#Episode so good it got me to make a humanization

[shutupineedtothink]

Siuan & Moiraine and some 3x08 thoughts (positive)

Hoo boy I don’t know if I should be saying shit but I’m gonna!

I get being angry about Siuan, and tbh yeah idk if showing us her severed head was necessary.

But as for this being kill your gays? Y’all, at least half the people in this show are queer, and this is a world where people die, often violently. I would imagine this is a world where a lot more people, queer and otherwise, are going to start dying a lot more frequently if we get subsequent seasons. And even the most powerful people are not immune to that. To quote another witch, Death comes for us all.

And, truly, as much as I love them, this story does not center around Siuan and Moiraine and their relationship, and it has never promised a positive outcome for them. In fact, the show has been telling us from the beginning that their love will not save them. It’s kind of their whole thing.

It’s always been very obvious to me that they were never going to get a happy ending or make it til the end of the show. Now, I’m someone who thrives on those stories. I live for the bittersweet, the sad song that somehow also expands you and makes you grateful to be alive, and that’s what they’ve always been. “In this life or the next.” “I thought we’d have more time.” “We always think that.” “Then I’ll find you, in the next life and the next, until we get it right.” “And I will wait for you, every time.”

To me, THAT is a far more powerful, far more human, far more romantic and beautiful story than a happy ending. Not that happy endings aren’t good too, in some cases and as we know it’s not cool to have every queer love story end in tragedy. But we do have those happy queer stories now too. We do live in a world where they exist more prominently, and different kinds of people are making more different kinds of stories than ever. This particular one just isn’t meant to be happily ever after. And it never was, it never pretended to be. If you got your hopes up and now you’re angry and sad that this was the ending for them, I get it. Feel those feelings, they are valid. But I don’t think the show is wrong for this choice. I think their story was always heading in this direction, and it was always going to break our hearts. And it’s no less beautiful for it.

So basically what I’m saying is yes the kill your gays trope exists. But there is also nuance to be had here. In a world where we have so much more diversity in stories and representation than we ever have, its no longer that one way is right (happy endings for the gays) and another is wrong (tragic endings for the gays). There’s more to it than that. And when the writers have been telegraphing a bittersweet story for Siuan and Moiraine for as long as they have (and pressing hard on that throughout this season particularly), I can’t be mad about it.

Now I’m a show only and I can’t speak to what happened in the books vs. the show re: Siuan’s plot line. But if I die on one pop culture hill, it will always be “do not judge the adaptation by how closely it adheres to every single bit of the source material.” This adaptation, more than just about any other, simply cannot afford that with the constraints of adapting a 14 book series into an 8 season tv show, with 8 episodes a season. And yet incredibly, the source material itself gives us the in-canon solution: this is a universe with multiple versions of the same story, multiple turns of the Wheel. When you start seeing it as that, as a variation on the book series, which itself is implied to have multiple versions in other timelines (if I’m understanding correctly), then here we are. The show is not the books. It must stand on its own, it must make its own choices.

You may disagree with the choices the show makes, but don’t disagree on the basis that it’s different from the books. It has to be different from the books, full stop. That’s what adaptation literally means. It means change. I would go on to say that the best adaptations make choices/changes based on the constraints and opportunities of its medium, which is also happening here (actors having to leave the show and move on to other opportunities, so do we let them go out with a bang or not). But I digress.

Now as far as the race politics at play here. Oof. I get it, I see it. And this might be where I shoot myself in the foot. But again… there has to be nuance, right? To me, Siuan stood in her power until the end, even as her sisters turned on her and the Dark closed in. (The sort of reverse parallel bookend of this to Liandrin’s trial in 3x01 is crazyyyy.) She declared herself for the Light and she did not back down even as everything was taken away from her. She shook Elaida to her core, I have no doubt about that. And she said I am the daughter of the river. I am the water itself. You cannot break me. Death is not the end. It is only the door to the next turning of the Wheel.

Also, we had another black woman in this episode who was literally chained up by a white woman and thrown into the sea to drown (talk about making a Choice), who finally found her power by calling on her own advice as a mother to her daughter (aka her inner child?), freed herself from those chains, biblically parted the damn sea and walked out claiming her space and strength as the most powerful channeller in a thousand years. I’m not saying Nynaeve cancels out Siuan. I’m saying they both exist in the same episode, in the same world. Nuance.

If you think I’m wrong, you can tell me so. I would prefer you did so nicely. I’m always open to changing my mind. But there’s what I think for now.

[cosmic-giraffe]

[Journal]

Tw: grooming, child sexual abuse, p*dophilia, student/teacher relationship

I always liked Sasaki when it felt like nobody else did, and this episode just cemented it for me. I never thought we'd get an in-depth perspective on Sasaki's trauma involving Mr Mitsuyama, especially from Sasaki's own writing, but I'm very glad we did because it means we can understand and empathise with her fully.

Sasaki wanting nothing more than to return to the carefree innocent kid she was before she was taken advantage of by an adult man that should have been there to protect her, is very depressing to hear about. She should have been able to remain that kid, instead of having her childhood ruined by some sick fuck that had no business being a teacher or even a human being.

Her rationalising it as "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger" isn't a reason for it to have happened in the first place, and it seems like she knew that it was a coping strategy that would only get her so far.

What got me too was her viewing herself as "tarnished" following the incident. It's unfortunately a very VERY common cultural aspect of Japan and other countries, in which (predominantly female) victims of sexual violence are viewed as "dirty" or "damaged goods", which is a disgusting idea in and of itself.

Instead of taking pity on the victim and making sure the preparator(s) get punished, they blame the victim and make it seem as though them being assaulted was their own fault, and that they're worthless now. Adding to that is Sasaki being hyper-aware of her own body changing due to puberty, which makes the predators around her and other girls her age view them as sexual objects instead of human beings.

It's a disgusting story that we know happens all too often, all over the world, and hearing it laid bare from a victim's perspective makes it all the more harrowing and haunting to listen to.

I do commend Tetro and Von for handling such subject matters with such sincerity and respect, rather than using something like CSA for shock value or anything else tasteless. It's obvious that they're telling this story because it deserves to be heard, and are wanting to be considerate of the portrayal of the victims out there.

None of them asked for it, none of them deserved it, and yet it happened. We just need to try and stop it from happening to anybody else.

Also, one last note: Mr Mitsuyama being likened to a wolf, a predator, while the "mascot" of Fujioka High School is a rabbit, a prey animal... The obvious dynamics here aren't lost on me.

[ladymaigrey]

DD:BA Episode 9 OK... I do have more thoughts. First of all, the good things: The scene in the hospital! Call me vindictive, but I dislike Heather so much (and love Karen) that I stood up and cheered when Matt uttered Karen's name first and then proceeded to dismiss Heather because Heather just Didn't Get It. That smirk when Matt walked into his apartment and realised that Frank was there (and, of course it was Karen who called Frank! That was bleeding obvious!) The banter beforehand, the sarcasm, the flipped bird - that was everything that we all ever wanted from Matt and Frank working together. The brutality of the fight. AND the fact that Matt did not even try to interfere with Frank once Frank started killing really showed that Matt himself has lost a lot of his idealism once he pushed Bullseye off the roof. Yes, he still objects to killing a man who is no longer a threat, but not those who have guns and bullet-proof vests and a Kingpin's licence to kill. Yet Matt still has a line. And Frank pushes him towards that line... but not really. As in S2, Frank does not want Matt to become a killer. Frank is the killer. Frank is happy to kill for Matt when Matt can't. Frank is happy to be the asshole. Oh... and all those cops are dead, whether Matt wanted them dead or not. They are crispy-fried. Unfortunately, so are Matt's vinyls :( "SHOTGUN!!" Of course Matt wants to sit right next to Karen while she drives the getaway vehicle.

Frank... just wanting to spend time with Matt and Karen after a successful mission. Just a piece of human warmth in his armoury. Matt understood it (though, what's with the oat milk, Matt? Age catching up to you? You lactose intolerant now?). But Karen... I think she understood it too, but her heart and concern are for Matt. And then there is Frank's puppy face when looking at Karen. I think that's the first time we've actually seen Frank make that sort of vulnerable face. Of course he loves her (a nod to kastle fans here; this entire episode is basically one big fan service). So many karedevil scenes! One after the other. So many conversations that we wanted them to have, but had to write ourselves in fics! There they are! In-jokes and reminiscences (Avocados at law!!) Karen asking Matt about heartbeats and what he could read from them hoping that he understood her (as opposed to feeling humiliated by his insight). And Karen telling Matt that both Foggy and her recognise the "wrath and the mercy" warring inside of him, both indelible components of who he is. Lawyer and vigilante - all loved, all cherished. All supported. And Matt listened to her! He did not go diving headlong into a suicide mission. He has a direction now, and the need to save the city. But more than that. He knows he is loved, and he knows he is fully known and accepted. He is NOT ALONE. Not anymore. And now he has the beginnings of a fighting force (and a steady supply of booze courtesy of Josie, which will be needed if Jessica and Luke join the party next season!) And now, not so great things: We finally get to see Matt in the naked-butt hospital gown and we don't get even a single glimpse of his naked butt! Also. Claire isn't in the episode, which meant that she missed the "pigs must be flying in frozen hell" sight of Matt finally getting proper medical care. So, I am doubly disappointed on her behalf too. They finally sorta explained how Fisk got out of jail after S3 and... it just does not pass the sniff test at all. Even if he somehow managed to blame all the crimes of S3 on the corrupted FBI, including the surveillance room that was built in a hotel that was owned by him, there was still the issue of all the crimes from S1, which he would've still been serving the sentence for. Fisk's overreach was too much... it was too comic-book-villain. And the best thing about Fisk was always the fact that he was terrifying because of his humanity and his behind-the-scenes manipulation. But shutting off power to the whole city to trigger disorder? Telling cops to forget about due process and go shoot suspects on sight? Declaring martial law? (WTF?? He is a mayor of a city, not a state governor! Where's the Federal Government, please? Or is Trump in charge already? In which case... yeah, figures). And keeping millionaires and other 'rebels' in cages? (i.e. alive and a burden? gotta feed em, clean em, make sure they don't chit chat and plan)... that's some post-apocalyptic warlord-level bullshit. Fisk's power has gone to his head so much, he really has lost all touch with reality and became a caricature. Frank's capture by the rogue cops... That should've been a version of THIS speech:

Not some "do you think you understand my pain?" bullshit. Come on Frank, you should've been dressing them down for the being the cowardly traitors to their oaths that they are! Did you get hit on the head too many times?? Finally, Heather is really an idiot, isn't she?!

TL:DR

Episode was full of love for Matt and Karen... but very Disney in terms of the plot development and over-the-top Fisk's villain-ness.

[john-does-middle-finger]

Part 52 Live Finger Reaction

except i have patreon so i've listened to most of this already (y'all are NOT ready for the interlude) and also i forgot to start typing until several minutes in lol

SPOILERS FOR PART 52 BELOW

i'm so proud of arthur for catching on so quickly. side note---i love the moments in malevolent when arthur knows more about what's going on than john does despite john having their sight. just a neat flip when you look back on the earlier seasons

"why am i here??" me every day fr john

need me a woman who'll put maggots in me

that's right john open your third eye

thank you harlan for our monthly arthur whimpering podcast

OUGH I FORGOT HOW BEAUTIFUL THIS MOMENT WAS. THEM BOTH SEEING THE STARS. I BETTER SEE SO MUCH FUCKING FANART OF THIS.

okay john maybe making trains is hard...

okay hamilton

which one of you was the damn fool that shot him then mr. "i thought you were my purpose"

arthur in hell for homosexuality (too many hoes in New York)

oh there he goes falling again. all men are the same.

it was difficult to put the nightmare together

BUT IM ONLY HUMAN AFTER ALL!!!

oh arthur...you weren't there for that poll buddy...

i love how gentle john is with arthur sometimes

fr? ong? just like that? we're awake?

arthur...snookums...dont...

it's not a rock. it's a stone!

harlan thank you for your footstep sound effects and also more of arthur laughing

oh lilith...

quick headcanon that arthur can generally feel where john is and every now and then he'll lean against him for a moment of rest. anyway. pick up that toenail or whatever

go on arthur. that's a fragment of a god! you can change her! make her a new person! give her a new name! name it spike or some shit.

maybe it was on purpose?? considering...idk. likely not though unless lilith really is that good at acting

go on arthur collect your freaky fingers.

nuh uh john that was a great idea and an excellent vote

sopping wet cat antoine

damn arthur you really do doomed yaoi with every guy you meet. except the yaoi is minimal and the doom is maximal.

arthur...i love you for caring so much

"was i kind?" HARLAN WHEN I GET YOU.

"a friend's love can carry you through the worst of life's trials and tribulations" I KNOW WHO YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, ARTHUR LESTER. side note can we get this man a middle name i want to use his full legal name for science purposes and also to yell at him

JOHN we just had an IMPORTANT and LOVING character death DO NOT EVEN BRING THIS UP.

SEE JOHN. EARNED IT. IF ONLY...well...y'know...it lasted...no rest for the wicked or whatnot.

THIS REVEAL GOT ME SO FUCKING BAD BECAUSE WHAT DO YOU MEAN "maybe the blackstone was the friends we made along the way" WAS RIGHT.

YORICK. OH, YORICK...yorick i'm so fucking sorry

hello arthur, apologies for the deception. kayne here, vsauce stone! idk man

watching the wager (song) get released after the full episode dropped on patreon was so fucking wild

^watching people say "i hope we see kayne again soon!" after knowing the ending of this episode. my pookies...my blorbos...my yoricks...

"oh lose the get up honey" bro fr said "you're not going out in that."

footstep sounds x 2

yorick you never did anything wrong and i forgive you for everything except there isn't even anything to forgive! YORICK MY MOST DEARLY BELOVED

fruit of my loins. buddy you are the fruit

i believe you yorick

LEAVE THAT LITTLE GUY ALONE

YORICK. MY SHAYLA. MY SHAYLA. IT TOOK ME SO LONG TO RECOVER FROM THAT THE FIRST TIME. AND NOW AGAIN...oh my god...

listening to this on 2.5x speed is so funny. specifically because of kayne

me when im in a disguising my desperation competition and my opponent is kayne (im losing so bad)

arthur dont you ever fucking say that shit again.

KAYNE'S LAUGH IN 2.5x.

i was losing it at the description of the blackstone so fucking much

NOEL!!! NOEL! NOEL! NOEL! NOEL! NOEL! NOEL! NOEL! NOEL! NOEL! NOEL! NOEL! NOEL! NOEL MY FUCKING GOAT RAHHHHH

this poll. this fucking poll. had me stressing so fucking hard.

oh the fanfics are going to go SO fucking hard with this new arthur lore.

kayne i love your painfully obvious ploy at emotional manipulation because you have no actual power

i am so happy the poll ended up with lilith. choosing hope and all that yknow, as much as i love kayne

benevolent canon

arthur. arthur no. arthur you know these promises won't be enough. arthur please. ARTHUR.

was? am? john, my most dearly beloved

kayne please don't make life with soaking wet bloody dogs

MY SHAYLA

but kayne what is joy if you know nothing else? ugh

god i remember tweaking out so fucking hard during this ending. my shaylas. my pookies. everything.

"i forgive you" arthur i love you. john i love you. kayne i love you but i will never forgive you. still love your zest for...not really life but yknow.

MY SHAYLA x3

i was so worried john was going to make another deal here and i'm so glad he didn't.

anyways

the interlude is so fun harlan i'm begging you to release it soon (preferably tomorrow) (as a post finals treat) (for me specifically) (please) (please) (i need to yap about it)

[certified3nakin]

This episode shot me dead hi

edit - Made the eyes bigger because they looked off to me

Original + base colors under cut

[some-pers0n]

When the show got the surrealist nightmare episode where the character goes through visceral depictions of their past sins, regrets, and trauma

[nexus-nebulae]

every day i wish that Rats SMP was a cartoon bc it would make the greatest show ever i think

[somefisher]

Fuck my stupid lonely gay life

[rexscanonwife]

OURGGGHHHH,,,

JUST WATCHED THE STAR TREK EPISODE WHERE DATA CREATES A CHILD TO RAISE....

[clown-eating-pig]

one of the more random things that disturb me about tma is simply the existence of the gorilla skin. like..........why. what was up with that.

[sskk-manifesto]

\\

[baptism-inblood]

me as a kid seeing that my strange addiction episode abt the carsexual guy: he. loves his car? wants to be in a relationship with it? huh. hm. lets the idea sit in the back of my head for 11 years.

me at 25 owning my own car and being an objectum/objectophile: ah. yeah. i get it now,

[skrunksthatwunk]

just finished s2 of kaiji and it was good i really liked it but i hope i never see that fuckass pachinko machine again!!!

[ghostliest-ghosty-ghost-bastard]

My favorite kinds of media is where I watch/read/listen to it and then leave it thinking "that felt like a fanfic"

[lilybug-02]

:D We gotta end it off somehow right?

CT Kris in the background:

The actual reason they ditched Chara.

Fan-art because I can draw. And I um.. kinda really love @akanemnon‘s comic…

Kind of a minicomic below…

Please forgive me. I’ve had this in my head forever and just wanted to share my AU meeting yours. That is my Final message. Goodbye. 🫡 jumping in this hole now ��️🚶‍♀️

[zoe-oneesama]

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE I URGE YOU TO TALK ABOUT THE SEASON 6 CHARACTER DESIGNS. Mostly cus i wanna hear the salt, but also because as someone who's designed many outfits for these characters over the course of multiple years, you more than anyone have your place to talk

Honestly the episode was just *okay*, so the designs are really the only place I'm particularly heated (I mean I still have my complaints on the episode, but nothing as anger inducing as Season 5):

So I'll start with the heroes:

I'm not mad about cutting off Bunnix because nothing's different.

Viperion - I like what they did with the mask and the deeper color contrast is delicious, but the suit feels like such a downgrade from the old design.

Carapace - I guess this is the Season of the Mask Facial Hair? Viperion is encroaching on this, but Carapace's little chin bit looks like a Soul Patch. Otherwise, it's a good design and I like the additions!

Vesperia - At least it looks like they fixed the weird root issue she had with her bangs from the old model. From what I can see here, I don't dislike this, like, full inversion making the top yellow and the pants black. Dunno what the ring around her thumb is though, and why does she hold her weapon like that??

Rena Rouge - it feels like they made changes to her because they thought they had to? I'm not mad at the differences, just...they sure are there. My only complaint about her is that they colored her tail as if she has two tails but she only has one? Like...just give her two coattails.

At least they ditched the corset U_U

Rooster Bold - The pose makes it hard to see, but he looks pretty cool to me! LOVE the new mask and his bitchy heels. Didn't like the mohawk then, still don't like it now.

Ryuko - this^ picture doesn't show her off, so here's her from the episode:

The suit is still nothing amazing, but I like the scale texture and shoulders, I LOVE the bigger horns, and her hair is fire~!

Miss Hound - yikes on this picture, thank god she cameo'd in the episode:

She's cute! ...Honestly anything was an upgrade, she was just wearing a recolored version of her outfit in Season 4-5, so the fact this is it's own thing is instantly better.

King Monkey - yikes the lighting on this is scary. Anyway, I can't really glean anything from this and the only thing that stands out is the horns on the circlet. I'll pend judgement for now.

Pegasus - Similarly to KM, there's not much I can note here? He's got longer hair so that's...something, but I like that now the visor is a full visor and not a floating pair of glasses. And we'll have to see it in an episode because here I like the contrast between the browns, but the old suit also had that contrast in promo material and then lost it in the episode.

Caprikid - Loooove the fur on the pants for some reason, and I die for the boots little hooves~ Bold choice to go bigger on the horns when there was some controversy about them, but hey. At least they fixed the problem with his white mask.

Minotaurox - aww what a cute widdle hammer. It really looks stunted, a lot of the weapons here look skinnier and weaker actually. I don't think I like the yellow on the horns, but I like that we can actually SEE the details on his suit now. And I like the hoodie/hair.

Argos - yep. That's Argos.

Purple Tigress - Okay, she looks dope AF! No notes, she looks awesome.

Pigella - And on the other hand...yikes. There so much going on here, and in fairness I can't fully understand what I'm looking at. This is not what I meant when I kept adding pig ears to my Pigella design!

Polymouse - Okay, no lie, I DID like her in this still image, but uhhh she's in the episode and um...

Girl no. What's with these LED strips?! WHY is your HAIR going THROUGH you hoodie?! And I know in comparison to the other characters she's still "plus sized" but this still feels...bad.

I won't talk about Ladybug and Chat Noir, they're good. Not exciting not bad just good.

Sooooo the humans.... Mostly I'm bothered by how some are so drastically changed and some are just...not. At all.

Alya - her new Mom lewk. Idk, I just feel like they could've gone harder. She looks fine, I actually like her hair when I watch the animation in motion, it's just...she looks 25 now.

Alix - uh, yep that's Alix. Wait, did her pony tail switch sides...?

Zoe - She's found her 2000s emo girl aesthetic and is clinging to those crusty shoes. I don't like it, her dumb tshirt was really my biggest problem with her old design so of course that's the part hey keep. She just looks...disjointed. I'll hold on judgment of her hair for now.

Kagami - love the hair, hate the crop jacket. It makes her skirt look reeeeeally short.

Sabrina - AH! NO! BAD! WRONG! Hate the hair, hate the pants, I don't even think I like her new glasses. This is a chop, a CHOP!

Juleka - I don't...hate the hair. I just weep for what we lost. I DO hate her new boring-er blouse which is just a weak imitation of her old top. Her hair is so wild so why did her clothes get more boring?

Rose - Season 6 Rose can't hurt you, Season 6 Rose can't hurt you, Season 6 Rose can't hurt you-!!

Mylene - I like her new outfit, it feels like the natural next step for her! I can't get a good look at her new hair though, so I'll reserve judgement.

Nino - Damn, finally a full glow up. Nino looks good! This is probably how I would have designed him the first time around, so, yay!

Felix - you fucking loser, you didn't change here either?! Are SentiBoys just stunted?!

Kim - His big change is...getting sleeves. And his roots are more visible? I guess??

Max - Why this nerd got a smolder all of a sudden? I think he'd look good if they just finally ditched the suspenders, or had them hanging down and not in use.

Nathaniel - Have...have I drawn him in this? I feel like there's a Scarlet Lady version of this. I guess that tells you I like it, right?

Ivan - Hell yeeeeees! GLOW UP! He's like "oh, I gotta wear this nose ring all the time? Better make it ALL WORK TOGETHER!!" I didn't know he had it in him, good job!

Luka - uhhh, is he wearing a different jacket, or is that his old jacket in the new animation style? At least he stopped advertising his own father on his chest. His shirt being tucked in...it disturbs me...

Marc - ...I can't tell if he even got a hair cut because it might just be the new style.

So yeah, I have quibbles but they're overall okay.

If you really want nightmare fuel, you see the kwamis.