#All of these came from the various teasers and the trailer

[edelweiss313]

Lore questions in preparation for Beyond the Room's release:

Who is the ghost lady and why does she have a "shadow form"?

2. Why was the apartment building abandoned?

3. Who is the (possibly ghostly) old man in the purple apartment?

4. What is the doll from Nowhere House doing here? (And in the same purple apartment as the old man, no less)

5. This is a minor, no pun intended, question but who is the ghost kid on the swingset?

[campcampkirbykirbykirby]

Camp Camp Commentary Notes - Season 1, Episode 1: Escape from Camp Campbell

This is the first in a series of posts detailing the various nuggets of behind-the-scenes info found in the commentaries of the Camp Camp Seasons 1 and 2 Blu-Ray. I aim to cover both the writer commentary and cast & crew commentary of every episode in the set (except the holiday specials because they don't have commentaries GRRRR)

Writer’s Commentary

Writers went back to touch up this episode after completing the initial 10 episodes, before going on to the bonus 2 episodes that were greenlit following the positive reception

This episode went through about 12-14 drafts before it was finalized

Pilots are very hard because they both need to be very good and hook the audience so they will want to watch more, you have to juggle introducing all the necessary characters and telling a single solid story

Doubly so since this was the crew’s first shot at writing for an episodic series, all their other efforts had been story-driven up to that point

Irony in that the title of the first episode is about wanting to leave the camp (or show) entirely

Max and David’s dynamic is perfectly set up within 8 lines of dialogue

In older versions of the pilot, Mr. Campbell never showed up in person, only in the introductory video that was later repurposed into promotional material

Most of what was taken out of the pilot ended up being reused in some way, including the intro and the teaser trailer

One of the primary goals was to establish early on that this is not a kids show, like some people who saw the early promo material thought it was

This is why Max swears less than 40 seconds in, and why the rabbit gets swooped up by Timothy earlier (although I’d argue you could make that joke in a more family-friendly show)

First RT series produced in more of a writer’s room style akin to The Simpsons

The writers would come up with episode ideas, divy up who’d want what story, they’d write a first draft, come back to it, workshop the script several times, rinse and repeat until it devolved into Miles and Jordan doing final punch-ups and trimming

This pipeline allowed for lots of easter eggs and background details to be slipped in

Then they effectively do a table-read of the script which allows them to add more

Starting in Season 2, they started recording writer’s room conversations, so if something funny came up and they wanted to add it, they wouldn’t just have to go off of memory

Putting all the campers in the activities field doing their activities seemed like a good way to establish all of their respective camps.

Challenger II is Miles’ favorite visual gag (as of 2018, at least)

Working with Lee Eddy and Travis Willingham was great, Lee especially since they had previously worked with her for Red V.S. Blue

Travis was the first person who recorded for the show, as part of the aforementioned introductory video, and he was great at riffing and ad-lib

What exactly Camp Campbell was was foggy initially (whether or not it advertised that it was a camp of all camps), and the initial pilot didn’t explain it very well because they had built an internal understanding of what it was and didn’t do a very good job conveying it to the audience.

Mr. Campbell really likes the Quartermaster

Looking back on the first episodes is very interesting, especially when you have been working on the show for years at that point, for example, Max’s bond with Nikki hasn’t been established yet, so he has to ask why she’d help him.

Not enough time for the full theme song (hence why no intro), so they thought having Gwen interrupt it was funny

The scene where Max, Neil, and Nikki are running was seemingly the origin of Neil’s raptor arms (oh, excuse me, T-rex arms)

Ed, Edd ‘n’ Eddy was used as a reference for things like this because the Eds each had distinct walk cycles befitting their personality

First Day buttons were included so the campers would have a means to get away from the counselors

The music sting as the bus is driving away is a nod to the Back to the Future theme

Cast and Crew Commentary

Michael jokes about a sequel or prequel called “Max Max/Maximum Max”

The scream Miles did when David gets hit by the bus gets used quite a bit

The more Max’s parents push him away, the more he tries to cling to him, according to Maggie

Episode was supposedly recorded March 2016, ironically one of the last ones recorded

Recording for the series started November of 2015

Handheld camera movements in the mess hall scene were added by animator Gil Calceta

Lee Eddy was the only person who auditioned for Gwen, the crew saw it as perfect casting

Laserdisc player is not big enough for laserdisc

Campbell’s lazy wear (for lack of a better term) was only made for the one shot, though it would later comeback in Season 4

Michael initially auditioned for Camp Camp not really knowing what it was, and his script was just some typical Max phrases

Older episodes, Max was pitched up because Michael hadn’t quite perfected the voice yet

There was no helicopter assest created, it’s off screen and only implied by Campbell being pulled up by the ladder

The scene of Nikki throwing the button took 3 days to animate

The line “Go to bitch, jail” in the Camp Camp Rap Rap was an ad-lib/outtake

[bteezxyewriter12]

Daddy/ 7

Pairing- Namjoon x Named Reader

Word count- 3.2k

Includes- Stepdad Namjoon, "Dumb/naive" reader, reader name not used- instead called "baby"or "bunny", all are of consenting age, corruption, Oral, pussy eating, blow job, deepthroating, cum eating, sex from behind, consented somnophilia, riding, choking, missionary, squirting, multiple orgasms, choking scare, minute smidge of fluff

Tag List- @mingtina @jaxxmine @yeosayang @delightfulmoonbanana @tannie13 @y00nzin0 @marsstarxhwa

@borntowalkaway @soulseobi05 @kpop-bambi @seokwoosmole @meowmeowminnie @nctzennikki09 @mrcarrots @yoonallthetime @namjooningera @quinsly @kendranicole1996 @jacobhey @wolfgurl2600-blog @mrskimjoon @svnbangtansworld @taeluv13 @effielumiere @moonchild-qaads @kitinae

Masterlists- check out for more fics

📝Daddy Masterlist 📝Masterlists

📝BTS Masterlist

📝Namjoon Masterlist

3 weeks later

Namjoon POV

"Our revenue has increased substantially since the release of the teaser for The Astronaut porn", Seonghwa says, "We have doubled in subscriptions, especially in the top tier subscription"

"That's good", I say, then lick her little clit, her body shaking on my bed

Looking up at her, I smirk at the way her eyes are screwed shut in pleasure

She learned from the last time she interrupted me during a call

She came into my room while I'm taking this phone conference call and her eyes opened so wide, immediately turning and leaving the room

Since she wasn't making a scene, I decided to let her stay

I muted the call, telling her to get on my bed

Then I gagged her with one of my ties because she's loud and I can't have that

It was bad enough the guys saw her fucking me on the video call

I don't need them to hear her on the phone too

I started eating her out, leaving the phone on speaker and on her tummy but she kept moving her hands and knocking it over

So I tied her arms together and to the bed using another one of my ties

Now she's gagged and bound, quiet and I'm liking this a lot

"Seems many people want to experience the whole thing with music, the YouTube videos, the series and so on", Jimin says smugly

"Seems so", I answer, delving my tongue in her tiny hole and feeling her throb on it, sending pleasure right to my hard cock

This cunt is so wet, so fucking sloppy and I'm so here for it

I fuck into her hole a few times before dragging my tongue up, licking her throbbing bump

"Mmm", she moans, the tie muffling her sounds

Sliding my fingers in between her lips, I hold her clit between them, licking over and over, dragging the flat of my tongue to the tip on her

Her thighs shake, her breasts heaving as she breathes around my tie

Muting the phone, I tell her, "Cum for me, right now"

Swiping my tongue over her clit, her body arches as she cums for the third time, moaning, her hands pulling on the tie hard

Letting go of her clit, I lick her hole, tasting her cream

So fucking good

I keep forgetting how much I love how she tastes

I don't go down on her as often as I should but every time I do, I remember why I like doing it

I don't eat her cunt for her but for me because she has the best cunt I ever tasted

Slipping my tongue up, I wrap my lips around her clit, sucking hard as I slip three fingers inside her

One more

Need to taste her one more time before I fuck her

As I move my mouth, I plunge into her, her pussy sucking me in, my fingertips rubbing on her spot

She calls me in her muffled voice, her body shaking hard

"Such a good cunt for me", I praise her

San is talking about the various video he put up for the movie trailer and the ad revenue we get from those videos is doing well

I'm listening but right now I'm too into her pussy to speak

My hand is soaked, her tight cunt squeezing my fingers desperately, like the whore she is

She's close

Increasing my sucking, I go hard and as soon as she orgasms, I pull my fingers out, replacing them with my tongue

She clenches down on my tongue, her cream coating it as I close my eyes, reveling in her taste

I swallow over and over, wanting all of it

Every single drop

After licking her clean, I sit up, flipping her over on her stomach

"Up", I demand

She moves on her knees bending forward as her hands are still tied, her legs already spread for me

My good slut knows what I want

I take a second to watch her juice slip from her cunt down her thighs, her tiny hole clenching around nothing

"Mm bunny, want daddy's cock?"

She nods, holding onto the tie so hard

"Want daddy to fuck that cunt stupid? Split you open"

"Mmm hmmm", she cries

"Good girl"

Shoving my cock inside her, I push hard, feeling her tight pussy stretch around me

I swear this is the best pussy I've fucked and that's because it's mine

I made this pussy into my personal cock sleeve, wearing her everyday

She knows what I like, what I want and does it every time

I start off thrusting into her, the wet sound of her cunt taking my cock, creaming my cock, so musical

I need to record that sound one day

I watch the white cream around my dick, a thick ring of it accumulating at the base of my cock, her stretched little hole smeared in it too

Fucking hot

"Fuck my cock bunny", I tell her, stopping my movements

She takes over, sliding along my length, bottoming me out and taking me in deeply, feeling so good

"Ohhh", she gasps, moving faster, her skin slapping loudly against mine

I have no idea what we're talking about on the conference call right now, all I can focus on is her pussy opening for me over and over

Her breathing is turning into gasps, long moans coming from her as her cunt pulses around my dick

"I'm gonna cum", I choke out, pleasure assaulting my body

"Hmmm", she nods, taking me all in, grinding on my cock, against my pelvis, her cum hole clenching in a death grip over and over

"I...I can't...", I moan, not able to hold back

Ecstacy hits me as I cum, her pussy sucking my cock as she grinds on me

"Bunny, fuck...so good"

Jesus

After emptying into her cunt, I pull out, laying down on my back as I breath hard

She calls me softly and when I look at her, she shows me her hands, asking to untie her with her eyes

I actually forgot she was tied up

Leaning over, I undo my tie, her hands dropping to the bed

She sits up, taking off the gag too as I pick up my phone and focus on the conference

"...planning on starting to shoot the movie in three days", Jimin says

"Everything is set up for a smooth filming?", I ask

"Of course Namjoon. I'm not incompetent", Jimin snaps

"It's my job to question you", I answer, rolling my eyes

Jimin starts ranting and I'm about to go off when I hear a very quiet, soft, "Daddy"

Looking at her, she's crawling in-between my legs

What does she want now?

She keeps her eyes on me, her hand around my dick, pumping me slowly

I watch her lean down, her tongue licking around head, pleasure slowly seeping in my body

Muting the phone, I ask, "Can't get enough of daddy's cock huh?"

She shakes her head, taking my tip in her mouth, sucking softly, her hand still moving

And I'm getting hard again

"Love your cock daddy", she whispers, taking more of me in her mouth

"So what is it you want now bunny?"

"Want to suck you off and swallow your cum"

I groan at her words, "Fuck bunny, you know what daddy likes"

She nods, sucking harder

Not gonna lie she's so pretty with my cock in her mouth

Like her mouth belongs around my cock

Just like her pussy does

"Well you're lucky I love coming down your throat", I answer, "Suck daddy's cock. Make me cum"

She nods, her hand leaving my cock as she deepthroats me, her throat so tight

Moving my hand in her hair, I bob her head up and down, moaning in bliss

She sucks as she moves along my length, shivers running up my spine

"So good bunny"

"Ok well that's all for this meeting", someone says on the call, "We can meet in a month or so to talk about the progress"

The others on the call agree and then hang up

I toss my phone on the nightstand, finally able to completely focus on my stepdaughter blowing me

Tears are falling from her eyes but she's not stopping, fucking her throat on my cock, knowing this gives me intense pleasure

She swallows on my shaft, sending spikes of pleasure down my spine

"That's it bunny", I murmur, watching my cock enter her mouth over and over, "So good at sucking cock"

She should be, I trained her to be amazing at it

Moving faster, I feel myself right there

Shoving her head down, I hold her on my dick, listening to her choke as I cum into her mouth

"Yes Bunny. Fuck"

She moans, swallowing and sucking over and over, the pleasure so fucking incredible

She slows down her mouth as I finish, gently pulling off me, sitting up

She swallows a few times then looks up at me

"Yummy daddy"

"Fuck bunny", I mutter, exhausted

"Are you tired daddy?", she asks

I nod, "Yeah bunny. Daddy's tired"

She nods, "Ok. I'll go so you can sleep"

"Yeah sure"

A nap sounds like a good idea

I lay down as she gets up expecting her to just leave

Instead she bends down, picking up my blanket from the floor and putting it on me

Like she's tucking me in

I raise my eyebrow at her but she just smiles and says, "Have a good nap daddy"

Then she turns and leaves my room

And leaves me speechless

What the hell just happened?

Did she....sort of...take care of me?

No

Giving me a blanket isn't taking care of me right?

No, it's not

That settled, I close my eyes, relaxed and ready for a nap

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

Massive pleasure wakes me up and I snap my eyes open

The sight of my bunny bouncing desperately on my cock hits me full in the face, her cries of daddy filling my ears

And I can't help but smirk

"Mm bad girl", I say, groggily, "Fucking daddy's cock without asking"

She immediately stops, looking down at me

"Ssss..sorry daddy. You...you were still asleep and I came to check on you to make sure you were ok. I just... you were still sleeping but your cock was so hard"

"Was it baby?"

She nods, "The blanket was sticking up too. I...I touched you and I licked your cock but you didn't wake up"

I raise my eyebrows

I didn't feel a thing

"I sucked on you daddy but you were still sleeping and...and my pussy hurt. I tried to stay off for as long as I could but I couldn't anymore. I just...I just wanted to sit on your cock"

"So what happened baby?", I ask, "You sat on me with my cock up your cunt?"

She nods

"Then what? You were bouncing on me like a fucking whore when I woke up"

She pouts, looking down, "You we're throbbing inside and I couldn't help it"

"Uh huh", I say, "Slide up"

She does, keeping my head inside her

I bite my lip seeing the creamy mess she left on me

She came

I already know that

"How many times did you cum on daddy's cock without me knowing?"

Her cheeks turn red, "Three times"

"Three?", I repeat, surprised, "You're cunt was greedy huh?"

She nods, "Always for your cock daddy"

Yeah I know

Which is exactly what I want

"Were you working on a fourth orgasm baby?"

She nods again, "And I was trying to get daddy to cum inside me"

That's interesting

"Yeah? Why?"

"Because I love feeling daddy cum in my pussy. I love being full of daddy's cum"

"Huh. Well don't let me stop you"

I'm not upset

I told her that she could fuck me awake if there was an opportunity

I fuck her awake so many times and honestly waking up to that pleasure is the best way to wake up

"I...I can keep going?"

"You better. I want your cum hole to make my cock feel good"

She nods, "I will daddy. I promise"

"Go", I nod at her

She leans her hands on my abs as she squats, her legs pumping as she bounces up and down

Her fucking hole looks so good spreading wide open for my cock, her pussy lips so swollen, wrapped around my shaft

So pretty

Not to mention the pretty cream flowing from her pussy

I don't think I'll ever not love the sight of her cream all over me

Putting my hands behind my head, I watch her fuck me

I watch the way she moves her hips as she takes me in, her tummy bulging as she circles her hips fast, grinding on my head so it rubs against her spot, then slides up my dick, doing all the movements all over again

It's like she's dancing on my cock and it's mesmerizing

Her boobs are jiggling so much, her head tilted back, beads of sweat rolling down her body, pleasure on her face as her cunt chokes my cock

I can admit that she looks so good on me right now

Hot

Sexy

That's why I wanted to fuck her

Her looks and her stupidity

"Daddy", she gasps, her legs not stopping, pumping my cock in and out of her

"Yeah bunny, I feel you. Go ahead, make a mess on my cock"

She leans her hands back on my thighs as she takes me back in, wiggling and grinding on me

"Daddy! Oh god", she whimpers, so much pleasure hitting me hard as she orgasms

Her pussy floods my cock in squirt, running in my lap and spilling over on my bed

"So pretty bunny", I murmur, watching her cunt clench around me, "Love when this cunt squirts"

"Feels so good daddy", she moans, "Your cock always feels so good daddy"

I'm glad she feels that way because it means she'll fuck me more

And I'm all for that

When she finishes, she leans forward, her hand on my shoulder, breathing rapidly

And for some reason, I feel the need to fuck her

Pulling her off me, I throw her on her back, grabbing her ankles and shoving her legs towards her body, her legs spread, her little ass up off the bed, her cunt throbbing and waiting for me to fill her

Getting my head in her hole, I push in slowly, savoring the feel of her on my dick

Bottoming out, my body shivers as she latches on my dick, already pulsing pleasurably

Immediately I set a hard pace, watching that hole splitting open in with every thrust into her

As always she takes me perfectly, swallowing my cock like she can't get enough, moaning for me like a big whore

"Look at you", I growl, "Taking daddy's cock like a pro"

She nods, whimpering

"My little cock sleeve, always ready for my cock to wreck you"

"Yes daddy. Mmmmm yes"

"Love how this cunt throbs on me, sucking me in like you can't get enough"

"I can't", she moans, "I can't get enough of you daddy"

I know she can't

It's great

"Cum on daddy's cock, bunny", I demand, feeling her right there

Slamming her spot, she cries out, her body shaking as she orgasms

And I get the pleasure I want

I need more

Slamming her pussy, I fuck her hard and rough, making her cum three more times, the bliss I feel mounting with every orgasm

Thrusting into her tight hole, I wrap my hand around her neck, her cunt becoming impossibly tight

And I just smirk at her

She looks so fucked out, fucked stupid as she keeps taking the pounding I'm giving her

I choke her, her body shuddering, wet hole spasming so good on my length

"So good bunny. Pussy getting so tight", I tell her, letting her breathe

She opens her fucked out eyes, tears falling from them

"Need you to cum like that so I can fill this sloppy cum hole again"

She nods

I snap my hips hard over and over, choking her, feeling her so close

"C'mon you fucking slut. Cum on me so I can blow my load in this coming pussy", I demand

Her pussy locks on my cock, coming and pumping around my cock, the pleasure outstanding

"Fuck", I yell, slamming my dick into her, immediately blowing my load into her orgasming cunt, "Yes fucking whore, milk my cock. Take all my cum, slut"

The pleasure lasts, making me shake as I ride it out inside her

When I finally finish, I relax and realize I haven't let go to her neck yet

Shit

Letting her go, she gasps in air, choking as she tries to sit up

I panic a little, helping her up, her whole face red

"Are you ok?", I ask worriedly, "Bunny are you ok?"

I may not care about her pleasure and I definitely use her for sex but I don't want to hurt her

I use women, I'm an asshole but I don't hurt them

She sucks in air, coughing a little

"Bunny?"

"I...I'm ok", she gasps out, "I think...I think I need to lay down for a minute..I...I feel dizzy"

"Yeah sure", I nod, helping her lay down on a pillow, my eyes widening when I see my fingerprints on the sides of her neck

Fuck, I choked her harder than I thought I did

I've never went that hard on her or any girl when I choke them

How the fuck did I lose control?

She turns on her side, her eyes squeezed shut, trying to get her breathing under control

I actually feel bad but I don't know what to do to help

"Bunny?"

"I'm ok", she croaks, "I...I'll get up in a minute to leave daddy"

"It's ok bunny, take your time. I...I didn't mean to hurt you"

"It's ok daddy. I know you didn't mean it", she breathes

Even though she said it's ok, I still feel bad

I could of seriously hurt her or killed her

Something like this can never happen again

I won't let it

I let her lay down for awhile, paying attention to her breathing, making sure it's going back to normal

The next time I look at her, shes breathing normal and I think she's asleep

"Bunny?", I call softly

"Hmm", she murmurs, her eyes open tiredly, "Oh. Sorry daddy. I'll leave"

I hesitate but tell her, "It's ok bunny. You can stay"

Why I'm doing this I don't know

Maybe it's because I'm worried about her, maybe it's so I can make sure nothing happens to her because of choking her

Maybe it's because last time she slept in my bed overnight, it wasn't that bad

No that's not it

It's because I'm worried and I want to watch her to make sure she's ok

That has to be the reason

It is the reason, I tell myself

"I can go daddy", she says, yawning

"No bunny. It's fine. Sleep ok?"

She looks at me sleepily and confused, "Are you sure?"

I nod, surprised that I am sure, "I am. Sleep bunny"

She cuddles into the pillow, closing her eyes, knocking out almost immediately

I don't know how long I sit there for, just watching her, listening to her breathes

Everything seems normal, she doesn't seem hurt besides the brusies on her neck

I move my fingers in her hair, fixing it so it's off her face and not obstructing any of her airways, ignoring how soft and silky it feels

Getting the blanket, I fix it so it's on both of us then I lay down, facing her

I don't know if I'm gonna fall asleep but I want to be right here in case anything happens

Any emergency or something, like she stops breathing

It's just for tonight, I tell myself

Only for tonight

[butterflydm]

minor speculation on the day before 2x4

Okay, we're gonna find out what happens next so soon! But I want to poke at ideas anyway, just go over some potential thoughts on travel distances and pacing, etc. This will have spoilers for all the various teasers and hints we've seen (or at least the ones that I've seen!) for WoT s2 plus book 2: The Great Hunt spoilers. Including the trailers shown at the ends of episode 1 & episode 4. This is mostly speculating on 2x4 but has some speculation for the rest of the season.

For episode four:

I am sure we will pick up with Moiraine's storyline and Lan's storyline but I think they will stay separated for either most of the episode or the whole episode. Moiraine is Doing Research in Cairhien but she isn't there expecting to find Rand -- she's chasing the thread of the cracked moondial and the poem. She appears to be investigating the fire in Foregate and speaking to Logain in the trailer for e4, so I think she will definitely learn that Rand is in Cairhien (Investigator Moiraine rides again). In the trailer that came out a month or so before the episode aired, we had that confrontation between Moiraine and Lan where he tells her that she doesn't need to do this alone and she stresses that "guiding Rand" is all that matters. That may happen in this episode when Lan catches up with her.

I think that Lan is going to show Alanna, Maksim, & Ihvon the poem to convince them to let him go after Moiraine. We see them reading it in the trailer.

This is the episode we're going to get the actual summoning to break the seal and release Lanfear -- it was in the trailer. Not sure if the truth of her identity will be revealed in the episode or not -- they may want to keep the audience in suspense a bit longer. This is also probably the episode where Rand and 'Selene' cuddle in the wilderness -- they're maybe doing some traveling after her inn burned down. Selene may be leading him to the excavation site to see if she gets a reaction out of him.

From the trailer for the episode, it looks like Nynaeve is going to find out in this episode that Perrin and Loial were captured -- how? Will Liandrin tell her? It can't be Perrin writing to say that he's okay because, well, she thinks Perrin is captured along with Loial. So this seems likely to be the episode where the Wondergirls all head out. I'm hoping that happens at the end of the episode, since we know Verin is currently heading to the Tower to do research and I'm hoping for her to cross paths with the Wondergirls, especially Egwene.

I'm guessing that we're going to be exploring Perrin with the wolves but also see him resisting due to what he was told at the end of the last episode and his worries that being close to the wolf means being close to the Dark One. Will he meet Aviendha in this episode or will it be in ep5?

Where! Are Min and Mat going! So curious! Sending him to Falme... maybe? But that's a long journey (the Wondergirls will be taking a big shortcut). And Mat isn't a woman who can channel, so the Seanchan can't 'take care of him' like they can the Wondergirls. It depends on who is pulling Liandrin's strings right now and what their motives are, I think, and we don't know. I do think that it seems like that Liandrin was observing him under Ishamael's orders, because Ishamael is trying to figure out why Mat is ta'veren and why he matters. Rand is the Dragon, both Nynaeve and Egwene are strong channelers, and Ishamael has figured out that Perrin has a wolf thing but... why is Mat important? And if that is the case, then Min may be leading him somewhere in order to deliberately sort of 'stress test' him to try to see if any powers or weird abilities come out of him.

Related: one of my theories is that the Black Ajah Sisters in the Tower are currently working somewhat at loggerheads (without being aware that they're getting in the way of other BA plans) because they're getting orders from different Forsaken or interpret their orders differently.

We may get some time passing in this episode or a minor timeskip, so that Moiraine has time to reach Cairhien (and so that Mat and Min have some time on the road together?).

For episode 5: well, it's called "Damane"

Egwene is gonna get captured by the Seanchan. :-(

I think Selene will have either just left Rand's storyline in 4 or she will leave it here, and Rand is going to reconnect with Moiraine & Lan.

???

Episode 6 and episode 7 -- from what I recall, we aren't certain which is Daes Da'mar and which is Eyes Without Pity. I kinda think ep6 is gonna be DD and it'll be when we get to see Siuan come to Cairhien. Minor theory: Logain was a trap to try to lure Rand somewhere that Siuan could find him again (if we assume Moiraine sent her some kind of coded message after things failed at the Eye of the World -- it seems possible that the Amyrlin is off traveling so much this season because she's trying to locate Rand since Moiraine is researching and more powerless). Eyes Without Pity seems like it might be the episode when all the set-up for the finale gets slotted into place. Just... based on the title, idk.

I really do hope that there's enough setup in ep7 that episode 8 can have some room to breathe and give us plenty of strong character and relationship moments.

We're gonna get Rand fighting Turak (in the main trailer); we're gonna get Mat with the Heroes of the Horn (the trailer after episode 1; it's a quick wide shot but it looks like Mat running at the head of what are probably the Heroes); Perrin is gonna kill a Whitecloak at some point (this might be in ep7 or earlier idk). Other things are more Mysterious, though we've been teased about the 'fight in the sky'. I am assuming that Egwene is probably gonna clock Renna with a water pitcher or something similar. I feel like our payoff for the "Mat stabs Rand" viewing is probably going to be true in this season, one way or another, and not get drawn out into the next season.

I really hope Rand gets to meet Elayne and Aviendha this season, if only briefly. I also really hope for some good reunions between our EF5.

Anyone else want to speculate with me today?

[behind-the-screen-of-bangtan]

HOPE ON THE STREET VOL.1

Release date: 29 March 2024

Official page

Video teaser

Photo teaser

Announcement

Pre-order notice

Promotion schedule

HOPE ON THE STREET VOL. 1 on delivery

Preview Cut

Album Preview: PRELUDE, INTERLUDE

Highlight Medley

Dance videos: HIP-POP, POPPING, HOUSE

Official Youtube playlist

Official merch

The name is a reference to Hope On The Street, a series of videos where j-hope filmed himself dancing and talking about dance.

Here's the list:

Twitter (another one with Jaesang)

Youtube:

Hope on the street @150920

Hope on the street @151008 - 1

Hope on the street @151008 - 2

Vlive (now on Weverse):

160126 BTS Hope On The Street Live

160126 BTS Hope On The Street Live 2

160413 BTS Hope On The Street Live

The teasers for this project were released on j-hope's birthday, on February 18th. Concerning the picture, it's a photomontage notably using this stock picture taken in Itaewon and showing the Namsan tower. A plane has also been added as a nod to "Airplane" a song from j-hope's first mixtape Hope World.

Some text is also visible on the card box picture on the official page, a table of contents:

(Prologue) The beginning Chapter 1 Origin Chapter 2 Soul Chapter 3 Playground Chapter 4 Motivation Chapter 5 Art Just raw and real (Epilogue)

and a citation:

nobody came went up on stage just danced. moment was incredibly exhilarating and unforgettable. It was a great feeling to have all eyes and lights on me. And all reactions and cheers made my heart race. That moment led to where I am now

There are two versions of the album : Prelude and Interlude.

Tracklist

1. on the street (solo version)

Lyrics

See this post for the version featuring J. Cole

2. i wonder... (with Jung Kook of BTS)

Lyrics

3. lock / unlock (with benny blanco, Nile Rodgers)

Lyrics

4. i don't know (with HUH YUNJIN of LE SSERAFIM)

Lyrics

5. what if... (dance mix with JINBO the SuperFreak)

Lyrics

6. NEURON (with Gaeko, yoonmirae)

Lyrics

NEURON (with Gaeko, yoonmirae)

Official Motion Picture teaser

Official Motion Picture

Docuseries

Release date: 28 March 2024

Teaser Poster

Announcement

Teaser trailer

Main Poster

Main Trailer

Preview: #1, #2

Collage Poster

Behind-the-scenes pictures: Billboard, Hypebeast

The docuseries follows j-hope around the world as he meets various dancers and shares moves with them.

Army Film Club pointed out that the camera they chose allowed dynamic movement, adapted for filming dance sequences.

In the teaser trailer, we see these locations:

- Seoul:

Common ground (website) (0:15)

- Osaka - Paris:

Rue Marietta Alboni (0:42, 0:57)

Pont Alexandre III (0:44, 0:58)

Place de Varsovie (0:56)

45 Rue Claude Bernard (Main Trailer 0:37)

9 Rue de la Corderie (Main Trailer 0:37, 1:23)

Café Philippe (Main Trailer 1:01)

Pont de Bir Hakeim (Main Trailer 0:39, 1:22)

- New York:

Crossroad between Union square and E 17th St (0:47, 0:58)

200 W 48th St (0:58)

- Gwangju:

5.18 democracy square (1:00)

Promotion, interviews, and performances

A pop-up shop was opened in Seoul, at a location hinted by QR codes. The shop appeared in Naver maps with more details.

A mural was painted in Bushwick, in New York, to promote the album. It's the same neighborhood where Jimin filmed "Closer Than This" (src #1, src #2).

Official album release parties have also been organized in the United States.

[xoxardnekoxo]

Movie Review: The Barbie Movie

WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD!

Somehow I managed to see the live action Barbie movie on opening weekend! It took a couple of days, but I made it!

Who isn't familiar with the most iconic fashion doll of all time? Without Barbie, there would be no fashion dolls. Since her introduction in 1959, the one-sixth scale doll has taken over the world with more than 200 careers and at least twice as many fashions and accessories.

But enough about that. Let's get to it. This is a movie review, not a doll review.

The teaser trailer turned out to be the opening of the whole movie, and I love it. Yes, there have always been dolls for little girls to play with. But until 1959, when Barbie entered the plastic world, the only dolls girls had were baby dolls or paper dolls. So basically dolls were a way of preparing girls for a future of motherhood and housekeeping. Okay, that's fine, if that's what you truly want.

So we see all the girls playing with their dolls and suddenly this Godzilla-like doll just pops up out of nowhere, prompting the girls to throw and smash their baby dolls in favor of this new toy. Then we get to a transition scene showing various women in Barbie attire - and they're all actual clothes that have existed over the decades! They even threw in one of the new Fashionista wheelchairs in there and one of the most recent vet fashion packs. When this movie comes out for purchase, I'm totally taking notes of what all outfits I see.

Enter Barbie Land. We've seen a lot of it in the trailers, but I'm still super amazed at the set design. Major props to those guys! They literally designed and built Barbie-size houses and created a layout/cul-de-sac of them in order to recreate them in life size. And there's literally dollhouses! Every Barbie home has a back wall and maybe a side wall or two. The front is always open, so every Barbie can see into every other Barbie's house at all times. Just like a real dollhouse! And inside those houses are various plastic pieces of furniture and decor, along with some stickers. Yep, there are food items in the fridge that are actually stickers, and the stove is also a sticker. Heart-shaped waffles, a slide that spirals down into a pool at floor level with painted water, stationary ocean waves, etc. It's literally a real-life plastic world. I love that! Barbie movies and shows in the past portray Barbie as though she were a real person, and of course her house reflects that. This movie is saying Barbie is a doll and is treating her as such.

The houses also have no stairs in them, so the dolls magically float from floor to floor in their homes, just like how girls move them between rooms. And getting dressed entails seeing an outfit already planned out and magically appearing on the Barbie. Brilliant!

So this all sounds like a cute movie, right? Well, it is, but keep in mind - this movie is rated PG-13 for "suggestive content." When I first heard that, I was like, what..... Not that it bothers me, but this is a movie about the number-one fashion doll in history, and fashion dolls are catered more to young children than anyone. So I was wondering what in the world this suggestive content would be. I would soon find out.

During the narrator's introductions, we meet Barbie's very first friend, Midge. Who, sadly, is no longer even in the Mattel lineup after being discontinued in 2004. You all know the story, right? Midge and Allan (later Alan) got married in 1990 or so, and in 2002, they were reintroduced with their three-year-old son, Ryan, and their infant daughter, Nikki (yes, that was her name - it just came later). Well, Midge came with a magnetic detachable pregnant belly that little Nikki was inside. People flipped at the thought of kids playing with a pregnant doll, saying it encouraged teenage pregnant. (Yeah, okay, sure.) So Mattel re-released her later with Nikki and no belly. That story was mentioned in the movie. Other recalled/cancelled/controversial dolls also made an appearance in the movie, including the infamous Earring Magic King and Sugar's Daddy Ken, along with Growing Up Skipper, Teen Talk Barbie, and Video Camera Barbie. So the movie is educational too! :D

Anyway, we're soon introduced to Ken, who's literally introduced as only being happy when he's noticed by Barbie. After all, he was created just to be her boyfriend. So Barbie's at the beach with all the other Barbies, and everyone is vying for Barbie's attention, including other Kens. So the main Ken decides to show off his surfing skills, only to bang right into the stationary wave and embarrassingly fly back into the sand. This starts a verbal squabble between him and another Ken about "beaching off." Yeah, they're talking about beaching each other off, saying things like "You can't even beach yourself off, I'll beach you off any day," etc. Yeah, say it fast enough, and it totally sounds like something else. There's part of your suggestive content right there. Then Barbie jumps in with, "No one is beaching anyone off!"

Then it's a disco party at the Dreamhouse. Well, one of them, since they're all Dreamhouses. Everything is all fine and dandy, dolls are dancing around in perfect sync, etc., until suddenly Barbie says, "Do you ever think about dying?" But she quickly rectifies this and the party continues. Then she and Ken are outside and Ken asks if he can stay at Barbie's house for the night, to which she asks why. "Because we're boyfriend and girlfriend." "What would we do?" "I honestly don't know." We all know what the implication was...

But it's Girl's Night... as it is every night, so Ken has to leave. "It's Barbie's Dreamhouse, not Ken's Dreamhouse." Ouch.

So, that whole death question thing? It prompts some less than satisfying events, including Barbie waking up with morning breath, having a cold shower (in a house with no water, mind you), a burnt waffle, and - gasp! - flat feet.

Yep, she no longer stands on her toes! Not sure why that was such a huge issue because dozens of Barbies have been made with flat feet, even back in the 90s (including Hot Skatin' Barbie, who makes an appearance later).

So when Barbie explains this to the other Barbies, they tell her she has to go see Weird Barbie, aka the Barbie who was played with too roughly. Kudos for this design lol, Kate McKinnon is portrayed as a doll with a dress covered in Crayon stains, cut/burned-off hair, marker scribbles on her face, always doing the splits, etc. She also owns the dog Tanner, another discontinued Mattel product of a dog that would eat a treat and then poop it out (it was recalled due to magnets getting swallowed by kids). She explains to Barbie that something must be happening with the girl who is playing with her in the Real World, and so she must travel there to see what the problem is to make everything go back to normal - and to not get cellulite!!! Yep, Weird Barbie points out that there is now cellulite on Barbie's thighs, and she's like:

Yep, it's real. Run. So anyway, Barbie then gets in her undersized Corvette (yep, even the Barbie car in the movie is under-scaled compared to real life cars - the windshield is shorter than her head lol) and heads for the Real World with a stowaway Ken in tow. When they get to California (where Mattel's headquarters are), they're both wearing their Hot Skatin' outfits from the mid-90s. That was some great nostalgia.

Skating through LA looking like, well, a couple of dolls, people start staring at the two, and Barbie is getting cat-called. Ken is too, by some guys LOL. When they come up to a group of construction guys, they say sexist remarks and Barbie literally says, "It sounds like you're saying a double entendre, but I don't have a vagina, and he doesn't have a penis." Yeah, Barbie literally said the words vagina and penis.

Eventually the two decide to maybe ditch their skating outfits, so instead don some matching western attire. Yeah, they just happen to find a random shop with a pink western women's outfit and a matching one for guys.

Barbie is searching for the girl responsible for the weird things happening to her in Barbie Land, so Ken goes off on his own and discovers that, in the Real World, men hold all the power and are more than accessories, unlike in Barbie Land. He sees male cops on horses, male presidents on dollar bills, male doctors, etc. He grabs a bunch of books and reads up on this, and he's heading to meet back up with Barbie to tell her about this, except she's been found by Mattel execs (who are aware of two dolls that escaped Barbie Land - much like a baby-sitting Skipper many years ago) and escorted to HQ. So Ken returns to Barbie Land with his newfound information.

Barbie eventually escapes the Mattel suits (led by Will Ferrell, who is playing, in my opinion, his only decent role in a film ever) and is rescued by the girl she was looking for. Well, the girl's mother - it was her mother who prompted the events, not the girl. In any event, the three of them head back to Barbie Land and discover it to be completely taken over by the Kens. Yep, Ken turned Barbie Land into a patriarchy. That word is even used multiple times.

The Barbies are now cheerleaders cheering for the Kens, serving them drinks (yep, beer included), etc. The Dreamhouses have become Mojo Dojo Casa Houses, and none of the Barbies are in charge anymore. So no Barbie president, doctor, scientist, etc. Turns out Ken was having an existential crisis. He then tells Barbie that it's Boy's Night at his house, and it's Boy's Night every night.

So this causes Barbie to spiral into a feeling of failure and depression. Oh, and as all of this is happening in Barbie Land, it trickles into the real world. So Ken's masculine houses and cars start popping up in stores, as does a commercial for Depressed Barbie.

Weird Barbie brings Barbie and the humans to her place, where we're introduced to the other aforementioned outcast dolls. We even get a live-action demonstration of Growing Up Skipper (turn her arm and her breasts grow).

Then the mother gives an inspirational speech that pretty much snaps all the Barbies out of their brainwashed funk. Now, why did they allow all the Kens to take over to begin with? Well, as the mother explained, it was like a virus - the Barbies had no defense over such a thing because it wasn't fathomed to ever even happen. But anyway, one by one, the Barbies return to their former selves and remember who they were. The Kens have planned a vote to change the Barbie Land constitution, so the Barbies band together to basically set the Kens against each other in order to take back Barbie Land. Yep, a movie about a plastic doll turned into a governmental conflict.

The main Ken and the other "beach off" Ken are pretty much rivals in this movie, so each one leads a group of Kens into an all-out brawl. And by brawl I mean they're throwing plastic arrows at each other, bashing each other with tennis rackets, etc. We even see some on hobby horses charging into battle.

Somehow, that winds up in a musical number and then they realize it was voting day. Yeah, too late. They show back up to the cul-de-sac (there is a Monty Python reference here, as they're totally fake-riding horses and making clacking sounds) where the Dreamhouses have been restored to their former glory. Ken is like, "Do these houses look a little more... dreamy?" President Barbie comes down the stairs and says, "That's because they're Dreamhouses, motherf*****." Yep, just like that. They bleep out the second half of that word, but we all know what she meant.

So then Barbie and Ken need to resolve their issues. Ken loves Barbie, but she only sees him as a friend. And Ken says he isn't sure what his role is, only that he was created to be Barbie's boyfriend. "It's always Barbie and Ken, never just Ken." So Barbie tells him that he needs to discover who he is without her. Then the Mattel suits walk in and get ready to close off the portal between the two worlds, when Barbie says she doesn't know what her ending is. And then we're treated to a meeting with Ruth Handler, the creator of Barbie herself. (Not the real person, obviously, but still a great tribute.) Ruth designed Barbie to not have an ending. She's always changing and evolving. That's the point.

But Barbie says she doesn't feel like Barbie anymore. So Ruth takes her to a private area and talks to her, and Barbie basically asks if she can become a human. Why, I don't know. She's a perfect doll in a perfect world, and the human world is a mess. We all know it. That's why we have dolls!!! But yeah, so, Barbie, the number one fashion doll in the world, becomes a human. She takes the name of Ruth's daughter, Barbara (true story, as that's who Barbie was named after), and meets up with the mom and daughter again. The movie literally ends with Barbie (Barbara Handler) saying, "I'm here to see my gynecologist."

Yep, that's the end. Then we get to see pictures of actual dolls featured in the movie (not all of them, but most of them), including the controversial ones. That was a nice touch for anyone unfamiliar with the history.

So, will there be a sequel? Obviously they left it open for one. That's the norm for movies these days. My thoughts? I wasn't entirely sure what I was expecting, but I had kept hearing that the movie has a lot of messages catered toward the government and society as a whole. For instance, when Barbie meets the girl she thought she was there for, the girl tells her that, despite what she believes and what she was created to be, Barbie is a doll that represents a backwards feminist movement and unrealistic body proportions. Basically everything Barbie haters say about her. Mattel knows this is said about their biggest product, and they put it in the movie LOL. Then the whole patriarchy thing, and the feeling of not knowing yourself. It's all there. It's not just a movie about a doll.

So, overall, I did enjoy the movie, but there were some things we could have gone without. The whole vagina/penis thing? How does Barbie even know what those words are, honestly LOL. Noticeably absent were her sisters - we did see Growing Up Skipper, but that's it. And she was one of the discontinued dolls. Allan is in the movie, and there's only one of him as opposed to multiple Kens. He even says that all Ken's clothes fit him, because that's literally what was on the doll box in real life. That was funny. As for the musical numbers, I found them unnecessary. They didn't add anything to the story - only runtime. But I absolutely love the set design and all the clothes, especially the real ones that were created before this movie existed. I think Margot Robbie was a great choice for Barbie. I remember when this was first leaked years ago, there were rumors about Amy Schumer playing Barbie. OMG that would have been a disaster. I can NOT see her playing Barbie. She's just... not Barbie. LOL. And though I wasn't on board with Ryan Gosling playing Ken at first, as he just seemed too old, it actually wasn't bad. And it wasn't going to deter me from seeing the movie.

Overall, I'll give the movie 8/10. Wasn't perfect but I did enjoy it. If there is a sequel, I'm sure I'll see it too!

P.S. No, the song Barbie Girl isn't in the movie. I don't think Mattel is a fan of it because it supposedly makes fun of the doll, or so I read. LOL

[carliemartin]

An Amazing Teaser For The Marvel Studios Showdown Features Deadpool And Wolverine Together.

They did not say it would never happen, but it is unquestionably taking place! If you haven't been following the MCU, you've probably been seeing hints of this for a while now. Deadpool and Wolverine are teaming up in what appears to be a reboot from Marvel Studios, and if this trailer is any indication, it's an NSFW encounter that two rivals will enjoy. Do you really need to know what came before? I'm not sure. You're obviously in a good place even if all you know about the two leads are their various incarnations. Furthermore, this teaser adores every second of their turbulent romance, and it's being released on July 25. Why is it strange to write it that way?

[unorthodox-soundwave]

OKAY SO I’M GONNA ANALYZE THE HELL OUT OF THE TOTK TRAILER NOW

(the screenshots are gonna be sorta outta order bc of grouping for analysis)

LONG POST WARNING

First thing, there’s those twisty green things that were over ganon in the first teaser! It’s interesting that one of them is in Hateno… especially because that other shot doesn’t seem to be over Hateno, so there’s multiple?

What are these dudes??? Mini-Dragons??? Are they related to the three dragons we already know of??? I’m terrified by the fact that they can carry other enemies…

Also that’s a heat-seeking arrow!!! Will there be other new arrows???

There’s more of those markings, like from the Title Reveal Trailer! Still no real evidence of where they came from, though…

Plus, the third image has that glow around the towers… It kinda makes me wonder what role they’ll have during the new game? Is this an indication of the towers also being lifted into the sky alongside the castle? Because this shot appears to be prior to the islands appearing...

In fact, there's only one shot of a sky island that's in the stormy weather! But, meanwhile, there's numerous shots from on top of sky islands, as well as with plenty in the background.

This leads me to a belief that there's going to be a part of the early game which comes before parts of the ground (such as hyrule and the towers) lift into the air, and that part of the game will be in stormy weather. Then, when whatever happens with ganon's corpse... happens, everything will be lifted into the sky.

However, I don't think we're just getting new areas in the form of the sky...

...because it seems pretty clear there are some major cave areas now, too! Besides the fact that the First-Look Trailer takes place fully underground, it seems like some pretty major parts of the story are related to the underground. I find it interesting that both these shots are mini-bosses. Kilton's gonna have something to say about that.

Also, what's on the Hinox's neck? I don't think we've seen anything like that before. It is that same shade of green from the spirals earlier in the trailer/from the First-Look Trailer, which is interesting...

The Blood Moon seems like it's gonna be a lot more involved this time around. I almost feel like you might actually have to be actively able to keep playing while it occurs, instead of it just being a weekly cutscene.

Also, the side of the castle looks to be absolutely coated in malice, though that's not much of a surprise.

This scene really caught my attention. It's so strange!!!

Those are definitely guardian arms, and the floor's texture is reminiscent of a shrine (actually, we don't physically see any of the shrines in any of the trailers, which is strange...). But the rest of the building is very clearly Hylian-made. It's even got a Sheikah logo in the corner.

Plus, this is very clearly just a building somewhere since you can see the outside under the curtains. I wonder if this is a new tech lab built on some newly uncovered Sheikah structure's remains. A new tech lab, maybe? Kakariko didn't have one, after all, and Link's got a new piece of clearly-Sheikah tech attached to him...

On the topic of structures, actually, there's a couple parts of the floating islands that are very geometric. In fact, the cube in the second shot (which appears five whole times in the trailer, jeez.) is actually the North Lomai Labyrinth, I noticed, which is absolutely insane.

Is the other structure a new labyrinth? Because both the others in botw were rectangles... Also, isn't the North Lomai Labyrinth attributed to the Zonai, the group that people are speculating will be heavily involved in this game... it's all very interesting.

Also, it's worth noting that that giant-drone thing Link is on is the third of three shots of Link piloting various vehicles.

The fact that there are multiple modes of aerial transport makes a lot of sense, because the only real "flight" Link has is the paraglider, which can't go upwards on it's own, and I doubt they'd make us rely solely on finding updrafts and using Revali's gale for the whole game (if we even have access to the latter anymore).

But the car is very interesting. The fact that we'd need a car at all implies that getting around on the ground is gonna be rougher than before. And it also looks very much like it's Zonai-made based on the structures we've seen which are attributed to them. Mainly the dragon heads on the front wheels, that's blatant Zonai. The hovercraft also looks Zonai, though the hot air balloon is definitely Hylian.

We also visibly see Link fish a wheel out of the mud in another shot (using his new arm, no less!). And that chest in the background also looks to be of similar origin, and also locked? It seems similar to the skull chests that open upon defeating an enemy camp... I wonder if those chests have a different task connected to them. (A replacement for Korok puzzles, perhaps?)

Jumping somewhere completely unrelated, there's so much to unpack in this shot.

First off, I have almost no clue where this is. I thought it was that forest with the flat-topped trees before, but it definitely doesn't look like that upon closer inspection. It actually appears to in some giant cave, which lends more to the idea that we'll be venturing both in the sky and below ground.

I think the enemies here are malice-infected Lizalfos and a Bokoblin. I find it very interesting that the Bokoblin are mining. It seems like the enemies are definitely smarter this time around. (Which does align with Ganon's dialogue that begins on this shot.)

That glowing tree in the background is also very strange, but I don't know enough about Zelda lore as a whole to really make any calls there, I think. Best I can say is that it looks significant.

This is another very perplexing shot. It's obvious what's going on; Link's moving the island with the weird floaty thing, again using his arm. The floaty thing he's controlling seems to be the same shape as the island, no less.

It looks a bit similar to the Apparatus from a couple of the same-named shrines in BotW, which makes me worried about motion controls, but I'm too elated over the trailer to actually be that nervous about it.

This scene is very interesting. It's clearly pulled from a cutscene of sorts, but who's in it and what's happening is hard to parse.

First instincts told me this was a new scene of Link being re-knighted in some way, or something along those lines, post BotW. The white dress is very remiscent of Zelda, and we know Link has the hand. But then I thought about it a bit more and realized that didn't really make all that much sense.

I saw a different post that said they might be the princess and soldier from 10,000 years prior to BotW, the ones on the tapestry. That post also made me consider if this is Hylia and Demise.

Though, then I wondered (and someone with real Zelda Lore knowledge is gonna have to help me here); If Hylia's reincarnations are Zelda and Demise's reincarnations are Ganon, do we know who's reincarnating as Link? If we don't, is this them? Is this when Hylia recruits a protector for the Zeldas throughout time?

And, of course, this shot. If this doesn't confirm Zelda as being playable, I don't know what does. "But Link, I'm not sure you'll be able to stop him. Please, lend me your power!" is Zelda's full quote in the trailer, and it sounds very "It's dangerous to go alone"-like. The second half is over this shot, even, which I feel adds to the evidence that Zelda will be an active player this time.

(Also, Zelda's pose in this scene looks like that one horizontal figure from the mural in the Name-Reveal Trailer, right?)

-------

But anyway, I've hit the image limit for Tumblr posts, so that's as far as I go with this post. I'll be making a lot more posts about TotK in the next few months, and I've decided to delegate them to a different blog, @robot-gaming, because I wanna spare my mutuals and followers from this being the only thing I post about for the next half of the year.

[kylesvariouslistsandstuff]

Say it ain't so! Major Disney delays...

The biggest, for me, is Pixar's original sci-fi movie ELIO leaving March 2024...

Not for June 2024, where INSIDE OUT 2 is parked...

But June 2025... Yep... 2025...

For a movie that has teaser poster and a teaser trailer...

The actor's side of the strike is ongoing, yes, but the severity of this delay seems to imply something else is afoot...

This is the biggest delay for a Pixar movie since the time they delayed THE GOOD DINOSAUR, originally set for a late May 2014 debut, all the way to Thanksgiving 2015... Two movies that were to open after it, opened before it. The movie was, of course, delayed because John Lasseter was unsatisfied with director Bob Peterson's work on the movie and had him removed. The plan was to originally have some of the Brain Trust "shepherd" various sections of the incomplete movie and still possibly make the May 2014 release date (as a lot of assets had been rendered, possibly animated even), until it was decided to throw it all out and start over. Peter Sohn was handed the reins, and worked off of some basic core ideas of Peterson's movie/concept. Naturally, they needed about a year to not only turn it around, but make the movie.

I'm not sure if that's happening to ELIO, because it was but a few months away and has a teaser. GOOD DINOSAUR didn't have that before the director removal and subsequent delay, only the footage and concept art people saw at the 2013 D23 Expo.

Maybe some sections need work or need to be redone, without impacting much of the finished movie. Very possible. CG allows those kinds of fixes more so than a hand-drawn film does, so maybe...

Or this could be a dirty tactic on the studio's part. "You're gonna keep striking? Well then! No movies released in the first quarter of next year!" A scare tactic to make SAG-AFTRA cave, but we know SAG-AFTRA... They'll stand firm.

I'm thinking it could also have to do with INSIDE OUT 2 existing. That has the juicy mid-June slot for this year, typically a prime slot for a Pixar. At least, in pre-COVID times. And also, its a sequel to one of their biggest original movies... Which was also a June release in its respective release year (2015). Instead of pushing INSIDE OUT 2 back a full year, Disney figures... Nah, make people wait for the original alien movie, INSIDE OUT 2 is top priority! A surefire hit, too, after years of Pixars either going straight to Disney+ or not being massive at the box office. ELEMENTAL may have just eked out, but Disney probably wants a guaranteed big hit next from Pixar, not a riskier big-budget science fiction animated movie.

Weird coincidence. After INSIDE OUT in 2015 came GOOD DINOSAUR. We went from INSIDE OUT to a Peter Sohn-directed movie. Now, we go from the Peter Sohn-directed ELEMENTAL to an INSIDE OUT sequel. Rhythm and rhyme. Just me? Probably.

We know how those tend to do at the domestic box office... TITAN A.E., ATLANTIS, TREASURE PLANET, LIGHTYEAR, STRANGE WORLD-

So... Yeah... Pixar's slate is now INSIDE OUT 2 in June 2024, ELIO in June 2025... Then two movies set for 2026, one in March, one in June. I reckon TOY STORY 5 is going to be the June 2026 movie, and one of the originals for March.

In addition to these delays, Disney removed the Searchlight movie MAGAZINE DREAMS from the calendar entirely, like they did with THE BIKERIDERS a few weeks back. The live-action SNOW WHITE vacated March 2024 as well. Instead of booting the LION KING prequel MUFASA out of summer 2024, SNOW WHITE has instead been delayed all the way to March 2025...

So, Disney has no big tenptole-type movies - after WISH until the pending May release of DEADPOOL 3.

Outside of POOR THINGS, I don't think they really have anything else, period... Until DEADPOOL 3. Again, in May...

Ya know, if they just... Paid their actors...

[musings-of-a-rose]

I Hate That I Like You - Part 1

Pairing: Dieter Bravo x f!reader

Word Count: 4700+

Rating: M for mature - 18+ only! NSFW

Warnings: Just like ao3, “creator chooses not to use warnings.” If you click Keep Reading, that means you agree that you’re the age to handle mature themes. Also by clicking Keep Reading, you understand warnings may not be complete in order to avoid spoilers for the story.

Notes: We’ve only got a teaser trailer, a promo pic, and a behind the scenes in character video, but I couldn’t resist writing this! So please note this came out before the movie and so I’m making wild assumptions. Also this will be a 2 part series because apparently I don’t know how to do short stories so much.

I’m also posting this as a thank you for 300 followers! I am BEYOND humbled and can’t believe 300 of you have chosen to hit the follow button. It truly means the world to me!

Shoutout to @astoryisaloveaffair and @icanbeyourjedi for bouncing ideas with me!

**Reader is ethnicity inclusive despite stock photo bias

**If you want to be added to the taglist, join here or let me know!

“This will look good on my resume, this will look good on my resume..” you chant to yourself while also cursing at the fact you agreed to sign on to this movie.

A movie being filmed inside a damn bubble, thanks to world situations being what they are.

“We would like to make you an offer to work on Cliff Beasts 6.” Your manager reads off to you, indicating the salary. “Wow, they upped the hourly rate. They must be desperate.”

“Hey!” you smiled at your manager who smiled back. You two had been friends since childhood and worked together well. You had been working as a hair stylist in Hollywood for a while now, quickly working your way through various sets and earning yourself a reputation in the field for being creative, efficient, and quick - plus the talent loved you.

“There’s a catch.”

You sigh. “Of course. What is it?”

“With all the new protocols, you’ll have to quarantine for 14 days before you can work.”

“That’s fine by me. I have some reading to catch up on.”

“AND you’ll be secluded, in a bubble of sorts, when on set.”

You pause. “What does that mean?”

“It means, once you’re through quarantine, there’ll be no leaving the set for anything until the shoot is over.”

“So I’ll be stuck there with everyone?”

“Yup. And there’s more.”

“What else could they possibly want?”

“You’re going to be fully assigned to an actor. That means all their hair, on set, off set, during shooting, etc.”

“So sort of like a key hairstylist specifically for an actor.”

“Yeah.”

“Ok that’s not terrible. Who do they want me for?”

She hesitates a moment, looking back down at her list. “Dieter Bravo.”

You think for a moment, pinching your thumb and forefinger to the bridge of your nose.. “How much does it pay again?”

—

Quarantine wasn’t too bad. 14 days alone in a hotel room with food being delivered to you. You managed to get through a couple books and binge watch a few shows and movies during this time while coming up with some alternate hair ideas to present to the key hairstylist that’s leading everyone, just in case something ends up not working. Or the actor loses his shit.

You put the last few things in place in your trailer where you’re going to be doing Dieter’s hair (his makeup team will also share with you). Begrudgingly you admit to yourself that you were slightly curious to see if the rumors about Dieter were true, that he was often late, paid little to no attention to his staff (unless they were hot or fawning over him of course), and was, generally, a cocky, entitled, asshole. You had no high hopes but purely because you knew you’d be spending a few months working directly with him, you hoped the rumors were at least a little harsh.

They weren’t.

The first day he was to show up for a trial run of hair and makeup, he was over 2 hours late. He flung open the door to the trailer, not lifting his eyes from the phone in his hand, and shuffle strutted over to the chair, sitting down and crossing his legs. He said nothing to you nor either of the other makeup girls who were there, confirming the truth to the rumors. The three of you glanced at each other before getting up to work, making sure your masks were secure, but apparently weren’t moving fast enough because Dieter’s hand shot in your direction and he snapped a few times, the universal signal for “hurry the fuck up”.

This guy here.

The three of you made it work, now having to move quicker because of his tardiness, occasionally tripping over each other. You were supposed to have your time after they were done to avoid situations like this, but you managed still. Once you were all finished, Dieter annoyingly drug his eyes away from his phone to glance in the mirror, shrugging his shoulders as he stood up and shuffled out, not even waving bye.

“What an asshole,” one of the makeup girls said. Laughing, you all swapped insults as you cleaned up and gathered your on site supplies, rushing out the door to make it to the rehearsal.

—----

Things did not improve much from there.

Dieter arrived more or less on time after that, no doubt after being reprimanded by someone way above your pay grade. You’re not sure if this was actually more annoying because it meant having to spend more time in his presence, which only agitated you more. He would either stare at his phone, completely absorbed in his social media, laughing, scoffing, or making passing comments to himself, outloud. Or he would nap, head lolling to the side which made your job, and that of the makeup girls, much more difficult. Waking him wasn’t an option - he was either a deep sleeper or really good at ignoring you.

The pay was great, sure, but the one thing you were clinging to is how good this will look on your resume. Working on one of 2 movies that were actually shooting during these times will definitely boost your credibility. You were already doing fairly well with your reputation, but this would boost you up to the next level. You may be able to book key hair stylist gigs after this one.

Bubble restrictions still required you to wear masks or face shields, sometimes both, nearly always, especially around the actors and the crew deemed “most important” (directors, producer, etc). While you stood around waiting to adjust Dieter’s hair on set, you wondered what everyone looked like without a mask. Then you’d be brought back to reality when you heard that awful voice Dieter spoke in while in character. It was so ridiculous and over the top, which makes sense for the movie, you supposed.

—----

Several weeks after arriving on set, you got restless in your room. It was late and there wasn’t a night shoot so you decided to risk a walk down to the kitchen to get something to eat and to get a change of scenery. You put on your mask and quietly walked down to the kitchen, which wasn’t far from where everyone was staying.

It was completely empty.

Grateful for the lack of people, you quickly made yourself a sandwich and grabbed a drink, heading back out front of the kitchen and sitting at one of the tables crammed against a wall. There were a few tables scattered around, at least 6ft from anything of course. Setting your plate down, you shift the chair to face out at the area in front of you and sit, taking off your mask and setting it on a napkin on the table.

A few minutes later, one of the new food assistants comes crashing into view, storming up to the kitchen muttering to herself. She emerges a few minutes later, seemingly with the same sandwich on her plate as she stomps back off across the courtyard. She repeats this process once more, even more agitated than before. When she comes back a third time, you set the last bit of your sandwich down and watch her as she comes out of the kitchen.

“...can’t make a sandwich - MAKE YOUR OWN DAMN SANDWICH THEN, DIETER!” She’s speaking in loud mumbles to herself, not even realizing you’re there. She stomps off in the opposite direction, and you smirk to yourself. Good for her.

About 10 minutes later, you look up from the book you had brought to see Dieter Bravo himself walking towards the kitchen. He looks annoyed at being put out, the audacity of him having to walk to the kitchen himself to find the girl to demand his sandwich. He flings the door open, green corduroy robe flowing behind him and disappears inside, coming out a few seconds later after seeing she wasn’t there. He stops just outside the kitchen, looking around the courtyard.

Sighing, you say “She left.”

Dieter jumps, turning in your direction, a look of surprise on his face as he only just realized you were there.

“She left? Where did she go?”

“I don’t know. Mumbled something about “make your own sandwich””. Why the hell is he wearing sunglasses inside? At night?

Dieter glances around again, his hands on his hips. “Well that’s great.”

You hoped he would leave then, let you sit here in peace and finish your sandwich and read, but you weren’t that lucky. His eyes land back on you and he shifts his sunglasses down his nose a bit, visibly checking you out over the tops of his frames. You roll your eyes and look back down at your book, hoping he would get the hint.

He didn’t.

Dieter struts over to you, taking off his sunglasses and hooking them to the collar of his shirt. He pulls out the chair across from you and sits down, leaning to one side as he cocks his head, scanning you up and down.

Ugh.

“You know, I’m one of the main actors in this film.”

“Yeah, I’m aware.”

He smiles. “Oh, did you recognize me?”

“You could say that.”

He smirks again, meeting your eyes with a ton of confidence, as if no one has ever turned him down. “Where did you recognize me from?”

“From your makeup chair. I do your hair.”

His eyebrows furrow together. “No you don’t.”

“I do.”

“Since when?”

“Since the beginning of the shoot 6 weeks ago.”

Rallying, he replies “I think I would remember a face as pretty as yours.” He waggles his eyebrows, seemingly unphased by the fact that he’s seen you for hours at a time, every day for weeks and doesn’t recognize you.

You stand, gathering up your things and you see his smile falter. Good.

“You probably would, if you ever looked up long enough to say hi.”

You walk past him without giving him a chance to answer.

—----

The next morning, you walk to your trailer, intending to set a few things up before the makeup girls come in. To your surprise, Dieter is sitting in the chair, no one else around. He’s scrolling on his phone and looks up when you open the door, a smile stretching across his face as he turns off the screen and shoves his phone in his pocket.

“Are you the hair girl?”

You sigh, stepping in and closing the door behind you. “I am.”

He’s got one leg propped up on the counter in front of him, the top 2, no 4 buttons on his shirt are open and he’s running his hand along his shoulder inside the shirt.

“Is there something I can help you with, Mr. Bravo?”

He lets out a raspberry. “Please, call me Dieter.”

“Is there anything I can do for you, Mr. Bravo?”

His eyes move up and down your body again, landing back on your face. “You can take your mask off for me, so I can see that beautiful face of yours.”

Rolling your eyes, you ignore this comment and move about the trailer, setting up what you needed. You feel his eyes on you the entire time and you find yourself growing more agitated by his presence with each passing minute.

You stand next to him, shuffling things around in the drawer in front of you. Glancing up in the mirror, you see his gaze shift from your ass to your eyes, smirking when you glance away quickly.

“So…are you a fan of my work?” he asks.

“Some of your earlier movies were great.” You answer in a bored tone, continuing to organize what you need.

“Liked what you saw, eh sugar lips?” You know he is smirking even without looking at him.

Pulling out the traveling case you brought with you on set and ignoring the nickname, you answer him in a distracted tone. “Yeah in your younger days you weren’t half bad to look at.”

He gets quiet for a moment and you replay what you said in your mind, realizing you may have bruised his ego. Good. But you weren’t a complete asshole so you look up at him, an apology forming on your lips until you see his face.

He’s staring at you, his eyes glazed over with something…lust? A cocky smile on his face as he pulls his arm out of his shirt and settles further into the chair.

“You think I’m attractive?”

Shit. That’s not what you had meant.

“In that film..what was it… Spanish Nights?” you pretend to think, even pausing in your work to add to the effect. “You were alright. That was a while ago though.”

You resume your task but notice that the smile on his face falls slightly. Despite how much you don’t like him, you feel a little bad about what you said. But before you can say anything, the makeup team enters and it’s time to start your day.

—----

It’s annoying now that he sees you. You didn’t realize how much you actually liked him ignoring you until now. In between takes, if he’s not running lines, he’s talking to you, telling you stories about his past projects, crazy stories about ex girlfriends, anything he can think of.

“You hear the accent I’m using? I came up with that! They heard me and insisted I use it for the film! What do you think, sugar lips ?” His eyes were big and round, brown orbs looking at you hopefully, as you continued to adjust his hair on set between takes.

You’re about to answer when you see his eyes shift behind you briefly and you chance a glance, disguising it as a stretch. A woman walks past, her hips swaying as she walks, tossing her perfect hair over her shoulder, revealing her perfect cleavage. You roll your eyes and look back at Dieter, hating him a little more now.

“Not a fan.”

—----

A few weeks of this goes by, Dieter debating with himself on whether he should continue to pursue you or act cool and aloof. It’s clear that the “charming hot famous actor” bit has always worked for him before and here you were, unaffected by that charm.

One morning you walked into the trailer, Dieter already sitting and waiting for you, as per his new normal routine. The makeup girls came in, did what they needed to do and left you with him. He continues telling you stories about himself as you work, smiling and winking at you every time he could catch your eye in the mirror. When you were finished, he turned towards you and took your hand, which surprised you. Dieter wasn’t typically physical with anyone on set unless it was behind closed doors, so-to-speak.

“Why don’t you take your mask off for me? I want to see that beautiful face again. It’s all I can think about since that night with the sandwich.”

You lean down to get eye level with him and he smiles wider, shifting in his seat to meet you head on.

“What’s my name?” you ask him.

His eyes widen for a moment and it’s like you can see the wheels spinning in his brain, desperately trying to remember if you’ve ever told him your name.

“That’s why.” You pull your hand from his grip, grab your case, and head out the door, heading to the first set of the day.

—----

He hadn’t spoken to you the rest of the day, but to be fair he hadn’t really had a chance. There were a ton of reshoots and new lines to work, these scenes being heavier on the action than others.

After the final “CUT!” of the day, which had turned into evening, you head back to the trailer, the makeup girls tossing their case inside and heading out to get food by the kitchens.

“I’ll be there in a bit. Just need to clean out my case - that hairspray leaked everywhere.”

Taking everything out of your case, you carefully wipe down each item, tossing the combs and brushes into your jar of cleaner. You wipe down the case, spraying into every corner and cursing out the manufacturers of the bottle. It was apparently not meant to do anything other than sit on a shelf and what good is that? Sliding the open case over to the corner to let it air dry overnight, you hear the trailer door open and close behind you.

“Was dinner a bomb- oh.” It wasn’t the makeup girls. It was Dieter.

“Sorry. Thought you were the girls. The makeup girls.” you clarify for him.

“Nope. Just me.” He flashes that cocky smile at you and you just want to reach out and slap it off his face.

“What do you want, Mr. Bravo?” you sigh, exasperatedly.

“I told you to call me Dieter.”

“I’m not doing that.”

“I insist.”

“I don’t have to do everything you tell me to.”

He puts his hands up. “Hey, hey. I came in here to try and make peace and all you do is start shit.”

You scoff. “I start shit? Mr. I-can-only-talk-about-myself-and-give-2-craps-about-anything-else?”

“You’re not a nice person.” He takes a step towards you.

Your jaw drops open, offended as you are a nice person to nearly everyone else in the world. He just makes being nice to him so difficult.“Yeah? Well you’re extremely entitled, self absorbed, and a jerk. And you have a stupid earring.”

He gasps and it nearly makes you laugh. “How dare you insult the earring!”

You step towards him. “I shouldn’t. It definitely fits your aesthetic.”

Dieter steps closer to you. “Yeah? And what is my aesthetic?”

“Pompous asshole.” A small step towards him, just a couple feet from him.

“Yeah? Well yours is angry bitch.”

Something inside you snaps and you slap him across the face, the sound echoing off the walls of the small trailer. His face turns to the side with the force and he rights himself, his gaze boring into you as his expression changes.

You grip his shirt and pull him to you just as he closes the space between you, your lips crashing against each other. He immediately deepens the kiss and you let him, feeling his tongue massage yours and you hate to admit it but he’s actually good at this. You bite his lip as you pull back, reaching up to grab those damn sunglasses from his face, throwing them on the counter behind you.

“I hate you.”

“I hate you too.”

You launch yourself at him and he falls back, laughing as he lands. His laugh is cut off as you quickly straddle him, working to open the 2 buttons that were actually closed on his damn shirt. But the buttons wouldn’t come open so you grip his shirt and pull, the 2 buttons popping off and flying across the trailer in opposite directions.

“Hey that’s my shirt!”

“Oh shut up you barely use buttons anway.”

“You’re such a bitch,” Dieter exclaims as he starts tugging at the hem of your shirt.

“You’re an asshole,” you respond, ripping your shirt up and over your head, tossing it across the trailer and reaching for the clasp on your bra. You undo that and chuck it, feeling Dieter's hands grab your breasts and start massaging them. Giving into the feeling for just a moment, you grab his wrists and pull them from you, pushing them down on either side of his head.

“No touching.”

His eyes are wide, lust blown and angry, but he listens, growling into the kiss you give him as you bite his lip, pressing your chest against his bare skin. Grinding your hips, you swallow the moans that come from him.

“I hate that you’re soft,” he groans into your mouth.

Standing, you undo your pants, sliding them down and off along with your underwear, but before you can straddle him again, Dieter sits up, grabbing the backs of your thighs and rubbing them while he stares at your core, his rings cold against the heat of your skin.

“I hate that I want to touch you, bury my face into you,” he says as he moves closer to your apex.

“I hate that you’re still talking.”

Pushing him back down, you straddle him again and move your hands to his pants, fumbling with the tie as you try to undo it. Why does he wear these awful pants??

To your surprise, he grabs your upper arms and pulls you to him, staring into your eyes briefly before he kisses you, winding his tongue through your mouth. You lean into it, temporarily losing yourself in the kiss. Why does he have to be good at this? There’s a moment, something that passes between you both, but before you have time to dwell on it, he pushes you up.

“I hate you.”

“I hate you more.”

Your hands find the tie on his pants and finally undo it, and Dieter tries to help you shove his pants down, both of you breathing heavily into the small space. But you keep bumping into each other so you swat his hand away.

“Stop. Let me do it.” You demand.

“I know how to undo my own pants.”

“Fuck you’re insufferable. Just let me.”

“No, I can-ngghhh.” You cut him off, having reached into his pants and pulled him out.

And honestly, you need a moment because this was not what you were expecting.

He’s big, long and thick, a lovely color and already hard, leaking a little. You feel your jaw dropping slightly but then you catch sight of his face, a bright smirk lighting him up as he sees you take him in. You clamp your jaw shut.

“Like what you see, sugar lips?”

You take him in hand, squeezing a little harder than you normally would, just to see him grunt. He tries to grab at your hands but you drop him, grabbing his wrists again and pinning them to the floor on the sides of his head.

“Just shut the fuck up,” You drop one of his wrists, moving your hand back down to hold him as you line yourself up, slowly lowering yourself onto him. Gripping his bicep, you squeeze it, unable to prevent the moan from escaping your lips as you feel him inch into you, feeling every ridge and being as he stretches you, lighting up your body with desire.

“Fuck!” Dieter grunts. “You’re so tight.”

Lifting yourself, you pull almost all the way off of him before you drop your hips down and cry out as Dieter pokes at a spot at the very back of you. Then you see that damn smirk again and you roll your eyes. Moving your hips, you start to grind down on him, feeling him touch nearly every part of you.

“I really..hate..that smirk,” you pant out.

“You’re such a..bitch.” Dieter responds, panting out between words as you start to fuck him into the floor.

The hand you’re not pinning down shoots out to your hip, gripping you tightly, digging into your skin as he guides you, making you move harder, faster. The touch sends an electric shock through your body, lighting you up as you feel your climax build.

“Fuck!” you cry out as you come, hips sputtering as your body lights up, your breaths puffing out erratically.

You realize that Dieter still has a strong grip on your hip and is moving you, sliding you across his dick as he chases his own high. A part of you, a large part, wants to push him away and leave him here without coming. But instead you decide to do something else.

Your fingers wind around his hand on your hip as you push against him to stop your movement. His eyes fly open, blown wide open with lust and anger.

“What the fuck?” he yells out.

Taking advantage of his momentary distraction, you slam his wrist into the floor by his head and lift off of him, the tip of his just touching your entrance. His eyes are frantic now and you swear you can’t see any of the brown, as if the black of his pupils has taken over.

“You’ll come when I say you can.”

“You’re such a bitch. I hate- ngghh.” You slowly slide back down on him, taking your time inching him inside of you, loving the way he writhes under you. Once he bottoms out, you move your hips very slightly, tracing little circles as you grind down on him.

“Fuck, you’re going to kill me.” Dieter grunts out, pushing against your hand slightly as he lifts his head to look down where you’re joined. You feel his breathing start to speed up, his hips tensing, so you pull off of him, smirking down at the frustration on his face.

“I didn’t say you could come.”

“God, I hate you!”

You repeat this process a few more times, Dieter’s face growing more angry and desperate with every thrust of your hips. But then you see the tears building at the corners of his eyes, the restraint and lust finally becoming too much and you take pity on him.

Speeding up your hips, you grunt out “Come for me!”

His hips sputter as he comes instantly at your command, his little grunts and moans filling up the trailer and you have to admit, you love the sound of them, the way his brow furrows up and together, his mouth hanging open in an o shape.

He comes down and opens his eyes, watching you behind heavy lids. His hair is mussed up, his face holding a fucked out expression. He looks hot like this-

Before you can follow that thought any further, you push off of him, Dieter letting out a hiss as he slides free of you. Grabbing up your clothes, you get dressed quickly, suddenly feeling embarrassed by what just happened, but more so because you actually enjoyed it.

“Hey-”

Before he can finish the sentence, you open the door and close it behind you, heading to your room at a quick pace.

What the fuck was that? I hate him. HATE. HIM. And I just…but that was kind of hot? He’s kind of hot. WHAT THE FUCK GET IT TOGETHER! You pinch the bridge of your nose, cursing yourself for jumping on him.

Tomorrow is going to be so much fun.

—----

That night you decide to sneak out for a snack again, making another sandwich and sitting at the small table shoved up against the wall as you eat, propping your book open to read, hoping to distract your mind from the million thoughts running through it.

Hearing footsteps, you glance up and see Dieter walking towards the kitchen. Much to your annoyance, he spots you and shifts course, heading for you. You’re about to tell him to leave you be but then you take in the way he’s walking. Not strutting or shuffling, but a simple, average walk. He stands at the chair across from you and gestures to it.

“Mind if I sit?”

Shocked he even asked, you nod and gesture towards the chair. He sits and you notice the familiar green robe he wears, purple shirt and black sweatpants back on, but the sunglasses are not around. Interesting.

Dieter leans forward a little, looking at you. “Can I ask you something?”

Thinking he’s going to ask you about what happened, you swallow hard. “Sure.”

“What’s your name?”

Not what you were expecting, you hesitate a brief moment before responding. “Sugar lips.”

He smiles softly. “Not what I meant. I mean your real name.”

You consider him for a moment. He looks genuine and those big, brown eyes bore into you. You tell him your real name and he smiles.

“Such a beautiful name.”

“Thanks, I guess. Everyone usually calls me Bee, because I’m always moving.”

He smiles again and then gets up, pushing in his chair and walking towards the kitchen. He’s gone for a few minutes and then reemerges with a plate, waving to you as he heads back upstairs.

Don’t catch feelings for him. Don’t do it, Bee. Don’t do it.

Shit.

—----

Part 2 >>

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[magpienoises]

Rings of Power brought magic back into my life that hasn't been there in a long time.

My father read me The Hobbit when I was wee (and yes, he did voices!), and switched to the trilogy when I started reading college level pretty young, perhaps 6 or 7. It was a place of comfort, wonder, awe, imagination-- and so much more. Mom recalls it took us years, at a chapter a night, to get through the trilogy. (She read to me too, of course, but I apparently preferred dad.)

When the trilogy came out while I was a bullied nerdy goth kid in high school, I naturally fell in love with Lord of the Rings all over again. I knew how to sew pretty well from my mother, who is a costumer herself, and made beautiful costumes from fabric we happened to have on hand, and some fabrics we went and found. I found myself so utterly inspired, like I felt as a kid.

Life, of course, is life. I was in an abusive relationship for some years, and that person isolated me from every friend I had by spewing lies to me, and to them. Even my staunchest friends became distant when I refused to believe I was being abused. Fortunately for me, that person became bored of me and moved on. I warned who I could.

My parents helped me immensely, and Lord of the Rings once again tethered me to the world while I was finding myself again. Learning how to even be friends with someone again. My friends waited for me with open arms, and many sabotaged friendships were able to be healed.

Somewhere along the way, I lost that magic again. Medical diagnosis' and various other things, of which I shall not go into, pushed it away. There were flickers here and there, but I stopped even rewatching the movies. I misplaced my books, even, and have a suspicion I gave them away along with some other comfort reads such as Redwall.

Along came the whispers of Rings of Power. I was intrigued, but soon forgot what with the pandemic and being immunosuppressed. Still, I had their social media followed and began to see teaser images. It looked amazing, at least to me. Then came the trailer, and I shared my excitement with my mom and dad (long divorced, but still amicable.) They were both excited as well. I remembered that I had asked my dad if I could have his replica decorative Witch King sword, since he hadn't had a place to display it in years.

Usually, I wait for a show being aired weekly to be fully out to binge watch it. I knew I could not with this one. I watched each day at release while my mom (who I live with) slept, and watched it again with her the following night. A shared bit of magic.

I'd end up texting with my dad about it, excitedly, like a teenager all over again. Perhaps it's even more magical to me now because I am a metalsmith, of the jeweler variety. My parents find it charming, and share in my wonder and encourage the creativity it sparked. Friends as well, of course, though I try to keep my exuberance to a few.

So, to the cast and crew, to everyone who helped make Rings of Power, I thank you. From the bottom of my heart, I thank you. You have given me a priceless gift, lifted me from a creative stasis I didn't even know I was in. I am dreaming again.

[kristinakyidyl]

HotD Trailer Theory

I had thoughts about some of the scenes, and I wanted to collect them in one place rather than posting on various forums or whatever, so here we go.

I, like the giant nerd that I am, went through the long trailer frame by frame. And as I was doing it I noticed this:

That is Alicent's hand grabbing the catspaw dagger from someone else's belt. So, the dagger isn't something she had in her possession, she grabs it in the heat of the moment from someone nearby. So I went to this image and started looking for someone who had a lighter front on their tunic, but I couldn't find anyone:

(Source: westeros.org)

So I started thinking about who I could see and who I couldn't. And you know who I can't spot? Viserys (after the fact I did notice him in the upper right, and I think he's been pushed out of the way by the Kingsguard.). So I grabbed the image of Viserys with Blackfyre from that same westeros.org link, and I lightened it. And sure enough:

Look what you can clearly see on his belt. The handle of the catspaw dagger. And if you look at this image from the teaser, you can juuuuust see it poking out:

And I believe there's one other scene where you can see the handle as well. So it looks like it's something he wears regularly.

Lets look at another piece of the puzzle. Here's a closer shot of that image above with the two of them:

I believe that's Laena Velaryon, which means that this takes place before her death. That places this scene before her death, and is therefore not a reaction by Alicent to Aemond having his eye put out. I believe, instead, that this is a celebration following the infamous 5th anniversary where the terms "greens" and "blacks" were coined. Their dresses are also green and black in the various shots we see of this event. Well, in Rhaenyra's case, black and red. However, that is canon, as she is described as having dressed "dramatically in Targaryen red and black". Based on these things, I believe that all the footage we've seen from this scene was from the tourney, and that in accordance with their more fleshed-out relationship in the show, the conflict between the two at this event will also be more fleshed out. This is further supported by the symbolic arrangement of the people around the two of them in that image. The Velaryons standing behind Rhaenyra, Viserys being knocked unceremoniously out of the picture, Criston Cole holding back Daemon, and so on. Rhaenyra also looks very emotional during the confrontation, and has tears on her cheeks. Why would she be crying if this was a confrontation over Aemond's eye? She wouldn't. Laena is in this scene, ergo it *cannot* be from that confrontation.

Alternatively, it could be Baela and Rhaena rather than Laena and Laenor, standing next to the 3 Strong boys. It still doesn't make a lot of sense to me that Rhaenyra would be upset about Aemond losing his eye, but hey, I definitely could be wrong here. In canon, the girls are only 4 years old during the Vhaegar altercation, but they are playing with the timeline a bit so they could be aged up.

As an aside, there is a fan theory out there that whilst Aegon had Blackfyre and Visenya had Dark Sister, Rhaenys might have had her own blade that we aren't told about (I'm sorry, I don't remember who came up with it.). I think that Viserys being in possession of it seems to indicate it might also be a Targaryen heirloom. We've all always wondered what drove Aegon to Dragonstone after a visit from Princess Deria of Dorne. Whatever it was, this dagger may very well have been included in it. A return of Rhaenys's bones and a family artefact, perhaps?

Anyway I'm super excited for the new show and I hope it doesn't let us down.

[sabypoo]

My dear crazy friends, today is a great day. Here we are (finally) facing the Killing Eve trailer. Hallelujah!

And there's soooo much going on. So I'm going to try to cut this video over the thoughts inspired by the frames but also the trailer in its entirety. We start the video with a kind of presentation of the situation between the main characters.

First with Villanelle, lying on the ground, her gaze lost, breathless. A fragment of this scene returns later, where Vil spins around, clinging to another woman, like child's play.

We thus pass directly to the scene of the psychoanalysis, where Vil confesses to having killed two people "against her will".

Faced to this, I have the impression that she killed on command. Knowing who is present, I have a feeling that Eve (or MI6) is behind this order. And that Vil absolutely disagrees with that. What emerges is that our Villanelle is no longer herself.

Then we are introduced to Eve. An Eve unlike the one we left behind. Who plays sports, sleeps with Yusuf (MI6 agent? or whatever) as she talks about shooting someone's hand (like a bummer). So for Eve, sex is always linked to action and danger? She seems distant, focused. Detached from everything.

Carolyn tells us that someone is killing the Twelve's members and that she wants Eve's help, who refuses the offer (it's seems). Maybe she even replies something that makes Carolyn spit in her face (she wears the same coat in the jogging scene so...).

The new killer seems to be this young dark-haired woman that we already saw in the teaser, with the needle, and who pushes Konstantin (?) on the platform. Even though Eve refuses to help Carolyn, she keeps a table of all the protagonists of the Twelve at home.

Then came THE meeting, between Villanelle and Eve, through an aquarium.

The meeting awakens the first emotion that we perceive on Eve's face (sadness, tenderness?). Vil on her side is clearly moved (tears in her eyes). Then, Vil kneels in front of Eve to "show her how much she's changed." (At the moment I sighed an "oh my god").

Then, the exchange clearly shows us a shared bitterness. Eve didn't want to see Villanelle, and Vil blames Eve for abandoning her (on the bridge?). I think the slap scene at the very end of the clip is a direct sequel to that moment.

And in this case, it would mean this: maybe contrary to what is said by Vil, it was not necessarily Eve who abandoned the other on the bridge. Maybe this is even a very important point in the rest of the show. Who left first? Also, why did Villanelle come back to Eve? Has she been asked or is this part of het personal process of redemption?

Why is Villanelle looking to change? To prove to herself that she has nothing in common with her mother? To get closer to Eve? (which would be surprising knowing that Eve is drawn to danger)

This picture immediately catches my attention. The scar is there, so Eve is from behind, in a bar, her hair braided (like a scorpion's tail), wearing a very sexy low-cut black dress. I can't wait to understand when and for what occasion she is dressed like this. I really hope that she will somehow be in Villanelle's presence because I would really like to see their attitudes in this context.

Various scenes follow this sequence. We see the killer again in a kind of autopsy room. Carolyn being kidnapped. Eve and Villanelle. Eve and Yusuf... hard to analyze everything.

But let us return to psychoanalysis, of which we have seen only a sample.

Here we have the same intro of Eve talking to Villanelle about the fable but Vil's response doesn't match the look seen during the teaser. Or maybe yes, in a way.

There's Villaneve on it.

Once again, as with the aquarium, it's Vil who seems to be expecting Eve. As if she had wanted something to happen between them but Eve had prevented it.

This expectation is counterbalanced by the mirroring of each other's romantic/sexual relationships.

And we notice once again the very present change in attitudes. Where Vil is gentle, Eve is brutal.

(Being limited in images by Tumblr, I do this in two posts 😉)

[demifiendrsa]

Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin | Announcement Teaser Trailer

Japanese version

It’ll launch for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC in 2022.

A demo—Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin Trial Version—-will launch for PlayStation 5 today and be available through June 24, 2021 at 7:59 p.m. PT / 10:59 p.m. ET. A survey will follow from June 13, 2021 through June 30, 2021, accessible from the menu screen of the demo.

Logos

Key visual

Character renders

Overview and Developer comments

About the Game

Final Fantasy VII Remake veterans Tetsuya Nomura and Kazushige Nojima join forces with Team Ninja from KOei Tecmo Games to deliver a bold new vision for Final Fantasy. Get your first look at Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin . Coming to PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC in 2022.

With the memory of their struggle buried deep in their hearts…

Jack and his allies, Ash and Jed, burn with resolve to defeat Chaos as they throw open the gates to the Chaos Shrine. Yet doubts remain—are they truly the Warriors of Light the prophecy foretold?

Step into a world of dark fantasy and revel in the exhilarating, action-packed battles!

Trial version available on PlayStation 5 until June 24th, 2021.

Developer Comments

Tetsuya Nomura – Creative Producer

The initial concept for Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin came up around the time following the release of Dissidia 012[duodecim] Final Fantasy. I was thinking to myself about making my next game into one that featured action elements in which locations are conquered, rather than the kind with battles against characters. Some time passed without anything coming of it, but separately I was also thinking to myself about another plan for a new series of Final Fantasy titles revolving around “the story of an angry man”. Even more time passed, at which point I received a request for a new plan, so I combined these two ideas to come up with this.

While it is Final Fantasy, it feels different—but there’s no doubt that the blood ofFinal Fantasy runs through its veins.

We’ve undertaken the challenge of finding this difficult middle ground for this mature and stylish title.

We need a little time until we’re able to complete it, and while the battle system is a bloody one, it does links to the story, so I hope you’ll use this opportunity to give it a try.

Kazushige Nojima – Story and Scenario

“It’s not a hope or a dream. It’s like a hunger. A thirst.”

When I wrote this line, I felt like the story had been brought to life.

What drives them to want to defeat Chaos as much as they do? What, then, are their hopes and dreams?

It was in this moment that what used to be fragments and pieces of story came together in a powerful way. The story that I wrote—in what seemed like a single breath after penning that line—is Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin. I think it turned out to be quite a memorable story that accompanies a game which prominently features brutal imagery.

Please enjoy!

Jin Fujiwara – Producer (Square Enix)

True to its label as “a bold new vision,” this title is full of new undertakings that draw a clear distinction between it and previous Final Fantasy series titles. I can’t divulge too many details at this stage, but we prepared a glimpse of these ambitions within the trial version, including the title’s direction and overall image, so please enjoy.

I believe that the feedback we receive from all of you around the world is very important as we improve upon the title even further. Please send us your thoughts through the trial version survey or through social media.

I’m already looking forward to the day I’ll be able to play this title with you.

Daisuke Inoue – Director (Square Enix)

This is a title that has been developed with the goal of bringing something new to sit alongside the many Final Fantasy titles in the series. I think it could be considered a side story in terms of how it is positioned.

There may be some people who were disappointed that this announcement was not a new, numbered title in the series, but this game contains ambitions within that even a mainline title may not have been able to achieve.

Grounded and challenging action created by Team Ninja. Our protagonist, sprayed with blood as he literally rips apart, throws, and pulverizing his enemies. The way he looks is almost as if—

Well, we have prepared this trial version with hopes of having players experience this new flavor that the title brings with it, even if just a little bit. As we are still in development, I think there may be some areas that are not perfect and may be that way for a while to come, but I hope you’ll enjoy the trial version regardless.

Additionally, please let us know your thoughts on the game, whether it be positives or negative that you noticed—we will make great use of this feedback as we continue development.

Fumihiko Yasuda – Head of Team Ninja, Producer (Koei Tecmo Games)

Playing Final Fantasy IV 30 years ago is what made me aspire towards a career in the gaming industry, so I always hoped that someday I could be involved in the Final Fantasy series. When Team Ninja was working on Dissidia Final Fantasy, I was in charge of a different section, which meant that every night I filled my pillow with tears. I’m truly happy to be involved with a new Final Fantasy, and a title connected to its Origin at that.

Using the feedback that the players provide after playing the trial version, all of us at Team NINJA will work to make this a title that meets the expectations of not only action game fans, but also Final Fantasy series fans around the world!

Hiroya Usuda – Director (Koei Tecmo Games)

I grew up playing Final Fantasy since I was very young, so it is a great honor to have the opportunity to be involved with this title. Furthermore, I’m truly excited that Team NINJA is able to deliver the first full-on action game in the Final Fantasy series to the world.

In this trial version, we’ve made specific demo-oriented adjustments so that players of all styles will be able to enjoy it—we have incorporated elements such as multiple jobs and weapon types, adjustable difficulty levels, and great replayability. Please let us know your thoughts and feedback once you have given it a try!

Nobumichi Kumabe – Director (Koei Tecmo Games)

I’m glad we were able to announce this new Final Fantasy game—an action game in which Jack, a Warrior of Light(?), lays waste to monsters while being bathed in the spray of their blood. I’m a huge fan of the Final Fantasy series myself, so I’m going to work hard towards release so that this blood-stained Jack can become a hero!

This is a title developed with the characteristic Team Ninja level of difficulty in mind, but once you start getting the hang of it, you’ll be able to defeat enemies in an exhilarating and satisfying way. I hope you will replay the trial version many times and try out the various weapons and abilities available.

The difficulty level can be changed as well, so one recommendation I have is to start playing on an easier difficulty and gradually raise it higher for a challenge!

Demo overview

The Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin Trial Version was also announced during the showcase, which gives players the opportunity to experience a taste of the full game centering on Jack and his allies—Ash and Jed—as they throw open the gates to the Chaos Shrine. Burning with the resolve to defeat Chaos, and with the memories of their struggle buried deep in their hearts, are they the foretold Warriors of Light?

Players of the Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin Trial Version can explore this dark fantasy world as they battle an array of iconic monsters from the Final Fantasy series, using powerful spells and abilities from a sample of jobs including warrior, dragoon and black mage.

[sepublic]

Happy Birthday to The Owl House!

           Honestly, I’m… REALLY shocked to think back on how it’s been a year? It’s been a full, actual year, since that first episode?

           I remember when The Owl House was first announced around early 2018. Something about it, the premise, the characters from that one poster we got; It really drew me in, and I kept track of the show’s progress in eager anticipation. Whenever Dana released art of Luz, Eda, and King, I was ecstatic- And when the show was delayed to 2020, I was dismayed.

           Then we got our teaser trailer; The opening them, the end credits, even a little sneak peek! I remember speculating a lot about Luz and all of the other new characters we were introduced to, such as Willow, Amity, and Gus- And then we got more and more trailers in the days leading up to the show. I wondered about Luz’s home back on Earth and where her family was, I listened intently to the Hooty and the Parliament music video, finding an almost melancholic, weirdly nostalgic (despite having never watched the show yet) vibe to it- Whilst also avoiding looking at the screen and seeing all of the various clips it offered, because I wanted to be surprised! It was two years of anticipation, two years of wait for this show- I’d never looked forward to a series before like this, last I can recall… So having this content FINALLY come out, seeing these characters in animation, hearing their wonderful voices! My soul was vibing, it was time, it was coming after all this time…!

          Eventually I finished Infinity Train Book 2, the same day that The Owl House premiered… I was blindsided when I woke up to the first episode’s release online, in full- I was already planning to wait until later to watch it on television, so having it permanently accessible from the internet was such a pleasant surprise! And the show… The show, man- That premiere caught me off-guard with how much I enjoyed it! I knew I was looking forward to this show, but still…! It blew away my expectations, and even now, has continued to; It was like my personal investment and attention had paid off so patiently well! I even got a DisneyNOW subscription so I could watch each new episode ASAP, the day it premiered, hours before it aired on television!

           I remember scouring Tumblr before the show officially premiered, and there was understandably very little- A few pieces of fanart here or there. And when the show DID premiere, for a while there wasn’t really much of a fandom- There was barely anyone, in fact! But I can remember a few notable blogs who have been around since the beginning… Me, I got invested into this show. I found myself really enjoying Lumity as a ship, especially since I resonated with both characters in it; Luz was such a ball of sunshine that brightened my day, and Amity really spoke to me with her more introverted, top-scoring personality. When the show hit its mid-season hiatus, I remember not handling it too well, as I got impatient and frantic in my speculations- I wanted so badly to learn more about these characters, see what happened- Get a look at Emperor Belos (then known as Bellows by the fandom), etc.

          I wrote my Bile Coven piece in preparation for Halloween, even got to know a mutual or two over shared theorizing! I kept track of Dana’s updates, and even had people come to my blog, of all places, to send asks! It was and still has been such an engaging part of fandom for me… I recall impatiently waiting for the Owl Pellet shorts and freaking out over them- And when Adventures in the Elements leaked early? I LOST MY MIND, I remember postponing something I was supposed to go to, just so I could watch the episode- And it was so good! Then I started wondering and hoping the rest of Season 1 would come out, and well- It took a while…

          And when Season 1B’s trailer came out, I was all over it; Scouring every possible frame, freaking out over the Grom screenshot, and appreciating the influx of new fans! It was amazing to watch The Owl House go from a relatively minor and obscure fandom, to becoming so much more mainstream and populous! I got into Rebecca Rose’s channel, I began writing more meta and posts about the show, as well as little recaps for each new episode. I feel like my blog really took off from here, as I got to interact with more and more people who shared this mutual love of The Owl House, and I was so ecstatic to see more content and buzz about it!

           My mind was solely focused on The Owl House, it was one of my huge hyperfixations, even moreso than during Season 1A’s run- I remember being anxious about Enchanting Grom Fright, wondering if we’d get queerbaited… But NO, Amity was in love with Luz! She canonically had a crush on her, a girl in love with another girl- And I loved it because Lumity was a special comfort ship of mine! Then Amity was confirmed lesbian… It was amazing! And I found myself SO invested, so inspired by the show and its characters, and all of the little allusions to things, the foreshadowing, the moments here or there that made so much more sense after a new episode.

           This show inspired me creatively- It got me to write some of my personal favorite fanfics, and I was and still am so touched by whatever feedback I get from them! The Owl House really got me to write, to obsess over characters and analyze them, to look at motifs, to think about worldbuilding… It’s been such an artistically enriching experience, both the show and the fandom! I remember despairing so terribly when Agony of a Witch came out, the genuine betrayal I had when Lilith revealed the truth- Because I’d been legitimately endeared to her character beforehand, even formed a sort of ‘trust’ in a sense… And like many others, I agonizingly anticipated the season finale, the much-needed emotional reconciliation!

           I remember how the episode titles were revealed, bit by bit, and how I and others speculated on what they’d spell out! I remember when the fandom obsessed over the Witch’s Apprentice game and its relics, for clues and new lore after each episode, the little hints here or there! I was freaked out by characters like Belos, who lived up to my hopes and expectations- First being alluded to by name, then his amazing appearance… And then his voice and mannerisms and everything about him! And when the Season Finale came out…

           Well, there was relief. But there was a bittersweet emptiness- That it was over! The first season was over! There was a celebratory triumph, of course- We finally wrapped up the first, major arc of the show, the first batch of episodes that had been worked upon, the whole thing now unveiled and appreciated! But I was a little dismayed because a part of me KNEW a hiatus much longer than the previous one was ahead of me, and I did not handle the mid-season hiatus well. Of course, then Dana had her Reddit AMA, and the charity livestream; Both of which NOURISHED me creatively, and have helped to fill out the wait! To carry out my momentum, to not flounder about in hiatus; I invested myself into more meta, into various posts, etc. I read fanfiction that genuinely floored me, obsessed over fanart, etc.

           I supported the show’s release on Disney Plus, ecstatic to get this kind of ready access. I revisited past episodes and characters, looking at them in a new light, appreciating things; Like Luz’s relationship with fantasy… King’s surprising development, all of Eda’s little hints and clues. There’s been an emotional catharsis with these characters for me- And I genuinely feel like I’ve been a lot happier lately because of this show! I’ve met so many other blogs and gotten to know them, seen their ideas and displayed mine as we appreciated one another… I even remember doing another blog’s fanart prompt prior to the show’s release, in preparation!

           I feel like The Owl House has genuinely given me a new appreciation for meta, for fandom and analysis… For headcanons, for writing my own stories and contributing my own ideas and speculations, etc.! It’s contributed SO much joy to me as a hyperfixation, and rapidly risen through my blog as my most frequent tag! And even as I explore other fandoms and hyperfixations, both then and now, especially to pass on this crippling hiatus… This show holds a VERY special place in my heart for me. It’s really made me feel for these characters, the love and sadness, the excitement and sense of comfort… Its love and emotions, angst and found family, lore and speculation, it hits so hard to me in a way that other media hasn’t!

           It’s provided representation- Such as canonically queer characters, or protagonists who speak so well to the neurodivergent experience for many people! I’ve had delight in seeing people suggest Amity as autistic, when before Season 1B, I lowkey headcanoned and saw her as such- So seeing more evidence for this resonated deeply in my heart! I remember all of the discussion about King as a character, the confusion and talk about whether or not he WAS a King of Demons, when that first announcement in 2018 had made a similar claim… I looked forward to Eda and Lilith’s relationship, speculated on who cursed Eda, and remembered when I’d considered the Blights as a potential culprit! I remember thinking about Hooty, wondering what his deal is- And thinking then and now about that Owl Deity mural in the Owl House! Watching Luz’s development as a character and as a witch, seeing her become more proficient with magic until it finally pays off with her squaring up against Belos, and wounding him- I’d never felt so proud of a character and their progress before!

           There’s still so many more questions and mystery, lore… as well as just genuine character interactions, to look forward to! I think The Owl House is one of my favorite shows of all time… It’s deeply touched me as a person and creator, and I genuinely strive to create something even close to this one day. This show has inspired me, made me laugh and cry, compelled me to creatively make content; It’s introduced me to a wider fandom that I genuinely feel like a part of, had me meet other mutuals… It really is something special to me. And while I am eager for Season 2, I also want to appreciate what Dana Terrace and her crew have already established. I love this show’s art style and animation, the designs and overall weirdness of its characters- I love speculating and thinking about them, getting more and more details, and so forth.

           If it’s for a better product, I’m fine waiting for Season 2. And honestly, I love what we already have, and I’ve done a lot with so many people. I’ve even looked over supplementary materials and stuff posted by the crew or news articles, in my need for content… And I love every bit of update, art, and/or acknowledgement of the show’s hiatus, and Season 2’s development! There’s so much to look forward to… And there’s so much that I’ve enjoyed, after plenty of anticipation!

           Thank you @danaterrace, and everyone who worked on this- For everything. It really is crazy to reflect on this entire year, to realize it’s been a full year since that first episode, since that first premiere that lit up my world like Luz’s light spells; And it feels like such a milestone that we’ve reached! I look forward to what comes next, and I also intend to keep appreciating and cherishing what we’ve already gotten. Here’s to this show’s second year, people- It’s been such a journey to look back on and remember each step, each phase, each particular moment and stage… And I can only imagine what will come next! This show has SUCH a special place in my heart, and has made me feel in so many ways I haven’t before!

           Happy Birthday, The Owl House! You’ve earned it!

[bedlamsbard]

Putting aside aesthetics and characterization (inasmuch as I can), I have been trying to logic out why Mando Ahsoka feels so different from Rebels Ahsoka (to me, personally; I know many other people feel fine about it), especially in terms of having a character who’s known in Rebels for her “I am no Jedi” line going to a character who is specifically introduced as “The Jedi” in The Mandalorian.  (And who is identified as “Ahsoka Tano, Jedi Knight” on merch -- merch is merch, it’s essentially meaningless, but it’s still a choice that was made somewhere along the line.)

“Shroud of Darkness,” Rebels 2.17

“Twilight of the Apprentice,” Rebels 2.21

This is strictly Doylist and not Watsonian; I don’t care what went on in the character’s life in between Rebels and Mando; I’m trying to guess what was happening in the writers room.

I was noodling through this on Twitter, in case it looks familiar.

My first thought was Dave taking a cut scene from Rebels as canon going into Mando, something he shared on Twitter back in the lead-up to S4.  Looking at this again I’m not sure this was a cut scene or a scene that he wrote that never made it into the actual script. (Certainly I can’t see how it would have fit into the episode.)

Here Bendu specifically identifies Ahsoka as “former Jedi Knight.”  This is also obviously not canon, because Twitter posts aren’t canon, Dave.  (Though that doesn’t mean that he might have taken it as part of his working backstory for the character anyway.)

I was then thinking about TCW and the unused TCW arcs as they existed in 2016 when this aired (with the rough guess that Rebels S2 was probably written in 2014).  There are three Ahsoka arcs that were written and existed in 2016 in some form (”scripts and some artwork” is what Pablo Hidalgo says, and some pre-viz and recordings from the original Walkabout arc that were shown at a couple Celebrations), but which hadn’t made it into S6 (which came out in 2014): Ahsoka’s Walkabout (in its original form with Nix Okami instead of the Martez sisters), the Siege of Mandalore, and an arc which would have taken place between those two, “Return to the Jedi.”  We know about these because of a panel from Star Wars Celebration Europe in 2016 called Ahsoka’s Untold Tales -- I was actually at this panel, but I haven’t thought about it in a while.  Here’s the SW.com liveblog of it; here’s the video.

I remember hearing somewhere that the TCW team had nine seasons or so written, but can’t find the source for that number now.  When S7 was made, there were obviously a lot of compromises made that we’ll never really know about, minus a tell-all memoir or documentary, which probably isn’t coming any time soon.  Knowing that this Return to the Jedi arc existed, I wondered if at one point Dave had tried to get all three Ahsoka arcs into S7 before having to give one up for the Bad Batch arc (especially as we now know there’s going to be a Bad Batch TV show); it’s also entirely possible that at one point in the production process there was the possibility of a full 22 episode season floated, which would have made three Ahsoka arcs in one season less unbalanced.

I went to go look up what the Return to the Jedi arc actually was, since 2016 was a long time ago and I haven’t really thought about this panel since.  My guess is that it had been intended for one Ahsoka arc per remaining season (7, 8, 9).  Pablo Hidalgo says that after the Walkabout arc, Ahsoka would have stayed on Coruscant as “an under-city vigilante of some degree, helping people who can’t help themselves,” and Dave points out that he talked about this with George Lucas, as well.  The Return of the Jedi arc would have involved Ahsoka finding out about a nefarious plot targeting Yoda and working with the Jedi to figure out what’s what with that -- this revealed that below the Jedi Temple was an ancient Sith shrine. (Some details of this were revealed at Star Wars Celebration Anaheim in 2015.)

Ahsoka would have been protecting the holocron vault from Darth Sidious, putting her lightsaber blade through the door while Palps shoots Force lightning up the blade.

“The whole purpose of that particular arc would have been to bring Ahsoka back. She’s not a Jedi, she doesn’t change her decision, but she gets involved in Jedi business again.”

The next Ahsoka arc and the final arc of the series would have been the Siege of Mandalore arc, which “reunites Ahsoka with the clone troopers, with Anakin.”  My guess is that the end of the Return to the Jedi arc would have involved Ahsoka making the decision to go to Mandalore because the Jedi themselves couldn’t get involved in that conflict at the time (especially the emphasis in the panel that Pablo and Dave put on Ahsoka as being “a responsible person” who couldn’t ignore that the war was still going on, and because Ahsoka knew Satine).  (It would be interesting to know when if this arc would have fallen before or after the Darth Maul - Son of Dathomir comics, which are based off another unmade TCW arc.)  This would probably have put as much as a season between this arc and the final arc -- given TCW’s funky timeline that doesn’t mean much, but in terms of audience expectation it helps.

(also, damn, the context of the beginning of Siege of Mandalore in the original concept vs. how it actually happens in S7 is very different -- like, on the surface identical but the emotions involved are totally different.)

Before going into the next part of the panel (post-war), Pablo Hidalgo adds “We consider it to have happened and that’s how we inform the writing in Rebels, because that’s the history that these characters carry in their heads.”

So going into Rebels, the writing team was working with the background that Ahsoka had not only left the Jedi Order once, in “The Wrong Jedi,” but had reinforced her decision not to go back to the Jedi by not returning to the Order during the Return to the Jedi arc.  That explains why in Rebels she’s so adamant about not being a Jedi or being in the Order; it’s a decision that she has made not once, but twice.

Fast forward four years to 2020, where we have the Siege of Mandalore arc in S7.

It’s heavily implied that Ahsoka was planning to go back to the Order after the end of the war, and in fact Yoda treats her as such.

Now, there’s no way to know if this exchange was in the original Siege of Mandalore scripts short of those being released at some point (which is possible but seems unlikely when the character is still in play), but because of the way S7 plays out there is no way to put the Return to the Jedi arc back into the story, which means all the emotional context and Ahsoka doubling down on not returning to the Order is thrown out of the window.  That’s a fair chunk of backstory to take into the Rebels writers room.

(It should also be noted that presumably E.K. Johnston wrote the Ahsoka novel with the assumption that that arc was still part of Ahsoka’s working canon, though she may not have seen scripts for it; I feel like I read somewhere that she had seen scripts for the original version of the Siege of Mandalore, which changed quite a lot between original concept and the eventual 2020 version, as is evident from the novel vs the show.)

Going into The Mandalorian, then, Dave Filoni is not only working without a writers room (as Mando has only had two writers, Dave Filoni and Jon Favreau), but working with an entirely different continuity than what the Rebels writers room was working with.

Trying to backtrack when various scripts were written is an exercise in futility to some extent; I usually guess anywhere from a year to two years out from when the shows air.  (I seem to remember that around this time in 2016 it came out that Katee Sackhoff was doing something for Disney, which ended up being the recording for Bo-Katan in Rebels S4, which wouldn’t air for another year, but don’t quote me on these dates.)  Dave ends the panel by saying that “After the season 2 finale for Rebels I was very adamant that that was it for Ahsoka...in Rebels...but after this reaction it might just be possible...it might be possible to see her again. She might have something to do. Maybe.”  (For those trying to run dates in their heads: the con was in July 2016, the season 2 finale aired in March 2016, WBW aired in February 2018.)  My guess is that they hadn’t recorded for that part of S4 yet (and S4 is so weirdly paced that I have questions about how it was made), but that the initial scripts for S4 had already been written at this point.

Looking back at the Star Wars Celebration Chicago 2019 TCW panel where Ashley Eckstein talks about getting the news about TCW S7 from Dee Bradley Baker (rather than from Dave Filoni, and hoo boy is this uncomfortable to watch knowing that the script for “The Jedi” had almost certainly been written and Dave may have already made the decision not to talk to Ashley about it), there’s still not like...a clear way to tell when that happened.  Except that Dee talks about “wine tasting with the Rebels,” which likely puts it back when Rebels S4 was either still actively airing (2017-2018) or before it had wrapped filming (2017).  (I actually vaguely remember seeing pictures from this wine tasting but I can’t remember whose twitter it was on and going to look feels creepy.)  Probably the scripts weren’t fully revised at that point but they may have been -- still, this was certainly after S2 and could potentially be before S4 had been fully finalized.  We got the TCW renewal announcement in 2019, but the animation wasn’t fully completed yet so didn’t get more than that teaser trailer.  This is only important insofar as it involves which set of backstory was being used for WBW Ahsoka, an episode that Dave Filoni wrote and co-directed.  (Honestly? I think Mando Ahsoka matches okay with WBW Ahsoka but is a little off Rebels S2 Ahsoka, but that’s off my memory of WBW, an episode I refuse to rewatch.)  Certainly with the epilogue he knew he was setting up for something else.

ETA: I FORGOT AN IMPORTANT PART OF THIS TIMELINE AND THAT’S THE RISE OF SKYWALKER because I try not to think about TROS, frankly, but as we may remember Ahsoka is included in the “be with me” scene in the final confrontation.  This always struck me as weird given the “I am no Jedi” thing from Rebels, but she’s the most well-known female Force-user so I had just mentally written it off as easy shorthand and JJ Abrams being lazy about it. HOWEVER, presumably JJ talked to Dave about which prequel era Jedi to include (there’s a note in one of the previous SWC liveblogs about Rian Johnson being in the Rebels writers room at some point).  TROS came out in December 2019, I can’t recall exactly when they did the voiceovers for that scene (if anyone has ever mentioned it), but it was probably fairly late in the process since I believe that there were still edits being made up until fairly soon before the premiere.  (I have a completely different theory that the Lego Star Wars Holiday Special from this year was written off an earlier version of TROS.)  If Dave had already moved towards making Ahsoka more inclined towards the Jedi, with a full-on return to calling herself one regardless of the existence of the Order (as Mando implies), then her inclusion here makes a LOT more sense than it did a year ago.

Anyway this is all very conspiracy theorist, but it does explain something that was puzzling me: Rebels S2 Ahsoka and Mando Ahsoka (as well as TCW S7 Ahsoka and potentially Rebels S4 Ahsoka) were written off slightly different backstories which differed in one very key thing: how committed Ahsoka was to no longer being a Jedi.

Now, this sort of thing happens all the time in anything with an ongoing continuity; obviously TCW makes major changes to how viewers might read or write Obi-Wan and Anakin/Vader in RotS or the OT.  I was just trying to narrow it down in this particular case because until I started thinking about it I had assumed that it was all being written off the same assumed backstory. And many people read Ahsoka differently in Mando than I did or found her perfectly in character, this was for me to track references down about something that was bothering me in hopes of an explanation that would satisfy me.