015 when she released her stand-up special Baby Cobra on Netflix. At the time, she was seven months pregnant with her first child. Three years later, and equally pregnant Wong came back on stage for her new Netflix collar, Hard Knock Wife, to report back to us on childbirth and motherhood. She gave the audience and viewers a…graphic look into what she’s been up to since we last saw her. She spoke about childbirth, breastfeeding and how she sometimes wants to throw her kid in the garbage (fair enough). She also speaks on her choice to continue her career after having children, and how that’s a choice she was privileged to be able to make. To sum up, Ali Wong should write a parenting book ASAP. Even my childless-self would read that thing cover to cover.

Natasha Leggero

“It is very humbling to think that you’re carrying life inside of you, you know? I don’t want to get too emotional but it’s even more overwhelming then when I realize that it’s gonna be five more months before I can do drugs again.” 

A post shared by Natasha Leggero (@natashaleggero) on May 25, 2018 at 4:43pm PDT

Best known for her blasé delivery of shock-comedy, Leggero’s stand-up will have you thinking whether or not you should feel bad for laughing (you should, but it’s okay). When she walked out on stage for her set in The Honeymoon Stand Up Special (which she did with her husband, Moshe Kasher) heavily pregnant in a sequin minidress and white-fur coat and told the audience to hold their applause because she was “still in the abortion zone,” Leggerro proved that she had no intention in changing her comedic style due to her maternal-status (nor should she!). Though Leggero hasn’t released any new material since the birth of her daughter, she’s taken to Instagram to reassure fans that she’s still the same-old Natasha. Whether she’s posting a photo of her breastfeeding while adorned in gold or introducing her daughter to the world of Vogue, she’s making sure that her comedic voice is still known.

Katherine Ryan

“My daughter’s six. Right now I just have to keep her hair out of her face and her hands out of her pants and I’ve nailed the day.”

💜

A post shared by kathbum (@kathbum) on Aug 9, 2017 at 11:19am PDT

Originally from Canada, this UK-based comedian released her Netflix special — In Trouble — in 2017. Ryan talked about her dating life, pop culture and life as a single mother. She’s also quick to gossip about the other moms that she has to interact with, which is relatable to anyone with or without a child. In her most recent set at Noel at the Apollo, Ryan tells her audience all about a mother at her daughter’s school named Jane. “Does anyone know Jane from the North London school run?…Jane said to me ‘Katherine, you must be so sad that you don’t have a husband at Christmas.’ This coming from the woman whose ham-coloured husband Brian is a man I’ve never seen out of a bicycle helmet.” Whether it’s dealing with the death of her child’s pet or bringing her kid along so that she can meet Prince Harry (true story), Katherine and her daughter are setting up to be the modern-day Gilmore Girls.

Tig Notaro

“I feel like [my wife] and I are doing a great job, I really do. But I also feel like it would be reasonable if somebody called child protective services a couple of times.”

When I have to share my Cheerios 😕

A post shared by Tig Notaro (@tignotaro) on Mar 5, 2018 at 2:02pm PST

A veteran on the stand-up comedy circuit, Tig Notaro has always included her personal life in her bone-dry comedy. In 2015 she released her documentary Tig on Netflix, which followed her ability to find humour in her breast cancer diagnosis and eventual double mastectomy. In her newest Netflix special, Happy to be Here, Notaro had much happier experiences to draw from. She spends most of the hour telling stories about her wife Stephanie and their baby twin boys Max and Finn. A lot of her material now stems from her kids, including her one son’s sudden outbursts. “A couple month’s ago, he just out of nowhere yelled ‘I’m gay’.. yeah, Max the whole family is gay, it’s not a big deal, except for Finn but even [our cat] is bi-curious.”

Michelle Wolf

“If having babies really was the best job in the world, men would’ve figured out a way for them to do it.”   

Not in the spirit of the mission.

A post shared by Michelle Wolf (@michelleisawolf) on Apr 29, 2018 at 9:52pm PDT

Michelle Wolf is most recently known for her set at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner which received mixed reviews to say the least. Now, she has her own show called The Break with Michelle Wolf on Netflix where she does a little bit of everything. In the premiere episode, Wolf sat with her friend and fellow comic Amber Ruffin to talk about their choice not to have kids. This isn’t a new topic for Wolf however, she touched on the concept of “making a human” in her HBO Special, Nice Lady. “It should be hard to make a human. It’s hard to make a croissant. It takes three days to make a croissant, you can make a human in that bathroom. You cannot make a croissant in that bathroom.”

Sarah Silverman

“I love kids, but I also really love what I do. Which is anything I want, all of the time.”    

A post shared by Sarah Silverman (@sarahksilverman) on Nov 20, 2017 at 11:56am PST

Sarah Silverman is another stand-up comedy veteran to speak about the idea of motherhood. Silverman is known for never holding back, so it seemed perfectly normal for us to share her ideas on having children in a monologue for her show I Love You, America. Silverman also brought it up when she was on Chelsea with Gloria Steinem and Chelsea Handler, all who have chosen not to have kids. “Loving kids  and having kids of your own are two very different things. The thought of having my own baby completely paralyzes me.”

Chelsea Handler

“Sometimes in your 20s and 30s people will trick you into having kids. But it’s possible to remain childless and alone. You just have to want it.” 

This sums up what I’m dealing with on the home front. Every day, it’s like I’m starting over.

A post shared by Chelsea Handler (@chelseahandler) on May 22, 2018 at 4:52pm PDT

Chelsea Handler has always made her aversion to having children known in her material. In her show, Chelsea, she has a recurring PSA spoof called Kids: They’re Not That Great. She is seen having a cocktail in her bathrobe or binge watching TV, telling people that being childless is actually pretty great. She even got wrapped into hosting a kids Halloween party, and it’s absolutely hilarious.

Jen Kirkman

“If you do something as big as having a kid…you gotta have an urge to be good at it and an urge to do it. And I’ve never had the urge to ruin my life.” 

Hello world!

As you can see – I’m not on tour right now. I’m on a job writing to bring you entertainment on the streaming teevee. Some years I hit 30-40 cities in about 3 countries – this is not that year! So far! ✈️✈️✈️ But there are plans and things in place for fall and winter – and things will go on sale before that. My weekly email newsletter is THE ONLY way to find out what’s going on in my head – where I’m thinking of heading next and why. 📝📝📝📝So, join up! Again, I am not on a big tour this year – I’m just going to be popping up in really surprising places in America and beyond. I KNOW WHAT they are – but you don’t! Cuz you’re not on my newsletter. CLICK LINK IN BIO TO JOIN. It takes you to my website homepage and the link is there. 🌟🌟🌟🌟😁 *****any question you ask below about what city I am coming to is literally the reason I have a newsletter. Save me the headache. The answer to all questions is JOIN MY NICE FRIENDLY FUN PERSONALLY WRITTEN BY ME 🙋🏻‍♀️ every week newsletter*******

A post shared by Jen Kirkman (@jenkirkman) on Mar 5, 2018 at 8:46am PST

In Jen’s first Netflix Special, I’m Going to Die Alone (and I Feel Fine), Kirkman speaks out about not having kids has never been an issue for her as much as the people around her. She even published a book in 2013 called I Can Barely Take Care of Myself: Tales From a Happy Life Without Kids. Needless to say, kids have never been on Kirkman’s radar, and the only problem she has with it is the fact that people have a problem with it.

[kinetic-elaboration]

March 8: Thoughts on 1x10 I Am Become Death

Friday tomorrow. Watching I Am Become Death tonight instead of sleeping.

I don’t think I ever noticed the random severed arm in the Exodus ship wreckage before. Or the random ribs.

I hate to say it but I semi-side with Finn re: the Grounders but he’s otherwise annoying. “Clarke shouldn’t be out here” blah blah whatever--you clearly don’t know her at all because obviously she’d be out there first. Raven gets her better and Raven/Clarke should have been a thing.

“Why they’re coming doesn’t matter anymore”--lol truer words were never spoken. Seriously. And it’s quite sad.

“We move in formation”--what an actual army.

This is one of Jasper’s more annoying scenes, telling the bridge story, but at least he’s acting 15, which I appreciate; also Octavia is semi-more annoying (that’s your friend lol, get over your grumpiness); and also it’s all worth it for the lines “Let us have this” and “my boy’s a folk hero.” (I’m hearing my and you can’t stop me, Netflix subtitles that say the.)

Why would these bozos shoot into the woods when they know they have people out there? I’m surprised they didn’t all friendly-fire themselves to death in season 1.

Remember when this show was creative enough to do stuff like bio warfare? Good times. What happened to that?

I don’t feel remotely bad for anyone who got sick in this episode either (other than Murphy) because banishing him was Grade A stupid and they deserved what they got.

Speaking of not-shining moments, Bellamy’s (completely unbelievable) desire to shoot Murphy dead in the middle of the dropship is ridiculous. I say unbelievable because he absolutely would not have done it and ridiculous because yet again, hate to say it, but Finn and Clarke are right and Bellamy’s position is silliness. Also really dogmatic in an Ark-like way: we said we’d kill in this circumstance so I guess we gotta do it! Not a rebel king moment for sure.

“After we interrogate him we send him back out in the woods, repeating the exact same mistake we already made and that has led to our secrets being shared with our enemy.” LOL nevermind Clarke’s dumb as rocks too. Who wrote this and why do they hate all the characters?

I am not going to talk about the Harper scene because it’s past midnight and I’m trying to be less of a masochist but suffice it to say most people who talk about this scene could stand to, I don’t know, crazy, out there idea here, actually watch it before spouting off their big mouths. Not that I’m BITTER at all or anything.

Also: Monty’s a slut in the making and kind of sexist, he is bad at minding his own business, I want Jasper’s shoes. I may have Jasper’s shoes, just as low tops.

I lied I am talking about it. The way Monty’s expression changes when Jasper tells him to float himself and his sad “I’m just telling you the truth” IS Monty in a nutshell. You ever wondered what the definitive Monty line is? It’s that one. He has no tact and the emotional intelligence of a brick. It’s the truth so what’s wrong with telling it?? Right???

Also here we have an early example of Jasper (a child with emotional intelligence beyond his years) knowing just how to push buttons and show cruelty. Fuck this was quite possibly the best written character on the show and then they drove him into a ditch and I’m so angry. He simultaneously did a 180 in character, and also stayed IC. That’s like the writing dream.

I want a deleted scene where Bellamy gifts Jasper the tent (also btw to people who were simultaneously Bellamy stans and Jasper haters and who like to point to the bridge scene as a knock against my favorite awkward bisexual: Bellamy thought he did the right thing and actually rewarded him for it so...go float yourself as they say). Because I think Jasper, with his Obvious Bellamy Crush, probably almost fainted.

One minute of Clarke/Raven interaction and I get all on the edge of my seat. They get so little.

Few images more iconic than Clarke crying blood.

This Murphy + Clarke + Bellamy scene is Clarke at her finest, and a good example of Bellamy being all-emotion, no-logic tbqh. He’s sure looking fine though.

The Mountain Man in Lincoln’s notebook...

Clarke is so sneaky and gives no fucks. Telling Bellamy she’ll keep O on the third floor and then immediately sending her back out. I mean, again, smart, but one of those moments when I just sincerely wonder how anyone, even Bellamy, can ever REALLY trust her.

Lincoln wants to go “East, to the sea, then across it.” He’s not...really discussing crossing the Atlantic is he? He’s gotta be talking about a different sea. Does he mean like the Chesapeake Bay?? That’s gotta be it. Also Luna’s rig is most decidedly not in Europe or Africa lol.

Dude I think I might have just seen Manny Jacinto. Wild.

Clarke with her blood-eyes and humongous weaponry firing shots into the air is surprisingly hot; this distresses me.

It’s weird how I technically ship Bellarke and quite hard at that but these flirting scenes, or B knocking out the guy threatening Clarke, aren’t doing anything for me. Perhaps because I’m finding Bellamy rather obnoxious--IC but obnoxious--in this particular ep.

I think when Octavia starts helping the sick delinquents is when she decides not to leave with Lincoln but bounces back to feeling an affiliation with the 100.

This is such a deja vu moment for me but I always laugh at Finn’s “you don’t know me very well.” UH YOU THINK?

I’m sorry but Finn doesn’t get enough credit for the blowing up the bridge idea. I know it ended up being a lot more violent than he wanted it to be (tbh this would have been better if he’d been more staunchly pacifist from the get go and then upset when lives were lost to his plan but whatever)--but it was still a good plan.

I guess I can see how people can interpret Monty’s reaction to Jasper’s “flirting” with Harper as jealousy but IMO this is a stretch because if he WERE interested in her why was his main message to his best friend in the earlier scene “You should fuck that pussy”? The more obvious interpretation is that Jasper, who does not have an interest in Harper, is “flirting” with her to mess with Monty and that Monty realizes that or that Jasper isn’t flirting, just actually being nice (I KNOW! A boy! NICE?!?!?) and Monty is interpreting it as a jab at him because he’s in a sour mood and they’re fighting. Regardless, Harper--a character we have literally never seen before this episode--is literally just a pawn for their relationship growth let’s not forget that.

“That’s cute.”

Finn won’t pick up a gun--probably the best evidence that he’s actively a pacifist. Shame an actively pacifistic character hasn’t really existed on this show after S1.

“The men who built the A-bomb thought they were peacemakers too. How’d that work out for them?” Oh how I miss the idea that this show would consider humanity’s rush to its own self-destruction! Or just frankly the framing of the universe as the after-effect of the real choices we really made and are making in the real world, drawn out to their ultimate conclusions. The ALIE story line is, in this sense, even worse than the atrocity of S4 because the retcon just all but elided humanity’s responsibility for its destruction and that just...boils my blood tbqh.

This scene, where Bellamy tells Jasper to take the shot at the bridge, is a great example of Devon Bostick’s Face. Kid has great bones. (He’s actually real life younger than me so I’m allowed to call him a Kid indefinitely that’s the rule.)

Bellamy falling into the tent = me in law school. Also p. sure Jasper’s immune but Bellamy’s concern is nevertheless touching.

Bellamy and O are no Elliot and Darlene but they have their moments.

The Dramatic Zoom In on Finn’s face when Monty tells him that Raven took the bomb is Grade A Hilarious.

Jasper breaks first in the Jonty fight, as I’m sure he always does. No one holds a grudge like Monty. Or is vicious like Monty. “Why don’t you ask your new friends?” is a touch catty and probably the gayest thing he’s ever done (sorry but the boy is canonically straight and always has been...queer him as you wish, I certainly do, but let’s not pretend it’s an interpretation grounded in the text lol.) (What a tangent.)

This is a good Bellarke scene, though. I especially like Clarke’s “Trust? No. I do believe in second chances though”--a good line to remember when trying to keep her IC. (Though I maintain that the idea of second chances and being less judgmental is something she learned in S1, not a pre-pilot trait; see: Wells); and Bellamy’s “Maybe if we close all the doors the Grounders will think we’re not home” like I love that sense of humor.

They’re so rude about Finn and Jasper. Jasper’s a good shot asshats--he saw those Grounders in the last ep. before Bellamy did so suck on that.

Raven with the hydrazine on the bridge is also me in law school.

Jasper and Monty could have been an iconic couple if only this fandom (and this show) were not so dumb.

While I love this Oppenheimer exchange (Bellamy’s voice lol), it bugs me a little that, first, Clarke didn’t build that bomb, shoot it, come up with the idea, or involve herself in the plan at all so cool your jets sick lady you’re not destroying any worlds, and second, it’s not Oppenheimer, it’s Oppenheimer quoting the Bhagavad Gita and I don’t know why that’s so important to me to remember but it really really is. Bugs me every time.

The Mountain Men reference. I guess they saw the mushroom cloud and learn of the delinquents through it...but they already shot down the Exodus Ship. How’d they know about that but not the Dropship? And why didn’t they notice the flares? Why is Lincoln so sure that the cloud will do it?

Lincoln’s got some books in there.

Raven’s comparison of Finn rushing to help Clarke versus hesitating about the bomb isn’t really fair tbqh. I mean it doesn’t matter because their relationship is obviously a farce and she needs to cut him loose, and if that’s what it took, that’s fine. But catching someone who’s falling is an instinct and I don’t think it necessarily has much to do with love or devotion. Whereas Bellamy’s question was about the future and there was no immediate someone-will-crack-their-head-open-on-the-ground-in-a-second danger about it. It wasn’t really an instinctual moment in the same way. Still, drop that dead weight my closet lesbian.

“It’s hard running things” is obviously a call back “It’s not easy being in charge.”

WHY AM I STILL AWAKE IT’S SO LATE.