#How to get away with murder 1x06

[m4ndysk4nkovich]

mickey milkovich x nude, radiohead

i don’t think that anybody can disagree that 1x07 is the episode where we learn the most about mickey milkovich. no, i don’t mean he showed any development or anything like that, but we learned something about him that made him significant for the rest of the show. something that never leaves, something that is important to him. in 1x07, we learn that mickey milkovich is gay, and we learn that he is willing to sleep with ian gallagher (even when his father and sister are in the house).

in 1x06, mickey kind of has an interaction with ian that we later see and are like, “yeah, he’s totally gay”, but back then it wasn’t stated that mickey was gay. mickey steals shit from the kash and grab, and he tells ian, “you know where i live if you have a problem” kind of instigating that ian should come over.

but in 1x07, mickey has stolen the gun from the kash and grab, and ian goes to mickey’s house equipped with a tyre iron, ready to take it back.

the “i want the gun back, mickey” scene needs no introduction or explanation. we all know what happened. we all watched in awe as mickey stood over ian and both of their breaths evened out and they made contact and… bam! they’re getting undressed, just like that.

later on, we are no stranger to gallavich and fighting then fucking. it’s something many people know them for, the fact that they’ll literally beat the shit out of each other and then immediately get on each other. but here, it was supposed to be for shock value because shameless utilizes shock value. to those who didn’t know gallavich was going to happen, watching mickey, the thug who had literally just attempted murder on ian, undress and fuck ian was surprising. later on, we can understand why it happened, but we were supposed to be shocked.

so, here’s where nude by radiohead comes in.

terry wakes up from a nap and goes to take a piss in mickey’s room (there’s a bathroom in there, he isn’t just pissing in it, lol). in there, ian and mickey are naked under mickey’s covers. around them, we see a poster of a woman and we also see a drawing mickey made that says “fuck love”.

so when terry comes out of the bathroom and looks at them both, he doesn’t do what season 3 terry does, he simply says “put some clothes on, you two look like a couple of fags!” and it’s a comical scene because, what the fuck, terry, aren’t you a homophobic murderer? you woke up to grunts and crashes coming from mickey’s room, then when you came in he and another boy are naked in his bed… what do you think they were doing?

so when mickey does put some clothes on, he puts on a radiohead shirt.

the shirt says “you’ll go to hell for what your dirty mind is thinking” and those are the last lyrics of the radiohead song “nude”.

so for those who haven’t listened to the song, here’s my analysis of why this song is associated with mickey milkovich and how it ends up foreshadowing his entire character for the next four seasons.

“don’t get any big ideas

they’re not gonna happen”

literally this scene. mickey caves and gives ian the gun back because lets be honest, it was really just bait. ian leans in to kiss him, and mickey has a look in his eyes where you can tell he wants to, but he can’t. he built this wall up years ago and he’s already cursing himself for letting it come down. terry instructed him to get dressed, and he puts on this shirt. and he’s trying to put this carefully constructed mask back on but he’s struggling. and so, he pushes ian away, “kiss me and i’ll cut your fucking tounge out”. there’s no malice in his tone, it’s a threat, but it isn’t threatening.

“you paint yourself white

and fill up with noise

but there'll be something missing”

mickey hiding in the closet, marrying svetlana, being a father to yevgeny, trying to act like the perfect son of terry. he still has this mask on and he tries to hide who he is but alas, he can’t. he loves ian too much and when he gets married and pushes him away, he’s still gay and in love.

“now that you found it

it’s gone”

upon being married, he tells ian that they can still bang. maybe being married to a woman makes him feel a bit more secure because although he despises it and it’s crushing him, he can keep his whole “king of the southside” thing. now that he’s married and unhappy, terry’s satisfied, and that’s all that matters- well, at one point it was. so he tells ian that they can still fuck, but suddenly, ian isn’t as eager and easy as he once was, and he leaves. he’s gone.

“now that you feel it

you don't

you’ve gone off the rails”

he’s out, he’s with ian, he has ian. things are supposed to be fine- but they’re not. ian’s unstable and has been hospitalized, and mickey breaks. he gets shitfaced and cuts his cheek and cries into ian’s jacket. that wall he once built up? the chest he puffed up, the posters he hung, the tattoos he got, they all mean nothing. it’s all gone. the wall and mask are gone, he’s more fragile than he once was. ian’s broken and it’s simultaneously breaking him too.

“so don't get any big ideas

they're not gonna happen”

this line is so mickey in s5, s6, s7, and s10. ian calling him and mickey running to see ian. he has hope. but no, ian breaks up with him, mickey is arrested, and when ian visits he desperately wants ian back. he tattoos ian’s name on his chest, specifically over his heart, and he practically pleads for ian to stay. then, mickey and ian are fleeing to mexico, and for a second, he has hope again. he fantasizes about he and ian at the beach, ian’s freckled skin being sunburnt, them swimming in the ocean together. for once, he can imagine his dreams being true. but they aren’t. he and ian are getting their marriage license, but ian’s hand wavers over the dotted line and he gives mickey that look and mickey breaks (…ian’s leg. lol). he keeps getting his hopes up and everytime he scolds himself for it because he just ends up hopeless.

then finally, the moment we’ve all been waiting for,

“you'll go to hell

for what your dirty mind

is thinking”

it’s in the 1x07 scene i’m talking about. terry instructs mickey to get dressed, he does, and he puts on a shirt that says this. and in that shirt, he seems odd. the confidence we see him have in 1x03 is no longer there. he doesn’t necessarily look vulnerable, but he isn’t the mickey he pretends to be. he caves and returns the gun, which was just bait for ian to come anyway, and he refuses to make eye contact with ian, but when he does, it’s almost coy? he’s ashamed. he’s thinking of things he know would get him killed and he hates himself for it. terry will end him if he finds out, and yes, he has the posters, the reputation, the persona, the tattoos, the guns, etc. but in the end, it’s all an act, and we can see it. the way he licks his lips, the way his eyes won’t focus, his body language says so much.

[darkpoisonouslove]

HotD S02E03

I watched this on Monday; I just wasn't in the mood to review it until now. I was pretty hyped for this episode because the last one was entertaining and I saw spoilers for several things before I got to it that made me freak out (affectionate). I was hopeful that we'd get something good but wary at the same time since this show doesn't have the best track record... Oh, boy, was I right to be wary. In short, I didn't enjoy this episode a lot. In fact, it's my least favorite from the season so far. And I will tell you in detail my always correct opinions:

I see they've added new imagery to the opening which makes it even better! I love the whole idea that all this history is woven from blood and the fact that parts of the canvas are just bloodied without any embroidery on them only makes it more brutal. It's as if they're saying that there wasn't even any history written there; it was just bloodshed for the sake of bloodshed.

The way that that skirmish in the beginning escalated into an outright battle that claimed so many lives is chilling. I found it odd that the episode was named "The Burning Mill" when that's referring to the battle that happened in the first scene and we didn't even get to see but then the theme emerged as the episode progressed. This senseless bloodshed is an omen of what's to come, of how everyone is going to lose themselves in the war and just continue the massacre without even remembering what started all of this, bringing all of their grievances - petty and justified alike - into the fray and using them as an excuse to unleash their full rage.

In that regard, Rhaenys is absolutely correct. She ate in that scene and I liked that this also contextualized her behavior in 1x09 more (I'm vindicated that she also mentioned Lucerys mutilating Aemond as a factor that led them all here). However, it is also frustrating to hear all this, especially after the scene of reckless bloodshed we already witnessed. It is too late for this conversation. It should have happened in 1x10 when no murders had occurred yet and the bad blood could have been contained. Now it no longer matters.

I have heard enough about Criston getting a promotion he doesn't deserve. It's true but a) it's almost like that was the entire point of him becoming Hand - to show the recklessness and bloodthirst he and Aegon share and b) that's a strange attitude coming from Rhaenyra stans when she hasn't done anything to reinforce her claim to the throne since oh, her half-assed attempt to marry Jacaerys to Helaena in 1x06. Her actions afterwards have harmed her cause and yet, people still insist she should get to be queen.

I dislike how quickly Criston left King's Landing. As Hand his main duty would be to advise Aegon (not that he's doing such a great job of that but regardless) and he's already setting out to go into battle. This could be another argument in favor of why Criston shouldn't be Hand and I could agree with that but I wish they would have spent more time on him trying to adjust to his new position instead of shipping him away to do what he's already experienced and good at doing. I would have wanted to see them explore his character a little by showing him struggle in the role of an advisor and the constant tension between him and Alicent, then used that as his personal motivation to head the charge to the Riverlands to escape the feeling of being a fish out of water, potentially earn Alicent's graces again alongside a victory for their side.

Mysaria singing Rhaenyra's praises was a bit much to me, especially since Aegon has absolutely nothing to do with the arson to her establishment. He wasn't even king yet at that point so that couldn't be counted towards his (lack of) political prowess.

The great paradoxes of the writing for this show continue to amaze me. Such as the way in which the writers try so hard to make Rhaenyra the most graceful, considerate protagonist and somehow they still went all in on her viewing Baela and Rhaena as tools. You're never going to believe that you heard this from me but there was a great opportunity for a perfect scene between Rhaena and Luke and they missed it. Considering that having no dragon seems to be Rhaena's one defining plot line and Aemond "stole" Vhagar from her because Aegon, Jace and Luke were being mean to him, they could have had a scene where Luke realizes how isolating and even hurtful not having a dragon is. It would have made me take a moment to think about him as a character and given more substance to Rhaena's struggles now, especially since outside of her engagement to Luke Rhaenyra appears to deem her entirely superficial. You could say that she trusts Rhaena so much as to entrust her the care for her children but that's not the impression I really got from those scenes. They were certainly trying for it but isn't it funny how Rhaenyra is begging Rhaena to make the sacrifice to "be a mother" to her children after she spent years refusing to make the sacrifice of... backing up her claim to the throne with a suitable marriage? The HotD writers are unparalleled in having their actions blow up in their faces.

The scene of Daemon infiltrating Harrenhal was drawn out to me. We didn't need quite as much ambience from Harrenhal to get the impression of it being a haunting, cursed place when the hallucination from later in the episode conveys that perfectly well on its own. And the lack of resistance Daemon faced was evident in the guard that didn't attempt to fight him already. They could have cut some of that.

Love how they made such a big deal about Daemon insisting on being called "Your Grace" when Alicent was called that during her whole marriage to Viserys and continues to be called that despite the fact that she's Queen Dowager now. Logically, her receiving the title (without ever demanding it) could have never threatened Viserys' or Aegon's rule because she has no claim on the throne while Daemon's behavior comes off as if he's trying to muscle in on Rhaenyra's turf. But I much more enjoy the idea that no one in their right mind wants to give the impression that Daemon would ever even get to sniff the throne while people continue to defer to Alicent with that title because they respect her in her quality of being queen.

I'm at least relieved that they explained why there's a race to claim castle at all considering that Larys is supposed to be the Lord of Harrenhal and he's on the Greens' side. He didn't really care for it, huh? He just wanted to have Alicent stuck in his web and didn't give a shit that the residents of Harrenhal didn't buy his "tragic fire accident" PR campaign.

Speaking of Larys, I was expecting something huge from him after all this material that he got to work with in the last couple episodes and I would still like to see more from him (aka not just a single scene per episode) but at least for now he came out swinging. The fact that he ensnared Aegon to do what he wants of him in the exact same way that he ensnared Alicent has the best, funniest, most tragic implications. With the small difference that he's completely bullshiting Aegon, of course. He just saw a weakness and sank his claws right in it. I was wondering last episode why he only chimed in, interrupting Aegon's outburst when Aegon switched to throwing blame on Alicent, especially since the long pause before that would have been the perfect opportunity to speak up. It was like he was waiting for Aegon to make his way to accusing Alicent, just to make sure that there's tension there. This episode confirmed that he's trying to sever Alicent's control over Aegon and insert himself in that niche of pulling the king's reins. It does make sense considering that he appears to have lost his grasp on Alicent herself and it also doubles as revenge on her.

What even is the dynamic between Alicent and Criston at this point? I knew not to hold my breath but that doesn't change the fact that I need (a) scene(s) between them explaining what the hell is going on, especially in Criston's head. We literally wouldn't have had this problem if they'd taken the time to establish the relationship before jumping right into having them fuck. That said, I did enjoy the callback to 1x01 where Criston asked for Rhaenyra's favor but now he's setting out against Rhaenyra and when he asks for Alicent's favor, she grants it despite her anger at him. The way his mood instantly improves at that is touching.

Good for Rhaenys on still pushing to have Rhaena named heir of Driftmark. Corlys needs to be hit over the head so he can see the vision.

Helaena is also on the "no grieving, we repress our emotions like Greens" train. They are all so emotionally damaged and Alicent can't help them because she's the most damaged of all. (Love how Otto just abandoned her to take care of all the kids and steer them on the right path on her own so that he wouldn't have to face the results of his failure to do the same.) Despite the truth of that, I think there was more to her not comforting Aegon while she's constantly talking about Helaena's pain. She doesn't even seem to mourn Jaehaerys as much as she mourns what came upon Helaena. I'd say that's definitely guilt because she steered this course of events (as much as Otto and the rest of the Small Council). She put Aegon on the throne to protect his life (and Aemond and Daeron's) and in doing so, she set up Helaena to take the damage from the war and the attacks on their family. While with Aegon there's all this baggage of Viserys destroying her life for him (even if she can't admit it) and his entire existence necessitating this course of events and she just cannot make herself even more vulnerable in order to comfort him. Especially since in that moment, she was angry at him and only had helplessness left in her that was crying to turn into violence as we see it happen when Alicent takes out her frustration on Criston.

This also makes me think back to Helaena saying in 2x01 that Jaehaerys may not want to be king. On some level I think that was her trying to rationalize why she couldn't see any future for him in her visions. But it was also an externalization of her own feelings about being forced to be crowned alongside Aegon despite all the danger that brings. They were all trapped from the beginning. Being crowned instantly locks them all - both sides - into war but there was no guarantee that if Alicent hadn't put them on the throne, they would have been spared. In fact, what happened to Jaehaerys only points to the opposite. I believe that's what Helaena is forgiving Alicent for. Because Alicent was so afraid of losing her children that inadvertently she set up for her daughter to lose hers. And Helaena understands the pain that Alicent was trying to avoid so she forgives her.

I wasn't feeling the Small Folk scenes in the previous episode but this one was a fucking disaster. And why? Just so that they could foreshadow the Dragonseeds. Everyone involved in scripting this show needs professional help.

Aegon and Aemond got about a minute of shared screen time and it still brings forth the full force of their internal conflicts and mommy issues. Aegon sure went "Does mommy prefer Aemond? Even though I'm king? Does she wish he were king?" only to go get wasted and revert back to bullying his brother.

Baela engaging in some Daemon-like behavior. I'm not exactly sure what her game plan was, however? If she wished to attack them, she could have made Moondancer incinerate them all. They would already consider this an attack and an act of war so what was the point? Other than not completely disregarding Rhaenyra's orders, I suppose. At least Baela has more self-control than her father.

Daemon really got hit by that train wreck of emotions he was trying to escape from. Love how he found a soul mate in his 15-year-old niece and he cannot bear the thought that she matured and has outgrown him now. He's so pathetic fr.

I was so excited about seeing Alys but she barely got anything in this episode.

I do not wish to hear anymore shit about Criston's plan for Arryk when Rhaenyra's scheme to meet up with Alicent was even more harebrained. Girl, what was your contingency plan in case Alicent had instantly reported your presence to her knights once she left the Septa? She could have ended this war right then and there. It's even frustrating that she didn't but I suppose I can see why.

Alicent has a lot to deal with in this scene. The fact that Rhaenyra made this trip at all and (falsely) believes they can reach an understanding alone probably made her head spin. I'm surprised she didn't look for a paper bag to help her stop hyperventilating. To be confronted with undeniable proof that she grasped at straws for her own peace of mind so that she could avoid the guilt of betraying her husband and steering the realm towards war surely shook her whole world. To the point that she couldn't even process what was happening anymore.

That's the thing though. Rhaenyra has to face the idea that her father gave up on his staunch support for her rule but she only has to live in that reality for a minute. Instead, her big internal conflict resolution here is that the warpath is set and they cannot escape it. Which in a certain way could still shake her belief in herself that has been perpetuated by Viserys' insistence she'd be the one to unite the realm. Because even if she does, she (and her siblings) would have torn it apart first. It could still be a lot to deal with but her struggles are undermined by how late it is for this. I already talked about this but we are several episodes past the point of no return. This scene, the whole conflict they've built up for Rhaenyra in this episode, has missed its mark because it should have happened a lot earlier.

Alicent may be falling into the sunk cost fallacy but she is also completely correct that by this point war is unavoidable. Aegon will never cooperate with Rhaenyra after what happened to Jaehaerys. And to be honest, for how big a deal they made of Rhaenyra's grief over Luke, she sure didn't seem to be having that hard a time putting it aside for this scene.

It's funny how the show is trying to present Rhaenyra as so thoughtful and considerate when she is stubbornly stuck on getting that crown. There is something to be said about how similar she and Alicent are in believing what they want to believe. Yes, Alicent was only using Viserys' misunderstood last words to justify - to herself first and foremost - putting Aegon on the throne and "betraying" her husband and Rhaenyra. But Rhaenyra is also ignoring common sense to believe that "she was meant to unite the realm" just like daddy said. The men of the realm were never going to accept her as queen without a bloody conflict when there was a male heir and Rhaneys warned her of that all the way back in 1x02. Since then Rhaenyra has stubbornly refused to acknowledge the idea that the only way for her to unite the realm without any bloodshed would be to step down (maybe not even then considering how staggeringly willful Aegon is).

I already put out some thoughts on the promo for next episode^ so I'd just like to add that I am enraged by them having Alicent talking about how Aegon's only been king for weeks and the realm has fallen into war. The only reason why the realm was at peace while Viserys was king was that he was alive at all and served as a figurehead since by that point Alicent and Otto had been ruling for years. Viserys himself set up this war when he appointed Rhaenyra his successor and then proceeded to have legitimate sons. He is the one to blame here and it is especially outrageous for Alicent to diminish not just Aegon but herself as well because, like I said, she was the one ruling for years before Viserys died. I can only take this as a result of her conversation with Rhaenyra, an expression of guilt over disregarding Viserys' wishes and putting uncontrollable Aegon on the throne when Rhaenyra probably wouldn't have harmed him and Aemond and Daeron based on her words to Alicent. However, while Alicent is still in shock and processing, she is conveniently forgetting that Jaehaerys was brutally murdered despite Rhaenyra's best intentions. And that should be the reason why she looks like she's deep in depression and doesn't give a single fuck anymore rather than feeling like she's wronged Rhaenyra. The realm would have never been spared war when there are legitimate sons to inherit the throne unless they had been slain. So Alicent did take the only option that she had and she should work up to accepting that but it would be foolish to hope for it with all that we've seen so far. What can I say? It appears that the HotD writers strike again.

[mcufan1066]

School Spirits 1x06 "Grave the Last Dance"

Okay, this opening is another chalk mark for jealous Simon having murdered Maddie.

In the intro sequence, what does the hand putting in/taking out the light bulb mean?

Now Rhonda has moved on from Cherry-pop to Tootsie Roll.

Maybe the theory that Claire is squatting is right, and she doesn't want him to pick her up at her digs.

How is Simon able to see Maddie away from the bus stop? Before she had to actually be in it.

There's another moment that seems to hint at Simon having feelings for Maddie.

Who died in the gym?

Stepping Out. Now I feel old.

Thought that they might have Charley dance with Wally, and then they did it….but we didn't get to see it.

Wally, you're emotionally invested in this, but she's trying to solve her murder. That's not news to you.

Woohoo! It WAS the crowbar!

Maddie is wearing combat boots with her dress. Charley isn't wearing socks.

Glad they didn't have Maddie sleep with Wally. Not now at least. It would have felt like she did it out of guilt.

So what is Rhonda looking for?

Nicole is burying the money.

Will we ever see when Maddie first met Charley?

[augustheart]

fuck it stargirl episode ranking. yes! all thirty-nine of them!

3x03 "the blackmail": i don't have a cool justification i'm sorry i just love the crocks and i think the fight scene is fantastic. i don't even care that we can see the stuntpeople's faces it's absolutely delightful to me.

1x08 "shiv part two": ultimate comfort episode for me. what if two autistic people had to go undercover? what if a woman tried to fuck a man under a sink? just a few of the many questions asked by this episode

2x04 "summer school chapter four": crusher and paula should be allowed to do whatever they want. also the scene where dickie gets in an argument with a child in a bookstore is pretty good

1x11 "shining knight": this is the best episode of the show. like full stop. this is the best one. it isn't the highest rated on imdb. it isn't my favorite. but it is 100% the best episode of the series.

3x12 "the last will and testament of sylvester pemberton": i have probably Never gone crazier at an episode of television in my life. getting to the ending is excruciating because the first chunk is a "pat experiences ableism" simulator but oh baby. when the musical sting hits it hits

1x02 "s.t.r.i.p.e.": this episode is nearly perfect. why is there a two minute long one-take sequence in the middle of it? don't ask questions

1x01 "stargirl"/"pilot": this is one of the best cape show pilots of all time. i think doom patrol's is better but it's easily on the flash pilot level, probably higher. tells you everything you need to know: courtney rules. pat has autism. if you celebrate christmas you WILL die of supervillains attacking you. what more can you ask for

2x03 "summer school chapter three": mike should be allowed to do whatever he wants whenever. you can tell how much fun everyone had shooting this so even if luke wilson is Not looking at his mark in the slightest it's still good.

1x10 "brainwave jr": i get why this is the highest ranked episode on imdb but it is funny that it set the tone for james robinson writing episodes where he kills people in a tunnel. the scene at the beginning with barb where she's struggling not to break down is an under-appreciated bit that is so fucking good.

1x03 "icicle": the tonal shift is great. i wish hootie had come back.

1x05 "hourman and doctor mid-nite": ending scene alone puts this here. thank you cameron gellman

1x06 "the justice society": i really like it when crusher throws paula as a weapon at a group of children

2x06 "summer school chapter six": the fight choreography is off the charts. i wish that isaac's actor knew how to act and eclipso didn't run away like that.

2x08 "summer school chapter eight": oh my g-d. oh my g-d. jesus christ. oh my fucking g-d

2x02 "summer school chapter two": dickie's entrance to the show means that despite how unmoved i am by much of this episode i will forever adore it. he is so deeply weird from second one.

3x02 "the suspects": i could watch dickie make fun of anybody for hours at a time

3x07 "infinity inc part one": i could watch dickie make fun of anybody for hours at a time

3x08 "infinity inc part two": i could watch dickie make fun of anybody for hours at a time. also CARCHARO MENTIONED

2x11 "summer school chapter eleven": courtney clapping at cindy and going "AND HOW DID THAT GO FOR YOU?" about controlling eclipso after they both get stuck in the monster dimension is one of the funniest scenes in the show

3x13 "the reckoning": way better finale than other cape shows, which is fortunate for me and unfortunate for those other shows. just a really nice sendoff. i like that they bring it full circle by having kids murder someone in this one, too.

1x07 "shiv part one": the fight choreography in the courtney/cindy fight is so good. i think it's overlooked because it's a 1v1 fight but that spinning long take is really fantastic imo and i love the setting of the school gym outfitted for the dance.

1x04 "wildcat": yolanda baby :(

2x09 "summer school chapter nine": yet another episode that's a "pat experiences ableism" simulator and it is upsetting to watch but also john wesley shipp is there and it's quite well done all around. points detracted because whatever his name is that plays cameron can't act to save his life and his scene partner (an actual teenager) is absolutely killing it

3x01 "the murder": extremely good episode i love my friends i genuinely smile so big thinking about it

1x12 "stars and s.t.r.i.p.e. part one": i want to fuck crusher so bad for that garage scene and that's why it ranks higher than the s1 finale

1x13 "stars and s.t.r.i.p.e. part two": what if there was a liberalification beam.

3x11 "the haunting": obviously the setup of this episode makes me want to punch walls but artemis' screaming and breakdown at the end puts this a cut above other episodes

2x07 "summer school chapter seven": YOLANDA BABY :(

2x01 "summer school chapter one": i can't stop thinking about that person on reddit who accidentally watched this episode first and was like "why is the show so bad at exposition" not realizing it's because they didn't see season one

1x09 "brainwave": good episode ranked this low because of the evil dinner scene being one of the worst things put to film

2x10 "summer school chapter ten": dickie is really good in this but i'm not a huge fan of this conflict for pat and courtney. however i do enjoy pat getting heated for once

2x12 "summer school chapter twelve": pat torturing matt rules and i like when beth and charles metaphorically type on the same keyboard to hack something faster

3x10 "the killer": fine episode. ranked this low because the last four minutes of it never aired and definitely don't make me listen to classic decemberists song "we both go down together" on repeat

2x13 "summer school chapter thirteen": jakeem rules mike rules rick calling in a buddy to fight for him rules but i don't care about eclipso

3x04 "the evidence": we're getting into episodes i don't really care for. i do like charles though

3x09 "the monsters": i don't care about dctv cameron

3x06 "the betrayal": i don't care about dctv cameron. however pat enjoying lutefisk is good

3x05 "the thief": i don't care about dctv cameron

2x05 "summer school chapter five": It's Just Not A Very Good Episode Guys i don't know what more you want from me

if you read through all of this thanks. several of these are actually tied with each other to be honest so if parts of this seem interchangeable, that's why.

[tiodolma]

I've always thought the prophecy was about both striking a balance. Merlin was meant to keep Morgana in check and Morgana was meant to keep Merlin in check.

Me too. Even Alice Troughton in the dvd commentary with Colin Morgan for s4 admitted that love/hate were always coexisted with each other.

Morgana certainly had the power and the invincibility for it, to keep Merlin in check, to draw him out, to make him face his dark and human side, to make him face his wrongs his sins and his victories.

Unfortunately Morgana didn't have the information he had. Merlin had all the information and he used that against everyone. Moreover her magic matured too late (with respect to Merlin's).

I think the real tragedy of Merlin's life was that he was already conditioned to kill from the very start (ep 1x06 Remedy To Cure All Ills ironic title ngl). That episode alone started it all. He was so so new and naive to everything and in that episode he showed absolutely no remorse at "accidentally" killing someone who offered him guidance and knowledge (at the expense of gaius).

And look I get it, he panicked. But after that he never wondered why Edwin was so so righteously angry at Gaius. Remember, Gaius sold Edwin's parents out to Uther and let young Edwin escape. Edwin's gravitas was so justified, you know? Merlin never tried to learn about the things Gaius did to protect "others" and most importantly to protect himself and his position. Even if Gaius thought black magic was evil, he still threw others under the bus for fighting for their lives. He still left Edwin (and Merlin) an orphan.

How does this relate with Morgana? You see from that point on, from episode 1x06 up to "2x03 The Nightmare Begins" Merlin has already killed at least seven people, most of them magic users.

Edwin,

Mary Collins (indirectly but him thwarting her plan zapped her of all energy),

Aulfric,

Sophia,

The Black Knight (who had a reason for it's anger),

Tauren's goons,

Nimueh

Sigan

Hengrist's goon's

plus he almost choose to get Mordred killed... 2 times.

He knew the reasons most of these had, but they didn't matter to him, he was never allowed to properly emphathise with them (Gaius taught him very very very well). Because his orders were always to "eliminate the threat" "kill them" for the sake of his destiny.

As Morgana's magic truly manifested in S2, Merlin was already too far gone and too far deep in the liar and vigilante game. Merlin was continuously performing treasonous and unlawful tasks UNCHECKED for two years! TWO YEARS!

TWO YEARS OF "JUSTIFIED IN HIS OWN HEAD" HOMICIDE AND MURDER WITH NO REAL REPERCUSSIONS.

And also I get why they had resorted to that kind of actions. One of the definitions of extremism from wikipedia said:

In addition, extreme acts are more likely to be employed by marginalized people and groups who view more normative forms of conflict engagement as blocked for them or biased.

That kind of radicalization and extremist training by both Gaius and Kilgharrah was effective as hell.

Morgana only started the proper coups at around mid-s2. She hasn't truly killed anyone for magic yet (aside from Tauren in S1). Even in Fires of Idirsholas she felt guilty of accidentally collaborating with Morgause.

It took 1 year of isolated training away from everyone for Morgana to be fully radicalized, forged in the fires of extremism herself. Even then, even in 3x01 and 3.02 when she killed one guard and she actively helped set in motion Morgause's terrorist attack, she still was willing to hear Merlin out in the crypts. She even laid out all her cards, showed her strengths and vulnerabilities for him to see and judge. Morgana still choose to be diplomatic despite it all.

What Morgana didn't know was that she wasn't dealing with a proper negotiator, she was dealing with a vigilante and secret agent who has three years worth of (1)all the vital information, (2)unchallenged power, (3)unchecked morals, (4)numerous kills, (5)experience in deception and (6)extremist conditioning. And the worse part was that the person who she thought was her friend, Merlin, even with everything he had, genuinely believed he had nothing to offer in exchange for her peace.

I think that's the tragedy of it.

With her truly coming into her full power only at s4, Morgana was too late to have a chance to inspire change in Merlin as a proper equal to him. Merlin has been in that overpowered and unchallenged state for 5 years at most. And by the time Morgana had become truly confident in s4, both of them had gone in the farthest ends of the extremes of their idealogies.

Merlin knew everything about her. But Morgana lacked the most important piece of information, the identity of Emrys.

No one could keep Merlin in check in the proper diplomatic manner anymore.

They have to come to arms.

[destielshippingnews]

Edvard's Supernatural Guide: 2x07 The Usual Suspects

This analysis is short because I have very little to say about this episode. It is not a bad one, but neither does it especially interest me nor give me much to talk about. It does nothing to advance the overall plot of the series and is not connected to the mythos in any way. My main take-away is wondering what a filler episode of The X-Files is doing in the middle of my Supernatural. I still do not care for a police presence or trouble-with-the-law storylines in my supernatural dramas (Charmed was terrible for that), and I honestly considered skipping this one because it simply does not do much for me. That said, I am glad I chose to watch it because there are some positive aspects to it.

To give a brief summary of the plot, Dean and Sam are arrested in Baltimore after Dean is found with a murdered woman while investigating her husband’s murder. The ghost of a dead woman keeps appearing to people who are soon murdered. One of the policemen leading the case is determined to pin the murder on Dean, while the policewoman has her doubts. Eventually, the policewoman and Sam find out that the real killer is the policeman who was involved with drug and murdered people to cover his tracks. Sam and the policewoman manage to save Dean from becoming the policeman’s scapegoat at the last minute, and the truth finally lets Dean go free.

One of the things I liked most about this episode was the fact that Dean and Sam were both shown as intelligent and competent, and managed to work together as a team to get themselves out of a predicament even though they were separated and had extremely limited means of communication. Furthermore, there was no snarking, bitching, or poisonous behaviour from Sam, and Dean’s jokes about Sam being the ‘red-headed woman’ did not seem like the abused partner in the brotherhood lashing out (although I am not quite sure what the relevance of Scully being a red-haired woman is, but it was probably an American writer’s attempt at a lame ginger joke. By which I mean the joke was lame AND ginger jokes are lame).

If this were the first and only episode of the show I ever watched, I could easily buy into the idea that Dean and Sam are a reasonably healthy, functioning duo who care about each other equally and have each other’s back. Sam’s sole motivation in finding the truth was to exonerate his brother, and in spite of the opportunities given to him, point-blank refused to even consider the notion of betraying Dean to the police. I actually liked Sam in this episode, and I have decided that 2x07!Sam is the only valid Sam.

Add to that the fact that Dean is not once demeaned, embarrassed, or misunderstood by the writer, and I am happy with this episode’s portrayal of the brothers. It gets no complaints from me whatsoever. Little things which some might have missed are the fact that Dean and Sam apparently discuss their alibis together before breaking into buildings, if Diana’s comment that ‘both their stories match’ is to be believed. They also have codes for communicating which take others a while to get if at all, such as Dean’s note to Sam referring to The Great Escape as a cue to escape.

Well done on those counts, Cathryn Humphries. It is just a shame I do not think this episode belongs in Supernatural.

Something worth remembering is that Dean’s rights have been taken away from him through no fault of his own. He was innocent of the killings he was blamed for in 1x06 Skin, being made into the fall-guy partially through a combination of Sam’s stupidity, Sam’s privileged upper-middle class university friend, and of course the shapeshifter. ...whom the police found dead whilst morphed into Dean. How could ‘Dean’ have faked his death when the police had his body? Anyway, because of this, Dean is cut off from participation in normal society due to being held accountable for other people’s actions (which Sam smirked at, remember), and he is at the policeman’s mercy. He is ‘just another scumbag’, another victim rendered powerless to save himself at the end. Being the sacrifice for other people is always Dean’s role, but at least this once he was saved before things got bad, and there was no Bad Ass snark from Sam after rescuing Dean, either. Well done, writer. Well done.

Some of the less good aspects of the episode were a few plot conveniences which stretched my suspension of disbelief. One of these is that Inspector Shady would give the same necklace to the woman he murdered as he did to Diana, especially since the necklace was a rare custom make. It was also strange that Dean did not hear the police enter the house and catch him with the woman’s dead body. The house was silent and Dean is trained to keep his wits about him, so this felt a bit too convenient, especially considering how well he managed to keep himself calm and collected at the sight of the body. He had clearly been in that situation before, so what was different that time?

Also worth pondering is why Claire (the death omen) did not appear to Dean in the van before Inspector Shady tried to kill him. She appeared to everybody Shady killed in advance to try warning them, but not to Dean. Is this a plot hole? I am not sure. Is there any way Claire could have known Dean would not die, and so did not need to warn him? Or was there iron in the van which she could not get through? That did not stop the Woman in White in 1x01 Pilot and it will not stop Tricia Helfer in 2x16 Roadkill, so why would it stop Claire?

That almost finishes things for this analysis (my shortest to date), but before then, there were two moments in this episode which set ADHD bells ringing in my head. The first was Dean making silly noises whilst sitting waiting for Sam to do his research on the computer...

and the second was his attempts at conversation with Inspector Shady in the van at the end. The way the writer intended it was likely Dean trying to be cocky or snarky in the face of death, perhaps to cover up his fear, but the way Jensen delivered his lines did not portray that. I got the nervousness and fear, but no sense of cockiness.

His comment ‘Another pee-break? You might want to get your prostate examined’ sounded like a little ADHD boy (or an autistic boy) who has so many thoughts in his head and is trying to have a conversation with somebody who just is not listening and does not care. The lack of ‘natural’ intonation in his voice while saying it also sounds like a person with ADHD or autism trying to make a joke and failing spectacularly.

As for the confession tape, it was better than any profile I have ever seen on Tinder, Grindr, Gaydar, or Planet Romeo. To be honest, that is a low bar, but praise where praise is due.

One final note before I finish: many have noted that Dean is frequently put in situations usually (or ‘traditionally’) reserved for female characters, i.e. helplessness, disarmed, and in need of being saved. Most of this is due to the fact that the show’s two leads are both male and one of them needs to be in danger sometimes for dramatic purposes, but it is Dean more frequently than Sam, e.g. being a sacrificial offering in 1x11 Scarecrow, being Max’s hostage in 1x14 Nightmare, being ‘bait’ for the vampires in 1x20 Dead Man’s Blood etc. Whilst I am sure more than one person has written several thousand words on ‘deconstructing concepts of masculinity’ or something else which talks about men as if we are animals to be observed in a zoo, I do not think it is much deeper than this: Sam has to be shown to be The HeroTM because he is The Protagonist, and the corollary is that Dean has to be the damsel.

Paula R. Stiles commented on this in her analysis of this same episode, and I quote:

We see again here the show’s tendency to place the macho, hypermasculine male lead in a role normally reserved for a female lead

The reason I raised this is because ‘hypermasculinity’ does not mean what some people seem to think it means, i.e. masculine. Hypermasculinity is an actual term used in sociology and psychology to refer to a certain set of traits in a certain kind of man. Think, for example, of gangsters. The Encyclopaedia Britannica gives the following definition:

hypermasculinity, sociological term denoting exaggerated forms of masculinity, virility, and physicality. Scholars have suggested that there are three distinct characteristics associated with the hypermasculine personality: (1) the view of violence as manly, (2) the perception of danger as exciting and sensational, and (3) callous behavior toward women and a regard toward emotional displays as feminine.

None of those criteria applies to Dean. Dean is not ‘hypermasculine’: he is adept at enacting violence, but he does not view it as ‘manly’; he does not find danger exciting, it is simply a necessary part of his life (except during his self-destructive episodes); he is not ‘callous’ towards women, and he does show emotions other than ‘anger’. ‘Hypermasculine’ is a bad descriptor of Dean: he is masculine. Using words which mean things to refer to things they do not mean. Hypermasculine is gangsters and thugs, it’s not a man acting like a masculine man. They are very different things and I wish people would stop conflating the two.

(For further discussion of Dean and masculinity, you can read my essay entitled Deancrits, don't @ me

Thus concludeth my analyis of 2x07 The Usual Suspects.

One final final thing:

[milquetoast-on-acid]

Milquetoast watches: Babylon 5 "the parliament of dreams"

1x06

So far the show is only meh. It's kinda slocky which surprised me because "the gathering" was a fascinating start. It has depth and intrigue that so far most of season 1 is lacking.

This show doesn't do comedy very well and it was better when the storyline was serious. Sci-fi can absolutely do comedy and get a great balance between that and drama. See DS9 and Stargate SG1.

I see flashes of really good stuff in tiny doses. Mostly personal character moments. Which I'm hoping that the show will build off of. This is a cult sci-fi classic so I'm gonna stick with it and watch it until the end. I'm sure that it will get better. TNG was terrible in season 1 after all.

Anywho...the one thing this show does really well is adults flirting. I just watched this scene with The Commander who isn't Bruce Boxlightener (I know that's not his name but I can't remember it) and his ex-something. And OMG sex through a tv screen! Holy shit!

The music I love the music. It's just soft space inspired synth but it works perfectly.

Reptile-Garius is such an interesting character. Garak inspiration for sure.

So far it's been six episodes and we've barely seen the telepath lady. She could be an interesting character and I want to see her get inside the head of some of the main characters. Plus that whole thing that we learned about Lt Cmder's mother. I want to see more of that, like how the telepath is going to effect her.

Reptile-Garius really throwing himself into the role here!

Oh, I thought that was her kid! Delen's kid.

So they weren't married but they hookup and then... Run away? They never had an actual romantic relationship. Just booty calls they know could be something more. Interesting...I didn't expect this kinda of a relationship.

Wow their chemistry is HOT! Imagine what they could really do with Benson and Stabler but they are such pussys. Babylon 5 doing sex really hot without actual sex scenes is such a unexpected thing. Like I would not have expected this. Sex on sci-fi, procedurals and episodic TV usually suck. If the show doesn't get better (I'm sure it will) then I'll just watch for these hot sexy scenes!

I got to say I really could care less about the A plot of the story. I really don't care that somebody wants to kill Reptile-Garius. The romance is far far more interesting. There's more emotion behind it than the murder plot. It's crazy but there it is.

Ope alien with glasses! I love it!

The female characters on this show are all far more interesting than the men.

I know Reptile assistant lady just beat the shit out of Reptile-Garius but I think she's playing the assassin. Her being the assassin is the obvious twist. Her playing the assassin not so much.

I was right.

And She definitely enjoyed it.

Festival. There was a festival!?

Too bad we're not going to get a nice romantic storyline between these two characters. As I know that The Cmder won't be on the show for much longer.

Brooo! That was a very sexy romance. 🙆🏻‍♀️ I want more!

Um... Why is he introducing them to a bunch of religious people? Like what's the point... There's diversity 🤷🏻‍♀️.

[thundergrace]

"Agent Turner, I've given you the truth. That is all I've ever given you. It is the act of a true friend."

[ricamora-falahee]

Connor Walsh + talking about his father (1x06 vs 4x02)

[thephantomcasebook]

i think if there was ever going to be any question on if daeron wasnt viserys’ child it wouldve happened by now because the baby is already born right? why have this major plot line and then not even include the child the plot lines about in the season.

I kinda very briefly talked this out with @fandom-mix-16

And we're both in agreement that 1x09 is really sink or swim on this theory/rumor of A+C=D.

If Alicent and Criston don't have solid scenes together that gives their relationship depth, than I'd say that the over-under on the theory is 30/70 that Daeron is nothing but Visery's son.

However, from a writing standpoint - as a writer myself - I feel that that A+C=D is straight rocket fuel that explains a lot of Alicent's behavior of trying to expose Rhaenyra and her children and will give a ton of depth and nuance to the conflict that is still really lacking.

Even if Daeron isn't a bastard, the insinuation that he is a product of a decade long courtly affair by Alicent and Criston is still a gold mine of character motivation.

I know it's an unpopular opinion here on Team Green, but rap with me a moment.

If we throw out the definitive if he is or isn't Criston or Visery's son, you still give a ton of motivation for Alicent being relentless in her pursuit of Rhaenyra.

Imagine, if you will, that Rhaenyra has Luke and everyone notices that he's not Valaryian colored - dark haired between two silver haired parents. Rhaenyra, suddenly finding herself cornered, openly starts accusing Daeron of not being who everyone thinks he is - a Targaryen that has Alicent's coloring and likeness.

She publically announces that Daeron is not Targaryen and then starts spreading gossip about how close, how familiar, Queen Alicent and Ser Criston are. Isn't it strange that he murdered Ser Joffery at her very wedding, yet, Queen Alicent not only defended him passionately, but then swore him to her for life ...

Who does that?

A pious queen?

or

a lover?

Suddenly, all of Visery's court is talking, casting a doubtful eye on the youngest prince who spends far too much time with his mother and Ser Criston ... as if they were a family on their own. Rhaeynra knows that she can question the Queen's virtue and get away with it, because, Viserys will protect and forgive her. It will also force the crown to proclaim that Targaryen's come in all colors - Daeron being the spitting image of Alicent - making sure that her son Luke is protected for all time.

However, the damage is done, and even though Viserys proclaims that Daeron is his son, the rumor persists - Harwin Strong openly mocking Ser Criston and Daeron in the yard. Eventually, to squash the scandal, Lord Strong convinces Viserys to send Daeron away.

This would shatter - absolutely shatter - Alicent's world, because, Daeron is her last child and her baby. But Viserys order's the boy away, to stop the talk against Alicent. So, Otto comes to King's Landing and formerly takes Daeron as his ward and they leave for Old Town - Alicent, Ser Criston, and Aemond standing together in the rain watching him go. Alicent turns and glances up to see Rhaenyra and Ser Harwin looking smug together from a covered balcony.

Now it's war for Alicent and Criston.

See! Right there!

Perfect motivation for why Alicent and Criston are so anti-Rhaenyra. Because it was Rhaenyra's politicking and scheming to protect Luke that got Daeron sent away - a small boy that gave Alicent, Ser Criston, and Aemond a great deal of joy ... it could also explain why Aemond is so depressed and dragon obsessed in 1x06.

A storyline like that, told in retrospect through Daeron and Alicent's prospective, years later, adds depth - a ton of it - to every character. Why Alicent is head hunting in 1x06, Why Criston is bitter, and we see the length's Rhaenyra will go too to either protect her child or get what she wants ... including making another child's life - her own brother - a living hell.

[ladyluscinia]

Looks like the topic of the night for the Izzy Hands tag is relitigating the Navy plot vs the toe scene, so I guess I can throw out some thoughts on that.

I think these scenes are only comparable because they are both disproportionate responses to what the other person was doing at the time. They are both part of the overarching narrative of Edward and Izzy's relationship exploding (in order to make space for them to build back up a new dynamic) which is why overall there is no "true victim" between the two of them, but Edward's actions in 1x10 are still NOT a response to Izzy's actions in 1x09.

For Edward, maiming Izzy was not a justified action. First because maiming someone is generally just a cruel and uncalled for option - if he was a threat it would have made sense to kill him or send him away, and if he wasn't then don't maim him. And mainly because Edward is pretty clearly framed as in the wrong here. It is so weird to me how many people look at the Kraken sequence and go "Oh, well, murdering Lucius at the start was bad and horrifying, and marooning the crew at the end was bad and horrifying, and the Kraken is bad and horrifying overall, but that middle bit? With Izzy? That was a reasonable and justified use of force against someone who deserved it and maybe more."

What.

Edward maimed Izzy to reassert control over Izzy when he realized he wasn't ready to give that control up. It doesn't make sense as a threat response, and it wasn't even revenge because Edward stopped caring about the Navy thing as soon as he returned without Stede. He doesn't bring it up. In fact, he banters with Izzy and treats him the same as he did in the early eps. He's not mad at him for the Navy! That punch and the exchange before signing was the end of it for both of them. It's also the end of it as far as the story is concerned, because once they arrive at the school, all focus shifts to Stede and Edward's relationship beats. Them being trapped / pressed into service is solved by mugging a guy offscreen for a dinghy. Not exactly a serious threat or struggle. The toe scene is only in response to Izzy's words in the cabin, and Izzy's words did not warrant that.

Now in another show, the maiming + context would be a moral event horizon or pretty damn close to it, and Edward would be a violent monstrous character. In this show, violence has a distinctly handwavy quality and we can definitely forgive him for being out of line without having to pretend he wasn't. Also Izzy can probably get an anachronistic and instantly effective insert for his boot and not have his fighting ability crippled until it gets him killed, which does make the situation a bit better. Handwaviness can apply to injuries too (Lucius's finger).

So that's Edward in 1x10. What about Izzy in 1x09?

For Izzy, the Navy plot is an overreaction. I don't think anyone disputes this??? Like... I think it's fun that he tries to murder the mistress in the same way I think it's fun that Edward makes his breakup everyone's problem. I think the framing is a bit more serious in order to give Edward's romantic sacrifice some oomph, but it's still ridiculous to act like trying to kill Stede is a traumatic and borderline unforgivable act when Mary will settle on the same solution to her problems next episode. But no, I don't think Izzy was warranted in trying to kill Stede because Edward was upsetting him.

In fact, I think Izzy betraying Edward - not so much the murder plot specifically as just taking initiative to force Edward to choose when he was trying very hard not to (something he thought he had sidestepped in 1x06) - is a significant part of why he goes all in on Stede in an inauthentic way in 1x09 and gets so unexpectedly hurt, and why he overcorrects in 1x10. His disproportionate response here does drive the dramatic explosion of their toxic codependency just as much as Edward's does. It just isn't a literal "I hit you and you hit me back" situation.

Izzy forces Edward to choose, Edward chooses, it goes bad but Edward tries to stick to his choice, Izzy "accepts" the choice by rejecting the person Edward chose to be and threatening to leave, and Edward overcorrects to the worst possible version of the person who gets to keep Izzy.

And since this is as good a time to nitpick 1x09 reads as any... Izzy did also try to get Edward off the boat. That was a pretty significant thing that took up most of the plot of 1x08. Like I understand where you are coming from here about it being terrible to have to nearly watch Stede die, but Izzy very much did put a lot of planning into getting Edward off the boat before any of it.

People bring that up like it was Izzy's dastardly plan or that he callously dismissed that Edward would be upset by Stede's death, but, like, he knew in 1x06 that Edward wasn't thrilled and offered to take care of it. He wasn't trying to make Edward a captive audience. He was quite literally trying for the opposite and still scrambling to keep Edward entirely unharmed when it got screwed up. You can be pissed at him for trying to off Stede, but the "in front of Edward" bit was not intentional. (And acting like he put Edward in harms way is also kind of a reach, seeing as it would have been very easy in the show to, well, show that was a risk. Instead Edward being perfectly safe makes his romantic gesture more significant.)

So yeah. No abuser / victim dynamic here, but it's not because either of them "deserves" to be mistreated by the other when they are. And maybe stop morally justifying mutilation as punitive justice, because the show doesn't frame it that way and it would be kinda fucked up if it did.

[zoefandom127]

Hold me closer than ever before

an extended version of the end of 1x06(;

The dim light hid the faint tremors in her hands, but Dimitri could still see them shake no matter how tightly she pressed them together. She had run away from the tattoo before, but now she realized there was no avoiding it. The molnija was sacred: a show of the tenacity, courage, and strength it takes to be a Dhampir. She should feel honored.

 But, the cost to get this tattoo…

 Mikhail.

 How could she get a tattoo that inherently represented his death? His murder? Her crime against him? She lost a comrade. A friend. One of the best she ever had. And she was just supposed to ignore the means of his death for a fucking tattoo?

 Is that what she was doing? She had tried to avoid it before, but now that she was going through with the ceremony, was getting this tattoo shitting on the final moments of Mikhail's life and legacy?

  He wasn’t Mikhail. It was a Strigoi.

 Lissa’s words echoed through her mind. She didn’t understand. To stare into what used to be your friend’s mischievous, playful eyes while shoving a stake into his chest removed any and all rationality of the situation.

 It didn't matter if he was a Strigoi. In the end, he would always be her Mikhail. Her right-hand man. The one who never gave up on her, who always gave her a shoulder to cry on, and who always tapped his foot back against hers.

 Rose jumped slightly when she felt a sudden chill at the base of her neck. All her thoughts were halted as she once again became aware of what was happening around her.

 She was in Dimitri’s room. She had asked him to help her finish the molnija ceremony even though everything in her told her not to go through with it. He had gone to gather all the materials while she undid the top buttons of her cardigan and slid it down her shoulders. Her back was perfectly bare to him and her bra was a lot more visible than she intended it to be, but she didn't move to cover herself further.

 She could have done this in a more formal setting and asked Alberta for a repeat of the ceremony, but all the eyes on her didn't feel right. They were honoring a Strigoi kill while she was mourning the loss of a loved one. The intimacy of being there with Dimitri made the guilt and the sadness much more bearable when it didn't feel like people were celebrating the death of her friend.

 Honestly, Dimitri's presence alone helped. He was comforting, believe it or not. His brooding nature softened just the slightest bit when he was with Rose and she clung to that.

 She felt safe with him.

 “Sorry,” he said in a whisper. “I’m trying to numb the area. The needle might hurt a bit.”

 Resisting the urge to shiver, she gave a light shrug. “I’ve probably had worse anyway.”

 He hummed back and didn’t say anything after that. Slowly, he swirled the ice cube against the middle of the back of her neck until she couldn’t feel anything but the cold. She was about to crack a joke on the time it takes to numb someone, but her words cut off when he dragged the ice cube down her spine. It was slow and tantalizing and the ice was melting against the heat of her skin. Goosebumps arose with each pass of the cold and she shivered from the slight brush of his fingers against her exposed back.

 Rose let out a harsh breath. Was she trembling? She couldn’t tell, not with the way he was still moving that damn ice along her skin. He must know. He has to know what this is doing to her. What he’s doing to her.

 Who knew ice could have such an effect on people? Or maybe it was just her and maybe it was just him.

 She looked back at him and–yeah. He knew exactly what he was doing. Because the way he looked at her almost caused her to stop breathing entirely. The look in his eyes had to be illegal or something. They were filled with pure need.

 Rose lifted slowly on her knees to get closer to his height. Cold water trailed down her spine and she could hear the faint thud of what was left of the ice hitting the carpet beneath them, but his eyes stayed on hers so she didn’t pay it any mind. Their breaths intermingled as she leaned closer and closer into his personal space. She almost thought he would stop her. That he would push her away and kick her out. But he did no such thing.

 Dimitri’s eyes flickered down to her lips and before she knew it, he was on her.

 His lips were soft against hers, a perfect contrast to the power with which he kissed her. Her lips dominated in size, but that didn’t stop him from devouring her and her entire being.

  Fuck.

 He kissed her like she was the air he required in his lungs. Like he had been thirsting for years and she was the water essential to his standing upright. He kissed her as if he needed her. Like he could never get enough of the taste of her lips. And she was more than happy to give him as much of her as he wanted.

 They broke apart for a split second, both panting in the other’s mouths and resting their foreheads together. They didn’t stay like that for long though, as he moved his hand to gently grip her face and pull her closer to him. Her breasts pressed against his hard chest and she whimpered at the contact. He swallowed the sound in another breathtaking kiss. Damn, he could kiss.

 Their lips moved quickly and insistently against one another. It was a clash of tongues and teeth and fingers that gripped anywhere, everywhere. His hands roamed along the planes of her back, his fingers delicately brushing against her bra straps. She had half a mind to tell him to rip it off.

 She brought her hands up to his hair, scratching his scalp gently as she gripped the soft strands at the roots. He let out a quiet sound that she thought might be a groan. She couldn’t tell though, and she didn't care to as his lips trailed the line of her jaw and then dropped to a spot on the side of her neck and–oh.

 She gasped and panted and slightly whimpered against him. She’d totally deny how much she was aching for him. For his lips, his tongue, his hands. For more. Right now she was completely and utterly at his will.

 She moaned when he sucked at her pulsed point and pulled his hair until his lips were back to hers. At least she wasn’t delirious enough to let him leave hickeys. Though, he probably would've stopped before he could leave a mark on her because he's Dimitri.

 It all ended way too quickly for her liking. He pulled back barely an inch after causing a delicious puff to her lips. He was breathing as hard as she was, if not more, and it seemed like he didn’t want to stop but he did anyway. 

 “Tattoo,” he panted in her mouth.

 Still floating from the high of whatever just happened, Rose mumbled in return. “What?”

 Fuck, he was so close. All she had to do is lean in and they’d be right back in a blissful, hot makeout state of mind.

 “I have to do the molnija tattoo. On you.” 

 Oh.

 Right.

 Because that’s what she came into his room to do in the first place.

 “Oh. Yeah, I–we should. Do that, I mean,” she mumbled aimlessly against his lips and he simply nodded in return.

 “Turn around,” he ordered softly, and for the first time, she did what he said without any protest.

 The numbness at the spot at the back of her neck had long since faded. She could hear the clink of the needle against the glass bowl of ink. 

 “Take a deep breath for me,” Dimitri rasped out. His voice was all breathy and gravelly.

 Rose breathed in through her nose and before she let it out, she felt the faint sting of the needle digging into her neck. She didn’t flinch, though. She didn’t show any sign of hurt. Like she said before, she’s had worse.

 After about an hour of tedious dragging of the needle, Dimitri finally laid the needle back on the plate that previously held it. Rose’s neck throbbed slightly but all in all, it wasn’t a terrible pain.

 “Done,” Dimitri said.

 Rose stood up and walked over to the mirror nearby. The tattoo looked good. Beautiful, even.

 She turned back to look at him and realized her bra was fully showing, her cardigan now laying loosely at her hips. Still, she didn’t move to cover herself.

 “Thank you,” she breathed out.

 Instead of saying anything, he nodded.

 Silently, she stood there. She watched as he walked towards her and stopped just inches in front of her. His eyes never left hers.

 And for the second time that night, he kissed her. He kissed her with vigor, with everything in him, before he pulled back once more. He stared at her, this time with something else swirling in his eyes. Though, she couldn’t quite place what it was. His hands rubbed down the length of her arms, down to her hips until he found the sleeves of her cardigan. He gently slid the fabric back over her shoulders, righting it over her frame and slowly buttoning it up.

 He leaned in again but instead of aiming for her mouth, he dipped to the side. There was a light brush of lips against her lobe as he whispered in her ear, “See you at training tomorrow.”

 Abruptly, he stepped out of her space and walked over to the door, opening it and leaning against it to keep it from closing.

 Rose stood there in shock for a moment as she looked down, releasing a laugh of disbelief. Fucking Dimitri. She glanced back up and could see the smirk playing on his lips.

 Fine. She’d play his game.

 She walked to the door with her head high and a smirk on her lips as well. Stopping right in front of him under the doorframe, she leaned against him and made sure every inch of the top half of her body was pressed against his.

 “Can’t wait,” she whispered and raised herself onto her toes to reach his ear, making sure to brush her lips against his lobe as he had done to her, “comrade.”

 With that, she pushed off of him, ignoring the way his breathing grew heavier, and strutted down the hallway to the Dhampir wards without so much as a glance back at his door.

 find this on AO3 and fanfiction.net ! let me kno if i make this a multichapter(;

[princeescaluswords]

Jennifer Blake's first conversation with Scott in the first episode of season 3. I think it's not a reach to say she already knew of him being a werewolf at this point so it adds a different layer this rewatch. Her saying that she expects consistency and commitment and like maybe I'm digging too deep and giving Davis too much credit here but it makes me think of her past and how the alphas she knew veered off the path. Is she subtly trying to guide him here? To not end up like Deucalion and fall under his sway? Who knows!

And also, the murder of crows scene. We know it was actually her doing, using the mass death as a sacrifice to fuel her powers. The shot of her standing at the window with the oncoming murder reflected in the glass. Ominous but also foreshadowing maybe? Because we learn eventually she is the corrupted dark druid and she does an excellent job playing as the innocent schoolteacher. Telling the students to get down as the swarm bursts into the room and she even looks shaken up and out of it afterwards when asked if she's okay. But perhaps that was just her adjusting to this new energy she received. And we know she uses glamor to mask her true appearance so that view through the other side of the window with the ominous sight of hundreds of crows on the other. And she wears black and white in that scene.

You know I never thought about the possibility that Jennifer had an inkling of Scott's potential in those first scenes, but it seems reasonable. It's understandable, because I don't think that druids, even those serving as Emissaries, have some sort of special sense about werewolves. For example, I don't think that Deaton knew that Scott had been bit until the end of Heart Monitor (1x06). But, there is other information revealed in Season 3A which might make Jennifer different. Namely, Chris's revelation in Alpha Pact (3x11):

Chris: I'm sorry. But you're just gonna have to trust me on this. I knew for a long time she didn't just operate on the currents. She was in sync with them.

Scott, Stiles, and Allison all forged a connection with the Nemeton on the night Scott was bit, as was revealed in Lunar Ellipse (3x12), a connection that Jennifer already shared as we discovered in The Overlooked (3x10). Let's look at the text of Jennifer's comments about Scott falling back into old habits in Tattoo (3x01).

Jennifer: Resolutions are only good if you stick with them, Scott.

Scott: I will. I promise it won't be ephemeral.

I'm not sure if I can say one way or the other if she was fully conscious of the trio's importance at this point, because we see multiple instances of the Nemeton influencing people unconsciously (inspiring Lydia's tree drawing through her banshee powers and Scott's choice of tattoo) throughout the season but that might have been the Watsonian reason she brought up the importance of following through on promises, since she had "made a promise of my own ... to teach these monsters ..."

On the other hand, I also don't think that she caused the crow attack on the school on purpose. I think that the shock on her face during the assault was genuine, but it wasn't out of ignorance of what it could mean. She was connected to the telluric currents and the Nemeton, so she had a connection to the Preserve as well. Ravens and crows are exceedingly well known in folklore for delivering omens. I feel she was shocked because she was being warned. About what? What happened at the exact same moment the crows were attacking? Scott -- a potential True Alpha, linked to her through the Nemeton, and a component of her struggle with her enemies -- was meeting the Alpha Pack for the first time. The very next scene is where Scott helps Deucalion off the elevator and he clashes with Ennis.

One of the things I love about Teen Wolf is that it remains focused on the teenagers point of view. Scott and his pack don't know enough yet, so events seem scary and mysterious, and the show doesn't break away to give the audience a rundown on what it means. We can go back and then end and say -- oh, so that's what might have happened.

[asongaboutpirates]

Ed‘s and Stede‘s love story works so wonderfully imho because we see Ed fall in love step by step. None of that love at first sight bullshit. He‘s fascinated by Stede from the get-go, yes, but at that point, meeting the Gentleman Pirate is just a way to break the monotony for him. He’s genuinely planning on murdering Stede and taking his identity.

Then 1x05 happens and we can see his fascination develop into bemused affection and even admiration, so much so that at the end of the episode he’s actually going in for a kiss. We quite literally watch Stede gently taking Ed’s heart!

But still, in 1x06, Ed let’s Izzy convince him to kill Stede. We can’t know for sure if he would have gone through with it, but it’s likely. When Izzy challenges Stede to a duel, Ed lets it happen. His loyalty to Stede and his loyalty to his first mate hang in a precarious balance and he hasn’t chosen a side yet. In spite of this beautiful moment of vulnerability in the bathtub, Ed isn’t ready to give up everything for Stede. He has a big old crush on him and he feels safe with Stede, but not quite safe enough to leave his former life behind.

He even considers leaving in the next episode! He thinks he has become too infatuated, too vulnerable. Then Stede drags him on this treasure hunt that he genuinely hates. But Ed realises (with the help of Lucius, of course) that in spite of that, it makes him happy to make Stede feel good, and, I believe that this is when he becomes aware that this is more than just a crush. He’s fallen head over heals for this bizarre little man.

When CJ comes on board and they have their argument, Ed learns how much it hurts to be separated from Stede. And this is when he decides to put Stede before everything else. He could have been safe, he could have gone with CJ, he could have returned to Izzy, but rather, he gives himself up to the English for Stede. Because this isn’t a crush anymore or infatuation, it’s love. That’s why he rather signs his life away than let the English shoot Stede. At this point, Ed would do anything for him, and we have witnessed this whole beautiful journey.

[ofmdsource]

—  POLL #2  RESULTS —

The results are in! We asked you which episode of Our Flag Means Death is your favourite, and you answered: 1x07 This is Happening.

A more detailed breakdown of the results is below the cut.

Got a suggestion for a poll question? We’d love to hear it! Drop us an ask

More details about our polls can be found here

⚓ NAVIGATE THE BLOG  

Member and affiliate applications are open 

Gif requests are open

Poll #2 received a total of 148 responses, each response voting on which episode (1x01 to 1x10) is their favourite. The vote distribution can be seen below:

From Favourite to Least Favourite:

#1 - 1x07 This is Happening (30.6% | 45 votes)

Episode 7 came out on top in this poll, voted number 1 by 45 out of 148 responses. From treasure maps to orange quests, Live Lucius Reactions to Jim’s backstory, this episode tells us a lot about the crew of the Revenge and the dynamics at play.

#2 [TIED] - 1x05 The Best Revenge is Dressing Well  (17.7% | 26 votes) & 1x09 Act of Grace (17.7% | 26 votes)

Episode 5 has so many delightful moments, on board the Revenge and the fancy pants elite ship. The crew of the Revenge standing their ground against Izzy “the Spewer” Hands while Edward gets a glimpse of Stede’s aristocratic life. 

 Episode 9 is full of joy and grief. Izzy’s betrayal forces Edward to choose between his old life as Blackbeard and the new life he could create with Stede. This episode solidifies the crew of the Revenge as a family, fiercely protective over their leader and each other.

#3 - 1x06 The Art of Fuckery (10.9% | 16 votes)

Who doesn’t love a good fuckery? Episode 6 gives us theatrics, character depth, an aborted murder, a tearful bathtub confession, the antics of a mad man, and a thoughtful gift. 

#4 - 1x04 Discomfort in a Married State (9.5% | 14 votes)

Episode 4 shows us how Stede came to captain the Revenge and gives us our first real taste of Ed and Stede together. This episode immediately subverts our expectations, telling us that being ‘Blackbeard’ is perhaps not all it’s cracked up to be. 

#5 - 1x08 We Gull Way Back (7.5% | 11 votes)

An ex returns and things get messy. We see bitchy Stede, passive aggressive urinal chats, character death, BOSS STEDE, mutual pining, supportive besties, divorced parents speech, betrayal, a dramatic return AND IT ALL FINISHES WITH A FIGHT SEQUENCE SET TO THE CHAIN?? What more could you ask for? (can you tell this is my favourite episode lol)

#6 - 1x10 Wherever You Go, There You Are (3.4% | 5 votes)

Episode 10 gives us the epic high of “His name is Ed,” and the epic low of “Blackbeard is himself again.” Painful and cathartic, this episode sure leaves us on a hell of a cliffhanger.

#7 - 1x03 The Gentleman Pirate (2.7% | 4 votes)

Episode 3 introduces us to some of the iconic secondary characters, and of course gives us our first proper look at Blackbeard himself. Jim nearly gets away with a daring heist and Stede does his best impression of a real pirate captain as Lucius and Oluwande regret everything. 

#8 [TIED] - 1x01 Pilot (0% | 0 votes) & 1x02 A Damned Man (0% | 0 votes)

Episodes 1 and 2 are good in their own right - the crew interactions are wonderful - these two episodes don’t have the dynamic and excitement that the post-Edward episodes have.

Come back for more polls next week!!

[tiodolma]

@ladylilith91 bruh.

1) merlin didnt see the body and had no evidence that arthur was there

2) you can do self defense without outright killing the offender!!! This is the first thing they teach you in any goddamn martial arts class

3) sophia was unarmed and didnt have her staff.

4) why didnt merlin strike a bargain or talk first???

5) “killing people to protect friends” -> murder shouldnt be your first solution if you are the dude who keeps preaching “we can find another way”

I have to be critical of merlin because he’s a hypocrite who’s only solution is to immediately Kill. And he’s supposed to be on the side of good! He has the power to not have to kill but do somethig else! Trap them! Bargain! Talk it out! Negotiate! Give something else! Force into a compromise! Why is ending lives always his solution??? Think about it! It’s so cowardly.

Merlin Preaches one thing and then does the opposite. Yes he doesnt kill for power but he kills to hide the truth and to silence the perpetrators. He doesnt even talk it out with the criminals jfc. He doesnt trap them or threaten to take away magic or just disable their limbs. There was a way to not have to kill the sidhe father and daughter duo and still save arthur but does he take it?? No! Coz his only solution is to always eliminate the threat permanently with the “self-defense” excuse.

I’ve seen that happen in my country irl and it was horrible and traumatic. A lot of law enforcers in my country keep getting away with murders and atrocities because of that excuse. Do you know what my govenrment tells the public?? That the untimely death of the suspected person or criminal (who has pending trial) in the hand of the law enforcer acting out of self-defense was for the Good of All! It was for the Best! Bro That kind sht rhetoric already hurt thousands of families where I live. It inspired so much fear where I live. Good for you if you’ve never had that reality. I hope you wont have to.

Also have you not seen me keep calling Morgana an asshole??? “Morgana kills in the name of power” well yeah?? Coz that’s her role??? She’s the designated big bad ultimate villain??? And I get why she does it to inspire fear and terror??? Where the hell is the part where i say her acts are inherently good??? But at least she’s doing as what conquerors/invaders/destabilizers usually do IRL and in history. Is that "justification" to you? Then have you ever read seen how historical wars go? Are you aware that you can justify anything in war? Or are you oblivious of how the real world works and are stuck in this fantasy world where there is a clear cut line of good and bad?

Her bid for power justifies Morgana's actions but so does Merlin's obsession to protect his secrets and his "friends." Both of them have committed horrible atrocities for the respective wars they were facing. What your meta keeps proving to me is that Merlin's personal "Might Makes Right" policy was also justified in his head. And I agree with that, because that is a the moral backbone of vigilanteism. And Merlin has been doing this sht since 1x06.

Your merlin apologism is honestly sad and disturbing. Pls dont interact with me anymore with your “he kills coz he was just protecting his friends and is therefore good” excuse. It wont work. Moreover his “friends” are the sovereign heads of state of a bigot government. Merlin keeps going behind the law and is above and beyond it, executing people for treason without trial or negotiations and without the knowledge of his own government. That's beyond friendship. That is already kingmaking and have more political and moral connotations. Just sit and think about that for a second. Chew on it for your own good.

Maybe go read a history book first before telling me off for the things that I appreciate about Morgana as a character based on a lot of historical monarchs and warlords. I am telling you, Morgana stays true to the way her character is written and what she’s intended for! and it's fun and more entertaining to watch! The characters in the story already judged her for it! The show already smash in our face that she's bad! bad! bad!

AND YET

Watch Morgana and see that people are more useful to her ALIVE. She traps them, bargains with them, interoggates them, gives something in return lke a share of power or a position, tortures them when she has to, gives them a choice to work or not work with her, takes away magic but doesnt kill right away, That’s better than whatever sht Merlin keeps smoking. If that was Morgana she would have talk those sidhe and find a compromise with them.

Taking magic away is reversible. Prisoners can still escape or be set free. Wounds can heal. Trauma can heal. But YOU CAN NEVER GIVE A LIFE BACK ffs. Guess which option Merlin chooses first??? IT'S KILLING.

Merlin is the very definition of “There Is No Other Way.” you cant sugarcoat this.

so I suggest you better go back to whatever "I <3 Merlin he didnt do anything wrong” corner you wanna lurk in. I will never agree to it. My politics and upbringing will never agree to it. Good riddance. Leave me alone. Stick to your own side of the fandom and just block me.

And for the record i dont hate merlin the character. I like him. He’s well thought of and written. But i will be critical of his story. Coz it is what is fun to me.

the way merlin murdered sophia still haunts me bruh. like. that wasn't even an act of self defense, he didn't even see arthur's body in her possession, she was just screaming for her father... there was absolutely no goddamn reason for him to blast her to death with her own staff like that.

mindblowing and totally cruel.

and violent.

istg in a court case, merlin would've lost that one. that was just plain simple murder. there was no negotiation, no bargaining despite him knowing the reason why they did what they did (they just wanted to go home, to be free).

now you know why he was so conflicted when kilgharrah blatantly told him to just kill morgana to undo the sleeping curse.

he had done it before with no hesitation and no remorse to sophia as as the way to end the romantic enchantment on arthur.

Whether it be killing Sophia or Morgana or Edwin or Nimueh. what difference would it make? it would keep the king, his son and camelot safe after all... that's the most important.

if i was kilgharrah i would've taunted merlin on that fact too.