#Edwin Thomas

[mywingsareonwheels]

Bodies (Netflix) is a very underrated show, and Alby Maplewood is a monumentally underrated character within it. Absolutely love him, wish he was in it more. <3

This isn't the best screencap ever, apologies, but this is one of my favourite lines in anything.

(Insert my heart-eyes here. <3 )

It's still rare enough to get openly disabled characters in anything, let alone a physically disabled character played by a physically disabled actor[1], let alone with a storyline that makes it clear that no he doesn't want or need to be fixed, especially with the moral and political cost it would have in the world in which he lives, that he has other priorities in life, and above all that he's absolutely fricking right in those priorities. The constant assumption in fiction (and indeed generally) is that all disabled people, especially physically disabled people, would give anything at all to not be disabled any more and omg Alby is just a breath of fresh air. <3

[1] Albeit one (Edwin Thomas) with a different impairment from that of the character and who AIUI usually doesn't use a wheelchair these days (though I think he has in the past). But that's a very, very different matter indeed from casting an able-bodied actor and I appreciate this very much. Especially as Thomas is a disability rights advocate who's passionate about increasing representation. <3

[ulrichgebert]

Machten uns jetzt auch endlich mal an Rupert Everetts Oscar-Wilde-Film The Happy Prince, vor dem wir uns lediglich aufgrund unserer etwas festgefahrenen Überzeugung, Oscar Wilde müsse wie Stephen Fry aussehen, relativ lange gedrückt haben. Er behandelt nur Oscars letzte Jahre im Exil (mit einigen möglicherweise etwas verklärten Rückblenden) und ist, obwohl todschick und an den ansprechendsten Schauplätzen, weniger hochglanzpoliert, in seinen Schuldzuweisungen wahrscheinlich differenzierter, rührend und tragisch, und ganz fabelhaft gespielt. Womöglich ist es der bessere Film, da müssen wir jetzt schon wieder vergleichende Studien betreiben.

[shhhhimwatchingthis]

Sort of bums me out that so many people didn't seem to Get the Cat King so here are my thoughts:

So let's start with Edwin's crime. He uses something the cat desires (a sardine) to lure the cat to him and then uses an enchanted string to trap the cat with magic. He demands the answer to a question in exchange for its release. Edwin knows it is dangerous to use magic on a cat, that it violates Rules but he does it anyway.

Binding a creature and agreeing to set them free under a certain condition is very Classic Fairytale. its also a favourite trope of Neil Gaiman's (he did not write this show but his influence is there). In both the Sandman and his novel Stardust (and the film adaptation) trapping a creature with magic and demanding a task/favour in exchange for their freedom is an extremely important plot point. Edwin binding a cat and demanding an answer in exchange is exactly in line with this Fairytale trope

And so is the Cat Kings response. The Cat King is a trickster. What he does to Edwin is exactly what Edwin did to one of his subjects. He entices Edwin, he binds him with magic and when Edwin demands to be free he turns his own words against him "why all the fuss for one little spell?" Edwin did something wrong. He imposed his will/magic on another creature and the Cat King is punishing him for it in a way that is poetic. Its fairytale. its trickster. its classic.

I've also seen people complain that the task Edwin was given 'count all the cats' is 'impossible'...except its fucking not. Edwin does it. He does it so well he actually BEATS the Cat King ("you didn't count yourself" Are.You.Kidding.Me. Classic!Fairytale!Vibes!)

The Cat Kings choice to bind Edwin to Port Townsend is good on so many levels. From a storytelling perspective it forces characters who can travel anywhere in the world to stay in one place, and increases the stakes for these characters who are supposed to be on the run. From a genre perspective...its an excellent use of fairytale tropes using both Rules of magic, a protagonist who is unkind to a seemingly weak creature who is punished by a more powerful law, a binding, a task to complete, etc

Which just leaves the character perspective which it ALSO does really fucking well and introduces the final aspect to the Cat Kings character. He's seductive. He is responsible for Edwin, 100 years old ghost boy, finally unpacking his internalized homophpbia. he is the catalyst (cat pun not intended)

He pushes Edwin, challenges him, at times literally forces the truth out of Edwin, but he really never does violate his consent. Significantly Edwin is attracted to him, like its an important part of his character that he is. He may not like the Cat King but he is attracted to him!

The Cat King is such a great example of a trickster, a morally grey character who imposes a sense of justice on Edwin after he crosses a line, but also has his own selfish interests and meddles. Hes so important to the plot of the show, to Edwin's character arc, to the genre.

And he's just fun. Unapologetically queer, powerful, complicated. Silly little outfits. Petty cat behavior. Deep heart.

Some of you just didn't get it. And I'm sorry for you. because the Cat King is Excellent actually.

[densewentz]

When a cunty witch beats you to death then steals your boy toy for eternal torment 😢 (based on that 'don't you miss her???' meme)

[hannaloony]

[inkwell-illustrations]

The Cat King: Can I try rizzing you up? Edwin: Sure?? The Cat King: PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE

[flower-dagger-gay]

The brain rot continues 🧍

[shaylogic]

AU where everything's the same but trickster Cat King charges Edwin the more problematic task of Counting All the Queers in Port Townsend and Edwin's gonna have a harder time ignoring thinking lgbt thoughts

~~~

Edwin, with his little notebook, interviewing Tragic Mick: ... where would you say your romantic proclivities take you?

Mick: *silent stare, tons of ace cards crowning behind his head on the wall*

~~~

Edwin: there are 122. queers. in port Townsend

Cat King: you forgot to count Charles

[beatricecenci]

Thomas Edwin Mostyn (English, 1864-1930)

Womanhood

[slightlystrangepsyche]

I will never get over the introduction of the Cat King. Like, there has to be 146 cats in the scene where they all take the detective trio to meet him. Pretty much all the cats on display, to show off his prowess.

The Cat King makes a point of asking which one of them used a leash spell against one of his cats. The cat replies with something like "The scrawny one who just had the nerve to talk to you" and the Cat King uses that as an excuse to get Edwin alone and hit on him.

TCK knows Edwin's name, without Edwin disclosing it. TCK is wearing Charles' socks as part of his unique and intimidating (erotic) clothing. I'm convinced the neon sign in TCK's lair is there because Edwin was so fascinating by the neon sign at the butchers.

TCK is down so bad before he even meets Edwin, and every encounter frustrates him and makes him fall even more.

Love him for that. Most pathetic meow meow.

[weareinastormoffuck]

It’s crazy to me that I see people talking about the cat king being a rapist or wanting to SA Edwin. I need people to understand that framing and the way things are shot matters. At no point is Edwin shown to be scared of him, uncomfortable sure but that has more to do with his repression. He’s attracted to Thomas and doesn’t want to be. They frame every thought Edwin has of Thomas as sexy, never from fear or anything even close. When Edwin thinks of Thomas he’s sexy slow mos and his abs and his breath against his cheek and leaning in close and whispering in his ear and his eyes and lips. Edwin is uncomfortable with the thought of being attracted to a man itself NOT with Thomas in general. Also aggressively flirting is not SA can we stop with that. He never forced Edwin to do anything. He made a suggestion of sex in exchange for being free and when Edwin even looked uncomfortable he gave him another option. He never once forces sex onto him or even tries. Not to mention Thomas is shown to clearly actually care about Edwin. He warns him about Monty and the witch, he tries to get the witch to back off and gets beaten to death for it, even after that he still gives crystal and Niko info on the witch knowing possibly if they fail he could lose another life or get killed all together. He shows up to just say goodbye and give him a flower. Thomas is not some evil villain here. He basically did the same spell on Edwin that Edwin did to his cat. He’s a trickster and can be morally gray at times but at no point is he ever evil. Also just to say Edwin’s age is a gray area. He’s been alive for more than 100 years so I don’t think the “oh it’s weird the cat king is hitting on a 16 year old” holds much water either. Not everything in media and every character and every aspect can be categorized as purely good or bad, I’m gonna need people to stop trying to make it.

[nualaofthefaerie]

For someone who definitely doesn't want to kiss the Cat King, you sure are looking at him like you'd devour him, ghost boy.

[purgatory606]

[densewentz]

Guess who's been playing Don't Starve while watching Dead Boy Detectives 💕

[hannaloony]

[technically-human]

The hug!!

This one was once again commissioned by our dear @i-am-as-normal-as-you-are and we actually talked about this scene quite a lot. Charles is still going through it, and he doesn't even feel like he should be getting the hugs he needs. Poor boy.