#Bicentennial Man Rewatch

[spockvarietyhour]

[sniffanimal]

robots that experience time on a scale humans can't even fathom. when you can have a thought and complete it in the same instant, incredibly complex thoughts, time would feel quite different. something that only takes a minute could feel like an hour. but on the other hand, a robot doesn't have cell based organs to fail them. they could live much longer. maybe that hour-in-a-minute isn't so long after all

[shesnake]

just finished watching s2 of the newsreader bc of you and i'll tell you, i think that i might need a rewatch to understand exactly where dale jennings wronged all these people the way i've seen some comments. besides tim, i think that helen was equally to blame at points with him - they just feel like they'd be great friends but bad partners - and the gerry thing is super complex because i genuinely don't see where else the tim thing could have leaked from and it's a shame they turned on each other when dale had managed to get him air time prior to the gossip columnist's calls. and with tim, i feel like the conflict really just maintained itself at the same scale it was at the end of s1. anyway, the only thing dale sees as valuable from himself is his journalistic skills, he's clearly more lost than ever in relation to his bisexuality and i feel for the guy. the day he unlocks it he's going to be unstoppable.

Hey there! Very glad you watched the show ❤ and you've kind of answered your own question with that last paragraph. Everything following is a (hopefully) more cohesive version of this post I made when season 2 finished:

Dale's professional ambition leads him to wronging everyone. Over the course of season 2, we can see him slowly shedding his principles and journalistic integrity, hoping to reach the status of a newsreader like Geoff Walters. His number one priority is to maintain his public image. He no longer fights for The Story, only for damage control.

When he sees a problem coming, he works harder to save face than he does to help fix the actual problem, leaving Helen to scramble around. He prepares a little joke and practices his laughter in the mirror so he can be unfazed when her interview with Lynus about his Aboriginal perspective on the bicentennial gets cut. On a public level it's incredibly racist!!! And on a personal level he's fucked Helen over. He "handles" Helen by dismissing her bipolar swings as "migraines", treating her mental illness the same way every other man has.

And with Tim... it hurts to admit, but Tim is just a very handsome plot device. A pretty vehicle for Dale's bisexuality to enter the plot. Tim exists solely for Dale to fumble. Sorry Tim.

In season 1, Dale's internalised homophobia becomes the story when his shitty interview skills leads to NA6 platforming homophobic AIDS rhetoric. Dale's delivery of misinformation was an accident, then Geoff comes in purposely to deliver the death blow. Dale throwing Gerry UNDER THE BUS was season 2's death blow. Regardless of whether it could've flipped the other way. He's so cold when he finally speaks to the gossip journalist. HE is the one offering HER the deal to stay silent about his bisexuality, because he knows he's made it.

Dale has always felt inadequate, as a journo and as a man. His clothes have always been too big for him. But by the end of season 2, after sacrificing all these personal relationships that made him more vulnerable, he's reached a point of privilege where the benefits of appealing to his public image outweigh exploiting his hidden truths. He is now The Newsreader. He gets on camera and delivers his bulletin, solo, in a black suit that fits him perfectly.

[just-another-fanfiction-writer]

tag 9* people you want to get to know better!

Thank you for the tag @cuffmeinblack , @ravenbronze , @newbienewness & @rednite-dork ✨ (so many tags, gurls...I feel loved 🥰😭)

LAST SONG: have a rest by the waves ᶻ 𝗓 𐰁

Just gonna drop in the full playlist, cause it's so good! It's so calming <3

FAVOURITE COLOUR: too many, but I'm starting to love orange 🧡

CURRENTLY WATCHING?: I'm rewatching GOT and I've reached Season 7 sooo...it's kinda hard to keep going 😬

LAST MOVIE?: Last Night in Soho and Bicentennial Man, can recommend both!

Last Night in Soho is a psychological, slightly supernatural thriller and Anya Taylor-Joy and Matt Smith are just fantastic! Bicentennial Man is a late 90s movie with Robin Williams as a android that wants to be human and it's honestly so sweet.

SWEET/SPICY/SAVOURY: more sweet and savoury, I can barely handle spice 🥵😂

RELATIONSHIP STATUS: ever forming my fictional harem 🌚

CURRENT OBSESSIONS?: Pretty much all over the place from HOTD over to Assassins Creed II, but obviously still HL (over 1,5 years and still going strong) 😂✨

LAST THING YOU GOOGLED: "ao3" - just for arguments sake 😂

tags! (I bet most of you already got tagged, so sorry in advance 👉👈): @juneymont @tamayula-hl @anto-pops @accio-bagel @xxluna-rougexx @lil-grem-draws @kiwiplaetzchen @theravenchild @silverxstardust

[variousqueerthings]

“one of the top three sexiest robin williams roles” you can’t just leave that in the tag without saying what the others are (but if I’ve missed it OTL)

Okay, okay I admit, I was being mildly flippant because I think robin williams is highly capable of being sexy and armand is a great example, however now that we're here, let us consider the tenets of the sexy robin williams character

EDIT: also at this point, apologies, I was out travelling for a few days, I was not ignoring you. ahem. continuing:

did I come across him as a kid/teenager in a story that made me cry my eyes out

moustache/general hairiness

how queer is he

how well-dressed is he

how anti-authoritarian is he

does he make me laugh

Let's go wild and say every one of these gets rated from 0-10 (with 0 being for example "not at all hairy" and 10 being "sexy motherfucker")

now, here's some of his most well-known ventures

good morning vietnam: he's not got a moustache, because it's the army, but because it's the army his natural anti-authoritarianism is dialled up. he queers the space and goes hard on the camp comedy. loses points for being about americans in vietnam, and he's kind of a pest towards a vietnamese woman to begin with (although he does improve). best out of context line: "we can't say dyke these days, we can't even say lesbian, we have to say woman in comfortable shoes." Also the movie ends on a dorothy/wizard of oz quote. it's definitely not queer, but it's also... a choice.

0 on me crying for him, 3 on his chest peeking out once or twice, 7 on queerness (although I cannot overstate that it's not queer, but it IS him doing great camp as robin williams), 4 on the well-dressed I guess, at least he's not always in khaki, like... 6 on anti-authoritarian, because he's still an american in vietnam, 6 on the laughter because when I laugh I laugh a lot, but some of it ages pooorly = 26 points

dead poets society: the og "teacher you had a crush on, because he affirmed your queer identity and taught you poetry." I have since worked with tutors who taught me poetry and yeah, you do get heart eyes at them, poetry and being heard just does that to you. it's anti-authoritarian of course, it's professor-chic. it's low on the hairiness scale though. of course, it is also very very sad. he's dressed like me 20 years from now.

9 on sobbing scale, 2 on hairiness from memory, 8 on queerness in that whole fucking movie, 7 on well-dressed (this is about my gender okay), 5 on the laughter he's still robin williams even when he's only joking around a little, 8 on anti-authoritarian = 39 points

to wong foo: only in it briefly, canonically bisexual, leaves an impression, however the birdcage gives him more to work with, also... he has a soul patch, it is there, one must see it RIP. however I like that he just appeared in this movie, which was very bold in the way it cast its roles for the time

0 on sobbing scale (for him), 0 on the hair-scale my goodness, 10 for queerness that is a bisexual man (his truest self), 6 on well-dressed yes he's technically well-dressed but I don't like it much, and 5 on anti-authoritarian -- he's a queer so duh but it's not really in the plot for him, 7 on the laughter he's just charming = 28 points

bicentennial man: he's a robot who argues for his right to be considered alive. he's not my personally sexiest robot of all time, but every robot is a sexy robot. this one also made me cry (we're seeing a trend huh).

IIII cannot rate his sexiness in this movie, it's been too long -- will have to rewatch and get back to it

good will hunting: we love a dramatic turn, I wanted to say, but he did a lot of dramatic turns actually. this one might be the most straightforward dramatic that I've watched though. he's got a beard! he's helping out a kid without a lot of opportunities. he's challenging toxic masculinity. we love a sexy bearded man who's making the world a better place, breaking the cycle

yeah I cried at this as a kid 8 points, iiihihihi he has A BEARD 10 points! queer ethos related to breaking the cycle of toxic masculintitty and being someone who's looking at methods of healing and non-nuclear family support networks but not overall super queer on his character's front necessarily 5, 4 on the well-dressed it's worse than dead poets, 7 on anti-authoritarian, hmmm and 4 on laughter... it's still robin williams = 38 points

jumanji: a mess of a person who never shaved before, that's trans man aesthetics forya. he's a bit too busy for me to consider him sexy necessarily, he arrives and immediately man-eating plants, man-hunters (no innuendo intended), floods, and what-have-yous follow. he doesn't have time to be sexy, but that being said...

yes I cried to this movie as a kid 7 on the sad williams, okay he is hairy but is he kempt at all??? still 6, idk if it's queer to be trapped inside a game for most of your life but it'll certainly make you neurodivergent which is queer enough 5, badly dressed (sorry) 3, anti-authoritarian... tricky... he doesn't get on with his strict dad as a kid, he evades a man-hunter (again, no innuendo), he gets arrested by a cop and he continues to roll the dice on a game that wreaks havoc (although he continues to abide by the rules of the game sooo there's a whole essay here, let's just say 5), 4 on the laughter = 30

hon mentions: hook -- makes me cry too hard to even consider sexiness + when I was a kid it was all about dante basco. mrs doubtfire -- the particular kind of drag he does doesn't do it for me, but we love a genderfluid icon. mork&mindy -- I haven't actually seen it, but he seems too baby overall at that point. flubber -- he's got that mad professor type Look, but I've never actually seen it (I saw a trailer over and over on one of my vhs' as a kid), life according garp is a weird fucking movie which is surprisingly trans-positive but also just like... not well-made, I wanna watch what dreams may come

AND FINALLY BIRDCAGE - one of my queerbaby movies I elegantly let the tears fall 7, HIS CHEST HIS FACIAL HAIR HIS ARMS 10/10, 10 ON QUEERNESS, 10 ON DRESS, loses points on the authoritarian because he gives in to his petulant son's demands for heterosexuality BUT gains some back for his speech about being a middleaged fag + standing by his lover at the end 7, YES HE MAKES ME LAUGH 8 = 52

DING DING DING actually Birdcage is robin williams' sexiest role woops are we surprised?

generally: robin williams is underrated as a hairy man tbh, my guy's arms and chest are 👀👀👀👀👀

[typingtess]

NCIS: Los Angeles Season 13 Rewatch:    “Subject 17” The basics:  Did you know Callen’s childhood is a mess?  This episode is here to tell you that.  Also, Hetty’s around and so is the Admiral. Written by:   R. Scott Gemmill wrote/cowrote “The Only Easy Day”, “Brimstone”, “Breach”, “LD50”, “Found”, “Borderline”, “Absolution”, “Archangel”, “Tin Soldiers”, “Impostors”, “Cyberthreat”, “Honor”, “The Watchers” and both sides of the NCIS Los: Angeles/Hawaii Five-0 “Touch of Death” episodes, “Recruit”, “Free Ride”, “Wanted”, “Ravens and The Swans”, “Impact”, “War Cries”, both ends of the “Deep Trouble” season five finale/season six premiere, “Inelegant Heart”, “Praesidium”, “Traitor”, “Active Measures” (season seven premiere), “Blame It On Rio”, “Internal Affairs”, “Matryoshka” part one,  "Talion" (season seven finale), “High Value Target”/“Belly of the Beast” (season eight premieres), “The Queen’s Gambit”, “Under Siege”, “Unleashed” (season eight finale), “Party Crashers” (season nine’s premiere), “This Is What We Do” (episode 200), “Các Tù Nhân”, “Goodbye Vietnam”, “Ninguna Salida” (the season nine finale), “Hit List”, “Asesinos”, “Till Death Do Us Part”, “Choke Point”, “The Guardian”, “Hail Mary”, “Kill Beale Vol. 1”, “Alsiyadun”, “Fortune Favors the Brave”, “The Bear” (season 12 premiere), “Angry Karen”, “Love Kills”, “Russia, Russia, Russia”, “The Noble Maidens” and “A Tale of Two Igors” (season 12 finale). Directed by:   Dennis Smith directed “Fame”, “Standoff”, “Rocket Man”, “Cyberthreat”, “Exit Strategy”, “Patriot Acts”, “Out of the Past” part one, “The Livelong Day”, Between the Lines”, “Deep Trouble” part two, “Black Budget", “Black Wind”, “Blame it On Rio”, “Defectors”, “Matryoshka” part one, “Granger, O”, “The Queen’s Gambit”, “Hot Water”, “From Havana With Love”, “Plain Sight”, the lighthearted “Monster”, “Superhuman”, “One of Us”, “Smokescreen” part one, "Decoy”, “Mother” (episode 250), “Alsiyadun”, “The Bear”, “Angry Karen” and “Signs of Change”. Guest stars of note:  Elizabeth Bogush is back as Joelle, Olesya Rulin returns as Zasha Gagarin.  Preston Edwards plays a young Callen Our heroes:   Are involved in more Russian nonsense. What important things did we learn about: Callen:   Subject 17. Sam:   Not pleased Fatima wrecked his car. Kensi:  Looking for a personal recommendation from Hetty for the Deeks-Blye adoption plans. Deeks:  Loves quicksand because the sucking part is what differentiates it from the beach. Fatima:  Wrecks Sam’s car for the greater good of saving the team. Rountree:  Stops Joelle when it matters. Kilbride:  Is not taking orders from Callen. What not so important things did we learn about: Callen:  Born August 8, 1976 – a Bicentennial baby. Sam:  Not pleased Joelle is drying her hair in the back of his car (foreshadowing!). Kensi:  Shirley-lock Holmes. Deeks:   Sandy. Fatima:   My vote for the person who named the staff cockroach Sheldon. Rountree:   Assaulted at a Trader Joe’s for taking the last Mandarin Chicken. Kilbride:  Likes to use different styles of weapons on the firing range.

Where in the world is Henrietta Lange?  In the office if only for an episode.  Then she’s on the road again.  

Who's down with OTP:   Kensi and Deeks are adopting though Kensi is bothered that Hetty won’t write a letter of recommendation for them.

Who's down with BrOTP:  Callen is open to a point – didn’t mention the whole Zasha plan – with Sam about his Subject 17 history.  Sadly, we’re involved too.

Fashion review:   Callen is wearing a dark blue button-down shirt.  Sam, breaking up with his henleys after 12-seasons, is wearing a black, long-sleeve tee.  Kensi, starting her appreciation of henleys, is wearing a really pale blue long-sleeve henley.  A medium blue long-sleeve tee for Deeks.  Fatima is an a green , plaid button-up shirt over a dark blue turtleneck.  Rountree has a grey, black and red plaid jacket over a tan tee-shirt.  The Admiral is wearing a dark blue three-piece suit, medium blue pattern tie and a light blue dress shirt.  For her season 13 appearance, Hetty is wearing an Aegean blue suit and a lovely pin. Music:   None.   Any notable cut scene:   On my DVD, the cut scene is from “Fukushu”.  Weird.  Weirder, the cut scene from this episode is attached to “Fukushu” on the DVD.  Not great.  Anyway, early in the episode, Fatima is trying to get the office back on line after Hetty shut some things down.  She’s having a problem reconnecting the boat shed when Rountree arrives.  Rountree offers to reboot the boat shed in person since he can grab breakfast on the way.  Fatima is amazed that Rountree doesn’t eat breakfast every day.  No, he tells her, It would be his second breakfast.  Fatima does not want him to have a breakfast burrito – it makes him gassy.  He calls her rude.  She thinks it’s rude to have breakfast burrito and then sit in a car with her.  As he leaves, she want him to pick up an air freshener for the car. Quote:  Kilbride:  “You will never believe what just came across my desk.” Hetty:  “Well if it was a large cockroach with only one antenna, his name is Sheldon and he's become sort of an office mascot.” Kilbride:  “Oh. I put him through my shredder last week. Well, nobody told me he had a name.  No, these were travel orders. You think you're going back?” Hetty:  “Well, I think I have to.” Kilbride:  “Well, I think somebody has to, but I'm not so sure it should be you. You made a bloody mess of things - over there the last time.” Hetty:  “Hmm.” Kilbride:  “Now, I will sign the order, but if you make it worse, you will be sacrificed for the sake of diplomacy, and if you do something really stupid and find yourself in a cage again, you will be disavowed.” Hetty:  “Well, that's-that's really... terribly encouraging.” Anything else:   Late at night in the office, one of the security cameras goes down.  A figure is breaking into a file cabinet that has an external lock.  At her home, Hetty gets an alert about a security breach in the OSP office archives.   Going through the files, the intruder – Callen –  finds one about Subject 17.  He sees an August 8, 1976 birth date and slams the file cabinet shut.

There are new credits and a remix of longtime theme song.  Credits give both Gerald McRaney and LL Cool J the “with” over their names while Linda Hunt is a “Special Guest Star”.

A grumpy Sam arrives at the boat shed.  Sam asks about coffee but then admits he’s going back to bed soon.  Callen talks about his evening activities, activities Sam believes will get Callen fired.  Callen wants Sam to look at the files but Sam likes his job – “that’s a hard pass.”  In fact, Sam thinks he’s an accessory after the fact and he’s not going near the files.  Sam begs Callen to get some sleep.

Explaining that the files are of foster children, some as young as six, Callen thinks it is strange that they were locked up in an NCIS file cabinet.  Sam thinks it is strange that Callen woke him up late at night to look at them, breaking many laws.  Callen is fixated on Subject 17 – they have the same date of birth.  The foster children were put through all kinds of cognitive tests.  Sam says that’s called school.  Callen explains it was more than school, it was psychological testing and screening of the children.  Callen said reading the tests, they were junior versions of the tests he was given at the CIA.

That morning, a happy Kensi finds Hetty in the armory.  Hetty is packing a number of weapons into a briefcase.  Kensi asks about Hetty’s plans – why would she do that, has she not been paying attention?  Hetty has a short business trip that needs secret weapons.  After apologizing for interrupting Hetty’s packing, Kensi wants to know if she can ask Hetty for something personal.  After getting a sincere “always” from Hetty, Kensi updates Hetty on the Kensi-Deeks road to fertility issues.  Since they are considering adoption, would Hetty be a personal reference.  “Always” turns in a gentle “no,” with Hetty telling a stunned Kensi that she is not the right person for a reference.  Kensi tells Hetty she is one of the most respected people in the intelligence community.  Hetty agrees but that is very different from “the parenting community.”  Hetty offers a reference from Leon or the SecNav instead – “vastly more impressive.”  Kensi is amazed and grateful.  Hetty is relieved when Kensi exits.

A hovering Callen is annoying Sam as Sam reads through the files.  Callen bring up the Russian dolphin case which Sam says shouldn’t be confused with the Norwegian dolphin cases they investigated.  Callen explains he sent Sam and Rountree to check out the dead dolphin after having a conversation with Kilbride.  Accusing Callen of being biased toward Hetty, Kilbride said  Hetty hired Sam, she created Callen.  Callen is bothered by the word “created”.  Since Callen knew Hetty since he was a teenager, Kilbride was talking about Callen’s life choices.  Callen wonders if he knew Hetty before he was a teen.  Sam asks if Callen remembers Hetty as a kid.  He does not.  Sam sees the files as a number of underprivileged kids who were given a chance to live life to their full potential.   Callen disagrees - nobody helps the underprivileged without an ulterior motive.  

Sam tells Callen he’s had a rough couple of years – more than anyone should have to handle with his father, sister, nephew, Joelle and Anna.  Add in COVID.  Needing to unplug and detox from everything, Sam suggests Callen take some time away just as he did when Michelle died.  “Now it’s your turn.”  A weary Callen agrees but thinks the files are sketchy.  Sam doesn’t know what the files really are and it is probably best they don’t know.  Callen thinks he’s Subject 17 – he needs to know.  After finally thinking he knew who he was, Callen saw these files.  Sam mentions Pandora’s Box  - Callen should enjoy the life he has.  A trip down the rabbit hole may uncover things Callen doesn’t want to find.  

Bringing up his time at the CIA, Callen asks Sam if he knows that agency’s motto.  “The Work of a Nation.  Center for Intelligence,” Sam knows the motto.  Callen tells Sam the unofficial motto is John 8:32:  “Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.”  All Callen wants, all everyone deserves, is the truth.

Joining Callen and Sam in the boat shed is Rountree.  He tells them the boat shed is offline – guessing they knew that Devin.  Starting the screen in the main room, Fatima is there with video to share.  Two women are fighting outside a Trader Joe’s in Marina del Rey.  It is a violent confrontation.  Rountree brings up his TJ experience – being hit by a woman with a bottle of Two Buck Chuck for taking the last of the Mandarin Chicken.  Everyone’s attention returns to the fight when one woman pulls out a baton and knocks the other to the ground.  Callen wants to know why they are watching.  “Wait for it,” Fatima promises.  Zasha Gagarin is on the business end of the baton.  Seeing Gagarin shoved into the back of a SUV, Sam thinks the Russians are recalling her.  No, Fatima has the SUV’s driver on video – it is Joelle.

Rountree only knows Joelle as the woman with the bomb vest.  While Kensi and Deeks are on their way to the parking lot, Sam is sure that there won’t be anything to find.  Joelle will see to that.  The only thing Joelle couldn’t control was an eyewitness in the parking lot with a cellphone.  Callen thinks Joelle is desperate for revenge.

Walking into Hetty’s office, Kilbride tells her about something that came across his desk.  Hetty thinks it was Sheldon, the staff’s pet/mascot/large cockroach with one antenna.  Kilbride explains Sheldon’s unfortunate trip through his shredder last week.  “Nobody told me he had a name.”  The item on his desk was travel orders for Hetty.  Hetty is returning to wherever she was (not including Linda Hunt’s driveway) last season.  She feels she has to go back.  Someone has to go, the Admiral agrees, just not sure it should be Hetty who made “a bloody mess of things.”   Promising she will be sacrificed if things go from bad to worse, Kilbride is willing to sign the paperwork.  If she does something really stupid and finds herself “in a cage, again,” Hetty will be disavowed.  Hetty finds the Admiral’s statements not all that encouraging.

At the supermarket parking lot, Deeks doesn’t expect to find anything.  Zasha was kidnapped in her own SUV so if they find the SUV, they can find where she last was and maybe where Joelle took her.  Except with Joelle being a “high-level operator”, the chance they find the SUV with any usable evidence is unlikely since it and the van Joelle was likely using will be found in a ditch or towed, wiped down so they will be “forensically useless.”  Deeks also calls Kensi “Shirley-lock Holmes” during his explanation.  This leaves Kensi wondering how “sunshine and gun powder” became “storm cloud and quicksand”.  Deeks is pro-quicksand.  Fatima calls Kensi.  Deeks does the little dance of “I’m right” and he was – the SUV was towed.  “Quicksand for the win.” 

As they are leaving the parking lot – “let’s go Sandy,” from Kensi – Deeks asks why Kensi is sad.  They were never finding anything in the parking lot.  Kensi tell him that’s not the issue.  Kensi is still a little stunned that Hetty refused to be a reference.  Deeks doesn’t see it as a refusal, more suggestions of better candidates.  Kensi doesn’t think the SecNav is going to provide a recommendation.  Deeks agrees, but Leon will.  Confused, Kensi believes Hetty would do anything to help.  It bothers Kensi that Hetty believes her recommendation would not.  While Deeks jokes about Hetty’s awkward teenage cannibal phase, Kensi wants to be serious.  Explaining that cannibalism is serious, Deeks starts joking about the seven deadly sins like cannibalism and not using your turn signal.  

Driving, Sam asks Callen if Joelle will hurt Gagarin.  Callen doesn’t know – he thinks Joelle wants Gagarin to use her connections to find Katya.  Joelle lost her family and her leg and she blames Katya.  With the Kremlin actively hunting Katya, Sam believes the Russians won’t care of Joelle takes out Katya – she’s doing their work.  It also ends the threat to Callen and Anna.  

Reviewing Katya and Anna’s connection to the Institute of Noble Maidens, Callen remembers a line from Arkady – that Callen should know about that type of training more than anyone else.  Arkady was talking about Hetty.  Sam was there for that conversation but thought Arkady was being Arkady.  Callen remembers a test he took when he was really young.  After being told he had dyslexia, Callen took tests including putting together blocks as an exercise.  The blocks made a gun.  The more Callen thinks about these things, the more he remembers.

In the bullpen, Kensi can’t find anything about the towing company.  Deeks thinks it was fake company.  Kensi is about to ask Fatima about possible past accomplices for Joelle when Callen and Sam arrive.  Callen is looking for Hetty.  Kensi mentions Hetty packing the armory, causing Callen to storm off.  Deeks asks Sam if everything is OK.  For Sam, yes.  For Callen, Sam isn’t so sure.  Kensi asks what’s going on.  Sam’s guess is that Hetty hasn’t told Callen everything about his past and some of it may be disturbing.

As he practices at the firing range, Kilbride is working with a number of different weapons.  Callen asks if the Admiral is planning a coup.  He is not.  When Callen asks about Hetty, Kilbride says “no idea.”  Showing the Admiral the Subject 17 file, Callen asks what Kilbride knows about intelligence screening programs.  “Nobody likes a dumb kid,” the Admiral replies.  Bringing up their conversation about Hetty creating Callen, Callen asks again about the files.  The Admiral wants to know where Callen got the files.  “Not important,” Callen tells him, asking instead if Hetty was running a program for future operatives.  Kilbride points Callen in Hetty’s direction.

When Callen demands an answer, the Admiral asks Callen if he hit his head because Kilbride does not answer to Callen and Callen does not give orders.  If Callen speaks to Kilbride that way again, “it will be the last thing you utter in this building and quite possibly on this planet.”  In a quieter tone, Callen asks where Hetty’s going.  Kilbride won’t share because it is classified.   Hetty could share her location with Callen but Kilbride guesses she won’t “for any number of reasons, none of them very good.”  Callen wants Kilbride to confirm that he knows where Hetty is going.  “Probably a very dark hole in a foreign prison unless some despot decides to keep her as a pet” is his reply.  

Kilbride also tells Callen his “ex” may find herself in the same trouble.  The Russians are furious that Joelle assaulted a foreign national in broad daylight.  The CIA – Joelle’s now former agency – is also looking for her.  With both the Russians and the CIA using local freelancers, Joelle’s best hope may be NCIS finding her first.  Knowing Joelle, Callen thinks she probably has an airtight plan.  Joelle probably wanted to be seen as a warning to Katya.  Thinking that this being a show for Katya means Gagarin is not in danger, Kilbride is told by Callen that she likely is.  Joelle will do whatever it takes to get information about Katya from Gagarin.  The Admiral wonders if there is a “women-who-kill” dating site that Callen frequents or does Callen just have “the world’s worst luck with the ladies?”  The Admiral wants a plan and Callen has one.

Walking into Ops, Callen asks Fatima is she can post something on Joelle’s Instagram account.  Fatima explains the illegal parts of that request.  With Joelle following her family’s social media accounts, Callen wants to contact her that way.  Fatima is on board.

Tied to a chair with a bloody noses and a few cuts on her face, Gagarin is losing consciousness.  Pulling her hair, Joelle tells Gagarin to stay with her because if she falls asleep, Joelle promises she won’t wake up.  Gagarin promises she doesn’t know where Katya is.  The last she heard, Katya was in Russia.  If Gagarin knew where it Russia, Katya would be in custody already.  Getting an alert on her phone from Peter Taylor, Joelle sees Callen instead.  Callen threatens to go to Joelle’s family if Gagarin is not brought to the boat shed in one hour.

Working in the burn room, Hetty is confronted by Callen, who offers the Subject 17 file for the paper furnace.  Callen made his own copy.  When Callen demands an explanation about the file, Hetty would like one too.  Straight out, Callen asks if he is Subject 17.  Hetty throws up her hands – “You shouldn’t have done this.”   Callen is amazed the “I” shouldn’t have done this.  Hetty shouldn’t have done any of this.  He asks again and is told that the truth is a fickle thing.  He asks again and is told “ask me no questions and I’ll tell you no lies.”  Wanting the run-around to end, Callen demands an answer only to be told Hetty doesn’t answer to him.  Callen wants a yes or no answer.  Hetty wants an answer as to how Callen got the file.   Screaming “Am I Subject 17”, Callen is chided by Hetty for the tone he is using with her.  One last scream “Am I Subject 17” gets Callen his answer – yes.  Fatima apologizes for the interruption but Joelle is on her way to the boat shed.  Callen is on his way but warns Hetty this is far from over.

An angry Joelle arrives at the boat shed to find Callen looking at his phone near the couch.  She asks for the rest of Callen’s “misfit friends” but Callen claims to be alone.  He wants Gagarin.  Joelle promises Gagarin is safe.  Callen starts to speak but Joelle makes it clear she doesn’t work for him.  Callen notes she does not work for anyone at the moment.  “This time is personal” for Joelle.  Callen wants Gagarin freed before things get out of hand.  Joelle scoffs at “out of hand” since one of Gagarin’s colleagues tried to kill her, costing Joelle her leg (they never mention Joelle’s finger but she is wearing a glove).  Assuring Joelle Gagarin had nothing to do with Joelle’s kidnapping, Callen is joined by Sam.  Joelle disabled the GPS in her vehicle.  They can’t trace where Joelle has been.

Warning Sam that it isn’t his fight, Joelle is told by Callen it is their fight.   Gagarin is an asset for NCIS.  Joelle laughs at the hypocrite Callen is – he doesn’t care about Gagarin, just her intel.  Joelle thinks she is at least honest about her intentions.  Callen explains that Gagarin has been in limbo with her Russian bosses.  Joelle’s actions didn’t help.  In fact, Joelle was likely tailed to the boat shed.  She assures them she was not followed.  Callen threatens Joelle with arrest if she doesn’t turn over Gagarin.  Saying they don’t have anything jurisdiction over her, Sam thinks kidnapping and assaulting a foreign national is a place to start.  Sam might turn Joelle over to the Russians for questioning.  If she’s arrested, Joelle promises Gagarin will die of dehydration or starvation within a week.  Callen goes back to ratting out Joelle to her family – “and all the love they have for you will turn to white hot hatred for the rest of their lives.”  Joelle tries a weak defense about protecting his family but she loses Sam with that.    After promising to return with Gagarin in an hour, it is made clear that Joelle isn’t going anywhere alone.  She pulls a gun on Callen and Sam.  

With Sam warning Joelle not to do anything she may regret, Callen tries to talk Joelle into cooperating.  The monitor pops on with Rountree, Fatima and Kilbride.  This is enough to distract Joelle so Sam can take her weapon.  The Russians are coming, the Russians are coming!   No, they really are, six of them.  Joelle was followed after all.  Kilbride orders Fatima and Rountree to the boat shed.  Kensi and Deeks are five minutes out.  LAPD is going to secure the perimeter.  The Admiral thinks this is enough to cause the Russians to slow down.  

Callen has a different idea – an offering the Admiral doesn’t remember wanting.  They’re going out of the trap door in interrogation.   Joelle isn’t going – she’d rather face the Russians than deal with the typhoid she’d get in the water.  Sam gives her a little push.  Literally.  The Russians arrive and find nothing.  Pulling Joelle out of the water, Callen slashes the tires on the SUVs driving by the Russians.  Sam pulls up with Joelle in the back seat and they are on their way to Gagarin.  

Calling the office, Callen wants Kensi, Deeks, Fatima and Rountree redirected to the warehouse address Joelle reluctantly gave him.  LAPD can arrest the Russians.  Joelle starts wringing the water out of hair, much to Sam’s dismay.  The three start arguing about being in the water, the Russians and the possible damage to Joelle’s prosthetic now that it is wet.

At the warehouse, Callen, Sam and Joelle come across two strange vehicles.   Gearing up, Callen wants everyone arriving on their earwigs and ready to go.  Joelle wants to help but Sam orders her to stay with the car.  Four Russians are seen escorting a handcuffed (in front, not behind her back) Gagarin out of the warehouse.   Callen yells “Federal Agents” and all hell breaks loose with Gagarin used as a shield to get the Russians to their vehicles.  Joelle wants a gun and is told no in Callen-Sam stereo.  

As the Hellcat is shot to hell, Callen provides cover as Sam gets the big gun that fires explosives at the Russians’s SUVs.  The SUVs explode, causing the Russians and Gagarin to retreat into the building.   Callen is going to the back of the building to see what is going on, Sam is keeping the front secure.  Joelle asks what’s she supposed to do.  Sam suggests leaving.  She calls him an ass and he still thinks she should leave.

Callen gets into a shootout with another random Russian guard.  Joelle really wants a gun so she can fix things.  Kensi and Deeks are about four minutes out, Fatima and Rountree are even closer.  Rountree is going to join Callen as soon and he and Fatima arrive.  Tired of being ignored, Joelle runs into the building.  Sam is not pleased, wishing he drowned her when he had the chance.  

With Fatima and Kensi joining Sam and Rountree and Deeks with Callen, Callen considers Joelle a second hostage.  The Admiral has the building schematics sent to the teams members’ phones.  Since technically the Russians are foreign operatives rescuing one of their own from a rogue former CIA Agent, there can be no fatalities with this action.  This is a CIA problem, not an NCIS issue.   Callen brings up Gagarin being used as a human by the Russians but without body-cam footage, it can’t be considered a rescue.  This should not be hard for the team, according to the Admiral, if they are all “as good as you seem to think you are.  Can I get an amen?” 

The plan is for Callen and Deeks to go to the roof and look for a way in, Sam and Kensi to breach the front of the building with Fatima covering the front exit and Rountree watching the back.  “I like thinks plan.  It just feels like a winner,” Deeks announces to nobody in particular.  

In the building, Sam announces that they are federal agents and there is no way to leave the building.  Joelle finds a pipe to use as a weapon  Sam calls to Joelle to return to the car before she makes things worse.   Callen and Deeks make their way to the roof. Callen throws a duffle bag to Deeks.  While Sam keeps talking to the Russians, Fatima hopes they all speak English.

As Joelle is about to take out one of the Russians standing guard, she’s grabbed from behind by another Russian.  

The old skylight is painted over and filthy – Callen and Deeks can’t see inside.  Callen asks Kilbride what are the team’s chances of getting satellite heat signatures.  “About the same as my getting a permanent.”  The Admiral does have the way with the language.  He thinks of sending in robots with jetpacks to do the Agents jobs.  In Vietnam, he was lucky to get a map in the jungle.  Sam notes that may be the reason America did not fare well in the war.  Kilbride thinks about transferring Sam to Djibouti – the kind of Djibouti call Deeks doesn’t think anyone wants.

Sam and Kensi find the Russians using Joelle and Gagarin as cover.  There is no way Sam or Kensi could get off a shot without getting the women killed.  Callen decides that they all should attack at once.  Callen and specialty” according to Deeks.  “God I wish,” Kensi offers as rebuttal.  Callen and Deeks will come through the skylight, the rest will start shooting.  

Asking if everyone is in position – Callen gets a “one second” from Fatima, who has an idea.  Deeks thinks “the kids are so cute at this age.”  Callen isn’t messing around, calling to Agent Namazi one last time.  She’s almost there.  Sam says they have to go and go they all do.  Rountree runs into the building.  Sam and Kensi run to Joelle, Gagarin and the Russians, Callen and Deeks jump through the skylight while Fatima drives the Hellcat through the front of the warehouse.  

“What in God’s green heaven is going on in there” is the Admiral’s reaction to all the noise.  Fatima looks a little stunned by her actions the others quickly round up the Russians.  The Admiral asks if anything was blown up – he’s obviously watched the show.  Sam wants to know what was Fatima thinking.  She was going for the shock part of shock and awe.  Kensi thinks Sam’s reaction was more “aw” than “awe.”  

As Callen gets Gagarin off the ground, Joelle runs off.  Rountree is able to stop her with a BolaWarp gun – wrapping around her legs and stopping her in her tracks.  Fatima is impressed.  She’s also really impressed with Sam’s Hellcat, thinking it was “way faster” than she thought, calling it a “monster.”  Rountree thinks Fatima’s entrance was hilarious.  That does not sit well with Sam.  Wrecking his car is not hilarious.  Kensi is trying not to laugh behind him.

After being looked at by the EMTs, Joelle asks Callen what’s going to happen now.  Callen says what Joelle did was unacceptable.  She thinks what was done to her was unacceptable.  They are at an impasse.  There is a mutual interest in finding Katya but Callen will arrest Joelle if she pulls anything like this again.  Joelle asks if Callen would have told her family she was alive.  “What do you think?” he tells her.  She threatens that if she sees him near her family, she will kill him.  

Complaining his “tumming is growling like Winnie-the-Pooh”, Deeks tells a distracted Kensi he wants peneer.  Then he wants to know what she’s thinking.   She’s thinking that adoption is amazing.  That giving a child a safe and loving home is a privilege.  And maybe they would have done it anyway.  But she really wanted the two of them to have their own child – Deeks agrees about their own little genetic ninja assassins.  But he also thinks about all the things that had to go right to get to this place.  He talks about Kensi’s parents, his mom, his “despicable father”, their parents and their parents before that.  Everything put them exactly where they are today.  Maybe they need to trust the process and the universe.  

Kensi asks what happens if  the universe doesn’t want them to have a baby.  Deeks tells her to then forget all he said because the universe “can bite me.”  They’ll do what rich people do and steal babies.  Kensi tells him not to talk that way but Deeks doesn’t care.  He wants Angelina Jolie to be jealous of the soccer team they’re going to raise in their two-bedroom house.  Kensi smiles – he always knows what to say to make her laugh.  He considers it his superpower – his gift.  She asks about the refund policy for that gift.  “Store credit only.”

Looking for Hetty in the office, Callen is told by Kilbride that she’s already gone.  Callen wants to know if that is classified.  It is, according to the Admiral but since Hetty’s likely going to get herself killed anyway, Hetty is in Syria cleaning up a mess of her own doing.  Kilbride was actually surprised she made it back from her last trip.  “She’s harder to kill than that cockroach everyone seems to love.”  When Callen asks for specifics about Hetty’s trip, he’s told that is truly classified.  Callen asks why isn’t NCIS helping her.  “Because you don’t throw good money after bad, Agent Callen.” Kilbride hopes Hetty can “pull another rabbit out of her hat” – she has a “knack for it.”  Asked what happens if Hetty can’t pull that rabbit out of her hat, the Admiral just walks away.

Later that night, Gagarin is sitting with Callen in a car.  She thinks she owes him a thank you but she knows she’s now officially burned.  Callen thinks Gagarin is free but she knows she will be hunted for the rest of her life.  She is a woman without a country.  Callen doesn’t think that is necessarily bad.  If Gagarin does him one favor, Callen promises to help her.  Gagarin doesn’t want to do Callen any favors – she’s only got the clothes on her back because of her work with Callen.  

Callen gives Gagarin an assignment along with plane tickets to Syria.  Syria is not safe but Callen thinks Gagarin will be safer there than in the US.  Along with the plane tickets are money and a photo of Hetty.  Gagarin thinks Hetty is Callen’s mother.  Callen is insulted – surely a Russian spy based in Los Angeles knows who Hetty Lange is.   “Yeah, we know who she is.”  Gagarin will be traveling at Sydney Violet Richards, with the initials SVR, Gagarin’s old agency.  The passport expires in eight months but Callen thinks it will only last a few weeks.  If Gagarin completes her assignment, Callen will get her official U.S. paperwork and even let her pick her own name.

The evening ends with Callen reading his assessment with Hetty’s voice providing the sound.  Young Callen has an exceptional memory, with opportunity and education, “there’s no telling what he could achieve.”  The episode fades to black on the young Callen sitting through a slide show.

What head canon can be formed from here:  Kilbride is fulltime with the program though not officially in-charge until later in the season.

Why are we back with Callen’s well-mined childhood traumas?  I want to know about Clara Callen, not another deep dive into what has been an obsession with this program for now the start of 13-seasons.  Clara Callen was the daughter of a founding member of the CIA, a CIA Agent herself.  She married a Russian officer and he wound up being a conduit to freedom for many Russians.  We’ve spent hours on Callen’s life, Callen’s father, Callen’s foster homes while Clara got short mention in season three and is never mentioned again.  Feh.

At the end of the episode, we’re told that Callen has an exceptional memory except he didn’t remember being in Russia or Romania as a child, his mother’s death (I’ll give him blocked memories on that) or the tests/training he was subject to as child.  

Callen’s line about Joelle’s family’s love for her turning into “white hot hatred” for the rest of their lives – projecting much about Hetty?

Kensi and Deeks are embracing adoption and mourning their chance of having a family mix of children born to them and children brought to them.  That was the worthwhile scene in this episode.  

Episode number:  This is season 13’s first episode.  It is episode 281 overall.  

[readytoplaygod]

Are you a big sci-fi fan? If so, just in general or any particular franchises?

Sci-Fi is a wonderful genre, though I've only really been keeping up with popular culture at the moment. So like Star Wars has been a consistent through line in my life. My brothers and I grew up watching the Alien franchise, Predator, The Thing, The Matrix trilogy, Jurassic Park, Tremors, Mars Attacks, The Fifth Element, The Terminator, Men in Black, The Abyss, Planet of the Apes, Blade Runner, Ghostbusters, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, Mad Max, Contact, Starship Troopers, Galaxy Quest, Species, Bicentennial Man, RoboCop...things like that. Star Trek was also in there of course. My brothers consistently watch and rewatch more than I do though, and @call-me-beelzebub watches any type of sci fi or horror movie regardless of "quality" because it mostly matters if he enjoyed watching it. He's familiar with the obscure.

[defenselesswriter]

social distance tag -- tagged by @thelillykane                                        

are you staying home from work/school?

technically no? my courses are already online and i’m currently unemployed so.

if you’re staying home, who is with you?

my parents (usually my dad goes to work but he took this week off idk why), my little brother, and two dogs

who would be your ideal quarantine mate?

more dogs and my best friend and a romantic partner to cuddle and give me attention but i don’t have a romantic partner currently so i don’t have a specific person

are you a homebody?

yes

an event you were looking forward to that got canceled?

uhhhhhhh no?? i don’t think so. i mean i was gonna go to the renaissance faire with a friend and i was looking forward to that, but i can’t think of anything else. 

what movies have you watched recently?

i rewatched bicentennial man yesterday with my mom (and it made me feel so i’m mad about it). i watched love, rosie a couple weeks ago i think. i don’t watch movies super often. oh! i bought birds of prey with the plan to watch it eventually.

what shows are you watching?

i don’t wanna talk about it..... i’m rewatching and trying to finish: arrow and true blood. i started: one day at a time, feel good, (at this point i just picked up my phone to see what i’m currently watching on netflix, made a mental note, and then closed the app on my phone and put it down and as soon as i looked back at my computer screen my mind completely blanked) new girl, and beauty and the beast

i have a whole list of shows i want to start but uh. watching stuff is very difficult for me lately soooo

what music are you listening to?

manic by halsey, heartbreak weather by niall horan, revival by selena gomez, and a mix of simon and garfunkel songs

what are you reading?

making my way through my annual reread of the vampire academy as well as many many fics

what are you doing for self-care?

i have been trying to set small, weekly goals and cleaning up my room was a big one for this week and next but i did it already bc momentum. but having a clean room does wonders for my mental health tbh. i’ve been trying to drink lots of water. i want to start journaling tomorrow. i’ve been playing a lot of animal crossing. but mostly i’ve been trying to be super patient with myself. this is hitting me hard and it’s okay for me to not be productive all time always

now i get to tag friends okieeeee i tag:

@tylerhoech, @mermaid-reyes, @sleepy-skittles, and @queerindeed

[felicereviews]

Bicentennial Man, Bowfinger, But I’m A Cheerleader (1999)

To celebrate 1999 and its contribution to film (I know that sounds weird but hear me out) I re-watched - or watched for the first time - a collection of films released in that year.  I don’t know how to present them other than alphabetically.  My brain works best when there is some order.

I had only seen But I’m A Cheerleader back in the day.  i am an O.G. Natasha Lyonne fan and I thought the premise was hilarious.  And while the Dr. Seussian sets still please me, in 2019, the story is dated and the movie is slow.

I watched Bicentennial Man because I read Robin (the biography of Robin Williams) earlier this year and wanted to try to see all of his movies, even the bad ones.  This is not a good movie and I hardly enjoyed it at all.  I found the story kind of stupid and if not for Robin and Oliver Platt would have chucked it.  But - it’s so interesting to see Robin work.  He had two movies released in 1999 - the other was Jakob the Liar which I am afraid I will not get to this round.  Just not enough time. Stupid work getting in the way of my free time.  Robin Williams is so good, I’ll even watch his bad movies.

Bowfinger was my favourite of the three.  How could it not be funny with Steve Martin and Eddie Murphy as the leads?  And yes - Eddie is hilarious.  I thought he played outside his box while Steve Martin sort of stayed inside his box.  I felt the movie wasn’t as good as it might have been if Martin had played it a little grander.  That’s just my opinion being a huge Steve Martin fan and if I ever meet him I hope he hasn’t read this.  But if he does read this, big smooch and the banjo is cool.

Which of these three have you seen?  Which is your favourite?  Your least faourite?  Would you rewatch any?

Happy 20th Birthday to Bicentennial Man, Bowfinger, and But I’m a Cheerleader!

[spockvarietyhour]

Bicentennial Man (1999)

[eldritchsurveys]

1008.

5k Survey LXVII

3401. How well can you read between the lines when others are talking? >> I’m not usually looking to read between any lines. My first inclination is to take what people say at face value, excepting cases like speaking in metaphor or using sarcasm, which I think I can figure out pretty well.

3402. Would you ever speak in front of your peers about peace and social injustice? >> In a formal sense, like giving a speech? Most likely not. 3403. Where does peace begin? >> ??? 3404. Does Aamerica practice the ideals it preaches? If yes when and where? If not, why not? >> Which ideals, exactly, are we talking about? 3405. In conversations do you assume that you know what will be said? If yes, isn't this a form of closing yourself off to new ideas? >> I don’t try to predict conversations or anything.

3406. In what ways are you closed minded? >> I’m not sure. I’m willing to accept a vast variety of subjective realities. I consider it a strength of mine, it’s helped greatly in practicing compassionate thinking (a practice in which I am otherwise not very strong yet). 3407. do you prefer beans or rice? >> I mean, I generally prefer these two things together. 3408. who's a better tv dad?--dr. huxtable (bill cosby) or danny tanner? >> I don’t know who Danny Tanner is, but I never much cared for the Cosby Show either way. 3409. detroit or new york? >> I would love to go to Detroit at some point (I was there for a conference in 2013 or so, and Sparrow and I went to see a Welcome to Night Vale live show there some years later, but in neither case did I get to actually see anything else in Detroit except the exact thing I was there for). Can’t pick a preference without having been to both cities. 3410. What's your favourite Star Wars movie? >> Hmm... I thought The Force Awakens was pretty cool, and Revenge of the Sith too. I don’t remember which one from the original trilogy I liked best because it’s been longer since I’ve seen those. 3411. What's your favourite Star Trek movie? >> I’ve never seen any of those. 3412. How about Batman? >> At this point, the only Batman movies I really remember anything about are the Nolan Trilogy ones, and those were pretty interesting.

Indiana Jones? >> I’ve never seen any of these.

Lord of the rings? >> I don’t remember if I liked any of them more than the other two.

harry potter? >> I don’t remember if I liked any of them more than the other eight. I think the Deathly Hallows ones were pretty interesting? 3413. If you could ask one question and one question only to the following people, what would that question be: Saddam Hussain? George W Bush? John Lennon? an alien? God? Someone you knew who has died? Steven Speilberg? JD Salinger? 3414. Have you seen AI (artificial intelligence)? If yes, what were the beings at the end of the movie? Do you see this as a possible future for humanity? What'd you think in general? >> It’s been years since the last time I saw this movie, and all I can remember about it as a result is that it was a bit maudlin but I loved it at the time. I’ve bandied about the idea of rewatching it, but eh, who knows. Honestly, if I’m going to revisit a maudlin movie about robots and emotions, it’s going to be Bicentennial Man first and foremost before any other. 3415. If a-l-k-a-s-e-l-t-z-e-r spells 'relief' how do you spell: love? happiness? evil? sexyness? yummy? 3416. Have you ever been to a Braodway show? What one? >> I have seen exactly one (1) stage production, and that was Phantom of the Opera. If I never get the chance to see a live show again, at least my one experience was as amazing and transformative as it was. 3417. Nighttime shows or matines (sp?)? >> Matinees, always. 3418. How are your family get-togethers, loud and rambunctios or quiet and formal? >> --- 3419. Would you be able to survive shippwrecked alone on a desert island? >> I mean, no, dude. Let’s be realistic lmao 3420. Speaking of islands, does Gilligan EVER get off his? >> I don’t know anything about that show. 3421. What movie has the BEST soundtrack? >> I could never answer this, my brain immediately starts screaming about all the movie soundtracks it loves and I don’t even know where to begin or how to use words. 3422. Do you ever go into chat rooms? If yes, what ones? >> No. I mean, I use Discord, but that’s a bit different from the chat rooms of yore. 3423. Is english your first language?  >> English is my first language.

If not...How you say hello in your language: another word in your language + english translation: boob in your language: 3424. Make up a religion (make it up): >> No, thanks.

what would it believe: 3425. Create your own country- >> Nope. Name of country: Ethnic background: Language (make it up): Other details: 3426. How would you celebrate these holidays? Dogs in Politics day: Magic circles day: Be bald and free day: National mole day: Syliva plath day: Increase your psychic powers day: Waiting for the barbarians day: Air day: 3427. -Why do you think Steve got kicked off Blue's Clues: >> I vaguely remember this moment in history, but not enough to have an opinion about it. 3428. Hooked on heroin or hooked on phonics? >> ... 3429. -Have you ever taken an insanity quiz and said, "Hay, thats a good idea!" >> What? 3430. - Have you ever covered yourself in blood and layed down on the side of the road to make it look like you were in an accident? You don't know what you're missing. >> I think that’d be a pretty mean prank to play on unsuspecting passersby. 3431. Can you flare your nostrils? >> No. 3432. -do you want to swim in a vast lake of gatorade? or, any other beverage for that matter? >> No. 3433. -have you ever sneezed at the same time everyday, consecutively, for over 3 months? >> No. 3434. -how did the first person discover that pigs feet would be so good that we call them a delicacy? >> I don’t know, how did the first person discover that anything was edible? 3435. -why did the first person to ever eat pigs feet eat them? >> Because they were hungry? 3436. -do you like the idea of 'like father, like son'? >> I don’t know how I’m supposed to answer this. I don’t care about that saying. 3437. Put the following musical acts in order from best to worst by numbering them..(1 for best, 2 for 2nd best, etc... 20 for worst). >> Are you kidding me. Avril: Ashanti: Joan Jett: David Bowie: the Bee Gees: The Doors: Tool: DMX: Iggy Pop: Creed: Weezer: Ministry: Thursday: Kittie: Adam Ant: Rancid: the Clash: Led Zeppelin: Moby: Tom Waites: 3438. Would you rather be an evil dictator or a sitcom family member? >> ??? 3439. What is the wave of the future? >> I don’t know. 3440. What's your favorite old movie (before 1990)? >> lmao, “before 1990″... anyway, I love a lot of movies that came out in that expansive period of time, so... 3441. When someone tells you that their signifigant other lives REally Far Away..do you ever suspect that they are single and making someone up? >> I do not suspect that unless I have reason to suspect them of lying (as in, past experience of them lying about things, particularly bigger things). 3442. Alaska or Hawaaii? >> I don’t have a preference because I’ve been to neither location. 3443. Why did Kentucky Fried Chicken change their name to KFC? >> I don’t remember why. Brands just be doin shit, idgaf. 3444. What is there no place to hide from? >> ... 3445. Which makes you happier, giving presents or getting them? >> I mean, getting a gift is really fun. Giving a gift is really fun. I don’t know why I’d be comparing those two experiences. 3446. What can you never have just one of? >> I can’t think of anything. 3447. What comes to mind when you think of Hulk Hogan?/ >> The fact that he’s always saying “brother”. I think that’s the right guy. 3448. What would you be the patron saint of? >> I have no idea. I think that’d be up to whoever put forth the petition for my canonisation. 3449. Do you still look at the world with wonder like you did when you were a kid? >> Not with the same intensity and regularity as one would when one’s brain is still in development, but I do try to stay in contact with that part of myself. 3450. For 5 seconds clear your mind. Good. Now write the first thing that you can think of!: >> No, thanks.

[invincible-selfxmade-punk]

Winter break is half over

Read and formulated questions for two of four books for next semester Watched half a season of Bojack Horseman Got caught up on Lucifer and Gotham Movies: Sicario Cider House Rules Legends of the Fall The Circle Bicentennial Man A Family Man Jack Reacher 2 (don't remember the name Rewatched more movies than I can count.  Lot F was a rewatch but I had not seen it since it was in theaters eons ago so it was like seeing it for the first time.

I’m still sick, still broke.  Left today finally to get cough syrup when temps finally got out of the 30s.  Need to go to the dr, have no money.   Just another month, just another day.  But naps at 3pm have been a definite bonus. :)

[softasawhisper]

rewatching Bicentennial Man and it always confused me as to why Little Miss had glass toys.

I mean they were def little glass figurines but she was playing with them at the beach...?

Also this movie came out in ‘99 but the beginning takes place in the mid 2000′s. Why didn’t they just make it all take place a few hundred years in the future... did they really think we’d have service robots like Andrew in every household by 2005? (Maybe the book it was based on took place then idk but still)

Also omg I dont really remember much of what wasnt the main plot of this movie and there are parts that are reallly strange

[holdingpatternthings]

Robin Williams

I’m going to post this piece that I wrote 3 years ago when I learned about Robin’s suicide. I'm going to venture that the majority of remembrances of Robin Williams will begin with “O Captain! My Captain!”, and let's be honest, and let's be honest, that's probably where they should start. Dead Poets Society really showed the world what he could do in a dramatic role. I didn't like Robin Williams until then, but once I saw that movie, my love was undying. I had Mork and Mindy pajamas growing up but I didn't watch the show enough to understand it and he just seemed too crazy to me. Mr. John Keating, however, really spoke to me, and, indeed to many in my age group. That movie is a cultural touchstone, and there are few in gen X or Y, who think of Whitman first upon hearing “O Captain! My Captain!”. We think of Robin Williams and Ethan Hawke standing on his desk, and poor Robert Shawn Leonard, who just wanted to be an actor, Uncle Walt is a distant fourth if he is remembered at all. I imagine some few will crassly reference his “It's not your fault.” moment in Good Will Hunting, and while I think it's a wonderful scene, this isn't the time, it's cheap and a little disrespectful. I'd actually like to start with a quote from Bicentennial Man, “One is glad to be of service.”. The number of times that I watched Dead Poets Society is uncountable, but it pales in comparison to the amount of time I have spent with Andrew Martin, his character in Bicentennial Man. Anyone who knows me to any decent degree, knows that this is my favorite movie of all time. I'm not the least bit shy about expressing my love for it, or telling you that I think it is the greatest realization of Isaac Asimov's vision to date. This is a quiet little movie about the struggle for humanity and love and life and happiness and is to my eye, nearly perfect. Unfortunately, it is a little too quiet and Williams' audience doesn't really want quiet from him in this way. Asimov is a great science fiction writer, but possibly not for the masses. When you couple these two things together you don't have a blockbuster, which is unfortunate. Williams' portrayal of a robot/android and his quest to be human, is a touching story of love and loss and he executes the role as well or better than he does any other. It was poorly received, though, which is probably what led him to make fun of it himself when I saw him do his stand up in the late 2008. I remember being livid, because it seemed like he was sad and frustrated in his acknowledgment that the movie wasn't a mega hit. I wanted to yell at him, I wanted him to realize that he had made something special, I wanted him to love himself and his performance the way that I did. It was in that moment that I saw a scared man, frustrated that his life's work was not enough, that he somehow wasn't getting the acclaim and recognition that he so needed to survive. I always wanted to write to him and tell him what the movie meant to me, to beg him not to use it as a punchline, not to use himself as a punchline, but life gets in the way sometimes and the thought of sending a letter out into the void to try to communicate with someone with whom it would be very difficult to get access to always took a back seat to changing diapers or making dinner, or, let's be honest, rewatching Bicentennial Man. I've lost my opportunity to tell him that he meant a lot to me, that his work touched me and moved me in ways that no one else's ever has. So I'm telling you. Robin Williams will forever hold a place in my heart and character and psyche that few, if any, will ever match. So, into the real void, I now throw the words I never did when he was alive. You were of service, you were of service to me, in so many ways, and yes, in the end, you are My Captain, and I will miss you very much.

[kintherye]

The movies that are fucken da best.

So the Oscars happened, like they do every year, giving us some good fresh memes, so everyone are discussing what they think about it. I’m allergic to common topics so I’m obviously not going to tell my opinion (Spoiler - it’s negative). But inspired by papa Pewds I decided to make a movies related post, where I talk about my top movies.

After the Dark (The Philosophers),2013

The idea and the scenario are fascinating, I love this whole masterpiece. And I love all the lines, all the phycology theorems it mentions and the game. I would love to play it. The visual effects are on point too, imagery is breathtaking at some points. I love how this movie makes you wonder what you would do in particular situations, so you feel like you’re the character of the film, like you’re sitting in the class with others too. And there are a lot of great young actors playing; I was pleasantly surprised by seeing Bonnie Wright and Abhi Sinha.

Anyway, don’t read what’s the movie is about, don’t look at the screenshots, just go and watch it, and let everything be a surprise for you.

The Beauty Inside, 2015

A Korean movie that has a veeery interesting plot and I suggest watching it to every person I know, even though no one watched it yet, lol. So, basically, it’s about a person who wakes up in a new body every day for almost all his life. Sometimes he is a man, sometimes he is a woman, he can be fat or skinny, young or old, and sometimes he is a foreigner and doesn’t even speak Korean. He falls in love with the woman so this film has a lot of deep meaning of what actually love is and do we fall in love with an image or with what’s inside. The ending scene and the song are amazing; both of these things make it worth watching the whole movie. And if you’re the fan of K-dramas you’ll be pleased to see some of amazing actors (I love Lee Dong Wook, Lee Hyun Woo, Park Seo Joon, Seo Kang Joon and Park Shin Hye, but the whole cast is simply amazing).

And I truly think that anyone can enjoy this movie, even if you don’t care about South Korea or K-Dramas.

Burlesque, 2010

I love musicals and this one is my favorite. Seriously, I watched it like a million of times. My deep love to Christina Aguilera started from watching this movie, and I will never be tired of listening to the songs from it. The scenario is simple, has a lot of clichés, but this is a great relieving movie about achieving your dreams that makes even me believe that I can succeed.

Labyrinth, 1986

One of my favorite movies since I was a kid. It’s beautiful and dreamlike, the characters are marvelous, and even though it doesn’t have a high quality detailed effects and backgrounds like Alice in the Wonderland or Fantastic Beasts and where to find them, it still have more magic in it for me. The Dancing scene is probably my favourite of all, above all the movies I’ve seen.

And I love David Bowie. His acting works are something why I thank God every day.

Scott Pilgrim vs the World, 2010

The concept of it is just so good I’m like??? Wow how can it be that some people haven’t seen it. The screening of the comic book, of the amazing comic book, funniest and the most relatable characters, music, dialogs, everything about this movie is awesome and Wallace is like the closest friend to me, he is almost me, but if I was short gay guy who is actually witty.

The Devil Wears Prada, 2006

Oh boi, I can’t even tell how many times I’ve seen this one. There was a period of my life when every time I’ve got stressed I’d watched this movie, and, believe me or not, I get stressed all the time. I just… love it? I love both of these actresses – Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway – and I would love to have the same traumatizing experience as the main character had.

The book tho is not as good. Like, first one is fine, but the second one is disappointing, even though I didn’t expect it to be very good.

Bicentennial Man, 1999

Another favorite film of childhood. Robin Williams is my favorite actor, something in his face and voice makes me feel happy and chilled, so I obviously was very upset when I found about his death.

This movie came out on the year I was born, and since then I feel the unchanging way every time I watch this beautiful film – the sweet fusion between sorrow and delight.

August Rush, 2007

All I want to say that if you love music and find inspiration in it – this movie is for you. It was breathtaking to me, the first time I watched it, I was focused on the story since the begging to the very end.

I guess the love line inspired If I stay book? I never actually thought of that before making this list, but now I’m sure of that. Maybe If I stay is just a fanfic, lol.

Ruby Sparks, 2012

I see myself as I writer (although I wrote just a few shitty fanfics in my whole life lol), so this story is especially interesting for me.

So there’s a guy, who started writing about a girl, Ruby, and, all of the sudden, she became alive. And every time he writes something about her on the paper – Ruby changes in real life.

I love the idea; the movie is full of meanings and funny moments.

Stardust, 2007

And again, my favorite movie of childhood. I love beautiful fairy taly movies, so no surprise I love this one. It has pirates in it, it has witches, it has magic, a true love and… stars? The whole movie is shiny and bright, this is how magnificent it is.

It’s based on Neil Gaiman’s book and we all know that his books are the gift that humanity doesn’t deserve.

  And here some of the movies I won’t exactly call my favorite, but I love them and enjoy watching every second of them. And I defenetly recommend them.

So, they are: Big Fish, The Pursuit of Happyness, It's Kind of a Funny Story, What We Do in the Shadows, Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium, Now You See Me, Kingsman: The Secret Service, Monte Carlo, The Great Gatsby, Nowhere Boy, The Internship, Hook.

(This list doesn’t contain any animated movies or movies about Christmas, but I can do another list of them if anyone wants)

(That’s defiantly not a full list and there are not a lot of movies that I’ve seen now. Like, I’ve watched Big Fish, the greatest movie of all time, not a while ago, so I’m sure this top will change quiet quickly)  

(now please exuse me, I’m leaving to rewatch all of these movies, and I totally suggest you to do the same thing)

[spockvarietyhour]

Bicentennial Man (1999)