#Anne isn't selfless far from it

[mysteriesofmarcy]

Maystery Monday #4: Season Themes

Today I bring you a connection that I did not make on my own, but rather I heard on the True Colors episode of The Wartwood Gazette podcast. And that connection is: each season has a Calamity Power theme.

Season 1 follows Anne on her journey to be accepted by the town of Wartwood. She is slowly accepted, and eventually respected, by her Amphibian neighbors.

First Anne developed a relationship with the Plantars,

Some episodes, like Anne or Beast, Best Fronds and Flood, Sweat and Tears, are mostly about her friendship with Sprig

Other episodes like Stakeout are mainly about her and Hop Pop

Then episodes like Girl Time were about Anne and Polly

Cane Crazy, Hop Luck, Taking Charge, and several other episodes showed Anne bonding with the whole Plantar family

And then later with the rest of the town,

It started with Breakout Star, when Anne's acne caused her to get noticed by the mayor and become a celebrity

Lily Pad Thai and Wally and Anne were episodes where Anne spent the whole episode bonding with one particular townsperson

And some episodes like Snow Day and The Big Bugball Game had Anne bonding with the town at large

And eventually, Anne became beloved by all of Wartwood.

In Toad Tax, she became a town hero

In Snow Day, she became a town protector

Prior to Anne of the Year, she was voted Frog of the Year

And in Reunion, the whole town looked to Anne for advice.

Prison Break is a special case. But if we look into it, it is kind of a microcosm of the season as a whole. In other words, Prison Break is a one-episode version of Anne's journey in Wartwood.

Sasha had previously connected with several of the guards assigned to her so much that she convinced a lot of them to quit, and the rest adored her

She even helped Grime become a better leader

And by the end of the episode, she became the second in command at the tower and the entire tower listened to her.

Marcy did not have an episode this season (and for good reason). But if she did, I think it would have started like New Wartwood, with her making improvements to Newtopia (including what we saw in Scavenger Hunt), but ended like Prison Break, with her becoming very popular among the locals. If she had a second episode, it would have shown her going on daring missions for the king, beating Andrias and everyone else at flipwart, and running some DnD campaigns.

Season 2 was basically one giant puzzle with several smaller puzzles inside. The giant puzzle in this case being, how to get the girls home. The smaller pieces were:

From Fort in the Road thru Wax Museum, we waited to solve the puzzle of getting to Newtopia.

At the end of Marcy at the Gates, Marcy threw in another piece: getting all three girls back together again.

When The Plantars Check(ed) In, the puzzle became how the music box worked.

Then when that was solved as of A Day at the Aquarium, the next piece became the three temples.

That puzzle was solved in The Third Temple, which is also when they solved the puzzle of finally getting all the girls back together.

And the final piece was actually using the music box. Which Andrias handed them, but not in the way they expected.

If you're looking for a microcosm of this season, look no further than each of the three temples. Each temple had three tests, which made up the larger puzzle of beating the temple. Notice also that each part had to be complete in order to beat the temple, just like each part of the season 2 puzzle has to be complete in order to get the girls home, and each piece of a puzzle must be in place in order to complete the puzzle.

EDIT: I've just realized that there is another episode that functions as a microcosm of this season: Scavenger Hunt. There were three puzzles, that each needed to be solved using Anne and Marcy's special skills, that all came together to become one message.

Season 3 was a bit trickier, because a) the podcast episode was recorded right after True Colors, so they couldn't provide the answer, and b) it didn't seem to have much of a theme for the first half. But, looks can be deceiving.

The first half of this season was about Anne having to find the strength to:

keep the Plantars alive on earth

take more responsibility at home

find a way to get the Plantars home

and keep their identities a secret

and to defeat the enemies that were specifically after her and her families.

Notice how I said defeat, rather than just dodge, which is what they did in season 1.

Notice also how I said the enemies were after the Plantars and Boonchuys, which is also a step further than season 1 when they were mostly just giant monsters who didn't care what they ate.

And the second half of the season (plus Turning Point) was Sasha's time to shine, as she and the Wartwood Resistance spent the time gathering an army, complete with an underground recreation of the town and help from all corners of Amphibia (including several past enemies), all for the sole purpose of taking down Andrias (and The Core, but she didn't know it existed yet).

And a good microcosm of this season is -- well -- both finales. Escape to Amphibia brought together all the friends the Plantars had made on earth, and The Beginning of the End brought together all the allies they had made in Amphibia, for one final battle. And then All In put "All" the forces "In" one place for the final final battle.

And then there was The Hardest Thing. First, Anne, Sasha and Marcy had to decide to save their friends. Then, they had to figure out how to defeat The Core. Then they actually had to fight it and try to physically stop it. When that didn't work, Anne had to sacrifice herself to save Amphibia.

Then after Anne returned, everyone had to find the strength to say goodbye to the friends they had made. And then everyone had to figure out how to move on, and the Amphibians also had to rebuild their society while honoring their heroes.

And speaking of honoring heroes, that's how I'd like to end this post. Here in the US, the last Monday in May is called Memorial Day. It's a holiday to celebrate all the brave men and women who lost their lives in defense of America.

So, I thought it only fitting that today's post be dedicated to three brave heroes who lost their own lives in defense of Amphibia:

Igor the Brave

Barrel the Brave

Anne the Selfless

[arctic-comet]

Osblaine week 2021, Day 2: Lyrics

Over the last several weeks, I have carefully curated a playlist for Osblaine. The final total length of the playlist is 2 hours and 53 minutes.

The playlist can be found HERE

Click "Keep Reading" if you're interested in the introduction, commentary, more graphics and the full tracklist.

For full disclosure, I have to give some of the credit to my amazing fellow Osblaine fangirls @dystopiandramaqueen, @splitscreen and everyone who participated in a certain conversation for the original inspiration and even bringing up some of the songs.

You should look at the playlist in five parts: one section for each season that's aired and one section for the future (because I like to end things on a hopeful note).

The playlist contains a lot of the following:

Music from movie and TV soundtracks

Instrumental music

Remixes

Classics and covers of classics

Country music. I blame Florida. My sincerest apologies.

Some of the songs were chosen because they reminded me of a certain Osblaine scene, and some of them aren't specific to particular scenes but chosen for the general Osblaine vibe. And most of the movie/TV music I chose have been used for couples that remind me of Nick and June.

Part I- Season 1, first 12 songs of the playlist:

Forbidden Love- Abel Korzeniowski, Jasper Randall, The Hollywood Studio Symphony (Romeo & Juliet)

Fireflies- Owl City

Echoes in Rain- Enya

My Ghost- Glass Pear (Bones)

Daring to Hope- Anne Dudley (Poldark)

Everytime We Touch- Cascada

1000 Times- Sara Bareilles

Too Good At Goodbyes- Sam Smith

In Case You Don't Live Forever- Ben Platt

To Find You- Cast of Sing Street, Brenock O’Connor

She- Elvis Costello (Notting Hill)

Miracle- Instrumental- Cö Shu Nie

Hanging By A Moment- Lifehouse

Commentary:

The first instrumental song IMO works as an intro for their entire love story.

The next two songs are more about having the right vibe. It's a little ambiguous and dark because that's how their life is in Gilead.

Leave my door open just a crack

Please take me away from here

'Cause I feel like such an insomniac

Please take me away from here

Why do I tire of counting sheep?

Please take me away from here

When I'm far too tired to fall asleep

***

Wait for the sun

Watching the sky

Black as a crow

Night passes by

Taking the stars

So far away

Everything flows

Here comes another new day

Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah

***

"My Ghost" is June's POV before they sleep together, wondering if she can trust Nick:

Who can you trust, in this place?

And whom can I put my faith?

If you're real, then show me now,

Who you are

The last two songs are for episode 1x10, for both Nick’s reaction to June’s pregnancy and the beginning of her first escape attempt (arranged by Nick).

She may be the face I can't forget The trace of pleasure or regret May be my treasure or the price I have to pay She may be the song that summer sings Maybe the chill that autumn brings Maybe a hundred different things Within the measure of a day

Part II- Season 2, next 10 songs:

Love Will Keep Us Alive- Eagles

So Easy- Phillip Phillips

Incomplete- James Bay

Rewrite the Stars- The Piano Guys (The Greatest Showman)

I’ll Be Your Shelter- Taylor Dayne

Love Never Fails- Brandon Heath

P.S. I Love You- 05:11- John Powell (P.S. I Love You)

It's A Girl- Mychel Danna (The Time Traveler's Wife)

I'll Stand By You- Josh Groban, Helene Fischer

The Miracle of Love- Eurythmics

Commentary:

The first four songs cover June’s escape attempt and the time they share at the Boston Globe.

"Incomplete" is Nick's POV from when she's on the run and he knows she'll be gone from his life soon. He lives in the moment.

I don't wanna look down

I don't want us to break up in the clouds

All I want is to stay us, to stay with you now

"I'll Be Your Shelter" is for when June's mental health is at its lowest point and he goes to Serena to beg for her to get June help.

What you need is a friend to count on

What you got baby you got someone

Who will stay when the rain is fallin'

And won't let it fall on you

P.S. I Love You takes me back to episode 2.09, Nick’s selflessness in the episode and of course the scene where after telling June that Luke loves her, he tells her that he loves her too, despite believing she probably doesn’t feel the same way.

It's A Girl makes me think of the beautiful moment they share during June's false labor when he helps her out of the van and they climb the steps together.

I’ll Stand By You is for 2.10, Nick holding June after she was heartbroken over Hannah and over what the Waterfords did to her and clinging onto him.

Part III- Season 3, next 6 songs:

Extremely Loud And Incredibly Close- Alexandre Desplat (Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close)

All I Ask- Adele

Never Enough- Loren Allred (The Greatest Showman)

I Don’t Wanna Live Forever- Taylor Swift, ZAYN (Fifty Shades Darker)

Love is Gone- SLANDER, Dylan Matthew

Constellations- The Oh Hellos

Commentary:

For obvious reasons, it was extremely difficult to pick songs for this season.

The first (instrumental) song is for the beginning of the season with June coming back to the Waterford house and them then saying goodbye to each other on the street.

All I Ask, Never Enough, I Don't Wanna Live Forever and Love Is Gone are for their night together in June’s room at Lawrence’s (the one we didn’t get to see sigh). They know it's possible it's all they'll ever have, and they'll take it, but it'll never be enough.

I will leave my heart at the door I won't say a word They've all been said before, you know So why don't we just play pretend? Like we're not scared of what's coming next Or scared of having nothing left

Look, don't get me wrong I know there is no tomorrow All I ask is

If this is my last night with you Hold me like I'm more than just a friend Give me a memory I can use Take me by the hand while we do what lovers do It matters how this ends 'Cause what if I never love again?

***

All the shine of a thousand spotlights

All the stars we steal from the night sky

Will never be enough

Never be enough

Towers of gold are still too little

These hands could hold the world but it'll

Never be enough

Never be enough

***

I'm sorry, don't leave me, I want you here with me

I know that your love is gone

I can't breathe, I'm so weak, I know this isn't easy

Don't tell me that your love is gone

That your love is gone

"Constellations" is for their long separation and the doubts that I'm sure plagued them both during it. Would they ever see each other again?

Part IV- S4, next 12 songs:

All of Me- John Legend

(Everything I do) I Do It For You- Bryan Adams

Iris- Natalie Taylor (City of Angels)

She Was Like A Bright Light- Hans Zimmer, Rupert Greyson-Williams (Winter’s Tale)

Noah's Last Letter- Aaron Zigman (The Notebook)

What’s In The Middle- the bird and the bee (Bones)

ivy- Taylor Swift

Footprints in the Sand- Leona Lewis

Remember Me (Lullaby)- Gael Garcia Bernal, Gabriella Flores (Coco)

On The Nature Of Daylight- Max Richter

My Heart Will Go On- Basil Jose (Titanic)

The Story- Sara Ramirez (Grey's Anatomy)

Commentary:

There were sooo many songs I wanted to include in part IV, but I controlled myself and ended up with this particular dozen.

"She Was Like A Bright Light" and "Noah’s Last Letter" are an instrumental double punch to the gut for Nick’s time in Gilead during episodes 4.07-4.09. The first one is meant for when he finds out June made it to Canada, and the 2nd for is for when he starts to gather info on Hannah to give to June.

"What’s in the Middle" and "ivy" are June’s POV of episodes 4.07-4.09.

"What's In The Middle" has more of an angry and confused vibe, and June was definitely both in episodes 7 and 8.

Losing your head is such a common theme

All your brains are falling out, falling out the open seams

Where is the heart, is the heart of the matter

I will empty out my skull of all this useless chatter

On the other hand, "ivy" has this haunted vibe, but there's also reverence and acceptance, which she begins to achieve in episode 9.

Oh, goddamn

My pain fits in the palm of your freezing hand

Taking mine, but it's been promised to another

Oh, I can't

Stop you putting roots in my dreamland

My house of stone, your ivy grows

And now I'm covered in you

The next three songs are of course all for their reunion in 4.09, and I couldn’t resist including the song that was actually played in the scene.

"The Story" draws the season to a close nicely, with June understanding that her current needs are different from what they used to be and that there’s someone who understands her completely (and it’s not Luke).

You see the smile that's on my mouth

It's hiding the words that don't come out

And all of my friends who think that I'm blessed

They don't know my head is a mess

No, they don't know who I really am

And they don't know what I've been through like you do

And I was made for you

Part V- Season 5 and Beyond, the last 6 songs

Secret Love Song- Little Mix, Jason Derulo

Burn With You- Lea Michele

The Bones- Maren Morris

Feels Like Home- Auli'i Carvalho, Keegan DeWitt

Love Will Find A Way- Piano Covers (Lion King II)

Like I'll Never Love You Again- Carrie Underwood

“Secret Love Song” is a more angsty tune about a love that’s still kept a secret like June and Nick’s love (as far as most people are concerned). Now that they’ve already made out in front of the man who raped and abused June and made Nick watch him do that, I want to believe they can let go of the secrecy in S5, at least when it comes to a few people.

I'm living for that day Someday Can I hold you in the street? Why can't I kiss you on the dancefloor? I wish that we could be like that Why can't we it be like that? Cause I'm yours, I'm yours Why can't you hold me in the street? Why can't I kiss you on the dancefloor? I wish that it could be like that Why can't it be like that? Cause I'm yours Why can't I say that I'm in love? I wanna shout it from the rooftops I wish that it could be like that Why can't we be like that? Cause I'm yours Why can't we be like that? Wish we could be like that

***

“Bones” is about a relationship with a strong foundation, which IMO they do have. It will carry them in the future, too. They’re more into each other now than ever before and especially June is coming to terms with how strong that love is. They’ll weather any storm.

When the bones are good, the rest don't matter

Yeah, the paint could peel, the glass could shatter

Let it break 'cause you and I remain the same

When there ain't a crack in the foundation

Baby, I know any storm we're facing

Will blow right over while we stay put

The house don't fall when the bones are good

***

“Feels Like Home” is more hopeful. Their home is with each other and I hope that’s something that will be explored more in the future.

Take me, I'm ready

Go slow but go steady

To a place that we can call our own

I wanna know what feels like home

***

“Like I’ll Never Love You Again” is a good conclusion for the playlist. It’s hopeful and a testament to an epic love.

I wanna love you like the rain on a roof

Stronger than a bottle of a hundred ten proof

I wanna take love to places that love has never been

Yeah, I wanna love you like I'll never love you again

And I'll love you again

Oh, and again

[read-and-review]

"Schooled" is Anisha Lakhani's debut novel, and reads as such. Had I known this going in, I may have been a little more forgiving in the annoyance I felt slogging through the first three-quarters of the book. The entire thing reads more like a 20-something's diary. That's not to insult the writing style of most twenty-somethings, but as main character Anna Taggert is a fresh college graduate who teaches English and has a purported love of Shakespeare, there is a distinct clash between voice and character that nearly leads me to question if the character herself received the same kind of education as she provided.

The characters are wasted. Anna's initial desire to be a teacher for love of the job, and her realizations at the end of the story make her, in those moments, understandable, likeable, and sympathetic. This person effectively vanishes for 95% of the story and is replaced with someone who is quite unbelievable as a character - someone from a well-off family of Ivy Leaguers had no idea about this world of elite tutors are you quite serious, Ms Lakhani??? Anna's bestie/sorority sister Bridgette isn't given nearly enough time to come off as anything but vapid, and her new bestie / partner in not-crime Randi, while thriving in the world she's created for herself, has but one likeable moment in the second-to-last chapter. Far too much time is spend gasping over brand names, and far too little on actual character development (which goes as well for Anna, whose entire arc seems to be about fiscal anxiety).

Ah, money. This story is about little else, beginning in the first chapter, where she is arguing with her father about wasting her potential, followed shortly thereafter by Anna's disgust and disdain for her first apartment away from home, it is difficult to connect with a character who, in spite of being a teacher, has far more in common with her heinously wealthy students than she does her peers. Little wonder she is unable to engage any of them, and I find myself sympathizing far more with the onerous Dorothy Steeple in her few appearances than I do the lead character.

There are no clear stakes in the story, either, beyond whether or not Anna would be recontracted for the following year. The amount of money she made tutoring (and the point in the story where she generally stopped caring about teaching) practically made it a moot point. As Bridgette made only one brief (self-initiated) appearance later in the story that was never followed up on, and Anna's family generally came off as afterthoughts (she seriously regifted them Christmas presents???), any semblance of selflessness dove out the window almost immediately after being hired at Langdon.

Overall, I am reminded distinctly of "The Devil Wears Prada," in that I find the title characters distasteful and unsympathetic, and that it would be a far better as a movie starring Anne Hathaway, Meryl Streep, and Emily Blunt.